1.Role and mechanism of action of Yinchenhao Decoction in inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatocytes in mice with autoimmune hepatitis
Zhurong LI ; Chen CHEN ; Di GUO ; Sixue LYU ; Jiawen WU ; Na YANG ; Yang LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(3):502-508
ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of action of Yinchenhao Decoction in inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatocytes in mice with autoimmune hepatitis. MethodsA total of 18 specific pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice were selected and divided into normal group, model group, and treatment group using a random number table, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the model group and the treatment group were injected with concanavalin A (Con A) via the caudal vein to establish a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis, and those in the normal group were injected with normal saline. The mice in the treatment group were given prophylactic treatment with Yinchenhao Decoction (4.68 g crude drug/kg) by gavage at 14 days before modeling, and Con A was injected after the last gavage. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), iron ion, glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured; liver index and spleen index were calculated; the expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 were measured; liver histopathological changes were compared between groups. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between three groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group had significant increases in liver index, spleen index, ALT, AST, IFN-γ, TNF-α, iron ion, ROS and MDA (all P<0.05) and significant reductions in the content of GSH and ATP and the protein expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the treatment group had significant reductions in liver index, spleen index, ALT, AST, IFN-γ, TNF-α, iron ion, ROS and MDA (all P<0.05) and significant increases in the content of GSH and ATP and the protein expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 (all P<0.05). HE staining showed that compared with the normal group, the model group showed massive hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell aggregation at the portal area, and compared with the model group, the treatment group had alleviation of liver necrosis and inflammatory infiltration. ConclusionLiver injury induced by Con A may be associated with ferroptosis. Yinchenhao Decoction can increase the protein expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 protein and thus inhibit ferroptosis of hepatocytes induced by Con A.
2.Na2CO3-responsive Photosynthetic and ROS Scavenging Mechanisms in Chloroplasts of Alkaligrass Revealed by Phosphoproteomics
Suo JINWEI ; Zhang HENG ; Zhao QI ; Zhang NAN ; Zhang YONGXUE ; Li YING ; Song BAOHUA ; Yu JUANJUAN ; Cao JIANGUO ; Wang TAI ; Luo JI ; Guo LIHAI ; Ma JUN ; Zhang XUMIN ; She YIMIN ; Peng LIANWEI ; Ma WEIMIN ; Guo SIYI ; Miao YUCHEN ; Chen SIXUE ; Qin ZHI ; Dai SHAOJUN
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics 2020;18(3):271-288
Alkali-salinity exerts severe osmotic, ionic, and high-pH stresses to plants. To under-stand the alkali-salinity responsive mechanisms underlying photosynthetic modulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, physiological and diverse quantitative proteomics analyses of alkaligrass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) under Na2CO3 stress were conducted. In addition, Western blot,real-time PCR, and transgenic techniques were applied to validate the proteomic results and test the functions of the Na2CO3-responsive proteins. A total of 104 and 102 Na2CO3-responsive proteins were identified in leaves and chloroplasts, respectively. In addition, 84 Na2CO3-responsive phospho-proteins were identified, including 56 new phosphorylation sites in 56 phosphoproteins from chloro-plasts, which are crucial for the regulation of photosynthesis, ion transport, signal transduction, and energy homeostasis. A full-length PtFBA encoding an alkaligrass chloroplastic fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) was overexpressed in wild-type cells of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803, leading to enhanced Na2CO3 tolerance. All these results indicate that thermal dissipation, state transition, cyclic electron transport, photorespiration, repair of pho-tosystem (PS) Ⅱ, PSI activity, and ROS homeostasis were altered in response to Na2CO3 stress, which help to improve our understanding of the Na2CO3-responsive mechanisms in halophytes.