Gualou-Xiebai-Banxia-Tang regulates liver-gut axis to ameliorate Metabolic Syndrome in HFD-fed mice.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, and abnormal blood lipid levels, is the pathological basis of many cardiovascular diseases. Gualou-Xiebai-Banxia-Tang decoction (GT) was first described in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, the earliest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monograph on diagnosis and treatment of miscellaneous diseases in China. According to TCM precepts, based on its ability to activate yang to release stagnation, activate qi to reduce depression, remove phlegm, and broaden the chest, GT has been used for more than 2,000 years to treat cardiovascular ailments. However, the molecular bases of its therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify lipid- and glucose-related hepatic genes differentially regulated by GT, and to assess GT impact on gut microbiota composition, in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MetS. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: ApoE-/- mice were fed with an HFD for 24 weeks, with or without concurrent GT supplementation, to induce MetS. At the study's end, body weight, visceral fat weight, blood lipid levels, and insulin sensitivity were measured, and histopathological staining was used to evaluate hepatosteatosis and intestinal barrier integrity. Liver transcriptomics was used for analysis of differentially expressed genes in liver and prediction of relevant regulatory pathways. Hepatic lipid/glucose metabolism-related genes and proteins were detected by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Gut microbial composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: GT administration reduced MetS-related liver steatosis and weight gain, promoted insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, and beneficially modulated gut microbiota composition by decreasing the relative abundance of g_Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and increasing the relative abundance of g_Alistipes. Liver transcriptomics revealed that GT regulated the expression of genes related to lipid and glucose metabolism (Pparγ, Igf1, Gpnmb, and Trem2) and of genes encoding chemokines/chemokine receptors (e.g. Cxcl9 and Cx3cr1). Significant, positive correlations were found for Ccr2, Ccl4, Ccr1, and Cx3cr1 and the g_Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and between Cxcl9, Ccr2, Ccl4, and Cx3cr1 and g_Desulfovibrio. GT treatment downregulated the protein expressions of SCD1 and CX3CR1 and upregulated the expression of PCK1 protein. CONCLUSION: GT supplementation alleviates HFD-induced MetS in mice by improving hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism. The anti-metabolic syndrome effects of GT may be related to the regulation of the gut-liver axis.

Geniposide ameliorates atherosclerosis by regulating macrophage polarization via perivascular adipocyte-derived CXCL14.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for treatment of various diseases, including atherosclerosis by clearing heat and detoxication. Geniposide is considered as the effective compounds responsible for the therapeutic efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis against atherosclerosis. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of geniposide on atherosclerosis burden and plaque macrophage polarization, with focus on its potential impact on CXCL14 expression by perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ApoE-/- mice fed a western diet (WD) were used to model atherosclerosis. In vitro cultures of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and RAW264.7 macrophages were used for molecular assays. RESULTS: The results revealed that geniposide treatment reduced atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice, and this effect was correlated with increased M2 and decreased M1 polarization of plaque macrophages. Of note, geniposide increased the expression of CXCL14 in PVAT, and both the anti-atherosclerotic effect of geniposide, as well as its regulatory influence on macrophage polarization, were abrogated upon in vivo CXCL14 knockdown. In line with these findings, exposure to conditioned medium from geniposide-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (or to recombinant CXCL14 protein) enhanced M2 polarization in interleukin-4 (IL-4) treated RAW264.7 macrophages, and this effect was negated after CXCL14 silencing in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSION: In summary, our findings suggest that geniposide protects ApoE-/- mice against WD-induced atherosclerosis by inducing M2 polarization of plaque macrophages via enhanced expression of CXCL14 in PVAT. These data provide novel insights into PVAT paracrine function in atherosclerosis and reaffirm geniposide as a therapeutic drug candidate for atherosclerosis treatment.

Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis With a Digital Health Application: A Multicenter, Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Digital health applications have been shown to be effective in the management of chronic diseases with simple treatment targets. The potential clinical value of digital health applications in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether assessing patient-reported outcomes using digital health applications could result in disease control for patients with RA. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is a multicenter, open-label randomized clinical trial in 22 tertiary hospitals across China. Eligible participants were adult patients with RA. Participants were enrolled from November 1, 2018, to May 28, 2019, with a 12-month follow-up. The statisticians and rheumatologists who assessed disease activity were blinded. Investigators and participants were not blind to group assignment. Analysis was conducted from October 2020 to May 2022. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio (block size of 4) to a smart system of disease management group (SSDM) or a conventional care control group. Upon the completion of the 6-month parallel comparison, patients in the conventional care control group were instructed to use the SSDM application for an extension of 6 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the rate of patients with disease activity score in 28 joints using the C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) of 3.2 or less at month 6. RESULTS: Of 3374 participants screened, 2204 were randomized, and 2197 patients with RA (mean [SD] age, 50.5 [12.4] years; 1812 [82.5%] female) were enrolled. The study included 1099 participants in the SSDM group and 1098 participants in the control group. At month 6, the rate of patients with DAS28-CRP of 3.2 or less was 71.0% (780 of 1099 patients) in the SSDM group vs 64.5% (708 of 1098 patients) in the control group (difference between groups, 6.6%; 95% CI, 2.7% to 10.4%; P = .001). At month 12, the rate of patients with DAS28-CRP of 3.2 or less in the control group increased to a level (77.7%) that was comparable with that (78,2%) in the SSDM group (difference between groups, -0.2%; 95% CI, -3.9% to 3.4%; P = .90). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial of RA, the use of a digital health application with patient-reported outcomes was associated with an increase in disease control rate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03715595.

Dingxin recipe â ¢ ameliorates hyperlipidemia injury in SD rats by improving the gut barrier, particularly the SCFAs/GPR43 pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ (DXR Ⅲ) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound used for hyperlipidemia treatment in clinical practice. However, its curative effects and pharmacological mechanisms in hyperlipidemia have not been clarified to date. AIM OF THE STUDY: Studies have demonstrated that gut barrier was strongly implicated in lipid deposition. Based on gut barrier and lipid metabolism, this study examined the effects and molecular mechanisms of DXR Ⅲ in hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bioactive compounds of DXR Ⅲ were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and its effects were evaluated in high-fat diet-fed rats. Specifically, the serum levels of lipids and hepatic enzymes were measured using the appropriate kits; colon and liver sections were obtained for histological analyses; gut microbiota and metabolites were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-MS/MS; and the expression of genes and proteins was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The pharmacological mechanisms of DXR Ⅲ were further explored by fecal microbiota transplantation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs)-based interventions. RESULTS: DXR Ⅲ treatment significantly downregulated serum lipid levels, mitigated hepatocyte steatosis and improved lipid metabolism. Moreover, DXR Ⅲ improved the gut barrier, specifically by improving the physical barrier in the colon, causing part composition changes in the gut microbiota, and increasing the serum SCFAs level. DXR Ⅲ also upregulated the expression of colon GPR43/GPR109A. Fecal microbiota transplantation from rats treated with DXR Ⅲ downregulated part hyperlipidemia-related phenotypes, while the SCFAs intervention significantly improved most of the hyperlipidemia-related phenotypes and upregulated the expression of GPR43. Moreover, both DXR Ⅲ and SCFAs upregulated the expression of colon ABCA1. CONCLUSION: DXR Ⅲ protects against hyperlipidemia by improving the gut barrier, particularly the SCFAs/GPR43 pathway.

Pravastatin Reduces Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression and Promotes Cholesterol Efflux in Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes.

Background: Chondrocyte metabolic disorder plays an important role in the development of osteoarthritis (OA). The use of statins in the treatment of OA has also been widely studied, but the mechanism is still confusing. The present study aims to investigate the effects of statin on osteoarthritis chondrocytes and its underlying mechanism. Major findings. An untargeted metabolomics study revealed that the treatment of statins significantly changed the metabolites of articular cartilage tissues collected from female osteoarthritis patients, and might be involved in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. In vitro study showed that 5-50 µmol/L of pravastatin exerts no cytotoxicity on human chondrocytes. Besides, 50 µmol/L of pravastatin caused a significant decrease in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MPP-13, and intracellular cholesterol in interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced human chondrocytes. Furthermore, at both mRNA and protein levels, the expression of the proteins related to the cholesterol efflux pathway (liver X receptor and cholesterol efflux regulatory protein) were significantly up-regulated by 50 µmol/L of pravastatin in IL-1ß-induced human chondrocytes. Conclusion: Pravastatin can reduce the expression of MMPs in IL-1ß-induced human chondrocytes and protect the chondrocyte matrix. The mechanism may be related to promoting the expression of proteins related to the cholesterol efflux pathway and reducing the level of cellular cholesterol.

Stigmasterol attenuates hepatic steatosis in rats by strengthening the intestinal barrier and improving bile acid metabolism.

Stigmasterol (ST) has been shown to improve both lipid and bile acid (BA) metabolism. However, the mechanism(s) by which ST prevents dyslipidemia via BA metabolism, and the potential involvement of other regulatory mechanisms, remains unclear. Here, we found that ST treatment effectively alleviates lipid metabolism disorder induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Moreover, we also show that fecal microbiota transplantation from ST-treated rats displays similar protective effects in rats fed on an HFD. Our data confirm that the gut microbiota plays a key role in attenuating HFD-induced fat deposition and metabolic disorders. In particular, ST reverses HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis in rats by reducing the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Allobaculum bacteria in the gut. In addition, ST treatment also modifies the serum and fecal BA metabolome profiles in rats, especially in CYP7A1 mediated BA metabolic pathways. Furthermore, chenodeoxycholic acid combined with ST improves the therapeutic effects in HFD-induced dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. In addition, this treatment strategy also alters BA metabolism profiles via the CYP7A1 pathway and gut microbiota. Taken together, ST exerts beneficial effects against HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and obesity with the underlying mechanism being partially related to both the reprogramming of the intestinal microbiota and metabolism of BAs in enterohepatic circulation. This study provides a theoretical basis for further study of the anti-obesity effects of ST and consideration of the gut microbiota as a potential target for the treatment of HFD-induced dyslipidemia.

Geniposide Combined With Notoginsenoside R1 Attenuates Inflammation and Apoptosis in Atherosclerosis via the AMPK/mTOR/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Inflammation and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells play a key role in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS), and the AMPK/mTOR/Nrf2 signaling pathway plays an important role in alleviating the symptoms of AS. Geniposide combined with notoginsenoside R1 (GN combination) is a patented supplement for the prevention and treatment of AS. It has been proven to improve blood lipid levels and inhibit the formation of AS plaques; however, it is still unclear whether GN combination can inhibit inflammation and apoptosis in AS by regulating the AMPK/mTOR/Nrf2 signaling pathway and its downstream signals. Our results confirmed that the GN combination could improve blood lipid levels and plaque formation in ApoE -/- mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), inhibit the secretion of serum inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors. It also decreased the expression of pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related protein and Bax/Bcl2/caspase-3 pathway-related proteins. At the same time, the GN combination could also inhibit the H2O2-induced inflammatory response and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which is mainly related to the activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway by GN combination, which in turn induces the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signal. In addition, the above phenomenon could be significantly reversed by dorsomorphin. Therefore, our experiments proved for the first time that the GN combination can effectively inhibit AS inflammation and apoptosis by activating the AMPK/mTOR/Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome and Bax/Bcl2/caspase-3 pathway.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 promotes osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via the lncRNA-H19/miR-214-5p/BMP2 axis.

BACKGROUND: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) plays an important role in the osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs), but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Our study aimed to clarify the role of the lncRNA-H19/miR-214-5p/BMP2 axis in the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs induced by SDF-1. METHODS: We used reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, alkaline phosphatase activity test, and Alizarin red staining to evaluate the osteoblastic differentiation of primary hBMMSCs and the luciferase reporter assay to determine if lncRNA-H19 binds with miR-214-5p. RESULTS: Our results indicated that SDF-1 (50 ng/mL) promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs, significantly upregulates osteoblastogenic genes (OCN, OSX, RUNX2, and ALP), and increases Alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase activity, and lncRNA-H19 expression. Luciferase reporter assay verified that lncRNA-H19 binds with and represses miR-214-5p, thereby upregulating BMP2 expression. Use of miR-214-5p inhibitor or overexpression of lncRNA-H19 can promote the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs, but miR-214-5p or shH19 inhibits the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs. Treatment with an miR-214-5p inhibitor could rescue the inhibitory effect of shH19 on the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, SDF-1 promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of hBMMSCs through the lncRNA-H19/miR-214-5p/BMP2 axis. Increased osteoblastic differentiation by an miR-214-5p inhibitor reveals a new possible strategy for the treatment of bone defect and osteoporosis.

Ferulic Acid Ameliorates Atherosclerotic Injury by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism.

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Recent studies have emphasized the significance of gut microbiota and lipid metabolism in the development of atherosclerosis. Herein, the effects and molecular mechanisms involving ferulic acid (FA) was examined in atherosclerosis using the ApoE-knockout (ApoE-∕-, c57BL/6 background) mouse model. Eighteen male ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks and then randomly divided into three groups: the model group, the FA (40 mg/kg/day) group and simvastatin (5 mg/kg/day) group. As results, FA could significantly alleviate atherosclerosis and regulate lipid levels in mice. Liver injury and hepatocyte steatosis induced by HFD were also mitigated by FA. FA improved lipid metabolism involving up-regulation of AMPKα phosphorylation and down-regulation of SREBP1 and ACC1 expression. Furthermore, FA induced marked structural changes in the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites and specifically reduced the relative abundance of Fimicutes, Erysipelotrichaceae and Ileibacterium, which were positively correlated with serum lipid levels in atherosclerosis mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate that FA could significantly ameliorate atherosclerotic injury, which may be partly by modulating gut microbiota and lipid metabolism via the AMPKα/SREBP1/ACC1 pathway.

Dingxin Recipe IV attenuates atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism through LXR-α/SREBP1 pathway and modulating the gut microbiota in ApoE-/- mice fed with HFD.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dingxin Recipe (DXR) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been reported to be effective and safe treatment for cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmias, coronary heart disease. Dingxin Recipe IV (DXR IV) was further improved from the DXR according to the traditional use. However, the mechanism of DXR IV in atherosclerosis is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to illustrate whether DXR IV improve atherosclerosis through modulating the lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in atherosclerosis mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 male ApoE-/- mice were fed on HFD for 12 weeks and were then treated with DXR IV (1.8, 0.9, or 0.45 g/kg/d) for another 12 weeks. The decroation of DXR IV contains four traditional Chinese medicines: the dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch. (15.09%), the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (28.30%), the seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (37.74%) and the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.ex Fr.) Karst. (18.87%). 8 male c57BL/6 mice fed a normal diet served as control group. The atherosclerotic plaque was quantified by oil-red O staining and masson trichrome staining. Mice feces were collected. The gut micobiota were detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolites were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The effect of DXR IV on blood lipids (TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C) was investigated. The lipid metabolism related genes were determined by RT-qPCR and western blotting respectively. RESULTS: DXR IV exerted the anti-atherosclerosis effect by inhibiting the excessive cholesterol deposition in aorta and regulating the level of TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. The composition of gut microbiota was changed. Interestingly, the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae and Ruminococcaceae increased after DXR IV administration, whereas the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae decreased, which have been beneficial to lipid metabolism. Nine potential metabolic biomarkers, including acetate, butyrate, propionate, alanine, succinate, valerate, xylose, choline, glutamate, were identified, which were related to fatty acid metabolism. Further, the pathway of fatty acid was detected by the RT-qPCR and western blotting. Compared with model group, the level of LXR-α and SREBP1 decreased significantly in DXR IV group while LXR-ß, SREBP2 showed no statistical significance. It indicated that DXR IV modulated lipid metabolism by LXR-α/SREBP1 but not LXRß and SREBP2. CONCLUSIONS: DXR IV exhibits potential anti-atherosclerosis effect, which is closely related to lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota. This study may provide novel insights into the mechanism of DXR IV on atherosclerosis and a basis for promising clinical usage.

Geniposide Enhances Macrophage Autophagy through Downregulation of TREM2 in Atherosclerosis.

Macrophage autophagy defect is closely related to the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) and is regulated by the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2). TREM2 is a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the deficiency of which leads to anomalous autophagy in microglia. However, the role of TREM2 in the autophagy of plaque macrophages is still unclear. Geniposide (GP) can inhibit AS progression and enhance macrophage autophagy, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We found that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding significantly increased TREM2 levels and inhibited autophagy in the macrophages of ApoE[Formula: see text] mice. TREM2 overexpression in RAW264.7 macrophages decreased autophagy via activation of mTOR signaling. GP inhibited the progression of AS in ApoE[Formula: see text] mice, reinforced macrophage autophagy, and downregulated TREM2 by inhibiting mTOR signaling. Taken together, augmenting the autophagy levels in plaque macrophages by inhibiting the TREM2/mTOR axis can potentially impede atherosclerotic progression. The promising therapeutic effects of GP seen in this study should be validated in future trials, and the underlying mechanisms have to be elucidated in greater detail.

Dingxin recipe alleviates atherosclerosis injury in ApoE-knockout mice via downregulation of visfatin expression and inhibition of the visfatin-induced inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: To further elucidate the mechanism underlying the anti-atherosclerotic effect of Dingxin recipe (DXR). METHODS: Fifty 6-week-old male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into the following groups: model, simvastatin (5 mg·kg－1·d－1), DXR low-dose (9.30 g·kg－1·d－1), DXR middle-dose (18.59 g·kg－1·d－1) and DXR high-dose (37.18 g·kg－1·d－1) (n = 10). Ten male C57BL/6J mice were used as the control group. All ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and the control mice received a common diet. After HFD for 12 weeks, the mice were treated with DXR or simvastatin for another 12 weeks. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and visfatin was determined in serum and atherosclerotic lesions by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Visfatin expression was also assessed in aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Cultured vessel endothelial cells (VECs) were pretreated with DXR sera prior to visfatin. The effects of DXR were analyzed to elucidate its protective mechanism against visfatin-induced inflammation in VECs. RESULTS: DXR regulated blood lipids and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and visfatin expression in ApoE-/- mice, particularly at the higher doses. The areas of atherosclerotic lesions in the DXR groups were significantly smaller than those in the model group. DXR alleviated visfatin-induced VEC injury via downregulation of TNF-α, IL-6, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 through mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. CONCLUSION: DXR alleviated atherosclerosis injury via downregulation of visfatin expression and inhibition of the visfatin-induced inflammatory response in VECs.

6-Gingerol ameliorates sepsis-induced liver injury through the Nrf2 pathway.

Sepsis-induced liver injury is very common in intensive care units. Here, we investigated the effects of 6-gingerol on sepsis-induced liver injury and the role of the Nrf2 pathway in this process. 6-Gingerol is the principal ingredient of ginger that exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce polymicrobial sepsis and related liver injury, we found that mice pre-treated with 6-Gingerol showed less incidences of severe liver inflammation and death than untreated CLP groups. 6-Gingerol administration also inhibited the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), IL-1ß, and caspase-1. Consistent with these findings, 6-gingerol reduced the effects of pyroptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in RAW 264.7 cells, as evidenced by IL-1ß and caspase-1 protein levels in the supernatant and propidium iodide (PI) staining. 6-Gingerol was shown to activate the Nrf2 pathway in vivo and in vitro. Notably, Nrf2 siRNA transfection nullified the inhibitory effects of 6-gingerol on pyroptosis in vitro. In summary, these findings suggested that 6-gingerol alleviated sepsis-induced liver injury by inhibiting pyroptosis through the Nrf2 pathway.

miR-142-5p protects against osteoarthritis through competing with lncRNA XIST.

BACKGROUND: The relevance between abnormal microRNA expression and osteoarthritis (OA) has been elaborated in recent studies. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the impact of miR-142-5p on chondrocyte growth and apoptosis. METHODS: To mimic OA-like chondrocyte damage, interleukin (IL)-1ß was used for chondrocyte treatment. The expression of miR-142-5p, SGTB, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) X inactive specific transcript (XIST) and involved molecules such as Col2A1, Bcl-2, MMP13 and Bax was determined via a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. Functional roles of miR-142-5p, SGTB and XIST were monitored in 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, CCK-8 and TUNEL experiments. Rescue analyses were conducted to consolidate the effect of the XIST/miR-142-5p/SGTB axis on chondrocytes in OA. RESULTS: miR-142-5p was down-regulated in IL-1ß-treated chondrocytes, whereas SGTB and XIST levels were increased. Overexpression of miR-142-5p stimulated proliferation and retarded apoptosis in IL-1ß-treated chondrocytes. Meanwhile, miR-142-5p elevation was correlated with an elevation of Col2A1 and Bcl-2, as well as a decline of MMP13 and Bax. A mechanistic study showed that miR-142-5p negatively regulated SGTB expression. Moreover, we found that lncRNA XIST could relieve the inhibition of miR-142-5p on SGTB expression. Augmentation of SGTB or suppression of miR-142-5p reversed the influence of XIST depletion on chondrocyte growth and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has explored the fundamental role of miR-142-5p in IL-1ß-treated chondrocytes, as well as the novel molecular mechanism constituted by miR-142-5p/SGTB/XIST in OA. Potentially, the results obtained may add new insight into OA pathogenesis.

Spinosin and 6'''­Feruloylspinosin protect the heart against acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

Investigating active compounds from Chinese herbal medicine that can rescue myocardial cells is a good approach to preserve cardiac function. Several herbal formulae that containing Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS), also called Suanzaoren in Chinese, are clinically effective in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of spinosin and 6'''­feruloylspinosin, two flavonoid glycosides from SZS, in a rat model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) was occluded to induce myocardial ischemia. Spinosin or 6'''­feruloylspinosin (5 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats 30 min before LAD ligation. The protein levels of myocardial enzymes in the serum, the extent of tissue injury and the rate of apoptosis were examined after AMI in rats with or without pretreatment with spinosin or 6'''­feruloylspinosin. Western blotting was performed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the function of these two flavonoid glycosides. The present results suggested that pretreatment with spinosin or 6'''­feruloylspinosin significantly attenuated myocardial tissue injury, and reduced myocardial enzyme release and cell apoptosis in AMI rats. In addition, spinosin treatment increased light chain 3B­II and 6'''­feruloylspinosin, and reduced p62, indicating that autophagy was promoted after drug treatments. Treatments of spinosin and 6'''­feruloylspinosin led to the reduction of glycogen synthase kinase­3ß (GSK3ß) phosphorylation at Tyr216, and the increase of peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)­1α and its downstream signaling proteins, including nuclear factor (erythroid­derived 2)­like 2 (Nrf2) and hemeoxygenase1 (HO­1). The present data suggested that SZS flavonoids could protect myocardial cells against acute heart ischemia­reperfusion, probably via the inhibition of GSK3ß, which increased autophagy and the activity of the PGC­1α/Nrf2/HO­1 pathway.

Geniposide regulates the miR-101/MKP-1/p38 pathway and alleviates atherosclerosis inflammatory injury in ApoE-/- mice.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the common pathological basis of chronic cardiovascular diseases and is associated with inflammation and lipid metabolism dysfunction. Geniposide, the main active ingredient of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit, exhibits a variety of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative functions; however, its role in AS remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of geniposide in alleviating inflammation and thereby attenuating the development of AS. ApoE-/- mice were fed a high fat diet to induce AS and were treated with geniposide (50 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. Blood glucose and lipid levels were measured by biochemical analysis. H&E, Masson and Oil red O staining were performed to observe morphological changes and lipid deposition in the aorta and liver. Serum inflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the target relationship between microRNA-101 (miR-101) and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1). The levels of miR-101, p-p38, and MKP-1 in the aorta were detected by qPCR and western blotting. The anti-inflammatory effect of geniposide in vitro was investigated in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. A miR-101 mimic and an inhibitor were used to study the effect of miR-101 on regulating the expression of the target MKP-1 and the downstream inflammatory cytokines. Geniposide treatment reduced lipid levels and plaque size in the mouse model of AS. Geniposide downregulated miR-101 to upregulate MKP-1 and suppress the production of inflammatory factors in vitro and in vivo. Geniposide suppressed the levels of inflammatory factors in the presence of the miR-101 mimic, whereas no obvious effect was observed in the miR-101 inhibitor group. We concluded that geniposide reduced the plaque size and alleviated inflammatory injury in ApoE-/- mice and RAW264.7 cells. The specific anti-inflammatory mechanism was related to the miR-101/ MKP-1/p38 signaling pathway.

Polydatin Attenuates Atherosclerosis in ApoE -∕- Mice through PBEF Mediated Reduction of Cholesterol Deposition.

Cholesterol metabolism becomes imbalanced during the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells. Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) has recently been found to affect lipid deposition and inflammation in atherosclerosis. Here, we aimed to study the effects and molecular mechanism of Polydatin on atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout (ApoE -∕- ) mice. Thirty ApoE -∕- mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, and then treated with Polydatin for another 12 weeks. Whole aortas and cryosections were stained with oil red O. Blood lipid, PBEF and cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. The mRNAs of cholesterol metabolism-related genes were determined by qRT-PCR and protein levels by Western blotting. Cell cholesterol content and viability were determined in macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells. PBEF siRNA was used to study the effect of Polydatin on cholesterol metabolism in macrophages incubated with ox-LDL. Polydatin lowered blood lipids and decreased atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE -∕- mice. The expression of cytokines and the mRNA of cholesterol metabolism-related genes were markedly regulated by Polydatin. Meanwhile, PBEF mRNA and protein were both greatly down-regulated by Polydatin. In vitro, Polydatin protected RAW 264.7 cells treated by ox-LDL and inhibited cholesterol uptake by macrophages. The PBEF siRNA result indicates that Polydatin can modulate cholesterol metabolism in macrophages, partly through down-regulation of PBEF. In conclusion, Polydatin relieves atherosclerosis injury in ApoE -∕- mice, mainly through down-regulation of PBEF and inhibition of PBEF-inducing cholesterol deposits in macrophages.

Oleanolic acid protects against pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, possibly via FXR-mediated angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) upregulation.

Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases in the world, is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by the dysfunction of arteries. Oleanolic acid (OA) is a bioactive nature product which exists in various plants and herbs. Previous studies have demonstrated that OA was involved in numerous of biological processes, including atherosclerosis. However, the exact mechanisms of the anti-atherosclerosis effects of OA remain unknown. Here, in our study, we analyzed the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of OA in atherosclerosis depending a cell model and an animal model of atherosclerosis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL, 100 µg/mL) for 24 h to establish an atherosclerotic cell model. New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were fed with high-fat (HF) diets for three months to establish an atherosclerotic animal model. Then, cell viability and expression of cytokines (ANG, NO, eNOS, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6) were measured with CCK-8 assay and ELISA kits, cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry in the atherosclerotic cell model. Results showed that ox-LDL induced effects of anti-proliferation, cytokines alterations, and cell apoptosis were abolished by the application of OA or Ang (1-7). Further study indicated that OA increased the expression of ANG by upregulating the FXR expression in the ox-LDL induced HUVECs arthrosclerosis model. And the in vivo experiment in the HF diet induced animal model suggested that OA may inhibit the development of atherosclerosis. The atherosclerosis of aortas was assessed by Hematoxylin Eosin (HE), Oil Red O and Picrosirius Red staining; the expression levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined by the fully automatic biochemical analyzer, in the atherosclerotic animal model. All the results showed that OA treatment improved the cell viability in the cell model, inhibited the atherosclerosis development in the animal model. OA play as an anti-atherosclerosis agent in both the cell model and animal model by upregulating the production of Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) through FXR.

Smart Photosensitizer: Tumor-Triggered Oncotherapy by Self-Assembly Photodynamic Nanodots.

Clinical photosensitizers suffer from the disadvantages of fast photobleaching and high systemic toxicities because of the off-target photodynamic effects. To address these problems, we report a self-assembled pentalysine-phthalocyanine assembly nanodots (PPAN) fabricated by an amphipathic photosensitizer-peptide conjugate. We triggered the photodynamic therapy effects of photosensitizers by precisely controlling the assembly and disintegration of the nanodots. In physiological aqueous conditions, PPAN exhibited a size-tunable spherical conformation with a highly positive shell of the polypeptides and a hydrophobic core of the π-stacking Pc moieties. The assembly conformation suppressed the fluorescence and the reactive oxygen species generation of the monomeric photosensitizer molecules (mono-Pc) and thus declined the photobleaching and off-target photodynamic effects. However, tumor cells disintegrated PPAN and released the mono-Pc molecules, which exhibited fluorescence for detection and the photodynamic effects for the elimination of the tumor tissues. The molecular dynamics simulations revealed the various assembly configurations of PPAN and illustrated the assembly mechanism. At the cellular level, PPAN exhibited a remarkable phototoxicity to breast cancer cells with the IC50 values in a low nanomolar range. By using the subcutaneous and orthotopic breast cancer animal models, we also demonstrated the excellent antitumor efficacies of PPAN in vivo.

Photodynamic Oncotherapy Mediated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors.

Here, we report photodynamic oncotherapies mediated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors. We synthesized conjugates 1 and 2 by coupling zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) to GnRH analogues. Compared to unmodified ZnPc, conjugates 1 and 2 exhibited higher and more specific phototoxicities to breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the two conjugates demonstrated excellent antitumor efficacies in a breast cancer-grafted animal model. Biodistribution study suggested the high biosafety of conjugate 2 because of the low retention in brain and skin.