The Study of Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang Preventing and Treating Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through PPAR Signaling Pathway Based on Network Pharmacology and RNA-Seq Transcriptomics

Liver injury protection of Artemisia stechmanniana besser through PI3K/AKT pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia stechmanniana Besser, one of the most prevalent botanical medicines in Chinese, has been traditionally used for hepatitis treatment. However, the bioactive components and pharmacological mechanism on alcohol-induced liver injury remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the effect of A. stechmanniana on alcohol-induced liver damage, and further explore its mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Phytochemical isolation and structural identification were used to determine the chemical constituents of A. stechmanniana. Then, the alcohol-induced liver damage animal and cell model were established to evaluate its hepato-protective potential. Network pharmacology, molecular docking and bioinformatics were integrated to explore the mechanism and then the prediction was further supported by experiments. Moreover, both compounds were subjected to ADMET prediction through relevant databases.

RESULTS

28 compounds were isolated from the most bioactive fraction, ethyl acetate extract A. stechmanniana, in which five compounds (abietic acid, oplopanone, oplodiol, hydroxydavanone, linoleic acid) could attenuate mice livers damage caused by alcohol intragastration, reduce the degree of oxidative stress, and serum AST and ALT, respectively. Furthermore, abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exhibited best protective effect against alcohol-stimulated L-O2 cells injury among five bioactive compounds. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis suggested that abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exhibiting drug likeliness characteristics, were the principal active compounds acting on liver injury treatment, primarily impacting to cell proliferation, oxidative stress and inflammation-related PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Both of them displayed strong binding energies with five target proteins (HRAS, HSP90AA1, AKT1, CDK2, NF-κB p65) via molecular docking. Western blotting results further supported the predication with up-regulation of protein expressions of CDK2, and down-regulation of HRAS, HSP90AA1, AKT1, NF-κB p65 by abietic acid and hydroxydavanone.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol-induced liver injury protection by A. stechmanniana was verified in vivo and in vitro expanded its traditional use, and its two major bioactive compounds, abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exerted hepatoprotective effect through the regulation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Yinchenhao Decoction mitigates intestinal impairment induced by high carbohydrate diet in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): insights from inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, tight junctions, and microbiota homeostasis

As a major source of energy, carbohydrates have a protein-saving effect. However, excessive consumption of carbohydrates can lead to the disruption of the intestinal barrier in fish, especially for carnivorous fish. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine component Yinchenhao Decoction (YD), was used to detect the effect on intestinal barriers and microbial community equilibrium for largemouth bass in current research. In this research, a series of NC (normal carbohydrate diet) and HC (high carbohydrate diet) with graded YD treatments during 10 weeks feeding trial. Results suggested that 2% and 4% YD treatments significantly reduced gut inflammation and mucosal loss caused by HC. Compared with NC, HC significantly decreased the relative expression of intestinal tight junction-related genes (zo1, claudin1, claudin7, and occludin). However, with the application of YD, the expression of tight junction-related genes (zo1, claudin1, and claudin7) increased significantly (p < 0.05). Likewise, administration of YD significantly reduced elevated plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity caused by HC (p < 0.05). Additionally, YD significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related genes (grp78, atf6, chopα, ire1, xbp1, and eifα) and pro-apoptosis genes (casp3, casp8, and bax) (p < 0.05), while upregulating the anti-apoptosis gene bcl2 (p < 0.05). Moreover, YD significantly increased the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes and the enzyme activities of CAT and GPX, while decreased MDA concentration significantly (p < 0.05). Whereas, YD markedly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (il1β, tnfα, il8, and nf-κB) and the immune enzymes activity (ACP and AKP) (p < 0.05) by up-regulating the expression of anti-inflammatory genes (ikb and il10). Notably, YD modulated the largemouth bass intestinal microbial community, enhanced the diversity and increased the abundance of probiotic microorganisms in the intestinal microbiota. In summary, YD supplementation in HC alleviated inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, tight-junction injury, and microbiota disequilibrium in the intestine, which suggested that YD could be a valuable functional additive in aquaculture.

Butyrate alleviates alcoholic liver disease-associated inflammation through macrophage regulation and polarization via the HDAC1/miR-155 axis

BACKGROUND

We recently found that butyrate could ameliorate inflammation of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice. However, the exact mechanism remains incompletely comprehended. Here, we examined the role of butyrate on ALD-associated inflammation through macrophage (Mψ) regulation and polarization using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODS

For in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J mice were fed modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets supplemented with or without ethanol and sodium butyrate (NaB). After 6 weeks of treatment, mice were euthanized and associated indicators were analyzed. For in vitro experiments, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory murine RAW264.7 cells were treated with NaB or miR-155 inhibitor/mimic to verify the anti-inflammatory effect and underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

The administration of NaB alleviated pathological damage and associated inflammation, including LPS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β levels in ALD mice. NaB intervention restored the imbalance of macrophage polarization by inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and elevating arginase-1 (Arg-1). Moreover, NaB reduced histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), and miR-155 expression in ALD mice, but also increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Thus, MiR-155 was identified as a strong regulator of ALD. To further penetrate the role of miR-155, LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells co-cultured with NaB were treated with the specific inhibitor or mimic. Intriguingly, miR-155 was capable of negatively regulated inflammation with NaB intervention by targeting SOCS1, SHIP1, and IRAK-M genes.

CONCLUSION

Butyrate suppresses the inflammation in mice with ALD by regulating macrophage polarization via the HDAC1/miR-155 axis, which may potentially contribute to the novel therapeutic treatment for the disease.

An UHPLC-QTOF-MS-based strategy for systematic profiling of chemical constituents and associated in vivo metabolites of a famous traditional Chinese medicine formula, Yinchenhao decoction

Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been applied for relieving jaundice in China for more than 1800 years. However, the material basis for YCHD is still unclear, and the chemical composition and metabolism characteristic in vivo are undefined, making the potential effective constituents and mechanism of action unclear. Herein, an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS)-based strategy was applied for the chemical profiling of YCHD, as well as their in vivo prototypes and global metabolites that defined the metabolome. Our results showed that a total of 139 chemicals were identified in YCHD, including 28 organic acids, 12 monoterpenoids, five diterpenes, three triterpenoids, 17 iridoids, 23 anthraquinones, 26 flavonoids, four coumarins and 21 other types. Moreover, 58 prototypes and 175 metabolites were found in rat biological samples after oral administration of YCHD; those distributed in plasma, liver, intestine and feces were suggested to be potentially effective substances. Oxidation, hydrogenation, decarboxylation and conjugations with methyl, sulfate and glucuronate were considered as the predominant metabolic pathways in vivo. In conclusion, this is a systemic study of chemical constituents and in vivo metabolome profiles of YCHD, contributing to the material basis understanding and further mechanism research.

A systematic review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Epimedium koreanum Nakai

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Epimedium koreanum Nakai (E. koreanum), a member of the genus Epimedium in the family Berberidaceae, is a well-known and well-liked traditional herb used as a "kidney tonic". For thousands of years, it has been utilized for renal yang deficiency, impotence, spermatorrhea, impotence, weakness of tendons and bones, rheumatic paralysis and discomfort, numbness, and constriction.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The paper aims to comprehensively in-depth, and methodically review the most recent research on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of E. koreanum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer, ScienceDirect, Baidu Scholar, and CNKI and medicine books in China were searched for relevant information on E. koreanum.

RESULTS

In traditional uses, E. koreanum is frequently used to treat various diseases like erectile dysfunction, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, etc. To date, more than 379 compounds have been discovered from various parts of E. koreanum, including flavonoids, lignans, organic acids, terpenoids, hydrocarbons, dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, alkaloids, and others. Research has revealed that the compounds and crude extracts have a wide range of pharmacological effects on the reproductive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, as well as anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and antiviral properties. Besides, the crude extracts show potential hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Based on recent domestic and international research investigations, E. koreanum contains a wealth of chemical components with pronounced pharmacological activities. Its traditional uses are numerous, and the majority of these traditional uses have been supported by contemporary pharmacological investigations. Crude extracts, on the other hand, can result in hepatotoxicity. Therefore, additional in vivo and in vitro experimental research on the pharmacology and toxicology of E. koreanum are required in the future to assess its safety and efficacy. This will give a firmer scientific foundation for its safe application and the development of new drugs in the future.

Paris polyphylla saponins II inhibits invasive, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of melanoma cells through activation of autophagy

Malignant melanoma is a kind of malignant tumor derived from normal epidermal melanocytes or original nevus cells. It has a high degree of malignancy, rapid progress, dangerous condition, and poor prognosis. In recent years, the innovation of traditional Chinese medicine has broadened the scope and effect of tumor treatment. It is a hotspot and breakthrough to find new anti-tumor invasion and migration drugs from natural plants or traditional Chinese medicine. This study explored the role of PPII in promoting autophagy to inhibit EMT of melanoma cells, the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the invasion and migration of melanoma cells induced by PPII. We found that PPII effectively inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of melanoma B16 and B16F10 in vitro, and induced autophagy. We also established the xenograft tumor and metastatic tumor model of C57BL/6 mice with B16F10 cells. Results showed that PPII effectively inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors, induced autophagy and inhibited the expression level of EMT related protein; Metastasis experiment showed that PPII inhibited the invasion and migration of B16F10, the effect of inhibiting lung metastasis is the most significant. Further mechanism studies showed that the inhibition of PPII on melanoma invasion and migration is related to its induction of autophagy and then inhibition of EMT.

GW9662 ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting the PPARγ/CD36 pathway and altering the gut microbiota

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are currently among the most focused-on therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), although no clinical transformation has been achieved to date. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of GW9662 on choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAA-HFD)-induced NASH mice and reveal the mechanism underlying this effect.

METHODS

GW9662 (1 mg/kg) was administered in CDAA-HFD mouse model of NASH. The effect of GW9662 on hepatic lipid metabolism was investigated using liver RNA-seq and HepG2 cells induced by oleic acid and palmitic acid. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to analyze the effects of GW9662 on the composition and function of the fecal microbiota.

RESULTS

GW9662 improved the CDAA-HFD caused elevation in the levels of ALT, AST, hepatic free fatty acids and triglycerides. The liver pathological analysis indicated that GW9662 alleviated the hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. The NAFLD activity score and RNA-Seq revealed that GW9662 mainly regulated the fatty acids transport and lipid synthesis by inhibiting PPARγ, CD36, FABP1, FASN, and SCD1, and through the up-regulation of PPARα. Moreover, GW9662 reduced the epididymal fat weight. GW9662 reversed the gut microbiota disorder by increasing the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Dubosiella and Lactobacillus and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Helicobacteraceae, Desulfovibriaceae, and Rickenaceae.

CONCLUSIONS

GW9662 ameliorated lipid metabolism by inhibiting the PPARγ/CD36 pathway and altering the composition of the gut microbiota in NASH mice. Therefore, the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 deserves more attention as a potential therapeutic agent for NASH.

Integrated metabolome-microbiome analysis investigates the different regulations of Pudilan Xiaoyan oral liquid in young rats with acute pharyngitis compared to adult rats

BACKGROUND

Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid (PDL) is a famous traditional Chinese prescription recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopeia, which is widely used to treat inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract in children and adults. However, the endogenous changes in children and adults with PDL in the treatment of acute pharyngitis remain unclear.

PURPOSE

The differential regulatory roles of PDL in endogenous metabolism and gut microbes in young and adult rats were investigated with a view to providing a preclinical data reference for PDL in medication for children.

METHODS

An acute pharyngitis model was established, and serum levels of inflammatory factors and histopathology were measured. This study simulated the growth and development of children in young rats and explored the endogenous metabolic characteristics and intestinal microbial composition after the intervention of PDL by using serum metabolomic technique and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technique.

RESULTS

The results showed that PDL had therapeutic effects on young and adult rats with acute pharyngitis. Sixteen biomarkers were identified by metabolomics in the serum of young rats and 23 in adult rats. PDL can also affect intestinal microbial diversity and community richness in young and adult rats. Alloprevotella, Allobaculum, Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, and Enterorhabdus were prominent bacteria in young rats. Bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes of the adult rats changed more significantly under the treatment of PDL. In young rats, amino acid metabolism was the primary regulatory mode of PDL, whereas, in adult rats, glycerophospholipid metabolism was studied.

CONCLUSION

The regulation of PDL on the serum metabolite group and intestinal microflora in young rats was different from that in adult rats, indicating the necessity of an independent study on children's medication. PDL may also exert therapeutic effects on young and adult rats by regulating gut microbial homeostasis. The results support the clinical application of PDL.

Establishment and bioinformatics evaluation of the ethanol combined with palmitic acid-induced mouse hepatocyte AFLD model (the Hu-Qiu Model)

Chronic alcoholic liver disease has brought great harm to human health. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the first stage in the progression of all chronic alcoholic liver diseases. At present, there is no cell model that fully matches the etiology (high-fat diet + alcohol) of human alcoholic fatty liver disease. We used 100 mM ethanol +6.25 μM PA to establish the ethanol combined with PA-induced mouse hepatocyte AFLD model (EP-AFLD hepatocyte model) and performed the RNA-seq transcriptome sequencing. Through bioinformatics analysis and comparison, we discovered that the EP-AFLD hepatocyte model was more suitable for studying the pathological mechanism of AFLD than the mouse AFLD hepatocyte model induced by ethanol alone. And through bioinformatics analysis, we further discovered that 77 genes from the differential expression gene set of EP-AFLD hepatocyte model were engaged in the pathological process of mouse AFLD and 40 genes were involved in the pathogenesis of both mouse AFLD and human AFLD. In this study, a novel mouse hepatocyte AFLD model was successfully established by combining ethanol and PA, which can be used to study the molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis of AFLD in mice or humans. This study will provide a brand-new in vitro experimental platform for the in-depth study of AFLD pathogenesis and the screening of AFLD therapeutic drugs.

A transcriptomics and network pharmacology approach to elucidate the mechanism of action of geniposide on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Geniposide, the main active component of Fructus Gardeniae (FG), is known to confer protection against liver diseases. Herein we explored the hepatoprotective effects of geniposide and elucidated its molecular mechanism by transcriptome RNA-seq and network pharmacology. Liver injury was modeled by intraperitoneally injecting CCl₄ (0.15% prepared with refined peanut oil) at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg thrice a week; from the second week, rats were administered geniposide (20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg) by gavage for 6 weeks. Serum and liver samples were then collected to assess liver function indicators and inflammatory factors and to observe pathological changes in the liver. The Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform was used to obtain transcriptome data from the liver tissue of rats after geniposide administration. Core targets and pathways related to the liver protection mechanism of geniposide were further analyzed by integrating transcriptomics and network pharmacology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), core targets, and signaling pathways were identified by methods such as q-PCR, molecular docking, and Western blotting. We found that after geniposide administration, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and inflammatory factors decreased in the model group, and liver injury cells be effectively repaired. RNA-seq data analysis showed that compared to control group, the model group reversed 1,451 DEGs; further, compared to model group, geniposide reversed 511 DEGs. Eight key targets, including PIK3R1, ACOX3, and EGF, were found through further analyses. Geniposide was determined to mainly regulate the PPAR signaling pathway, apoptosis signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway in liver tissues. To summarize, the protective and restorative effects of geniposide on rat liver may seem to be related to its efficacy in inhibiting the activation of inflammatory pathways, thereby reducing cell apoptosis. Our findings should serve as the basis for the development of functional foods or drugs to prevent and treat liver diseases.

Preliminary study on the effective site and mechanism of action of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel in alleviating acute alcoholic liver injury in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel (MQR) belongs to the opium poppy tree plant species, and it has heat purging, detoxification, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.

AIM OF STUDY

MQR has liver-protective properties and can alleviate liver heat. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the effect of MQR extract on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice and explore the mechanism of action of ethyl acetate extract of MQR (MQR-E) on alcohol-induced liver injury in combination with the network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To induce acute alcoholic liver injury, 52% of edible wine was administered at 12 mL/kg for 14 days. The pharmacodynamic results were used to screen the active site. MQR-E composition was analyzed based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and relevant MQR-E and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) targets were screened using an online database. Then, Venn analysis of drug and disease-related targets was performed to obtain cross-targets. We investigated the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) of overlapping targets, the core targets were screened using the STRING database, and the DAVID database was chosen for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the central targets.

RESULTS

Each of the four MQR extracts ameliorated alcoholic liver injury to varying degrees; the best results were achieved with MQR-E. MQR-E reduces liver index, serum transaminases, and fat accumulation, and attenuates ethanol-induced histopathological changes. The activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were increased, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly reduced compared to the EtOH group, and MQR-E effectively mitigated the oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the liver. Thirty-six compounds were identified, and flavonoids were the most abundant. PPI network topology analysis was employed to assess 32 core targets: IL-6, TNF, STAT3, PPARA, and other inflammation and lipid metabolism related genes. Pathway analysis of GO and KEGG enrichment showed that the regulation of inflammatory factors and lipid metabolism were primarily involved.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that MQR-E had protective effects against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice, and the mechanism could be linked to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. The mechanism by which MQR-E ameliorated ALD primarily involved regulating inflammatory factors and lipid metabolism based on the prediction of the network pharmacology.

Exploring the effect of Yinzhihuang granules on alcoholic liver disease based on pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology and molecular docking

BACKGROUND

Yinzhihuang granules (YZHG) is a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of liver disease. However, the mechanism of YZHG in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still unclear.

METHODS

This study combined liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology, pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology and molecular docking methods to evaluate the potential mechanism of YZHG in the treatment of ALD.

RESULTS

A total of 25 compounds including 4-hydroxyacetophenone, scoparone, geniposide, quercetin, baicalin, baicalein, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in YZHG were identified by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The pharmacodynamic investigations indicated that YZHG could improve liver function and the degree of liver tissue lesions, and reduce liver inflammation and oxidative stress in ALD mice. Network pharmacology analysis showed that YZHG treated ALD mainly by regulating inflammation-related signaling pathways such as the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The results of the PPI network and molecular docking showed that the targets of SRC, HSP90AA1, STAT3, EGFR and AKT1 could be the key targets of YZHG in the treatment of ALD.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the potential compounds, potential targets and signaling pathways of YZHG in the treatment of ALD, which is helpful to clarify the efficacy and mechanism of YZHG and provide new insights for the clinical application of YZHG.

Geniposide plus chlorogenic acid reverses non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via regulation of gut microbiota and bile acid signaling in a mouse model in vivo

Background: Geniposide and chlorogenic acid are the major active ingredients in Yinchenhao Decoction and are widely used as herbal medicines in Asia. This study further assessed their effects on improvement of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a mouse model and explored the underlying molecular events in vivo.

Methods: Male C57BL/6 and farnesoid X receptor knockout (FXR−/−) mice were used to establish the NASH model and were treated with or without geniposide, chlorogenic acid, obeticholic acid (OCA), and antibiotics for assessment of the serum and tissue levels of various biochemical parameters, bile acid, DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S amplicon, protein expression, and histology.

Results: The data showed that the combination of geniposide and chlorogenic acid (GC) reduced the levels of blood and liver lipids, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the liver tissue index in NASH mice. In addition, GC treatment improved the intestinal microbial disorders in the NASH mice as well as the intestinal and serum bile acid metabolism. At the gene level, GC induced FXR signaling, i.e., increased the expression of FXR, small heterodimer partner (SHP), and bile salt export pump (BSEP) in liver tissues and fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) expression in the ileal tissues of NASH mice. However, antibiotics (ampicillin, neomycin, vancomycin, and tinidazole) in drinking water (ADW) reversed the effect of GC on NASH and altered the gut microbiota in NASH mice in vivo. Furthermore, GC treatment failed to improve NASH in the FXR−/− mouse NASH model in vivo, indicating that the effectiveness of GC treatment might be through FXR signaling activation.

Conclusion: GC was able to alleviate NASH by improving the gut microbiome and activating FXR signaling; its effect was better than each individual agent alone.

Hif-2α regulates lipid metabolism in alcoholic fatty liver disease through mitophagy

BACKGROUND

Disordered lipid metabolism plays an essential role in both the initiation and progression of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), and fatty acid β-oxidation is increasingly considered as a crucial factor for controlling lipid metabolism. Hif-2α is a member of the Hif family of nuclear receptors, which take part in regulating hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation. However, its functional role in AFLD and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

RESULTS

Hif-2α was upregulated in EtOH-fed mice and EtOH-treated AML-12 cells. Inhibition or silencing of Hif-2α led to increased fatty acid β-oxidation and BNIP3-dependent mitophagy. Downregulation of Hif-2α activates the PPAR-α/PGC-1α signaling pathway, which is involved in hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation, by mediating BNIP3-dependent mitophagy, ultimately delaying the progression of AFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Hif-2α induces liver steatosis, which promotes the progression of AFLD. Here, we have described a novel Hif-2α-BNIP3-dependent mitophagy regulatory pathway interconnected with EtOH-induced lipid accumulation, which could be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of AFLD.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields may be effective for the management of primary osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Little is known about the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) as an option for preventing osteoporosis. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of PEMFs for the management of primary osteoporosis in older adults. We searched databases from the inception to date to target trials examining the effects of PEMFs compared to placebo or sham or other agents for the management of primary osteoporosis for a meta-analysis using random effects model. Eight trials including 411 participants were included. PEMFs was non-inferior to conventional pharmacological agents and exercise respectively in preventing the decline of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) at the lumbar (MD 8.76; CI -9.64 to 27.16 and MD 1.33; CI -2.73 to 5.39) and femur neck (MD 0.04; CI -1.09 to 1.16 and MD 1.50; CI -0.26 to 3.26), and significantly improving balance function measured by Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (MD 0.91; CI 0.32 to 1.49) and Timed Up and Go test (MD -3.61; CI -6.37 to -0.85), directly after intervention. The similar trends were observed in BMD and BBS at 12- and 24-weeks follow-up from baseline. PEMFs had positive effects non-inferior to first-line treatment on BMD and better over placebo on balance function in older adults with primary osteoporosis, but with moderate to very low certainty evidence and short-term follow-ups. There is a need for high-quality randomised controlled trials evaluating PEMFs for the management of primary osteoporosis.