1.Scutellariae Barbatae Herba Extract Promotes Cycle Arrest of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells by Inhibiting STAT3/SKP2 Signaling Pathway
Hong DING ; Zilu WU ; Jitang CAI ; Jingbo LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(19):81-88
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract on on the cycle arrest of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and the possible mechanism by adding different concentration of Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract (0.25, 0.5, 1 g·L-1) in the culture medium, taking CNE1 (nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells) as the research object. MethodAfter the treatment of CNE1 by Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation, and Giemsa staining was used to detect the clone formation rate. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle distribution, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) assay and Western blot assay were used to detect the relative expression of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or overexpression. ResultAs compared with the blank group, the proliferation and colony formation rate of CNE1 in the Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract group significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in a dose and time-dependent manner, whereas the percentage of cells in the presynthetic phase (G0/G1) increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression level of S-phase kinase associated protein 2 (SKP2) in the Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract group significantly decreased (P<0.01) as compared with the blank group. As compared with the Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract group, the protein levels of p21 and p27 significantly decreased in the overexpressed SKP2+ Scutellariae Barbatae Herba extract group (P<0.01). As compared with the blank group, the signal activation and the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) of CNE1 in the S. barbata extract group significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionScutellariae Barbatae Herba extract effectively inhibits the proliferation of CNE1, and the mechanism may be related to its action on the STAT3/SKP2 pathway.
2.Modified Bufei Huangqitang Combined with Acupuncture in Treatment of Moderate-to-severe Allergic Rhinitis due to Deficiency and Cold in Lung and Kidney
Rui WEI ; Lulu CHEN ; Jingbo LI ; Junjie WANG ; Jitang CAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(22):131-136
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of modified Bufei Huangqitang combined with acupuncture on moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis due to deficiency and cold in lung and kidney. MethodA total of 130 patients were divided into a control group (65 cases) and an observation group (65 cases) according to a random number table. The patients in the control group were treated with cetirizine hydrochloride tablets (10 mg per night) combined with mometasone furoate nasal spray (one press on each side,once a day),and those in the observation group were treated with acupuncture (once a day) combined with modified Bufei Huangqitang(1/2 dose each time,twice a day) for 15 days. The rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ),total nasal symptom score (TNSS),nasal airway resistance (NAR),and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score of allergic rhinitis with deficiency and cold in lung and kidney syndrome were observed before and after treatment in two groups. The neuropeptide Y (NPY),vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP),substance P (SP) in nasal secretions, and immune inflammatory markers [eosinophil (EOS),eotaxin (EOT),immunoglobulin E (IgE),and interleukin-33 (IL-33)] in serum were detected. Adverse reactions of the two groups were observed during the study period. ResultThe total effective rate was 96.9% (63/65) in the observation group, higher than 81.5% (53/65) in the control group (χ2=7.943,P<0.05). After treatment,the RQLQ,TNSS,NAR, and TCM syndrome scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The nasal secretions NPY in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05),while VIP and SP in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum EOS,IgE, and IL-33 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the serum EOT in the observation group was higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Adverse reactions occurred in two cases in the control group and one case in the observation group. The incidence of adverse reactions had no statistical significance between the two groups. ConclusionAcupuncture combined with modified Bufei huangqitang can significantly relieve the clinical symptoms of moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis due to deficiency and cold in lung and kidney and improve the serum immune inflammatory markers, with good safety.
3.Mechanism of Yupingfeng San Against Allergic Rhinitis Through ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling Pathway
Zilu WU ; Jingbo LI ; Junjie WANG ; Jitang CAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(24):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Yupingfeng San on allergic rhinitis (AR) and its effect on Reactive oxygen species (ROS)/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1) pathway. MethodSPF mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, loratadine group (0.9 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose Yupingfeng San groups (6, 12, 24 mg·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group. The control group was given routine feeding, and the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with [ovalbumin(OVA) + Al(OH)₃ + phosphate buffer solution(PBS)] suspension once every other day for seven consecutive times. After seven days, 10% OVA solution was instilled in the nose, two times each day for seven consecutive days. After successful modeling, each administration group was intraperitoneally injected with different doses of Yupingfeng San Decoction, and the control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Symptoms of sneezing, scratching, and runny nose were recorded and scored daily. The levels of ovalbumin specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE), histamine, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and γ interferon (IFN-γ) in nasal lavage solution and serum of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The damage status of the nasal mucosa was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The number of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa of mice was observed by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The expression of NLRP3 protein in the nasal mucosa of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1, and cleaved gasdermin D (GSDMD) proteins in the nasal mucosa. The test kit was used to detect the changes in ROS in the nasal cavity of mice in each group. ResultCompared with the control group, the nasal symptoms of the model group were significantly aggravated, and the levels of inflammatory factors OVA-sIgE, histamine, ECP, PGD2, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-4 in serum and nasal lavage solution were increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The levels of IFN-γ were decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The histopathological score, goblet cell number, and ROS content were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expressions of pyrodeath-related proteins NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1, and cleaved GSDMD were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the nasal symptoms of the loratadine group and Yupingfeng San groups were significantly relieved, and the levels of inflammatory factors OVA-sIgE, histamine, ECP, PGD2, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-4 in serum and nasal lavage solution were decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The levels of IFN-γ were increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The histopathological scores, goblet cell number, and ROS content were significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the expressions of pyrodeath-related proteins NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1, and cleaved GSDMD were decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the loratadine group, the curative effect of the high dose Yupingfeng San group was further increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionYupingfeng San has a therapeutic effect on AR, and its specific effect may be related to the inhibition of ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1-induced cell pyroptosis.