LIFE SCIENCES
·
2019
·
IF 3.448
Runxiao Lv,Lili Du,Xueyong Liu,Fenghua Zhou,Zhiqiang Zhang,Lixin Zhang
Inflammation contributes to the pathological processes in patients and animal models of PD. Rosmarinic acid (RA) has been demonstrated to protect neurons in PD models. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of RA on PD and reveal possible pharmacological mechanisms. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was injected to mice to establish PD model in vivo. BV-2 cells were exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + ) and α-synuclein to establish PD model in vitro. Results showed that treatment with RA dose-dependently improved motor function of PD mice, increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells, reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited microglia activation in ventral midbrain. In cell study, RA also decreased MPP + or α-synuclein-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, RA treatment downregulated the expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4 and Myd88 and inhibited NF-κB nuclear expression both in PD animal and cell models. These findings indicated that RA could attenuate inflammatory responses through suppressing HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which may contribute to its anti-PD activity.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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炎症
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神经退行性疾病
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2020
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IF 3.943
Haihua Zhang,Wuying Lang,Shiyong Wang,Binru Li,Guangyu Li,Qiumei Shi
Lung injury is a common critical life-threatening syndrome. Inflammation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of lung injury. It is reported that Echinacea Polysaccharides (EP) has anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effect of EP on lung injury remains unclear. In our study, murine model of lung injury was induced with 2.5 mg/kg LPS before administration of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg EP. EP ameliorated LPS-induced lung pathological damage, along with reduction in lung wet/dry weight ratio and myeloperoxidase activity. EP decreased the number of leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the release of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in LPS-treated lung. EP suppressed LPS-induced apoptosis along with down-regulation of Bcl2-associated X (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3 (CC3), and elevated B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). Besides, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with EP 100 μg/ml for 1 h and then incubated with 1 μg/ml LPS for 24 h. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were lowered by treatment of EP in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, EP down-regulated the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiating factor 88 (MyD88), p-IκBα, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), p-NF-κB, and up-regulated the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) in vivo and in vitro following LPS induction, which is consistent with the effect of TAK-242. In conclusion, EP may alleviate LPS-induced lung injury via inhibiting inflammation, apoptosis and activation of TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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肺科学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
·
2026
·Vol. 32
·期 2
·e70787
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IF 6.6
Shengnan Xiao,Lianmei Liu,Xuemei Qin,Lei Xu,Zhenyu Li,Zhi Chai
Cycloastragenol derivatives regulate the TLR4/NF‐κB/TERT signaling pathway and tyrosine metabolism, breaking the vicious cycle of “inflammation‐aging” and improving symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This study provides direction for the application of natural products in the development of PD drugs.
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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
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2026
·
IF 7.2
Zixu Li,Muge Xu,Yahan Zhang,Yao Chen,Weiwei Feng,Ting Zhao,Liuqing Yang,Guanghua Mao,Xiangyang Wu
The widespread presence of plastic pollutants, particularly phthalate esters such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), poses a significant threat to both ecosystems and human health. Despite the accumulating evidence of DBP toxicity, the mechanisms driving DBP-induced hepatotoxicity remain poorly understood. In this study, an integrated approach combining network toxicology, molecular docking, and multidimensional experimental validation was applied to elucidate the molecular pathways through which DBP causes liver damage. Ferroptosis was identified as a central player in DBP-induced hepatotoxicity. The results showed that DBP activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), regulating the NRF2/HO-1 signaling axis, which in turn induces iron overload and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, ferroptotic hepatocytes release high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), activating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in macrophages and amplifying inflammatory responses that exacerbate liver injury. Crucially, inhibition of either AhR expression or ferroptosis significantly attenuated these changes, highlighting the potential of AhR and ferroptosis as therapeutic targets. Together, these findings establish a novel mechanistic framework for DBP-induced hepatotoxicity: the AhR–NRF2/HO-1–ferroptosis–HMGB1/TLR4 axis. This study advances our understanding of plasticizer toxicity and offers insights for risk assessment and intervention strategies for combating environmental hepatotoxins.
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高影响因子
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
·
2023
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IF 4.7
Tongtong Li,Hao Chen,Baohua Xu,Mengwei Yu,Jun Li,Ying Shi,Shaohui Xia,Shijin Wu
The improper use of deltamethrin (DM) can result in its accumulation in soil, water, food, and even the human body, which is associated with an elevated risk of neurotoxicity and behavioral abnormalities; however, the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently investigated. Emerging evidence underscores the significance of the gut-brain axis in central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions. Accordingly, this study investigates the role of the gut-brain axis in DM-induced behavioral anomalies in mice. The results showed that DM exposure induced depressive-like behavior, and the hippocampus, the region that is responsible for the modulation of emotional behavior, showed structural integrity disrupted (neuronal nuclear shrinkage and decreased tight junction protein expression). In addition, DM exposure led to compromised gut barrier integrity (disruptions on crypt surfaces and decreased tight junction protein expression), which might contribute to the gut bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage into the bloodstream and reaching the brain, triggering LPS/toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 -mediated increases in brain pro-inflammatory cytokines. Subsequently, we observed a disturbance in neurotransmitter metabolic pathways following DM exposure, which inhibited the production of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Additionally, DM exposure resulted in gut microbiota dysbiosis. Characteristic bacteria, such as Alistipes , Bifidobacterium , Gram-negative bacterium cTPY-13 , and Odoribacter exhibited significant correlations with behavior, tight junction proteins, inflammatory response, and neurotransmitters. Further fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments suggested that DM-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis might contribute to depressive-like behavior. These results provide a new perspective on the toxicity mechanism of DM, indicating that its neurotoxicity may be partially regulated by the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
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2022
·
IF 9.988
Ying Tu,Yongyong Yang,Yue Wang,Nana Wu,Junyan Tao,Guanghong Yang,Mingdan You
Neurodevelopmental exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) could increase risks for neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The potential involvement of microglia reactive to inflammatory stimuli in these neurological disorders has been generally reported. However, the concrete effects and potential mechanisms of microglia dysfunction triggered by developmental CPF exposure remain unclear. Therefore, we established mouse and human embryonic microglial cells (HMC3 cell) models of developmental CPF exposure to evaluate the effects of developmental CPF exposure on neuroinflammation and underlying mechanisms. The results showed that developmental exposure to CPF enhanced the expression of Iba1 in hippocampus. CPF treatment increased inflammatory cytokines levels and TSPO expression in hippocampus and HMC3 cells. The levels of necroptosis and necroptosis-related signaling RIPK/MLKL were increased in hippocampus and HMC3 cells following CPF exposure. Furthermore, the expression of TLR4/TRIF signaling was increased in hippocampus and HMC3 cells subjected to CPF exposure. Notably, the increased levels of TLR4/TRIF signaling, RIPK/MLKL signaling, necroptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by CPF treatment were remarkably inhibited by TAK-242 (a specific TLR4 inhibitor). Additionally, the necroptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines production induced by CPF treatment were significantly relieved by Nec-1 (a specific RIPK1 inhibitor). In general, the above results suggested that activated microglia in hippocampus subjected to developmental CPF exposure underwent RIPK1/MLKL-mediated necroptosis regulated by TLR4/TRIF signaling.
研究领域:
神经科学
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毒理学
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细胞生物学
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发育生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
Drug Design Development and Therapy
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2022
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IF 4.319
Bozhi Ye,Xudong Chen,Shanshan Dai,Jibo Han,Xiaohe Liang,Shuang Lin,Xueli Cai,Zhouqing Huang,Weijian Huang
Background Emodin has recently been reported to have a powerful antiinflammatory effect, protecting the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Pyroptosis is a proinflammatory programmed cell death that is related to many diseases. The present study investigated the effect of emodin on pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes.Materials and methods Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, I/R, and I/R+Emodin groups. I/R model was subjected to 30 minutes’ ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Cardiomyocytes were exposed to hypoxic conditions for 1 hour and normoxic conditions for 2 hours. The level of the pyroptosis was detected by Western blot, real-time PCR analysis, and ELISA.Results The level of gasdermin D-N domains was upregulated in cardiomyocytes during I/R or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment. Moreover, emodin increased the rate of cell survival in vitro and decreased the myocardial infarct size in vivo via suppressing the levels of I/R-induced pyroptosis. Additionally, the expression of TLR4, MyD88, phospho-IκBα, phospho-NF-κB, and the NLRP3 inflammasome was significantly upregulated in cardiomyocytes subjected to H/R treatment, while emodin suppressed the expression of these proteins.Conclusion This study confirms that emodin treatment was able to alleviate myocardial I/R injury and inhibit pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effect of emodin on pyroptosis was mediated by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Therefore, emodin may provide an alternative treatment for myocardial I/R injury.
研究领域:
药理学
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心脏病学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
·
2026
·
IF 2.5
Zhen Yang,Huiying Li,Wei Zhao,Yingxia Yu,Yanling Lin,Jianxuan Liu,Xinghu Fan,Moyan Wang,Xin Teng,Zhikai Qiu
Objective Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of Tongfu Zhike Formula (TFZKF) on mice with cough variant asthma (CVA) and exploration of its mechanism of action in improving CVA. Methods The main chemical components of TFZKF were detected and analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS. Network pharmacology was employed to investigate the potential targets of TFZKF in CVA. After grouping and drug administration, the number of coughs and cough latency were observed in CVA mice. White blood cell differential counts in BALF, serum levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ, as well as pathological changes in lung tissue were assessed. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to analyze the protein expression levels and mRNA changes of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the lung tissue of CVA mice. Results A total of 495 chemical components were detected in TFZKF under both positive and negative ion modes. Network pharmacology analysis identified 199 potential targets related to TFZKF and CVA, and found close associations with the TLR4 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Animal experiments showed that, compared to the Model group, TFZKF significantly reduced the number of coughs, prolonged cough latency, decreased serum levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, reduced the total number of white blood cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils in BALF, alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis in lung tissue, and downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB. Conclusion The interaction within the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway may be a potential key target for the treatment of cough variant asthma.
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高影响因子
Scientific Reports
·
2026
·
IF 4.9
Li Ruifang,Sun Yan,Feng Mingzhi,Kelsang Drolma,Cai Hanhui,Zhang Jun
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by intestinal inflammation, mucosal damage, and immune dysregulation. Current treatments are often inadequate, driving the search for alternatives with fewer side effects. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid from licorice, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, but its efficacy in UC remains uncertain. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups: Control, DSS model, low-, medium-, and high-dose ISL (25, 50, 100 mg/kg), and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, 100 mg/kg). UC was induced by administering 3% DSS, followed by ISL or 5-ASA treatment. Disease activity index (DAI), histopathology, real-time PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and 16 S rRNA sequencing were used to assess inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity, and gut microbiota (GM) composition. a Caco-2 cell-based model of UC was developed. After transfection to induce the overexpression of TLR4 and its adaptor protein MyD88, the cells were incubated with ISL. The effects of this intervention were evaluated by measuring the expression of inflammatory cytokines, tight junction-associated proteins, and components of the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway. ISL significantly alleviated DSS-induced UC symptoms, such as weight loss and colonic shortening. ISL reduced colonic mucosal damage and inflammatory cell infiltration, downregulated TLR4, MyD88, and phosphorylated NF-κB expression, and lowered TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. It also improved intestinal barrier function by upregulating ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin expression. ISL modulated GM by increasing beneficial bacteria (Muribaculaceae) and reducing pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella). Overexpression of TLR4 and MyD88 in the Caco-2 cell line abrogated the protective effects of ISL, as evidenced by increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and downregulated expression of tight junction proteins. Overall, these findings suggest ISL may protects against DSS-induced UC by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, enhancing intestinal barrier function, and modulating GM, supporting its potential as a therapeutic supplement for UC.
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高影响因子
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
·
2026
·
IF 8.1
Lijing Du,Shikai Yan,Xiaopeng Ren,Syed Shams ul Hassan,Yuanfang Sun,Yu Gan,Xue Xiao,Shasha Li,Huizi Jin
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and neuroinflammation. Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge oil (XSBO), a woody plant oil rich in bioactive fatty acids, has shown potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of XSBO in AD. A scopolamine-induced AD rat model was established to evaluate the effects of XSBO on cognitive function, pathological changes, and neuroinflammation. Gut microbiota alterations were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) supplementation experiments were performed to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived metabolites. The TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling pathway was further examined. XSBO treatment improved cognitive deficits, reduced neuronal damage and neuroinflammation, and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in AD rats. XSBO restored gut microbiota dysbiosis and increased SCFA-producing bacteria. FMT and SCFA supplementation confirmed that microbiota-derived metabolites contributed to XSBO-mediated cognitive improvement and neuroprotection. Mechanistically, XSBO inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation by suppressing TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling activation. XSBO alleviates AD-related cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation by modulating the gut microbiota–SCFA axis and inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/MAPK-mediated inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that XSBO may serve as a promising dietary intervention for neurodegenerative disease management.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
·
2019
·Vol. 120
·期 10
·18509-18523
·
IF 3.448
Yujie Yao,Xueyuan Hu,Xiujing Feng,Yuan Zhao,Manyu Song,Chaoran Wang,Honggang Fan
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) prevents kidney damage caused by sepsis, but the mechanism of this effect remains unclear. In this study, the protective molecular mechanism of DEX in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury was investigated and its potential pharmacological targets from the perspective of inhibiting oxidative stress damage and the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. Intraperitoneal injection of DEX (30 μg/kg) significantly improved LPS (10 mg/kg) induced renal pathological damage and renal dysfunction. DEX also ameliorated oxidative stress damage by reducing the contents of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, and increasing the level of glutathione, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In addition, DEX prevented nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and I-kappa B (IκB) phosphorylation, as well as the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated protein and downstream IL-18 and IL-1β. The messengerRNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX4), NF-κB, and NLRP3 were also significantly reduced by DEX. Their expressions were further evaluated by immunohistochemistry, yielding results were consistent with the results of mRNA and protein detection. Interestingly, the protective effects of DEX were reversed by atipamezole-an alpha 2 adrenal receptor (α 2 AR) inhibitor, whereas idazoxan-an imidazoline receptor (IR) inhibitor failed to reverse this change. In conclusion, DEX attenuated LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting oxidative stress damage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation via regulating the TLR4/NOX4/NF-κB pathway, mainly acting on the α 2 AR rather than IR.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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肾脏生理学
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Haiying Liu,Yuqi Liu,Xiaoxi Lin,Jianhui Fan,Zhao Huang,Ao Li
Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) by interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), leading to the production of various proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines that are crucial in the development of acute lung injury (ALI). Mitoxantrone (MTX) has been demonstrated to mitigate the inflammatory response caused by LPS; however, its precise function in the context of ALI is not fully comprehended. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanisms of MTX against LPS-induced ALI. Methods ALI was induced in C57BL/6 mice via a single intratracheal administration of LPS (5 mg/kg), followed by an intraperitoneal injection of MTX to evaluate its therapeutic potential. The effects of MTX on lung injury and the progression of inflammation in ALI mice were assessed using a comprehensive range of techniques, including hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), myeloperoxidase activity measurement, cell enumeration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, IHC, Western blotting, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to elucidate the specific signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms by which MTX exerted its anti-inflammatory effects in ALI mice. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking were used to examine the target to which MTX binds directly to reduce inflammation. We also established a lung epithelial cell injury model using LPS-treated A549 cells. The polyubiquitination of IκBα and TRAF6 in LPS-induced A549 cells was detected through Western blotting following immunoprecipitation. Results In mice with LPS-induced ALI, MTX exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by ameliorating histopathological abnormalities caused by LPS, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreasing the production of proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines. It has been observed that MTX directly binds to the NEDD8 activating enzyme (NAE), thereby inhibiting the transfer of NEDD8 to the substrates UBC12, Cul1, and Cul5. Consequently, the polyubiquitination of IκBα and TRAF6 is disrupted, leading to the suppression of TAK1 activation by TRAF6. This suppression of TAK1 activity hindered the phosphorylation of IKK and MAPK. By stabilizing IκBα through dephosphorylation via IKK inhibition and preventing polyubiquitination, NF-κB activation is reduced. This cascade of events ultimately leads to a reduction in the production of proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines, effectively mitigating the inflammatory response in ALI. In A549 cells, MTX reduces the LPS-induced K48-linked polyubiquitination of IκBα and K63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF6. This process can be reversed by the overexpression of NEDD8. Additionally, treatment with MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, can restore the polyubiquitination of IκBα that was inhibited by MTX. Conclusions These findings confirm the essential role of Cul1/5 neddylation in ALI and suggest that MTX could be a promising therapeutic agent for ALI.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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肺医学
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
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