BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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2026
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IF 5.1
Wenyu Xie,Ke Wu,Lin Zhang,Xiyu Feng,Shangshen Yang,Siyu Jia,Yutong Li,Xiaoming Wang
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) plays a crucial neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), a key enzyme involved in H₂S biosynthesis, exhibits expression deficiencies that are closely linked to PD progression. This suggests that enhancing the CBS–H₂S signaling axis to restore H₂S homeostasis may be a critical approach for preventing and treating PD. In the present study, the H₂S donor sulforaphane (SFN) was investigated to elucidate its neuroprotective mechanisms through activation of the CBS–H₂S axis. siRNA-mediated silencing of Nrf2 and CBS was employed to clarify the role of each in SFN's effects. Our findings demonstrate that SFN promotes CBS expression and H₂S synthesis, activates mitophagy to clear damaged mitochondria, reduces mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS) levels, and inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and caspase-1. In the MPTP-induced PD mouse model, SFN improved motor performance, increased the survival rate of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and restored dopamine metabolism in the striatum, normalizing the DOPAC/DA and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios. Electron microscopy revealed that SFN facilitated the clearance of damaged mitochondria through autophagosomes and blocked mtROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In the MPP + -induced BV-2 microglial cell model, SFN upregulated CBS expression, enhanced H₂S synthesis, increased the LC3-II/I ratio, and inhibited p62 degradation, thereby promoting the recovery of mitochondrial membrane potential and reducing ROS release. These effects were still observed under Nrf2 silencing conditions, indicating that SFN's neuroprotective effects are mediated through the CBS–H₂S axis independently of Nrf2 signaling. Collectively, these findings indicate that SFN reshapes the CBS–H₂S signaling axis, activates mitochondrial autophagy, and suppresses inflammation, offering novel insights into multi-target therapeutic approaches for PD and underscoring the essential role of H₂S in neuroprotection.
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Journal of Natural Medicines
·
2020
·Vol. 75
·期 1
·37-47
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IF 2.055
Han Jieru,Shi Guangyu,Li Wenhao,Xie Ying,Li Fuzhen,Jiang Deyou
Monosodium urate (MSU)-mediated inflammation is closely related to gouty arthritis (GA). Dioscin, an active ingredient, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory property. Nevertheless, the role of dioscin in GA and the underlying mechanism have not been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of dioscin on MSU-induced GA through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Histopathological analysis showed that dioscin alleviated the severity of GA concomitant with the lowered uric acid and creatinine levels. Moreover, the increasing IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels induced by MSU were decreased via administration of dioscin in mice and human synoviocytes. Western blotting results suggested that dioscin inhibited the activation of NLRP3 through down-regulating the protein expressions of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), cleaved-caspase-1, as well as IL-1β. In addition, TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), p-IKKβ, p-p65, and NF-κB p65 in nuclei levels were significantly reduced by dioscin. Importantly, dioscin remarkably lowered the NF-κB p65-DNA activity in MSU-treated mice utilizing electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) analysis. Taken together, dioscin had a protective effect against MSU-initiated inflammatory response via repressing the production of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of inflammasome NLRP3 and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. The above findings revealed that dioscin could be a potential drug for the treatment of GA.
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JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 5.4
Qianru Gao,Weiyi Tian,Huabing Yang,Haiming Hu,Junping Zheng,Xiaowei Yao,Baifei Hu,Hongtao Liu
Ethnopharmacological relevance Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San (SLBZS) is a classic formula for strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, which has shown excellent efficacy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in traditional Chinese medicine clinical studies. However, its exact pharmacological mechanism needs to be further elucidated. Aim of the study This study aims to investigate the restorative effect and mechanism of SLBZS on disturbed intestinal homeostasis in DSS-induced colitis mice. Materials and methods A colitis model was induced by 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for seven days, and SLBZS was administered by gavage. The influence of SLBZS on DSS-induced clinical symptoms and disease activity index (DAI) was monitored and analyzed. Alcian blue and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (FITC-WGA) staining were used to assess intestinal mucus changes. The expression of intestinal barrier function indexes and immune-associated indexes were determined by H&E staining, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and Western blot. And gut microbiota changes were detected by 16 S rDNA sequencing technology. The antibiotic experiment was used to explore the role of gut microbiota in SLBZS treatment. Results The results showed that SLBZS significantly improved the physiological indexes including body weight, DAI score, and colon length of colitis mice. We focused on the effects of SLBZS on intestinal homeostasis in colitis mice. First, SLBZS could enhance the secretion of intestinal mucin and the expression levels of tight junctions and adhesive junctions. Second, SLBZS inhibited the expression level of inflammatory factors and reduced the protein expression level of NLRP3 inflammasome. Third, 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that SLBZS repaired the dysfunctional gut microbiota of colitis mice, such as enhancing the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria including Faecalibaculum , Colidextribacter , and Coprococcus . Further, by gut microbiota-depleted mice, we found that SLBZS could not exert an anti-colitis effect when gut microbiota was absent. Conclusions SLBZS restored intestinal environmental homeostasis by enhancing intestinal barrier function, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome, and restoring disturbed gut microbiota. And SLBZS could not ameliorate colitis mice with depleted gut microbiota. Our finding provided a theoretical basis for the clinical application of SLBZS in IBD.
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IMMUNOBIOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 2.8
Zepeng Chen,Qinglong Gu,Ruichao Chen
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon that can be influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aims to investigate the impact of miR-146a-5p on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cell autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the underlying mechanism, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic targets. We used LPS to establish Caco-2/HT-29 cell models and measured cell viability by CCK-8. The levels of miR-146a-5p, RNF8, markers of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and autophagy, proteins involved in the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway, and inflammatory factors were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Intestinal epithelial barrier function was evaluated by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance. Autophagic flux was measured using tandem fluorescent-labeled LC3. miR-146a-5p was highly-expressed in LPS-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cells, and autophagy flux was blocked at the autolysosomal stage after LPS induction. Inhibition of miR-146a-5p suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced intestinal epithelial barrier damage, and facilitated autophagy inhibition in LPS-induced Caco-2/HT-29 cells. The autophagy inhibitor NH4Cl partially nullified the inhibitory effects of miR-146a-5p inhibition on NLRP3 inflammation activation. miR-146a-5p targeted RNF8, and silencing RNF8 partly abrogated the action of miR-146a-5p inhibition on promoting autophagy and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. miR-146a-5p inhibition suppressed the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway activation by upregulating RNF8. Inhibition of the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway partially nullified the function of silencing RNF8 on inhibiting autophagy and bolstering NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In conclusion, miR-146a-5p inhibition may be a potential therapeutic approach for UC, as it facilitates autophagy of LPS-stimulated Caco-2/HT-29 cells, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces intestinal epithelial barrier damage by upregulating RNF8 and suppressing the Notch1/mTORC1 pathway.
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Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
·
2025
·
IF 14.6
Xinxing Li,Wenxin Ding,Yan Lu,Haiyan Zhu,Weilian Bao,Yang Liu,Jiaren Lyu,Lishuang Zhou,Hong Li,Jiyang Li,Daofeng Chen
The coinfection of respiratory viruses and bacteria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the development of vaccines and powerful antibiotics. As a macromolecule that is difficult to absorb in the gastrointestinal tract, a homogeneous polysaccharide from Houttuynia cordata (HCPM) has been reported to exhibit anti-complement properties and alleviate influenza A virus (H1N1)-induced lung injury; however, the effects of HCPM without in vitro antiviral and antibacterial activities on more complicated pulmonary diseases resulting from viral-bacterial coinfection remains unclear. This study established a representative coinfection murine pneumonia model infected with H1N1 (0.2 LD 50 ) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10 7 CFU). HCPM significantly improved survival rate and weight loss, and ameliorated gut–lung damage and inflammatory cytokine production. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect of HCPM on intestinal damage preceded that in the lungs. Mechanistically, HCPM inhibited the overactivation of the intestinal complement (C3a and C5a) and suppressed the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway, which contributes to the regulation of the Treg/Th17 cell balance in the gut–lung axis. The results indicate the beneficial effects of an anti-complement polysaccharide against viral–bacterial coinfection pneumonia by modulating crosstalk between multiple immune regulatory networks.
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JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
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2025
·
IF 6.2
Jingjing Wang,Pingping Qu,Fuhan Wang,Man Qian,Ziyi Li,Mengyao Guo,Xuejiao Gao
Zearalenone is an estrogen-like mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi. Growing evidence shows that ZEA causes multisystem damage via oxidative stress. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), from Glycyrrhiza glabra, has anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties. The mechanisms of GA and ZEA in chicken pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation remain elusive. Therefore, we established zearalenone-exposed chicken lung and CP-II cells models. ZEA exposure triggers an inflammatory cascade via the ROS-NF-κB axis, activating NLRP3 inflammasomes and promoting the release of proinflammatory factors. It also increased the apoptosis-related factors and fibrosis-related factors. GA treatment reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, while suppressing fibrosis. This study reveals that GA reverses lung tissue injury by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and the apoptosis-necrosis network through regulating the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling axis by scavenging ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results elucidate the antioxidant mechanism of GA and provide insights into the toxicology of ZEA.
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ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
·
2022
·
IF 7.129
Yi Zhang,Bo Hu,Xiaolan Qian,Guangtao Xu,Xin Jin,Deqing Chen,Jie Tang,Long Xu
Environmental pollution often releases multiple contaminants resulting in as yet largely uncharacterized additive toxicities. Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread pollutant that induces nephrotoxicity in animal models and humans. However, the combined effect of Cd in causing nephrotoxicity with 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), a typical congener of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), has not been evaluated and mechanisms are not completely clear. Here, we applied transcriptome sequencing analysis to investigate the combined toxicity of Cd and BDE-47 in the renal tubular epithelial cell lines HKCs. Cd or BDE-47 exposure decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and exhibited cell swelling and rounding similar to necrosis, which was exacerbated by co-exposure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 2191, 1331 and 3787 differentially-expressed genes following treatment with Cd, BDE-47 and co-exposure, respectively. Interestingly, functional annotation and enrichment analyses showed involvement of pathways for oxidative stress, NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and inflammatory cell death for all three treatments. Examination of indices of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in HKC cells showed that the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and intracellular calcium ion concentration [Ca 2+ ]i were elevated, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were decreased. The ratio of apoptotic and necrotic cells and intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were increased by Cd or BDE-47 exposure, and was aggravated by co-exposure, and was attenuated by ROS scavenger N-Acetyl- L -cysteine (NAC). NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis pathway-related genes of NLRP3, adaptor molecule apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), caspase-1, interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β were elevated, while gasdermin D (GSDMD) was down-regulated, and protein levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 and cleaved GSDMD were increased, most of which were relieved by NAC. Our data demonstrate that exposure to Cd and BDE-47 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and triggers NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis leading to nephrotoxicity, and co-exposure exacerbates this effect, which could be attenuated by inhibiting ROS. This study provides a further mechanistic understanding of kidney damage, and co-exposure impact is worthy of concern and should be considered to improve the accuracy of environmental health assessment.
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