Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
·
2024
·
IF 14.7
Manyu Chen,Yuan Liu,Quanying Liu,Siyan Deng,Yuhan Liu,Jiehao Chen,Yaojia Zhou,Xiaolin Cui,Jie Liang,Xingdong Zhang,Yujiang Fan,Qiguang Wang,Bin Shen
Mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes is a key pathogenic factor in osteoarthritis (OA), but directly modulating mitochondria in vivo remains a significant challenge. This study is the first to verify a correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and the downregulation of the FOXO3 gene in the cartilage of OA patients, highlighting the potential for regulating mitophagy via FOXO3 gene modulation to alleviate OA. Consequently, we developed a chondrocyte-targeting CRISPR/Cas9-based FOXO3 gene-editing tool (FoxO3) and integrated it within a nanoengineered ‘truck’ (NETT, FoxO3-NETT). This was further encapsulated in injectable hydrogel microspheres (FoxO3-NETT@SMs) to harness the antioxidant properties of sodium alginate and the enhanced lubrication of hybrid exosomes. Collectively, these FoxO3-NETT@SMs successfully activate mitophagy and rebalance mitochondrial function in OA chondrocytes through the Foxo3 gene-modulated PINK1/Parkin pathway. As a result, FoxO3-NETT@SMs stimulate chondrocytes proliferation, migration, and ECM production in vitro , and effectively alleviate OA progression in vivo , demonstrating significant potential for clinical applications.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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基因治疗
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骨科
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分子生物学
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组织工程
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高影响因子
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
·
2024
·Vol. 40
·期 1
·1-28
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IF 5.3
Liu Yuhan,Qin Yanling,Zhang Yanning
Uremic encephalopathy (UE) poses a significant challenge in neurology, leading to the need to investigate the involvement of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in its development. This study employed ncRNA-seq and RNA-seq approaches to identify fundamental ncRNAs, specifically circRNA and miRNA, in the pathogenesis of UE using a mouse model. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to explore the circRNA-PTPN4/miR-301a-3p/FOXO3 axis and its effects on blood–brain barrier (BBB) function and cognitive abilities. The research revealed that circRNA-PTPN4 binds to and inhibits miR-301a-3p, leading to an increase in FOXO3 expression. This upregulation results in alterations in the transcriptional regulation of ZO-1, affecting the permeability of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). The axis also influences the growth, proliferation, and migration of HBMECs. Mice with UE exhibited cognitive deficits, which were reversed by overexpression of circRNA-PTPN4, whereas silencing FOXO3 exacerbated these deficits. Furthermore, the uremic mice showed neuronal loss, inflammation, and dysfunction in the BBB, with the expression of circRNA-PTPN4 demonstrating therapeutic effects. In conclusion, circRNA-PTPN4 plays a role in promoting FOXO3 expression by sequestering miR-301a-3p, ultimately leading to the upregulation of ZO-1 expression and restoration of BBB function in mice with UE. This process contributes to the restoration of cognitive abilities. Graphical Abstract 1. The circRNA-PTPN4/miR-301a-3p/FOXO3 axis is identified as a key regulator of blood–brain barrier integrity and cognitive function in uremic encephalopathy. 2. circRNA-PTPN4 sequestration of miR-301a-3p enhances FOXO3 expression, leading to upregulation of ZO-1 and improved endothelial permeability. 3. Overexpression of circRNA-PTPN4 in uremic mice restores cognitive abilities and reduces neuronal loss and inflammatory infiltration.
研究领域:
神经学
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分子生物学
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非编码RNA
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认知科学
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病理生理学
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JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2023
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IF 5.4
Leilei Gong,Jinli Hou,Hongjun Yang,Xueyan Zhang,Jingxia Zhao,Lan Wang,Xiaojie Yin,Xin Feng,Chenghong Yin
Ethnopharmacological relevance Classical prescriptions are not only a primary method of clinical treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but also represent breakthroughs in the inheritance and development of this field. Kuntai capsule (KTC), a formulation based on a classical prescription, comprises six TCMs: Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Coptidis Rhizoma , Paeoniae Radix Alba , Scutellariae Radix , Asini Corii Colla, and Poria . This formulation possesses various beneficial effects, such as nourishing yin and blood, clearing heat and purging fire, and calming the nerves and relieving annoyance. The investigation of the efficacy and mechanism of KTC in regulating anti-aging factors in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is not only a prominent topic in classical prescription research but also a crucial issue in the treatment of female reproductive aging using TCM. Aim of the study To evaluate the therapeutic effect of KTC on POI and its underlying mechanism. Materials and methods Healthy and specific pathogen-free (SPF) female Kunming mice aged 6–8 weeks were selected. After acclimatization, the mice were randomly divided into a control, model, and high, middle, and low dose groups of KTC (1.6, 0.8, and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively). Except for the control group, the animals in the other groups were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide and 30 mg/kg Busulfan to induce the model of POI. After modeling, the mice were treated with the corresponding drugs for 7 days. Serum and ovarian tissues were collected, and the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The chemical composition of KTC was characterized and analyzed using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry. A “drug-component-target-pathway-disease” network was constructed using network pharmacology research methods to identify the key active components of KTC in treating POI and to elucidate its potential mechanism. The protein expression of the FOXO3/SIRT5 pathway was detected by western blotting . Results Compared to the model group, the high-dose group of KTC showed a significant increase in ovarian index, significant increase in levels of E2 and SOD2, and a significant decrease in FSH levels. Through systematic analysis of the chemical constituents of KTC, 69 compounds were identified, including 7 organic acids, 14 alkaloids, 28 flavonoids , 15 terpenoids , 2 lignans , 2 phenylpropanoids, and 1 sugar. Based on network pharmacology research methods, it was determined that KTC exerts its therapeutic effect on POI through multiple components (paeoniflorin and malic acid), multiple targets (FOXO3 and SIRT5), and multiple pathways (prolactin signaling pathway, longevity regulating pathway, and metabolic pathways). The accuracy of the network pharmacology prediction was further validated by detecting the protein expression of SIRT5 and FOXO3a, which showed a significant increase in the middle and high-dose groups of KTC compared to the model group. Conclusions KTC may effectively treat POI through a multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway approach, providing an experimental basis for using KTC based on classical prescriptions in the treatment of POI.
研究领域:
药理学
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中医妇科
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信号传导
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分析化学
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整合药理学
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高影响因子
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
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2023
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IF 6.2
Pei Feng,Peizhuo Pang,Zehang Sun,Zhongyu Xie,Tingting Chen,Shan Wang,Qian Cao,Rujia Mi,Chenying Zeng,Yixuan Lu,Wenhui Yu,Huiyong Shen,Yanfeng Wu
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stem cells capable of differentiating into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. However, in osteoporosis, the balance of differentiation is tipped toward adipogenesis and the key mechanism is controversial. Researches have shown that, as upstream regulatory elements of gene expression, enhancers ar involved in the expression of identity genes. In this study, we identified enhancers-mediated gene FOXO3 promoting MSC adipogenic differentiation by activating autophagy. Methods We integrated data of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and ATAC-sequencing (ATAC-seq) to find the identity gene FOXO3. The expression of FOXO3 protein, adipogenic transcription factors and the substrate of autophagy were measured by western blotting. The Oil Red O (ORO) staining was used to visualize the adipogenesis of MSCs. Immunohistochemistry was used to visualize the FOXO3 expression in adipocytes in bone marrow. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of PPARγ and LC3B. Results During adipogenesis, enhancers redistribute to genes associated with adipogenic differentiation, among which we identified the pivotal identity gene FOXO3. FOXO3 could promote the expression of the adipogenic transcription factors PPARγ, CEBPα, and CEBPβ during adipogenic differentiation, while PPARγ, CEBPα, and CEBPβ could in turn bind to FOXO3 and continue to promote FOXO3 expression to form a positive feedback loop. Consistently elevated FOXO3 expression promotes autophagy by activating the PI3K-AKT pathway which mediates adipogenic differentiation. Conclusions Pivotal identity gene FOXO3 promotes autophagy by activating PI3K-AKT pathway, which provokes adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Enhancer-regulated adipogenic identity gene FOXO3 could be an attractive treatment for osteoporosis.
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Antioxidants
·
2025
·Vol. 14
·期 12
·1495
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IF 6.6
Tiantian Zhang,Shuangxi Zhang,Jiayang Ma,Dmitrii Atiakshin,Shujun Han,Mami Noda,Midori Hiramatsu,Jiankang Liu,Yunhua Peng,Jiangang Long
Neuroinflammation driven by microglial activation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a key regulator of microglial inflammation, yet strategies to modulate its expression remain limited. Safflower leaves, a vegetable rich in flavonoids—particularly luteolin—were previously shown to attenuate neuroinflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and ameliorate cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. Here, we demonstrated that safflower leaves inhibit microglial inflammation and upregulate TREM2 in APP/PS1 mice. Luteolin, the major active flavonoid in safflower leaves, exerted anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated microglia. Mechanistically, luteolin enhancedTrem2transcription by activating forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3), a novel transcriptional regulator ofTrem2identified through promoter analysis. FOXO3 binding to theTrem2promoter was essential for this regulation, and luteolin further promoted FOXO3 nuclear translocation. Crucially,Trem2knockdown attenuated luteolin’s anti-inflammatory effects, confirming TREM2 as a key mediator. Overall, our study reveals the FOXO3-TREM2 axis as a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammation and highlights luteolin present in safflower leaves as a candidate dietary intervention for AD, providing new mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory activity of this natural antioxidant.
研究领域:
神经科学
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分子生物学
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免疫学
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营养科学
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药理学
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JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
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2026
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IF 10.6
Xinyi Wen,Meiyan Li,Zhongyuan Zhang,Jingwen Wang,Hao Hu,Weihong Wang,Jing Jin,Kairong Wang,Jian Sun,Rui Zhang
Imidacloprid (IMI), a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, has been frequently detected in drinking water and food; however, whether long-term low-dose exposure to environmentally relevant levels of IMI induces neurotoxic effects in the central nervous system remains unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 N mice were exposed to IMI in drinking water for three、six months at doses derived from human exposure estimates (0, 3 μg/kg, 103 μg/kg, and 6.55 mg/kg). Behavioral tests, including the Morris water maze and novel object recognition, revealed no overt cognitive impairment following IMI exposure. Nevertheless, IMI significantly increased microglial apoptosis in the hippocampus. Mechanistic analyses showed that IMI exposure enhanced JNK phosphorylation and promoted nuclear translocation of FOXO3, accompanied by increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BIM and BAX and decreased BCL-2 levels. Consistently, IMI induced apoptosis in BV2 microglial cells through activation of the JNK–FOXO3 signaling pathway, whereas FOXO3 knockdown or JNK inhibition with SP600125 markedly attenuated this effect. These findings indicate that environmentally relevant IMI exposure can trigger hippocampal microglial apoptosis via JNK–FOXO3 signaling even in the absence of overt behavioral deficits, suggesting a potential early neurotoxic effect of neonicotinoid exposure.
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CANCER BIOLOGY & THERAPY
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2023
·
IF 3.6
Xiaojing Xing,Xuguang Wang,Meichen Liu,Qianxue Guo,Hongyue Wang
A GTPase binding protein, Ras interacting protein 1 (RASIP1), has been reported with a tumor-promoting role in lung cancer cells, and its role in lymphoma remains unknown. The analysis of medical databank shows that RASIP1 is upregulated in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) specimens. In this article, we demonstrated that RASIP1 is highly expressed in DLBCL cell lines, compared with primary B cells. The gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the effects of RASIP1 on DLBCL cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry, western blot, and transwell assays demonstrated that silence of RASIP1 inhibited proliferation, cell cycle transition, and invasion and induced significant apoptosis in DLBCL cells, and ectopic expression of RASIP1 played opposite roles. Xenograft results revealed that RASIP1 facilitated the growth of DLBCL cells in vivo. These findings suggest that RASIP1 may be required for malignancy of DLBCL cells. In addition, we also found that the expression of RASIP1 was negatively regulated by forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), which has been reported to suppress the proliferation of DLBCL cells. Our results indicate that FOXO3 is bound to the promoter sequence of RASIP1 and inhibits its transcription. The suppressive effects of FOXO3 on proliferation and invasion of DLBCL cells were neutralized by RASIP1. In conclusion, we demonstrate that FOXO3 negatively regulated RASIP1 facilitates growth and invasion of DLBCL cells, provides novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for DLBCL in clinic.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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癌症研究
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高影响因子
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
·
2024
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IF 1.9
Zheng Delu,Cui Chenli,Ye Chengsong,Shao Chen,Zha Xiujing,Xu Ying,Liu Xu,Wang Can
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant that is implicated in the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, but the underlying mechanism has not been determined. We explored the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process. RAW264.7 cells received receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and CoQ10, after which the differentiation and viability of osteoclasts were assessed. After the cells were treated with CoQ10 and/or H2O2 and RANKL, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proteins involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways and autophagy were tested. Moreover, after the cells were pretreated with or without inhibitors of the two pathways or with the mitophagy agonist, the levels of autophagy-related proteins and osteoclast markers were measured. CoQ10 significantly decreased the number of TRAP-positive cells and the level of ROS but had no significant impact on cell viability. The relative phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, ERK, and p38 were significantly reduced, but the levels of FOXO3/LC3/Beclin1 were significantly augmented. Moreover, the levels of FOXO3/LC3/Beclin1 were significantly increased by the inhibitors and mitophagy agonist, while the levels of osteoclast markers showed the opposite results. Our data showed that CoQ10 prevented RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by promoting autophagy via inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways in RAW264.7 cells.
研究领域:
细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
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2026
·Vol. 30
·期 17
·e71359
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IF 4.7
Xuesong Xu,Shichong Qiao
Apoptosis and functional loss of articular chondrocytes serve as initiating events in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA), and FoxO3 represents a critical molecule for sustaining chondrocyte homeostasis. This study investigates the regulatory mechanism of the lncRNA‐OIP5‐AS1/hsa‐miRNA‐223‐3p/FoxO3 axis in TMJOA, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets for this disease. Single‐cell database analysis first revealed markedly reduced FoxO3 expression in TMJOA‐derived chondrocytes. A rat TMJOA model was then constructed and assigned to control, model, and FoxO3 overexpression groups; micro‐CT and histological staining, including HE and Safranin O‐fast green staining, were applied to assess articular cartilage injury, while immunohistochemistry was used to detect cartilage‐associated proteins Col2a1, MMP‐13, Aggrecan, and ADAMTS‐5. Further in vitro experiments validated the chondroprotective function of FoxO3 as well as the binding interaction between FoxO3 and rno‐miRNA‐223‐3p. Database screening confirmed significant down‐regulation of FoxO3 in TMJOA cartilage. Animal experiments demonstrated that FoxO3 overexpression mitigated chondrocyte injury in rat TMJOA lesions, increased Col2a1 and Aggrecan levels, and suppressed MMP‐13 and ADAMTS‐5 expression. Cellular assays showed that FoxO3 overexpression enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis and preserved chondrocyte function. Sequencing and cellular evidence indicated that rno‐miRNA‐223‐3p directly targets FoxO3 mRNA to repress its transcription and negatively modulate FoxO3 abundance, consequently aggravating chondrocyte apoptosis. Collectively, rno‐miRNA‐223‐3p suppresses FoxO3 activity to facilitate TMJOA pathogenesis, and the lncRNA‐OIP5‐AS1/rno‐miRNA‐223‐3p/FoxO3 regulatory cascade may act as a promising molecular target for TMJOA clinical intervention.
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高影响因子
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
·
2025
·Vol. 82
·期 1
·1-17
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IF 6.2
Zhong Chong-Chao,Zhang Xu,Pantopoulos Kostas,Song Chang-Chun,Yang Hong,Wei Xiao-Lei,Luo Zhi
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for terrestrial animals. Studies suggested that single dietary Cu- or Zn- deficiency lead to liver lipid deposition and cause metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, the mechanisms by which dietary Cu and Zn co-deficiency promote hepatic lipid deposition and metabolism remain unknown. Our study found that, compared to single Cu- or Zn- deficiency, Cu and Zn co-deficiency significantly increased lipid deposition, induced mitochondrial oxidative stress, disrupted mitochondrial structure and function, and inhibited lipolysis in hepatocytes and whole liver tissue. Mechanistically, Cu and Zn co-deficiency-induced lipotoxicity was mediated by sirtuin 3 (Sirt3). Sirt3 inhibited the acetylation and degradation of forkhead box O3 (Foxo3), preventing its binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) promoter, which accordingly increased lipid deposition. Overall, for the first time, we elucidated the mechanism by which Cu and Zn co-deficiency aggravates hepatic lipotoxicity and identified the critical regulatory role of the Sirt3/Foxo3/PPARα pathway during this process, with the fish as the model.
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PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
·
2026
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IF 12.2
Muqiu Liu,Huaizhi Du,Junhui Zheng,Min Liu,Zhihao Jiang,Jieying Huang,Sihe Jiang,Lang Yi,Lingyu Zhang,Yanwu Li,Qun Du,Liang Liu,Haojie Ni,Xiaojun Zhang,Hua Zhou,Yan Dong
Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is a severe extra-articular manifestation with limited treatment options. Identifying anti-arthritic agents that concurrently protect against ILD is clinically significant. Sinomenine (SIN), a natural alkaloid used clinically to treat RA, shows potential anti-fibrotic activity, but its efficacy and mechanism in RA-ILD remain unclear. Here, integrative bioinformatic analyses identified ILD-associated signature characterized by upregulated CHRNA7 (encoding α7nAChR) and downregulated GLUL , specifically in pulmonary fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and GLUL was a crucial mediator between RA and ILD. In the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model with pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic remodeling, the phenotype that recapitulates early-stage RA-ILD, pulmonary ACh and α7nAChR expression were observed upregulated. SIN ameliorated arthritis and pulmonary lesions, suppressed pulmonary α7nAChR signaling, inhibited AKT/FOXO3 activation, restored GLUL expression and improved autophagy-related changes in this model. Microscale thermophoresis (MST), molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation supported a direct binding between SIN and α7nAChR. In vitro , α7nAChR activation with PNU-282987 promoted fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT), whereas its genetic knockdown inhibited FMT, suppressed AKT/FOXO3 activation, and restored GLUL expression in TGF-β-stimulated MRC-5 cells. We confirmed direct FOXO3 binding to the GLUL promoter by ChIP-qPCR. SIN inhibited FMT and regulated the AKT/FOXO3/GLUL axis in an α7nAChR-dependent manner. Pharmacological inhibition and siRNA-mediated knockdown of GLUL abolished SIN-mediated regulation of mTOR-autophagy signaling and FMT. Our findings identify the α7nAChR/AKT/FOXO3/GLUL axis as a novel fibrotic driver and highlight SIN as a potential therapeutic candidate to inhibit RA-ILD by targeting this axis.
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MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
·
2022
·Vol. 59
·期 9
·5612-5629
·
IF 5.682
Cao Shu-qin,Aman Yahyah,Fang Evandro F.,Tencomnao Tewin
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common and devastating disease characterized by pathological aggregations of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques extracellularly, and Tau tangles intracellularly. While our understandings of the aetiologies of AD have greatly expanded over the decades, there is no drug available to stop disease progression. Here, we demonstrate the potential of Passiflora edulis ( P. edulis ) pericarp extract in protecting against Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity in mammalian cells and Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) models of AD. We show P. edulis pericarp protects against memory deficit and neuronal loss, and promotes longevity in the Aβ model of AD via stimulation of mitophagy, a selective cellular clearance of damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria. P. edulis pericarp also restores memory and increases neuronal resilience in a C. elegans Tau model of AD. While defective mitophagy-induced accumulation of damaged mitochondria contributes to AD progression, P. edulis pericarp improves mitochondrial quality and homeostasis through BNIP3/DCT1-dependent mitophagy and SOD-3-dependent mitochondrial resilience, both via increased nuclear translocation of the upstream transcriptional regulator FOXO3/DAF-16. Further studies to identify active molecules in P. edulis pericarp that could maintain neuronal mitochondrial homeostasis may enable the development of potential drug candidates for AD.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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高影响因子
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