Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis on Inflammation Rat Model after Oral Administration of Huang Lian Jie Du Decoction

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction (HLJDD) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula with heat-dissipating and detoxifying effects. It is used to treat inflammation-associated diseases. However, no systematic pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data concerning the activity of HLJDD under inflammatory conditions is available to date. In the present study, the concentration-time profiles and the hepatic clearance rates (HCR) of 41 major components in rat plasma in response to the oral administration of a clinical dose of HLJDD were investigated by LC-QqQ-MS using a dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (DMRM) method. Additionally, the levels of 7 cytokines (CKs) in the plasma and the body temperature of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, a PK-PD model was established to describe the time course of the hemodynamic and anti-inflammatory effects of HLJDD. As one of the three major active constituents in HLJDD, iridoids were absorbed and eliminated more easily and quickly than alkaloids and flavonoids. Compared with the normal controls, the flavonoids, alkaloids and iridoids in inflamed rats exhibited consistently changing trends of PK behaviors, such as higher bioavailability, slower elimination, delays in reaching the maximum concentration (T_max) and longer substantivity. The HCR of iridoids was different from that of alkaloids and flavonoids in inflamed rats. Furthermore, excellent pharmacodynamic effects of HLJDD were observed in inflamed rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-10, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and body temperature significantly decreased after the administration of HLJDD. Based on PK-PD modeling with the three-phase synchronous characterization of time-concentration-effect, flavonoids exhibited one mechanism of action in the anti-inflammatory process, while iridoids and alkaloids showed another mechanism of action. Taken together, the results demonstrated that HLJDD may restrain inflammation synergistically via its major constituents (alkaloids, flavonoids and iridoids). A correlation between the exposure concentration of different types of compounds and their anti-inflammatory effects in the body was shown. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the anti-inflammatory activity of HLJDD.

Exosomal miR-146a-5p derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells regulate Th1/Th2 balance and alleviates immune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common hematological disorder. Our previous study has found that exosomal miR-146a-5p derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) regulate Th17/Treg balance to alleviate ITP. This work further investigated the role of miR-146a-5p in ITP with pregnancy. Compared with healthy pregnant volunteers, the levels of Th1 cells and IFN-γ were increased, the levels of Th2 cells and IL-4 were decreased in peripheral blood of ITP patients with pregnancy. Then, human BMSCs-exosomes repressed the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in CD4+ T cells, while BMSCs-exosomes with miR-146a-5p inhibitor increased Th1/Th2 cell ratio. Moreover, an ITP mouse model with pregnancy was constructed by administering anti-CD41 antibody in pregnant mice to verify the role of BMSCs-Exo in vivo. BMSCs-Exo elevated the number of platelet and megakaryocyte, improved the function of gastric, spleen and thymus tissues in ITP mice with pregnancy, which attributed to delivery miR-146a-5p. Furthermore, miR-146a-5p interacted with CARD10, and then repressed CARD10/NF-κB signaling pathway. BMSCs-exosomes promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of Dami cells. In conclusion, BMSCs-exosomal miR-146a-5p reduced Th1/Th2 cell ratio to elevate proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of Dami cells, thereby alleviating ITP with pregnancy development. Therefore, miR-146a-5p may be a target for ITP with pregnancy treatment.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis provides insights into the development of a Salvia splendens Ker-Gawler mutant, SX919M

Salvia splendens is a perennial, ornamental herbaceous flower that is widely cultivated as a bedding plant in gardens. The development of novel S. splendens cultivars and investigating the relevant molecular mechanisms are of great significance. In this study, RNA-sequencing and real-time PCR methods were used to analyze the possible molecular mechanism of S. splendens mutant, SX919M. From the wild-type S. splendens 919CK, we firstly selected a natural mutant, SX919M, which displayed multiple branches, clustered spheroids, and radial symmetrical inflorescence with higher numbers of calyces, ovules, stamens, and perianth tubes. Further, the RNA-seq was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mutant which included a total of 3568 upregulated and 3290 downregulated unigenes. We further observed that the indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathway showed the highest DEG enrichment, which was supported by a significant increase in the IAA content in mutant SX919M. In addition, we validated three DEGs, namely, CL2200.Contig2_All encoding methyl IAA esterase, CL12462.Contig1_All and CL12462.Contig2_All, which encoded strictosidine synthase, upregulated in mutant SX919M. We selected a novel S. splendens germplasm SX919M with a high ornamental value and determined that the upregulation of IAA biogenesis may be associated with its development.