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ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and regulatory mechanism of berberine （BBR） against the senescence of ovarian granulosa cells. MethodA cell senescence model in the human ovarian granulosa-like tumor （KGN） cell line was induced by H2O2. A control group， a model group， and high-dose （1 μmol·L-1） and low-dose （0.5 μmol·L-1） BBR groups were set up. The cells in the model group and the BBR groups were incubated with 10 μmol·L-1 H2O2 for 40 min. The effect of BBR on KGN cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. The effect of BBR on the senescence of KGN cells was detected by β-galactosidase staining. The effects of BBR on the apoptosis and ROS content of KGN cells were detected by flow cytometry. The effects of BBR on the mRNA expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）/Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， forkhead transcription factor O1 （FoxO1）， and catalase （CAT） was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Western blot was used to detect the effects of BBR on protein expression of silent information regulator1 （SIRT1）， superoxide dismutase 2 （SOD2）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， FoxO1， autophagy-associated protein microtubule-associated protein light chain 3Ⅱ （LC3BⅡ）， mammalian ortholog of yeast Atg6 （Beclin-1）， and ubiquitin-binding protein p62. ResultAfter H2O2 induction for 40 min， the cell proliferation rate of the model group decreased compared with that of the control group （P<0.01）， and the cell proliferation rates of the BBR groups increased compared with that of the model group （P<0.05）. The results of β-galactosidase staining showed that the cells of the model group showed significant senescence compared with those of the control group （P<0.01）， and the cellular senescence in the BBR groups was reduced compared with that of the model group （P<0.01）. As revealed by flow cytometry， compared with the control group， the model group showed increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， BBR groups showed decreased apoptosis rates （P<0.05）. Meanwhile， the ROS content in the model group increased compared with that in the control group （P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， the BBR groups showed reduced cellular ROS content （P<0.01）. The Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the control group， the model group showed decreased mRNA expression of CAT and Bcl-2/Bax in KGN cells and increased mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and FoxO1 （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the BBR groups showed increased mRNA expression of CAT and Bcl-2/Bax （P<0.05） and reduced mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and FoxO1 in KGN cells （P<0.05）. As revealed by Western blot results， SIRT1， SOD2， and p62 protein levels decreased in the model group compared with those in the control group （P<0.01）， and JNK FoxO1， LC3BⅡ， and Beclin-1 protein levels increased （P<0.05）. After BBR intervention， SIRT1， SOD2， and p62 protein levels increased （P<0.01）， and JNK， FoxO1， LC3BⅡ， and Beclin-1 protein levels decreased compared with those in the model group （P<0.05）. ConclusionBBR has an inhibitory effect on ovarian granulosa cell senescence， and the mechanism is related to the inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy mediated by the SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway.
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ObjectiveTo validate the alleviating effect of Gegen Qinliantang （GGQLT） on insulin resistance in db/db diabetic mice by regulating the silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1）/forkhead transcription factor O1 （FoxO1） autophagy pathway. MethodSeventy-five SPF-grade spontaneous type 2 diabetic db/db mice and 15 control db/m mice were selected and maintained on regular feed for one week before measuring blood glucose. They were randomly divided into six groups， with 15 mice in each group. The groups included a normal group （physiological saline， 0.2 g·kg-1）， a metformin group （0.2 g·kg-1）， high-， medium-， and low-dose GGQLT groups （31.9， 19.1， 6.9 g·kg-1）， and a model group （physiological saline， 0.2 g·kg-1）. They were orally treated with corresponding drugs for eight weeks， once daily. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured using a Roche glucometer. Serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglyceride （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） were measured using an automated biochemical analyzer. Fasting serum insulin （INS） levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Beclin-1， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， and SIRT1/FoxO1 autophagy pathway-related proteins in liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of SIRT1， FoxO1， Beclin-1， and LC3B proteins in liver tissues. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the formation of autophagosomes in the liver. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant increases in FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.01）， and significant increases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， LC3， and FoxO1 proteins in liver tissues （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the highest number of autophagosomes in the model group. Compared with the model group， the metformin group and the low-， medium-， and high-dose GGQLT groups showed significant decreases in serum FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significant decreases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， LC3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated FoxO1 protein （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy showed a reduction in the degree of autophagy in the treatment groups. Compared with the metformin group， the medium- and high-dose GGQLT groups showed significant decreases in FBG， FINS， and TG levels （P<0.01）， significant decreases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， and LC3 in liver tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced FoxO1 protein （P<0.01）. The high-dose GGQLT group showed reduced HOMA-IR， TC， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a significant reduction in autophagosomes in the medium- and high-dose GGQLT groups. ConclusionGGQLT can significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， alleviate insulin resistance in db/db mice， and prevent and treat type 2 diabetes by activating the SIRT1/FoxO1 autophagy pathway.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a chronic disease that cannot be ignored all over the world. Renal fibrosis is the final result and key pathological features of CKD. The whole process of renal fibrosis is associated with the repair and healing of kidney damage, and this long-term chronic stimulation promotes the renal fibrosis to the kidney failure, it is characterized by continuous activation of myofibroblasts and excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix. Renal fibrosis is a synergistic process mediated by a variety of signaling pathways, and TGF-β / Smad and Wnt / β-catenin signaling pathways are two of the most classic ones. FoxO1 is an important transcription factor in the human body, which is expressed in a variety of cell types and plays an important role in a variety of cell life activities. Current researches have shown that FoxO1 plays an important role in renal fibrosis. FoxO1 regulates the occurrence and development of renal fibrosis through various signaling pathways such as STAT, SIRT1, Wnt / β-catenin, PI-3K / Akt. For example, FoxO1 / STAT regulates TIF and renal tubule apoptosis, SIRT1 / FoxO1 regulates oxidative stress response and lipotoxicity, FoxO1 / β-catenin inhibits the Wnt / β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, some related studies suggest that FoxO1 / Smad may play a role in renal fibrosis. The contribution and regulation of FoxO1 in the renal fibrosis are reviewed here in order to further clarify the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, which may bring new clues and prospects for the treatment of CKD.