Astragaloside IV Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Through Down-Regulating Cytokines, CCR5 and p-ERK, and Elevating Anti-Oxidative Ability

Traditional Chinese Medicine and renal regeneration: experimental evidence and future perspectives

Repair of acute kidney injury (AKI) is a typical example of renal regeneration. AKI is characterized by tubular cell death, peritubular capillary (PTC) thinning, and immune system activation. After renal tubule injury, resident renal progenitor cells, or renal tubule dedifferentiation, give rise to renal progenitor cells and repair the damaged renal tubule through proliferation and differentiation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also play an important role in renal tubular repair. AKI leads to sparse PTC, affecting the supply of nutrients and oxygen and indirectly aggravating AKI. Therefore, repairing PTC is important for the prognosis of AKI. The activation of the immune system is conducive for the body to clear the necrotic cells and debris generated by AKI; however, if the immune activation is too strong or lengthy, it will cause damage to renal tubule cells or inhibit their repair. Macrophages have been shown to play an important role in the repair of kidney injury. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the treatment of AKI and a series of studies have been conducted on the topic in recent years. Herein, the role of TCM in promoting the repair of renal injury and its molecular mechanism is discussed from three perspectives: repair of renal tubular epithelial cells, repair of PTC, and regulation of macrophages to provide a reference for the treatment and mechanistic research of AKI.

The Antioxidant Action of Astragali radix: Its Active Components and Molecular Basis

Astragali radix is a traditional medicinal herb with a long history and wide application. It is frequently used in prescriptions with other medicinal materials to replenish Qi. According to the classics of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragali radix is attributed with properties such as Qi replenishing and surface solidifying, sore healing and muscle generating, and inducing diuresis to reduce edema. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that some extracts and active ingredients in Astragali radix function as antioxidants. The polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids in Astragali radix offer beneficial effects in preventing and controlling diseases caused by oxidative stress. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research on the effective components and molecular mechanisms through which Astragali radix exerts antioxidant activity. In this paper, we review the active components with antioxidant effects in Astragali radix; summarize the content, bioavailability, and antioxidant mechanisms; and offer a reference for the clinical application of Astragalus and the future development of novel antioxidants.

Research progress of astragaloside IV in treating acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common clinical critical illnesses, with decreased glomerular filtration rate, retention of nitrogen products, water and electrolyte disorders, and acid-base imbalance as the main clinical manifestations. Presently, there is no effective treatment for acute kidney injury, but the main treatment is to cure the primary disease, remove risk factors, maintain acid-base and water-electrolyte balance, and undergo kidney replacement. However, the mortality rate is still high. Investigations and studies showed that the mortality rate of patients with acute kidney injury in the ICU is 5-80% [1]. In recent years, Chinese medicine has been widely used in acute kidney injury treatment due to its complete dialectical system and rich experience. Astragalus is a commonly used medicine in traditional Chinese medicine to treat acute kidney injury. Astragaloside IV is the main active component of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus membranaceus. This article summarizes the relevant studies on treating acute kidney injury with astragaloside IV.

Investigation of the Metabolism of Astragaloside IV in a Puromycin-Damaged Rat Model by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Analysis

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been shown to provide renal protection in various kidney injury models. However, the metabolic profile variation of AS-IV in pathological models in vivo is not well established. This study aims to explore the metabolic pathway of AS-IV in vivo in the classical puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced kidney injury in a rat model. Twelve Wistar rats were randomly divided into the AS-IV (CA) and the PAN+AS-IV (PA) treatment groups. PAN was injected by a single tail intravenous (i. v.) injection at 5 mg/100 g body weight, and AS-IV was administered intragastrically (i. g.) at 40 mg/kg for 10 days. Fecal samples of these rats were collected, and metabolites of AS-IV were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) to explore the AS-IV metabolic pathway. The metabolic differences between the AS-IV and PAN+AS-IV groups were compared. A total of 25 metabolites were detected, and deglycosylation, deoxygenation, and methyl oxidation were found to be the main metabolic pathways of AS-IV in vivo. The abundance of most of these metabolites in the PAN+AS-IV group was lower than that in the AS-IV treatment group, and differences for seven of them were statistically significant. Our study indicates that AS-IV metabolism is affected in the PAN-induced kidney injury rat model.

Pharmacological potential of Astragali Radix for the treatment of kidney diseases

BACKGROUND

With the increasing prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, the incidence of kidney diseases is also increasing, resulting in a serious public burden. Conventional treatments for kidney diseases have unsatisfactory effects and are associated with adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicines have good curative effects and advantages over conventional treatments for preventing and treating kidney diseases. Astragali Radix is a Chinese herbal medicine widely used to treat kidney diseases.

PURPOSE

To review the potential applications and molecular mechanisms underlying the renal protective effects of Astragali Radix and its components and to provide direction and reference for new therapeutic strategies and future research and development of Astragali Radix.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched using keywords, including "Astragali Radix," "Astragalus," "Astragaloside IV" (AS-IV), "Astragali Radix polysaccharide" (APS), and "kidney diseases." Reports on the effects of Astragali Radix and its components on kidney diseases were identified and reviewed.

RESULTS

The main components of Astragali Radix with kidney-protective properties include AS-IV, APS, calycosin, formononetin, and hederagenin. Astragali Radix and its active components have potential pharmacological effects for the treatment of kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive renal damage, chronic glomerulonephritis, and kidney stones. The pharmacological effects of Astragali Radix are manifested through the inhibition of inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and ferroptosis, as well as the regulation of autophagy.

CONCLUSION

Astragali Radix is a promising drug candidate for treating kidney diseases. However, current research is limited to animal and cell studies, underscoring the need for further verifications using high-quality clinical data.

Shenshuaifu Granule Attenuates Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptosis Mediated by p53/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition resulting in a rapid decline in renal function, and requires improvement in effective preventive measures. Ferroptosis, a novel form of cell death, is closely related to AKI. Shenshuaifu granule (SSF) has been demonstrated to prevent AKI through suppressing inflammation and apoptosis.

Objective

This study aimed to explore whether SSF can inhibit ferroptosis in AKI.

Methods

Active ingredients in SSF were detected through HPLC-MS/MS, and their binding abilities with ferroptosis were evaluated by molecular docking. Then, male C57/BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, cisplatin, and cisplatin+SSF groups. In the latter two groups, mice were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg of cisplatin. For five consecutive days prior to cisplatin injection, mice in the cisplatin+SSF group were gavaged with 5.2 g/kg of SSF per day.72 h after cisplatin injection, the mice were sacrificed. Serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured to evaluate renal function. H&E and PAS staining were used to observe pathological damage of kidney. Cell death was observed by TUNEL staining, and iron accumulation in kidneys of mice was detected by Prussian blue staining. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were used to investigate the presence of inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, iron deposition, and lipid peroxidation in mouse kidneys.

Results

Active ingredients in SSF had strong affinities with ferroptosis. SSF reduced SCr (p<0.01) and BUN (p<0.0001) levels, pathological damage (p<0.0001), dead cells in the tubular epithelium (p<0.0001) and iron deposition (p<0.01) in mice with cisplatin induced AKI. And SSF downregulated macrophage infiltration (p<0.01), the expressions of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1, p<0.05) and interleukin (IL)-17 (p<0.05), upregulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and 2 (p<0.01), and catalase (CAT, p<0.05), and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction (p<0.05). More importantly, SSF regulated iron transport and intracellular iron overload and reduced the expression of ferritin (p<0.05). Moreover, it downregulated the expressions of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (Cox-2, p<0.001), acid CoA ligase 4 (ACSL4, p<0.05), and solute carrier family 7, member 11 (SLC7A11, p<001), upregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4, p<0.01) and p53 (p<0.01), and decreased 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) level (p<0.001).

Conclusion

SSF attenuates AKI by inhibiting ferroptosis mediated by p53/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway.

A Review on Extracts, Chemical Composition and Product Development of Walnut Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus

Walnuts are one of the world's most important nut species and are popular for their high nutritional value, but the processing of walnuts produces numerous by-products. Among them, Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus has attracted the attention of researchers due to its complex chemical composition and diverse bioactivities. However, comprehensive reviews of extract activity and mechanistic studies, chemical composition functionality, and product types are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the extracts, chemical composition, and product development of Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus. Conclusions: For extracts, the biological activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts have been studied more extensively than those of methanol extracts, but almost all of the studies have been based on crude extracts, with fewer explorations of their mechanisms. For chemical composition, the bioactivities of polyphenols and polysaccharides were more intensively studied, while other chemical constituents were at the stage of content determination. For product development, walnuts are mainly used in food and medicine, but the product range is limited. In the future, research on the bioactivity and related mechanisms of Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus can be further expanded to improve its value as a potential natural plant resource applied in multiple industries.

Possible correlated signaling pathways with chronic urate nephropathy: A review

Hyperuricemia nephropathy, also known as gouty nephropathy, refers to renal damage induced by hyperuricemia caused by excessive production of serum uric acid or low excretion of uric acid. the persistence of symptoms will lead to changes in renal tubular phenotype and accelerate the progress of renal fibrosis. The existence and progressive aggravation of symptoms will bring a heavy burden to patients, their families and society, affect their quality of life and reduce their well-being. With the increase of reports on hyperuricemia nephropathy, the importance of related signal pathways in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia nephropathy is becoming more and more obvious, but most studies are limited to the upper and lower mediating relationship between 1 or 2 signal pathways. The research on the comprehensiveness of signal pathways and the breadth of crosstalk between signal pathways is limited. By synthesizing the research results of signal pathways related to hyperuricemia nephropathy in recent years, this paper will explore the specific mechanism of hyperuricemia nephropathy, and provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of hyperuricemia nephropathy based on a variety of signal pathway crosstalk and personal prospects.

Astragaloside IV alleviates sepsis-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Muscle atrophy occurs in patients with sepsis and increases mortality and disability. Remission of muscle atrophy may improve the quality of life in patients with sepsis. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) has been shown to have excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects and to reduce organ damage caused by sepsis. However, the effect of ASIV on sepsis-induced muscle atrophy has not been reported. Therefore, this study explored the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of ASIV in sepsis-induced muscle atrophy.

METHODS

Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to establish a mouse model of sepsis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated C2C12 myotubes. After administration of ASIV, the body weight, tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius muscle weight and fiber cross-sectional area of the mice were measured. The diameter of myotubes was observed by immunofluorescence staining. ELISA was used to assess inflammatory factors in plasma and cell culture supernatants. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of MuRF1, Atrogin-1 and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway components in TA and C2C12 myotubes.

RESULTS

Our study found that ASIV reduced serum inflammatory factors and improved survival in septic mice. ASIV alleviated muscle mass reduction, myofiber cross-sectional area reduction, and C2C12 myotube atrophy by inhibiting the expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and atrogin-1. In addition, we observed that ASIV inhibited TGF-β1/Smad signaling. Inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway partly blocked the anti-muscle atrophy effect of ASIV.

CONCLUSION

ASIV can alleviate sepsis-induced muscle atrophy, which may be related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Therapeutic potential of AMPK signaling targeting in lung cancer: Advances, challenges and future prospects

Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of death worldwide with high mortality and morbidity. A wide variety of risk factors are considered for LC development such as smoking, air pollution and family history. It appears that genetic and epigenetic factors are also potential players in LC development and progression. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a signaling pathway with vital function in inducing energy balance and homeostasis. An increase in AMP:ATP and ADP:ATP ratio leads to activation of AMPK signaling by upstream mediators such as LKB1 and CamKK. Dysregulation of AMPK signaling is a common finding in different cancers, particularly LC. AMPK activation can significantly enhance LC metastasis via EMT induction. Upstream mediators such as PLAG1, IMPAD1, and TUFM can regulate AMPK-mediated metastasis. AMPK activation can promote proliferation and survival of LC cells via glycolysis induction. In suppressing LC progression, anti-tumor compounds including metformin, ginsenosides, casticin and duloxetine dually induce/inhibit AMPK signaling. This is due to double-edged sword role of AMPK signaling in LC cells. Furthermore, AMPK signaling can regulate response of LC cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy that are discussed in the current review.

Uncovering the mechanism of Astragali Radix against nephrotic syndrome by intergrating lipidomics and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Astragali Radix (AR), a common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is commonly used for treating nephrotic syndrome (NS) in China. At present, the research on the efficacy of AR against NS is relative clearly, but there are fewer researches on the mechanism.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of AR in an adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model, as well as investigate the possible mechanisms of action and potential lipid biomarkers.

METHODS

In this work, a rat model of NS was established by two injections of ADR (3.5 + 1 mg/kg) into the tail vein. The potential metabolites and targets involved in the anti-NS effects of AR were predicted by lipidomics coupled with the network pharmacology approach, and the crucial metabolite and protein were further validated by western blotting and ELISA.

RESULTS

The results showed that 22 metabolites such as l-carnitine, LysoPC (20:3), and SM (d18:1/16:0) were associated with renal injury. Moreover, SMPD1, CPT1A and LCAT were predicted as lipids linked targets of AR against NS, whilst glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid and fatty acids metabolism were involved as key pathways of AR against NS. Besides, AR could play a critical role in NS by improving oxidative stress, inhibiting apoptosis and reducing inflammation. Interestingly, our results indicated that key metabolite l-carnitine and target CPT1 were one of the important metabolites and targets for AR to exert anti-NS effects.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this study offered a new understanding of the protection mechanism of AR against NS by network pharmacology and lipidomic method.

Study on the Anticancer Effect of an Astragaloside- and Chlorogenic Acid-Containing Herbal Medicine (RLT-03) in Breast Cancer

Background

Although surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy are widely used in clinical practice for breast cancer treatment, herbal medicines (HMs) are considered as an alternative to palliative treatments because of their coordinated intervention effects and relatively low side effects. Astragaloside (AS) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are major active ingredients of Radix Astragali and Lonicera japonica, which have shown antitumorigenic properties in certain cancers, but the role of HMs containing both AS and CGA remains unclear in breast cancer. In this study, we explored an AS- and CGA-containing HM (RLT-03) extracted from Radix Astragali, Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Trichosanthin, and Rhizoma imperatae.

Methods

RLT-03 was extracted using water and n-butanol, and the AS and CGA ingredients in RLT-03 were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD). 4T1, EMT6, BT-549, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were used, and an EMT6 xenograft model was established. Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were measured in vitro, and tumor volume and weight were observed in vivo. The expression of VEGF, EGF, IL-10, TGF-β, and CD34 and cell apoptosis in tumors were examined.

Results

RLT-03 inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In vivo, tumor volume and weight were reduced, and the expression of VEGF, EGF, IL-10, TGF-β, and CD34 was suppressed in the tumor microenvironment, while cell apoptosis was induced.

Conclusion

RLT-03 exhibited therapeutic effects against breast cancer by regulating the expression of ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and inflammatory factors. Thus, RLT-03 represents a potential supplementary HM that can be used in breast cancer therapy.

Combination of astragaloside IV and ACEi ameliorates renal injuries in db/db mice

Evidences demonstrated that the effect on anti-proteinuria and renal protection of Chinese herbs combination with ACEi or ARB seemed to be better than ACEi or ARB alone. Astragaloside IV could decrease the urinary albumin excretion rate and could protect against renal injuries linking to its anti-oxidation ability. We aimed to investigate the effect of astragaloside IV combined with ACEi on diabetic nephropathy and to explore whether its underlying mechanism is dependent on anti-oxidation. 8-week-old male experiment mice were randomly assigned to five groups: lean wild type (wt) group, db/db group, db/db + astragaloside IV group, db/db + enalapril group, db/db + combination therapy with astragaloside IV and enalapril group. During the experiment, 24 hours urinary albumin, fasting glucose, body weight, and metabolic parameters were monitored in regular intervals. At the end of the study, tail blood pressure, serum H₂O₂, lipid, and liver function were measured and kidney histological injuries were evaluated. Results of the study indicated that combination therapy with astragaloside IV and ACEi further reduced 24 hours urinary albumin excretion rate, blood pressure, and body weight. Combination therapy reduced the foot process width, glomerular base membrane thickness, glomerular tuft cell proliferation, tubular cell atrophy, tubular base membrane thickness, and improved tubular cell proliferation. It modulated the body H₂O₂ metabolism and up-regulated the expression of the catalase in renal cortex. Astragaloside IV combined with ACEi exerted renal protective effects in db/db mice more significantly than their individual used. The mechanism possibly involved their synergistic effects on anti-oxidation.

Screening for Potential Active Components of Fangji Huangqi Tang on the Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome by Using Integrated Metabolomics Based on "Correlations Between Chemical and Metabolic Profiles"

As for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, what puzzled researchers most was how to select proper chemical markers to represent the whole pharmacological action system. In this paper, an integrated metabolomic method was presented for a systematic discovery of potential active components in Fangji Huangqi Tang (FHT), a well-known TCM prescription for nephrotic syndrome treatment, based on “correlations between chemical and metabolic profiles.” Firstly, a metabolomics study was carried out to select representative biomarkers of nephrotic syndrome. Then, after drug administration, the dynamic process of serum composition was investigated by the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization–quadrupole–time of flight–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS) technique to detect the prototypes and related metabolites of relative components from FHT. Pearson correlation analysis was finally used to find out the correlations between the endogenous metabolic spectrums and the chemical serum spectrums. As a result, 17 biomarkers for nephrotic syndrome indication were identified, and the main metabolic pathways of their concern included linoleic acid metabolism; cyanoamino acid metabolism; alpha-linolenic acid metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; arachidonic acid metabolism; and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Meanwhile, active components in FHT for nephrotic syndrome treatment were screened out, including (+)-tetrandrine demethylation, fenfangjine G hydrogenation, tetrandrine, N-methylfangchinoline, tetrandrine demethylation, fangchinoline, glycyrrhetic acid, astragaloside II alcohol dehydration, atractylenolide III demethylation + hydrogenation, atractylenolide III demethylation + hydrogenation, and licoricone-N-acetylcysteine conjugation. This study demonstrated a promising way to elucidate the active chemical material basis of TCM prescription.

Astragaloside IV attenuates inflammatory injury and promotes odontoblastic differentiation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated MDPC-23 cells and rat pulpitis

BACKGROUND

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a natural herbal compound from Astragalus membranaceus, has inhibitory effects on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, and RANKL signal helps to regulate odontoblast differentiation. However, whether and how AS-IV affects odontoblastic differentiation remains unclear.

METHODS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated MDPC-23 cells and rat pulpitis were treated with AS-IV, cell viability, and LDH leakage was analyzed by CCK-8 assay and LDH Leakage assay. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 was determined by ELISA and qRT-PCR assay. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected using an ALP assay kit, and the expression of dentin sialophos-phoprotein (DSPP), dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) was determined by western blot.

RESULTS

AS-IV dose dependently increased in cell viability and decreased the overproduction of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated MDPC-23 cells. AS-IV also counteracted LPS-induced downregulation of ALP, DSPP, and DMP1 in MDPC-23 cells. Furthermore, AS-IV significantly decreased the expression of FGF2 and p-ERK in LPS-stimulated MDPC-23 cells. More important, the addition of FGF2 partly neutralized AS-IV-mediated inhibition of FGF2/ERK signaling, abolished AS-IV-induced reduction of TNF-α and IL-6, and counteracted AS-IV-induced upregulation of DSPP and DMP-1 in these cells. Meanwhile, AS-IV inhibited the excessive production of TNF-α and IL-6, suppressed the downregulation of DSPP and DMP1, and disturbed the up-regulation of FGF2 and p-ERK in the pulp tissues of rat pulpitis model.

CONCLUSIONS

AS-IV exerted anti-inflammatory and pro-differentiation effects in LPS-stimulated MDPC-23 cells and rat pulpitis via inhibiting the FGF2/ERK signaling pathway.

Protective effect of Astragaloside IV to inhibit thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is most the common tibiotarsal bone disease in rapidly growing birds throughout the world. There is accumulating evidence that COX-2 abnormal expression in tibia plays an important role in TD progression. So, the regulation of COX-2 is an ever more appealing target for therapeutic intervention in TD. Astragaloside IV has an indispensable role in maintaining COX-2 expression in many diseases. So, we designed this study to use Astragaloside IV (AST-IV) against TD-affected chickens. A total of 180 Arbor Acres chickens were randomly divided in the control group, TD group, and Astr (AST-IV-treated chickens) group. During the experiment, mortality, feed conversion ratio, physiological changes, biochemical criterion, liver antioxidant enzymes, and gene expression of COX-2 were examined in all the chicken groups at various days. The results showed that AST-IV administration restored the growth performance and tibia lesions and decreased the mortality as compared with TD chickens. The biochemical criterion (ALP, AST, and ALT) of serum and liver antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, and T-AOC) improved after the administration of AST-IV. The COX-2 gene was upregulated significantly (P < 0.05) in TD chickens. Whereas, AST-IV treatment downregulated both gene and protein expression of COX-2 significantly (P < 0.05) in TD-affected chickens. AST-IV recovered tibial dyschondroplasia chickens by increasing the growth performance, ameliorating tibial cartilage damage, and decreasing COX-2 expression. In conclusion, AST-IV can be used to prevent thiram-induced TD in chickens.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates high glucose-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and oxidative stress by regulating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has become the major cause of end-stage renal disease increasing the mortality risk of diabetes. Research has demonstrated that the oxidative damage and apoptosis of renal tubular cells is present during DN. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been widely used for the treatment of many diseases, however, the role and mechanism by which AS-IV may ameliorate high glucose-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress of the human proximal tubular cell line HK-2 remains largely unknown. The present study investigated the effect of AS-IV on high glucose-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in HK-2 cells. Cell viability, apoptosis and protein expression were detected by Trypan blue staining, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2′-deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate nick-end labelling, flow cytometry and western blot analyses. In addition, enzymatic activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxide (LPO), were measured with the corresponding detection kits. DCFH-DA assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were conducted to evaluate protein and mRNA expressions of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway. The results demonstrated that AS-IV significantly enhanced HK-2 cell viability induced by high glucose in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, AS-IV notably inhibited HK-2 cell apoptosis stimulated by high glucose, which may be associated with inhibition of BCL2 associated X protein, Cleaved-caspase-3 and Cleaved-caspase-9, expression and the promotion of Bcl-2. AS-IV significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH-Px and CAT, and decreased the high-glucose-induced ROS production in HK-2 cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, it was determined that AS-IV regulated the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and inhibited the expression of liver-type fatty acid binding protein. In conclusion, these findings may provide evidence that AS-IV has a potential role for the treatment of DN.

Astragaloside IV Protects Against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-Induced Endothelial Cell Injury by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Background

Endothelial injury is the main mechanism of atherosclerosis, and is caused by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the primary active ingredient of the Chinese herb Huangqi, and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the protective effect of AS-IV in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Material/Methods

HUVEC cells were induced with ox-LDL to establish an in vitro atherosclerosis model. Then HUVECs were pretreated for 1 h with AS-IV at different concentrations (10, 20, and 50 μM) and then exposed to ox-LDL (100 μg/mL) for 48 h. The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, migration, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and NADPH oxidase activity of HUVECs were measured. qRT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, TNFα, and IL-6. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the supernatant contents of TNFα and IL-6.

Results

Exposure of HUVECs to ox-LDL reduced cell viability and migration, induced apoptosis, and increased intracellular ROS production and NADPH oxidase. Pretreatment with AS-IV (10, 20, and 50 μM) significantly enhanced the cell viability and migration, suppressed LDH release, apoptosis, ROS production, and NADPH oxidase in HUVECs, in a concentration-dependent manner. The AS-IV (50 μM) alone did not show significant differences from control. AS-IV increased mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 and decreased mRNA expressions of TNFα and IL-6 in the ox-LDL-HUEVC cells. Furthermore, AS-IV reduced supernatant contents of TNFα and IL-6.

Conclusions

Astragaloside IV prevents ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.

Association of astragaloside IV-inhibited autophagy and mineralization in vascular smooth muscle cells with lncRNA H19 and DUSP5-mediated ERK signaling

Defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the principal cause of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on VSMCs autophagy. In vivo, ApoE^-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet ad libitum for eight weeks, with or without AS-IV (25 mg/kg, daily). In vitro, human VSMCs were cultured and treated with β-Glycerophosphate (10 mmol/L) and AS-IV (50 μg/ml). VSMCs autophagy, mineralization, expression of p-ERK1/2, p-mTOR, and autophagy-related proteins (LC3 II/I, p62, and Beclin 1) were detected. Increased autophagy and mineralization was observed in VSMCs in thoracic aorta of mice and in in vitro VSMCs model of atherosclerosis. AS-IV administration attenuated the autophagy and mineralization in VSMCs. Reverse expression profiles of H19 and DUSP5 were observed. AS-IV inhibited DUSP5 and autophagy-related proteins and increased expression of H19, level of p-ERK1/2 and p-mTOR. Further, autophagy and mineralization level in VSMCs were in line with DUSP5 expression level, but in contrast to H19, p-ERK1/2, and p-mTOR profiles. We demonstrated that AS-IV could attenuate autophagy and mineralization of VSMCs in atherosclerosis, which may be associated with H19 overexpression and DUSP5 inhibition.

Protective Effects of Astragaloside IV against LPS-Induced Endometritis in Mice through Inhibiting Activation of the NF-κB, p38 and JNK Signaling Pathways

Endometritis, inflammation of the endometrium, is a common reproductive obstacle disease that can lead to infertility in female animals. Astragaloside IV (AS IV), one of the major and active components of the Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of AS IV on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endometritis were investigated using a mouse model. Female mice were prepared with AS IV (0.01 mg/g) by gavage for six days before being stimulated with LPS. The results showed that the histopathological changes, levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), concentration of NO, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in LPS-induced uteri were attenuated significantly by pretreatment with AS IV. Furthermore, LPS-induced activations of NF-κB, p38, and JNK signal pathways were suppressed by pretreatment with AS IV. In conclusion, the data provided new evidence that AS IV effectively attenuates LPS-induced endometritis through inhibition of TLR4-mediated NF-κB, p38, and JNK signaling pathways, implying that AS IV might become a promising potential anti-inflammatory agent for endometritis and other inflammatory diseases.

Protective effect of sesamin in lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse model of acute kidney injury via attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

CONTEXT

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is considered a major public health concern in today's world. Sepsis-induced AKI is large as a result of exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is the major outer membrane component of Gram-negative bacteria. Sesamin is the main lignan of sesame seeds with multiple protective effects.

OBJECTIVE

In this research, we tried to demonstrate the protective effect of sesamin pretreatment in LPS-induced mouse model of AKI.

METHODS

LPS was injected at a single dose of 10 mg/kg (i.p.) and sesamin was given p.o. at doses of 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, one hour prior to LPS.

RESULTS

Treatment of LPS-challenged mice with sesamin reduced serum level of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and returned back renal oxidative stress-related parameters including glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Moreover, sesamin alleviated inappropriate changes of renal nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6, DNA fragmentation (an apoptotic index), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). In addition, sesamin diminished magnitude of kidney tissue damage due to LPS.

CONCLUSION

In summary, sesamin could dose-dependently abrogate LPS-induced AKI via attenuation of renal oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Effect of Combined Use of Astragaloside IV (AsIV) and Atorvastatin (AV) on Expression of PPAR-γ and Inflammation-Associated Cytokines in Atherosclerosis Rats

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the effect of combined use of Astragaloside IV(AsIV) and atorvastatin (AV) on the expression of PPAR-γ and inflammation-associated cytokines in atherosclerosis rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma were detected through automatic biochemical analyzer and the histopathological analysis was performed via HE staining. The levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-18 in serum were detected by ELISA. The expressions of proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), and p38 and P-p38 levels were detected by Western blot. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), PPAR-γ, CD36, MMP-9, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. RESULTS Administration of AsIV and AV significantly decreased the lipid content and oxLDL in plasma. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-18 were significantly decreased in AsIV, AV, and AsIV + AV groups, especially in the AsIV + AV group. Administration decreased the levels of NF-κB, CD36, MMP-9, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and P-p38 expression and increased the expression of peroxisome PPAR-γ. Compared with the NC group, the atherosclerotic lesions significantly increased in the HD group, while the combined administration significantly inhibited the development of atherosclerotic disease. CONCLUSIONS Combined administration of AV and AsIV showed potent effects against atherosclerosis through the NF-κB/PPARγ pathway, which may be a new therapy for treatment of atherosclerosis in the future.

Astragaloside IV inhibits lung cancer progression and metastasis by modulating macrophage polarization through AMPK signaling

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests that M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, making M2 polarization of TAMs an ever more appealing target for therapeutic intervention. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a saponin component isolated from Astragali radix, has been reported to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer, but its effects on TAMs during lung cancer progression have not been investigated.

METHODS

Human THP-1 monocytes were induced to differentiate into M2 macrophages through treatments with IL-4, IL-13, and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). We used the lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1299 cultured in conditioned medium from M2 macrophages (M2-CM) to investigate the effects of AS-IV on tumor growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of lung cancer cells. Macrophage subset distribution, M1 and M2 macrophage-associated markers, and mRNA expression were analyzed by flow cytometry and quantitative PCR. The activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways that mediate M2-CM-promoted tumor migration was detected using western blotting.

RESULTS

Here we found that AS-IV significantly inhibited IL-13 and IL-4-induced M2 polarization of macrophages, as illustrated by reduced expression of CD206 and M2-associated genes, and that AS-IV suppressed the M2-CM-induced invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of A549 and H1299 cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that AS-IV greatly inhibited tumor growth and reduced the number of metastases of Lewis lung cancer. The percentage of M2 macrophages was decreased in tumor tissue after AS-IV treatment. Furthermore, AS-IV inhibited AMPKα activation in M2 macrophages, and silencing of AMPKα partially abrogated the inhibitory effect of AS-IV.

CONCLUSIONS

AS-IV reduced the growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of lung cancer by blocking the M2 polarization of macrophages partially through the AMPK signaling pathway, which appears to play an important role in AS-IV's ability to inhibit the metastasis of lung cancer.

Astragaloside IV Attenuates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injuries in Mice by Activating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known antipyretic and analgesic drug. However, the accidental or intentional APAP overdose will induce liver injury and even acute liver failure. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a bioactive compound isolated from Astragali Radix, has been reported to have protective effects on the digestive and immune systems because of its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to observe whether AS-IV pretreatment provides protection against APAP-induced liver failure. The results of serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferases (ALT/AST) analysis, hepatic glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) amounts, and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity showed that AS-IV protected against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Liver histological observation further evidenced this protection provided by AS-IV. AS-IV was found to reverse the APAP-induced increased amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Western-blot analysis showed that AS-IV increased the transcriptional activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and enhanced the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H): quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the presence of APAP. AS-IV also decreased the expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1). In conclusion, we demonstrated that AS-IV exerted a strong protection against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by activating Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathways.

Rutin, a quercetin glycoside, alleviates acute endotoxemic kidney injury in C57BL/6 mice via suppression of inflammation and up-regulation of antioxidants and SIRT1

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following severe sepsis, its incidence is increasing, and it is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Rutin is a glycoside of the bioflavonoid quercetin with various protective effects due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. In this research, we tried to assess the protective effect of rutin administration in a model of AKI in C57BL/6 mice. For induction of AKI, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected once (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and rutin was p.o. given at doses of 50 or 200 mg/kg. Treatment of LPS-challenged group with rutin lowered serum level of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), restored to some extent renal oxidative stress-related indices such as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. In addition, rutin brought back renal nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6, and caspase 3 activity to their control levels. Moreover, protective effect of rutin was in accordance to a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, rutin is capable to mitigate LPS-induced AKI via appropriate modulation of renal oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Micro RNA-155 inhibitor as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI): a nanomedicine perspective

In this study, we have prepared miR-155 inhibitor-loaded liposome vesicles for the effective treatment of acute kidney injury. The efficacy of liposomal miR-155 inhibitor in the expression of miR-155, mortality in animals, the expression of TNF-α-IL6, and the expression of SOCS1–STAT1 were evaluated. The loading of miR-155 inhibitor into liposomes conferred the much needed colloidal stability and efficient delivery to the renal tissues. The study clearly shows that miR-I-LV significantly decreases the expression of miR-155 in kidneys compared to LPS. Administration of miR-I-LV remarkably reduced the pathological concerns of the kidneys with a marked decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration. Scrambled miR-155 did not have any effect on the expression of these markers; however miR-I-LV showed a remarkable ability to decrease the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in kidney tissues indicating an ability to treat acute kidney infections. Overall, administration of miR-155 inhibitor effectively alleviated LPS-induced kidney injury by significantly suppressing TNF-α and IL-6 in kidney tissue and by remarkably increasing the expression of mRNA of SOCS1 and STAT1. The present results suggest that miR-155 inhibitor could be used in an effective targeting strategy for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI).

In this study, we have prepared miR-155 inhibitor-loaded liposome vesicles for the effective treatment of acute kidney injury.

Inhibition of microRNA-155 alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced kidney injury in mice

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Accumulated evidences suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) are related with inflammation-associated diseases.The aim of this study is to investigate whether miR-155 is involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced kidney injury, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to construct endotoxemia mice model, and miR-155 inhibitor was injected via tail vein to suppress the expression of miR-155 in kidney. The results indicated that the expression of miR-155 was markedly increased in renal tissues of LPS-treated mice. And miR-155 inhibitor protected mice from LPS-induced kidney injury associated with the lower levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in renal tissues. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-155 increased the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), a target gene of miR-155 and a negative regulator of Janus activated kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. Consistently, inhibition of miR-155 suppressed the expression of JAK2, STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3). All these results indicated that inhibition of miR-155 protects mice from LPS-induced kidney injury possibly through regulating SOCS1-JAK2/STAT signaling pathway, which suggested that miR-155 might be an important and potential target in developing therapy for preventing sepsis-associated kidney injury.