Puerarin mediated miR-30b-5p targeting fibroblast activation protein against oral submucous fibrosis

Background:Puerarin(Pue)has been reported to be a natural active ingredient with multiple antifibrotic properties.This work aimed at exploring the function of Pue in oral submucousfibrosis(OSF)treatment.Methods:Human oral mucosafibroblasts(hOMF)were induced with transforming growth factor beta1(TGF-β1)and intervened with Pue.Expressions offibrosis-related markers were analyzed by Western blot and IF staining.Cell viability was characterized by the CCK-8 assay.Expressions of miR-30 family members were quantified by qRT-PCR.The correlation betweenfibroblast activation protein(FAP)and miR-30 family expression was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient.Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the regulation between FAP and miR-30b-5p.The specific mechanism of Pue on OSF was explored through the promotion or inhibition of miR-30b-5p.Results:After induction by TGF-β1,hOMF showed upregulated Collagen I,Collagen III,and FAP expressions,while miR-30 family expression was downregulated with miR-30b-5p being the most significant.Pue intervention inhibited the excessive proliferation of TGF-β1-induced hOMF,downregulated FAP,collagen type 3(COL3A1),collagen type 1(COL1A1),matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1),and matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP3)expressions,and restored miR-30 family expression.Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-30b-5p selectively inhibited FAP expression.Mechanistically,miR-30b-5p mimic suppressed the excessive proliferation of TGF-β1-induced hOMF and declinedfibrosis levels.Pue intervention significantly reversed the promotion of TGF-β1-induced OSF by miR-30b-5p inhibition.Conclusion:Pue mediated miR-30b-5p targeting FAP against OSF,which provided a theoretical basis for the pathogenesis research and Pue application in OSF.

De novo engineering of nanoformulation from traditional Chinese medicine mixtures for psoriasis

Nanotechnology has been widely applied in the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Interestingly,we found that nanostructures intrinsically existed in 12 clinically applied TCM mixtures(TCMMs).However,the role of these nanostructures in TCMMs and their potential value in improving the development of TCMMs remain unknown.Taking Qingxuechushi mixture as an example,we demonstrated that nanoparticles could be the most efficient part through the pharmacodynamics study on psoriasis model.By imitating the physical properties and chemical composition of isolated nanoparticles in Qingxuechushi mixture,a novel nanoformulation with definite components and good therapeutic effect was developed,which not only mimicked the prescription composition rules in the original TCMMs but also possessed the advantage of nanotechnology.This novel nanoformulation could notably alleviate the psoriasis-like manifestations and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors in serum in the psoriasis mouse model.This work organically integrates the advantages of TCMMs and nanotechnology,which may provide a new approach and inspiration for the development of TCM.