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Rao J, Gao Q, Li N, Wang Y, Wang T, Wang K, Qiu F. Unraveling the enigma: Molecular mechanisms of berberrubine-induced nephrotoxicity reversed by its parent form berberine. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 129:155648. [PMID: 38669970 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155648] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is extensively applied in the clinic due to its potential therapeutic effects on dysentery and infectious diarrhoea. Its main metabolite, berberrubine, a promising candidate for ameliorating hyperlipidaemia, has garnered more attention than berberine. However, our study revealed that berberrubine induces severe kidney damage, while berberine was proven to be safe. PURPOSE Herein, we explored the opposite biological effects of these two compounds on the kidney and elucidated their underlying mechanisms. METHODS First, integrated metabolomic and proteomic analyses were conducted to identify relevant signalling pathways. Second, a click chemistry method combined with a cellular thermal shiftassay, a drug affinity responsive target stability assay, and microscale thermophoresis were used to identify the direct target proteins. Moreover, a mutation experiment was performed to study the specific binding sites. RESULTS Animal studies showed that berberrubine, but not berberine, induced severe chronic, subchronic, and acute nephrotoxicity. More importantly, berberine reversed the berberrubine-reduced nephrotoxicity. The results indicated that the cPLA2 signalling pathway was highly involved in the nephrotoxicity induced by berberrubine. We further confirmed that the direct target of berberrubine is the BASP1 protein (an upstream factor of cPLA2 signalling). Moreover, berberine alleviated nephrotoxicity by binding cPLA2 and inhibiting cPLA2 activation. CONCLUSION This study is the first to revel the opposite biological effects of berberine and its metabolite berberrubine in inducing kidney injury. Berberrubine, but not berberine, shows strong nephrotoxicity. The cPLA2 signalling pathway can be activated by berberrubine through targeting of BASP1, while berberine inhibits this pathway by directly binding with cPLA2. Our study paves the way for studies on the exact molecular targets of herbal ingredients. We also demonstrated that natural small molecules and their active metabolites can have opposite regulatory roles in vivo through the same signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinqiu Rao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China
| | - Qing Gao
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China
| | - Na Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China
| | - Yuan Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China
| | - Tianwang Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China
| | - Kai Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China.
| | - Feng Qiu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, PR China.
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Wang F, Yu J, Lin L, Lin D, Chen K, Quan H. A genome-wide association study identifies 25(OH)D3-associated genetic variants in the prediabetic Chinese population. Endocrine 2024; 84:1154-1163. [PMID: 38291318 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03694-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diabetes mellitus has been a significant public health problem, associated with high rates of morbidity, disability, and mortality. Prediabetes is a crucial period for preventing and managing diabetes. 25(OH)D3 is an important risk factor for prediabetes. However, there is limited genetic knowledge of 25(OH)D3 in the Chinese population. This study was designed to identify genetic variants associated with 25(OH)D3 and explore the potential pathogenesis of prediabetes. METHODS In this study, 451 individuals with prediabetes were recruited to determine the genetic variants associated with 25(OH)D3 through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Gene mapping and overrepresentation analysis (ORA) were further performed to explore the candidate genes and their biological mechanisms. RESULTS In this study, we identified two independent significant loci (rs9457733 and rs11243373, p < 5 × 10-6 and r2 < 0.6) and 37 candidate genes associated with 25(OH)D3 in prediabetes. Furthermore, the ORA analysis revealed that two genes in the gene sets, SLC22A1 and SLC22A3, were found to be significantly enriched in monoamine transmembrane transporter activity and quaternary ammonium group transmembrane transporter activity, as determined by WebGestalt and g:Profiler (padj < 0.05). CONCLUSION The identification of potential genes associated with 25(OH)D3 provides a foundation for a better understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of prediabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Jingwen Yu
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Leweihua Lin
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Danhong Lin
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Kaining Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Huibiao Quan
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
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