1.Effects of VX765 on osteoarthritis and chondrocyte inflammation in rats.
Wanran HUANG ; Junxue TU ; Aiqing QIAO ; Chujun HE
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2024;38(1):74-81
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of VX765 on osteoarthritis (OA) and chondrocytes inflammation in rats.
METHODS:
Chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joints of 4-week-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The third-generation cells were subjected to cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) analysis to assess the impact of various concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 μmol/L) of VX765 on rat chondrocyte activity. An in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cell inflammation model was employed, dividing cells into control group, LPS group, VX765 concentration 1 group and VX765 concentration 2 group without obvious cytotoxicity. Western blot, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and ELISA were conducted to measure the expression levels of inflammatory factors-transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Additionally, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were employed to assess the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Thirty-two SD rats were randomly assigned to sham surgery group (group A), OA group (group B), OA+VX765 (50 mg/kg) group (group C), and OA+VX765 (100 mg/kg) group (group D), with 8 rats in each group. Group A underwent a sham operation with a medial incision, while groups B to D underwent additional transverse incisions to the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament, with removal of the medial meniscus. One week post-surgery, groups C and D were orally administered 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg VX765, respectively, while groups A and B received an equivalent volume of saline. Histopathological examination using HE and safranin-fast green staining was performed, and Mankin scoring was utilized for evaluation. Immunohistochemical staining technique was employed to analyze the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and collagen type Ⅱ.
RESULTS:
The CCK-8 assay indicated a significant decrease in cell viability at VX765 concentrations exceeding 10 μmol/L ( P<0.05), so 4 μmol/L and 8 μmol/L VX765 without obvious cytotoxicity were selected for subsequent experiments. Following LPS induction, the expressions of TGF-β 1, IL-6, and TNF-α in cells significantly increased when compared with the control group ( P<0.05). However, intervention with 4 μmol/L and 8 μmol/L VX765 led to a significant decrease in expression compared to the LPS group ( P<0.05). Western blot and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated a significant upregulation of Nrf2 pathway-related molecules Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions by VX765 ( P<0.05), indicating Nrf2 pathway activation. Histopathological examination of rat knee joint tissues and immunohistochemical staining revealed that, compared to group B, treatment with VX765 in groups C and D improved joint structural damage in rat OA, alleviated inflammatory reactions, downregulated MMP-13 expression, and increased collagen type Ⅱ expression.
CONCLUSION
VX765 can improve rat OA and reduce chondrocyte inflammation, possibly through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway.
Rats
;
Animals
;
Chondrocytes/metabolism*
;
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Collagen Type II/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-6
;
Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology*
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/pharmacology*
;
Inflammation/drug therapy*
;
Osteoarthritis/metabolism*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Dipeptides
;
para-Aminobenzoates
2.Role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention.
Yan-Xu CHEN ; Xiao-Xue JIANG ; Qin-Yuan ZHANG ; Chang-Qing XU ; Yao-Mu HU ; Cai-Yun JIN ; Bo-Ling ZHANG ; Yao-Qin FU ; Zhi-Sheng JIN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(10):2630-2638
Diabetic kidney disease is an important microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Its pathological characteristics mainly include epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) in glomerulus, podocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and damage of glomerular filtration barrier. Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway is specifically regulated by a variety of mechanisms, and is a classic pathway involved in physiological activities such as apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. At present, many studies have found that TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has significant advantages in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease for its multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, and some traditional Chinese medicine extracts, traditional Chinese medicines and traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription improve the renal injury of diabetic kidney disease by regulating TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This study clarified the mechanism of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease by expounding the relationship between the key targets of the pathway and diabetic kidney disease, and summarized the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease by interfering with TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in recent years, to provide reference for drug research and clinical treatment of diabetic kidney disease in the future.
Humans
;
Diabetic Nephropathies/genetics*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Kidney/pathology*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
;
Smad Proteins/metabolism*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Diabetes Mellitus/genetics*
3.Effect of Isodon ternifolius-medicated serum on hepatic stellate cells based on TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
Gui-Dong HUANG ; Zhi-Pin ZHOU ; Zhi PANG ; Le QIN ; Rui-Sheng WU ; Yong CHEN ; Xiao-Xue YE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(14):3913-3921
The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of Isodon terricolous-medicated serum on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced hepatic stellate cell(HSC) activation. LPS-induced HSCs were divided into a blank control group, an LPS model group, a colchicine-medicated serum group, an LPS + blank serum group, an I. terricolous-medicated serum group, a Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) blocker group, and a TLR4 blocker + I. terricolous-medicated serum group. HSC proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure type Ⅰ collagen(COL Ⅰ), COL Ⅲ, transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(caspase-1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1). Real-time PCR(RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of TLR4, IκBα, and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3), nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) p65, gasdermin D(GSDMD), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC) in HSCs. Western blot(WB) was used to detect the protein levels of TLR4, p-IκBα, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, ASC, and GSDMD in HSCs. The results showed that I. terricolous-medicated serum could inhibit the proliferation activity of HSCs and inhibit the secretion of COL Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ, α-SMA, TGF-β1, caspase-1, MCP-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in HSCs. Compared with the LPS model group, the I. terricolous-medicated serum group, the colchicine-medicated serum group, and the TLR4 blocker group showed down-regulated expression of p-IκBα, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, GSDMD, and ASC, and up-regulated expression of IκBα. Compared with the TLR4 blocker group, the TLR4 blocker + I. terricolous-medicated serum group showed decreased expression of TLR4, p-IκBα, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, GSDMD, and ASC, and increased expression of IκBα. In conclusion, I. terricolous-medicated serum down-regulates HSC activation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Hepatic Stellate Cells
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism*
;
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism*
;
Isodon
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
;
Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism*
;
Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Colchicine/pharmacology*
;
Caspases
4.1, 25-(OH)2-VitD3 attenuates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting Snail1-SMAD3/SMAD4 complex formation.
Chengchong HUANG ; Rong DONG ; Zhengsheng LI ; Jing YUAN
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2023;39(4):325-331
Objective To investigate the effect of 1, 25-(OH)2-VitD3 (VitD3) on renal tubuleinterstitial fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease. Methods NRK-52E renal tubular epithelial cells were divided into control group (5.5 mmol/L glucose medium treatment), high glucose group (25 mmol/L glucose medium treatment) and high glucose with added VitD3 group (25 mmol/L glucose medium combined with 10-8 mmol/L VitD3). The mRNA and protein expression of Snail1, SMAD3, SMAD4, α-SMA and E-cadherin in NRK-52E cells were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. The expression and localization of Snail1, SMAD3 and SMAD4 were detected by immunofluorescence cytochemical staining. The binding of Snail1 with SMAD3/SMAD4 complex to the promoter of Coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The interaction among Snail1, SMAD3/SMAD4 and E-cadherin were detected by luciferase assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit the expression of Snail1 and SMAD4, and the expression of mRNA of E-cadherin was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. SD rats were randomly divided into control group, DKD group and VitD3-treated group. DKD model was established by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in DKD group and VitD3-treated group. After DKD modeling, VitD3-treated group was given VitD3 (60 ng/kg) intragastric administration. Control group and DKD group were given normal saline intragastric administration. In the DKD group and VitD3-treated group, insulin (1-2 U/kg) was injected subcutaneously to control blood glucose for 8 weeks. The mRNA and protein levels of Snail1, SMAD3, SMAD4, α-SMA and E-cadherin in renal tissues were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression and localization of Snail1, SMAD3, SMAD4, α-SMA and E-cadherin in renal tissue. Results Compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of Snail1, SMAD3, SMAD4 and α-SMA in NRK-52E cells cultured with high glucose and in DKD renal tissues were up-regulated, while E-cadherin expression was down-regulated. After the intervention of VitD3, the expression levels of Snail1, SMAD3, SMAD4, α-SMA and E-cadherin in the DKD model improved to be close to those in the control group. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Snail1 and SMAD3/SMAD4 bound to CAR promoter IV, while VitD3 prevented Snail1 and SMAD3/SMAD4 from binding to CAR promoter IV. Luciferase assay confirmed the interaction among Snail1, SMAD3/SMAD4 and E-cadherin. After the mRNA of Snail1 and SMAD4 was inhibited by siRNA, the expression of E-cadherin induced by high glucose was up-regulated. Conclusion VitD3 could inhibit the formation of Snail1-SMAD3/SMAD4 complex and alleviate the renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DKD.
Animals
;
Rats
;
Cadherins/genetics*
;
Diabetes Mellitus/pathology*
;
Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology*
;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
;
Fibrosis/pathology*
;
Glucose/pharmacology*
;
Kidney/pathology*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
RNA, Messenger
;
RNA, Small Interfering
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Vitamin D/pharmacology*
5.Amygdalin Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis through Inhibiting Activation of TGF-β/Smad Signaling.
Zhun XIAO ; Qiang JI ; Ya-Dong FU ; Si-Qi GAO ; Yong-Hong HU ; Wei LIU ; Gao-Feng CHEN ; Yong-Ping MU ; Jia-Mei CHEN ; Ping LIU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2023;29(4):316-324
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the effect of amygdalin on liver fibrosis in a liver fibrosis mouse model, and the underlying mechanisms were partly dissected in vivo and in vitro.
METHODS:
Thirty-two male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control, model, low- and high-dose amygdalin-treated groups, 8 mice in each group. Except the control group, mice in the other groups were injected intraperitoneally with 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-olive oil solution 3 times a week for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. At the first 3 weeks, amygdalin (1.35 and 2.7 mg/kg body weight) were administered by gavage once a day. Mice in the control group received equal quantities of subcutaneous olive oil and intragastric water from the fourth week. At the end of 6 weeks, liver tissue samples were harvested to detect the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp). Hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining were used to observe the inflammation and fibrosis of liver tissue. The expressions of collagen I (Col-I), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD31 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway were observed by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The activation models of hepatic stellate cells, JS-1 and LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β1 were used in vitro with or without different concentrations of amygdalin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L). LSECs. The effect of different concentrations of amygdalin on the expressions of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) dedifferentiation markers CD31 and CD44 were observed.
RESULTS:
High-dose of amygdalin significantly reduced the Hyp content and percentage of collagen positive area, and decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of Col-I, α-SMA, CD31 and p-Smad2/3 in liver tissues of mice compared to the model group (P<0.01). Amygdalin down-regulated the expressions of Col-I and α-SMA in JS-1 and LX-2 cells, and TGFβ R1, TGFβ R2 and p-Smad2/3 in LX-2 cells compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, 1 and 10 µmol/L amygdalin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of CD31 in LSECs and increased CD44 expression compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Amygdalin can dramatically alleviate liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice and inhibit TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, consequently suppressing HSCs activation and LSECs dedifferentiation to improve angiogenesis.
Rats
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Animals
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
;
Amygdalin/therapeutic use*
;
Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
;
Olive Oil/therapeutic use*
;
Rats, Wistar
;
Smad Proteins/metabolism*
;
Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism*
;
Liver
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Collagen Type I/metabolism*
;
Carbon Tetrachloride
;
Hepatic Stellate Cells
6.Shenmai Injection Improves Hypertensive Heart Failure by Inhibiting Myocardial Fibrosis via TGF-β 1/Smad Pathway Regulation.
Si-Yuan HU ; Yao ZHOU ; Sen-Jie ZHONG ; Meng YANG ; Shu-Min HUANG ; Lin LI ; Xin-Chun LI ; Zhi-Xi HU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2023;29(2):119-126
OBJECTIVE:
To study effects of Shenmai Injection on hypertensive heart failure and its mechanism for inhibiting myocardial fibrosis.
METHODS:
Salt-sensitive (Dahl/SS) rats were fed with normal diet (0.3% NaCl) and the high-salt diet (8% NaCl) to observe the changes in blood pressure and heart function, as the control group and the model group. Salt-insensitive rats (SS-13BN) were fed with the high-salt diet (8% NaCl) as the negative control group. After modeling, the model rats were randomly divided into heart failure (HF) group, Shenmai Injection (SMI) group and pirfenidone (PFD) group by a random number table, with 6 rats in each group. They were given sterilized water, SMI and pirfenidone, respectively. Blood pressure, cardiac function, fibrosis and related molecular expression were detected by sphygmomanometer, echocardiogram, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, immunofluorescence and qPCR analysis.
RESULTS:
After high-salt feeding, compared with the control and negative control group, in the model group the blood pressure increased significantly, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were significantly reduced, and the serum NT-proBNP concentration increased significantly (all P<0.05); furthermore, the arrangement of myocardial cells was disordered, the edema was severe, and the degree of myocardial fibrosis was also significantly increased (P<0.05); the protein and mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) were up-regulated (P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF- β 1), Smad2 and Smad3 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with HF group, after intervention of Shenmai Injection, LVEF and LVFS increased, myocardial morphology was improved, collagen volume fraction decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of Col I, TGF- β 1, Smad2 and Smad3, as well as Col I protein expression, were all significantly down-regulated (all P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological manifestation of hypertensive heart failure, and Shenmai Injection could inhibit myocardial fibrosis and effectively improve heart failure by regulating TGF-β 1/Smad signaling pathway.
Rats
;
Animals
;
Stroke Volume
;
Sodium Chloride
;
Rats, Inbred Dahl
;
Ventricular Function, Left
;
Heart Failure
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Hypertension
;
Fibrosis
;
RNA, Messenger
7.Huangqi Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells by regulating the long noncoding RNA-C18orf26-1/microRNA-663a/transforming growth factor-β axis.
Ben-Sheng DONG ; Fu-Qun LIU ; Wen-Na YANG ; Xiao-Dong LI ; Miao-Juan SHI ; Mao-Rong LI ; Xiu-Li YAN ; Hui ZHANG
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2023;21(1):47-61
OBJECTIVE:
Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used as a valid treatment for alleviating liver fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Although our previous studies showed that microRNA-663a (miR-663a) suppresses the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the transforming growth factor-β/small mothers against decapentaplegic (TGF-β/Smad) pathway, whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in HSC activation via the miR-663a/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway has not yet reported. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNA lnc-C18orf26-1 in the activation of HSCs and the mechanism by which HQD inhibits hepatic fibrosis.
METHODS:
The expression levels of lnc-C18orf26-1, miR-663a and related genes were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HSCs were transfected with the miR-663a mimic or inhibitor and lnc-C18orf26-1 small interfering RNAs. The water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay was used to assess the proliferation rate of HSCs. Changes in lncRNA expression were evaluated in miR-663a-overexpressing HSCs by using microarray to identify miR-663a-regulated lncRNAs. RNA hybrid was used to predict the potential miR-663a binding sites on lncRNAs. Luciferase reporter assays further confirmed the interaction between miR-663a and the lncRNA. The expression levels of collagen α-2(I) chain (COL1A2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins were determined using Western blotting.
RESULTS:
Lnc-C18orf26-1 was upregulated in TGF-β1-activated HSCs and competitively bound to miR-663a. Knockdown of lnc-C18orf26-1 inhibited HSC proliferation and activation, downregulated TGF-β1-stimulated α-SMA and COL1A2 expression, and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. HQD suppressed the proliferation and activation of HSCs. HQD increased miR-663a expression and decreased lnc-C18orf26-1 expression in HSCs. Further studies showed that HQD inhibited the expression of COL1A2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI) and phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) in HSCs, and these effects were reversed by miR-663a inhibitor treatment.
CONCLUSION
Our study identified lnc-C18orf26-1 and miR-663a as promising therapeutic targets for hepatic fibrosis. HQD inhibits HSC proliferation and activation at least partially by regulating the lnc-C18orf26-1/miR-663a/TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/p-Smad2 axis.
Humans
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
RNA, Long Noncoding/pharmacology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
Hepatic Stellate Cells/pathology*
;
Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Transforming Growth Factors/pharmacology*
9.Application of precision-cut lung slice technology to study the role of DDR2 in pulmonary fibrosis.
Xi-Hui HUANG ; Tao CHENG ; Ling MOU ; Xin BO ; Xin-Ru WEI
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2023;75(4):515-520
Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe lung interstitial disease characterized by the destruction of lung tissue structure, excessive activation and proliferation of fibroblasts, secretion and accumulation of a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM), and impaired lung function. Due to the complexity of the disease, a suitable animal model to mimic human pulmonary fibrosis has not yet been established. Precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) has been a widely used in vitro method to study lung physiology and pathogenesis in recent years. This method is an in vitro culture technology at the level between organs and cells, because it can preserve the lung tissue structure and various types of airway cells in the lung tissue, simulate the in vivo lung environment, and conduct the observation of various interactions between cells and ECM. Therefore, PCLS can compensate for the limitations of other models such as cell culture. In order to explore the role of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in pulmonary fibrosis, Ddr2flox/flox mice were successfully constructed. The Cre-LoxP system and PCLS technology were used to verify the deletion or knockdown of DDR2 in mouse PCLS. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) can induce fibrosis of mouse PCLS in vitro, which can simulate the in vivo environment of pulmonary fibrosis. In the DDR2 knock down-PCLS in vitro model, the expression of various fibrosis-related factors induced by TGF-β1 was significantly reduced, suggesting that knocking down DDR2 can inhibit the formation of pulmonary fibrosis. The results provide a new perspective for the clinical study of DDR2 as a therapeutic target in pulmonary fibrosis.
Animals
;
Humans
;
Mice
;
Discoidin Domain Receptor 2/metabolism*
;
Fibroblasts/pathology*
;
Fibrosis
;
Lung/pathology*
;
Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
10.Protective effects of three kinds of borneol on different brain regions in acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats.
Dan-Ni LU ; Qian XIE ; Zhuo XU ; Jian-Mei YUAN ; Rong MA ; Jian WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(5):1289-1299
This study compared the ameliorating effects of L-borneol, natural borneol, and synthetic borneol on the injury of different brain regions in the rat model of acute phase of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) for the first time, which provides a reference for guiding the rational application of borneol in the early treatment of ischemic stroke and has important academic and application values. Healthy specific pathogen-free(SPF)-grade SD male rats were randomly assigned into 13 groups: a sham-operation group, a model group, a Tween model group, a positive drug(nimodipine) group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose(0.2, 0.1, and 0.05 g·kg~(-1), respectively) groups of L-borneol, natural borneol, and synthetic borneol according to body weight. After 3 days of pre-administration, the rat model of I/R was established by suture-occluded method and confirmed by laser speckle imaging. The corresponding agents in different groups were then administered for 1 day. The body temperature was monitored regularly before pre-administration, days 1, 2, and 3 of pre-administration, 2 h after model awakening, and 1 d after model establishment. Neurological function was evaluated based on Zea-Longa score and modified neurological severity score(mNSS) 2 h and next day after awakening. The rats were anesthetized 30 min after the last administration, and blood was collected from the abdominal aorta. Enzyme-linked immunoassay assay(ELISA) was employed to determine the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-4, and transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-β1). The brain tissues were stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) for the calculation of cerebral infarction rate, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used for observing and semi-quantitatively evaluating the pathological damage in different brain regions. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1) in microglia. q-PCR was carried out to determine the mRNA levels of iNOS and arginase 1(Arg1), markers of polarization phenotype M1 and M2 in microglia. Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group and the Tween model group showed significantly elevated body temperature, Zea-Longa score, mNSS, and cerebral infarction rate, severely damaged cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, increased serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and decreased serum levels of IL-4 and TGF-β1. The three borneol products had a tendency to reduce the body temperature of rats 1 day after modeling. Synthetic borneol at the doses of 0.2 and 0.05 g·kg~(-1), as well as L-borneol of 0.1 g·kg~(-1), significantly reduced Zea-Longa score and mNSS. The three borneol products at the dose of 0.2 g·kg~(-1) significantly reduced the cerebral infarction rate. L-borneol at the doses of 0.2 and 0.1 g·kg~(-1) and natural borneol at the dose of 0.1 g·kg~(-1) significantly reduced the pathological damage of the cortex. L-borneol and natural borneol at the dose of 0.1 g·kg~(-1) attenuated the pathological damage of hippocampus, and 0.2 g·kg~(-1) L-borneol attenuated the damage of striatum. The 0.2 g·kg~(-1) L-borneol and the three doses of natural borneol and synthetic borneol significantly reduced the serum level of TNF-α, and the 0.1 g·kg~(-1) synthetic borneol reduced the level of IL-6. L-borneol and synthetic borneol at the dose of 0.2 g·kg~(-1) significantly inhibited the activation of cortical microglia, and 0.2 g·kg~(-1) L-borneol up-regulated the expression of Arg1 and down-regulated the expression level of iNOS. In conclusion, the three borneol products may alleviate inflammation to ameliorate the pathological damage of brain regions of rats in the acute phase of I/R by inhibiting the activation of microglia and promoting the polarization of microglia from M1 type to M2 type. The protective effect on brain followed a trend of L-borneol > synthetic borneol > natural borneol. We suggest L-borneol the first choice for the treatment of I/R in the acute phase.
Rats
;
Male
;
Animals
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-4/metabolism*
;
Polysorbates
;
Brain
;
Brain Ischemia/metabolism*
;
Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*
;
Cerebral Infarction
;
Reperfusion

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