The Protective Effects of 2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-Glucoside in the OVA-Induced Asthma Mice Model

Mechanistic analysis of Th2-type inflammatory factors in asthma

Background

The main pathological features of asthma are widespread chronic inflammation of the airways and restricted ventilation due to airway remodeling, which involves changes in a range of regulatory pathways. While the role of T helper type 2 (Th2)-related inflammatory factors in this process is known, the detailed understanding of how genes affect protein functions during airway remodeling is still lacking. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by integrating gene expression data and protein function analysis, providing new scientific insights for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of airway remodeling and for further development of asthma treatment strategies.

Methods

In this study, the mechanism of Th2-related inflammatory factors in tracheal remodeling was studied through differentially expressed gene (DEG) screening, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, machine learning, and the construction of a line graph model.

Results

Our study revealed that S100A14, KRT6A, S100A2, ABCA13, UBE2C, RASSF10, PSCA, PLAT, and TIMP1 may be the key genes for airway remodeling; epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes GEM, TPM4, SLC6A8, and SNTB1 may be involved in airway remodeling due to asthma; IL6 may affect the occurrence of airway remodeling by binding to UBE2C protein or by regulating GEM genes, respectively; IL6 and IL9 may affect the occurrence of airway remodeling by regulating the downstream Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and thus IL6 and IL9 may influence the occurrence of tracheal remodeling by regulating downstream TLR signaling pathways.

Conclusions

This study further mined the asthma gene microarray database through bioinformatics analysis and identified key genes and important pathways affecting airway remodeling in asthma patients, providing new ideas to uncover the mechanism of airway remodeling due to asthma and then seek new therapeutic targets.

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. Attenuates the allergic airway inflammation of cold asthma via inhibiting the activation of TLR4-medicated NF-kB and NLRP3 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. (PT) has been demonstrated to be effective against the allergic airway inflammation (AAI) in clinical practices, especially in cold asthma (CA). Until now, the active ingredients, protective effect, and possible mechanism of PT against CA remain unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this investigation was to examine the therapeutic impact and elucidate the underlying mechanism of PT on the AAI of CA.

METHODS

The compositions of PT water extract were determined via the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The ovalbumin (OVA) and cold-water baths were used to induce CA in female mice. Morphological characteristic observations, expectorant effect, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), excessive mucus secretion, and inflammatory factors were used to uncover the treatment effect of PT water extract. In addition, the mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) mRNA and protein levels and the aquaporin 5 (AQP5) mRNA and protein levels were detected via qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting. Moreover, the protein expressions associated with the TLR4, NF-κB, and NLRP3 signaling pathway were monitored by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight compounds were identified from PT water extract. PT showed significant therapeutic effects on mice with cold asthma in terms of expectorant activity, histopathological changes, airway inflammation, mucus secretion, and hyperreactivity. PT exhibited good anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of MUC5AC mRNA and protein decreased significantly, while AQP5 expression levels increased significantly in the lung tissues of mice after administration with PT as compared to mice induced by CA. Furthermore, the protein expressions of TLR4, p-iκB, p-p65, IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and ASC were markedly reduced following PT treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

PT attenuated the AAI of CA by modulating Th1- and Th2-type cytokines. PT could inhibit the TLR4-medicated NF-kB signaling pathway and activate the NLRP3 inflammasome to reduce CA. This study provides an alternative therapeutic agent of the AAI of CA after administration with PT.

Preventative Effects of Antioxidants against PM10 on Serum IgE Concentration, Mast Cell Counts, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Keratinocyte Differentiation Markers in DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Mouse Model

Particulate matter (PM) can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and skin aging. We investigated the effects of antioxidants such as dieckol, punicalagin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, and Siegesbeckiae Herba extract (SHE) against PM < 10 μm (PM10) on serum IgE concentration, mast cell counts, inflammatory cytokines, and keratinocyte differentiation markers in a 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model. Seven-week-old BALB/c mice were sensitized with 2% DNCB. Atopic dermatitis-like lesions were induced on the mice with 0.2% DNCB. Antioxidants and PM10 were applied to the mice for 4 weeks. PM10 increased the serum IgE concentration and spleen weight in mice, and all antioxidants downregulated these parameters. Histological examination showed an increase in epidermal thickness and mast cell counts in response to PM10, and all antioxidants showed a decrease. PM10 upregulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17α, IL-25, IL-31 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in mice, and all antioxidants inhibited the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. ELISA showed the same results as real-time PCR. PM10 downregulates the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers, including loricrin and filaggrin, in mouse keratinocytes and antioxidants prevented the downregulation of the keratinocyte differentiation markers. Conclusively, PM10 aggravated the DNCB-induced mouse model in serum IgE concentration, mast cell counts, inflammatory cytokine, and keratinocyte differentiation markers. In addition, antioxidants modulated changes in the DNCB-induced mouse model caused by PM10.

[2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the protective effect of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Thirty-six SD rats were randomized equally into 4 groups: the normal control group, ALI model group, and low- and high-dose TSG groups (treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg TSG via intragastric administration, respectively). In all but the normal control group, the rats were subjected to tail vein injection of LPS to induced ALI. The rats were euthanized at 6 h after the injection for pathological examination of the lungs. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of the lungs were calculated, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the lung tissues and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were determined. Western blotting was performed to detect the levels of NF-κB p65 in the lungs.

RESULTS

Compared with those in LPS group, the TSGtreated rats showed significantly milder lung pathologies (P < 0.001) and had lower serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels (P < 0.001) and W/D of the lung tissues (P < 0.001), higher SOD activity (P < 0.001) and lower MDA content in the lungs (P < 0.001), and significantly lower expression of NF-κB p65 in the lungs (P < 0.001). None of these indices showed significant differences between the lowand high-dose TSG treatment groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TSG can ameliorate LPS-induced ALI in rats possibly by suppressing the NF-κB pathway to improve the antioxidant capacity and decrease the release of inflammatory factors.

Perilla Leaf Extract Attenuates Asthma Airway Inflammation by Blocking the Syk Pathway

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton is a classic herbal plant used widely against asthma in China. But its mechanism of beneficial effect remains undermined. In the study, the antiallergic asthma effects of Perilla leaf extract (PLE) were investigated, and the underlying mechanism was also explored. Results showed that PLE treatment significantly attenuated airway inflammation in OVA-induced asthma mice, by ameliorating lung pathological changes, inhibiting recruitment of inflammatory cells in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines in the BALF, and reducing the level of immunoglobulin in serum. PLE treatment suppressed inflammatory response in antigen-induced rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 (RBL-2H3) cells as well as in OVA-induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, PLE markedly inhibited the expression and phosphorylation of Syk, NF-κB, PKC, and cPLA₂ both in vivo and in vitro. By cotreating with inhibitors (BAY61-3606, Rottlerin, BAY11-7082, and arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone) in vitro, results revealed that PLE's antiallergic inflammatory effects were associated with the inhibition of Syk and its downstream signals NF-κB, PKC, and cPLA₂. Collectively, the present results suggested that PLE could attenuate allergic inflammation, and its mechanism might be partly mediated through inhibiting the Syk pathway.

Multiple Components Rapidly Screened from Perilla Leaves Attenuate Asthma Airway Inflammation by Synergistic Targeting on Syk

Background

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., a classic medicinal plant, has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects in asthma. Perilla leaves extract (PLE) exerted significant therapeutic effect against allergic asthma inflammation through Syk inhibition. But the active chemical ingredients from PLE are complex and unclear, it is difficult to fully elucidate its pharmacological mechanisms.

Methods

A method was established for rapid screening and characterization of active ingredients from PLE that targeted Syk, with which three potential active ingredients were identified. By using OVA-induced allergic asthma mouse model in vivo, OVA-induced human PBMCs inflammation model and DNP-IgE/BSA-induced RBL-2H3 cells model in vitro, the effects and mechanisms of PLE and its active components were evaluated.

Results

Using Syk-affinity screening method, roseoside (RosS), vicenin-2 (Vic-2) and rosmarinic acid (RosA) were identified from PLE. In vitro, PLE and its ingredients showed significant inhibitory activities against Syk, with their mixture (Mix, prepared by RosS, Vic-2 and RosA in accordance with their ratio in Syk-conjugated beads bound fraction) showing a stronger inhibitory activity. RosS, Vic-2 and RosA also showed significant effects on allergic asthma, and a synergistic effect of Mix was observed. Moreover, treatment with PLE, RosS, Vic-2, RosA, and Mix significantly inhibited the expression and phosphorylation of Syk, PKC, NF-κB p65, and cPLA₂ in allergic mice lung tissue and in RBL-2H3 cells.

Conclusion

PLE may alleviate allergic airway inflammation partly through the multiple components synergistic targeting on Syk and its downstream inflammatory pathway.

Simultaneous Determination of 13 Constituents of Radix Polygoni Multiflori in Rat Plasma and Its Application in a Pharmacokinetic Study

Radix Polygoni Multiflori (RPM) has been widely used to treat various diseases in Asian countries for many centuries. Although, stilbenes and anthraquinones, two major components of RPM, show various bioactive effects, it has been speculated that the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity induced by RPM may be related to these constituents. However, information on the pharmacokinetics of stilbenes and anthraquinones at a subtoxic dose of RPM is limited. A simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS bioanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of 13 ingredients of RPM, including chrysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, physcion, questin, citreorosein, questinol, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, torachrysone-8-O-glucoside, chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucoside, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside, and physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside, in rat plasma was established. Acetonitrile was employed to precipitate the plasma with appropriate sensitivity and acceptable matrix effects. Chromatographic separation was performed using a waters HSS C18 column with a gradient elution using water and acetonitrile both containing 0.025% formic acid within a run time of 9 min. The constituents were detected in negative ionization mode using multiple reaction monitoring. The method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effects, and stability. The lower limit of quantitation of the analytes was 0.1–1 ng/mL. The intrabatch and interbatch accuracies were 87.1–109%, and the precision was within the acceptable limits. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of RPM extract to rats at a subtoxic dose of 36 g/kg.

Cryptotanshinone attenuates allergic airway inflammation through negative regulation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK

This study is to determine the role and mechanism of cryptotanshinone (CTS) in allergic airway inflammation. Asthma induced by OVA was established in BALB/c mice. We found increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), increased inflammatory cell infiltration, elevated levels of TNF-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-13, decreased interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in lung tissue, increased content of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), OVA specific IgE, Eotaxin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in lung tissue. However, the administration of CTS significantly decreased AHR in asthmatic mice, reduced inflammation around the bronchioles and inflammatory cells around airway, regulated cytokine production, reduced the total IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels, and inhibited NF-κB activation and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In vitro experiments in 16 HBE cells revealed that CTS attenuated CAM-1 and IL-6 expression. These results indicate that CTS alleviates allergic airway inflammation by modulating p38 MAPK phosphorylation and NF-κB activation.

Nutritional properties and osteogenic activity of enzymatic hydrolysates of proteins from the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)

Seafood provides a range of health benefits due to its nutritional and bioactive components. The proteins and peptides from Mytilus edulis have good bone growth promoting activities.