PHYTOMEDICINE
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2018
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IF 3.61
Zhisheng Xie,Lingjun Zhong,Yanrao Wu,Xiaomeng Wan,Hua Yang,Xiaojun Xu,Ping Li
Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the most serious complications of diabetes , is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality of end-stage renal disease. Our previous research found that carnosic acid (CA) or rosemary extract can effectively improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorder by inhibiting SREBPs . Purpose In this study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of CA on the DN. Methods The mice glomerular mesangial cells (mGMCs) were used to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects of CA under high glucose (HG) condition. Furthermore, db/db mice and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were used to investigate the effects of CA against DN in vivo . Results The results showed that CA activated Nrf2, inhibited NF-κB pathway and regulated related downstream genes in mGMC under HG condition. A 14-week treatment of mice with CA reduced water uptake and urine volume, attenuated diabetes-induced albuminuria , increased urine creatinine , and subsequently improved the glomerular sclerosis and mesangial expansion in db/db mice. Similarly, a 20-week oral administration of CA improved kidney damage in STZ-induced diabetic mice. In addition, CA inhibited the expression of profibrotic factors, such as TGF-β1, fibronectin and E-cadherin. Compared to irbesartan , CA exerted better glucose lowering effect, and in kidney, CA was more potent to reduce fibronectin and E-cadherin expression. In all the animal experiment, CA did not lead to abnormal damages to other tissues. Conclusion These findings suggest that CA is a safe compound which exerts the protective effects on diabetes-induced kidney complications.
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ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
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2015
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IF 2.084
Juanli Fu,Qiong Shi,Xiufang Song,Xiaomin Xia,Chuanyang Su,Zixuan Liu,Erqun Song,Yang Song
Tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ) is a joint metabolite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Previous studies have been reported that TCBQ contributes to acute hepatic damage due to its pro-oxidative nature. In the current study, TCBQ showed the highest capacity on the cytotoxicity, ROS formation and inflammatory cytokines release among four compounds, i.e., HCB, PCP, tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ, reduced form of TCBQ) and TCBQ, in PC 12 cells. Further mechanistic study illustrated TCBQ activates nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. The activation of NF-κB was identified by measuring the protein expressions of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase (IKK) α/β, p-IKKα/β, an inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) α, p-IκBα, NF-κB (p65) and p-p65. The translocation of NF-κB was assessed by Western blotting of p65 in nuclear/cytosolic fractions, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase reporter gene assay. In addition, TCBQ significantly induced protein and mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific NF-κB inhibitor inhibited these effects efficiently, further suggested TCBQ-induced inflammatory responses involve NF-κB signaling. Moreover, antioxidants, i.e., N-acetyl- l -cysteine (NAC), Vitamin E and curcumin, ameliorated TCBQ-induced ROS generation as well as the activation of NF-κB, which implied that ROS serve as the upstream molecule of NF-κB signaling. In summary, TCBQ exhibits a neurotoxic effect by inducing oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory responses via the activation of IKK/IκB/NF-κB pathway in PC12 cells.
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Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
·
2017
·Vol. 15
·期 1
·897-903
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IF 1.261
Jing Chen,Chenli Yang,Xiang Xu,Yonglin Yang,Bo Xu
The present study analyzed the change of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model. A sample of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly selected and divided into sham operation group (group S), control group (group C) and Chrysanthemum ester group (NF-κB inhibitor, group CE), each group consisted of 12 rats. The rat model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was established. The physiological indexes and neurological severity score of rats was recorded by a double-blind method. The cerebral infarction area was evaluated by triphenyltetrazole oxide (TTC) staining on brain slices. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining. Semi-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB. The neurological severity score of rats in group C and CE were found to be significantly lower than group S (P<0.01). The TTC staining results showed that group C and CE had different levels of cerebral infarction but the area of infarction in group CE was significantly lower than group C (P<0.01). In addition, the number of TUNEL positive cells in group CE was significantly lower than group C (P<0.01). Semi-quantitative PCR and westernblot analysis results showed that the expression of NF-κB and TLR4 of group S was significantly lower than that of group C and group CE (P<0.01), the relative expression of NF-κB and TLR4 of group CE was significantly lower than that of group C (P<0.01). Moreover, the expression of NF-κB p65/p50 of group CE and group C was significantly higher than that of group S (P<0.01). This study concludes that the focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats can cause brain damage and cell apoptosis. This effect might be associated to the increased expression of NF-κB and TLR4, and the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
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2017
·Vol. 14
·期 6
·5445-5451
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IF 1.261
Jianxin Zhang,Fengchun Wang,Huali Wang,Yanna Wang,Yan Wu,Hui Xu,Chen Su
Paeoniflorin (PAE), a principal bioactive component of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., appears to have antitumor properties. However, the pharmacological activity of PAE in endometrial cancer and the specific mechanisms have remained largely elusive. The present study aimed to determine the antitumor activity of PAE in the human endometrial cancer cell line RL95‑2 and explore the potential mechanisms. Cell proliferation was assessed to evaluate the antitumor effect of PAE towards RL95‑2 cells via a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. Protein expression was examined to investigate changes in the signaling pathways of p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor (NF)‑κB in RL95‑2 cells during PAE treatment by western blot analysis. The results revealed that PAE significantly and dose‑ and time‑dependently inhibited the proliferation of RL95‑2 cells. In addition, PAE activated MAPK signaling pathways (p38, JNK and ERK) and the NF‑κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, p38 MAPK and NF‑κB inhibitors (SB203580 and MG‑132, respectively) prevented PAE‑induced proliferative inhibition in RL95‑2 cells. However, ERK and JNK inhibitors (PD98059 and BI‑78D3, respectively) did not produce such an inhibition. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that PAE exerts its anti‑proliferative activity via activating p38 MAPK and NF‑κB signaling pathways in endometrial cancer cells, providing a potential new drug of choice for endometrial cancer therapy.
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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 4.7
Wenkai Nie,Xuan Zhao,Yan Zhang,Cheng Zeng,Huiwen Yang,Bing Liu
Objective Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disease that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol present in various dietary sources and plants, has been shown to reduce skin inflammation. However, its efficacy and mechanisms of action in AD have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of CGA on AD in mice and explored its mechanism. Methods To establish a BALB/c mouse model of AD induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CGA. The anti-inflammatory effects of CGA were assessed by measuring IL-1β and IL-6 levels in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt, Akt1, NF-κB, and IκB-α were analyzed using Western blotting. Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of CGA to Akt1. Results Topical application of CGA significantly reduced dermatitis scores, spleen index, epidermal thickness, mast cell infiltration, and skin fibrosis. CGA reversed DNCB-induced increases in IgE, histamine, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels. Western blot analysis showed that CGA inhibited the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vitro , CGA exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the Akt1/NF-κB pathway, and the Akt activator (SC79) can counteract this effect. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations suggest that CGA may inhibit Akt1 activity by interacting with specific residues (ALA-50, GLY-37, TYR-326, ASP-323). Conclusions CGA improves AD by inhibiting the Akt1/NF-κB pathway, suggesting its potential as a natural treatment for AD.
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Frontiers in Pharmacology
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2017
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IF 4.4
Liu Qing,Xiao Xu-Hui,Hu Liu-Bing,Jie Hui-Yang,Wang Ying,Ye Wen-Cai,Li Man-Mei,Liu Zhong
Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt (Ranunculaceae) (Di Wu in Chinese) is used to treat punch injuries and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our previous report has shown that crude triterpenoid saponins from Anemone flaccida exhibited anti-arthritic effects on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Furthermore, anhuienoside C (AC), a saponin compound isolated from A. flaccida, was observed to suppress the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we examined the effects of AC on the prevention and treatment of collagen-induced arthritis in a mouse model and evaluated the potential mechanisms involved. We observed that oral administration of AC significantly suppressed the paw swelling and arthritic score, decreased the body weight loss, and decreased the spleen index. Improvement in the disease severity was accompanied by the reduction of cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68)-positive cells in the ankle joint and inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the synovium of the joint. Mechanistic studies indicated that AC exerted its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 and by suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. AC also blocked the LPS-induced activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Additionally, the LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) was significantly suppressed by AC treatment, as indicated by down-regulation of TLR4 and inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and by activation and degradation of the inhibitor of kappa B. These findings indicated that AC has a great potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for human RA.
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Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
·
2025
·Vol. 20
·期 1
·1-20
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IF 2.8
Zhu Liang,Bi Yanchi,Liang Ting,Zhang Po,Xiao Xiao,Yu Tengbo
Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered an advancing chronic degenerative joint disease, leading to severe physical functional impairment of patients. Its development is closely related to increased inflammation and oxidative stress within the joint. Ginkgetin (GK), a natural non-toxic chemical, has proven anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects.Methods First, this study utilizes network pharmacology to explore the intrinsic connection between GK and OA. In vitro, SW1353 human cartilage cells were stimulated with Tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP), and different GK concentrations were pre-treated to evaluate its protective effects. GK's anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects were comprehensively assessed via MTT assay, western blot, cell immunofluorescence, ELISA, and transcriptome sequencing. Potential underlying mechanisms were also explored. In vivo, OA was induced in rats via anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and GK's impact on cartilage protection was further assessed via histological analysis and western blot.Results Network pharmacology has revealed that GK regulates OA via several key pathways, especially NF-κB, HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, and substances like reactive oxygen species. In vitro experiments showed GK effectively reverses oxidative stress damage from TBHP, inhibits inflammatory factor release, and protects Extracellular matrix (ECM) from degradation. These functions may be achieved via the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. In vivo experiments showed GK significantly reduced proteoglycan loss from ACLT and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and ADAMTS5 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5) production, effectively preventing cartilage degeneration in rats.Conclusion These findings suggest that GK has potential as a therapeutic agent for OA, offering new strategies and directions for OA treatment.
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JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
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2025
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IF 3.8
Jiajia Chen,Huanle Liu,Yanfang Fu,Xiaolan Chen,Shiqin Zhang,Yongqi Yang,Shengwen Li,Guixiang Wang,Tian Lan
Background Chronic liver inflammation is a major cause of death in patients with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which pose a serious health threat worldwide, and there is no effective anti-hepatic fibrosis drug. Kaempferol (KA), a flavonoid polyphenol extracted from many edible plants and traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activities and has an ameliorating effect on liver fibrosis or other fibroproliferative diseases. However, the specific regulatory mechanism of KA-reversed macrophage M1 polarization is still obscure. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of KA on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver fibrosis in mice through M1 polarization. Methods C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with CCl 4 twice weekly to induce liver fibrosis. Male mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5): the oil group, the CCl 4 group, the low-dose KA-treatment CCl 4 group (50 mg/kg/d KA), and the high-dose KA-treatment CCl 4 group (100 mg/kg/d KA). An equal amount of solvent was given to each group by intraperitoneal injection. Results The results indicated that KA decreased liver pathologic changes, hepatic macrophage recruitment, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Notably, it reduced the activation of M1-type macrophages in the liver. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines and genes associated with M1 macrophages, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), was also decreased. The core targets, signaling pathways, and possible mechanisms related to the M1 polarization of KA were analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Further analysis revealed that KA regulated MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Finally, the results indicated that KA regulates M1 macrophage activation by modulating the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Conclusions This study revealed that KA ameliorated liver injury, inflammation, and fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage M1 polarization through the MAPK/NF-ҡB signaling pathway, highlighting KA as a potential novel agent for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Surfaces and Interfaces
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2025
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IF 6.3
Guoxiang Chen,Heng Zheng,Zhenpeng Dai,Zhichao Liu,Yuanzheng Yang,Yanxue Wu,Weitong Cai,Jie Cui,Wei Su
Efficient and durable bifunctional electrocatalysts are crucial for water splitting, however, optimizing their electronic structures remains a significant challenge. In this study, a self-supported electrocatalyst (NiSe-NiP@NF) with a crystalline-amorphous coupled heterostructure was synthesized via stepwise electrodeposition. The crystalline NiSe phase enhances electron transport owing to its high conductivity and metallic properties, which facilitate efficient charge transfer during catalysis. Moreover, it facilitates water dissociation by providing a conductive pathway. The amorphous NiP phase, abundant in active sites, accelerates the adsorption and conversion of reaction intermediates (e.g., *OH and *OOH) during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The synergy between the crystalline and amorphous phases enhances the overall electrochemical performance. NiSe-NiP@NF exhibits overpotentials of 265 mV for OER and 106 mV for HER at 10 mA·cm⁻ 2 , demonstrating excellent stability (99.2 % retention after 70 hours at 15 mA·cm⁻ 2 ). These findings emphasize the critical role of crystalline-amorphous coupling in enhancing electrocatalytic performance for efficient energy conversion.
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RENAL FAILURE
·
2024
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IF 3
Danyang Jing,Jingfeng Liu,Da Qin,Jin Lin,Tian Li,Yu Li,Meili Duan
Acute kidney injury (AKI), a common complication of sepsis, might be caused by overactivated inflammation, mitochondrial damage, and oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms underlying sepsis-induced AKI (SAKI) have not been fully elucidated, and there is a lack of effective therapies for AKI. To this end, this study aimed to investigate whether obeticholic acid (OCA) has a renoprotective effect on SAKI and to explore its mechanism of action. Through bioinformatics analysis, our study confirmed that the mitochondria might be a critical target for the treatment of SAKI. Thus, a septic rat model was established by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) surgery. Our results showed an evoked inflammatory response via the NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in septic rats, which led to mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. OCA, an Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) agonist, has shown anti-inflammatory effects in numerous studies. However, the effects of OCA on SAKI remain unclear. In this study, we revealed that pretreatment with OCA can inhibit the inflammatory response by reducing the synthesis of proinflammatory factors (such as IL-1β and NLRP3) via blocking NF-κB and alleviating mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in the septic rat model. Overall, this study provides insight into the excessive inflammation-induced SAKI caused by mitochondrial damage and evidence for the potential use of OCA in SAKI treatment.
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Heliyon
·
2024
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IF 3.4
Bin Hu,Gongwen Du
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease characterized by progressive heterogeneous changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Osteoclast stimulating factor 1 (OSTF1) is a small intracellular protein involved in bone formation and bone resorption. However, to our best knowledge, its role in OA is still unclear. In this study, an OA rat model was established by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ALCT). OSTF1 was increased in the cartilage tissues of OA patients and OA rats. Next, the role of OSTF1 in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation was explored through loss of function assays. Strikingly, OSTF1 knockdown relieved IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, with decreased cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP levels. Besides, OSTF1 knockdown restrained IL-1β-induced inflammation and degradation of extracellular matrix of chondrocytes. Subsequently, the molecular mechanism of OSTF1 was explored. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the potential gene network map regulated by OSTF1 knockdown. Some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that OSTF1 knockdown inhibited IL-1β-activated the NF-κB signaling pathway. Ultimately, we analyzed the potential gene network map regulated by OSTF1 and its downstream NF-κB. Bioinformatics analysis showed that 18 DEGs in OSTF1-silenced chondrocytes overlapped with the NF-κB downstream targets. Collectively, our findings indicate that OSTF1 knockdown mitigates IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury via inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.
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DESALINATION
·
2024
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IF 8.3
Tong Wu,Liu-Kun Wu,Hai-Tao Xu,Zhen-Liang Xu,Yong-Jian Tang
The TFC RO/NF membranes are the predominant membranes applied in desalination , and heat curing is an essential step in its industrial production, which increases the polyamide cross-linking degree and facilitate packing but leads permeability decrease. Nevertheless, the mechanism of heat curing on TFC membranes permeation resistance changes is still ambiguous. Figuring it out will aid in crafting a more effective optimization strategy in high flux membrane preparation. Herein, we prepared a range of TFC RO/NF membranes with various monomer concentrations on different substrates and quantified the permeation resistance changes by a resistance-in-series model. For nascent TFC RO/NF membranes, the PA layer provided almost all permeation resistance. After heat curing, the substrate exhibited a marked increase in permeation resistance. The change in the permeation resistance composition was further exacerbated by the decrease in monomer concentration. For TFC NF membranes with heat curing, the proportion of substrate permeation resistance increased significantly, rising from 31.62 % to 75.05 %. This study made a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the permeation resistance in TFC RO/NF membranes caused by heat curing, enriched the insight into the impact of heat curing on TFC membranes, and helped to prepare TFC membranes with better desalination performance.
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