FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
·
2026
·
IF 8
Rucui Yu,Yan Zhang,Ruiying Wu,Jingwei Xu
Objective Mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated cell death are key drivers of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression. This study aimed to construct CD44-targeted chitosan (Cs) nanoparticles encapsulating ginsenoside Rg1 (CD44-Cs@Rg1) for targeted delivery, and to evaluate their ability to regulate autophagy, pyroptosis, and mitochondrial function in DKD. Methods CD44-Cs@Rg1 nanoparticles were synthesized using a covalent modification strategy. Their targeting uptake, effects on GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, autophagic flux, and energy metabolism were systematically evaluated in renal tubular epithelial cells under high-glucose (HG) conditions and in DKD mouse models. Mitochondrial function was assessed by Western blotting, immunostaining, MitoSOX, JC-1, and ATP assays. Transcriptomic profiling and pharmacological interventions were applied to elucidate the involvement of the AMPK/mTOR signaling axis. Results CD44-Cs@Rg1 nanoparticles were efficiently internalized by renal tubular epithelial cells, significantly reducing pyroptosis while restoring autophagic flux through AMPK activation and mTOR inhibition. These effects improved mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and enhanced ATP production. In vivo , CD44-Cs@Rg1 treatment markedly ameliorated renal dysfunction and histopathological injury in DKD mice. Transcriptomic and protein-level analyses consistently revealed enrichment of pathways related to AMPK signaling, autophagy, and energy metabolism. Conclusion CD44-targeted Cs nanoparticles enable precise delivery of ginsenoside Rg1 to renal tubular cells in DKD, restoring mitochondrial homeostasis and regulating autophagy–pyroptosis balance via the AMPK/mTOR axis. This nanotherapeutic platform demonstrates strong translational potential for DKD treatment.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
·
2020
·Vol. 393
·期 9
·1739-1752
·
IF 2.05
Song Lin,Yao Lifen,Zhang Limei,Piao Zhongyuan,Lu Yichan
Autophagy, a lysosomal degradative pathway, is crucial for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Schizandrol A (SchA) shows multiple pharmacological effects. However, the potential effects and mechanisms of SchA on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced autophagy remain unclear. In this study, differentiated SH-SY5Y cells or primary hippocampal neurons were pretreated with SchA (2 μg/ml) for 1 h before subjected to Aβ 1–42 (10 μM) for 24 h to test its effects on cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. Then an mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) and a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) were employed to explore the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The results showed that SchA significantly inhibited Aβ 1–42 -triggered reduction of viable cells, increases of apoptotic cell number and pro-apoptotic protein expressions, as well as alterations of oxidative stress markers. In addition, the increases of LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1 and decrease of p62 were suppressed by SchA. At the molecular level, we found that the inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was ameliorated by SchA. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway deteriorated the protective effects of SchA against Aβ 1–42 -induced autophagy activation, cell death, and apoptosis. In conclusion, we demonstrate that SchA attenuates Aβ 1–42 -induced autophagy through activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. SchA may be a novel drug for the prevention and treatment of AD.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
·
2019
·
IF 3.17
Jihang Dai,Yu Sun,Duoyun Chen,Yaxin Zhang,Lianqi Yan,Xiaolei Li,Jingcheng Wang
Fibroblasts excessive proliferation was considered as a decisive reason for epidural fibrosis , which was known as a serious complication of lumbar laminectomy. As a traditional Chinese medicine , triptolide (TP) was used to be proved effective in preventing several fibrosis scar formation diseases. However, little is known about the effect of TP on preventing epidural fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Here, we performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to detect the possible mechanism of TP in preventing epidural fibrosis. In vitro, the effect of TP on impacting fibroblasts proliferation activities was detected by CCK-8, cell cycle assay and EdU incorporation assay. Also, the expressions of cell proliferation protein markers and the expressions of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR were detect by Western blot . Besides, the effect of TP on inducing fibroblast apoptosis and autophagy was tested by Western blots, flow cytometry, TUNEL staining , Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis and LC3 immunofluorescent staining. The results suggested that TP could suppress the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Meanwhile, TP could inhibit fibroblast proliferation and induce fibroblast apoptosis as well as autophagy, which was known as two cellular self-destructions. Furthermore, we speculated the possible molecular pathway, through which that TP could inhibit fibroblast proliferation, induce fibroblast apoptosis and autophagy. We used PI3-kinase activator (740Y-P) to activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. Activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway increase the proliferation of fibroblasts and suppressed the autophagy and apoptosis induced by TP. In vivo, we built epidural fibrosis models in rats and locally applied TP of various concentrations. Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome were used to detect the effect of TP on reducing epidural fibrosis. And the results showed that TP could significantly reduce the surgery-induced epidural fibrosis. In conclusion, the results above shown that TP could reduce epidural fibrosis formation, and the potential mechanism might through inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and stimulating apoptosis and autophagy via suppressing PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. It might provide a novel thought for reducing surgery-induced epidural fibrosis.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Food Bioscience
·
2025
·
IF 5.9
Lijiao Zhao,Heyun Zhu,Haoye Li,Shuaihao Guo,Jingchun Wang,Zhaoxin Tang,Jianzhao Liao,Jianying Guo
Nano-copper (nanoCu), a nanoscale form of copper (Cu), has been widely applied in the animal husbandry industry. However, it is of great concern that the Cu exposure to humans and animals can cause toxic damage to multiple organs. Hesperidin (Hes), a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, has shown mitigating effects on various organ damages. In our study, we aimed to investigate the toxic effects of nanoCu exposure on the kidneys of chickens and the therapeutic efficacy of Hes in nanoCu-induced renal injury. Our results indicated that Hes could alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) caused by nanoCu exposure. Intriguingly, nanoCu significantly disrupted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, which manifested as increased levels of key proteins such as GRP78, PERK, and CHOP, as well as elevated H 2 O 2 levels. But Hes treatment exhibited an opposite trend. Furthermore, nanoCu significantly induced autophagy in renal cells, which was accompanied by the activation of the AMPK-AKT/mTOR pathway and a concurrent increase in the protein levels of ATG5, Beclin 1, LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ, and ULK1, along with a decrease in the level of p62. However, it can be reversed by Hes treatment. These findings suggest that Hes could mitigate ER homeostasis disruption and autophagy caused by nanoCu exposure, providing new insights into the pharmacological treatment of Hes in related health issues.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
FEBS Open Bio
·
2024
·
IF 2.8
Linqian Chen,Meifeng Chen,Yan Xie,Yuyan Zhang,Shutian Mo,Yongfei He,Tianyi Liang,Yuan Liao,Renbin Huang,Guodong Huang,Chuangye Han,Thi Thai Hoa Pham
Several studies have suggested a potential antitumor effect of 2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD). To further understand the mechanism of action of this compound, we investigated its effect on the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/serine–threonine kinase (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. We show that DMDD application significantly inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and ER-α positive MCF-7. Furthermore, DMDD application resulted in increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptosis and autophagy, whereas it downregulated the expression of PI3K, Akt and mTOR mRNA and proteins, and increased the expression of LC3II/I and p62 proteins. In a mouse breast cancer xenograft model, DMDD inhibited tumor growth. Expression analyses suggest that ROS levels were higher in DMDD treated tumor tissues, whereas immunohistochemical analyses suggest that apoptotic cells were more prevalent in the DMDD treated group compared to the control group. Taken together, our results suggest that the molecular mechanism of action of DMDD may involve the enhancement of breast cancer autophagy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by mediating ROS expression.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
American Journal of Cancer Research
·
2022
·
IF 5.942
Guangyu Cheng,Lin Li,Qingjie Li,Shulin Lian,Hongbo Chu,Yunlu Ding,Chikun Li,Yan Leng
Multi-drug resistance remains a critical issue in cancer treatment that hinders the effective use of chemotherapeutic drugs. The active components of traditional Chinese medicine have been applied as adjuvants to accentuate the anticancer properties of conventional drugs such as cisplatin. However, their application requires further validation and optimization. This study explored the anticancer activity of β-elemene, a natural component of traditional Chinese medical formulations. The effect of β-elemene on the anticancer properties of cisplatin was evaluated in A549 and NCI-H1650 lung cancer cells. Cell apoptosis, stem-like properties, glucose metabolism, multi-drug resistance, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation were assessed via flow cytometry, tumorsphere formation, and western blotting. The target genes of β-elemene were predicted using bioinformatics tools and validated in both cell lines. A xenograft model of lung cancer was established in nude mice to evaluate the combined effects of β-elemene and cisplatin in vivo . We found that β-elemene acted synergistically with cisplatin against non-small cell lung cancer cells by promoting apoptosis and impairing glucose metabolism, multi-drug resistance, and stemness maintenance. These effects were mediated by the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that RB1 and TP53 are common target genes associated with lung cancer and β-elemene. The anti-tumorigenic properties of β-elemene were confirmed in vivo , wherein β-elemene, along with cisplatin, significantly suppressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of non-small cell lung cancer. As such, β-elemene acted as an inhibitor of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and enhanced the anticancer effect of cisplatin by targeting tumor metabolism, chemoresistance, and stem-like behavior. Thus, β-elemene is an effective anticancer adjuvant agent with potential clinical applications.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
STEROIDS
·
2020
·
IF 1.948
Jingwen Xu,Mingmei Zhang,Xiaoying Lin,Yihai Wang,Xiangjiu He
Allium chinense , as a side dish on Asian table, is often used in folk medicine for its health benefits. (25R)-5α-spirostan-3β-yl-3-O-acetyl-O-β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β- d -galactopyranoside (A-24) is a bioactive steroidal saponin isolated from Allium chinense . Previously, we have shown that A-24 has cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, but not on normal cells. To further explore the underlying mechanisms, in this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of A-24 in human gastric cancer cell lines in terms of cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, induction of apoptosis/autophagy, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. A-24 showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity in SGC-7901 and AGS cell lines, it induced intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis as well as autophagy, G2/M phase arrest and modulation of cyclinB1, p-cdc2, p-wee1 and p-Histone H3 expression. Furthermore, A-24 downregulated the phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 and mTOR at Ser2448 in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and its downstream substrates p-p70S6K and p-4EBP1 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the pre-treatment of tumor cells with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and LY294002 increased A-24-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these findings highlight the significance of downregulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in A-24-induced apoptosis and autophagy, and the potential application of A-24 as a novel candidate in the treatment of human gastric adenocarcinoma.
研究领域:
药理学
·
肿瘤学
·
细胞生物学
·
分子生物学
·
生物化学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CURRENT CANCER DRUG TARGETS
·
2022
·Vol. 22
·期 1
·86-95
·
IF 2.907
Yiyan SongYang,Yang Songyisha,Li Dejia,Li Wen
Background: Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases and resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have demonstrated that 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (vitamin D) exhibited
anti-cancer activity against breast and prostate cancer. Objectives: The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of vitamin D on NSCLC and its underlying mechanism. Methods: The effects of vitamin D on stemness maintenance and the Warburg effect in NSCLC cells were
investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Results and Discussion: In vitro experiments revealed that vitamin D inhibited glycolysis and stemness maintenance in A549 and NCI-H1975 cells. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that vitamin D attenuated the expression of metabolism-related
enzymes associated with the Warburg effect (GLUT1, LDHA, HK2, and PKM2). In addition, vitamin D down-regulated the expression of stemness-related genes (Oct-4, SOX-2, and Nanog) and the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that vitamin D suppresses
the Warburg effect and stemness maintenance in NSCLC cells via the inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, thereby inhibiting the progression of NSCLC. The current study indicates that vitamin D is a potential candidate in therapeutic strategies against NSCLC.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
分子生物学
·
癌症研究
·
细胞生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Journal of Functional Foods
·
2026
·
IF 3.9
Yifan Zheng,Kunying Ding,Haojie Jin,Zhaorong Wang,Liujie Zheng,Zhengwei Fu,Yinhua Ni
Cellular senescence is a core hallmark of aging and a major risk factor for most chronic diseases. Natural products targeting senescent cells have garnered increasing attention for anti-senescence potential in aging-related disease intervention. Previous studies revealed that hydrolyzed chicken extract (HCE) exerts neuroprotective effects, but its role in senescent cell clearance and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Here, we investigated the anti-senescent effects and mechanisms of HCE in D-galactose-induced senescent HT-22 hippocampal neurons, compared with the traditional essence of chicken (EC). HCE significantly enhanced cellular antioxidant capacity, reduced SA-β-gal positivity, restored cell cycle progression, inhibited senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) secretion, and promoted autophagic flux, with a slightly stronger efficacy than EC. We further identified cyclo (Val-Pro), cyclo (His-Pro), and cyclo(Gly-Pro) as bioactive components, with cyclo(His-Pro) showing the strongest potency. Mechanistically, HCE and these cyclopeptides exerted effects via SIRT1/AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy, which was fully abolished by SIRT1 knockdown or targeted pathway inhibition.
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 4.6
Zhihui Jiang,Yufei Du,Yilin Zhu,Jingyan Wu,Shengming Ma,Shaoting Weng,Kunpeng Zhang
Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), a widespread environmental pollutant, poses serious risks to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the mechanisms of DMP-induced oxidative stress and autophagy in zebrafish gill tissues, and evaluated the protective effect of 1,8-cineole. Zebrafish models were established for DMP exposure alone, 1,8-cineole treatment alone, and combined exposure. Using histopathology, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence staining, antioxidant enzyme activity assays, real-time quantitative PCR, and Western blot, we systematically analyzed the impacts of DMP on gill morphology, oxidative stress levels, autophagy-related gene and protein expression, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Results revealed that DMP exposure significantly induced oxidative stress and autophagy in gill tissues and suppressed PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activity. In contrast, 1,8-cineole treatment effectively alleviated DMP-induced oxidative damage and autophagy activation, while partially restoring PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. This study is the first to demonstrate that 1,8-cineole mitigates DMP-induced autophagy injury in gills by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, offering a theoretical foundation and a potential green strategy for protecting aquatic organisms from phthalate toxicity.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Oncotarget
·
2017
·
IF 5.168
Ting Tao,Caimei He,Jun Deng,Yanjun Huang,Qiongli Su,Mei Peng,Meiling Yi,Kwame Oteng Darko,Hui Zou,Xiaoping Yang
Quercetin is a naturally existing compound and shows attractive anticancer properties for a variety of solid tumors including glioma, bladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, hematological malignancies and prostate carcinoma. However, these anticancer properties have not been clinically approved due to unclear mechanistic information and its low bioactivity. In our previous study, we elucidated that quercetin activates AMPK pathway which is the major mechanism for its unique anticancer effect in bladder cancer. In the present study, we are trying to enhance its bioactivity by chemical modification using fluorination approach to prepare novel chemical entities, based on the principle of intermediate derivative method (IDM). The compound we obtained is named 8-trifluoromethyl-3,5,7,3′,4′-O-pentamethyl- quercetin (TFQ), characterized by NMR spectra and mass spectrum (MS). The results from MTT and cologenic assay in two human and one murine bladder cancer cell lines showed that TFQ exhibits more potent inhibition on the three bladder cancer cell lines than quercetin (Que) although this enhanced effects is not very dramatic. Furthermore, we found that the survival of normal bladder cells PEBC was not significantly suppressed by TFQ compared with Que. Western blot analysis showed that TFQ possess more potent AMPK activation than Que. The downstream of AMPK was further examined by western blot. TFQ treatment is able to inactivate mTOR signaling pathway with the regulation of mTOR, 4EBP1 and P70S6K. These results demonstrated that the fluorinated quercetin derivative TFQ inhibits bladder cancer cell growth through the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Altogether, our findings suggest that TFQ could serve as a new potential therapeutic agent for bladder cancer more effective than Que.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
药理学
·
化学生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Agriculture-Basel
·
2022
·Vol. 12
·期 7
·988
·
IF 3.408
Yaojun Liu,Wenqiang Shen,Tao Liu,Rainer Mosenthin,Yinghui Bao,Peng Chen,Wenbo Hao,Lihong Zhao,Jianyun Zhang,Cheng Ji,Qiugang Ma
(1) Background: L-carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine), a natural dipeptide, exists at relatively high concentrations in skeletal muscles, and has been shown to protect cells from adverse conditions due to its antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-glycation, and buffering properties. Satellite cells (SCs), residing on the myofiber surface, are crucial for muscle post-growth and regeneration. However, the effects of L-carnosine on muscle development of pigs in vivo, on proliferation and growth of SCs in vitro, and the relationship between SCs and muscle development have not yet been investigated. (2) Methods: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dietary L-carnosine on growth performance andlongissimus dorsimuscle development of pigs in vivo, and to elaborate its molecular mechanisms in vitro using L-carnosine-treated SCs. (3) Results: It was shown that L-carnosine supplementation (0.2 and 2 mM) increased (p< 0.05) SC proliferation and cell percentage in the synthesis (S) phase and decreased cell percentage in the resting (G0)/first gap (G1)/phase. Moreover, average daily gain (ADG) of pigs fed diets containing 0.1% of L-carnosine was higher (p< 0.05) than that of pigs fed diets without L-carnosine, and thelongissimus dorsimuscle weight of pigs assigned to the L-carnosine treatments was 7.95% higher compared to control pigs. Both in thelongissimus dorsimuscle and cultured SCs of pigs, the Akt/mTOR/S6K signaling pathway was activated (p< 0.05), suggesting that L-carnosine improved muscle growth and SC proliferation of pigs. (4) Conclusions: Considering the important role of SCs in post-natal muscle growth, there is evidence that L-carnosine may improve muscle growth of pigs through promoting SC proliferation via activating the Akt/mTOR/S6K signaling pathway.Keywords:L-carnosine;satellite cells;proliferation;mTOR signaling pathway;muscle growth
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）