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Li W, Yang S, Zhao Y, Di Nunzio G, Ren L, Fan L, Zhao R, Zhao D, Wang J. Ginseng-derived nanoparticles alleviate alcohol-induced liver injury by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway and inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Phytomedicine 2024; 127:155428. [PMID: 38458086 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have confirmed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of active ginseng components that protect against liver injury. However, ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs), low-immunogenicity nanovesicles derived from ginseng, have not been reported to be hepatoprotective. PURPOSE In this study, we investigated whether GDNPs could attenuate alcohol-induced liver injury in LO2 cells and mice by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, thereby advancing the theoretical basis for the development of novel pharmacological treatments. STUDY DESIGN Alcohol was used to construct in vitro and in vivo models of alcoholic liver injury. To explore the mechanisms by which GDNPs exert their protective effects against alcoholic liver injury, we examined the expression of oxidative stress-related genes and analysed inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. The experimental findings were verified using network pharmacology. METHODS The composition of the GDNPs was analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. GDNPs were extracted and purified using differential ultracentrifugation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In vitro models of alcoholic liver injury were established using LO2 cells, whereas C57BL/6 J mice were used as in vivo models. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver injury indicators were measured using appropriate kits. Levels of proteins associated with oxidative stress and inflammation were measured via western blot, while nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NF-κB protein expression was tested using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. The levels of relevant transcription factors were determined using qPCR. Experimental haematoxylin and eosin staining was used to characterise the liver histological appearance and damage in mice. Network pharmacological analysis of GDNP mRNA sequencing of GDNPs was used to predict drug targets and disease associations using TCMSP. RESULTS GDNPs primarily included 77 compounds, including organic acids and their derivatives, amino acids and their derivatives, sugars, terpenoids, and flavonoids. GDNPs have features that allow them to be taken up by LO2 cells and promote their proliferation. In vitro data indicated that GDNPs reduced the levels of alcohol-induced reactive oxygen species by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway, whilst inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and thereby reducing NO, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β levels to alleviate inflammation. An in vivo model showed that GDNPs improved the liver parameters and pathology in mice with alcoholic liver injury. GDNPs activate the Nrf2/HO-1/Keap1 signalling pathway in a p62-dependent manner to exert antioxidant effects. Furthermore, the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway was involved in the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect. Network pharmacology also confirmed that the effects of GDNPs on liver disease were associated with oxidative stress and inflammation-related targets and pathways. CONCLUSION This study showed for the first time that GDNPs can alleviate alcohol-induced liver damage by activating the Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway and blocking the NF-κB signalling pathway, thus lowering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Hereby, we present the Nrf2/HO1 and NF-κB signalling pathways as potential targets and GDNPs as a novel therapeutic approach for the management of alcohol-induced liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Li
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Song Yang
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yueming Zhao
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Giada Di Nunzio
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden
| | - Limei Ren
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Liangliang Fan
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ronghua Zhao
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- Northeast Asia Institute of traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Boshuo Road, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, China; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
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Yang S, Li W, Bai X, Di Nunzio G, Fan L, Zhao Y, Ren L, Zhao R, Bian S, Liu M, Wei Y, Zhao D, Wang J. Ginseng-derived nanoparticles alleviate inflammatory bowel disease via the TLR4/MAPK and p62/Nrf2/Keap1 pathways. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:48. [PMID: 38302938 PMCID: PMC10832157 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02313-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely linked to the homeostasis of the intestinal environment, and exosomes can be used to treat IBD due to their high biocompatibility and ability to be effectively absorbed by the intestinal tract. However, Ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) have not been studied in this context and their mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we investigated GDNPs ability to mediate intercellular communication in a complex inflammatory microenvironment in order to treat IBD. We found that GDNPs scavenge reactive oxygen species from immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells, inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, promote the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells, as well as enhancing the diversity of the intestinal flora. GDNPs significantly stabilise the intestinal barrier thereby promoting tissue repair. Overall, we proved that GDNPs can ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro, acting on the TLR4/MAPK and p62/Keap1/Nrf2 pathways, and exerting an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. GDNPs mitigated IBD in mice by reducing inflammatory factors and improving the intestinal environment. This study offers new evidence of the potential therapeutic effects of GDNPs in the context of IBD, providing the conceptual ground for an alternative therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Yang
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Xueyuan Bai
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Giada Di Nunzio
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Liangliang Fan
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Yueming Zhao
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Limei Ren
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Ronghua Zhao
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Shuai Bian
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Meichen Liu
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Yuchi Wei
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China.
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Lv Y, Li M, Weng L, Huang H, Mao Y, Yang DA, Wei Q, Zhao M, Wei Q, Rui K, Han X, Fan W, Cai X, Cao P, Cao M. Ginseng-derived nanoparticles reprogram macrophages to regulate arginase-1 release for ameliorating T cell exhaustion in tumor microenvironment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:322. [PMID: 38012650 PMCID: PMC10683135 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02888-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lines of evidence indicated that, immune checkpoints (ICs) inhibitors enhanced T cell immune response to exert anti-tumor effects. However, T cell exhaustion has been so far a major obstacle to antitumor immunotherapy in colorectal cancer patients. Our previous studies showed that ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) inhibited the growth of various tumors by reprograming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and downregulated the ICs expression on T cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), but the underlying effector mechanisms remained unclear. METHODS The correlation between arginase-1 (ARG1) and T cells was computed based on the colorectal cancer patients in TCGA database. In vitro, we observed that GDNPs reprogrammed TAMs inhibited ARG1 release and ultimately ameliorated T cell exhaustion according to several techniques including WB, PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry. We also used an in vivo MC38 tumor-bearing model and administered GDNPs to assess their anti-tumor effects through multiple indices. The mechanism that GDNPs improved T cell exhaustion was further clarified using the bioinformatics tools and flow cytometry. RESULTS GDNPs reprogramed TAMs via reducing ARG1 production. Moreover, normalized arginine metabolism ameliorated T cell exhaustion through mTOR-T-bet axis, resulting in reduced ICs expression and enhanced CD8+ T cells expansion. CONCLUSIONS By regulating the mTOR-T-bet axis, GDNPs reprogramed macrophages to regulate ARG1 release, which further ameliorated T cell exhaustion in TME. These findings provided new insights into comprehending the mechanisms underlying the mitigation of T cell exhaustion, which may facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic strategies in the field of cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lv
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Weng
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haoying Huang
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yujie Mao
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Danchen Aaron Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingyun Wei
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengmeng Zhao
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qin Wei
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ke Rui
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuan Han
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weiwei Fan
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xueting Cai
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Zhenjiang Hospital of Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Meng Cao
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Cao M, Yan H, Han X, Weng L, Wei Q, Sun X, Lu W, Wei Q, Ye J, Cai X, Hu C, Yin X, Cao P. Ginseng-derived nanoparticles alter macrophage polarization to inhibit melanoma growth. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:326. [PMID: 31775862 PMCID: PMC6882204 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0817-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It is unclear whether plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate interspecies communication with mammalian cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) display a continuum of different polarization states between tumoricidal M1 phenotype and tumor-supportive M2 phenotypes, with a lower M1/M2 ratio correlating with tumor growth, angiogenesis and invasion. We investigated whether EVs from ginseng can alter M2-like polarization both in vitro and in vivo to promote cancer immunotherapy. Methods A novel EVs-liked ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) were isolated and characterized from Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. Using GDNPs as an immunopotentiator for altering M2 polarized macrophages, we analyzed associated surface markers, genes and cytokines of macrophages treated with GDNPs. Mice bearing B16F10 melanoma were treated with GDNPs therapy. Tumor growth were assessed, and TAM populations were evaluated by FACS and IF. Results GDNPs significantly promoted the polarization of M2 to M1 phenotype and produce total reactive oxygen species, resulting in increasing apoptosis of mouse melanoma cells. GDNP-induced M1 polarization was found to depend upon Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and myeloid differentiation antigen 88 (MyD88)-mediated signaling. Moreover, ceramide lipids and proteins of GDNPs may play an important role in macrophage polarization via TLR4 activation. We found that GDNPs treatment significantly suppressed melanoma growth in tumor-bearing mice with increased presence of M1 macrophages detected in the tumor tissue. Conclusions GDNPs can alter M2 polarization both in vitro and in vivo, which contributes to an antitumor response. The polarization of macrophages induced by GDNPs is largely dependent on TLR4 and MyD88 signalling. GDNPs as an immunomodulator participate in mammalian immune response and may represent a new class of nano-drugs in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huaijiang Yan
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuan Han
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Weng
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qin Wei
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wuguang Lu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingyun Wei
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juan Ye
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xueting Cai
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunping Hu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyang Yin
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. .,College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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