PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 3.6
Zhaoke Ling,Qingqing Kong,Zhiqiang He,Xin Hao,Ruiyao Liu,Jie Liu,Yushi Wang,Jiao Liu,Wenlong Du,Yi Liu
The pathogenesis of depression is associated with synaptic impairment and dysfunction in autophagy processes. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis revealed that six GWAS IDs revealed a significant association between Beclin-1 levels and depression risk. Besides, all SNPs had a positive effect on depression risk. Analyzing neurons from depressed individuals using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) uncovered decreased expression of AKT, mTOR, and genes linked to synaptic plasticity. The activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling has been demonstrated to control autophagy and have a protective effect on the nervous system. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter that can potentially treat various neurological disorders by improving neuronal synaptic plasticity. However, whether H 2 S regulates autophagy through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, improves neuronal synaptic plasticity damage, and plays an antidepressant role is unclear. Our current research revealed that the reduction in the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins increase in neuronal autophagy activity and decline synaptic plasticity in mice with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Treatment with the exogenous hydrogen sulfide donor NaHS for one day and continuous treatment for one week improved the depression-like behaviors in the mice. Compared with those after one day of NaHS treatment, the above protein expression levels were restored and maintained, and the antidepressant effect was more significant after one week of continuous treatment with NaHS. Moreover, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was used to demonstrate that NaHS suppresses autophagy through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and ameliorates synaptic plasticity impairments. This study provides novel insights into the antidepressant mechanisms of H 2 S, highlighting its antidepressant therapeutic potential.
研究领域:
神经科学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2021
·
IF 5.811
Zhou Haikang,Li Guoqing,Wang Yang,Jiang Rendong,Li Yicheng,Wang Huhu,Wang Fei,Ma Hairong,Cao Li
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease with multiple etiologies that affects individuals worldwide. No effective interventions are currently available to reverse the pathological process of OA. Sodium butyrate (NaB), a component of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), has multiple biological activities, including the attenuation of inflammation and anti-tumor activities in various diseases. However, whether the protective effects of NaB in OA are associated with the promotion of autophagy had not been investigated. Here, we explored the chondroprotective properties of NaB in an interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammatory chondrocyte model and an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) mouse model. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Safranin O, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the effects of NaB treatment on articular cartilage. An optimal NaB dose for chondrocyte treatment was determined via cell counting kit-8 assays. Immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect autophagy in chondrocytes. Flow cytometry was utilized to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle activity, and apoptosis in chondrocytes. Western blot and immunostaining were performed to evaluate the protein expression levels of relevant indicators. We found that the administration of NaB by oral gavage could attenuate cartilage degradation. In parallel, NaB treatment could enhance the activation of autophagy, increase autophagic flux, decrease extracellular matrix degradation, and reduce apoptosis by restraining inflammation, ROS production, and cell cycle arrest in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. The protective effects of NaB could be partially abolished by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), which indicated that the protective effects of NaB against OA were partially governed by the enhancement of autophagy to restrain the formation of inflammatory mediators and ROS and regulate cell cycle progression and apoptosis in chondrocytes. In conclusion, NaB could attenuate OA progression by restoring impaired autophagy and autophagic flux via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, both in vitro and in vivo, implying that NaB could represent a novel therapeutic approach for OA.
研究领域:
风湿病学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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病理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
·
2023
·Vol. 51
·期 5
·1-16
·
IF 5.4
Sheng Huan,Sumin Sun,Shilian Song,Jin Dai,Guining Zhu,Yanling Zhong,Yihao Ji,Shizhong Zheng,Guoping Yin
Liver fibrosis is an early pathological feature of hepatic diseases. Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and disordered proliferation are associated with liver fibrosis. The present study identified significant differences in the expression levels of microRNA (miRNA/miR)‑29b‑3p in clinical samples and multiple miRNA databases. Subsequently, the specific antifibrotic mechanism of miR‑29b‑3p was further elucidated. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blot, ELISA and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of target genes and proteins. Oil red O, Nile red and trypan blue staining were used to evaluate HSC activation and cell viability. A luciferase assay was used to detect the relationship between miR‑29b‑3p and VEGFA. Adhesion, wound healing, apoptosis double staining and JC‑1 assays were used to detect the effects of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 knockdown on HSCs. Immunoprecipitation and fluorescence colocalization were used to identify interactions between the proteins. Furthermore, a rat fibrosis model was constructed to investigate the effects of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and miR‑29b‑3p in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated that miR‑29b‑3p both inhibited the activation of HSCs and limited the proliferation of activated HSCs via lipid droplet recovery and VEGF pathway regulation. VEGFA was identified as a direct target of miR‑29b‑3p, and knockdown of VEGFA induced cell apoptosis and autophagy. Notably, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 knockdown both promoted apoptosis; however, VEGFR1 knockdown inhibited autophagy, whereas VEGFR2 knockdown induced autophagy. Furthermore, it was revealed that VEGFR2 regulated autophagy by mediating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/ULK1 pathway. VEGFR2 knockdown also led to ubiquitination of heat shock protein 60, ultimately inducing mitochondrial apoptosis. Finally, DHA was identified as a natural agonist of miR‑29‑3p that effectively prevented liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Overall, the present study determined the molecular mechanism by which DHA inhibited HSC activation and prevented liver fibrosis.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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药理学
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肝病学
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细胞生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 4.7
Zhun Li,Sixia Yang,Wei Liu,Long Ling,Hailan Hu,Yanming Cao,Shouyu Xiang
Salidroside, one of the main active compounds extracted from Rhodiola, has shown promising potential for the treatment of osteoporosis. Our previous study demonstrated that salidroside alleviated cognitive dysfunction in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8(SAMP8) mice. In this study, we further investigated the effect of salidroside on osteoporosis in SAMP8 mice and explored the mechanism. The results of micro-computed tomography(micro-CT) and histology showed that salidroside significantly increased trabecular bone formation and improved bone microstructure in senile osteoporotic SAMP8 mice, and upregulated the protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K), glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), and Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2) in the distal femur. Cell-based assays, including the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) assay, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-galactosidase) staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin Red staining, and lipid peroxide detection, demonstrated that salidroside significantly promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of senile osteoporotic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and decreased lipid peroxide levels. Furthermore, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis showed that salidroside increased protein and gene expression levels of solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11), GPX4, and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1(FSP1). Additionally, salidroside also increased the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR, an effect reversed by LY294002.In conclusion, our investigation showed that salidroside could prevent ferroptosis, promote proliferation, and enhance osteogenic differentiation in senile osteoporotic BMSCs, thereby alleviating senile osteoporosis in SAMP8 mice. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway might play a crucial role in this mechanism. These findings suggest that salidroside has the potential to prevent senile osteoporosis and may serve as a candidate for therapeutic development.
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高影响因子
CHEMICAL PAPERS
·
2024
·Vol. 78
·期 14
·7943-7950
·
IF 2.1
Li Zhigang,Liu Xuzhuo,Wang Chunlong,Song Hanbing,Zhang Jie
In this study, we synthesized zinc selenide (ZnSe)-polyacrylamide (PAM) nanomaterials for their potential application in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Initially, we characterized the newly prepared material through various techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption to confirm its identity as the desired product. The results demonstrated that ZnSe-PAM nanomaterial exhibited excellent water solubility, biocompatibility, and stability, along with a large surface area, making it suitable for use as a drug carrier. Subsequently, the material was loaded with the drug 1 to obtain ZnSe-PAM@1. Cellular and thermosensitive experiments were then conducted, revealing that this nanomaterial could facilitate drug release by generating heat, thereby reducing the level of microRNA-146a-5P and blocking the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin/extracellular (PI3K/Akt/mTOR/ERK) signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway, thus alleviating the symptoms of KOA. These findings present a new direction for drug intervention in KOA and highlight the potential of developing ZnSe-PAM nanomaterials as novel drug carriers.
研究领域:
材料科学
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医学
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生物技术
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DOI
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 5.4
Haotian Zhang,Ziyun Wei,Yichen Tong,Xiuping Song,Siyue Li,Yuanfang Sun,Chun Liu,Fei Han,Jia Yu
Ethnopharmacological relevance Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most serious and irreversible liver damage associated with alcohol consumption. Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae are traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) for dispelling the effects of alcohol. Many studies have shown that the combination of two medicinal materials has the enhanced effect of treating ALD. Aim of the study The aim of this study is to assess the pharmacological effects of Flos Puerariae-Semen Hoveniae medicine pair, to elucidate its action mechanism in the treatment of alcohol-induced BRL-3A cells, and to reveal the active ingredients in the medicine pair that exerted pharmacological effects by spectrum-effect relationship study. Materials and methods Firstly, MTT assays, ELISA, fluorescence probe analysis, and Western blot were employed to study the underlying mechanisms of the medicine pair in alcohol-induced BRL-3A cells by examining pharmacodynamic indexes and related protein expression. Secondly, HPLC method was established for chemical chromatograms of the medicine pair with different ratios and the sample extracted by different solvents. Then, principal component analysis, pearson bivariate correlation analysis and grey relational analysis were applied for development of the spectrum-effect correlation between pharmacodynamic indexes and HPLC chromatograms. Moreover, prototype components and their metabolites in vivo were identified by the HPLC-MS method. Results Flos Puerariae-Semen Hoveniae medicine pair remarkably increased cell viability, decreased the activity of ALT, AST, TC and TG, reduced the generation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MDA and ROS, increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, reduced protein expression of CYP2E1, compared with alcohol-induced BRL-3A cells. The medicine pair modulated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways by up-regulating the levels of phospho-PI3K, phospho-AKT and phospho-mTOR. Also, the results of the spectrum-effect relationship study showed that P1 (chlorogenic acid), P3 (daidzin), P4 (6″-O-xylosyl-glycitin), P5 (glycitin), P6 (unknown), P7 (unknown), P9 (unknown), P10 (6″-O-xylosyl-tectoridin), P12 (tectoridin) and P23 (unknown) can be considered as the main components of the medicine pair in the treatment of ALD. Furthermore, 6″-O-xylosyl-tectoridin, tectoridin, daidzin, 6″-O-xylosyl-glycitin and glycitin can be absorbed into the blood and showed clear metabolic and excretion behaviors in rats. Conclusion In this study, the hepatoprotective effects and the pharmacology mechanism of Flos Puerariae-Semen Hoveniae medicine pair in alcohol-induced BRL-3A cells were initially investigated and revealed. Through the spectrum-effect relationship study, the potential pharmacodynamic constituents such as daidzin, 6″-O-xylosyl-glycitin, 6″-O-xylosyl-tectoridin, glycitin, and tectoridin exert pharmacological effects on alcohol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. This study provided experimental basis and data support for revealing the pharmacodynamic substance basis and pharmacology mechanism in the treatment of ALD. Moreover, it provides a robust mean of exploring the primary effective components responsible for the bioactivity of complicated TCM.
研究领域:
药理学
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民族药理学
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细胞生物学
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分析化学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
·
2023
·
IF 7.5
Yiqian Zhang,Qianrui Huang,Qisi Xu,Chengsen Jia,Yong Xia
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its lack of targeted therapy options and the frequent development of chemotherapy resistance. Metastasis remains a primary cause of mortality in late-stage TNBC patients, underscoring the urgent need for alternative treatments. Repurposing existing drugs offers a promising strategy for the discovery of novel therapies. In this study, we investigated the potential of pimavanserin tartrate (PVT) as a treatment for TNBC. While previous studies have highlighted PVT's anticancer effects in various cancer types, its activity in TNBC remains unclear. Our investigation aimed to elucidate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of PVT in TNBC. We evaluated the impact of PVT and combination treatments involving PVT on TNBC cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, and associated signaling pathways. Our findings revealed that PVT may induce mitochondria-dependent intrinsic apoptosis and caused cytoprotective autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in TNBC cells in vitro . Notably, our study demonstrated strong synergistic anti-TNBC effects when combining PVT with doxorubicin. We also found PVT showed some efficacies to inhibit TNBC tumor growth in vivo . These results provided valuable insights into the potential of PVT as an anti-TNBC therapeutic and a possible option for enhancing the sensitivity of TNBC cells to conventional chemotherapy drugs. Further studies are needed to determine the activity and mechanism of PVT in inhibiting TNBC.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
药理学
·
癌症生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
·
2026
·
IF 6.1
Shaoying Gong,Tianju Yang,Ruoyu Wu,Qinghai Sheng,Tangwei Zhang,Ming Xiao,Miao Wang,Yongxin She,Jing Wang,A.M. Abd El-Aty
Nonylphenol (NP) is known to damage the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB), although its mechanisms remain unclear. Arabinogalactan (AG) is a natural polysaccharide with intestinal protective properties. This study explored the mechanisms of NP-induced IEB damage and evaluated the protective potential of AG in a Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The results revealed that NP induces inflammation and oxidative stress through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting tight junction (TJ) gene and protein expression and ultimately leading to IEB damage. Conversely, AG enhanced TJ expression and suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thus alleviating NP-induced IEB damage. This research provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of NP-induced IEB damage and highlights the potential of AG as a functional food ingredient for promoting intestinal health. Moreover, our study provides a theoretical basis for supporting policies aimed at restricting NP residues in food and offers a potential dietary reference for high-risk populations exposed to NP-contaminated environments.
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PubMed
高影响因子
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
·
2020
·Vol. 393
·期 9
·1739-1752
·
IF 2.05
Song Lin,Yao Lifen,Zhang Limei,Piao Zhongyuan,Lu Yichan
Autophagy, a lysosomal degradative pathway, is crucial for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Schizandrol A (SchA) shows multiple pharmacological effects. However, the potential effects and mechanisms of SchA on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced autophagy remain unclear. In this study, differentiated SH-SY5Y cells or primary hippocampal neurons were pretreated with SchA (2 μg/ml) for 1 h before subjected to Aβ 1–42 (10 μM) for 24 h to test its effects on cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. Then an mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) and a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) were employed to explore the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The results showed that SchA significantly inhibited Aβ 1–42 -triggered reduction of viable cells, increases of apoptotic cell number and pro-apoptotic protein expressions, as well as alterations of oxidative stress markers. In addition, the increases of LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1 and decrease of p62 were suppressed by SchA. At the molecular level, we found that the inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was ameliorated by SchA. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway deteriorated the protective effects of SchA against Aβ 1–42 -induced autophagy activation, cell death, and apoptosis. In conclusion, we demonstrate that SchA attenuates Aβ 1–42 -induced autophagy through activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. SchA may be a novel drug for the prevention and treatment of AD.
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PubMed
高影响因子
MOLECULES
·
2024
·Vol. 29
·期 17
·3990
·
IF 4.2
Shuang Tian,Yinxu Zhao,Siqi Deng,Liman Hou,Juan Song,Ming Wang,Ming Bu
In the following study, a series of new lupeol-3-carbamate derivatives were synthesized, and the structures of all the newly derived compounds were characterized. The new compounds were screened to determine their anti-proliferative activity against human lung cancer cell line A549, human liver cancer cell line HepG2, and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Most of the compounds were found to show better anti-proliferative activity in vitro than lupeol. Among them, obvious anti-proliferation activity (IC50= 5.39~9.43 μM) was exhibited by compound3iagainst all three tumor cell lines. In addition, a salt reaction was performed on compound3k(IC50= 13.98 μM) and it was observed that the anti-proliferative activity and water solubility of compound3k·CH3I(IC50= 3.13 μM), were significantly enhanced subsequent to the salt formation process. The preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that apoptosis in HepG2 cells was induced by compound3k·CH3Ithrough the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In conclusion, a series of new lupeol-3-carbamate derivatives were synthesized via the structural modification of the C-3 site of lupeol, thus laying a theoretical foundation for the design of this new anticancer drug.
研究领域:
药理学
·
肿瘤学
·
药物化学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 1.5
Yang S. J.,Ying J. L.,Xie W. J.
Abstract Microglia phagocytosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Defects or dysfunction of microglia phagocytosis were observed in neurodegenerative diseases, with different targets and associated receptors influencing the microglia response. Moreover, non-canonical LC3-associated (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3) phagocytosis was extensively studied recently as a novel form of phagocytosis on macrophages, but little on microglia. Here, we investigated changes in phagocytic function of microglia activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as rapamycin-regulated phagocytosis. Phagocytosis in mouse BV2 cells and primary microglia was analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Phagocytosis-related mechanisms in BV2 cells were analyzed using Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Rapamycin was shown to reduce LPS-induced phagocytosis of microglia and at the same time stimulate LС3-dependent phagocytosis by regulating Atg3 , Atg4 and Atg7 expression. In addition, in BV2 cells, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway may be involved in phagocytosis. These results suggest that phagocytosis of microglia is a complex process, and the increase in phagocytosis should not be considered as a maturation of phagocytic function. The data will provide new insights into the mechanisms of phagocytosis and neuroimmunity.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
免疫学
·
细胞生物学
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药理学
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DOI
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Yawen Yu,XinLiu Duan,Xiaorong Wang,Mingyan Yang,Ling Weng,Dalei Li,Teng Liu,Baifang Gong,Zhixia Wang,Huaying Fan
Ginseng-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (GENs) have been considered as new candidates for tumor therapy. However, maintaining the retention and stability of exosomes in vivo is a major challenge in clinical application of GENs. Here, we prepared hydrogels using modified hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). We investigated whether the combination of GENs with hydrogels could improve the stability of GENs and enhance their retention in tumor tissues, thereby enhancing their tumor therapeutic effect. In vitro experiments showed that hydrogels significantly increased the uptake of GENs by cells and increased tumor apoptosis rate. In vivo experiments showed that hydrogels significantly increased the retention of GENs in tumor tissues and improved the antitumor ability of GENs. Meanwhile, we evaluated the anti-tumor mechanism of GENs. The results showed that GENs and GENs@Hydrogels induced 4T1 cell apoptosis through the PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and caspase-dependent pathway. In addition, GENs and GENs@Hydrogels down-regulate PD-L1 level in tumor tissues, up-regulate MHC-I level, and increase the abundance of CD8+T cells, which have immune regulation ability. In conclusion, GENs@Hydrogels has been shown to be a successful candidate for the treatment of breast cancer (BC) with its promising potential to modulate immunity and inhibit tumor progression.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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肿瘤学
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药理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
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