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Guo X, Zhang J, Feng Z, Ji J, Shen X, Hou X, Mei Z. The antiangiogenic effect of total saponins of Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer in rheumatoid arthritis is mediated by targeting the HIF-1α/VEGF/ANG-1 axis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118422. [PMID: 38838922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional Chinese herbal medicine Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer has a long history in clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Total saponins of Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer (TSPJs) were extracted from the root of Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer, and its anti-rheumatism mechanism is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate whether TSPJs attenuated synovial angiogenesis in RA and explore the potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Potential TSPJs targets involving gene function were predicted by network pharmacology related databases. Bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking technology were used to predict the mechanism of TSPJs in the treatment of RA. The predicted results were validated by cell experiments and a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. RESULTS Bioinformatics analysis results showed that TSPJs may inhibit RA-related angiogenesis through the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways. In vitro, different doses of TSPJs showed a good inhibitory effect on the tube formation of EA.hy926 cells. The results of the cellular thermal shift assay indicated that TSPJs can bind to the HIF-1α, VEGFA, and angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1) proteins. In vivo, the administration of TSPJs alleviated the symptoms of CIA mice, including the arthritis index, hind paw thickness, and swollen joint count. The histological results demonstrated that TSPJs inhibited inflammation, angiogenesis, bone damage, and cartilage destruction. Furthermore, TSPJs decreased the number of vessels and the expression level of CD31. The mechanistic results revealed that TSPJs decreased the expression of HIF-1α, VEGFA, and ANG-1 in the serum or synovial tissues of CIA mice. CONCLUSION These results suggest that TSPJs effectively inhibit angiogenesis in RA, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGF/ANG-1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Guo
- Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved By State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China; The Second Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
| | - Jinkai Zhang
- Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved By State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Zhitao Feng
- Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved By State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China; Institute of Rheumatology, The First College of Clinical Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, China.
| | - Jinyu Ji
- Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved By State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Xiaolan Shen
- Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved By State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Xiaoqiang Hou
- Institute of Rheumatology, The First College of Clinical Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, China.
| | - Zhigang Mei
- The Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio-Cerebral Diseases, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.
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Gao C, Song XD, Chen FH, Wei GL, Guo CY. The protective effect of natural medicines in rheumatoid arthritis via inhibit angiogenesis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1380098. [PMID: 38881875 PMCID: PMC11176484 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1380098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic immunological disease leading to the progressive bone and joint destruction. Angiogenesis, accompanied by synovial hyperplasia and inflammation underlies joint destruction. Delaying or even blocking synovial angiogenesis has emerged as an important target of RA treatment. Natural medicines has a long history of treating RA, and numerous reports have suggested that natural medicines have a strong inhibitory activity on synovial angiogenesis, thereby improving the progression of RA. Natural medicines could regulate the following signaling pathways: HIF/VEGF/ANG, PI3K/Akt pathway, MAPKs pathway, NF-κB pathway, PPARγ pathway, JAK2/STAT3 pathway, etc., thereby inhibiting angiogenesis. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (TwHF), sinomenine, and total glucoside of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Are currently the most representative of all natural products worthy of development and utilization. In this paper, the main factors affecting angiogenesis were discussed and different types of natural medicines that inhibit angiogenesis were systematically summarized. Their specific anti-angiogenesis mechanisms are also reviewed which aiming to provide new perspective and options for the management of RA by targeting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Di Song
- Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
| | - Fang-Hui Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
| | - Gui-Lin Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
| | - Chun-Yu Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
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Li P, Ling X, Zhao S, Xu L, Wang R. Diversity and Isolation of Endophytic Fungi in Panax japonicus and Biotransformation Activity on Saponins. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2024; 25:1199-1208. [PMID: 37767797 DOI: 10.2174/0113892010247700230919053439] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study reports the diversity and community structure differences of the endophytic fungi of Panax japonicus of different ages to obtain novel endophytic fungi with glycoside hydrolytic activity for rare saponins production. METHODS This study used the high-throughput sequencing method to analyze the diversity and community structure of endophytic fungi of P. japonicus. The endophytic fungi were processed by traditional isolation, culture, conservation, and ITS rDNA sequence analyses. Then the total saponins of P. japonicus were used as the substrate to evaluate the glycoside hydrolytic activity. RESULTS The composition analysis of the community structure showed that the abundance, evenness, and diversity of endophytic fungi of nine-year-old P. japonicus were the best among all samples. A total of 210 endophytic fungi were isolated from P. japonicus samples and further annotated by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer. Then the biotransformation activity of obtained strains was further examined on total saponins of P. japonicus (TSPJ), with a strain identified as Fusarium equiseti (No.30) from 7-year-old P. japonicus showing significant glycoside hydrolytic activity on TSPJ, including ginsenoside Ro→zinglbroside R1, pseudoginsenoside RT1→pseudoginsenoside RP1, chikusetsusaponin IV→tarasaponin VI and chikusetsusaponin IVa →calenduloside E. CONCLUSION These results reveal the diversity and community structure differences of the endophytic fungi of P. japonicus with different ages and establish a resource library of endophytic fungi of P. japonicus. More importantly, we identified a valuable endophytic fungus with glycoside hydrolytic activity and provided a promising convenient microbial transformation approach to produce minor deglycosylated ginsenosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Ling
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
| | - Shujuan Zhao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
| | - Lili Xu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
| | - Rufeng Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, P.R. China
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Liu J, Zhao N, Su SH, Gao Y, Qi B. Anti-Arthritic Effect of Edaravone Against Complete Freund Adjuvant Induced Arthritis via Osteoclast Differentiation and HIF-1α-VEGF-ANG-1 Axis. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:519-534. [PMID: 36845667 PMCID: PMC9946814 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s391606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bone dysfunction is a crucial problem that occurs during rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease. Osteoclast plays a significant role in bone resorption and osteoclast differentiation and its enhancement of bone destruction. Edaravone remarkably exhibited free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of the current investigation is to comfort the inhibitory effect of Edaravone (ED) against complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) rat model via inhibition of angiogenesis and inflammation. Methods Subcutaneous injection of CFA (1%) was used to induce arthritis; the rats were divided into different groups and received the oral administration of ED. Paw edema, body weight, and arthritis score were regularly estimated. Biochemical parameters were estimated, respectively. We also estimate the level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), angiopoietin 1 (ANG-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We also checked into how ED affected the differentiation of osteoclasts utilising a co-culture system with monocytes and synovial fibroblasts in arthritis rats. Results ED treatment significantly (P<0.001) suppressed the arthritis score and paw edema and improved the body weight. ED treatment significantly (P<0.001) altered the antioxidant parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokines: inflammatory mediator nuclear kappa B factor (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), respectively. Furthermore, ED treatment significantly (P<0.001) suppressed the level of ANG-1, HIF-1α, and VEGF, respectively. The results suggest that ED suppressed osteoclast differentiation and also decreased the level of cytokines and osteopontin (OPN), receptor activator for nuclear factor-κ B Ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the co-culture supernatant of monocytes and synovial fibroblasts. Conclusion Edaravone could mitigate CFA via inhibiting angiogenesis and inflammatory reactions, which may be linked with the HIF-1α-VEGF-ANG-1 axis and also enhance the bone destruction of murine arthritis via suppression of osteoclast differentiation and inflammatory reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Liu
- Department of Hand and Foot Micro Burn Plastic Surgery, 3201 Hospital, Hanzhong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Han Su
- Department of Internal Medicine-Neurology, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Qi
- Department of Orthopaedics, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Bo Qi, Department of Orthopaedics, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, 650000, People’s Republic of China, Email
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Wu N, Yuan T, Yin Z, Yuan X, Sun J, Wu Z, Zhang Q, Redshaw C, Yang S, Dai X. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study of the Chinese Miao Medicine Sidaxue in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:435-466. [PMID: 35221674 PMCID: PMC8865873 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s330947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of Compound Sidaxue (SX), a prescription of Chinese Miao medicine, in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using network pharmacology and in vivo experimental approaches. Methods Network pharmacology was adopted to detect the active components of four Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM) of SX, and the key targets and signaling pathways in the treatment of RA were predicted, and the key components and targets were screened for molecular docking. The predicted targets and pathways were validated in bovine type II collagen and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant emulsifier-induced rat RA model. Results In this study, we identified 33 active components from SX, predicted to act on 44 RA-associated targets by network pharmacology. PPI network demonstrated that TNF-α, VEGF-A, IL-2, IL-6, AKT, PI3K, STAT1 may serve as the key targets of SX for the treatment of RA. The main functional pathways involving these key targets include PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway. Molecular docking analysis found that the active components β-amyrin, cajanin, eleutheroside A have high affinity for TNF-α, VEGFA, IL-2, AKT, and PI3K, etc. SX can improve joint swelling in Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis in joint synovial tissue, and down-regulate IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, NF-κBp65, the expression of p-NF-κBp65, STAT1, and PTGS2 are used to control the exacerbation of inflammation and alleviate the proliferation of synovial pannus, and at the same time play the role of cartilage protection to achieve the effect of treating RA. Conclusion Through a network pharmacology approach and animal study, we predicted and validated the active compounds of SX and their potential targets for RA treatment. The results suggest that SX can markedly alleviate CIA rat by modulating the VEGF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, TNF-α signaling pathway, IL/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Taohua Yuan
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - ZhiXin Yin
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaotian Yuan
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianfei Sun
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zunqiu Wu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qilong Zhang
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Carl Redshaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, Yorkshire, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Shenggang Yang
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Shenggang Yang, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 13158000576, Email
| | - Xiaotian Dai
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Xiaotian Dai, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada, Tel/Fax +1 435 754 4980, Email
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Dai C, Yusuf A, Sun H, Shu G, Deng X. A characterized saponin extract of Panax japonicus suppresses hepatocyte EMT and HSC activation in vitro and CCl 4-provoked liver fibrosis in mice: Roles of its modulatory effects on the Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 cascade. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 93:153746. [PMID: 34634746 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Liver fibrosis constitutes a pathologic condition resulting in a series of advanced liver diseases. Oleanane-type saponins are distinctive active constituents in the medicinal plant Panax japonicus C. A. Mey (P. japonicus). Herein, we assessed protective effects of a characterized saponin extract of rhizomes of P. japonicus (SEPJ) on hepatocyte EMT and HSC activation in vitro and liver fibrosis in mice. We also investigated molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective activity of SEPJ. METHODS EMT of AML-12 hepatocytes was evaluated by observing morphology of cells and quantifying EMT marker proteins. Activation of LX-2 HSCs was assessed via scratch assay, transwell assay, and EdU-incorporation assay, and by quantifying activation marker proteins. Liver fibrosis in mice was evaluated by HE, SR, and Masson staining, and by measuring related serum indicators. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were performed to study mechanisms underlying the action of SEPJ. RESULTS SEPJ inhibited TGF-β-induced EMT in AML-12 hepatocytes and activation of LX-2 HSCs. SEPJ elevated Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 and GSK3β phosphorylation at Ser9 in these cells, giving rise to a descent of the catalytic activity of GSK3β. These events increased levels of both total and nuclear Nrf2 protein and upregulated expressions of Nrf2-responsive antioxidative genes. In addition, enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β acted upstream of SEPJ-mediated activation of Nrf2. Knockdown of Nrf2 or inhibition of Akt diminished the protective activity of SEPJ against TGF-β in both AML-12 and LX-2 cells. Our further in vivo experiments revealed that SEPJ imposed a considerable alleviation on CCl4-provoked mouse liver fibrosis. Moreover, hepatic Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 cascade were potentiated by SEPJ. Taken together, our results unveiled that SEPJ exerted protective effects against fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β in vitro and ameliorated liver fibrosis in mice. Mechanistically, SEPJ regulated the Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling which subsequently enhanced intracellular antioxidative capacity. CONCLUSIONS SEPJ inhibits hepatocyte EMT and HSC activation in vitro and alleviates liver fibrosis in mice. Modulation of the Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 cascade attributes to its hepatoprotective effects. Our findings support a possible application of SEPJ in the control of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Dai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Arslan Yusuf
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guangwen Shu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Xukun Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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