Effect of South African Herb Hoodia gordonii on Liver Glucolipid Metabolism and PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 Signalling Pathway in db/db Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of the South African herb Hoodia gordonii （HG） on glucolipid metabolism in diabetic db/db mice and explore the possible mechanisms of HG on the liver of db/db mice based on the phosphoinositide-3 kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/factor forkhead protein O1 （FoxO1） signaling pathway. MethodA total of 30 db/db mice were randomly divided into five groups according to fasting blood glucose： model group， metformin group （0.195 g·kg-1）， and low dose （0.39 g·kg-1）， medium dose （0.78 g·kg-1）， and high dose （1.56 g·kg-1） HG groups， with six m/m mice in each group， and another six m/m mice were set as normal group. The mice in the normal and model groups were given saline of 9 mL·kg-1 by gavage. Body weight， water intake， and fasting blood glucose of the mice in each group were measured weekly. After six weeks of continuous administration， serum insulin （FINS）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， urea， and creatinine （CREA） were measured， and liver sections were embedded and stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， periodic acid-Schiff （PAS）， and oil red O. Protein expression of PI3K p85， p-Akt， and p-FoxO1 in liver was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of PI3K， Akt， and FoxO1 in liver tissue was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultAfter six weeks of administration intervention， it was found that fasting blood glucose was significantly downregulated in mice in the three HG groups （P<0.05）. The level of islet resistance index was significantly reduced in both the low and medium dose HG groups （P<0.05）. The expression levels of TC， TG， and LDL were reduced in all HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathologically， HG could alleviate hepatocyte steatosis， reduce the volume and content of lipid droplets in liver， and increase the distribution of glycogen granules in liver to some extent in mice. Immunohistochemical assays revealed that PI3K p85 protein expression was significantly increased in the low， medium， and high dose HG groups compared with the model group （P<0.01）. p-Akt protein expression was significantly increased in the medium and high dose HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. p-FoxO1 protein expression was significantly increased in the low， medium， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， PI3K mRNA was increased in low dose， medium dose， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05）， and Akt mRNA was increased in high dose HG group （P<0.05）. FoxO1 mRNA was decreased in low dose， medium dose， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionHG can ameliorate the disorder of glucolipid metabolism in db/db mice， which may be related to its activation of the hepatic PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.

Study on the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of Blumea balsamifera total flavonoids against acute myocardial infarction model rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study pharmacodynamics and potential mechanism of Blumea balsamifera total flavonoids against acute myocardial infarction （AMI） model rats. METHODS AMI model of SD rats was established by ligating anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. Fifty model rats were randomly divided into model group （0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution）， positive control group （Compound danshen tablet， 300 mg/kg）， B. balsamifera total flavonoids low-dose， medium-dose and high- dose groups （3， 10， 30 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Other 10 rats were included in sham operation group （0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution）. After 1 day of surgery， they were given relevant medicine 3 mL/kg intragastrically， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. The changes of S-T segment were recorded before and after operation， after weekly intragastric administration. The hemodynamic indexes of rats were all determined， i.e. systolic blood pressure （SBP）， diastolic blood pressure （DBP）， mean arterial pressure （MAP）， left ventricular systolic pressure （LVSP）， left ventricular end diastolic blood pressure （LVEDP）， maximal left ventricular pressure rising rate （+LVdp/dtmax）， maximal left ventricular pressure decreasing rate （－LVdp/ dtmax）. The levels of serum myocardial enzymes [lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB （CK-MB）] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β] were determined. The myocardial infarction rate of rats and the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K） and protein kinase B （Akt） proteins in myocardial tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group， S-T segments of electrocardiogram were all decreased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05）. SBP， DBP， MAP， LVSP， +LVdp/dtmax， －LVdp/dtmax， and ratio of p-PI3KTyr607/ PI3K， p-AktThr308/Akt， p-Aktser473/Akt were increased significantly in B. balsamifera total flavonoids medium-dose and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. The levels of LVEDP， serum myocardial enzymes and inflammatory factors， myocardial infarction rate were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS balsamifera total flavonoids can improve cardiac function of AMI model rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factor and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Effect of hydrogen-rich water on brain injury in rats with acute radiation based on PI3K/AKT/Caspase-9 signaling pathway / 环境与职业医学

Background At present, radiation therapy is widely used in clinical treatment of tumors. However, while radiation therapy damages tumor cells, it also injures surrounding normal tissues. Studies have shown that hydrogen is a potential radiation-protective agent. Objective To investigate the neuroprotective mechanisms of hydrogen-rich water activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/cysteinyl aspartate specificproteinase-9 (Caspase-9) signaling pathway in acute radiation-induced brain injury. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, irradiation only group (IR), high-dose hydrogen-rich water intervention group (IR+HHRW), and low-dose hydrogen-rich water intervention group (IR+LHRW), 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, animals in each group received a single 20 Gy whole brain irradiation. Animals in all groups were gavaged once a day from 3 d before irradiation to 7 d after irradiation, pure water (20 mL·kg−1) was given to the control and the IR groups, and hydrogen-rich water (20 mL·kg−1, 10 mL·kg−1) was given to the IR+HHRW and the IR+LHRW groups. After 7 d of intervention, 5 rats in each group were selected for the Morris water maze experiment for behavioral evaluation. Autopsies were conducted after anesthesia for the remaining animals and blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. Rat brains were harvested for TUNEL staining to observe neuronal apoptosis. HE staining was performed to observe histopathological changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect oxidative stress-related indicators, and real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the expressions of PI3K/AKT/Caspase-9 pathway-related genes and proteins. Results The body weight of rats receiving irradiation decreased after 7 d of irradiation compared with the control group (P<0.05), and the symptoms such as arched back and malaise occurred to varying degrees, and the symptoms of rats in the IR+HHRW group were significantly milder than those in the IR group. The behavioral test results showed that the escape latency of rats in the IR+HHRW group or the IR+LHRW group was shorter than that in the IR group from day 2 to day 5 (P<0.05), and it took less time for rats in the IR+HHRW group to reach the original position after removing the platform on day 6 (P<0.05). The hematological test results showed that red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HGB) level, and white blood cell (WBC) count were significantly decreased in the IR group (P<0.05), and the changes in the IR+HHRW group were improved (P<0.05). The HE staining results showed that the number of abnormal nerve cells, broken and dissolved nuclei, and the degree of damage in the IR+HHRW group were significantly reduced than those in the IR group. The results of oxidative stress evaluation showed that the ability of the IR group to inhibit free radicals decreased, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased (P<0.01); the MDA level decreased after LHRW intervention (P<0.05); the SOD activity was elevated after HHRW intervention (P<0.05). The TUNEL staining results showed that the apoptosis signals in the IR+HHRW group were sparser than those in the IR group (P<0.05). The real-time PCR results showed that compared with the IR group, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and AKT in the IR+HHRW group and the IR+LHRW group increased (P<0.05), while the mRNA expression levels of Cytc and Caspase-9 decreased (P<0.05). The Western blotting results showed that compared with the IR group, the phospho-AKT (pAKT) protein expression level in the IR+HHRW group increased significantly (P<0.05), while the expression of Caspase-9 and Cytc proteins decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion Hydrogen-rich water can significantly reduce inflammation and oxidative stress caused by acute irradiation-induced brain injury, and decrease neuronal apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the PI3K/AKT/Caspase-9 signaling pathway.

Repair Mechanism of Jianpi Huogu Prescription on Vascular Injury in Alcohol-induced Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head Based on VEGF/VEGFR2/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

MethodIn the experiment， 46% vol Red Star Erguotou （10 mL·kg·d-1） was used to establish the AONFH rat model， and the intervention effect of JPHGP at different doses （2.5， 5.0， 10.0 g·kg-1） was observed. Jiangusheng pill （JGS， 1.53 g·kg-1） was selected as the positive control. After 8 weeks of administration， the bone histomorphometry of the femoral head was analyzed by Micro-CT imaging， and the area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head was detected by ink perfusion. The pathological change was observed by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining. The protein expressions of Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31）， VEGF， VEGFR2， PI3K， phosphor-Akt （p-Akt） and phosphatase and Tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 （PTEN） in the femoral head were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. ResultCompared with normal group， the model group presented the fracture and thinning of trabeculae in the femoral head， increased empty bone lacunae， and elevated number and diameter of adipocytes （P<0.01）. Micro-CT imaging revealed a decrease in bone mineral density （BMD）， bone volume fraction （BV/TV）， trabecular thickness （Tb.Th） and trabecular number （Tb.N） （P<0.05， P<0.01） while an increase in bone surface-to-volume ratio （BS/BV） and trabecular separation （Tb.Sp） （P<0.01）. The results of ink perfusion showed that the area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head was reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， JPHGP lowered the empty bone lacunae rate as well as the number and diameter of adipocytes in the femoral head of AONFH rats. Micro-CT imaging indicated that JPHGP low-dose group had elevated BV/TV， Tb.Th and Tb.N （P<0.05， P<0.01） while decreased BS/BV （P<0.01）， and there was an upward trend in BMD while a downward trend in Tb.Sp， but without statistical difference. In addition， JPHGP medium- and high-dose groups had a rise in BMD， BV/TV， Tb.Th and Tb.N （P<0.05， P<0.01）， a decrease in BS/BV and Tb.Sp （P<0.05， P<0.01） and enlarged area of medullary microvessels in the femoral head （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of CD31， VEGF， VEGFR2， PI3K， p-Akt in the model group were lower than those in the normal group （P<0.01）， and after medium and high doses of JPHGP treatment， the expressions of CD31， PI3K and p-Akt in the femoral head of rats were up-regulated （P<0.01） while the protein expression of PTEN was down-regulated （P<0.01）. Moreover， JPHGP up-regulated the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionJPHGP can repair the vascular injury in AONFH， and its mechanism may be related to the activation of VEGF/VEGFR2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study provides certain scientific basis and reference for the clinical application of JPHGP. ObjecctiveTo observe the repair effect of Jianpi Huogu prescription （JPHGP） on vascular injury in experimental alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head （AONFH）， and to explore its mechanism based on vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）/VEGFR2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang Combined with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell （BMSC） transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury （SCI）. MethodDifferent concentrations （12.5， 25， 50 g·kg-1） of Buyang Huanwutang were administrated to rats by gavage. The spinal cord function of rats was measured by modified Tarlov score， and the most suitable concentration of Buyang Huanwutang was screened out. SD rats were then divided into 6 groups， namely， the sham operation group （gavage of equal amount of normal saline）， the model group （gavage of equal amount of normal saline）， the Buyang Huanwutang group （gavage of 25 g·kg-1 Buyang Huanwutang）， the BMSC transplantation group （tail vein injection of BMSCs 1 mL）， the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC group （gavage of 25 g·kg-1 Buyang Huanwutang and tail vein injection of BMSCs 1 mL）， the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC+LY294002 group （gavage of 25 g·kg-1 Buyang Huanwutang and tail vein injection of BMSCs 1 mL and 40 mg·kg-1 LY294002）， with 10 rats in each group. The spinal cord function was measured by the modified Tarlov score， inclined plate test， and latency of cortical somatosensory evoked potential. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the number of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuracil nucleoside （Brdu）-labeled positive cells in the spinal cord tissue. The protein expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt）， glycoprotein 130 （gp130）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in spinal cord were detected by Western blot. ResultAs compared with the sham operation group， the Tarlov score and the critical angle of tilt plane in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and the latency of cortical somatosensory evoked potential wave and the protein expression levels of p-Akt， gp130， and IL-6 were significantly increased （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the Tarlov score and the critical angle of tilt plane in the sham operation group and each treatment group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the latency of cortical somatosensory evoked potential wave and the protein expression levels of p-Akt， gp130， and IL-6 were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. As compared with the BMSC group， the Tarlov score and the critical angle of inclined plane in the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC group increased （P<0.05）， the latency of cortical somatosensory evoked potential wave and the protein expression levels of p-Akt， gp130， and IL-6 decreased （P<0.05）， and the number of Brdu-labeled positive cells increased 5 weeks after transplantation （P<0.05）. As compared with the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC group， the Tarlov score and the critical angle of the inclined plane in the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC+LY294002 group increased （P<0.05）， and the latency of cortical somatosensory evoked potential wave and the protein expression levels of p-Akt， gp130， and IL-6 decreased significantly （P<0.05）. Five weeks after transplantation， the number of Brdu-labeled positive cells increased significantly in the Buyang Huanwutang+BMSC+LY294002 group （P<0.05）. ConclusionBuyang Huanwutang can promote BMSCs migration and restore spinal cord function by inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signal.

Inhibitory effects of formononetin on lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cells / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effects of formononetin on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cells through phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. METHODS Human lung cancer alveolar basal epithelial cells A549 were cultured in vitro and divided into control group （no intervention）， model group （1 μg/mL LPS）， different concentrations of formononetin groups （1 μg/mL LPS+6.25， 12.5， 25， 50 μmol/L formononetin）. The levels of inflammatory factors （interleukin-8， tumor necrosis factor-α） and cell viability were detected in each group. Another A549 cells were divided into control group， model group （1 μg/mL LPS）， LPS+25 group （1 μg/mL LPS+25 μmol/L formononetin）， inhibitor group （1 μg/mL LPS+20 μmol/L LY294002）， formononetin+inhibitor group （1 μg/mL LPS+25 μmol/L formononetin+20 μmol/L LY294002） and formononetin+activator group （1 μg/mL LPS+25 μmol/L formononetin+ 10 μmol/L SC79）. The secretion levels and mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors， cell apoptosis， and expressions of the key proteins of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were detected in each group. RESULTS Compared with model group， the levels of inflammatory factors were decreased significantly after the intervention of 25 μmol/L of formononetin， and the cell viability was increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the control group， the secretion levels and mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors， apoptotic rate， and relative expressions of phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated PI3K of the model group were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the above indexes of the LPS+25 group and the inhibitor group were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the LPS+25 group， the above indicators of formononetin+inhibitor group were further decreased， while those of formononetin+activator group were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Formononetin can inhibit LPS-induced epithelial cell apoptosis and improve inflammatory response， and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Design, synthesis and anti-tumor activity of combretastatin A-4 derivatives / 中国药科大学学报

@#Based on the structure of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), a microtubulin inhibitor, eight novel compounds were designed and synthesized by introducing different substituents into the benzimidazole backbone which substituted B ring of CA-4, and the structures were characterized by NMR and HRMS. Proliferation inhibition of six tumor cells including A549, HepG2, HCT-116, MCF-7, PC-3 and Siha was measured by MTT method.The effect of active compound on cell migration was evaluated by scratch test.Molecular docking technique was applied to investigate the interaction between the most active compound with the tubulin and PI3K kinases respectively.Compound 4e showed prominent inhibition against six strains of tumor cells, especially with the strongest inhibitory effect on Siha cells (IC50 = 12.18 ± 1.17 μmol/L).Moreover, compound 4e could effectively inhibit cell migration, which deserves further study.Molecular docking study showed that the binding energy to the tubulin of compound 4e was stronger than that of CA-4, and the affinity with PI3Ks displayed that the PI3Kδ subtype kinase was the strongest; its binding energy was -37.2 kJ/mol.This study lays a foundation for the development of anti-tumor drug based on PI3K and microtubulin.

Clinical features and diagnostic progress of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome / 中国综合临床

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome(APDS) is an autosomal dominant inherited primary immunodeficiency disease that is caused by mutations in PIK3CD or PIK3R1 genes leading to overactivation of the PI3Kδ signaling pathway, first reported by Angulo et al in 2013. The clinical manifestations of the disease are recurrent respiratory tract infections, benign lymph node hyperplasia, autoimmune diseases, lymphoma and so on. Although most patients develop the disease in childhood, there are also reports of adult onset and asymptomatic patients. In addition, the immunophenotype of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome is changeable, usually the IgA levels are reduced, the IgM levels can be normal or elevated, and the IgG levels are variable, so it is easy to be misdiagnosed at first diagnosis. There is no unified diagnostic standard at present, and timely genetic testing is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Advances in phenotyping activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase-delta syndrome type 1 and type 2 / 国际儿科学杂志

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase-delta syndrome(APDS) is a rare autosomal dominant primary immunodeficiency disease.According to mutation types, APDS is divided into two types, APDS1 and APDS2.APDS1 patients have more susceptibility to develop bronchiectasis, sinusitis, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, asthma, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, and are more frequently infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, while APDS2 patients are more prone to get pneumonia, eye infection, and lymphadenopathy, malignancy, neurological and growth retardation.Among the immunological features, the T cell count of APDS1 is significantly low, and APDS2 is more obvious to appear elevated IgM levels.Rapamycin is beneficial for both types of APDS, and Leniolisib is better tolerated in patients with APDS1.This article reviews the differences in pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, immunological characteristics, and treatment between APDS1 and APDS2 to improve the understanding by clinicians.

Mechanism of Xueniao Capsule in Treatment of Acute Pyelonephritis Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Xueniao capsule in the treatment of acute pyelonephritis （APN） by network pharmacology and experimental verification. MethodThe effect of Xueniao capsule on APN was investigated based on the APN model in rats. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， Chemistryl Database， and SymMap were searched for the chemical components of Smilacis Chinae Rhizoma，Coicis Semen， and Trachycarpi Petiolus. The target information of the components was collected from PharmMapper and SwissTargetPrediction， and disease target information from Therapeutic Target Database （TTD）， DrugBank， DisGeNET， GeneCards， and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man（OMIM）. The key genes of Xueniao capsule for APN underwent Gene Ontology（GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses by Metascap. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and Western blot were employed to verify the prediction results. ResultCompared with the blank group and the sham operation group， the model group showed an increased ratio of the left kidney to the right kidney and organ index（P<0.05， P<0.01），up-regulated white blood cells （WBC），neutrophils （NEUT），monocytes （MONO）， and lymphocytes （LY）（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and elevated levels of nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the norfloxacin group， the low- and high-dose Xueniao capsule groups showed a decreased ratio of the left kidney to the right kidney and organ index（P<0.05， P<0.01）， dwindled levels of WBC， NEUT， MONO， and LY（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced levels of NF-κB， IL-6， and TNF-α（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The medium-dose Xueniao capsule group showed a decreased ratio of the left kidney to the right kidney and organ index（P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced levels of WBC， NEUT， MONO， and LY（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and dwindled levels of IL-6 and TNF-α（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Network pharmacological analysis revealed 17 active compounds from Smilacis Chinae Rhizoma， 18 active compounds from Coicis Semen， six active compounds from Trachycarpi Petiolus， and 39 key genes for the treatment of APN in Xueniao capsule. GO enrichment analysis demonstrated 704 biological processes， 22 cellular components， and 59 molecular functions. Sixty-two pathways were enriched in KEGG enrichment analysis. The experimental verification results showed that compared with the blank group， the model group showed increased mRNA expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 （PTGS2）， mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 （ERK2），phosphoinositide 3 kinase （PI3K），protein kinase B2（Akt2），Janus kinase 2 （JAK2），and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）and protein expression of PI3K， Akt2， JAK2， and STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low-dose Xueniao capsule group showed decreased mRNA expression of MAPK1， PI3K， JAK2， and STAT3 and protein expression of PI3K， JAK2， and STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The medium-dose Xueniao capsule group showed decreased mRNA expression of MAPK1， PTGS2， PI3K， JAK2， and STAT3， and protein expression of PI3K， JAK2， and STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The high-dose Xueniao capsule group showed reduced mRNA expression of PTGS2， MAPK1， PI3K， Akt2， JAK2， and STAT3 and protein expression of PI3K， Akt2， JAK2， and STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXueniao capsule has a certain curative effect on APN via multiple targets and multiple pathways. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Effect of Shengjiang Tonglong Prescription Hollow Suppository on Rats with Prostatic Hyperplasia Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository on rats with prostate hyperplasia， and the effect of the proteins related to phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway in the prostate， thus exploring the mechanism of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository in the treatment of rats with prostate hyperplasia. MethodTen SD male rats were randomly selected from 60 SD male rats to form a sham operation control group， and the rest rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate for 4 consecutive weeks after castration to induce the rat model of prostatic hyperplasia. According to the random number table method， the 50 rats were randomly divided into a model group， a finasteride group （0.45 mg·kg-1）， and three high， middle， and low-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups （3.98， 1.99， 0.99 g·kg-1）， with ten rats in each group. After castration for 7 d， the sham operation control group and the model group used the blank hollow suppositories， and the finasteride group and the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups used the corresponding hollow suppositories. The drugs were given to the rats by anal plugs continuously for 28 d. The rats were then killed， and the prostate tissues were separated and weighed to observe the effects of drugs on the prostate index of rats in each group. The hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used for the pathological observation of the prostate tissues. The level of dihydrotestosterone （DHT） was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and αB-crystallin （CRYAB） protein in the prostate tissues. ResultAs compared with the sham operation control group， the protein expression levels of prostate index， DHT level， CRYAB， Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt in the model group were increased， and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the prostate index in the high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository group was decreased （P<0.05）， and the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of CRYAB， Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt in the prostate of the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups were decreased， and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionShengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository decreases the expression of CRYAB protein， negatively regulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， down-regulates the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt， and up-regulates the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax， thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis， which plays a therapeutic role in the benign prostate hyperplasia （BPH）. The high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository significantly improves prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

Effect of Shengjiang Tonglong Prescription Hollow Suppository on Rats with Prostatic Hyperplasia Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository on rats with prostate hyperplasia， and the effect of the proteins related to phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway in the prostate， thus exploring the mechanism of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository in the treatment of rats with prostate hyperplasia. MethodTen SD male rats were randomly selected from 60 SD male rats to form a sham operation control group， and the rest rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate for 4 consecutive weeks after castration to induce the rat model of prostatic hyperplasia. According to the random number table method， the 50 rats were randomly divided into a model group， a finasteride group （0.45 mg·kg-1）， and three high， middle， and low-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups （3.98， 1.99， 0.99 g·kg-1）， with ten rats in each group. After castration for 7 d， the sham operation control group and the model group used the blank hollow suppositories， and the finasteride group and the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups used the corresponding hollow suppositories. The drugs were given to the rats by anal plugs continuously for 28 d. The rats were then killed， and the prostate tissues were separated and weighed to observe the effects of drugs on the prostate index of rats in each group. The hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used for the pathological observation of the prostate tissues. The level of dihydrotestosterone （DHT） was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and αB-crystallin （CRYAB） protein in the prostate tissues. ResultAs compared with the sham operation control group， the protein expression levels of prostate index， DHT level， CRYAB， Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt in the model group were increased， and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the prostate index in the high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository group was decreased （P<0.05）， and the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of CRYAB， Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt in the prostate of the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups were decreased， and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionShengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository decreases the expression of CRYAB protein， negatively regulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， down-regulates the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2， PI3K， and Akt， and up-regulates the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax， thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis， which plays a therapeutic role in the benign prostate hyperplasia （BPH）. The high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository significantly improves prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

Effect of activating adenosine A2B receptors on autophagy during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats: role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of activating adenosine A2B receptors on autophagy during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in rats.Methods:Forty-eight clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 220-280 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group Sham), myocardial I/R group (group I/R), adenosine A2B receptor agonist BAY 60-6583 group (group BAY) and BAY 60-6583+ PI3K inhibitor LY 294002 group (group BAY+ LY). Myocardial I/R was induced by occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120-min reperfusion.BAY 60-6583 1 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 5 min before reperfusion in group BAY.BAY 60-6583 1 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 5 min before reperfusion and LY 294002 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 10 min before reperfusion in group BAY+ LY.Blood samples were obtained at the end of reperfusion for determination of concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The animals were sacrificed, and myocardial tissues were obtained for measurement of the percentage of myocardial infarct size (by Evan Blue and TTC double-staining) and for determination of the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3Ⅰ), LC3Ⅱ, Beclin-1 and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) (by Western blot). The ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was calculated. Results:Compared with group Sham, the serum LDH and CK-MB concentrations and percentage of myocardial infarct size were significantly increased, the expression of p-Akt was down-regulated, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ was up-regulated, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was increased in group I/R ( P<0.05). Compared with group I/R, the concentrations of serum LDH, CK-MB and percentage of myocardial infarct size were significantly decreased, the expression of p-Akt was up-regulated, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ was down-regulated, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was decreased in the group BAY ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group BAY+ LY ( P>0.05). Compared with group BAY, the concentrations of serum LDH, CK-MB and percentage of myocardial infarct size were significantly increased, the expression of p-Akt was down-regulated, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ was up-regulated and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was increased in group BAY+ LY ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Activating adenosine A2B receptors can decrease autophagy of myocardial cells during myocardial I/R injury, and the mechanism may be related to activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in rats.

Effect of Shugan Jianpi Jiedu Prescription Medicated Serum on Proliferation， Migration and Invasion of Triple-negative Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells Based on PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the efficacy and mechanism of Shugan Jianpi Jiedu prescription （SJJ） in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer through <italic>in vitro</italic> cell experiments. Method:The following groups were set up in this study： a normal serum group，a pirarubicin group，and low-，medium-， and high-dose SJJ-medicated serum groups. Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups and administered with SJJ solution （16.8，8.2，4.05 g·kg^-1） and normal saline （equal volume） according to the body surface area to prepare serum. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated separately. The proliferation， migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8），wound healing assay and transwell cell invasion assay. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K），protein kinase B （Akt）， and mechanistic target of rapamycin （mTOR） protein expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells were tested by the Western blot. Result:The cell proliferation in the three different doses of medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin positive control group was significantly inhibited as compared with that in the normal serum group（<italic>P</italic><0.01），and there was no statistical difference for this between the medium/high dose medicated serum group and the pirarubicin positive control group.The wound healing in the SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group was slowed down as compared with that in the normal serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.01），and the effect in the SJJ-medicated serum groups was weaker than that in the pirarubicin group （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The number of cells invading the lower transwell chamber was decreased as compared with that in the normal serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.01），and there was no statistical difference between the medium-/high-dose SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group. Western blot results showed that 48 h after treatment，the PI3K，Akt， and mTOR expression levels in the cells of SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group were lower than those of the normal serum group（<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:The SJJ-medicated serum could inhibit the proliferation， migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells presumedly by down-regulating the protein expression levels in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Analysis of Neuroprotective Effect of Danggui Shaoyaosan on APPswe/PS1ΔE9 Transgenic Mice Based on Circular RNA Sequencing / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Danggui Shaoyaosan （DSS） on APP_swe/PS1_ΔE9transgenic （APP/PS1） mice and its mechanism related to circular RNA （circRNA）. Method:Totally twenty 6-month-old APP/PS1 mice were divided into model group and DSS group， and 10 C57BL/6 wild-type mice were set as the normal control group. The normal group and model group received the same volume of normal saline， and DSS group received drug by gavage administration， all for 8 weeks. The differentially expressed circRNA of APP/PS1 mice before and after DSS intervention was analyzed by circRNA sequencing to construct circRNA-miRNA mRNA interaction network. The results of cricRNA sequencing were then verified by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， p-PI3K， protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， p-Akt1， B lymphocytoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-Associated X protein （Bax） in the hippocampus were detected by immunoblotting （Western blot）. The protein expression of Caspase-3 in the hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry and the level of apoptosis in the hippocampus was detected by the TUNEL method. Result:Compared with the model group， there were 90 differentially expressed circRNA after intervention with DSS， of which 46 were up-regulated and 44 down-regulated. Compared with the normal group， the expression levels of circRNA1398 and circRNA1399 in the model group decreased， and the expression levels of miR-103-3p， miR-153-3p， miR-143-3p， and miR-143-5p increased. Compared with the model group， the expression levels of circRNA1398 and circRNA1399 in the DSS group were up-regulated， while the expression levels of miR-103-3p， miR-153-3p， miR-143-3p， and miR-143-5p were down-regulated. Compared with the normal group， the expression of p-PI3K， Akt1， p-Akt1， and Bcl-2 in the model group decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic> P</italic><0.01）， and the expression of Bax and Caspase in the model group increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the expression of p-PI3K， Akt1， p-Akt1， and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus of the DSS group increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the protein expression of Bax and Caspase decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the apoptosis level in the hippocampus of the model group increased， with an apoptosis rate of （43.76±2.92）%. Compared with the model group， the apoptosis rate of DSS group was （24.64±3.39）%. Conclusion:DSS can activate PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibit apoptosis in hippocampal neurons of APP / PS1 mice， and play a neuroprotective role. The specific mechanism may be related to the regulation of circRNA1398 and circRNA1399 expression and the corresponding miRNA expression.

Effect of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription on Learning， Memory， and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in Epileptic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription （HZJDSG） on learning， memory， and the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase-3<italic>β</italic> （GSK-3<italic>β</italic>） pathway-related proteins in epileptic rats， and to explore its possible mechanism. Method:Forty-eight SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a sodium valproate （0.19 g·kg^-1） group， and low- （2.7 g·kg^-1）， medium- （5.4 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （10.8 g·kg^-1） HZJDSG groups， with eight rats in each group. The normal group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution （0.035 g·kg^-1） by intraperitoneal injection， and the other five groups received pentetrazol （PTZ） at the same dose to induce a chronic epilepsy model for a total of 14 times. The drug groups received corresponding drugs and the normal group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution at the same volume once a day for 28 days. During the drug intervention period， epilepsy was maintained in each modeling group by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ on day 7， 14， 21， and 28. The behavioral changes of rats were observed by Morris water maze and the pathomorphological changes of rat hippocampal neurons by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expression of phosphorylation Akt（p-Akt）and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> was detected by immunohistochemistry and the protein expression of PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， GSK-3<italic>β</italic>， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed prolonged platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， reduced number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， structural damage of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， down-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β </italic>in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and reduced relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the sodium valproate group and the HZJDSG groups showed shortened platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and improved neuronal structure in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， while the sodium valproate group and the high- and medium-dose HZJDSG groups exhibited increased number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and elevated relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:HZJDSG can improve the learning and memory of epileptic rats， and its antiepileptic effect may be achieved by the activation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3<italic>β</italic> pathway-related proteins.

Mechanism of Xinfeng Capsules improving rheumatoid arthritis based on CD19~+B cells regulating FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effect of Xinfeng Capsules on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) B lymphocytes,inflammatory mediators,FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway,in order to explore the mechanism of Xinfeng Capsules in improving clinical symptoms of RA.Joint and systemic symptoms of RA patients were observed,and laboratory indicators[hemoglobin (HGB),platelet count (PLT),erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR),immunoglobulin (Ig) G,Ig A,Ig M,rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-cyclic citrulline antibody (CCP-AB),C-reactive protein (CRP)]were detected.ELISA was used to detect serum interleukin (IL)-1β，IL-10,IL-33,chemokine 5 (CCL5),and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).CD3~-CD19~+B cells were measured by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect FAK,p-FAK,CAPN,PI3K protein.The results showed that Xinfeng Capsules could significantly alleviate RA joint and systemic symptoms and improve clinical efficacy.And Xinfeng Capsules could increase HGB,decrease PLT,CCP-AB,CRP,ESR index,upregulate IL-10 expression,and down-regulate IL-1β，IL-33,CCL5,VEGF,CD3~-CD19~+B cells,FAK,p-FAK,CAPN,PI3K expressions (P<0.01).Based on the above results,Xinfeng Capsules may reduce the expression of CD3~-CD19~+,regulate the balance of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines,inhibit abnormal activation of FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway,and improve clinical symptoms of RA.

Mangiferin attenuates IL / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Chondrocyte apoptosis is an important process in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Mangiferin exerts multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis. However, the role of mangiferin in chondrocyte apoptosis is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of mangiferin in IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis.@*METHODS@#ATDC5 cells were randomly divided into a control group, a IL-1β group, a MFN-L group, a MFN-M group, a MFN-H group and a MFN+LY294002 group. Cells in the control group were treated with IL-1β (10 ng/mL) for 24 h; cells in the MFN-L group, the MFN-M group and the MFN-H group were pretreated with 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L mangiferin for 1 h respectively, and then they were treated with IL-1β (10 ng/mL) for 24 h; cells in the MFN+LY294002 group were treated with LY294002 (25 μmol/L) for 1 h, then mangiferin (20 μmol/L) and IL-1β (10 ng/mL) for 1 h and 24 h, respectively. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay and cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Colorimetric assay was conducted to measure the caspase-3 activity. The protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway related proteins were detected by Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared to the control group, cell viability was significantly decreased; cell apoptosis, caspase-3 activity and Bax protein expression were significantly increased; the protein levels of Bcl-2, p-PI3K, and p-Akt were significantly decreased in the IL-1β group (all @*CONCLUSIONS@#Mangiferin could attenuate IL-1β-induced apoptosis of the mice chondrocytes, which is mediated by the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Discovery of Eucalyptin C, derived from the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill., as a novel selective PI3Kγ inhibitor for immunosuppressive treatment / 中国天然药物

The fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. are known to have a plenty of medicinal properties, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive activity. Our previous study found that the phloroglucinol-sesquiterpene adducts in the fruits of E. globulus were immunosuppressive active constituents, especially Eucalyptin C (EuC). Phosphoinositide 3-kinases-γ (PI3Kγ) plays a pivotal role in T cell mediated excessive immune responses. In this study, EuC was first discovered to be a novel selective PI3Kγ inhibitor with an IC

Effect of Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang on Signaling Pathway of PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin in Hippocampus Tissue of Rats with Depression / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the effect of Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase 3β （GSK3β）/β-catenin signaling pathway of hippocampus in rats with depression. Method:A total of 120 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group，model group， and low， middle and high-dose Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang groups（3.25，6.5，13 g·kg-1）， and fluoxetine group， with 20 rats in each group. Except normal group， the depression model was prepared through chronic unpredictable mild stimulation（CUMS）. The normal group and the model group were given normal saline with 6.5 g·kg-1 by gavage. Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang groups were intragastrically given corresponding herbal drugs 3.75，6.5，13 g·kg-1， while fluoxetine group was intragastrically given fluoxetine 10 mg·kg-1 for 21 days， once a day. Then the depressive behaviors of rats were observed by sucrose preference test （SPT） and forced swimming test （FST）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of PI3K，Akt，GSK3β and phosphorylation level. Result:Compared with normal group，the sucrose preference index was decreased significantly，while the immobility time in FST was increased significantly（P<0.01）， the protein expressions of PI3K， p-PI3K p110， p-PI3K p85 were decreased significantly （P<0.01）， and expressions of Akt， p-Akt Thr308，p-Akt Ser473， p-GSK3β Ser9 and β-catenin were decreased significantly（P<0.01）， while the level of GSK3β， p-GSK3β Tyr216 were increased significantly in model group（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with model group，Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang could increase sucrose preference index and decrease the immobility time in FST（P<0.01）， the protein expressions of PI3K p110 and PI3K p85 was increased significantly （P<0.01）， levels of Akt Thr308，Akt Ser473， p-GSK3β Ser9， β-catenin were increased significantly （P<0.01）， whereas levels of GSK3β， and GSK3β Tyr216 were decreased significantly. Conclusion:Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang could increase protein expression and activity of PI3K in rat hippocampus， activate Akt， inhibit GSK3β kinase activity and prevent β-catenin from degradation， so as to increase PI3K/Akt pathway activity in rat hippocampus， and protect hippocampal neurons.