Tanshinol ameliorates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats through the regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway

Tanshinol, a water-soluble component isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has a variety of biological activities involving anti-fibrotic effect. However, the exact role and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. This study mainly focused on the anti-hepatic fibrotic activities and mechanisms of tanshinol on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats via anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation pathways. The rats were divided into 4 groups as follows: control, model, tanshinol 20 mg/kg, and tanshinol 40 mg/kg. Except for the control group, CCl4 was used to induce liver fibrosis processing for 8 weeks, meanwhile rats in tanshinol groups were intraperitoneally injected with additional tanshinol. Control group simultaneously received the same volumes of olive oil and saline. The potentially protective effect and mechanisms of tanshinol on liver fibrosis in rats were evaluated. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were obviously lower in the tanshinol treatment groups related to model group. Compared with the model group, the levels of hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen, Laminin (LN), and procollagen III peptide (PIIIP) in serum were significantly decreased after tanshinol treatment. Furthermore, tanshinol could regulate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and increase the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and also decrease the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) to against damage induced by oxidative stress. Simultaneously tanshinol could regulate nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway to inhibit expression of inflammation factors, including transforming growth factor-β, tumor necrosis factor-α, Cox-2, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. In summary, our research demonstrated that tanshinol has protective effect on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis via inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation, which may be associated with the regulation of nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2/hemeoxygenase-a and nuclear factor kappa B/inhibitor of kappa B alpha signaling pathways.

Tanshinol alleviates impaired bone formation by inhibiting adipogenesis via KLF15/PPARγ2 signaling in GIO rats

Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is characterized by impaired bone formation, which can be alleviated by tanshinol, an aqueous polyphenol isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying GC-induced modulation of osteogenesis as well as the possibility of using tanshinol to interfere with GIO. Female SD rats aged 4 months were orally administered distilled water (Con), prednisone (GC, 5 mg·kg-1·d-1), GC plus tanshinol (Tan, 16 mg·kg-1·d-1) or GC plus resveratrol (Res, 5 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 14 weeks. After the rats were sacrificed, samples of bone tissues were collected. The changes in bone formation were assessed using Micro-CT, histomorphometry, and biomechanical assays. Expression of Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ 2) and other signaling proteins in skeletal tissue was measured with Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR. GC treatment markedly increased the expression of KLF15, PPARγ2, C/EBPα and aP2, which were related to adipogenesis, upregulated FoxO3a pathway proteins (FoxO3a and Gadd45a), and suppressed the canonical Wnt signaling (β-catenin and Axin2), which was required for osteogenesis. Thus, GC significantly decreased bone mass and bone quality. Co-treatment with Tan or Res effectively counteracted GC-impaired bone formation, suppressed GC-induced adipogenesis, and restored abnormal expression of the signaling molecules in GIO rats. We conclude that tanshinol counteracts GC-decreased bone formation by inhibiting marrow adiposity via the KLF15/PPARγ2/FoxO3a/Wnt pathway.

Tanshinol stimulates bone formation and attenuates dexamethasone-induced inhibition of osteogenesis in larval zebrafish

Background/Objective

Tanshinol is the main active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a significant Traditional Chinese Medicine used to treat cardiovascular disease. We have shown that tanshinol exerts an antiosteoporostic effect via the enhancement of bone formation in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Based on the polyphenol group in the structure of tanshinol, we speculate the protective action on skeletal tissue is related to antioxidative capacity. Our in vitro evidence indicated that tanshinol stimulated osteoblastic differentiation by its antioxidaive capacity. In this study, we aim to further confirm the effect of tanshinol on bone formation and the underlying mechanism in zebrafish in vivo.

Methods

We used a Danio rerio (zebrafish) model, which has a bone formation process similar to humans, and evaluated the relationship between the dose and the effect of tanshinol on bone formation determined using alizarin red S staining or fluorescence intensity analysis in normal and glucocorticoid (GC)-induced inhibition of an osteogenesis model using wild-type zebrafish and cortical bone transgenic zebrafish tg(sp7:egfp). The expression of osteoblast-specific genes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were tested.

Results

Our data showed that dexamethasone exerts a series of consequences, including the inhibition of bone formation, decrease of bone mass, downregulation of expression of osteoblast-specific genes (runx2a, ALP, osteocalcin, and sp7), as well as the accumulation of ROS generation and decreased capacity of antioxidants. Tanshinol showed a protective effect on promoting bone formation and bone mass both in wild-type larval zebrafish and transgenic zebrafish. Furthermore, tanshinol attenuated the inhibition of osteogenesis elicited by oxidative stress in the zebrafish exposed to dexamethasone.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest that tanshinol prevented decreased osteogenesis in GC-treated larval zebrafish via scavenging ROS and stimulated the expression of osteoblast-specific genes. Tanshinol treatment may be developed as a novel therapeutic approach under recent recognised conditions of GC-induced osteoporosis.

Tanshinol inhibits the growth, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway

Background

Tanshinol is an active constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza and possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial activity. Herein, we explored the role of tanshinol on the growth and aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro and in vivo.

Materials and methods

The proliferation of a panel of HCC cell lines was measured using MTT assay. The expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical assay. The levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined using immunoblotting assay. The secretions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were detected by ELISA. The migration and invasion abilities of HepG2 cell were determined using wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. The apoptosis of HepG2 cell induced by tanshinol was analyzed by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. A xenograft model was constructed to investigate the inhibitory effect of tanshinol on HepG2 cell growth in vivo. To further investigate the role of tanshinol on the metastasis of HepG2 cell in vivo, an experimental metastasis assay was performed.

Results

Tanshinol inhibited the growth and colony formation of HCC cell in vitro. Tanshinol also induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cell and inhibited the migration and invasion of HepG2 cell. In in vivo experiments, tanshinol suppressed the tumor growth and metastasis of HepG2 cell. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT was decreased by tanshinol in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Tanshinol exerts its anti-cancer effects via regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in HCC.

Tanshinol upregulates the expression of aquaporin 5 in lung tissue of rats with sepsis

Aquaporin 5 (AQP-5) is a water channel protein that is closely associated with non-small cell lung cancer tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of tanshinol treatment on AQP-5 in the lung tissue of rats with sepsis. Animals in a rat sepsis model were randomly divided into six groups including blank control (ctrl), sham operation (SO), model (sepsis), low dose tanshinol (5 mg/kg/day; Tan-L), moderate dose tanshinol (10 mg/kg/day; Tan-M) and high dose tanshinol (20 mg/kg/day; Tan-H) groups. After 7 days of administration, the expression level of AQP-5 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for histopathological observation. The expression levels of AQP-5, P38 and phosphorylated (P)-P38 protein in lung tissues were detected by western blot analysis. The expression levels of AQP-5 in the sepsis group were significantly decreased compared with those in ctrl and SO groups (P<0.01), while the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and p-P38 were significantly increased in sepsis group compared with those in ctrl and SO groups (P<0.01). Following tanshinol intervention, the expression levels of AQP-5 were significantly increased, while the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and p-P38 were decreased compared with those in sepsis group. Tanshinol may upregulate the expression of AQP-5 by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylation of P38, therefore protecting the lung tissue of rats with sepsis.

Tanshinol alleviates ulcerative colitis by promoting the expression of VLDLR

Tanshinol (TAN) is a widely used Chinese medicine ingredient with anti‐inflammatory activity. The therapeutic effect of TAN in ulcerative colitis (UC) deserves further investigation. DSS induced UC model for mice, and TAN of different concentrations was used for in vivo therapy. Colons length was measured; expression of VLDLR in colonic mucosal tissue was evaluated by qRT‐PCR, Western blot and histochemical staining. Besides, normal colorectal mucosal cell line (FHC) was treated with LPS to imitate the inflammatory process of UC in vitro. Different concentrations of TAN treated UC cell model. ELISA and qRT‐PCR were applied to examine the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐8, or IL‐1β). Flow cytometry and MTT was used to identify the apoptosis and viability of FHC cells, respectively. Afterwards, Western blot was performed to detect the expressions of Bax, Bcl‐2, Cleaved caspase‐3, and Cleaved caspase‐9 in FHC cells. VLDLR was low‐expressed in UC tissues as compared to the normal tissue. TAN could alleviate DSS‐induced colons length shortening, colonic tissue structure destruction, inflammatory response, and VLDLR expression decrease in vivo. Further study found that TAN could alleviate LPS‐induced inflammatory response, apoptosis, and viability decrease of FHC cells, and siVLDLR could partially offset the effect of TAN. TAN alleviates LPS‐induced viability decrease, apoptosis, and inflammatory response in FHC cells by promoting VLDLR expression.

Tanshinol relieves lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory injury of HaCaT cells via down-regulation of microRNA-122

This study investigated the effects of tanshinol (TAN) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human keratinocytes inflammatory injury and underlying potential molecular mechanisms. Viability and apoptosis of HaCaT cells were assessed using MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression of microRNA-122 (miR-122) in HaCaT cells. Cell transfection was conducted to up-regulate the expression of miR-122. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of key factors involved in cell apoptosis, inflammatory response, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. We found that LPS treatment induced HaCaT cell inflammatory injury by inhibiting cell viability, promoting cell apoptosis, and enhancing the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. TAN treatment relieved LPS-induced HaCaT cell inflammatory injury. Moreover, TAN treatment attenuated LPS-induced activation of JNK and NF-κB pathways in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, TAN treatment alleviated LPS-induced up-regulation of miR-122. Overexpression of miR-122 reversed the effects of TAN on LPS-induced HaCaT cell inflammatory injury and activation of JNK and NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, TAN exerted anti-inflammatory and protective effects on keratinocytes injury. TAN relieved LPS-induced inflammatory injury of human HaCaT cells via down-regulating miR-122 and then inactivating JNK and NF-κB pathways.

Tanshinol protects hippocampus and attenuates vascular dementia development

Tanshinol (3-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-(2R)-lactic acid, TSL) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Here, we assessed whether TSL protected hippocampus and attenuated vascular dementia (VD) development in rats. The behavioral analysis showed that TSL could decrease the distance and latency time, and increase the swim speed in water maze in rats subjected to VD. TSL remarkably increased acetylcholine level and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in rats subjected to VD. Likewise, TSL remarkably decreased malondialdehyde and increased superoxide dismutase levels in rats subjected to VD. Furthermore, treatment with TSL reduced the level of dead neurons in dentate gyrus. In addition, TSL upregulated growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and downregulated phosphorylated Akt (p-AKt) and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase (p-GSK3β) expression in hippocampus in rats subjected to VD. These results suggest that TSL may be a potential compound in VD model.

Chemical Synthesis, Safety and Efficacy of Antihypertensive Candidate Drug 221s (2,9)

Hypertension is the main risk factor of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this paper, a novel compound known as 221s (2,9), which includes tanshinol, borneol and a mother nucleus of ACEI, was synthesized by condensation esterification, deprotection, amidation, deprotection, and amidation, with borneol as the initial raw material, using the strategy of combinatorial molecular chemistry. The structure of the compound was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, with a purity of more than 99.5%. The compound 221s (2,9) can significantly reduce the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of SHR rats by about 50 mmHg and 35 mmHg after 4 weeks of administration. The antihypertensive effect of 221s (2,9) is equivalent to that of captopril. The use of 221s (2,9) can reduce the content of Ren, Ang II and ACE in the serum of SHR rats, inhibit the RAAS and enhance the vascular endothelial function by upregulating the level of NO. Pathological studies in this area have shown that high dosage of 221s (2,9) can notably protect myocardial fibrosis in rats and reduce the degeneration and necrosis of myocardial fibers, inflammatory cell infiltration, and proliferation of fibrous tissue in the heart of rat. Therefore, the existing work provided a foundation for preclinical research and follow-up clinical research of 221s (2,9) as a new drug.