Protective effects of astragaloside IV on IL-8-treated diaphragmatic muscle cells

Progression of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by a slow progression and caused by the inhalation of harmful particulate matter. Cigarette smoke and air pollutants are the primary contributing factors. Currently, the pathogenesis of COPD remains incompletely understood. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway has recently emerged as a critical regulator of inflammation and oxidative stress response in COPD, playing a pivotal role in the disease's progression and treatment. This paper reviews the association between the PI3K/Akt pathway and COPD, examines effective PI3K/Akt inhibitors and novel anti-COPD agents, aiming to identify new therapeutic targets for clinical intervention in this disease.

Untapping the Potential of Astragaloside IV in the Battle Against Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases are an emerging public health concern, that pose a risk to the global community. There, it is essential to establish effective treatments to reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a natural saponin isolated from Radix astragali (Huangqi in Chinese) used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. This compound has become increasingly popular due to its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In the last decade, accumulated evidence has indicated the AS-IV protective effect against respiratory diseases. This article presents a current understanding of AS-IV roles and mechanisms in combatting respiratory diseases. The ability of the agent to suppress oxidative stress, cell proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), to attenuate inflammatory responses, and modulate programmed cell death (PCD) will be discussed. This review highlights the current challenges in respiratory diseases and recommendations to improve disease management.

Astragalosides Supplementation Enhances Intrinsic Muscle Repair Capacity Following Eccentric Exercise-Induced Injury

Astragalosides have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in vivo and promote muscular hypertrophy in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether astragalosides supplementation can alter inflammatory response and enhance muscle recovery after damage in humans. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of astragalosides supplementation on muscle's intrinsic capacity to regenerate and repair itself after exercise-induced damage. Using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, eleven male participants underwent 7 days of astragalosides supplementation (in total containing 4 mg of astragalosides per day) or a placebo control, following an eccentric exercise protocol. Serum blood samples and variables related to muscle function were collected prior to and immediately following the muscle damage protocol and also at 2 h, and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days of the recovery period, to assess the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, the secretion of muscle regenerative factors, and muscular strength. Astragalosides supplementation reduced biomarkers of skeletal muscle damage (serum CK, LDH, and Mb), when compared to the placebo, at 1, 2, and 3 days following the muscle damage protocol. Astragalosides supplementation suppressed the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α, whilst increasing the release of IGF-1 during the initial stages of muscle recovery. Furthermore, following astragaloside supplementation, muscular strength returned to baseline 2 days earlier than the placebo. Astragalosides supplementation shortens the duration of inflammation, enhances the regeneration process and restores muscle strength following eccentric exercise-induced injury.

Cycloastragenol and Astragaloside IV activate telomerase and protect nucleus pulposus cells against high glucose-induced senescence and apoptosis

In diabetes-induced intervertebral disc degeneration (Db-IVDD), senescence and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) are major contributing factors. Telomere attrition and telomerase downregulation are some of the main reasons for senescence and eventual apoptosis. The derivatives of the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus, Cycloastragenol (CAG) and Astragaloside IV (AG-IV), are reportedly effective telomerase activators against telomere shortening; however, their effect in Db-IVDD have not been explored. The present study simultaneously investigated the regulation of these derivatives on senescence, apoptosis, telomeres and telomerase a model of high-glucose (HG)-induced stress using rat primary NPCs. The NPCs were stimulated with HG (50 mM) to evoke HG-induced stress, and the effects of CAG and AG-IV were observed on: i) The expression level of senescence marker p16; ii) β-Gal staining; iii) the expression levels of apoptosis markers cleaved-caspase 3 (c-C3), BAX and Bcl-2; iv) telomerase activation with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and protein expression, while telomere length was measured with reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Results demonstrated an upregulation in the expression levels of p16, c-C3 and BAX, and increased β-Gal staining; while the expression level of Bcl-2 was downregulated in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of the NPCs with CAG and AG-IV downregulated the protein expression levels of p16, c-C3 and BAX, and decreased the percentage of β-Gal and FITC staining; while upregulating the Bcl-2 expression. These effects protected the cells from HG stress-induced senescence and apoptosis. HG also downregulated the expression profile of TERT and shortened the telomere length in a glucose concentration-dependent manner. While pretreatment with CAG and AG-IV upregulated TERT expression and ameliorated the telomere attrition. CAG and AG-IV also increased cell proliferation and improved cell morphology in HG conditions. Overall, these findings indicated that CAG and AG-IV suppressed HG stress-induced senescence and apoptosis, in addition to enhancing telomerase activation and lengthening of the Telomere. Therefore, CAG and AG-IV prolonged the replicative capability and longevity of the NPCs and they have the potential to be therapeutic agents in Db-IVDD.

Astragaloside IV Improves Tibial Defect in Rats and Promotes Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of hBMSCs through MiR-124-3p.1/STAT3 Axis

Astragaloside IV (AST-IV) facilitates the proliferation and migration of osteoblast-like cells. We sought to explore the effect and potential mechanism of AST-IV on regeneration of tibial defects. To reveal the effect of AST-IV on regeneration of tibial defects in rat, HE staining and microcomputed tomography (μCT) were performed on tibial bone. The binding relationship between miR-124-3p.1 and STAT3 was analyzed by TargetScan V7.2 and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (hBMSCs) were identified by morphological observation and flow-cytometric analysis. To reveal the effect and mechanism of AST-IV on phenotypes of hBMSCs, hBMSCs were treated with AST-IV, miR-124-3p.1 mimic, and pcDNA-STAT3, and cell viability, cell cycle, ALP activity, and calcium deposition of hBMSCs in vitro were determined by MTT, flow-cytometric analysis, ELISA, and Alizarin red staining, respectively. The expressions of osteoblast marker molecules (RUNX2, OCN, Smad4), miR-124-3p.1, and STAT3 were indicated by RT-qPCR and Western blot. AST-IV decreased miR-124-3p.1 expression, increased STAT3 expression in tibial bone defects, and promoted regeneration of tibial bone defects in a concentration-dependent manner. The hBMSCs appeared spindle-shaped and were positive for CD105, but negative for CD34. MiR-124-3p.1 negatively regulated STAT3 expression in hBMSCs under osteogenic conditions. AST-IV promoted viability, cell cycle, ALP activity, and osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs along with increased expressions of osteoblast marker molecules, which was partially reversed by miR-124-3p.1 overexpression. However, the effect of miR-124-3p.1 overexpression on hBMSCs was also partially reversed by STAT3 overexpression. AST-IV improves tibial defects in rats and promotes proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs through the miR-124-3p.1/STAT3 axis.