Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on severe acute pancreatitis through the regulation of mTOR/Akt and caspase-3 signaling pathway by upregulating miR-181b expression in rats

Panax notoginseng saponins inhibits oxidative stress- induced human nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and delays disc degeneration in vivo and in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen has been a popular traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of treating low back pain. Its main active ingredient, Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), can be found in several Chinese patent medicines that are frequently used to treat blood stasis type low back pain. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the most common cause of back pain, and the injection of PNS has been used to relieve IDD-induced back pain in clinical practice. Despite its effectiveness, the exact mechanisms of action for PNS injections remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

IDD as a consequence of aging involves apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and imbalanced degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) induced by several factors including oxidative stress. We hypothesized that PNS may have a therapeutic effect on IDD via inhibiting apoptosis of NP cells and degradation of ECM under oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, network pharmacology was initially employed to predict the targets of PNS against IDD. Subsequently, commercial PNS was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to confirm the ingredients for in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro experiments were conducted on human nucleus pulposus (HNP) cells, including CCK-8, RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, autophagic flux detection, and TUNEL assay. In vivo experiments were also performed on rats with IDD of tail discs induced by annular fibrosus needle puncture, which involved MRI, HE staining, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Our study demonstrated the theoretical targets of PNS against IDD, including Caspase 3, MMP13, Akt, and autophagy, based on network pharmacology. Subsequently, in vitro experiments revealed that PNS attenuated cellular apoptosis of NP by suppressing the expression of cleaved-caspase 3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 under H2O2 stimulation. Autophagy was also inhibited by PNS treatment, and the protective effect was abolished with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, indicating that autophagy inhibition was involved in the protective effect of PNS on IDD. Furthermore, Akt/mTOR pathway activation was observed in HNP cells responding to H2O2 with PNS treatment, which played a role in autophagy downregulation. PNS was also shown to promote the expression of anabolic genes such as COL2A1 and ACAN while inhibiting the expression of catabolic gene MMP13 in HNP cells. In addition, the in vivo study revealed that PNS treatment could ameliorate IDD in a puncture-induced rat tail model. The development of IDD was significantly reduced, and there was decreased MMP13 expression, as well as increased COL2A1 protein expression in NP tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that PNS could protect HNP cells against apoptosis via autophagy inhibition and ameliorate disc degeneration in vivo, indicating its potential to be a therapeutic agent for IDD.

HIF-1α-PPARγ-mTORC1 signaling pathway-mediated autophagy induces inflammatory response in pancreatic cells in rats with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) has rapidly increased in recent years in China. Autophagy has been implicated in the inflammatory response of pancreatic cells in HLAP, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

METHODS

In this study, the role of HIF-1α-PPARγ-mTORC1 pathway-mediated autophagy in the inflammatory response of pancreatic cells and the underlying molecular mechanism were investigated in a rat model of HLAP using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, electron microscopy, and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The results revealed that autophagy was significantly increased and pancreatic injury was exacerbated in HLAP rats, and the inflammatory response was further exacerbated by treatment with rapamycin but relieved by treatment with 3-MA. Hyperlipidemia induced upregulation of HIF-1α and downregulation of PPARγ, which in turn led to an increase in autophagy and consequently exacerbation of the inflammatory response of pancreatic cells.

CONCLUSIONS

HIF-1α-PPARγ-mTORC1 pathway-mediated autophagy plays a critical role in the inflammatory response of pancreatic cells in HLAP, and interference with the HIF-1α-PPARγ-mTOR pathway can serve as a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of HLAP.

Exosomes from TNF-α preconditioned human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells inhibit the autophagy of acinar cells of severe acute pancreatitis via shuttling bioactive metabolites

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a common critical disease of the digestive system, with high mortality and a lack of effective prevention and treatment measures. Despite mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation having the potential to treat SAP, its clinical application prospect is limited, and the mechanism is unclear. Here, we reveal the therapeutic role of exosomes from TNF-α-preconditioned human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (HUCMSCs) in attenuating SAP and show that it is partly dependent on exosomal metabolites. Bioactive metabolomics analysis showed that 48 metabolites be significantly differentially expressed between the two groups (Exo-Ctrl group versus Exo-TNF-α group). Then, the further functional experiments indicated that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol could be a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of TNF-α-preconditioned HUCMSCs. The animal experiments showed that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in the pancreatic tissue and inhibited acinar cell autophagy in a rat model of SAP. Mechanistically, we revealed that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol activated the mTOR pathway to inhibit acinar cell autophagy and alleviate SAP. In summary, our study demonstrated that exosomes from TNF-α-preconditioned HUMSCs inhibit the autophagy of acinar cells of SAP by shuttling 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol and inhibiting the mTOR pathway. This study revealed the vital role and therapeutic potential of metabolite-derived exosomes in SAP, providing a new promising method to prevent and therapy SAP.

Association between autophagy and acute pancreatitis

Autophagy pathway involves maintaining intracellular homeostasis by regulating the degradation of cytoplasmic components. Disfunction of autophagic process has been confirmed to be critical mechanism in many diseases, including cancer, inflammation, infection, degeneration and metabolic disorders. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is one of the early events in acute pancreatitis. Impaired autophagy promotes the abnormal activation of zymogen granules and results in apoptosis and necrosis of exocrine pancreas. Furthermore, multiple signal paths involve progression of acute pancreatitis by regulating autophagy pathway. This article provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in epigenetic regulation of autophagy and the role of autophagy in acute pancreatitis.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Pancreatitis Development and Progression

Pancreatitis (acute and chronic) is an inflammatory disease associated with significant morbidity, including a high rate of hospitalization and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRs) are essential post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression. They are crucial in many diseases' development and progression. Recent studies have demonstrated aberrant miRs expression patterns in pancreatic tissues obtained from patients experiencing acute and chronic pancreatitis compared to tissues from unaffected individuals. Increasing evidence showed that miRs regulate multiple aspects of pancreatic acinar biology, such as autophagy, mitophagy, and migration, impact local and systemic inflammation and, thus, are involved in the disease development and progression. Notably, multiple miRs act on pancreatic acinar cells and regulate the transduction of signals between pancreatic acinar cells, pancreatic stellate cells, and immune cells, and provide a complex interaction network between these cells. Importantly, recent studies from various animal models and patients' data combined with advanced detection techniques support their importance in diagnosing and treating pancreatitis. In this review, we plan to provide an up-to-date summary of the role of miRs in the development and progression of pancreatitis.

New challenges for microRNAs in acute pancreatitis: progress and treatment

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical abdominal emergency, with a high and increasing incidence each year. Severe AP can easily cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction and other complications, leading to higher hospitalization rates and mortality. Currently, there is no specific treatment for AP. Thus, we still need to understand the exact AP pathogenesis to effectively cure AP. With the rise of transcriptomics, RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) transcribed from nonprotein-coding regions of biological genomes, have been found to be of great significance in the regulation of gene expression and to be involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs, as regulatory RNAs, can regulate pancreatic acinar necrosis and apoptosis and local and systemic inflammation and play an important role in the development and thus potentially the diagnosis and treatment of AP. Therefore, here, the current research on the relationship between miRNAs and AP is reviewed.

Protective effects of the notoginsenoside R1 on acute lung injury by regulating the miR-128-2-5p/Tollip signaling pathway in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1), the extract and the main ingredient of Panax notoginseng, has anti-inflammatory effects and can be used in treating acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we explored the pulmonary protective effect and the underlying mechanism of the NG-R1 on rats with ALI induced by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MiR-128-2-5p, ERK1, Tollip, HMGB1, TLR4, IκB, and NF-κB mRNA expression levels were measured using real-time qPCR, and TLR4, Tollip, HMGB1, IRAK1, MyD88, ERK1, NF-κB65, and P-IκB-α protein expression levels using Western blot. The NF-κB and the TLR4 activities were determined using immunohistochemistry, and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and ICAM-1 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using ELISA. Lung histopathological changes were observed in each group. NG-R1 treatment reduced miR-128-2-5p expression in the lung tissue, increased Tollip expression, inhibited HMGB1, TLR4, TRAF6, IRAK1, MyD88, NF-κB65, and p-IκB-α expression levels, suppressed NF-κB65 and the TLR4 expression levels, reduced MPO activity, reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and ICAM-1 levels in BALF, and alleviated SAP-induced ALI. NG-R1 can attenuate SAP-induced ALI. The mechanism of action may be due to a decreased expression of miR-128-2-5p, increased activity of the Tollip signaling pathway, decreased activity of HMGB1/TLR4 and ERK1 signaling pathways, and decreased inflammatory response to SAP-induced ALI. Tollip was the regulatory target of miR-128-2-5p.

Exploring the Mechanism of Panax notoginseng Saponins against Alzheimer's Disease by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Background

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been used for neurodegenerative disorders such as cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although increasing evidences show the neuron protective effects of PNS, the vital compounds and their functional targets remain elusive. To explore the potential functional ingredients of PNS for the AD treatment and their molecular mechanisms, an in vitro neuron injured model induced by Aβ was investigated, and the potential mechanism was predicted by network pharmacology approach and validated by molecular biology methods.

Methods

Network pharmacology approach was used to reveal the relationship between ingredient-target disease and function-pathway of PNS on the treatment of AD. The active ingredients of PNS were collected from TCMSP, PubChem database, and literature mining in PubMed database. DrugBank and GeneCards database were used to predict potential targets for AD. The STRING database was performed to reveal enrichment of these target proteins, protein-protein interactions, and related pathways. Networks were visualized by utilizing Cytoscape software. The enrichment analysis was performed by the DAVID database. Finally, neuroprotective effect and predictive mechanism of PNS were investigated in an in vitro AD model established by Aβ_25–35-treated PC12 cells.

Results

An ingredient-target disease and function-pathway network demonstrated that 38 active ingredients were derived from PNS modulated 364 common targets shared by PNS and AD. GO and KEGG analysis, further clustering analysis, showed that mTOR signaling targets were associated with the neuroprotective effects of PNS. In Aβ-treated PC12 cells, PNS treatment improved neuroprotective effect, including mTOR inhibition and autophagy activation.

Conclusions

Collectively, the protective effects of PNS on AD-neuron injury are related to the inhibition of mTOR and autophagy activation.

Emodin Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Regulating the Immune Response in Severe Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

The intestinal barrier injury caused by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can induce enterogenous infection, further aggravating the inflammatory reactions and immune responses. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that emodin protects the intestinal function and is involved in the immune response in SAP.

METHODS

The network pharmacology was established using the Swiss target prediction and pathway enrichment analysis. The SAP mice model was induced by cerulein (50 μg/kg) and lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg) hyperstimulation. The pharmacological effect of emodin in treating SAP was evaluated at mRNA and protein levels by various methods.

RESULTS

The network analysis provided the connectivity between the targets of emodin and the intestinal barrier-associated proteins and predicted the BAX/Bcl-2/caspase 3 signaling pathway. Emodin alleviated the pathological damages to the pancreas and intestine and reduced the high concentrations of serum amylase and cytokines in vivo. Emodin increased the expression of intestinal barrier-related proteins and reversed the changes in the apoptosis-related proteins in the intestine. Simultaneously, emodin regulated the ratio of T helper type 1 (TH1), TH2, TH17, γδ T cells, and interferon γ/interleukin 17 producing γδ T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings partly verified the mechanism underlying the regulation of the intestinal barrier and immune response by emodin.

Effects of emodin on intestinal mucosal barrier by the upregulation of miR-218a-5p expression in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

Emodin is an effective component in rhubarb to cure intestinal dysfunction, but the specific mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of emodin on intestinal dysfunction caused by acute severe pancreatitis and reveal the functional mechanism of emodin in the treatment of this condition. An acute severe pancreatitis model was prepared using taurocholate. In the treatment group, 50 mg/kg emodin was injected intravenously 2 h before the induction of acute severe pancreatitis at an interval of 8 h. After 24 h, the gene expression and protein levels of miR-218a-5p, RhoA, ROCK1, Akt, Notch1, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, FasL, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were determined through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The protein levels of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and E-cadherin in the intestinal tract were also determined through Western blot analysis. The effects of miR-218a-5p on the apoptosis of rat intestinal epithelial cell-18 were observed through flow cytometry. The effects of emodin on intestinal cell apoptosis induced by acute severe pancreatitis were observed via TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling). Pathological changes in the pancreas and intestine of rats in each group were observed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. After 24 h of acute severe pancreatitis induced by taurocholate, emodin reduced the expression of miR-218a-5p in the intestinal tract; increased the expression of Notch1 and Bcl-2; decreased the expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1, Akt, Bax, Fas, FasL, caspase-3, and caspase-9; inhibited the intestinal cell apoptosis caused by acute severe pancreatitis; increased the protein expression levels of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and E-cadherin in the intestinal tract; and alleviated intestinal dysfunction caused by acute severe pancreatitis. Emodin could regulate Notch1 and RhoA/ROCK pathways by regulating the miR-218a-5p expression in the intestine. It could also inhibit intestinal cell apoptosis induced by acute severe pancreatitis and improve the intestinal dysfunction caused by severe acute pancreatitis.

A multi-strategy platform for quality control and Q-markers screen of Chaiqin chengqi decoction

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Chaiqin chengqi decoction (CQCQD) has been proven clinically to be an effective treatment for AP for decades in West China Hospital. Quality control for CQCQD containing many hundreds of characteristic phytochemicals poses a challenge for developing robust quality assessment metrics.

PURPOSE

To evaluate quality consistency of CQCQD with a multi-strategy based analytical method, identify potential quality-markers (Q-markers) based on drug properties and effect characteristics, and endeavor to establish CQCQD as a globally-accepted medicine.

METHODS

A typical analysis of constitutive medicinal plant materials was performed following the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The extraction process was optimized through an orthogonal array (L₉(3⁴)) to evaluate three levels of liquid to solid ratio, soaking time, duration of extraction, and the number of extractions. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) fingerprinting combined with absolute quantitation of multi chemical marker compounds, coupled with similarity, hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to evaluate 10 batches of CQCQD. On the basis of systematic analysis of fundamental features of CQCQD in treating AP, the potential Q-marker screen was proposed through detection of quality transfer and efficacy for chemical markers. UHPLC coupled with quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry were used to determine compounds in medicinal materials, decoctions and plasma. Network pharmacology and taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate induced pancreatic acinar cell death were used to evaluate the correlation between chemical markers and anti-pancreatitis activity. A cerulein induced AP murine model was used to validate quality assessed CQCQD batches at clinically-equivalent dose. The effective content of chemical markers was predicted using linear regression analysis on quantitative information between validated batches and the other batches.

RESULTS

The chemical markers and other physical and chemical indices in the original materials met Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards. A total of 22 co-existing fingerprint peaks were selected and the similarity varied between 0.946 and 0.990. Batch D10 possessed the highest similarity index. HCA classified the 10 batches into 2 main groups: 7 batches represented by D10 and 3 batches represented by D1. During the initial Q-marker screen stage, 22 compounds were detected in both plant materials and decoctions, while 13 compounds were identified in plasma. Network pharmacology predicted the potential targets and pathway of AP related to the 22 compounds. All 10 batches showed reduced necrosis below 60% with the best effect achieved by D10 (~40%). The spectrum-efficacy relationship analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis indicated that emodin, rhein, aloe emodin, geniposide, hesperridin, chrysin, syringin, synephrine, geniposidic acid, magnolol, physcion, sinensetin, and baicalein showed positive correlation with pancreatic acinar cell death protection. Similar to the in vitro evaluation, batch D10 significantly reduced total histopathological scores and biochemical severity indices at a clinically-equivalent dose but batch D1 did not. The content of naringin, narirutin and baicalin in batches D1, D5 and D9 consistently exceeds the upper limit of the predicted value. Eight markers whose lower limit is predicted to be close to 0 contributed less to the material basis for AP protection.

CONCLUSION

Despite qualified materials used for CQCQD preparation, the clinical effect depends on appropriate content range of Q-markers. Emodin, rhein, aloe emodin, magnolol, hesperidin, synephrine, baicalein, and geniposide are considered as vital Q-markers in the primary screen. This study proposed a feasible platform for producing highly consistent batches of CQCQD in future study.

Autophagy in Acute Pancreatitis: Organelle Interaction and microRNA Regulation

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disorder with significant hospital admission and mortality. Due to the unclarified pathological mechanism, there is still no effective and specific treatment for AP. Recently, autophagy has been found to be closely related with occurrence and development of AP, which is crucial in determining its severity and outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy can be regulated and influenced by microRNAs and organelles, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosome, through various ways in AP. Of note, the complex interplays and close relationships among autophagy, microRNA and organelles in AP are vital for figuring out pathogenesis but not clear yet. Thus, this review summarizes the role of autophagy in the pathological mechanism of AP, especially the relationship between impaired autophagy and organelles, and discusses the regulatory mechanism of microRNA on autophagy, which could offer new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of AP and developing new potential therapeutic targets against AP.

Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside Improves Colonic Motility During Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Inhibiting the H2S-Regulated AMPK/mTOR Pathway

BACKGROUND

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is an important anthocyanin that can modulate digestive system functioning. Inflammation associated with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induces H2S production, which impairs the gastrointestinal (GI) system. We investigated the effects of C3G in attenuating SAP-associated colonic motility loss by examining the H2S level and activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.

METHODS

A rat model of SAP was induced using sodium taurocholate, and the effect of C3G on colonic mobility, H2S production, and the inflammatory response was investigated. AMPK/mTOR pathway changes were detected to assess the pathways by which H2S influences colonic mobility in SAP-model rats. The mechanism underlying H2S function was further examined by subjecting colonic muscle cells (CMCs) to C3G, SAP plasma and an AMPK activator.

RESULTS

Administering C3G improved colonic motility but suppressed the inflammatory response and H2S production in the SAP-model rats, which was associated with inhibiting the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, activating the AMPK/mTOR pathway in CMCs promoted inflammation but suppressed Ca2+ levels, even after administering C3G.

CONCLUSION

Administering C3G may improve SAP-associated colonic mobility by inhibiting the H2S-mediated AMPK/mTOR pathway.

The possible protective effect of Nano-Selenium on the endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions in a rat model of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition with multi-factorial etiology. The negative impact of acute pancreatitis on the exocrine pancreatic function is well documented; however, its impact on the endocrine function needs more elucidation. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Nano-Selenium (Nano-Se) on both pancreatic functions in acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

l-arginine induced acute pancreatitis in rats was used as a model. Fifty adult male albino rats were separated into groups: 1- control group (C), 2- C+ Nano-Se, 3-acute pancreatitis group (AP) and 4- AP+ Nano-Se. Nano-Se was administered before induction of acute pancreatitis. Serum levels of amylase, lipase, selenium, glucose, insulin and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. Homeostatic model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-β) was also calculated. Oxidative stress markers, selenium content and the anti-apoptotic factor, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) were assayed in pancreatic tissue along with immuno-expression of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB).

RESULTS

Acute pancreatitis negatively affected both pancreatic functions. Nano-Se administration lessened the developed pancreatic injury and improved both pancreatic functions.

CONCLUSION

Nano-Se could improve the deteriorated pancreatic functions in acute pancreatitis via its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pro-apoptotic actions. Thus, it may be used in prevention of acute pancreatitis and the associated hyperglycemia in vulnerable individuals such as patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.

Panax notoginseng saponins prevent senescence and inhibit apoptosis by regulating the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR pathway in osteoarthritic chondrocytes

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are active extracts obtained from the P. notoginseng plant. PNS exhibit various anti‑inflammatory, anti‑oxidant and anti‑aging pharmacological properties in some cells. However, the effects of PNS on senescence and apoptosis in chondrocytes have not been studied to date. In the present study, whether PNS could limit tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α‑induced senescence and apoptosis in chondrocytes and whether they could slow down cartilage degeneration in a surgery‑induced rat osteoarthritis (OA) model by regulating the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)‑protein kinase B (AKT)‑mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway was examined. A potential mechanism underlying these effects was further elucidated. The present in vitro experiments showed that PNS significantly inhibited senescence and apoptosis in OA chondrocytes and prevented a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and excessive mitochondrial permeability. In addition, the expression levels of autophagy‑related proteins and the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2 were significantly increased in PNS‑treated OA chondrocytes, but the expression levels of Bax and caspase‑3 were decreased; these effects were concentration‑dependent. TNF‑α significantly increased the expression of p‑PI3K/p‑AKT/p‑mTOR in OA chondrocytes, whereas PNS reduced PI3K, AKT and mTOR phosphorylation. The results of the in vivo experiments demonstrated that PNS significantly inhibited the PI3K‑AKT‑mTOR signaling pathway and collagen II degradation, as well as reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑3 and MMP‑13 expression in chondrocytes in a rat OA model, thus attenuating cartilage destruction in OA. The results obtained in the rat model were consistent with the in vitro experimental results. Furthermore, histological analyses and ultrastructural observations confirmed these results. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that PNS may protect osteoarthritic chondrocytes from senescence and apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K‑AKT pathway, thus delaying the degradation of articular cartilage.

Baohuoside I Inhibits the Proliferation of Pancreatic Cancer Cells via mTOR/S6K1-Caspases/Bcl2/Bax Apoptotic Signaling

Background

Although the incidence of pancreatic cancer has increased markedly, the 5-year survival rate for this disease is considerably low compared with other types of cancer. Moreover, the mortality rate of pancreatic cancer is similar to its incidence rate. Current therapeutic agents exhibit a lack of specificity for pancreatic cancer. Baohuoside I is traditionally used to treat orgasmic disorder and inflammation. However, its role in pancreatic cancer is unknown.

Objective

To explore the effects of Baohuoside I on pancreatic cancer and to study the potential-related molecular mechanism.

Materials and methods

In the present study, the antineoplastic effect of Baohuoside I was investigated with regard to pancreatic cancer via colony formation, transwell and migration assay. The energy metabolism changes of pancreatic cancer were tested by flow cytometry analysis and oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis assay. The target signaling members were analyzed by Western blot.

Results

Baohuoside I inhibited the cell growth of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, it affected intracellular energy metabolism to induce cancer cell apoptosis via the mTOR/S6K1 and the caspase/Bcl2/Bax signaling pathways.

Conclusion

The present data provide further insight into the development of novel drugs against pancreatic cancer.

Qingkailing injection ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and modulates the AMPK/NLRP3 Inflammasome Signalling pathway

Background

Cerebral ischemia is the second-leading cause of death and the main cause of permanent adult disabilities worldwide. Qingkailing (QKL) injection, a patented Chinese medicine approved by the China Food and Drug Administration, has been widely used in clinical practice to treat cerebral ischemia in China. The NOD-like receptor pyrin 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is activated in cerebral ischemia and thus, is an effective therapeutic target. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Methods

We investigated the potential of QKL injection to provide neuroprotection after cerebral ischemia in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (210–230 g) were randomly divided into three groups which consist of sham, MCAO and 3 ml/kg QKL. Rats in the QKL group received intraperitoneal injections of 3 ml/kg QKL, while rats in other groups were given saline in the same volumes. After 90 min ischemia and 24 h reperfusion, neurological function, laser speckle imaging, brain infarction, brain water content and brain blood barrier permeability were examined and cell apoptosis at prefrontal cortex were evaluated 24 h after MCAO, and western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was also researched, respectively.

Results

Intraperitoneal administration of QKL alleviated neurological deficiencies, cerebral infarction, blood-brain barrier permeability, brain oedema and brain cell apoptosis after MCAO induction. QKL decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10. Furthermore, QKL activated phosphorylated AMPK, decreased oxidative stress and decreased NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Conclusions

QKL relieved cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and suppressed the inflammatory response by inhibiting AMPK-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. These results suggest that QKL might have potential in treating brain inflammatory response and attenuating the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

MicroRNAs in acute pancreatitis: From pathogenesis to novel diagnosis and therapy

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder initiated by activation of pancreatic zymogens, leading to pancreatic injury and systemic inflammatory response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of gene expression and key players in human physiological and pathological processes. Discoveries over the past decade have confirmed that altered expression of miRNAs is implicated in the pathogenesis of AP. Indeed, a number of miRNAs have been found to be dysregulated in various cell types involved in AP such as acinar cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes. These aberrant miRNAs can regulate acinar cell necrosis and apoptosis, local and systemic inflammatory response, thereby contributing to the initiation and progression of AP. Moreover, patients with AP possess unique miRNA signatures when compared with healthy individuals or those with other diseases. In view of their stability and easy detection, therefore, miRNAs have the potential to act as biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of patients with AP. In this review, we provide an overview of the novel cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of miRNAs during the disease processes of AP, as well as the potential diagnosis and therapeutic biomarkers of miRNAs in patients with AP.

Advances in Research on the Protective Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Islet β Cells

The dysfunction and decreased number of islet β cells are central to the main pathogenesis of diabetes. Improving islet β cell function and increasing the number of β cells are effective approaches to treat diabetes and constitute the main direction of diabetes drug development. The role of Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetes began to be recognized. In recent years, Chinese medicine monomers have been found to increase insulin synthesis and secretion, reduce β cell-apoptosis, and protect the function of β cells. The results of in vivo animal experiments and in vitro studies on insulinoma cells also suggested TCMs could promote the proliferation of pancreatic islet β cells and induce other cells differentiation or transdifferentiation to islet β cells. Thereby, they may play a role in the treatment of diabetes. In this paper, we will review islet β cell protection with TCMs and the related mechanisms found in recent studies. An in-depth explanation of the role of TCM in islet β cell protection can provide a theoretical basis and research ideas for the development of TCM-based diabetes treatment drugs.

Exosomes and pancreatic diseases: status, challenges, and hopes

Pancreatic disease, including pathologies such as acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic cancer (PC), is a complicated and dangerous clinical condition involving the disruption of exocrine or endocrine function. PC has one of the highest mortality rates among cancers due to insufficient diagnosis in early stages. Furthermore, efficient treatment options for the disease etiologies of AP and CP are lacking. Thus, the identification of new therapeutic targets and reliable biomarkers is required. As essential couriers in intercellular communication, exosomes have recently been confirmed to play an important role in pancreatic disease, but the specific underlying mechanisms are unknown. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge of exosomes in pancreatic disease with respect to diagnosis, molecular mechanisms, and treatment, proposing new ideas for the study of pancreatic disease.

MicroRNA-351 eases insulin resistance and liver gluconeogenesis via the PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting FLOT2 in mice of gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known as different degree glucose intolerance that is initially identified during pregnancy. MicroRNAs (miRs) may be a potential candidate for treatment of GDM. Herein, we suggested that miR‐351 could be an inhibitor in the progression of GDM via the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway. Microarray analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes and predict miRs regulating flotillin 2 (FLOT2). Target relationship between miR‐351 and FLOT2 was verified. Gestational diabetes mellitus mice were treated with a series of mimic, inhibitor and small interfering RNA to explore the effect of miR‐351 on insulin resistance (IR), cell apoptosis in pancreatic tissues and liver gluconeogenesis through evaluating GDM‐related biochemical indexes, as well as expression of miR‐351, FLOT2, PI3K/AKT pathway‐, IR‐ and liver gluconeogenesis‐related genes. MiR‐351 and FLOT2 were reported to be involved in GDM. FLOT2 was the target gene of miR‐351. Gestational diabetes mellitus mice exhibited IR and liver gluconeogenesis, up‐regulated FLOT2, activated PI3K/AKT pathway and down‐regulated miR‐351 in liver tissues. Additionally, miR‐351 overexpression and FLOT2 silencing decreased the levels of FLOT2, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose‐6‐phosphatase, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glyeosylated haemoglobin and homeostasis model of assessment for IR index (HOMA‐IR), extent of PI3K and AKT phosphorylation, yet increased the levels of HOMA for islet β‐cell function, HOMA for insulin sensitivity index and glucose transporter 2 expression, indicating reduced cell apoptosis in pancreatic tissues and alleviated IR and liver gluconeogenesis. Our results reveal that up‐regulation of miR‐351 protects against IR and liver gluconeogenesis by repressing the PI3K/AKT pathway through regulating FLOT2 in GDM mice, which identifies miR‐351 as a potential therapeutic target for the clinical management of GDM.

miR-148a suppresses autophagy by down-regulation of IL-6/STAT3 signaling in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a type of sterile inflammation of the pancreas, potentially leading to systemic inflammatory response syndrome or multiple organ failure. An emerging evidence that dysfunction of miRNA expression may alter pivotal physiological functions and lead to inflammation infiltration and complication of multiple diseases, including AP. Here, the AP model was successfully replicated using cerulein in vitro and in vivo. RT-qPCR was used to detect low expression of miR-148a in AP. This study verified that IL-6 was a direct target of miR-148a. Over-expression of miR-148a decreased the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 by RT-qPCR and Elisa. Moreover, over-expression of miR-148a improved the pathological state of AP through H&E and MPO staining and transmission electron microscopy. After over-expressing miR-148a, Western blot and immunohistochemical method were used to confirm the reduction of autophagosomes and autolysosomes, blockade of the levels of p-STAT3, LC3-II, ATG7, ATG4c, Beclin1 and the increased p62 expression in AP. The expression of LAMP-2 was not significantly different. In addition, IL-6 and AG490, the IL-6/STAT3 signaling inhibitor, were used to verify the role of IL-6/STAT3 signaling in the regulation of miR-148a on autophagy in cerulein-induced AP in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that miR-148a suppresses autophagy via regulating IL-6/STAT3 signaling in cerulein-induced AP in vitro and in vivo. The miR-148a appears to be a promising candidate for the gene therapy of AP.

Protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis occur through regulation of inflammatory pathway signaling by upregulation of miR-181b

Panax notoginseng saponins are extracted from Chinese ginseng—Panax notoginseng Ledeb—and are known to have therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects. However, the precise mechanism behind their anti-inflammatory effects remains relatively unknown. To better understand how Panax notoginseng saponins exert their therapeutic benefit, we tested them in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Rats received a tail vein injection of Panax notoginseng saponins and were administered 5% sodium taurocholate 2 h later. Pancreatic tissue was then harvested and levels of miR-181b, FSTL1, TREM1, TLR4, TRAF6, IRAK1, p-Akt, p-p38MAPK, NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α were determined using Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TREM1, interleukin (IL)-6, ACAM-1, IL-8, and IL-12 and DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4 in pancreatic and ileum tissue. Serum levels of lipase and amylase, pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and pancreatic water content were also measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for all histological analyses. Results indicated upregulation of miR-181b, but negligible levels of FSTL1, p-p38MAPK, TLR4, TRAF6, p-Akt, IRAK1, TREM1, p-NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α, as well as negligible DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4. We also observed lower levels of IL-8, IL-6, ACAM-1, TNF-α, MPO, and IL-12 in the Panax notoginseng saponin–treated group when compared with controls. In addition, Panax notoginseng saponin–treated rats had significantly reduced serum levels of lipase and amylase. Histological analyses confirmed that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment significantly reduced taurocholate-induced pancreatic inflammation. Collectively, our results suggest that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment attenuated acute pancreatitis and pancreatic inflammation by increasing miR-181b signaling. These findings suggest that Panax notoginseng saponins have therapeutic potential in the treatment of taurocholate-induced SAP.

miR-148a-3p exhaustion inhibits necrosis by regulating PTEN in acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a necro-inflammatory disorder with high mortality rate. With advances in understanding the pathogenesis of AP, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play an essential role in AP progression. However, the mechanism that allows miR-148a-3p to regulate necrosis in AP remains unclear.

METHODS

Caerulein treatment was used to induce AP in mice or cells. miR-148a-3p-/- mice or miR-148a-3p inhibition in wild type mice were used to investigate the effect of miR-148a-3p on AP. The expression of miR-148a-3p was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The abundances of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and hallmarks of necrosis or apoptosis were measured by qRT-PCR or western blots (WB). Cell necrosis, apoptosis, serum amylase or lipase activity and inflammatory cytokines levels were investigated by commercial assay kit. Inflammatory infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The interaction between miR-148a-3p and PTEN was probed by luciferase activity.

RESULTS

miR-148a-3p was highly expressed in AP and knockout of miR-148a-3p inhibited water content, cell necrosis, amylase and lipase activity while inducing PTEN expression. Moreover, miR-148a-3p deletion attenuated inflammatory infiltration and necrosis by promoting apoptosis. In addition, miR-148a-3p knockdown protected against cell necrosis, amylase, and lipase activity in AP. Intriguingly, PTEN was a target of miR-148a-3p and interference of PTEN reversed the effect of miR-148a-3p deficiency on AP in vitro.

CONCLUSION

miR-148a-3p inhibition repressed necrosis by regulating PTEN expression in AP, providing a novel biomarker of therapeutics for AP treatment.

Lico A Causes ER Stress and Apoptosis via Up-Regulating miR-144-3p in Human Lung Cancer Cell Line H292

During our study on the bioactivities of natural flavonoids, we found that the total flavonoids (TFs) and the main constituent of it, licochalcone A (lico A), activated unfolded protein response (UPR) and induced autophagy and thereby apoptosis in H292 cells. MicroRNAs, such as the tumor repressor miR-144-3p, were reported to be differentially expressed in lung cancer cells and were linked to ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis. However, the underlying miRNA-based mechanism for lico A modulating proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer cells is elusive. In this study, we found that miR-144-3p was down-regulated in H292 cells comparing to normal embryonic lung cells WI-38, and lico A (10 μM) could increase miR-144-3p level in H292 cells. Knockdown of miR-144-3p significantly abrogated the apoptosis and proliferation-inhibiting effects of lico A, and lico A could enhance the proliferation-inhibiting effect and apoptosis induced by miR-144-3p overexpression. Moreover, overexpression miR-144-3p could induce ER stress by down-regulating Nrf2, and lico A enhanced the Nrf2 down-regulation caused by miR-144-3p overexpression. Co-transfection experiments showed that lico A potentially increased the dicing of pre-miR-144 so as to increase the mature miR-144-3p level. Interestingly, high level of lico A (40 μM) up-regulated CHOP protein, but failed to increase the downstream genes levels of CHOP, including Bim and Bcl-2 in H292 cells. Docking studies indicated that CHOP-mediated pathway was potentially blocked by high dose of lico A. Our results suggested that lico A could cause UPR, autophagy and apoptosis, and the underlying mechanism involved up-regulation of miR-144-3p, and increased lico A level would also increase the potential for lico A inhibiting CHOP-dependent apoptosis in H292 cells.

Panax ginseng improves glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through 5' adenosine monophosphate kinase up-regulation

5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), insulin receptors and transporters are distorted in diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effect of Panax ginseng was assessed on glucose manipulating enzymes activities and gene expression of AMPK, IRA and GLUT2 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided to four groups 10 rats of each, group I, normal control group (received saline orally); group II, normal rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally; group III, Streptozotocin (STZ) –induced diabetic rats and group IV, STZ-induced diabetic rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally. The duration of experiment was 30 days. Results showed the ability of Panax ginseng to induce a significant decrease in the blood glucose and increase in the serum insulin levels, hepatic glucokinase (GK), and glycogen synthase (GS) activities with a modulation of lipid profile besides high expression levels of AMPK, insulin receptor A (IRA), glucose transporting protein-2 (GLUT-2) in liver of diabetic rats. In conclusion, the obtained results point to the ability of Panax ginseng to improve the glucose metabolism in diabetic models.