Brain cancer remains among the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with approximately 321,476 new cases and 248,305 deaths reported globally in 2022. The treatment of malignant brain tumors presents substantial clinical challenges, primarily due to their resistance to standard therapeutic approaches. Despite decades of intensive research, effective treatment strategies for brain cancer are still lacking. Nuclear receptors (NRs), a superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors, regulate a broad range of physiological processes including metabolism, immunity, stress response, reproduction, and cellular differentiation. Increasing evidence highlights the involvement of NRs in oncogenesis, with several members demonstrating altered expression and function in brain tumors. Aberrations in NR signaling, encompassing receptors such as androgen receptors, estrogen receptors, estrogen-related receptors, glucocorticoid receptors, NR subfamily 4 group A, NR subfamily 1 group D member 2, NR subfamily 5 group A member 2, NR subfamily 2 group C member 2, liver X receptors, peroxisome-proliferator activated receptors, progesterone receptors, retinoic acid receptors, NR subfamily 2 group E member 1, thyroid hormone receptors, vitamin D receptors, and retinoid X receptors, have been implicated in promoting hallmark malignant phenotypes, including enhanced survival, proliferation, invasion, migration, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. This review aims to explore the roles of key NRs in brain cancer, with an emphasis on their prognostic significance, and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting these receptors using selective agonists or antagonists.
Humans ; Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/physiology*

This study aims to investigate the potential effect of the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix on hypercholesterolemia in mice that was induced by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet and explore its possible mechanism from bile acid reabsorption. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the following groups: control, model, low-and high-dose(4 and 8 g·kg~(-1), respectively) fresh Rehmanniae Radix, and positive drug(simvastatin, 0.05 g·kg~(-1)). Other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 6 consecutive weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia. From the 6th week, mice were administrated with corresponding drugs daily via gavage for additional 6 weeks, while continuing to be fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-c), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-c), and total bile acid(TBA), as well as liver TC and TG levels and fecal TBA level, were determined by commercial assay kits. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, oil red O staining, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to observe the pathological changes in the liver. Three livers samples were randomly selected from each of the control, model, and high-dose fresh Rehmanniae Radix groups for high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were mined and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to predict the key pathways and target genes of the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. RT-qPCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) and cholesterol 27α-hydroxylase(CYP27A1) in the liver. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of CYP7A1 and CYP27A1 in the liver as well as farnesoid X receptor(FXR), apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter(ASBT), and ileum bile acid-binding protein(I-BABP) in the ileum. The results showed that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix significantly lowered the levels of TC and TG in the serum and liver, as well as the level of LDL-c in the serum. Conversely, it elevated the level of HDL-c in the serum and TBA in feces. No significant difference was observed in the level of TBA in the serum among groups. HE staining, oil red O staining, and transmission electron microscopy showed that the water extract reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver. Further mechanism studies revealed that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix significantly down-regulated the protein levels of FXR and bile acid reabsorption-related proteins ASBT and I-BABP. Additionally, it enhanced CYP7A1 and CYP27A1, the key enzymes involved in bile acid synthesis. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix may exert an anti-hypercholesterolemic effect by regulating FXR/ASBT/I-BABP signaling, inhibiting bile acid reabsorption, and increasing bile acid excretion, thus facilitating the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.
Animals ; Male ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hypercholesterolemia/genetics* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Humans ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Plant Extracts

Gegen Qinlian Decoction(GQD) is a classic prescription for the clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC). This study, based on the differences in efficacy observed in UC mice under different level of bile acids treated with GQD, aims to clarify the impact of bile acids on UC and its therapeutic effects. It further investigates the expression of bile acid receptors in the liver of UC mice, and preliminarily reveals the mechanism through which GQD affects bile acid synthesis in the treatment of UC. A UC mouse model was established using dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) induction. The efficacy of GQD was evaluated by assessing the general condition, disease activity index(DAI) score, colon length, and histopathological changes in colon tissue via hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining. ELISA and Western blot were used to evaluate the inflammatory response in colon tissue. The total bile acid(TBA) level and liver damage were quantified using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The expression levels of bile acid receptors and bile acid synthetases in liver tissue were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. The results showed that compared with the model group, GQD treatment significantly improved the DAI score, colon shortening, and histopathological damage in UC mice. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in the colon were significantly reduced. Serum TBA levels were significantly decreased, while alkaline phosphatase(ALP) levels significantly increased. After administration of cholic acid(CA), UC symptoms in the CA + GQD group were significantly aggravated compared with the GQD group. The DAI score, degree of weight loss, colon injury, serum TBA, and liver injury markers all increased significantly. However, compared with the CA group, the CA + GQD group showed a marked reduction in TBA levels and a significant improvement in UC-related symptoms, indicating that GQD can alleviate UC damage exacerbated by CA. Further investigation into the expression of bile acid receptors and synthetases in the liver showed that under GQD treatment, the expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and small heterodimer partner(SHP) significantly increased, while the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 5(TGR5) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(Cyp7A1) significantly decreased. These findings suggest that GQD may affect bile acid receptors and synthetases, inhibiting bile acid synthesis through the FXR/SHP pathway to treat UC.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics* ; Bile Acids and Salts/biosynthesis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Male ; Humans ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism* ; Colon/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

A targeted metabolomics study was conducted on the bile acid profiles in the liver and feces of rats induced by a high-fat diet and intervened by ginsenoside Rb_1, along with the detection of FXR pathway gene expression in the liver, to explore and clarify its mechanism of action. The content of biochemical indicators in the serum were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining were used to detect pathological changes and lipid deposition in the liver. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of FXR, small heterodimer partner(SHP), cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7A1), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c) in the liver. Targeted bile acid metabolomics technology was employed to analyze changes in bile acid profiles in liver tissue and feces, and a correlation analysis was performed between key genes such as FXR, SHP, CYP7A1, SREBP-1c and differential bile acid metabolites. The results showed that ginsenoside Rb_1 significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) in the serum, alleviated the large fat vacuoles and lipid deposition in the liver, increased the expression of FXR mRNA in the liver, and decreased the expression of SREBP-1c mRNA. The expression of CYP7A1 and SHP mRNA was increased, but the differences were not statistically significant. Targeted bile acid metabolomics showed that ginsenoside Rb_1 could restore the levels of 9 bile acids in the liver and 8 bile acids in the feces. Ginsenoside Rb_1 also increased the percentage of taurocholic acid(TCA) in the liver(56.78%) and the percentage of 12-ketolithocholic acid(12-KLCA) in the feces(26.10%). Pathway enrichment analysis revealed two pathways involved in bile acid metabolism: primary bile acid biosynthesis and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that FXR, SHP, CYP7A1, and SREBP-1c were positively correlated with multiple differential bile acids. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb_1 may intervene in lipid metabolism disorders induced by a high-fat diet by regulating the FXR pathway and modulating bile acid profiles in the liver and feces.
Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Male ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Metabolomics ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Feces/chemistry* ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolism* ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1/genetics* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and clinical significance of XPO1 in newly diagnosed adult diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and further investigate its functional mechanism. METHODS: Immunohistochemical testing was conducted for XPO1 expression in 93 cases of DLBCL and 30 cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. A risk model was construed to find survival related genes in DLBCL patients. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays were performed to explore the effect of XPO1 inhibitor (KPT-8602) and XPO1 knockdown. Differential expression gene (DEG) was examined based on the transcriptomes. RESULTS The expression of XPO1 in DLBCL patients was higher than that of the controls. Compared with XPO1 low-expression group, XPO1 high-expression group had a worse prognosis. The constructed risk model indicated that XPO1 and 14 genes in nucleocytoplasmic transport pathway (NTP) might be potential prediction marker of adverse outcome in DLBCL. Moreover, KPT-8602 as well as the XPO1 knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation, promote apoptosis, and induce cell cycle arrest in two DLBCL cell lines, Farage and SU-DHL-4. Based on the gene expression profiling in the datasets of DLBCL, patients were classified into XPO1 high and XPO1 low expression groups, and the MYBL1 was identified as the down-stream effector of XPO1. Inhibiting the function of XPO1 or reducing its expression can significantly decrease the expression of MYBL1 Conclusion: XPO1 is highly expressed in DLBCL, which is associated with poor prognosis. The oncogenic roles of the new XPO1/MYBL1 signaling are identified in DLBCL and XPO1 inhibitor may be a potential option for newly-diagnosed DLBCL patients.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology* ; Exportin 1 Protein ; Karyopherins/metabolism* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Apoptosis ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Clinical Relevance

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell biological characteristics of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The TBL1XR1 overexpression vector was constructed and DNA sequencing was performed to determine the mutation status. The effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on apoptosis of DLBCL cell line was detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL fluorescence assay; CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell proliferation; Transwell assay was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell migration and invasion; Western blot was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on the expression level of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins. RESULTS: The TBL1XR1 overexpression plasmid was successfully constructed. The in vitro experimental results showed that TBL1XR1 mutation had no significant effect on apoptosis of DLBCL cells. Compared with the control group, TBL1XR1 mutation enhanced cell proliferation, migration and invasion of DLBCL cells. TBL1XR1 gene mutation significantly increased the expression of N-cadherin protein, while the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased. CONCLUSION TBL1XR1 mutation plays a role in promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion in DLBCL. TBL1XR1 could be considered as a potential target for DLBCL therapy in future research.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Mutation ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; Repressor Proteins/genetics* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Cadherins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To study the therapeutic mechanism of Tuihuang Mixture against cholestasis. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomized equally into blank group, model group, ursodeoxycholic acid group and Tuihuang Mixture group. Except for those in the blank group, all the rats were given α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to establish rat models of cholestasis, followed by treatments with indicated drugs or distilled water. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL of the rats were determined, and hepatic expressions IL-1β, IL-18, FXR, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were detected using q-PCR, ELISA or Western blotting. Histopathological changes of the liver tissues were observed using HE staining. RESULTS: The rat models of cholestasis had significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL with increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-18, decreased protein and mRNA expressions of FXR, and increased protein expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the liver tissue, showing also irregular arrangement of liver cells, proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and inflammatory cells infiltration. Treatment of the rat models with Tuihuang Mixture significantly decreased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL, lowered IL-1β and IL-18 and increased FXR protein and mRNA expressions, and reduced NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA expressions in the liver tissue. Tuihuang Mixture also significantly alleviated hepatocyte injury, bile duct epithelial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver of the rat models. CONCLUSIONS Tuihuang Mixture can effectively improve cholestasis in rats possibly by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatosome-mediated pyroptosis via regulating FXR.
Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Rats ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism* ; Cholestasis/drug therapy* ; Rats, Wistar ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Interleukin-18/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Wendan Decoction for phlegm syndrome in rats with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=8) and 3 phlegm syndrome model groups (induced by high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt feeding and a single-dose intraperitoneal STZ injection; n=24) treated with daily gavage of saline, Wendan Decoction (3.6 g/kg), or metformin (0.1 g/kg) for 4 weeks. General conditions and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters of the rats were monitored, and serum LPS, liver histopathology, hepatic expressions of FXR, CYP7A1 and FGFR4 and ileal expressions of FXR and FGF15 were examined. Gut microbiota structure was analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing, and serum bile acids were quantified with UHPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: The rat models of phlegm syndrome exhibited severe hepatic steatosis and necrosis, increased body weight, abdominal circumference, Lee's index, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL and LPS, and decreased HDL level. The abundance of Bacteroidetes, Megamonas, and Bacteroides in gut microbiota increased while Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, isohyodeoxycholic acid, and glycohyodeoxycholic acid decreased significantly; hepatic FXR and FGFR4 expressions and ileal FXR and FGF15 expressions decreased while hepatic CYP7A1 expression increased significantly in the rat models. Treatment with Wendan Decoction effectively alleviated hepatic pathology, reduced body weight and abdominal circumference, improved glucose and lipid metabolic profiles and gut microbiota structure, and reversed the changes in hepatic and ileal protein expressions. Correlation analysis revealed that Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group were positively correlated while Bacteroidetes, Megamonas and Bacteroides were negative correlated with the levels of isohyodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid. CONCLUSIONS Wendan Decoction can significantly improve metabolic profiles in rats with phlegm syndrome of MS possibly by regulating the intestinal flora-bile acid axis to modulate the intestinal flora structure and maintain bile acid homeostasis via the FXR signaling pathway.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Metabolic Syndrome/microbiology* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Male ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolism* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a chronic metabolic condition with rapidly increasing incidence, becoming a public health issue of worldwide concern. Studies have shown that farnesoid X receptor(FXR)-based modulation of downstream targets can improve liver function and metabolic status in the patients with NAFLD and may be a potential drug target for treating this di-sease. Great progress has been achieved in the development of drugs targeting FXR for the treatment of NAFLD. A number of studies have explored the traditional Chinese medicine and their active ingredients for the treatment of NAFLD via FXR considering the high safety and efficacy and mild side effects. This paper systematically describes the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of NAFLD via FXR and the downstream targets, aiming to provide precise targets for the drug development and clinical treatment of NAFLD.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Liver ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/adverse effects* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*

Over the past decade, there has been increasing attention on the interaction between microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Bile acids are not only involved in the metabolism of nutrients, but are also important in signal transduction for the regulation of host physiological activities. Microbial-regulated bile acid metabolism has been proven to affect many diseases, but there have not been many studies of disease regulation by microbial receptor signaling pathways. This review considers findings of recent research on the core roles of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathways in microbial-host interactions in health and disease. Studying the relationship between these pathways can help us understand the pathogenesis of human diseases, and lead to new solutions for their treatments.
Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism* ; Receptors, Calcitriol/physiology* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/physiology* ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/physiology* ; Signal Transduction/physiology*