ABSTRACT
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, characterized by excessive membrane lipid peroxidation in an iron- and ROS-dependent manner. Celastrol, a natural bioactive triterpenoid extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, shows effective anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activities in multiple hepatic diseases. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of action and the direct protein targets of celastrol in the treatment of liver fibrosis remain largely elusive. Here, we discover that celastrol exerts anti-fibrotic effects via promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing ferroptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). By using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) in combination with bio-orthogonal click chemistry reaction and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), we show that celastrol directly binds to peroxiredoxins (PRDXs), including PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4 and PRDX6, through the active cysteine sites, and inhibits their anti-oxidant activities. Celastrol also targets to heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and upregulates its expression in activated-HSCs. Knockdown of PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4, PRDX6 or HO-1 in HSCs, to varying extent, elevated cellular ROS levels and induced ferroptosis. Taken together, our findings reveal the direct protein targets and molecular mechanisms via which celastrol ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, thus supporting the further development of celastrol as a promising therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
A mouse model of cholestatic liver fibrosis was established by bile duct ligation (BDL) method. The effect of ginsenoside Rg1 in the disease progress and the mechanism of cholestatic liver fibrosis are investigated in this mouse model. All animal experiments in this paper have been approved by the Unit Ethics Committee. Analysis of serum biochemical indicators and pathological sections assessed liver function, liver damage and fibrosis in mice. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were used to detect vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in BDL-induced mice. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inflammatory factors were detected to investigate related mechanism of Rg1. The results showed that expression of VCAM-1 was up-regulated and peaked at 7 days, followed by decreased expression, but still efficiently expressed compared to the sham-operated group. Compared with the model group, 40 mg·kg-1·d-1 Rg1 treatment reduced serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin (T.Bili) levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and liver function damage,alleviated BDL-induced liver fibrosis, significantly down-regulated the expression of VCAM-1 (P<0.05), and inhibited the inflammatory response. In addition, Rg1 significantly reduced NF-κB p65 level in the cellular nucleus (P<0.05). This study demonstrates that VCAM-1 is dynamically altered during BDL-induced liver fibrosis. Rg1 could dampen inflammation and alleviate cholestatic liver fibrosis via regulation of the NF-κB/VCAM-1 pathway. The results provide an experimental basis for Rg1 application for treating liver fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective:Stems,petioles,stem sections with axillary and leaves of Scrophularia ningpoensis were taken as the material in vitro to screen out the suitable plantlet regeneration system and optimal exercising seedling conditions. Method:Different explants,hormones and concentrations on the induction and proliferation of cluster bud were studied by L16(45) orthogonal test. One factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was made on the induction of adventitious buds rooted with different concentrations of hormones. At the same time,different substrates,watering cycles and transition modes were selected to optimize key technologies of exercising seedlings of S. ningpoensis. Result:Stem sections with axillary was the best explant,which was followed by stems,leaves and petioles. The suitable media for the induction of adventitious buds was MS+6-BA 0.5 mg·L-1+NAA 0.2 mg·L-1,with the induction rate of 100.0% and the proliferation multiple of 9.84.The suitable media for root induction was 1/2 MS+IBA 0.2 mg·L-1,with the rooting rate of 100.0% and the number of roots of 39.45.For matrix,they were transplanted with nutrient soil,vermiculite and perlite (5:2:1) as the media,to keep proper matching of fertility,permeability and water retention. The container seedlings can grow well,and the survival rate was more than 95% when they were watered every 2 days,the acclimatization of plantlets took 20 days indoor and 10 days in shaded greenhouses. Conclusion:The clonal propagation system of S. ningpoensis was established to provide an effective way for the efficient,rapid and steady plantlet regeneration,the breeding of high-quality seedlings and the suitable exercising seedling conditions of S. ningpoensis.
ABSTRACT
Ginsenoside Rg1 is a common component of a variety of stroke and diabetes medications, but its anti-stroke effect in diabetic patients is unclear. The aim of this research is to test the therapeutic effect of Rg1 on ischemic stroke in diabetic rats, and elucidate the effect of Rg1 on post-stroke neuro-inflammation. Rg1 significantly reduced the infarct area percent, increased the behavioral score, and reduced the brain water content in diabetic rats after stroke in the diabetic rats. Rg1 reduced the post-stroke inflammatory response and decreased the expression of high mobility group box1 (HMGB1) protein significantly. Elevated level of HMGB1 activity by supplementing exogenous HMGB1 protein abolished the anti-stroke effect of Rg1, which suggests that HMGB1 is involved into the anti-stroke effect of Rg1 in the diabetic rats.
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to test the effect of short-term high-fat diet feeding on the cognitive impairment in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. After establishment of Alzheimer's disease model, the rats were fed on a high-fat diet, and subjected to water maze (Morris water maze, MWM) behavioral test for learning and memory ability. Western blot was used to detect the expression of caspase-1 pathway. The results showed that short-term high-fat diet could alleviate the damage of okada acid in Morris water maze. The mechanism may be mediated by the regulation of the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway, which alleviates neuronal damage, resulting in a protective effect.
ABSTRACT
Ginsenoside Rg1 is one of the main active components of ginseng with various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, anti-tumor and anti-apoptosis. Ginsenoside Rg1 plays a protective role in multiple tissues and organs, which shows the multiple targeting properties of the pharmacological effects. Recently, a number of studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 has a protective role in the liver due to its multiple pharmacological effects. In chemical liver injury models, or in other liver injury models, ginsenoside Rg1 can alleviate liver necrosis induced by oxidative stress and inflam-mation. This article provides a review of the recent studies on the efficacy of ginsenoside Rg1 in the treatment of various liver damage and the molecular mechanism.
ABSTRACT
Neural stem cells (NSCs) posse the specialty of tumor tropism and be able to migrate specifically to tumor cells. NSCs are also cross the blood brain barrier. NSCs keep in touch with tumor cells preferentially under the tumor microenvironment, and surround the target cells. Based on these characteristics, NSCs can be used as a carrier for therapeutic virus, enzymes/prodrugs, genes or suicide genes, etc. which are selectively delivered to the glioma cells. NSCs may be modified by a variety of different genes to establish a reliable, safe and effective therapy for glioma.
ABSTRACT
Chemokines play pleiotropic roles in the pathology of Alzheimer′s disease(AD),a chronic inflammatory disease of central nervous system.The neuropathological features of AD include neurofibrillary tangles,amyloid plaques,neuroinflammation,and neuronal synaptic loss.Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of AD by activating or regulating inflammatory cells or glial cells,playing dual key roles of the pro-and anti-inflammatory properties in AD.The levels of chemokines in serum,cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of AD patients are changed accordingly.This review summarizes the role of chemokines and their receptors in AD in the biological activities and unveils the changing rules,aiming to provide new strategies for clinical treatment of AD.