Mechanism of Shenqi Yiliu Prescription Combined with Cisplatin on H22 Liver Cancer-bearing Mice Based on NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Pyroptosis Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of Shenqi Yiliu prescription in the intervention of pyroptosis. MethodTen male BALB/c mice were randomly selected and assigned to the blank group. The remaining 40 mice underwent the induction of the liver cancer xenograft model. After 5 days of modeling， 40 surviving mice were randomly divided into model group， cisplatin group ［2.5×10-3 g·kg-1·（3 d）-1］， Shenqi Yiliu prescription group （27 g·kg-1·d-1）， and a combination group （Shenqi Yiliu prescription group + cisplatin）. The mice in the blank group and the model group were treated with an equal volume of normal saline for 10 days. The general conditions of mice in each group were observed. After the intervention， the tumor weight of the mice was weighed and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes in tumor tissues. The levels of mouse liver function indicators， including alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were detected. The TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling （TUNEL） assay was used to detect DNA damage in mouse tumor tissue cells. Immunohistochemistry （IHC）， immunofluorescence （IF）， and Western blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）， and gasdermin D （GSDMD） in tumor tissues. The levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） in tumor tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultCompared with the mice in the blank group， those in the model group were in a poor mental state， sleepy， and lazy， and their fur color was dull， with increased levels of serum ALT and AST in liver function tests （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the groups with drug intervention showed improved mental state， inhibited tumor growth to varying degrees， and decreased tumor weight， and the tumor inhibition rate in the combination group was the highest （P<0.01）. HE staining showed that the pathological and morphological lesions of the tumor tissues in the model group were significant， while those in all groups with drug intervention were improved to a certain extent. The karyolysis and nuclear rupture in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group and the combination group were more significant. In the liver function test， the serum ALT and AST levels of mice in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group and the combination group decreased （P<0.01）， and the inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 in each group with drug intervention decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Among them， the declining trend of IL-1β and IL-18 in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group was the most significant （P<0.01）. TUNEL staining showed that the positive TUNEL staining in each group with drug intervention decreased after intervention （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially the cisplatin group and Shenqi Yiliu prescription group （P<0.01）. Western blot， IHC， and IF found that the protein expression levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in each group with drug intervention decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the mice in the cisplatin group， those in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group and the combination group had better mental state and regular tumor morphology， and the tumor weight of the mice in the combination group decreased （P<0.05）. The levels of ALT and AST in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group decreased （P<0.05）， and the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group and the combination group decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially in the combination group （P<0.01）. The results of IHC showed that the expression of GSDMD protein in the tumor tissues of mice in the combination group was reduced （P<0.01）. IF detection showed that the expression of NLRP3 in the tumor tissues of the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group was reduced （P<0.01）. The results of Western blot showed that the expression level of NLRP3 protein in the Shenqi Yiliu prescription group and the combination group decreased （P<0.01）， and the expression level of Caspase-1 protein in the combination group decreased （P<0.01）. The decrease in GSDMD protein expression was not significant， and the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionShenqi Yiliu prescription combined with cisplatin has an obvious anti-tumor effect， which may be achieved by down-regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD inflammatory pyroptosis pathway to inhibit cell pyroptosis， and relieve the inflammatory response in mice with liver cancer.

Mechanism of Banxia Xiexintang in Prevention and Treatment of Gastric Cancer： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Gastric cancer （GC） is one of the common malignant tumors， and the incidence and mortality of GC in China rank first in the world. At present， the pathogenesis of GC has not been fully clarified. Although surgery， radiotherapy， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy have achieved good results in the treatment of GC， there are still many complications， decreased sensitivity， and severe side effects. Banxia Xiexintang， derived from Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases（《伤寒杂病论》）， has been clinically used for more than 2000 years with the effects of combining cold and warm drugs， dissipating mass， and relieving stuffiness， and is a classic prescription for treating digestive tract diseases in later generations. Through clinical observation and experimental research， it is found that Banxia Xiexintang and its single drugs have good effect in preventing and treating GC. Chinese medicine has multi-component and multi-target characteristics and can treat GC through various mechanisms. Therefore， it is necessary to carry out systematic and in-depth research from the aspects of molecular biology and network pharmacology， and comprehensively reveal the mechanism of Banxia Xiexintang in preventing and treating GC. At present， the mechanism of Banxia Xiexintang in treating GC mainly focuses on inducing apoptosis of GC cells， inhibiting proliferation， migration， and invasion of GC cells， protecting peritoneal mesothelial cells， inhibiting peritoneal metastasis of GC cells， regulating GC microenvironment， and inhibiting the malignant transformation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs）. This research group is committed to the prevention and treatment of GC with Banxia Xiexintang， aiming to comprehensively reveal the mechanism of action and the pharmacodynamic material basis of Banxia Xiexintang in the prevention and treatment of GC， and provide an important scientific basis for further clinical application of Banxia Xiexintang. After searching CNKI， PubMed， Wanfang Data， VIP， and other databases， this paper summarized Banxia Xiexintang in the treatment of GC from the aspects of prescription basis， material basis， network pharmacology， clinical and experimental studies， etc.， so as to provide references for further research on pharmacological effect of Banxia Xiexintang and its application in the clinical treatment of GC.

Effect of Banxia Xiexintang-containing Intestinal Absorption Solution on PMN-MDSCs Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer Microenvironment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Banxia Xiexintang （BXT）-containing intestinal absorption solution on the apoptosis of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells （PMN-MDSCs） in gastric cancer microenvironment. MethodBXT-containing intestinal absorption solution was prepared， and gastric cancer cells and PMN-MDSCs were non-contact co-cultured in Transwell chamber to establish gastric cancer microenvironment. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration and time of 0-100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution prepared by 0.63 g·mL-1 reconstitution solution. Cells were classified into blank group， model group， oxaliplatin group （10 mg·L-1）， and BXT （26%， 18%， 10% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution） group， and the apoptosis of PMN-MDSCs was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3） in PMN-MDSCs was detected by Western blot. ResultAfter treatment for 24 h and 48 h， the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate was increased by 5%， 50%， 75%， and 100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution compared with that in the blank group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. At 72 h， the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate by 50% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution was lower than that at 48 h （P<0.01）， and the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate by 5%， 75%， and 100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution showed no significant difference from that at 48 h. Moreover， the half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） at 48 h was 18.40%. Thus， 18% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution and 48 h were the optimal intervention concentration and time. The survival rate of PMN-MDSCs in model group was higher than that in the blank group （P<0.05）， and the apoptosis rate was lower than that in the blank group （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， BXT containing intestinal absorption solution lowered the survival rate and raised apoptosis rate of PMN-MDSCs （P<0.05）， particularly the 26% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution （P<0.05）. The expression of Bax and Caspase-3 in PMN-MDSCs was lower in the model group than in the blank group （P<0.05）， and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the model group than in the blank group （P<0.05）. The expression of Caspase-3 in PMN-MDSCs increased （P<0.05） and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased （P<0.05） in oxaliplatin group and BXT group compared with those in the model group. The expression of Bax rose in oxaliplatin group and BXT group （10% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution） （P<0.05）. ConclusionBXT can induce the apoptosis of PMN-MDSCs by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax， Caspase-3， and Bcl-2 in gastric cancer microenvironment.

Effect of Banxia Xiexintang-containing Intestinal Absorption Solution on Migration and Invasion of PMN-MDSCs in Gastric Cancer Microenvironment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Banxia Xiexintang containing intestinal absorption solution （BXCIAS） on migration and invasion of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells （PMN-MDSCs） in gastric cancer microenvironment. MethodThe complex solution （containing 0.63 g·mL-1 crude drug） was prepared. Gastric cancer cells were subjected to non-contact co-culture with PMN-MDSCs in Transwell chamber to create gastric cancer microenvironment. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration and time of BXCIAS on PMN-MDSCs for subsequent experiment. The blank group， model group， FAK inhibitor group， and BXCIAS groups （26%， 18%， and 10%） were designed. Scratch assay and Transwell assay were employed to detect the migration and invasion ability of PMN-MDSCs， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） to measure the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor （VEGF） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） in tumor microenvironment. The expression levels of PMN-MDSCs pathway-related proteins FAK， phosphorylated （p）-FAK， protein tyrosine kinase （Src）， and p-Src were detected by Western blot. ResultThe inhibition rates of PMN-MDSCs by 5%， 50%， 75%， and 100% BXCIAS at 48 h were higher than those at 24 h （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The inhibition rate of PMN-MDSCs by 50% BXCIAS at 72 h was lower than that at 48 h （P<0.01）， and the inhibition rates by 5% and 100% BXCIAS at 72 h were higher than those at 48 h （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in the inhibition rate by other concentration levels at 48 h. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） at 48 h was 18.09%， indicating that 18% BXCIAS and 48 h were the optimal concentration and time， respectively. The migration distance of PMN-MDSCs was large （P<0.01）， and the number of migrating and invading cells increased （P<0.01） in the mode group compared with those in the blank group. Compared with model group， FAK inhibitor and BXCIAS at different concentration decreased the migration distance of PMN-MDSCs （P<0.01）， and the number of migrating and invading cells （P<0.01）， especially the 26% BXCIAS （P<0.01）. The expression of PMN-MDSCs pathway-related proteins FAK， p-FAK， Src and p-Src （P<0.01） and the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 （P<0.01） were higher in the model group than in the blank group. Compared with model group， FAK inhibitor and BXCIAS （26%， 18%， 10%） decreased the expression of FAK， p-FAK， and Src （P<0.01）， and FAK inhibitor and 18% BXCIAS reduced the expression of p-Src （P<0.01）， and the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 （P<0.01）. ConclusionBXCIAS can inhibit the migration and invasion of PMN-MDSCs by down-regulating the expression of FAK， p-FAK， Src， and p-Src proteins in the FAK signaling pathway of PMN-MDSCs in gastric cancer microenvironment.

Bellidifolin Inhibits Proliferation of A549 Cells by Regulating STAT3/COX-2 Expression and Protein Activity.

OBJECTIVES: Bellidifolin (BEL) is one type of tetraoxygenated xanthone that is particularly found in Swertia and Gentiana (Gentianaceae). Despite its broad range of pharmacological activities, it is still unclear whether BEL could be used for lung cancer treatment. Hence, we presently demonstrate the roles of BEL towards the proliferative inhibition of the prototypical A549 lung cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antiproliferative activity of BEL was initially verified by cellular experiments. A network pharmacology method was then pursued to assess BEL potential molecular targets from the platform for pharmacological analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Disease enrichment of potential targets and construction of compound-target-disease network maps were performed based on a total of 20 diseases. Two core targets related to the BEL-mediated effect in A549 cells were obtained by importing potential targets into a protein-protein interaction database (STRING) and also analyzing respective data of related targets into this database. Last, these core targets were examined by in vitro analysis and molecular docking. RESULTS: CCK8 assays indicated that treatment with 50-100 µm BEL had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human A549 lung cancer cells, whereas this effect was time- and concentration-dependent. As control, treatment with 50-100 µm BEL did not inhibit the proliferation of normal lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2b cell line). H&E staining of BEL-treated A549 cells showed that, upon an increase of drug concentration, nuclear condensation and fragmentation were largely observed. Cell cycle analysis showed that in vitro treatment with 75-100 µm BEL could block A549 cells in S and G2 phases. Western blot analyses showed that after 72 hours of BEL treatment, the level of caspase-8/3 in A549 cells increased, and the level of PARP1 decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Network pharmacology analysis also indicated that lung cancer was the major disease susceptible to BEL treatment. At the same time, STAT3 and COX-2 were identified as two core targets of BEL in lung cancer treatment. Functional analyses further revealed that the cytotoxicity effect of BEL in A549 cells potentially involved the STAT3/COX-2 pathway. Moreover, molecular docking analysis indicated that BEL structure properly matches with COX-2 and STAT3 in space shape, thus illustrating the putative molecular mechanism of BEL's anticancer effect. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a series of in vitro analyses, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, the potential mechanism involving the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of BEL in lung cancer cells was investigated. Our study may help providing some theoretical basis for the discovery of novel phytotherapy drugs applicable for the treatment of lung cancer.

Effect of Yanghe decoction on the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effect of Yanghe decoction serum on the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells MDA-MB-231 and the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB.@*Methods@#According to the random number table method, 20 female SD rats were divided into blank control group and Yanghe decoction high, medium and low dose group. Drug serum were given gastric gavage of Yanghe decoction 28, 14, 7 g/kg, and control group were given gastric gavage of same volume saline. Each group of rats was given orally for 3 days to prepare 10% Yanghe decoction serum and blank serum. MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into blank control group and Yanghe decoction low, medium and high dose group according to random number table method. Low, medium and high dose Yanghe decoction groups were cultured with medium containing 10% Yanghe decoction high, medium and low dose drug serum, and the blank control group was cultured with medium containing 10% control serum. After drug intervention, the effects of each group on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h were detected by MTT assay. The expression of Smad3 and NF-κB protein in each group was detected by Western blot. The expression of Smad3 and NF-κB mRNA in each group were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.@*Results@#Compared to the control group, Yanghe decoction low, medium and high dose group of cells for 24 h (1.143 ± 0.093, 0.953 ± 0.069, 0.874 ± 0.041 vs. 1.239 ± 0.160), 48 h (1.223 ± 0.129, 0.989 ± 0.093, 0.864 ± 0.105 vs. 1.389 ± 0.095), 72 h (1.092 ± 0.147, 0.881 ± 0.095, 0.719 ± 0.086 vs. 1.353 ± 0.150) proliferation activity were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After 48 h of drug intervention, the expression of Smad3 protein (0.974 ± 0.098, 0.844 ± 0.084, 0.789 ± 0.105 vs. 1.214 ± 0.012), NF- κB p50 protein (0.994 ± 0.047, 0.911 ± 0.015, 0.765 ± 0.084 vs. 1.147 ± 0.103) in the low, medium and high dose Yanghe decoction group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of Smad3 mRNA (1.223 ± 0.129, 0.989 ± 0.093, 0.864 ± 0.105 vs.1.389 ± 0.095), NF-κB mRNA (1.092 ± 0.147, 0.881 ± 0.095, 0.719 ± 0.086 vs. 1.353 ± 0.150) significantly decreased in the Yanghe decoction group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#Yanghe decoction can inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer stem cell MDA-MB-231, and lower the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB.

Effect of Yanghe decoction on the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of Yanghe decoction serum on the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells MDA-MB-231 and the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB. Methods According to the random number table method, 20 female SD rats were divided into blank control group and Yanghe decoction high, medium and low dose group. Drug serum were given gastric gavage of Yanghe decoction 28, 14, 7 g/kg, and control group were given gastric gavage of same volume saline. Each group of rats was given orally for 3 days to prepare 10% Yanghe decoction serum and blank serum. MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into blank control group and Yanghe decoction low, medium and high dose group according to random number table method. Low, medium and high dose Yanghe decoction groups were cultured with medium containing 10% Yanghe decoction high, medium and low dose drug serum, and the blank control group was cultured with medium containing 10% control serum. After drug intervention, the effects of each group on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h were detected by MTT assay. The expression of Smad3 and NF-κB protein in each group was detected by Western blot. The expression of Smad3 and NF-κB mRNA in each group were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Compared to the control group, Yanghe decoction low, medium and high dose group of cells for 24 h (1.143 ± 0.093, 0.953 ± 0.069, 0.874 ± 0.041 vs. 1.239 ± 0.160), 48 h (1.223 ± 0.129, 0.989 ± 0.093, 0.864 ± 0.105 vs. 1.389 ± 0.095), 72 h (1.092 ± 0.147, 0.881 ± 0.095, 0.719 ± 0.086 vs. 1.353 ± 0.150) proliferation activity were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After 48 h of drug intervention, the expression of Smad3 protein (0.974 ± 0.098, 0.844 ± 0.084, 0.789 ± 0.105 vs. 1.214 ± 0.012), NF-κB p50 protein (0.994 ± 0.047, 0.911 ± 0.015, 0.765 ± 0.084 vs. 1.147 ± 0.103) in the low, medium and high dose Yanghe decoction group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of Smad3 mRNA (1.223 ± 0.129, 0.989 ± 0.093, 0.864 ± 0.105 vs.1.389 ± 0.095), NF-κB mRNA (1.092 ± 0.147, 0.881 ± 0.095, 0.719 ± 0.086 vs. 1.353 ± 0.150) significantly decreased in the Yanghe decoction group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions Yanghe decoction can inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer stem cell MDA-MB-231, and lower the expression of Smad3 and NF-κB.

Effect of Yanghe decoction containing serum on expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-κB in breast cancer MCF-7 cells / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the changes of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-κB in breast cancer MCF-7 cells treated with Yanghe decoction containing serum. Methods The MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were divided into blank group, low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group (4.5, 9, 18 g/kg, respectively). Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, and Western-blot was used to detect the expression of NF-κB protein. Results Compared with the blank group, the expression of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in the low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group decreased significantly at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours(P<0.05), the the expression of NF-κB protein in the low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group decreased significantly at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours (P<0.05). So it reduced with the increase of drug concentration and time. There was no significant difference in 72 hours after intervention. Conclusions The Yanghe decoction could reduce the expression of NF-κB, and then reducing the related inflammatory factors COX-2 and iNOS.