1.Research progress on clinical application of ruxolitinib
Shiquan FENG ; Zhenmiao QIN ; Xue HU ; Deqiao DONG ; Haoyang PENG ; Changran GAN ; Chengcheng DUAN ; Yanan GAO
China Pharmacy 2024;35(13):1668-1672
Ruxolitinib, a small molecule inhibitor, selectively targets Janus kinase (JAK) by competitively binding to adenosine triphosphate on the catalytic site of the JAK1 and JAK2 domain, thereby inhibiting JAK activation and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) phosphorylation and prevents the expressions of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Oral ruxolitinib has demonstrated promising efficacy for myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. The topical Ruxolitinib cream, approved by the US FDA as the first non-segmental vitiligo home treatment drug, is set to be launched in domestic medical pioneer areas in August 2023 and is expected to bring about a breakthrough in the treatment of vitiligo. Clinical cases have also shown that Ruxolitinib cream has significant curative effects on atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and other conditions, indicating great application prospects.
2.Proteomics and Network Pharmacology Reveal Mechanism of Xiaoer Huatan Zhike Granules in Treating Allergic Cough
Youqi DU ; Yini XU ; Jiajia LIAO ; Chaowen LONG ; Shidie TAI ; Youwen DU ; Song LI ; Shiquan GAN ; Xiangchun SHEN ; Ling TAO ; Shuying YANG ; Lingyun FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):69-79
ObjectiveTo explore the pharmacological mechanism involved in the treatment of allergic cough (AC) by Xiaoer Huatan Zhike granules (XEHT) based on proteomics and network pharmacology. MethodsAfter sensitization by intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL suspension containing 2 mg ovalbumin (OVA) and 100 mg aluminum hydroxide, a guinea pig model of allergic cough was constructed by nebulization with 1% OVA. The modeled guinea pigs were randomized into the model, low-, medium- and high-dose (1, 5, 20 g·kg-1, respectively) XEHT, and sodium montelukast (1 mg·kg-1) groups (n=6), and another 6 guinea pigs were selected as the blank group. The guinea pigs in drug administration groups were administrated with the corresponding drugs by gavage, and those in the blank and model groups received the same volume of normal saline by gavage, 1 time·d-1. After 10 consecutive days of drug administration, the guinea pigs were stimulated by 1% OVA nebulization, and the coughs were observed. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the serum. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to observe the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in the lung tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed observe the alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cell ultrastructure. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of IL-6, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and TNF-α in the lung tissue. Label-free proteomics was used to detect the differential proteins among groups. Network pharmacology was used to predict the targets of XEHT in treating AC. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was performed to search for the same pathways from the results of proteomics and network pharmacology. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed increased coughs (P<0.01), elevated levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA and lowered level of SOD in the BALF (P<0.05, P<0.01), elevated levels of IgA and IgG in the serum (P<0.05, P<0.01), congestion of the lung tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells, increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α (P<0.01), large areas of low electron density edema in type Ⅱ epithelial cells, obvious swelling and vacuolization of the organelles, karyopyknosis or sparse and dissolved chromatin, and up-regulated mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the drug administration groups showed reduced coughs (P<0.01), lowered levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA and elevated level of SOD in the BALF (P<0.05, P<0.01), alleviated lung tissue congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and type Ⅱ epithelial cell injury, and decreased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α (P<0.01). In addition, the medium-dose XEHT group and the montelukast sodium group showcased lowered serum levels of IgA and IgG (P<0.05, P<0.01). The medium- and high-dose XEHT groups and the montelukast sodium showed down-regulated mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α and the low-dose XEHT group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01). Phospholipase D, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and epidermal growth factor receptor family of receptor tyrosine kinase (ErbB) signaling pathways were the common pathways predicted by both proteomics and network pharmacology. ConclusionProteomics combined with network pharmacology reveal that XEHT can ameliorate AC by regulating the phospholipase D, mTOR, and ErbB signaling pathways.
3.Interventional effect and mechanism of 1,8-cineole on pancreatic β cell ferroptosis induced by type 2 diabetes
Hong YANG ; Pengyan REN ; Yongxin CHEN ; Yuting YAO ; Shiquan GAN ; Jia LIU ; Tingting CHEN ; Bao ZHANG ; Xiangchun SHEN ; Yue LI
China Pharmacy 2024;35(3):290-295
OBJECTIVE To study the interventional effect and mechanism of 1,8-cineole on pancreatic β cell ferroptosis induced by type 2 diabetes. METHODS In vitro ferroptosis model was established in pancreatic β cells of mice by using high glucose. The effects of low-dose and high-dose 1,8-cineole (0.25, 0.5 μmol/L) on the level of Fe2+ in pancreatic β cells were investigated. The effects of 1,8-cineole (0.5 μmol/L) combined with ferroptosis inducer Erastin (20 μmol/L) and ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (20 μmol/L) on the protein expressions of glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) were also detected. The type 2 diabetes model mice were established by feeding high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The effects of low-dose and high-dose 1,8-cineole (50, 200 mg/kg) on the pathological morphology of pancreatic tissue, the content of iron as well as the protein expressions of GPX4 and COX2 were investigated. RESULTS The results of the cell experiment showed that compared with the model group, pretreatment with 1,8-cineole significantly reduced intracellular Fe2+ levels and upregulated GPX4 protein expression, while downregulated COX2 protein expression in pancreatic β cells (P<0.05). After combining with Ferrostatin-1, the expression trends of the above two proteins were the same, while there was no statistically significant difference after combining with Erastin. The results of animal experiments showed that compared with the model group, after intervention with 1,8-cineole, the structure of the pancreatic islets in mice recovered intact and their morphology improved; the iron content of pancreatic tissue and protein expression of COX2 were decreased significantly (P<0.05), while protein expression of GPX4 was increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS 1,8-cineole could ameliorate pancreatic β cell injury induced by diabetes, the mechanism of which may be related to reducing intracellular iron deposition and regulating ferroptosis-related proteins.