ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
·
2025
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IF 19
Qiaoxuan Wang,Qi Cheng,Ding Huang,Kefei Zhao,Qiaoju Hu,Min Liang,Yifan Xie,Huaxiang Wu,Changyou Gao
The inefficient lysosomal escape of small interfering RNA (siRNA) from immune cells remains a major barrier to therapeutic efficacy. To address this challenge, an innovative pH-triggered aggregation nanoplatform for enhanced siRNA delivery is developed. By using adamantane (Ad)-modified hyperbranched poly-L-lysine (HBPL-Ad) as a backbone, this nanoplatform incorporated acetalated β-cyclodextrin (β-ACD) as a pH-sensitive “gatekeeper”, together with siRNA to prepare physiologically stable aggregated nanoparticles (ANPs). Triggered by the acidic lysosomal microenvironment, the β-ACD hydrolysis exposed β-CD cavities to enable strong host-guest (β-CD/Ad) binding. This binding caused nanoparticle aggregation and subsequent mild lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), facilitating efficient siRNA escape independent of the proton sponge effect. The ANPs demonstrated superior cellular uptake and significantly enhanced TNF-α silencing across macrophages, dendritic cells, and Jurkat immune cells in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of ANPs loaded with TNF-α siRNA in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model achieved 93% mRNA reduction and 95% protein reduction in joint TNF-α levels, significantly outperforming Lipo2000 (56% mRNA and 60% protein reduction), effectively attenuating synovitis and cartilage erosion without detectable systemic toxicity. This work establishes pH-triggered programmable aggregation as a potent and transformative strategy for overcoming immune cell delivery barriers, offering a promising clinically viable platform for RNAi-based immunotherapy.
研究领域:
纳米技术
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RNA干扰
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免疫治疗
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药物递送系统
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生物医学工程
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DOI
高影响因子
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
·
2024
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IF 4.6
Jing Qiu,Yi-Han Wang,Xiu-Ming Wang,Hui-Sheng Chen
The pericytes (PCs) surrounding capillaries are vital regulators of capillary constriction. Persistent PC contraction results in the increased capillary constriction, therefore leading to the impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) recovery after reperfusion and worsening the clinical outcomes in stroke patients. However, the potential determinants of PC functions during ischemia/reperfusion are poorly understood. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit Delta (PIK3CD/PI3Kδ) is a crucial factor involved with neuronflammation during ischemic stroke. PI3Kδ has shown the expression in PCs, while its effect on PC functions has not been explored yet. In this study, a rodent ischemia/reperfusion model was established in C57BL/6 mice via transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R). The PI3Kδ expression in ischemic penumbra was remarkably upregulated following MCAO/R induction. PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101 improved the CBF recovery, ischemic brain injury, and suppressed capillary constriction in MCAO/R mice. Besides, the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), an inducer for tissue injury, and the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 2 (TRPV2), a channel protein permitting calcium (Ca 2+ ) uptake, were significantly reduced in ischemic penumbra after CAL-101 treatment. In vitro, oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) enhanced the expression of PI3Kδ and TRPV2 in primary mouse PCs. CAL-101 suppressed the TNF-α-induced TRPV2 expression in OGD/R-treated PCs, thus inhibiting the Ca 2+ uptake and PC contraction. Collectively, this study suggests that PI3Kδ is a critical regulator of PC function during ischemic stroke.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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细胞生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Scientific Reports
·
2017
·Vol. 7
·期 1
·1-13
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IF 4.259
Zhao Wenwen,Feng Haitao,Guo Shuhui,Han Yantao,Chen Xiuping
ICAM-1 overexpression and subsequent adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells play critical roles in the early stage of atherosclerosis. Danshenol A (DA) is an abietane-type diterpenoid isolated from traditional Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The mechanisms under its regulation of adhesion of molecular expression are explored. Here, the effect of DA on TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated in endothelial cells. TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent adhesion of monocytes, as well as elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NOX4 expression were all significantly reversed by DA, siNOX4 and NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831. Furthermore, TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression, which was increased via IKKβ/IκBα-mediated activation of NF-κB p65, was also inhibited by DA. Interestingly, NOX4 overexpression suppressed the ICAM-1 expression, and this finding may be ascribed to the activation of Nrf-2. Additionally, NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, siNOX4, or DA can decrease the TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and suppress the adhesion of monocytes. In all, DA inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through the NOX4-dependent IKKβ/NF-κB pathway. Besides, NOX4 played dual role in regulating ICAM-1 expression via diverse signal pathway. This novel bioactivity will make DA a good candidate to be further explored for therapeutic or preventive application for atherosclerosis.
研究领域:
药理学
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心血管疾病
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
·
2018
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IF 3.977
Jian Fang,Qiuyan Chen,Baozhu He,Jiaxuan Cai,Yawen Yao,Yi Cai,Suowen Xu,Kannan R.R. Rengasamy,Shanmugaraj Gowrishankar,Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian,Tiansheng Cao
Tanshinone IIA is one of the most predominant bioactive constituents of Danshen , a traditional Chinese medicinal plant with multiple cardiovascular protective actions. Although Tanshinone IIA has been well documented for its endothelial protective efficacy, studies unveiling the mechanism and/or molecular targets for its pharmacological activity are still inadequate. In recent studies, it has been envisaged that the expression of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) was associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ACVD). Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate the possible role of Tanshinone IIA in influencing the expression of PTX3 in endothelial cells and thereby prevents endothelial dysfunction . Molecular analyses through real-time PCR, western blot , and ELISA revealed that Tanshinone IIA down-regulates PTX3 gene expression as well as protein secretion in human endothelial cells in the presence or absence of TNF-α. Besides, Tanshinone IIA inhibits the adhesion of THP1 cells (a monocytic cell line) to activated-endothelial cells stimulated with TNF-α. Furthermore, mechanistic studies uncovered the role of p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway in Tanshinone II-A mediated pharmacological effects. Thus, the present study exemplifies the manifestation of Tanshinone IIA as a plausible alternative natural remedy for ACVD by targeting PTX3.
研究领域:
药理学
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心血管疾病
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分子生物学
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传统中药
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2024
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IF 4.8
Jiale Mao,Houxing Lei,Pingcui Xu,Shuang Liu,Jiwang Zhou,Mingrong Mei,Nani Wang,Xiaoqin Zhang
Ethnopharmacological relevance Melastoma dodecandrum (MD), a traditional ethnomedicine, has been widely used for the treatment of fractures, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis due to its remarkable anti-inflammatory activity. However, the specific active components responsible for its therapeutic effects on orthopedic conditions remain unidentified. Aim of the study This study aimed to screen and identify key active components in MD using a combination of cell membrane chromatography and mass spectrometry, followed by cellular validation. Materials and methods A TNF-α-induced osteoblast injury model and an osteoblast membrane chromatography screening system were established to select and identify chemical components of MD that directly act on osteoblasts. The protective effects of MD on osteoblasts were assessed by evaluating cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, cell mineralization and the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins OCN, RUNX2, and the TNF-α receptor protein TNFR1. Validation of the activity of individual components was also conducted. Results MD significantly improved the viability of osteoblasts under TNF-α-induced injury, enhanced ALP activity, stimulated the expression of OCN and RUNX2 proteins, and decreased the expression of TNFR1. Cell membrane chromatography screening identified 32 chemical components, including 21 flavonoids, 6 organic acids, 2 phenylpropanoids, 2 terpenes, and 1 nucleotide. Molecular docking revealed that isovitexin could bind to the specific receptor TNFR1 on the cell membrane. Furthermore, cellular validation demonstrated that isovitexin significantly protected osteoblasts. Conclusions MD and its pharmacologically active component, isovitexin, exhibit protective effects against TNF-α-induced inflammatory injury in osteoblasts, laying a solid foundation for future drug development.
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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质谱学
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色谱学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2024
·
IF 7.7
Zhiwan Chen,Mengfei Yuan,Haojing Li,Lihua Li,Binghong Luo,Lu Lu,Qi Xiang,Shan Ding
The inflammation of chronic wounds plays a key hindering role in the wound healing process. Slowing down the inflammatory response is significant for the repair of chronic wounds. Studies have revealed that succinate can inactivate gastrin D (GSDMD) and prevent cell pyroptosis. Chitosan has anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used as wound healing material. Therefore, we used succinic anhydride to modify chitosan and found that N-succinylated chitosan (NSC) was more effective in inhibiting inflammation. The results showed that the stimulation of TNF-α and high glucose induces overexpression of capase-1 and TNF-α in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and down-expression of CD31. However, the expression of capase-1 and TNF-α decreased, while the expression of CD31, VEGF and IL-10 was up-regulated significantly in dysfunctional HUVEC cells after treated by NSC. Moreover, NSC can speed wound healing, histological examination results showed that wounds treated with NSC exhibited faster epithelial tissue regeneration and thicker collagen deposition. Overall, this study results suggested that NSC has the function of restoring the physiological functions of dysfunctional HUVEC cells induced by high glucose and TNF-α, and can accelerate wound healing, indicating that NSC has good potential to be applied in inflammatory chronic wounds such as diabetic foot.
研究领域:
药理学
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伤口愈合
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炎症
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细胞生物学
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材料科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
·
2025
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IF 2.5
Yingpei Miao,Shuqing Yu,Qingcui Zhang,Xiaomei Li,Bowei Xia,Li Yang,Xiaobin Li,Junwei He
Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (LJ) is a pivotal traditional Chinese medicine remedy for thrombosis; however, its potential mechanisms and active constituents remain unclear. In this study, LJ exhibits a significant antithrombotic effect on an arteriovenous bypass thrombosis rat, characterized by reductions in thrombus wet and dry weights, decreased maximum aggregation rate, increased thrombus formation inhibition rate, aggregation inhibition rate, alterations in fibrinogen and antithrombin III levels, and shortened coagulation indicators. Moreover, LJ significantly enhanced the erythrocyte staining area and intensity in an arachidonic acid-induced zebrafish heart. Network pharmacology indicated that LJ alleviates thrombosis by regulating TNF and IL-17 pathways. Metabolomics revealed that LJ significantly modulated 29 endogenous differential metabolites, linking it to the regulation of primary bile acid biosynthesis, IL-17, and TNF pathways. Zebrafish experiments and molecular docking suggested that kaempferol and apigenin exhibit antithrombotic effects by modulating TNF and IL-17 proteins. Finally, molecular dynamics simulation validated that kaempferol and apigenin have strong binding capabilities with TLR4, STAT3, TNF-α, and IL-17A, and their binding free energies are −20 to −27 and −13 to −15 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, LJ exerts its antithrombotic effect by regulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting TLR4/STAT3/TNF-α/IL-17A pathways, with kaempferol and apigenin identified as bio-constituents. This plant holds significant potential for development and utilization in antithrombotic therapies. Graphical This study is the first to integrate network pharmacology, rat model, metabolomics, zebrafish model, molecular docking, and MD simulation techniques to elucidate the anti-thrombotic effect and mechanism of Leonurus japonicus by modulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting TLR4/STAT3/TNF-α/IL-17A pathways, with kaempferol and apigenin identified as primary pharmacological constituents.
研究领域:
药理学
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中医药学
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心血管疾病
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系统生物学
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计算生物学
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动物学
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生物信息学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2023
·
IF 5.6
Zhang Xiuying,Chen Qilei,Zhao Jia,Zhao Wei,Fan Ni,Wang Yu,Chen Hubiao,Rong Jianhui
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a highly prevalent and lethal disease worldwide. Prevention and timely recovery are critical for the control of the recurrence and heart failure in MI survivors. The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective activity of the herbal medicine formula Baoyuan Decoction (BYD) and identify the active compounds and molecular targets. The ethanolic BYD extract (BYDE) was prepared by water extraction and ethanol precipitation of four herbal medicines, Astragali Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Initially, BYDE was validated for the cardioprotective effectiveness in a mouse model of ischemia injury and rat cardiomyocyte H9C2 cells. As results, BYDE effectively reduced infarct size from 56% to 37% and preserved cardiac functions in mouse MI model while protected H9C2 cells against oxygen glucose deprivation. Subsequent network pharmacology analysis revealed that 122 bioactive ingredients, including flavonoids and saponins from the UPLC-MS/MS profile of BYDE, might target 37 MI-related proteins, including inflammatory and apoptotic mediators (e.g., TNF, NFKB1, CASPs, TNFRSF1A, CXCL12, BCL2A1). Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that BYDE might control the cardiac inflammation via targeting the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway while the selected targets were also implicated in IL-17 signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis. Consequently, adenosine, ginsenoside Rh2, isoliquiritigenin, and licochalcone A were selected to generate the four-compound mixture AGILe and validated for the inhibitory effects on the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway. The results of the present study suggested that the mixture AGILe might be a potential cardioprotective remedy against MI.
研究领域:
药理学
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心脏病学
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中医药
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分子生物学
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炎症研究
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
·
2023
·
IF 3.7
Lei Huang,Shunyi Lu,Mengxuan Bian,Jiayi Wang,Jieqin Yu,Jun Ge,Jian Zhang,Qintong Xu
Oxidative stress is one of the most important factors in changing bone homeostasis. Redox homeostasis plays a key role in the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the angiogenesis ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for bone regeneration. Currently, this study assessed the effects of punicalagin (PUN) on BMSCs and HUVECs. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. A flow cytometry analysis was adopted to detect macrophage polarization. The production of reactive oxygen stress (ROS), glutathione (GSH), malonaldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated by using commercially-available kits. Osteogenic capacity of BMSCs was evaluated by ALP activity, ALP staining and ARS staining. The expression of osteogenic-related proteins (OCN, Runx-2, OPN) and Nrf/HO-1 levles were evaluated by Western blotting. Osteogenic-related genes (Osterix, COL-1, BMP-4, ALP) were evaluated by RT-PCR. Migration ability and invasion ability of HUVECs were evaluated by wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Angiogenic ability was detected by tube formation assay and the expression of angiogenic-related genes (VEGF, vWF, CD31) were evaluated by RT-PCR. Results showed that PUN alleviated oxidative stress by TNF-α, enhanced osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs and angiogenesis in HUVECs. Moreover, PUN regulate immune microenvironment by promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages and reduce the oxidative stress related products by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Altogether, these results suggested that PUN can promote osteogenic capacity of BMSCs, angiogenesis of HUVECs, alleviate oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, offering PUN as a novel antioxidant agent for treating bone loss diseases.
研究领域:
药理学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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干细胞研究
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骨再生
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Journal of Toxicologic Pathology
·
2022
·
IF 1.25
Wen-Ling Mou,Shi-Ru Chen,Zhen-Ting Wu,Li-Hua Hu,Ji-Ye Zhang,Hong-Jie Chang,Hang Zhou,Ying Liu
Liver fibrosis results from liver inflammation and progresses to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is known that nonalcoholic liver disease is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2)–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether alcoholic liver disease is also mediated by this pathway. To this end, we first established rat models of liver fibrosis by administering alcohol. Next, the rats were injected with anti-TLR4 and anti-MD-2 antibodies. Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the activation of the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Moreover, the expression of molecules related to liver fibrosis was estimated. The morphology of rat liver tissue was observed through hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining. For in vitro studies, Kupffer cells (KCs) isolated from the liver were transfected with si-TLR4 and si-MD-2 and co-cultured with HSCs to determine the activity of HSCs. It was found that alcohol treatment activated the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and upregulated the molecules associated with liver fibrosis. However, inhibition of TLR4 and MD-2 partially reversed this trend. Notably, in vitro studies indicated that knockdown of TLR4 and MD-2 in KCs partially inhibited LPS-induced activation of KCs and HSCs. Overall, this study showed that alcohol induces liver fibrosis via the LPS-TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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免疫学
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病理学
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药理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
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2024
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IF 5.4
Qingling Nie,Peipei Xu,Jiajia Liu,Yanhanzhuo Wang,Qian Huang,Ruiyun You,Yunzhen Liu,Lizhi Li,Yudong Lu
To improve the sensitivity, accuracy and specificity of the assay, a two-dimensional silver substrate with EF=5.85×10 8 was first synthesized as a SERS substrate, on the surface of which DSP molecules were modified to form a DSP-antibody coupling through the activation of two N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) esters to capture TNF-α. Subsequently, aptamerized silver-coated gold nanospheres (Au@TFMBA@Ag) were synthesized as Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) recognition probes. These probes were employed to create a sandwich structure for the quantitative detection of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), utilizing the SERS signal intensity at 1374 cm −1 . Quantitative detection of TNF-α was successfully accomplished within the concentration range of 10 −4 to 10 −10 mg·mL −1 . Clinical serum samples were collected and subjected to testing. Significance analysis, conducted through the T-test (p < 0.0001), unequivocally showed the method's ability to differentiate between sera from normal individuals and those diagnosed with colon cancer.
研究领域:
生物医学
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癌症检测
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纳米技术
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Journal of Inflammation Research
·
2025
·
IF 4.1
Siyue Bo,Xiaotong Wang,Jiani Qian,Guoqiang Ma,Zheng Ying,Duanmin Hu,Chunyan Hou,Junfeng Ma,Longjiang Xu,Shuang Yang
Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) disrupts the colon’s protective mucus layer, exposing the epithelium to bacteria and triggering inflammation. This barrier, crucial for intestinal health, depends on complex glycosylation, notably sialic acid modifications. However, the precise role of sialic acid acetylation and the enzyme SIAE (sialic acid acetylesterase) in UC pathogenesis remains unclear. This study investigates the role of glycosylation changes, specifically sialic acid de-acetylation, in UC progression.Methods Tissue samples were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and colorectal cancer at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. HT-29 cells were utilized to investigate the molecular mechanisms of SIAE in UC pathogenesis. Mass spectrometry was performed to analyze differences in protein and glycoprotein expression. Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to examine SIAE protein expression changes during inflammation. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence were employed to determine the effects of SIAE on sialic acid levels and mucosal immunity.Results In this study, we characterized proteins and glycoproteins from patient tissues with UC, finding that sialic acid acetylesterase (SIAE) is upregulated in UC. HT-29 cells exposed to TNF-α induced an inflammatory response with a 5-fold increased expression of SIAE and NEU1 when TNF-α was at a concentration of 100 ng/mL. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed a reduction in acetylation on glycans and glycoproteins, while confocal microscopy confirmed a decrease in sialic acid on the cell surface. Gene expression analysis showed that CDH1, CTNND1, and ITGA8 were significantly downregulated in HT-29 cells stimulated by TNF-α, suggesting a reduction in cell-cell adhesion. SNA lectin-confocal microscopy revealed a reduction of sialic acid on HT-29 cells in TNF-α-induced UC cell models.Conclusion This study demonstrates that SIAE is significantly upregulated in ulcerative colitis (UC) tissues and TNF-α-stimulated HT-29 cells, leading to a marked reduction in sialic acid acetylation and cell surface sialic acid levels. These changes correlate with decreased expression of cell adhesion molecules, suggesting a disruption of the mucosal barrier integrity. Consequently, SIAE-mediated sialic acid de-acetylation emerges as a critical factor in UC pathogenesis, potentially serving as both a valuable biomarker and a promising therapeutic target.
研究领域:
医学
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分子生物学
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免疫学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）