Shengxian decoction improves lung function in rats with bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis through the inhibition of PANoptosis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shengxian decoction (SXD) is a classic Chinese medicinal formula that can effectively improve clinical symptoms and quality of life and delay disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to observe PANoptosis in bleomycin-induced IPF and to assess the efficacy and mechanism of action of SXD in the treatment of IPF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into the sham, IPF, IPF + pirfenidone (PFD), IPF + SXD-medium dose (SXD-M), and IPF + SXD-low dose (SXD-L) groups. Lung function analysis and microcomputed tomography imaging of the rats with IPF treated with oral pirfenidone or oral SXD for 28 days were performed. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to observe pathological lung damage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to determine the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis were assessed using TUNEL, TUNEL/caspase-1, and PI fluorescence staining, respectively. GSDMD, caspase-3, and MLKL were examined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of fibrin-, ZBP1-, pyroptosis-, apoptosis-, and necroptosis-related proteins in the lung tissue was determined by western blotting. RESULTS: SXD normalized lung function in rats with bleomycin-induced IPF and reduced serum inflammatory factor levels and lung tissue fibrosis. The underlying mechanism of action involves the inhibition of pyroptosis pathway proteins, such as NLRP3, caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDMD; apoptotic pathway proteins, such as Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3; and necroptosis pathway proteins, such as RIPK1, RIPK3, p-MLKL and MLKL. These pathways are modulated by the PANoptosis initiator ZBP1. Notably, the efficacy of SXD is concentration dependent, with a medium dose exhibiting superior effectiveness compared to a low dose. CONCLUSION: Bleomycin induced PANoptosis in the lung tissue of rats with IPF. Additionally, SXD effectively delayed or reversed the early pathological changes in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting PANoptosis.

Astragaloside IV Prevents Memory Impairment in D-galactose-induced Aging Rats Via the AGEs/RAGE/ NF-κB Axis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on memory function in aging rats mimicked by D-galactose administration and explored the potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Twenty-seven male rats were randomly divided into control group (N = 9), model group (N = 9), and AS-IV treated group (N = 9). Aging model was stimulated by D-galactose (400 mg/kg/d, i.p., dissolved in saline) for 8 weeks in rats. The general status of the rats was observed weekly. Learning and memory function was determined using the eight-arm radical maze and step-down test. Pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Organ indexes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) content in the serum were measured. Expression of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), receptor for AGEs (RAGE), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blotting. RESULTS: AS-IV improved the general status of the aging rats induced by D-galactose, prevented the impairment of memory function, organ indexes, and the pathological damage of the hippocampus. From the prospective of oxidative stress, AS-IV increased sera SOD activity and decreased MDA content. Additionally, AS-IV also reduced the inflammatory response by reducing hippocampal IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression. Importantly, AS-IV prevented D-galactose-induced expression of AGEs, RAGE and NF-κB in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: AS-IV could prevent D-galactose-induced aging and memory impairment in rats, likely via regulation of inflammatory response, which was modulated by AGEs/RAGE/NF-κB axis.

Danggui Buxue Tang Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Suppressing the TLR4/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) on rats with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Sixty specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, PF, prednisone treatment, and DBT treatment. Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) was performed to establish a PF rat model. DBT was administered to PF rats concurrently for 2 weeks. Lung samples were then collected for HE and Masson staining after pulmonary function testing, and semiquantitative analysis for the degree of alveolitis and fibrosis was performed using the Szapiel and Ashcroft score systems. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, hydroxyproline (HYP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and inflammatory cytokine content were measured. Western blotting was performed to detect fibrotic marker and TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway changes. RESULTS: Oral administration of DBT attenuated weight loss, survival rate, and pulmonary index. Lung histopathologic lesions were also reduced. DBT inhibited PF by decreasing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and collagen deposition. Specifically, DBT reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, HYP, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and collagen III levels. Corollary experiments identified a potential mechanism involving suppression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway activation and the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis, the downstream regulatory pathway. CONCLUSION: DBT exhibited a potent effect on BLM-induced PF rats by inhibiting the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Thus, DBT alleviates pulmonary inflammation to inhibit fibrotic pathology and should be considered as a candidate for the clinical treatment of PF.

Bushenhuoxue improves cognitive function and activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated signaling in a rat model of vascular dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective mechanisms of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bushenhuoxue (BSHX) in a rat model of vascular dementia (VD). METHODS: A rat model of VD was developed using bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Rats were administered BSHX (10.14 or 5.07 g/kg), nimodipine (11.06 mg/kg; positive control), or saline (control) by gavage daily for 30 d post-surgery. Learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed using light microscopy (hematoxylin and eosin staining) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mRNA and protein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine kinase (AKT), and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, rats with BCCAO exhibited impaired learning and memory abilities (Morris water maze) and showed abnormalities in neuronal morphology (light microscopy) and ultrastructure (TEM) in the hippocampus. They also had decreased mRNA and protein expressions of BDNF, TrkB, PI3K, AKT, and CREB in hippocampal tissue (all P < 0.05). In rats with BCCAO, administration of BSHX attenuated deficits in learning and memory, improved the morphology and ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons, and enhanced mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF, TrkB, PI3K, AKT, and CREB (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BSHX may protect hippocampal neurons and improve learning and memory abilities, at least in part via the activation of BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/AKT/CREB signaling.

Danggui Buxue Tang ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats through inhibiting transforming growth factor-ß1/Smad3/ plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a decoction from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, and to propose the possible underlying mechanism. METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, prednisone group and DBT group. Pulmonary fibrosis rat model was established by intratracheal injection with bleomycin. Body weight and lung index were monitored. Histopathologic examination and collagen deposition were determined using Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to observe the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). mRNA expression of α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1ß in serum were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Alkali hydrolysis method was conducted to investigate the content of hydroxyproline (HYP). Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), Smad3 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) protein level were examined by Western blot assay. RESULTS: DBT significantly reduced the severity of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation as indicated by minimizing the lost of weight, and by lowering the levels of lung index, inflammation score, Ashcroft score, collagen volume fraction (%), HYP, α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, TGF-ß1, Smad3 and PAI-1, consistent with the effect of prednisone. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DBT is able to ameliorate the pulmonary fibrosis, the possible mechanism may involve inhibition of pulmonary inflammation and collagen deposition, possibly via suppressing TGF-ß1/Smad3/PAI-1 signaling pathway.

Xiaoyaosan decoction regulates food intake and body weight via the leptin-leptin receptor-proopiomelanocortin pathway in rats with chronic immobilization stress.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the Xiaoyaosan (XYS) decoction on the food intake and body weight of rats with chronic immobilization stress (CIS), as well as the concentration of serum leptin and the expression of feeding-related neuropeptides [leptin receptor (Ob-R), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)] in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). METHODS: We subjected rats to CIS for 3 h a day. The rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control group, 7-day stress group, 21-day stress group and XYS-treated group. The rats in the two stress groups were exposed to CIS for 7 or 21 d. The rats in the XYS-treated group were also exposed to CIS for 21 d and were intragastrically administered the XYS decoction before stress. The body weight and food intake of the rats were measured every day. The content of leptin in serum and α-MSH in the ARC were detected by ELISA, and the expression of neuropeptides in the ARC was assayed by immunofluorescence, Western blot and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: The food intake and body weight of rats exposed to CIS were lower than those of control rats. The serum leptin, and expression levels of Ob-R, POMC and α-MSH in the ARC were significantly higher than those in the control rats. Treatment with the XYS decoction improved the appetite and the body weight, and down-regulated serum leptin and Ob-R, POMC and α-MSH in hypothalamus ARC. CONCLUSION: The leptin-Ob-R-POMC pathway might be the part of the mechanism underlying XYS's improvement of somatic symptoms such as reduction in food intake and body weight related to CIS.

[The value of lab diagnostics in Chinese medicine microscopic syndrome differentiation].

Lab diagnostics plays an important role in Chinese medicine (CM) microscopic syndrome differentiation owe to its properties such as microcosmic, objectivity, and quantitation. It is not replaceable in identifying dormant syndrome. Besides, it plays important roles in studying the essence of CM syndromes, the modeling of CM syndromes, the microscopic classification of CM syndromes, and the typing of CM syndromes. Therefore, lab diagnostic indices are important indices for microscopic syndrome differentiation. Microscopic syndrome differentiation deduced from laboratory diagnostics has become beneficial complement for macroscopic syndrome differentiation. It will promote the formation of a brand new syndrome differentiation subject and the development of microscopic syndrome differentiation.

[Lab diagnostics and concepts of integrative medicine].

The integrative medicine concepts were analyzed from a brand-new view angle of lab diagnostics. The microcosmic, objective, early diagnostic, dynamic, and multi-point features of lab diagnostics can be integrated respectively with the macroscopic concept, experience, prevention ahead of disease attack, constant changing concept, and the wholism in Chinese medicine. The concept of integrative medicine in the lab diagnostics is of far-reaching significance in the clinics, research, and teaching of Chinese medicine, as well as the discipline construction of integrative medicine diagnostics. In addition, the complementarity and compatibility of Chinese medicine and lab diagnostics are studied.