Bear bile powder attenuates senecionine-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in mice / 中国天然药物

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) via exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) is with high mortality and there is no effective treatment in clinics. Bear bile powder (BBP) is a famous traditional animal drug for curing a variety of hepatobiliary diseases such as cholestasis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Here, we aim to evaluate the protective effect of BBP against HSOS induced by senecionine, a highly hepatotoxic PA compound. Our results showed that BBP treatment protected mice from senecionine-induced HSOS dose-dependently, which was evident by improved liver histology including reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen positive cells, alleviated intrahepatic hemorrhage and hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, as well as decreased conventional serum liver function indicators. In addition, BBP treatment lowered matrix metalloproteinase 9 and pyrrole-protein adducts, two well-known markers positively associated with the severity of PA-induced HSOS. Further investigation showed that BBP treatment prevents the development of liver fibrosis by decreasing transforming growth factor beta and downstream fibrotic molecules. BBP treatment also alleviated senecionine-induced liver inflammation and lowered the pro-inflammatory cytokines, in which tauroursodeoxycholic acid played an important role. What's more, BBP treatment also decreased the accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids, such as cholic acid, taurocholic acid, glycocholic acid, as well. We concluded that BBP attenuates senecionine-induced HSOS in mice by repairing the bile acids homeostasis, preventing liver fibrosis, and alleviating liver inflammation. Our present study helps to pave the way to therapeutic approaches of the treatment of PA-induced liver injury in clinics.

The protective effect of ritonavir against Gynura japonica-induced liver injury in rats / 药学学报

Numerous in vitro studies have shown that most pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are hepatotoxic after being metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. However, the key role of CYP3A4 has not been confirmed in vivo. Therefore, the CYP3A4 chemical inhibitor ritonavir was employed in this work and the effect of ritonavir on Gynura japonica-induced liver injury in rats was investigated. All experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Animal welfare and the animal experimental protocols were strictly consistent with related ethics regulations of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acute liver injury was induced by a single gavage of Gynura japonica extracts (GJE, 8 g·kg-1); rats in the protection group were gavaged with ritonavir (RIT, 30 mg·kg-1) 1 h before GJE treatment. The results show that RIT could significantly attenuate GJE-induced liver injury in rats. Rats in the protection group showed decreased serum activities for alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as lower total bile acids. In addition, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, sinusoidal hemorrhage, and hepatic necrosis in GJE-treated rats were markedly attenuated in the protection group. The content of pyrrole-protein adducts (PPAs), a recommended biomarker for PA-induced hepatotoxicity in clinics, was determined at 10 min to 24 h after GJE treatment. The content of 13 bile acids was also quantified. RIT treatment reduced the content of PPAs in serum dramatically and restored the impaired bile acid homeostasis caused by GJE. These studies indicate that RIT attenuated Gynura japonica-induced liver injury in rats, which was closely related to the inhibition of the metabolic activation of PAs and the regulation of bile acid metabolism. These results provide a better understanding of the relationship between CYP3A4 and PA-induced toxicity. This work will also be helpful in developing effective treatments for PA-induced liver injury and making a reasonable evaluation of the safety of drugs containing PAs in clinic.

The protective effect of salvianolic acid B against senecionine-induced hepatotoxicity in mice / 药学学报

In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of herbal-induced liver injury due to the accidental ingestion of herbal medicines containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in domestic. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a hydrophilic component in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., shows activities of anticoagulation, antioxidation, and other pharmacological activities. This research aims to investigate the protective effect of Sal B on hepatotoxicity induced by senecionine (SEN) and its potential mechanism. The animal experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and all mice have received humane care in compliance with the institutional animal care guidelines. Mice were treated with Sal B (10 mg·kg-1) 3 days before and 1 day after SEN (50 mg·kg-1) treatment. The animals were sacrificed 48 h after SEN administration. As a result, Sal B effectively ameliorated SEN-induced liver injury. The mice in the group treated with Sal B showed lower serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, less hepatic sinusoidal hemorrhage, and reduced hepatocyte necrosis. Besides, contents of pyrrole-protein adducts, the marker for PA-induced toxicity, were also decreased in serum. The key factors related to coagulation, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis were further analyzed. It was found that Sal B inhibited the coagulant system by reducing the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Sal B also modulated glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels and improved the anti-oxidative defense system. In addition, Sal B decreased the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and inhibited the progression of liver fibrosis via down-regulating several key factors related to liver fibrosis, including matrix metalloproteinase 9, transforming growth factor-β1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and chemokine 1. In conclusion, Sal B ameliorated SEN-induced liver injury in mice by regulating the blood coagulation system, improving oxidative stress, and modulating liver fibrosis-related factors. Our present study pointed to the possibility of utilizing salvianolic acid B for protection against PA-induced liver injury clinically.

The protective effects and mechanism of Alismatis Rhizoma extracts against senecionine-induced acute liver injury in mice / 药学学报

Drug-induced liver injury and herbal preparations containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) have gained global attention. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of Alismatis Rhizoma, a traditional Chinese medicine, to protect against acute liver injury in mice induced by senecionine (SEN), a representative toxic PA compound. All experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Animal welfare and the animal experimental protocols were strictly consistent with related ethics regulations of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acute liver injury was induced by a single intragastric administration of SEN (50 mg·kg-1). Mice in the protection groups received intragastric administration of Alismatis Rhizoma water extract (WE, 18 g·kg-1 per day) or ethanol extract (EE, 18 g·kg-1 per day) 5 days before SEN treatment. The results show that Alismatis Rhizoma extracts can significantly attenuate acute liver injury in mice. Mice in the protection groups showed decreased serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as decreased total bile acids. In addition, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, sinusoidal hemorrhage, and hepatic necrosis in SEN-treatment mice was clearly attenuated in the protection groups. Interestingly, EE showed a better effect than WE. The content of principal bile acids in serum and the mRNA and protein expression of key factors related to bile acid metabolism were also measured. Alismatis Rhizoma up-regulated the bile acid transporters and drug metabolism enzymes, consistent with the observed bile acid homeostasis and alleviation of SEN-induced injury to hepatocytes. The present study points to the possibility of utilizing Alismatis Rhizoma for protection against liver injury caused by drugs and preparations containing PA.

MicroRNA-143–5p modulates pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells functions in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension through targeting HIF-1α

This paper explores the potential mechanism of microRNA-143–5p regulation effects on pulmonary arterysmooth muscle cells (PASMCs) functions in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) via targeting HIF-1a,which may offer a new idea for HPH therapy. PASMCs were transfected with mimics control/miR-143–5pmimics or inhibitor control/miR-143–5p inhibitor. We used Western blotting and RT-qPCR to detect the proteinand mRNA expressions, CCK-8 assay to detect cellular viability, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and caspase3/cleaved caspase-3 protein to evaluate cellular apoptosis, transwell migration experiment for cellularmigration measurement and Dual luciferase reporter gene assay to prove the target of miR-143–5p. Cells underhypoxic condition presented the decreased protein and mRNA expressions of a-smooth muscle actin (SM-aactin), Myocardin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), and smooth muscle-22a (SM22a),Calponin1 and Hypoxia-inducible factor-1a(HIF-1a), the increased cell viability and miR-143–5p level; Overexpression of miR-143–5p obviously reduced vascular smooth muscle-specific contraction marker proteinlevels and cellular apoptosis, increased cellular migration of PASMCs with hypoxia stimulation; Low-expression of miR-143–5p caused the opposite changes, while co-transfected with Si HIF-1a blocked thebeneficial effects of miR-143–5p inhibition on PASMCs under hypoxia. MicroRNA-143–5p can promote thephenotype conversion, proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells under hypoxiccondition through direct targeting of HIF-1a.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of Apoptosis Antagonizing Transcription Factor Involved in Hydroquinone-Induced DNA Damage Response / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The molecular mechanism of DNA damage induced by hydroquinone (HQ) remains unclear. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) usually works as a DNA damage sensor, and hence, it is possible that PARP-1 is involved in the DNA damage response induced by HQ. In TK6 cells treated with HQ, PARP activity as well as the expression of apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF), PARP-1, and phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX) were maximum at 0.5 h, 6 h, 3 h, and 3 h, respectively. To explore the detailed mechanisms underlying the prompt DNA repair reaction, the above indicators were investigated in PARP-1-silenced cells. PARP activity and expression of AATF and PARP-1 decreased to 36%, 32%, and 33%, respectively, in the cells; however, γ-H2AX expression increased to 265%. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays were employed to determine whether PARP-1 and AATF formed protein complexes. The interaction between these proteins together with the results from IP assays and confocal microscopy indicated that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) regulated AATF expression. In conclusion, PARP-1 was involved in the DNA damage repair induced by HQ via increasing the accumulation of AATF through PARylation.

Relationship between expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and proliferative potency of endothelium in hemangioma in infants / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate relationship between expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and proliferative potency of endothelium in hemangioma (HM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect expression of iNOS and Ki-67 protein in 49 cases of HM and 29 cases of vascular malformation (VM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expressive rate of iNOS and Ki-67 protein of 49 cases of HM was 38% and (10.98 +/- 7.93)%. Expressive rate of iNOS and Ki-67 protein of 29 cases of VM was respectively 3% and (0.03 +/- 0.19)%. The expressive rate of iNOS and Ki-67 protein of HM was significantly higher than that of VM (P = 0.001 and 0). The expressive rate of Ki-67 protein of HM of proliferative phase was (12.67 +/- 7.65)% , which was significantly higher than that of HM of extinctive phase, (7.27 +/- 7.49)% (P = 0.028).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expression of iNOS and Ki-67 protein of HM is significantly higher than that of VM, and the proliferative potency of HM is significantly higher than that of VM.</p>

Effects ofcis-9,trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid on cancer cell cycle

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To determine the effect of cis-9, trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid on the cell cycle of mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) and its possible mechanism of inhibition cancer growth.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using cell culture and immunocytochemical techniques, we examined the cell growth, DNA synthesis, expression of PCNA, cyclin A, B(1), D(1), p16(ink4a) and p21(cip/wafl) of MCF-7 cells which were treated with various c9, t11-CLA concentrations (25 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM and 200 mM) of c9, t11-CLA for 24 and 48 h, with negative controls (0.1% ethanol).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell growth and DNA synthesis of MCF-7 cells were inhibited by c9, t11-CLA. MCF-7 cells, after treatment with various c9, t11-CLA doses mentioned above for 8 days, the inhibition frequency was 27.18%, 35.43%, 91.05%, and 92.86%, respectively and the inhibitory effect of c9, t11-CLA on DNA synthesis (except for 25 mM, 24 h) incorporated significantly less(3)H-TdR than did the negative control (P<0.05 andP<0.01). To further investigate the influence on the cell cycle progression, we found that c9, t11-CLA may arrest the cell cycle of MCF-7 cells. Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that MCF-7 cells preincubated in media supplemented with different c9, t11-CLA concentrations at various times significantly decreased the expressions of PCNA, and Cyclin, A, B(1), D(1) compared with the negative controls (P<0.01), whereas the expressions of p16(ink4a) and p21(cip/wafl), cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors (CDKI), were increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cell growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells is inhibited by c9, t11-CLA by blocking the cell cycle, which reduces expressions of cyclin A, B(1), D(1) and enhances expressions of CDKI (p16(ink4a) and p21(cip/wafl)).</p>