The Effect of Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方） on Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis in Chronic Heart Failure Model Rats Based on the NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling Pathway / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方） in the treatment of chronic heart failure （CHF） from the perspective of pyroptosis. MethodsFifty-two rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （n=8） and modeling group （n=44）. In the modeling group， the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery was ligated to construct CHF rat model. Forty successfully-modelled rats were randomly divided into model group， Entresto group， Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， MCC950 group and the combination group （Shenqi Jianxin Formula plus MCC950）， with 8 rats in each group. In Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， 7.4 g/（kg·d） of Shenqi Jianxin Formula was given by gavage， while in Entresto group， 68 mg/（kg·d） of Entresto suspension was given by gavage； in MCC950 group， MCC950 was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg once every other day， and in the combination group， 7.4 g/（kg·d） of Shenqi Jianxin Formula was given by gavage， and MCC950 was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg once every other day； 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline was given by gavage in the sham operation group and the model group. After 3 weeks of continuous intervention， serum brain B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP）， creatine kinase isoenzyme MB （CK-MB）， interleukin 1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin 18 （IL-18） levels were detected by ELISA； HE staining and MASSON staining were used to observe pathological changes in rat myocardium. Except for the Entresto group， western blot technique was used to detect the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， caspase-1， and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein possessing a caspase-recruiting domain （ASC）； RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， HE staining of rats in the model group showed obvious myocardial injury， while MASSON staining showed increased area of collagen fibrosis， and serum BNP， CK-MB， IL-1β， IL-18， myocardial tissue NLRP3， caspase-1， ASC protein expression and NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were all elevated （P＜0.05）. Compared with those in the model group， cardiomyocyte injury of rats and collagen fibrosis area were reduced， and serum BNP， CK-MB， IL-1β， and IL-18 contents were all reduced in Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， Entresto group， MCC950 group， and the combination group； except for Entresto group， myocardial tissue NLRP3， caspase-1， ASC protein expression and NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were reduced in the remaining three medication group （P＜0.05）. Compared with Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， the MCC950 group and the combination group showed decreased serum IL-1β and IL-18 content， collagen fibrosis area， myocardial tissue NLPR3， caspase-1 protein expression， and caspase-1 mRNA expression， and decreased ASC and NLRP3 mRNA expression was shown in the combination group （P＜0.05）. Compared with MCC950 group， collagen fibrosis area was reduced， and serum IL-18 content， NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were reduced in the combination group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionShenqi Jianxin Formula can effectively improve the myocardial injury and heart failure in rats with CHF， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of cardiomyocyte pyroptosis through NLPR3/Caspase-1 pathway to reduce the level of intramyocardial inflammation. The combined use of MCC950 with Shenqi Jianxin Formula could more effectively inhibite myocardial pyroptosis， with better therapeutic result than single use of each part.

Effects of MCC950 on nerve injury in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of the pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 on nerve injury in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH). Methods: Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=24): Sham group, ICH group and MCC950 group. ICH group and MCC950 group rats were injected with autogenous non-anticoagulant blood to establish ICH model, and then the rats in MCC950 group were intraperitoneally injected with MCC950 at the dose of 10 mg/kg(2 mg/ml) for 3 days after ICH model was established. Seventy-two hours after the establishment of the model, the forelimb placement test, the corner test and mNSS score were performed to observe the neurological function of the rats with ICH. The volume of hematoma was observed in fresh brain tissue sections. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of brain tissue. The dry-wet weight ratio was calculated to evaluate the changes of brain tissue edema. The degeneration of neurons was observed by FJC staining. The neuronal apoptosis was observed by TUNEL staining. The protein expression and activation levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18 and GSDMD were determined by Western blot. Results: Compared with sham group, the percentage of successful placement of left forelimb and left turn was decreased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜0.05), mNSS score was increased significantly (P＜0.01) in ICH group. Hematoma volume was increased significantly, the number of microglial cells around the hematoma was increased, the number of neurons was decreased, nerve cell swelled, some cells showed pyknotic necrosis, and the staining was deepened. The water content of the right base was increased significantly (P＜0.05). The number of FJC positive and TUNEL positive cells around the hematoma was increased significantly (P＜0.05). The levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1/pro-caspase-1 ratio, GSDMD-N, GSDMD, GSDMD-N/GSDMD ratio, IL-1β and IL-18 were increased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜ 0.05). Compared with ICH group, the percentage of successful placement of left forelimb and left turn was increased significantly in MCC950 group (P＜0.05), while the mNSS score and the volume of hematoma were decreased significantly (P＜0.01), the swelling degree of nerve cells around the hematoma was reduced significantly, and the number of pyrotic necrotic cells was decreased. The water content of the right base was decreased significantly (P＜0.05), and the number of FJC positive and TUNEL positive cells around the hematoma was decreased significantly (P＜0.05). The levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1/pro-caspase-1 ratio, GSDMD-N, GSDMD, GSDMD-N/GSDMD ratio, IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: MCC950 can ameliorate nerve injury after ICH by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome mediated inflammation and pyroptosis.

Block nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome to alleviate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis / 中华消化杂志

Objective:To explore the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).Methods:The liver tissue samples of 24 patients admitted the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were selected, including 12 NASH samples from liver biopsy and 12 normal liver tissues from the margin of hepatic hemangioma. The expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β and the content of triglyceride (TG) were detected. Wild-type and NLRP3 -/- C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal diet or methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) for 8 weeks. The wild-type mice were divided into MCC950 NASH, 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) NASH, MCC950 and 0.9% NaCl group, 8 mice in each group, and were fed with MCD diet and treated with MCC950, fed with MCD diet and treated with 0.9% NaCl, fed with normal diet and treated with MCC950, and fed with normal diet and treated with 0.9% NaCl respectively for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the pathologic changes of liver tissues were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), free fatty acid (FFA), IL-1β and TG in serum were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β in liver tissues were examined by Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Primary Kupffer cells were isolated and cultured from the livers of wild-type and NLRP3 -/- mice and divided into control group and palmitic acid group. The expression levels of related proteins in the supernatant of cells culture were detected by Western blotting. Independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results:The expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and the content of TG of the liver tissues of the NASH patients were all higher than those of healthy control group (all P<0.05). The formation of steatohepatitis in hepatocyte of MCD-fed mice was more obvious than that of nomal diet-fed mice, with more hepatocyte ballooning and inflammatory cell infiltration. The expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, caspase-1 activity and the content of TG in liver tissue of NASH mice were all higher than those of normal diet-fed group (all P<0.05); and serum levels of ALT, AST, IL-1β, and the content of FAA were all higher than those of normal diet-fed group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of ALT, AST, IL-1β and IL-18 of NLRP3 -/- NASH mice were all lower than those of wild-type NASH mice (all P<0.05). The serum level of ALT, the expression of ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β in liver tissues, and the degrees of liver fibrosis of wild-type MCC950 NASH group were all lower than those of 0.9% NaCl NASH group (all P<0.05). The expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, caspase-1 activity, and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in Kupffer cells from wild-type mouse treated with palmitic acid were all higher than those of the negative control group (all P<0.05). However, the changes of the above indicators in Kupffer cells from NLRP3 -/- mouse were not affected by palmitic acid treatment. Conclusion:NLRP3 blockade can significantly alleviate the liver injury and fibrosis in NASH mice and prevent the development of NASH.

Protection of Mcc950 against H2O2-induced inflammatory injury in ARPE-19 cells / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To research the protection of Mcc950, the inhibitor of NLRP3, against the inflammatory injury to human retinal pigment epithelium cell line ARPE-19. <p>METHODS: Cultured cell line ARPE-19 was divided into control group, H₂O₂ treating group, Mcc950 treating group and Mcc950+H₂O₂ treating group. Different concentrations of H₂O₂ and Mcc950 were used to treat the cells. Cell activity was detected by using CKK8 and proper experimental concentration of H₂O₂ and Mcc950 were determined. After the treatment, the concentration of IL-1β were detected by using ELISA. The change of NLRP3 related proteins were detected by Western blot. And cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL stain. <p>RESULTS: Cell ability was gradually decreased along with the increasing treating concentrations of H₂O₂. Cell ability showed statistical difference when the concentration of H₂O₂ arrived 400μmol/L. With the concentration of 0.1 and 1μmol/L, Mcc950 had no effect on cell ability. So we chose 400μmol/L H₂O₂ and 1μmol/L Mcc950 as the experimental concentrations. Compared with the normal control group, the cell viability in the H₂O₂ treating group was significantly reduced, the IL-1β in the supernatant was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly increased, with statistically significant differences(<i>P</i><0.05). In Mcc950+H₂O₂ treating group, cell viability was significantly increased, the IL-1β in the supernatant and the apoptosis rate were significantly decreased(<i>P</i><0.05). By Western blot, after treated with 400μmol/L H₂O₂, the IL-1β, NLRP3, pro-caspase1 and caspase1 were obviously increased compared to control group. After treated with Mcc950, the NLRP3 and pro-caspase1 still were at high level, the expression of caspase1 was suppressed, which indicated that Mcc950 effectively inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome consequently disturbed the formation of caspase1.<p>CONCLUSION: Mcc950 can inhibits the function of NLRP3, leading to increasing of the cell ability and decreasing of the cell apoptosis.

Protective effect of MCC950 against lung injury induced by mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns / 医学研究生学报

Objective There is still no specific immuno-therapy to acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by severe trau-ma.The article aimed to investigate the effect of MCC 950 on lung in-jury induced by mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns ( MTDs) and preliminarily evaluate its molecular mechanism . Methods 40 SD rats were randomly devided into control group , MTDs group, MCC950 group, MTDs+MCC950 group.The rats were were taken MCC950 (20mg/kg) by peritoneal injection pretreatment for 1 hour, followed by tail vein injection of MTDs (5%liver vol-ume) and were killed 12 hours later.ELISA were applied to detect tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β( IL-1β) and IL-18 in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) , and BCA method to assess the content of total protein .Lung tissues were weighed to calculate lung wet weight/body weight( LWW/BW) ratio, and stained by HE staining to observe the pathological changes through light micro -scope.Smith lung injury score was used to assess histological lung injury .Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expression of Pro-Caspase-1 and Caspase-1. Results ①Compared with control group , TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-18 in BALF of MTDs group were significantly increased( all P<0.05), but not in MCC950 group(P>0.05), TNF-αin BALF of MTDs +MCC950 group were signifi-cantly increased( all P<0.05), IL-1βand IL-18 were not(all P>0.05).Compared with MTDs group, IL-1βand IL-18 in BALF of MTDs +MCC950 group were in serious decline (all P<0.05).Compared with control group, the LWW/BW ratio [(4.19±0.36)mg/g vs (6.32±0.54)mg/g, P<0.05] and the content of total protein [(0.12±0.03)g/L vs (0.79±0.07)g/L, P<0.05] were dramatically increased.Compared with MTDs group, the LWW/BW ratio [(4.35±0.29)mg/g, (4.47±0.0.46)mg/g, P<0.05] and the content of total protein [(0.12±0.06)g/L, (0.15±0.06)g/L, P<0.05] were in serious decline.Smith lung injury score revealed that compared with control group the score of MTDs group was elevated (1.00±0.00 vs 8.33±0.58, P<0.05), and the score of MTDs+MCC950 group was significantly decreased than MTDs group ( 8.33±0.58 vs 3.67±0.58, P<0.05) .Compared with control group , the protein expres-sion of Pro-caspase-1 and caspase-1 were markedly improved (all P<0.05).However, the expression of caspase-1 was significantly milder than that in MTDs group ( P<0.05), the protein expression of Pro-caspase-1 was comparable ( P>0.05). Conclusion MCC950 exerts protective effect against lung injury induced by MTDs probably via the inhibition of NLRP 3 inflammasome activation .