Molecular engineering of a theranostic molecule that detects Aß plaques, inhibits Iowa and Dutch mutation Aß self-aggregation and promotes lysosomal biogenesis for Alzheimer's disease.

Extracellular clustering of amyloid-ß (Aß) and an impaired autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP) are the hallmark features in the early stages of incurable Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is a pressing need to find or develop new small molecules for diagnostics and therapeutics for the early stages of AD. Herein, we report a small molecule, namely F-SLCOOH, which can bind and detect Aß1-42, Iowa mutation Aß, Dutch mutation Aß fibrils and oligomers exhibiting enhanced emission with high affinity. Importantly, F-SLCOOH can readily pass through the blood-brain barrier and shows highly selective binding toward the extracellular Aß aggregates in real-time in live animal imaging of a 5XFAD mice model. In addition, a high concentration of F-SLCOOH in both brain and plasma of wildtype mice after intraperitoneal administration was found. The ex vivo confocal imaging of hippocampal brain slices indicated excellent colocalization of F-SLCOOH with Aß positive NU1, 4G8, 6E10 A11 antibodies and THS staining dye, affirming its excellent Aß specificity and targetability. The molecular docking studies have provided insight into the unique and specific binding of F-SLCOOH with various Aß species. Importantly, F-SLCOOH exhibits remarkable anti-fibrillation properties against toxic Aß aggregate formation of Aß1-42, Iowa mutation Aß, and Dutch mutation Aß. F-SLCOOH treatment also exerts high neuroprotective functions and promotes autophagy lysosomal biogenesis in neuronal AD cell models. In summary, the present results suggest that F-SLCOOH is a highly promising theranostic agent for diagnosis and therapeutics of AD.

Corynoxine promotes TFEB/TFE3-mediated autophagy and alleviates Aß pathology in Alzheimer's disease models.

Autophagy impairment is a key factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. TFEB (transcription factor EB) and TFE3 (transcription factor binding to IGHM enhancer 3) are nuclear transcription factors that regulate autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. We previously showed that corynoxine (Cory), a Chinese medicine compound, protects neurons from Parkinson's disease (PD) by activating autophagy. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cory on AD models in vivo and in vitro. We found that Cory improved learning and memory function, increased neuronal autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis, and reduced pathogenic APP-CTFs levels in 5xFAD mice model. Cory activated TFEB/TFE3 by inhibiting AKT/mTOR signaling and stimulating lysosomal calcium release via transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1). Moreover, we demonstrated that TFEB/TFE3 knockdown abolished Cory-induced APP-CTFs degradation in N2aSwedAPP cells. Our findings suggest that Cory promotes TFEB/TFE3-mediated autophagy and alleviates Aß pathology in AD models.

PPARɑ Ligand Caudatin Improves Cognitive Functions and Mitigates Alzheimer's Disease Defects By Inducing Autophagy in Mice Models.

The autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) is a major cellular machinery involved in the clearance of aggregated proteins in Alzheimer disease (AD). However, ALP is dramatically impaired during AD pathogenesis via accumulation of toxic amyloid beta (Aß) and phosphorylated-Tau (phospho-Tau) proteins in the brain. Therefore, activation of ALP may prevent the increased production of Aß and phospho-Tau in AD. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a transcription factor that can activate autophagy, and transcriptionally regulate transcription factor EB (TFEB) which is a key regulator of ALP. This suggests that targeting PPARα, to reduce ALP impairment, could be a viable strategy for AD therapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-AD activity of Caudatin, an active constituent of Cynanchum otophyllum (a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Qing Yang Shen; QYS). We found that Caudatin can bind to PPARα as a ligand and augment the expression of ALP in microglial cells and in the brain of 3XTg-AD mice model. Moreover, Caudatin could activate PPARα and transcriptionally regulates TFEB-augmented lysosomal degradation of Aß and phosphor-Tau aggregates in AD cell models. Oral administration of Caudatin decreased AD pathogenesis and ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction in 3XTg-AD mouse model. Conclusively, Caudatin can be a potential AD therapeutic agent via activation of PPARα-dependent ALP.

Impact and Advances in the Role of Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in Neurodegenerative Disease and Its Therapeutics.

Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles (BEVs) possess the capability of intracellular interactions with other cells, and, hence, can be utilized as an efficient cargo for worldwide delivery of therapeutic substances such as monoclonal antibodies, proteins, plasmids, siRNA, and small molecules for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). BEVs additionally possess a remarkable capacity for delivering these therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review summarizes the role and advancement of BEVs for NDs, AD, and their treatment. Additionally, it investigates the critical BEV networks in the microbiome-gut-brain axis, their defensive and offensive roles in NDs, and their interaction with NDs. Furthermore, the part of BEVs in the neuroimmune system and their interference with ND, as well as the risk factors made by BEVs in the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and their potential outcomes on ND, are all discussed. To conclude, this review aims to gain a better understanding of the credentials of BEVs in NDs and possibly discover new therapeutic strategies.

A new flavonoid from the thorn of Gleditsia sinensis Lam.

A new flavonoid, (2'''E,6'''S)-4''-(6-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylocta-2,7-dienoyl)-vitexin (1), and five known compounds (2-6) were isolated from the thorn of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Their structures were determined by comprehensive and comparative spectroscopic analysis of NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of the new compound was deduced by analysis of the experimental and calculated 13C NMR data. The protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis in normal rat kidney tubule epithelioid (NRK 52e) cells of the isolated compounds were investigated in vitro, whose results showed that compound 1 showed significant protective effect with the EC50 value of 3.0 µM.

Celastrol enhances transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated autophagy and mitigates Tau pathology: Implications for Alzheimer's disease therapy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates including phosphorylated Tau aggregates, is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic agents. Autophagy plays a critical role in the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates, and transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. Thus, small-molecule autophagy enhancers targeting TFEB hold promise for AD therapy. Here, we found that celastrol, an active ingredient isolated from the root extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii (Lei Gong Teng in Chinese) enhanced TFEB-mediated autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis in vitro and in mouse brains. Importantly, celastrol reduced phosphorylated Tau aggregates and attenuated memory dysfunction and cognitive deficits in P301S Tau and 3xTg mice, two commonly used AD animal models. Mechanistical studies suggest that TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway is responsible for phosphorylated Tau degradation in response to celastrol. Overall, our findings indicate that Celastrol is a novel TFEB activator that promotes the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates and improves memory in AD animal models. Therefore, Celastrol shows potential as a novel agent for the treatment and/or prevention of AD and other tauopathies.

Mechanistic Insights into Selective Autophagy Subtypes in Alzheimer's Disease.

Eukaryotic cells possess a plethora of regulatory mechanisms to maintain homeostasis and ensure proper biochemical functionality. Autophagy, a central, conserved self-consuming process of the cell, ensures the timely degradation of damaged cellular components. Several studies have demonstrated the important roles of autophagy activation in mitigating neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, surprisingly, activation of macroautophagy has not shown clinical efficacy. Hence, alternative strategies are urgently needed for AD therapy. In recent years, selective autophagy has been reported to be involved in AD pathology, and different subtypes have been identified, such as aggrephagy, mitophagy, reticulophagy, lipophagy, pexophagy, nucleophagy, lysophagy and ribophagy. By clarifying the underlying mechanisms governing these various subtypes, we may come to understand how to control autophagy to treat AD. In this review, we summarize the latest findings concerning the role of selective autophagy in the pathogenesis of AD. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that selective autophagy is an active mechanism in AD pathology, and that regulating selective autophagy would be an effective strategy for controlling this pathogenesis.

Klotho an Autophagy Stimulator as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease: A Review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease; it is the most common cause of senile dementia. Klotho, a single-pass transmembrane protein primarily generated in the brain and kidney, is active in a variety of metabolic pathways involved in controlling neurodegeneration and ageing. Recently, many studies have found that the upregulation of Klotho can improve pathological cognitive deficits in an AD mice model and have demonstrated that Klotho plays a role in the induction of autophagy, a major contributing factor for AD. Despite the close association between Klotho and neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD, the underlying mechanism by which Klotho contributes to AD remains poorly understood. In this paper, we will introduce the expression, location and structure of Klotho and its biological functions. Specifically, this review is devoted to the correlation of Klotho protein and the AD phenotype, such as the effect of Klotho in upregulating the amyloid-beta clearance and in inducing autophagy for the clearance of toxic proteins, by regulating the autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP). In summary, the results of multiple studies point out that targeting Klotho would be a potential therapeutic strategy in AD treatment.

Corynoxine B derivative CB6 prevents Parkinsonian toxicity in mice by inducing PIK3C3 complex-dependent autophagy.

Increasing evidence shows that autophagy impairment is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously identified a natural alkaloid named corynoxine B (Cory B) as a neuronal autophagy inducer. However, its brain permeability is relatively low, which hinders its potential use in treating PD. Thus we synthesized various derivatives of Cory B to find more potent autophagy inducers with improved brain bioavailability. In this study, we evaluated the autophagy-enhancing effect of CB6 derivative and its neuroprotective action against PD in vitro and in vivo. We showed that CB6 (5-40 µM) dose-dependently accelerated autophagy flux in cultured N2a neural cells through activating the PIK3C3 complex and promoting PI3P production. In MPP+-treated PC12 cells, CB6 inhibited cell apoptosis and increased cell viability by inducing autophagy. In MPTP-induced mouse model of PD, oral administration of CB6 (10, 20 mg· kg-1· d-1, for 21 days) significantly improved motor dysfunction and prevented the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta. Collectively, compound CB6 is a brain-permeable autophagy enhancer via PIK3C3 complex activation, which may help the prevention or treatment of PD.

Renoprotective activity of a new amide and a new hydroxycinnamic acid derivative from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa.

A new amide, named rehmagluamide (1), and a new hydroxycinnamic acid derivative, named nepetoidin F (2), together with six known compounds, 2'-O-methyluridine (3), puroglutamic acid (4), biliverdic acid (5), peterolactam (6), nicotinic acid (7), nicotinamide (8), were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. All the structures of compounds were identified by the interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported in the literatures. The protective effects of compounds 1-7 on normal rat kidney tubule epithelioid (NRK-52e) cells injury induced by LPS were investigated. The results indicated that compounds 1, 2, and 7 exhibited protective effects against LPS-induced NRK 52e cells injury.

Acetone Extract of Cornus officinalis Leaves Exerts Anti-Melanoma Effects via Inhibiting STAT3 Signaling.

PURPOSE: This research aims to investigate the intervention and mechanism of 50% acetone extract of C. officinalis leaves (SZYY) on melanoma xenografts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor size and cardiac function were measured via ultrasound. The accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in tumor tissue was examined with near-infrared in vivo imaging. Flow cytometry was performed to assess apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in tumor and immune cells in spleen. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum were detected by cytometric bead array. The expression of proliferation-, apoptosis-, and angiogenesis-related proteins in tumor cells was measured to evaluate the underlying mechanisms. Subsequently, the effects of four compounds separated from SZYY on the proliferation and migration of A375 cells and STAT3 signaling were examined. The peak identification and contents of the four components were performed via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Finally, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of STAT3 overexpression on the cytotoxic activity of four constituents in A375 cells. RESULTS: SZYY inhibited the growth and glycolysis of melanoma xenograft in mice, improved cardiac function, increased the percentages of macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in spleen, reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum, promoted apoptosis and oxidative stress in tumor tissues, and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and expression of angiogenic factors. Chemical analysis showed that SZYY is rich in loganin, rutin, triohimas C, and triohimas D, which all could restrain the proliferation and migration of A375 cells and inhibit the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3. Moreover, STAT3 overexpression could diminish the cytotoxic activity of four compounds on A375 cells. CONCLUSION: SZYY could exert anti-melanoma effects via inhibiting STAT3 signaling to induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Its active ingredients might be loganin, rutin, triohimas C, and triohimas D.

Inhibitory activity of acteoside in melanoma via regulation of the ERß-Ras/Raf1-STAT3 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is an aggressive cancer with a rapidly increasing incidence rate worldwide. Acteoside has been shown to have antitumor effects in multiple human cancers; however, the underlying function and mechanisms of acteoside in melanoma remain unclear. PURPOSE: This study explored the inhibitory effect of acteoside on melanoma and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Acteoside (15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg) was administered to mice daily for 21 days. ICI182,780 (0.5 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before acteoside administration three times a week to evaluate whether the effects elicited by acteoside were mediated via the estrogen receptor. Tumor growth and metabolism, cardiac function, ROS and apoptosis levels in the spleen, serum inflammatory factors, and immune cells in the spleen were monitored. STAT3, p-STAT3, CD31, and survivin levels in tumor tissues were measured via immunofluorescence. Ras, Raf1, STAT3, p-STAT3, Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 levels in tumor tissues were determined via Western Blotting. RESULTS: The results showed that acteoside inhibited melanoma growth, alleviated inflammation levels in mice, attenuated ROS and apoptosis levels in the spleen, downregulated the levels of CD31, survivin, Ras, Raf1, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2, and upregulated the levels of ERß, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9. Moreover, the effect of acteoside was blocked by ICI182,780. CONCLUSION: Acteoside may promote the apoptosis of tumor cells by regulating the ERß-Ras/Raf1-STAT3 signaling axis, thus inhibiting the occurrence and development of melanoma.

Arbutin attenuates LPS-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Arbutin (Ar) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of Ar on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) are not clear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ar on LPS-induced AKI in rats. METHODS: The possible data regarding the effects of Ar on AKI were collected by network pharmacology research. Histological changes in the kidney and the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and kidney injury molecule 1 were measured to assess the effects of Ar on renal function in LPS-induced AKI. The levels of inflammatory were detected by live small-animal imaging, cytometric bead array and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis of primary kidney cells were detected by flow cytometry. The oxidative stress-related markers were detected by the cuvette assay. The TLR4/NF-κB and PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 levels and apoptosis were detected by Western blot analysis. The effects of GDC-0068 (GDC, Akt inhibitor) on Ar interposed on LPS-induced NRK-52e cell apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The data collected by network pharmacology suggested that Ar might inhibit AKI by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect and regulating the Akt signaling pathway. The experimental results showed that Ar markedly improved renal function, and attenuated inflammation and cell apoptosis via regulating PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway following LPS challenge in vivo, which blocked by GDC effectively in vitro. CONCLUSION: In a word, this study demonstrated that Ar attenuated LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

[DuzhongButiansu Capsules improve adenine-induced reproductive dysfunction in male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of DuzhongButiansu Capsules (DBC) on adenine-induced reproductive dysfunction (RD) in male rats. METHODS: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, blank control (n = 8), solvent control (n = 8), RD model control (n = 16), Shengjing Capsules (SJC) (n = 16), low-dose DBC (n = 16) and high-dose DBC (n = 16). The RD model was made by intragastric administration of adenine at 200 mg/kg/d for 5 successive weeks in the latter four groups of animals, and in the meantime the rats in the latter three groups were treated intragastrically with SJC at 0.560 mg/kg/d and DBC at 0.242 and 0.968 mg/kg/d, respectively. At the end of the fourth week, all the rats were mated with female ones in a 1:1 ratio for 7 days. Then the male rats were killed and the right epididymides collected for detection of sperm concentration and motility, and the female ones sacrificed after fed for another 2 weeks and the numbers of pregnancies and fetal rats were recorded. The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, thymus, testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were harvested for obtainment of the visceral coefficients and semen parameters, observation of the histopathological changes in the testis, epididymis and kidneys by HE staining, measurement of the levels of serum T, E2, FSH and LH by ELISA, detection of the contents of serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and determination of the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 proteins in the renal tissue by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the blank control and solvent control groups in any of the indexes obtained (P > 0.05).Compared with the blank controls, the rats in the RD model control group showed significantly decreased sperm concentration (ï¼»40.67 ± 7.37ï¼½vs ï¼»27.10 ± 2.72ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.01), sperm motility (ï¼»54.75 ± 3.92ï¼½%vs ï¼»25.60 ± 4.83ï¼½%, P < 0.01) and pregnancy rate (85.7% vs 43.8%, P < 0.01). The rats in thelow- and high-dose DBCgroups exhibited remarkable increases in sperm concentration (ï¼»53.00 ± 4.55ï¼½% and ï¼»65.63 ± 12.47ï¼½% ×106/ml, P < 0.01) and sperm motility (ï¼»53.50 ± 8.83ï¼½% and ï¼»54.33 ± 7.92ï¼½ %, P < 0.01), and so did those in the high-dose DBC group in pregnancy rate (54.5%, P < 0.01).After medication, the animals showed markedly increased body weight and visceral coefficients of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), recovered morphology of the testis, epididymis and kidneys, reduced levels of Scr, BUN, FSH, LH and MDA in the serum (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), increased contents of T, SOD and GSH-PX (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), down-regulated expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 and up-regulated expression of Bcl-2 in the renal tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DBC can improve adenine-induced reproductive dysfunction in male rats, which may be attributed to its effects of inhibiting the apoptosis of proteins, improving oxidative stress and elevating the levels of reproductive hormones.

Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt extract alleviates lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced acute liver failure and brain injury by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt (CF) is distributed along liver meridian, with a possible beneficial effect in the progression of acute liver failure. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of CF extract on rats with acute liver failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into four experimental groups: Control, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) (L/D), Wu Ling Powder + L/D (WLP+L/D) and CF + L/D. Animals were gavage for 7 days, after which all animals except the control group were injected intraperitoneally with LPS and D-GalN to induce acute liver failure. Subsequently, the urine was collected for the next 8 hr, and the liver pathological changes were observed. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), inflammatory factor and oxidative stress-related indicators were measured. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis marker in the liver, water content and aquaporin (AQPs) in the brain were detected. The concentration of ions and osmolality of urine and serum were determined. RESULTS: The results show that CF significantly improved the damage of liver and brain tissue, and reversed the changes of serum ALT, AST, inflammatory factor and Cl-. It modulated oxidative stress-related indicators, reduced the content of ROS, apoptosis markers, water content, the level of Cl- ions and osmolality in the urine and the expression of AQP1, and AQP4 in the brain, and increased the urine output. CONCLUSION: It was found that the CF extract could alleviate the L/D induced acute liver failure by regulating the hepatocyte apoptosis and AQPs expression in the brain.

Raw and salt-processed Achyranthes bidentata attenuate LPS-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting ROS and apoptosis via an estrogen-like pathway.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae nourishes and protects the kidneys, the effect of which is enhanced following a salt treatment. Raw and salt-processed Achyranthes bidentata are produced via different processing techniques from the same crude Achyranthes root. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of this plant have been verified earlier. However, there is a scarcity of experimental evidence for the renal-protective effects. AIM: The purpose of present study is to compare the protective effects of raw and salt-processed Achyranthes on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced acute kidney injury in mice and chemically characterize their extracts. METHOD: The monomer components of raw and salt-processed Achyranthes extracts were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The aggregation and distribution of 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) near infrared fluorescence probe in mice was examined with a small animal imaging systems. The pathological and morphological changes of kidneys were observed by H&E staining, and the serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) levels were used to evaluate the renal function. The levels of cytokines in serum were detected by cytometric bead array. Flow cytometry assay was performed to assess the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the kidney cells, and cell surface marker expression including CD45+, F4/80+, and Ly-6G+. The estrogenic activities of the raw and salt-processed Achyranthes were observed by uterine weight gain test in sexually immature mice. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels in the kidney. RESULTS: Chemical analysis showed that the salt-processed Achyranthes contained more ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa than the raw Achyranthes, but there was no difference in the contents of ß-ecdysterone, 25R-inokosterone, and 25S-inokosterone.in vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging showed a significant reduced inflammation in the AKI mice. Histological studies showed that the raw and salt-processed Achyranthes markedly decreased the inflammatory infiltration, swelling and vacuolar degeneration in renal tissues and the Scr and BUN. Importantly, the raw and salt-processed Achyranthes extracts demonstrated different degrees of inhibition on the LPS-induced AKI, with salt-processed Achyranthes showing better inhibition. Results of flow cytometry showed a significant inhibition of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2, and promoted IL-10, along with reduced macrophages (CD45 + F4/80+), neutrophils (CD45+ Ly-6G+) and phagocytes. Furthermore, the extracts reduced the accumulation of ROS and apoptosis in the kidney, and also regulated the expression of apoptosis marker proteins TLR4, Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 9 levels. Notably, they increased ERα, ERß, and GPR30 in the renal tissues of AKI mice and LPS non-treated mice. In the subsequent experiments, it was found that the raw and salt-processed Achyranthes extracts increased the uterine coefficient in sexually immature mice, improved the LPS-induced decrease in NRK52e cell viability, and reduced the apoptosis, which could be antagonized by ICI182, 780 (estrogen receptor-unspecific antagonist, Faslodex). CONCLUSIONS: The renal-protective effect of raw and salt-processed Achyranthes was exhibited through antiapoptotic and antioxidant mechanisms via an estrogen-like pathway, along with a modulation of the inflammatory response by regulating immune cells. Ginsenoside Ro and Chikusetsu saponin IVa were found to be the key factors to enhance the protective effect of salt-processed Achyranthes.

Corallodiscus flabellata B.L. Burtt Extracts Stimulate Diuretic Activity and Regulate the Renal Expression of Aquaporins.

Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt is a traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that C. flabellata alleviated symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a rat model of AD and increased healthy rats' urine volume. The aims of this study were to explore the diuretic activity of different extracts from C. flabellata and to identify the underlying mechanisms of action. Different doses of a C. flabellata extract (CF-L, CF-M, and CF-H) were administered orally to male KM mice in a single dose. In another procedure, C. flabellata (CF), water extract, and 20%, 30%, and 40% ethanol extracts of C. flabellata (CF-WE, CF-20, CF-30, and CF-40) were administered orally daily for 5 days. The urinary excretion rate, osmolality, and electrolyte levels in urine and serum, renal expression of aquaporins (AQPs), apoptosis-related protein, and MAPK-related protein were analyzed. The results showed that single doses of CF-M and CF-H increased urinary volume significantly, as well as daily administration of CF, CF-WE, CF-20, CF-30, and CF-40. Furthermore, CF-20 and CF-30 increased the concentration of Na+ in the urine. Treatment with CF-40 increased the urine osmolality and Na+ and Cl- concentrations and decreased the concentration of Na+ in the serum. Also, CF, CF-WE, CF-20, CF-30, and CF-40 decreased the renal expression of AQPs, as well as the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax, p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK, and p-p38/p38. In sum, the medium and high doses of the C. flabellata extract and CF-WE, CF-20, CF-30, and CF-40 were found to have a diuretic activity. They may inhibit the renal expression of AQPs and apoptosis-related proteins by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby achieving diuretic effects.

Protopine Protects Mice against LPS-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Inflammation via the TLR4 Signaling Pathway.

Corydalis humosa Migo is a traditional Chinese medicine that clears away damp heat, relieves sore. Protopine (PRO) is an alkaloid component isolated from C. humosa Migo. However, the role of protopine in acute kidney injury (AKI) has not yet been reported. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of protopine isolated from C. humosa Migo on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI in mice. Inflammation accumulation was assessed by small animal living imaging. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured to assess the effects of protopine on renal function in LPS-induced AKI. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and (interleukin-10) IL-10 in serum were detected by cytometric bead array. Flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary kidney cells. The proportions of granulocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages in peripheral blood were examined to evaluate the effect of protopine on immune cells in mice with AKI. Toll-like receptor (TLR4) and apoptotic signaling pathway were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that protopine markedly improved the renal function, relieve inflammation, reversed inflammatory cytokines, transformed apoptosis markers, and regulated the TLR4 signaling pathway in mice with AKI induced by LPS. The protopine isolated from C. humosa Migo protected mice against LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation via the TLR4 signaling pathway, thus providing a molecular basis for a novel medical treatment of AKI.