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Yang Y, Chen YK, Xie MZ. Exploring the transformative impact of traditional Chinese medicine on depression: Insights from animal models. World J Psychiatry 2024; 14:607-623. [PMID: 38808079 PMCID: PMC11129158 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i5.607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression, a prevalent and complex mental health condition, presents a significant global health burden. Depression is one of the most frequent mental disorders; deaths from it account for 14.3% of people worldwide. In recent years, the integration of complementary and alternative medicine, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has gained attention as a potential avenue for addressing depression. This comprehensive review critically assesses the efficacy of TCM interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms. An in-depth look at different research studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses is used in this review to look into how TCM practices like herbal formulations, acupuncture, and mind-body practices work. The review looks at the quality of the evidence, the rigor of the methods, and any possible flaws in the current studies. This gives us an idea of where TCM stands right now in terms of treating depression. This comprehensive review aims to assess the efficacy of TCM interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms. In order to learn more about their possible healing effects, the study also looks into how different types of TCM work, such as herbal formulas, acupuncture, and mind-body practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- School of Nursing, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410200, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan-Kun Chen
- Precision Medicine R&D Center, Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410200, Hunan Province, China
| | - Meng-Zhou Xie
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410200, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center for Medicinal and Functional Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410200, Hunan Province, China
- Key Laboratory of TCM Heart and Lung Syndrome Differentiation and Medicated Diet and Dietotherapy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410200, Hunan Province, China
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Liu H, Chen Z, Liu M, Li E, Shen J, Wang J, Liu W, Jin X. The Terminalia chebula Retz extract treats hyperuricemic nephropathy by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117678. [PMID: 38159820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117678] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) is a renal injury caused by hyperuricemia and is the main cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. ShiWeiHeZiSan, which is composed mainly of components of Terminalia chebula Retz. And is recorded in the Four Medical Tantras, is a typical traditional Tibetan medicinal formula for renal diseases. Although T. chebula has been reported to improve renal dysfunction and reduce renal cell apoptosis, the specific mechanism of the nephroprotective effects of T. chebula on HN is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study was conducted to evaluate the effects and specific mechanism of T. chebula extract on HN through network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS Potassium oxalate (1.5 g/kg) and adenine (50 mg/kg) were combined for oral administration to establish the HN rat model, and the effects of T. chebula extract on rats in the HN model were evaluated by renal function indices and histopathological examinations. UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS analysis was also conducted to investigate the chemical components of T. chebula extract, and the potential therapeutic targets of T. chebula in HN were predicted by network pharmacology analysis. Moreover, the activation of potential pathways and the expression of related mRNAs and proteins were further observed in HN model rats and uric acid-treated HK-2 cells. RESULTS T. chebula treatment significantly decreased the serum uric acid (SUA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels in HN rats and ameliorated renal pathological injury and fibrosis. A total of 25 chemical components in T. chebula extract were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS analysis, and network pharmacology analysis indicated that the NF-κB pathway was the potential pathway associated with the therapeutic effects of T. chebula extract on HN. RT‒PCR analysis, immunofluorescence staining and ELISA demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly decreased in the renal tissue of HN rats after treatment with T. chebula extract at different concentrations, while the phosphorylation of P65 and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly inhibited. The results of in vitro experiments showed that T. chebula extract significantly decreased the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα and p-P65 in uric acid-treated HK-2 cells and inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65 in these cells. In addition, the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and fibrotic genes (α-SMA and fibronectin) was significantly downregulated by T. chebula extract treatment, while E-cadherin expression was significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION T. chebula extract exerts nephroprotective effects on HN, such as anti-inflammatory effects and fibrosis improvement, by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis, which supports the general use of T. chebula in the management of HN and other chronic kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Zhiyu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Meng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Ertong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Juan Shen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Jie Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China.
| | - Xiaobao Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou Guangdong 510006, PR China.
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Gu YY, Liu XS, Lan HY. Therapeutic potential for renal fibrosis by targeting Smad3-dependent noncoding RNAs. Mol Ther 2024; 32:313-324. [PMID: 38093516 PMCID: PMC10861968 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.12.009] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a characteristic hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that ultimately results in renal failure, leaving patients with few therapeutic options. TGF-β is a master regulator of renal fibrosis and mediates progressive renal fibrosis via both canonical and noncanonical signaling pathways. In the canonical Smad signaling, Smad3 is a key mediator in tissue fibrosis and mediates renal fibrosis via a number of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). In this regard, targeting Smad3-dependent ncRNAs may offer a specific therapy for renal fibrosis. This review highlights the significance and innovation of TGF-β/Smad3-associated ncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in renal fibrogenesis. In addition, the underlying mechanisms of these ncRNAs and their future perspectives in the treatment of renal fibrosis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu-Sheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Departments of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Xiang Y, Yuan Z, Deng Q, Xie L, Yu D, Shi J. Potential therapeutic medicines for renal fibrosis: Small-molecule compounds and natural products. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:106999. [PMID: 38035515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is the pathological change process of chronic kidney disease deteriorating continuously. When the renal organ is stimulated by external stimuli, it will trigger the damage and phenotypic changes of some intrinsic cells in the kidney. When the body's autoimmune regulation or external treatment is not prompted enough to restore the organ, the pathological process is gradually aggravating, inducing a large amount of intracellular collagen deposition, which leads to the appearance of fibrosis and scarring. The renal parenchyma (including glomeruli and tubules) begins to harden, making it difficult to repair the kidney lesions. In the process of gradual changes in the kidney tissue, the kidney units are severely damaged and the kidney function shows a progressive decline, eventually resulting in the clinical manifestation of end-stage renal failure, namely uremia. This review provides a brief description of the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and potential therapeutic inhibitors of renal fibrosis. Since renal fibrosis has not yet had a clear therapeutic target and related drugs, some potential targets and relevant inhibitors are discussed, especially pharmacological effects and interactions with targets. Some existing natural products have potential efficacy for renal fibrosis, which is also roughly summarized, hoping that this article would have reference significance for the treatment of renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Zhuo Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Qichuan Deng
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Linshen Xie
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Dongke Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
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He H, Wang H, Chen X, Zhong Y, Huang XR, Ma RCW, Wang C, Lan HY. Treatment for type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy by targeting Smad3 signaling. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:200-217. [PMID: 38164169 PMCID: PMC10750285 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.87820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
TGF-β/Smad3 signaling plays a critical role in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN), but treatment by specifically targeting Smad3 remains unexplored. To develop a new Smad3-targeted therapy for T2D and T2DN, we treated db/db mice at the pre-diabetic or established diabetic stage with a pharmacological Smad3 inhibitor SIS3. The therapeutic effect and mechanisms of anti-Smad3 treatment on T2D and T2DN were investigated. We found that anti-Smad3 treatment on pre-diabetic db/db mice largely attenuated both T2D and T2DN by markedly reducing blood glucose levels, and inhibiting the elevated serum creatinine, microalbuminuria, and renal fibrosis and inflammation. Unexpectedly, although SIS3 treatment on the established diabetic db/db mice inhibited T2DN but did not significantly improve T2D. Mechanistically, we uncovered that inhibition of T2DN in SIS3-treated db/db mice was associated with effectively restoring the balance of TGF-β/Smad signaling by inhibiting Smad3 while increasing Smad7, thereby suppressing Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis and NF-κB-driven renal inflammation via lncRNA Erbb4-IR and LRN9884-dependent mechanisms. We also revealed that inhibition of islet β cell injury by preventing the loss of islet Pax 6 could be the mechanism through which the pre-diabetic treatment, rather than the late SIS3 treatment on db/db mice significantly improved the T2D phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijun He
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519000, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Honglian Wang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xiaocui Chen
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xiao Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Ronald CW Ma
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519000, China
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, and Departments of Nephrology and Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
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Gong M, Guo Y, Dong H, Wu W, Wu F, Lu F. Trigonelline inhibits tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in diabetic kidney disease via targeting Smad7. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115747. [PMID: 37864898 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes. Inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTCs) can slow down renal fibrosis. Trigonelline (TRL), an alkaloid isolated from the fenugreek, has demonstrated therapeutic effects on diabetes and its complications. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms for the effects of TRL are still obscure. The present study was aimed to evaluate the treatment of TRL against DKD and explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS The db/db mice were used as a spontaneous model of DKD and TRL solution was administered by daily gavage for 8 weeks. Indicators associated with glucose metabolism, renal function and urinary albumin were tested. Renal fibrosis in diabetic mice was evaluated by histopathological staining. Kidney transcriptomics was performed after confirming therapeutic effects of TRL on DKD mice. Molecular biology techniques and in vitro experiments were utilized for final mechanism verification. RESULTS Biochemical tests revealed that TRL ameliorated renal damage and reduced microalbuminuria in DKD mice. TRL exhibited a protective effect on PTCs, effectively mitigating tubular EMT and renal fibrosis in diabetic kidneys. Transcriptomics analysis indicated that TRL may target Smad7, an inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling, to alleviate fibrosis. Furthermore, in vitro experiments validated that silencing Smad7 abolished the therapeutic effect of TRL. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that TRL can alleviate tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition and renal fibrosis in db/db mice by upregulating Smad7 in PTCs, suggesting that TRL is a promising medicine against DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minmin Gong
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujin Guo
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuer Lu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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王 一, 郭 建, 邵 宝, 陈 海, 蓝 辉. [The Role of TGF-β1/SMAD in Diabetic Nephropathy: Mechanisms and Research Development]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:1065-1073. [PMID: 38162063 PMCID: PMC10752761 DOI: 10.12182/20231160108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/SMAD signaling activation plays an important role in the onset and progression of DN. Reported findings suggest that the activation of TGF-β1 (including the latent form, the active form, and the receptors) and its downstream signaling proteins (SMAD3, SMAD7, etc.) plays a critical role in DN. In addition, TGF-β1/SMAD signaling may mediate the pathogenesis and progression of DN via various microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Emerging evidence shows that TGF-β1, SMAD3, and SMAD7 are the main signaling proteins that contribute to the development of DN, and that they can be potential targets for the treatment of DN. However, recent clinical trials have shown that the anti-TGF-β1 monoclonal antibody treatment fails to effectively alleviate DN, which suggests that upstream inhibition of TGF-β1/SMAD signaling does not alleviate clinical symptoms and that this may be related to the fact that TGF-β1/SMAD has multiple biological effects. Targeted inhibition of the downstream TGF-β1 signaling (e.g., SMAD3 and SMAD7) may be an effective approach to attenuate DN. This article discussed the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment and prevention of DN by focusing on TGF-β1/SMAD signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- 一帆 王
- 香港大学中医药学院 (香港 999000)School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999000, China
| | - 建波 郭
- 香港大学中医药学院 (香港 999000)School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999000, China
| | - 宝仪 邵
- 香港大学中医药学院 (香港 999000)School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999000, China
| | - 海勇 陈
- 香港大学中医药学院 (香港 999000)School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999000, China
- 香港大学深圳医院 中医部 (深圳 518053)Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - 辉耀 蓝
- 香港大学中医药学院 (香港 999000)School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999000, China
- 香港大学深圳医院 中医部 (深圳 518053)Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
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Ren LL, Miao H, Wang YN, Liu F, Li P, Zhao YY. TGF-β as A Master Regulator of Aging-Associated Tissue Fibrosis. Aging Dis 2023; 14:1633-1650. [PMID: 37196129 PMCID: PMC10529747 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is the abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin. Aging, injury, infections, and inflammation can cause different types of tissue fibrosis. Numerous clinical investigations have shown a correlation between the degree of liver and pulmonary fibrosis in patients and telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content, both of which are signs of aging. Aging involves the gradual loss of tissue function over time, which results in the loss of homeostasis and, ultimately, an organism's fitness. A major feature of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells. Senescent cells abnormally and continuously accumulate in the late stages of life, contributing to age-related fibrosis and tissue deterioration, among other aging characteristics. Furthermore, aging generates chronic inflammation, which results in fibrosis and decreases organ function. This finding suggests that fibrosis and aging are closely related. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily plays a crucial role in the physiological and pathological processes of aging, immune regulation, atherosclerosis, and tissue fibrosis. In this review, the functions of TGF-β in normal organs, aging, and fibrotic tissues is discussed: TGF-β signalling is altered with age and is an indicator of pathology associated with tissue fibrosis. In addition, this review discusses the potential targeting of noncoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hua Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yan-Ni Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Urology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Ping Li
- Beijing Key Lab for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Ying-Yong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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He H, Zhong Y, Wang H, Tang PMK, Xue VW, Chen X, Chen J, Huang X, Wang C, Lan H. Smad3 Mediates Diabetic Dyslipidemia and Fatty Liver in db/db Mice by Targeting PPARδ. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11396. [PMID: 37511155 PMCID: PMC10380492 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad3 signaling has been shown to play important roles in fibrotic and inflammatory diseases. However, the role of Smad3 in dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes remains unclear, and whether targeting Smad3 has a therapeutic effect on these metabolic abnormalities remains unexplored. These topics were investigated in this study in Smad3 knockout (KO)-db/db mice and by treating db/db mice with a Smad3-specific inhibitor SIS3. Compared to Smad3 wild-type (WT)-db/db mice, Smad3 KO-db/db mice were protected against dyslipidemia and NAFLD. Similarly, treatment of db/db mice with SIS3 at week 4 before the onset of type 2 diabetes until week 12 was capable of lowering blood glucose levels and improving diabetic dyslipidemia and NAFLD. In addition, using RNA-sequencing, the potential Smad3-target genes related to lipid metabolism was identified in the liver tissues of Smad3 KO/WT mice, and the regulatory mechanisms were investigated. Mechanistically, we uncovered that Smad3 targeted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) to induce dyslipidemia and NAFLD in db/db mice, which was improved by genetically deleting and pharmacologically inhibiting Smad3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijun He
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Honglian Wang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Vivian Weiwen Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xiaocui Chen
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jiaoyi Chen
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xiaoru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Huiyao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
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