Active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers (AFPR) suppressed breast cancer growth and progression via regulating EGR1/lncRNA-NKILA/NF-κB axis.

Breast cancer (BC) is a major contributor of cancer-associated mortality in women. It is essential to find new therapeutic targets and drugs. Polyrhachis vicina Rogers is one of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Our previous studies have shown an active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers (AFPR) has significant anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting its anti-cancer effect. Here, we aimed to explore the inhibitory effects of AFPR on BC and reveal its mechanism. The effects of AFPR on BC were examined by cell proliferation assay, wound healing assay, invasion assay and xenograft assay. Microarray sequencing, qRT-PCR, Western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase reporter assay were performed to investigate the regulation of AFPR on related genes and underlying mechanisms. As a result, AFPR suppressed BC cell growth, migration and invasion and inhibited tumor growth. LncRNA NKILA was most prominently upregulated in AFPR-treated MCF7 cells. AFPR inactivated NF-κB signaling pathway via regulating NKILA. Furthermore, AFPR regulated the expression of NKILA by inhibiting its transcript suppressor EGR1. This study firstly indicated that AFPR was a potential inhibitor of BC development via regulating EGR1/NKILA/NF-κB axis.

Vaccarin prevents titanium particle-induced osteolysis and inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by blocking NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Wearing titanium particle-induced osteoclastogenesis, accompanied by peri-implant osteolysis, is the main cause of long-term failure of hip prosthesis. Currently, medications used for the prevention and treatment of peri-implant osteolysis show serious side effects. Therefore, development for more effective new drugs with less side effects is extremely urgent. Vaccarin is a natural flavonoid extracted from Vaccaria segetalis, with various biological functions, including antioxidantory, anti-inflammatory, and promotion of angiogenesis. However, the putative role of vaccarin in the inhibition of titanium particle-induced osteolysis has not been reported. In this study, it was indicated that vaccarin could effectively inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, fusion of F-actin rings, bone resorption, and expression of osteoclast marker genes in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, vaccarin could also inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via the inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling pathways, and inhibit the transcription of downstream transcription factors, such as c-Fos and NFATc1. Consistent with in vitro results, this in vivo study showed that vaccarin exhibited an inhibitory effect on titanium particle-induced osteolysis by antiosteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, vaccarin could be a promising agent for preventing and treating peri-implant osteolysis.

Comparative analysis of the compatibility effects of Danggui-Sini Decoction on a blood stasis syndrome rat model using untargeted metabolomics.

Danggui-Sini Decoction (DSD) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicine formulae (TCMF) for treating various diseases caused by cold coagulation and blood stasis due to its effect of nourishing blood to warm meridians in clinical use. However, studies of the mechanism of how it dispels blood stasis and its compatible regularity are challenging because of the complex pathophysiology of blood stasis syndrome (BSS) and the complexity of DSD, with multiple active ingredients acting on different targets. Observing variations of endogenous metabolites in rats with BSS after administering DSD may further our understanding of the mechanism of BSS and the compatible regularity of DSD. In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of BSS and assess the compatibility effects of DSD, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics approach was used. Serum metabolic profiles in rats with BSS that was induced by an ice water bath associated with subcutaneous injection of epinephrine hydrochloride were compared with the intervention groups which were administered with DSD or its compatibility. Using pattern recognition analysis, a clear separation between the BSS model and control group was observed; DSD and its compatibility intervention groups were clustered closer toward the control than the model group, which corroborates results of hemorheology studies. In addition, 20 metabolites were considered as potential biomarkers associated with the development of BSS. Nine metabolites were regulated by DSD in intervening blood stasis, they were considered to be correlated with the effect of nourishing blood to warm meridians. Additionally, the results suggested that the intervention effect of DSD on BSS may involve regulating four pathways, namely, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, and pyruvate metabolism. Moreover, each functional unit (monarch, minister, and assistant) in DSD regulates different metabolites and metabolic pathways to achieve different effects on dispelling blood stasis; however, their intervention efficacies are inferior to the holistic formula, which may be due to the synergism of the bioactive ingredients in seven herbs of DSD. This study demonstrated that metabolomics is a powerful tool for evaluating the efficacy and compatibility effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Monocrotaline Suppresses RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis In Vitro and Prevents LPS-Induced Bone Loss In Vivo.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Extensive osteoclast formation plays a critical role in bone diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis and the aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants. Thus, identification of agents that can suppress osteoclast formation and bone resorption is important for the treatment of these diseases. Monocrotaline (Mon), the major bioactive component of crotalaria sessiliflora has been investigated for its anti-cancer activities. However, the effect of Mon on osteoclast formation and osteolysis is not known. METHODS: The bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were cultured with M-CSF and RANKL followed by Mon treatment. Then the effects of Mon on osteoclast differentiation were evaluated by counting TRAP (+) multinucleated cells. Moreover, effects of Mon on hydroxyapatite resorption activity of mature osteoclast were studied through resorption areas measurement. The involved potential signaling pathways were analyzed by performed Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR examination. Further, we established a mouse calvarial osteolysis model to measure the osteolysis suppressing effect of Mon in vivo. RESULTS: In this study, we show that Mon can inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and function in a dose-dependent manner. Mon inhibits the expression of osteoclast marker genes such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K. Furthermore, Mon inhibits RANKL-induced the activation of p38 and JNK. Consistent with in vitro results, Mon exhibits protective effects in an in vivo mouse model of LPS-induced calvarial osteolysis. CONCLUSION: Taken together our data demonstrate that Mon may be a potential prophylactic anti-osteoclastic agent for the treatment of osteolytic diseases caused by excessive osteoclast formation and function.

Investigation of the hepatoprotective effect of Corydalis saxicola Bunting on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats by 1H-NMR-based metabonomics and network pharmacology approaches.

Liver fibrosis is a common consequence of chronic liver diseases resulting from multiple etiologies. Furthermore, prolonged unresolved liver fibrosis may gradually progress to cirrhosis, and eventually evolve into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CS), a type of traditional Chinese folk medicine, has been reported to have hepatoprotective effects on the liver. However, the exact mechanism of how it cures liver fibrosis requires further elucidation. In this work, an integrated approach combining proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)-based metabonomics and network pharmacology was adopted to elucidate the anti-fibrosis mechanism of CS. Metabonomic study of serum biochemical changes by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats after CS treatment were performed using 1H-NMR analysis. Metabolic profiling by means of partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) indicated that the metabolic perturbation caused by CCl4 was reduced after CS treatment. As a result, lipids, leucine, alanine, acetate, O-acetyl-glycoprotein and creatine were significantly restored after CS treatment, which regulated valine, leucine and isoleucine metabolism; arginine and proline metabolism; lipid metabolism and pyruvate metabolism. Additionally, 157 potential targets of CS and 265 targets of liver fibrosis were identified by means of network pharmacology. Subsequently, 5 target proteins, which are the intersection of potential CS targets and liver fibrosis targets, indicated that CS has potential anti-fibrosis effects through regulating alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and angiotensinogen. Chelerythrine and sanguinarine were the potential active compounds in CS for treating liver fibrosis through regulating ALT activity. This study is the first report to study the anti-fibrosis effects of CS on the basis of combining a metabonomics and network pharmacology approaches, and it may be a potentially powerful tool to study the efficacy and mechanisms of traditional Chinese folk medicines.

Artesunate inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro and prevents LPS-induced bone loss in vivo.

Osteoclasts are multinuclear giant cells responsible for bone resorption in lytic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, periodontitis, and bone tumors. Due to the severe side-effects caused by the currently available drugs, a continuous search for novel bone-protective therapies is essential. Artesunate (Art), the water-soluble derivative of artemisinin has been investigated owing to its anti-malarial properties. However, its effects in osteoclastogenesis have not yet been reported. In this study, Art was shown to inhibit the nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, the mRNA expression of osteoclastic-specific genes, and resorption pit formation in a dose-dependent manner in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages cells (BMMs). Furthermore, Art markedly blocked the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by attenuating the degradation of IκB and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Consistent with the in vitro results, Art inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone resorption by suppressing the osteoclastogenesis. Together our data demonstrated that Art inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway and that it is a promising agent for the treatment of osteolytic diseases.

Urinary metabonomics study of the hepatoprotective effects of total alkaloids from Corydalis saxicola Bunting on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats using 1H NMR analysis.

Chronic liver injury has been shown to cause liver fibrosis due to the sustained pathophysiological wound healing response of the liver, and eventually progresses to cirrhosis. The total alkaloids of Corydalis saxicola Bunting (TACS), a collection of important bioactive ingredients derived from the traditional Chinese folk medicine Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CS), have been reported to have protective effects on the liver. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms need further elucidation. In this study, the urinary metabonomics and the biochemical changes in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic liver injury due to treatment TACS or administration of the positive control drug-bifendate were studied via proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis. Partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) suggested that metabolic perturbation caused by CCl4 damage was recovered with TACS and bifendate treatment. A total of seven metabolites including 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, dimethylamine, taurine, phenylacetylglycine, creatinine and hippurate were considered as potential biomarkers involved in the development of CCl4-induced chronic liver injury. According to pathway analysis using identified metabolites and correlation network construction, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, gut microbiota metabolism and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were recognized as the most affected metabolic pathways associated with CCl4 chronic hepatotoxicity. Notably, the changes in 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, taurine and hippurate during the process of CCl4-induced chronic liver injury were significantly restored by TACS treatment, which suggested that TACS synergistically mediated the regulation of multiple metabolic pathways including the TCA cycle, gut microbiota metabolism and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. This study could bring valuable insight to evaluating the efficacy of TACS intervention therapy, help deepen the understanding of the hepatoprotective mechanisms of TACS and enable optimal diagnosis of chronic liver injury.