Icariin-induced miR-875-5p attenuates epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting hedgehog signaling in liver fibrosis

Traditional Chinese medicine and mitophagy: A novel approach for cardiovascular disease management

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an enormous economic burden on individuals and human society. Laboratory studies have identified several drugs that target mitophagy for the prevention and treatment of CVD. Only a few of these drugs have been successful in clinical trials, and most studies have been limited to animal and cellular models. Furthermore, conventional drugs used to treat CVD, such as antiplatelet agents, statins, and diuretics, often result in adverse effects on patients' cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory systems. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained significant attention for its unique theoretical basis and clinical efficacy in treating CVD.

PURPOSE

This paper systematically summarizes all the herbal compounds, extracts, and active monomers used to target mitophagy for the treatment of CVD in the last five years. It provides valuable information for researchers in the field of basic cardiovascular research, pharmacologists, and clinicians developing herbal medicines with fewer side effects, as well as a useful reference for future mitophagy research.

METHODS

The search terms "cardiovascular disease," "mitophagy," "herbal preparations," "active monomers," and "cardiac disease pathogenesis" in combination with "natural products" and "diseases" were used to search for studies published in the past five years until January 2024.

RESULTS

Studies have shown that mitophagy plays a significant role in the progression and development of CVD, such as atherosclerosis (AS), heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI), cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. Herbal compound preparations, crude extracts, and active monomers have shown potential as effective treatments for these conditions. These substances protect cardiomyocytes by inducing mitophagy, scavenging damaged mitochondria, and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. They display notable efficacy in combating CVD.

CONCLUSION

TCM (including herbal compound preparations, extracts, and active monomers) can treat CVD through various pharmacological mechanisms and signaling pathways by inducing mitophagy. They represent a hotspot for future cardiovascular basic research and a promising candidate for the development of future cardiovascular drugs with fewer side effects and better therapeutic efficacy.

Icariin alleviates renal inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis via Nrf2-mediated attenuation of mitochondrial damage

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is an inevitable consequence of all progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to a substantial health burden worldwide. Icariin, an active flavonoid glycoside obtained from Epimedium species, exerts potential antifibrotic effect. The study aimed to explore the protective effects of icariin against tubulointerstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced CKD mice and TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells, and furthermore, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that icariin significantly improved renal function, alleviated tubular injuries, and reduced fibrotic lesions in UUO mice. Furthermore, icariin suppressed renal inflammation, reduced oxidative stress as evidenced by elevated superoxide dismutase activity and decreased malondialdehyde level. Additionally, TOMM20 immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscope revealed that mitochondrial mass and morphology of tubular epithelial cells in UUO mice was restored by icariin. In HK-2 cells treated with TGF-β1, icariin markedly decreased profibrotic proteins expression, inhibited inflammatory factors, and protected mitochondria along with preserving mitochondrial morphology, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) overproduction, and preserving membrane potential. Further investigations demonstrated that icariin could activate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway both in vivo and in vitro, whereas inhibition of Nrf2 by ML385 counteracted the protective effects of icariin on TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. In conclusion, icariin protects against renal inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis at least partly through Nrf2-mediated attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction, which suggests that icariin could be developed as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of CKD.

Icariin alleviates diabetic renal interstitial fibrosis aggravation by inhibiting miR-320a-3p targeting BMP6

Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes, accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Although the mechanisms in diabetic nephropathy fibrosis have been the focus of many studies, only limited information is currently available concerning microRNA regulation in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles of miR-320a-3p and bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP6) in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. After inducing fibrosis with high glucose in HK-2 cells, we found that miR-320a-3p is significantly up-regulated, whereas BMP6 is markedly down-regulated. These changes suggest close link between miR-320a-3p and BMP6 in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. To elucidate this phenomenon, miR-320a-3p mimic, inhibitor and siBMP6 were employed. We observed in miR-320a-3p mimic group the fibrosis marker include alpha smooth muscle actin and type I collagen was significantly up-regulated, whereas BMP6 exhibited the opposite trend. Additionally, we found icariin could alleviate tubulointerstitial fibrosis by downregulation the miR-320a-3p expression. In conclusion, miR-320a-3p promotes tubulointerstitial fibrosis during the development of DN by suppressing BMP signal pathway activity via inhibiting BMP6 expression. Suggesting that miR-320a-3p represents a potential therapeutic target for tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced by diabetic nephropathy.

Icariside Ⅱ attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by modulating macrophage polarization

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Numerous studies have provided evidence supporting the significant roles of icariin, in the prevention of multiple chronic diseases like diabetes, liver fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, renal fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. In particular, Icariside II (ISE II), a prominent flavonoid glycoside derived from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, the principal metabolite of icariin, has demonstrated noteworthy anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, along with its ability to protect against lung remodeling. However, the research exploring ISE Ⅱ's application in treating pulmonary fibrosis remains limited.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of ISE II in models of pulmonary fibrosis, while also investigating its potential mechanisms of action in cell signaling pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An in vitro model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by treating NIH-3T3 cells with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Western blot, RT-qPCR, and scratch test were performed to assess the effect of ISE Ⅱ. In addition, a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, and the therapeutic effect of ISE Ⅱ was tested by orally administering ISE Ⅱ at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Three weeks later, lung function, micro-CT, hydroxyproline content, pathological staining, and cytokines detection of BALF or serum were used to assess the anti-fibrosis effects of ISE Ⅱ. Next, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and in vivo transcriptomics were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action.

RESULTS

Our data revealed a significant inhibitory effect of ISE Ⅱ on the upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen production induced by TGF-β1 in fibroblasts. Meanwhile, ISE Ⅱ exerted a therapeutic effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by improving lung function, decreasing collagen deposition, and reducing the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), TGF-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additionally, ISE Ⅱ treatment effectively attenuated the infiltration of M2 macrophages, concurrently downregulating the expression level of M2 marker genes, such as CD206, arginase-1(Arg-1), and Chitinase-Like Protein 3 (YM-1). Importantly, we observed a statistically significant reduction in the M2 phenotype of interstitial macrophages (IMs). However, the impact of ISE Ⅱ on the M2 polarization of alveolar macrophages (AMs) did not reach statistical significance. Lastly, transcriptome sequencing results suggested that the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects of ISE Ⅱ may be mediated by the suppression of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, which modulated M2 polarization in macrophages and contributed to the amelioration of pulmonary fibrosis. By immunohistochemical analysis, it was verified that ISE Ⅱ treatment dramatically inhibited the activation of β-catenin in fibrosis murine.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that ISE Ⅱ exerted anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting pro-fibrotic macrophage polarization. The underlying mechanism of action might be mediated by modulating the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit the M2 program in IMs.

Liver protecting effects and molecular mechanisms of icariin and its metabolites

As a detoxification and metabolism organ, the liver plays a vital role in human health. However, an excessive consumption of drugs and toxins, exposure to pathogenic viruses, and unhealthy living habits can lead to liver damage, which may even develop into liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. is a traditional Chinese medicine and dietary supplement in which the flavonoid icariin is a main functional component. Although the protective mechanisms of icariin and its metabolites against liver injury are not yet comprehensively understood, an increasing number of studies have confirmed their liver-protective and anticancer effects. Indeed, icaritin, one of the metabolites of icariin, is currently utilized as an active component of an anti-cancer drug. This paper presents a review of the molecular mechanisms through which icariin and its metabolites actively protect against the occurrence and development of liver injury, and, thus, provides a comprehensive reference for further research and their application in liver protection.

Icariin alleviates ferroptosis-related atherosclerosis by promoting autophagy in xo-LDL-induced vascular endothelial cell injury and atherosclerotic mice

Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) are located between the blood plasma and the vascular tissue, and the ferroptosis (iron-dependent programmed cell death) of VECs can lead to a range of cardiovascular diseases. Icariin is the main active ingredient of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., which can improve endothelial cell dysfunction. In the present study, the protective effects of icariin on oxidised low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-treated VECs and high-fat diet-fed Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were investigated. Inflammatory fibrosis in tissues and inflammatory factors in serum and cell supernatants were detected, and mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression levels of ferroptosis-associated proteins were also detected. The results revealed that icariin reduced the endothelial atherosclerotic plaque area and collagen fibres in aortic sinus tissue, and increased the viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas it reduced the reactive oxygen species levels of VECs. The nucleation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and subsequent autophagy were negatively associated with ferroptosis in endothelial cells, and the more prominent the autophagy, the lower the levels of ferroptosis. Furthermore, by co-treating the cells with icariin and the two autophagy inhibitors, Bafilomycin A1 (blocking autophagosome and lysosome fusion) and 3-methyladenine (blocking autophagosome formation), respectively, the promoting effects of icariin on autophagy were found to be mediated through the process of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. In in vivo experiments, icariin reduced ferroptosis, alleviated atherosclerotic lesions and increased the rate of TFEB nucleation. Additionally, it was found that ARG304, THR308 and GLN311 were the optimal binding sites for the interaction between icariin and TFEB. Taken together, these results suggest that the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes promoted by icarrin enhances autophagy and thus reduces ferroptosis. Therefore, icariin may be a potential candidate for the prevention of ferroptosis of VECs and, thus, for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

LINC01608 activated by YY1 facilitate hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating the EGFR/ERK axis

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been demonstrated to associate with a variety of cancers. However, the mechanisms of LncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression are still not fully clarified.

METHODS

LINC01608 expression level in HCC and adjacent normal tissues was detected by real-time-quantitively PCR (RT-qPCR) in clinical samples and in situ hybridization (ISH) in tissue microarray. Several functional assays were performed to determine the biological effects of LINC01608 in HCC cells in vitro, while subcutaneous xenograft models and lung metastasis models in nude mice and immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed the role of LINC01608 in HCC progression in vivo. The combination of LINC01608 with miR-875-5p and target genes was elucidated by dual-luciferase report assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays. Finally, bioinformatics analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) were performed to investigate the mechanism of Yin Yang-1 (YY1) regulating LINC01608 transcription.

RESULTS

LINC01608 was overexpressed in HCC tissues, and high LINC01608 expression predicted poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients. LINC01608 could promote HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that LINC01608 could sponge to miR-875-5p and activate the EGFR/ERK pathway. Moreover, we identified transcriptional factor YY1 could bind to the promoter of LINC01608 and induce its transcription.

CONCLUSION

LINC01608 could serve as a promising prognostic biomarker of HCC. YY1-activated LINC01608 could promote HCC progression by associating with miR-875-5p to induce the EGFR/ERK signalling pathway. This discovery might provide therapeutic strategies for HCC.

UHPLC-ESI-QE-Orbitrap-MS based metabolomics reveals the antioxidant mechanism of icaritin on mice with cerebral ischemic reperfusion

Background

Icaritin (ICT) has been previously demonstrated to display protective effects against cerebral ischemic reperfusion (I/R) by inhibiting oxidative stress, but the mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the mechanism from the perspective of metabolomics.

Methods

A mice cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model was explored to mimic cerebral ischemic reperfusion and protective effect of ICT was assessed by neurologic deficit scoring, infarct volume and brain water content. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QE-Orbitrap-MS) based metabolomic was performed to explore potential biomarkers. Brain tissue metabolic profiles were analyzed and metabolic biomarkers were identified through multivariate data analysis. The protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and HQO1 were assayed by western blot. The release of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) were detected using corresponding assay kits.

Results

The results showed that after ICT treatment, the neurological deficit, cerebral infarction area, brain edema and the level of MDA in brain tissue of MCAO/R mice were significantly reduced. Meanwhile, ICT enhanced the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px. Western blot results confirmed that ICT up-regulated the protein levels of antioxidant-related protein including Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1. According to the metabolomic profiling of brain tissues, clear separations were observed among the Sham, Model and ICT groups. A total of 44 biomarkers were identified, and the identified biomarkers were mainly related to linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and purine metabolism, respectively. At the same time, the inhibitory effect of ICT on arachidonic acid and linoleic acid in brain tissue, as well as the promoting effect on taurine, GABA, NAAG, may be the key factors for the anti-neurooxidative function of mice after MCAO/R injury.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that ICT has benefits for MCAO/R injury, which are partially related to the suppression of oxidative stress via stimulating the Nrf2 signaling and regulating the production of arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, taurine, GABA, NAAG in brain tissue.

Icariin-Mediated miR-875-5p Inhibits Autophagy and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Regulation of MDM4 in Cervical Cancer

MicroRNAs, one type of non-coding RNA, and Icariin have attracted tremendous attention concerning various diseases, especially cancers. Also, the function of Icariin on malignant behaviors by targeting miR-875-5p/MDM4 axis in cervical cancer remains unknown. MiR-875-5p analogs combined with MDM4 or Icariin were used to explore autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells. Xenograft mice were highlighted to elucidate the influences of Icariin and miR-875-5p in vivo. As a result, miR-875-5p was cut down in cervical cancer cells, which promoted malignant phenotype, autophagy, and limited apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Contrarily,miR-875-5p overexpression had a contrary performance in cervical cancer cells. miR-875-5p was validated as a sponge of MDM4. Enhanced expression of MDM4 weakened the performance of miR-875-5p mimic on autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, Icariin reversed the stimulative action of the inhibitor on autophagy and xenograft tumor growth. Generally, These findings imply that Icariin could be identified as a curative avenue for cervical cancer via miR-875-5p/MDM4 axis.

Endocannabinoid signalling/cannabinoid receptor 2 is involved in icariin-mediated protective effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic disease of unknown aetiology with limited effective treatment options. It is important to explore novel therapeutic targets and develop potential drugs for IPF.

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to analyse nontargeted plasma metabolites in patients with IPF and investigate whether cannabinoid receptor (CB2) activation mediates the antifibrotic effect of icariin (ICA).

METHODS

We used an untargeted metabolomics method to detect the global metabolic profiles in the plasma of stable IPF patients and patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as healthy subjects. The untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed that IPF showed differential metabolites and perturbed signalling pathways. ICA is pharmacologically bioactive and possesses extensive therapeutic capacities such as osteoprotective, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and reproductive function. Therefore, ICA was administered to a pulmonary fibrosis rat model for 4 weeks and then the effect of ICA on pulmonary fibrosis was examined by dissection and histology.

RESULTS

The metabolites in the plasma were determined by untargeted LC-MS. An unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) was used to observe the distribution of each sample, and a supervised partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) results showed that there was significant separation between any two groups. ROC curve analyses revealed that 8 metabolites with high AUCs above 0.7 between the three groups of plasma samples. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 3 metabolites are involved in retrograde endocannabinoid signalling. Meanwhile, Retrograde endocannabinoid signalling was identified significantly different in IPF group from other groups by Kyoto encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and then we further confirmed the endocannabinoid signalling by detecting the expression of the main receptors in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, COPD rat model and normal rats. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the elevation of CB1 and CB2 in the lung tissues could be a signature of the pulmonary fibrosis rat model. Importantly, ICA may alleviate bleomycin-induced lung injury by decreasing CB1 and CB2 expression in the bleomycin-induced rat model.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, we measured the global metabolic profile of IPF patients and identified CB2 as a novel potential target. ICA treatment demonstrated outstanding therapeutic effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and targeting on CB2 may be the main underlying mechanism. ICA is a promising drug candidate to cure pulmonary fibrosis and mediate antagonists of the CB2 receptor.

Non-coding RNAs regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition: Research progress in liver disease

Chronic liver injury could gradually progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatic carcinoma without effective treatment. The massive production and activation of abnormal cell differentiation is vital to the procession of liver diseases. Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is a biological process in which differentiated epithelial cells lose their epithelial characteristics and acquire mesenchymal cell migration capacity. Emerging evidence suggests that EMT not only occurs in the process of hepatocellular carcinogenesis, but also appears in liver cells transforming to myofibroblasts, a core event of liver disease. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) such as microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) are important regulatory factors in EMT, which can regulate target gene expression by binding with RNA single-stranded. Various studies had shown that ncRNA regulation of EMT plays a key role in liver disease development, and many effective ncRNAs have been identified as promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. In this review, we focus on the relationship between the different ncRNAs and EMT as well as the specific molecular mechanism in the liver diseases to enrich the pathological progress of liver diseases and provide reference for the treatment of liver diseases.

Icariin inhibits the malignant progression of lung cancer by affecting the PI3K/Akt pathway through the miR‑205‑5p/PTEN axis

Icariin (ICA) is one of the main bioactive monomer belonging to the flavonoid glycosides that has been widely studied in multiple diseases, including lung cancer. Although ICA has shown anticancer effects, its specific molecular mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the expression of microRNA (miR)-205-5p and Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in human lung cancer and bronchial cells were analyzed. Cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were investigated in vitro. In addition, the function of ICA on tumor growth was determined using a xenotransplantation model. The results showed that ICA decreased the viability of lung cancer cells. In addition, miR-205-5p was upregulated in lung cancer tissues but downregulated following ICA treatment, while PTEN showed a significantly lower expression in lung cancer cells. miR-205-5p could increase cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle progression while suppressing cell apoptosis. Importantly, rescue experiment results showed that ICA could target the miR-205-5p/PTEN axis to affect the PI3K/Akt signaling, thereby suppressing the malignant cell phenotype of lung cancer. Finally, animal experiments confirmed that ICA could inhibit lung cancer growth in vivo. Taken together, our findings suggest that miR-205-5p is a key gene targeted by ICA to inhibit lung cancer progression.

hsa-miR-875-5p inhibits tumorigenesis and suppresses TGF-β signalling by targeting USF2 in gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies, and an increasing number of studies have shown that its pathogenesis is regulated by various miRNAs. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-875-5p in GC.

Methods

The expression of miR-875-5p was detected in human GC specimens and cell lines by miRNA qRT–PCR. The effect of miR-875-5p on GC proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) proliferation and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Migration and invasion were examined by transwell migration and invasion assays as well as wound healing assays. The interaction between miR-875-5p and its target gene upstream stimulatory factor 2(USF2) was verified by dual luciferase reporter assays. The effects of miR-875-5p in vivo were studied in xenograft nude mouse models. Related proteins were detected by western blot.

Results

The results showed that miR-875-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. USF2 was proved to be a direct target of miR-875-5p. Knockdown of USF2 partially counteracted the effects of miR-875-5p inhibitor. Overexpression of miR-875-5p could inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion and suppress the TGF-β signalling pathway by downregulating USF2.

Conclusions

MiR-875-5p can inhibit the progression of GC by directly targeting USF2. And in the future, miR-875-5p is expected to be a potential target for GC diagnosis and treatment.

Icariin Attenuation of Diabetic Kidney Disease Through Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptors

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus and has become the primary cause of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) globally. Icariin (ICA), an effective component extracted from Epimedium, has antiosteoporosis effect, antitumor effects, anti-ischemia effects, and other effects. In this study, a mouse DKD model was established, and Icariin solid nanoliposomes were administered to determine whether ICA had a protective effect on the renal function of DKD mice by regulating estrogen level and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. The results showed that the microalbumin/creatinine in urine, serum urea nitrogen, and CHOL in ICA cultured DKD mice significantly decreased, and mice nephropathy improved significantly. rat renal tubule epithelial cells were further tested, and the rat renal tubule epithelial cells were modeled by cultured cells with high glucose. The results showed that high glucose could promote the proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells. Simultaneously, ICA can inhibit the proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells and induce cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of ER stress-related proteins IRE1 and XBP-1S was further detected. Additionally, to ICA intervention, a GPER antagonist (G-15) was added for intervention, the inhibitory effects of IRE1 and XBP-1S were reversed, and the ER stress pathway was activated. Cell experiments showed that ICA could promote GPER expression, while inhibiting GPER expression promoted the activation of ER stress pathway, and GPER expression was negatively correlated with ER stress protein expression. Therefore, the experiment proved that in DKD tissues, a high concentration of ICA can inhibit the ER stress response by promoting the expression of GPER, reducing the proliferation of diabetic nephropathy, and increasing the rate of tissue apoptosis.

Icariin inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition of renal tubular epithelial cells via regulating the miR-122-5p/FOXP2 axis in diabetic nephropathy rats

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) dominates the pathology of diabetic nephropathy (DN). microRNAs (miRNAs) can influence the fate of DN via regulation of EMT. This study aimed to analyze the role of Icariin (ICA) in EMT of RTECs, hoping to provide theoretical basis for DN management. The DN rat model was established using streptozocin, followed by ICA treatment, histopathological observation, and detection of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. In vitro cell models were established using high glucose (HG), followed by assessment of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, and E-cadherin, α-SMA, miR-122-5p, and FOXP2 expressions. Cells were transfected with miR-122-5p mimics or si-FOXP2 for joint experiments with ICA. The targeting relationship between miR-122-5p and FOXP2 was verified. ICA repaired renal dysfunctions and glomerular structure abnormities of DN rats in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro, ICA improved proliferation while suppressed migration, apoptosis, and EMT of RTECs. miR-122-5p was up-regulated in DN rats and suppressed by ICA, and miR-122-5p targeted FOXP2. miR-122-5p up-regulation or FOXP2 down-regulation reversed the protective effects of ICA on HG-induced RTECs. Overall, our finding ascertained that ICA inhibited miR-122-5p to promote FOXP2 transcription, thereby attenuating EMT of RTECs and renal injury in DN rats.

Hsa_circ_NOTCH3 regulates ZNF146 through sponge adsorption of miR-875-5p to promote tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

To explore the specific mechanism of circular RNA (circRNA) in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and provide new ideas for its diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was for evaluating the expression of circ_NOTCH3 in liver cancer tissues and matched normal tissues and related cell lines. After overexpression or co-expression of circ_NOTCH3 or microRNA (miRNA) in cells, the changes in cell function were analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase report analysis were utilized to predict and verify the binding site between circ_NOTCH3 and miRNA. Western blotting was applied to detect gene expression alterations. Additionally, in vivo tumor growth was also utilized to further assess the influence of knocking-down circ_NOTCH3 on the progression of HCC.

Results

It was confirmed circ_NOTCH3 was highly expressed in HCC specimens and cells. The proliferation, migration, invasion, and oxaliplatin-resistance potential of HCC could be restrained by silencing circ_NOTCH3 or by ectopic expression of miR-875-5p in vitro. In terms of mechanism, circ_NOTCH3 directly binds to miR-875-5p, regulating its activity by targeting the 3'-UTR of ZNF146. Overexpression of circ_NOTCH3 evidently overturned the diminishing influence of miR-875-5p mimics on HCC cells.

Conclusions

As an oncogene, circ_NOTCH3 can trigger the proliferation, invasion, migration, and oxaliplatin resistance of HCC cells through the miR-875-5p/ZNF146 axis, and may be a promising target for the treatment of HCC.

Icariin attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by targeting Hippo/YAP pathway

Pulmonary fibrosis is a manifestation of the progression of interstitial pulmonary disease. Icariin (ICA) has been found to exhibit protective effects on multiple chronic diseases like diabetes, liver, heart, and renal fibrosis. Here, a systemic pharmacological study was designed to investigate whether ICA treatment alleviates bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The rat pulmonary fibrosis model was constructed by non-invasive endotracheal intubation instillation of BLM to observe the intervention effects of ICA on pulmonary fibrosis in the whole process of inflammation and fibrosis. ICA reduced the collagen deposition and inflammation induced by BLM in rat. The comparative RNA-sequencing was conducted to analyze the lung gene expression profiles in rat. KEGG analysis indicated that most of the genes were enriched in Hippo pathway, NF-κB pathway, and B-cell receptor signaling pathway, etc. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the expression of YAP was significantly elevated in the model group and decreased in the ICA treatment group. Taken together, the anti-fibrotic effect of ICA appears to be mediated by its inhibitory of YAP, which is the core transcriptional regulator of Hippo pathway.

Improved Differentiation of hESC-Derived Pancreatic Progenitors by Using Human Fetal Pancreatic Mesenchymal Cells in a Micro-scalable Three-Dimensional Co-culture System

Mesenchymal cells of diverse origins differ in gene and protein expression besides producing varying effects on their organ-matched epithelial cells' maintenance and differentiation capacity. Co-culture with rodent's tissue-specific pancreatic mesenchyme accelerates proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation of pancreatic epithelial progenitors. Therefore, in our study, the impact of three-dimensional (3D) co-culture of human fetal pancreatic-derived mesenchymal cells (hFP-MCs) with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors (hESC-PPs) development towards endocrine and beta cells was assessed. Besides, the ability to maintain scalable cultures combining hFP-MCs and hESC-PPs was investigated. hFP-MCs expressed many markers in common with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). However, they showed higher expression of DESMIN compared to BM-MSCs. After co-culture of hESC-PPs with hFP-MCs, the pancreatic progenitor (PP) spheroids generated in Matrigel had higher expression of NGN3 and INSULIN than BM-MSCs co-culture group, which shows an inductive impact of pancreatic mesenchyme on hESC-PPs beta-cells maturation. Pancreatic aggregates generated by forced aggregation through scalable AggreWell system showed similar features compared to the spheroids. These aggregates, a combination of hFP-MCs and hESC-PPs, can be applied as an appropriate tool for assessing endocrine-niche interactions and developmental processes by mimicking the pancreatic tissue.

Icariin attenuates renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease by inhibiting interleukin-1β/transforming growth factor-β-mediated activation of renal fibroblasts

Icariin (ICA) is a bioactive flavonoid extracted from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim and exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities including antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects. Recently, icariin has shown renoprotective role by inhibiting pathological matrix. However, the underlying mechanisms of the efficacy remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of icariin on renal fibrosis and explore its molecular mechanisms. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was induced in rats with 5/6 ablation and infarction (A/I) operation. Four weeks later, rats were treated with vehicle or 20 mg/kg (low dose) or 40 mg/kg (high dose) of icariin by daily gavage. Furthermore, to further elucidate the effect mechanisms of icariin, in vitro, NRK-49F cells stimulated by 8 ng/ml IL-1β were treated with icariin in the presence or absence of SB431542 or the neutralizing antibody of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) for 24 h. We showed that icariin treatment for 8 weeks dose-dependently improved 5/6 (A/I)-induced kidney injury and fibrosis, and blocked the release of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. In vitro, icariin inhibited IL-1β/TGF-β-mediated activation of renal fibroblasts. In summary, anti-fibrotic effects of icariin were interconnected with the inhibition of renal fibroblast activation caused by IL-1β/TGF-β signaling.

Strategies Targeting the Innate Immune Response for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Liver Fibrosis

Direct-acting antivirals eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) in more than 95% of treated individuals and may abolish liver injury, arrest fibrogenesis, and reverse fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, liver regeneration is usually a slow process that is less effective in the late stages of fibrosis. What is more, fibrogenesis may prevail in patients with advanced cirrhosis, where it can progress to liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the development of antifibrotic drugs that halt and reverse fibrosis progression is urgently needed. Fibrosis occurs due to the repair process of damaged hepatic tissue, which eventually leads to scarring. The innate immune response against HCV is essential in the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. HCV-infected hepatocytes and liver macrophages secrete proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that promote the activation and differentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to myofibroblasts that produce extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Prolonged ECM production by myofibroblasts due to chronic inflammation is essential to the development of fibrosis. While no antifibrotic therapy is approved to date, several drugs are being tested in phase 2 and phase 3 trials with promising results. This review discusses current state-of-the-art knowledge on treatments targeting the innate immune system to revert chronic hepatitis C-associated liver fibrosis. Agents that cause liver damage may vary (alcohol, virus infection, etc.), but fibrosis progression shows common patterns among them, including chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, hepatocyte injury, HSC activation, and excessive ECM deposition. Therefore, mechanisms underlying these processes are promising targets for general antifibrotic therapies.

Molecular and cellular basis of the anticancer activity of the prenylated flavonoid icaritin in hepatocellular carcinoma

The prenylated flavonoid icaritin (ICT) is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on a solid array of preclinical and clinical data. The antitumor activity originates from the capacity of the drug to modulate several signaling effectors in cancer cells, mainly the estrogen receptor splice variant ERα36, the transcription factors STAT3 and NFκB, and the chemokine receptor CXCR4. Recent studies have implicated additional components, including different microRNAs, the generation of reactive oxygen species and the targeting of sphingosine kinase-1. ICT also engages the RAGE-HMGB1 signaling route and modulates the apoptosis/autophagy crosstalk to promote its anticancer activity. In addition, ICT exerts profound changes on the tumor microenvironment to favor an immune-response. Collectively, these multiple biochemical and cellular characteristics confer to ICT a robust activity profile which can be exploited to treat HCC, as well as other cancers, including glioblastoma and onco-hematological diseases such as chronic myeloid leukemia. This review provides an update of the pharmacological properties of ICT and its metabolic characteristics. It also addresses the design of derivatives, including both natural products and synthetic molecules, such as SNG1153 also in clinical trial. The prenylated flavonoid ICT deserves attention as a multifunctional natural product potentially useful to improve the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.