Ephedra Herb extract ameliorates adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats via the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway / 中国天然药物

This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanisms of Ephedra Herb (EH) extract on adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS), providing an experimental basis for the clinical treatment of NS. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and kidn injury molecule-1 were used to evaluate the activities of EH extract on renal function. The levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress were detected by kits. The levels of reactive oxygen species, immune cells, and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. A network pharmacological approach was used to predict the potential targets and mechanisms of EH extract in the treatment of NS. The protein levels of apoptosis-related proteins and CAMKK2, p-CAMKK2, AMPK, p-AMPK, mTOR and p-mTOR in the kidneys were detected by Western blot. The effective material basis of EH extract was screened by MTT assay. The AMPK pathway inhibitor (compound C, CC) was added to investigate the effect of the potent material basis on adriamycin-induced cell injury. EH extract significantly improved renal injury and relieve inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in rats. Network pharmacology and Western blot results showed that the effect of EH extract on NS may be associated with the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, methylephedrine significantly ameliorated adriamycin-induced NRK-52e cell injury. Methylephedrine also significantly improved the phosphorylation of AMPK and mTOR, which were blocked by CC. In sum, EH extract may ameliorate renal injury via the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, methylephedrine may be one of the material bases of EH extract.

Qili Qiangxin, a compound herbal medicine formula, alleviates hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced apoptotic and autophagic cell death via suppression of ROS/AMPK/mTOR pathway in vitro / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Qili Qiangxin (QLQX), a compound herbal medicine formula, is used effectively to treat congestive heart failure in China. However, the molecular mechanisms of the cardioprotective effect are still unclear. This study explores the cardioprotective effect and mechanism of QLQX using the hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R)-induced myocardial injury model.@*METHODS@#The main chemical constituents of QLQX were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detection. The model of H/R-induced myocardial injury in H9c2 cells was developed to simulate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Apoptosis, autophagy, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured to assess the protective effect of QLQX. Proteins related to autophagy, apoptosis and signalling pathways were detected using Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Apoptosis, autophagy and the excessive production of ROS induced by H/R were significantly reduced after treating the H9c2 cells with QLQX. QLQX treatment at concentrations of 50 and 250 μg/mL caused significant reduction in the levels of LC3II and p62 degradation (P < 0.05), and also suppressed the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway. Furthermore, the AMPK inhibitor Compound C (at 0.5 μmol/L), and QLQX (250 μg/mL) significantly inhibited H/R-induced autophagy and apoptosis (P < 0.01), while AICAR (an AMPK activator, at 0.5 mmol/L) increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of QLQX. Similar phenomena were also observed on the expressions of apoptotic and autophagic proteins, demonstrating that QLQX reduced the apoptosis and autophagy in the H/R-induced injury model via inhibiting the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Moreover, ROS scavenger, N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, at 2.5 mmol/L), significantly reduced H/R-triggered cell apoptosis and autophagy (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, NAC treatment down-regulated the ratio of phosphorylation of AMPK/AMPK (P < 0.01), which showed a similar effect to QLQX.@*CONCLUSION@#QLQX plays a cardioprotective role by alleviating apoptotic and autophagic cell death through inhibition of the ROS/AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway.

Isofebrifuzine regulates energy metabolism of EC9706 cells based on AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of isofebrifuzine in the treatment of esophageal cancer by observing the effects of isofebrifuzine on proliferation, apoptosis, cycle, energy metabolism and protein expression related to energy metabolism pathway in EC9706 cells. Methods: ECC9706 cells were routinely cultured, cell activity was detected by MTT method, drug concentration was screened, and two concentrations of 1 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL were selected, the effect of isofebrifuzine on apoptosis and cycle of esophageal cancer cells EC9706 was detected by flow cytometry. The effect of isofebrifuzine on energy metabolism of EC9706 cells was detected by energy metabolism detection system, and the protein expressions of mTOR, p-mTOR, p-ACC and AMPK in cells were detected by Western blotting. Results: The proliferation of EC9706 cells was effectively inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01) after 48 h of treatment with different concentrations of isofebrifuzine, which could arrest EC9706 cells in S phase and G2/M phase (P < 0.05), effectively promote cell apoptosis (P < 0.05), and significantly inhibit cell glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, AMPK expression was increased and mTOR, p-mTOR, p-ACC expression was decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that isofebrifuzine may regulate the cycle and apoptosis of EC9706 cells and inhibit the proliferation of EC9706 cells in esophageal cancer through energy metabolism.

Evodiamine activates autophagy and inhibits the proliferation in colon cancer cell / 中草药

Objective To investigate the effect of evodiamine (Evo) on the autophagy and proliferation of colon cancer HCT-116 cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods The effect of Evo on proliferation of HCT-116 cells was detected by CCK-8 method. After being processed with Evo (3 and 6 μmol/L) for 48 h, the number of autophagic vesicles were detected by MDC method. The amount of ROS in HCT-116 cells was measured by DHE assay, and the protein related with autophagy and AMPK/mTOR pathway was detected by Western blotting. After the treatment of Evo (6 μmol/L) combined with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (3-methyladenine) or apoptosis inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK respectively for 48 h, Western blotting was used to detect the expression of autophagy and apoptosis-related protein in HCT-116 cells. Results Compared with the control group, Evo inhibited the proliferation of HCT-116 cells in a dose-dependent manner; After treated with Evo (3 and 6 μmol/L) for 48 h, the amount of intracellular ROS and autophagic vesicles were increased, the protein expression levels of LC3, p-AMPK, and mTOR were increased while the expression of p62 was increased. After being treated with Evo and autophagy inhibitor, the protein expression of LC3 was decreased while activated Caspase-3 was increased; Combination of Evo and apoptosis inhibitor increased the expression of LC3 and inhibited the expression of activated Caspase-3. Conclusion Evo can activate autophagy of HCT-116 cells through AMPK/mTOR pathway and inhibit the proliferation, and the effect of autophagy and apoptosis on cells are complementary.