Effects of anlotinib on the malignant phenotype of glioma cells by mediating NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of anlotinib on the malignant phenotype of glioma cells by regulating the nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. METHODS Human glioma T98G cells were cultured in vitro， and 5-fluorouracil was used as positive control to investigate the effects of different concentrations of anlotinib （5， 10， 20 μmol/L） on the ability of proliferation， adhesion， migration and invasion， the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） related proteins [E-cadherin， N-cadherin， vimentin and fibronectin （FN）]. NF- κB signaling pathway inhibitor （BAY 11-7082） and activator （prostratin） were additionally used to verify the possible mechanism of the above effects of anlotinib. RESULTS Anlotinib with 5， 10， 20 μmol/L could significantly decrease the activity of cell proliferation （except for 5 μmol/L anlotinib group）， migration rate， and the number of adherent cells and invasive cells， could significantly up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin protein while down-regulate the expressions of N-cadherin， vimentin and FN protein （P＜0.05）； the effect of 20 μmol/L anlotinib was similar to that of positive control （P＞0.05）. Compared with 10 μmol/L anlotinib， pathway inhibitor could significantly decrease the ability of proliferation， adhesion， migration and invasion， and the expressions of N-cadherin， vimentin， FN and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 protein， while could significantly up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin protein （P＜0.05）； above indexes were reversed significantly by pathway activator （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Anlotinib may inhibit the proliferation， adhesion， migration and invasion of human glioma T98G cells， which may be associated with the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway， thus inhibiting cell EMT-like processes.

Effect of NF-κB-regulated Drp-1 and PGC-1α in lung tissue of neonatal rats with meconium aspiration syndrome and its mechanism / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the role of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp-1)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α(PGC-1α)in the lung tissues of neonatal rats with meconium aspiration syndrome(MAS)and its mechanism.Methods Fifty 2-3-week-old SD neonatal rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=10):control group,model group and SN50 low,medium and high concentration groups.In control group,2 ml/kg of saline was injected into the trachea after tracheal exposure,and 2 ml/kg of meconium suspension was injected into the trachea of the rest of groups;after 24 h,control and model groups were left untreated,and 100 μl of each of SN50 concentrations of 10,30,and 60 μg/ml was injected into SN50 low,medium,and high concentration groups intraperitoneally;the rats of each group were killed after 6 h,and the chest X-rays,the gross views of the lungs,the lung wet/dry weight ratios(W/D),and the lungs of the rats in control group and model group were examined.After 6 h,the rats in each group were executed,and the pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by chest radiographs,lung gross view,lung wet/dry weight ratio(W/D)and HE staining;Western blotting was used to detect the changes of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)(p65),p-NF-κB p65(p-p65),Drp-1,and PGC-1α proteins expression in neonatal rat lung tissues,and immuno-histochemistry was used to observe the expression of p65,Drp-1,and PGC-1α related proteins expression in neonatal rat lung tissues.Results Compared with control group,model group showed inflammatory infiltration in the chest radiograph and gross view,and the W/D and lung injury pathology scores were significantly higher(P＜0.05);compared with model group,the chest radiograph and gross view of inflammation were slightly reduced in SN50 low,medium and high concentration groups,and the W/D and lung injury pathology scores were significantly lower(P＜0.05).Western blotting showed that,compared with control group,the protein expression levels of p-p65 and Drp-1 in the lung tissues of neonatal rats were significantly higher in model group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression level of PGC-1α was significantly lower(P＜0.05);compared with model group,the protein expression levels of p-p65 and Drp-1 were significantly lower in SN50 low,medium,and high concentration groups(P＜0.05),and the difference in the protein expression level of PGC-1α in SN50 low concentration group was not statistically significant(P＞0.05),whereas the PGC-1α expression levels in SN50 medium and high concentration groups were significantly higher(P＜0.05);the difference in the total p65 protein expression levels in each group was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Immunohistochemical assay results showed that,compared with control group,p65 and Drp-1 protein expression levels were significantly higher in model group(P＜0.05),and PGC-1α protein expression level was significantly lower(P＜0.05);compared with model group,p65 protein expression level was significantly lower in SN50 low concentration group(P＜0.05),and the difference in Drp-1 and PGC-1α protein expression levels were not statistically significant(P＞0.05),Drp-1 protein expression level was significantly lower(P＜0.05),and PGC-1α protein expression level was significantly higher(P＜0.05)in SN50 middle and high concentration groups.Conclusion Fecal inhalation can induce lung tissue inflammation in neonatal rats,and the mechanism may be related to enhanced oxidative stress,promotion of mitochondrial dysfunction,activation of the Drp-1/NF-κB signaling pathway,and inhibition of PGC-1α protein expression.

Osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and the application of relevant target therapy in oral medicine / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Osteoprotegerin(OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL)are important cytokines for coupling osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and activation,and are key factors for regulating bone metabolism,which affect the immune system,bone regeneration and remodeling,and are closely related to the physiological and pathological remodeling of the alveolar bone. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effects of the OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway on alveolar bone remodeling and the progress in its targeted therapy application in the dental field. METHODS:We searched relevant articles included in CNKI and PubMed databases with the keywords of"OPG,anti-RANKL antibody,RANKL,periodontitis,orthodontic tooth movement,implant,tooth eruption,periapical lesion,alveolar bone resorption"in Chinese and English,respectively.A total of 63 articles were finally included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Anti-RANKL therapy can treat oral diseases by targeting the inhibition of osteoclast formation and alveolar bone absorption.Local and systemic anti-RANKL therapy can inhibit the progression of periodontitis,peri-implantitis and periapical lesions,and it also plays an important role in preventing orthodontic relapse,strengthening orthodontic anchorage and implant osseointegration.RANKL therapy can treat oral diseases by promoting osteoclast differentiation and alveolar bone absorption.RANKL treatment can accelerate orthodontic tooth movement,shorten the treatment cycle and reduce the incidence of orthodontic complications.Although there are limitations in anti-RANKL therapy,they can be avoided by rational applications,such as excluding local and systemic risk factors before treatment,regular oral maintenance and avoiding traumatic alveolar surgery as much as possible during treatment.

Repair effect of ephedrine on lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia function injury and its mechanism / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the repair effect of ephedrine on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced microglia function injury and its mechanism. METHODS Human microglia cells （HMC3） were used as research objects to investigate the effects of different concentrations of ephedrine （75， 150， 300， 600 μg/mL） on the viability and apoptosis of HMC3 cells. HMC3 cells were divided into control group （without drug intervention）， LPS group （1 μg/mL）， ephedrine group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine）， BAY11-7082 group [1 μg/mL LPS+5 μmol/L nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） pathway inhibitor BAY11-7082]， inhibitor group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine+5 μmol/L BAY11-7082） and activator group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine+1 μmol/L NF-κB pathway activator Prostratin）. After 24 hours of drug treatment， cell migration， the levels of soluble interleukin-6（sIL-6）， interleukin-10（IL-10）， superoxide dismutase（SOD）and malondialdehyde（MDA）， and the expressions of NF-κB pathway-related proteins were all detected. RESULTS The viability of HMC3 cells could be increased significantly by 300 μg/mL ephedrine， while the apoptotic rate was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the control group， the number of migrating cells was increased significantly in the LPS group； the levels of sIL-6 and MDA， the phosphorylation of NF-κB protein were increased significantly， while the levels of IL-10 and SOD were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the LPS group， the above indexes were reversed significantly in the ephedrine group and BAY11-7082 group （P＜0.05）. Compared with the ephedrine group， the number of migrating cells was decreased significantly in the inhibitor group； the levels of sIL-6 and MDA， the phosphorylation of NF-κB protein were decreased significantly， while the levels of IL-10 and SOD were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The above indexes were reversed significantly in the activator group （P＜0.05）can repair cell injury by inhibiting LPS induced apoptosis， migration， inflammation and oxidant stress of HMC3 cells， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Natural Products Treat Atopic Dermatitis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Atopic dermatitis （AD） is a chronic， recurrent， inflammatory， and pruritus skin disease caused by multiple internal and external factors， ranking first in the global burden of skin diseases. Due to the adverse reactions and high costs of conventional treatments and biologics， the development of natural products has attracted much attention. The nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway is a key pathway for inhibiting inflammation and modulating immunity. This paper summarizes the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of natural products such as flavonoids， alkaloids， phenols， terpenoids， coumarins， glycosides， and anthraquinones via NF-κB signaling pathway， aiming to provide guidance for the development of natural products. Basic studies have shown that natural products have high safety and efficacy. Oral or topical administration of natural products can regulate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， high mobility group box 1 protein （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts （RAGE）， and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathways to exert anti-inflammatory， anti-allergy， antioxidant activities， thus reversing the pathological changes of AD. However， it is worth noting that the clinical application of natural products is still insufficient， and more rigorous clinical trials are still needed to verify their effects. The basic experiments and clinical evidence prove that natural products may play a role in alleviating AD， which provide a basis for evaluating the functioning mechanism of natural active substances and enrich the candidates for the development of potential drugs.

Electroacupuncture reduces inflammatory factor expression by suppressing Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Inflammation is one of the important factors that induce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Studies have shown that electroacupuncture can effectively reduce inflammation after ischemic stroke and improve the symptoms of neurological deficits,but the mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group and electroacupuncture group,with 16 rats in each group.The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was prepared by middle cerebral artery occlusion.At 24 hours after modeling,the rats in the electroacupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture,once a day,20 minutes each time,for a total of 5 days.The sham operation group and the model group did not do any intervention.After 5 days of intervention,Longa method was used to evaluate the degree of neurological injury in rats.Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to measure the volume of cerebral infarction and the pathological changes of brain tissue in rats.Serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α were detected by ELISA.Expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB in the cerebral cortex at mRNA and protein levels were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological function scores,serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels,Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in the model group(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,electroacupuncture significantly reduced the neurological function scores,serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels,Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB mRNA and protein expression levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the model group increased significantly(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the electroacupuncture group decreased(P＜0.05).In the model group,the arrangement of neurons was disordered,some nerve cells disappeared,nuclei presented with pyknosis and incomplete structure.After electroacupuncture intervention,the degree of neuronal degeneration and neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex of rats were reduced compared with those in the model group.To conclude,electroacupuncture can significantly improve the neurobehavior of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,reduce brain tissue injury,and effectively reduce the level of serum inflammatory factors.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.

Effect of acupuncture on corneal morphology and nuclear factor κB signaling pathway of dry eye rabbits / 眼科新进展

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on the morphology of the dry eye rabbit's cornea and the nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway of the corneal tissue to analyze the mechanism of acupuncture on dry eyes.Methods Twenty-four healthy New Zealand rabbits,without restriction on sex,were randomly divided into four groups,including a blank group,a model group,an acupuncture group,and a sham acupuncture group,with 6 in each group.Rabbits in the blank group were not treated;rabbits in the other three groups were treated with scopolamine hydro-bromide 2.0 mg·kg-1 by subcutaneous injection at 8:00,11:00,14:00 and 18:00 each day for 35 consecutive days un-til the end of the experiment.Rabbits in the sham acupuncture group were treated with sham acupuncture on the 22nd day after successful modeling by quickly pricking acupoints(Jingming BL1,Cuanzhu BL2,Sizhukong SJ23,Taiyang EX-HN5 and Tongziliao GB1)with a blunt acupuncture needle,once a day,for a total of 14 days.Rabbits in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at the same acupoints as the sham acupuncture group after successful modeling.The corneal fluorescence staining was conducted on Days 0,21,28 and 35 after modeling.On Day 35,corneal confocal microscope ex-aminations were conducted.Then,the rabbits were sacrificed,the corneal morphological changes were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope,and the expression of corneal NF-κB protein was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,the score of rabbit corneal fluorescein staining in the acupuncture group and blank group decreased on the 28th and 35th days after modeling,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The results of the confocal microscope examination on Day 35 after modeling showed that,compared with other groups,there were a large number of globular immune cells and activated stromal cells with unclear boundaries and irregu-lar sizes in the stromal layer and inflammation in the area with irregular intercellular space in the model group and the sham acupuncture group.In the acupuncture group,the morphology of stromal layer cells improved,the cells were slightly acti-vated,and there were no obvious abnormalities in the corneal nerve morphology.On the 35th day after modeling,the re-sults of the light microscope showed that,the surface of the corneal tissue in the model group and the sham acupuncture group showed hyperkeratinized flat epithelial cells,lymphocyte infiltration,increased number of focal epithelial cell layers,and epithelial cell detachment.In the acupuncture group,there were 4-6 layers of epithelial cells in the corneal epitheli-um,and epithelial shedding decreased.In addition,the lymphocyte infiltration decreased compared with the model group.On the 35th day after modeling,the results of the transmission electron microscope showed that abnormal microvilli oc-curred and epithelial cells were absent in the corneal epithelial cells of rabbits in the model group and the sham acupuncture group,the cell space was widened,the rough endoplasmic reticulum was severely expanded,and desmosomes were dis-banded with mitochondrial swelling.In the acupuncture group,the microvilli structure of epithelial cells was sparse and short,local deletion was still observed,the rough endoplasmic reticulum was slightly expanded,and no obvious swelling of mitochondria was observed.On the 35th day after modeling,the Western blot examination results showed that,compared with the blank group,the expression of p-NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in both the model group and sham acupuncture group(both P＜0.05);compared with the model group and sham acupuncture group,the expression of p-NF-κB p65 in the acupuncture group was down-regulated(both P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can inhibit the NF-κB signaling path-way to play an anti-inflammatory role and relieve corneal inflammation and injury of dry eye rabbit models.

Involvement of RNF99 in potential link between ubiquitination and septic shock via TAK1/NF-κB signal-ing pathway / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the potential relationship between ubiquitination of transforming growth factor kinase 1(TAK1)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway mediated by ring finger protein 99(RNF99)and septic acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods Plasmid and siRNA transfection were conducted to overexpress or knock down RNF99 in MLE12,and expressions of p65 phosphate and p65 protein were analyzed.The protein interaction between RNF99 and TRAF6 or TAK1 was analyzed by immunoprecipitation assay.Forty mice were randomly divided into WT plus PBS,WT plus LPS,RNF99 specific expression(TG)plus PBS,and TG plus LPS groups,with 10 mice in each group.Sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg LPS.Results As compared with vector group,protein expression levels of TRAF6 and TAK1 in MLE12 cells decreased significantly in RNF99 group(P<0.05).Ubiquitinated TRAF6 protein increased in MLE12 cells with RNF99 knockdown.As compared with LPS plus vector group,phosphorylation level of p65 in MLE12 cells was signifi-cantly lower in LPS plus RNF99 group(P<0.05).As compared with si-NC group,protein expression levels of RNF99 and IκBα in si-RNF99 group decreased significantly(P<0.05).As compared with LPS plus si-NC group,phosphorylation level of p65 in LPS plus si-RNF99 group increased significantly(P<0.05).The staining percentage of CD68 macrophages in lung tissues was significantly lower in TG plus LPS group than in WT plus LPS group(P<0.05).Phosphorylation level of p65 in lung tissues was significantly lower in TG plus LPS group than in WT plus LPS group(P<0.05).Conclusion RNF99 regulates NF-κB signaling pathway by interacting with the key regulator of NF-κB signaling pathway(TRAF6/TAK1),and improves lung injury after intraperitoneal injection of LPS in mice.

Huangqi Yanghe Decoction regulates PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway to promote wound healing in diabetes foot ulcer rats / 天津医药

Objective To explore the effect of Huangqi Yanghe Decoction on wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer(DFU)rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signal pathway.Methods DFU rat model was constructed,and 48 rats successfully modeled were randomly divided into the model group,the Huangqi Yanghe Decoction low(8.5 g/kg)group,the Huangqi Yanghe Decoction high(17 g/kg)dose group and the Huangqi Yanghe Decoction high dose(17 g/kg)+LY294002(PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor,0.3 mg/kg)group.There were 12 rats in each group.Another 12 rats were selected as the control group.Rats in each group were given corresponding drug intervention for 4 weeks.After the 14th and 28th day-administration,the general state and wound changes of rats were observed,and the wound healing rate was calculated.The fasting blood glucose(FBG)level of rats was measured,and the percutaneous partial pressure of oxygen(TcpO2)of tissue around the wound was detected.Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),C-reactive protein(CRP)and interleukin(IL)-6 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Histopathological changes of the wound were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the microvascular density of rat wound tissue.The protein expression levels of PI3K,phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K),AKT,phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT),NF-κB p65,phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)and NF-κB inhibitory protein α(IκB-α)in rat wound tissue were determined by Western blot assay.Results Rats in the control group had smooth hair color,normal diet,drinking water and excretion,more active,wound healing fast,less inflammatory reaction in wound tissue,and there were more new blood vessels.Fibroblasts and collagen matrix were abundant in granulation tissue.In the model group,the fur color of rats was dull and matte,and the activity was reduced.The symptoms of polydipsia,polyphagia and polyuria were appeared in the model group,the wound color was dark,and edema and ulcer appeared in the surrounding tissue,a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the wound tissue,accompanied by tissue necrosis and exudation,fewer neovascularization and fibroblasts were observed.Wound healing rate,TcpO2 in wound surrounding tissue,serum VEGF,HIF-1α,microvascular density,p-PI3K,p-AKT and IκB-α protein expression levels in wound tissue were decreased,and FBG,serum CRP,IL-6,p-NF-κB p65 protein expression in wound tissue were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the state of rats was gradually improved in the Huangqi Yanghe Decoction low and high dose groups,and the lesion degree of wound tissue was reduced successively,wound healing rate,TcpO2 in wound surrounding tissue,serum VEGF,HIF-1α,microvascular density,p-PI3K,p-AKT and IκB-α protein expression levels in wound tissue were increased in turn(P＜0.05).The FBG,serum CRP,IL-6 and p-NF-κB p65 protein expression in wound tissue were decreased in turn(P＜0.05).LY294002 could partially reverse the therapeutic effect of high-dose Huangqi Yanghe Decoction on DFU rats(P＜0.05).Conclusion Huangqi Yanghe Decoction can regulate PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway,inhibit inflammatory response in DFU rats,promote angiogenesis and thus promote wound healing.

Mechanism by which terpenoid herbal monomers prevent osteoporosis by regulating nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.In recent years,increasing studies have shown that terpenoid herbal monomer compounds can inhibit the activity of bone resorbing cells and promote the differentiation of bone forming cells via the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway,thus reducing bone resorption and increasing bone formation,which has certain preventive and therapeutic effects on osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:By analyzing and summarizing the domestic and international literature,to investigate the relationship between nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and osteoporosis in depth,elucidate the mechanism of terpenoid monomer compounds in regulating the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway to prevent osteoporosis,and systematically summarize the terpenoid monomer compounds targeting to regulate the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway to prevent osteoporosis. METHODS:According to the proposed inclusion and exclusion criteria,two researchers searched for relevant articles published from database inception to December 2022 in CNKI and PubMed using the search terms"NF-κB,osteoporosis,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,angiogenesis,traditional Chinese medicine,terpenoid"in Chinese and English,respectively.A third researcher summarized and organized the literature and 75 articles were finally included for a systematic review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway mediates the onset and progression of osteoporosis by regulating the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts,as well as angiogenesis.Activation of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway negatively regulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.Activation of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway enhances osteoclast activity and inhibits osteoblast growth,thereby inhibiting compensatory bone production to maintain bone homeostasis.However,over-activation of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway can lead to osteoporosis.The nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway is involved in the"angiogenesis-osteogenesis"coupling by upregulating the expression levels of cytokines such as angiopoietin-1,platelet-derived growth factor BB and vascular endothelial growth factor,which promote the growth of blood vessels in bone.The terpenoid herbal monomer compounds are used in the field of tissue engineering to promote the proliferation and differentiation of bone cells,thereby promoting the growth and repair of bone tissue.Terpenoid herbal monomer compounds can prevent and treat osteoporosis by inhibiting the degradation of nuclear factor-κB inhibitor,blocking nuclear factor-κB/p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation,thereby weakening the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway,promoting osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting osteoclast formation.Currently,research on the regulation of nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway by monomeric compounds of terpenoids to prevent osteoporosis is mainly based on in vitro cellular experiments and animal models,and there is a lack of research on the complex physiological and pathological processes in humans.In the future,more clinical trials and studies are needed to further clarify the mechanism of action and efficacy of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway involved in the intervention of osteoporosis.

Mechanism by which interleukin-1beta regulates the expression of Semaphorin 3A to induce intervertebral disc degeneration / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Semaphone 3A(Sema3A)is an important neurovascular growth inhibitor.It is not clear how Sema3A is involved in the pathogenesis of discogenic low back pain.Exploring the potential mechanism of Sema3A in intervertebral disc degeneration can provide a new target and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of discogenic low back pain. OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of interleukin-1β inhibiting the expression of Sema3A by activating the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway to induce intervertebral disc degeneration in rats. METHODS:RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of Sema3A mRNA in normal and degenerative human nucleus pulposus tissues.Nucleus pulposus cells of Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated,cultured,and passaged to the 3rd generation.Then,passage 3 cells were divided into three groups:the blank control group was routinely cultured for 48 hours,the degeneration group was intervened with 10 ng/mL interleukin 1β for 48 hours,and the degeneration+inhibitor group was treated by 5 μmol/L nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway-specific inhibitor BAY11-7082 for 1 hour,followed by interleukin-1β for 48 hours.At the end of the intervention,cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8,cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/FITC staining,mRNA expression of cellular matrix,vascular and neural markers and Sema3A was detected by RT-qPCR,and protein expression of marker proteins,p65 and p-p65 was detected by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:RT-qPCR assay showed that the expression of Sema3A mRNA was lower in degenerative human nucleus pulposus tissue than in normal human nucleus pulposus tissue(P＜0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the nucleus pulposus cell viability decreased and the apoptotic rate increased in the degeneration group(P＜0.05);compared with the degeneration group,the nucleus pulposus cell viability increased and the apoptotic rate decreased in the degeneration + inhibitor group(P＜0.05).Compared with the blank control group,mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen,polyproteoglycan,and Sema3A was decreased in the degeneration group(P＜0.05),while mRNA expression of CD31 and neurofilament 200 was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the degeneration group,mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen,polyproteoglycan,and Sema3A was elevated in the degeneration+inhibitor group(P＜0.05)and mRNA expression of CD31 and neurofilament 200 decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the protein expression of type Ⅱ collagen,polyproteoglycan,and Sema3A was decreased in the degeneration group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression of CD31,neurofilament protein 200,p65,and p-p65 was elevated(P＜0.05);compared with the degeneration group,the protein expression of type Ⅱ collagen,polyproteoglycan,and Sema3A was elevated in the degeneration+inhibitor group(P＜0.05),and protein expression of CD31,neurofilament 200,p65,and p-p65 was decreased(P＜0.05).To conclude,interleukin-1β does inhibit the expression of Sema3A by activating the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway,which can also increase the degradation of extracellular matrix,promote the innervation and angiogenesis in degenerative intervertebral disc,and may be one of potential factors that contribute to intervertebral disc degeneration and discogenic low back pain.

Semen cuscutae in the treatment of osteoarthritis:network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Semen cuscutae has the effect of tonifying the liver and kidney system and benefiting the essence.The main pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is deficiency of the liver and kidneys.Therefore,it is hypothesized that there is a link between semen cuscutae and osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the potential relationship between osteoarthritis and semen cuscutae and validate the mechanism of semen cuscutae based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. METHODS:First,the active ingredients and targets of semen cuscutae were screened in TCMSP,and the genes related to osteoarthritis were collected in the disease databases GeneCard's,OMIM and TTD.The intersected genes were taken and then subjected to a series of analyses and screened for hub genes.Through the enrichment analysis of hub genes,the pathway of semen cuscutae acting on osteoarthritis was selected.The role of hub genes was verified by molecular docking.Therefore,the appropriate active ingredients of semen cuscutae were selected for experimental verification. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were 11 active ingredients of semen cuscutae,66 intersection target genes of semen cuscutae and osteoarthritis,and 12 hub genes,including tumor necrosis factor,interleukin 1B,TP53,RAC-alpha serine/threonine protein kinase(AKT1),vascular endothelial growth factor A,matrix metalloproteinase 9,prostaglandin peroxidase 2,cystatinase 3,epidermal growth factor,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma,interleukin 10,vascular cell adhesion factor 1.After the enrichment analysis of the hub genes,the classical inflammatory pathway,nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway,was selected for subsequent validation of semen cuscutae to alleviate osteoarthritic inflammation.Through the results obtained after molecular docking of each active ingredient and the hub gene of the pathway prostaglandin peroxidase 2,sesamin with the highest affinity was selected for subsequent cell experiments,and the experimental results confirmed that sesamin,the active ingredient of semen cuscutae,could reduce the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway induced by interleukin-1β.To conclude,sesamin,the active ingredient of semen cuscutae,reduces the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway induced by interleukin-1β,thereby improving inflammation in osteoarthritis and expanding the therapeutic effect of semen cuscutae in osteoarthritis.

Interleukin-1beta enhances migration and adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells in inflammatory environments / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells possess characteristics such as rapid renewal,targeted homing,tissue repair,and immune regulation,which provide potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.In most inflammatory diseases,interleukin-1β is highly expressed.Both exogenous and endogenous mesenchymal stem cells unavoidably exist in an environment with high interleukin-1β concentration. OBJECTIVE:To study the interaction of interleukin-1β with mesenchymal stem cells in inflammatory environment and the mechanism of its influence on the migration and adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells to provide a theoretical basis for adjusting stem cell therapy strategies. METHODS:The first author searched for studies involving interleukin-1β enhancing migration and adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells by computer on CNKI,WanFang,VIP,PubMed,and Web of Science using search terms"interleukin-1β,mesenchymal stem cell,nuclear factor-κB,MAPK,ERK,p38,migration,adhesion"in Chinese and English.The literature tracing method was also used to search for some of the literature.Finally,65 articles were included in the review analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the inflammatory environment,interleukin-1β can regulate the migration and adhesion ability of mesenchymal stem cells.This effect may be achieved by recruiting IRAK1 through interleukin-1RI and then activating TAK1 and IKK in turn.After IKK phosphorylation,nuclear factor-κB and ERK signaling pathways are activated or CXCR expression is upregulated through the p38 pathway to promote mesenchymal stem cell migration and adhesion.However,further standardized research needs to be carried out based on the genetic background of mesenchymal stem cells,the dose and processing time of interleukin-1β.(2)In vitro experiments using pre-stimulated mesenchymal stem cells with interleukin-1β can change the survival environment of mesenchymal stem cells and alter their secretion factors to make them develop towards a more anti-inflammatory direction.On the other hand,under the premise of producing higher levels of anti-inflammatory and pro-nutrient factors,extracted mesenchymal stem cell exosomes can exert anti-inflammatory effects.(3)It has been observed in various animal disease models that pre-stimulating mesenchymal stem cells with interleukin-1β regulates their immune regulation ability,thereby affecting the development and outcome of inflammation.However,this is limited to preclinical basic research only;further verification on efficacy and safety of stem cell therapy with interleukin-1β pre-treated mesenchymal stem cells is required in clinical settings.

Exploration of the mechanism of micro ribonucleic acid-3197 in diabetic reti-nopathy based on nuclear factor κB signaling pathway / 眼科新进展

Objective To explore the mechanism of micro ribonucleic acid(miR)-3197 in diabetic retinopathy(DR)on the basis of the nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway.Methods A total of 47 DR patients admitted to Heng-shui People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected as the DR group,and 47 healthy individuals in the same period were collected as the control group.Their information in gender,age,fasting blood glucose(FBG),fast-ing insulin(FINS),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC)and miR-3197 were compared.The correlation between miR-3197 in DR patients and laboratory data was analyzed,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of miR-3197 for DR diagnosis was drawn.The human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(hRMECs)were cultured in vitro and treated with 5.5 mmol·L-1 glucose[low glucose(NG)group]and 30 mmol·L-1 glucose[high glucose(HG)group],respectively.After transfecting with anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-3197,the cells were treated with 30 mmol·L-1 glucose(HG+anti-miR-NC group and HG+anti-miR-3197 group).Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression level of miR-3197,flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of hRMECs,enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay was used for detecting tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)and interleukin-6(IL-6),and Western blot was adopted to detect the expressions of aspartic protease 3 containing cysteine(cleaved caspase-3)protein,Bax protein and NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins[phospho-NF-KB p65(p-p65),p65,phospho-NF-KB inhibited protein(p-IκBα),and NF-κB inhibited protein(IκBα)].Results The levels of FBG,FINS,TC and TG in the DR group were higher than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.001).The relative expression level of miR-3197 in the peripheral blood of patients in the DR group(2.76±0.67)was higher than that of the control group(1.03±0.34),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The miR-3197 level of patients in the DR group was positively correlated with FBG,FINS,TC and TG levels(r=0.672,0.587,0.511 and 0.423;all P＜0.05).The ROC curve graph showed that the area under the curve was 0.919,with sensitivity and specificity of 85.11％and 89.36％,respectively.Compared with the NG group,the HG group showed a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate and the pro-tein expressions of cleaved caspase-3,Bax,TNF-a,IL-6,p-IκBa and p-p65(all P＜0.05);compared with the HG+anti-miR-NC group,the HG+anti-miR-3197 group showed a significant decrease in cell apoptosis rate and the protein expres-sions of cleaved caspase-3,Bax,TNF-a,IL-6,p-IκBa and p-p65(allP＜0.05).Conclusion The miR-3197 is highly ex-pressed in the peripheral blood of DR patients and high glucose-induced hRMECs.Down-regulation of miR-3197 can allevi-ate high glucose-induced hRMEC apoptosis and inflammatory injury,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhi-bition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Mechanism of abnormal function and inflammatory response of HUVEC induced by Helicobacter pylori infection / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of Helicobacter pylori(Hp)on the proliferation,migration,apoptosis and inflammatory response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)through activation of STAT3/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)pathway.Methods HUVEC were divided into control group(without Hp infection)and Hp group(multiplicity of infection=25).Cell morphology was observed with inverted microscopy,proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and plate cloning assay,and the migration ability was examined by Transwell migration as-say and wound healing assay.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rate.Real-time fluo-rescence quantitative PCR was employed to measure the mRNA expression of cytotoxin-associat-ed gene A(CagA),IL-6,IL-8,IL-1β and TNF-α.Western blotting was applied to determine the protein expression of Cyclin D1,proto-oncogene C-Myc,MMP-2,MMP-9,PCNA,Bax,Bcl-2 and STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway.Results Hp infection resulted in suppressed proliferation and migration abilities,decreased protein levels of Cyclin D1,PCNA,C-Myc,MMP-2,MMP-9 and Bcl-2,elevated protein levels of Bax,p-STAT3/STAT3,p-NF-KB p65/NF-κB p65,raised apoptotic rate,and significantly increased mRNA levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-1β and TNF-α(2.71±0.05 vs 1.06±0.41,1.42±0.02 vs 0.92±0.11,2.50±0.29 vs 1.00±0.10,5.34±0.57 vs 1.00±0.16;P＜0.01)when compared with the control group.Conclusion Hp infection inhibits proliferation and migra-tion,and induces apoptosis and inflammatory response in HUVEC through activation of the STAT3/NF-κB pathway.

Exploring the Effects of Quyu Jiedu Formula （祛瘀解毒方） on the Ectopic Tissues of the Rat Uterus in An Endometriosis Model Based on Iron Autophagy Mediated by the NCOA4/NF-κB Signalling Pathway / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Quyu Jiedu Formula （祛瘀解毒方） in the treatment of endometriosis in terms of iron autophagy mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4/nuclear factor κB （NCOA4/NF-κB） signalling pathway. MethodsFifty female SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group， model group， mifepristone group， low- and high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group， with 10 rats in each group. In the sham surgery group， only operation of opening and closing abdomen was performed， and in the remaining groups， the rat with endometriosis was modelled by autotransplantation. On the next day after successful modelling， saline 2 ml/d was given by gavage to the sham surgery group and the model group； mifepristone 1.05 mg/（kg·d） was given by gavage to the mifepristone group； Quyu Jiedu Formula 12.23 g/（kg·d） and 48.92 g/（kg·d） were given to the low- and high-dosage Quyu Jiedu Formula groups， respectively administered for 4 weeks consecutively. In the remaining 4 groups， all ectopic endometrial tissues were removed from the rats. The volume of ectopic lesions was measured in the model group， the mifepristone group， and the low- and high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula groups， and the pathological changes of endometrial/ectopic tissues were observed by HE staining， and the protein expression and expression of NCOA4， Ferritin Heavy Chain 1 （FTH1）， Panax quinquefolium （P62）， Microtubule-associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3β （LC3B）， and P-NF-κB protein expression and NCOA4， FTH1， LC3B， P62 mRNA expression were detected in the endometrium and ectopic tissues； the co-localisation of NCOA4 and LC3B， free iron content， and levels of interleukin 6 （IL-6） and tumour necrosis factor α （TNF-α） in endometrial/eutopic endometrial tissues were also detected. ResultsNo ectopic lesions were seen in the sham surgery group. The ectopic tissues of rats in the model group showed obvious pathological damage， while the pathological damage of the ectopic tissues of rats in each admi-nistration group was reduced to different degrees. Compared with the model group， the volume of ectopic lesions was reduced in the mifepristone group and the high- and low-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula groups， and the volume of ectopic lesions in the high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group and the mifepristone group was significantly smaller than that in the low-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group （P＜0.01）. Compared with the sham surgery group， the ectopic tissues of the model group showed up-regulation of LC3BⅡ/LC3B I values， NCOA4， and P-NF-κB protein expression， down-regulation of P62 and FTH1 protein expression， increase in free iron content and IL-6 and TNF-α levels， and increase in the co-localisation positivity rate and co-localised cell density of NCOA4 and LC3B （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the ectopic endothelial tissue LC3BⅡ/LC3BⅠ values and the expression of NCOA4 and P-NF-κB proteins were down-regulated in the low- and high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group and mifepristone group， the colocalisation positivity rate of NCOA4 and LC3B significantly reduced， and the content of free iron and the level of IL-6 decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the mifepristone group， P62 more obvious up-regulated and TNF-α level reduced in the high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group （P＜0.05）. Compared with the low-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group， the free iron content of ectopic tissues and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α reduced in the high-dose Quyu Jiedu Formula group （P＜0.01）. ConclusionThe mechanism of endometriosis treatment by Quyu Jiedu Formula may be related to the inhibition of iron autophagy mediated by the NCOA4/NF-κB signalling pathway in endometriotic tissues， which improves endometrial inflammation.

Jiawei Wendantang Regulates NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway to Reduce Inflammation in Rat Model of Diabetic Atherosclerosis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Jiawei Wendantang in preventing and treating diabetic atherosclerosis by observing the effect of this prescription on the nuclear factor-κB / NOD-like receptor protein 3（NF-κB/NLRP3） pathway and related inflammatory cytokines in rat model of diabetic atherosclerosis. MethodFifty-four SPF-grade rats were randomized into blank， model， atorvastatin （0.9 mg·kg-1·d-1）， and high-， medium-， low-dose （18.2， 9.1， 4.55 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） Jiawei Wendantang groups. The rats in other groups except the blank group were modeled for diabetic atherosclerosis by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and feeding with a high-sugar high-fat diet， and those in the blank group were injected with an equal dose of citric acid buffer and fed with a regular diet. The drug administration lasted for 4 weeks， and the blood glucose level in the tail vein was measured every 6 days. After the last administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of interleukin-18 （IL-18）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）. Western blot was employed to determine the relative protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 in the abdominal aorta. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of NLRP3 and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the abdominal aorta. The pathological changes in the thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed elevated levels of IL-18， CRP， TNF-α， and ICAM-1 in the serum and blood glucose （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， Jiawei Wendantang lowered the levels of IL-18， CRP， TNF-α， ICAM-1 and blood glucose （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， Jiawei Wendantang alleviated the pathological injuries in the thoracic aorta. ConclusionJiawei Wendantang may modulate the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway to reduce the release and adhesion of inflammatory cytokines and regulate the blood glucose level to treat diabetic atherosclerosis.

Tectorigenin improves cognitive deficits in rats with vascular dementia by regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To analyze effects of tectorigenin on improving cognitive deficits in rats with vascular dementia(VD)by regulating Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway.Methods:A total of 72 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,low,medium and high doses[25,50,100 mg/(kg·d)]tectorigenin groups and positive control group[piracetam 324 mg/(kg·d)],with 12 rats in each group.Except for sham operation group,VD models were replicated in other groups.After successful modeling,different doses tectorigenin groups and positive control group were administered intragastrically with different doses of tectorigenin and piracetam,while other groups were administered intragastrically with same volume of normal saline for 28 d.Spatial learning and memory ability were detected by Morris water maze.Neurotransmitter levels in hippocampus interstitial fluid were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-electro-chemical.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and tyrosine kinase receptor b(TrkB)expressions in hippocampus were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway-related proteins in hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with sham operation group,escape latency was longer,while stay time in target area and times of crossing platform were lower in model group(P<0.05).Compared with model group,escape latency was shorter,while stay time in target area and times of crossing platform were higher in medium and high doses tectorigenin groups(P<0.05).NE,DA,5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in model group were lower than those in sham operation group(P<0.05),which were higher in medium and high doses tectorigenin groups than model group(P<0.05).Compared with sham operation group,BDNF and TrkB mRNA and proteins levels were lower,while TLR4,MyD88 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 proteins levels were higher in model group(P<0.05).Compared with model group,BDNF and TrkB mRNA and proteins levels were higher,while TLR4,MyD88 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 proteins levels were lower in medium and high doses tectorigenin groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:Tectorigenin can improve cognitive deficits in VD rats,which may be related to regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Astragalus polysaccharide inhibits liver injury in mice with viral hepatitis by reducing immune inflammation / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of astragalus polysaccharides on liver injury in mice with viral hepatitis,and to investigate whether it can regulate the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1(NOD1)/receptor-interacting protein 2(RIP2)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)immune inflammation mediated by signaling pathway plays a protective role in liver.Methods:Sixty female C3H/HeJ mice were divided into modeling group(50 mice)and normal group(10 mice)using a random number table.The mouse model of viral hepatitis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mouse hepatitis virus type 3(MHV-3)in the modeling group.After the successful modeling was confirmed,the surviving mice were divided into thymus peptide group(10 μg),astragalus polysaccharide low,medium and high dose groups(100,200,400 mg/kg astragalus polysaccharide lyophilized in 1 ml/100 g body weight saline)and model group by random number table.Model group and normal group were given the same amount of normal saline intraperitoneal injection,each group was given once a day for 1 month.Results:The model was confirmed by HE staining of liver tis-sue and detection of viral plaque.Compared with the normal group,the liver index,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-1β and IL-8,viral plaques in liver tissue,NOD1,RIP2 and NF-κB p65 expressions and p-NF-κB p65 level in the model group increased(P<0.05),and the liver tissue showed severe pathological changes.Compared with the model group,the liver indexes,serum ALT,AST,TBIL and TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-8,viral plaques in liver tissue,NOD1,RIP2 and NF-κB p65 expressions and p-NF-κB p65 level in the thymosin group and astragalus polysaccharide each 3-dose groups decreased(P<0.05),and the pathological changes of liver tissue were alleviated.The effect of astragalus polysaccharide was dose-dependent,and there were no significant differences in these indexes between thymosin group and astragalus polysaccharide medium dose group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Astragalus polysaccharides can improve the liver function of mice with viral hepatitis,reduce the inflammatory response and pathological changes of liver tissue,reduce the level of virus,specu-late and inhibit NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB pathway and down-regulate NOD1,RIP2 and NF-κB p65 expressions,inhibit p-NF-κB p65 level,and high dose of astragalus polysaccharide has the best effect,which is better than thymosin-α1.

Chaihu Longgu Mulitang Relieves Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Rats via p38 MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study whether Chaihu Longgu Mulitang can inhibit hypothalamic inflammation， mitigate anxiety-like behavior， and alleviate anxiety symptoms by regulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB （p38 MAPK/NF-κB） signaling pathway in the rat model of generalized anxiety disorder （GAD）. MethodTwelve out of 74 Wistar rats were randomly selected as the blank group， and the remaining rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress for the modeling of GAD. The open field test （OFT） and elevated Porteus maze test （PMT） were conducted 14 days after modeling to detect the anxiety-like behaviors. Sixty successfully modeled rats were selected and randomized into model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （6， 12， and 24 g·kg-1， respectively） Chaihu Longgu Mulitang， and diazepam （1 mg·kg-1） groups （n=12） and administrated with corresponding drugs for 14 consecutive days. OFT and PMT were then carried out to examine the anxiety-like behaviors of the rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the hypothalamus and serum of rats were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， nuclear factor κB inhibitor α （IκBα）， and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 （Iba-1）. The protein levels of p38 MAPK， phosphorylated （p）-p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and IκBα in the hypothalamus of rats were determined by Western blot. The expression of Iba-1 in the hypothalamic microglia was detected by immunofluorescence assay. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had decreased body weight， scattered dark yellow fur， increased irritability， and preference to hibernation in the corner. In addition， the modeled rats showed increased edge movement distance and time in OFT （P<0.01） and decreased movement distance and time and the number of entries in the open arm in PMT （P<0.01）. The modeling increased the fluorescence intensity of Iba-1 in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus （P<0.01）， elevated the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum and hypothalamus （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-p38 MAPK， p-NF-κB p65， and Iba-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of IκBα （P<0.01） in the hypothalamus. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose Chaihu Longgu Mulitang and diazepam increased the body weight， improved the fur and behaviors， decreased the edge movement distance and time in OFT （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased the movement distance and time in the open arm in PMT （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Furthermore， they decreased the fluorescence intensity of Iba-1 in hypothalamic microglia （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum and hypothalamic tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-p38 MAPK， p-NF-κB p65， and Iba-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of IκBα （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the hypothalamus. ConclusionChaihu Longgu Mulitang can mitigate anxiety-like behaviors and relieve anxiety in GAD rats by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the activation of microglia and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus.