Ferroptosis of chondrocytes is a significant contributor to osteoarthritis (OA), for which there is still a lack of safe and effective therapeutic drugs targeting ferroptosis. Here, we screen for anti-ferroptotic drugs in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug library via a high-throughput manner in chondrocytes. We identified a group of FDA-approved anti-ferroptotic drugs, among which vitamin K showed the most powerful protective effect. Further study demonstrated that vitamin K effectively inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of vitamin K inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated OA phenotype in destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing and knockdown experiments revealed that the anti-ferroptotic effects of vitamin K depended on growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6). Furthermore, exogenous expression of Gas6 was found to inhibit ferroptosis through the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) axis. Together, we demonstrate that vitamin K inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates OA progression via enhancing Gas6 expression and its downstream pathway of AXL/PI3K/AKT axis, indicating vitamin K as well as Gas6 to serve as a potential therapeutic target for OA and other ferroptosis-related diseases.

Pathological mechanism of ulcerative colitis(UC)is not fully clear,which may be the result of Th17/Treg immune imbalance and the interaction of multiple complex factors.Numerous studies have found that classical TCM prescriptions,experienced formulas and TCM active components could regulate Th17/Treg balance by intervening in cytokines,transcription factors,and signaling pathways,restore intestinal mucosal immune function,suppress intestinal mucosal inflammatory response,and repair intestinal mucosal barrier damage.Based on the research status of UC,Th17/Treg balance and TCM treatment,this article reviewed the relationship between Th17/Treg balance and UC,and explained the key role of Th17/Treg balance in the occurrence and development of UC.At the same time,the Chinese materia medica targeting to regulate the balance of Th17/Treg in the treatment of UC in recent years was summarized,in order to provide reference for the treatment of UC.

OBJECTIVE To study the impr ovement effects of Dianxianqing granule on blood-brain barrier （BBB）injury in Alzheimer’s disease （AD）model mice by regulating NLR family pyrin domain containing 3（NLRP3）inflammasome signaling pathway. METHODS Totally 125 mice were randomly divided into sham operation group （n＝25）and modeling group （n＝100） by body weight. AD model was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid 25-35 in model group. Sham operation group was given normal saline with same method. The 100 model mice were randomly divided into model group ，Donepezil hydrochloride tablets group （positive control 1，1.3 mg/kg，i.g.），MCC950 group [positive control 2（selective NLRP 3 inhibitor），10 mg/kg，i.p.] and Dianxianqing granule group （12.48 g/kg by crude drug ，i.g.）by body weight ，with 25 mice in each group. Second day after modeling ，administration groups were given relevant medicine ，once a day ，for consecutive 21 d. Sham operation group and model group were given intragastric administration of water and intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. At last administration，the learning and memory ability was determined by Y maze test ，and blood-brain barrier permeability was measured by Evans blue leakage assay. The expressions of NLRP 3，anti-ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1（IBA-1），nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）p65，p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis （PUMA），occludin（ocln），zonula occluden- 1（ZO-1）and claudin-5 （cldn5） in cerebral tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group ， spontaneous alternate response rate ，protein expressions of ocln ，cldn5 lnzyxyqy2003@163.com and ZO- 1 in cerebral tissue were increased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；Evans blue E-mail：jiadg2003@126.com content and protein expressions of NLRP 3，IBA-1，PUMA and NF-κB p65 in cerebral tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Dianxianqing granule can improve BBB injury of AD model m ice by inhibiting NLRP 3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE：To study the improvement effect and possible mechanism of Leontopodium leontopodioides combined with Astragalus membranaceus on the renal function of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis （MsPGN） model rats. METHODS：Totally 85 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （n＝10）and modeling group （n＝75）. Sham operation group underwent sham operation ，and MsPGN model was induced by immunological method [Freund ’s adjuvant+BSA + lipopolysaccharide（LPS）] in modeling group. After successfully modeling ，70 rats were randomly divided into model group ，L. leontopodioides+A. membranaceus high-dose，medium-dose and low-dose groups （4.05，2.03，1.02 g/kg，by total crude drug ），L. leontopodioides alone group （2.70 g/kg，by crude drug ），Tripterygium glycosides tablet group （positive control 1，0.02 g/kg）， Lotensin tablet group （positive control 2，0.02 g/kg），with 10 rats in each group. Sham operation group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically ； administration groups were given relevant drug solution intrasgastrcially at a volume of 15 mL/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 5 weeks. At last administration ，24 h urinary lnzyxyqy2003@163.com protein，urine creatinine and serum creatinine were determined in rats. The right kidney was weighed ，and HE staining was used to observe the pathomorpholog y changes of renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of NF-κB p65 in renal tissue. Western blotting assay was used to determine the protein expressions of NF-κB p65，IκBα，ERK，p-ERK and p 38 MAPK in renal tissue. RESULTS ：Compared with sham operation group ，right kidney weight ，24 h urine protein and serum creatinine levels ，protein expressions of NF-κB p65， p-ERK and p 38 MAPK in renal tissue were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；the level of urine creatinine and protein expression of IκBα in renal tissue were decreased significantly（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；there were obvious glomerular hypertrophy ，diffuse increase of mesangial cells ，necrosis of renal tubules and other pathomorphological changes in renal tissue. Compared with model group ，right kidney weight and serum creatinine level were decreased significantly in L. leontopodioides alone group （P＜0.05），while urine creatinine level was increased significantly （P＜0.05），but there was no statistical significance in the level of 24 h urine protein （P＞0.05）；the right kidney weight ，24 h urine protein ，serum creatinine level and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65，p-ERK and p38 MAPK in renal tissue were decreased significantly in L. leontopodioides+A. membranaceus high-dose group （P＜0.05），while the urine creatinine level and protein expression level of IκBα in renal tissue were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；there was no statistical significance in above indexes in L. leontopodioides+A. membranaceus medium-dose，low-dose groups （P＞0.05）；pathological changes of renal tissue were improved to different extents in administration groups ，especially in L. leontopodioides +A. membranaceus high-dose group. CONCLUSIONS ： High dose of L. leontopodioides +A. membranaceus can improve renal function of MsPGN model rats by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of high-fat diet-induced obesity on oxidative stress and klotho promoter methylation in lung tissue of C57/BL6 mice. Methods Mice in the control group were feed with the normal diet,and mice in the obesity group were feed with high-fat diet. The lung tissue level of uperoxide dis-mutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were determined by using mice enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)kit. The klotho mRNA and protein expression was determined by qPCR and Western-blot ,respectively. The Klotho gene methylation status was determined by methylation specific PCR(MS-PCR). Results Compared with the control group,mice in the obesity group had high level of oxidative stress in lung tissue. Meanwhile,mice in the experimental group had lower levels of klotho mRNA and protein expression than those in the control group. The high-fat diet increased the degree of Klotho gene methylation. Conclusion High-fat diet could lead injure in lung tissue in C57/BL6 mice,klorho promoter methylation may play an important role involved in the process.