1.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
2.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
3.The study of diffusion tensor imaging and cognitive function in patients with asymptomatic mild traumat-ic brain injury
Maokun LI ; Tao YANG ; Lan ZHANG ; Xiufeng XU ; Mingqing XIANG ; Hongyan JIANG ; Hua WANG
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2015;(4):229-234
Objective To explore the features of white matter in DTI in patients with asymptomatic mild traumat?ic brain injury(mTBI)and their correlation with the cognitive features. Methods The DTI data and cognitive function data were obtained from 36 mTBI patients and 36 health controls. The fractional anisotropy (FA) pictures were ana?lyzed by voxel-based analysis. The FA value differences of the two groups were analyzed by using t test. The values of FA were extracted from the abnormal regions of mTBI patients. Correlation analyses were performed on the association of extracted FA value with P300 latency,P300 amplitude,the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiey Scale,age and education(P>0.05). Results Compared with controls, mTBI patients had significant reduction of FA in the right medial frontal gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, left precune?us, right posterior cingutate and right superior temporal gyrus(P<0.01,FDR correction). There were no significant correlations between extracted FA value and all clinical characteristics in mTBI patients. Conclusions Patients with mTBI have white matter microstructural damage and cognitive impairment.
4.Effect of Gastrodia elata on learning and memory abilities and synaptic transmission protein expression of hippocampus in model rats with Alzheimer's disease
Xianglin CHENG ; Mingqing XIANG ; Hua WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2012;21(3):206-208
Objective To explore the effect of gastrodia elata on learning and memory abilities and synaptic transmission protein(P38,Ca2+ -CaMK Ⅱ α,CREB)expression of hippocampus in model rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods 24 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,test group and intervention group.A dose of Aβ1-40 was injected into the hippocampus of rats on test group and intervention group,the control rats were injected with normal saline.When the models were successful,the rats of control group and test groups were given with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose(50g/kg),the rats of intervention group were given with gastrodia elata powder( 50 g/kg),lasting 15 days,Morris water maze test was used for learning and memory abilities study.The expression of P38,Ca2+-CaMK Ⅱ α and CREB protein were detected by immunohistochemistry method.Results Behavioral tests showed the mean escape latencies and search time of test group were obviously increased than those of control group and intervention group,the percentage of search distance on test groups was less than that of control group and intervention group(P < 0.01 ).Immunohistochemistry results showed P38,Ca2+- CaMK Ⅱ α and CREB positive cells and optical density in hippocampus CA1 on test group were less than those of control group and intervention group ( all P < 0.01 ) ( P38:58.92 ± 10.82,0.208 ± 0.037 ; Ca2+-CaMK Ⅱ α:72.38 ± 14.67,0.174 ± 0.036 ; CREB:53.86 ±5.31,0.161 ±0.043 in test group;P38:87.32 ±9.56,0.371 ±0.046 ; Ca2+ -CaMK Ⅱ α:98.16 ± 16.29,0.283 ± 0.051 ; CREB:86.76 ± 7.73,0.356 ± 0.052 in intervention group; P38:102.54 ± 16.73,0.563 ± 0.078 ; Ca2 + -CaMK Ⅱ α:123.46 ± 17.65,0.436 ± 0.057 ; CREB:125.43 ±9.16,0.524 ± 0.057 in control group ).Conclusion Gastrodia elata can treat AD by increasing expression of P38,Ca2 + -CaMK Ⅱ α and CREB.

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