This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Cistanches Herba in the treatment of cancer-induced fatigue(CRF) by network pharmacology combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical medication. The chemical constituents and targets of Cistanches Herba were searched from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The targets of CRF were screened out by GeneCards and NCBI. The common targets of traditional Chinese medicine and disease were selected to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A visual signal pathway rela-ted to Chinese medicine and disease targets was constructed. The CRF model was induced by paclitaxel(PTX) in mice. Mice were divided into a control group, a PTX model group, and low-and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(250 and 500 mg·kg~(-1)). The anti-CRF effect in mice was evaluated by open field test, tail suspension test, and exhaustive swimming time, and the pathological morphology of skeletal muscle was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The cancer cachexia model in C2C12 muscle cells was induced by C26 co-culture, and the cells were divided into a control group, a conditioned medium model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(62.5, 125, and 250 μg·mL~(-1)). The reactive oxygen species(ROS) content in each group was detected by flow cytometry, and the intracellular mitochondrial status was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), BNIP3L, and Beclin-1 were detected by Western blot. Six effective constituents were screened out from Cistanches Herba. The core genes of Cistanches Herba in treating CRF were AKT1, IL-6, VEGFA, CASP3, JUN, EGFR, MYC, EGF, MAPK1, PTGS2, MMP9, IL-1B, FOS, and IL10, and the pathways related to CRF were AGE-RAGE and HIF-1α. Through GO enrichment analysis, it was found that the main biological functions involved were lipid peroxidation, nutrient deficiency, chemical stress, oxidative stress, oxygen content, and other biological processes. The results of the in vivo experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly improve skeletal muscle atrophy in mice to relieve CRF. The in vitro experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly reduce the content of intracellular ROS, the percentage of mitochondrial fragmentation, and the protein expression of Beclin-1 and increase the number of autophagosomes and the protein expression of HIF-1α and BNIP3L. Cistanches Herba showed a good anti-CRF effect, and its mechanism may be related to the key target proteins in the HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Animals ; Mice ; Cistanche ; Network Pharmacology ; Beclin-1 ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Plant Extracts ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/genetics*

This study explored the protective effect of astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ) on oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells and its underlying mechanism. An OGD-induced autophagic injury model in vitro was established in PC12 cells. The cells were divided into a normal group, an OGD group, low-, medium-, and high-dose AS-Ⅳ groups, and a positive drug dexmedetomidine(DEX) group. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes and autolysosomes, and the MDC staining method was used to assess the fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes. Western blot was conducted to determine the relative expression levels of functional proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin1, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, and HIF-1α. Compared with the normal group, the OGD group exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability(P<0.01), an increase in autophagosomes(P<0.01), enhanced fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), up-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the OGD group, the low-and medium-dose AS-Ⅳ groups and the DEX group showed a significant increase in cell viability(P<0.01), decreased autophagosomes(P<0.01), weakened fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), down-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and up-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.01). AS-Ⅳ at low and medium doses exerted a protective effect against OGD-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway, subsequently influencing HIF-1α. The high-dose AS-Ⅳ group did not show a statistically significant difference compared with the OGD group. This study provides a certain target reference for the prevention and treatment of OGD-induced cellular autophagic injury by AS-Ⅳ and accumulates laboratory data for the secondary development of Astragali Radix and AS-Ⅳ.
Rats ; Animals ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Glucose/therapeutic use* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Apoptosis ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy*

This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of saikosaponin D on the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells. The cell counting kit(CCK-8) was used to examine the effects of 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, and 28 μmol·L~(-1) saikosaponin D on the proliferation of Panc-1 cells. Three groups including the control(0 μmol·L~(-1)), low-concentration(10 μmol·L~(-1)) saikosaponin D, and high-concentration(16 μmol·L~(-1)) saikosaponin D groups were designed. The colony formation assay was employed to measure the effect of saikosaponin D on the colony formation rate of Panc-1 cells. The cells treated with saikosaponin D were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE), and the changes of cell morphology were observed. Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining was used to detect the effect of saikosaponin D on the cell apoptosis. The autophagy staining assay kit with MDC was used to examine the effect of saikosaponin D on the autophagy of Panc-1 cells. Western blot and immunocytochemistry(ICC) were employed to examine the effect of saikosaponin D on the expression levels and distribution of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3(caspase-3), cleaved caspase-3, autophagy-associated protein Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3), protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR). The results showed that compared with the control group, saikosaponin D decreased the proliferation rate of Panc-1 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The colony formation rate of the cells significantly decreased after saikosaponin D treatment. Compared with the control group, the cells treated with saikosaponin D became small, accompanied by the formation of apoptotic bodies. The saikosaponin D groups showed increased apoptosis rate and autophagic vesicle accumulation. Compared with the control group, saikosaponin D up-regulated the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase3, Beclin1, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR. In addition, these proteins mainly existed in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, saikosaponin D can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis and autophagy of Panc-1 cells via inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Caspase 3 ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Caspases ; Autophagy

This study explored the molecular mechanism of acteoside against hepatoma 22(H22) tumor in mice through c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) signaling pathway. H22 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in 50 male BALB/c mice, and then the model mice were classified into model group, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose acteoside groups, and cisplatin group. The administration lasted 2 weeks for each group(5 consecutive days/week). The general conditions of mice in each group, such as mental status, diet intake, water intake, activity, and fur were observed. The body weight, tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor-inhibiting rate were compared before and after administration. Morphological changes of liver cancer tissues were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining, and the expression of phosphorylated(p)-JNK, JNK, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Beclin-1, and light chain 3(LC3) in each tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. qRT-PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of JNK, Bcl-2, Beclin-1, and LC3. The general conditions of mice in model and low-dose acteoside groups were poor, while the general conditions of mice in the remaining three groups were improved. The body weight of mice in medium-dose acteoside group, high-dose acteoside group, and cisplatin group was smaller than that in model group(P<0.01). The tumor volume in model group was insignificantly different from that in low-dose acteoside group, and the volume in cisplatin group showed no significant difference from that in high-dose acteoside group. Tumor volume and weight in medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group were lower than those in the model group(P<0.001). The tumor-inhibiting rates were 10.72%, 40.32%, 53.79%, and 56.44% in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group, respectively. HE staining showed gradual decrease in the count of hepatoma cells and increasing sign of cell necrosis in the acteoside and cisplatin groups, and the necrosis was particularly obvious in the high-dose acteoside group and cisplatin group. Immunohistochemical results suggested that the expression of Beclin-1, LC3, p-JNK, and JNK was up-regulated in acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and qRT-PCR indicated that the expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated in the medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group(P<0.01). Western blot showed that the expression of Beclin-1, LC3, and p-JNK was up-regulated in acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.01), and there was no difference in the expression of JNK among groups. qRT-PCR results showed that the levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNA were up-regulated in the acteoside and cisplatin groups(P<0.05), and the level of JNK mRNA was up-regulated in medium-dose and high-dose acteoside groups and cisplatin group(P<0.001). Acteoside promotes apoptosis and autophagy of H22 cells in mice hepatoma cells by up-regulating the JNK signaling pathway, thus inhibiting tumor growth.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Cisplatin/pharmacology* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Beclin-1 ; Apoptosis ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Necrosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Autophagy

This study explored the effect and underlying mechanism of Stellera chamaejasme extract(SCE) on multidrug resistance of breast cancer. The chemotherapy-sensitive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and adriamycin(ADR)-resistant cell line MCF-7/ADR were used as experimental subjects. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation activity. Pi staining was used to detect the cell cycle. 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride(DAPI) staining and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis. Dansylcadaverine(MDC) staining and GFP-LC3B-Mcherry adenovirus transfection were used to detect autophagy. The protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, LC3B, p62, and Beclin-1 was detected by Western blot. The results showed that SCE could significantly inhibit the proliferation of both sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines. The drug resistance factor was 0.53, which was significantly lower than 59 of ADR. Meanwhile, the proportion of sensitive/resistant cells in the G_0/G_1 phase increased significantly after SCE treatment. In addition, DAPI staining showed that a series of apoptosis phenomena such as nuclear pyknosis, staining deepening, and nuclear fragmentation appeared in sensitive/resistant cell lines after SCE administration. Moreover, the results of flow cytometry double staining showed that the proportion of apoptotic cells in sensitive/resistant cell lines increased significantly after SCE administration. Besides, Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 significantly decreased and the expression level of Bax protein significantly increased in both breast cancer cell lines after SCE administration. Furthermore, SCE could also increase the positive fluorescent spots after MDC staining and yellow fluorescent spots after GFP-LC3B-mcherry transfection, and up-regulate the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3B-Ⅱ, p62, and Beclin-1 in breast cancer cells. In summary, SCE may play the role of anti-multidrug resistance by blocking the cell cycle of breast cancer multidrug-resistant cells, blocking autophagy flow, and ultimately interfering with the apoptosis resistance of drug-resistant cells.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; MCF-7 Cells ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Caspase 9/metabolism* ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Cell Proliferation

Objective To investigate the effect of H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress on autophagy and apoptosis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Methods hBMSCs were isolated and cultured. The cells were divided into control group, 3-MA group, H₂O₂ group, H₂O₂ combined with 3-MA group. DCFH-DA staining was used to analyze the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). hBMSCs were treated with 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 μmol/L H₂O₂, and then the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The level of autophagy was detected by monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and LysoTracker Red staining. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of beclin 1, mTOR, phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), cleaved caspase-3(c-caspase-3) and caspase-3 proteins. Results Compared with the control group and 3-MA group, ROS level and autophagosomes were increased and the proliferation and apoptosis were decreased in H₂O₂ group. The protein expression of beclin 1, mTOR, c-caspase-3 was up-regulated, while the p-mTOR was down-regulated. Compared with the 3-MA group, the H₂O₂ combined with 3-MA group also had an increased ROS level and autophagosomes, but not with significantly increased apoptosis rate; The protein expression of beclin 1, mTOR, c-caspase-3 was up-regulated, and the p-mTOR was down-regulated. Conclusion H₂O₂ can induce hMSCs to trigger oxidative stress response. It enhances the autophagy and inhibits the proliferation and apoptosis of hBMSCs.
Humans ; Beclin-1/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Autophagy ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hydrogen-rich water exerts a protective effect against cellular injury by affecting the level of autophagy after oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in a mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line (HT22 cells). METHODS: HT22 cells in logarithmic growth phase were cultured in vitro. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to find the optimal concentration of Na₂S₂O₄. HT22 cells were divided into control group (NC group), OGD/R group (sugar-free medium+10 mmol/L Na₂S₂O₄ treated for 90 minutes and then changed to normal medium for 4 hours) and hydrogen-rich water treatment group (HW group, sugar-free medium+10 mmol/L Na₂S₂O₄ treated for 90 minutes and then changed to medium containing hydrogen-rich water for 4 hours). The morphology of HT22 cells was observed by inverted microscopy; cell activity was detected by CCK-8 method; cell ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 was detected by immunofluorescence; the protein expression of LC3II/I and Beclin-1, markers of cellular autophagy, was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Inverted microscopy showed that compared with the NC group, the OGD/R group had poor cell status, swollen cytosol, visible cell lysis fragments and significantly lower cell activity [(49.1±2.7)% vs. (100.0±9.7)%, P < 0.01]; compared with the OGD/R group, the HW group had improved cell status and remarkably higher cell activity [(63.3±1.8)% vs. (49.1±2.7)%, P < 0.01]. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the neuronal nuclear membrane of cells in the OGD/R group was lysed and a higher number of autophagic lysosomes were visible compared with the NC group; compared with the OGD/R group, the neuronal damage of cells in the HW group was reduced and the number of autophagic lysosomes was notably decreased. The results of immunofluorescence assay showed that the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 were outstandingly enhanced in the OGD/R group compared with the NC group, and the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 were markedly weakened in the HW group compared with the OGD/R group. Western blotting assay showed that the expressions were prominently higher in both LC3II/I and Beclin-1 in the OGD/R group compared with the NC group (LC3II/I: 1.44±0.05 vs. 0.37±0.03, Beclin-1/β-actin: 1.00±0.02 vs. 0.64±0.01, both P < 0.01); compared with the OGD/R group, the protein expression of both LC3II/I and Beclin-1 in the HW group cells were notably lower (LC3II/I: 0.54±0.02 vs. 1.44±0.05, Beclin-1/β-actin: 0.83±0.07 vs. 1.00±0.02, both P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Hydrogen-rich water has a significant protective effect on OGD/R-causing HT22 cell injury, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of autophagy.
Mice ; Animals ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Actins ; Sincalide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Hydrogen/pharmacology* ; Reperfusion Injury ; Apoptosis

OBJECTIVES: To study the role and mechanism of autophagy in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. METHODS: A549 cells were stimulated with LPS to establish a cell model of inflammatory response, and were then grouped (n=3 each) by concentration (0, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) and time (0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours). The A549 cells were treated with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): control, LPS, 3-MA, and 3-MA+LPS. The A549 cells were treated with autophagy agonist rapamycin (RAPA) to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): control, LPS, RAPA, and RAPA+LPS. The A549 cells were transfected with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) overexpression plasmid to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): TLR4 overexpression control, TLR4 overexpression, TLR4 overexpression control+LPS, and TLR4 overexpression+LPS. The A549 cells were transfected with TLR4 siRNA to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): TLR4 silencing control,TLR4 silencing, TLR4 silencing control+LPS, and TLR4 silencing+LPS. CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell viability. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of inflammatory indicators (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and ASC), autophagic indicators (LC3B, Beclin-1, and P62), and TLR4. RESULTS: After stimulation with 1 μg/mL LPS for 12 hours, the levels of inflammatory indicators (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and ASC), autophagic indicators (LC3B, Beclin-1, and P62), and TLR4 increased and reached the peak (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the 3-MA+LPS group had reduced expression of autophagy-related proteins and increased expression of inflammation-related proteins and TLR4, while the RAPA+LPS group had increased expression of autophagy-related proteins and reduced inflammation-related proteins and TLR4 (P<0.05). The TLR4 overexpression+LPS group had reduced autophagy-related proteins and increased inflammation-related proteins compared with the TLR4 overexpression control+LPS group, and the TLR4 silencing+LPS group had increased autophagy-related proteins and reduced inflammation-related proteins compared with the TLR4 silencing control+LPS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In the LPS-induced inflammatory response of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells, autophagic flux has a certain protective effect on A549 cells. TLR4-mediated autophagic flux negatively regulates the LPS-induced inflammatory response of A549 cells.
Humans ; A549 Cells ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular mechanism of PI3K-Ⅲ like functional domain inducing programmed cell death of leukemia cell line K562. METHODS: The purified PI3K-Ⅲ like functional domain protein was obtained by Pichia pastoris expression system. MTT assay and colony-forming assay were used to detect the effects of PI3K-Ⅲ like functional domain protein on K562 cell proliferation. The effects of PI3K-Ⅲ like functional domain protein on apoptosis and cell cycle of on K562 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The ultrastructural changes were detected by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of caspase-3 was detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of ATG4B, Beclin-1, Bcl-2 and LC3-II were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: PI3K-Ⅲ like functional domain protein could inhibit the proliferation and clony formation of K562 cells, which was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). In the experimental group, apoptosis and autophagosome were shown in K562 cells. The proportion of cells in G₀/G₁ phase increased significantly, while in S phase decreased significantly. Cell growth mostly stagnated in G₀/G₁ phase, which was significantly different from the control group (P<0.05). With the increase of concentration, the expression of caspase-3 protein increased significantly compared with the control group (r=0.966, P<0.05). The expression of ATG4B and beclin-1 appeared from increase to decrease, LC3-II increased while Bcl-2 decreased at different time points. CONCLUSION PI3K-Ⅲ like functional polypeptide could induce programmed cell death of leukemia cell K562. Beclin-1/Bcl-2 and caspase pathway may be involved in this way, which suggesting meant autophagy and apoptosis may work together at the same time.
Apoptosis ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism*

Objective: To investigate the effects of Zhongfeng capsule on the autophagy-related proteins expression in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/ RI), and to explore its neural protection mechanisms of the decoction. Methods: Rat middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion injury model (ischemia for 2 h, reperfusion for 24 h) was prepared by the improved line plug method. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, butylphthalide group(0.054 g/kg), Zhongfeng capsule high-dose groups (1.08 g/kg), Zhongfeng capsule middle-dose groups (0.54 g/kg), Zhongfeng capsule low-dose groups (0.27 g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Rats were treated with Zhongfeng capsule by gavage once a day for 10 days. The rats were sacrificed and the brain tissue was obtained after the experiment in each group. Score neurological deficit was evaluated after 24 h of the last intervention in rat of each group. The pathological changes of brain tissue were observed by HE staining. The serum levels of estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined by ELISA. The expressions of key genes and proteins of PI3K/Akt/Beclin1 signaling pathway in brain tissue were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the body weight and protein expressions of p-PI3k and p-Akt in brain tissue of rats were decreased significantly in the model group, while the brain index, neurological deficit score, gene and protein expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 were increased markedly in the model group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). In the model group, nerve cells of brain tissue were loosely packed, interstitial edema, triangular in shape, nuclear pyknosis and dark-blue staining were observed. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats was increased obviously, the neurological deficit score was decreased significantly and the pathological injury of brain tissue was alleviated evidently in high-dose of Zhongfeng capsule group (P＜0.05). The brain index, the gene and protein expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 were decreased apparently in Zhongfeng capsule treatment groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), while the expressions of p-PI3k and p-Akt in brain tissue were increased evidently in Zhongfeng capsule treatment groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Conclusion: Zhongfeng capsule can inhibit autophagy and improve brain neurons lesion of CIRI rats, the mechanism may be related to regulate the expression of Beclin1 and LC3 in PI3K/Akt/Beclin1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Autophagy-Related Proteins/pharmacology* ; Beclin-1/metabolism* ; Body Weight ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy*