Polysaccharide-mediated modulation of gut microbiota in the treatment of liver diseases: Promising approach with significant challenges.

Liver disease represents a significant global health burden, with an increasing prevalence and a lack of efficient treatment options. The microbiota-gut-liver axis involves bidirectional communication between liver function and intestinal microorganisms. A balanced gut flora protects intestinal homeostasis, while imbalances contribute to the development of liver diseases. Distinct alterations in the structure of gut flora during illness are crucial in the management of various liver diseases. Polysaccharides derived from herbal products, fungi, and other sources have been identified to possess diverse biological activities and are well-tolerated in the treatment of liver diseases. This review provides updates on the therapeutic effects of polysaccharides on liver diseases, including fatty liver diseases, acute liver injuries and liver cancers. It also summarizes advancements in understanding the mechanisms involved, particularly from the perspective of gut microbiota and metabolites, by highlighting the changes in the composition of potentially beneficial and harmful bacteria and their correlation with the therapeutic effects of polysaccharides. Additionally, by exploring the structure-activity relationship, our review provides valuable insights for the structural modification of polysaccharides and expanding their applications. In conclusion, this review offers theoretical support and novel perspectives on developing polysaccharides-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of liver diseases.

A new perspective on liver diseases: Focusing on the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes.

The pathogenesis of liver diseases is multifaceted and intricate, posing a persistent global public health challenge with limited therapeutic options. Therefore, further research into liver diseases is imperative for better comprehension and advancement in treatment strategies. Numerous studies have confirmed the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria as key organelles driving liver diseases. Notably, the mitochondrial-associated ER membranes (MAMs) establish a physical and functional connection between the ER and mitochondria, highlighting the importance of inter-organelle communication in maintaining their functional homeostasis. This review delves into the intricate architecture and regulative mechanism of the integrated MAM that facilitate the physiological transfer of signals and substances between organelles. Additionally, we also provide a detailed overview regarding the varied pathogenic roles of malfunctioning MAM in liver diseases, focusing on its involvement in the progression of ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and Ca2+ transfer, as well as the disruption of lipid and glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, the current challenges and prospects associated with MAM in liver disease research are thoroughly discussed. In conclusion, elucidating the specific structure and function of MAM in different liver diseases may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

Si-Ni-San ameliorates cholestatic liver injury by favoring P. goldsteinii colonization.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Current treatment options for cholestatic liver diseases are limited, and addressing impaired intestinal barrier has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula commonly utilized in the management of chronic liver diseases. Our previous studies have indicated that SNS effectively enhanced intestinal barrier function through the modulation of gut microbiota. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to verify the therapeutic effects of SNS on cholestatic liver injury, focusing on elucidating the underlying mechanism involving the gut-liver axis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 16s RNA gene sequencing, non-targeted metabolomics were used to investigate the effects of SNS on the gut microbiota dysbiosis. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was conducted to identify potential beneficial probiotics underlying the therapeutic effects of SNS. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that SNS significantly ameliorated cholestatic liver injury induced by partial bile duct ligation (pBDL). Additionally, SNS effectively suppressed cholestasis-induced inflammation and barrier dysfunction in both the small intestine and colon. While SNS did not impact the intestinal FXR-FGF15-hepatic CYP7A1 axis, it notably improved gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulated the profile of microbial metabolites, including beneficial secondary bile acids and tryptophan derivatives. Furthermore, gut microbiota depletion experiments and FMT confirmed that the therapeutic benefits of SNS in cholestatic liver disease are dependent on gut microbiota modulation, particularly through the promotion of the growth of potential probiotic P. goldsteinii. Moreover, a synergistic improvement in cholestatic liver injury was observed with the co-administration of P. goldsteinii and SNS. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores that SNS effectively alleviates cholestatic liver injury by addressing gut microbiota dysbiosis and enhancing intestinal barrier function, supporting its rational clinical utilization. Furthermore, we highlight P. goldsteinii as a promising probiotic candidate for the management of cholestatic liver diseases.

Intestinal epithelial damage-derived mtDNA activates STING-IL12 axis in dendritic cells to promote colitis.

Rationale: The treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) presents an ongoing clinical challenge. Emerging research has implicated that the cGAS-STING pathway promotes the progression of UC, but conflicting results have hindered the development of STING as a therapeutic target. In the current study, we aim to comprehensively elucidate the origins, downstream signaling and pathogenic roles of myeloid STING in colitis and colitis-associated carcinoma (CAC). Methods: Tmem173 fl/fl Lyz2-Cre ert2 mice were constructed for inducible myeloid-specific deletion of STING. RNA-sequencing, flow cytometry, and multiplex immunohistochemistry were employed to investigate immune responses in DSS-induced colitis or AOM/DSS-induced carcinogenesis. Colonic organoids, primary bone marrow derived macrophages and dendritic cells, and splenic T cells were used for in vitro studies. Results: We observed that myeloid STING knockout in adult mice inhibited macrophage maturation, reduced DC cell activation, and suppressed pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells, thereby protecting against both acute and chronic colitis and CAC. However, myeloid STING deletion in neonatal or tumor-present mice exhibited impaired immune tolerance and anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, we found that TFAM-associated mtDNA released from damaged colonic organoids, rather than bacterial products, activates STING in dendritic cells in an extracellular vesicle-independent yet endocytosis-dependent manner. Both IRF3 and NF-κB are required for STING-mediated expression of IL-12 family cytokines, promoting Th1 and Th17 differentiation and contributing to excessive inflammation in colitis. Conclusions: Detection of the TFAM-mtDNA complex from damaged intestinal epithelium by myeloid STING exacerbates colitis through IL-12 cytokines, providing new evidence to support the development of STING as a therapeutic target for UC and CAC.

Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata extracts ameliorate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by restoring lipid metabolism in hepatocytes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a common occurrence during or after liver surgery, representing a major cause for postoperative complications or increased morbidity and mortality in liver diseases. Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (RRP) is a traditional Chinese medicine frequently used and has garnered extensive attention for its therapeutic potential treating cardiovascular and hepatic ailments. Recent studies have indicated the possibility of RRP in regulating lipid accumulation and apoptosis in hepatocytes. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the specific mechanisms by which RRP may impede the progression of HIRI through the regulation of lipid metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the major components of RRP water extract. C57BL/6J mice were orally given RRP at doses of 2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, and 10 g/kg for a duration of 7 days before undergoing HIRI surgery. Furthermore, we established a lipid-loaded in vitro model by exposing hepatocytes to oleic acid and palmitic acid (OAPA). The anti-HIRI effect of RRP was determined through transcriptomics and various molecular biology experiments. RESULTS: After identifying active ingredients in RRP, we observed that RRP exerted lipid-lowering and hepatoprotective effects on HIRI mice and OAPA-treated hepatocytes. RRP activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which further on the one hand, inhibited the cleavage and activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) by limiting the movement of SREBPs cleavage-activating protein (SCAP)-SREBP2 complex with the help of endoplasmic reticulum lipid raft-associated protein 1 (ERLIN1) and insulin-induced gene 1 (INSIG1), and on the other hand, promoted liver X receptor α (LXRα) nuclear transportation and subsequent cholesterol efflux. Meanwhile, the anti-lipotoxic effect of RRP can be partly reversed by an LXRα inhibitor but largely blocked by the application of compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Our study elucidated that RRP served as a potential AMPK activator to alleviate HIRI by blocking SREBP2 activation and cholesterol synthesis, while also activating LXRα to facilitate cholesterol efflux. These findings shed new light on the potential therapeutic use of RRP for improving HIRI.

Si-Wu-Tang alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by inhibiting ACSL4-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism and ferroptosis in MCD diet-fed mice.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese medicine decoction has shown therapeutic effects on various liver diseases. However, the hepatoprotective effects and underlying mechanism of SWT on MAFLD remain unclear. METHODS: First, a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-fed mice model was used and lipidomic analysis and transcriptomic analysis were performed. The contents of total iron ions, ferrous ions, and lipid peroxidation were detected and Prussian blue staining was performed to confirm the protective effects of SWT against ferroptosis. Finally, chemical characterization and network pharmacological analysis were employed to identify the potential active ingredients. RESULTS: Serological and hepatic histopathological findings indicated SWT's discernible therapeutic impact on MCD diet-induced MAFLD. Lipidomic analysis revealed that SWT improved intrahepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting TG synthesis and promoting TG transport. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that SWT ameliorated abnormal FA metabolism by inhibiting FA synthesis and promoting FA ß-oxidation. Then, ferroptosis phenotype experiments revealed that SWT could effectively impede hepatocyte ferroptosis, which was induced by long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4)-mediated esterification of arachidonic acid (AA). Finally, chemical characterization and network pharmacological analysis identified that paeoniflorin and other active ingredients might be responsible for the regulative effects against ferroptosis and MAFLD. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study revealed the intricate mechanism through which SWT improved MCD diet-induced MAFLD by targeting FA metabolism and ferroptosis in hepatocytes, thus offering a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of MAFLD and its complications.

A comprehensive review of bupleuri radix and its bioactive components： with a major focus on treating chronic liver diseases.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bupleuri Radix (BR) has been recognized as an essential herbal medicine for relieving liver depression for thousands of years. Contemporary research has provided compelling evidence of its pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic regulation, and anticancer properties, positioning it as a promising treatment option for various liver diseases. Hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are among the prevalent and impactful liver diseases worldwide. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews that explore the prescription, bio-active components, and underlying mechanisms of BR in treating liver diseases. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To summarize the BR classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients in treating liver diseases and their mechanisms to inform reference for further development and research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature in the last three decades of BR and its classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients were collated and summarized by searching PubMed, Wiley, Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI, etc. RESULTS: BR and its classical prescriptions, such as Xiao Chai Hu decoction, Da Chai Hu decoction, Si Ni San, and Chai Hu Shu Gan San, have been utilized for centuries as effective therapies for liver diseases, including hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. BR is a rich source of active ingredients, such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, sterols, organic acids, and so on. These bioactive compounds exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and lipid metabolism regulation. However, it is important to acknowledge that BR and its constituents can also possess hepatotoxicity, which is associated with cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and oxidative stress. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using BR in therapeutic applications to ensure the safe and appropriate utilization of its potential benefits while minimizing any potential risks. CONCLUSIONS: To sum up, BR, its compounds, and its based traditional Chinese medicine are effective in liver diseases through multiple targets, multiple pathways, and multiple effects. Advances in pharmacological and toxicological investigations of BR and its bio-active components in the future will provide further contributions to the discovery of novel therapeutics for liver diseases.

Epigenetic modification in liver fibrosis: Promising therapeutic direction with significant challenges ahead.

Liver fibrosis, characterized by scar tissue formation, can ultimately result in liver failure. It's a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, often associated with chronic liver diseases like hepatitis or alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. However, current treatment options are limited, highlighting the urgent need for the development of new therapies. As a reversible regulatory mechanism, epigenetic modification is implicated in many biological processes, including liver fibrosis. Exploring the epigenetic mechanisms involved in liver fibrosis could provide valuable insights into developing new treatments for chronic liver diseases, although the current evidence is still controversial. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the regulatory mechanisms and critical targets of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA modification, in liver fibrotic diseases. The potential cooperation of different epigenetic modifications in promoting fibrogenesis was also highlighted. Finally, available agonists or inhibitors regulating these epigenetic mechanisms and their potential application in preventing liver fibrosis were discussed. In summary, elucidating specific druggable epigenetic targets and developing more selective and specific candidate medicines may represent a promising approach with bright prospects for the treatment of chronic liver diseases.

Transcriptotype-Driven Discovery of Apigenin as a Therapy against Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis: Through Inhibition of PANoptosis and Following Type-I Interferon Responses.

Cholangiopathies lack effective medicines and can progress into end-stage liver diseases. Mining natural product transcriptome databases for bioactive ingredients, which can reverse disease-associated transcriptomic phenotypes, holds promise as an effective approach for drug discovery. To identify disease-associated transcriptomic changes, we performed RNA-sequencing on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced cholestatic liver fibrosis mice, as well as PBC and PSC patients, and found that PANoptosis and activation of type-I interferon (IFN) signaling were observed in BDL mice and patients with PBC and PSC. We then established a transcriptotype-driven screening system based on HERB and ITCM databases. Among 283 natural ingredients screened, apigenin (Api), which is widely distributed in varieties of food and medicinal plants, was screened out by our screen system since it reversed the expression pattern of key genes associated with PANoptosis and type-I IFN responses. In BDL, Abcb4-/-, and DDC-fed mice, Api effectively ameliorated liver injuries, inflammation, and fibrosis. It also protected cholangiocytes from bile acid-stimulated PANoptosis, thus alleviating damage-associated molecular pattern-mediated activation of TBK1-NF-κB in macrophages. Additionally, Api directly inhibited type-I IFN-induced downstream inflammatory responses. Our study demonstrated the pathogenic roles of PANoptosis and type-I IFN signaling in cholestatic liver fibrosis and verified the feasibility of transcriptotype-based drug screening. Furthermore, this study revealed a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism of Api and identified it as a promising candidate for the treatment of cholestatic liver fibrosis.

The dual function of cGAS-STING signaling axis in liver diseases.

Numerous liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, have been increasingly prevalent, posing significant threats to global health. In recent decades, there has been increasing evidence linking the dysregulation of cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene (STING)-related immune signaling to liver disorders. Both hyperactivation and deletion of STING can disrupt the immune microenvironment dysfunction, exacerbating liver disorders. Consequently, there has been a surge in research investigating medical agents or mediators targeting cGAS-STING signaling. Interestingly, therapeutic manipulation of the cGAS-STING pathway has yielded inconsistent and even contradictory effects on different liver diseases due to the distinct physiological characteristics of intrahepatic cells that express and respond to STING. In this review, we comprehensively summarize recent advancements in understanding the dual roles of the STING pathway, highlighting that the benefits of targeting STING signaling depend on the specific types of target cells and stages of liver injury. Additionally, we offer a novel perspective on the suitability of STING agonists and antagonists for clinical assessment. In conclusion, STING signaling remains a highly promising therapeutic target, and the development of STING pathway modulators holds great potential for the treatment of liver diseases.

SGK1 aggravates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by triggering H3k27ac-mediated macrophage reprogramming and disturbing immune homeostasis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by fibrotic matrix deposition and irreversible aberrant tissue remodeling. Their mechanisms of action are associated with the activation of macrophages and a disturbed immune environment. We aim to determine how these activated macrophages influenced the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. We found the fibrotic areas of IPF patients contained more serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1)-positive and M2-type macrophages. Similarly, bleomycin (BLM)+LPS significantly triggered high expression of SGK1 in the IPF mice, accompanied by destroyed lung structure and function, increased fibrosis markers and disturbed immune microenvironment. Mechanistically, SGK1 markedly promoted the reprogramming of M2-type macrophages in fibrotic lungs by triggering glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3ß)-tat-interacting protein 60 (TIP60)- histone-3 lysine-27 acetylation (H3K27ac) signalings, which further released chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 9 (CCL9) to attract Th17 cells and delivered TGF-ß to fibroblasts for synergistically destroying immune microenvironment, which was largely reversed by macrophage depletion in mice. We took macrophages as the entry point to deeply analyze IPF pathogenesis and further provided insights for the development of novel drugs represented by SGK1.

Tannins in Phyllanthus emblica L. improves cisplatin efficacy in lung cancer cells by boosting endoplasmic reticulum stress to trigger immunogenic cell death.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers world-wide and immunotherapy has been considered as a promising therapeutic strategy. Previously, our study found that tannins in Phyllanthus emblica L. (PTF) could inhibit the growth of tumor by activating the immune response in liver cancer, and also exhibited a cytotoxicity on human lung cancer cells A549, H460, H1703 in vitro. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether PTF inhibited the growth of lung cancer through its immune-regulating function and to clarify underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) were characterized by calreticulin exposure, extracellular ATP secretion, and High Mobility Group Box 1(HMGB1) release both in vivo using LLC-derived xenograft tumor model and in vitro using both mouse LLC and human A549 cancer cells. RESULTS: PTF inhibited lung cancer cells growth and tumorigenesis in vivo/vitro and promoted anti-tumor immune responses. We further found that PTF could induce ICD, which then activated Type I interferon responses and CXCL9/10-mediated chemotaxis. Mechanistically, PTF induced the formation of intracellular protein aggregates and following activation of PERK/ATF4/CHOP-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress-related ICD. Moreover, PTF improved the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin by inducing ICD both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we screened out 5 components from PTF, including gallocatechin, gallic acid, methyl gallate, ethyl gallate and ellagic acid, which could induce ICD in vitro and might be considered as the potential antitumor pharmacodynamic substances. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PTF inhibits the growth of lung cancer by triggering ICD and remodeling the tumor microenvironment, suggesting that PTF may have promising prospects as an adjacent immunotherapy for cancers.

Spliceosome component Usp39 contributes to hepatic lipid homeostasis through the regulation of autophagy.

Regulation of alternative splicing (AS) enables a single transcript to yield multiple isoforms that increase transcriptome and proteome diversity. Here, we report that spliceosome component Usp39 plays a role in the regulation of hepatocyte lipid homeostasis. We demonstrate that Usp39 expression is downregulated in hepatic tissues of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) subjects. Hepatocyte-specific Usp39 deletion in mice leads to increased lipid accumulation, spontaneous steatosis and impaired autophagy. Combined analysis of RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data reveals that Usp39 regulates AS of several autophagy-related genes. In particular, deletion of Usp39 results in alternative 5' splice site selection of exon 6 in Heat shock transcription factor 1 (Hsf1) and consequently its reduced expression. Importantly, overexpression of Hsf1 could attenuate lipid accumulation caused by Usp39 deficiency. Taken together, our findings indicate that Usp39-mediated AS is required for sustaining autophagy and lipid homeostasis in the liver.

Phyllanthi Tannin Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Lung Cancer Therapy: Preparation, Characterization, Pharmacodynamics and Safety Evaluation.

The objective of the present study was to develop PTF-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (PTF-SLNs) and investigate their efficacy in treating lung cancer. The PTF-SLNs were prepared by the thin film hydration method and verified by FTIR and TEM. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), etc. Then, the pharmacodynamic studies of PTF-SLNs were performed on Lewis lung cancer cells and tumor-bearing mice. Finally, the safety studies were assessed by organ index, serum biochemical indicators, and histopathological changes. The PTF-SLNs were characterized by around 50 nm sphere nanoparticles, sustained ideal stability, and controlled drug release effects. The pharmacodynamic evaluation results showed that PTF-SLNs had stronger anti-tumor efficacy than PTF. An in vitro study revealed a more obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis effect. The IC 50 values of PTF and PTF-SLNs were 67.43 µg/mL and 20.74 µg/mL, respectively. An in vivo study showed that the tumor inhibition rates of 2 g/kg PTF and 0.4 g/kg PTF-SLNs were 59.97% and 64.55%, respectively. The safety preliminary study indicated that PTF-SLNs improve the damage of PTF to normal organs to a certain extent. This study provides a nanoparticle delivery system with phenolic herbal extract to improve anti-tumor efficacy in lung cancer.

Acteoside ameliorates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury via reversing the senescent fate of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and restoring compromised sinusoidal networks.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI), a common two-phase intersocietal reaction in liver surgery, typically leading to sustained liver dysfunction. During this process, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are vulnerable to damage and exert senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). However, how these SASP-LSECs secreted damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to impact the whole HIRI microenvironment and whether it can be reversed by therapeutics remains unknown. Here, we found that either HIRI surgery or hypoxia and reoxygenation (HR) stimulation forced LSECs into SASP and expressed HMGB1-dominated DAMPs, which were dramatically improved by acteoside (ACT). Additionally, hypoxic hepatocytes released excessive HMGB1 to LSECs and synergistically aggravated their SASP state. Mechanistically, HMGB1 bound with TLR3/TLR4 on LSECs, promoted the nuclear translocation of IRF1 and subsequent transcription of cxcl1 and Hmgb1, leading to the chemotaxis of neutrophils and accelerating immune damage in a vicious circle. Notably, ACT or HMGB1 siRNA effectively disrupted HMGB1-TLR3/4 interaction, leading to IRF1 inhibition and repairing LSEC functions, which was largely reversed by HMGB1 stimulation and IRF1-overexpressed liposomes with LSECs-targeted hyaluronic acid-derivative conjugated in mice. Collectively, ACT reversed the senescent fate of LSECs and restored sinusoidal networks by targeting HMGB1-TLR3/4-IRF1 signaling, thus providing protection against HIRI and offering the potential for new therapeutics development.

In-vitro Antioxidant, In-vitro and In-silico Ovarian Anticancer Activity (Ovarian Cancer Cells-PA1) and Phytochemical Analysis of Cissus quadrangularis L. Ethanolic Extract.

BACKGROUND: Cissus quadrangularis is a valuable natural source of traditional medicines. OBJECTIVE: An in vitro investigation was performed to determine whether the ethanolic extract from the whole portions of C. quadrangularis had anticancer and free radical scavenging activities against ovarian cancer cells-PA1. C. quadrangularis is a herb collected from rural areas in Andhra Pradesh, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C. quadrangularis was air-dried and crushed, and the powder and ethanol (0.5 kg) were used in a Soxhlet device for continuous extraction. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was performed using a standard procedure. The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis was evaluated using DPPH. An in vitro anticancer study used an ethanolic extract against the PA1 cell line. Apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells was studied using DAPI and carboxy-H2DCFDA staining. From LC-MS analysis, quercetin-3-O-alpha-Lrhamnopyranoside and erucic acid were docked with the threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) enzyme using auto docking. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis demonstrated significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid. The ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis was found to have high anticancer activity against ovarian cancer cell lines (PA1), with an IC50 value of 482.057 ± 113.857 µg/ml. DAPI and carboxy-H2DCFDA staining confirmed that C. quadrangularis ethanolic extract induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells (p < .001). Molecular docking studies helped identify the binding affinities between the protein and ligand complexes, such as Quercetin-3-O-alpha-Lrhamnopyranoside binding sites of target proteins 5N7V (MET602, GLN672) and erucic acid 5N7V (GLY354). Quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside was reported to bind with 5N7V by hydrogen bonding at MET602 and GLN672 amino acids with 2.02, 2.99 Å bonding length distance and binding affinity of -7.9 kcal/mol. Erucic acid was reported to bind with 5N7V by hydrogen bonding at GLY354 amino acid with 3.18, 2.93 Å bonding length (Å) distance and binding affinity of -4.3 kcal/mol. The current analysis showed that the ethanolic extracts of C. quadrangularis L. exhibited antioxidant and anticancer properties against ovarian PA1 cells. CONCLUSION: The experimental results confirmed that C. quadrangularis L. is a promising, safe chemotherapeutic plant for ovarian cancer PA1 cells. The docking results demonstrated that Quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside strongly binds threonine tyrosine kinase at the MET602 and GLN672 positions. This study showed that the C. quadrangularis ethanolic extract has Quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, which can be used as an anticancer agent.

Optimizing diabetic kidney disease animal models: Insights from a meta-analytic approach.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent complication of diabetes, often leading to end-stage renal disease. Animal models have been widely used to study the pathogenesis of DKD and evaluate potential therapies. However, current animal models often fail to fully capture the pathological characteristics of renal injury observed in clinical patients with DKD. Additionally, modeling DKD is often a time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive process. The current review aims to summarize modeling strategies in the establishment of DKD animal models by utilizing meta-analysis related methods and to aid in the optimization of these models for future research. A total of 1215 articles were retrieved with the keywords of "diabetic kidney disease" and "animal experiment" in the past 10 years. Following screening, 84 articles were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Review manager 5.4.1 was employed to analyze the changes in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urinary albumin excretion rate in each model. Renal lesions shown in different models that were not suitable to be included in the meta-analysis were also extensively discussed. The above analysis suggested that combining various stimuli or introducing additional renal injuries to current models would be a promising avenue to overcome existing challenges and limitations. In conclusion, our review article provides an in-depth analysis of the limitations in current DKD animal models and proposes strategies for improving the accuracy and reliability of these models that will inspire future research efforts in the DKD research field.

Inhibiting autophagy to boost antitumor immunity with tetramethylpyrazine-loaded and PD-L1-targeting liposomal nanoparticles.

Cancer immunotherapy has been recognized as a revolutionary breakthrough and has yielded impressive results. However, a major challenge facing immunotherapy is its limited efficacy, which may be largely due to the inadequate infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME). Autophagy inhibition has been identified to enhance the recruitment of immune cells into the tumor by upregulating the expression and secretion of chemokines. Here, we verified a novel autophagy inhibitor tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) from natural products using a mCherry-GFP-LC3 probe-based autophagy flux reporter system. We then devised a liposomal system capable of co-delivering DOX and TMP using the thin-film dispersion method and modified the liposome with PD-L1 binding peptide JY4 (DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO). We found that DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO exhibited potent antitumor efficacy in vitro. In addition, DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO could effectively inhibit the autophagic flux to enhance the recruitment of immune cells into the tumor by upregulating CCL5 and CXCL10. The liposome exhibited favorable biocompatibility and safety while facilitating the accumulation of therapeutic drugs in tumors. DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO significantly inhibited tumor growth in LLC xenograft mice, accompanied by increased granzymes- and perforin-mediated cytotoxic immune responses. Our findings demonstrate that the TMP-loaded and PD-L1-targeting liposomal nanoparticles can significantly boost antitumor immunity by inhibiting autophagy, suggesting a novel natural product-based nanomedicine for immunotherapy.

Correction: Moringa oleifera leaf polysaccharides exert anti-lung cancer effects upon targeting TLR4 to reverse the tumor-associated macrophage phenotype and promote T-cell infiltration.

Correction for 'Moringa oleifera leaf polysaccharides exert anti-lung cancer effects upon targeting TLR4 to reverse the tumor-associated macrophage phenotype and promote T-cell infiltration' by Shukai Wang et al., Food Funct., 2023, 14, 4607-4620, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO03685A.

LncRNA H19-EZH2 interaction promotes liver fibrosis via reprogramming H3K27me3 profiles.

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing process characterized by excess formation of extracellular matrix (ECM) from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Previous studies show that both EZH2, an epigenetic regulator that catalyzes lysine 27 trimethylation on histone 3 (H3K27me3), and long non-coding RNA H19 are highly correlated with fibrogenesis. In the current study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms. Various models of liver fibrosis including Mdr2-/-, bile duct ligation (BDL) and CCl4 mice were adapted. We found that EZH2 was markedly upregulated and correlated with H19 and fibrotic markers expression in these models. Administration of EZH2 inhibitor 3-DZNeP caused significant protective effects in these models. Furthermore, treatment with 3-DZNeP or GSK126 significantly inhibited primary HSC activation and proliferation in TGF-ß-treated HSCs and H19-overexpreesing LX2 cells in vivo. Using RNA-pull down assay combined with RNA immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that H19 could directly bind to EZH2. Integrated analysis of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) further revealed that H19 regulated the reprogramming of EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 profiles, which epigenetically promoted several pathways favoring HSCs activation and proliferation, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. In conclusion, highly expressed H19 in chronic liver diseases promotes fibrogenesis by reprogramming EZH2-mediated epigenetic regulation of HSCs activation. Targeting the H19-EZH2 interaction may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.