An Integrated Approach Based on Network Analysis Combined With Experimental Verification Reveals PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Is an Important Way for the Anti-Myocardial Ischemia Activity of Yi-Qi-Tong-Luo Capsule

Exploration of beauvericin's toxic effects and mechanisms in human astrocytes and N-acetylcysteine's protective role

Beauvericin (BEA) is a newly identified mycotoxin produced by various Fusarium species, and its contamination in food and animal feed is widespread globally. This mycotoxin demonstrates cytotoxic effects by inducing oxidative stress in multiple models. Furthermore, evidence indicates that BEA possesses diverse toxic activities, making it a promising candidate for toxicological research. Recent studies have highlighted the ability of BEA to traverse the blood-brain barrier, suggesting its potential neurotoxicity. However, limited information is available regarding the neurotoxic effects of BEA on human astrocytes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the neurotoxic effects of BEA on the Gibco® Human Astrocyte (GHA) cell line and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against BEA-induced toxicity. The data show that exposure to BEA within the 2.5-15 μM concentration range resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. BEA-treated cells exhibited significantly increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while intracellular glutathione (GSH) content was significantly reduced. Western blot analysis of cells treated with BEA revealed altered protein levels of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and caspase-3, along with an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, indicating the induction of apoptosis. Additionally, BEA exposure triggered antioxidant responses, as evidenced by increased protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. Significantly, pretreatment with NAC partially attenuated the significant toxic effects of BEA. In conclusion, our findings suggest that BEA-induced cytotoxicity in GHA cells involves oxidative stress-associated apoptosis. Furthermore, NAC demonstrates potential as a protective agent against BEA-induced oxidative damage.

Potential Targets of Natural Products for Improving Cardiac Ischemic Injury: The Role of Nrf2 Signaling Transduction

Myocardial ischemia is the leading cause of health loss from cardiovascular disease worldwide. Myocardial ischemia and hypoxia during exercise trigger the risk of sudden exercise death which, in severe cases, will further lead to myocardial infarction. The Nrf2 transcription factor is an important antioxidant regulator that is extensively engaged in biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and mitochondrial malfunction. It has a significant role in the prevention and treatment of several cardiovascular illnesses, since it can control not only the expression of several antioxidant genes, but also the target genes of associated pathological processes. Therefore, targeting Nrf2 will have great potential in the treatment of myocardial ischemic injury. Natural products are widely used to treat myocardial ischemic diseases because of their few side effects. A large number of studies have shown that the Nrf2 transcription factor can be used as an important way for natural products to alleviate myocardial ischemia. However, the specific role and related mechanism of Nrf2 in mediating natural products in the treatment of myocardial ischemia is still unclear. Therefore, this review combs the key role and possible mechanism of Nrf2 in myocardial ischemic injury, and emphatically summarizes the significant role of natural products in treating myocardial ischemic symptoms, thus providing a broad foundation for clinical transformation.

Metabolites-Based Network Pharmacology to Preliminarily Verify In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ardisiacrispin B

Ardisiae Crenatae Radix is an ethnic medicinal herb with good anti-inflammatory activity. Ardisiacrispin B is one of the main components in Ardisiae Crenatae Radix extract, with a content of up to 16.27%, and it may be one of the pharmacological components through which Ardisiae Crenatae Radix exerts anti-inflammatory activity. At present, reports on ardisiacrispin B mainly focus on anti-tumor effects, and there have been no reports on anti-inflammatory activities. As a triterpenoid saponin, due to its large molecular weight and complex structure, the composition of substances that function in the body may include other forms after metabolism, in addition to compounds with original structures. Exploring the anti-inflammatory effects on the prototypes and metabolites of the compound may provide a more comprehensive response to the characteristics of ardisiacrispin B's anti-inflammatory action. In this study, ardisiacrispin B was analyzed for metabolites to explore its metabolic processes in vivo. Subsequently, the anti-inflammatory effects of the prototypes and metabolites were further analyzed through network pharmacology, with the expectation of discovering the signaling metabolic pathways through which they may act. Finally, the anti-inflammatory effects of ardisiacrispin B in vitro and the effects on key signaling pathways at the protein level were explored. The results of this study showed that the isolated compounds were confirmed to be ardisiacrispin B. After the metabolite analysis, a total of 26 metabolites were analyzed, and the metabolism process in rats mainly involves oxidation, dehydration, glucuronide conjugation, and others. Speculation as to the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms of the prototypes and metabolites of ardisiacrispin B revealed that it may exert its anti-inflammatory effects mainly by affecting the PI3K-AKT pathway. Further anti-inflammatory mechanisms demonstrated that ardisiacrispin B had a good anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and a strong inhibitory effect on NO, TNF-α, and IL-1β release in cells. Furthermore, it had significant inhibitory effects on the expression of PI3K, P-PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT. This study supplements the gaps in the knowledge on the in vivo metabolic process of ardisiacrispin B and explores its anti-inflammatory mechanism, providing an experimental basis for the development and utilization of pentacyclic triterpenoids.

Uncovering quality markers of Yiqi-Tongluo capsule against myocardial ischemia and optimization of its extraction process

Myocardial ischemia (MI), a condition in which the heart is unable to function due to insufficient blood and oxygen supply, is a major cause of death from coronary heart disease (CHD). Yiqi Tongluo capsule (YTC) is a Chinese patent drug which commonly used for treatment of MI in clinic. However, the related active components of YTC for treatment of MI were still uncovered. This paper is aimed to study the quality markers (Q-markers) of YTC and further optimize the extraction process of YTC based on Q-markers, providing research foundation for the further modern pharmaceutical preparations of YTC. We firstly used UPLC-QTOF-MS to analyze the constituents of YTC absorbed in blood, then isoprenaline (ISO) induced H9c2 cell model was used further screen the active constituents with protective effects on cardiomyocytes. After that, the orthogonal table (L9 (34)) was used to optimize the extraction process with three levels of 4 factors (water addition, immersion time, extraction time and decoction times). Finally, the HPLC fingerprint of 15 batches of optimized YTC was established. In our present study, a total of 33 components were identified in YTC, of which 10 components were absorbed in blood. Among the 10 components, 8 compounds had significant protective effects on ISO stimulated H9c2 cells, including Paeoniflorin, Ferulic acid, Calycosin, Senkyunolide A, N-butylphthalide, Z-ligustilide, LevistilideA, and Astragaloside IV, which were considered as the Q-markers of YTC. The optimized extraction process based on Q-marker as follows: soaking 1 h, then adding 8 times water to extract 3 times by decoction, each extraction lasts 1.5 h. The HPLC fingerprint of optimized YTC was established with 15 batches of YTC samples, and the optimized YTC samples has no significant toxicity to the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and brain tissues of rats.

Exploration of Artemisinin Against IgA Nephropathy via AKT/Nrf2 Pathway by Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation

Background

Artemisinin (ART) is a safe and effective antimalarial drug. In recent years, antimalarial drugs have demonstrated a good therapeutic efficacy in IgA nephropathy, suggesting that this may become a new treatment option.

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the effect and mechanism of artemisinin in IgA nephropathy.

Methods

In this study, CMap database was used to predict the artemisinin therapeutic effect for IgA nephropathy. A network pharmacology approach was applied to explore the unknown mechanism of artemisinin in IgA nephropathy. We used molecular docking to predict the binding affinity of artemisinin with the targets. A mouse model of IgA nephropathy was established to investigate the therapeutic effect of artemisinin on IgA nephropathy. In vitro, the cell counting Kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of artemisinin. Flow cytometry and PCR assays were used to detect the effects of artemisinin on oxidative stress and fibrosis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mesangial cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of pathway proteins.

Results

CMap analysis showed artemisinin may reverse the expression levels of differentially expressed genes in IgA nephropathy. Eighty-seven potential targets of artemisinin in the treatment of IgA nephropathy were screened. Among them, 15 hub targets were identified. Enrichment analysis and GSEA analysis indicated that response to reactive oxygen species is the core biological process. AKT1 and EGFR had the highest docking affinity with artemisinin. In vivo, artemisinin could improve renal injury and fibrosis in mice. In vitro, artemisinin attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress and fibrosis promoted AKT phosphorylation and Nrf2 nuclear translocation.

Conclusion

Artemisinin reduced the level of fibrosis and oxidative stress with IgA nephropathy through the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, which provided an alternative treatment for IgAN.

Effect and mechanism of Tangzhiqing in improving cardiac function in mice with hyperlipidaemia complicated with myocardial ischaemia

Purpose

Tangzhiqing formula (TZQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed to treat lipid metabolism disorders, atherosclerosis, diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, some challenges and hurdles remain. TZQ showed promising results in treating diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. However, its effect on and mechanism of action in hyperlipidaemia complicated with myocardial ischaemia (HL-MI) remain unknown.

Methods

In this study, a network pharmacology-based strategy integrating target prediction was adopted to predict the targets of TZQ relevant to the treatment of HL-MI and to further explore the involved pharmacological mechanisms.

Results

A total of 104 potential therapeutic targets were obtained, including MMP9, Bcl-2, and Bax, which may be related to the apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Then, we confirmed these potential targets and pathways with animal experimentation. TZQ reduced lipid levels, increased the expression levels of Bcl-2, decreased Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression levels, and activated the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the protective mechanisms of TZQ against HL-MI through network pharmacology and pharmacological approaches.

Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus possesses neuroprotective effects on H2O2 stimulated PC12 cells via regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling Pathway

Backgroud: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a typical neurodegenerative disease, which occurs in the elderly population. Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (AOF) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has potential therapeutic effect on AD, but the mechanism behind it is unclear.

Methods: Firstly, the main chemical components of AOF were identified by LC-MS, while the main active ingredients and targets were screened by TCMSP database. At the same time, AD-related target proteins were obtained using Genecards and OMIM databases. PPI was constructed by cross-linking AOF and AD targets, and GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed to identify the relevant biological processes and signaling pathways. Finally, based on the H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cell, flow cytometry, WB and immunofluorescence experiments were performed to verify the protective effect of AOF on AD.

Results: We identified 38 active ingredients with 662 non-repetitive targets in AOF, of which 49 were potential therapeutic AD targets of AOF. According to the GO and KEGG analysis, these potential targets are mainly related to oxidative stress and apoptosis. The role of AOF in the treatment of AD is mainly related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Protocatechuic acid and nootkatone might be the main active ingredients of AOF. In subsequent experiments, the results of CCK-8 showed that AOF mitigated PC12 cell damage induced by H₂O₂. Kits, flow cytometry, and laser confocal microscopy indicated that AOF could decrease ROS and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), while AOF could also increase mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), thereby inhibiting apoptosis. Finally, immunofluorescence and WB results showed that AOF inhibited the expression of BAX and caspase-3 in PC12 cells, and promoted the expression of Bcl-2. At the same time, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins were also significantly increased.

Conclusion: This study suggests that AOF had the potential to treat AD by suppressing apoptosis induced by oxidative stress via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Salidroside, a phenyl ethanol glycoside from Rhodiola crenulata, orchestrates hypoxic mitochondrial dynamics homeostasis by stimulating Sirt1/p53/Drp1 signaling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhodiola crenulata is clinically used to combat hypobaric hypoxia brain injury at high altitude with the function of invigorating Qi and promoting blood circulation in Tibetan medicine. Salidroside (Sal), an active compound identified from Rhodiola species, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects against hypoxic brain injury. However, its mitochondrial protective mechanisms remain largely unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to explore the mitochondrial protection of Sal and the involved mechanisms related to mitochondrial dynamics homeostasis on hypoxia-induced injury of HT22 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hypoxic condition was performed as cells cultured in a tri-gas incubator with 1% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 94% N₂. We firstly investigated the effects of different concentrations of Sal on the viability of normal or hypoxic HT22 cells. Whereafter, the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase were tested by commercial kits. Meanwhile, mitochondrial superoxide, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were determined by specific labeled probes. Mitochondrial morphology was detected by mito-tracker green with confocal microscopy. Additionally, the potential interactions of Sal with Sirt1/p53/Drp1 signaling pathway-related proteins were predicted and tested by molecular docking and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) techniques, respectively. Furthermore, the protein levels of Sirt1, p53, ac-p53, Drp1, p-Drp1(s616), Fis1 and Mfn2 were estimated by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Sal alleviated hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells as evidenced by increased cell viability and SOD activity, while decreased LDH release and MDA content. The protected mitochondrial function by Sal treatment was indicated by the increases of ATP level, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity and MMP. Miraculously, Sal reduced hypoxia-induced mitochondrial fission, while increased mitochondrial tubular or linear morphology. The results of molecular docking and LSPR confirmed the potential binding of Sal to proteins Sirt1, p53, Fis1 and Mfn2 with affinity values 1.38 × 10^-2, 5.26 × 10^-3, 6.46 × 10^-3 and 7.26 × 10^-3 KD, respectively. And western blot analysis further demonstrated that Sal memorably raised the levels of Sirt1 and Mfn2, while decreased the levels of ac-p53, Drp1, p-Drp1 (s616) and Fis1.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our data confirm that Sal can maintain mitochondrial dynamics homeostasis by activating the Sirt1/p53/Drp1 signaling pathway.