Zhikang Capsule Ameliorates Inflammation, Drives Polarization to M2 Macrophages, and Inhibits Apoptosis in Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 Cells

Objective:To explore the anti-inflammatory effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Zhikang capsule(ZKC)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.Methods:Safe concentrations of ZKC(0.175,0.35,and 0.7 mg/mL)were used after the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(50))of RAW264.7 cells was calculated through the CCK-8 assay.In addition,the optimal intervention duration of ZKC(0.7 mg/mL)on RAW264.7 cells was determined to be 6 h,since all proinflammatory mediators[tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),inteleukin-6(IL-6),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),and monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1)]had a decreasing tendency and relatively down-regulated mRNA expression levels as compared with other durations(4,8,and 12 h).RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with ZKC at various concentrations(0.175,0.35 and 0.7 mg/mL)for 6 h and then stimulated with LPS(1 μg/mL)for an additional 12 h.Results:In terms of inflammation,ZKC could reverse LPS-induced upregulation of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,COX-2,iNOS,and MCP-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels in RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner.In terms of the NF-κB signaling pathway,ZKC could reduce phosphorylated p65 and promote M2 polarization of RAW264.7 cells under LPS stimulation in a dose-dependent manner.Moreover,ZKC exhibited a protective effect on macrophages from apoptosis.Conclusion:ZKC exhibited obvious anti­inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells at the cellular level,and a weakened NF-κB signaling pathway may be a potential significant target.

USP10 Alleviates Palmitic Acid-induced Steatosis through Autophagy in HepG2 Cells

Background and Aims:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a common chronic liver disease caused by overnutrition.Impaired autophagy is closely related to NAFLD progression.Recently,ubiquitin-specific peptidase-10(USP10)was reported to ameliorate hepatic steatosis,but the underlying mechanism is still unclear.In view of the potential effects of USP10 on autophagy,we investigated whether USP10 alleviated steatosis through autophagy.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with palmitic acid(PA)to model NAFLD in vitro.Lentivirus was used to regulate USP10 level in cells.Autophagic regulators were used to autophagic progression in cells.Western blotting,real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,lipid drop staining and immunofluorescent staining were performed to determine the effect of USP10 on lipid autophagy.Student’s t-test and Tukey’s post hoc test were used to compare the means among groups.Results:PA induced cellular steatosis with dependance on autophagy.USP10 overexpression alleviated PA-induced steatosis,restored autophagic activity,promoted autophagic flux,including synthesis and degradation of autophagosomes,and lipid-targeted autophagy.In the presence of autophagy inhibitors,the protective effectiveness of USP10 on steatosis decreased.Furthermore,the specific inhibitor to C-jun N-terminal protein kinase-1(JNK1),DB07268,abolished USP10-induced autophagy.However,during early stage inhibition of JNK1,compensatory expression of tuberous sclerosis complex-2(TSC2)maintained autophagy.The degree of TSC2-to-JNK1 compensation was positively associated with USP10 level.Functionally,JNK1 and TSC2 were involved in the lipid-lowering effect of USP10.Conclusions:USP10 alleviated hepatocellular steatosis in autophagy-dependent manner.JNK1/TSC2 signaling pathways were required for USP10-induced autophagy.