Wumei pills attenuates 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis through Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB pathway and microbiota regulation

Quantitative proteomic analysis of circulating exosomes reveals the mechanism by which Triptolide protects against collagen-induced arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Triptolide (TP), a natural product derived from the herbal medicine Tripterygium wilfordii, exhibits potent immunosuppressive activity. However, the mechanisms underlying its effects in rheumatoid arthritis remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by immunization with bovine type II collagen, and TP was administrated as treatment. The therapeutic effect of TP was evaluated based on paw swelling, histopathology, and serum levels of inflammatory factors. Exosomes isolated from rat serum were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and western blot analysis. Proteomic profiling of exosomes was analyzed by direct DIA quantitative proteomics analysis. Gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases were employed for enrichment analysis related to molecular function, biological processes, and signaling pathways. Western blot analysis was used to analyze differentially expressed proteins.

RESULTS

TP treatment ameliorated arthritic phenotypes in CIA rats as evidenced by reduced arthritis score, paw swelling, pathological injury severity scores, and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines. The proteomic analysis revealed that TP treatment significantly inhibited complement and coagulation cascades, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, and cholesterol metabolism, which were reactivated in CIA rats. Importantly, lipocalin 2 (LCN2) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were markedly upregulated in the CIA group but suppressed upon TP administration. Furthermore, in synovial tissues, LCN2 and MPO expression levels were also elevated in the CIA group but decreased following TP treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that TP alleviates CIA, possibly through modulation of exosomal LCN2 and MPO proteins.

Uncovering the molecular mechanism of Mume Fructus in treatment of Sjögren's syndrome

BACKGROUND

Modern medicine has no cure for the xerostomia caused by the early onset of Sjögren's syndrome. Mume Fructus is a common Chinese herbal medicine used to relieve xerostomia. However, the molecular mechanisms of the effects of Mume Fructus are unknown. In this study, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to investigate the mechanisms of action of Mume Fructus on Sjögren's syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database was used to identify the active components and targets of Mume Fructus, and the UniProt database was used to identify the genes encoding these targets. SS-related targets were also identified from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. By finding the intersection of the targets of the compounds and the targets of Sjögren's syndrome, the predicted targets of Mume Fructus in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome were obtained. Further investigation of the active compounds and their targets was carried out by constructing a network of "medicine-candidate compound-target-disease" using Cytoscape 3.7.2, the Protein-Protein Interaction network using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2, and key targets were identified by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis on R software. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the affinity of the candidate compounds to the key targets.

RESULTS

Quercetin, beta-sitosterol, and kaempferol in Mume Fructus interact with AKT1, IL-6, IL-1B, JUN, CASP3, and MAPK8. These results suggest that Mume Fructus exerts its therapeutic effects on the peripheral gland injury of Sjögren's syndrome and its secondary cardiovascular disease and tumorigenesis through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor pathways.

CONCLUSION

With network pharmacology, this study systematically identified the main active components, targets, and specific mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of Mume Fructus on Sjögren's syndrome, providing both a theoretical basis and research direction for further investigations on Mume Fructus.

Pharmacological Mechanism of Mume Fructus in the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology

Our study aims to find the relevant mechanism of Mume Fructus in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation. The effective compounds of Mume Fructus and TNBC-related target genes were imported into Cytoscape to construct a Mume Fructus-effective compounds-disease target network. The common targets of Mume Fructus and TNBC were determined by drawing Venn diagrams. Then, the intersection targets were transferred to the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. To investigate the mechanism of Mume Fructus in treatment of TNBC, breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231) was treated with Mume Fructus and/or transfected with small interference RNA-PKM2(siPKM2). CCK-8 assay, cell clonal formation assay, transwell, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were performed. Eight effective compounds and 145 target genes were obtained, and the Mume Fructus- effective compounds-disease target network was constructed. Then through the analysis of the PPI network, we obtained 10 hub genes including JUN, MAPK1, RELA, AKT1, FOS, ESR1, IL6, MAPK8, RXRA, and MYC. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that JUN, MAPK1, RELA, FOS, ESR1, IL6, MAPK8, and RXRA were enriched in the Th17 cell differentiation signaling pathway. Loss of PKM2 and Mume Fructus both inhibited the malignant phenotype of MDA-MB-231 cells. And siPKM2 further aggravated the Mume Fructus inhibition of malignancy of breast cancer cells. Network pharmacology analysis suggests that Mume Fructus has multiple therapeutic targets for TNBC and may play a therapeutic role by modulating the immune microenvironment of breast cancer.

Nutritional strategies to reduce intestinal cell apoptosis by alleviating oxidative stress

The gut barrier is the first line of defense against harmful substances and pathogens in the intestinal tract. The balance of proliferation and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and its function. However, oxidative stress and inflammation can cause DNA damage and abnormal apoptosis of the IECs, leading to the disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier. This, in turn, can directly or indirectly cause various acute and chronic intestinal diseases. In recent years, there has been a growing understanding of the vital role of dietary ingredients in gut health. Studies have shown that certain amino acids, fibers, vitamins, and polyphenols in the diet can protect IECs from excessive apoptosis caused by oxidative stress, and limit intestinal inflammation. This review aims to describe the molecular mechanism of apoptosis and its relationship with intestinal function, and to discuss the modulation of IECs' physiological function, the intestinal epithelial barrier, and gut health by various nutrients. The findings of this review may provide a theoretical basis for the use of nutritional interventions in clinical intestinal disease research and animal production, ultimately leading to improved human and animal intestinal health.

Common mechanisms of Wumei pills in treating ulcerative colitis and type 2 diabetes: Exploring an integrative approach through network pharmacology

Wumei pills (WMP), a classical Chinese herbal formula, have shown efficacy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanisms by which WMP simultaneously targets these distinct diseases remain unclear. In this study, a network pharmacology approach was employed to unravel the potential molecular mechanisms of WMP in UC and T2DM treatment. This analysis provides a bioinformatics foundation for the traditional Chinese medicine concept of "treating different diseases with the same treatment." WMP was found to contain 65 active components, including flavonoids, sterols, and alkaloids, that act on 228 shared targets for UC and T2DM. Network analysis identified 5 core compounds (Quercetin, Kaempferol, beta-Sitosterol, Isocorypalmine, Stigmasterol) and 8 core proteins (AKT1, ESR1, TP53, IL6, JUN, MYC, TNF, EGFR) that play pivotal roles in the treatment of UC and T2DM by WMP. WMP exerts its therapeutic effects by modulating signaling pathways, including the NF-κB pathway, PI3K-Akt pathway, and p53 pathway. Molecular docking results indicate a strong binding affinity between core compounds and core genes. This study bridges the understanding of 2 diseases using network pharmacology and provides insights into shared therapeutic mechanisms, opening doors for further research in modern Chinese herbal formulations.

Study on the mechanism of action of Wu Mei Pill in inhibiting rheumatoid arthritis through TLR4-NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Wu Mei Pills (WMP) is a traditional Chinese medication that exhibits considerable anti-inflammatory effects. While WMP has been documented for its efficacy in treating RA, its mechanism of action on the condition remains unestablished.

METHODS

The chemical composition of WMP was analyzed through UPLC-MS. Next, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell scratch, Transwell, and Western blotting techniques were used to investigate its intrinsic mechanism. Lastly, the effect of WMP in inhibiting RA was explored by applying it to CIA rats.

RESULT

UPLC-MS analysis detected 181 compounds in WMP. RA-FLS migration and invasion mechanisms were significantly hindered by serum containing WMP (2%, 8%). Moreover, WMP (0.5 g/kg, 2 g/kg) restricted arthritis and immune organ indices in CIA rats with type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis by blocking TLR4-NF-κB inflammatory pathway activation.

CONCLUSIONS

WMP is valuable in mitigating the course of RA through inhibiting the classical TLR4-NF-κB inflammatory pathway and reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors in the serum of RA-FLS and CIA rats. Moreover, it regulates the dynamic balance of MMP-2/TIMP-2, MMP-9/TIMP-1, modulates the mechanism of RA-FLS invasion, and safeguards articular cartilage tissues in RA.

Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity: Pathogenesis and current management

Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for malignant tumors. However, chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity (CIGT) has been a major concern for cancer patients, which reduces their quality of life and leads to treatment intolerance and even cessation. Nevertheless, prevention and treatment for CIGT are challenging, due to the prevalence and complexity of the condition. Chemotherapeutic drugs directly damage gastrointestinal mucosa to induce CIGT, including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, gastrointestinal mucositis, and diarrhea, etc. The pathogenesis of CIGT involves multiple factors, such as gut microbiota disorders, inflammatory responses and abnormal neurotransmitter levels, that synergistically contribute to its occurrence and development. In particular, the dysbiosis of gut microbiota is usually linked to abnormal immune responses that increases inflammatory cytokines' expression, which is a common characteristic of many types of CIGT. Chemotherapy-induced intestinal neurotoxicity is also a vital concern in CIGT. Currently, modern medicine is the dominant treatment of CIGT, however, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted interest as a complementary and alternative therapy that can greatly alleviate CIGT. Accordingly, this review aimed to comprehensively summarize the pathogenesis and current management of CIGT using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and proposed that future research for CIGT should focus on the gut microbiota, intestinal neurotoxicity, and promising TCM therapies, which may help to develop more effective interventions and optimize managements of CIGT.