Network Pharmacology Based Research on the Combination Mechanism Between Escin and Low Dose Glucocorticoids in Anti-rheumatoid Arthritis

Yeast lacking the sterol C-5 desaturase Erg3 are tolerant to the anti-inflammatory triterpenoid saponin escin

Escin is a mixture of over 30 glycosylated triterpenoid (saponin) structures, extracted from the dried fruit of horse chestnuts. Escin is currently used as an anti-inflammatory, and has potential applications in the treatment of arthritis and cancer. Engineered yeast would enable production of specific bioactive components of escin at industrial scale, however many saponins have been shown to be toxic to yeast. Here we report that a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain specifically lacking the sterol C-5 desaturase gene ERG3, exhibits striking enhanced tolerance to escin treatment. Transcriptome analyses, as well as pre-mixing of escin with sterols, support the hypothesis that escin interacts directly with ergosterol, but not as strongly with the altered sterols present in erg3Δ. A diverse range of saponins are of commercial interest, and this research highlights the value of screening lipidome mutants to identify appropriate hosts for engineering the industrial production of saponins.

Is glucocorticoid use associated with a higher clinical pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer? A meta-analysis

Background

It has been reported that the use of glucocorticoids may be able to improve clinical pregnancy rates in patients receiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between glucocorticoid use and clinical pregnancy rate in IVF-ET patients.

Methods

This study has been registered on the International Register of Prospective Systems Evaluation (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD42022375427). A thorough and detailed search of databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify eligible studies up to October 2022. Quality assessment was conducted on the modified Jadad Scoring Scale and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the inter-study heterogeneity was estimated by Q test and I² test. Combined hazard ratios with 95% CI were calculated using random effects or fixed effects models based on heterogeneity. Meanwhile, Begg's and Egger's tests were used to detect the existence of publication bias, the leave-one-out method was used for sensitivity analysis and multiple subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results

Seventeen studies involving 3056 IVF-ET cycles were included. We found that glucocorticoid use was associated with a higher IVF-ET pregnancy rate (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.27-2.74, P = 0.002). In the subgroup analysis, studies of different regions and different study types all showed similar results that glucocorticoid is beneficial to improve the clinical pregnancy rate of patients with IVF-ET, and patients with positive autoantibodies and patients receiving IVF-ET multiple times also showed the same results. However, there was no significant change in clinical pregnancy rates in the seven studies with negative autoantibodies and in the seven studies with initial IVF-ET treatment. The results of the 12 medium-acting glucocorticoids and 4 long-acting glucocorticoids were also generally consistent with each other. There was no statistical difference in subgroup analysis of whether patients had endometriosis or not.

Conclusion

Appropriate use of glucocorticoids is beneficial for improving the clinical pregnancy rate in women receiving IVF-ET, but this result still needs to be verified by more high-quality and large sample size randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Evaluation of Mollugo oppositifolia Linn. as cholinesterase and β-secretase enzymes inhibitor

Mollugo oppositifolia Linn. is traditionally used in neurological complications. The study aimed to investigate in-vitro neuroprotective effect of the plant extracts through testing against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). To understand the safety aspects, the extracts were tested for CYP450 isozymes and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HepG2) inhibitory potential. The heavy metal contents were estimated using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Further, the antioxidant capacities as well as total phenolic content and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured spectrophotometrically. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis was employed to identify phytometabolites present in the extract. The interactions of the ligands with the target proteins (AChE, BChE, and BACE-1) were studied using AutoDockTools 1.5.6. The results showed that M. oppositifolia extract has more selectivity towards BChE (IC₅₀ = 278.23 ± 1.89 μg/ml) as compared to AChE (IC₅₀ = 322.87 ± 2.05 μg/ml). The IC₅₀ value against β-secretase was 173.93 μg/ml. The extract showed a CC₅₀ value of 965.45 ± 3.07 μg/ml against HepG2 cells and the AAS analysis showed traces of lead 0.02 ± 0.001 which was found to be within the WHO prescribed limits. Moreover, the IC₅₀ values against CYP3A4 (477.03 ± 2.01 μg/ml) and CYP2D6 (249.65 ± 2.46 μg/ml) isozymes justify the safety aspects of the extract. The in silico molecular docking analysis of the target enzymes showed that the compound menthoside was found to be the most stable and showed a good docking score among all the identified metabolites. Keeping in mind the multi-targeted drug approach, the present findings suggested that M. oppositifolia extract have anti-Alzheimer's potential.

Hepatoprotective functions of jujuboside B

Jujuboside B (JB) found in the seeds of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen possesses pharmacological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, and antianxiety potentials. This study evaluated the effect of JB on liver failure in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. First, we observed histopathological changes in the liver by optical microscopy and the activity of enzymes in serum such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). We further measured the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nitric oxide (NO), and antioxidative parameters in liver homogenate. The expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the liver was observed by Western blotting. CLP enhanced the migration of inflammatory cells, ALT and AST concentrations, and necrosis, which were reduced by JB. In addition, JB reduced 11β-HSD2 expression and levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO) in the liver, increased GR expression, enhanced endogenous antioxidative capacity. These results further suggest that JB may protect the liver against CLP-induced damage by regulating anti-inflammatory responses, downregulating 11β-HSD2 expression and antioxidation, and up-regulating GR expression.

Integrated systematic pharmacology analysis and experimental validation to reveal the mechanism of action of Semen aesculi on inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND AND ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Semen aesculi (SA), a traditional Chinese herb, has been used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease for thousands of years. The escin was the main components of SA. A growing number of research showed that escin has a wide range of pharmacological activities in intestinal barrier dysfunction.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are an idiopathic disease of the intestinal tract with the hallmark features of mucosal inflammation and loss of barrier function. The theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) suggests that SA plays a potential role in protecting the gastrointestinal diseases. The present study aimed to explore the effects of SA on the intestinal barrier under existing inflammatory conditions and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bioactive components of SA and their predicted biological targets were combined to develop a compound target pathway network. It is used to predict the bioactive components, molecular targets, and molecular pathways of SA in improving IBD. The ingredients of SA were extracted by decoction either in water and ethanol and separated into four fractions (AE, EE, PEE and PCE). The effects of extractions were evaluated in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages cell model, LPS-induced intestinal barrier injury model and imodium-induced constipation model. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to identify the bioactive components.

RESULTS

The compound-target pathway network was identified with 10 bioactive compounds, 166 IBD-related targets, and 52 IBD-related pathways. In LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, PEE and PCE significantly decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and TNF-α level. In mice, PEE and PCE administration improved intestinal barrier damage, increased intestinal motility, reduced levels of TNF-α and diamine oxidase (DAO). Furthermore, PEE and PCE administration not only decreased expression of p-Akt, p-IκBα, nuclear p-p65, and TNF-α level, but also increased expression of the zonula occludin-1 (ZO-1) in LPS-induced intestinal barrier injury model. The escin content of AE, EE, PEE and PCE gradually increased with an increase of the bioactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Escin was the main bioactive components of SA. The effects of SA on IBD were mediated by repairing the intestinal barrier and promoting intestinal motility. The mechanism of action of SA is related to inhibiting the Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway in intestinal tissue, at least, in part. Our results provide a scientific basis for further exploring the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of SA in IBD.

Escin suppresses immune cell infiltration and selectively modulates Nrf2/HO-1, TNF-α/JNK, and IL-22/STAT3 signaling pathways in concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice

The current study aims to investigate the possible protective effect of escin, the active constituent of a natural mixture of triterpene saponin glycoside, against immune-mediated hepatitis driven by concanavalin A (Con A) and to elucidate its possible underlying mechanisms. Adult male mice were administered Con A (15 mg/kg, intravenously) for 8 h. In the treated groups, mice were pretreated with escin daily (10 mg/kg in CMC, orally) for 4 days before Con A intoxication. In addition, escin was administered in a group to examine its effect on normal mice. Our results showed that escin inhibited Con A-induced elevation in liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and LDH) and curbed the Con A-induced hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis together with abrogating the death pathway, JNK. Coincidentally, escin has shown a reduction in neutrophil, CD4+ T cell, and monocyte infiltration into the liver. In addition, escin modulated the cellular oxidant status by compensating for the Con A-depleted expression of the transcription factor Nrf2 and the stress protein hemeoxygenase-1. These effects were in good agreement with the restraining effect of escin on Con A-instigated overexpression of NF-κB and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-17A. Interestingly, Con A provoked the cellular protective pathway IL-22/STAT3, which was revoked by the escin pretreatment. In conclusion, escin shows extended antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinecrotic, and anti-apoptotic effects against Con A-induced immune-mediated hepatitis. These effects may collectively be via suppressing immune cell infiltration into the liver and selective modulation of Nrf2/HO-1, TNF-α/NF-κB, TNF-α/JNK, and IL-22/STAT3 signaling pathways.

Cinnamic Aldehyde, the main monomer component of Cinnamon, exhibits anti-inflammatory property in OA synovial fibroblasts via TLR4/MyD88 pathway

Cinnamon is a wildly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, but the underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of cinnamic aldehyde (CA), a bioactive substance extracted from Cinnamon, on synovial inflammation in OA. A total of 144 CA-OA co-targeted genes were identified by detect databases (PubChem, HIT, TCMSP, TTD, DrugBank and GeneCards). The results of GO enrichment analysis indicated that these co-targeted genes have participated in many biological processes including 'inflammatory response', 'cellular response to lipopolysaccharide', 'response to drug', 'immune response', 'lipopolysaccharide-mediated signalling pathway', etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed these co-targeted genes were mainly enriched in 'Toll-like receptor signalling pathway', 'TNF signalling pathway', 'NF-kappa B signalling pathway', etc. Molecular docking demonstrated that CA could successfully bind to TLR2 and TLR4. The results of in vitro experiments showed no potential toxicity of 10, 20 and 50 μM/L CA on human OA FLS, and CA can significantly inhibit the inflammation in LPS-induced human FLS. Further experimental mechanism evidence confirmed CA can inhibited the inflammation in LPS-induced human OA FLS via blocking the TLR4/MyD88 signalling pathway. Our results demonstrated that CA exhibited strong anti-inflammation effect in OA FLS through blocking the activation of TLR4/MyD88 signalling pathway, suggesting its potential as a hopeful candidate for the development of novel agents for the treatment of OA.

Effectiveness of early administration of a single dose of steroids and escin after loss of signal on electromyographic signal recovery during neuromonitored thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single early administration of dexamethasone and escin after loss of signal (LOS) during a neuromonitored total thyroidectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of results concerning consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy was performed. Patients included in the study were divided into two groups: Group 1 for which a "wait and see" strategy was used; Group 2, receiving dexamethasone and escin immediately after LOS detection.

RESULTS

Overall 37 patients were included in Group 1 and 35 in Group 2. LOS recovery occurring in 29.7% of cases (n. 11) versus 65.7% (n. 23) respectively (p < 0.001). Postoperative fibrolayngoscopy for patients without LOS recovery showed normal cord function in 4 out of 26 cases (15.4%) in Group 1 and in 7 out of 12 (58.3%) in Group 2 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The early administration of dexamethasone and escin after LOS detection may achieve greater EMG signal recovery than a "wait and see" strategy.

Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by dimethyl fumarate ameliorates complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathway has recently emerged as a novel therapeutic target in treating various diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the protective role of the Nrf2 activator, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)- induced arthritis model. DMF (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) were orally administered for 14 days. Pain-related tests, paw volume, and arthritic scores were measured weekly. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were estimated. Nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were also evaluated. NF-κB, Nrf2, HO-1, and COX-2 levels were estimated in the joint tissue. DMF treatment exerted anti-arthritic activity by enhancing the nociceptive threshold, improving arthritis scores, and reducing paw edema. Also, DMF suppressed changes in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators and enhanced Nrf2 and HO-1 levels in CFA-injected rats. These findings indicate that the anti-arthritic activity of DMF may be mediated by the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which reduced oxidative damage and inflammation.

The Use of Herbal Medicines for the Prevention of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

Glucocorticoids are drugs that are widely used to suppress inflammation and the activation of the immune system. However, the prolonged use or at high doses of glucocorticoid can result in adverse side effects including osteoporosis, bone loss, and an increased risk of fracture. A number of compounds derived from natural plant sources have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity by interacting with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), likely owing to their chemical similarity to glucocorticoids, or by regulating GR, without a concomitant risk of treatment-related side effects such as osteoporosis. Other herbal compounds can counteract the pathogenic processes underlying glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) by regulating homeostatic bone metabolic processes. Herein, we systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases to identify articles discussing such compounds published as of May 01, 2021. Compounds reported to exert anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid-like activity without inducing GIOP include escin, ginsenosides, and glycyrrhizic acid, while compounds reported to alleviate GIOP by improving osteoblast function or modulating steroid hormone synthesis include tanshinol and icariin.

Anti-Inflammatory and Gastroprotective Effects of Escin

Escin is a triterpenoid saponin extracted from the fruit of Aesculus wilsonii Rehd. and Aesculus hippocastanum (Hippocastanaceae). Clinically, it is widely used in the treatment of edema induced by either trauma or surgery, as well as treating chronic venous insufficiency. The anti-inflammatory and antiedema effects of escin have been extensively investigated. This article systematically reviews the effects of escin on inflammation and gastrointestinal diseases, including its role in inflammation, as an antioxidant, and in inhibiting gastric acid secretion and promoting gastrointestinal movement, especially, the molecular mechanism. The advantages and potential uses of escin have also been discussed.

[Escin alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain by inducing autophagy in the spinal cord of rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of escin in relieving chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain in rats and explore and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6), including an escin preconditioning group (treated with 4 mg/kg escin on days 1-7 and then with 2 mg/kg taxol on days 8, 10, 12, and 14), an escin postconditioning group (treated with 2 mg/kg taxol on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and then with 4 mg/mg escin on days 8-14) and control group (treated with 2 mg/kg taxol on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and then with saline on days 8-14). Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of the mice were tested on days 4, 7, 10 and 14, and the expression levels of LC3II and p62 in the spinal cord of the rats were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

The rats in both the escin preconditioning group and escin postconditioning group showed obviously increased thresholds of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). Western blotting showed that the expression level of LC3II was significantly increased while p62 expression was lowered in escin preconditioning group as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). The escin postconditioning group also showed significantly higher LC3II expression and lower p62 expression levels than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Escin can alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain in rats possibly by upregulating the expressions of autophagy-related proteins in the spinal cord.

Integrating Network Pharmacology with Molecular Docking to Unravel the Active Compounds and Potential Mechanism of Simiao Pill Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective

To explore the main components and unravel the potential mechanism of simiao pill (SM) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking.

Methods

Related compounds were obtained from TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM database. Oral bioavailability and drug-likeness were then screened by using absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) criteria. Additionally, target genes related to RA were acquired from GeneCards and OMIM database. Correlations about SM-RA, compounds-targets, and pathways-targets-compounds were visualized through Cytoscape 3.7.1. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed via R packages. Molecular docking analysis was constructed by the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE).

Results

A total of 72 potential compounds and 77 associated targets of SM were identified. The compounds-targets network analysis indicated that the 6 compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein, wogonin, beta-sitosterol, and eugenol, were linked to ≥10 target genes, and the 10 target genes (PTGS1, ESR1, AR, PGR, CHRM3, PPARG, CHRM2, BCL2, CASP3, and RELA) were core target genes in the network. Enrichment analysis indicated that PI3K-Akt, TNF, and IL-17 signaling pathway may be a critical signaling pathway in the network pharmacology. Molecular docking showed that quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein, and wogonin have good binding activity with IL6, VEGFA, EGFR, and NFKBIA targets.

Conclusion

The integrative investigation based on bioinformatics/network topology strategy may elaborate on the multicomponent synergy mechanisms of SM against RA and provide the way out to develop new combination medicines for RA.

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin and thymol combination on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells by inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK activation

BACKGROUND

Combination drug therapy has become an effective strategy for inflammation control. The anti‑inflammatory capacities of silibinin and thymol have each been investigated on its own, but little is known about the synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of these two compounds.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin and thymol when administered in combination to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.

METHODS

RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with silibinin and thymol individually or in combination for 2 h before LPS stimulation. Cell viability was detected by the MTT assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate. ELISA was used to detect tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Western blot was performed to analyse the protein expression of LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

RESULTS

We observed a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect of silibinin and thymol when administered in combination to LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Silibinin combined with thymol (40 μM and 120 μM respectively, with the molar ratio 1:3) had more potent effects on the inhibition of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 than those exerted by individual administration of these compounds in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The combination of silibinin and thymol (40 μM and 120 μM respectively, with the molar ratio 1:3) strongly inhibited ROS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). More importantly, the combination of silibinin and thymol (40 μM and 120 μM respectively, with the molar ratio 1:3) was also successful in inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities. Our results suggest that the synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin with thymol were associated with the inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways.

CONCLUSION

The combination of silibinin and thymol (40 μM and 120 μM, respectively, with the molar ratio 1:3) could inhibit inflammation by suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

Role of mu-opioid receptor in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex of rats

Lots of studies have demonstrated that anterior cingulate cortex plays important roles in the pain perception and pain modulation. The present study explored the role of mu-opioid receptor in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex of rats with neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain model was set up by chronic constriction injury of the left sciatic nerve of rats. The hindpaw withdrawal latency to thermal and mechanical stimulation, by hot plate and Randall Selitto Test respectively, was used to evaluate the rat’s responses to noxious stimulation. Results showed that intra-anterior cingulate cortex injection of morphine could induce the antinociception dose-dependently. By intra-anterior cingulate cortex injection of opioid receptor antagonist, the morphine-induced antinociception could be attenuated by naloxone, as well as much significantly by the selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist β-funaltrexamine, indicating that mu-opioid receptor is involved in the morphine-induced antinociception in anterior cingulate cortex of rats with neuropathic pain. The morphine-induced antinociception was much more decreased in rats with neuropathic pain than that in normal rats, and there was a significant decrease in mu-opioid receptor messenger RNA levels in anterior cingulate cortex of rats with neuropathic pain, indicating that there may be a down-regulation in mu-opioid receptor expression in anterior cingulate cortex of rats with neuropathic pain. To further confirm the role of mu-opioid receptor in morphine-induced antinociception in anterior cingulate cortex, normal rats were received intra-anterior cingulate cortex administration of small interfering RNA targeting mu-opioid receptor and it was found that there was a down-regulation in mu-opioid receptor messenger RNA levels, as well as a down-regulation in mu-opioid receptor expression in anterior cingulate cortex tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Furthermore, the morphine-induced antinociceptive effect decreased significantly in rats with small interfering RNA targeting mu-opioid receptor, which indicated that knockdown mu-opioid receptor in anterior cingulate cortex could also attenuate morphine-induced antinociceptive effect. These results strongly suggest that mu-opioid receptor plays a significant role in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex of rats.

Dolichosin A, a coumestan isolated from Glycine tabacina, inhibits IL-1β-induced inflammation in SW982 human synovial cells and suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis: From network pharmacology to experimental pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Glycine tabacina (Labill.) Benth has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and joint infection. It is also one of the sources of the renowned native herbal medicine 'I-Tiao-Gung' in Taiwan.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate anti-arthritic effects and underlying mechanisms of dolichosin A (DoA), a coumestan compound isolated from G. tabacina, by the integration of network pharmacology and experimental pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Putative therapeutic targets and potential pharmacological mechanisms of DoA for RA treatment were predicted by network pharmacology approach. The regulated network of DoA acting on RA was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.1. Anti-arthritic effects of DoA and predicted mechanisms were further validated using IL-1β-induced SW982 human synovial cell model and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis model.

RESULTS

A regulatory network of DoA-targets-pathways-RA was successfully constructed using network pharmacology approach. In this network, 65 candidate targets of DoA related to its therapeutic effect on RA were identified and the functional enrichment analysis revealed that these candidate targets were significantly involved in 12 central signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT pathway, MAPK pathway and osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, we found that DoA could significantly inhibit IL-1β-induced inflammation in SW982 human synovial cells, as evidenced by the decreased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2) and MMP-3. DoA also suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro, as evidenced by decreased number of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts and reduced TRAP activity. Further experimental mechanism evidence confirmed the predicted results of network pharmacology that the blockade of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways activation was closely associated with these regulated processes of DoA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that DoA exhibited strong anti-arthritic activity through suppressing PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways activation in activated synovial cells and osteoclasts, suggesting its potential as a hopeful candidate for the development of novel agents for the prevention and treatment of RA.

Exploring protective effect of Glycine tabacina aqueous extract against nephrotic syndrome by network pharmacology and experimental verification

Background

Glycine tabacina (Labill.) Benth, one of the traditional Chinese herbal medicines, has been used for treatment of nephritis, osteoporosis, rheumatism, and menopausal syndrome. The aim of this study was to illuminate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Glycine tabacina aqueous extract (GATE) in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Methods

UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS was used to analyze the chemical profile of GATE. Adriamycin (ADR)-induced NS mouse model and network pharmacology methods were conducted to explore the protective effect and mechanism of GATE on NS treatment.

Results

GATE administration significantly ameliorated symptoms of proteinuria and hyperlipidemia in NS mice, as evidenced by reduced excretion of urine protein and albumin, and decreased plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels in NS mice suggested that GATE could prevent renal function decline caused by ADR. GATE treatment also inhibited ADR-induced pathological lesions of renal tissues as indicated by periodic acid Schiff staining. Six flavonoids of GATE were identified by using UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the protection of GATE in treating NS might be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, the in vivo experiment validated that treatment with GATE markedly decreased reactive oxygen species production, malonaldehyde level, and increased superoxide dismutase activity both in plasma and renal tissues. TNF-α level in plasma and protein expression in kidney were significantly decreased in GATE treatment groups.

Conclusions

Combination of network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification revealed that GATE exerts anti-NS effect possibly through modulating oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting the potential application of GATE or its derivatives in the prevention and treatment of NS and other related kidney diseases.

Effect of Cholesterol and Ibuprofen on DMPC-β-Aescin Bicelles: A Temperature-Dependent Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering Study

β -aescin is a versatile biosurfactant extracted from the seeds of the horse chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum with anti-cancer potential and is commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In this article, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) is used in order to study the modifications of the structural parameters at the molecular scale of lipid bilayers in the form of bicelles composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and the triterpenoid saponin β -aescin. In particular, the impact on the cooperative phase transition and the structural parameters of the DMPC bilayers at different compositions and temperatures is of special interest. Moreover, we show how cholesterol and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen modulate the structural parameters of the β -aescin-DMPC assemblies on a molecular scale. Ibuprofen and cholesterol interact with different parts of the bilayer, namely the head-region in the former and the tail-region in the latter case allowing for specific molecular packing and phase formation in the binary and ternary mixtures.

A Novel Rhynchophylline Analog, Y396, Inhibits Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Oxidative Stress in Diabetes Through Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction appears in early diabetes mellitus partially because of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) abnormal activation and downstream oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine whether Y396, a synthesized analog of rhynchophylline, could protect against endothelial dysfunction in diabetes and the underlying molecular mechanism. Results: Y396 could directly target the EGFR and inhibit its phosphorylation induced by high glucose and EGF, downstream translocation to the nucleus of E2F1, and its transcriptional activity and expression of Nox4. Diabetes-induced endothelium malfunction was ameliorated by Y396 treatment through EGFR inhibition. Downstream oxidative stress was decreased by Y396 in the aortas of type 1 diabetes mellitus mice and primary rat aorta endothelial cells (RAECs). Y396 could also ameliorate tunicamycin-induced oxidative stress in the aorta and RAECs. In addition, we again determined the protective effects of Y396 on high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. Innovation: This is the first study to demonstrate that Y396, a novel rhynchophylline analog, suppressed high-glucose-induced endothelial malfunction both in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting abnormal phosphorylation of EGFR. Our work uncovered EGFR as a novel therapeutic target and Y396 as a potential therapy against diabetes-induced complication. Conclusion: Y396 could directly bind with EGFR, and inhibit its phosphorylation and downstream E2F1 transcriptional activity. It could also preserve tunicamycin-evoked endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. It could protect against diabetes-induced endothelium malfunction in vivo through EGFR inhibition and downstream oxidative stress. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 32, 743-765.

The Biosurfactant β-Aescin: A Review on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Its Interaction with Lipid Model Membranes and Langmuir Monolayers

This review discusses recent progress in physicochemical understanding of the action of the saponin β-aescin (also called β-escin), the biologically active component in the seeds of the horse chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum. β-Aescin is used in pharmacological and cosmetic applications showing strong surface activity. In this review, we outline the most important findings describing the behavior of β-aescin in solution (e.g., critical micelle concentration (cmc) and micelle shape) and special physicochemical properties of adsorbed β-aescin monolayers at the air–water and oil–water interface. Such monolayers were found to posses very special viscoelastic properties. The presentation of the experimental findings is complemented by discussing recent molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations do not only quantify the predominant interactions in adsorbed monolayers but also highlight the different behavior of neutral and ionized β-aescin molecules. The review concludes on the interaction of β-aescin with phospholipid model membranes in the form of bilayers and Langmuir monolayers. The interaction of β-aescin with lipid bilayers was found to strongly depend on its cmc. At concentrations below the cmc, membrane parameters are modified whereas above the cmc, complete solubilization of the bilayers occurs, depending on lipid phase state and concentration. In the presence of gel-phase phospholipids, discoidal bicelles form; these are tunable in size by composition. The phase behavior of β-aescin with lipid membranes can also be modified by addition of other molecules such as cholesterol or drug molecules. The lipid phase state also determines the penetration rate of β-aescin molecules into lipid monolayers. The strongest interaction was always found in the presence of gel-phase phospholipid molecules.