Anti-inflammatory effects of novel curcumin analogs in experimental acute lung injury

In vivo efficacy of phage cocktails against carbapenem resistance Acinetobacter baumannii in the rat pneumonia model

Acinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen, poses a significant threat in intensive care units, leading to severe nosocomial infections. The rise of multi-drug-resistant strains, particularly carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, has created formidable challenges for effective treatment. Given the prolonged development cycle and high costs associated with antibiotics, phages have garnered clinical attention as an alternative for combating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. However, the utilization of phage therapy encounters notable challenges, including the narrow host spectrum, where each phage targets a limited subset of bacteria, increasing the risk of phage resistance development. Additionally, uncertainties in immune system dynamics during treatment hinder tailoring symptomatic interventions based on patient-specific states. In this study, we isolated two A. baumannii phages from wastewater and conducted a comprehensive assessment of their potential applications. This evaluation included sequencing analysis, genome classification, pH and temperature stability assessments, and in vitro bacterial inhibition assays. Further investigations involved analyzing histological and cytokine alterations in rats undergoing phage cocktail treatment for pneumonia. The therapeutic efficacy of the phages was validated, and transcriptomic studies of rat lung tissue during phage treatment revealed crucial changes in the immune system. The findings from our study underscore the potential of phages for future development as a treatment strategy and offer compelling evidence regarding immune system dynamics throughout the treatment process.IMPORTANCEDue to the growing problem of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, the use of phages is being considered as an alternative to antibiotics, and the genetic safety and application stability of phages determine the potential of phage application. The absence of drug resistance genes and virulence genes in the phage genome can ensure the safety of phage application, and the fact that phage can remain active in a wide range of temperatures and pH is also necessary for application. In addition, the effect evaluation of preclinical studies is especially important for clinical application. By simulating the immune response situation during the treatment process through mammalian models, the changes in animal immunity can be observed, and the effect of phage therapy can be further evaluated. Our study provides compelling evidence that phages hold promise for further development as therapeutic agents for Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives as potential anti-inflammatory agents against acute lung injury and colitis

Acute lung injury (ALI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are common inflammatory illnesses that seriously affect people's health. Herein, a series of 4-hydroxylcoumarin (4-HC) derivatives were designed and synthesized. The inhibitory effects of these compounds on LPS-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) release from J774A.1 cells were then screened via ELISA assay, compound B8 showed 3 times more active than the lead compound 4-HC. The most active compound B8 had the IC50 values of 4.57 μM and 6.51 μM for IL-6 release on mouse cells J774A.1 and human cells THP-1, respectively. Furthermore, we also found that B8 could act on the MAPK pathway. Based on the target prediction results of computer virtual docking, kinase inhibitory assay was carried out, and it revealed that targeting IRAK1 was a key mechanism for B8 to exert anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, B8 exerted a good therapeutic effect on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model and liposaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mouse models. The acute toxicity experiments indicated that high-dose B8 caused no adverse reactions in mice, confirming its safety in vivo. Additionally, the preliminary pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of B8 in SD rats were also examined, revealing a bioavailability (F) of 28.72 %. In conclusion, B8 is a potential candidate of drug for the treatment of ALI and colitis.

Tribuloside: Mechanisms and Efficacy in Treating Acute Lung Injury Revealed by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness that has few treatment options available. Tribuloside, a natural flavonoid extracted from the Tribulus Terrestris plant in China, is potent in addressing many health issues such as headaches, dizziness, itching, and vitiligo.

Objective

This study intends to explore the mechanisms of action of Tribuloside in treating ALI through a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Methods

We obtained the 2D structure and SMILES number of Tribuloside from the PubChem database. We used the SwissTargetPrediction database to identify pharmacological targets. We found 1215 targets linked to ALI by examining the GeneCards database. We used the String database and Cytoscape software to create the "drug or disease-target" network as well as the protein-protein interactions (PPI). Key targets were identified by evaluating associated biological processes and pathway enrichment. A Venny Diagram showed 49 intersection points between Tribuloside and ALI. Molecular docking with AutoDockTools found that Tribuloside had a high affinity for IL6, BCL2, TNF, STAT3, IL1B, and MAPK3, the top 6 targets in the PPI network by Degree values. To test Tribuloside's therapeutic efficacy in ALI, an acute lung damage model in mice was constructed using lipopolysaccharide. Tribuloside treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased fibrotic area, repaired damaged alveoli, and suppressed inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the lungs through many pathways and targets.

Conclusion

This study reveals that Tribuloside has the potential to treat ALI by targeting various pathways and targets, according to network pharmacology predictions and experimental confirmation.

Costunolide attenuates LPS-induced inflammation and lung injury through inhibiting IKK/NF-κB signaling

Inflammation is an important pathological process of many acute and chronic diseases, such as sepsis, arthritis, and cancer. Many factors can lead to an inflammatory state of the body, among which bacterial infection plays an important role. Bacterial infection often leads to sepsis, acute lung injury (ALI), or its more serious form of acute respiratory distress syndrome, which are the main fatal diseases in intensive care units. Costunolide has been reported to possess excellent anti-inflammatory activity; however, whether it can affect inflammation induced by gram-negative bacterial is still unclear. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) to release proinflammatory cytokines was used as the cell model. The mouse model of sepsis and ALI was built through injecting intravenously and intratracheally of LPS. In the present study, costunolide inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response through IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages. In vivo, costunolide attenuated LPS-induced septic death in mice. Meanwhile, costunolide treatment alleviated LPS-induced lung injury and inflammation via inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these results demonstrated that costunolide could attenuate gram-negative bacterial induced inflammation and diseases and might be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of PI3Kδ/γ inhibitors for treating acute lung injury

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) and gamma (PI3Kγ) are predominantly located in immune and hematopoietic cells. It is well-established that PI3Kδ/γ plays important roles in the immune system and participates in inflammation; hence, it could be a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapy. Currently, several PI3K inhibitors are used clinically to treat cancers with aberrant PI3K signaling; however, their role in treating acute respiratory inflammatory diseases has rarely been explored. Herein, we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory activities of several pharmacological PI3K inhibitors, including marketed drugs idelalisib (PI3Kδ), duvelisib (PI3Kδ/γ), and copanlisib (pan-PI3K with preferential α/δ) and the clinical drug eganelisib (PI3Kγ), for treating acute lung injury (ALI). In the lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophage inflammatory model, the four inhibitors significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokine expression by inhibiting the PI3K signaling pathway. Oral administration of PI3K inhibitors markedly improved lung injury in a murine model of ALI. PI3K pathway inhibition decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and totalprotein levels, as well as reduced the expression of associated lung inflammatory factors. Collectively, all four representative PI3K inhibitors exerted prominent anti-inflammatory properties, indicating that PI3K δ and/or γ inhibition could be ideal targets to treat respiratory inflammatory diseases by reducing the inflammatory response. The findings of the current study provide a new basis for utilizing PI3K inhibitors to treat acute respiratory inflammatory diseases.

Repositioned Natural Compounds and Nanoformulations: A Promising Combination to Counteract Cell Damage and Inflammation in Respiratory Viral Infections

Respiratory viral diseases are among the most important causes of disability, morbidity, and death worldwide. Due to the limited efficacy or side effects of many current therapies and the increase in antiviral-resistant viral strains, the need to find new compounds to counteract these infections is growing. Since the development of new drugs is a time-consuming and expensive process, numerous studies have focused on the reuse of commercially available compounds, such as natural molecules with therapeutic properties. This phenomenon is generally called drug repurposing or repositioning and represents a valid emerging strategy in the drug discovery field. Unfortunately, the use of natural compounds in therapy has some limitations, due to their poor kinetic performance and consequently reduced therapeutic effect. The advent of nanotechnology in biomedicine has allowed this limitation to be overcome, showing that natural compounds in nanoform may represent a promising strategy against respiratory viral infections. In this narrative review, the beneficial effects of some promising natural molecules, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and vitamin C, which have been already studied both in native form and in nanoform, against respiratory viral infections are presented and discussed. The review focuses on the ability of these natural compounds, analyzed in in vitro and in vivo studies, to counteract inflammation and cellular damage induced by viral infection and provide scientific evidence of the benefits of nanoformulations in increasing the therapeutic potential of these molecules.

Therapeutic potential of curcumin in ARDS and COVID-19

Curcumin is a safe, non-toxic, readily available and naturally occurring compound, an active constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric). Curcumin could potentially treat diseases, but faces poor physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics. To overcome these limitations, we developed a stable, water-soluble formulation of curcumin called cyclodextrin-complexed curcumin (CDC). We have previously shown that direct delivery of CDC to the lung following lipopolysaccharides exposure reduces acute lung injury (ALI) and effectively reduces lung injury, inflammation and mortality in mice following Klebsiella pneumoniae. Recently, we found that administration of CDC led to a significant reduction in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression in gene and protein levels following pneumonia, indicating its potential in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, we consider the clinical features of ALI and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the role of curcumin in modulating the pathogenesis of bacterial/viral-induced ARDS and COVID-19.

The Effects of Curcumin on Inflammasome: Latest Update

Curcumin, a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from natural plant rhizomes, has become a candidate drug for the treatment of different diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Curcumin is generally beneficial to improve human health with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties as well as antitumor and immunoregulatory properties. Inflammasomes are NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) proteins that are activated in response to a variety of stress signals and that promote the proteolytic conversion of pro-interleukin-1β and pro-interleukin-18 into active forms, which are central mediators of the inflammatory response; inflammasomes can also induce pyroptosis, a type of cell death. The NLRP3 protein is involved in a variety of inflammatory pathologies, including neurological and autoimmune disorders, lung diseases, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and many others. Different functional foods may have preventive and therapeutic effects in a wide range of pathologies in which inflammasome proteins are activated. In this review, we have focused on curcumin and evidenced its therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory diseases, and arthritis by acting on the inflammasome.

Curcuma longa and curcumin affect respiratory and allergic disorders, experimental and clinical evidence: A comprehensive and updated review

Curcuma longa and its constituents, mainly curcumin, showed various of pharmacological effects in previous studies. This review article provides updated and comprehensive experimental and clinical evidence regarding the effects of C. longa and curcumin on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders. Using appropriate keywords, databases including PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched until the end of October 2021. C. longa extracts and its constituent, curcumin, showed the relaxant effect on tracheal smooth muscle, which indicates their bronchodilatory effect in obstructive pulmonary diseases. The preventive effects of extracts of C. longa and curcumin were shown in experimental animal models of different respiratory diseases through antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. C. longa and curcumin also showed preventive effects on some lung disorders in the clinical studies. It was shown that the effects of C. longa on pulmonary diseases were mainly due to its constituent, curcumin. Pharmacological effects of C. longa extracts and curcumin on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders indicate the possible therapeutic effect of the plant and curcumin on these diseases.

Toxicity of curcumin nanoparticles towards alveolar macrophage: Effects of surface charges

Curcumin has been used for chronic lung diseases management due to its diversified molecular actions. However, the potential cytotoxicity which occurs in cells following the exposure to high concentrations of curcumin has been overlooked. This study evaluated the toxic events of curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) with alterable surface polarity in alveolar macrophages (NR8383). We aimed to establish the correlation between the toxicity of Cur-NPs with different surface charges and the internalization mechanisms of the NPs. Toxicity data showed that positively charged Cur-NPs (IC₅₀: 9.77 ± 0.5 μg/mL) was the most potent against NR8383, followed by negatively charged Cur-NPs (IC₅₀:13.33 ± 0.9 μg/mL) and neutral Cur-NPs (IC₅₀:18.68 ± 1.2 μg/mL). Results from mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content and intracellular ROS in NR8383 showed similar ranking to the toxicity assay. The predominant uptake pathway for positively and negatively charged Cur-NPs was via clathrin-mediated endocytosis, while neutral Cur-NPs was internalized via phagocytosis, micropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Positively charged Cur-NPs mediates the cytotoxicity of NR8383 via lysosomal and mitochondrial-associated destabilization upon entry. In conclusion, the cytotoxicity of Cur-NPs on NR8383 is surface-charge dependent, which in turn is associated to the uptake pathway and localization of Cur-NPs in cells.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of 4-indole-2-arylaminopyrimidine derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents for acute lung injury

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), a clinically high mortality disease, has not been effectively treated till now, and the development of anti-acute lung injury drugs is imminent. Acute lung injury was efficiently treated by inhibiting the cascade of inflammation, and reducing the inflammatory response in the lung. A series of novel compounds with highly efficient inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors were designed by using 4-indolyl-2-aminopyrimidine as the core skeleton. Totally eleven 4-indolyl-2-arylaminopyrimidine derivatives were designed and synthesized. As well, the related anti-ALI activity of these compounds was evaluated. Compounds 6c and 6h showed a superior activity among these compounds, and the inhibition rate of IL-6 and IL-8 release ranged from 62% to 77%, and from 65% to 72%, respectively. Furthermore, most of compounds had no significant cytotoxicity in vitro. The infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissue significantly reduced by using compound 6h (20 mg/kg) in the ALI mice model, which achieved the effect of protecting lung tissue and improving ALI. In addition, the inflammatory response was inhibited by using compound 6h through inhibiting phosphorylation of p-38 and ERK in MAPK signaling pathway, and resulted in protective effect on ALI. These data indicated that compound 6h showed good anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, which was expected to become a leading compound for the treatment of ALI.

The Effect of Curcuma longa on Inflammatory Mediators and Immunological, Oxidant, and Antioxidant Biomarkers in Asthmatic Rats

The effects of Curcuma longa (C. longa) on total and differential WBC, inflammatory and immunologic mediators, and oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats model of asthma were assessed. Animals were divided to 5 groups including control (C), asthma (sensitized to ovalbumin), and asthmatic groups treated with 0.75, 1.50, and 3.00 mg/ml C. longa (CL) and 1.25 μg/ml dexamethasone (D) (8 rats in each group). Total and differential WBC count, concentrations of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), total protein (TP), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), immunoglobulin E (IgE), NO₂, NO₃, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thiol in BALF were assessed. Total and most differential WBC counts and BALF levels of PLA₂, TP, IgE, IL-4, and oxidants in asthma group were higher but antioxidants and IFN-γ levels as well as IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were lower than control group (p < 0.001 for all cases). Total WBC and levels of PLA₂, IgE, NO₂, and NO₃ were significantly reduced following treatment with C. longa, compared to asthma group (p < 0.001 for all cases). In groups treated with dexamethasone and two higher concentrations of C. longa, neutrophil and eosinophil counts as well as TP, IL-4, and MDA levels were significantly decreased but IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, and antioxidants were increased (except IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio), compared to asthma group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Compared to dexamethasone, C. longa exerted more pronounced effects on lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system in asthmatic rats.

Nanomedicine to advance the treatment of bacteria-induced acute lung injury

Bacteria-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with a high mortality rate due to the lack of an effective treatment. Patients often rely on supportive care such as low tidal volume ventilation to alleviate the symptoms. Nanomedicine has recently received much attention owing to its premium benefits of delivering drugs in a sustainable and controllable manner while minimizing the potential side effects. It can effectively improve the prognosis of bacteria-induced ALI through targeted delivery of drugs, regulation of multiple inflammatory pathways, and combating antibiotic resistance. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the pathogenesis of ALI and its potential therapeutics. In particular, the state-of-the-art nanomedicines for the treatment of bacteria-induced ALI are highlighted, including their administration routes, in vivo distribution, and clearance. Furthermore, the available bacteria-induced ALI animal models are also summarized. In the end, future perspectives of nanomedicine for ALI treatment are proposed.

Anthocyanin Extract from Purple Sweet Potato Exacerbate Mitophagy to Ameliorate Pyroptosis in Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection

Given the rise of morbidity and mortality caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), the increasing number of strains resistant to antibiotics, and the emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonia, treatment of KP infection becomes difficult; thus, novel drugs are necessary for treatment. Anthocyanins, or natural flavonoids, have an extensive effect against bacterial infection. However, few studies on anti-KP are identified. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPAs) on KP, containing 98.7% delphinidin 3-sambubioside. Results showed that KP-infected mice after PSPAs treatment manifested decreased mortality, weakened lung injury, dampened inflammatory responses, and reduced bacterial systemic dissemination in vivo. In Vitro, PSPAs significantly suppressed pyroptosis and restricted NLRP3 inflammasome activation in alveolar macrophages infected with KP. As for the mechanism, PSPAs promote mitophagy by recruiting Parkin to the mitochondria. PSPAs-conferred mitophagy increased mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial DNA, resulting in impaired NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In addition, the promotion of mitophagy by PSPAs required the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings suggest that PSPAs are a potential option for the treatment of KP infection.

Immunity boosting nutraceuticals: Current trends and challenges

The immune function of the human body is highly influenced by the dietary intake of certain nutrients and bioactive compounds present in foods. The preventive effects of these bioactive ingredients against various diseases have been well investigated. Functional foods are consumed across various diverse cultures, in some form or the other, which provide benefits greater than the basic nutritional needs. Novel functional foods are being developed using novel bioactive ingredients such as probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and various phytoconstituents, which have a range of immunomodulatory properties. Apart from immunomodulation, these ingredients also affect immunity by their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. The global pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 has forced the scientific community to race against time to find a proper and effective drug or a vaccine. In this review, various non-pharmacological interventions using nutraceuticals and functional foods have been discussed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Despite a plethora of research being undertaken to understand the immunity boosting properties of the various bioactive present in food, the findings are not translating to nutraceutical products in the market. Immunity has proved to be one of the most important factors for the health and well-being of an individual, especially when the world has been under the grip of the novel coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2. The anti-inflammatory properties of various nutraceuticals can come out as potential inhibitors of the various inflammatory processes such as cytokine storms, usually being observed in COVID 19. This review gives an insight into how various nutraceuticals can help in the prevention of various diseases through different mechanisms. The lack of awareness and proper clinical trials pose a challenge to the nutraceutical industry. This review will help and encourage researchers to further design and develop various functional foods, which might help in building immunity.

Efficacy of phytochemicals as immunomodulators in managing COVID-19: a comprehensive view

Throughout history, disease outbreaks have worked havoc upon humanity, sometimes reorienting the history and at times, signaling the end of entire civilizations and the modern pandemic that the world is dealing with, is COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. A healthy immunity could be an ideal gear for resisting COVID-19 for neither medicines nor vaccines have been ascertained till date. In view of the present scenario, there is a demanding necessity to analyze innovative and valid techniques for forestalling and cure of COVID-19 by re-evaluating the structure of the natural compounds for drug designing. The Ayurveda has come forward by prescribing a lot of medicinal herbs for combating this dreaded disease. We have searched from sources in Pubmed and Google Scholar and found 1509 items. The search criteria were limited to the effect of phytochemicals in certain immunomodulatory aspects of viral infection. The original research papers related to the works on phytochemicals in the down regulation of NF-kB, activation of NK and CD8+ cells, inhibition of inflammatory cytokine release and ROS scavenging were included in our study. Here, we try to focus on the immunoregulatory cells which have a vital aspect in COVID-19 and highlight the potential effects of the restorative use of phytochemicals as drugs or dietary supplements.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-021-00706-2.

Targeting TLR4 Signaling to Blunt Viral-Mediated Acute Lung Injury

Respiratory viral infections have been a long-standing global burden ranging from seasonal recurrences to the unexpected pandemics. The yearly hospitalizations from seasonal viruses such as influenza can fluctuate greatly depending on the circulating strain(s) and the congruency with the predicted strains used for the yearly vaccine formulation, which often are not predicted accurately. While antiviral agents are available against influenza, efficacy is limited due to a temporal disconnect between the time of infection and symptom development and viral resistance. Uncontrolled, influenza infections can lead to a severe inflammatory response initiated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or host-derived danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that ultimately signal through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Overall, these pathogen-host interactions result in a local cytokine storm leading to acute lung injury (ALI) or the more severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with concomitant systemic involvement and more severe, life threatening consequences. In addition to traditional antiviral treatments, blocking the host's innate immune response may provide a more viable approach to combat these infectious pathogens. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic illustrates a critical need for novel treatments to counteract the ALI and ARDS that has caused the deaths of millions worldwide. This review will examine how antagonizing TLR4 signaling has been effective experimentally in ameliorating ALI and lethal infection in challenge models triggered not only by influenza, but also by other ALI-inducing viruses.

Experimental and clinical reports on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma longa and curcumin, an updated and comprehensive review

Curcuma longa (C. longa) or turmeric is a plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine, especially for treating inflammatory conditions C. longa and its main constituent, curcumin (CUR), showed various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. The updated knowledge of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of C. longa and CUR is provided in this review article. Pharmacological effects of C. longa, and CUR, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, were searched using various databases and appropriate keywords until September 2020. Various studies showed anti-inflammatory effects of C. longa and CUR, including decreased white blood cell, neutrophil, and eosinophil numbers, and its protective effects on serum levels of inflammatory mediators such as phospholipase A2 and total protein in different inflammatory disorders. The antioxidant effects of C. longa and CUR were also reported in several studies. The plant extracts and CUR decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels but increased thiol, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels in oxidative stress conditions. Treatment with C. longa and CUR also improved immunoglobulin E (Ig)E, pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 4 (IL)-4, transforming growth factor-beta, IL-17, interferon-gamma levels, and type 1/type 2 helper cells (Th1)/(Th2) ratio in conditions with disturbance in the immune system. Therefore C. longa and CUR showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects, indicating a potential therapeutic effect of the plant and its constituent, CUR, for treating of inflammatory, oxidative, and immune dysregulation disorders.

Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Combined With Antibiotic in the Treatment of Rats With Third-Degree Burns

Cationic porphyrin conjugate, protoporphyrin IX-methyl ethylenediamine derivative (PPIX-MED) has a potent photosensitive antibacterial effect on clinically isolated bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study investigated (i) the PPIX-MED-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic effect on these three species in vitro and (ii) the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) combined with the use of an antibiotic on the healing in vivo of third-degree burns of rats with the wounds infected by these bacterial species. PPIX-MED exerted a potent inhibitory effect on the growth of the three bacterial species by producing reactive oxygen species when photoactivated. PPIX-MED-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PPIX-MED-aPDT) had high bacterial photoinactivation ability in vitro, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 15.6 μM PPIX-MED against each of the three types of bacteria and minimum bactericidal concentrations of 31.25 μM against MRSA and E. coli and 62.5 μM against P. aeruginosa. In rats with third-degree burns infected by a mixture of these bacteria, the bactericidal efficiency of PPIX-MED–aPDT-combined-with-antibiotic treatment was higher than that of antibiotic or aPDT treatment alone. This was confirmed by analysis of viable bacterial counts in wound tissue and blood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that aPDT-combined-with-antibiotic treatment resulted in an obvious reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels compared with the no-treatment control group and the other treatment groups. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and CD31 (a marker of neovascularization), expressed in burn wound tissue was higher in the aPDT-combined-with-antibiotic treatment group than in the other groups. PPIX-MED–aPDT has a promising bactericidal effect both in vitro and in vivo, and PPIX-MED–aPDT-combined-with-antibiotic treatment enhanced the healing of infected third-degree burns in rats.

Trace Minerals, Vitamins and Nutraceuticals in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first officially diagnosed in the city of Wuhan, China in January 2020. In reality, the disease was identified in December 2019 in the same city where patients began showing symptoms of pneumonia of unidentified origin. Very soon the disease became a global pandemic due to the suppression of information in the country of origin and inadequate testing for the COVID-19 virus. Currently, > 101 million people have been found positive for this virus and > 2.17 million people have died. There are no signs that COVID-19 is slowing down. This deadly virus affects multiple vital organs (lungs, heart, nervous system, blood, and immune system), yet its exact mechanism of pathophysiology remains obscure. Depending on the viral load, sick people often show symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, coagulopathy, cardiac abnormalities, fatigue, and death. Great strides have been made in COVID-19 testing, thereby allowing timely therapeutic intervention. Currently, vaccines are on the market from Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca with limited supply. Phase III clinical trials are also underway from other manufacturers. In the current scenario, nutraceuticals and other phyto-mineral supplements appear to be promising alternative solutions for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Curcumin and its analog alleviate diabetes-induced damages by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress in brain of diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetic encephalopathy is a severe diabetes complication with cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric disability. The mechanisms underlying diabetic encephalopathy is believed to be relevant with oxidative stress, vascular amylin deposition, immune receptors, inflammation, etc. This study wanted to evaluate the ability of curcumin and its analog A13 to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes-induced damages in brain.

METHODS

Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control (NC) group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group, curcumin-treated diabetes mellitus (CUR) group, high dose of A13-treated diabetes mellitus (HA) group, low dose of A13-treated diabetes mellitus (LA) group. Activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB p65) pathway was detected by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and Western blot; oxidative stress was detected by biochemical detection kit; brain tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Myelin staining.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR, IHC staining and Western blot showed that curcumin and A13 treatment could inhibit the NF-κB p65 pathway. Curcumin and A13 increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and decreased the malondialdehyde level in the brain of diabetic rats. Furthermore, HE staining and Myelin staining demonstrated that the histological lesions of the brain in diabetic rats could be significantly ameliorated by curcumin and A13.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin analog A13 could alleviate the damages in the brain of diabetes rats by regulating the pathways of inflammation and oxidative stress. A13 may be a new potential therapeutic agent for diabetic encephalopathy.

Curcumin-loaded niosomes downregulate mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers involved in asthma: an in vitro study

Aim: In this study, curcumin was encapsulated in niosomes (Nio-Curc) to increase its effectiveness for the treatment of asthma. Materials & methods: The formulation underwent various physicochemical characterization experiments, an in vitro release study, molecular simulations and was evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Results: Results showed that Nio-Curc had a mean particle size of 284.93 ± 14.27 nm, zeta potential of -46.93 and encapsulation efficacy of 99.62%, which demonstrates optimized physicochemical characteristics. Curcumin release in vitro could be sustained for up to 24 h. Additionally, Nio-Curc effectively reduced mRNA transcript expression of pro-inflammatory markers; IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α in immortalized human airway basal cell line (BCi-NS1.1). Conclusion: In this study, we have demonstrated that Nio-Curc mitigated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers in an in vitro study, which could be applied to treatment of asthma with further studies.

Effects of Yue-Bi-Tang on water metabolism in severe acute pancreatitis rats with acute lung-kidney injury

BACKGROUND

The complications acute lung injury and acute kidney injury caused by severe inflammation are the main reasons of high mortality of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). These two complications can both lead to water metabolism and acid-base balance disorders, which could act as additional critical factors affecting the disease trend. Aquaporins (AQPs), which can regulate the transmembrane water transport, have been proved to participate in the pathophysiological process of SAP and the associated complications, such as acute lung injury and acute kidney injury. Thus, exploring herbs that can effectively regulate the expression of AQP in SAP could benefit the prognosis of this disease.

AIM

To determine whether Yue-Bi-Tang (YBT) can regulate the water metabolism in rats with severe acute pancreatitis via regulating the expression of aquaporins.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, sham operation group (SOG), model group (MG), and treatment group (TG). SAP was induced with 3.5% sodium taurocholate in the MG and TG. Rats in the TG were administered with YBT while SOG and MG rats were given the same volume of saline. Blood and tissue samples were harvested to detect serum inflammatory cytokines, histopathological changes, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase in the lung, and protein and mRNA expression of kidney injury molecule-1, α-smooth muscle actin, and vimentin in the kidney, and AQP1 and 4 in the lung, pancreas, and kidney.

RESULTS

The serum interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor α, and creatinine levels were higher in the MG than in the SOG. Tumor necrosis factor α level in the TG was lower than that in the MG. Malondialdehyde level in lung tissues was higher than in the SOG. The pathological scores and edema scores of the pancreas, lung, and kidney tissues in the MG were all higher than those in the SOG and TG. The protein expression of AQP4 in lung tissues and AQP1 in kidney tissues in the MG were higher than those in the SOG and TG. The expression of vimentin was significantly higher in the MG than in the SOG. The expression of AQP1 mRNA in the lung and kidney, and AQP4 mRNA in the kidney was up-regulated in the MG compared to the SOG.

CONCLUSION

YBT might regulate water metabolism to reduce lung and kidney edema of SAP rats via decreasing AQP expression, and alleviate the tissue inflammatory injury.

EGYVIR: An immunomodulatory herbal extract with potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2

Due to the challenges for developing vaccines in devastating pandemic situations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), developing and screening of novel antiviral agents are peremptorily demanded. Herein, we developed EGYVIR as a potent immunomodulatory herbal extract with promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. It constitutes of a combination of black pepper extract with curcumin extract. The antiviral effect of EGYVIR extract is attributed to the two key phases of the disease in severe cases. First, the inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF-kβ p50, attenuating the SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated cytokine storm. Additionally, the EGYVIR extract has an in vitro virucidal effect for SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro study of EGYVIR extract against SARS-CoV-2 on Huh-7 cell lines, revealed the potential role of NF-kβ/TNFα/IL-6 during the infection process. EGYVIR antagonizes the NF-kβ pathway in-silico and in-vitro studies. Consequently, it has the potential to hinder the release of IL-6 and TNFα, decreasing the production of essential cytokines storm elements.

In Silico Design and Synthesis of Targeted Curcumin Derivatives as Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Curcumin is a well-known pharmacophore and some of its derivatives are shown to target xanthine oxidase (XO) to alleviate disorders caused by the excess production of uric acid.

OBJECTIVE

Curcumin based derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential.

METHOD

In this report, we designed and synthesized two series of curcumin derivatives modified by inserting pyrazole and pyrimidine ring to central keto group. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential.

RESULTS

Results showed that pyrazole analogues of curcumin produced excellent XO inhibitory potency with the IC50 values varying from 06.255 µM to 10.503 µM. Among pyrimidine derivatives compound CU3a1 having ortho nitro substitution exhibited more potent xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity than any other curcumin derivative of this series.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin derivatives CU5b1, CU5b2, CU5b3, and CU3a1 showed a potent inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase along with good antioxidant potential.

The Inhibitory Effect of Curcumin on Virus-Induced Cytokine Storm and Its Potential Use in the Associated Severe Pneumonia

Coronavirus infection, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV2, causes daunting diseases that can be fatal because of lung failure and systemic cytokine storm. The development of coronavirus-evoked pneumonia is associated with excessive inflammatory responses in the lung, known as "cytokine storms," which results in pulmonary edema, atelectasis, and acute lung injury (ALI) or fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). No drugs are available to suppress overly immune response-mediated lung injury effectively. In light of the low toxicity and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activity, it is plausible to speculate that curcumin could be used as a therapeutic drug for viral pneumonia and ALI/ARDS. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the mounting evidence obtained from preclinical studies using animal models of lethal pneumonia where curcumin exerts protective effects by regulating the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and COX-2, promoting the apoptosis of PMN cells, and scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which exacerbates the inflammatory response. These studies provide a rationale that curcumin can be used as a therapeutic agent against pneumonia and ALI/ARDS in humans resulting from coronaviral infection.

Acute Lung Injury: IL-17A-Mediated Inflammatory Pathway and Its Regulation by Curcumin

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by acute inflammation and tissue injury results in dysfunction of the alveolar epithelial membrane. If the epithelial injury is severe, a fibroproliferative phase of ALI can develop. During this phase, the activated fibroblast and myofibroblasts synthesize excessive collagenous extracellular matrix that leads to a condition called pulmonary fibrosis. Lung injury can be caused by several ways; however, the present review focus on bleomycin (BLM)-mediated changes in the pathology of lungs. BLM is a chemotherapeutic agent and has toxic effects on lungs, which leads to oxidative damage and elaboration of inflammatory cytokines. In response to the injury, the inflammatory cytokines will be activated to defend the system from injury. These cytokines along with growth factors stimulate the proliferation of myofibroblasts and secretion of pathologic extracellular matrix. During BLM injury, the pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-17A will be up-regulated and mediates the inflammation in the alveolar epithelial cell and also brings about recruitment of certain inflammatory cells in the alveolar surface. These cytokines probably help in up-regulating the expression of p53 and fibrinolytic system molecules during the alveolar epithelial cells apoptosis. Here, our key concern is to provide the adequate knowledge about IL-17A-mediated p53 fibrinolytic system and their pathogenic progression to pulmonary fibrosis. The present review focuses mainly on IL-17A-mediated p53-fibrinolytic aspects and how curcumin is involved in the regulation of pathogenic progression of ALI and pulmonary fibrosis.

Curcumin analog A13 alleviates oxidative stress by activating Nrf2/ARE pathway and ameliorates fibrosis in the myocardium of high-fat-diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for cardiomyopathy. Increasing oxidative stress may be one of the main factors of diabetic cardiomyopathy. A13, a newly synthesized curcumin analog, was proved to be superior to curcumin in biological activity. However, little know about how A13 performed in diabetic models. In this study, we evaluated the ability of curcumin analog A13 to alleviate oxidative stress and ameliorate fibrosis in the myocardium, and explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 4.5) induced diabetes in high-fat fed rats. The rats were respectively treated with a daily dose of curcumin or A13 via intragastric intubation for 8 weeks. Myocardial tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; oxidative stress was detected by biochemical assays; activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemical staining and RT-qPCR; myocardial fibrosis was identified by Western blot and Masson trichrome staining.

RESULTS

Treatment with curcumin analog A13 reduced the histological lesions of the myocardium in diabetic rats. Curcumin and A13 treatment decreased the malondialdehyde level and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the myocardium of diabetic rats. Molecular analysis and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that dose of 20 mg/kg of A13 could activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Molecular analysis and Masson staining showed that curcumin analog A13 treatment significantly ameliorated fibrosis in myocardium of these diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with curcumin analog A13 protects the morphology of myocardium, restores the MDA levels and SOD activity, activates the Nrf2/ARE pathway and ameliorates myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats. It may be a useful therapeutic agent for some aspects of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Docking Studies of Curcumin and Analogues with Various Phosphodiesterase 4 Subtypes

INTRODUCTION

The primary aim of this study is to understand the binding of curcumin and its analogues to different PDE4 subtypes and identify the role of PDE4 subtype inhibition in the anti-inflammatory property of curcumin. Docking analysis has been used to acquire the above mentioned structural information and this has been further used for designing of curcumin derivatives with better anti-inflammatory activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Curcumin and its analogues were subjected to docking using PDE4A, PDE4B, PDE4C and PDE4D as the targets. A data set comprising 18 analogues of curcumin, was used as ligands for docking of PDE4 subtypes. Curcumin was used as the standard for comparison. Docking was performed using AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 software integrated in LigandScout 4.1. During this process water molecules were removed from proteins, charges were added and receptor structures were minimised by applying suitable force fields. The docking scores were compared, and the selectivity of compounds for PDE4B over PDE4D was calculated as well.

RESULTS

All curcumin analogues used in the study showed good binding affinity with all PDE4 subtypes, with evident selectivity towards PDE4B subtype. Analogue A11 provides the highest binding affinity among all ligands.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin and analogues have moderate to strong affinity towards all PDE4 subtypes and have evident selectivity towards PDE4B. The Oxygen atom of the methoxy group plays a key role in PDE4B binding and any alterations could interfere with the binding. Tetrahydropyran side chain and heterocyclic rings are also suggested to be helpful in PDE4B binding.

Inhibition Of JNK Phosphorylation By Curcumin Analog C66 Protects LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by high prevalence and high mortality. Thus far, no effective pharmacological treatment has been made for ALI in clinics. Inflammation is critical to the development of ALI. Curcumin analog C66, having reported as an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), exhibits anti-inflammatory property both in vitro and in vivo. However, whether C66 is capable of reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI through the inhibition of inflammation by targeting JNK remains unknown.

Methods

Intratracheal injection of LPS was employed to build a mouse ALI model. H&E staining, wet/dry ratio, immunofluorescence staining, inflammatory cell detection, and inflammatory gene expression were used to evaluate lung injury and lung inflammation. In vitro, LPS was used to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines both in protein and gene levels.

Results

The results of our studies showed that the pretreatment with C66 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 was capable of attenuating the LPS-induced ALI by detecting pulmonary edema, pathological changes, total protein concentration, and inflammatory cell number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Besides, C66 and SP600125 also suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression in BALF, serum, and lung tissue. In vitro, LPS-induced production of TNF-α and IL-6 and gene expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and COX-2 could be inhibited by the pretreatment with C66 and SP600125. It was found that C66 and SP600125 could inhibit LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

In brief, our results suggested that C66 protects LPS-induced ALI through the inhibition of inflammation by targeting the JNK pathway. These findings further confirmed the pivotal role of JNK in ALI and implied that C66 is likely to serve as a potential therapeutic agent for ALI.

L6H9 attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats through targeting MD2

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by respiratory failure and acute inflammatory response. Myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) has been reported to play a pivotal role in the recognition of LPS and LPS-mediates inflammatory response. There have been no clinically effective therapeutic drugs for ALI. L6H9, an inhibitor of MD2, showed anti-inflammatory effects and cardiac protective activity. However, its effect on ALI has not been elucidated. In this study, intratracheal instillation of LPS was employed to induce ALI in rats. L6H9 pretreatment attenuates LPS-induced pathological variations in lung tissue and pulmonary edema. LPS instillation enhanced lung microvascular permeability, thereby causing inflammatory cells flow into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). However, L6H9 inhibited the LPS-induced upregulation of total protein concentration and the number of inflammatory cells in BALF. In the meantime, macrophages infiltration in lung tissue induced by LPS was also mitigated by L6H9 treatment. Furthermore, L6H9 suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines expression in BALF, serum, and lung tissue. It is noteworthy that LPS-induced MD2/TLR4 complex formation was inhibited by L6H9 in lung tissue. On the whole, these results show that L6H9 can attenuate LPS-induced ALI in vivo by targeting MD2. Our study provide new candidate for the treatment of ALI.

Procyanidin B2 Suppresses Lipopolysaccharides-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in Human Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells and Lung Fibroblasts

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by acute lung inflammation and apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) with a high morbidity and mortality. Procyanidin B2 (PCB2) is a naturally occurring flavonoid with anti-inflammatory activity. Our previous study demonstrated that PCB2 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and ameliorated paraquat-induced ALI in rat, indicating the protective role of PCB2. As lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute cell injury and dysfunction, we continued to evaluate the protective effects of PCB2 using LPS-treated human AECs and lung fibroblasts (LFs) model. We tested the effects of PCB2 on cell permeability, viability, apoptosis, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and proinflammatory cytokines production in LPS-treated human AECs and LFs. PCB2 prevented LPS-induced cell apoptosis, and increased the cell viability in LPS-treated human AECs and LFs. PCB2 inhibited LPS-induced Bax and active caspase-3 expression, and promoted Bcl-2 expression. PCB2 prevented LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β expression, NF-κB activation, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. PCB2 suppressed LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human AECs and LFs by inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome.

Therapeutic effects of curcumin on sepsis and mechanisms of action: A systematic review of preclinical studies

Sepsis is a complex disease that begins with an infectious disorder and causes excessive immune responses. Curcumin is considered as an active component of turmeric that can improve the condition in sepsis due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched. Searching was not limited to a specific publication period. Only English-language original articles, which had examined the effect of curcumin on sepsis, were included. At first, 1,098 articles were totally found, and 209 articles were selected after excluding duplicated data; 46 articles were remained due to the curcumin effects on sepsis. These included 23 in vitro studies and 23 animal studies. Our results showed that curcumin and various analogs of curcumin can have an inhibitory effect on sepsis-induced complications. Curcumin has the ability to inhibit the inflammatory, oxidative coagulation factors, and regulation of immune responses in sepsis. Despite the promising evidence of the therapeutic effects of curcumin on the sepsis complication, further studies seem necessary to investigate its effect and possible mechanisms of action in human studies.

Synergistic protection of matrine and lycopene against lipopolysaccharide‑induced acute lung injury in mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and is characterized by widespread inflammation in the lungs. Increased production of reactive oxygen species is hypothesized to be associated with ALI. Matrine and lycopene are active products present in traditional Chinese medicine. Matrine is an effective inhibitor of inflammation, whereas lycopene decreases lipid peroxidation. Therefore, it was hypothesized that combinatorial treatment with matrine and lycopene may provide synergistic protection against ALI. In the present study, mice were treated with dexamethasone (DEX; 5 mg/kg), matrine (25 mg/kg), lycopene (100 mg/kg), and matrine (25 mg/kg) + lycopene (100 mg/kg) for 7 days prior to injury induction using lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 5 mg/kg) for 6 h. Lung tissues were collected following the sacrifice of the mice and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for histological analysis. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and myeloperoxidas (MPO) levels were examined by respective kits. The expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were evaluated by ELISA. The expressions of IκBα and NF-κB p65 were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that the combined treatment exhibited a similar effect to DEX, both of which attenuated lung structural injuries, downregulated the expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, MPO and MDA, and upregulated that of GSH. Furthermore, the combined treatment and DEX inhibited NF-κB p65 activation. The present study revealed that combined treatment with matrine and lycopene exhibited protective effects on an LPS-induced mouse model of ALI, suggesting that they may serve as a potential alternative to glucocorticoid therapy for ALI.

Two indole-2-carboxamide derivatives attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammatory response

Acute lung injury (ALI) is the leading cause of mortality in the intensive care unit. Currently, there is no effective pharmacological treatment for ALI. In our previous study, we reported that Lg25 and Lg26, two indole-2-carboxamide derivatives, inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokines in vitro and attenuated LPS-induced sepsis in vivo. In the present study, we confirmed data from previous studies that LPS significantly induced pulmonary edema and pathological changes in lung tissue, increased protein concentration and number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), and increased inflammatory cytokine TNF-α expression in serum and BALF, pro-inflammatory genes expression, and macrophages infiltration in lung tissue. However, pretreatment with Lg25 and Lg26 significantly attenuated the LPS-induced changes in mice. Taken together, these data indicate that the newly discovered indole-2-carboxamide derivatives could be particularly useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as ALI.

Interleukin-18 binding protein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice via suppression NF-κB and activation Nrf2 pathway

Interleukin (IL)-18 belongs to a rather large IL-1 gene family and is a proinflammatory cytokine. IL-18 plays important roles in lung injury. IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), a natural antagonist of IL-18, binds IL-18 with high affinity. IL-18BP is able to neutralize IL-18 biological activity and has a protective effect against renal fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of IL-18BP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and to illuminate the underlying mechanisms. Results indicated that pretreatment with IL-18BP significantly attenuated LPS-induced pulmonary pathological injury. Meanwhile, IL-18BP pretreatment markedly inhibited infiltration of inflammatory cell and release of inflammatory factor in ALI mice in vivo and in primary macrophages after LPS insult in vitro. IL-18BP treatment dramatically reduced oxidative stress through increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) contents, and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-induced ALI mice and primary macrophages. Additionally, IL-18BP was also observed to markedly decreased the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and upregulated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Taken together, IL-18BP possessed protective effect against LPS-induced ALI, which might be associated with its regulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 activities. The results rendered IL-18BP worthy of further development into a pharmaceutical drug for the treatment of ALI.

Combined delivery of angiopoietin-1 gene and simvastatin mediated by anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antibody-conjugated ternary nanoparticles for acute lung injury therapy

Effective treatment for acute lung injury (ALI) is in high demand. Lung-targeted ternary nanoparticles containing anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) antibody-conjugated simvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (ICAM/NLC), protamine (Pro), and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) gene (ICAM-NLC/Pro/Ang) were developed for ALI therapy. The ternary nanoparticles with different weight ratios of ICAM-NLC to Ang-1 gene were prepared via charge interaction. The anti-ICAM-1 antibody-conjugated ternary nanoparticles exhibited higher cellular uptake and transfection efficiency (from 26.7% to 30.9%) in human vascular endothelial cell line EAhy926 than the non-targeted control. The largest size of ICAM-NLC/Pro/Ang (357.1 nm) was employed for further study, which significantly up-regulated in vitro and in vivo Ang-1 protein expression. In vivo i.v. administration of ICAM-NLC/Pro/Ang (357.1 nm) significantly attenuated pulmonary TNF-α and IL-6 levels, inflammatory cell infiltration, and led to positive histological improvements in lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI mice. Collectively, the ICAM-NLC/Pro/Ang that co-delivered simvastatin and Ang-1 gene may represent a potential treatment modality for ALI.

The efficacy of curcumin in managing acute inflammation pain on the post-surgical removal of impacted third molars patients: A randomised controlled trial

Curcumin is a turmeric-contained active ingredient that has been proven to be effective in treating pain and inflammation due to its analgesic as well as anti-inflammation potential. Odontectomy, on the other hand, has been well known for its post-procedure acute inflammation pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcuminoid in treating acute inflammation post-operative pain in the post-surgical removal of impacted third molars patients. Ninety (44 males; 46 females) participants were recruited in this randomised controlled trial and randomly assigned to the control group (those who consumed mefenamic acid) or the experimental group (those who consumed curcumin). Numeric rating scale (NRS) was used as an evaluation tool to evaluate the intensity of the pain experienced by the participants. Pain evaluation was performed immediately after anaesthesia effect disappeared (T₀ ) and an hour after participant took their first (T₁ ), second (T₂ ) and third (T₃ ) course of drugs. All data were collected and analysed using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The current study showed that participants in both groups experienced significantly (P < .01) less pain compared to their initial pain level. In addition, when the two groups were compared, it was revealed that those in the treatment group experienced even significantly (P < .01) less pain compared to those in the control group. It can be concluded that curcumin is effective in treating acute inflammation pain in the post-surgical removal of impacted third molars patients.

Nano-delivery systems for encapsulation of dietary polyphenols: An experimental approach for neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and brain tumors are severe, disabling, and incurable disorders that represent a critical problem regarding human suffering and the economic burden on the healthcare system. Because of the lack of effective therapies to treat NDs and brain tumors, the challenge for physicians is to discover new drugs to improve their patients' quality of life. In addition to risk factors such as genetics and environmental influences, increased cellular oxidative stress has been reported as one of the potential common etiologies in both disorders. Given their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, dietary polyphenols are considered to be one of the most bioactive natural agents in chronic disease prevention and treatment. Despite the protective activity of polyphenols, their inefficient delivery systems and poor bioavailability strongly limit their use in medicine and functional food. A potential solution lies in polymeric nanoparticle-based polyphenol delivery systems that are able to enhance their absorption across the gastrointestinal tract, improve their bioavailability, and transport them to target organs. In the present manuscript, we provide an overview of the primary polyphenols used for ND and brain tumor prevention and treatment by focusing on recent findings, the principal factors limiting their application in clinical practice, and a promising delivery strategy to improve their bioavailability.

Curcumin down-regulates IL-17A mediated p53-fibrinolytic system in bleomycin induced acute lung injury in vivo

Bleomycin (BLM) induced cellular damage causes inflammation in the alveolar compartment and impairment of fibrinolytic system leads to alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis. Here, we describe novel inflammatory pathway associated with p53-fibrinolytic system and apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells and pharmacological efficiency of curcumin against this action. In the present study we used C57BL/6 mice. The specific dose and time interval of curcumin were analyzed to assess the intervention. Experiments were designed to investigate the IL-17A mediated modulation in the alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and injury. Various techniques such as Western blot, RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry were used for this study. We observed that the BLM-induced lung injury and its progression were successfully regulated by the effective dose and time intervention of curcumin. There was also decreased expression of chemokines, p53, and fibrinolytic components such as PAI-1 and increased uPA, uPAR expression, and decreased alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis, which indicates the IL-17A mediated novel inflammatory pathway. It is confirmed that the IL-17A involved in the modulation of p53-fibrinolytic system and epithelial cell apoptosis in BLM induced mice. The cross-talk between the inflammatory, fibrinolytic, and apoptotic pathways were resolved by curcumin intervention. This pathway and intervention could serve as a modern therapy to resolve the complications to cure the lung injury and its progression.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide overexpression mediated by lentivirus attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting inflammation

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is one of the most abundant neuropeptides in the lungs with various biological characters. We have reported that VIP inhibited the expressions of TREM-1 and IL-17A, which are involved in the initiation and amplification of inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI). However, the overall effect of VIP on ALI remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of VIP mediated by lentivirus (Lenti-VIP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine ALI. We found that the expression of intrapulmonary VIP peaked at day7 after the intratracheal injection of Lenti-VIP. Lenti-VIP increased the respiratory rate, lung compliance, and tidal volume, while decreased airway resistance in ALI mice, detected by Buxco system. Lenti-VIP significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and maintained the integrity of the alveolar septa. Lenti-VIP also remarkably decreased the total protein level, the number of neutrophil and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of LPS-induced ALI mice. In addition, Lenti-VIP down-regulated pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA and protein expression, while up-regulated anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 mRNA and protein expression in lungs of ALI mice. Furthermore, we observed that VIP reduced the TNF-α expression in murine macrophages under LPS stimulation through protein kinase C and protein kinase A pathways. Together, our findings show that in vivo administration of lentivirus expressing VIP exerts a potent therapeutic effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice via inhibiting inflammation.

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor attenuates LPS-induced inflammation and acute lung injury in rats

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been found to be able to reduce inflammatory response. However, it is still unclear whether EGFR inhibition can prevent ALI. This study aimed to validate the EGFR's role in ALI and investigated the effects of EGFR inhibition on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in rats. In vitro, both pharmacological inhibitors (AG1478 and 451) and si-RNA silencing of EGFR significantly inhibited LPS-induced EGFR signaling activation and inflammatory response in human lung epithelial cells or macrophages. Mechanistically, LPS induced EGFR activation via TLR4 and c-Src signaling. In vivo, rat model with ALI induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS was treated by oral administration of AG1478 and 451. It was observed that AG1478 and 451 blocked the activation of EGFR signaling in lung tissue and reduced the LPS-induced infiltration of inflammatory cells, inflammatory gene expression, and lung injuries. This study demonstrates that TLR4/c-Src-dependent EGFR signaling plays an important role in LPS-induced ALI, and that EGFR may be a potential target in treating ALI.

Curcumin Attenuates Pulmonary Inflammation in Lipopolysaccharide Induced Acute Lung Injury in Neonatal Rat Model by Activating Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) Pathway

Background

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of curcumin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neonatal acute lung injury (ALI) and the possibly associated molecular mechanisms.

Material/Methods

ALI neonatal animal model was established by using LPS. Curcumin and/or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) inhibitor BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) were administrated to animals. Lung edema was evaluated by PaO₂ and lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) measurements. EMSA was used to determine the PPARγ activity. Levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined by ELISA. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of HMGB1, RAGE, heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), TNFα, IL6, and TGFβ1 in lung tissue.

Results

Curcumin administration significantly improved lung function by increasing PaO₂ and decreasing W/D in neonatal ALI rats. Curcumin treatment upregulated the PPARγ activity and expression level of HO1 which were suppressed in lung tissue of neonatal ALI rats. Elevated levels of HMGB1, RAGE, TNFα, IL6, and TGFβ1 in both lung tissue and BALF from neonatal ALI rats were decreased dramatically by curcumin treatment. PPARγ inhibitor BADGE administration impaired curcumin’s alleviation on lung edema, inhibitory effects on inflammatory cytokine expression and recovery of PPARγ/HO1 signaling activation.

Conclusions

Curcumin alleviated lung edema in LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting inflammation which was induced by PPARγ/HO1 regulated-HMGB1/RAGE pro-inflammatory pathway.

New MD2 inhibitors derived from curcumin with improved anti-inflammatory activity

An overactive Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling complex is a significant pathogenic factor of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The natural product curcumin is reported to inhibit the TLR4 co-receptor, MD2 (myeloid differentiation protein 2), but its low in vivo bioavailability limits its therapeutic potential. We developed new curcumin analogs (MACs) with removal of the β-diketone moiety and substituted residues in benzene rings, and identify these as potential MD2 inhibitors with improved inhibition potency and stability over that of curcumin. Specifically, MAC 17 and 28 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, with >90% inhibition of LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion from macrophages, and protected against LPS-induced acute lung injury and sepsis. The MACs inhibited the TLR4-MD2 signaling complex through competition with LPS for binding on MD2, likely at Arg⁹⁰. Our findings indicated that MAC 17 and 28 are promising candidates for future development as therapeutic drugs for inflammatory diseases with an endotoxin etiology.