ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Scutellariae Radix （SR）-Paeoniae Radix Rubra （PRR） combination of different proportions on the expression of the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor κB （NF-κB） and phosphatidylinositol kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathways in liver tissues of rats with hepatic fibrosis and explore the mechanism against hepatic fibrosis. MethodSixty male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a positive control （silymarin） group， and SR-PRR 1∶1， SR-PRR 1∶2， and SR-PRR 1∶4 groups， with 10 rats in each group. The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in rats except for those in the normal group by intraperitoneal injection of 40% tetrachloromethane （CCl4）-olive oil solution at 3 mL·kg-1， 5 mL·kg-1 for the first time， for 8 weeks， twice per week. After 4 weeks， rats were treated correspondingly at 10 mL·kg-1 by intragastric administration， and the body weight of rats in each group was weighed for 8 weeks. After administration， histopathological changes in the liver were observed. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， albumin （ALB）， alkaline phosphatase （AKP）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） activities， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and hydroxyproline （HYP） content in liver tissues were detected. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， PI3K， Akt， and mTOR in the liver of rats were detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the model group， SR-PRR combination of different proportions could recover the body weight and improve the pathological injury of the liver. As revealed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） results， compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased ALT， AST， HA， LN， AKP， MDA， and HYP levels to different degrees （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the groups with drug intervention showed decreased levels of ALT， AST， HA， LN， AKP， MDA， and HYP， potentiated SOD activity， and increased level of ALB （P<0.05）. As revealed by Real-time PCR results， compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased mRNA expression of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， PI3K， Akt， and mTOR （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the groups with drug intervention showed reduced mRNA expression of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， PI3K， Akt， and mTOR in the liver of rats （P<0.05）. ConclusionSR-PRR combination of different proportions can improve the histopathological injury in liver tissues caused by CCl4， with the optimal effect observed in the SR-PRR 1∶4 group. SR-PRR may inhibit the development of liver fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways， thereby alleviating chemical-induced liver injury.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of esculentoside on lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in mice. Method:Female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone group (DEX, 5.0 mg·kg-1) and esculentoside group (50, 25, 12.5 mg·kg-1). The mastitis model of postpartum female mice (BALB/c) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to analyze the pathological conditions of breast tissue and the activity of recombinant myeloperoxidase（MPO）, factor content and oxidative stress level. Western blot was used to evaluate the effect of esculentoside on Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor (NF-κB) signaling pathway proteins. Result:Compared with the normal group, the breast tissue of the model group had typical mastitis changes, such as hyperemia and congestion, the level of MPO increased, and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with LPS model group, esculentoside groups could significantly improve the inflammatory damage of mammary gland tissue, reduce the secretion of neutrophils and the activity of MPO, the expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were also significantly down-regulated, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were increased, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased, and the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited by esculentoside（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Conclusion:Esculentoside have a protective effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in mice, which may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway protein expression.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the regulatory effect of Guben Fangxiao decoction on Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, TLR7, nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) and NF-κB inhibitor protein alpha (IκBα) in mice with asthma remission, in order to explore the mechanism of Guben Fangxiao decoction in treating asthma remission. Method:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) combined with chicken ovalbumin (OVA) was used to build asthma remission model in 3-week-old BALB/c mice. Sixty mice were divided into blank group, model group, dexamethasone group (0.001 g·kg-1), low,medium and high-dose Guben Fangxiao decoction group (6.5,13,26 g·kg-1), respectively. Intervention was given once a day for 28 days. After administration, the mice were put to death. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue and score the pulmonary inflammation. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of TLR4, TLR7, IκBα and nuclear NF-κB p65 in lung tissue of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression of NF-κB p65 in cellnucleuses. Result:Compared with blank group, the lung tissue of model group showed obvious inflammatory cell infiltration (PκB p65 increased significantly (PκBα proteins increased significantly (PPκB p65 (PκB p65 (PκBα proteins (PConclusion:Guben Fangxiao decoction can alleviate airway inflammation, and its therapeutic effect may be achieved by regulating TLR4, TLR7, NF-κB p65 and IκBα.