IMMUNOLOGY
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2026
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IF 5.4
Sisi Zhang,Zhou Jingxiang,Caixia Tan,Yuanyuan Xiao,Ju Zou,Biyue Tian,Anhua Wu,Chunhui Li
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a major cause of antibiotic-associated colitis and is characterized by excessive intestinal inflammation, epithelial barrier disruption and impaired mucosal repair. Although sodium butyrate (NaB), a microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acid, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and barrier-protective properties, the immunological mechanisms underlying its protective effects during CDI remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of NaB in regulating macrophage polarization and epithelial repair using murine CDI models, primary bone marrow-derived macrophages, THP-1-derived macrophages, Caco-2 epithelial cells and macrophage–epithelial co-culture systems. NaB treatment significantly alleviated CDI-associated weight loss, colonic shortening, histopathological injury and inflammatory cytokine production while restoring epithelial barrier integrity and tight junction protein expression. Mechanistically, NaB promoted macrophage polarization towards an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, characterized by increased CD206 and IL-10 expression and reduced CD86 and IL-1β expression. These immunomodulatory effects were accompanied by suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling in both colonic tissues and macrophages. Pharmacological inhibition and activation studies further supported the involvement of this pathway in NaB-mediated macrophage reprogramming. Importantly, conditioned medium from NaB-treated macrophages enhanced epithelial viability, migration and barrier-associated protein expression, whereas IL-10 neutralization partially abolished these protective effects, highlighting a critical role for macrophage–epithelial crosstalk. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that low-dose NaB protects against CDI-induced intestinal injury through coordinated regulation of macrophage polarization and epithelial barrier repair, at least in part via modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling. These results identify NaB as a promising host-directed therapeutic strategy for CDI and provide new insights into microbiota-derived metabolite–immune interactions during intestinal inflammation.
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KAOHSIUNG JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
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2026
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IF 3.1
Shan-Shan Wang,Hong-Cheng Wei,Lin Jiang,Yi-Sen Shao
Tongue squamous cell carcinoma, the most aggressive subtype of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which is associated with high mortality, frequent recurrence, and early lymph-node metastasis. Triptolide, a bioactive diterpenoid from Tripterygium wilfordii , exhibits broad anticancer activity. Although its inhibitory action on OSCC has been established, its specific molecular regulatory mechanisms in TSCC, a distinct and aggressive subtype, remain largely underexplored. The present study investigates the regulatory role of triptolide in the PI3K–AKT signaling pathway, which is a critical axis intimately linked to tumor survival and metastasis. A network-pharmacology workflow was used to intersect triptolide putative targets with TSCC-related genes. Core hubs were identified with Cytoscape; KEGG and GO analyses highlighted the PI3K–AKT axis as the top enriched pathway. Binding kinetics were quantified by molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Cellular assays (CCK-8, Transwell, wound-healing, Western blot and immunofluorescence) validated the predictions. We retrieved 389 common targets and shortlisted eight key nodes (JUN, MAPK1, MAPK3, AKT1, TP53, BCL2, STAT3, MYC). SPR revealed high-affinity binding of triptolide to AKT1 and PI3K. Functionally, triptolide dose-dependently suppressed TSCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, downregulated PI3K–AKT signaling proteins, and reduced the colocalization and phosphorylation levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT. This study is the first to demonstrate the pivotal role of the PI3K–AKT signaling pathway in mediating the antitumor effects of triptolide in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Our findings thereby provide a novel theoretical foundation for the development of traditional Chinese medicine-based therapeutic strategies targeting this malignancy.
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MATERIALS & DESIGN
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2026
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IF 8.2
Jiali Deng,Xiaoqiong Huang,Yang Yang,Linjuan Li,Jiaqi Shen,Wenyi Zeng,Xiaolin Yu,Feilong Deng,Ruogu Xu,Zhengchuan Zhang
Ti‑preconditioned exosomes suppress macrophage inflammation via autophagy activation. • Lyophilized exosome–loaded biomimetic periosteum was successfully constructed. • The delivery system promotes M2 macrophage polarization to facilitate angiogenic osteogenesis. Critical-sized bone defects remain a clinical challenge due to dysregulated inflammation that impairs angiogenesis. Here, we developed a cell-free biomaterial system consisting of a decellularized biomimetic periosteum (DBP) loaded with engineered exosomes derived from nanoporous titanium–preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells (Ti–Exos). We further demonstrated that Ti-Exos significantly attenuated LPS-induced macrophage inflammation by enhancing autophagy through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby promoting M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization and anti‑inflammatory cytokine secretion. The bilayer DBP scaffold enabled sustained release of Ti-Exos and mimicked key functions of natural periosteum. In a rat critical-sized calvarial defect model, DBP/Ti-Exos facilitated the early macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 phenotype, reduced inflammatory infiltration, stimulated angiogenesis, and ultimately enhanced the formation of mature and mineralized bone. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the engineered exosomes integrated within a biomimetic periosteum can synergistically orchestrate immunomodulation and angiogenesis, offering a promising cell–free therapeutic strategy for vascularized bone regeneration of critical-sized bone defects. This study introduces an engineered exosome–based cell–free strategy that orchestrates the local immune microenvironment to accelerate vascularized bone repair. Specifically, nanoporous Ti-preconditioned exosomes (Ti-Exos) were fabricated and proven to attenuate LPS-induced macrophage inflammation by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR to activate autophagy. Lyophilized Ti-Exos-loaded decellularized biomimetic periosteum (DBP/Ti-Exos) was constructed and exhibited uniform distribution of Ti-Exos. DBP/Ti-Exos was demonstrated to drive M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization, and promote angiogenic osteogenesis in rat calvarial defects. Download: Download high-res image (182KB) Download: Download full-size image
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Pharmaceuticals
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2026
·Vol. 19
·期 6
·965
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IF 5.7
Mei Mei,Huawei Sun,Kai Zhang,Feng Zhang,Shiqing Sun,Enbin Yu,Yu Zhang
Background:To investigate the protective effects ofPhellodendron amurenseRupr. polysaccharides (PAP), alkaloids, and flavonoids in alleviating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to elucidate the role of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway.Methods:Active components were extracted and quantified. In vitro, high-glucose (HG)-induced human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells were used to screen the optimal fraction via CCK-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL), and Western Blot (WB) assays. In vivo, a DKD rat model was established using 2% Streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-fat with high-sugar diet. Rats were treated with PAP and LY294002. Renal damage and signaling pathway proteins were evaluated using histological staining and WB.Results:Among the tested components, PAP conferred the most pronounced cytoprotection against HG-induced injury in HK-2 cells. PAP significantly reduced glomerular damage, collagen deposition, and glycogen accumulation in the kidneys of DKD rats. Mechanistically, PAP activated the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway, upregulating HO-1 and NQO1, while inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway and Bcl-2/Bax-mediated apoptosis. These protective effects were significantly attenuated by LY294002.Conclusions:Among the tested fractions under the present experimental conditions, PAP exhibited the most pronounced protective activity. These protective effects were partially mediated through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway, which enhanced antioxidant capacity while reducing fibrosis and apoptosis.
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CANCER LETTERS
·
2026
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IF 11.8
Huaning Li,Run Shi,Yapeng Gao,Xing Cheng,Zhichao Wang,Yu Gao,Zhumei Shi,Mengjie Guo,Yongping You,Xiefeng Wang
Meningioma is the most common central nervous system tumor and high-grade tumors frequently show progressive growth or recurrence, posing substantial therapeutic challenges. However, the lack of effective chemotherapy and targeted therapies contributes to poor prognoses in patients with high-grade disease. In this study, we evaluated KRT18 expression in meningiomas and examined its correlation with patient prognosis using RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. The oncogenic role of KRT18 in high-grade meningioma was further investigated using IOMM-Lee and CH157-MN cells, xenograft mouse models, and paraffin-embedded meningioma tissue sections. Finally, small-molecule inhibitors targeting KRT18-related mechanisms were explored. Analysis of clinical specimens across different meningioma grades demonstrated that KRT18 overexpression is associated with more advanced clinical features and poorer prognosis. Functional studies showed that KRT18 promotes meningioma cell proliferation and facilitates cell cycle progression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Mechanistically, KRT18 interacted with LDHA, an upstream regulator of PI3K/AKT signaling, and enhanced LDHA stability via inhibition of ubiquitination, which drives oncogenic growth by activating glycolysis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings were corroborated in a xenograft model. Finally, Fluvastatin was identified as a novel inhibitor that specifically targets the interaction between KRT18 and LDHA, thereby inhibiting meningioma proliferation by suppressing glycolysis and PI3K/AKT signaling. Collectively, these findings indicate that KRT18 serves as a potential diagnostic, prognostic, aggressiveness-related, and potential grading biomarker. It also functions as an oncogene by activating glycolysis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through interaction with LDHA. Additionally, Fluvastatin is identified as a candidate for drug repurposing in high-grade meningioma.
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TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY
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2026
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IF 3.6
Jingjing Chen,Bin Liu,Yuanyuan Li,Binwu Zhuang,Dong Su,Yunlong Sang,Zibo Dong,Hao Liu
Pyrazole permethrin (also known as pyraclostrobin, abbreviated as PP) is a widely used fungicide that is chemically stable and fat-soluble; however, due to its accumulation in the environment and bioaccumulation, it poses potential health risks.This study systematically elucidates PP-induced liver injury through a combination of network toxicology and in vitro/in vivo investigations. Network toxicology identified 328 potential targets and 12 core genes associated with PP-induced liver injury. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed pathway enrichment emphasizing biological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism. In vivo experiments in mice revealed that after 28 days of exposure, histopathological analysis showed minor local inflammatory cell infiltration and extensive hepatocyte necrosis and vacuolation in both low- and high-dose groups. High-dose PP significantly elevated serum transaminase (AST and ALT) activity. Biochemical analysis revealed that PP treatment reduced antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, T-AOC, GSH-Px) while increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, inducing oxidative stress. Additionally, PP exposure enhanced the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α). This indicates activation of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways: oxidative damage occurs via depletion of the antioxidant enzyme system, while inflammatory cascades are mediated through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling axis. This study reveals key molecular targets and pathways involved in PP-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting that subacute exposure risks should be fully considered when establishing safety standards for agricultural chemical use.
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高影响因子
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
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2026
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IF 2.5
Hai Huang,Liwei Guo,Hansong Sun,Yunhong Liu,Jun Zhang,Weijie Tang,Xiaodong Xia,Yu Wang,Ni Chen,Dong Lv,Jing Yang
Objective To investigate the mechanism of action of saikosaponin D (SSD) on bladder cancer (BCa) and evaluate its synergistic antitumor efficacy with the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine (GEM). Methods MTT, colony formation, Transwell, and scratch wound healing assays detected SSD's effects on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of RT112 and T24 cells. Specific inhibitors identified cell death mode. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry verified ferroptosis-related protein expression and oxidative stress. Network pharmacology predicted core pathways, validated by examining PI3K/AKT pathway activity. Animal models evaluated the synergistic effect of SSD and GEM. Results In vitro, SSD dose-dependently inhibited the BCa cells proliferation, invasion, and migration, and upregulating E-cadherin whilst downregulating N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail. The effects were blocked by the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1. Network pharmacology identified the PI3K/AKT pathway as a core target. Moreover, SSD regulated the GPX4/SLC7A11/ACSL4, suppressed PI3K/AKT phosphorylation, and triggered lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species accumulation, partially reversed by a PI3K-specific phosphopeptide agonist. In vivo, SSD inhibited tumor growth, and its combination with GEM showed superior efficacy. The combination therapy most effectively downregulated SLC7A11, GPX4, Vimentin, N-cadherin and Snail, while upregulating the ACSL4 and E-cadherin. Conclusion SSD inhibits the malignant phenotype of BCa by targeting PI3K/AKT to trigger ferroptosis. Its synergistic effect with GEM from the dual mechanisms of ferroptosis sensitization and epithelial-mesenchymal transition inhibition, providing an innovative combination strategy based on natural product active ingredients to overcome bladder cancer chemoresistance.
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Journal of Inflammation Research
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2025
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IF 4.1
Jing Ma,Lu Ding,Xiaoyu Zang,Yingying Yang,Wei Zhang,Xiangyan Li,Daqing Zhao,Zepeng Zhang,Zeyu Wang,Linhua Zhao,Xiaolin Tong
Purpose Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a severe interstitial lung disease currently lacking effective prevention strategies. Endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a novel mechanism for fibroblast production, is closely associated with PF. The precise mechanisms underlying the contribution of EndMT-derived fibroblasts to PF, however, remain unclear.Methods Using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics, we identified the key targets and pathways through which Qimai Feiluoping decoction (QM) combats PF. EndMT and autophagy proteins were quantified in bleomycin (BLM) -induced C57BL/6 mice, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and zebrafish using Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), Transwell migration assays, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing the targets and pathways through which QM mitigates PF.Results Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics suggest that QM combats PF by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Observations from the study indicated that QM was found to alleviate EndMT by restoring autophagy, primarily through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in both BLM-induced C57 mice and HUVECs. Supporting evidence from zebrafish models demonstrated that QM not only counteracts EndMT but also improves a range of vascular functional disorders and remodeling issues following EndMT.Conclusion Our research validates the active compounds, core targets, and signaling pathways through which QM counters PF, providing valuable insights for its therapeutic application in PF management.
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Translational Cancer Research
·
2025
·Vol. 14
·期 6
·3758
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IF 1.7
Shaojun Cai,Liyong Zhang,Tenghong Liu,Bo Wang,Shouyi Yan,Sisi Wang,Jiafan Yu,Sibin Wu,Siying Lin,Wenxin Zhao
Background Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but extremely aggressive type of thyroid cancer derived from follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Due to the rapid growth of neck masses in ATC patients, which can lead to asphyxia, multimodality therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, is essential in the treatment of ATC. Theaflavin (TF) has anti-cancer effects; however, no study has examined whether TF inhibits the malignant progression of ATC. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the effects of TF on ATC and to provide a preliminary exploration of its mechanism. Methods The effects of TF on the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) and proliferation of 8305C cells were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The effects of TF on the invasion and migration of 8305C cells were determined by transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Labeled 8305C cells were injected into the yolk sac of zebrafish, and the progression of the 8305C cells was observed in vivo . Fluorescence real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to detect the expression of proteins related to the lipid metabolism pathway and cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology was used to study the predicted mechanisms of the TF action on 8305C cells. Results The IC 50 of TF in the treatment of 8305C cells for 48 h was 21.79 µg/mL. TF inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the 8305C cells at a concentration of 1/2 IC 50 , and induced the apoptosis of the 8305C cells. TF also inhibited the proliferation of the 8305C cells in vivo . TF significantly increased the expression of the caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 proteins in vivo and in vitro , and significantly inhibited the expression of the survivin protein. TF also inhibited the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of SREBP1 and PPARD , and increased the mRNA expression of HNF4 . The network pharmacology results revealed that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is an important pathway by which TF acts on 8305C cells, and that TF was able to inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion, increase the apoptosis, inhibit the mRNA expression of SREBP1 , and increase the mRNA expression of HNF4 in the 8305C cells when the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was activated. Conclusions This study found that TF inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ATC 8305C cells, and induces 8305C cell apoptosis by regulating lipid metabolism via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2022
·
IF 5.988
Xujun You,Yongrong Wu,Qixin Li,Wen Sheng,Qing Zhou,Wei Fu
Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is an epithelial malignancy of the prostate that currently lacks effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can play an anticancer role through regulating the immune system, anti-tumor angiogenesis, regulating tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy dysfunction, and other mechanisms. This study attempted to explore the active ingredients and potential mechanism of action of the Astragalus–Scorpion (A–S) drug pair in PCa, in order to provide new insights into the treatment of PCa. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to analyze the A–S drug pair and PCa targets. Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the LncRNAs with significant differences in PCa. The expression of LC3 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation. The expressions of GDPD4-2, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AC144450.1","term_id":"29893803","term_text":"AC144450.1"}} AC144450.1 , LINC01513, AC004009.2, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL096869.1","term_id":"5565922","term_text":"AL096869.1"}} AL096869.1 , {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AP005210.1","term_id":"21039028","term_text":"AP005210.1"}} AP005210.1 , and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"BX119924.1","term_id":"27884222","term_text":"BX119924.1"}} BX119924.1 were detected by RT-qPCR. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy-related proteins were detected by western blot. LC-MS/MS was used to identify the active components of Astragalus and Scorpion. Results: A–S drug pair and PCa have a total of 163 targets, which were mainly related to the prostate cancer and PI3K/AKT pathways. A–S drug pair inhibited the formation of PCa, promoted the expression of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins, and inhibited the expression of P62 and PI3K–AKT pathway proteins in PCa mice. Astragaloside IV and polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) were identified as the main active components of the A–S drug pair. GDPD4-2 was involved in the treatment of PCa by Astragaloside IV-PESV. Silencing GDPD4-2 reversed the therapeutic effects of Astragaloside IV-PESV by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: Astragaloside IV-PESV is the main active components of A–S drug pair treated PCa by regulating the GDPD4-2/PI3K–AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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中医
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分子生物学
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生物化学
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Phytochemistry Letters
·
2021
·
IF 1.679
Yan Zhao,Yijia Zheng,Xin Chen,Rui Du,Zhaowei Yan
Malignant tumors are increasing the human mortality rate year by year, so there is an urgent need to develop novel and highly effective drugs. Camptothecin (CPT) is a natural medicinal product with broad-spectrum antitumor activity. In this study, 11 CPT derivatives were synthesized. Their antitumor activities were evaluated by CCK-8, morphological observation, plate cloning, scratching, DAPI staining, cell cycle, and apoptosis. The conformational relationships were also analyzed by molecular docking and 3D-QSAR. The results showed that the CPT derivatives showed significant inhibitory effects on all five tumor cell lines, A549, HepG2, MCF-7, HemECs, and PC-3M, with the best inhibitory ability against PC-3M in prostate cancer. Among all derivatives, compound 5 had the lowest IC50 value of 0.0881 μM. In addition, compound 5 regulated the downstream cascade response by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, causing cycle arrest and apoptosis. The predicted results of molecular docking and 3D-QSAR were consistent with those of the experimental group. This demonstrates the anti-tumor potential of compound 5.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
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2019
·
IF 3.17
Dong-Shuai Shen,Ya-Jun Yang,Xiao-Jun Kong,Ning Ma,Xi-Wang Liu,Shi-Hong Li,Zeng-Hua Jiao,Zhe Qin,Mei-Zhou Huang,Jian-Yong Li
Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) was a promising drug candidate for treating inflammation, pain and fever and preventing cardiovascular diseases with fewer side effects than its precursors. Previous researches indicated that AEE could markedly inhibit agonist-induced platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo , however, the anti-platelet aggregation mechanisms of AEE remain to be defined. Here, AEE in vitro effects on agonist-induced granule-secretion, intercellular Ca 2+ mobilization and thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2 ) generation were examined. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Akt, Sirt 1 and CD40L expressions were also studied. In agonist-activated platelets in vitro , AEE markedly attenuated granule secretion markers (P-selectin expression and ATP release), intercellular Ca 2+ mobilization and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) formation. AEE also attenuated CD40L activation, suppressed extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and Akt phosphorylation, and recovered Sirt1 expression, but the activation of p38, VASP Ser157 and VASP Ser239 , and the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were not affected by AEE. Overall, this study demonstrates that AEE inhibits agonist-induced platelet aggregation in vitro by regulating PI3K/Akt, MAPK and Sirt 1/CD40L pathways.
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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炎症研究
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高影响因子
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