1
|
Li X, Liang X, Gu X, Zou M, Cao W, Liu C, Wang X. Ursodeoxycholic acid and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid alleviate ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis via downregulating RORγt and CXCR3 signaling pathway in iNKT cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 96:105782. [PMID: 38244730 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen-induced intrahepatic cholestasis (IHC) is a mild but potentially serious risk and urges for new therapeutic targets and effective treatment. Our previous study demonstrated that RORγt and CXCR3 signaling pathway of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) 17 cells play pathogenic roles in 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE)-induced IHC. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) present a protective effect on IHC partially due to their immunomodulatory properties. Hence in present study, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of UDCA and 18β-GA in vitro and verify the accessibility of the above targets. Biochemical index measurement indicated that UDCA and 18β-GA presented efficacy to alleviate EE-induced cholestatic cytotoxicity. Both UDCA and 18β-GA exhibited suppression on the CXCL9/10-CXCR3 axis, and significantly restrained the expression of RORγt in vitro. In conclusion, our observations provide new therapeutic targets of UDCA and 18β-GA, and 18β-GA as an alternative treatment for EE-induced cholestasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiaojing Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Mengzhi Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Weiping Cao
- Departments of Obstetrics, Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang 212001, China.
| | - Chunhui Liu
- Physics and Chemistry Test Center of Jiangsu Province, 210042 Nanjing, China.
| | - Xinzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mei Y, Li X, He C, Zhang Y, Kong W, Xue R, Huang X, Shi Y, Tao G, Xing M, Wang X. Detrimental Role of CXCR3 in α-Naphthylisothiocyanate- and Triptolide-Induced Cholestatic Liver Injury. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:42-56. [PMID: 38091573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is functionally pleiotropic, not only recruiting immune cells to the inflamed liver but also mediating the pathological process of cholestatic liver injury (CLI). However, the mechanism of its involvement in the CLI remains unclear. Both alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and triptolide are hepatotoxicants that induce CLI by bile acid (BA) dysregulation, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/oxidative stress. Through molecular docking, CXCR3 is a potential target of ANIT and triptolide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of CXCR3 in ANIT- and triptolide-induced CLI and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Wild-type mice and CXCR3-deficient mice were administered with ANIT or triptolide to compare CLI, BA profile, hepatic recruitment of IFN-γ/IL-4/IL-17+CD4+T cells, IFN-γ/IL-4/IL-17+iNKT cells and IFN-γ/IL-4+NK cells, and the expression of ER/oxidative stress pathway. The results showed that CXCR3 deficiency ameliorated ANIT- and triptolide-induced CLI. CXCR3 deficiency alleviated ANIT-induced dysregulated BA metabolism, which decreased the recruitment of IFN-γ+NK cells and IL-4+NK cells to the liver and inhibited ER stress. After triptolide administration, CXCR3 deficiency ameliorated dysregulation of BA metabolism, which reduced the migration of IL-4+iNKT cells and IL-17+iNKT cells and reduced oxidative stress through inhibition of Egr1 expression and AKT phosphorylation. Our findings suggest a detrimental role of CXCR3 in ANIT- and triptolide-induced CLI, providing a promising therapeutic target and introducing novel mechanisms for understanding cholestatic liver diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Mei
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chao He
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, China
| | - Yiying Zhang
- Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Weichao Kong
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Rufeng Xue
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xin Huang
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yaxiang Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhenjiang Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang 212003, China
| | - Gang Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhenjiang Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang 212003, China
| | - Mengtao Xing
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xinzhi Wang
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| |
Collapse
|