Effect of trans-chalcone on hepatic IL-8 through the regulation of miR-451 in male rats

Trans-Chalcone (1-3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one) as a Therapeutic Candidate in Joint Inflammation via Reduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 in Rodents: An In Vivo Study by RT-PCR and ELISA analysis

Autoimmune disorders include vast and distinct illnesses and are characterized by an immune system-mediated attack on the body's own tissues. Because of their ability to impact any portion of the body, their clinical symptoms are incredibly varied. The variations in symptoms are normally linked with the release and activation of vasoactive, chemotactic substances and cytokines. Cytokines perform a multitude of vital biological tasks, such as immune response control, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue repair. The reversal of inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue by natural compounds provides an effective remedy for autoimmune diseases. Here, the oral administration of trans-chalcone (TC) for 28 days was tested with gradually increasing doses (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-provoked joint tissue stiffness in rats. Paw edema, arthritic index, joint stiffness, thermal and flexion pain, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were determined to check the tested drug effectiveness in a chronic inflammatory model. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding affinity with inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as TNF-α, IL-17, COX-2, and iNOS; further, they were quantified at the mRNA level by RT-PCR and ELISA analysis. Oral administration of TC significantly ameliorated paw edema, thymus and spleen indices, joint stiffness, thermal and flexion pain, C-reactive protein, RF, mobility, and stance of the treated animals. This therapeutic effectiveness was linked with a reduction in the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17. The findings of the reported research confirmed the effectiveness of TC in ameliorating joint stiffness and flexion pain by prominently lowering the inflammatory cytokines.

Atheroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of trans-chalcone through modification of eNOS/AMPK/KLF-2 pathway and regulation of COX-2, Ang-II, and PDGF mRNA expression in NMRI mice fed HCD

BACKGROUND

The effects of trans-chalcone on atherosclerosis and NAFLD have been investigated. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects are not completely understood. This study aimed to deduce the impacts of trans-chalcone on the eNOS/AMPK/KLF-2 pathway in the heart tissues and the expression of Ang-II, PDFG, and COX-2 genes in liver sections of NMRI mice fed HCD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty-two male mice were divided into four groups (n = 8): control group; fed normal diet. HCD group; fed HCD (consisted of 2% cholesterol) (12 weeks). TCh groups; received HCD (12 weeks) besides co-treated with trans-chalcone (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg b.w. dosages respectively) for 4 weeks. Finally, the blood samples were collected to evaluate the biochemical parameters. Histopathological observations of aorta and liver sections were performed by H&E staining. The real-time PCR method was used for assessing the expression of the aforementioned genes. Histopathological examination demonstrated atheroma plaque formation and fatty liver in mice fed HCD which were accomplished with alteration in biochemical factors and Real-time PCR outcomes. Administration of trans-chalcone significantly modulated the serum of biochemical parameters. These effects were accompanied by significant increasing the expression of eNOS, AMPK, KLF-2 genes in heart sections and significant decrease in COX-2, Ang-II, and PDGF mRNA expression in liver sections.

CONCLUSION

Our findings propose that the atheroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of trans-chalcone may be attributed to the activation of the eNOS/AMPK/KLF-2 pathway and down-regulation of Ang-II, PDFG, and COX-2 genes, respectively.

Chalcone T4, a novel chalconic compound, inhibits inflammatory bone resorption in vivo and suppresses osteoclastogenesis in vitro

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effect of a novel synthetic chalcone, Chalcone T4, on a murine model of periodontitis and on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro.

BACKGROUND

Chalcones are natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, and its synthetic analogs with enhanced biological effects have potential as therapeutic agents. Periodontitis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the periodontium and alveolar bone resorption. Safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents can have an important additive effect in the treatment in this disease.

METHODS

Periodontitis was induced via the installation of a ligature around the first molar. Rats (n = 32) received Chalcone T4 (5 and 50 mg/kg) or distilled water by gavage daily for 15 days. Outcomes assessed were bone resorption (μCT), TNF-α production (ELISA), cellular infiltrate, and collagen content (stereometric analysis, CD45+ cells by immunohistochemistry), and activation of NFATc1 and NF-kB (immunohistochemistry). In vitro, RAW 264.7 were treated with Chalcone T4 and stimulated with RANKL for assessment of osteoclast differentiation (actin ring staining) and activity (pit assay).

RESULTS

Chalcone T4 significantly reduced periodontitis-associated bone resorption, as well as the cellular infiltrate, while increasing the collagen content. Production of TNF-α, infiltration of CD45-positive cells, and NF-kB activation were markedly reduced. In vitro, chalcone T4 inhibited both osteoclast differentiation and activity.

CONCLUSION

Chalcone T4 significantly inhibited alveolar bone resorption and inflammation in vivo and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro, suggesting a therapeutic role for this compound in the treatment of periodontitis.

Immunomodulator Drug (IMODTM) and Exercise Improve Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Balance in Diabetic Rats

: Diabetes is a common metabolic disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It seems that the reduction of oxidative stress or increasing antioxidant levels improves diabetic cardiomyopathy. Antioxidant effects of immunomodulatory drug (IMODTM) and also beneficial influences of exercise on diabetic complications have been shown. The present study examined the effects of IMODTM and exercise on cardiac oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetes. For this purpose, 64 rats were divided into 8 groups: control (C), exercise (E), IMODTM (20 mg/kg) (I), exercise plus IMODTM (E + I), diabetes (D), diabetic rats treated with exercise (D + E), diabetic rats treated with IMODTM (D + I), and diabetic rats treated with exercise plus IMODTM (D + E + I). Treatments with exercise and/or IMODTM were performed for 8 weeks. Type 1 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. After the treatment period, all rats were anesthetized, and blood and heart samples were gathered for measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress marker, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a cardiac injury marker, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as antioxidant enzymes. The present study, for the first time, showed that IMODTM alone or in combination with exercise had positive effects on alleviating hyperglycemia, MDA, and LDH along with elevation of antioxidant enzymes activities in type 1 diabetic rats.

Preventive effect of trans-chalcone on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Improvement of hepatic lipid metabolism

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an inflammatory and progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, there are no FDA-approved drugs for this condition. Lipids accumulated in NASH have a direct role in the progression of this disease. Therefore, this study for the first time explored the preventive effect of trans-chalcone on NASH through the modulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c, SREBP-2, hepatic fatty acid synthesis (FAS) enzyme, proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, and PPAR-γ2 levels, which are involved in hepatic lipid metabolism. In this study, male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7): Control, received 10% tween 80; NASH, received 10% tween 80 and 10 ml/kg high-fat emulsion (high-fat diet, HFD); and NASH + TC, received 20 mg/kg trans-chalcone and 10 ml/kg HFD. All treatments were performed by once-daily oral gavage for 6 weeks. Liver and blood samples were collected and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, as well as hepatic levels of SREBP-1c, SREBP-2, FAS, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ2, were measured. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin stained tissues were used for histological analysis. In this study, treatment of HFD-fed rats with trans-chalcone significantly reduced abnormalities in liver histology, serum levels of liver injury markers, liver index, and hepatic levels of SREBP-1c, SREBP-2, FAS, and PPAR-γ2. Furthermore, trans-chalcone significantly increased hepatic PPARα levels in these rats. Therefore, it seems that trans-chalcone protects the liver of HFD-fed rats against NASH development through reduction of SREBP-1c/ FAS- and PPAR-γ2-related lipogenesis, attenuation of SREBP-2-related cholesterol synthesis, and elevation of PPARα-related fatty acid oxidation.

trans-Chalcone prevents insulin resistance and hepatic inflammation and also promotes hepatic cholesterol efflux in high-fat diet-fed rats: modulation of miR-34a-, miR-451-, and miR-33a-related pathways

Insulin resistance and inflammation are strongly linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a feature of the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, the role of dysregulation of miR-34a, miR-451, and miR-33a in pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD has been identified. trans-Chalcone is a simple chalcone with anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, to the best of our knowledge, miRNA-dependent mechanisms of these protective effects under pathologic conditions are not understood. Thus, this study, for the first time, aimed to evaluate the effects of trans-Chalcone on miR-34a, miR-451, and miR-33a signaling pathways in the liver of high-fat (HF) emulsion-fed rats. To this aim, twenty-one rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups: control, which was gavaged with 10% tween 80; HF, which was gavaged with HF emulsion and 10% tween 80; and HF + trans-Chalcone (HF + TC), which was gavaged with HF emulsion and trans-Chalcone. Then, circulating levels of glucose and insulin were measured and used for the calculation of HOMA-IR. Hepatic expression levels of miR-34a, miR-451, miR-33a, SIRT1, and ABCA1 and also protein levels of ABCA1 and IL-8 were assayed. In this study, trans-chalcone increased hepatic cholesterol efflux and prevented insulin resistance and liver inflammation in HF emulsion-fed rats. These protective effects were modulated through the down-regulation of miR-34a and its associated elevation of SIRT1, the up-regulation of miR-451 which was associated with a reduction in IL-8, and the inhibition of miR-33a which was related to the elevation of ABCA1 in the liver of HF emulsion-fed rats. Therefore, trans-Chalcone exerts its beneficial effects by targeting hepatic miR-34a-, miR-451-, and miR-33a-related pathways.