Recoverability of renal functions after relief of partial ureteric obstruction of solitary kidney: impact of ferulic acid

Ferulic acid, ligustrazine, and tetrahydropalmatine display the anti-proliferative effect in endometriosis through regulating Notch pathway

AIMS

With an ambiguous anti-proliferative mechanism, the combination of ferulic acid, ligustrazine, and tetrahydropalmatine (FLT) shows good anti-endometriosis (EMS) activity. In EMS, the expression of Notch pathway and its role in proliferation are not yet unclear. In this study, we sought to uncover the role of Notch pathway's effect and FLT's anti-proliferative mechanism on EMS proliferation.

MAIN METHODS

In autograft and allograft EMS models, the proliferating markers (Ki67, PCNA), Notch pathway, and the effect of FLT on them were detected. Then, the anti-proliferative influence of FLT was measured in vitro. The proliferating ability of endometrial cells was investigated with a Notch pathway activator (Jagged 1 or VPA) or inhibitor (DAPT) alone, or in combination with FLT separately.

KEY FINDINGS

FLT presented the inhibitory effect on ectopic lesions in 2 EMS models. The proliferating markers and Notch pathway were promoted in ectopic endometrium, but FLT showed the counteraction. Meantime, FLT restrained the endometrial cell growth and clone formation along with a reduction in Ki67 and PCNA. Jagged 1 and VPA stimulated the proliferation. On the contrary, DAPT displayed the anti-proliferating effect. Furthermore, FLT exhibited an antagonistic effect on Jagged 1 and VPA by downregulating Notch pathway and restraining proliferation. FLT also displayed a synergistic effect on DAPT.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study indicated that the overexpressing Notch pathway induced EMS proliferation. FLT attenuated the proliferation by inhibiting Notch pathway.

Therapeutic and delivery strategies of phytoconstituents for renal fibrosis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases endangering human health and life. By 2030, 14 per 100,000 people may die from CKD. Renal fibrosis (RF) is an important intermediate link and the final pathological change during CKD progression to the terminal stage. Therefore, identifying safe and effective treatment methods for RF has become an important goal. In 2018, the World Health Organization introduced traditional Chinese medicine into its effective global medical program. Various phytoconstituents that affect the RF process have been extracted from different plants. Here, we review the potential therapeutic capabilities of active phytoconstituents in RF treatment and discuss how phytoconstituents can be structurally modified or combined with other ingredients to enhance efficiency and reduce toxicity. We also summarize phytoconstituent delivery strategies to overcome renal barriers and improve bioavailability and targeting.

The Improvement Effect of Sodium Ferulate on the Formation of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Silicosis Mice Through the Neutrophil Alkaline Phosphatase 3 (NALP3)/Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/α-Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) Pathway

Background

Pneumoconiosis is a chronic progressive fibrotic interstitial pneumonia for which the pathogenesis and treatment remain unclear. Previous studies showed that sodium ferulate (SF) may have a therapeutic effect, and this study explored the mechanism underlying SF-related improvement.

Material/Methods

In this study, a silicosis mouse model and primary cultured mouse lung fibroblasts were established. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, western blot analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Masson staining were used to observe the lung injury, expression of vimentin, and the degree of pulmonary fibrosis. The extracted lung fibroblasts were identified by immunofluorescence. The expression of fibrosis-related genes encoding transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), neutrophil alkaline phosphatase 3 (NALP3), collagen-1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) and p38 proteins were detected by western blot. The effects of SF and the TGF-β pathway agonist SRI-011381 on cell proliferation and the expression of fibrosis-related protein in mouse lung fibroblasts were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8, immunofluorescence, and western blot as needed.

Results

SF reduced the lung lesions in silicosis mice and inhibited the expression of vimentin and fibrosis-related genes, while having no effect on body weight. Vimentin expression was positive in the extracted cells. In vitro experiments showed that SF inhibited the proliferation of lung fibroblasts and the expression of fibrosis-related proteins. In addition, SF partly reversed the opposite regulatory effect of SRI-011381 on lung fibroblasts.

Conclusions

SF inhibited lung injury and fibrosis in silicosis mice through the NALP3/TGF-β1/α-SMA pathway.

Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles and ferulic acid on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury: possible underlying mechanisms

OBJECTIVES

The present study examined the effects of ferulic acid (FA) and Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and a combination of both on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats and their possible underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

two-hundreds male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the 5 groups; i) sham group, ii) control (IRI) group (occlusion of the left renal pedicle for 45 min), iii) FA group as IRI group with FA (100 mg/Kg oral 24 hrs before ischemia), iv) ZnO-NPs group as IRI group with ZnO-NPs single 5 mg/Kg i.p. 2 hrs before ischemia and v) FA + ZnO-NPs group as IRI group with both FA and ZnO-NPs in the same previous doses. According to the reperfusion times, each group was further subdivided into 4 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 7 days reperfusion subgroups.

RESULTS

administration of either FA or ZnO-NPs caused significant improvement in the elevated serum creatinine and BUN and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and expression of TNF-α, Bax, caspase-3 in kidney tissues with significant rise in the creatinine clearance, the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the expression of HO-1, HIF-1α genes and proliferation marker (ki67) in kidney tissues compared to IRI group (p < 0.05). Moreover, a combination of both agents produced more significant improvement in the studied parameters than each agent did alone (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both FA and ZnO-NPs exerted cytoprotective effects against ischemic kidney injury and a combination of both exhibited more powerful renoprotective effect. This renoprotective effect might be due to suppression of oxidative stress, enhancement of cell proliferation (ki67), upregulation of antioxidant genes (Nrf2, HO-1 and HIF-1α) and downregulation of inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and apoptotic genes (caspase-3 and Bax).

Renoprotective effect of local sildenafil administration in renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury: A randomised controlled canine study

Objectives: To design a new canine model to assess the renoprotective effect of local sildenafil administration, as the renoprotective effect of systemic sildenafil administration in renal ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in animal models has been shown but its local effects have not been established to date. Materials and methods: In all, 120 dogs were assigned to five groups: sham, oral control (OC) group (right nephrectomy + left renal ischaemia for 60 min), oral sildenafil (OS) group (oral sildenafil 1 mg/kg, 60 min before ischaemia), local control (LC) group (local renal perfusion with saline and heparin for 5 min) and local sildenafil (LS) group (perfusion with sildenafil 0.5 mg/kg). Renal functions, histopathological changes, expression of caspase-3, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), inflammatory cytokines (intracellular adhesion molecule 1, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in renal tissues were assessed in all groups at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. Results: There were significant improvements in renal functions and cortical and medullary damage scores in the sildenafil-treated groups compared to their control groups (P < 0.05). Also, the LS group showed significantly better improvement of renal functions and cortical and medullary damage scores than the OS group (P < 0.05). Moreover, sildenafil significantly decreased the expression of caspase-3 and inflammatory cytokines and increased the expression of Nrf2 and eNOS in renal tissue, which were statistically significant in the LS group. Conclusion: LS has a greater renoprotective effect against renal IR injury than systemic administration via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pathways. Abbreviations: BUN: blood urea nitrogen; Ct: cycle threshold; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; H&E: haematoxylin and eosin; IL-1β: interleukin 1β; NO: nitric oxide; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; OC: oral control; OS: oral sildenafil; LC: local control; LS: local sildenafil.

Ferulic acid improves cardiovascular and kidney structure and function in hypertensive rats

Ferulic acid is a simple phenolic acid commonly present in cereals. In this study, changes in heart and kidney structure and function were measured in young N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated Wistar rats and 10-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) alone and after chronic treatment with ferulic acid (FA; 50 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹; n = 6-10; *P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressures were increased after L-NAME treatment (control 125 ± 2 mm Hg, L-NAME 205 ± 6* mm Hg after 8 weeks) and in SHR (250 ± 2 mm Hg; WKY 149 ± 4 mm Hg). Hypertensive rats developed left ventricular hypertrophy, increased ventricular diastolic stiffness (κ; Wistar, 21.4 ± 1.6; L-NAME, 30.1 ± 0.9*; WKYs, 24.1 ± 0.9; SHR 29.5 ± 0.7) and fibrosis of heart and kidneys. Treatment with ferulic acid reduced systolic blood pressure (L-NAME + FA, 157 ± 4*; SHR + FA 214 ± 8* mm Hg), reduced left ventricular diastolic stiffness (L-NAME + FA, 25.2 ± 0.5*; SHR + FA 26.3 ± 0.5*) and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration, ferric iron accumulation, and collagen deposition in left ventricles and kidneys. Ferulic acid improved both endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated thoracic aortic rings and antioxidant status by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the heart and kidneys. FA decreased plasma liver enzyme activities and plasma creatinine concentrations. Thus, FA improved the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels, liver, and kidneys in hypertensive rats.