A Novel TNF-α-Targeting Aptamer for TNF-α-Mediated Acute Lung Injury and Acute Liver Failure

Opportunities and challenges of foodborne polyphenols applied to anti-aging health foods

Abstract

With the increasing proportion of the global aging population, aging mechanisms and anti-aging strategies become hot topics. Nonetheless, the safety of non-natural anti-aging active molecule and the changes in physiological function that occur during aging have not been clarified. There is therefore a need to develop safer pharmaceutical interventions for anti-aging. Numerous types of research have shown that food-derived biomolecules are of great interest due to their unique contribution to anti-aging safety issues and the prevention of degenerative diseases. Among these, polyphenolic organic compounds are widely used in anti-aging research for their ability to mitigate the physiological functional changes that occur during aging. The mechanisms include the free radical theory, immune aging theory, cellular autophagy theory, epigenetic modification theory, gut microbial effects on aging theory, telomere shortening theory, etc. This review elucidates the mechanisms underlying the anti-aging effects of polyphenols found in food-derived bioactive molecules, while also addressing the challenges associated with anti-aging pharmaceuticals. The review concludes by offering insights into the current landscape of anti-aging active molecule research, aiming to serve as a valuable resource for further scholarly inquiry.

Graphical abstract

The effect of ethanol extracts of loulu flower on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Mongolian medicine, Loulu flower (LLF), the dried inflorescence of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. from the Compositae family, has been used to clear heat and relieve toxicity for millennia, particularly in the treatment of pneumonia.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

To reveal the effects of LLF on mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung injury (ALI) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ALI was established in BALB/c mice via nasal drops administration of LPS (5 mg/kg). The mice were then orally administrated with various doses of LLF extracts and the positive drug dexamethasone (DEX, 5 mg/kg), once daily for seven consecutive days. Last day, after being stimulated with LPS for 6h, the mice were closed dislocation of cervical vertebra, the serum, bronchus alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were put into the EP tube and stored at -80 °C for further analysis. The changes of histopathology were tested by hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E), the levels of, IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and IL-4 in BALF and serum were measured by ELISA. The pathways related to the treatment of ALI were predicted by network pharmacology. The expression levels of TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathway-associated proteins, COX-2 and ERK were tested by western blotting. The levels of P65 and NLRP3 in lung tissues were determined by immunofluorescence analysis.

RESULTS

LLF total extract and the extract parts could alleviate the inflammatory cell infiltration, thicken the alveolar walls in lung tissues, reduce the levels of IL-18, IL-1β in BALF, the TNF-α in both BALF and serum, meantime enhance the level of IL-4 in BALF and serum in mice with LPS-induced ALI. Our network pharmacology and comprehensive gene ontology analyses revealed the active constituents of LLF and the pathways, including TLR4/NF-κB, NLRP3 and MAPK signaling pathways, which play significant roles in ALI. Furthermore, both the total extract and its extraction portions suppressed the expressions of proteins related with the COX-2, p-ERK and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway (TLR4, p-IκB, p-p65), as well as the NLRP3 signaling pathway (NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, caspase-1, IL-1β).

CONCLUSION

LLF could improve the pathological changes and reducing inflammatory reactions in mice induced by LPS. The mechanism may be related to the modulation of the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathways.

Framework nucleic Acid-MicroRNA mediated hepatic differentiation and functional hepatic spheroid development for treating acute liver failure

The specific induction of hepatic differentiation presents a significant challenge in developing alternative liver cell sources and viable strategies for clinical therapy of acute liver failure (ALF). The past decade has witnessed the blossom of microRNAs in regenerative medicine. Herein, microRNA 122-functionalized tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (FNA-miR-122) has emerged as an unprecedented and potential platform for directing the hepatic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs), which offers a straightforward and cost-effective method for generating functional hepatocyte-like cells (FNA-miR-122-iHep). Additionally, we have successfully established a liver organoid synthesis strategy by optimizing the co-culture of FNA-miR-122-iHep with endothelial cells (HUVECs), resulting in functional Hep:HUE-liver spheroids. Transcriptome analysis not only uncovered the potential molecular mechanisms through which miR-122 influences hepatic differentiation in ADMSCs, but also clarified that Hep:HUE-liver spheroids could further facilitate hepatocyte maturation and improved tissue-specific functions, which may provide new hints to be used to develop a hepatic organoid platform. Notably, compared to transplanted ADMSCs and Hep-liver spheroid, respectively, both FNA-miR-122-iHep-based single cell therapy and Hep:HUE-liver spheroid-based therapy showed high efficacy in treating ALF in vivo. Collectively, this research establishes a robust system using microRNA to induce ADMSCs into functional hepatocyte-like cells and to generate hepatic organoids in vitro, promising a highly efficient therapeutic approach for ALF.

AptBCis1, An Aptamer-Cisplatin Conjugate, Is Effective in Lung Cancer Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis

Treatment of lung cancer leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LM) remains challenging partly due to the biological nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cisplatin has limited effects on LM, and it is notorious for neurotoxicity. Aptamers are small oligonucleotides considered as antibody surrogates. Here we report a DNA therapeutics, AptBCis1. AptBCis1 is a cisplatin-conjugated, BBB-penetrating, and cancer-targeting DNA aptamer. Its backbone, AptB1, was identified via in vivo SELEX using lung cancer LM orthotopic mouse models. The AptB1 binds to EAAT2, Nucleolin, and YB-1 proteins. Treatment with AptBCis1 1 mg/kg (equivalent to cisplatin 0.35 mg/kg) showed superior tumor suppressive effects compared to cisplatin 2 mg/kg in mice with lung cancer LM diseases. The cerebrospinal fluid platinum concentration in the AptBCis1 group was 10% of that in the cisplatin group. The data suggested the translational potential of AptBCis1 in lung cancer with LM and in cancers in which platinum-based chemotherapy remains as the standard of care.

Glycyrrhizic acid attenuates the malignant biological properties of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) has effects on anti-hepatic fibrosis, anti-tumor and prevention from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Yet, the capacity of GA to ameliorate the advance of HCC pertinent to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains to be clarified. We used the CCK-8 method to detect the optimal treatment concentration and time for L-02 cells, palmitic acid (PA)-induced L-02 cells and HepG2 cells, and selected 40 μM and 48 h to treat PA-induced L-02 cells and 60 μM for 24 h to treat HepG2 cells. Moreover, functional associations of HepG2 cells were elucidated through various assays. The results showed that GA demonstrated enhances lipid deposition and alleviates the inflammatory response in L-02 cells induced by palmitic acid. Simultaneously, we found that GA inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In pursuit of constructing of HCC model rats, a combination of high-fat diets and diethylnitrosamine was utilized. The results showed that GA significantly decreased the liver index, body weight, liver weight, and the number of nodules in HCC model rats. Moreover, GA mitigated infiltration and heightened apoptosis in these rats. Mechanistically, GA notably attenuated the KKβ/NF-κB pathway in both HepG2 cells and the HCC model rats. In conclusion, GA functions as an inhibitor in the progression of NAFLD-related HCC cells, which might be relevant to the KKβ/NF-κB pathway. Therefore, GA is a potential drug for NAFLD-related HCC treatment.

Acacetin protects against acute lung injury by upregulating SIRT1/ NF-κB pathway

Acacetin is one of the natural flavone components found in many plants and possesses diverse pharmacological activities. The anti-inflammatory properties and definite mechanism of acacetin remains incompletely illuminated. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of acacetin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in vivo and TNF-α-stimulated cellular injury in vitro. As indicated by survival experiments, acacetin reduced mortality and improved survival time of LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice. 50 mg/kg of acacetin obtained higher survival (about 60 %), and 20 mg/kg of acacetin was about 46.7 %. In addition, 20 mg/kg of acacetin rescued lung histopathologic damage in LPS treated mice, lowered lung-to-body weight and lung wet-to-dry ratios, suppressed myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissue, the contents of protein, the numbers of total cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the contents of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-1β in BALF. Acacetin also increased the activity and expression of SIRT1, thereby suppressing acetylation-dependent activation NF-κB. Similarly, in vitro, acacetin increased cell viability, reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-1β, increased NAD+ levels as well as NAD/NADH ratio, and then up-regulated the activity and expression of SIRT1, and restrained acetylation-dependent activation NF-κB in TNF-α-stimulated A549 cells, which could be abolished by SIRT1 siRNA. Collectively, the current study showed that acacetin exerts a protective effiect on acute lung injury by improving the activity and expression SIRT1, thereby suppressing the acetylation-dependent activation of NF-κB-p65 and the release of downstream inflammatory cytokines.

MicroRNAs Regulate the Expression of Genes Related to the Innate Immune and Inflammatory Response in Rabbits Infected with Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 Genotypes

MicroRNAs (miR) are a group of small, non-coding RNAs of 17-25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNA expression or function may contribute to abnormal gene expression and signaling pathways, leading to disease pathology. Lagovirus europaeus (L. europaeus) causes severe disease in rabbits called rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). The symptoms of liver, lung, kidney, and spleen degeneration observed during RHD are similar to those of acute liver failure (ALF) and multi-organ failure (MOF) in humans. In this study, we assessed the expression of miRs and their target genes involved in the innate immune and inflammatory response. Also, we assessed their potential impact on pathways in L. europaeus infection-two genotypes (GI.1 and GI.2)-in the liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. The expression of miRs and target genes was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). We assessed the expression of miR-155 (MyD88, TAB2, p65, NLRP3), miR-146a (IRAK1, TRAF6), miR-223 (TLR4, IKKα, NLRP3), and miR-125b (MyD88). We also examined biomarkers of inflammation: IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-18 in four tissues at the mRNA level. Our study shows that the main regulators of the innate immune and inflammatory response in L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 infection, as well as RHD, are miR-155, miR-223, and miR-146a. During infection with L. europaeus/RHD, miR-155 has both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in the liver and anti-inflammatory effects in the kidneys and spleen; miR-146a has anti-inflammatory effects in the liver, lungs and kidneys; miR-223 has anti-inflammatory effects in all tissues; however, miR-125b has anti-inflammatory effects only in the liver. In each case, such an effect may be a determinant of the pathogenesis of RHD. Our research shows that miRs may regulate three innate immune and inflammatory response pathways in L. europaeus infection. However, the result of this regulation may be influenced by the tissue microenvironment. Our research shows that infection of rabbits with L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes causes an overexpression of two critical acute phase cytokines: IL-6 in all examined tissues and TNF-α (in the liver, lungs, and spleen). IL-1β was highly expressed only in the lungs after L. europaeus infection. These facts indicate a strong and rapid involvement of the local innate immune and inflammatory response in L. europaeus infection-two genotypes (GI.1 and GI.2)-and in the pathogenesis of RHD. Profile of biomarkers of inflammation in rabbits infected with L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes are similar regarding the nature of changes but are different for individual tissues. Therefore, we propose three inflammation profiles for L. europaeus infection for both GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes (pulmonary, renal, liver, and spleen).

Potential application of aptamers combined with DNA nanoflowers in neurodegenerative diseases

The efficacy of neurotherapeutic drugs hinges on their ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier and access the brain, which is crucial for treating or alleviating neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Given the absence of definitive cures for NDs, early diagnosis and intervention become paramount in impeding disease progression. However, conventional therapeutic drugs and existing diagnostic approaches must meet clinical demands. Consequently, there is a pressing need to advance drug delivery systems and early diagnostic methods tailored for NDs. Certain aptamers endowed with specific functionalities find widespread utility in the targeted therapy and diagnosis of NDs. DNA nanoflowers (DNFs), distinctive flower-shaped DNA nanomaterials, are intricately self-assembled through rolling ring amplification (RCA) of circular DNA templates. Notably, imbuing DNFs with diverse functionalities becomes seamlessly achievable by integrating aptamer sequences with specific functions into RCA templates, resulting in a novel nanomaterial, aptamer-bound DNFs (ADNFs) that amalgamates the advantageous features of both components. This article delves into the characteristics and applications of aptamers and DNFs, exploring the potential or application of ADNFs in drug-targeted delivery, direct treatment, early diagnosis, etc. The objective is to offer prospective ideas for the clinical treatment or diagnosis of NDs, thereby contributing to the ongoing efforts in this critical field.

Breviscapine Reduces Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Targeting CASP8 to Regulate Neutrophil Apoptosis and Inflammation

Background

Breviscapine has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects in ameliorating acute lung injury (ALI), yet its potential therapeutic value and molecular mechanisms in sepsis-induced ALI remain unexplored.

Methods

We utilized network pharmacology approach to identify the potential targets and mechanisms of breviscapine in treating sepsis-induced ALI. To construct a murine model of sepsis, we performed cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to respectively determine the pathologic changes and levels of inflammatory factors. Neutrophil count and total protein level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by corresponding kit. Additionally, we utilized flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to detect cell apoptosis, protein expression, and gene expression. Finally, we used ELISA kits to detect the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and caspase-8 (CASP8).

Results

Breviscapine was revealed to target 81 potential proteins in the treatment of sepsis-induced ALI, while CASP8 was the most important one as demonstrated by network analysis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that breviscapine effectively reduced the severity of sepsis-induced ALI and inflammation, and significantly suppressed neutrophil infiltration in the lung tissues of CLP mice and promoted neutrophil apoptosis in the peripheral blood. In vitro experiments revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neutrophil apoptosis was inhibited, and the expression and activity of CASP8 were down-regulated. Breviscapine intervention markedly up-regulated the expression and activity of CASP8, consequently activating neutrophil apoptosis and inhibiting inflammatory response by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Breviscapine is remarkably effective in improving sepsis-induced ALI, and its mechanism of action may be to induce neutrophil apoptosis, inhibit inflammatory overreaction and reduce its infiltration in pulmonary tissues by up-regulating the expression and activity of CASP8.

A point-of-care electrochemical biosensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of biomarkers in murine models with LPS-induced sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, which is irreversible if diagnosis and intervention are delayed. The response of the immune cells towards an infection triggers widespread inflammation through the production of cytokines, which may result in multiple organ dysfunction and eventual death. Conventional detection techniques fail to provide a rapid diagnosis because of their limited sensitivity and tedious protocol. This study proposes a point-of-care (POC) electrochemical biosensor that overcomes the limitations of current biosensing technologies in the clinical setting by its integration with electrokinetics, enhancing the sensitivity to picogram level compared with the nanogram limit of current diagnostic technologies. This biosensor promotes the use of a microelectrode strip to address the limitations of conventional photolithographic fabrication methods. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and microRNA-155 (miR-155) were monitored in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic mouse model. The optimum target hybridization time in a high conductivity medium was observed to be 60 s leading to the completion of the whole operation within 5 min compared with the 4-h detection time of the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.84, 0.18, and 0.0014 pg mL-1, respectively. This novel sensor may have potential for the early diagnosis of sepsis in the clinical setting.

Ac2-26 reduced the liver injury after cardiopulmonary bypass in rats via AKT1/GSK3β/eNOS pathway

OBJECTIVE

About 10% of patients after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) would undergo acute liver injury, which aggravated the mortality of patients. Ac2-26 has been demonstrated to ameliorate organic injury by inhibiting inflammation. The present study aims to evaluate the effect and mechanism of Ac2-26 on acute liver injury after CPB.

METHODS

A total of 32 SD rats were randomized into sham, CPB, Ac, and Ac/AKT1 groups. The rats only received anesthesia, and rats in other groups received CPB. The rats in Ac/AKT1 were pre-injected with the shRNA to interfere with the expression of AKT1. The rats in CPB were injected with saline, and rats in Ac and Ac/AKT1 groups were injected with Ac2-26. After 12 h of CPB, all the rats were sacrificed and the peripheral blood and liver samples were collected to analyze. The inflammatory factors in serum and liver were detected. The liver function was tested, and the pathological injury of liver tissue was evaluated.

RESULTS

Compared with the sham group, the inflammatory factors, liver function, and pathological injury were worsened after CPB. Compared with the CPB group, the Ac2-26 significantly decreased the pro-inflammatory factors and increased the anti-inflammatory factor, improved liver function, and ameliorated the pathological injury. All the therapeutic effects of Ac2-26 were notably attenuated by the shRNA of AKT1. The Ac2-26 increased the GSK3β and eNOS, and this promotion was inhibited by the shRNA.

CONCLUSION

The Ac2-26 significantly treated the liver injury, inhibited inflammation, and improved liver function. The effect of Ac2-26 on liver injury induced by CPB was partly associated with the promotion of AKT1/GSK3β/eNOS.

Exploring immune-related pathogenesis in lung injury: Providing new insights Into ALI/ARDS

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) represent a significant global burden of morbidity and mortality, with lung injury being the primary cause of death in affected patients. The pathogenesis of lung injury, however, remains a complex issue. In recent years, the role of the immune system in lung injury has attracted extensive attention worldwide. Despite advancements in our understanding of various lung injury subtypes, significant limitations persist in both prevention and treatment. This review investigates the immunopathogenesis of ALI/ARDS, aiming to elucidate the pathological processes of lung injury mediated by dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, phagocytes, and neutrophils. Furthermore, the article expounds on the critical contributions of gut microbiota, inflammatory pathways, and cytokine storms in the development of ALI/ARDS.

Trichinella spiralis alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by modulating the protective Th2 immune response

Sepsis is a disorder of immune regulation caused by pathogenic microorganisms. A large number of inflammatory factors and inflammatory mediators are released, resulting in systemic inflammatory response disorder and acute lung injury (ALI). Helminths infection activate Th2 cytokines and immunomodulatory pathways, which have the function of anti-infection effector molecules. The early infection of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) was mainly intestinal phase. In this study, we explored the effect of intestinal phase infection of T. spiralis on LPS-induced ALI. Compared with control mice, the serum and lung tissues of T. spiralis infected mice had a significant decrease of Th1 inflammatory cytokines, a significant increase of Th2 anti-inflammatory cytokines, and a significant decrease of inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. These results suggest that T. spiralis during the intestinal phase can act on distal organs (lung) and reduce LPS-induced lung inflammation, providing evidence for a potential new pathway for immune-mediated disease in helminths and a possible role for intestinal worms in the gut-lung axis.

Antidote-controlled DNA aptamer modulates human factor IXa activity

Thrombosis leads to elevated mortality rates and substantial medical expenses worldwide. Human factor IXa (HFIXa) protease is pivotal in tissue factor (TF)-mediated thrombin generation, and represents a promising target for anticoagulant therapy. We herein isolated novel DNA aptamers that specifically bind to HFIXa through systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method. We identified two distinct aptamers, seq 5 and seq 11, which demonstrated high binding affinity to HFIXa (Kd = 74.07 ± 2.53 nM, and 4.93 ± 0.15 nM, respectively). Computer software was used for conformational simulation and kinetic analysis of DNA aptamers and HFIXa binding. These aptamers dose-dependently prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in plasma. We further rationally optimized the aptamers by truncation and site-directed mutation, and generated the truncated forms (Seq 5-1t, Seq 11-1t) and truncated-mutated forms (Seq 5-2tm, Seq 11-2tm). They also showed good anticoagulant effects. The rationally and structurally designed antidotes (seq 5-2b and seq 11-2b) were competitively bound to the DNA aptamers and effectively reversed the anticoagulant effect. This strategy provides DNA aptamer drug-antidote pair with effective anticoagulation and rapid reversal, developing advanced therapies by safe, regulatable aptamer drug-antidote pair.

The Application of Aptamer and Research Progress in Liver Disease

Aptamers, as a kind of small-molecule nucleic acid, have attracted much attention since their discovery. Compared with biological reagents such as antibodies, aptamers have the advantages of small molecular weight, low immunogenicity, low cost, and easy modification. At present, aptamers are mainly used in disease biomarker discovery, disease diagnosis, treatment, and targeted drug delivery vectors. In the process of screening and optimizing aptamers, it is found that there are still many problems need to be solved such as the design of the library, optimization of screening conditions, the truncation of screened aptamer, and the stability and toxicity of the aptamer. In recent years, the incidence of liver-related diseases is increasing year by year and the treatment measures are relatively lacking, which has attracted the people's attention in the application of aptamers in liver diseases. This article mainly summarizes the research status of aptamers in disease diagnosis and treatment, especially focusing on the application of aptamers in liver diseases, showing the crucial significance of aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases, and the use of Discovery Studio software to find the binding target and sequence of aptamers, and explore their possible interaction sites.

Therapeutic bacteria and viruses to combat cancer: double-edged sword in cancer therapy: new insights for future

Cancer, ranked as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, leads to the death of approximately seven million people annually, establishing itself as one of the most significant health challenges globally. The discovery and identification of new anti-cancer drugs that kill or inactivate cancer cells without harming normal and healthy cells and reduce adverse effects on the immune system is a potential challenge in medicine and a fundamental goal in Many studies. Therapeutic bacteria and viruses have become a dual-faceted instrument in cancer therapy. They provide a promising avenue for cancer treatment, but at the same time, they also create significant obstacles and complications that contribute to cancer growth and development. This review article explores the role of bacteria and viruses in cancer treatment, examining their potential benefits and drawbacks. By amalgamating established knowledge and perspectives, this review offers an in-depth examination of the present research landscape within this domain and identifies avenues for future investigation.

LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury: Analysis of the Development and Suppression by the TNF-α-Targeting Aptamer

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a specific form of lung inflammation characterized by diffuse alveolar damage, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, as well as a pulmonary and systemic inflammation. The pathogenesis of ALI involves a cascade inflammatory response accompanied by an increase in the local and systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The development of molecular tools targeting key components of cytokine signaling appears to be a promising approach in ALI treatment. The development of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI, as well as the feasibility of suppressing it by an aptamer targeting the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, was studied in a mouse model. The TNF-α level was shown to increase significantly and remain steadily high during the development of ALI. LPS-induced morphological signs of inflammation in the respiratory system become most pronounced 24 h after induction. Intranasal administration of TNF-α-targeting aptamers conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-aptTNF-α) to mice with ALI reduced the intensity of inflammatory changes in lung tissue. Assessment of the levels of potential TNF-α target genes (Usp18, Traf1, and Tnfaip3) showed that their expression levels in the lungs increase during ALI development, while declining after the application of PEG-aptTNF-α. Therefore, topical use of TNF-α- targeting aptamers may be an efficient tool for treating ALI and other inflammatory lung diseases.

Changes in TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α before and after artificial liver support treatment and their prognostic value

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of ALST (artificial liver support treatment) on inflammatory factors and prognosis in patients with ACLF (acute-on-chronic liver failure).

METHODS

Data of ACLF patients admitted to the No. 2 People's Hospital of Lanzhou from June 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were compared before and after ALST in terms of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), TBil (Total Bilirubin), Cr (Creatinine), INR (International Normalized Ratio), MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) scores, as well as TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α), IL-33 (Interleukin-33), and MIP-1α (Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 α) levels. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of the above indicators in predicting 90-day mortality in patients.

RESULTS

After the treatment, the levels of ALT, AST, TBil, Cr, INR, and MELD score were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). Also, the levels of TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α were substantially lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α were positively correlated with MELD score before and after the treatment (all P<0.01). TNF-α, IL-33, MIP-1α, and MELD score were significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group (all P<0.01). The ROC curves showed that MELD (AUC=0.857), TNF-α (AUC=0.836), IL-33 (AUC=0.749), and MIP-1α (AUC=0.746) had high efficacy in predicting patients' 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

ALST can significantly reduce TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α levels in patients with ACLF, and postoperative TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α levels have a high predictive value for patients' prognosis.

The Protective Effect of Roflumilast Against Acute Hepatotoxicity Caused by Methotrexate in Wistar Rats: In vivo Evaluation

Introduction

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most widely used drugs in cancer chemotherapy and treating rheumatoid arthritis. The hepatotoxicity of MTX is one of its major side effects. Roflumilast (ROF) has been recognized to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in in-vivo and in-vitro models. The present study aimed to explore the potential protective effects of roflumilast against MTX-induced liver toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Methods

High dose of 5 mg/kg for 4 consecutive days subcutaneous (S.C) injection of methotrexate for induction of acute liver injury. A total of 24 Wistar rats, rats were used in four different groups. The NS injections were given S.C to the control group once a day for 4 consecutive days. SC injections of MTX (5 mg/kg) were given to the MTX group daily for four days. At 5 mg/kg once daily for four days, the roflumilast group was given daily oral roflumilast. An injection of MTX and oral roflumilast were given to the MTX + roflumilast group once daily for four consecutive days.

Results

Administration of high dose MTX (5 mg/kg) today 4 produced a significant decrease in hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels and a significant increase in ALT and AST liver enzymes, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor suppressor protein (p53), interleukin 6, interleukin 1 levels compared to the control group. Treatment with roflumilast for 4 days significantly attenuated unfavorable changes in these parameters. According to histopathological findings, Roflumilast significantly reduced MTX-induced inflammation and degeneration in the liver. In conclusion, the findings indicate that roflumilast may have a potential therapeutic benefit in treating rats with MTX-induced liver toxicity by mitigating its effects.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential protective effects of roflumilast against MTX-induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats.

Molecular mechanism of honeysuckle + forsythia in treatment of acute lung injury based on network pharmacology

The pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) is complex and it is a common critical illness in clinical practice, seriously threatening the lives of critically ill patients, for which no specific molecular marker exists and there is a lack of effective methods for the treatment of ALI. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of honeysuckle and forsythia in treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) based on network pharmacology and in vitro modeling. The active ingredients and targets of honeysuckle and forsythia were predicted using traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology, PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction databases, and the Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct a drug-component-potential target network. The potential targets were imported into the Search tool for recurring instances of neighboring genes) database to obtain protein-protein interactions and subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Targets analysis using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 software was used for docking between key active ingredients and the target proteins to analyze the binding ability of the active ingredients to the primary targets in honeysuckle and forsythia. A total of 64 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control, model, positive drug (Lianhua-Qingwen capsule), honeysuckle, forsythia, honeysuckle + forsythia high-, medium- and low-dose groups. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induced an ALI model. The lung tissues of the mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured 4 h after the LPS administration. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect NF-κB mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Active ingredients of honeysuckle and forsythia acted on 265 common targets in ALI, which regulated NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1 signalling pathway to slow the inflammatory response in treatment of ALI. In the positive drug group, honeysuckle, forsythia group, honeysuckle + forsythia high-, medium- and low-dose groups, lung tissue damage were significantly decrease compared with the model group, and inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced. Compared with the model group, honeysuckle + forsythia groups experienced decreased damage caused by the LPS and inflammation in the lung tissues and significantly decreased TNF-α and NF-κB and MDA concentration and significantly increased the SOD and GSH-Px activities. The mechanism of the effect of honeysuckle and forsythia on ALI may be mediated by inhibition of TNF-α and NF-κB expression and the activation of antioxidant mechanisms to decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue, thus treating ALI.

Simultaneous detection method for two cardiac disease protein biomarkers on a single chip modified with mixed aptamers using surface plasmon resonance

A simultaneous detection method for two cardiac disease protein biomarkers present in serum samples on a single planar gold chip using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is described. The detection of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), which are known as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) biomarkers, with predetermined clinically relevant concentrations was performed using mixed aptamers specific to each protein tethered on a single gold surface. After the binding of NT-proBNP and/or TNF-α to the mixed aptamers, an antibody specific to each target protein was injected to form a surface sandwich complex to improve selectivity. In order to adjust the dynamic ranges in the known clinically relevant concentration significantly different for NT-proBNP (0.13-0.24 nM) and TNF-α (0.5-3 pM), the surface density ratios of the corresponding pair of aptamer and antibody were first systematically determined, which were the 1:1 mixed aptamer chip with 40 nM anti-NT-proBNP and 100 nM anti-TNF-α. This allowed to establish the distinct dynamic ranges of 0.05-0.5 nM for NT-proBNP and 0.1-5 pM for TNF-α in a buffer, along with detection and quantification limits of 0.03 and 0.19 nM for NT-proBNP and 0.06 and 0.21 pM for TNF-α, respectively. The changes in refractive unit (RU) values observed when exposing both proteins at different concentrations alongside the corresponding fixed concentration of antibodies onto the 1:1 mixed aptamer chip were then correlated to the sum of RU values measured when using the injection of individual protein for evaluating each protein concentration. With a complete characterization of the simultaneous quantification of two protein concentrations in the buffer, the mixed aptamer chip was finally employed for direct measurements of NT-proBNP and TNF-α concentrations in undiluted serum samples from healthy controls and AMI patients. The results of simultaneous SPR measurements for the two proteins in the serum samples were further compared to the individual protein concentration results using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Aptabinding of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibits its proinflammatory effects and alleviates islet inflammation

Pancreatic islet cell transplantation (ICT) has emerged as an effective therapy for diabetic patients lacking endogenous insulin production. However, the islet graft function is compromised by a nonspecific inflammatory and thrombotic reaction known as the instant blood-meditated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR). Here, we report the characterization of four single-stranded DNA aptamers that bind specifically to TNFα - a pivotal cytokine that causes proinflammatory signaling during the IBMIR process - using single molecule binding analysis and functional assays as a means to assess the aptamers' ability to block TNFα activity and inhibiting the downstream proinflammatory gene expression in the islets. Our single-molecule fluorescence analyses of mono- and multivalent aptamers showed that they were able to bind effectively to TNFα with monoApt2 exhibiting the strongest binding (Kd  ∼ 0.02 ± 0.01 nM), which is ∼3 orders of magnitude smaller than the Kd of the other aptamers. Furthermore, the in vitro cell viability analysis demonstrated an optimal and safe dosage of 100 μM for monoApt2 compared to 50 μM for monoApt1 and significant protection from proinflammatory cytokine-mediated cell death. More interestingly, monoApt2 reversed the upregulation of IBMIR mediating genes induced by TNFα in the human islets, and this was comparable to established TNFα antagonists. Both monoaptamers showed high specificity and selectivity for TNFα. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential use of aptamers as anti-inflammatory and localized immune-modulating agents for cellular transplant therapy.

Topical anti-TNF-a ssDNA aptamer decreased the imiquimod induced psoriatic inflammation in BALB/c mice

BACKGROUND

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory factor that plays a pivotal role in psoriasis. Due to limitations of monoclonal antibody-based therapies, it is needed to discover new anti-TNF-α factors instead of usual anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies. Compared to antibodies, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules named aptamers, have advantages such as time-saving, less risk for immunogenicity and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the therapeutic effects of T1-T4 dimer anti-TNF-ɑ ssDNA aptamer topical treatment in the imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis animal model.

METHODS

5% IMQ cream was prescribed on the right ear of BALB/c to induce psoriasis model. The hydrogel-containing anti-TNF-ɑ aptamer or treatment control aptamer (anti- Interleukin (IL)17A) was topically prescribed to the mice's ears 10 min before IMQ cream treatment. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score was used to evaluate psoriasis intensity. Histopathology analysis was done for mice ears sections. Mass, size, and cell number of mice spleens were measured. The IL-17 level was determined in culture supernatants of axillary lymph node cells using ELISA. The mRNA expression levels of IL-17A, IL-1β, STAT3, and S100a9, were evaluated in mice treated ear with quantitative Real Time-PCR.

RESULTS

The anti-TNF-ɑ ssDNA aptamer lower doses had significant decrease in IMQ-induced PASI score (p < 0.05). In addition, in these groups, the IL-17A, STAT3, and S100a9 mRNA levels were significantly lower than the IMQ group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to our findings, this aptamer seems to be a prospective candidate for treating psoriatic inflammation especially in lower concentrations.

Nucleic Acid Aptamer-Based Biosensors: A Review

Aptamers, short strands of either DNA, RNA, or peptides, known for their exceptional specificity and high binding affinity to target molecules, are providing significant advancements in the field of health. When seamlessly integrated into biosensor platforms, aptamers give rise to aptasensors, unlocking a new dimension in point-of-care diagnostics with rapid response times and remarkable versatility. As such, this review aims to present an overview of the distinct advantages conferred by aptamers over traditional antibodies as the molecular recognition element in biosensors. Additionally, it delves into the realm of specific aptamers made for the detection of biomarkers associated with infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolomic and neurological disorders. The review further elucidates the varying binding assays and transducer techniques that support the development of aptasensors. Ultimately, this review discusses the current state of point-of-care diagnostics facilitated by aptasensors and underscores the immense potential of these technologies in advancing the landscape of healthcare delivery.

Preventive Effect of Arctium lappa Polysaccharides on Acute Lung Injury through Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities

The objective of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of polysaccharides extracted from the roots of Arctium lappa (ALP) against acute lung injury (ALI) models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The polysaccharides were extracted and characterized, and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities were assessed. The findings demonstrated that ALP could mitigate the infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduce alveolar collapse in LPS-induced ALI in mice. The expression levels of the pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α decreased, while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased. Furthermore, the administration of ALP improved the activities of lung antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH, and CAT, and lowered MDA levels. These results suggest that ALP exhibits a preventive effect on ALI and has potential as an alternative treatment for lung injury.

Pulmonary embolism induces pneumonia-like lung injury beyond pulmonary infarction

Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) commonly manifest concomitant "pneumonia," which is generally believed to be either a cause (infection) or a consequence (infarction) of PE. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between PE and "pneumonia-like" lesions beyond pulmonary infection and infarction. Chest computed tomography (CT) images of patients with PE and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were retrospectively analyzed to compare the incidence of pneumonia lesions. The pathological damage and wet/dry ratio of lung tissues were observed in PE rats and PE plasma-injected rats. In total, 793 and 914 inpatients were enrolled in the PE and DVT groups, respectively. Pneumonia lesions were observed in 36.9% and 26.3% of patients in the PE and DVT groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Among PE rats, 33.3% exhibited focal severe lung injury, which closely resembled the pathological damage of community-acquired pneumonia. The wet/dry ratio was significantly higher in the PE group than in the PE-control group (4.98 ± 0.08 vs. 4.39 ± 0.06, p < 0.0001). Among PE plasma-injected rats, individuals with focal proven lung injury were found at all experimental points, with an incidence of 27.6%. The lung wet/dry ratio was significantly higher in the PE plasma group than in the PE-control plasma group at 1 and 2 h postinjection (5.02 ± 0.12 vs. 4.61 ± 0.06 and 4.76 ± 0.16 vs. 4.34 ± 0.09, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, the manifestation of pneumonia lesions in chest CT images was higher among PE patients than among DVT patients. Plasma of PE rats could induce focal pneumonia-like lung injury in healthy rats.

Effect of saffron, black seed, and their main constituents on inflammatory cytokine response (mainly TNF-α) and oxidative stress status: an aspect on pharmacological insights

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), an inflammatory cytokine, is produced by monocytes and macrophages. It is known as a 'double-edged sword' because it is responsible for advantageous and disadvantageous events in the body system. The unfavorable incident includes inflammation, which induces some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, cancer, and diabetes. Many medicinal plants have been found to prevent inflammation, such as saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and black seed (Nigella sativa). Therefore, the purpose of this review was to assess the pharmacological effects of saffron and black seed on TNF-α and diseases related to its imbalance. Different databases without time limitations were investigated up to 2022, including PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Web of Science. All the original articles (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies) were collected on the effects of black seed and saffron on TNF-α. Black seed and saffron have therapeutic effects against many disorders, such as hepatotoxicity, cancer, ischemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver, by decreasing TNF-α levels based on their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Saffron and black seed can treat a variety of diseases by suppressing TNF-α and exhibiting a variety of activities such as neuroprotective, gastroprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, antitussive, bronchodilator, antidiabetic activity, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. To uncover the beneficial underlying mechanisms of black seed and saffron, more clinical trials and phytochemical research are required. Also, these two plants affect other inflammatory cytokines, hormones, and enzymes, implying that they could be used to treat a variety of diseases.

Aptamers: Features, Synthesis and Applications

Aptamers have become a topic of interest among the researchers and scientists since they not only possess all of the benefits of antibodies but also possess special qualities including heat stability, low cost, and limitless uses⋅ Here we give a review about the features, applications, and challenges of aptamers and also how they are beneficial over the antibodies for biomedical applications. Their unique features make aptamers a prominent tool in therapeutics, diagnostics, biosensors and targeted drug delivery. In conclusion, aptamers represent exciting materials for a variety of applications and can be modified to improve their properties and to extend their applications in biomedical field.

HIF-1α inhibition in macrophages preserves acute liver failure by reducing IL-1β production

The development of acute liver failure (ALF) is dependent on its local inducer. Inflammation is a high-frequency and critical factor that accelerates hepatocyte death and liver failure. In response to injury stress, the expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in macrophages is promoted by both oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent mechanisms, thus promoting the expression and secretion of the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). IL-1β further induces hepatocyte apoptosis or necrosis by signaling through the receptor (IL-1R) on hepatocyte. HIF-1α knockout in macrophages or IL-1R knockout in hepatocytes protects against liver failure. However, whether HIF-1α inhibition in macrophages has a protective role in ALF is unclear. In this study, we revealed that the small molecule HIF-1α inhibitor PX-478 inhibits the expression and secretion of IL-1β, but not tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). PX-478 pretreatment alleviates liver injury in LPS/D-GalN-induced ALF mice by decreasing the hepatic inflammatory response. In addition, preventive or therapeutic administration of PX-478 combined with TNFα neutralizing antibody markedly improved LPS/D-GalN-induced ALF. Taken together, our data suggest that PX-478 administration leads to HIF-1α inhibition and decreased IL-1β secretion in macrophages, which represents a promising therapeutic strategy for inflammation-induced ALF.

Selenium Nanoparticles Control H1N1 Virus by Inhibiting Inflammatory Response and Cell Apoptosis

The treatment of influenza caused by H1N1 has been the focus of much attention. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been used in many aspects of research in the last two decades. They have shown excellent performance in antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant functions. Previous anti-H1N1 cell experiments using SeNPs have shown that they have evident antiviral effects and low toxicities. This study focuses on the mechanism of selenium nanoparticles against an H1N1 influenza virus infection in vivo. The results showed that the selenium levels in the body decreased after an H1N1 virus infection, and inflammatory factors in the lung tissues increased abnormally, leading to the onset and aggravation of an inflammatory response. The H1N1 virus infection also led to the excessive activation of apoptotic pathways in the body and induced the apoptosis of tissue cells. In addition, this study found that SeNPs can alleviate this phenomenon. All results showed that SeNPs are promising inhibitors for controlling influenza H1N1 virus infections.

A funnel-type stepwise filtering strategy for identification of potential Q-markers of traditional Chinese medicine formulas

Quality marker (Q-marker) serves as an important driver for the standardization of quality control in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. However, it is still challenging to discover comprehensive and representative Q-markers. This study aimed to identify Q-markers of Hugan tablet (HGT), a famous TCM formula with ideal clinical effects in liver diseases. Here, we proposed a funnel-type stepwise filtering strategy that integrated secondary metabolites characterization, characteristic chromatogram, quantitative analysis, literature mining, biotransformation rules and network analysis. Firstly, the strategy of "secondary metabolites-botanical drugs-TCM formula" was applied to comprehensively identify the secondary metabolites of HGT. Then, the secondary metabolites with specificity and measurability in each botanical drug were identified by HPLC characteristic chromatogram, biosynthesis pathway and quantitative analysis. Based on literature mining, the effectiveness of botanical metabolites that met the above conditions was evaluated. Furthermore, the metabolism of the above metabolites in vivo was studied to reveal their biotransformation forms, which were used for network analysis. At last, according to biotransformation rules of the prototype drugs in vivo, the secondary metabolites were traced and preliminarily chosen as Q-markers. As a result, 128 plant secondary metabolites were identified in HGT, and 11 specific plant secondary metabolites were screened out. Then, the content of specific plant secondary metabolites in 15 batches of HGT was determined, which confirmed their measurability. And the results of literature mining showed that eight secondary metabolites had therapeutic effects in treating liver disease at the in vivo level, and three secondary metabolites inhibited liver disease-related indicators at the in vitro level. After that, 26 compounds absorbed into the blood (11 specific plant metabolites and their 15 metabolites in vivo) were detected in rats. Moreover, 14 compounds, including prototype components and their metabolites, were selected as Q-marker candidates by the "TCM formula-botanical drugs-compounds-targets-pathways" network. Finally, 9 plant secondary metabolites were defined as comprehensive and representative Q-markers. Our study not only provides a scientific basis for the improvement and secondary development of the quality standard of HGT, but also proposes a reference method for discovering and identifying Q-markers of TCM preparations.

Apoptotic cell death in disease-Current understanding of the NCCD 2023

Apoptosis is a form of regulated cell death (RCD) that involves proteases of the caspase family. Pharmacological and genetic strategies that experimentally inhibit or delay apoptosis in mammalian systems have elucidated the key contribution of this process not only to (post-)embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis, but also to the etiology of multiple human disorders. Consistent with this notion, while defects in the molecular machinery for apoptotic cell death impair organismal development and promote oncogenesis, the unwarranted activation of apoptosis promotes cell loss and tissue damage in the context of various neurological, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, infectious, neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. Here, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) gathered to critically summarize an abundant pre-clinical literature mechanistically linking the core apoptotic apparatus to organismal homeostasis in the context of disease.

Aptamers in cancer therapy: problems and new breakthroughs

Aptamers, a class of oligonucleotides that can bind with molecular targets with high affinity and specificity, have been widely applied in research fields including biosensing, imaging, diagnosing, and therapy of diseases. However, compared with the rapid development in the research fields, the clinical application of aptamers is progressing at a much slower speed, especially in the therapy of cancer. Obstructions including nuclease degradation, renal clearance, a complex selection process, and potential side effects have inhibited the clinical transformation of aptamer-conjugated drugs. To overcome these problems, taking certain measures to improve the biocompatibility and stability of aptamer-conjugated drugs in vivo is necessary. In this review, the obstructions mentioned above are thoroughly discussed and the methods to overcome these problems are introduced in detail. Furthermore, landmark research works and the most recent studies on aptamer-conjugated drugs for cancer therapy are also listed as examples, and the future directions of research for aptamer clinical transformation are discussed.

Functional nucleic acids as potent therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a severe threat to human life and the global economy. Although conventional treatments, including vaccines, antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors, have been broadly developed, they usually fall behind the constant mutation of SARS-CoV-2, due to the long screening process and high production cost. Functional nucleic acid (FNA)-based therapeutics are a newly emerging promising means against COVID-19, considering their timely adaption to different mutants and easy design for broad-spectrum virus inhibition. In this review, we survey typical FNA-related therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection, including aptamers, aptamer-integrated DNA frameworks, functional RNA, and CRISPR-Cas technology. We first introduce the pathogenesis, transmission, and evolution of SARS-CoV-2, then analyze the existing therapeutic and prophylactic strategies, including their pros and cons. Subsequently, the FNAs are recommended as potent alternative therapeutics from their screening process and controllable engineering to effective neutralization. Finally, we put forward the remaining challenges of the existing field and sketch out the future development directions.

Advances in the mechanisms and applications of inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides against immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are short single-stranded DNA, which capable of folding into complex structures, enabling them to bind to a large variety of targets. With appropriate modifications, the inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides exhibited many features of long half-life time, simple production, low toxicity and immunogenicity. In recent years, inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides have received considerable attention for their potential therapeutic applications in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides could be divided into three categories according to its mechanisms and targets, including antisense ODNs (AS-ODNs), DNA aptamers and immunosuppressive ODNs (iSup ODNs). As a synthetic tool with immunomodulatory activity, it can target RNAs or proteins in a specific way, resulting in the reduction, increase or recovery of protein expression, and then regulate the state of immune activation. More importantly, inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides have been used to treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory disorders and autoimmune diseases. Several inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotide drugs have been developed and approved on the market already. These drugs vary in their chemical structures, action mechanisms and cellular targets, but all of them could be capable of inhibiting excessive inflammatory responses. This review summarized their chemical modifications, action mechanisms and applications of the three kinds of inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotidesin the precise treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Identification of key immune-related genes associated with LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver failure in mice based on transcriptome sequencing

Background

The aim of this study was to identify key immune-related genes in acute liver failure (ALF) by constructing an ALF mouse model for transcriptome sequencing.

Methods

The C57BL/6 mouse with ALF model was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ D-galactosamine (D-GalN). After successful modelling, the liver tissues of all mice were obtained for transcriptome sequencing. The key immune-related genes in mice with ALF were identified by differential expression analysis, immune infiltration analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis.

Results

An LPS/D-GalN-induced ALF mouse model was successfully constructed, and transcriptome sequencing was performed. Significant differences in the proportions of monocytes, macrophages M0, macrophages M1 and neutrophils were shown by immune infiltration analysis, and 5255 genes highly associated with these four immune cells were identified by WGCNA. These immune genes were found to be significantly enriched in the TNF signalling pathway by enrichment analysis. Finally, PPI analysis was performed on genes enriched in this pathway and three key genes (CXCL1, CXCL10 and IL1B) were screened out and revealed to be significantly upregulated in ALF.

Conclusions

Key immune-related genes in ALF were identified in this study, which may provide not only potential therapeutic targets for treating ALF and improving its prognosis, but also a reliable scientific basis for the immunotherapy of the disease.

Potential Targets and Mechanisms of Bitter Almond-Licorice for COVID-19 Treatment Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

BACKGROUND

The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of infections and raised global attention. Bitter almonds and licorice are both Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM), often used in combination to treat lung diseases. Several prescriptions in the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (trial version ninth) contained bitter almond-licorice, which was effective in the treatment of COVID-19. However, the active ingredients, drug targets and therapeutic mechanisms of bitter almonds-licorice for the treatment of COVID-19 remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

The active ingredients and targets were derived from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP). Meanwhile, targets associated with COVID-19 were obtained from the GeneCards database, PharmGkb database and DrugBank database. Then, the potential targets of bitter almond-licorice against COVID-19 were screened out. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and core targets were analyzed through the String database and Cytoscape software. In addition, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed based on potential targets using R statistical software. Finally, molecular docking was used to validate the binding of the active ingredients to the core targets.

RESULTS

The results of the TCMSP database showed that the bitter almond-licorice had 89 active components against COVID-19, involving 102 targets. PPI network and core target analysis indicated that IL-6, TNF, MAPK1, and IL1B were the key targets against COVID-19. In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the bitter almond-licorice were involved in various biological processes through inflammation-related pathways such as TNF signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway. Finally, molecular docking approaches confirmed the affinity between the active components of the bitter almond-licorice and the therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

The bitter almond-licorice could be used to treat COVID-19 by inhibiting inflammatory responses and regulating cellular stress. This work is based on data mining and molecular docking, and the findings need to be interpreted with caution.

GSDMD-mediated NETosis promotes the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is a classical molecule involved in pyroptosis. It has been reported to be cleaved into N-terminal fragments to form pores in the neutrophil membrane and promote the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, it remains unclear if GSDMD is involved in neutrophil regulation and NET release during ARDS. The role of neutrophil GSDMD in the development of ARDS was investigated in a murine model of ARDS induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using the neutrophil specific GSDMD-deficient mice. The neutrophil GSDMD cleavage and its relationship with NETosis were also explored in ARDS patients. The cleavage of GSDMD in neutrophils from ARDS patients and mice was upregulated. Inhibition of GSDMD by genetic knockout or inhibitors resulted in reduced production of NET both in vivo and in vitro, and attenuation of LPS-induced lung injury. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that the inhibition of GSDMD attenuated endothelial injury co-cultured with neutrophils from ARDS patients, while extrinsic NETs reversed the protective effect of GSDMD inhibition. Collectively, our data suggest that the neutrophil GSDMD cleavage is crucial in NET release during ARDS. The NET release maintained by cleaved GSDMD in neutrophils may be a key event in the development of ARDS.

Chloroform Fraction of Prasiola japonica Ethanolic Extract Alleviates UPM 1648a-Induced Lung Injury by Suppressing NF-κB Signaling

Prasiola japonica is an edible alga, and the ethanol extract of P. japonica (Pj-EE) possesses various biological activities. Interestingly, in a recent study, we observed the potent anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform fraction of Pj-EE (Pj-EE-CF). Thus, to extend the application of Pj-EE-CF, we further studied its effects on lung injury. To establish an experimental model of lung injury, we nasally administered urban particulate matter UPM 1648a (50 mg/kg) to mice. In addition, BEAS-2B cells were treated with 300 μg/mL of UPM 1648a for in vitro analysis. Intranasal administration of UPM 1648a increased lung injury score, macrophage infiltration, and upregulation of the inflammatory enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissues. On the other hand, oral administration of Pj-EE-CF (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) alleviated these pathological features as assessed by lung wet/dry ratio, lung injury score, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein amount in the lung tissues up to 70%, 95%, and 99%, respectively. In addition, Pj-EE-CF down-regulated the release of inflammatory cytokines, interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ elevated by UPM 1648a in the lung tissues and lung BALF up to 95%. According to Western blot and luciferase assay, Pj-EE-CF (100 mg/kg in vivo or 50 and 100 μg/mL in vitro) significantly reduced the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal activated by UPM 1648a. Finally, UPM 1648a increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in BEAS-2B cells, while Pj-EE-CF reduced them. These results suggest that Pj-EE-CF alleviates UPM 1648a-induced lung damage via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and by suppressing NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, these observations imply that Pj-EE-CF could be a practical component of food supplements to mitigate air pollution-derived lung damage.

Application of aptamers in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is a discipline that studies how to use biological and engineering principles and operation methods to repair and regenerate damaged tissues and organs. Until now, regenerative medicine has focused mainly on the in-depth study of the pathological mechanism of diseases, the further development and application of new drugs, and tissue engineering technology strategies. The emergence of aptamers has supplemented the development methods and types of new drugs and enriched the application elements of tissue engineering technology, injecting new vitality into regenerative medicine. The role and application status of aptamers screened in recent years in various tissue regeneration and repair are reviewed, and the prospects and challenges of aptamer technology are discussed, providing a basis for the design and application of aptamers in long-term transformation.

Eupalinolide B attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through inhibition of NF-κB and MAPKs signaling by targeting TAK1 protein

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disease characterized by severe inflammatory response, which has no pharmacological therapy in clinic. In this study, we found that eupalinolide B (EB), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Eupatorium lindleyanum, significantly ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice, which manifests as reduction in lung injury score, activity of myeloperoxidase, and release of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). In RAW264.7 murine macrophages, EB effectively inhibited LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) by down-regulating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), respectively. Mechanistically, EB not only blocked LPS-induced phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase-α/β (IKKα/β), phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B alpha (IκBα), and phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) P65, but also suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in vitro or in vivo. Through cellular thermal shift assay and western blotting, EB was demonstrated to target and inactivate transforming growth factor β activated kinase-1 (TAK1), which is an important upstream kinase for the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. Additionally, EB-mediated actions were markedly abolished by dithiothreitol in LPS-exposed RAW264.7 cells, suggesting a crucial role of the α,γ-unsaturated lactone for the anti-inflammatory activity of EB. In conclusion, our findings showed that EB could effectively alleviate ALI in mice, and attenuate inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of TAK1, and TAK1-mediated activation of NF-κB and MAPKs cascades.

PD-L1 maintains neutrophil extracellular traps release by inhibiting neutrophil autophagy in endotoxin-induced lung injury

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is not only an important molecule in mediating tumor immune escape, but also regulates inflammation development. Here we showed that PD-L1 was upregulated on neutrophils in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Neutrophil specific knockout of PD-L1 reduced lung injury in ARDS model induced by intratracheal LPS injection. The level of NET release was reduced and autophagy is elevated by PD-L1 knockout in ARDS neutrophils both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of autophagy could reverse the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 knockout on NET release. PD-L1 interacted with p85 subunit of PI3K at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neutrophils from ARDS patients, activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. An extrinsic neutralizing antibody against PD-L1 showed a protective effect against ARDS. Together, PD-L1 maintains the release of NETs by regulating autophagy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in ARDS. Anti-PD-L1 therapy may be a promising measure in treating ARDS.

The Effects of Fenugreek Extract on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indexes, Immunity and NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Broiler

In order to study the regulation of Fenugreek seed extract (FSE) on the immunity of broilers, and explore the appropriate amount of FSE in broilers' production, 1-day-old yellow feather broilers with a total of 420 birds were randomly allocated into seven treatments. Each treatment had six replicates, with 10 birds per replicate. The two control groups were the basic fodder group fed with basal diet and the bacitracin zinc group added 30 mg/kg bacitracin zinc to the basal diet. Experimental groups included five levels of FSE (50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg FSE to the basal diet, respectively). The pre-test period was 7 days and the formal test lasted for 56 days. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) of 50 and 800 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the feed to gain ratio (F/G) of FSE groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared with the basic fodder and the bacitracin zinc groups. Compared with the basic fodder group, the serum total cholesterol (TC) content in the FSE groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) content of 50, 100, and 800 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly lower than that of the basic fodder group (P < 0.05). Compared with the basic fodder and bacitracin zinc groups, the serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) content of 100 and 200 mg/kg FSE groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the bacitracin zinc group, the serum interleukins (IL-1, IL-10) content of 400 mg/kg FSE group were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05), and the serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) content of 100 and 200 mg/kg FSE groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the basic fodder group, the lower doses (0–400 mg/kg) of FSE had no significant effect on the mRNA expression of toll-like receptors 4/ myeloid differentiation factor 88/ nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) signaling pathways (P > 0.05). The 800 mg/kg FSE treatment group significantly increased the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA in the spleen of broilers (P < 0.05). The zinc bacitracin group significantly increased the expression levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA (P ≤ 0.05). The results showed that FSE could promote the secretion of immunoglobulins, regulate the body's cytokines, and have a positive effect on immunity in broilers. Furthermore, the recommended supplement of FSE is 100 mg/kg in the broiler diet.

Aptamers Targeting Cardiac Biomarkers as an Analytical Tool for the Diagnostics of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review

The detection of cardiac biomarkers is used for diagnostics, prognostics, and the risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases. The analysis of cardiac biomarkers is routinely performed with high-sensitivity immunological assays. Aptamers offer an attractive alternative to antibodies for analytical applications but, to date, are not widely practically implemented in diagnostics and medicinal research. This review summarizes the information on the most common cardiac biomarkers and the current state of aptamer research regarding these biomarkers. Aptamers as an analytical tool are well established for troponin I, troponin T, myoglobin, and C-reactive protein. For the rest of the considered cardiac biomarkers, the isolation of novel aptamers or more detailed characterization of the known aptamers are required. More attention should be addressed to the development of dual-aptamer sandwich detection assays and to the studies of aptamer sensing in alternative biological fluids. The universalization of aptamer-based biomarker detection platforms and the integration of aptamer-based sensing to clinical studies are demanded for the practical implementation of aptamers to routine diagnostics. Nevertheless, the wide usage of aptamers for the diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases is promising for the future, with respect to both point-of-care and laboratory testing.