Journal of Functional Foods
·
2025
·
IF 4
Rui Ge,Qikai Su,Jian Liang,Lu Zheng,Qing-shan Li,Li Tang
The identification of natural compounds with therapeutic efficacy for acute lung injury has consistently represented a critical area of research. Dulcitol, a natural product isolated from plants, is extensively used in the food and medical industries as a sweetener. Herein, we investigated whether dulcitol exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. In our study, ICR mice were pretreated with dulcitol at dose of 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg for seven consecutive days, followed by intratracheally instilled with LPS (10 mg/kg) to induce acute lung injury. In vitro, RAW264.7 and A549 cells were incubated with LPS in the presence of dulcitol to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism. The results demonstrated that dulcitol effectively inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduced the excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines triggered by LPS to ameliorates acute lung injury in mice. Additionally, in vitro experiments indicated that dulcitol suppressed the release of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α while reducing mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, iNOS and TNF-α in RAW264.7 and A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, dulcitol significantly decreased TLR4, MyD88, and TRIF levels and inhibited the translocation of NF-κB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Our finding suggested that dulcitol could serve as a protective agent against LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting the TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
研究领域:
免疫学
·
药理学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Food Frontiers
·
2025
·
IF 6.9
Xiaoli Qin,Yan Lu,Yawen Luo,Yafang Cui,Kai Zhao,Yang He,Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman,Shengnan Min,Wenfang Wang,Fuyu Yang,Binghai Cao,Huawei Su
Alfalfa is rich in flavonoid compounds, which are known for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting therapeutic potential for alfalfa flavonoids (AF) in inflammation-related diseases. This study investigated the effects of AF on Salmonella -induced colitis, a severe inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by oxidative damage and inflammatory response. In vitro, antioxidant assays revealed AF's concentration-dependent radical scavenging, significantly reducing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals for HO • and O 2 •− by 42% and 54%, respectively. In vivo, AF treatment significantly mitigated body weight (BW) loss by 6%, increased colon length by 11%, and reduced liver and spleen weights by 19% and 81%, respectively, compared to the colitis group. Mechanistically, AF suppressed inflammation by downregulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/IκB/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway and inhibiting nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, thereby lowering levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin 6 [IL-6], interleukin 1 beta [IL-1β]). Concurrently, AF enhanced antioxidant defense via the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing catalase (CAT) (69%), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (83%), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (21%) activities. Moreover, AF preserved epithelial and mucosal barriers by reducing apoptosis and upregulating tight junction proteins (Claudin1, ZO-1, E-cadherin) and goblet cell marker Ulex europaeus (Gorse) Agglutinin I (UEA-1). Microbiota analysis revealed that AF significantly enriched beneficial bacteria, including Akkermansia , Oscillibacter , and butyrate-producing taxa, thereby counteracting Salmonella -induced dysbiosis. Furthermore, AF restored the disrupted profile of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), strengthening the relationship between symbiotic microbiota and mucosal defense. Overall, AF exerted multifaced protection against Salmonella -induced colitis by alleviating oxidative stress, stabilizing intestinal homeostasis, and thus attenuating inflammation. These findings make AF a promising phytopharmaceutical for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.
研究领域:
药理学
·
微生物学
·
免疫学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Shanbo Ma,Rui Zhang,Long Li,Jin Wang,Meiling Zheng,Xiaodi Guo,Shan Miao,Wei Quan,Wenjuan Liu,Xiaopeng Shi
The current study isolated a homogeneous polysaccharide (AP) with a molecular weight of 7.9 kDa from the pomace of Fuji apples. AP was found to consists of rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, glucose, and galacturonic acid in a ratio of 4.3:5.2:2.6:1.0:11.9. Ten sugar residues in AP, including T-Ara f , 1,5-Ara f , 1,2-Rha p , 1,3-Rha p , T-Gal p , 1,3,5-Ara f, 1,4-Gal p , 1,4-Gal p A, 1,6-Glc p , and 1,3,6-Glc p were identified using methylation and GC–MS. Combined with 1D and 2D NMR, it was further revealed that AP possesses a backbone of α-Gal p- (1 → [3)-α-Rha p -(1 → 2)-α-Rha p -(1] 2 → [4)-α-Gal p A-(1] 10 → 3,6)-β-Glc p -(1 → 6)-β-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-Gal p -(1 → 4)-β-Gal p -(1→, with two branches: α-Ara f -(1 → 5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 3,5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 6)-β-Glc p -(1→ and →3)-α-Rha p -(1 → 5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 3,6)-β-Glc p -(1→ bonded to the C-3 of β-1,3,6-Glc p . AP significantly inhibited the release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Western blotting results indicated that AP treatment markedly downregulated iNOS and NF-κB protein expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, leading to decreased levels of phosphorylated proteins (p-NF-κB and p-ΙκΒα) and preventing the degradation of ΙκΒα. Furthermore, in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, AP inhibited the expression of TLR4 protein, which in turn inhibited the activity of the NF-κB pathway. The findings demonstrated that AP exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in vitro by targeting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, thus impeding the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65, suppressing the expression of related pro-inflammatory factors.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
免疫学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Immunology
·
2025
·
IF 5.9
Huan Xu,Kaixuan Ma,Ziting Ma,Tianyu Zhuang,Ling Lin
Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal pathological subtype of interstitial lung disease, frequently manifests as a pulmonary complication of connective tissue disease. Iguratimod (IGU) is a new class of anti-rheumatic drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have reported that RA patients treated with IGU have better lung function, and IGU effectively ameliorates PF. However, the mechanism by which IGU improves PF is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of IGU in PF through in vivo and in vitro investigations, so as to provide a new treatment method for PF.Methods: In our research, bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF of mice were used to observe the therapeutic effect of different concentrations of IGU. And the effects of IGU on macrophage polarization and activation pathway TLR4/NF-κB in lung tissue were analyzed. In addition, Raw264.7 macrophages were induced to M1 and M2 polarization in vitro, and the effects of IGU on Raw264.7 macrophage polarization and related pathways were observed.Results: In our study, database analysis suggested that macrophage polarization-relative genes and pathways as well as TLR4 activation played important roles in BLM-induced PF in mice. Besides, we found that IGU effectively ameliorated BLM-induced PF and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mice, and inhibited the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages at different stages of PF. Moreover, In vitro studies further demonstrated that IGU suppressed M1 polarization of Raw264.7 and its activation pathway TLR4/NF-κB.Discussion: In summary, IGU inhibits the activation of macrophages and M1 polarization through inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, thereby improving BLM-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice. It is suggested that IGU may be a new therapeutic option for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
研究领域:
免疫学
·
呼吸病学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
·
2024
·
IF 8
Meichen Liu,Meichen Gao,Xu Shi,Yilin Yin,Huanyi Liu,Ruirui Xie,Chenxi Huang,Wenwen Zhang,Shiwen Xu
With the increasing development of the society, silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) has been used in various fields, such as agriculture, food industry, etc., and its residues can pose a potential health threat to organisms. Quercetin (Que) is a potent free radical scavenger commonly found in plants. C57BL/6 mice were chosen to established a mouse model of SiO 2 exposure and Que antagonism to investigate the mechanism of action of Que in rescuing the toxic damage of SiO 2 on mouse cerebellum tissue. The results showed that cytoplasmic vacuolization, and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by SiO 2 were alleviated by the addition of Que, and reduced oxidative stress in mouse cerebellum, alleviated the activation of TLR4 pathway induced by SiO 2 , and substantially reduced the occurrence of ZBP-1-mediated PANoptosis induced by SiO 2 exposure in mouse cerebellum. In NS20Y cells, the oxidative stress activator (Elesclomol) and inhibitor N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and the NF-κB activator 2 (NA2) were added. Elesclomol and NAC confirm the involvement of ROS in regulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, the TLR4/NF-κB pathway regulated ZBP-1-mediated PANoptosis in cerebellum and NS20Y cells induced by SiO 2 exposure. In conclusion, the present experimental data suggest that Que mitigates the onset of ZBP-1-mediated PANoptosis in neuronal cells induced by SiO 2 through the ROS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway. The present experimental findings help to understand the detoxification effect of Que in more tissues and provide an important reference for the rescue of organisms in long-term SiO 2 environment.
研究领域:
神经生物学
·
毒理学
·
细胞信号传导
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
·
2024
·
IF 2.5
Jinyun Long,Xiukuan Li,Chunyan Yao,Xiaoling Liu,Na Li,Yumeng Zhou,Dawei Li,Shengquan Su,Liangmei Wang,Hao Liu,Ying Xiang,Long Yi,Yao Tan,Peng Luo,Tongjian Cai
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important neurotoxin that can cause inflammatory activation of microglia. ZC3H12D is a novel immunomodulator, which plays a remarkable role in neurological pathologies. It has not been characterized whether ZC3H12D is involved in the regulation of microglial activation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ZC3H12D in LPS-induced pro-inflammatory microglial activation and its potential mechanism. To elucidate this, we established animal models of inflammatory injury by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg). The results of the open-field test showed that LPS caused impaired motor function in mice. Meanwhile, LPS caused pro-inflammatory activation of microglia in the mice cerebral cortex and inhibited the expression of ZC3H12D. We also constructed in vitro inflammatory injury models by treating BV-2 microglia with LPS (0.5 μg/mL). The results showed that down-regulated ZC3H12D expression was associated with LPS-induced pro-inflammatory microglial activation, and further intervention of ZC3H12D expression could inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory activation of microglia. In addition, LPS activated the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway, and this process can also be reversed by promoting ZC3H12D expression. At the same time, the addition of resveratrol, a nutrient previously proven to inhibit pro-inflammatory microglial activation, can also reverse this process by increasing the expression of ZC3H12D. Summarized, our data elucidated that ZC3H12D in LPS-induced pro-inflammatory activation of brain microglia via restraining the TLR4-NF-κB pathway. This study may provide a valuable clue for potential therapeutic targets for neuroinflammation-related injuries.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
免疫学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
·
2022
·Vol. 23
·期 22
·14024
·
IF 6.208
Ping Zhou,Jia Lai,Yueyue Li,Junzhu Deng,Chunling Zhao,Qianqian Huang,Fei Yang,Shuo Yang,Yuesong Wu,Xiaoqin Tang,Feihong Huang,Long Wang,Xinwu Huang,Wenjun Zou,Jianming Wu
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex immune-mediated inflammatory disease. In recent years, the incidence of UC has increased rapidly, however, its exact etiology and mechanism are still unclear. Based on the definite anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities ofSanguisorba officinalisL., we studied its monomer, methyl gallate (MG). In this study, we employed flow cytometry and detected nitric oxide production, finding MG regulated macrophage polarization and inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. MG also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity accompanying with ameliorating body weight loss, improving colon length and histological damage in dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC mice. Meanwhile, transcription sequencing and 16S rRNA sequencing analyzed the key signaling pathways and changes in the gut microbiota of MG for UC treatment, proving that MG could alleviate inflammation by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, MG altered the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota and changed the abundance of metabolic products. In conclusion, our results are the first to demonstrate that MG has obvious therapeutic effects against acute UC, which is related to macrophage polarization, improved intestinal flora dysbiosis and inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, and MG may be a promising therapeutic agent for UC treatment.Keywords:ulcerative colitis;methyl gallate;gut microbiota;gut immunity;TLR4/NF-κB
研究领域:
药理学
·
免疫学
·
微生物学
·
胃肠病学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Cancer Management and Research
·
2020
·
IF 2.886
Weixu Luo,Yuanshan Han,Pan Meng,Qin Yang,Hongqing Zhao,Jia Ling,Yuhong Wang
Background Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer with high risk in females all over the world. It is usually complicated with depression, which can further accelerate the development and progression of breast tumors. We aim to identify a new drug and identify its functional mechanism in the regulation of hippocampal microglia (MG) in breast cancer complicated with depression (BCCD). Methods The activation model of MG was established by treatments from corticosterone (CORT) or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The inhibitory effects of resatorvid on MG were investigated by CCK-8, ROS, immunofluorescence, TUNEL, scratch test, ELISA, RT-qPCR and Western blot. BCCD animal model was established using 4T1 inflammatory breast cancer cells and CORT treatment in vitro. Open field experiment (OFE), tail suspension test (TST), ELISA, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments were utilized to examine the effects of resatorvid on the animal model in vivo. Results The cell viability and migration ability of the BCCD model group were suppressed. The expressions of inflammatory factors, ROS, and the apoptotic rate of the BCCD model group were up-regulated, in contrast to the control group. The expressions related to the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling in the BCCD model group were also elevated. Resatorvid reversed the above changes, which showed good therapeutic effects in depression-related behavioral changes, tumor treatment, and blood–brain barrier function. Conclusion In summary, resatorvid inhibited the activation of hippocampal MG in BCCD by regulating TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
神经科学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
·
2025
·
IF 7.3
Zixu Li,Yacan Gong,Emmanuel Sunday Okeke,Dan Li,Yao Chen,Weiwei Feng,Ting Zhao,Liuqing Yang,Guanghua Mao,Xiangyang Wu
Typical plasticizer dibutyl phthalate (DBP) has been demonstrated to induce hepatotoxicity in zebrafish, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Numerous studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in the pathophysiological progression of hepatic disease. However, it remains unclear whether ferroptosis is involved in the DBP-induced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish. Initially, histopathological analyses have preliminarily confirmed that DBP can activate inflammatory responses in the zebrafish liver. Further investigation revealed that DBP induces ferroptosis in the zebrafish liver, characterized by iron overload, lipid peroxidation, and aberrant activation of ferroptosis pathways. Furthermore, DBP exposure induced ferroptosis, disrupting cell membranes and subsequent release of HMGB1, which are sensed by immunocytes TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby activating the innate immune response in a context-dependent manner. Moreover, the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 effectively rescues the activation of HMGB1-TLR4/NF-κB-mediated immune processes. Overall, this work enriches the molecular mechanism of DBP-induced zebrafish liver inflammatory damage and provides a reliable biomarker for future environmental risk assessment of DBP.
研究领域:
环境毒理学
·
分子生物学
·
免疫学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN
·
2022
·Vol. 70
·期 1
·66-73
·
IF 1.903
Li Han,Aimei Chen,Ling Liu,Fang Wang
Despite the precise mechanisms for renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) are poorly understood, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathways were considered as the important targets. Leonurine (LEO) is a special alkaloid extracted from Chinese motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Houtt), which has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces oxidative stress. We conducted the study to explore the efficacy of LEO against I/R-induced AKI in rats and further investigated the underlying mechanisms. Ischemic renal injury was induced by temporary vascular clamping for 45 min. We have measured the levels of inflammation-related biomarkers and antioxidative stress markers. Next, Western blot analysis and Real-time PCR were performed to analyze whether the Nrf2 and TLR4/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathways were involved in this process. We found that LEO pretreatment remarkably decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in I/R rats and attenuated acute tubular damage. In addition, LEO markedly increased the expression of antioxidant proteins and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors. Further study revealed that LEO promoted Nrf2 into the nucleus, promoted the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1), and suppressed the TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway in kidney tissues of ischemic AKI rats. The study reveals that LEO has a protective effect to prevent ischemic AKI through activation of Nrf2 nuclear translocation resisting oxidative stress injury and inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway mediated inflammatory gene expression.
研究领域:
药理学
·
肾病学
·
分子生物学
·
免疫学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Sumin Ge,Sihua Wu,Qin Yin,Meng Tan,Sichuan Wang,Yonghao Yang,Zixuan Chen,Lei Xu,Hui Zhang,Chuang Meng,Yufei Xia,Naoki Asakawa,Wenping Wei,Kaizheng Gong,Xin Pan
Ethnopharmacological relevance Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) is a traditional medicinal Chinese herb that displays multiple biological activities, such as encompassing immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, liver-protective, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering effects. Ecliptasaponin A (ESA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from Eclipta prostrata (Linn.), has been demonstrated to exert superior anti-inflammatory activity against many inflammatory disorders. Aim of the study Inflammation plays a critical role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to explore the treatment effects of ESA in AMI, as well as the underlying mechanism. Methods An AMI mouse model was established in mice via left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation. After surgery, ESA was injected at doses of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. Myocardial infarction size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac echocardiography were studied. The potential mechanism of action of ESA was investigated by RNA-seq, Western blot, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), molecular docking, and immunofluorescence staining. Results ESA treatment not only significantly reduced myocardial infarct size, decreased myocardial cell apoptosis, and inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, but also facilitated to improve cardiac function. RNA-seq and Western blot analysis proved that ESA treatment-induced differential expression genes mainly enriched in HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Consistently, ESA treatment resulted into the down-regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels after AMI. Furthermore, SPR and molecular docking results showed that ESA could bind directly to HMGB1, thereby impeding the activation of the downstream TLR4/NF-κB pathway. The immunofluorescence staining and Western blot results at the cellular level also demonstrated that ESA inhibited the activation of the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in H9C2 cells. Conclusion Our study was the first to demonstrate a cardiac protective role of ESA in AMI. Mechanism study indicated that the treatment effects of ESA are mainly attributed to its anti-inflammatory activity that was mediated by the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
研究领域:
药理学
·
心脏病学
·
免疫学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MOLECULES
·
2018
·Vol. 23
·期 7
·1788
·
IF 3.098
Hong-Xin Cui,Ji-Hong Chen,Jing-Wan Li,Fang-Rong Cheng,Ke Yuan
Myrica rubra(MR) is rich in anthocyanins, and it has good anti-cancer, anti-aging, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. The proportion of disability and death caused by ischemic stroke gradually increased, becoming a major disease that is harmful to human health. However, research on effects of anthocyanin from MR on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is rare. In this study, we prepared eight purified anthocyanin extracts (PAEs) from different types of MR, and examined the amounts of total anthocyanin (TA) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C-3-G). After one week of PAE treatment, the cerebral infarction volume, disease damage, and contents of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were reduced, while the level of superoxide dismutase was increased in I/R mice. Altogether, our results show that Boqi1MR contained the most TA (22.07%) and C-3-G (21.28%), and that PAE isolated from Dongkui MR can protect the brain from I/R injury in mice, with the mechanism possibly related to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/ nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 protein (NLRP3) pathways.Keywords:Myrica rubra;anthocyanins;cyanidin-3-O-glucoside;cerebral ischemia-reperfusion;TLR4/NF-κB;NLRP3
研究领域:
药理学
·
神经科学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）