Modulation of type I interferon signaling by natural products in the treatment of immune-related diseases / 中国天然药物

Type I interferon (IFN) is considered as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Proper activation or inhibition of type I IFN signaling is essential for host defense against pathogen invasion, tumor cell proliferation, and overactive immune responses. Due to intricate and diverse chemical structures, natural products and their derivatives have become an invaluable source inspiring innovative drug discovery. In addition, some natural products have been applied in clinical practice for infection, cancer, and autoimmunity over thousands of years and their promising curative effects and safety have been well-accepted. However, whether these natural products are primarily targeting type I IFN signaling and specific molecular targets involved are not fully elucidated. In the current review, we thoroughly summarize recent advances in the pharmacology researches of natural products for their type I IFN activity, including both agonism/activation and antagonism/inhibition, and their potential application as therapies. Furthermore, the source and chemical nature of natural products with type I IFN activity are highlighted and their specific molecular targets in the type I IFN pathway and mode of action are classified. In conclusion, natural products possessing type I IFN activity represent promising therapeutic strategies and have a bright prospect in the treatment of infection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Integrative lipidomic and transcriptomic study unravels the therapeutic effects of saikosaponins A and D on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most prominent causes of chronic liver diseases and malignancies. However, few therapy has been approved. Radix Bupleuri (RB) is the most frequently used herbal medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. In the current study, we aim to systemically evaluate the therapeutic effects of saikosaponin A (SSa) and saikosaponin D (SSd), the major bioactive monomers in RB, against NAFLD and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that both SSa and SSd improved diet-induced NAFLD. Integrative lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis revealed that SSa and SSd modulated glycerolipid metabolism by regulating related genes, like

Levels and correlates of 24-hour movement behaviors in Chinese children aged 6-13 years / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the different patterns of 24-h movement behaviors, and their associations with sociodemographic factors in a nationally representative sample of Chinese children aged 6-13 years.@*Methods@#This study was based on a national multi-centered cluster intervention study involving 31 362 children aged 6-13 years from 7 provinces in China. Questionnaires were used to collect moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time (ST) and sleep duration, as well as sociodemographic variables including age, gender, area of residence, parents’ education level and family income. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses were conducted for the 24-hour movement behaviors according to sociodemographic variables.@*Results@#The proportions of individuals meeting the MVPA, ST, and sleep guidelines were 32.2%, 78.5%, 30.1%, respectively. The proportion that meet 0, 1, 2 and 3 recommended items was 9.6%, 47.7%, 35.0% and 7.7%, respectively. Age, gender, parents’ education levels and family income showed associations with PA, ST and sleep. Compared with low parents’ education group, the risk for unhealthy behavioral patterns was lower in those with high parents’ education level(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The current status of 24-hour physical activity for children aged 6-13 in China is not ideal, and social demographics should be considered when designing targeted interventions to promote children’s health.