Natural exosome-like nanovesicles from edible tea flowers suppress metastatic breast cancer via ROS generation and microbiota modulation

Although several artificial nanotherapeutics have been approved for practical treatment of metastatic breast cancer, their inefficient therapeutic outcomes, serious adverse effects, and high cost of mass production remain crucial challenges. Herein, we developed an alternative strategy to specifically trigger apoptosis of breast tumors and inhibit their lung metastasis by using natural nanovehicles from tea flowers (TFENs). These nanovehicles had desirable particle sizes (131 nm), exosome-like morphology, and negative zeta potentials. Furthermore, TFENs were found to contain large amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, functional proteins, and lipids. Cell experiments revealed that TFENs showed strong cytotoxicities against cancer cells due to the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification. The increased intracellular ROS amounts could not only trigger mitochondrial damage, but also arrest cell cycle, resulting in the in vitro anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and anti-invasion activities against breast cancer cells. Further mice investigations demonstrated that TFENs after intravenous (i.v.) injection or oral administration could accumulate in breast tumors and lung metastatic sites, inhibit the growth and metastasis of breast cancer, and modulate gut microbiota. This study brings new insights to the green production of natural exosome-like nanoplatform for the inhibition of breast cancer and its lung metastasis via i.v. and oral routes.

Celastrol induces ferroptosis in activated HSCs to ameliorate hepatic fibrosis via targeting peroxiredoxins and HO-1

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, characterized by excessive membrane lipid peroxidation in an iron- and ROS-dependent manner. Celastrol, a natural bioactive triterpenoid extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, shows effective anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activities in multiple hepatic diseases. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of action and the direct protein targets of celastrol in the treatment of liver fibrosis remain largely elusive. Here, we discover that celastrol exerts anti-fibrotic effects via promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing ferroptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). By using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) in combination with bio-orthogonal click chemistry reaction and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), we show that celastrol directly binds to peroxiredoxins (PRDXs), including PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4 and PRDX6, through the active cysteine sites, and inhibits their anti-oxidant activities. Celastrol also targets to heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and upregulates its expression in activated-HSCs. Knockdown of PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4, PRDX6 or HO-1 in HSCs, to varying extent, elevated cellular ROS levels and induced ferroptosis. Taken together, our findings reveal the direct protein targets and molecular mechanisms via which celastrol ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, thus supporting the further development of celastrol as a promising therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.

Artemisinin and artemisinin derivatives as anti-fibrotic therapeutics

Fibrosis is a pathological reparative process that can occur in most organs and is responsible for nearly half of deaths in the developed world. Despite considerable research, few therapies have proven effective and been approved clinically for treatment of fibrosis. Artemisinin compounds are best known as antimalarial therapeutics, but they also demonstrate antiparasitic, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-fibrotic effects. Here we summarize literature describing anti-fibrotic effects of artemisinin compounds in

Constitutive androstane receptor induced-hepatomegaly and liver regeneration is partially

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR3I1) belongs to nuclear receptor superfamily. It was reported that CAR agonist TCPOBOP induces hepatomegaly but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a potent regulator of organ size. The aim of this study is to explore the role of YAP in CAR activation-induced hepatomegaly and liver regeneration. TCPOBOP-induced CAR activation on hepatomegaly and liver regeneration was evaluated in wild-type (WT) mice, liver-specific YAP-deficient mice, and partial hepatectomy (PHx) mice. The results demonstrate that TCPOBOP can increase the liver-to-body weight ratio in wild-type mice and PHx mice. Hepatocytes enlargement around central vein (CV) area was observed, meanwhile hepatocytes proliferation was promoted as evidenced by the increased number of KI67

Bile acid homeostasis in female mice deficient in

Bile acids (BAs) are amphipathic molecules important for metabolism of cholesterol, absorption of lipids and lipid soluble vitamins, bile flow, and regulation of gut microbiome. There are over 30 different BA species known to exist in humans and mice, which are endogenous modulators of at least 6 different membrane or nuclear receptors. This diversity of ligands and receptors play important roles in health and disease; however, the full functions of each individual BA

Characterization of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1b2 knockout rats generated by CRISPR/Cas9: a novel model for drug transport and hyperbilirubinemia disease

Organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 and 1B3 (OATP1B1/3) as important uptake transporters play a fundamental role in the transportation of exogenous drugs and endogenous substances into cells. Rat OATP1B2, encoded by the gene, is homologous to human OATP1B1/3. Although OATP1B1/3 is very important, few animal models can be used to study its properties. In this report, we successfully constructed the S knockout (KO) rat model using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology for the first time. The novel rat model showed the absence of OATP1B2 protein expression, with no off-target effects as well as compensatory regulation of other transporters. Further pharmacokinetic study of pitavastatin, a typical substrate of OATP1B2, confirmed the OATP1B2 function was absent. Since bilirubin and bile acids are the substrates of OATP1B2, the contents of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, and total bile acids in serum are significantly higher in KO rats than the data of wild-type rats. These results are consistent with the symptoms caused by the absence of OATP1B1/3 in Rotor syndrome. Therefore, this rat model is not only a powerful tool for the study of OATP1B2-mediated drug transportation, but also a good disease model to study hyperbilirubinemia-related diseases.

Isoniazid metabolism and hepatotoxicity

Isoniazid (INH) is highly effective for the management of tuberculosis. However, it can cause liver injury and even liver failure. INH metabolism has been thought to be associated with INH-induced liver injury. This review summarized the metabolic pathways of INH and discussed their associations with INH-induced liver injury.

Kallistatin, a new and reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis

Kallistatin, which protects organs and cells against inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress, is mainly synthesized and secreted in liver. However, its relationship to human liver disease remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between serum kallistatin and clinical evidence of both cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to determine if serum kallistatin levels could be used as a diagnostic indicator of hepatic health status, especially human liver cirrhosis (LC). Our cohort consisted of 115 patients with clinically proven liver fibrosis (LF), LC, or HCC by liver biopsies, and 31 healthy controls (CON). Serum kallistatin levels were quantified by ELISA. Results of the present study demonstrated that irrespective of the underlying etiology, serum kallistatin levels were significantly lower in the LF/LC group when compared with the CON group. A decrease in serum kallistatin levels appeared to reflect the extent of cirrhosis, with the lowest levels associated with higher grades of cirrhosis. Patients with LC had a noticeable correlation between serum kallistatin levels and other serum biochemical indicators. The area under the curve (AUC) for LC, viral liver cirrhosis (VLC) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) was 0.845, 0.757 and 0.931, respectively. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that kallistatin, a plasma protein produced by the liver, can be a useful and reliable diagnostic indicator of hepatic health status, especially for LC.

Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside stimulates osteoblast differentiation through regulating the BMP/WNT signaling pathways

The isoflavone calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (CG) is a principal constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (AR) and has been reported to inhibit osteoclast development in vitro and bone loss in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the osteogenic effects of CG and its underlying mechanism in ST2 cells. The results show that exposure of cells to CG in osteogenic differentiation medium increases ALP activity, osteocalcin (Ocal) mRNA expression and the osteoblastic mineralization process. Mechanistically, CG treatment increased the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), p-Smad 1/5/8, β-catenin and Runx2, all of which are regulators of the BMP- or wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT)/β-catenin-signaling pathways. Moreover, the osteogenic effects of CG were inhibited by Noggin and DKK-1 which are classical inhibitors of the BMP and WNT/β-catenin-signaling pathways, respectively. Taken together, the results indicate that CG promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of ST2 cells through regulating the BMP/WNT signaling pathways. On this basis, CG may be a useful lead compound for improving the treatment of bone-decreasing diseases and enhancing bone regeneration.

A Comparative Study of Alanine Aminotransferase & Alkaline Phosphatase in Type-2 DiabeticPatients and Non-Diabetics.

Background: The aim of this study was to find out the liver function test abnormalities in a group of diabetic type-2 patients in Jamnagar, Gujarat and to determine the factors associated with these biochemical changes. Method: In this cross sectional study conducted at the diabetic clinic in GGH General Hospital, Jamnagar between May 2012 and April 2013, a total of 100 patients were included. Parameters like serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) used. Result: Raised ALT was noted in 30 % of diabetes type -2 patients while in control group 6% had elevated value. Elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were found in 38 %. Mean value of ALT & ALP had no correlation with gender of the diabetes patients. In conclusion, abnormal liver function results are more common among diabetes patients. Elevated ALT and ALP are the markers for associated non alcoholic fatty liver disease in diabetes patients.

The effect of rhBMP-2 in human bone marrow-derived stem cells as osteogenic inducers