Allicin attenuates lipopolysaccharide‑induced acute lung injury in neonatal rats via the PI3K/Akt pathway

Allicin ameliorates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication that can be induced by different factors. Allicin is a class of organic sulfur compounds with anticancer and antibacterial effects, and has not been reported in sepsis-induced AKI (S-AKI). S-AKI was induced in c57BL/6 mice by cecal ligation puncture. In response to the treatment of allicin, the survival rate of mice with S-AKI was increased. Reduced levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, UALB, KIM-1 and NGAL indicated an improvement in renal function of S-AKI mice. Allicin inhibited the inflammation and cell apoptosis, which evidenced by decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-related proteins. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, and suppressed by allicin. In addition, allicin-alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction was characterized by decreased JC-1 green monomer. These effects of allicin were also evidenced in HK2 cells primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the expression of HO-1 increased after allicin treatment, which was confirmed by ML385 and CDDO-Me. In summary, this study revealed the alleviating effect of allicin on S-AKI and demonstrated the promotive effect of allicin on nuclear translocation of Nrf2 for the first time. It was inferred that allicin inhibited the progression of S-AKI through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. This study makes contributions to the understanding of the roles of allicin in S-AKI.

Based on Network Pharmacology and Gut Microbiota Analysis to Investigate the Mechanism of the Laxative Effect of Pterostilbene on Loperamide-Induced Slow Transit Constipation in Mice

Background: Pterostilbene (PTE) is a natural polyphenol compound that has been proven to improve intestinal inflammation, but its laxative effect on slow transit constipation (STC) has never been studied. This study aims to investigate the laxative effect of PTE on loperamide (LOP)-induced STC mice and its influence on intestinal microbes through a combination of network pharmacological analysis and experimental verification.

Material and Methods: PTE was used to treat LOP-exposed mice, and the laxative effect of PTE was evaluated by the total intestinal transit time and stool parameters. The apoptosis of Cajal interstitial cells (ICCs) was detected by immunofluorescence. The mechanism of PTE’s laxative effect was predicted by network pharmacology analysis. We used western blot technology to verify the predicted hub genes and pathways. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH-Px were tested to reflect oxidative stress levels and the changes of gut microbiota were detected by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing.

Results: PTE treatment could significantly improve the intestinal motility disorder caused by LOP. Apoptosis of ICCs increased in the STC group, but decreased significantly in the PTE intervention group. Through network pharmacological analysis, PTE might reduce the apoptosis of ICCs by enhancing PI3K/AKT and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, and improve constipation caused by LOP. In colon tissues, PTE improved the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and upregulated the phosphorylation of AKT. The level of MDA increased and GSH-Px decreased in the STC group, while the level of oxidative stress was significantly reduced in the PTE treatment groups. PTE also promoted the secretion of intestinal hormone and restored the microbial diversity caused by LOP.

Conclusion: Pterostilbene ameliorated the intestinal motility disorder induced by LOP, this effect might be achieved by inhibiting oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of ICCs through the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Dissecting the novel mechanism of reduning injection in treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Reduning injection (RDNI) is a patented Traditional Chinese medicine that contains three Chinese herbal medicines, respectively are the dry aboveground part of Artemisia annua L., the flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb., and the fruit Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis. RDNI has been recommended for treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the "New Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Plan".

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate and verify the underlying mechanisms of RDNI for the treatment of COVID-19.

METHODS

This study firstly performed anti-SARS-CoV-2 experiments in Vero E6 cells. Then, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was adopted to explore the potential mechanisms of RDNI in the treatment for COVID-19. After that, western blot and a cytokine chip were used to validate the predictive results.

RESULTS

We concluded that half toxic concentration of drug CC50 (dilution ratio) = 1:1280, CC50 = 2.031 mg crude drugs/mL (0.047 mg solid content/mL) and half effective concentration of drug (EC50) (diluted multiples) = 1:25140.3, EC50 = 103.420 μg crude drugs/mL (2.405 μg solid content/mL). We found that RDNI can mainly regulate targets like carbonic anhydrases (CAs), matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) and pathways like PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Forkhead box O s and T cell receptor signaling pathways to reduce lung damage. We verified that RDNI could effectively inhibit the overexpression of MAPKs, PKC and p65 nuclear factor-κB. The injection could also affect cytokine levels, reduce inflammation and display antipyretic activity.

CONCLUSION

RDNI can regulate ACE2, Mpro and PLP in COVID-19. The underlying mechanisms of RDNI in the treatment for COVID-19 may be related to the modulation of the cytokine levels and inflammation and its antipyretic activity by regulating the expression of MAPKs, PKC and p65 nuclear factor NF-κB.

MicroRNA-490-3p inhibits inflammatory responses in LPS-induced acute lung injury of neonatal rats by suppressing the IRAK1/TRAF6 pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a main reason for neonatal death. Studying the molecular mechanism behind neonatal ALI is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies. The present study explored microRNA (miR)-490-3p-mediated regulatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neonatal ALI. Initially, LPS (10 mg/kg body weight) was injected to 3-8 day old neonatal SD rats to induce ALI, and LPS (100 ng/ml) was used to treat lung epithelial cells to construct an ALI model in vitro. Next, miR-490-3p, pro-inflammatory factors (that included IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα), interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) mRNA expression levels in lung tissues and epithelial cells were assessed via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In addition, miR-490-3p mimics were adopted to construct its overexpressed cell model, and Cell Counting Kit-8 and BrdU assays were conducted to assess cell viability. Furthermore, the miR-490-3p target, IRAK was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified via Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The results revealed that miR-490-3p was markedly downregulated in an LPS-induced rat ALI model, while IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, IRAK1 and TRAF6 were all upregulated and negatively correlated with miR-490-3p expression. Moreover, overexpressed miR-490-3p significantly inhibited LPS-induced lung epithelial cell injury and inflammatory response. Mechanistically, miR-490-3p targeted and attenuated IRAK1 expression, which thus inactivated the LPS-mediated TRAF6/NF-κB pathway. Overall, the present study indicated that miR-490-3p overexpression significantly inhibited LPS-induced ALI and inflammatory responses by restricting the IRAK1/TRAF6 pathway.

Allicin inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence by suppressing the rhl and pqs quorum-sensing systems

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a virulent bacterium that secretes a variety of virulence factors that aid in establishing infections in individuals. Allicin, derived from garlic, has been shown to inhibit virulence factor production and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. However, the mechanisms underlying the allicin-mediated regulation of P. aeruginosa virulence remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanisms underlying allicin-mediated virulence regulation in P. aeruginosa. The results showed that allicin attenuates the production of P. aeruginosa virulence-associated factors, such as elastase, pyocyanin, pyoverdine, and rhamnolipids, by inhibiting the rhl and pqs quorum-sensing systems. Further analysis revealed that the rhl and pqs systems play different roles during the allicin-mediated regulation process. Taken together, these results support the potential use of allicin as a therapeutic agent in controlling P. aeruginosa infection and associated mechanisms.