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Chen CH, Tsai PJ, Chang WW, Chen CY, Chen CY, Yates D, Guo YL. Dose-response relationship between lung function and chest imaging response to silica exposures in artificial stone manufacturing workers. Environ Health 2024; 23:25. [PMID: 38429786 PMCID: PMC10908069 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01067-1] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational exposure to artificial stone, a popular material used for countertops, can cause accelerated silicosis, but the precise relationship between silica dose and disease development is unclear. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the impact of silica exposure on lung function and chest imaging in artificial stone manufacturing workers. METHODS Questionnaire and spirometry assessments were administered to workers in two plants. A high-exposure subset underwent further evaluation, including chest CT and DLco. Weighting factors, assigned as proxies for silica exposure, were based on work tasks. Individual cumulative exposures were estimated using area concentration measurements and time spent in specific areas. Exposure-response associations were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS Among 65 participants, the mean cumulative silica exposure was 3.61 mg/m3-year (range 0.0001 to 44.4). Each 1 mg/m3-year increase was associated with a 0.46% reduction in FVC, a 0.45% reduction in FEV1, and increased lung function abnormality risk (aOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.03-1.56). Weighting factors correlated with cumulative exposures (Spearman correlation = 0.59, p < 0.0001), and weighted tenure was associated with lung function abnormalities (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09). Of 37 high-exposure workers, 19 underwent chest CT, with 12 (63%) showing abnormal opacities. Combining respiratory symptoms, lung function, and chest X-ray achieved 91.7% sensitivity and 75% specificity for predicting chest CT abnormalities. CONCLUSION Lung function and chest CT abnormalities occur commonly in artificial stone workers. For high-exposure individuals, abnormalities on health screening could prompt further chest CT examination to facilitate early silicosis detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsien Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, National Taiwan University (NTU), No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Perng-Jy Tsai
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Rd., North District, Tainan, 70403, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Wen Chang
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Rd., North District, Tainan, 70403, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yao Chen
- Division of Occupational Hazards Assessment, Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor, No. 99, Ln. 407, Hengke Rd., Xizhi Dist, New Taipei City, 221004, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yong Chen
- Division of Occupational Hazards Assessment, Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor, No. 99, Ln. 407, Hengke Rd., Xizhi Dist, New Taipei City, 221004, Taiwan
| | - Deborah Yates
- Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's Public Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- St Vincent's Hospital Clinical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, National Taiwan University (NTU), No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, No. 35, Keyan Rd., Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Rm 339, 17 Syujhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
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Ma R, Huang X, Sun D, Wang J, Xue C, Ye Q. Tetrandrine Alleviates Silica-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Through PI3K/AKT Pathway: Network Pharmacology Investigation and Experimental Validation. Inflammation 2024:10.1007/s10753-023-01964-6. [PMID: 38265677 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Tetrandrine (TET) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from Stephania tetrandra S. Moor, known for its potential use in attenuating the progression of silicosis. However, the precise effects and underlying mechanisms of TET remain controversial. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism of TET using a network pharmacology approach, while also evaluating its effect on silica-induced lung fibrosis in mice and TGF-β1-stimulated pulmonary fibroblasts in vitro. We employed network pharmacology to unravel the biological mechanisms through which TET may exert its therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis and silicosis. In a silica-induced mouse model of lung fibrosis, TET was administered orally either during the early or late stage of fibrotic progression. Additionally, we examined the effects of TET on fibroblasts stimulated by TGF-β1 in vitro. Through the analysis, we identified a total of 101 targets of TET, 7,851 genes associated with pulmonary fibrosis, and 80 overlapping genes. These genes were primarily associated with key pathways such as epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, and the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (PKB or AKT) signaling pathway. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis revealed the binding of TET to AKT1, the catalytic subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, and KDR. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TET significantly alleviated silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis and reduced the expression of fibrotic markers. Moreover, TET exhibited inhibitory effects on the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblasts in vitro. Notably, TET mitigated silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, our findings suggest that TET possesses the ability to suppress silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These results provide valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of TET in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis and silicosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruimin Ma
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Workers' Stadium South Road, Chao-Yang District, Beijing, China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxi Huang
- Medical Research Center, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Di Sun
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Workers' Stadium South Road, Chao-Yang District, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwei Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Workers' Stadium South Road, Chao-Yang District, Beijing, China
| | - Changjiang Xue
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Workers' Stadium South Road, Chao-Yang District, Beijing, China
| | - Qiao Ye
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Workers' Stadium South Road, Chao-Yang District, Beijing, China.
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Wang Y, Cheng B, Lin YJ, Wang R, Xuan J, Xu HM. Preliminary Study on the Effect and Molecular Mechanism of Tetrandrine in Alleviating Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis Induced by Silicon Dioxide. TOXICS 2023; 11:765. [PMID: 37755775 PMCID: PMC10536946 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11090765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of tetrandrine (Tet) in alleviating pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis induced by silica (SiO2) from the perspective of autophagy. C57BL/6J mice were selected as experimental animals, and SiO2 was exposed by intranasal instillation. Tet was intervened by oral gavage. The mice were euthanized on the 7th and 42nd day of SiO2 exposure, and lung tissues were collected for histopathological, molecular biological, immunological, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The results showed that SiO2 exposure could lead to significant lung inflammation and fibrosis, while Tet could significantly reduce SiO2 exposure-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis. Molecular mechanism research indicated that, compared with SiO2 expose group, Tet intervention could significantly reduce the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, TGF-β1, HYP, Col-I, and Fn), and regulate the expression of key molecules ATG7, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), and P62 in the autophagy pathway to improve the blocking of autophagic flux, promote the recovery of autophagic lysosomal system function, and inhibit apoptosis. In summary, Tet can alleviate silica-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis, which may be achieved by regulating the expression of key molecules in the autophagy process and associated apoptotic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yu-Jia Lin
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Jie Xuan
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Fifth People’s Hospital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shizuishan 753000, China
| | - Hai-Ming Xu
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
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Tang M, Tan F, Luo Y, Xiao X, Deng X, Li S, Tan X. Tetrandrine slows the radiographic progression of progressive massive fibrosis in pneumoconiosis: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Pulm Med 2023; 23:290. [PMID: 37559034 PMCID: PMC10413607 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-023-02577-3] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the clinical effect of Tetrandrine (Tet) on progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) of pneumoconiosis. METHODS This retrospective study collected 344 pneumoconiosis patients with PMF, and 127 were eligible for the final analysis, including 57 patients in the Tet group and 70 patients in the control group. The progress of imaging and lung function were compared between the two groups. RESULTS After 13 months (median) of treatment, the size of PMF was smaller in the Tet group than that in the control group (1526 vs. 2306, p=0.001), and the size was stable in the Tet group (1568 vs. 1526, p= 0.381), while progressed significantly in the control group (2055 vs. 2306, p=0.000). The small nodule profusion and emphysema were also milder than that in the control group (6.0 vs. 7.5, p=0.046 and 8.0 vs. 12, p=0.016 respectively). Pulmonary ventilation function parameters FVC and FEV1 improved in the Tet group (3222 vs. 3301, p=0.021; 2202 vs. 2259, p=0.025 respectively) and decreased in the control group (3272 vs. 3185, p= 0.00; 2094 vs. 1981, p=0.00 respectively). FEV1/FVC was also significantly higher in the Tet group than that in the control group (68.45vs. 60.74, p=0.001). However, similar result was failed to observed for DLco%, which showed a significant decrease in both groups. CONCLUSION Tet has shown great potential in the treatment of PMF by slowing the progression of pulmonary fibrosis and the decline of lung function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meian Tang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Fu Tan
- Department of Radiology, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Yufei Luo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiongbin Xiao
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaobin Deng
- Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Shenlei Li
- Department of Radiology, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojiang Tan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Kan LLY, Chan BCL, Leung PC, Wong CK. Natural-Product-Derived Adjunctive Treatments to Conventional Therapy and Their Immunoregulatory Activities in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Molecules 2023; 28:5804. [PMID: 37570775 PMCID: PMC10421415 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155804] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive and persistent subtype of breast cancer that is likely to be resistant to conventional treatments. The rise in immunotherapy has created new modalities to treat cancer, but due to high costs and unreliable efficacy, adjunctive and complementary treatments have sparked interest in enhancing the efficacy of currently available treatments. Natural products, which are bioactive compounds derived from natural sources, have historically been used to treat or ameliorate inflammatory diseases and symptoms. As TNBC patients have shown little to no response to immunotherapy, the potential of natural products as candidates for adjuvant immunotherapy is being explored, as well as their immunomodulatory effects on cancer. Due to the complexity of TNBC and the ever-changing tumor microenvironment, there are challenges in determining the feasibility of using natural products to enhance the efficacy or counteract the toxicity of conventional treatments. In view of technological advances in molecular docking, pharmaceutical networking, and new drug delivery systems, natural products show promise as potential candidates in adjunctive therapy. In this article, we summarize the mechanisms of action of selected natural-product-based bioactive compounds and analyze their roles and applications in combination treatments and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Ling-Yu Kan
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (L.L.-Y.K.); (B.C.-L.C.); (P.-C.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ben Chung-Lap Chan
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (L.L.-Y.K.); (B.C.-L.C.); (P.-C.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ping-Chung Leung
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (L.L.-Y.K.); (B.C.-L.C.); (P.-C.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun-Kwok Wong
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (L.L.-Y.K.); (B.C.-L.C.); (P.-C.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin R & D Centre for Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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