Zhenteng Liu,Fenghua Li,Jingwen Xue,Meimei Wang,Shoucui Lai,Hongchu Bao,Shunzhi He
Follicular atresia is one of the main processes for the loss of granulosa cells and oocytes from the mammalian ovary and any impairment to premature ovarian failure. Large numbers of studies have demonstrated that granulosa cell apoptosis causes follicular atresia, yet the rescue of these cells remains elusive. We aimed to use Esculentoside A (3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 4-b-D-xylopyranosyl) phytolaccagenin, a saponin extracted from Phytolacca esculenta roots, as a potential rescue agent for the apoptosis of granulosa cells. Our results revealed the rescue of normal body and ovary weights, normal ovarian histo-architecture of ovaries, and hormones levels with regular estrus cycle. Consistently, the expression of proliferating and anti-apoptotic markers, i.e. KI67 and BCL-2 in granulosa cells, was enhanced. Meanwhile, the expressions of pro-apoptotic markers, which were BAX and CASPASEs (CASPASE-9 and CASPASE-3), were prominently reduced in Esculentoside A-induced premature ovarian failure mice. Additionally, PPARγ, a potential therapeutic target, has also rescued its expression by treating the premature ovarian failure mice with Esculentoside A. Our results advocated that Esculentoside A could restore folliculogenesis in premature ovarian failure mice. Furthermore, it has the potential to be investigated as a therapeutic agent for premature ovarian failure.
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common complication of advanced malignancy with a median survival of less than 5 months. Intrapleural injection is the main treatment for MPE, but there are problems such as the concentration of drugs not being durable and stable in the thoracic cavity, limiting therapeutic efficacy, rapid metabolism of drugs leading to systemic toxicity, a single mechanism of drug. Esculentoside A (EsA) exhibits multi-targeted effects that are potentially valuable to improve the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the thoracic cavity and suppress the development of MPE. But the toxicity and short half-life of EsA severely limit its use. We have developed an EsA delivery system based on a temperature-sensitive hydrogel (PLEL) for local treatment of MPE by intrapleural injection. The EsA/PLEL hydrogel supported slow-release of EsA and maintained a stable intrathoracic drug concentration, which not only significantly inhibited the progression of MPE and prolonged survival, but also reduced the side effects of EsA. We found that downregulating of CXCL1/CXCL2/CXCL3-CXCR2 axis expression to reduce tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration and tumour angiogenesis was a potential molecular mechanism for EsA/PLEL hydrogel to control lung cancer MPE. Therefore, this EsA/PLEL hydrogel delivery system has high potential for intrapleural injection therapy of MPE.