Introduction Cholestatic liver diseases are highly prevalent and lack effective treatment, ultimately progressing to end-stage liver diseases. Our recent study indicates that the interplay between c-MYC and lncRNA H19 exacerbates the ductular reaction during cholestasis. Objective: This study aims to unveil the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of senkyunolide A (SenA) on cholangiocyte overproliferation in cholestatic liver diseases. Methods : Through comprehensive characterization using RNA sequencing, CHIP analysis, protein truncation, amino acid mutation or deletion, and the development of SenA derivatives, we explored the effects and mechanisms of SenA in vivo in bile duct ligation mice and in vitro in primary cholangiocytes. Results : We demonstrated that SenA effectively mitigates cholangiocyte hyperproliferation by epigenetically suppressing c-MYC expression and disrupting the downstream H19, Let-7a and Lin28a. Mechanically, we identified a potential interaction between the carbonyl group in SenA and Arg483 in TRAF6, disrupting the TRAF6-HDAC3 complex. This dissociation facilitates the binding of HDAC3 to the MYC promoter region, resulting in enhanced histone deacetylation and transcriptional suppression. Conclusion : We highlight the therapeutic potential of SenA in cholestatic liver diseases by elucidating its role in epigenetic regulation.
Background Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by airway remodeling, which results in a progressive decline in lung function. Senkyunolide A is one of the effective components of ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, it shows protective effects on many human diseases. However, the role of Senkyunolide A in asthma remains unclear. Results In our study, we established an asthma mouse model by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge, and Senkyunolide A (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection. For in vitro study, lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells were treated with TGF-β1 to induce epithelial mesenchymal transformation. Our study showed that Senkyunolide A (40 mg/kg) alleviated airway injury, inflammatory infiltration and airway remodeling induced by OVA in asthma mice. Meanwhile, Senkyunolide A (40 μM) recovered the high level of cell migration and profibrotic factors expression induced by TGF-β1. Mechanistically, Senkyunolide A abolished the effect of OVA or TGF-β1 on Smad2/3 phosphorylation at site Ser 465/467 /Ser 423/425 in mice or BEAS-2B cells and inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced by OVA. Conclusions In total, our study indicated that Senkyunolide A alleviated airway damage and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice and regulated the progress of asthma by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway and NLRP3 activation.