The effects of Jieduquyuzishen prescription-treated rat serum on the BAFF/BAFF-R signal pathway

Jieduquyuziyin prescription enhances CD11a and CD70 DNA methylation of CD4+ T cells via miR-29b-sp1/DNMT1 pathway in MRL/lpr mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine utilized to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its efficacy has been confirmed through clinical trials and empirical evidence, leading to its authorized use in Chinese hospitals. The development of JP exemplifies the integration of traditional wisdom and scientific approaches, demonstrating the interdisciplinary essence of ethnopharmacology. These results emphasize the potential value of traditional medicine in addressing autoimmune disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to address the effect of JP in MRL/lpr mice and elucidate the pharmacological mechanism by which JP targets CD11a and CD70 DNA methylation via the miR-29b-sp1/DNMT1 pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MRL/lpr mice were divided into three groups: the model group (received distilled water), the positive group (administered AAV/miR-29b-3p inhibitor), and the JP group (treated with JP decoction). C57BL/6 mice were constituted as a control group. Through ELISA assay, serum and urine samples were assessed for anti-dsDNA, TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2, and UP. HE and Masson staining were conducted to reveal renal pathology. Genome DNA was extracted from CD4+ T cells of mice spleens to evaluate methylation level. The methylation of CD11a, CD70, and CD40L promoter regions was analyzed by targeted bisulfate sequencing. Their expression at the mRNA and protein levels was examined using quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining of kidney tissues. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the miR-29b-sp1/DNMT1 pathway by JP were explored with Jurkat cells transfected with miR-inhibitors or miR-mimics.

RESULTS

Mice treated with JP exhibited a significant decrease in anti-dsDNA, TNF-α, TGF-β, and UP, accompanied by a significant increase in IL-2. HE staining revealed JP effectively mitigated renal inflammatory response, while Masson staining indicated a reduction in collagen fiber content. In addition, JP exhibited a significant impact on the global hypomethylation of SLE, as evidenced by the induction of high methylation levels of CD11a and CD70 promoter regions, mediated through the miR-29b-sp1/DNMT1 pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate JP exerts a protective effect against spontaneous SLE development, attenuates renal pathological changes, and functions as a miRNA inhibitor to enhance CD11a and CD70 DNA methylation through the modulation of the miR-29b-sp1/DNMT1 pathway.

Jieduquyuziyin Prescription Suppresses Inflammatory Activity of MRL/lpr Mice and Their Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages via Inhibiting Expression of IRAK1-NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) has been used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although the effectiveness of JP in the treatment of SLE has been clinically proven, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be completely understood. We observed the therapeutic actions of JP in MRL/lpr mice and their bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and the potential mechanism of their inhibition of inflammatory activity. To estimate the effect of JP on suppressing inflammatory activity, BMDMs of MRL/lpr and MRL/MP mice were treated with JP-treated serum, and MRL/lpr mice were treated by JP for 8 weeks. Among them, JP and its treated serum were subjected to quality control, and BMDMs were separated and identified. The results showed that in the JP group of BMDMs stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in MRL/lpr mice, the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) reduced, and the expressions of Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and its downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway decreased. Meanwhile, the alleviation of renal pathological damage, the decrease of urinary protein and serum anti-dsDNA contents, the inhibition of TNF-α level, and then the suppression of the IRAK1-NF-κB inflammatory signaling in the spleen and kidney, confirmed that the therapeutic effect of JP. These results demonstrated that JP could inhibit the inflammatory activity of MRL/lpr mice and their BMDMs by suppressing the activation of IRAK1-NF-κB signaling and was supposed to be a good choice for the treatment of SLE.

Jieduquyuziyin Prescription-Treated Rat Serum Suppresses Activation of Peritoneal Macrophages in MRL/Lpr Lupus Mice by Inhibiting IRAK1 Signaling Pathway

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, and Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that has been testified to be effective for SLE treatment as an approved hospital prescription for many years in China. However, its mechanism of action in the treatment of this disease is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether JP-treated rat serum can inhibit the activation of peritoneal macrophages in MRL/lpr mice by downregulating the IRAK1 signaling pathway, thereby achieving the effect of improving SLE. The JP-treated rat serum was prepared, and the peritoneal macrophages of MRL/lpr lupus mice were isolated in vitro, and the effect of JP on cell viability was detected by the CCK8 method. After LPS induction and shRNA lentiviral transfection, the effect of JP on the expression of IRAK1 in cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The content of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant was determined by ELISA. The expression of IRAK1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the expression levels of IRAK1, p-IRAK1, TRAF6, IKBα, p-IKBα, IKK + IKK, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB proteins was detected by western blot method. We investigated the role of JP in peritoneal macrophages of the MRL/lpr mouse and identified the possible mechanisms of action. The results showed that JP could reduce the phosphorylation of IRAK1 and its downstream proteins induced by LPS and inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6. In addition, after the transfection of cells with shRNA lentiviral, the results of JP tended to be consistent. In conclusion, JP may inhibit the activation of peritoneal macrophages in MRL/lpr mice by downregulating the IRAK1-NF-κB signaling pathway, and IRAK1 may be a potential target for JP treatment of SLE.

Effect of Jieduquyuziyin prescription-treated rat serum on MeCP2 gene expression in Jurkat T cells

How genomic DNA methylation and methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene expression affect the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains poorly understood. Traditional Chinese medicine has a unique effect in the treatment of SLE patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP)-treated rat serum on the gene expression of MeCP2 in Jurkat T cells and its role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Jurkat T cells were harvested, and drug-containing serum was prepared. The ferulic acid and paeoniflorin content in the drug-containing serum were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assays were used to screen the optimal concentration of drug-containing serum. The DNA methylation level in Jurkat T cells was detected with a Methylamp™ Total DNA Methylation Kit. The methylation status of the MeCP2 promoter region was detected using bisulfite modification and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Real-time PCR was used to measure MeCP2 mRNA expression. Western blotting and flow cytometry were done to detect MeCP2 protein expression in Jurkat cell nuclei. Paeoniflorin and ferulic acid were detected in the drug-containing serum of JP-treated rats. The results showed that cell growth was affected in the high serum-containing drug group. The experimental results showed that JP and prednisone acetate increased the level of genomic DNA methylation and MeCP2 gene promoter region methylation in Jurkat cells. MeCP2 mRNA and protein levels were also increased in the JP and prednisone acetate groups. Furthermore, flow cytometry revealed that the expression of MeCP2 protein in Jurkat T cell nuclei was higher in the drug group than the blank control group, and these results were consistent with the western blot analysis results. Our study found that there is a negative correlation between drug-containing serum and cell survival rate. JP upregulated the levels of DNA methylation, MeCP2 mRNA and protein as effectively as prednisone acetate and thus may activate the MeCP2 gene by increasing the methylation level, thereby inhibiting the pathogenesis of SLE. Therefore, JP may potentially be used to treat SLE patients. The Jurkat T lymphocyte in vitro experiments provided a foundation to study the effects of JP on the lupus mouse CD4⁺ T cell methylation mechanism and to further explore the pathogenesis of SLE.

Sijunzi decoction-treated rat serum induces apoptosis of side population cells in gastric carcinoma

Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Previous studies have indicated that SJZD exhibits antitumor activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. To explore the antitumor mechanism of SJZD, the effects of serum from rats treated with SJZD on the proliferation of MKN-28 and HGC-27 gastric carcinoma cell lines were systematically investigated. It was found that SJZD-treated rat serum significantly inhibited the growth of MKN-28 and HGC-27 cells in vitro. The results obtained from a colony formation assay showed that SJZD-treated rat serum decreased the colony formation ability of MKN-28 and HGC-27 cells. The apoptosis rate in MKN-28 and HGC-27 cells was also increased following treatment with SJZD-treated rat serum. Flow cytometry with cell sorting revealed the presence of side population (SP) cells in MKN-28 and HGC-27 cells though Hoechst 33342 staining, and verapamil reduced the SP percentage. Further analysis showed that SJZD-treated rat serum promoted the apoptosis of SP cells in MKN-28 and HGC-27 cell lines by upregulating Bax, caspase-3 and PARP and downregulating bcl-2. These data revealed the therapeutic effect of SJZD-treated rat serum on gastric carcinoma. Following the preliminary identification of the inhibitory effect on the growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro, the growth inhibitory effect of SJZD-treated rat serum on SP cells was confirmed, and this inhibition particularly involved the induction of cell apoptosis.

Tang-Luo-Ning, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inhibits Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis of Schwann Cells under High Glucose Environment

Tang-Luo-Ning (TLN) has a definite effect in the clinical treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Schwann cells (SCs) apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) is one of the main pathogeneses of DPN. This study investigates whether TLN can inhibit SCs apoptosis by inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis. Our previous researches have demonstrated that TLN could increase the expression of ER stress marker protein GRP78 and inhibited the expression of apoptosis marker protein CHOP in ER stress. In this study, the results showed that TLN attenuated apoptosis by decreasing Ca²⁺ level in SCs and maintaining ER morphology. TLN could decrease downstream proteins of CHOP including GADD34 and Ero1α, while it increased P-eIF2α and decreased the upstream proteins of CHOP including P-IRE1α/IRE1α and XBP-1, thereby reducing ER stress-induced apoptosis.