Capsaicin functions as a selective degrader of STAT3 to enhance host resistance to viral infection.

Although STAT3 has been reported as a negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, the effects of pharmacologically inhibiting STAT3 on innate antiviral immunity are not well known. Capsaicin, approved for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral nerve pain, is an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), with additional recognized potencies in anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. We investigated the effects of capsaicin on viral replication and innate antiviral immune response and discovered that capsaicin dose-dependently inhibited the replication of VSV, EMCV, and H1N1. In VSV-infected mice, pretreatment with capsaicin improved the survival rate and suppressed inflammatory responses accompanied by attenuated VSV replication in the liver, lung, and spleen. The inhibition of viral replication by capsaicin was independent of TRPV1 and occurred mainly at postviral entry steps. We further revealed that capsaicin directly bound to STAT3 protein and selectively promoted its lysosomal degradation. As a result, the negative regulation of STAT3 on the type I IFN response was attenuated, and host resistance to viral infection was enhanced. Our results suggest that capsaicin is a promising small-molecule drug candidate, and offer a feasible pharmacological strategy for strengthening host resistance to viral infection.

A comparative study between Wuweizi seed and its post-ethanol extraction residue in normal and hypercholesterolemic mice.

BACKGROUND: At the present, a shift from drug therapy, especially herbal therapy, to dietary supplementation is a trend in the management of dyslipidemia and related diseases. Therefore, the optimal utilization of herbal resource is important for a sustainable development of herbal medicine. Here, we compared the effects of dietary supplementation with Chinese medicine Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus seed (FSC-S) and the post-ethanol extraction residue of FSC-S (FSC-SpEt) on normal diet-fed (normal) and experimental hypercholesterolemic (HCL) mice. METHODS: Male ICR mice (n = 10 in each group), weighing 17-21 g, were fed with normal diet (ND) or high cholesterol/bile salt (1/0.3 %, w/w) diet (HCBD) with or without supplemented with FSC-S, FSC-SpEt), or lipid-lowering agent fenofibrate (FF). Ten days later, serum/hepatic lipid and glucose (GLU) levels, body weight, organ/epididymal fat masses, and food/water intake were measured. Lipid level measurements included those of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), HDL/LDL ratio, LDL/HDL ratio, and non-HDL (N-HDL). RESULTS: Supplementation with FSC-S and FSC-SpEt increased serum TC (by 64 and 25 %, respectively) and LDL (by 60 and 27 %, respectively) in normal mice. FSC-S supplementation elevated serum TC, TG, HDL, LDL, and LDL/HDL ratio (up to 64, 118, 77, 197, and 51 %, respectively) in HCL mice. FSC-SpEt supplementation reduced serum TG (by 15 %) and LDL/HDL ratio (by 18 %), as well as increased serum HDL (by 22 %) and HDL/LDL ratio (by 21 %) in HCBD-fed mice. FSC-S decreased hepatic TC (by 19 %) contents and increased hepatic TG contents by 14 % in normal mice. FSC-S reduced hepatic GLU level in both normal and HCL mice by 24 and 22 %, respectively. Hepatic TC and TG contents were lowered in FSC-SpEt-supplemented normal mice by 16 and 20 %, respectively. The body/fatty masse and food intake were lowered, but the feed efficiency index (FEI), weight gain per unit of food ingested, was increased in FSC-S-supplemented normal and HCL mice. FF supplements reduced serum/hepatic lipids, hepatic GLU contents, and epididymal fat mass, but it induced hepatomegaly and high serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in normal and/or HCL mice. CONCLUSION: The ensemble of results indicated that while FSC-SpEt supplementation is beneficial for the treatment of hyperlipidemia/fatty liver, FSC-S is potentially useful for the management of overweight/obesity.

Novel mouse model of combined hyperlipidemia associated with steatosis and liver injury by a single-dose intragastric administration of schisandrin B/cholesterol/bile salts mixture.

Hyperlipidemia is referred to as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both in combined hyperlipidemia. Here, a novel mouse model of combined hyperlipidemia is described. Mice were orally given a single dose of a modeling agent (MA) made of a mixture of schisandrin B/cholesterol/bile salts (1/2/0.5 g/kg) suspended in olive oil. MA treatment increased serum triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) (up to 422% and 100% at 12 - 96 h post-treatment, respectively) and hepatic TG and TC (up to 220% and 26%, respectively) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, associated with elevation of high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels. Serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase activities, indicators of liver cell damage, were also elevated (up to 198%) at 48 and 72 h post-MA treatment. Fenofibrate blocks MA-induced hyperlipidemia, lipid accumulation in the liver, as well as liver injury. Oral administration of a mixture of schisandrin B, cholesterol, and bile salt could generate an interesting mouse model of combined hyperlipidemia associated with hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Xuelian injection ameliorates complete Freund's adjuvant-induced acute arthritis in rats via inhibiting TLR4 signaling.

Background: Xuelian injection (XI), a classic preparation extracted from Saussureae Involucratae Herba, has been clinically used to manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for nearly twenty years in China. However, the underlying anti-RA mechanism of XI remains unclear. In this study, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced acute arthritic model was used to examine the anti-RA effects of XI in vivo. The molecular mechanisms of this action were further investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods: XI and XI freeze dried powder were characterized by UPLC analysis. CD68 and TLR4 expression in the ankle joints was measured by immunohistochemistry. The secretion of inflammatory mediators was detected by ELISA. The expression levels of TLR4 involved components were measured by Western blotting. The localization of transcription factors was measured by immunofluorescence assay. Results: XI treatment ameliorated arthritic symptoms induced by CFA in the ankle joints of rats. The serum levels of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, MCP-1, and Rantes were decreased by XI treatment. The elevation of CD68 and TLR4 levels in ankle joints caused by CFA was suppressed by XI treatment. Moreover, XI treatment inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. The expression of their enzymes iNOS and COX-2 was also decreased after XI treatment. The production of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and Rantes was reduced by XI treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The phosphorylation of p38, JNK, ERK, TBK1, IKKα/ß, IκB, p65, c-Jun, and IRF3 was reduced after XI treatment. Additionally, the expression levels of nuclear proteins of p65, c-Jun, and IRF3 were inhibited by XI treatment. Conclusions: Taken together, XI possesses potential anti-RA effect and the underlying mechanism may be closely associated with the inhibition of TLR4 signaling. Our findings provide further pharmacological justifications for the clinical use of XI in RA treatment.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury is the main cause of increased mortality and disability in cardiovascular diseases. The injury involves many pathological processes, such as oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis imbalance, inflammation, and energy metabolism disorders, and these pathological stimuli can activate endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the early stage of ischemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress alleviates the injury as an adaptive survival response, but the long-term stress on endoplasmic reticulum amplifies oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcium overload to accelerate cell damage and apoptosis. Therefore, regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress may be a mechanism to improve ischemia/reperfusion injury. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of clinical application and unique advantages in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. This review focuses on the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury from the perspective of regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

[Effect of Xuesaitong drop pills on experimerntal thrombosis and thrombolysis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and the mechanism of Xuesaitong drop pills (total saponins in Radix Notoginseng; XDP) on experimental thrombosis, thrombolysis and blood theology. METHOD: First, the rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, XDP (90, 30, 10 mg x kg(-1)), Xuesaitong tablet (XP) 30 mg x kg(-1). Then the effect of the drugs on thrombus and thrombosis was studied after the ratsthrombosis was induced by the arteriovenous shunt. Second, the rats were randomly divided into seven groups: model, XDP (90, 30, 10 mg x kg(-1)), XT (90, 30 mg x kg(-1)), lumbrukinase capsule. Then the effect of the drugs on thrombus and thrombosis was studied after the rats'thrombosis was induced by the electrical stimulation of common carotid artery. Third, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, XDP (80, 40 mg x kg(-1)), XT (40, 20 mg x kg(-1)). Then the effect of the drugs on blood circulation promoting was observed after the rats'acute blood stasis induced by adrenalin and icy water. RESULT: XDP 90, 30 mg x kg(-1) could notably lighten the wet-weight and dry-weight of thrombus in the arteriovenous shunt model in rats in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). XDP 90 mg x kg(-1) with intragastric administration for 3 days had the satisfactory effect on thrombolysis after the rat's thrombosis was induced by the electrical stimulation of common carotid artery (P < 0.01). XDP 80, 40 , 20 mg x kg(-1) reduced significantly erythrocyte aggregation (P < 0.01) and decreased the whole blood viscosity at low shear rate (P < 0.05). XDP 80, 40 mg x kg(-1) reduced the whole blood viscosity at high shear rate and plasma viscosity (P < 0.05). XDP 80 mg x kg(-1) decreased the whole blood viscosity at high shear rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: XDP can significantly inhibit the thrombosis and has the satisfactory effect on thrombolysis. One kind of the mechanism is related to the effect on blood rheology.

Supplementation with the extract of schisandrae fructus pulp, seed, or their combination influences the metabolism of lipids and glucose in mice fed with normal and hypercholesterolemic diet.

SCHISANDRAE FRUCTUS (SF), WHICH POSSESSES FIVE TASTES: sweet (fruit skin), sour (pulp), bitter/pungent (seed core), and saltiness (all parts), can produce a wide spectrum of biological activities in the body. Here, we investigated the effects of the ethanolic extract of SF pulp, seed, or their combination (namely, EtSF-P, EtSF-S, or EtSF-P/S, resp.; collectively called EtSF) on the metabolism of lipids and glucose in normal diet- (ND-) and hypercholesterolemic diet- (HCLD-) fed mice. Supplementation with EtSF significantly reduced hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels by 18-47% in both ND- and HCLD-fed mice. EtSF supplementation reduced serum triglyceride levels (approximately 29%), whereas EtSF-P and EtSF-S/P elevated serum cholesterol (up to 26 and 44%, resp.) in HCLD-fed mice. Treatment with EtSF decreased hepatic glucose levels (by 9-44%) in both ND- and HCLD-fed mice. Supplementation with EtSF-S or EtSF-S/P (at 1 and 3%) increased biliary or fecal TC contents in HCLD-fed mice. However, supplementation with EtSF-S/P at 9% reduced biliary TC levels in HCLD-fed mice. EtSF-P or EtSF-S/P supplementation reduced serum alanine aminotransferase activity in HCLD-fed mice. The findings suggested that supplementation with EtSF lowered lipid and glucose accumulation in the liver and increased fecal cholesterol contents in mice. Dietary supplementation with EtSF-P or EtSF-S/P attenuated liver damage in HCLD-fed mice.