Effect and mechanism of Bovis Calculus on ulcerative colitis by inhibiting IL-17/IL-17RA/Act1 signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to elucidate the effect and underlying mechanism of Bovis Calculus in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC) through network pharmacological prediction and animal experimental verification. Databases such as BATMAN-TCM were used to mine the potential targets of Bovis Calculus against UC, and the pathway enrichment analysis was conducted. Seventy healthy C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a solvent model(2% polysorbate 80) group, a salazosulfapyridine(SASP, 0.40 g·kg~(-1)) group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose Bovis Calculus Sativus(BCS, 0.20, 0.10, and 0.05 g·kg~(-1)) groups according to the body weight. The UC model was established in mice by drinking 3% dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) solution for 7 days. The mice in the groups with drug intervention received corresponding drugs for 3 days before modeling by gavage, and continued to take drugs for 7 days while modeling(continuous administration for 10 days). During the experiment, the body weight of mice was observed, and the disease activity index(DAI) score was recorded. After 7 days of modeling, the colon length was mea-sured, and the pathological changes in colon tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-17(IL-17) in colon tissues of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-17RA, Act1, TRAF2, TRAF5, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL10 was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The protein expression of IL-17, IL-17RA, Act1, p-p38 MAPK, and p-ERK1/2 was investigated by Western blot. The results of network pharmacological prediction showed that Bovis Calculus might play a therapeutic role through the IL-17 signaling pathway and the TNF signaling pathway. As revealed by the results of animal experiments, on the 10th day of drug administration, compared with the solvent model group, all the BCS groups showed significantly increased body weight, decreased DAI score, increased colon length, improved pathological damage of colon mucosa, and significantly inhibited expression of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β, and IL-17 in colon tissues. The high-dose BCS(0.20 g·kg~(-1)) could significantly reduce the mRNA expression levels of IL-17, Act1, TRAF2, TRAF5, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, CXCL1, and CXCL2 in colon tissues of UC model mice, tend to down-regulate mRNA expression levels of IL-17RA and CXCL10, significantly inhibit the protein expression of IL-17RA,Act1,and p-ERK1/2, and tend to decrease the protein expression of IL-17 and p-p38 MAPK. This study, for the first time from the whole-organ-tissue-molecular level, reveals that BCS may reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by inhibiting the IL-17/IL-17RA/Act1 signaling pathway, thereby improving the inflammatory injury of colon tissues in DSS-induced UC mice and exerting the effect of clearing heat and removing toxins.

Tumor necrosis factor-α and NF-κB play a role in macrophage-like THP-1 cells promoting coal tar pitch extract-induced tumorigenic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To characterize the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and NF-κB play a role in macrophage-like THP-1 cells promoting coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From passage 10, CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells cocultured with THP-1 cells were treated with NF-κB inhibitor-Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) every 3 passages and TNF-α antibody every passage. Alterations of cell cycle, karyotype and colony formation in soft agar of BEAS-2B cells at passages 20, indicative of tumorigenicity, were determined, respectively. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of TNF receptor associated factor2 (TRAF2) and Cyclin D1 in BEAS-2B cells were measured with Real Time-PCR and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentages of S-phase BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 in PDTC group and TNF-α antibody group were (33.97±2.16)% and (34.29±2.04)% respectively, which were less than that in Co-culture+CTPE group of 20th passage [(44.46±0.83)%], P < 0.05; The number of cells with aneuploidy in 100 cells in 20th passage PDTC group and TNF-α antibody group were 40 and 37, and there were significantly different when comparing to that of 20th passage Co-culture+CTPE group (75); The number of colony formation and the rate of colony formation of BEAS-2B cells in soft agar at passage 20 in PDTC group were (15.17±2.48) and (1.51‰±0.25‰), (13.33±2.58)and (1.33‰±0.26‰) in TNF-α antibody group, which were less that those in 20th passage Co-culture+CTPE group [(172.33±12.09) and (17.23‰±1.20‰)], P < 0.05; at the same time, the mRNA and protein levels of TRAF2 and Cyclin D1 in BEAS-2B cells were decreased after PDTC and TNF-α antibody treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TNF-α and NF-κB could play an important role in THP-1 cells promoting coal tar pitch extract-induced tumorigenic transformation of BEAS-2B cells by influencing the expression of TRAF2 and Cyclin D1.</p>

Competition between TRAF2 and TRAF6 regulates NF-kappaB activation in human B lymphocytes / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF-2) and TRAF6 in CD40-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway and whether CD40 signaling requires TRAF2.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human B cell lines were transfected with plasmids expressing wild type TRAF2 or dominant negative TRAF2, TRAF2-shRNA, or TRAF6-shRNA. The activation of NF-kappaB was detected by Western blot, kinase assay, transfactor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Analysis of the role of TRAF-2 and TRAF-6 in CD40-mediated NF-kappaB activity was examined following stimulation with recombinant CD154.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TRAF2 induced activity of IkappaB-kinases (IKKalpha, IKKi/epsilon), phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, as well as nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of p65/RelA. In contrast, TRAF6 strongly induced NF-kappaB activation and nuclear translocation of p65 as well as p50 and c-Rel. Engagement of CD154-induced nuclear translocation of p65 was inhibited by a TRAF6-shRNA, but conversely was enhanced by a TRAF2-shRNA. Examination of direct interactions between CD40 and TRAFs by FRET documented that both TRAF2 and TRAF6 directly interacted with CD40. However, the two TRAFs competed for CD40 binding.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results indicate that TRAF2 can signal in human B cells, but it is not essential for CD40-mediated NF-kappaB activation. Moreover, TRAF2 can compete with TRAF6 for CD40 binding, and thereby limit the capacity of CD40 engagement to induce NF-kappaB activation.</p>

Enhancive effect of N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine on inducing precancerous lesion on nasal and/or nasopharyngeal epithelia of TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the enhancive effect of N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine (DNP) on induced carcinogenesis in nasal and/or nasopharyngeal epithelia among TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT transgenic mice to examine the underlying mechanism for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT transgenic mice and the same strain of C(57)BL/6J wild-type mice both at the age of 5 months were randomly divided into 2 groups in parallel, respectively, i.e., TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT cancerous lesion-inducing group (TI), TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT control group (TC), C57BL/6J cancerous lesion-inducing group (CI), and C57BL/6J control group (CC). TI and CI mice were treated only with DNP for 16 weeks, twice each week, while TC and CC mice were given the same volume of saline as controls. At the end of treatment, animals were sacrificed to collect epithelial tissue samples from nasal cavity and nasopharynx for pathohistological evaluation by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and for determination on the expression of TRAF2, c-Jun, and p16 by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Atypical hyperplasia was more significant in the samples of TI than in those of TC, CI, and CC, with the rates of lesions being 90%, 10%, 0, and 0 (P<0.01) respectively, though DNP was used alone in a much shortened inducing period at less dosage and without the use of carcinogenic promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate as usual. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and c-Jun in these samples were significantly up-regulated in TI (P<0.01), while the expression of p16 was significantly lower in TI than in the other groups (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice hold inherited constitutional defect in immune surveillance function, which can be aggravated by environmental carcinogens, such as DNP used even though in a much less strength. The enhanced carcinogenesis-inducing effect of DNP on TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice should be closely associated with abnormal signaling of activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway, especially up-regulated expressions of TRAF2 and c-Jun, and down-regulated expression of p16.</p>

Expression of TNF-alpha signaling adapter proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in lupus nephritis patients of different TCM asthenia syndromes / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mRNA expressions of the TNF adapter proteins, including TNF receptor-associated death domain protein (TRADD), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP-1) and TNF receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of lupus nephritis (LN) patients of various TCM asthenia syndromes. Methods Fifty-one inpatients with LN were differentiated according to TCM syndrome differentiation, 13 cases of yin-deficiency with inner heat syndrome (A); 26 cases of both qi-yin deficiency syndrome (B), 12 cases of Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome (C). Peripheral venous blood samples from the 51 LN patients and 17 healthy subjects were collected to separate PBMCs. The mRNA expressions of TNF adapter molecules (TRADD, FADD, RIP-1 and TRAF-2), as well as Caspase-3 and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and the differences among them were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) As compared with the healthy subjects, expression of TRADD mRNA in patients of syndrome A, B and C was lowered to 0.54, 0.32, and 0.38-fold, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), showing insignificant difference among the three syndromes; (2) FADD mRNA lowered to 0.79, 0.62, and 0.72-fold respectively, only with significance shown in syndrome B (P < 0.05); (3) RIP-1 mRNA lowered to 0.79, 0.50, and 0.60-fold respectively with significance shown in syndrome B and C (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and insignificant difference was shown among the three syndromes; (4) TRAF-2 lowered to 0.70, 0.52, and 0.50-fold respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P = 0.07), significance shown in syndrome B and C (P < 0.01), but with insignificant difference among the three; (5) Caspase-3 elevated in all patients of the three syndromes (all P < 0.01); (6) IL-1beta in syndrome A was apparently lower ed to the normal range and also lower than that in the other two syndromes (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expressions of TRADD, FADD, RIP-1 and TRAF-2 mRNA decreased in all the patients of various TCM asthenia syndromes, the decrement in patients of syndrome B and C was lesser than that in syndrome A. These abnormal low expressions of signal proteins might be the substantial bases for asthenia syndromes of LN patients, and the apoptotic signal mediated by them may involve in the formation of asthenia syndrome in LN.</p>

Expressions of NF--kappaBp65, TRAF2, cyclinD1 and their association with cell apoptosis in oral lichen planus / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the expression and distribution of NF-kappaBp65, TRAF2, and cyclinD1 and their association with cell apoptosis in oral lichen planus (OLP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty OLP patients were divided into erosion-atrophy group (n=30) and non-erosion group (n=30) according to their clinical features. Immunohistochemistry with SP method was used to detect the expressions of NF-kappaBp65, TRAF2, cyclinD1 in the 60 OLP and 40 normal oral mucosa (control) specimens. TUNEL assay of randomly selected specimens from 10 normal and 15 OLP cases was performed to detect the cell apoptotic index (AI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, OLP group showed significantly increased AI of the epithelial cells (67.32-/+18.99) and decreased AI of the lymphocytes (34.12-/+9.89) (P<0.05). In the OLP group, the positivity rates for NF-kappaBp65, TRAF2, and cyclin D1 in the epithelial cells (85.00%, 76.67% and 71.67%, respectively) and in the lymphocytes (91.67%, 86.67% and 70.00%, respectively) were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). NF-kappaBp65 expression was significantly increased in the lamina propria in the non-erosion OLP group as compared to the erosion-atrophy group. A positive correlation was noted between lymphocyte NF-kappaBp65 expression and AI of the epithelial cells, but an inverse correlation found between lymphocyte NF-kappaBp65 expression and the AI of the lymphocytes. Lymphocyte TRAF2 and cyclin D1expressions were also inversely correlated to lymphocyte AI. There was a positive correlation between TRAF2 and cyclin D1 expressions and the expression NF-kappaBp65 in the epithelial cells and lymphocytes in OLP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Accelerated apoptosis of the keratinocytes and inhibition of lymphocyte apoptosis may coexist to contribute to the formation and progression of OLP. NF-kappaBp65 expression, particularly its abnormal nuclear expression, may play a partial role in the pathogenesis of OLP.</p>

Differential Signaling via Tumor Necrosis Factor-Associated Factors (TRAFs) by CD27 and CD40 in Mouse B Cells

BACKGROUND: CD27 is recently known as a memory B cell marker and is mainly expressed in activated T cells, some B cell population and NK cells. CD27 is a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor family. Like CD40 molecule, CD27 has (P/S/T/A) X(Q/E)E motif for interacting with TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAFs), and TRAF2 and TRAF5 bindings to CD27 in 293T cells were reported. METHODS: To investigate the CD27 signaling effect in B cells, human CD40 extracellular domain containing mouse CD27 cytoplamic domain construct (hCD40-mCD27) was transfected into mouse B cell line CH12.LX and M12.4.1. RESULTS: Through the stimulation of hCD40-mCD27 molecule via anti-human CD40 antibody or CD154 ligation, expression of CD11a, CD23, CD54, CD70 and CD80 were increased and secretion of IgM was induced, which were comparable to the effect of CD40 stimulation. TRAF2 and TRAF3 were recruited into lipid-enriched membrane raft and were bound to CD27 in M12.4.1 cells. CD27 stimulation, however, did not increase TRAF2 or TRAF3 degradation. CONCLUSION: In contrast to CD40 signaling pathway, TRAF2 and TRAF3 degradation was not observed after CD27 stimulation and it might contribute to prolonged B cell activation through CD27 signaling.

Identification of a Variant Form of Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (c-IAP2) That Contains a Disrupted Ring Domain

Among the members of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family, only Livin and survivin have been reported to have variant forms. We have found a variant form of c-IAP2 through the interaction with the X protein of HBV using the yeast two-hybrid system. In contrast to the wild-type c-IAP2, the variant form has two stretches of sequence in the RING domain that are repeated in the C-terminus that would disrupt the RING domain. We demonstrate that the variant form has an inhibitory effect on TNF-mediated NF-kappaB activation unlike the wild-type c-IAP2, which increases TNF- mediated NF-kappaB activation. These results suggest that this variant form has different activities from the wild-type and the RING domain may be involved in the regulation of TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation.

Identification of a Variant Form of Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (c-IAP2) That Contains a Disrupted Ring Domain

Among the members of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family, only Livin and survivin have been reported to have variant forms. We have found a variant form of c-IAP2 through the interaction with the X protein of HBV using the yeast two-hybrid system. In contrast to the wild-type c-IAP2, the variant form has two stretches of sequence in the RING domain that are repeated in the C-terminus that would disrupt the RING domain. We demonstrate that the variant form has an inhibitory effect on TNF-mediated NF-kappaB activation unlike the wild-type c-IAP2, which increases TNF- mediated NF-kappaB activation. These results suggest that this variant form has different activities from the wild-type and the RING domain may be involved in the regulation of TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation.