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.Electroacupuncture at Sensitized Acupoints Relieves Somatic Referred Pain in Colitis Rats by Inhibiting Sympathetic-Sensory Coupling to Interfere with 5-HT Signaling Pathway.
Ying YANG ; Jin-Yu QU ; Hua GUO ; Hai-Ying ZHOU ; Xia RUAN ; Ying-Chun PENG ; Xue-Fang SHEN ; Jin XIONG ; Yi-Li WANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(2):152-162
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at sensitized acupoints could reduce sympathetic-sensory coupling (SSC) and neurogenic inflammatory response by interfering with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)ergic neural pathways to relieve colitis and somatic referred pain, and explore the underlying mechanisms.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Rats were treated with 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution for 7 days to establish a colitis model. Twelve rats were randomly divided into the control and model groups according to a random number table (n=6). According to the "Research on Rat Acupoint Atlas", sensitized acupoints and non-sensitized acupoints were determined. Rats were randomly divided into the control, model, Zusanli-EA (ST 36), Dachangshu-EA (BL 25), and Xinshu (BL 15) groups (n=6), as well as the control, model, EA, and EA + GR113808 (a 5-HT inhibitor) groups (n=6). The rats in the control group received no treatment. Acupuncture was administered on 2 days after modeling using the stimulation pavameters: 1 mA, 2 Hz, for 30 min, with sparse and dense waves, for 14 consecutive days. GR113808 was injected into the tail vein at 5 mg/kg before EA for 10 min for 7 consecutive days. Mechanical sensitivity was assessed with von Frey filaments. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores of rats were determined. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe colon histopathology. SSC was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect 5-HT and substance P (SP) expressions. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in skin tissue and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels in DRG were detected by Western blot. The levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), bradykinin (BK), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in skin tissue, 5-HT, tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), serotonin transporters (SERT), 5-HT 3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT 4 receptor (5-HT4R) in colon tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			BL 25 and ST 36 acupoints were determined as sensitized acupoints, and BL 15 acupoint was used as a non-sensitized acupoint. EA at sensitized acupoints improved the DAI score, increased mechanical withdrawal thresholds, and alleviated colonic pathological damage of rats. EA at sensitized acupoints reduced SSC structures and decreased TH and CGRP expression levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, EA at sensitized acupoints reduced BK, PGI2, 5-HT, 5-HT3R and TPH1 levels, and increased HA, 5-HT4R and SERT levels in colitis rats (P<0.05). GR113808 treatment diminished the protective effect of EA at sensitized acupoints in colitis rats (P<0.05).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			EA at sensitized acupoints alleviated DSS-induced somatic referred pain in colitis rats by interfering with 5-HTergic neural pathway, and reducing SSC inflammatory response.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Electroacupuncture
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Serotonin
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Acupuncture Points
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Pain, Referred
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Colitis/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Indoles
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sulfonamides
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
3.Electroacupuncture Promotes Functional Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury in Rats by Regulating Autophagy via GDNF and PI3K/mTOR Signaling Pathway.
Jun-Peng YAO ; Xiu-Mei FENG ; Lu WANG ; Yan-Qiu LI ; Zi-Yue ZHU ; Xiang-Yun YAN ; Yu-Qing YANG ; Ying LI ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(3):251-259
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Male
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Electroacupuncture
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Facial Nerve Injuries/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Beclin-1
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Autophagy
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mammals/metabolism*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
4.Force-induced Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis regulates orthodontic tooth movement.
Liyuan CHEN ; Huajie YU ; Zixin LI ; Yu WANG ; Shanshan JIN ; Min YU ; Lisha ZHU ; Chengye DING ; Xiaolan WU ; Tianhao WU ; Chunlei XUN ; Yanheng ZHOU ; Danqing HE ; Yan LIU
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(1):3-3
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Pyroptosis, an inflammatory caspase-dependent programmed cell death, plays a vital role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and activating inflammatory responses. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is an aseptic force-induced inflammatory bone remodeling process mediated by the activation of periodontal ligament (PDL) progenitor cells. However, whether and how force induces PDL progenitor cell pyroptosis, thereby influencing OTM and alveolar bone remodeling remains unknown. In this study, we found that mechanical force induced the expression of pyroptosis-related markers in rat OTM and alveolar bone remodeling process. Blocking or enhancing pyroptosis level could suppress or promote OTM and alveolar bone remodeling respectively. Using Caspase-1-/- mice, we further demonstrated that the functional role of the force-induced pyroptosis in PDL progenitor cells depended on Caspase-1. Moreover, mechanical force could also induce pyroptosis in human ex-vivo force-treated PDL progenitor cells and in compressive force-loaded PDL progenitor cells in vitro, which influenced osteoclastogenesis. Mechanistically, transient receptor potential subfamily V member 4 signaling was involved in force-induced Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis in PDL progenitor cells. Overall, this study suggested a novel mechanism contributing to the modulation of osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone remodeling under mechanical stimuli, indicating a promising approach to accelerate OTM by targeting Caspase-1.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Bone Remodeling/physiology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Caspase 1
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Periodontal Ligament
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Pyroptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tooth Movement Techniques
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
5.Potassium dehydroandrographolide succinate regulates the MyD88/CDH13 signaling pathway to enhance vascular injury-induced pathological vascular remodeling.
Qiru GUO ; Jiali LI ; Zheng WANG ; Xiao WU ; Zhong JIN ; Song ZHU ; Hongfei LI ; Delai ZHANG ; Wangming HU ; Huan XU ; Lan YANG ; Liangqin SHI ; Yong WANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(1):62-74
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Pathological vascular remodeling is a hallmark of various vascular diseases. Previous research has established the significance of andrographolide in maintaining gastric vascular homeostasis and its pivotal role in modulating endothelial barrier dysfunction, which leads to pathological vascular remodeling. Potassium dehydroandrographolide succinate (PDA), a derivative of andrographolide, has been clinically utilized in the treatment of inflammatory diseases precipitated by viral infections. This study investigates the potential of PDA in regulating pathological vascular remodeling. The effect of PDA on vascular remodeling was assessed through the complete ligation of the carotid artery in C57BL/6 mice. Experimental approaches, including rat aortic primary smooth muscle cell culture, flow cytometry, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, Boyden chamber cell migration assay, spheroid sprouting assay, and Matrigel-based tube formation assay, were employed to evaluate the influence of PDA on the proliferation and motility of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Molecular docking simulations and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to examine protein interactions. The results revealed that PDA exacerbates vascular injury-induced pathological remodeling, as evidenced by enhanced neointima formation. PDA treatment significantly increased the proliferation and migration of SMCs. Further mechanistic studies disclosed that PDA upregulated myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) expression in SMCs and interacted with T-cadherin (CDH13). This interaction augmented proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix deposition, culminating in pathological vascular remodeling. Our findings underscore the critical role of PDA in the regulation of pathological vascular remodeling, mediated through the MyD88/CDH13 signaling pathway.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Vascular Remodeling
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Vascular System Injuries/pathology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carotid Artery Injuries/pathology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Molecular Docking Simulation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Movement
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice, Inbred C57BL
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Succinates/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Potassium/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cells, Cultured
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Diterpenes
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cadherins
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
6.Effects and mechanisms of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot in inhibiting podocyte necroptosis and renal fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease.
Jia-Xin CHEN ; Qi-Jun FANG ; Yi-Gang WAN ; Ying-Lu LIU ; Yu WANG ; Wei WU ; Yue TU ; Mei-Zi WANG ; Dian-Guang WANG ; Hai-Tao GE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(15):4137-4146
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Previous studies have shown that high blood glucose-induced chronic microinflammation can cause inflammatory podocyte injury in patients with diabetic kidney disease(DKD). Therein, necroptosis is a new form of podocyte death that is closely associated with renal fibrosis(RF). To explore the effects and mechanisms in vivo of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot(TFA), an extract from traditional Chinese herbal medicine Abelmoschus manihot for treating kidney diseases, on podocyte necroptosis and RF in DKD, and to further reveal its scientific connotation with multi-pathway and multi-target, the authors randomly divided all rats into four groups: a namely normal group, a model group, a TFA group and a rapamycin(RAP) group. After the modified DKD rat models were successfully established, four group rats were given double-distilled water, TFA suspension and RAP suspension, respectively by gavage every day. At the end of the 4th week of drug treatment, all rats were sacrificed, and the samples of their urine, blood and kidneys were collected. And then, the various indicators related to podocyte necroptosis and RF in the DKD model rats were observed, detected and analyzed, respectively. The results indicated that, general condition, body weight(BW), serum creatinine(Scr), urinary albumin(UAlb), and kidney hypertrophy index(KHI) in these modified DKD model rats were both improved by TFA and RAP. Indicators of RF, including glomerular histomorphological characteristics, fibronectin(FN) and collagen type Ⅰ(collagen Ⅰ) staining extent in glomeruli, as well as the protein expression levels of FN, collagen Ⅰ, transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and Smad2/3 in the kidneys were improved respectively by TFA and RAP. Podocyte damage, including foot process form and the protein expression levels of podocin and CD2AP in the kidneys was improved by TFA and RAP. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)-mediated podocyte necroptosis in the kidneys, including the morphological characteristics of podocyte necroptosis, the extent and levels of the protein expression of TNF-α and phosphorylated mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase(p-MLKL) was improved respectively by TFA and RAP. Among them, RAP had the better effect on p-MLKL. More importantly, the activation of the receptor interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1(RIPK1)/RIPK3/MLKL signaling axis in the kidneys, including the expression levels of its key signaling molecules, such as phosphorylated receptor interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1(p-RIPK1), p-RIPK3, p-MLKL and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-8(caspase-8) was improved respectively by TFA and RAP. Among them, the effect of TFA on p-RIPK1 was superior. On the whole, in this study, the authors demonstrated that TFA alleviates podocyte necroptosis and RF in DKD through inhibiting the activation of the TNF-α-mediated RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling axis in diabetic kidneys. The authors' findings provide new pharmacological evidence to reveal the scientific connotation of TFA in treating RF in DKD in more depth.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Abelmoschus
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Flavones/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Podocytes
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Necroptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Fibrosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Threonine/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Collagen/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Serine/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
7.Effects of Xihuang Pills on proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer LNCaP cells based on AR/m TOR signaling pathway.
Xin-Jun DAI ; Yan LONG ; Bo ZOU ; Li-Tong WU ; Jun-Feng QIU ; Yong-Rong WU ; Zhe DENG ; Yong-Li WANG ; Qing ZHOU ; Xue-Fei TIAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(15):4147-4155
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Based on the androgen receptor(AR)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway, the effects of Xihuang Pills-medicated serum on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer LNCaP cells were investigated. The drug-containing serum of SD rats was prepared by intragastric administration of Xihuang Pills suspension. The effects of low-, medium-, and high-dose Xihuang Pills-containing serum on the in vitro proliferation of LNCaP cells were detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8). Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis level of LNCaP cells after intervention with different concentrations of Xihuang Pills. Protein expression of cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase caspase-3(cleaved caspase-3), B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), and AR as well as the phosphorylation level of mTOR protein were detected by Western blot. The results showed that compared with the blank serum, the drug-medicated serum could blunt the activity of LNCaP cells. Low-, medium-, and high-dose Xihuang Pills-containing serum could significantly increase the cell apoptosis rate, increase the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein, decrease the expression of Bcl-2 protein, reduce the expression of AR protein, and down-regulate the level of phosphorylated mTOR(p-mTOR). To study the effect of Xihuang Pills on the growth of LNCaP cells in vivo, different doses of Xihuang Pills were used to intervene in the subcutaneous graft model in nude mice inoculated with LNCaP cells. The expression levels of AR, mTOR, p-mTOR, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. The results showed that the volumes of subcutaneous graft tumor in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose Xihuang Pills groups significantly decreased compared with that in the model group. The weight of subcutaneous transplanted tumor in each group with drug intervention was significantly lower than that in the model group. Compared with the model group, the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose Xihuang Pills groups showed increased cleaved caspase-3 protein expression, decreased Bcl-2 and AR protein expression, and reduced p-mTOR protein expression. Further experiments showed that AR agonist R1881 could block the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of Xihuang Pills. The mechanism of Xihuang Pills against prostate cancer is related to the inhibition of the AR/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibition of LNCaP cell proliferation, and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Male
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Caspase 3/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice, Nude
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Apoptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mammals/metabolism*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
8.Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in protecting ischemic myocardium by regulating platelet autophagy in rats with acute myocardial infarction.
Jia-Ming GAO ; Hao GUO ; Ye-Hao ZHANG ; Ling-Mei LI ; Gao-Jie XIN ; Zi-Xin LIU ; Yue YOU ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Jian-Xun LIU ; Jian-Hua FU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(15):4156-4163
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This study explored the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD) on platelet activation and differential gene expression after acute myocardial infarction(AMI). SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group, a model group, a positive drug(aspirin) group, and a BYHWD group. Pre-treatment was conducted for 14 days with a daily oral dose of 1.6 g·kg~(-1) BYHWD and 0.1 g·kg~(-1) aspirin. The AMI model was established using the high ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery method. The detection indicators included myocardial infarct size, heart function, myocardial tissue pathology, peripheral blood flow perfusion, platelet aggregation rate, platelet membrane glycoprotein CD62p expression, platelet transcriptomics, and differential gene expression. The results showed that compared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed reduced ejection fraction and cardiac output, decreased peripheral blood flow, and increased platelet aggregation rate and CD62p expression, and activated platelets. At the same time, TXB_2 content increased and 6-keto-PGF1α content decreased in serum. Compared with the model group, BYHWD increased ejection fraction and cardiac output, improved blood circulation in the foot and tail regions and cardiomyocytes arrangement, reduced myocardial infarct size and inflammatory infiltration, down-regulated platelet aggregation rate and CD62p expression, reduced serum TXB_2 content, and increased 6-keto-PGF1α content. Platelet transcriptome sequencing results revealed that BYHWD regulated mTOR-autophagy pathway-related genes in platelets. The differential gene expression levels were detected using real-time quantitative PCR. BYHWD up-regulated mTOR, down-regulated autophagy-related FUNDC1 and PINK genes, and up-regulated p62 gene expression. The results demonstrated that BYHWD could regulate platelet activation, improve blood circulation, and protect ischemic myocardium in AMI rats, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of the mTOR-autophagy pathway in platelets.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Myocardial Infarction/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Myocardium/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Aspirin/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Membrane Proteins/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mitochondrial Proteins
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
9.Mechanism of Mongolian drug Naru-3 in initiation of neuroinflammation of neuropathic pain from MMP9/IL-1β signaling pathway.
Fang-Ting ZHOU ; Ying ZONG ; Yuan-Bin LI ; Ren-Li CAO ; Wu-Qiong HOU ; Li-Ting XU ; Fei YANG ; Yan-Li GU ; Xiao-Hui SU ; Qiu-Yan GUO ; Wei-Jie LI ; Hui XIONG ; Chao WANG ; Na LIN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(15):4173-4186
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Neuropathic pain(NP) has similar phenotypes but different sequential neuroinflammatory mechanisms in the pathological process. It is of great significance to inhibit the initiation of neuroinflammation, which has become a new direction of NP treatment and drug development in recent years. Mongolian drug Naru-3 is clinically effective in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, sciatica, and other NPs in a short time, but its pharmacodynamic characteristics and mechanism of analgesia are still unclear. In this study, a spinal nerve ligation(SNL) model simulating clinical peripheral nerve injury was established and the efficacy and mechanism of Naru-3 in the treatment of NPs was discussed by means of behavioral detection, side effect evaluation, network analysis, and experimental verification. Pharmacodynamic results showed that Naru-3 increased the basic pain sensitivity threshold(mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal radiation hyperalgesia) in the initiation of SNL in animals and relieved spontaneous pain, however, there was no significant effect on the basic pain sensitivity threshold and motor coordination function of normal animals under physiological and pathological conditions. Meanwhile, the results of primary screening of target tissues showed that Naru-3 inhibited the second phase of injury-induced nociceptive response of formalin test in mice and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors in the spinal cord. Network analysis discovered that Naru-3 had synergy in the treatment of NP, and its mechanism was associated with core targets such as matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP9) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β). The experiment further took the dorsal root ganglion(DRG) and the stage of patho-logical spinal cord as the research objects, focusing on the core targets of inducing microglial neuroinflammation. By means of Western blot, immunofluorescence, agonists, antagonists, behavior, etc., the mechanism of Naru-3 in exerting NP analgesia may be related to the negative regulation of the MMP9/IL-1β signaling pathway-mediated microglia p38/IL-1β inflammatory loop in the activation phase. The relevant research enriches the biological connotation of Naru-3 in the treatment of NP and provides references for clinical rational drug use.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Neuroinflammatory Diseases
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Spinal Cord/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Hyperalgesia/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Neuralgia/metabolism*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
10.Mechanism of bilobalide promoting neuroprotection of macrophages.
Yang-Yang CHEN ; Wen-Yuan JU ; Guo-Guo CHU ; Xiao-Hui LI ; Ru-Heng WEI ; Qing WANG ; Bao-Guo XIAO ; Cun-Gen MA
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(15):4201-4207
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This study aims to explore the neuroprotective effect of bilobalide(BB) and the mechanisms such as inhibiting inflammatory response in macrophage/microglia, promoting neurotrophic factor secretion, and interfering with the activation and differentiation of peripheral CD4~+ T cells. BB of different concentration(12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg·mL~(-1)) was used to treat the RAW264.7 and BV2 cells for 24 h. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) were employed to detect the cytotoxicity of BB and appropriate concentration was selected for further experiment. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was applied to elicit inflammation in RAW264.7 and BV2 cells, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDMs), and primary microglia, respectively. The effect of BB on cell proliferation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Spleen monocytes of C57BL/6 female mice(7-8 weeks old) were isolated, and CD4~+ T cells were separated by magnetic beads under sterile conditions. Th17 cells were induced by CD3/CD28 and the conditioned medium for eliciting the inflammation in BMDMs. The content of IL-17 cytokines in the supernatant was detected by ELISA to determine the effect on the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells. In addition, PC12 cells were incubated with the conditioned medium for eliciting inflammation in BMDMs and primary microglia and the count and morphology of cells were observed. The cytoto-xicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay. The result showed that BB with the concentration of 12.5-100 μg·mL~(-1) had no toxicity to RAW264.7 and BV2 cells, and had no significant effect on the activity of cell model with low inflammation. The 50 μg·mL~(-1) BB was selected for further experiment, and the results indicated that BB inhibited LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines. The experiment on CD4~+ T cells showed that the conditioned medium for LPS-induced inflammation in BMDMs promoted the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells, while the conditioned medium of the experimental group with BB intervention reduced the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells. In addition, BB also enhanced the release of neurotrophic factors from BMDMs and primary microglia. The conditioned medium after BB intervention can significantly reduce the death of PC12 neurons, inhibit neuronal damage, and protect neurons. To sum up, BB plays a neuroprotective role by inhibiting macrophage and microglia-mediated inflammatory response and promoting neurotrophic factors.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Female
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Bilobalides/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Neuroprotection
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice, Inbred C57BL
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Macrophages/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Microglia
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cytokines/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Nerve Growth Factors/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Inflammation/metabolism*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
            
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