Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2024
·
IF 4.4
Huan Yu,Dan Zhou,Wei Wang,Qingxia Wang,Min Li,Xiaoyun Ma
Background and Purpose: The damage or apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is one of the leading causes of various blinding eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic neuritis, and ischemic optic neuropathy. Oxidative stress is involved in RGCs death. Baicalin, a flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, has various beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of baicalin on RGCs and the underlying mechanisms require further investigation.Methods: In this study, a glutamate-induced oxidative stress damage model of R28 cells and a rat retinal injury model were established to investigate the effects of baicalin on oxidative stress damage to RGCs and try to elucidate the underlying mechanism.Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated that the survival rate of R28 cells after glutamate treatment dropped to 33.4%, while 10 μM baicalin significantly inhibited glutamate-induced damage in RGCs (P < 0.001) and enhanced cell viability through decreasing ROS levels, increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppressing the expression of inflammatory factors iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P < 0.001). In vivo, baicalin effectively mitigated structural damage to retinal tissue and RGCs morphology induced by glutamate, increasing the thickness of the retinal ganglion cell layer, improving RGCs density, and reducing overall retinal thinning in rats (P < 0.001) in a time- and dose-dependent effects. Mechanistic studies revealed that glutamate evaluated the phosphorylation levels of JAK/STAT, while baicalin effectively inhibited the activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.Conclusion: This study confirmed that baicalin protects against glutamate-induced oxidative stress damage in RGCs. It effectively alleviates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, reduces cell apoptosis, and improves the pathological changes in the retina of rat models of RGCs damage, thereby decreasing RGCs death. Further exploration of its mechanism revealed that baicalin effectively inhibits the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, protecting RGCs from oxidative stress damage. This provides an experimental basis for the application of baicalin in the treatment of RGCs damage.
研究领域:
眼科学
·
药理学
·
细胞生物学
·
神经科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
·
2016
·Vol. 39
·期 2
·307-316
·
IF 2.348
Yongsheng Yang,Qiumei Dong,Rongheng Li
The induction of apoptosis-resistant rheumatoid synovial tissue cells has been related to constitutively active Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The excessive proliferation and inherent resistance to apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) is an important mechanism by which RA originates. However, the effects of matrine on FLS in RA is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of matrine in a rat model of collagen‑induced arthritis (CIA). The CIA model was established using bovine type II collagen. FLS were isolated from control and CIA rats, cultured in vitro, and confirmed to harbor fibroblast‑like characteristics. After treatment of FLS with varying concentrations of matrine, the JAK2 inhibitor AG490, or a combination of both drugs, cell proliferation, apoptosis rate, expression of apoptotic markers and the activation of the JAK/STAT pathway were assessed. Additionally, CIA rats were administered either matrine or methotrexate by oral gavage to examine the effects of therapeutic intervention on arthritis pathogenesis. The arthritis index (AI) was measured and ankle joint structure was analyzed histologically to determine the severity of CIA. Furthermore, expression levels of apoptotic markers and members of the JAK/STAT family were also examined in vivo. Compared with the CIA group, matrine reduced AI and improved ankle pathology. Matrine also inhibited FLS proliferation, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and increased the rate of apoptosis in vitro. The effects of matrine on apoptosis induction were further confirmed by observations that Bcl-2 levels were decreased, whereas Bax and caspase-3 levels were increased in the matrine-treated synovial tissues and FLS. Finally, matrine treatment also diminished the phosphorylation, and hence activation of JAK2, STAT1 and STAT3. Our results suggest that matrine induces the apoptosis of FLS from rats with CIA by inhibiting activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
研究领域:
药理学
·
免疫学
·
风湿病学
·
细胞生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
·
2025
·Vol. 26
·期 17
·8678
·
IF 4.9
Yamin Zhang,Jiajia Lin,Xiaomei Xu,Xuehua Lu,Lisha Li,Yuezhen Yang,Wenjin Lin
This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of fresh (CMF) and dried (CMD) Centipeda minima against allergic rhinitis (AR), elucidate their underlying molecular mechanisms, and identify the bioactive compounds responsible for their immunomodulatory actions. An ovalbumin-induced AR mouse model was treated with CMF or CMD extracts, followed by evaluation of nasal symptoms, serum biomarkers (IgE, histamine, cytokines), and nasal mucosa histopathology. Transcriptomics and widely targeted metabolomics were integrated with network pharmacology to identify differentially expressed genes and bioactive components, which were further validated in RAW264.7 and RBL-2H3 cells. CMF and CMD exhibited distinct anti-AR mechanisms: CMF predominantly suppressed Th2 responses (reducing IgE, IL-6, and histamine while elevating IL-10), whereas CMD enhanced Th1 activity (increasing IFN-γ). Metabolomic analysis revealed CMF was rich in amino acids while CMD contained higher flavonoids, with neocnidilide and 6-gingerol identified as key bioactive compounds that modulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 via NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways. These findings demonstrate that CMF and CMD exert complementary anti-inflammatory effects through Th2 inhibition and Th1 activation, respectively, providing a molecular basis for the traditional use of Centipeda minima and highlighting its bioactive compounds as potential therapeutics for inflammatory diseases.
研究领域:
药理学
·
免疫学
·
民族药理学
·
分子生物学
·
植物学
·
生物医学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
·
2025
·
IF 4.4
Niu Lingdi,Li Hai,Guo Junjie,Jia Zheng,Chang Qingru,Liu Ning,Zhang Shuhe,Ge Junwei
The gut microbiota plays a complex role in immune system maturation and function. The induction of memory in innate immune cells appears to be part of a co-adaptation between the host and microbiome. As important gut commensals, certain Lactobacillus have been shown to induce innate immune memory. However, the universality, phenotypic characteristics, mechanisms of Lactobacillus -induced innate immune memory, and its potential applications in vaccine immunology remain poorly understood. Here, we discovered that specific strains of the gut commensal Lactobacillus can induce innate immune memory, resulting in a more balanced trained immunity phenotype through SOCS activation. Upon secondary stimulation, macrophages exhibited increased expression of IL-6 , IL-1β , IL-10 , IL-12 , IFN-β , and TGF-β . Peptidoglycan and components in the secretome sensitive to pancreatic enzymes were identified as key elements in inducing trained immunity. Furthermore, mice that underwent training demonstrated rapid resistance to S. aureus infection. Additionally, Lactobacillus -induced trained immunity significantly enhanced the protective efficacy of vaccines against MRSA. Our findings demonstrate that certain Lactobacillus strains can activate non-classical trained immunity, offering potential for enhancing vaccine efficacy. Our study provides new insights into the role of some gut commensals in immune modulation and suggests a novel approach to vaccine enhancement through trained immunity induced by specific gut commensals.
研究领域:
免疫学
·
微生物组研究
·
疫苗学
·
固有免疫
·
分子生物学
·
宿主-微生物相互作用
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Antioxidants
·
2022
·Vol. 11
·期 2
·426
·
IF 7.675
Tian Wei,Lei Wu,Xiaowen Ji,Yan Gao,Guiran Xiao
Ursolic acid (UA) is a bioactive molecule widely distributed in various fruits and vegetables, which was reported to play a therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by toxic chemicals. However, the underlying mechanism has not been well clarified in vivo. Here, using aDrosophilaUC model induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), we investigated the defensive effect of UA on intestinal damage. The results showed that UA could significantly protectDrosophilafrom the damage caused by SDS exposure. Further, UA alleviated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by SDS and upregulated the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT). Moreover, the proliferation and differentiation of intestine stem cells (ISCs) as well as the excessive activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent JAK/STAT signaling pathway induced by SDS were restored by UA. In conclusion, UA prevents intestine injury from toxic compounds by reducing the JNK/JAK/STAT signaling pathway. UA may provide a theoretical basis for functional food or natural medicine development.Keywords:ursolic acid;ulcerative colitis;JNK;JAK/STAT;Drosophila
研究领域:
药理学
·
分子生物学
·
胃肠病学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2025
·
IF 4.8
Fangfei Zhou,Qingge Lu,Lingyu Kong,Sitong Wang,Haixia Zhang,Meng Zhao,Yue Hu,Fanwu Wu,Chenxi Wu
Background: Cancer is a global public health crisis and the leading cause of death among middle-aged and older individuals, with its incidence increasingly shifting toward younger populations. Approximately 90% of the patients succumb to advanced metastasis, and effective treatments remain elusive. The specific molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell invasion and migration remain poorly understood, hindering the development of effective targeted therapies. Therefore, inhibiting or reversing cancer cell invasion and migration may be crucial for reducing mortality. Our previous research revealed that the five drugs (FD), derived from Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD), play a significant role in inhibiting cell migration.Hypothesis/purpose: This study aims to explore the main drug components of FD and investigate the underlying mechanism in inhibiting cell migration.Methods: We used the Drosophila ptc>scrib-IR cell migration model to investigate the effects of FD. FD was disassembled and analyzed using an orthogonal design. Drug extracts were prepared and administered to Drosophila larvae. We assessed the effects of FD on cell migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and gene expression.Results: In FD disassembled recipes and orthogonal test design, a significant difference was observed in the intervention with or without Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (GUF) in migrating cell number (P < 0.01), which emerged as a more potent inhibitor of FD from XFZYD in cell migration. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that GUF and its extract contained effective medicinal components, namely glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, and glycyrrhetinic acid. Moreover, GUF at 4.0 mg/mL displayed strong inhibitory effect in migrating cell number and distance when compared with model, XFZYD or FD. Excessive ROS can activate the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and promote the EMT process. GUF inhibited ptc>scrib-IR-induced cell migration by reducing ROS levels, JAK/STAT signalling, and the transcription of upd2, upd3, hop and socs36E. Finally, GUF rescued the altered expressions of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, including matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), β-integrin and E-cadherin, triggered by cell migration.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that GUF may serve as a promising candidate for targeting advanced metastatic tumors by suppressing ROS-mediated JAK/STAT signaling and EMT.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
·
2014
·Vol. 63
·期 7
·597-608
·
IF 2.143
Pan Xiaolong,Cao Xiang,Li Na,Xu Yimiao,Wu Qiuyue,Bai Jing,Yin Zhimin,Luo Lan,Lan Lei
Objective Forsythin (FOR) is an active ingredient extracted from the fruit of the medicinal plant Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. Here, we investigated the effect of FOR on LPS-induced inflammatory response and the underlying molecular mechanisms in RAW264.7 macrophages. Materials and methods RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with or without FOR and then stimulated with or without LPS. The productions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE 2 and NO were determined by ELISA and nitrite analysis, respectively. The expressions of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. The activations of signaling molecules were detected by Western blotting using phosphorylation specific antibodies. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined by ROS assay. Results LPS-induced productions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NO and PGE 2 were inhibited by FOR in a dose-dependent manner. FOR also suppressed the LPS-elevated expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Further investigations revealed that FOR significantly inhibited the LPS-induced activations of JAK-STATs and p38 MAPKs, but not of IKKα/β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, FOR interfered with both JAK-STATs and p38 MAPKs signaling pathways to modulate the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2. Furthermore, FOR reduced the LPS-induced ROS accumulation, validating that FOR serves as an antioxidant. Conclusions Our data suggested that FOR exerts anti-inflammatory action, at least in part, via suppressing LPS-induced activation of JAK-STATs and p38 MAPKs signalings and production of ROS in macrophage cells.
研究领域:
药理学
·
免疫学
·
细胞生物学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 5.4
Lei Zhao,Siyuan Han,Chengzhi Chai
Ethnopharmacological relevance Huangkui capsule (HKC), a Chinese patent medicine, has been widely used in China as adjuvant therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD). It displays superior anti-proteinuria efficacy than losartan in patients with CKD at stages 1–2, however, the mechanism of HKC alleviating proteinuria has not been well elucidated. Aim of the study This study aims to confirm the therapeutic effect and investigate associated underlying mechanism of HKC against proteinuria by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Materials and methods We established a doxorubicin (DOX) induced proteinuria mouse model to evaluate kidney function by biochemical markers measurement and to observe histopathological alterations by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)-stained sections of renal, respectively. Moreover, the expressions of Nephrin and Podocin were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting analysis to investigate podocyte damage. Furthermore, we established Mouse Podocyte Clone-5 (MPC-5) injury model to identify the active components of HKC against podocyte damage by detecting the expressions of Nephrin, Podocin, and ZO-1 proteins. At last, the key protein levels of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway were assessed by western blotting analysis to explore the underlying mechanism of HKC against proteinuria. Results Our results showed that HKC administration for three consecutive weeks dose-dependently ameliorated both renal function and histopathological damages, elevated the expressions of Nephrin and Podocin, the pivotal molecules maintaining filtration function of the podocyte, indicating the promising protective effect against podocyte injury under DOX exposure. Consistently, in vitro experiments showed HKC administration effectively reversed the abnormal expressions of Nephrin and Podocin in MPC-5 cells treated with DOX, suggesting its protective effect against podocyte injury to maintain filtration barrier integrity. In addition, Hibifolin was identified as the most active ingredients in HKC, which suppressed upstream JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt pathway phosphorylation to maintain the structural and functional integrity of podocyte filtration barrier. Of note, AG490 , a selective JAK2 inhibitor , was used to further affirm the role of Hibifolin involving in regulation JAK2/STAT3. Conclusions Our study suggested that HKC may protect podocytes via JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt pathway to display its effects of ameliorating proteinuria.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Antioxidants
·
2022
·Vol. 11
·期 12
·2360
·
IF 7.675
Jian Jin,Yiyi Shan,Liangliang Zhang,Zhengchang Wu,Shenglong Wu,Mingan Sun,Wenbin Bao
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin that poses a great threat to agricultural production and the health of humans and animals. Pterostilbene (PTE) is a natural plant polyphenolic compound with good anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cell regeneration effects, yet its effectiveness in treating FB1-induced cytotoxicity remains to be explored. In this study, we used porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21) as a model to characterize the cytotoxicity induced by FB1, and to investigate the potential alleviating effect of PTE on FB1-induced cytotoxicity. We demonstrate that FB1 induces cytotoxicity, apoptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and mitochondrial damage, which can be largely recovered by PTE treatment, suggesting the promising application of PTE to treat FB1-induced damage. Mechanistically, FB1 activates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, while PTE attenuates FB1-induced cytotoxicity through the inhibition of key JAK/STAT genes such asJAK2andSTAT3. Overall, our study characterized the molecular mechanism for FB1-induced cytotoxicity and found PTE to be a promising component which can alleviate FB1-induced cytotoxicity by interfering in the activation of JAK/STAT pathway.Keywords:fumonisin B1;pterostilbene;alveolar macrophage;cytotoxicity;JAK/STAT signaling pathway;pig
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2025
·
IF 4.8
Qian Feng,Cai-Zhi Li,Yi-Hua Zou,Xue-Yu Wang,Xia Yang,Rong Zhang*,Zhong-Qiu Liu*,Rong-Rong Zhang
Introduction: Brain metastasis (BM) is the most common and serious complication of breast cancer (BC). There is significant interest in investigating the crosstalk between BC cells and immune cells. β-elemene is the main pharmacodynamic component of Curcumae Rhizoma, a traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly used for the clinical treatment and prevention of various tumors. However, the specific underlying mechanism of β-elemene in BC-BM is still unclear.Methods: An intracardiac (ICT) injection model was used to establish specific BC-BM cells, then an intracarotid (ICD) injection model was used to verify the inhibitory effect of β-elemene in BC-BM. Tumor-cell-conditioned media, a primary microglia co-culture model, and an in vitro recruitment experiment were used to explore crosstalk between BC cells and immune cells. TMT-based quantitative proteomic, ELISA, IF, and other molecular biotechnologies were used to investigate the mechanisms.Results: The BC-BM cells established in our study not only increased BM rates but also exhibit mesenchymal phenotype and activated the JAK–STAT signaling pathway. Microglia, particularly M2 microglia, were enriched in BM lesions and secreted high levels of both IL6 and CCL2. Hypersecretory IL6 reversed the MET process of BC cells by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to promote colonization in the brain. Increased levels of CCL2 significantly recruited monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) to induce an immunosuppressive brain microenvironment. β-elemene could significantly inhibit BC-BM in mice by regulating the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway and suppressing the M-MDSC recruitment.Conclusion: Our work first demonstrated that β-elemene regulated the IL6/STAT3 axis and M-MDSC recruitment to reconstruct immunosuppressive brain microenvironment to suppress BC-BM.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
免疫学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
·
2025
·
IF 6.1
Jiaxiang Zhang,Haitao Ma,Yongjie Yang,Liyin Liu,Dasheng Luo,Defu Yu,Tao Chen
Excessive intake of essential and toxic metals affects the pathological process of osteoporosis. At present, the effects of single forms of iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and other metals on bone injury have been widely studied. However, these metal elements usually do not exist in the environment in a separate form. They are ingested in various ways and are often found together in the human body. However, the mechanism of bone damage caused by Fe and Pb mixed exposure is still unclear at this stage. At present, the combined analysis of multi-omics is the conventional method to explore the molecular mechanism behind the disease. Therefore, we attempted to combine proteomics and metabolomics to explain the mechanism of bone damage caused by mixed Fe and Pb exposure. Differential proteins and metabolites were found to be predominantly enriched in the JAK-STAT signalling pathway, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and osteoclast differentiation. Combined analysis showed that Fpr2, Lifr, Lisofylline, 7-Ketocholesterol, LacCer (d18: 1/14:0) and other substances may be involved in the process of bone injury mediated by mixed metal exposure. In summary, we hypothesise that mixed exposure to Fe and Pb leads to osteoclast activation via the JAK-STAT signalling pathway in situ and indirectly via the gut-bone axis, resulting in bone damage. In general, our study potentially suggests that bone injury induced by mixed exposure of Fe and Pb may be related to osteoclast proliferation mediated by changes in inflammatory levels in vivo .
研究领域:
分子生物学
·
毒理学
·
骨代谢研究
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY
·
2026
·Vol. 40
·期 1
·e70661
·
IF 2.8
Li Yao,Xin-ze Qiu,Jun Zou,Jing-rong Liang,Meng-bin Qin,Jin-xiu Zhang,Peng Peng,Jie-an Huang
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become a leading cause of chronic liver disease with no available therapies. Currently, the pathogenesis of MASLD remains to be further elucidated. Ferroptosis and ferroptosis-related genes may play a vital role in the development of MASLD. Thus, this study investigated the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1/HO-1) in ferroptosis associated with MASLD. Here, we applied bioinformatics to identify ferroptosis-related genes. HMOX1 expression was validated by immunohistochemistry. Mice fed a methionine-choline-deficient diet for 8 weeks were treated with hemin, followed by biochemical and histological analyses. HL7702 cells were transfected to overexpress HMOX1, exposed to oleic acid, and treated with erastin or AZD1480. Iron, ROS, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial damage were assessed by ELISA, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy. Western blotting explored molecular mechanisms. HMOX1 was identified as a ferroptosis-related hub gene in MASLD datasets and was decreased in patient liver tissues. MCD-fed mice developed hepatic steatosis with elevated ALT, AST, TG, LDL, Fe²⁺, MDA, and ROS, along with reduced HMOX1 and GSH. Hemin ameliorated MASLD and inhibited ferroptosis. Cell experiments showed JAK/STAT pathway activation in MASLD. HMOX1 upregulation reduced lipid peroxidation, inhibited ferroptosis, and downregulated JAK/STAT, whereas erastin reversed these effects. AZD1480 reversed the effects of erastin and improved MASLD. Collectively, our results suggest that HMOX1 protects against MASLD by suppressing ferroptosis through JAK/STAT pathway inhibition.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子