INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2017
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IF 2.956
Qianyun Chen,Xueyun Duan,Heng Fan,Meng Xu,Qing Tang,Lijuan Zhang,Zhexing Shou,Xingxing Liu,Dongmei Zuo,Jia Yang,Shuangjiao Deng,Yalan Dong,Hui Wu,Yujin Liu,Zhen Nan
Oxymatrine (OMT), an alkaloid derived from the root of the Sophora flavescens , has been reported to possess a significant effect on relieving UC owing to its anti-inflammatory property. But the other therapeutic mechanism of OMT remains unclear. Recent studies have found, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of UC by pro-inflammatory effects and activating T cells . Moreover, PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the most important pathways for regulating cell apoptosis . Thus, we aim to explore whether OMT protects against UC by targeting PI3K/AKT pathway. We established the UC mice models, using LY294002 (a specific inhibitor of PI3K/AKT) as a positive control, to observe the effect of low, medium and high dose of OMT on UC and its influence on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our data indicated that OMT can significantly ameliorate UC through anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, down-regulating the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells via PI3K/AKT pathway. This study reveals that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is a potential mechanism of OMT-induced UC remission and suggests that OMT is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of UC.
研究领域:
药理学
·
免疫学
·
胃肠病学
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PubMed
高影响因子
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
·
2026
·
IF 10.4
Jiang Feng,Fu Huang-xi,Wang Lan,Pan Ze-zheng,Jiang Yan-qi,Liu Ning,Chen Xue-qin,Gao Zi-zheng,Wu Wen-tong,Yan Hao,Yang Xiao-chun,Yang Bo,He Qiao-jun,Luo Pei-hua,Xu Zhi-fei
Ceritinib, an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, is associated with cardiovascular adverse events, yet the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that ceritinib impairs left ventricular systolic function in mice and induces cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and identify AKT (Ser473) suppression as a key initiating event. Loss of AKT activity is paralleled by reduced phosphorylation of mTOR (Ser2448) and ULK1 (Ser757), consistent with enhanced autophagy initiation. Concurrently, loss of inhibitory GSK3β (Ser9) phosphorylation correlates with impaired lysosomal function, reflected by disrupted cathepsin D maturation and reduced lysosomal acidification. This mismatch between enhanced autophagy initiation and impaired lysosomal clearance impairs autophagic flux despite preserved autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and causes mitochondrial damage, evidenced by reduced TOMM20 and HSP60 expression and membrane potential loss. Transcriptomic and functional analyses identify AKT2 as a particularly vulnerable isoform in this network. Metformin co-treatment preserves cardiac function and attenuates apoptosis. Mechanistically, metformin increases AMPK (Thr172) phosphorylation and reduces TFEB (Ser122) phosphorylation, restores CTSD maturation, and decreases LC3-II accumulation. These protective effects occur without reversing the suppressed AKT (Ser473) or GSK3β (Ser9) phosphorylation. Together, these findings establish that AKT suppression drives ceritinib cardiotoxicity through autophagic flux impairment and mitochondrial injury, and position AMPK-driven, TFEB-associated lysosomal restoration as a mechanism-based cardioprotective strategy independent of AKT recovery.
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PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
·
2026
·
IF 8.1
Pengru Wang,Xin Hu,Haiyan Pu,Junjie Bai,Lei Sun,Tingting Ma,Yichao Du,Wenguang Fu
Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury complicates transplantation, resection, and shock, yet lacks effective pharmacotherapy. We evaluated Leonurine (SCM-198) as a hepatoprotective agent. Male C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with SCM-198 for 7 days, then subjected to hepatic I/R and sampled at the reperfusion endpoint. AML12 cells were pretreated with SCM-198 for 24 h, exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), and immediately analyzed. Injury, inflammation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle changes were assessed using assay kits, histology, IHC, WB, and qPCR; network pharmacology, docking, and MD simulations explored potential targets. SCM-198 sharply cut hepatic necrosis and serum transaminases, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced leukocyte infiltration, blocked apoptosis and restored cyclin D1/cyclin E1. In hypoxia-reoxygenation AML12 cells, it improved viability, limited oxidative stress and mirrored the anti-apoptotic effects. Network and dynamic simulation identified stable phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) binding, and the compound raised PI3K, protein kinase B and mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation; the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished these changes. SCM-198 protects liver I/R by curbing inflammation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle arrest via PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation, offering a promising therapeutic candidate.
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BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
·
2026
·
IF 2.5
Yaling Cheng,Chen Liang,Zhou Qi,Binbin Zhang,Shiwen Guo
Glioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor and is characterized by poor prognosis and high invasiveness. Currently, treatment options remain limited. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of diverse natural compounds in cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effects of scutellarein on gliomas and its underlying mechanisms. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and western blotting were conducted to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The in vivo effect of scutellarein was evaluated using an intracranial xenograft model. Our results showed that scutellarein significantly inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells. Furthermore, scutellarein induced glioma cell apoptosis by triggering oxidative stress. This was evidenced by the elevation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, alongside the suppression of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Network pharmacology and transcriptomic analyses suggested that scutellarein may target SRC, EGFR, and AKT1; and exerts its effects through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which was subsequently verified by further experiments. Rescue experiments showed that activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway markedly reversed scutellarein-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. In an intracranial xenograft model, mice treated with scutellarein survived significantly longer. Moreover, no significant histological differences were observed in the hearts, lungs, spleens, livers, and kidneys of treated mice compared with the controls. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that scutellarein inhibits glioma proliferation, invasion, and migration by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inducing oxidative stress, showing promising therapeutic potential.
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HEREDITAS
·
2026
·Vol. 163
·期 1
·43
·
IF 2.6
Wu Ting,Jiang Jingwen,Zhang Yunfang,Zhang Hui,Fu Mingquan,Chen Fazhang,Fan Yilin,Yuan Huan,Wang Kaining
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide and is associated with high recurrence and poor survival outcomes, particularly in its advanced stages. Zi-Shen-Gu-Sui Decoction (ZSGSD), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, has been clinically applied in CRC treatment and postoperative rehabilitation; however, its pharmacological mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the anti-CRC efficacy and molecular mechanisms of ZSGSD, with particular attention to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis. Methods UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS was utilized to characterize the chemical profile of ZSGSD. Network pharmacology was employed to identify key signaling pathways and bioactive compounds, and molecular docking was conducted to predict potential interactions between major constituents and PI3K/AKT/mTOR proteins. A xenograft mouse model of CRC was established to evaluate tumor suppression. Histological staining was used to assess apoptosis, and the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was quantified via RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays. Results Sixty compounds were identified in ZSGSD, with flavonoids comprising approximately 50%. Network analysis suggested potential involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and docking results indicated favorable predicted binding between key flavonoids (including Genistein, Apigenin, and Naringenin) and proteins within this pathway. In vivo, ZSGSD treatment suppressed tumor growth in a dose-responsive fashion, with tumor inhibition rates ranging from 30.83% to 75.23% ( p < 0.05). Histological evaluations revealed reduced nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios and enhanced apoptotic activity, as confirmed by TUNEL staining ( p < 0.05). Molecular analyses showed a dose-related reduction in PI3K, AKT, and mTOR expression at the transcript and protein levels, indicating that this pathway may be modulated during ZSGSD treatment ( p < 0.05). Conclusion ZSGSD demonstrates notable tumor-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects in a CRC xenograft model. These outcomes appear to be associated with modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, although further functional studies are required to confirm pathway specificity and clarify causal mechanisms.
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CELLULAR SIGNALLING
·
2025
·
IF 3.7
Shijie Fan,Ying Zhao,Luyao Li,Qingqing Zhao,Ziming Fang,Diyun Xu,Jingjing Shao,Yunjie Zhao,Guang Liang,Xuelin He,Hong Zhu,Yi Wang
Hypertensive renal disease (HRD) is a significant driver of end-stage renal disease. Discovering novel therapeutic targets for HRD is essential for its prevention and treatment. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) have shown increasing significance in renal diseases. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of the DUB, Josephin domain-containing protein 2 (JOSD2), in HRD. HRD was induced in wild-type or Josd2 knockout mice via a 4-week chronic infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II). We found that deficiency of JOSD2 aggravated renal injury, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibrosis in HRD mice. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis indicated that JOSD2 is mainly expressed in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) of proximal tubules. Notably, the specific overexpression of JOSD2 in renal TECs alleviated the detrimental effects in Ang II-induced HRD mice. Mechanistically, through mass spectrometry combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis, we considered protein kinase B (AKT) as a potential substrate of JOSD2. JOSD2 deubiquitinated the K63-linked ubiquitin chain of AKT via its active site H125 and then enhanced p62-mediated autophagic degradation of AKT. This process reduced the AKT level in TECs, thereby ultimately reducing renal EMT and fibrosis. Our study elucidates the role of the JOSD2-AKT axis in HRD and suggests that JOSD2 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for HRD.
研究领域:
肾脏病学
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分子生物学
·
细胞信号传导
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泛素-蛋白酶体系统
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高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
·
2023
·Vol. 24
·期 7
·6364
·
IF 5.6
Chang Wang,Chang Liu,Chen Liang,Xingyuan Qu,Xinying Zou,Siyu Du,Qian Zhang,Lei Wang
Periodontitis is a long-term inflammatory illness and a leading contributor to tooth loss in humans. Due to the influence of the anatomic parameters of teeth, such as root bifurcation lesions and the depth of the periodontal pocket, basic periodontal treatment on its own often does not completely obliterate flora microorganisms. As a consequence, topical medication has become a significant supplement in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Berberine (BBR) has various pharmacological effects, such as hypoglycemic, antitumor, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, etc. The target of our project is to develop a safe and non-toxic carrier that can effectively release berberine, which can significantly reduce periodontal tissue inflammation, and to investigate whether berberine thermosensitive hydrogel can exert anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects by modulating phosphatifylinositol-3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Consequently, firstly berberine temperature-sensitive hydrogel was prepared, and its characterizations showed that the mixed solution gelated within 3 min under 37 °C with a hole diameter of 10–130 µm, and the accumulation of berberine release amounted to 89.99% at 21 days. CCK-8 and live-dead cell staining results indicated that this hydrogel was not biotoxic, and it is also presumed that the optimum concentration of berberine is 5 µM, which was selected for subsequent experiments. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB)results demonstrated that inflammatory factors, as well as protein levels, were significantly reduced in the berberine-loaded hydrogel group, and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) could enhance this effect (p< 0.05). In the berberine-loaded hydrogel group, osteogenesis-related factor levels and protein profiles were visibly increased, along with an increase in alkaline phosphatase expression, which was inhibited by LY294002 (p< 0.05). Therefore, berberine thermosensitive hydrogel may be an effective treatment for periodontitis, and it may exert anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Keywords:periodontitis;berberine;thermosensitive hydrogel;anti-inflammatory;osteogenesis
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PHYTOMEDICINE
·
2022
·
IF 6.656
Songjun Liu,Xinran Cao,Tao Zhang,Chenyang Zhang,Jiao Qu,Yang Sun,Wen Lv,Fan Qu
Background Paeonol (Pae) is one of the active ingredients from components of Guizhi Fuling Capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for the treatment of women's diseases, which exhibits various biological and pharmacological activities. Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the role of Pae in protecting against endometrial hyperplasia (EH). Methods CCK-8 assay was performed to detect the effect of Pae on cell proliferation. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to evaluate uterine tissue structure. A network pharmacology study was performed to search the disease targets. Single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed with uterine tissues from 3 healthy donors and 3 EH patients on 10X Genomics platform. Changes in lipid peroxidation were detected by the MDA reaction. IHC assay, Western blot, immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR were used to study the effects of estradiol and Pae on the expression levels of GPX4, PI3K, AKT, p-PI3K, p-AKT in mice. Results Pae treatment resulted in a decrease in cell viability of endometrial epithelial cells. Loss of uterus weight and morphology changes were observed in mice. In addition, Fe iron concentration and MDA levels increased, while the expression of GPX4, p-PI3K and p-AKT diminished. Conclusions Pae exhibited obvious alleviative activity in estradiol-induced mice via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-regulated ferroptosis.
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OncoTargets and Therapy
·
2022
·
IF 4.345
Rong Wang,Danni Deng,Naiyuan Shao,Yuan Xu,Lian Xue,Ya Peng,Yatian Liu,Feng Zhi
Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system and is associated with a very poor prognosis. No further improvements in outcomes have been reported since radiotherapy-temozolomide therapy was introduced. Therefore, developing new agents to treat GBM is important.Aim This study aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of evodiamine (Evo) on GBM cells, and to determine the underlying mechanisms involved.Results According to MTT assay results, Evo significantly inhibited the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that Evo induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, Evo induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption. Finally, Evo induced apoptosis in cancer cells by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling and inducing MAPK phosphorylation (p38 and JNK, but not ERK) to regulate apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, Cytochrome c, Caspase-3, and PARP).Conclusion In summary, Evo inhibits cell proliferation by inducing cellular apoptosis via suppressing PI3K/AKT and activating MAPK in GBM; these results indicate that Evo may be regarded as a new approach for GBM treatment.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
·
2022
·Vol. 26
·期 14
·3995-4006
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IF 5.295
Cong Zhang,Yuzhen Lu,Yingying Song,Liang Chen,Junjie Hu,Yan Meng,Xin Chen,Shan Li,Guohua Zheng,Zhenpeng Qiu
Mounting evidence indicates that hepatic de novo lipogenesis is a common abnormality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. We investigated whether a selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, alleviates hepatic steatosis by targeting an Akt-driven lipogenic pathway. We estimated the efficacy of celecoxib in a novel Akt-driven NAFLD mouse model established via hydrodynamic transfection of activated forms of AKT and in fructose-fed NAFLD mice that exhibited increased insulin-independent hepatic lipogenesis. AKT-transfected and insulin-stimulated human hepatoma cells were used for the in vitro experiments. Haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed for mechanistic studies. The results revealed that celecoxib ameliorated hepatic steatosis in the AKT-triggered NAFLD mice. Mechanistically, celecoxib effectively suppressed AKT/mTORC1 signalling and its downstream lipogenic cascade in the Akt-driven NAFLD mice and in vitro. Furthermore, celecoxib had limited efficacy in alleviating hepatic lipid accumulation and showed no influence on lipogenic proteins associated with hepatic lipogenesis in fructose-administered mice. This study suggests that celecoxib may be favourable for the treatment of NAFLD, especially in the subset with Akt-triggered hepatic lipogenesis.
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JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
·
2021
·Vol. 25
·期 7
·3361-3370
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IF 5.31
Zheng Chen,Jianguo Zhang,Chenyang Dong,Dongsheng Li,Yuehan Yin,Wenhai Yu,Yuezhi Chen
In this study, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of TNFAIP8 in gastric cancer (GC). The expression of TNFAIP8 was detected by RT-PCR or western blot . TNFAIP8 was silenced or overexpressed in two cell lines. CCK-8 assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to analyse cell viability, cell invasion capability and apoptosis, respectively. Nude mice were inoculated with TNFAIP8 silencing or overexpressing cells to form transplanted tumours. HE staining and immunohistochemistry assay were performed to assess histopathological changes in tumours. We found that the mRNA and protein expression of TNFAIP8 were significantly up-regulated in GC tumour tissues and cells compared with the normal counterparts. Overexpression of TNFAIP8 in GC cells increased cell viability, decreased apoptosis and promoted the cell migration ability. Meanwhile, increased expression of TNFAIP8 promoted autophagy, while inhibiting mTOR-Akt-ULK1 signal pathway. In conclusions, this study presents data that TNFAIP8 inhibits GC cells presumably by down-regulating mTOR-Akt-ULK1 signal pathway and activating autophagy signal.
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EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
·
2020
·Vol. 105
·期 11
·1918-1927
·
IF 2.431
Manfeng Wang,Xiaowei Wu,Lu Gan,Zongyan Teng,Haijin Zhang,Yina Zhang
New Findings What is the central question of this study? Does Dnmt3a play a crucial role in regulating diabetic muscle atrophy? What is the main finding and its importance? Muscle atrophy is one of the major long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism involved. In this paper, we demonstrated that Dnmt3a overexpression effectively improves the diabetic muscle health in mice and documented the underlying mechanisms. DNMT3A might become a promising target to prevent muscle atrophy in patients with diabetes. Muscle atrophy is one of the major long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, which greatly affects the mobility of patients. Epigenetic processes mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play crucial roles in the locomotor system, but little is known about the functions of DNMTs in diabetic muscle atrophy. Here, we investigated the function of Dnmt3a in diabetic muscle atrophy and explored the mechanisms involved. Adeno-associated virus AAV2 overexpressing Dnmt3a or its vector control was injected into the tibialis anterior muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Muscle mass and muscle cross-sectional area were used to evaluate muscle atrophy. In vitro , adeno-associated virus AAV2 overexpressing Dnmt3a or its vector control was transfected into C2C12 myoblasts. Horse serum was used to induce differentiation and palmitate to stimulate the C2C12 myoblasts. The expressions of myogenic regulatory factors were examined by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Overexpression of Dnmt3a attenuated muscle atrophy in diabetic mice and promoted myotube formation of C2C12 myoblasts. Overexpression of Dnmt3a restored the expressions of myogenic regulatory factors atrogin-1, MuRF1, Pax7, Myod1 and myogenin, both in vivo and in vitro . Moreover, overexpression of Dnmt3a activated the phosphorylation of Akt by inhibiting the activation of Pten. This study demonstrates that overexpression of Dnmt3a prevents diabetic muscle atrophy by modulating the Pten/Akt pathway.
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