JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
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2014
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IF 2.114
Jing Lu,Duanping Sun,Si Gao,Ying Gao,Jiantao Ye,Peiqing Liu
Autophagy is a highly regulated and multi-step biological process that serves to remove damaged cytoplasmic components and organelles. It has been suggested that the activation of autophagy may be a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment by triggering cell death. In this study, we reported that cyclovirobuxine D (CVB-D), an alkaloid component in a traditional Chinese herb, could induce autophagy in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. CVB-D inhibited the viability of MCF-7 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Activation of autophagy was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, monodansylcadaverine staining, and expression of autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). After CVB-D treatment, a clear accumulation of autophagosomes was observed accompanied with elevated LC3 fluorescent puncta. Western blot analysis revealed that CVB-D significantly promoted the conversion from LC3-I to LC3-II and the expression of autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), which are both essential for autophagosome formation. On the other hand, CVB-D–induced autophagy and decrease in cell viability could be blocked by 3-methyladenine, a well-established autophagy inhibitor. Moreover, CVB-D attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, two pivotal suppressors in autophagy pathways. These findings shed new light on the pharmacological actions and mechanism of CVB-D and may support the potential utility of autophagy inducers in cancer treatment.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
药理学
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细胞生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL DENTAL JOURNAL
·
2026
·Vol. 76
·期 4
·109587
·
IF 5.2
Jingkun Zhang,Li Lin,Huixian Dong,Bingtao Wang,Xiaoshi Chen,Chenhao Wang,Liecong Lin,Jialin Zhong,Guocong Zheng,Qianzhou Jiang
Background The regeneration of functional dentin is a critical clinical goal for preserving tooth vitality after injury, with odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) being central to this reparative process. While the long noncoding RNA H19 is recognised as a key regulator of dentin repair, its downstream regulatory network is complex and incompletely mapped. Beyond the previously established H19/miR-140-5p/BMP2 axis, this study identifies a distinct and parallel pathway in which H19 promotes odontoblastic differentiation by downregulating miR-103a-3p, which in turn targets the PIK3R1/AKT and KLF4 signalling cascades. Our findings reveal that these two downstream networks operate independently, further elucidating the multifaceted role of H19 in dentin regeneration. Methodology In this study, we used lentiviral vectors to stably overexpress H19 in hDPSCs. Bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays were employed to validate the interactions between H19 and miR-103a-3p, as well as between miR-103a-3p and its target mRNAs, including phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1) and Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). And qPCR and Western blot were used to investigate the expression pattern of H19 and the potential signalling axis of H19 and key odontogenic markers. Then, alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining were used to evaluate odontogenic differentiation capacity. Finally, a heterotopic pulp regeneration model was established. And HE staining, Masson staining, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify the mechanism of H19 regulating odontogenic differentiation in vivo. Results In vitro , H19 promoted odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs, while miR-103a-3p inhibited them. Both PIK3R1 and KLF4 were identified as direct targets of miR-103a-3p. Ectopic expression of either PIK3R1 or KLF4 restored the odontogenic differentiation capacity of hDPSCs suppressed by miR-103a-3p. Mechanistically, PIK3R1 promoted odontogenesis by activating the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, whereas KLF4 acted independently as a transcriptional regulator. In vivo , H19 overexpression drove odontoblastic differentiation of hDPSCs by inducing the expression of its downstream targets, PIK3R1 and KLF4. Conclusion Our findings indicated that H19 promoted odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs by modulating the miR-103a-3p–PIK3R1/AKT and miR-103a-3p–KLF4 axes, underscoring their therapeutic potential for pulp regeneration.
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高影响因子
POULTRY SCIENCE
·
2026
·
IF 4.5
Yi Fang,Hongyu Fu,Xuehan Jiang,Hongxue Yang,Yishan Yin,Bo Li,Xiaoxiao Chen,Bendong Shi,Jingzeng Cai,Ziwei Zhang
Deoxynivalenol (DON), as the most prevalent mycotoxin, not only poses a significant threat to animal and human health but also exerts pronounced adverse effects on growth and development. Quercetin (QUE), a naturally occurring antioxidant, is known to promote muscle growth and differentiation. In this study, a DON-exposed broiler model with QUE intervention was established to investigate the protective mechanisms of QUE against DON-induced skeletal muscle toxicity. Eighty broilers were randomly divided into four groups: CON group, DON group, QUE group, and DON+QUE group. Each group received oral administration of 10 mg/kg DON and/or 4 mg/kg QUE. For in vitro experiments, myoblasts were used as experimental subjects to establish intervention models with LY294002, Z-VAD-FMK, and IBS008738. This study demonstrates that DON exposure induces oxidative stress and apoptosis (increased by 329%) in both in vivo muscle tissue and in vitro myoblasts, inhibits the expression of myogenic regulatory factors such as MYH2, and consequently leads to structural muscle damage and developmental impairment. Crucially, we identified that QUE effectively alleviated DON-induced oxidative stress (CAT activity increased by 45.1%), apoptosis (nearly completely inhibited), and muscle developmental disorders (MYH2 increased by 35.2%) by upregulating the transcription and phosphoprotein expression levels of genes associated with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The pivotal role of this pathway was further confirmed by the fact that the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished the protective effects of QUE. Moreover, inhibition of apoptosis, but not promotion of myogenesis, directly alleviated DON-induced muscle defects, establishing apoptosis as the causative event. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that QUE alleviated DON-induced apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby mitigating muscle development disorders.
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PubMed
高影响因子
Journal of Functional Foods
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2026
·
IF 3.9
Wei Wei,Shuai Wang,Qiming Wu,Xinyong Zheng,Fuguo Liu
Walnut is a nutrient-rich food resource, yet the utilization of its high-quality plant proteins remains inefficient. Advanced processing strategies are therefore needed to develop walnut-based functional foods. In this study, walnut peptides were prepared by sequential hydrolysis with alcalase and papain, leading to the identification of a novel antioxidant peptide, IRALPEEVL. In vitro , IRALPEEVL increased the viability of PC12 cells under H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. In vivo , it ameliorated cognitive and memory dysfunctions in zebrafish exposed to the environmental toxicant bisphenol AF. Proteomic analysis indicated that the neuroprotective effects of IRALPEEVL were associated with caveolin-1 (Cav1)-dependent penetration of the blood-brain barrier, regulating the AMPK-PI3K/Akt signaling, and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential of value-added walnut processing and support the application of walnut-derived peptides as functional food ingredients for health promotion.
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JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2026
·
IF 6.8
Xiang Chen,Mengting Li,Miaomiao Xia,Yumeng Yang,Rui Liu,Ling Ma,Mao Luo
Ethnopharmacological relevance Cassiae Semen, the dried seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L., has traditionally been used in East Asian medicine to manage metabolic disorders, including hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Aurantio-obtusin (AO), a bioactive anthraquinone compound, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities, derived from Cassiae Semen, a traditional herb used for metabolic disorders; however, its protective efficacy against prediabetes remains poorly understood. Aim of the study This study aimed to investigate the effects of AO on prediabetes and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, with particular emphasis on gut microbiota-mediated regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Materials and methods Mice were subjected to prediabetes by a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Metabolic parameters, liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, insulin signaling, and gut microbiota composition were assessed. Fecal microbiota transfer and models simulating antibiotic-induced germ-free conditions were utilized to investigate the function of gut microbiota. Results AO exhibited a marked improvement in glucose tolerance, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity among prediabetic mice. Furthermore, AO demonstrated a protective effect against liver damage, as suggested by the notable reductions in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Oxidative stress was markedly suppressed, as indicated by decreased malondialdehyde levels, along with enhanced antioxidant defenses, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione. Additionally, AO preserved intestinal barrier integrity, reduced endotoxemia, and suppressed Toll-like receptor 4-mediated inflammatory signaling, accompanied by restoration of the PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 pathway. Notably, depletion of gut microbiota completely abolished the metabolic benefits of AO. Conclusion Collectively, this study substantiates the ethnomedical value of Cassiae Semen, demonstrating that AO improves prediabetes through the regulation of intestinal barrier function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin signaling, which is dependent on gut microbiota.
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高影响因子
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
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2026
·
IF 5.2
Zhongting Lv,Xiang Li,Hanning Wu,Xiaowen Zhang,Wangyang Hu,Yong Xu,Jie Zhang,Li Ren
Chronic stress is a major contributor to hippocampal neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction. However, mechanism-oriented interventions remain limited. Bilobalide is a chemically defined sesquiterpene lactone from Ginkgo biloba with reported neuroprotective activity. Nevertheless, its effect on chronic stress-induced cognitive injury and its relationship to glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling remain unclear. Here, we evaluated bilobalide in chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice and in corticosterone (CORT)-challenged HT22 hippocampal neurons. Bilobalide improved short-term recognition, long-term recognition, and spatial memory in CRS mice, and alleviated neuronal injury in the hippocampal CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus regions. These effects were accompanied by reduced lipid peroxidation, recovery of antioxidant capacity, attenuation of systemic inflammatory cytokine release and hippocampal inflammatory gene expression, suppression of apoptosis-related signaling, and preservation of dendritic architecture, synaptic ultrastructure, and synaptic proteins. Bilobalide also restored hippocampal BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/Akt signaling. In vivo and in vitro fractionation/immunofluorescence experiments showed that bilobalide restrained stress-enhanced GR nuclear translocation, and GRE-reporter assays showed reduced GR transactivation. Molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay supported cellular target engagement of GR by bilobalide. Importantly, GR knockdown blunted bilobalide-mediated rescue of oxidative injury and of BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/Akt-associated synaptic signaling in CORT-injured HT22 cells. These data indicate that bilobalide protects against chronic stress-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity and memory impairment, at least in part, by limiting maladaptive GR signaling and preserving neurotrophic-synaptic homeostasis. Bilobalide therefore merits further evaluation as a mechanistically defined lead compound for stress-associated cognitive dysfunction.
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高影响因子
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 6.5
Yu-jia Huo,Miao Wei,Xiao Fan,Li-wen Peng,Jing-chang Yuan,Si-si Tan,Xiao-chen Wang,Ruo-tong Ou-yang,Yi-jing Zhou,Yan-yu Pu,Xi Gao,Jun-qin Lei,Hong Li
Glaucoma is a prominent global cause of irreversible vision loss, fundamentally driven by the continuous degeneration and ultimate death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), in which persistent oxidative stress plays a pivotal role. While selenium (Se) offers robust endogenous antioxidant defense, the severe toxicity and narrow therapeutic window of inorganic selenium strictly limit its application. To overcome this critical bottleneck, chitosan-functionalized selenium nanoparticles (CS-SeNPs) are engineered. This strategic nanomodification effectively shields the inherent toxicity of free selenium while conferring improved colloidal stability and biocompatibility. Clinically, systemic Se levels in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) are found to be significantly diminished compared to healthy controls. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing reveals that CS-SeNPs function through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway to upregulate the downstream nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) antioxidant axis, reducing intracellular oxidative stress and apoptosis. In vivo, an intravitreal administration strategy for CS-SeNPs is established. In a rat model of acute ocular hypertension (AOH), this targeted local delivery reduces oxidative damage, preserves retinal hierarchical architecture, and restores visual electrophysiological function. These findings identify systemic Se deficiency as a clinical hallmark of POAG and demonstrate that intravitreal CS-SeNPs offer a promising, intraocular pressure-independent nanotherapeutic strategy for glaucomatous neuroprotection.
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高影响因子
npj Science of Food
·
2026
·
IF 9.7
Shen Linyuan,Ma Jianfeng,Liang Shuang,Yang Yiting,Liao Tianci,Lei Yuhang,Chen Lei,Wang Yan,Zhao Ye,Niu Lili,Gan Mailin,Zhu Li
Diet derived extracellular vesicles (EV) can be absorbed and influence physiological processes. Herein, this study investigates the potential health impacts of extracellular vesicles in meat products. Experimental results showed the extracellular vesicles derived from cooked red meat (RM-EV) and white meat (WM-EV) were successfully isolated via ultra-high speed centrifugation. The median particle size of RM-EV is 137.5 nm and that of WM-EV is 116.1 nm. RM-EV and WM-EV are added to the drinking water of mice for ten weeks. The mice developed insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism in the liver. The influences of RM-EV are more pronounced for mice than WM-EV. High-throughput sequencing indicated that ssc-miR-1 (52.05%) and scc-miR-133a-3p (14.21%) are the most abundant microRNA in RM-EV. However, the highest content of microRNA is gga-miR-133a-3p (44.16%) in WM-EV, followed by gga-miR-1 (21.58%). Therefore, the most abundant ssc-miR-1 in red meat EV (RM-EV-miR-1) was selected for in vitro studies. In vitro experiments revealed that RM-EV-miR-1 inhibited cell proliferation by targeting IGF1 in NCTC1469 liver cell. Besides, RM-EV-miR-1 exacerbates insulin resistance in NCTC1469 insulin resistance cell model by targeting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our findings show that the differential health impacts of red and white meat may be partially attributed to the presence of EV. These results provide novel insights into dietary health from the perspective of EV.
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PubMed
高影响因子
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
·
2025
·Vol. 30
·期 1
·1-11
·
IF 3.4
Zhang Zihao,Ren Jiayi,Tang Ke,Hu Xinyi,Liu Jinhui,Li Chunming
Background Oral cancer (OC) is one of the major types of cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in Asia. In recent years, matrix stiffness in the tumor microenvironment has been found to play an important role in regulating tumor cell behavior. However, the regulatory mechanisms associated with matrix stiffness in OC cells remain unclear. Methods In this study, polyacrylamide gels with different stiffness were prepared to simulate low versus high matrix stiffness environments in tumor tissues by adjusting the acrylamide and cross-linker concentrations. Subsequently, the effects of different stiffness on OC cell survival, migration, invasion and invadopodia formation were explored based on cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell and confocal microscopy. Meanwhile, the levels of markers relevant to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), apoptosis (BAX and BCL2) as well as metastasis (Cadherin-1, CDH1; Cadherin-2, and CDH2) were calculated via western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR. Results According to the results, high matrix stiffness was seen to contribute to the increased number of migrated and invaded cells as well as the enhanced viability of OC cells, along with the aggravated invadopodia formation and the up-regulation in CDH2 and BCL2 levels yet the down-regulation in CDH1 and BAX levels. Elevated PI3K/AKT phosphorylation levels were also seen in high matrix stiffness-mediated OC cells, and the intervention using LY294002 could visibly overturned the effects of high matrix stiffness on the cell migration, invasion and invadopodia formation of OC cells. Conclusions This study reveals that matrix stiffness may enhance the invasiveness and anti-apoptotic ability of OC cells by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, which provides a new idea for exploring the microenvironmental regulation of tumor mechanics and targeted intervention strategies.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2026
·
IF 5.4
Bin Yang,Qingqing Xia,Xinyu Ji,Ke Su,Tao Yu,Zihan Xiao,Chen Shi,Zichen Luo,Xuan Wang,Weichen Xu,Yanan Gao,Haibin Hua,Jinjun Shan
Ethnopharmacological relevance Ganjie Decoction (GJD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula commonly used for respiratory diseases, has shown therapeutic potential against RSV pneumonia. However, its pharmacological mechanisms against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia are not fully understood. Aim of study This study aimd to characterize the active components of GJD and systematically investigate its therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms in RSV-induced pneumonia. Materials and methods To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of GJD in RSV-infected mice, we monitored body weight, performed qPCR, and conducted histopathological examination of lung tissues. The chemical constituents of GJD were characterized using UPLC-MS. Key bioactive compounds and their potential targets were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The underlying mechanisms were further elucidated using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The interactions between GJD and the gut microbiota were explored using antibiotic depletion, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), metagenomic sequencing, and in vitro co-culture assays. Untargeted metabolomics was employed to assess GJD-induced metabolic alterations. Finally, the role of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPA) was investigated through cell viability assays, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot analysis in vitro . Results GJD significantly mitigated weight loss, attenuated pulmonary viral load, and suppressed inflammation in RSV-infected mice. Network pharmacology and molecular docking revealed that specific compounds in GJD target the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This finding was validated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry, which demonstrated that GJD suppresses PI3K/AKT pathway activation, thereby attenuating apoptosis and ameliorating RSV-induced pneumonia. Notably, these protective effects were markedly attenuated in mice with depleted gut microbiota. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of GJD against RSV pneumonia were transferable via gut microbiota transplantation. GJD restored RSV-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, with Lactobacillus reuteri emerging as one of the most enriched microbes following treatment. Metabolomics analysis identified 4-HPA as a microbiota-dependent metabolite significantly upregulated by GJD. Remarkably, administration of 4-HPA reproduced GJD’s therapeutic effects in RSV-infected mice and activated the KEAP1/NRF2 antioxidant pathway, suggesting that 4-HPA functions as a key mediator of GJD’s anti-RSV activity. Conclusions These findings suggest that GJD alleviates RSV pneumonia through a synergistic mechanism that modulates the PI3K/AKT–apoptosis pathway, restores gut microbial balance, and normalizes metabolic disturbances. This study systematically elucidates the mechanistic basis underlying the therapeutic effects of GJD against RSV pneumonia.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
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2026
·
IF 10.6
Yan Zhang,Fuqing Yi,Ying He,Yidan Ma,Xinyi Mu,Yanqing Geng,Xin Yin,Rufei Gao,Liping Yan,Xuemei Chen,Junlin He
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a common environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical, is known to impair female reproduction, yet its specific effects on ovarian reserve and underlying epigenetic mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, using gestational exposure models ( in vivo ) and fetal ovarian culture models ( in vitro ), we show that gestational DBP exposure disrupts the ovarian reserve through a dual assault: impairing primordial follicle formation ("input") and, more critically, driving primordial follicle premature activation ("output"). Mechanistically, DBP induces METTL14-dependent m⁶A hypermethylation, which activates the PI3K-AKT-FOXO3a signaling axis to promote aberrant follicular activation. Knockdown of Mettl14 rescues this pathway activation and the follicular disruption. Long‑term follow‑up revealed that such precocious activation leads to progressive ovarian reserve depletion, culminating in a premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)-like phenotype with hormonal dysfunction, reduced oocyte quality, and compromised fertility in adult offspring. Collectively, these findings indicate that gestational DBP exposure activates the PI3K-AKT-FOXO3a signaling pathway via METTL14-mediated m⁶A modification, causing impaired follicle formation, follicular over-activation, and ultimately ovarian reserve depletion and a POI-like phenotype in offspring. This study reveals a novel m⁶A‑mediated epigenetic mechanism in plasticizer-induced ovarian toxicity, advancing our understanding of POI etiology and highlighting a significant environmental risk to female fertility.
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PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
·
2023
·Vol. 20
·期 4
·e202200523
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IF 2.9
Zhonghua An,Xuelin Feng,Mengjia Sun,Yifan Wang,Hongbo Wang,Yanling Gong
Chamomile essential oil (CEO) is extracted from chamomile and mainly used in aromatherapy. The chemical constituents and its antitumor activity on Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was explored in the present study. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed to analyze the chemical constituents of CEO. The cell viability, migration and invasion of TNBC cell MDA-MB-231 were measured using MTT, wound scratch and Transwell assay, respectively. The protein expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was determined by Western blot. CEO is rich in terpenoids (63.51 %), among which the identified terpenoids and their derivatives are mainly Caryophyllene (29.57 %), d-Cadinene (12.81 %), Caryophyllene oxide (14.51 %), etc. Three concentration of CEO (1, 1.5, 2 μg/mL) significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells with a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt and mTOR was inhibited by CEO. The results revealed that there was abundant terpenoids in the CEO which account for 63.51 %. CEO significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, exhibiting antitumor effect on TNBC. The antitumor effect of CEO might attribute to its inhibition on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. However, further study should be conducted in more TNBC cell lines and animal models to provide further evidence for TNBC treatment by CEO.
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高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）