Crude Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi) with Glycyrrhiza Reduces Inflammation and Ventricular Remodeling in Mice through the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway.

Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi) is a traditional Chinese medicine. Its alkaloids are both cardiotonic and cardiotoxic; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Compatibility testing and processing are the primary approaches used to reduce the toxicity of aconite preparations. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of crude Fuzi (CFZ), CFZ combined with Glycyrrhiza (Gancao) (CFZ+GC), and prepared materials of CFZ (PFZ) on heart failure (HF) in C57BL/6J mice and explore the potential mechanisms of action of CFZ. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was used to generate the HF state, and CFZ (1.5 g·mL-1), PFZ (1.5 g·mL-1), or CFZ+GC (1.8 g·mL-1) was orally administered to the HF-induced mice daily. For the subsequent 8 weeks, hemodynamic indicators, ventricular pressure indices, and mass indices were evaluated, and histopathological imaging was performed. CFZ, CFZ+GC, and PFZ significantly improved left ventricular function and structure and reduced myocardial damage. CFZ+GC was more effective than CFZ and PFZ, whereas CFZ had higher toxicity than CFZ+GC and PFZ. CFZ and CFZ+GC attenuated ischemia-induced inflammatory responses and also inhibited Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) action in the heart. Moreover, mass spectrometry analysis revealed a decrease in the levels of toxic components of CFZ+GC, whereas those of the protective components were increased. This study suggested that GC reduces the toxicity and increases the efficacy of CFZ on HF induced by TAC. Furthermore, GC+CFZ reduces the risk of HF by ameliorating the inflammation response, which might be partially related to the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Neuromuscular organoids model spinal neuromuscular pathologies in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Due to the lack of trunk neuromuscular organoids (NMOs) from ALS patients' induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), an organoid system was missing to model the trunk spinal neuromuscular neurodegeneration. With the C9orf72 ALS patient-derived iPSCs and isogenic controls, we used an NMO system containing trunk spinal cord neural and peripheral muscular tissues to show that the ALS NMOs could model peripheral defects in ALS, including contraction weakness, neural denervation, and loss of Schwann cells. The neurons and astrocytes in ALS NMOs manifested the RNA foci and dipeptide repeat proteins. Acute treatment with the unfolded protein response inhibitor GSK2606414 increased the glutamatergic muscular contraction 2-fold and reduced the dipeptide repeat protein aggregation and autophagy. This study provides an organoid system for spinal neuromuscular pathologies in ALS and its application for drug testing.

Safflower yellow reduces DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma by enhancing liver immune infiltration through promotion of collagen degradation and modulation of gut microbiota.

Safflower yellow (SY) is the main active ingredient isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Carthamus tinctorius, which is a valuable natural edible pigment that is widely used to treat cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of SY on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In this study, we showed that SY decreased the degree of injury and inhibited the release of inflammatory factors in the liver of a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC mouse model. Flow cytometry and immunoblotting showed that SY increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and Gr-1+ macrophages to improve the immune microenvironment by affecting the expression of collagen fibers. Further cellular experiments showed that SY degraded the collagens in the liver cells through the TGF-ß/Smad signalling pathway. SY also regulated the gut microbiota which may contribute to the immune microenvironment. In conclusion, SY exhibited a potent effect on the development of HCC by enhancing liver immune infiltration by promoting collagen degradation and modulating the gut microbiota. This study provides novel insights into the mechanism of SY as a candidate for the treatment of HCC in the future.

Gehua Jiecheng Decoction Inhibits Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice by Improving Tumor Immunosuppression Microenvironment.

Gehua Jiecheng Decoction (GHJCD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, has been used in the prevention and treatment of precancerous lesion of liver cancer, but its active mechanism has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of GHJCD on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mice and the mechanism of this effect. We found that GHJCD effectively inhibited the occurrence of liver cancer and reduced the tumor area. The ratio of regulatory cells (Tregs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in HCC microenvironment was down-regulated, whereas that of CD8 T and effective CD8 T cells was up-regulated. In addition, the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and CCL-2 in the liver were inhibited, whereas those of the angiogenesis related molecules CD31 and VEGF were decreased. Moreover, WNT1, ß-catenin, NF-kB, p-MAPK, p-AKT, and p-SRC content in the liver decreased, whereas APC content increased. These results suggested that GHJCD exerted a good inhibitory effect on liver cancer induced by DEN and thus may have a multi-target effect; GHJCD not only antagonized the immunosuppressive effect of the microenvironment of liver cancer but also exerted strong anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenesis effects.

High-Fat Diet Promotes Macrophage-Mediated Hepatic Inflammation and Aggravates Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Mice.

It has been reported that diet and nutrition play important roles in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the potential tumor-promoting mechanisms of a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice with dietondiethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. HFD significantly decreased the survival rate and induced severe liver dysfunction in DEN-induced mice, as indicated by increased serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and increased liver index, liver nodule count, and γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) activity. Moreover, an increased number of fat droplets and HCCs were found in the livers of the HFD mice, who displayed little collagen in and around the liver cancer groove and the infiltration of large number of inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, compared with the control mice. HFD also significantly increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), cyclin D1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) expression levels in the liver. In vitro, we found that the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) percentage increased in macrophages after palmitic acid treatment, as well as the secretion of inflammatory factors and cytokines such as interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10), CCL2, Interferon γ (IFN-γ), and TNF. Thus, our results demonstrate that an HFD may promote DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice by destroying liver function and enhancing the inflammatory response by recruiting and polarizing macrophages in the liver. This study could therefore provide new insights into the tumor promoting effects of an HFD in HCC.

Effect of Hirsutella sinensis Fungus on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Lewis Rats with Kidney-Yang Deficiency Syndrome.

Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS) is a classic syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine, which is mainly caused by damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Hirsutella sinensis fungus (HSF), an artificial substitute of Cordyceps sinensis, has been widely used in TCM. However, the effects and the possible mechanism of HSF on the HPA axis and corresponding KYDS have not yet been investigated. In this study, Lewis rats were used as a spontaneous KYDS model. HSF was intragastrically administered to the Lewis rats at two doses: low dose (1 g/kg) and high dose (2 g/kg). Body weight, temperature, and behavioral tests including grip strength, open field, and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were used to evaluate the KYDS symptoms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of circulating adrenocortisol (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In addition, mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), CRH, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). The Lewis rats were indicated to have KYDS symptoms and HSF treatment ameliorated these symptoms via enhancement of the HPA axis function, which was evidenced by the increased levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in serum and 17-OHCS in urine. HSF also significantly improved the expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2, secreted by Th1 cells, which might accelerate the activation of the immune system related to the HPA axis function. Thus, we conclude that HSF can alleviate KYDS symptoms in Lewis rats by regulating the HPA axis through accelerated immune system activation.

Total glucosides of peony improve ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma by inhibiting mast cell degranulation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (peony) is a medicinal plant used in the Xiaoqinglong decoction, a commonly prescribed traditional Chinese medicine for asthma. The main active ingredients of peony roots-described as the total glucosides of peony (TGP)-have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and protective effects on endothelial cells, and they are known to improve rheumatoid arthritis. This study explored the underlying mechanism of TGP activity in the treatment of allergic asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Allergic asthma was induced in BALB/c mice by administering injections of ovalbumin (OVA) mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel and inhaling nebulized OVA. The OVA-sensitized mice were treated with TGP by oral gavage, and the potentially anti-asthmatic treatment effect was studied by testing airway hyperresponsiveness, classifying and counting of leukocytes, performing cytokine assays, and analyzing the lung histopathology. The ß-hexosaminidase activity was assayed as a biomarker to evaluate the effect of TGP on mast cell degranulation. The mechanism of TGP was explored by monitoring the Ca2+ influx level in mast cells (RBL-2H3) using a Ca2+ fluorescent probe technique. RESULTS: In mice with OVA-induced allergic asthma, TGP reduced airway hyperresponsiveness and improved lung tissue pathology, which included a decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition. TGP also significantly lowered BALF leukocyte, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts, along with chemokines and cytokines, such as eotaxin, TNF-α, IL-4, and MIP-1α, in serum and lungs of OVA-challenged mice. These effects were further confirmed with the decrease of ß-hexosaminidase release and the inhibition of Ca2+ influx in mast cell degranulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that TGP improved OVA-induced allergic asthma in mice mainly by suppressing Ca2+ influx-dependent mast cell degranulation.

Integration of Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveals the Therapeutic Mechanism Underlying Paeoniflorin for the Treatment of Allergic Asthma.

Objectives: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease, which is characterized by airway remodeling, hyperreactivity and shortness of breath. Paeoniflorin is one of the major active ingredients in Chinese peony, which exerts anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory effects in multiple diseases. However, it remains unclear whether paeoniflorin treatment can suppress allergic asthma. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effect of paeoniflorin on lung function and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. These asthmatic Balb/c mice were first sensitized and constructed through ovalbumin (OVA) motivation. Subsequently, we determined the mechanism of action of paeoniflorin in treating allergic asthma through integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic data sets. Results: Our results demonstrated that many genes and metabolites were regulated in the paeoniflorin-treated mice. Moreover, the potential target proteins of paeoniflorin played important roles in fatty acid metabolism, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and local adhesion. Conclusion: Paeoniflorin has a beneficial effect on asthma, which may be achieved through regulating fatty acid metabolism, inflammatory response and the adhesion pathway at system level.