In silico identification of compounds from Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract inhibit interleukin-6 to prevent rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Medicinal herbs with a phytonutrient background has been applied globally as major alternatives to ameliorate the continuous increase in rheumatoid arthritis cases worldwide. We herein aimed to critically examine the bioactive components of the medicinal herb Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract for its potential to inhibit the influx of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The Schrödinger platform was employed as the main computational acumen for the screening of bioactive compounds identified and reference compounds subjected to molecular simulation (MDS) for analyzing the stability of docked complexes to assess fluctuations and conformational changes during protein-ligand interactions. Results: The values of the simulatory properties and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the good stability of these phytochemicals in the active pocket of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Discussion: Our findings reveal new strategies in which these phytochemicals are potential inhibitory agents that can be modified and further evaluated to develop more effective agents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, thereby providing a better understanding and useful model for the reproduction and/or discovery of new drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and its complications.

Endothelin 3/EDNRB signaling induces thermogenic differentiation of white adipose tissue.

Thermogenic adipose tissue, consisting of brown and beige fat, regulates nutrient utilization and energy metabolism. Human brown fat is relatively scarce and decreases with obesity and aging. Hence, inducing thermogenic differentiation of white fat offers an attractive way to enhance whole-body metabolic capacity. Here, we show the role of endothelin 3 (EDN3) and endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB) in promoting the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). EDNRB overexpression stimulates thermogenic differentiation of human white preadipocytes through cAMP-EPAC1-ERK activation. In mice, cold induces the expression of EDN3 and EDNRB in WAT. Deletion of EDNRB in adipose progenitor cells impairs cold-induced beige adipocyte formation in WAT, leading to excessive weight gain, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance upon high-fat feeding. Injection of EDN3 into WAT promotes browning and improved whole-body glucose metabolism. The findings shed light on the mechanism of WAT browning and offer potential therapeutics for obesity and metabolic disorders.