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Raj R, Shen P, Yu B, Zhang J. A patent review on HMGB1 inhibitors for the treatment of liver diseases. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2024; 34:127-140. [PMID: 38557201 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2024.2338105] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION HMGB1 is a non-histone chromatin protein released or secreted in response to tissue damage or infection. Extracellular HMGB1, as a crucial immunomodulatory factor, binds with several different receptors to innate inflammatory responses that aggravate acute and chronic liver diseases. The increased levels of HMGB1 have been reported in various liver diseases, highlighting that it represents a potential biomarker and druggable target for therapeutic development. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure, function, and interacting receptors of HMGB1 and its significance in multiple liver diseases. The latest patented and preclinical studies of HMGB1 inhibitors (antibodies, peptides, and small molecules) for liver diseases are summarized by using the keywords 'HMGB1,' 'HMGB1 antagonist, HMGB1-inhibitor,' 'liver disease' in Web of Science, Google Scholar, Google Patents, and PubMed databases in the year from 2017 to 2023. EXPERT OPINIONS In recent years, extensive research on HMGB1-dependent inflammatory signaling has discovered potent inhibitors of HMGB1 to reduce the severity of liver injury. Despite significant progress in the development of HMGB1 antagonists, few of them are approved for clinical treatment of liver-related diseases. Developing safe and effective specific inhibitors for different HMGB1 isoforms and their interaction with receptors is the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Raj
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Pingping Shen
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Boyang Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
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Liu C, Li S, Zhang C, Jin CH. Recent Advances in Research on Active Compounds Against Hepatic Fibrosis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2571-2628. [PMID: 37497688 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230727102016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost all chronic liver diseases cause fibrosis, which can lead to cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer. Liver fibrosis is now considered to be a reversible pathophysiological process and suppression of fibrosis is necessary to prevent liver cancer. At present, no specific drugs have been found that have hepatic anti-fibrotic activity. OBJECTIVE The research progress of anti-hepatic fibrosis compounds in recent ten years was reviewed to provide a reference for the design and development of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs. METHODS According to the structure of the compounds, they are divided into monocyclic compounds, fused-heterocyclic compounds, and acyclic compounds. RESULTS In this article, the natural products and synthetic compounds with anti-fibrotic activity in recent ten years were reviewed, with emphasis on their pharmacological activity and structure-activity relationship (SAR). CONCLUSION Most of these compounds are natural active products and their derivatives, and there are few researches on synthetic compounds and SAR studies on natural product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China
| | - Changhao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China
| | - Cheng-Hua Jin
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China
- Interdisciplinary of Biological Functional Molecules, College of Integration Science, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, 133002, China
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Chi X, Cheng DY, Sun X, Liu SA, Wang RB, Chen Q, Xing HC. Efficacy of Biejiajian Pill on Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis/Liver Fibrosis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial. Chin J Integr Med 2023; 29:771-781. [PMID: 37222832 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-023-3542-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the efficacy of Biejiajian Pill (BJJP) on intestinal microbiota in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis/liver fibrosis, and explore its relationship with liver fibrosis. METHODS This was a prospective, randomized double-blind controlled trial. Using the stratified block randomization method, 35 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis/liver fibrosis were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive entecavir (0.5 mg/d) combined with BJJP (3 g/time, 3 times a day) or placebo (simulator as control, SC group, simulator 3 g/time, 3 times a day) for 48 weeks. Blood and stool samples were collected from patients at baseline and week 48 of treatment, respectively. Liver and renal functions as well as hematological indices were detected. Fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rDNA V3-V4 high-throughput sequencing, and intestinal microbiota changes in both groups before and after treatment were compared, and their correlations with liver fibrosis were analyzed. RESULTS Compared with the SC group, there was no significant difference in liver function, renal function and hematology indices in the BJJP group, however, the improvement rate of liver fibrosis was higher in the BJJP group (94.4% vs. 64.7%, P=0.041). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on weighted Unifrac distance showed significant differences in intestinal microbiota community diversity before and after BJJP treatment (P<0.01 and P=0.003), respectively. After 48 weeks' treatment, the abundance levels of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium and Blautia) increased, whereas the abundance levels of potential pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, Parabacteroides and Prevotella decreased, among which Ruminococcus and Parabacteroides were significantly positively correlated with degree of liver fibrosis (r=0.34, P=0.04; r=0.38, P=0.02), respectively. The microbiota in the SC group did not change significantly throughout the whole process of treatment. CONCLUSION BJJP had a certain regulatory effect on intestinal microbiota of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis/liver fibrosis (ChiCTR1800016801).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chi
- Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Disease, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Dan-Ying Cheng
- Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China.
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China.
- Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, 100015, China.
| | - Xiu Sun
- Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Disease, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Shun-Ai Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Disease, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Rong-Bing Wang
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China
- Central of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Qin Chen
- China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co. Limited, Guangzhou, 528303, China
| | - Hui-Chun Xing
- Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, 100015, China
- Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing, 100015, China
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Deng J, Qin L, Zhou Z. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Reveal the Mechanism of Isodon ternifolius (D. Don) Kudo Against Liver Fibrosis. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2335-2351. [PMID: 37576085 PMCID: PMC10416792 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s412818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Many studies have demonstrated the hepatoprotective or anti-fibrotic effects of Isodon ternifolius, but its pharmacological basis and mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we used in vitro models to validate the predicted results and revealed the potential mechanism of action and active ingredients through network pharmacology methods and molecular docking. Methods The chemical components of Isodon ternifolius were identified by literatures. Potential targets of Isodon ternifolius were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. The disease targets were collected through the databases of Gene Card. Common targets of Isodon ternifolius and liver fibrosis were obtained by online tool Venny 2.1. PPI protein interaction network was obtained using String database, and target protein interaction network was drawn using Cytoscape software. Signaling pathway enrichment analysis was performed on drug-disease targets with of DAVID database. Results Twenty-one potential active ingredients and 298 potential targets were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction platform. Ninety pathways related to liver fibrosis were obtained by KEGG enrichment. The TLR4, MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways are mostly associated with liver fibrosis. Molecular docking techniques were used to validate the core target proteins TNF, Akt1, MAPK1, EGFR and TLR4 binding to the ingredients of Isodon ternifolius, which showed that a multitude of ingredients of Isodon ternifolius were able to bind to the above target proteins, especially 2α-hydroxy oleanolic acid and (-)-Lambertic acid. Our experimental validation results showed that Isodon ternifolius inhibited the activation of PI3K-Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Conclusion Through a network pharmacology approach and in vitro cell assay, we predicted and validated the active compounds of Isodon ternifolius and its potential targets for LF treatment. The results suggest that the mechanism of Isodon ternifolius treating LF by inhibiting angiogenesis may be related to the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Le Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhipin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
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Zhao YQ, Deng XW, Xu GQ, Lin J, Lu HZ, Chen J. Mechanical homeostasis imbalance in hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatic fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1183808. [PMID: 37152902 PMCID: PMC10157180 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1183808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease or repeated damage to hepatocytes can give rise to hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process of excessive sedimentation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans (PGs) in the hepatic parenchyma. Changes in the composition of the ECM lead to the stiffness of the matrix that destroys its inherent mechanical homeostasis, and a mechanical homeostasis imbalance activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which can overproliferate and secrete large amounts of ECM proteins. Excessive ECM proteins are gradually deposited in the Disse gap, and matrix regeneration fails, which further leads to changes in ECM components and an increase in stiffness, forming a vicious cycle. These processes promote the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. In this review, the dynamic process of ECM remodeling of HF and the activation of HSCs into mechanotransduction signaling pathways for myofibroblasts to participate in HF are discussed. These mechanotransduction signaling pathways may have potential therapeutic targets for repairing or reversing fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Quan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Xi-Wen Deng
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Guo-Qi Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Hua-Ze Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
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Yuan C, Fan W, Zhou T, Sun D, Liu H, He Z, Wang Y. Ligand-free high loading capacity ursolic acid self-carried nanovesicles enable hepatocyte targeting via absorbing apolipoproteins. Int J Pharm 2023; 638:122931. [PMID: 37024066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic terpenoid carboxylic acid that can exert a potent hepatoprotective activity, has been developed into various types of nanoparticles to improve its pharmacological effects, however, the phagocytosis of nanoparticles by Kupffer cells greatly limits its efficacy. Herein, UA/Tween 80 nanovesicles (V-UA) were constructed and despite its simple composition, it fulfills multiple functions simultaneously: UA served as not only an active ingredient in the nanovesicle drug delivery system, but also acts as part of the carrier to stabilize UA/Tween 80 nanostructure; with a molar ratio of UA to Tween 80 up to 2:1, the formulation possesses a significant advantage of higher drug loading capacity; relative to liposomal UA (Lipo-UA), a conditional cellular uptake and higher accumulation of V-UA in hepatocytes provide insights into the hepatocytes targeting mechanisms of this nanovesicles. Favorable hepatocyte targeting ability also facilitates the treatment of liver diseases, which was well validated in three liver disease models.
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Zhou X, Ye H, Wang X, Sun J, Tu J, Lv J. Ursolic acid inhibits human dermal fibroblasts hyperproliferation, migration, and collagen deposition induced by TGF-β via regulating the Smad2/3 pathway. Gene 2023; 867:147367. [PMID: 36931410 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a skin condition characterized by excessive fibrosis with disordered collagens from skin fibroblasts, which causes abnormal esthetic and even functional symptoms, thereby affecting millions of people. Ursolic acid (UA) is widely used in skincare and exerts anti-fibrotic effects. The present study aimed to delve into the impact of UA on HS and the mechanism. Fibroblasts (FBs) were incubated with TGF-β to investigate physiological characteristics compared with FBs isolated from normal skin (NSFBs) and hyperplastic scars (HSFBs). TGF-β-incubated FBs were subjected to treatment with UA (0-20 μM). The expressions of Vimentin, α-SMA, Collagen I, and Collagen III were examined using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and contractility were examined by CCK-8, EdU, Annexin V-FITC/PI, Transwell, and collagen gel contraction assays, respectively. The activation of Smad2/3 signaling was also determined by western blot. The binding sites for UA of TGF-βR1 (ALK5) were predicted by the Autodock tool. Compared with NSFBs, the cell proliferation, migration, and contractility of both HSFBs and TGF-β-incubated FBs were all significantly up-regulated. UA markedly impaired the TGF-β-induced increase in cell proliferation, migration, and contractility, α-SMA, collagen I, and Collagen III expression of FBs. UA significantly inhibited the phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 in TGF-β-incubated FBs with no influence on TGF-βR1 and TGF-βR2 expressions, which might be because of the binding of UA to the catalytic domain of ALK5 protein. UA attenuated TGF-β1-induced hyperproliferation, migration, and collagen deposition in FBs via regulating the Smad2/3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Zhou
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Hua Ye
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Xianlin Wang
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Junfeng Sun
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Jiajin Tu
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Jing Lv
- Department of Rheumatic and Immunity, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China.
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis has a high incidence worldwide and is the common pathological basis of many chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is caused by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and concomitant collagen accumulation in livers and can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. A large number of studies have provided evidence that liver fibrosis can be blocked or even reversed by appropriate medical interventions. However, the antifibrosis drugs with ideal clinical efficacy are still insufficient. The edible plant-derived natural compounds have been reported to exert effective antifibrotic effects with few side-effects, representing a kind of promising source for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of the natural compounds derived from dietary plants in the treatment of liver fibrosis, including phenolic compounds (capsaicin, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and vitamin E), flavonoid compounds (genistein, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringenin, naringin and quercetin), sulfur-containing compounds (S-allylcysteine, ergothioneine, lipoic acid and sulforaphane) and other compounds (betaine, caffeine, cucurbitacin B, lycopene, α-mangostin, γ-mangostin, ursolic acid, vitamin C and yangonin). The pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of these compounds in in-vivo and in-vitro models of liver fibrosis are focused.
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Wei X, Lan Y, Nong Z, Li C, Feng Z, Mei X, Zhai Y, Zou M. Ursolic acid represses influenza A virus-triggered inflammation and oxidative stress in A549 cells by modulating the miR-34c-5p/TLR5 axis. Cytokine 2022; 157:155947. [PMID: 35780710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound with a wide range of anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and other pharmacological effects. Here, the biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of UA in influenza A virus (IAV)-treated A549 cells were investigated. METHOD The cytotoxic impacts of UA on A549 cells with or without IAV treatment were determined using MTT and LDH assays. The inflammatory responses and oxidative stress of IAV-treated A549 cells were measured by RT-qPCR, ELISA, DCFH-DA probe, and colorimetric assays. A dual luciferase assay was carried out to validate the molecular interaction between miR-34c-5p and TLR5. Promoter methylation was detected by MSP experiment. Methylation-related proteins were quantified by western blot. Virus replication was assessed by TCID50 and western blot assays. RESULTS UA significantly ameliorated IAV-triggered cell injury and inflammatory response, virus replication and oxidative stress by elevating cell viability, ROS level and the activities of SOD and GSH-Px but reducing the LDH, MDA, and TCID50 values and the expression of virus-related proteins (NP) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18). Moreover, UA promoted miR-34c-5p expression by repressing DNMTs-mediated methylation. TLR5 was verified to be a direct target of miR-34c-5p and could be downregulated by UA. Rescue experiments revealed that silencing miR-34c-5p diminished the regulatory roles of UA in IAV-treated A549 cells. CONCLUSION Our data elucidated that UA attenuated IAV-triggered inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in A549 cells by regulating the miR-34c-5p/TLR5 axis, suggesting that UA plays a protective role in IAV-induced pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wei
- Zhuang Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yuying Lan
- Zhuang Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Zhifei Nong
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530022, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Chongjin Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Maoming Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Maoming 525000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhiqiong Feng
- Department of Pediatrics, Jinshazhou Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaoping Mei
- Department of Pediatrics, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yang Zhai
- Zhuang Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Foundation Research, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China; Department of International Medical, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Min Zou
- Department of Pediatrics, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning 530200, Guangxi Province, China.
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The Protective Effect of Ursolic Acid on Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction in Rats by Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway. COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 2022:3690524. [PMID: 36059402 PMCID: PMC9436538 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3690524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Renal interstitial fibrosis is a common pathological feature of a variety of kidney diseases that progress to end-stage renal disease. The excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) is a typical pathological change of renal interstitial fibrosis. The production of reactive oxygen species in renal tubules is an important factor leading to the development of renal interstitial fibrosis. Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpene carboxylic acid compound widely found in plants. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor cell proliferation effects. It can reduce the development of fibrosis by inhibiting the oxidative stress response of the liver; there is currently no relevant research on whether UA can protect the renal interstitial fibrosis by resisting oxidative stress in the kidneys. In this study, our purpose is to investigate the effect of ursolic acid on renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats and its related mechanisms. We established a UUO model by surgically ligating the right ureter of the rat and instilling UA preparation (40 mg/kg/d) through the stomach after the operation, once a day for 7 days. We found that UUO caused impaired renal function, increased pathological damage, increased renal interstitial fibrosis, increased apoptosis, increased oxidative stress damage, and decreased antioxidants. However, after UA preparations were given, the abovementioned damage was significantly improved. At the same time, we also found that UA preparations can significantly increase the relative expression of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in kidney tissue after UUO. In order to further verify whether the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway is involved in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis, we injected zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP, 45 umol/kg), a specific blocker of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, into the intraperitoneal cavity after UUO in rats and before the gastric perfusion of ursolic acid preparations. Subsequently, we observed that the protective effect of UA on renal interstitial fibrosis after UUO in rats was reversed. Combining all the research results, we proved that UA has a protective effect on renal interstitial fibrosis after UUO in rats, which may be achieved by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
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Zhang QY, Han SC, Huang RP, Jiang MY, Yan CY, Li XY, Zhan YJ, Li XM, Li YF, Kurihara H, Tan RR, Li WX, He RR. Cyclo(-Phe-Phe) alleviates chick embryo liver injury via activating the Nrf2 pathway. Food Funct 2022; 13:6962-6974. [PMID: 35678194 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00674j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and damage, specifically in the developing embryo that is extremely sensitive to oxidative stress. Herein, a liver injury model in chick embryo was established by using 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), which was used to investigate the effect of cyclo(-Phe-Phe) (CPP), a natural dipeptide found in foods and beverages. The results showed that CPP significantly alleviated AAPH-induced liver pathological damage, hepatic dysfunction and inhibited the excessive production of ROS in both chick embryo liver and HepG2 cells. Additionally, CPP increased the antioxidative activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as elevated the level of glutathione (GSH), suggesting that CPP combating liver injury probably depends on its antioxidant capability. Mechanistically, CPP upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of heme oxyense-1 (HO-1) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in vivo and in vitro, along with promoting the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) while inhibiting its degradation through binding with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). In conclusion, this study proposes a potential peptide drug for the treatment of hepatic damage induced by oxidative stress and also unravels its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong-Yi Zhang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. .,Perfect (Guangdong) Commodity Co., LTD, Zhongshan 528451, China
| | - Shao-Cong Han
- Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Rong-Ping Huang
- Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Man-Ya Jiang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Chang-Yu Yan
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Xi-You Li
- Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Yu-Jiao Zhan
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Xiao-Min Li
- Perfect (Guangdong) Commodity Co., LTD, Zhongshan 528451, China
| | - Yi-Fang Li
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Hiroshi Kurihara
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. .,Perfect (Guangdong) Commodity Co., LTD, Zhongshan 528451, China
| | - Rui-Rong Tan
- Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Wei-Xi Li
- Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Rong-Rong He
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Fu K, Ma C, Wang C, Zhou H, Gong L, Zhang Y, Li Y. Forsythiaside A alleviated carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis by modulating gut microbiota composition to increase short-chain fatty acids and restoring bile acids metabolism disorder. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113185. [PMID: 35623173 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a chronic and progressive disease with complex pathogenesis related to bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota. Forsythiaside A (FTA), isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Forsythiae Fructus (Lian Qiao), is a natural hepatoprotective agent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of FTA on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Liver fibrosis was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg CCl4 three times a week for 4 weeks. FTA attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice, which was proved by the results of Masson and Sirius red staining, liver hydroxyproline, hyaluronic acid, laminin, type III procollagen, and type IV collagen assays. FTA inhibited hepatic stellate cell activation, and reduced hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress in mice treated with CCl4. What's more, FTA ameliorated CCl4-induced gut dysbiosis, maintained intestinal barrier function, increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and improved endotoxemia, as manifested by decreased serum lipopolysaccharide levels and increased expression of ileal tight junction proteins. Besides, FTA can modulate the genes related to bile acid metabolism to alter the distribution of fecal BAs in fibrotic mice. In a word, FTA can improve liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress, regulating gut microbiota and BA metabolism, and increasing the content of SCFAs. The results of this study provided an important reference for the study on the mechanisms by which natural products prevent liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Honglin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Lihong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yafang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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Cai W, Shen K, Ji P, Jia Y, Han S, Zhang W, Hu X, Yang X, Han J, Hu D. The Notch pathway attenuates burn-induced acute lung injury in rats by repressing reactive oxygen species. BURNS & TRAUMA 2022; 10:tkac008. [PMID: 35441079 PMCID: PMC9014447 DOI: 10.1093/burnst/tkac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common complication following severe burns. The underlying mechanisms of ALI are incompletely understood; thus, available treatments are not sufficient to repair the lung tissue after ALI. Methods To investigate the relationship between the Notch pathway and burn-induced lung injury, we established a rat burn injury model by scalding and verified lung injury via lung injury evaluations, including hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, lung injury scoring, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and wet/dry ratio analyses, myeloperoxidase immunohistochemical staining and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation analysis. To explore whether burn injury affects Notch1 expression, we detected the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 after burn injury. Then, we extracted pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) and conducted Notch pathway inhibition and activation experiments, via a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) and OP9-DLL1 coculture, respectively, to verify the regulatory effect of the Notch pathway on ROS accumulation and apoptosis in burn-serum-stimulated PMVECs. To investigate the regulatory effect of the Notch pathway on ROS accumulation, we detected the expression of oxidative-stress-related molecules such as superoxide dismutase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) 2, NOX4 and cleaved caspase-3. NOX4-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the inhibitor GKT137831 were used to verify the regulatory effect of the Notch pathway on ROS via NOX4. Results We successfully established a burn model and revealed that lung injury, excessive ROS accumulation and an inflammatory response occurred. Notch1 detection showed that the expression of Notch1 was significantly increased after burn injury. In PMVECs challenged with burn serum, ROS and cell death were elevated. Moreover, when the Notch pathway was suppressed by GSI, ROS and cell apoptosis levels were significantly increased. Conversely, these parameters were reduced when the Notch pathway was activated by OP9-DLL1. Mechanistically, the inhibition of NOX4 by siRNA and GKT137831 showed that the Notch pathway reduced ROS production and cell apoptosis by downregulating the expression of NOX4 in PMVECs. Conclusions The Notch pathway reduced ROS production and apoptosis by downregulating the expression of NOX4 in burn-stimulated PMVECs. The Notch-NOX4 pathway may be a novel therapeutic target to treat burn-induced ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Cai
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Kuo Shen
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Peng Ji
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yanhui Jia
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Shichao Han
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Wanfu Zhang
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xiaolong Hu
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xuekang Yang
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Juntao Han
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Dahai Hu
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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Forsythiaside A Regulates Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells by Inhibiting NOX4-Dependent ROS. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:9938392. [PMID: 35035671 PMCID: PMC8754607 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9938392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is an important step in the process of hepatic fibrosis. NOX4 and reactive oxygen species expressed in HSCs play an important role in liver fibrosis. Forsythiaside A (FA), a phenylethanoid glycoside extracted and isolated from Forsythiae Fructus, has significant antioxidant activities. However, it is not clear whether FA can play a role in inhibiting the HSCs activation through regulating NOX4/ROS pathway. Therefore, our purpose is to explore the effect and mechanism of FA on HSCs activation to alleviate liver fibrosis. LX2 cells were activated by TGF-β1 in vitro. MTT assay and Wound Healing assay were used to investigate the effect of FA on TGF-β1-induced LX2 cell proliferation and migration. Elisa kit was used to measure the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to investigate the expression of fibrosis-related COLI, α-SMA, MMP-1 and TIMP-1, and inflammation-related TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. The hydroxyproline content was characterized using a biochemical kit. The mechanism of FA to inhibit HSCs activation and apoptosis was detected by DCF-DA probe, RT-qPCR, western blot and flow cytometry. NOX4 siRNA was used to futher verify the effect of FA on NOX4/ROS pathway. The results showed that FA inhibited the proliferation and migration of LX2 cells and adjusted the expression of MMP-1, TIMP-1, COLI, α-SMA, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β as well as promoted collagen metabolism to show potential in anti-hepatic fibrosis. Mechanically, FA down-regulated NOX4/ROS signaling pathway to improve oxidation imbalances, and subsequently inhibited PI3K/Akt pathway to suppress proliferation. FA also promoted the apoptosis of LX2 cells by Bax/Bcl2 pathway. Furthermore, the effects of FA on TGF-β1-induced increased ROS levels and α-SMA and COLI expression were weaken by silencing NOX4. In conclusion, FA had potential in anti-hepatic fibrosis at least in part by remolding of extracellular matrix and improving oxidation imbalances to inhibit the activation of HSCs and promote HSCs apoptosis.
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15
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Oleanolic Acid: Extraction, Characterization and Biological Activity. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030623. [PMID: 35276982 PMCID: PMC8838233 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Oleanolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid ubiquitously present in the plant kingdom, is receiving outstanding attention from the scientific community due to its biological activity against multiple diseases. Oleanolic acid is endowed with a wide range of biological activities with therapeutic potential by means of complex and multifactorial mechanisms. There is evidence suggesting that oleanolic acid might be effective against dyslipidemia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, through enhancing insulin response, preserving the functionality and survival of β-cells and protecting against diabetes complications. In addition, several other functions have been proposed, including antiviral, anti-HIV, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic activities, as well as interfering in several stages of the development of different types of cancer; however, due to its hydrophobic nature, oleanolic acid is almost insoluble in water, which has led to a number of approaches to enhance its biopharmaceutical properties. In this scenario, the present review aimed to summarize the current knowledge and the research progress made in the last years on the extraction and characterization of oleanolic acid and its biological activities and the underlying mechanisms of action.
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Fu K, Wang C, Ma C, Zhou H, Li Y. The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:771459. [PMID: 34803712 PMCID: PMC8600187 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.771459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases have been a common challenge for people all over the world, which threatens the quality of life and safety of hundreds of millions of patients. China is a major country with liver diseases. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus and alcoholic liver disease are the three most common liver diseases in our country, and the number of patients with liver cancer is increasing. Therefore, finding effective drugs to treat liver disease has become an urgent task. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of low cost, high safety, and various biological activities, which is an important factor for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. This review systematically summarizes the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases, showing that CM can alleviate liver diseases by regulating lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota, as well as exerting anti-liver injury, anti-oxidation, and anti-hepatitis virus effects. Among them, Keap1/Nrf2, TGF-β/SMADS, p38 MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, NF-κB-NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways are mainly involved. In conclusion, CM is very likely to be a potential candidate for liver disease treatment based on modern phytochemistry, pharmacology, and genomeproteomics, which needs more clinical trials to further clarify its importance in the treatment of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Li G, Yang Y, Yang J, Suo Y, Xu H, Liu P, Wang J, Deng G, Feng T. Hepatoprotective effects of Malus hupehensis tea against isoniazid- and rifampicin-induced liver injury by regulating cytochrome P450 in mice. J Funct Foods 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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18
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Jiménez-Uribe AP, Gómez-Sierra T, Aparicio-Trejo OE, Orozco-Ibarra M, Pedraza-Chaverri J. Backstage players of fibrosis: NOX4, mTOR, HDAC, and S1P; companions of TGF-β. Cell Signal 2021; 87:110123. [PMID: 34438016 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The fibrotic process could be easily defined as a pathological excess of extracellular matrix deposition, leading to disruption of tissue architecture and eventually loss of function; however, this process involves a complex network of several signal transduction pathways. Virtually almost all organs could be affected by fibrosis, the most affected are the liver, lung, skin, kidney, heart, and eyes; in all of them, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has a central role. The canonical and non-canonical signal pathways of TGF-β impact the fibrotic process at the cellular and molecular levels, inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the induction of profibrotic gene expression with the consequent increase in proteins such as alpha-smooth actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, collagen, and other extracellular matrix proteins. Recently, it has been reported that some molecules that have not been typically associated with the fibrotic process, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), histone deacetylases (HDAC), and sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P); are critical in its development. In this review, we describe and discuss the role of these new players of fibrosis and the convergence with TGF-β signaling pathways, unveiling new insights into the panorama of fibrosis that could be useful for future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tania Gómez-Sierra
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico
| | - Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Marisol Orozco-Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Manuel Velasco Suárez, Av. Insurgentes Sur # 3877, La Fama, Alcaldía Tlalpan, CP 14269 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - José Pedraza-Chaverri
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico.
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Intestinal Microbiota and Liver Diseases: Insights into Therapeutic Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6682581. [PMID: 33976705 PMCID: PMC8087485 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6682581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Liver disease is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, for which inflammation, alcohol use, lipid metabolic disorders, disturbance to bile acid metabolism, and endotoxins are common risk factors. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with its "holistic approach" is widely used throughout the world as a complementary, alternative therapy, due to its clinical efficacy and reduced side effects compared with conventional medicines. However, due to a lack of reliable scientific evidence, the role of TCM in the prevention and treatment of liver disease remains unclear. Over recent years, with the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing, 16S rRNA detection, and bioinformatics methodology, it has been gradually recognized that the regulation of intestinal microbiota by TCM can play a substantial role in the treatment of liver disease. To better understand how TCM regulates the intestinal microbiota and suppresses liver disease, we have reviewed and analyzed the results of existing studies and summarized the relationship and risk factors between intestinal microbiota and liver disease. The present review summarizes the related mechanisms by which TCM affects the composition and metabolites of the intestinal microbiome.
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Bai Y, Wang W, Wang L, Ma L, Zhai D, Wang F, Shi R, Liu C, Xu Q, Chen G, Lu Z. Obacunone Attenuates Liver Fibrosis with Enhancing Anti-Oxidant Effects of GPx-4 and Inhibition of EMT. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26020318. [PMID: 33435504 PMCID: PMC7827035 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Obacunone, a limonin triterpenoid extracted from Phellodendronchinense Schneid or Dictamnus dasycarpusb Turcz plant, elicits a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidation, and anti-lung-fibrosis ones. However, the anti-fibrotic effect of obacunone and the detailed underlying mechanism in liver fibrosis remain unclear. Liver fibrosis is a debilitating disease threatening human health. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/P-Smad is a major pathway of fibrosis featured with epithelia mesenchymal transformations (EMT) and collagen depositions, accompanying with excessive oxygen-free radicals. Nrf-2 acts as a key anti-oxidative regulator driving the expressions of various antioxidant-related genes. Glutathionperoxidase-4 (GPx-4) is a member of the glutathione peroxidase family that directly inhibits phospholipid oxidation to alleviate oxidative stress. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of obacunone in mouse liver fibrosis model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and in hepatic stellate cells (LX2 cell line) challenging with TGF-β. Obacunone demonstrated potent ameliorative effects on liver fibrosis both in activated LX2 and in mice liver tissues with reduced levels of α-SMA, collagen1, and vimentin. Obacunone also remarkably suppressed the TGF-β/P-Smad signals and EMT process. Meanwhile, obacunone exerted a potent anti-oxidation effect by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in both models. The antioxidant effect of obacunone was attributed to the activation of GPx-4 and Nrf-2. In addition, the therapeutic effect of obacunone on LX2 cells was significantly removed in vitro plus with GPx-4 antagonist RSL3, in parallel with the re-elevated levels of ROS. Thus, we demonstrate that obacunone is able to attenuate liver fibrosis via enhancing GPx-4 signal and inhibition of the TGF-β/P-Smad pathway and EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongquan Bai
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Wenwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biopharmaceutics, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an 710083, China; (W.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biopharmaceutics, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an 710083, China; (W.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Lirong Ma
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Dongsheng Zhai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710083, China;
| | - Furong Wang
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Rui Shi
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Chaoyang Liu
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Qing Xu
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China; (Y.B.); (L.M.); (F.W.); (R.S.); (C.L.); (Q.X.)
| | - Guo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biopharmaceutics, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an 710083, China; (W.W.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-186-2904-7181 (G.C.); +86-152-0296-3679 (Z.L.)
| | - Zifan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biopharmaceutics, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an 710083, China; (W.W.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-186-2904-7181 (G.C.); +86-152-0296-3679 (Z.L.)
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