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Zhu JQ, Tian YY, Chan KL, Hu Z, Xu QQ, Lin ZX, Xian YF. Modified Qing-Zao-Jiu-Fei decoction attenuated pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats via modulating Nrf2/NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. Chin Med 2024; 19:10. [PMID: 38229198 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00882-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Qing-Zao-Jiu-Fei Decoction (QZJFD) is a famous herbal formula commonly prescribed for the treatment of lung-related diseases in the ancient and modern times. Trichosanthis Fructus (TF) and Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) are widely used for treatment of cough and pulmonary disease. In order to identify a more effective formula for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, we intend to add TF and FTB in QZJFD to form a modified QZJFD (MQZJFD). In this study, we aims to explore MQZJFD as an innovative therapeutic agent for pulmonary fibrosis using bleomycin (BLM)-treated rats and to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS BLM was given to SD rats by intra-tracheal administration of a single dose of BLM (5 mg/kg). QZJFD (3 g/kg) and MQZJFD (1, 2 and 4 g/kg) was given intragastrically daily to rats for 14 days (from day 15 to 28) after BLM administration for 14 consecutive days. RESULTS MQZJFD was found to contain 0.29% of amygdalin, 0.020% of lutin, 0.077% of glycyrrhizic acid and 0.047% of chlorogenic acid. BLM treatment could induce collagen deposition in the lung tissues of rats, indicating that the pulmonary fibrosis rat model had been successfully established. MQZJFD have better effects than the original QZJFD in reducing the pulmonary structure damage and collagen deposition of rat lung fibrosis induced by BLM. MQZJFD could reduce the hydroxyproline content in lung tissues of BLM-treated rats. The biomarkers of fibrosis such as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were remarkably reduced after treatment with MQZJFD. MQZJFD also have anti-oxidant stress effects by inhibiting the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), but enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the level of glutathione (GSH) in the lung tissues of BLM-treated rats. Moreover, the MQZJFD markedly suppressed the over expressions of p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα, but upregulated the Nrf2. MQZJFD also suppressed the protein expressions of p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-p38/p38 and p-JNK/JNK in the lung tissues of BLM-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS MQZJFD could improve the pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM in rats via inhibiting the fibrosis and oxidative stress via suppressing the activation of NF-κB/Nrf2 and MAPKs pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Qian Zhu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yang Tian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Kam Leung Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
- Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Hu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Qing Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
- Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin R&D Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
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Zeyada MS, Eraky SM, El-Shishtawy MM. Trigonelline mitigates bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis: Insight into NLRP3 inflammasome and SPHK1/S1P/Hippo signaling modulation. Life Sci 2024; 336:122272. [PMID: 37981228 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with an increasing incidence following the COVID-19 outbreak. Pirfenidone (Pirf), an FDA-approved pulmonary anti-fibrotic drug, is poorly tolerated and exhibits limited efficacy. Trigonelline (Trig) is a natural plant alkaloid with diverse pharmacological actions. We investigated the underlying prophylactic and therapeutic mechanisms of Trig in ameliorating bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF and the possible synergistic antifibrotic activity of Pirf via its combination with Trig. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single dose of BLM was administered intratracheally to male Sprague-Dawley rats for PF induction. In the prophylactic study, Trig was given orally 3 days before BLM and then for 28 days. In the therapeutic study, Trig and/or Pirf were given orally from day 8 after BLM until the 28th day. Biochemical assay, histopathology, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry were performed on lung tissues. KEY FINDINGS Trig prophylactically and therapeutically mitigated the inflammatory process via targeting NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling. Trig activated the autophagy process which in turn attenuated alveolar epithelial cells apoptosis and senescence. Remarkably, Trig attenuated lung SPHK1/S1P axis and its downstream Hippo targets, YAP-1, and TAZ, with a parallel decrease in YAP/TAZ profibrotic genes. Interestingly, Trig upregulated lung miR-375 and miR-27a expression. Consequently, epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung tissues was reversed upon Trig administration. These results were simultaneously associated with profound improvement in lung histological alterations. SIGNIFICANCE The current study verifies Trig's prophylactic and antifibrotic effects against BLM-induced PF via targeting multiple signaling. Trig and Pirf combination may be a promising approach to synergize Pirf antifibrotic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menna S Zeyada
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Salma M Eraky
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mamdouh M El-Shishtawy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
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