1.Research on the mechanism of gentiopicroside preventing macrophage-mediated liver fibrosis by regulating the MIF-SPP1 signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells.
Jixu WANG ; Yingbin ZHU ; Maoli CHEN ; Yongfeng HAN
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(7):593-602
Objective To explore the mechanism by which gentiopicroside (GPS) prevents macrophage-mediated hepatic fibrosis by regulating the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells. Methods LX-2 cells were divided into control group, transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) group, and TGF-β combined with GPS (25, 50, 100, 150 μmol/mL) groups. Cell proliferation was detected by EDU assay, cell invasion was assessed by TranswellTM assay, and the protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen (COL1A1) were measured by Western blot. M1-type macrophage-conditioned medium (M1-CM) was used to treat LX-2 cells in the TGF-β group and TGF-β combined with GPS group. The concentrations of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase 1 (Arg1) in the cell supernatant, as well as cell proliferation, invasion ability, and the expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1 were detected. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the target intersections of GPS, hepatic fibrosis, and macrophage-related genes. Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) experiments and Western blot were used to verify the regulatory effect of GPS on MIF. Furthermore, LX-2 cells were divided into control group, TGF-β group, TGF-β combined with M2-CM group, TGF-β and oe-NC combined with M2-CM group, and TGF-β and oe-MIF combined with M2-CM group to analyze the concentrations of iNOS and Arg1 in the cell supernatant, as well as changes in cell proliferation, invasion, and the expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1. LX-2 cells were also divided into control group, TGF-β group, TGF-β combined with oe-NC group, TGF-β combined with oe-MIF group, and TGF-β and oe-MIF combined with GPS group to determine the protein expressions of MIF and SPP1 by Western blot. A rat model of hepatic fibrosis was constructed to explore the potential therapeutic effects of GPS on hepatic fibrosis in vivo. Results Compared with the control group, the proliferation and invasion abilities of LX-2 cells in the TGF-β group were increased, and the protein expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1 were enhanced. GPS intervention inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LX-2 cells under TGF-β conditions and reduced the expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1. Compared with the control group, the concentration of iNOS in the cell supernatant of the TGF-β group was upregulated, while the concentration of Arg1 was decreased. M1-CM treatment further increased the concentration of iNOS, decreased the concentration of Arg1, and promoted cell proliferation and invasion, as well as upregulated the expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1 on the basis of TGF-β intervention. However, GPS could reverse the effects of M1-CM intervention. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that MIF was one of the target intersections of GPS, hepatic fibrosis, and macrophage-related genes, and GPS could target and inhibit its expression. Compared with the TGF-β group, after M2-CM intervention, the concentration of iNOS in the cell supernatant decreased, the concentration of Arg1 increased, the proliferation and invasion abilities of LX-2 cells were reduced, and the expressions of α-SMA and COL1A1 were weakened. However, overexpression of MIF reversed the effects of M2-CM intervention. Western blot results showed that compared with the control group, the protein expressions of MIF and SPP1 were enhanced in the TGF-β group. Overexpression of MIF further enhanced the expressions of MIF and SPP1, while GPS intervention inhibited the expressions of MIF and SPP1. In the animal experiment, GPS intervention treatment alleviated liver injury in rats with hepatic fibrosis and inhibited the expressions of MIF and SPP1, as well as α-SMA and COL1A1 in liver tissue. Conclusion GPS may prevent macrophage-mediated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the MIF-SPP1 signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells.
Hepatic Stellate Cells/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/genetics*
;
Liver Cirrhosis/prevention & control*
;
Macrophages/drug effects*
;
Iridoid Glucosides/pharmacology*
;
Humans
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Animals
;
Cell Line
;
Collagen Type I/metabolism*
;
Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain
;
Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics*
;
Rats
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*
;
Actins/metabolism*
2.The effect of gentiopicroside on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by regulating the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway.
Ruifang WANG ; Yingchun YANG ; Haibing QIAO ; Ying YANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(9):784-789
Objective To investigate the effect of gentiopicroside on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and to determine whether its mechanism involves the stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) pathway. Methods BMSCs were divided into six groups: normal culture control group, osteogenic induction model group, low-dose gentiopicroside (L-gentiopicroside, 10 μmol/L) group, medium-dose gentiopicroside (M-gentiopicroside, 20 μmol/L) group, high-dose gentiopicroside (H-gentiopicroside, 40 μmol/L) group, and H-gentiopicroside+SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway inhibitor (AMD3100) group (H-gentiopicroside+AMD3100, 40 μmol/L gentiopicroside+10 μg/mL AMD3100). Cell viability, apoptosis, ALP activity, mineralized nodule formation, and protein levels of the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway were assessed using the CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, ALP staining, Alizarin Red S staining, and Western blotting, respectively. Results No mineralized nodules were observed in either the control and model group, although the color of the model group deepened. Compared with the control group, the model group showed significantly increased A value, ALP activity, expression levels of Runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteopontin (OPN), SDF-1, CXCR4 proteins, along with a lower apoptosis rate. Compared with the model group, the L-gentiopicroside, M-gentiopicroside and H-gentiopicroside groups showed dose-dependently (L
3.Vitexin-4 ″-O-glucoside alleviates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury.
Fan DONG ; Shanglei LAI ; Jiannan QIU ; Xiaobing DOU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(3):307-317
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the protective effect of vitexin-4 ″-O-glucoside (VOG) against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanism.
METHODS:
C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, model control group, low-dose group of VOG (30 mg/kg), and high-dose group of VOG (60 mg/kg). Acute liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen (500 mg/kg). VOG was administrated by gavage 2 h before acetaminophen treatment in VOG groups. The protective effect of VOG against acute liver injury was evaluated by detecting alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) levels and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in liver were detected to evaluate the hepatic oxidative stress. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Il-1β, and Il-6 in liver were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression levels of phosphorylated c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/JNK, phosphorylated p38/p38, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE-1α), X-box binding protein 1s (XBP1s), and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in liver were detected by Western blotting. An endoplasmic reticulum stress model was established in AML-12 cells using tunicamycin. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and the degree of cell damage was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. The gene expression levels of Ire-1α, Xbp1s, and Grp78 in the cells were detected using qRT-PCR.
RESULTS:
In the animal experiments, compared with the model control group, VOG significantly improved plasma ALT and AST levels, liver MDA content, as well as SOD and CAT activities. VOG also reduced the expression levels of Tnf-α, Il-1β, and Il-6 in the liver, and improved protein phosphorylation levels of JNK and p38, as well as the protein expression levels of IRE-1α, XBP1s, and GRP78. In cell experiments, VOG pretreatment enhanced cell viability, reduced LDH release and decreased the mRNA expression of Ire-1α, Xbp1s, and Grp78.
CONCLUSIONS
VOG can suppress inflammation and oxidative stress, and alleviate acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulating the MAPK signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
;
Mice
;
Acetaminophen/adverse effects*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control*
;
Glucosides/therapeutic use*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Apigenin/therapeutic use*
;
Liver/drug effects*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects*
;
X-Box Binding Protein 1
;
Endoribonucleases/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
4.Gentiopicroside Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Vascular Endothelial Cells via SIRT1/Nrf2 Pathway.
Zhu-Qing LI ; Feng ZHANG ; Qi LI ; Li WANG ; Xiao-Qiang SUN ; Chao LI ; Xue-Mei YIN ; Chun-Lei LIU ; Yan-Xin WANG ; Xiao-Yu DU ; Cheng-Zhi LU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):118-130
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the protective effects of gentiopicroside (GPS) against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in endothelial cells, aiming to reduce atherosclerosis.
METHODS:
Eight-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10 per group): the vehicle group and the GPS treatment group. Both groups were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. GPS (40 mg/kg per day) was administered by oral gavage to the GPS group, while the vehicle group received an equivalent volume of the vehicle solution. At the end of the treatment, blood and aortic tissues were collected for assessments of atherosclerosis, lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and molecular expressions related to NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ROS production, and apoptosis. Additionally, in vitro experiments on human aortic endothelial cells treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were conducted to evaluate the effects of GPS on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and ROS production, specifically examining the role of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. SIRT1 and Nrf2 inhibitors were used to confirm the pathway's role.
RESULTS:
GPS treatment significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesions in the en face aorta (P<0.01), as well as in the thoracic and abdominal aortic regions, and markedly decreased sinus lesions within the aortic root (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, GPS reduced oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-18, in lesion areas (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vitro, GPS inhibited ox-LDL-induced NLRP3 activation, as evidenced by reduced NLRP3 (P<0.01), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, cleaved-caspase-1, and cleaved-gasdermin D expressions (all P<0.01). GPS also decreased ROS production, apoptosis, and pyroptosis, with the beneficial effects being significantly reversed by SIRT1 or Nrf2 inhibitors.
CONCLUSION
GPS exerts an antiatherogenic effect by inhibiting ROS-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
;
Iridoid Glucosides/therapeutic use*
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Atherosclerosis/metabolism*
;
Inflammasomes/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Sirtuin 1/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Endothelial Cells/pathology*
;
Mice
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Lipoproteins, LDL
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
5.Catalpol reduces liver toxicity of triptolide in mice by inhibiting hepatocyte ferroptosis through the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway: testing the Fuzheng Zhidu theory for detoxification.
Linluo ZHANG ; Changqing LI ; Lingling HUANG ; Xueping ZHOU ; Yuanyuan LOU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):810-818
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the protective effect of catalpol against triptolide-induced liver injury and explore its mechanism to test the Fuzheng Zhidu theory for detoxification.
METHODS:
C57BL/6J mice were randomized into blank control group, catalpol group, triptolide group and triptolide+catalpol group. After 13 days of treatment with the agents by gavage, the mice were examined for liver tissue pathology, liver function, hepatocyte subcellular structure, lipid peroxidation, ferrous ion deposition and expressions of ferroptosis-related proteins in the liver. In a liver cell line HL7702, the effect of catalpol or the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 on triptolide-induced cytotoxicity was tested by examining cell functions, Fe2+ concentration, lipid peroxidation, ROS level and the ferroptosis-related proteins.
RESULTS:
In C57BL/6J mice, catalpol significantly alleviated triptolide-induced hepatic injury, lowered the levels of ALT, AST and LDH, and reversed the elevation of Fe2+ concentration and MDA level and the reduction of GPX level. In HL7702 cells, inhibition of ferroptosis by Fer-1 significantly reversed triptolide-induced elevation of ALT, AST and LDH levels. Western blotting and qRT-PCR demonstrated that catalpol reversed abnormalities in expressions of SLC7A11, FTH1 and GPX4 at both the mRNA and protein levels in triptolide-treated HL7702 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
The combined use of catalpol can reduce the hepatotoxicity of triptolide in mice by inhibiting excessive hepatocyte ferroptosis through the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway.
Animals
;
Phenanthrenes/toxicity*
;
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
;
Diterpenes/toxicity*
;
Epoxy Compounds/toxicity*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Hepatocytes/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase
;
Iridoid Glucosides/pharmacology*
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control*
;
Male
;
Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism*
6.Salidroside inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer cells by regulating the miR-1343-3p-OGDHL/PDHB glucose metabolic axis.
Xinrui HOU ; Zhendong ZHANG ; Mingyuan CAO ; Yuxin DU ; Xiaoping WANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1226-1239
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the mechanism through which salidroside inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer (GC) cells focusing on glucose metabolic reprogramming pathways.
METHODS:
High-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify the potential targets of salidroside in human GC MGC-803 cells. Liposome-mediated transfection experiments were carried out to validate the functional and mechanistic roles of these targets. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to assess the effects of salidroside on GC cell viability and clonogenic ability. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and biochemical assay kits were used to analyze the regulatory effects of salidroside on the miR-1343-3p-OGDHL/PDHB enzyme complex-pyruvate metabolic pathway in GC cells.
RESULTS:
Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the tumor-suppressive factor miR-1343-3p negatively regulated the key glycolytic enzyme gene oxoglutarate dehydrogenase-like (OGDHL) in GC cells, and OGDHL and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit beta (PDHB) were both significantly upregulated in GC tissues, which was close by correlated with reduced survival rates of GC patients. In MGC-803 cells, salidroside treatment significantly enhanced the expression level of miR-1343-3p and downregulated OGDHL expression, resulting in disruption of the stability of PDHB, reduced pyruvate oxidative decarboxylation, and consequently decreased production of acetyl-CoA and ATP.
CONCLUSIONS
Salidroside inhibits GC cell proliferation possibly by regulating the miR-1343-3p-OGDHL/PDHB enzyme complex-pyruvate metabolic pathway, which provides new insights into its anti-tumor mechanisms and suggests new strategies for targeted therapy for GC.
Humans
;
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Glucosides/pharmacology*
;
Phenols/pharmacology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Glucose/metabolism*
;
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)/metabolism*
7.Gastrodin inhibits ferroptosis to alleviate hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal mice by activating GPX4/SLC7A11/FTH1 signaling.
Tao GUO ; Bolin CHEN ; Jinsha SHI ; Xianfeng KUANG ; Tengyue YU ; Song WEI ; Xiong LIU ; Rong XIAO ; Juanjuan LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(10):2071-2081
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of gastrodin against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal mice and explore the role of GPX4/SLC7A11/FTH1 signaling in mediating its effect.
METHODS:
Twenty-four 9- to 11-day-old C57BL/6J mice were randomized equally into 4 groups for sham operation, HIBD modeling by right common carotid artery ligation and subsequent exposure to hypoxia for 1 h, or gastrodin treatment at 100 or 200 mg/kg before and at 1 and 2 days after modeling. The mice then underwent neurological assessment (Zea-Longa scores), and the cerebral cortical penumbra tissue were collected for HE and Nissl staining, detection of ferroptosis biomarkers and protein expressions of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 with Western blotting and immunofluorescence co-localization, and observation of mitochondrial ultrastructure with electron microscopy. In cultured HT22 neuronal cells with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 2 h, the effects of pretreatments with 0.5 mmol/L gastrodin, 10 μmol/L RSL3 (a GPX4 inhibitor), alone or in combination, were analyzed on expressions of ferroptosis-related proteins, cellular Fe²⁺, ROS, lipid peroxidation, MDA, and GSH levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1), and cell viability.
RESULTS:
Gastrodin treatment at the two doses both significantly ameliorated HIBD and neurological deficits of the mice, reduced mitochondrial damage and Fe²⁺, MDA and ROS levels, increased GSH level, and upregulated GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 protein expressions. In HT22 cells, gastrodin pretreatment obviously attenuated OGD-induced ferroptosis and improved cell viability and mitochondrial function. Co-treatment with RSL3 potently abrogated the inhibitory effects of gastrodin on Fe²⁺, ROS, BODIPY-C11, and MDA levels and attenuated its protective effects on GSH level, cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential.
CONCLUSIONS
Gastrodin provides neuroprotective effects in neonatal mice with HIBD by suppressing neuronal ferroptosis via upregulating the GPX4/SLC7A11/FTH1 signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
;
Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/drug therapy*
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase
;
Glucosides/pharmacology*
;
Animals, Newborn
;
Benzyl Alcohols/pharmacology*
;
Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism*
8.Aucubin alleviates knee osteoarthritis in mice by suppressing the NF‑κB signaling pathway.
Yongxin MAI ; Shuting ZHOU ; Ruijia WEN ; Jinfang ZHANG ; Dongxiang ZHAN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(10):2104-2110
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the therapeutic effect of aucubin in mice with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and investigate the underlying mechanism.
METHODS:
Sixty C57BL/6J mice were randomized equally into sham operation group, KOA model group, glucosamine (positive control) treatment group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose aucubin treatment groups (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, respectively). KOA mouse models were established by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the treatment was initiated on day 1 postoperatively and administered weekly for 8 weeks. Safranin O-fast green staining, immunohistochemistry, and microCT were used to evaluate the changes in cartilage pathology, inflammatory protein expression, and subchondral bone volume fraction (BV/TV). The expression levesl of COL2, SOX9, p-P65, IL-1β and MMP13 proteins in the cartilage tissues were detected using Western blotting. In a chondrocyte model with IL-1β treatment for mimicking KOA, the effect of aucubin on chondrogenic differentiation was observed with Alcian blue and Safranin O staining, and cellular COL2, SOX9 and TNF‑α mRNA expressions were detected with RT-qPCR.
RESULTS:
Compared with those in the model group, the mouse models receiving aucubin treatment showed significantly upregulated COL2 and SOX9 protein levels and downregulated p-P65, IL-1β and MMP13 expressions in the cartilage tissues. In the IL-1β-induced chondrocyte model, aucubin treatment significantly upregulated the mRNA expressions of SOX9 and COL2 but lowered the mRNA expression of TNF-α. Alcian blue and Safranin O staining confirmed that aucubin promoted the synthesis of cartilage extracellular matrix and enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of the cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Aucubin can effectively alleviate KOA in mice by inhibiting NF‑κB-mediated cartilage inflammation, promoting cartilage matrix synthesis, and improving subchondral bone microstructure.
Animals
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice
;
Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Iridoid Glucosides/therapeutic use*
;
SOX9 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
Chondrocytes/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism*
;
Collagen Type II/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
9.Salidroside inhibits osteoclast differentiation based on osteoblast-osteoclast interaction via HIF-1a pathway.
Yutong JIN ; Yao WANG ; Chuan WANG ; Lingling ZHANG ; Dandan GAO ; Haizhao LIU ; Qingwen CAO ; Chenchen TIAN ; Yuhong BIAN ; Yue WANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(5):572-584
This study investigated the regulatory potential of salidroside (SAL), a primary active compound in Rhodiola rosea L., on osteoclast differentiation by modulating the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1a) pathway in osteoblasts. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were employed to validate whether the receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand (RANKL) is the downstream target gene of HIF-1a in osteoblasts. The study also utilized lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse osteolysis to examine the impact of SAL on osteolysis in vivo. Furthermore, conditioned medium (CM) from SAL-pretreated osteoblasts was used to investigate the paracrine effects on osteoclastogenesis through the HIF-1a pathway. Hypoxic condition-induced overexpression of HIF-1a upregulated RANKL levels by binding to the RANKL promoter and enhancing transcription in osteoblastic cells. In vivo, SAL significantly alleviated bone tissue hypoxia and decreased the expression of HIF-1a by downregulating the expression of RANKL, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). In the paracrine experiment, conditioned media from SAL-pretreated osteoblasts inhibited differentiation through the HIF-1a/RANKL, VEGF, IL-6, and ANGPTL4 pathways. RANKL emerges as the downstream target gene regulated by HIF-1a in osteoblasts. SAL significantly alleviates bone tissue hypoxia and bone loss in LPS-induced osteolysis through the HIF-1a/RANKL, VEGF, IL-6, and ANGPTL4 pathways. SAL inhibits osteoclast differentiation by regulating osteoblast paracrine secretion.
Animals
;
Osteoblasts/cytology*
;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
;
Glucosides/administration & dosage*
;
Cell Differentiation/drug effects*
;
Phenols/administration & dosage*
;
Mice
;
Osteoclasts/metabolism*
;
RANK Ligand/genetics*
;
Rhodiola/chemistry*
;
Osteogenesis/drug effects*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Interleukin-6/genetics*
;
Male
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Osteolysis/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
10.Molecular mechanism of verbascoside in promoting acetylcholine release of neurotransmitter.
Zhi-Hua ZHOU ; Hai-Yan XING ; Yan LIANG ; Jie GAO ; Yang LIU ; Ting ZHANG ; Li ZHU ; Jia-Long QIAN ; Chuan ZHOU ; Gang LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):335-348
The molecular mechanism of verbascoside(OC1) in promoting acetylcholine(ACh) release in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD) was studied. Adrenal pheochromocytoma cells(PC12) of rats induced by β-amyloid protein(1-42)(Aβ_(1-42)) were used as AD models in vitro and were divided into control group, model group(Aβ_(1-42) 10 μmol·L~(-1)), OC1 treatment group(2 and 10 μg·mL~(-1)). The effect of OC1 on phosphorylated proteins in AD models was analyzed by whole protein phosphorylation quantitative omics, and the selectivity of OC1 for calcium channel subtypes was virtually screened in combination with computer-aided drug design. The fluorescence probe Fluo-3/AM was used to detect Ca~(2+) concentration in cells. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the effects of OC1 on the expression of phosphorylated calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(p-CaMKⅡ, Thr286) and synaptic vesicle-related proteins, and UPLC/Q Exactive MS was used to detect the effects of OC1 on ACh release in AD models. The effects of OC1 on acetylcholine esterase(AChE) activity in AD models were detected. The results showed that the differentially modified proteins in the model group and the OC1 treatment group were related to calcium channel activation at three levels: GO classification, KEGG pathway, and protein domain. The results of molecular docking revealed the dominant role of L-type calcium channels. Fluo-3/AM fluorescence intensity decreased under the presence of Ca~(2+) chelating agent ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid(EGTA), L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil, and N-type calcium channel blocker conotoxin, and the effect of verapamil was stronger than that of conotoxin. This confirmed that OC1 promoted extracellular Ca~(2+) influx mainly through its interaction with L-type calcium channel protein. In addition, proteomic analysis and Western blot results showed that the expression of p-CaMKⅡ and downstream vesicle-related proteins was up-regulated after OC1 treatment, indicating that OC1 acted on vesicle-related proteins by activating CaMKⅡ and participated in synaptic remodeling and transmitter release, thus affecting learning and memory. OC1 also decreased the activity of AChE and prolonged the action time of ACh in synaptic gaps.
Animals
;
Rats
;
Glucosides/administration & dosage*
;
Acetylcholine/metabolism*
;
Alzheimer Disease/genetics*
;
PC12 Cells
;
Phenols/chemistry*
;
Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Phosphorylation/drug effects*
;
Calcium/metabolism*
;
Polyphenols

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