1.Repair Mechanism of Jianpi Huogu Prescription on Vascular Injury in Alcohol-induced Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head Based on VEGF/VEGFR2/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Changting FANG-LUO ; Qianqian WANG ; Congcong SUN ; Qun LI ; Chao YANG ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Zhixing HU ; Chunfang LIU ; Na LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(8):186-194
MethodIn the experiment, 46% vol Red Star Erguotou (10 mL·kg·d-1) was used to establish the AONFH rat model, and the intervention effect of JPHGP at different doses (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g·kg-1) was observed. Jiangusheng pill (JGS, 1.53 g·kg-1) was selected as the positive control. After 8 weeks of administration, the bone histomorphometry of the femoral head was analyzed by Micro-CT imaging, and the area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head was detected by ink perfusion. The pathological change was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The protein expressions of Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), VEGF, VEGFR2, PI3K, phosphor-Akt (p-Akt) and phosphatase and Tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in the femoral head were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. ResultCompared with normal group, the model group presented the fracture and thinning of trabeculae in the femoral head, increased empty bone lacunae, and elevated number and diameter of adipocytes (P<0.01). Micro-CT imaging revealed a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) (P<0.05, P<0.01) while an increase in bone surface-to-volume ratio (BS/BV) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) (P<0.01). The results of ink perfusion showed that the area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head was reduced (P<0.01). Compared with model group, JPHGP lowered the empty bone lacunae rate as well as the number and diameter of adipocytes in the femoral head of AONFH rats. Micro-CT imaging indicated that JPHGP low-dose group had elevated BV/TV, Tb.Th and Tb.N (P<0.05, P<0.01) while decreased BS/BV (P<0.01), and there was an upward trend in BMD while a downward trend in Tb.Sp, but without statistical difference. In addition, JPHGP medium- and high-dose groups had a rise in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.Th and Tb.N (P<0.05, P<0.01), a decrease in BS/BV and Tb.Sp (P<0.05, P<0.01) and enlarged area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of CD31, VEGF, VEGFR2, PI3K, p-Akt in the model group were lower than those in the normal group (P<0.01), and after medium and high doses of JPHGP treatment, the expressions of CD31, PI3K and p-Akt in the femoral head of rats were up-regulated (P<0.01) while the protein expression of PTEN was down-regulated (P<0.01). Moreover, JPHGP up-regulated the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionJPHGP can repair the vascular injury in AONFH, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of VEGF/VEGFR2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study provides certain scientific basis and reference for the clinical application of JPHGP. ObjecctiveTo observe the repair effect of Jianpi Huogu prescription (JPHGP) on vascular injury in experimental alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (AONFH), and to explore its mechanism based on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGFR2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway.
2.Anti-swelling and Analgesic Mechanism of Jianpi Tongluo Prescription from MAPKs Signaling Pathway
Ruirui MING ; Changting FANG-LUO ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Zhixing HU ; Chao YANG ; Tengteng XU ; Hongjie WANG ; Chunfang LIU ; Na LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(12):85-93
ObjectiveTo observe the anti-swelling and analgesic effects of Jianpi Tongluo prescription (JPTL) and to explore its mechanism initially. MethodA total of 120 ICR mice were divided into normal group, model group, JPTL low-, medium- and high-dose groups (5, 10, 20 g·kg-1) and positive drug (celecoxib, 0.03 g·kg-1) group, with 10 in each group (po,once a day). Complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) was used to induce the model of chronic inflammatory pain, and xylene-induced ear swelling test, hot plate test and acetic acid writhing test were performed to observe the anti-swelling and analgesic effects of different doses of JPTL in these four acute and chronic models. Further, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expressions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and inflammatory paw of mice with chronic inflammatory pain, and the expressions of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in inflammatory paw were detected by Western blot, to explore the preliminary mechanism of JPTL. ResultCompared with the conditions in the normal group, there was a significant increase in the ear swelling of xylene-induced model mice, a shortened paw withdrawal latency in the hot plate test (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, JPTL remarkably increased the inhibition rate of xylene-induced ear swelling (P<0.05, P<0.01), prolonged the latency period of writhing caused by acetic acid and reduced the number of writhing (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with normal group, the degree of feet swelling in chronic inflammatory pain mice was significantly increased, the threshold of mechanical pain was decreased and the threshold of cold pain was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein contents of AQP1 and AQP3 in inflammatory feet were increased, and the contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2 and COX2 in inflammatory feet were increased in serum and/or inflammatory feet. The protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p-JNK and p-ERK in inflammatory feet were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, JPTL relieved paw swelling of mice with chronic inflammatory pain, elevated mechanical withdrawal threshold while decreased cold withdrawal threshold, with analgesia lasting for 4 h and the optimal time point for analgesia being 2 h after administration (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, JPTL down-regulated AQP1, AQP3, COX2, p-p38 MAPK, p-JNK and p-ERK in inflammatory paw of mice with chronic inflammatory pain and reduced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE2 in serum and/or inflammatory paw, but it had no significant effect on COX1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionJPTL has anti-swelling and analgesic effects, and its mechanism is related to inhibiting the production of cytokines and inflammatory mediators via the down-regulation of MAPKs signaling pathway, which provides an experimental basis for the clinical application of JPTL.
3.Protective Effect of Jianpi Huogu Prescription on Functional Injury of Vascular Endothelial Cells Caused by Alcohol Based on Akt/JNK/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway
Xiaoxiao WANG ; Lianhua HE ; Changting FANG-LUO ; Qun LI ; Chao YANG ; Zhixing HU ; Weiheng CHEN ; Chunfang LIU ; Lan HAN ; Na LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(11):64-71
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Jianpi Huogu prescription (JPHGP) on the functional injury of vascular endothelial cells caused by alcohol and explore its mechanism based on protein kinase B/c-Jun amino-terminal kinase/p38 MAPK (Akt/JNK/p38 MAPK) signaling pathway. MethodThrough chick embryo allantoic membrane, thoracic aortic ring, and migration, invasion, adhesion, and lumen formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), the effect of JPHGP with different concentrations (8, 16 and 32 μg·L-1) on angiogenesis was observed in the presence or absence of alcohol. The expression levels of phosphorylation of Akt, JNK, and p38 MAPK were determined by Western blot. ResultAs compared with the normal group, the number and length of capillaries around the arterial ring in the model group were decreased, and the migration, invasion, and lumen formation capacity of HUVEC were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment with 16 and 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP, the length of neovascularization in chick embryo allantoic membrane was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the 8, 16, and 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP groups increased the number of capillaries around the thoracic aortic ring in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP group increased the length of capillaries around the thoracic aortic ring (P<0.05). The 16 and 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP groups enhanced the migration, invasion, and lumen formation capacity of HUVEC. The results of Western blot showed that, as compared with the normal group, the protein expression levels of p-JNK/JNK, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, and p-Akt/Akt were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01), and as compared with the model group, the protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-Akt/Akt were significantly increased in the 8, 16, and 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP groups (P<0.01) and the protein expression level of p-JNK/JNK was increased significantly in the 16 and 32 μg·L-1 JPHGP groups (P<0.01). ConclusionJPHGP has a protective effect on the functional injury of vascular endothelial cells caused by alcohol, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of Akt/JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Relevant research results will provide certain scientific basis for clarifying the effect of JPHGP on 'invigorating spleen and promoting blood circulation'.