Aim To evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of the total phenylpropanoid glycosides extracted from Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) Blume (LRTPG) on hyperlipidemic golden hamsters and explore its regulatory effect on intestinal flora. Methods Sixty hamsters were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a positive drug group, LRTPG-L group, LRTPG-M group, and LRTPG-H group. After the successful induction of the model by high-fat diet, the animals were continuously administered for four weeks, and their blood lipids and liver lipids were detected. The formed feces from the colorectal region of the hamsters in the control group, model group and LRTPG-H group were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing. Results LRTPG reduced serum TG, TC, LDL-C and liver TG, TC concentrations significantly in hyperlipidemic hamsters. The results of the intestinal microbiota sequencing showed that compared to the control group, LRTPG significantly decreased the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and increased the relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia (P < 0.01) at the phylum level. At the family level, LRTPG significantly increased the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae, Peptococcaceae, and Verrucomicrobiaceae (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). At the genus level, LRTPG significantly increased the relative abundance of Oscillospira, Oscillibacter, Flavonifractor and Akkermansiaceae (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These changes in the flora were beneficial to the hypolipidemic effect of LRTPG. Conclusion LRTPG may exert its hypolipidemic effect by improving the intestinal flora disorder caused by a high-fat diet in golden hamsters.

Aim To explore the mechanism of hydroxy-a-sanshool in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy ( DCM) based on label-free quantitative proteomics detection technique. Methods DCM model was established by high fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin ( STZ) . They were divided into control group ( CON group ) , diabetic cardiomyopathy group (DCM group) and hydroxy-a-sanshool treatment group ( DCM + SAN group) . The cardiac function of mice was evaluated by echocardiography, the myocardial morphology was observed by pathology staining, the protective mechanism of hydroxy-a-sanshool on diabetic cardiomyopathy was speculated by proteomic technique , and the expression level of cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and key proteins were verified by Western blotting. Results Cardiac ultrasound and pathology staining showed that hydroxy-a-sanshool had protective effect on the heart of DCM mice. Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis was carried out between DCM + SAN group and DCM group, and 160 differential pro-teins were identified by proteomics, in which 127 proteins were up-regulated and 33 proteins were down regulated ; GO secondary functional annotations showed the biological process, molecular function and cellular component; KEGG enrichment analysis showed that cAMP signaling pathway was the most abundant; protein interaction network showed that PKA as the central node interacted with many proteins in the cAMP signaling pathway. Western blot showed that the relative expression of с AMP, PKA protein in DCM group was significantly lower than that in CON group ( P < 0. 05 ) , while the relative expression of cAMP, PKA protein in DCM + SAN group was significantly higher than that in DCM group ( P < 0. 05 ) . Conclusions Hydroxy-a-sanshool has protective effect on heart function of mice with diabetes, which plays a role through cAMP signaling pathway.

Aim To investigate the effects of 2-dode-cyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2 , 5-diene-l, 4-dione ( DM-DD) on resisting hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride ( CC14 ) in rats and the underlying mechanisms , with a specific focus on the TGF-pi/Smads signaling pathway. Methods The hepatic fibrosis model was replicated using 50% CC14. Various parameters, including levels of aspartate transferase ( AST) , ala-nine transferase ( ALT ) , albumin/globulin ( A/G ) , total protein (TP) , total bilirubin (T-BIL) , hyaluron-ic acid ( HA ) , laminin ( LN ) , collagen type Ж ( Col Ж) , and collagen type IV(ColIV) in the blood, were measured. Liver tissue lesions and fiber formation were observed using HE and Masson staining. The expression levels of a smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) , collagen type I ( Col I ) , transformed growth factor (TGF-pi), Smad2, and Smad7 proteins were assessed using immunohistochemistry. a-SMA, Coll, TGF-pi, and Smad7 mRNA levels in liver tissue were measured by RT-PCR. Additionally, the expression levels of TGF-pi, Smad4, and Smad7 proteins in liver tissue were determined by Western blot. Results In comparison to the normal control group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated levels of AST, ALT, TP, T-BIL, HA, LN, Col Ш and Col IV in serum. But A/G level notably decreased. Successful modeling was confirmed by the presence of extensive fiber formations observed through HE and Massonstaining in liver tissue. The DMDD administration group demonstrated a notable decrease levels of AST, ALT, TP, T-BIL, HA, LN, Col III, and CollV, but A/G was significantly elevated when compared to the model group. Furthermore, a-SMA, Coll, TGF-f31, Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA and protein levels in the DMDD administration group were significantly reduced, while Smad7 significantly declined. HE and Masson staining results reflected a marked reduction in fibrous hyper-plasia. Conclusion DMDD exhibits a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, and its mechanism appears to be associated with the TGF-fJl/ Smads signaling pathway.

Aim To explore the role of SIRT1/Nrf2 / HO-1 in alleviating the cognitive function impairment by sevoflurane treatment in a mouse model of postoperative cerebral reperfusion. Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham operation group, hemorrhagic shock reperfusion group, sevoflurane postconditioning group, sevoflurane postcondition-ing + SIRT1 inhibitor group and sevoflurane postconditioning + Nrf2 inhibitor group. Mice were subjected to Morris water maze test after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The ATP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), ROS and MDA contents in tissue of mice were detected. SIRT1, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in tissue were detected by Western blot. Results After hemorrhagic shock, the learning and memory ability of mice was reduced.ATP and SOD concentration in hippocampus was reduced , MDA and ROS concentration increased, and the SIRT, Nrf2 and HO-1 concentration was reduced. Sevoflurane improved the cognitive dysfunction and oxi-dative damage in postoperative mice, and the neuro-protective effect of sevoflurane on hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation mice was weakened followed with SIRT1 and Nrf2 inhibitors. Conclusion Sevoflurane probably alleviates the oxidative reaction damage and cognitive impairment caused by cerebral reperfusion in mice through SIRT1/Nrf2/H0-1 pathway.

As a widely used anti-tumor drug and anti-rheumatic drug in clinic, methotrexate (MTX) has many toxic and side effects, including gastrointestinal mucosa injury, central nervous system injury, liver and kidney function injury, etc. They often bring great trouble to the follow-up treatment of patients. The clarification of the mechanism of MTX toxicity to various organs has become the key to rescue the toxicity. The purpose of the article is to review the toxicity mechanism of MTX in various organs, so as to save the patients from the adverse reactions in clinical treatment.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death caused by phospholipid peroxidation damage of polyunsaturated fatty acids on cell membranes and involves several pathways, including the iron homeostasis regulatory pathway, the cystine glutamate reverse transporter (system Xc) pathway and the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) pathway. Ferroptosis is involved in the development of several diseases (e. g. myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer and degenerative diseases). The ubiquitination is an important post-translational modification of various protein molecules in the organism. Studies have shown that regulating the ubiquitination of ferroptosis pathway-related molecules can control cellular ferroptosis. Targeting the ubiquitination of ferroptosis pathway-related molecules can effectively promote or inhibit ferroptosis, which is expected to be a new strategy for the treatment of cancer or cardiovascular diseases. In this paper we review the progress of the ferroptosis pathways and the ubiquitination modification of ferroptosis-related molecules.

Aim To anticipate the mechanism of zuka- mu granules (ZKMG) in the treatment of bronchial asthma, and to confirm the projected outcomes through in vivo tests via using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods The database was examined for ZKMG targets, active substances, and prospective targets for bronchial asthma. The protein protein interaction network diagram (PPI) and the medication component target network were created using ZKMG and the intersection targets of bronchial asthma. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) were used for enrichment analysis, and network pharmacology findings were used for molecular docking, ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneal injection was used to create a bronchial asthma model, and in vivo tests were used to confirm how ZKMG affected bronchial asthma. Results There were 176 key targets for ZKMG's treatment of bronchial asthma, most of which involved biological processes like signal transduction, negative regulation of apoptotic processes, and angiogenesis. ZKMG contained 194 potentially active components, including quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and other important components. Via signaling pathways such TNF, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cancer pathway, and MAPK, they had therapeutic effects on bronchial asthma. Conclusion Key components had strong binding activity with appropriate targets, according to molecular docking data. In vivo tests showed that ZKMG could reduce p-p38, p-ERKl/2, and p-I

Aim To explore the effect of berberine (B E) on RSV infected HEp-2 cells and the related mechanism. Methods HEp-2 cells were infected with RSV and treated with BE. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, PINK1, Parkin, Beclinl, p62, LC3 I,LC3 II,and BNIP3 in HEp-2 cells were detected by Western blot. The secretion level of IL-1 p in HEp-2 cells was measured using ELISA. Apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential of HEp-2 cells were examined by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) in HEp-2 cells was detected through MitoSOX staining. Colocalization of mitochondria and autophagosomes in HEp-2 cells was investigated using immunofluorescence staining. Cyclosporin A was used for validation experiments. Results BE could significantly improve the activity of RSV-infected HEp-2 cells,reduce the apoptosis rate (P < 0. 05), and decrease the activation level of NLRP3 inflammasomes and IL-lp level (P <0. 05); BE improved mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels,and reduced mtROS. BE significantly promoted the colocalization of mitochondria-autophagosome in RSV infected cells, inducing PINK1/ Parkin and BNIP3 to mediate mitochondrial autophagy; cyclosporine A aggravated RSV infection. Conclusions BE has protective effects on HEp-2 cells infected by RSV. The mechanism may be related to the inhibitory effect of BE on the production of mtROS and the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes by inducing PINK1/ Parkin and BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.

Aim To investigate the effect of colchicine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and its related mechanisms. Methods The EndMT model was established by treating HUVECs with LPS. Cell proliferation rate was detected by CCK-8 assay, cytotoxicity was detected by LDH assay, and the optimal drug concentration was screened. The cells were divided into the normal control group, the normal control + colchicine (10 nmol • L) group, the LPS (10 mg • L) model group, and the LPS + colchicine (10 nmol • L) group. The morphologic changes of the cells were observed under an inverted microscope, the cell migration ability was detected by Transwell assay, and the ability of tube formation was analyzed by tube formation assay. The expression of endothelial markers (CD31/ VE-cadherin) and mesenchymal cell markers (a-SMA/FSP-1) were detected by Western blot. NF-KB inhibitor was used to detect the changes in related signaling pathways. Results CCK-8 and LDH experiments showed that 10 nmol • L colchicine was the optimal concentration. LPS could induce morphological changes in HUVECs, and colchicine could reverse morphological changes in HUVECs to a certain extent. Transwell experiment showed that the migration ability of HUVECs in the LPS treatment group was significantly enhanced (P < 0. 05), and colchicine could significantly reverse this phenomenon (P < 0. 05) . Tube formation experiment showed that LPS decreased the endothelial tube formation ability of HUVECs (P < 0. 05), while colchicine treatment markedly improved LPS-induced tube formation defects (P < 0. 05) . Western blot assay showed that after colchicine co-cultured with LPS, the expression levels of CD31 and VE-cadherin significantly increased compared with the model group (P < 0. 05), while the expression levels of a-SMA and FSP-1 significantly decreased compared with the model group (P < 0. 05) . During the induction of EndMT by LPS, colchicine could inhibit the activation of the NF-KB/Snail signaling pathway. Conclusions Colchicine can effectively inhibit EndMT induced by LPS, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of the NF-KB/Snail signaling pathway.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. ALS patients develop progressive muscle atrophy, muscle weak and paralysis, finally died of respiratory failure. ALS is characterized by fast aggression and high mortality. What' s more, the disease is highly heterogeneous with unclear pathogenesis and lacks effective drugs for therapy. In this review, we summarize the main pathological mechanisms and the current drugs under development for ALS, which may provide a reference for the drug discovery in the future.