Drug Design Development and Therapy
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2022
·
IF 4.319
Lei Lei,Jing Zhao,Xue-Qi Liu,Juan Chen,Xiang-Ming Qi,Ling-Ling Xia,Yong-Gui Wu
Introduction Kidney tubular epithelial injury is one of the key factors in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Wogonin is a kind of flavonoid, which has many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-fibrosis. However, the effect of wogonin in renal tubular epithelial cells during DN is still unknown.Materials and Methods STZ-induced diabetic mice were given doses of wogonin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) by intragastric administration for 16 weeks. The metabolic indexes from blood and urine and pathological damage of renal tubules in mice were evaluated. Human tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were cultured in high glucose (HG) condition containing wogonin (2μM, 4μM, 8μM) for 24 h. Tubular epithelial cell inflammation and autophagic dysfunction both in vivo and in vitro were assessed by Western blot, qRT-PCR, IHC, and IF analyses.Results The treatment of wogonin attenuated urinary albumin and histopathological damage in tubulointerstitium of diabetic mice. We also found that wogonin down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and autophagic dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. Molecular docking and Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) results revealed that mechanistically phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) was the target of wogonin. We then found that inhibiting PI3K eliminated the protective effect of wogonin. Wogonin regulated autophagy and inflammation via targeting PI3K, the important connection point of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.Conclusion Our study is the first to demonstrate the novel role of wogonin in mitigating tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal tubular cell injury via regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated autophagy and inflammation. Wogonin might be a latent remedial drug against tubular epithelial injury in DN by targeting PI3K.
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Chinese Medicine
·
2022
·Vol. 17
·期 1
·1-21
·
IF 4.546
Huang Qianqian,Zhang Chen,Dong Shi,Han Junwen,Qu Sihao,Xie Tianshu,Zhao Haibin,Shi Yuanyuan
Background Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease and there is currently no effective treatment for AD progression. The use of TCM as a potential treatment strategy for AD is an evolving field of investigation. Asafoetida (ASF), an oleo-gum-resin isolated from Ferula assa-foetida root, has been proven to possess antioxidative potential and neuroprotective effects, which is closely associated with the neurological disorders. However, the efficacy and further mechanisms of ASF in AD experimental models are still unclear. Methods A cognitive impairment of mouse model induced by scopolamine was established to determine the neuroprotective effects of ASF in vivo , as shown by behavioral tests, biochemical assays, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, Immunohistochemistry, western blot and qPCR. Furthermore, the PC12 cells stimulated by H 2 O 2 were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms of ASF-mediated efficacy. Then, the UPLCM analysis and integrated network pharmacology approach was utilized to identified the main constitutes of ASF and the potential target of ASF against AD, respectively. And the main identified targets were validated in vitro by western blot, qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results In vivo , ASF treatment significantly ameliorated cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine, as evidenced by improving learning and memory abilities, and reducing neuronal injury, cholinergic system impairment, oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hippocampus of mice. In vitro , our results validated that ASF can dose-dependently attenuated H 2 O 2 -induced pathological oxidative stress in PC12 cells by inhibiting ROS and MDA production, as well as promoting the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH. We also found that ASF can significantly suppressed the apoptosis rate of PC12 cells increased by H 2 O 2 exposure, which was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, treatment with ASF obviously attenuated H 2 O 2 -induced increase in caspase-3 and Bax expression levels, as well as decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 /HO-1pathway may be involved in the regulation of cognitive impairment by ASF. The results of western blot, qPCR and immunofluorescence staining of vitro assay proved it. Conclusions Collectively, our work first uncovered the significant neuroprotective effect of ASF in treating AD in vivo . Then, we processed a series of vitro experiments to clarify the biological mechanism action. These data demonstrate that ASF can inhibit oxidative stress induced neuronal apoptosis to foster the prevention of AD both in vivo and in vitro , and it may exert the function of inhibiting AD through PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2/HO-1pathway.
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BONE
·
2022
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IF 4.626
Abdusami Abdurahman,Xinle Li,Jie Li,Daquan Liu,Lidong Zhai,Xuetong Wang,Yifan Zhang,Yao Meng,Hiroki Yokota,Ping Zhang
Bone vasculature influences osteogenesis and haematopoiesis in the bone microenviroment. Mechanical loading has been shown to stimulate the formation of osteogenesis-related type H vessels in an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis mouse model. To determine the loading-driven mechanism of angiogenesis and the formation of type H vessels in bone, we evaluated the roles of PI3K/Akt signaling and erythropoiesis in the bone marrow . The daily application of mechanical loading (1 N at 5 Hz for 6 min/day) for 2 weeks on OVX mice inhibited osteoclast activity , associated with an increase in the number of osteoblasts and trabecular volume ratio. Mechanical loading enhanced bone vasculature and vessel formation, as well as PI3K/Akt phosphorylation and erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. Notably, LY294002 , an inhibitor of PI3K signaling, blocked the tube formation by endothelial progenitor cells , as well as their migration and wound healing. The conditioned medium, derived from erythroblasts , also promoted the function of HUVECs with elevated levels of VEGF, CD31 , and Emcn. Collectively, this study demonstrates that mechanical loading prevents osteoporotic bone loss by promoting angiogenesis and type H vessel formation. This load-driven preventing effect is in part mediated by PI3K/Akt signaling and erythropoiesis in the bone marrow.
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JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2021
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IF 4.36
Li-na Ji,Shan Wu,Dan-qing Fu,Si-jia Fang,Guan-qun Xie,Yong-sheng Fan,Jie Bao
Ethnopharmacological relevance Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. According to both TCM theory and more than a decade of clinical practice, JP has been testified to be effective for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment as an approved hospital prescription in China. Aim of the study To determine the effect of JP on the treatment of SLE by glucocorticoid (GC) and to further examine the molecular mechanisms. Materials and methods We conducted in vivo experiments to estimate the effect of JP on hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice treated with GC. Additionally, isoproterenol (ISO) induced hepatic gluconeogenesis model and GC-treated MRL/lpr mouse hepatocytes were carried out in vitro experiments to verify the effect of JP on gluconeogenesis. Results The results showed that JP combined with GC could effectively alleviate the lupus symptoms in MRL/lpr mice and improve the pathological changes of the kidney and liver. And the combination of JP reduced the side effects caused by GC, which was related to the inhibition of GC-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice. Specifically, JP up-regulated the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt restrained by GC to reduce the production of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and the gluconeogenic genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). In viv o, the use of JP either alone or with GC could reduce spleen enlargement , high levels of serum antibodies, aggravated urine protein and renal pathological damage in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, the glucose content was reduced in the liver of MRL/lpr mice treated with JP, and the liver damage and steatosis were also alleviated. In vitro , the expressions of PI3K and Akt increased and the expressions of FoxO1, PGC-1α, PEPCK and G6Pase decreased after JP treatment in ISO-treated hepatocytes. Compared with MRL/MP mice, we found that JP could significantly inhibit the expression of gluconeogenesis in the hepatocytes of MRL/lpr mice induced by GC to a greater extent. Conclusions The therapeutic effect of JP on GC-induced is likely related to hepatic gluconeogenesis, which provides a new perspective to reveal the positive role of JP in SLE.
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Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
·
2018
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IF 2.895
Kunpeng Wang,Zijian Zhang,Kai Liu,Xin Yang,Heng Zou,Jiangjiao Zhou,Xiongying Miao,Wei Chen,Li Xiong,Yu Wen
Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have shown the therapeutic value of photodynamic therapy with low doses of photosensitizer and/or light in colitis treatment, but the detailed mechanism is unclear. Methods We examined 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Endoscopic and macroscopic observations as well as the Disease Activity Index score (DAI) was used to monitor the disease. Cytokine expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR analysis to evaluate the efficacy of PDT. We applied the Clariom™ D bioinformatics analysis to investigate the differentially expressed genes after PDT. Finally, we used quantitative RT-PCR analysis and Western blotting to validate the targets of differentially expressed genes. Results 5-ALA-PDT improved the DAI score and decreased the expression of various inflammatory cytokines. The Clariom™ D bioinformatics analysis identified 2043 diff ;erentially expressed genes (702 up-regulated and 1341 down-regulated). We confirmed the down-regulation of lncRNA-Neat1, lncRNA-Snhg5 and lncRNA-Gm9926 and the up-regulation of miRNA-204-5p, miRNA-218-5p, miRNA-200a-3p and miRNA-466h-5p. Additionally, the decreased expression level of the AKT3, p-AKT3, PI3K, p-PI3K protein were confirmed. Conclusions This study provides in vivo comprehensive lncRNA and miRNA microarray analysis after 5-ALA-PDT treatment in DSS-induced colitis, and it may help to develop novel lncRNA-miRNA-related therapeutic approaches, such as the Neat1-miRNA204-5p-PI3K-AKT axis, to further increase the efficiency of PDT in IBD.
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FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
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2023
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IF 4.3
Eun-Ji Han,Eun-Young Choi,Su-Ji Jeon,Sang-Woo Lee,Jun-Mo Moon,Soo-Hyun Jung,Bumseok Kim,Sung-Dae Cho,Jeong-Seok Nam,Changsun Choi,Jeong-Hwan Che,Ji-Youn Jung
Natural products are continuously being researched to develop safe and effective treatment options for cervical cancer , the fourth most common cancer in women. Piperlongumine (PL), an amide alkaloid mainly present in long pepper , exhibits neuroprotective and anti-cancer properties. However, the specific effect of PL in cervical cancer and the relationship between the anti-cancer pathway and autophagy remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate PL-induced apoptosis in KB human cervical cancer cells and the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy therein. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and wound-healing assays showed that PL treatment suppressed KB cell viability and proliferation. Apoptosis was identified through 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and annexin V-propidium iodide staining, increased cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and Bcl-2 associated X levels, and decreased B cell lymphoma 2 levels. Acridine orange staining and increased microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3-II and Beclin-1 levels confirmed autophagy. We determined that KB cell-related autophagy exerted cytoprotective effects using the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine and hydroxychloroquine . PL treatment promoted apoptosis by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in KB cells; inhibiting the pathway using PI3K inhibitors increased autophagy. We suggest that PL is a potential natural anticancer agent for cervical cancer treatment.
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高影响因子
RSC Advances
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2018
·Vol. 8
·期 43
·24470-24476
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IF 2.936
Xiaofang Chen,Jianyang Tan,Lu Zhang,Yonggang Liu,Yahong Cheng,Qianying Zhang,Hong Ding
The abuse of fructose in daily diet may cause cardiovascular diseases that seriously threaten human health, and both safe and efficient solutions need to be developed. We investigated whether apigenin can prevent the harmful impact of excessive fructose on cardiovascular events. Based on the reduction of percentage of body fat and systolic pressure as well as the improvements in insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and pathological injury to the thoracic aorta, we suggested that high levels of fructose cause vascular injury and metabolic disorders, which can be improved to some extent by using apigenin. Fundamentally, apigenin down-regulates levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which increase with high concentrations of fructose. Moreover, the inflammation and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels increased in fructose group, but they decreased when the rats were fed with apigenin. The results suggest that PI3K/AKT/GLUT1 may have potential for alleviating cardiovascular injury, and apigenin can be an excellent candidate for supplements to ameliorate cardiovascular diseases related to high fructose consumption.
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MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
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2017
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IF 4.44
Yiyue Wang,Jing Li,Jing Jing Chen,Xuan Gao,Zun Huang,Qi Shen
The polylactic-co-glycolic acid polyethylene glycol conjugated with cell penetrating peptide R7 (PLGA–PEG-R7)/polysulfadimethoxine-folate nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel (DTX) and GDC0941 (R7/PSD-Fol NPs) were prepared to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) and enhance the antitumor activity. First, polysulfadimethoxine-folate was synthesized to construct the R7/PSD-Fol NPs. The R7/PSD-Fol NPs were prepared with the abilities of effective entrapment and drug loading. Due to the pH-sensitive effect of PSD-folate, the releasing of DTX and GDC0941 from the R7/PSD-Fol NPs was lower in pH 7.4 buffer solution than that in pH 5.0 buffer solution. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MCF-7 and resistant to doxorubicin (MCF-7/Adr) cells illustrated the cytotoxicity of R7/PSD-Fol nanoparticles by using the MTT method. The uptake of R7/PSD-Fol NPs was visualized by using the fluorescence of Rh-123 to detect the targeting effect of folate on the surface of R7/PSD-Fol NPs. The results of the cell apoptosis and the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were adopted to show the cytotoxicity of the R7/PSD-Fol NPs on MCF-7/Adr cells. The Western blot revealed the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway in MCF-7/Adr cells induced by R7/PSD-Fol NPs. Finally, both in vivo distribution and in vivo antitumor showed the R7/PSD-Fol NPs displayed the better distribution at tumor site and the stronger suppression of tumor growth in the tumor bearing nude mice compared with control group. It was concluded that R7/PSD-Fol NPs loaded with DTX and GDC0941 could overcome MDR and enhance the antitumor effect further.
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Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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2016
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IF 1.931
Ke Fang,Hui Dong,Shujun Jiang,Fen Li,Dingkun Wang,Desen Yang,Jing Gong,Wenya Huang,Fuer Lu
To determine the effects and the underlying mechanism of diosgenin (DSG) and 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), two main active components in the classical Chinese prescription Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan (HLBW), on insulin resistance, HepG2 cells were incubated in medium containing insulin. Treatments with DSG, 5-MOP, and their combination were performed, respectively. The result showed that the incubation of HepG2 cells with high concentration insulin markedly decreased glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis. However, treatment with DSG, 5-MOP, or their combination significantly reversed the condition and increased the phosphorylated expression of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), sarcoma (Src), Akt/protein kinase B, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 (PI3Kp85). At the transcriptional level, expression of the genes mentioned above also increased except for the negative regulation of GSK-3β mRNA. The increased expression of glucose transport-4 (GLUT-4) was meanwhile observed through immunofluorescence. Nevertheless, the synergistic effect of DSG and 5-MOP on improving glycometabolism was not obvious in the present study. These results suggested that DSG and 5-MOP may improve insulin resistance through an ER-mediated PI3K/Akt activation pathway which may be a new strategy for type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially for women in an estrogen-deficient condition.
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MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
·
2024
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IF 4.6
Wang Ajun,Li Nan,Zhang Nan,Liu Jian,Yang Tao,Li Dongxue,Li Changwen,Li Rui,Jiang Tongcui,Xia Chengyu
The pathogenesis and development of Moyamoya disease are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of desmoglein-2 (DSG2) on Moyamoya disease and determine the inhibitory effect of DSG2 in vascular remodeling in Moyamoya disease. RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting were used to detect the expression of DSG2 in the superficial temporal artery (STA) tissues of Moyamoya disease. The association between DSG2 and endothelial cells’ biological activities was investigated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), migration assay, tube formation assay, flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and TUNEL apoptotic cell detection kit. Pathways affected by overexpression or knockdown of DSG2 were identified in endothelial cells. The expression of DSG2 in the STA tissues of Moyamoya disease was lower than that in normal controls. Overexpression of DSG2 inhibits the proliferation and migration but promotes apoptosis in endothelial cells, and low DSG2 levels result in impaired angiogenesis. In addition, there was an interaction between DSG2 and MMP-9, and DSG2 acted through the PI3K signaling in endothelial cells. Our results indicate that DSG2 affects PI3K signaling in vascular endothelial cells, and MMP-9 is involved in DSG2-mediated vascular changes in Moyamoya disease.
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PHYTOMEDICINE
·
2024
·
IF 6.7
Pingping Tuo,Risheng Zhao,Ning Li,Shuang Yan,Gege Yang,Chunmei Wang,Jinghui Sun,Haiming Sun,Mengyang Wang
Background Ang II induces hypertensive heart failure (HF) via hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic actions. Lycorine (LYC) is an alkaloid derived from Lycoris bulbs, and it possesses anti-cardiovascular disease-related activities. Herein, we explored the potential LYC-mediated regulation of Ang II-induced HF. Methods Over 4 weeks, we established a hypertensive HF mouse model by infusing Ang II into C57BL/6 mice using a micro-osmotic pump. For the final two weeks, mice were administered LYC via intraperitoneal injection. The LYC signaling network was then deduced using RNA sequencing. Results LYC administration strongly suppressed hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and cardiac inflammation. As a result, it minimized heart dysfunction while causing no changes in blood pressure. The Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) network/phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) was found to be a major modulator of LYC-based cardioprotection using RNA sequencing study. We further confirmed that in cultured cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts, LYC reduced the inflammatory response and downregulated the Ang II-induced PI3K-AKT/NF-κB network. Moreover, PI3K-AKT or NF-κB axis depletion in cardiomyocytes completely abrogated the anti-inflammatory activities of LYC. Conclusion Herein, we demonstrated that LYC safeguarded hearts in Ang II -stimulated mice by suppressing the PI3K-AKT/NF-κB-induced inflammatory responses. Given the evidence mentioned above, LYC is a robust therapeutic agent for hypertensive HF.
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Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2025
·
IF 4.8
Yancen Li,Chengyu Wan,Fan Li,Guang Xin,Tao Wang,Qilong Zhou,Tingyu Wen,Shiyi Li,Xiaoting Chen,Wen Huang
Background: Isatidis Folium, a botanical drug widely used in traditional medicine, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, including heat-clearing, detoxifying, and blood-cooling effects. Although its potential in sepsis treatment has been suggested, the bioactive metabolites and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to identify the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Indirubin, the major bioactive metabolite of Isatidis Folium, in sepsis treatment. In vivo, a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced mouse sepsis model was used to evaluate the protective effects of Indirubin through histopathological analysis, ELISA, and biochemical assays. In vitro, RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS and treated with varying concentrations of Indirubin. The anti-inflammatory effects of Indirubin were assessed using ELISA, apoptosis assays, and Western blotting.Results: Network pharmacology analysis identified Indirubin as the major bioactive metabolite of Isatidis Folium and EGFR and SRC as its key molecular targets. Experimental validation demonstrated that Indirubin significantly improved survival rates, alleviated tissue injury, and suppressed inflammatory responses in sepsis models. Mechanistically, Indirubin inhibited LPS-induced activation of the EGFR/SRC/PI3K and NF-κB/MAPK pathways in macrophages, significantly reducing cell death and inflammation in RAW264.7 cells.Conclusion: Indirubin, the primary bioactive metabolite of Isatidis Folium, exerts protective effects against sepsis by targeting the EGFR/SRC/PI3K and NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways in macrophages. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the development of Indirubin as a multi-target therapeutic agent for sepsis treatment.
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