1.Naoxinqing Alleviates Non-alcohol Fatty Liver Disease by Promoting Fatty Acid Oxidation via AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway
Shushu WANG ; Guiting ZHOU ; Liwen LIN ; Kachun LU ; Zhichao LIN ; Yuling ZHANG ; Danling CHENG ; Yuxin HAN ; Chun ZHOU ; Rui PENG ; Min LIU ; Chuanjin LUO
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(10):1531-1541
Objective This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Naoxinqing on non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet through network pharmacology,molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods ApoE-/-mice were given a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the NAFLD model,followed by a 12-week Naoxinqing administration. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Naoxinqing on NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet,biochemical and histopathological experiments were performed,including assessment of blood lipids,liver function,serum inflammatory factors,as well as Hematoxylin and eosin (HE),Oil red O,and Sirius red staining of liver. Subsequently,network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were employed to predict the key targets of Naoxinqing. Finally,the mechanism of Naoxinqing was validated by Western Blot in HepG2 cells and liver tissue. Results The results of serum biochemistry and liver tissue pathology showed that Naoxinqing can significantly improve high-fat diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation,hepatocellular injury,and inflammation. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis results suggested that Naoxinqing may affect lipid metabolism through the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway. Finally,in vitro cell experiment confirmed that the main mechanism of Naoxinqing is to activative the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway,upregulate the expression of downstream carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1A),promote fatty acid oxidation,and ultimately improve NAFLD. Conclusion This study demonstrated that Naoxinqing improved NAFLD by promoting fatty acid oxidation through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway.
2.Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction in Preventing and Treating Atherosclerosis by Regulating Macrophage Polarization
Biren LI ; Haiyi LI ; Yong ZHU ; Chuanjin LUO
China Pharmacy 2021;32(8):939-944
OBJECTIVE:To stu dy the regulation effects of Huanglian jiedu decoction on M 1 and M 2 macrophage polarization in atherosclerosis (AS)model mice ,and to elucidate its mechanism of AS prevention and treatment. METHODS :Sixty ApoE -/- male mice were randomly divided into blank control group ,model group ,simvastatin group [positive control ,5 mg/(kg·d)], Huanglian jiedu decoction low-dose ,medium-dose and high-dose groups [ 5,10,20 mg/(kg·d),by crude drug] ,with 10 mice in each group. Except for blank control group ,other groups were given high-fat diet to induce AS model. After modeling , administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically ;blank control group and model group were given normal saline intragastrially,once a day ,for consecutive 4 weeks. After medication ,the contents of triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Sirius red staining was used to observe the formation of collagen fibers in the aorta of mice. The serum contents of iNOS and CD 206 were determined by ELISA. mRNA expression levels of IL- 1β,iNOS,TNF-α,YM1 and Fizz1 in the aorta were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS :Compared with blank control group ,the serum contents of TC ,TG, LDL-C and iNOS ,mRNA expression levels of IL- 1β,iNOS,TNF-α in the aorta were significantly increased in model group(P< 0.05 or P<0.01),while the serum contents of HDL-C and CD 206 and mRNA expression levels of IL- 10,YM1,Fizz1 in the aorta were significantly decreased (P<0.01). There was a thick layer of collagen fibers under the endothelium of aorta. Compared with model group ,above serum indexes of mice were improved significantly in administration groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01);mRNA expression levels of IL- 1 ,iNOS and TNF-α in the aorta in Huanglian jiedu decoction medium-dose and high-dose groups were decreased significantly (P<0.01),while mRNA expression levels of IL- 10,YM1 and Fizz 1 were increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The vascular endothelium was relatively smooth. CONCLUSIONS :Huanglian jiedu decoction can inhibit the polarization of M 1 macrophages and promote the polarization of M 2 macrophages,reduce the inflammatory reaction ,maintain the stability of atherosclerotic plaque in artery ,so as to play the role of anti-AS.
3.Study on the Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction Regulating Macrophage Polarization Based on Network Pharmacology
Biren LI ; Yuqing MO ; Yingjie HUANG ; Yong ZHU ; Chuanjin LUO
China Pharmacy 2021;32(5):552-558
OBJECTIVE:To study the mechanism of H uanglian jiedu decoction (HJD)regulating macrophage polarization in order to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism. METHODS :The active components and predicted targets of HJD were screened through TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction database ;the related targets of macrophage polarization were obtained by GeneCards and OMIM database ,and the network diagram of active ingredient-macrophage polarization target of HJD was drawn by using Cytoscape 3.6.0 software;protein interaction network was constructed by String database and core targets were extracted. Gene ontology(GO)enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were carried out by using Cytoscape 3.6.0 software and DAVID website. Combined with the results of network pharmacology analysis , RAW264.7 macrophage cells were divided into blank control group ,model group ,simvastatin group (10 μmol/L)and serum containing HJD group (obtained from the blood after the rats were given HJD at the dose of 10 g/kg). Except the blank control group and model group were added culture medium , the other groups were added with 100 μ L of relevant drug solution or serum containing drug. After 2 h of culture ,except for the blank control group ,LPS solution (100 μg/L)was added to the other groups for 24 h to induce inflammation. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of AMPK. mRNA expression of M 1 type polarization factor (IL-1 β,iNOS)and M 2 type polarization factor (IL-10,Fizz1)were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS :A total of 50 active components of HJD (such as acacetin ,wogonin,quercetin,β-sitosterol)were screened , which could regulate macrophage polarization through 12 GO items (such as anoikis ,astrocyte activation ),and 20 KEGG pathways(such as estrogen signaling pathway ,bladder cancer pathway ,AMPK signaling pathway ). The results of cell test showed that compared with blank control group ,the expression of AMPK protein ,Fizz1 and IL- 10 mRNA in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01),while the expression of IL- 1β and iNOS mRNA were significantly increased(P<0.01); compared with model group ,the expression of AMPK protein ,Fizz1 and IL- 10 mRNA in serum containing HJD group and simvastatin group were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the expression of IL- 1β and iNOS mRNA were significantly decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS :HJD can regulate macrophage polarization through multiple targets and pathways;it can up regulate the expression of M 2-type polarization factors and down-regulate the expression of M 1-type polarization factors through AMPK signaling pathway ,regulate macrophage polarization and play an anti-inflammatory role.
4.Intervention Effects of Berberine on Mice Macrophage Polarization Based on TLR 4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Jiangong LI ; Wenxi SUN ; Jiayue LIU ; Xueshan LI ; Weiqi XUE ; Chuanjin LUO
China Pharmacy 2020;31(15):1804-1809
OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of berberine on mic e macrophage polarization based on TLR 4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway. METHODS :Using mice RAW 264.7 macrophage as the object ,atorvastatin calcium as positive control , inflammatory cell model was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS);ELISA method was used to detect the contents of TNF-α,IL-6 and NF-κB in cell culture medium after treated with low,medium and high doses of berberine (5,10,20 μmol/L)for 24 h. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was conducted to determine the mRNA expression of TLR 4 and MyD 88 in cells. Western blotting assay was used to detect the protein expression of TLR 4,MyD88,iNOS and CD 206 in cells. RESULTS :Compared with blank control group ,the contents of TNF-α,IL-6 and NF-κB in cell culture medium,mRNA expression of TLR 4 and MyD 88, protein expression of TLR 4,MyD88 and iNOS in cells were increased significantly in LPS induction group (P<0.05). Compared with LPS induction group ,the contents of TNF-α and IL-6,mRNA and protein expression of TLR 4 and MyD 88 in atorvastatin calcium group ,berberine medium-dose and high-dose groupsas well as the content of NF-κ B and protein expression of iNOS in administration groups were decreased significantly , while the content of NF-κB in berberine high-dose group was significantly lower than atorvastatin calcium group (P<0.05). The protein expressions of CD206 in atorvastatin calcium group and berberine high-dose group were increased significantly ,while the protein expression of CD 206 in berberine high-dose group was significantly higher than atorvastatin calcium group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS :Different doses of berberine can intervene in mice macrophage polarization to different extents ,the mechanism of which may be associated with the regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
5.Effect of Huanglian Jiedutang in Regulating Ferroptosis in Mice with Atherosclerosis Based on Nrf2/GPX4 Signaling Pathway
Zhaohui GONG ; Li GAO ; Huiqi ZHAI ; Jinzi YU ; Qingmin CHU ; Chuanjin LUO ; Lijin QING ; Wei WU ; Rong LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):22-28
ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang (HLJDT) in treating mice with atherosclerosis (AS) by improving ferroptosis. MethodsA total of 10 SPF C57BL/6J mice were selected as a normal group, and 50 ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into five groups: model group, low-dose group of HLJDT, medium-dose group of HLJDT, high-dose group of HLJDT, and atorvastatin (ATV) group. ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks to establish the AS model, and at the 9th week, they were given normal saline, low, medium, and high doses of HLJDT (3.9, 7.8, 15.6 g·kg-1·d-1), and atorvastatin calcium tablets (0.01 g·kg-1·d-1), respectively, for a total of eight weeks. The formation of aortic plaque in mice was observed by gross oil red O staining and Masson staining. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in blood fat were measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer, and the mitochondrial structure of the aorta was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The content of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in serum was detected by the microplate method, and that of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum was detected by the TBA method. The protein expression of nuclear factor E2-associated factor 2 (Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with those of the normal group, the contents of TC, LDL-C, TG, HDL-C, and MDA in the serum and the aortic vascular plaque deposition of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the expression levels of SOD and GSH in serum, as well as Nrf2, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and GPX4 in aorta were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Mice in the model group appeared mitochondrial fragmentation and vacuolation in the aorta, volume atrophy, mitochondrial crista reduction, or a loose and disorganized form. Compared with those in the model group, the aortic vascular plaque deposition was significantly decreased in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of HLJDT and ATV group, and the contents of serum TC, LDL-C, TG, and MDA in serum were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The contents of serum SOD and GSH and the expression levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the aorta were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the symptoms of aortic mitochondrial vacuolation were alleviated. The number of cristae was increased, and they were ordered neatly. ConclusionHLJDT can reduce aortic vascular plaque deposition, decrease blood lipid and MDA expression, increase SOD and GSH expression, and ameliorate the pathological changes of ferroptosis, the mechanism of which is related to the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway.