Upregulation of PGC-1α expression by pioglitazone mediates prevention of sepsis-induced acute lung injury

Abstract The imbalance between pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) may modulate macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype by altering mitochondrial activity. This study aimed to investigate the role of the PGC-1α agonist pioglitazone (PGZ) in modulating sepsis-induced ALI. A mouse model of sepsis-induced ALI was established using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). An in vitro model was created by stimulating MH-S cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). qRT-PCR was used to measure mRNA levels of M1 markers iNOS and MHC-II and M2 markers Arg1 and CD206 to evaluate macrophage polarization. Western blotting detected expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) PGC-1α, and mitochondrial biogenesis proteins NRF1, NRF2, and mtTFA. To assess mitochondrial content and function, reactive oxygen species levels were detected by dihydroethidium staining, and mitochondrial DNA copy number was measured by qRT-PCR. In the CLP-induced ALI mouse model, lung tissues exhibited reduced PGC-1α expression. PGZ treatment rescued PGC-1α expression and alleviated lung injury, as evidenced by decreased lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), and enhanced M2 macrophage polarization. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PGZ activated the PPARγ/PGC-1α/mitochondrial protection pathway to prevent sepsis-induced ALI by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization. These results may provide new insights and evidence for developing PGZ as a potential ALI therapy.

Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Targeting M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization Balance with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Active Components： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）， consisting of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease， is a chronic relapsing inflammatory gastrointestinal disease closely associated with immune dysfunction. The pathogenesis of IBD is closely related to genetic susceptibility， immune system dysfunction， environmental change， and intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Modern research has found that macrophage polarization plays an important role in the development of IBD and can affect the level of inflammatory response， intestinal mucosal repair， and intestinal microbial balance， making it a potential target for IBD treatment. Increasing evidence suggests that traditional Chinese medicine and its active components can regulate macrophage polarization through multiple pathways and balance the M1/M2 macrophage ratio， thus inhibiting inflammatory response， promoting intestinal mucosal repair， and slowing down the progression of IBD. This article summarized the biological processes and targets involved in macrophage polarization and discussed its impact on IBD. It also provided a brief overview of the latest research on how traditional Chinese medicine and its active components can improve IBD by regulating macrophage polarization， so as to provide new directions and strategies for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in IBD treatment.

Inhibitory effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on renal inflammation in diabetic nephropathy model mice and its mechanism / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effects of Ginkgo biloba extract （GBE） on renal inflammation in diabetic nephropathy （DN） model mice， and its potential mechanism. METHODS KK/Ay mice were fed with high fat and high sugar to induce DN model. They were divided into model group， positive control group [metformin 200 mg/（kg·d）]， GBE low-dose and high-dose groups [100， 200 mg/（kg·d）]， with 6 mice in each group. Six C57BL/6J mice were fed with a regular diet as the control group. Administration groups were given relevant liquid intragastrically， control group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 8 consecutive weeks. The body weight， fasting blood glucose， 24-hour food intake， 24-hour urine output， monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）， interleukin-12 （IL-12）， IL-10， advanced glycation end products （AGEs）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN） and serum creatinine （Scr） of mice were measured， and the ratio of bilateral kidneys to body weight was also calculated. The pathological injury and fibrotic changes of the renal cortex were observed， and the expressions of macrophage polarization marker proteins [type M1： inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）； type M2： arginase-1 （Arg-1）] and AGEs-the receptor of advanced glycation end products （RAGE）/Ras homolog gene pharm_chenjing@163.com family member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase （ROCK） signaling pathway-related proteins were determined in renal cortex. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the symptoms such as renal cortical hyperplasia， vacuoles， infiltration of inflammatory cells， and renal cortical fibrosis had been improved in GBE low-dose and high-dose groups； body weight， serum level of IL-10， the expression of Arg-1 in the renal cortex were significantly higher than model group （P＜ 0.01）； fasting blood glucose， 24-hour food intake， 24-hour urine output， serum levels of MCP-1， IL-12， BUN， Scr and AGEs， the ratio of bilateral kidneys to body weight， renal injury score， the proportion of renal interstitial fibrosis， the protein expressions of iNOS， RAGE， RhoA and ROCK1 （except for GBE low-dose group） in renal cortex were significantly lower than model group （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS GBE could improve kidney damage and alleviate inflammatory response in DN model mice， the mechanism of which may be related to inhibiting the AGEs-RAGE/RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and regulating macrophage polarization.

Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Modulating Effect of Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）， as a progressive lung disease， has a poor prognosis and no reliable and effective therapies. IPF is mainly treated by organ transplantation and administration of chemical drugs， which are ineffective and induce side effects， failing to meet the clinical needs. Therefore， developing safer and more effective drugs has become an urgent task， which necessitates clear understanding of the pathogenesis of IPF. The available studies about the pathogenesis of IPF mainly focus on macrophage polarization， epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， oxidative stress， and autophagy， while few studies systematically explain the principles and links of the pathogeneses. According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory， Qi deficiency and blood stasis and Qi-Yang deficiency are the key pathogeneses of IPF. Therefore， the Chinese medicines or compound prescriptions with the effects of replenishing Qi and activating blood， warming Yang and tonifying Qi， and eliminating stasis and resolving phlegm are often used to treat IPF. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that such medicines play a positive role in inhibiting macrophage polarization， restoring redox balance， inhibiting EMT， and regulating cell autophagy. However， few studies report how Chinese medicines regulate the pathways in the treatment of IPF. By reviewing the latest articles in this field， we elaborate on the pathogenesis of IPF and provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanism of the active ingredients or compound prescriptions of Chinese medicines in regulating IPF. Combining the pathogenesis of IPF with the modulating effects of Chinese medicines， we focus on exploring systemic treatment options for IPF， with a view to providing new ideas for the in-depth study of IPF and the research and development of related drugs.

Role of Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Low-grade Inflammation of PCOS Based on Theory of Spleen Being in Charge of Defensive Function / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） is a reproductive endocrine disorder characterized by coexisting reproductive dysfunction and glucolipid metabolic disturbance， affecting 8%-13% of women of reproductive age and 3%-11% of adolescent females. Due to the highly heterogeneous clinical features， symptom-oriented individualized strategies are commonly adopted for the treatment of PCOS. Chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the core mechanisms for the occurrence of PCOS. Macrophages， as foundational cells of innate immunity， play an indispensable role in modulating systemic inflammatory responses. The imbalance of macrophage M1/M2 polarization is involved in chronic low-grade inflammation in PCOS via pathways such as activating pro-inflammatory responses， disrupting ovarian tissue repair， stimulating excessive synthesis of androgens， and promoting the occurrence of insulin resistance. Reshaping the phenotype of macrophages might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for PCOS. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） holds that spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness is a crucial pathogenesis of PCOS. The spleen， being in charge of defensive function， plays a key role in ensuring normal physiological functions such as transportation and defense against external pathogen during the occurrence and development of PCOS. The imbalance of macrophage polarization resembles the transition from spleen being in charge of defensive function to spleen losing its defensive role in TCM. Therefore， this paper， for the first time， explores the deep connection between macrophage polarization and the pathogenesis of chronic low-grade inflammation in PCOS from the TCM theory of spleen being in charge of defensive function， providing theoretical support and new research directions for the treatment and drug research of PCOS.

Hydrogen therapy promotes macrophage polarization to the M2 subtype by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国辐射卫生

Objective To investigate the role of hydrogen therapy in reducing radiation-induced lung injury and the specific mechanism. Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, hydrogen therapy group I, and hydrogen therapy group II. A mouse model of radiation-induced lung injury was established. The pathological changes in the lung tissue of the mice were examined with HE staining. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of surface markers of M1 and M2 macrophages to observe macrophage polarization. The expression of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-10 in the lung tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB (P-NF-κB) p65 was measured by Western blot. Results HE staining showed that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited alveolar septal swelling and thickening, vascular dilatation and congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue; the hydrogen groups had significantly reduced pathological damage and inflammatory response than the model group, with more improvements in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Immunohistochemical results showed that compared with those in the control group, the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased in the model group; the hydrogen groups showed significantly decreased IL-6 and TNF-α levels and a significantly increased level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 than the model group, which were more marked in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of the surface marker of M1 macrophages in the model group was significantly upregulated; the hydrogen groups showed significantly downregulated M1 marker and significantly upregulated M2 marker, and hydrogen group II showed significantly increased M2 marker compared with hydrogen group I. Western blot results showed that compared with that in the control group, the ratio of P-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the model group was significantly increased; the P-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 ratio was significantly reduced in the hydrogen groups than in the model group, and was significantly lower in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Conclusion Hydrogen inhalation therapy may reduce the inflammatory response of radiation-induced lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway to promote the polarization of the macrophage M1 subtype to the M2 subtype.

Therapeutic Effect of Compound Wufengcao Liquid on Tuberculous Ulcer from Perspective of Macrophages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of compound Wufengcao liquid （CWL） on tuberculous ulcer and the influence on macrophage polarization. Method① Clinical experiment： A total of 145 patients with tuberculous ulcer who were treated in Nanjing Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital were randomized into observation group， control group Ⅰ， and control group Ⅱ according to the random number table method. In addition to the basic anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy， CWL， Kangfuxin liquid， and isoniazid solution （local external application） were respectively used in the observation group， control group Ⅰ， and control group Ⅱ. The treatment lasted 4 weeks for each group. The total effective rate in wound healing， traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndrome score， and histopathological morphology of wound were observed and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and arginase-1 （Arg-1） in wound tissue was measured. ② Cell experiment： RAW264.7 cells were cultured in DMEM （10% fetal bovine serum， 1% double-antibody solution） in a cell incubator （37 °C， 5% CO2）. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate （PMA） was used to induce the differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into macrophages. Lipopolysaccharide （LPS） was employed to stimulate polarization of macrophages into M1 type and interleukin-4 （IL-4） to induce the polarization into M2 type. Kangfuxin solution， isoniazid solution， and CWL were respectively applied to the above cell model for 36 h. The cell supernatant was collected and centrifuged. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， iNOS， and Arg-1， and flow cytometry （FCM） to detect the expression of CD86 and CD206. Result①Clinical experiment： The total effective rate in the CWL group ［98.0% （48/49）］ was higher than that in the control group Ⅰ ［87.5% （42/48）， χ2=3.962， P<0.05］ and control group Ⅱ ［83.3% （40/48）， χ2=6.162， P<0.05］. After 28 days of treatment， compared with control group Ⅰ and control group Ⅱ， CWL decreased the TCM syndrome score （P<0.05） and obviously improved the histopathological morphology of the wound. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the iNOS expression in local focus tissue was lower （P<0.05） and the expression of Arg-1 was higher （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the CWL group than in the control group Ⅰ and control group Ⅱ after 28 days of treatment. ② Cell experiment： Western blot assay showed that the expression of iNOS and TNF-α in LPS group increased compared with that in the M0 group （P<0.01） and the expression in the LPS+ isoniazid group， LPS+ Kangfuxin group， and LPS+CWL group was lower than that in the LPS group （P<0.05）. The expression of iNOS in LPS+Kangfuxin group and LPS+ CWL group was lower than that in the LPS+isoniazid group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of TNF-α in LPS+ CWL group was lower than that in LPS+isoniazid group （P<0.01）. The expression of TNF-α in LPS+ CWL group decreased compared with that in the LPS+ Kangfuxin group （P<0.05）. The expression of Arg-1 and TGF-β in IL-4 group was higher than that in the M0 group （P<0.01）， and the expression in the IL-4+isoniazid group， IL-4+Kangfuxin group， and IL-4+ CWL group was higher than that in the IL-4 group （P<0.05）. The expression of Arg-1 and TGF-β in the IL-4+ Kangfuxin group and IL-4+CWL group was higher than that in the IL-4+isoniazid group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression was higher in the IL-4+CWL group than in the IL-4+Kangfuxin group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The FCM result showed that the expression of CD86 and CD206 in LPS group and IL-4 group was higher than that in M0 group （P<0.01）. CD86 expression in LPS+isoniazid group， LPS+ Kangfuxin group， and LPS+CWL group was lower than that in the LPS group （P<0.01）. The expression of CD86 in LPS+Kangfuxin group and LPS+ CWL group increased compared with that in the LPS+isoniazid group （P<0.01）， and the expression was higher in the LPS+ CWL group than in the LPS+Kangfuxin group （P<0.01）. CD206 expression in IL-4+ isoniazid group， IL-4+Kangfuxin liquor group， and IL-4+ CWL group was increased compared with that in the IL-4 group （P<0.01）. CD206 expression in IL-4+Kangfuxin liquid group and IL-4+ CWL group was decreased compared with that in the IL-4+isoniazid group （P<0.01）. CD206 expression in IL-4+CWL group was lower than that in the IL-4+ Kangfuxin group （P<0.05）. ConclusionCWL can promote the healing of tuberculous ulcers， and the mechanism is that it inhibits the expression of iNOS， TNF-α， and CD86 and promotes the expression of Arg-1， TGF-β， and CD206， thereby regulating M1/M2 polarization balance.

Preparation and polarization activity research of astragalus polysaccharide-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocomposite / 药学学报

Size and surface modification are the two key factors affecting the effect of macrophages polarization induced by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The smaller the particle size, the better the polarization effect of SPIONs. Besides, the reasonable SPIONs surface modification method can also be used to enhance the polarization effect. In this study, SPIONs was prepared by solvothermal method and optimized by Box-Benhnken center combination design and response surface method. Furthermore, astragalus polysaccharide-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocomplex (APS-SPIONs) was successfully constructed by EDC/NHS esterification method. The structure of APS-SPIONs was confirmed by dynamic light scatter and infrared spectrometer, and the contents of iron and polysaccharide were characterized by spectrophotometry. The effect of APS-SPIONs on inducing mouse macrophages RAW264.7 polarization was investigated by flow cytometry. The RAW264.7 macrophages-HepG2 human hepatoma cancer cells Transwell co-culture system was established to investigate APS-SPIONs improve anti-tumor function of macrophages in vitro, and the proliferation activity of APS-SPIONs on RAW264.7 detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The results showed that the average particle size and zeta potential of APS-SPIONs were (82.93 ± 1.47) nm and (-24.00 ± 0.47) mV. Polysaccharide and Fe content were 8.69% and 7.04%, respectively. APS-SPIONs effectively induced the polarization of RAW264.7 into M1 type in vitro, improving the anti-tumor ability of macrophages in a co-culture system, without effecting the proliferation of macrophages. Our study provides a drug development strategy and preliminary research results to educate macrophages and reshape the tumor immune microenvironment to achieve tumor-killing effects.

Platelet-rich Plasma Induces M2 Macrophage Polarization via Regulating AMPK Singling Pathway / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in inducing the M2 macrophage polarization via regulating AMPK singling pathway.@*METHODS@#The expressions of M1 marker CD11c and M2 marker CD206 in macrophages of blank control group, LPS group, LPS+PRP group, and LPS+PRP+Compound C group were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to observe the effects of PRP on the expression of AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins at different times (12 h, 18 h and 24 h) after LPS treatment. RNA interference technology was used to silence the expression of AMPK in macrophages, and the expression of TGF-β protein was subsequently examined by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#LPS significantly reduced the expression of CD206 and increased the expression of CD11c (P <0.05). After the addition of PRP, the expression of CD206 was significantly increased (P <0.05), while the expression of CD11c was significantly decreased (P <0.05). Compared with LPS group, PRP treatment significantly increased the expressions of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 proteins at 12 h, 18 h and 24 h, while significantly decreased the expression of p-mTOR protein (P <0.05). After the addition of AMPK inhibitor Compound C, the expression of CD206 was significantly reduced (P <0.05) and the expression of CD11c was significantly increased compared with LPS+PRP group (P <0.05). After silencing the expression of AMPK in macrophages, the promotion effect of PRP on TGF-β was significantly reduced (P <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#PRP can stimulate the transformation of macrophages to M2 type via AMPK signalling pathway.

Tongxie Yaofang regulates tumor-associated macrophage polarization in colorectal cancer under chronic stress / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in regulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization on colorectal cancer under chronic stress. BALB/C mice were randomized into blank, control, model, mifepristone, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Tongxie Yaofang groups. The other groups except the blank and model groups were subjected to chronic restraint stress and subcutaneous implantation of colon cancer cells for the modeling of colon cancer under stress. Du-ring this period, the body mass and tumor size of each group of mice were recorded. The degree of depression in mice was assessed by behavioral changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of cortisol(CORT), 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), norepinephrine(NE), M1-associated inflammatory cytokines [interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α], and M2-associated inflammatory cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10) in the serum. The tumor growth of mice in each group was regularly monitored by in vivo imaging. The histopathological changes of tumors in each group of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The proportions of CD86 and CD206 in the tumor tissue were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of Janus kinase(JAK)1, JAK2, JAK3, signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)3, and STAT6 in the tumor tissue. The results showed that chronic stress increased the immobility time of mice, elevated the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, lowered the levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α, and promoted the growth of subcutaneous tumors. The tumor cells in the tumor tissue grew actively, with obvious atypia and up-regulated protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and down-regulated protein level of CD86. The treatment with Tongxie Yaofang shortened the immobility time of mice, lowered the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, elevated the serum levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α, and inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in mice. Moreover, the treatment caused different degrees of necrosis in the tumor tissues, down-regulated the protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and up-regulated the protein level of CD86. In summary, Tongxie Yaofang can promote the transformation of M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages and change the tumor microenvironment under chronic stress to inhibit the development of colorectal cancer, which may be related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Potential targets for traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity: macrophage polarization / 中国中药杂志

Obesity has been identified as a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and a key risk factor for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and malignancies, and has become an urgent global health burden. Adipose tissue macrophages play a significant role in adipose immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Under different conditions, they can be polarized into pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. In obese individuals, there is abnormal polarization of macrophages in adipose tissue, leading to an imbalance in the M1/M2 phenotype dynamic equilibrium and the development of pathological inflammation. Therefore, restoring the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization is an important potential target for the treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can positively modulate macrophage polarization and produce beneficial effects on obesity. Based on existing evidence, this paper systematically reviewed the potential mechanisms of TCM in improving chronic inflammation in obesity from the perspective of macrophage polarization, in order to provide evidence for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity with TCM and offer new insights for related research design and the development of new TCM.

Evolution of Research Related to Macrophage Polarization in Atherosclerosis:A Visualization Analysis / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the research status,hotspots,and development tendency of macrophage polarization (MP) in atherosclerosis (AS) by systematically reviewing and visually analyzing the articles published recently in this field,so as to provide new ideas for the basic research and translational research on MP in the prevention and treatment of AS.Methods SCI-Expanded was used as the data source for the retrieval of the articles involving MP in AS from 2012 to 2022.CiteSpace 6.1.R3 was employed to visualize the node information of the publishing country/region,institutions,authors,keywords,and citations.Results A total of 381 papers were included.The number of publications in the world showed an increasing trend year by year.China and the United States were leading this field in the number and centrality of publications,and Shandong University in China contributed the largest number of publications.The analysis of the key words and citations showed that the hotspots and frontiers in this field mainly included the pathogenesis of AS,MP markers,macrophage plasticity regulation,and potential therapeutic targets for AS.Conclusions The research on MP in AS was booming during 2012-2022.The differential gene expression and the molecular mechanism of targeted therapy of MP in AS are the research trends in this field,which will provide new measures for the prevention and treatment of AS.

Testicular exosomes disturb the immunosuppressive phenotype of testicular macrophages mediated by miR-155-5p in uropathogenic Escherichia coli-induced orchitis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Male reproductive infections are known to shape the immunological homeostasis of the testes, leading to male infertility. However, the specific pathogenesis of these changes remains poorly understood. Exosomes released in the inflammatory microenvironment are important in communication between the local microenvironment and recipient cells. Here, we aim to identify the immunomodulatory properties of inflammatory testes-derived exosomes (IT-exos) and explore their underlying mechanisms in orchitis. IT-exos were isolated using a uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced orchitis model and confirmed that IT-exos promoted proinflammatory M1 activation with increasing expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vitro. We further used small RNA sequencing to identify the differential miRNA profiles in exosomes and primary testicular macrophages (TMs) from normal and UPEC-infected testes, respectively, and identified that miR-155-5p was highly enriched in IT-exos and TMs from inflammatory testes. Further study of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) transfected with miR-155-5p mimic showed that macrophages polarized to proinflammatory phenotype. In addition, the mice that were administrated IT-exos showed remarkable activation of TM1-like macrophages; however, IT-exos with silencing miR-155-5p showed a decrease in proinflammatory responses. Overall, we demonstrate that miR-155-5p delivered by IT-exos plays an important role in the activation of TM1 in UPEC-induced orchitis. Our study provides a new perspective on the immunological mechanisms underlying inflammation-related male infertility.

Nimbolide targeting SIRT1 mitigates intervertebral disc degeneration by reprogramming cholesterol metabolism and inhibiting inflammatory signaling

Inflammation, abnormal cholesterol metabolism, and macrophage infiltration are involved in the destruction of the extracellular matrix of the nucleus pulposus (NP), culminating in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Whether nimbolide (Nim), a natural extract, can alleviate IDD is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that Nim promotes cholesterol efflux and inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) during inflammation. Thus, Nim balanced matrix anabolism and catabolism of NPCs. However, the inhibition of SIRT1 significantly attenuated the effects of Nim. We also found that Nim promoted the expression of SIRT1 in RAW 264.7, which enhanced the proportion of M2 macrophages by facilitating cholesterol homeostasis reprogramming and impeded M1-like macrophages polarization by blocking the activation of inflammatory signaling. Based on these results, Nim can improve the microenvironment and facilitate matrix metabolism equilibrium in NPCs. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with Nim delayed IDD progression by boosting SIRT1 expression, modulating macrophage polarization and preserving the extracellular matrix. In conclusion, Nim may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating IDD.

Ultrasmall iron-quercetin metal natural product nanocomplex with antioxidant and macrophage regulation in rheumatoid arthritis

Oxidative stress, due to the disruption of the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the antioxidant defense system, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Excessive ROS leads to the loss of biological molecules and cellular functions, release of many inflammatory mediators, stimulate the polarization of macrophages, and aggravate the inflammatory response, thus promoting osteoclasts and bone damage. Therefore, foreign antioxidants would effectively treat RA. Herein, ultrasmall iron-quercetin natural coordination nanoparticles (Fe-Qur NCNs) with excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties were constructed to effectively treat RA. Fe-Qur NCNs obtained by simple mixing retain the inherent ability to remove ROS of quercetin and have a better water-solubility and biocompatibility. In vitro experiments showed that Fe-Qur NCNs could effectively remove excess ROS, avoid cell apoptosis, and inhibit the polarization of inflammatory macrophages by reducing the activation of the nuclear factor-κ-gene binding (NF-κB) pathways. In vivo experiments showed that the swollen joints of mice with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Fe-Qur NCNs significantly improved, with Fe-Qur NCNs largely reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, increasing anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes, and thus inhibiting osteoclasts, which led to bone erosion. This study demonstrated that the new metal-natural coordination nanoparticles could be an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention of RA and other diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Regulation of palmitic acid and lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage polarization by adipokine WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 2 / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effect of WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 2(WISP2)on macrophage polarization in palmitic acid(PA)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation.Methods:The macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was treated with different concentrations of WISP2 protein, and cell viability was determined by means of luminescence assay using Cell-Titer Glo to determine the concentration of WISP2.The cells were divided into control group, palmitic acid group, palmitic acid combined with different concentrations of WISP2 group(10 μg/L and 100 μg/L)and lipopolysaccharide group, lipopolysaccharide combined with different concentrations of WISP2 group(10 μg/L and 100 μg/L). mRNA expression of M1 and M2 macrophages phenotype of each group were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The protein expression of important inflammatory factors, TNF-α and IL-6, were evaluated by ELISA.Results:Compared with the control group, both 10 μg/L and 100 μg/L WISP2 groups had no effect on the activity of RAW264.7 cells, but significantly up-regulated the expression of various inflammatory factors, including Tnfα(1.877±0.039, 2.202±0.034, F=309.7, P<0.001), Il6(1.418±0.056, 1.506±0.059, F=81.39, P<0.001), Mcp1(1.620±0.014, 1.982±0.125, F=71.45, P<0.001), Ccl3(1.892±0.118, 1.942±0.132, F=32.93, P<0.001), and iNos(1.691±0.201, 1.548±0.090, F=13.60, P<0.05). mRNA in macrophages, and significantly down-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, including Tgfβ(1.376±0.025, 2.152±0.107, F=1.846, P<0.05), CD206(2.123±0.031, 3.139±1.663, F=8.037, P<0.05), Il4(2.098±0.464, 2.494±0.141, F=48.68, P<0.01), and Il10(1.303±0.216, 1.574±0.274, F=5.774, P<0.05)mRNA, causing M1 type macrophage polarization.Compared with the control group, 100 μmol/L palmitic acid could mildly but significantly increase the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 at the transcriptional and protein levels.Compared with palmitic acid stimulation alone, the combination of palmitic acid and WISP2 further promoted the protein expression of macrophage inflammatory factors TNF-α[(589.4±17.0)ng/L, (692.6±83.4)ng/L, F=56.38, P<0.05], IL-6[(15.13±1.14)ng/L, (13.33±1.22)ng/L, F=23.32, P<0.001]and the mRNA expression of chemokines Mcp1(160±9.796, 140±18.91, F=141.1, P<0.0001)and C cl3(17.76±1.92, 14.41±1.27, F=125.2, P<0.0001). Compared with the control group, 100 μg/L lipopolysaccharide strongly stimulated the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α[(3444±423)ng/L, F=71.20, P<0.0001]and IL-6[(497.0±41.2)ng/L, F=63.50, P<0.0001]in macrophages at the protein level.Compared with lipopolysaccharide stimulation alone, the combination of lipopolysaccharide and WISP2 further significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of chemokines Mcp1(106.8±8.7, 118.7±4.6, F=251.5, P<0.0001)and Ccl3(35.3±12.5, 116.4±4.5, F=160.1, P<0.0001). Conclusions:The adipokine WISP2 can promote M1 macrophage polarization in palmitic acid and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, and it had distinct regulation in macrophage polarization under different inflammatory response conditions.

Effect of Fangji Fulingtang on Macrophage Polarization and Oxidative Stress in Mouse Model of Myocardial Fibrosis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Fangji Fulingtang on macrophage polarization and oxidative stress in the mouse model of myocardial fibrosis. MethodThe mouse model of myocardial fibrosis was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol （ISO， 5 mg·kg-1·d-1）. Fifty C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into control （0.9% NaCl）， model （0.9% NaCl）， low- and high-dose （3.315 g·kg-1·d-1 and 13.26 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） Fangji Fulingtang （FFD-L and FFD-H， respectively）， and metoprolol tartrate （Meto， 15 mg·kg-1·d-1） groups， with 10 mice each group. After 2 weeks of treatment， the heart appearance， cardiac weight index （CWI）， heart weight （HW）/tibia length （TL） ratio， and myocardial histopathological alterations were observed. Meanwhile， the serum levels of creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB）， transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， IL-10， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and glutathione （GSH） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression levels of CD86 and CD206 were observed by immunohistochemical staining. ResultCompared with the model group， the FFD-L， FFD-H， and Meto groups showed improved heart appearance， decreased CWI and HW/TL ratio （P<0.01）， lowered serum levels of CK-MB， TGF-β1， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and elevated IL-10 level （P<0.05）. Furthermore， the three groups showed reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells， myocardial injury， collagen deposition， and myocardial fibrosis， decreased CD86， SOD， and GSH （P<0.01）， and increased CD206 and MDA （P<0.01）. ConclusionFangji Fulingtang can mitigate ISO-induced myocardial fibrosis by regulating macrophage polarization and oxidative stress.

Research progress of macrophage polarization in the treatment of aortic dissection / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Aortic dissection is one of the most devastating cardiovascular diseases. One of the most important pathological features of aortic dissection is local inflammatory response, including the infiltration of inflammatory cells, extracellular matrix degradation, and smooth muscle cell phenotype switch. Macrophages which are the core of the inflammatory response play an extremely pivotal role in the progression of inflammation and tissue remodeling. Macrophages can be artificially divided into M1 and M2 types, of which the M1-type promotes inflammation while the M2-type is associated with the regression of inflammation and tissue healing. Mastering the switch of phenotypic transformation of macrophages may be of great help in inhibiting the inflammation of aortic tissue and facilitating tissue healing, as well as the treatment of aortic dissection. In this paper, we focus on the polarization of macrophages and discuss the role of macrophages in aortic dissection, the polarization pathway and the effect of related polarizing agents on the treatment of aortic dissection.

Analysis of Mechanism of Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue Prescription in Treatment of Hepatic Fibrosis Rats by Regulating M1/M2 Macrophages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription（QGJPHXP） on the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in rats with hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride（CCl4）. MethodA rat hepatic fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl4-olive oil suspension twice a week at the dosage of 2.0 mL·kg-1 for 8 weeks. After the model was successfully established， these rats were randomly divided into the model group， QGJPHXP group（32.084 g·kg-1） and Biejiajian pills（BJJP） group（0.925 5 g·kg-1）， with 12 rats in each group. The blank group was injected intraperitoneally with the same amount of olive oil. The rats in the administration groups were given the corresponding solution according to the dose， and the blank and model groups were given the same dose of purified water， once a day. After 4 weeks of continuous administration， the liver tissues of rats were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin（HE） and Masson to observe the pathological changes. The serums were collected to detect the alanine aminotransferase（ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase（AST） levels. Interleukin（IL）-6， IL-12， IL-10， IL-1β， transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1） and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） levels in liver tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The expression levels of CD86 and CD206 were detected by immunohistochemistry（IHC）. Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase（iNOS）， arginase-1（Arg-1）， phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase（p-p38 MAPK）， nuclear transcription factor-κB p65（NF-κB p65） in liver tissues of rats. ResultCompared with the blank group， the hepatic cell plate was irregularly arranged, and local inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were observed， while the serum levels of ALT and AST were significantly increased in the model group（P<0.01）， and IL-1β， IL-6， IL-12， TGF-β1， TNF-α， CD86， CD206， iNOS， p-p38 MAPK，p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 levels in liver tissues were obviously increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the levels of IL-10 and Arg-1 were obviously decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， QGJPHXP group reduced the degree of liver cell fibrosis，and serum levels of ALT and AST（P<0.01）， and IL-1β， IL-6， IL-12， TGF-β1， TNF-α， CD86， iNOS， p-p38 MAPK， p38 MAPK， and NF-κB p65 levels in liver tissues were obviously decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the levels of IL-10， CD206 and Arg-1 were obviously increased in the QGJPHXP group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQGJPHXP has ability to inhibit the activation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages， induce the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines by M2 macrophages， reduce the release of pro-fibrogenic cytokines， and promote the macrophage polarization of M1 to M2 in liver for tissue repair， thereby serving as an anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatic fibrosis drug.

Short-term medication of dapagliflozin exacerbates CCl4 induced acute liver injury / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To investigate the role and mechanism of dapagliflozin (Dapa), a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, in acute liver injury. 【Methods】 Eight-week-old C57BL6/J mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 to induce acute liver injury. The mice were preventively given 5 mg/kg Dapa by gavage 24 h and 2 h before CCl4 injection, while those in the control group were given an equal volume of solvent gavage. After 24 h, the mice were anesthetized and sacrificed. H&E staining, plasma biochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting were used to detect the severity of liver injury and the expressions of macrophage-related genes. 【Results】 In the CCl4 group, hepatic infiltration of inflammatory cells increased, and liver and renal functions significantly deteriorated, which was further aggravated by Dapa. CCl4 could promote the expressions of M1 macrophages and fibrosis-related genes in the liver, but reduce those of M2 and antioxidant-related genes, and the latter was further inhibited by Dapa. In addition, the protein expression of arginase 1 decreased and that of SGLT2 increased after Dapa intervention, while NF-κB pathway did not change significantly, suggesting that Dapa might directly affect the energy metabolism homeostasis in the liver and aggravate acute liver injury induced by CCl4. 【Conclusion】 Dapa can exacerbate hepatic and renal damage in acute stage of liver injury, inhibit macrophages M2 polarization, and aggravate oxidative stress and inflammatory injury induced by CCl4.