1.Research Progress on the Regulation of Inflammatory Microenvironment of Endometriosis by Chinese Medicine Based on the Theory of"Same Disease of Blood and Water"
Weilin ZHENG ; Zhiyi FU ; Danting WEN ; Hao LIU ; Lixing CAO
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(6):928-934
Endometriosis(EMs)is a chronic inflammatory disease.It has been proved that inflammatory microenvironment is the key role in EMs occurance and development.Chinese medicine posits that the theory of"same disease of blood and water",which generally refers to"intermingling dampness and blood stasis",serves as a crucial pathogenesis in EMs.The inflammatory microenvironment is the main manifestation of dampness and blood stasis in EMs,while the insufficiency of vital qi results in endogenous dampness.The stagnation of blood stasis serves as the foundation for the formation of intermingling dampness and blood stasis.Based on contemporary theories in molecular biology,the macrophage-mediated inflammatory microenvironment serves as the foundation for the formation of dampness,while the participation of macrophages in angiogenesis is crucial for the formation of blood stasis.Investigating the intrinsic connection between the inflammatory microenvironment in EMs and the theory of"same disease of blood and water"can contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of EMs from a novel perspective.Remodeling of the inflammatory microenvironment in endometriosis by targeting macrophages may provide a new strategy for EMs treatment.
2.Guanxinning tablet ameliorates cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway
Jiajun SHI ; Qinqin YANG ; Danting FU ; Chunwei ZHENG ; Yan ZHANG ; Yu CHEN
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2024;32(3):337-346
Objective To investigate the protective effect of Guanxinning(GXN)tablet on dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM),and to explore its effect and mechanism in pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes via the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.Methods Rats were divided into GXN low-dose,GXN high-dose,digoxin,model control,and normal control groups.The DCM model was induced by multiple intraperitoneal injections of 17.5 mg/kg doxorubicin(DOX).The drug was administered at the same time as the model was established for 10 weeks.After the last administration,echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function indexes.After sacrificing the rats,serum was collected to measure IL-1β and IL-18 levels.RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β,and IL-18.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining and Western Blot were used to assess NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18,GSDMD and GSDMD-NT protein,and TUNEL staining result.Changes in the microstructure of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results Compared with the normal control group,IVSs,IVSd,LVPWs,FS,SV,EF,and HR of the model control group were significantly reduced,LVIDs,ESV,and serum IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA expression was significantly increased,and NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18 and GSDMD-NT protein expression and the TUNEL staining area were increased significantly,and the microstructure of cardiomyocytes changed significantly.Compared with the model control group,GXN significantly increased IVSs,SV,FS,EF,and HR,significantly reduced LVIDs,ESV,and the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18,and reduced NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β,and IL-18 mRNA expression,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18 and GSDMD-NT protein expression,and the TUNEL staining area.Additionally,the microstructure was improved significantly.Conclusions GXN alleviates cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in rats with DCM by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.
3.Mechanism of Smilax glabra flavonoids amelioration of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac inflammation in mice
Danting FU ; Jiajun SHI ; Qinqin YANG ; Chunwei ZHENG ; Qiang HUANG ; Yu CHEN
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2024;32(8):1023-1031
Objective To study the effects and mechanisms of Smilax glabra flavonoids(SGF)on myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac inflammation induced by isoproterenol(ISO)in mice.Methods C57/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group,ISO model group(1.25 mg/(kg·d)),SGF low-dose group(50 mg/(kg·d)),and SGF high-dose group(100 mg/(kg·d)).The SGF groups were given prophylactic SGF for 7 days before modeling,then subcutaneous ISO injection was given to each group,and echocardiography was performed after continuous injection for 7 days.Serum was separated from orbital blood,and the NT-proBNP and inflammatory factor(IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α)contents of the blood were detected.Myocardial specimens were collected,and pathological changes to myocardial tissue were observed.Myocardial ROS levels were detected by DHE staining.The mRNA levels of heart-related hypertrophy genes and changes in the expression of key proteins in the inflammatory pathway of NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-18 in myocardial tissue were detected.Results SGF prophylactic administration decreased IVSd,IVSs,and EF in echocardiography and increased LVIDs,LVIDd,and LVESV.The IL-1 β,IL-6,TNF-α,and NT-proBNP contents of blood decreased,and the mRNA expression levels of the heart-related hypertrophy genes for ANP,BNP,and β-MHC were subdued.The increase in myocardial ROS levels was also inhibited.The protein expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1(p20),and IL-18,which are key factors in the NLRP3/caspase-l/IL-18 inflammatory pathway,was down-regulated in myocardial tissue.The hypertrophy and disordered arrangement of cardiomyocytes were improved,the increase in fibroblast numbers outside myocardial fibers was reduced,and the infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis of myocardial tissue were alleviated.Conclusions SGF can improve ISO-induced myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac inflammation in mice and may act through the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-18 inflammatory pathway.
4.PD0325901, an ERK inhibitor, enhances the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in non-small cell lung carcinoma.
Min LUO ; Yuhui XIA ; Fang WANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Danting SU ; Chaoyue SU ; Chuan YANG ; Shaocong WU ; Sainan AN ; Suxia LIN ; Liwu FU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(10):3120-3133
ERK pathway regulated the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression which was linked to the response of programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 blockade therapy. So it is deducible that ERK inhibitor could enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, PD0325901, an oral potent ERK inhibitor, strongly enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 antibody