NecroX-5 ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via inhibiting NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and usually lethal pulmonary disease. Despite considerable research efforts, no effective therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis has been developed. NecroX-5 has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether NecroX-5 exhibits antifibrotic property in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. RESULTS: We found that pre-treatment with NecroX-5 alleviated inflammatory response, reduced oxidative stress, inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Our data further indicated that NecroX-5 substantially reduced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, NLRP3 overexpression significantly reversed the protective effects of NecroX-5 in lung epithelial cells exposed to BLM. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results demonstrate the potent antifibrotic properties of NecroX-5 and its therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis.

Lipid metabolomics in serum of hyperuricemic rats induced by fructose based on UPC²-Q/TOF-MS / 中国中药杂志

To explore the differences in lipid metabolites in serum of hyperuricemic rats induced by fructose and normal rats by using lipid metabolomics technology, and screen the potential biomarkers related to hyperuricemia. The metabolic fingerprint spectrum of the serum in hyperuricemic rats(model group) and normal rats(control group) was obtained and analyzed by using ultra performance convergence chromatography-tandem-Q-time of flight mass spectrometry(UPC ² -Q/TOF-MS) method and the differences of metabolic spectra between two groups were compared via the multivariate statistical methods to screen differential metabolites. The results indicated that there was significant difference in metabolic spectra between model group and control group, and 11 differential metabolites were screened. Then eight potential biomarkers such as arachidonic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were tentatively identified by using the exact mass number and secondary mass spectrometry(MS/MS spectrum). Therefore, a new research method for lipid metabolomics in serum of hyperuricemic rats induced by fructose was established successfully based on UPC ² -Q/TOF-MS. What's more, it was speculated that the abnormal metabolism of fatty acid might be associated with the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia, which would provide scientific basis for early detection and prevention of hyperuricemia.

Establishment of culture system of Silybum marianum hairy roots and determination of silybin / 中国中药杂志

This research uses six Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601, R15384, R1000, A4, R1025 and R1 to infect silymarin explants to induce hairy roots and silibin. All of the six A. rhizogenes can induce Silybum marianum to generate hairy roots and the A. rhizogene A4 shows comparatively high infection on the plant. This research determines the condition to induce silymarin hairy roots by the factors of infection time, pre-culturing, co-culturing and pH value. The fact that MS liquid medium fits the proliferation of silymarin hairy roots is determined. Through PCR molecular identification, it can be seen that the DNA plasmids in the A. rhizogenes are successfully integrated into the genome of transformed roots. Using liquid chromatography, it is determined that the silibin content in silymarin hairy roots is 2.5 times that in the plant In this research, the silymarin hairy roots culturing system is established, which lays a foundation for the study of culturing silymarin hairy roots and producing silibin.