XB130 inhibits healing of diabetic skin ulcers through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway

BACKGROUND Diabetic skin ulcers,a significant global healthcare burden,are mainly caused by the inhibition of cell proliferation and impaired angiogenesis.XB130 is an adaptor protein that regulates cell proliferation and migration.However,the role of XB130 in the development of diabetic skin ulcers remains unclear.AIM To investigate whether XB130 can regulate the inhibition of proliferation and vascular damage induced by high glucose.Additionally,we aim to determine whether XB130 is involved in the healing process of diabetic skin ulcers,along with its molecular mechanisms.METHODS We conducted RNA-sequencing analysis to identify the key genes involved in diabetic skin ulcers.We investigated the effects of XB130 on wound healing using histological analyses.In addition,we used reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling staining,immunofluorescence,wound healing,and tubule formation experiments to investigate their effects on cellular processes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)stimulated with high glucose.Finally,we performed functional analysis to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic skin ulcers.RESULTS RNA-sequencing analysis showed that the expression of XB130 was up-regulated in the tissues of diabetic skin ulcers.Knockdown of XB130 promoted the healing of skin wounds in mice,leading to an accelerated wound healing process and shortened wound healing time.At the cellular level,knockdown of XB130 alleviated high glucose-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and angiogenic impairment in HUVECs.Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway removed the proliferative effects and endothelial protection mediated by XB130.CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicated that the expression of XB130 is up-regulated in high glucose-stimulated diabetic skin ulcers and HUVECs.Knockdown of XB130 promotes cell proliferation and angiogenesis via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway,which accelerates the healing of diabetic skin ulcers.

Melatonin improves synapse development by PI3K/Akt signaling in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders involving more than 1100 genes,including Ctnnd2 as a candidate gene.Ctnnd2knockout mice,serving as an animal model of autis m,have been demonstrated to exhibit decreased density of dendritic spines.The role of melatonin,as a neuro hormone capable of effectively alleviating social interaction deficits and regulating the development of dendritic spines,in Ctnnd2 deletion-induced nerve injury remains unclea r.In the present study,we discove red that the deletion of exon 2 of the Ctnnd2 gene was linked to social interaction deficits,spine loss,impaired inhibitory neurons,and suppressed phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signal pathway in the prefrontal cortex.Our findings demonstrated that the long-term oral administration of melatonin for 28 days effectively alleviated the aforementioned abnormalities in Ctnnd2 gene-knockout mice.Furthermore,the administration of melatonin in the prefro ntal cortex was found to improve synaptic function and activate the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in this region.The pharmacological blockade of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway with a PI3K/Akt inhibitor,wo rtmannin,and melatonin receptor antagonists,luzindole and 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin,prevented the melatonin-induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic function.These findings suggest that melatonin treatment can ameliorate GABAe rgic synaptic function by activating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway,which may contribute to the improvement of dendritic spine abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders.

Hypoglycemic mechanism of Tegillarca granosa polysaccharides on type 2 diabetic mice by altering gut microbiota and regulating the PI3K-akt signaling pathwaye

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a complex metabolic disease threatening human health.We investigated the effects of Tegillarca granosa polysaccharide(TGP)and determined its potential mechanisms in a mouse model of T2DM established through a high-fat diet and streptozotocin.TGP(5.1×10^(3) Da)was composed of mannose,glucosamine,rhamnose,glucuronic acid,galactosamine,glucose,galactose,xylose,and fucose.It could significantly alleviate weight loss,reduce fasting blood glucose levels,reverse dyslipidemia,reduce liver damage from oxidative stress,and improve insulin sensitivity.RT-PCR and Western blotting indicated that TGP could activate the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway to regulate disorders in glucolipid metabolism and improve insulin resistance.TGP increased the abundance of Allobaculum,Akkermansia,and Bifidobacterium,restored the microbiota abundance in the intestinal tracts of mice with T2DM,and promoted short-chain fatty acid production.This study provides new insights into the antidiabetic effects of TGP and highlights its potential as a natural hypoglycemic nutraceutical.

Spi1 regulates the microglial/macrophage inflammatory response via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway after intracerebral hemorrhage

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that microglia and macrophages participate in a multiphasic brain damage repair process following intracerebral hemorrhage.The E26 transformation-specific sequence-related transcription factor Spi1 regulates microglial/macrophage commitment and maturation.However,the effect of Spi1 on intracerebral hemorrhage remains unclear.In this study,we found that Spi1 may regulate recovery from the neuroinflammation and neurofunctional damage caused by intracerebral hemorrhage by modulating the microglial/macrophage transcriptome.We showed that high Spi1expression in microglia/macrophages after intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with the activation of many pathways that promote phagocytosis,glycolysis,and autophagy,as well as debris clearance and sustained remyelination.Notably,microglia with higher levels of Soil expression were chara cterized by activation of pathways associated with a variety of hemorrhage-related cellular processes,such as complement activation,angiogenesis,and coagulation.In conclusion,our results suggest that Spi1 plays a vital role in the microglial/macrophage inflammatory response following intracerebral hemorrhage.This new insight into the regulation of Spi1 and its target genes may advance our understanding of neuroinflammation in intracerebral hemorrhage and provide therapeutic targets for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Induced neural stem cells regulate microglial activation through Akt-mediated upregulation of CXCR4 and Crry in a mouse model of closed head injury

Microglial activation that occurs rapidly after closed head injury may play important and complex roles in neuroinflammation-associated neuronal damage and repair.We previously reported that induced neural stem cells can modulate the behavior of activated microglia via CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling,influencing their activation such that they can promote neurological recovery.However,the mechanism of CXCR4 upregulation in induced neural stem cells remains unclear.In this study,we found that nuclear factor-κB activation induced by closed head injury mouse serum in microglia promoted CXCL12 and tumor necrosis factor-αexpression but suppressed insulin-like growth factor-1 expression.However,recombinant complement receptor 2-conjugated Crry(CR2-Crry)reduced the effects of closed head injury mouse serum-induced nuclear factor-κB activation in microglia and the levels of activated microglia,CXCL12,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Additionally,we observed that,in response to stimulation(including stimulation by CXCL12 secreted by activated microglia),CXCR4 and Crry levels can be upregulated in induced neural stem cells via the interplay among CXCL12/CXCR4,Crry,and Akt signaling to modulate microglial activation.In agreement with these in vitro experimental results,we found that Akt activation enhanced the immunoregulatory effects of induced neural stem cell grafts on microglial activation,leading to the promotion of neurological recovery via insulin-like growth factor-1 secretion and the neuroprotective effects of induced neural stem cell grafts through CXCR4 and Crry upregulation in the injured cortices of closed head injury mice.Notably,these beneficial effects of Akt activation in induced neural stem cells were positively correlated with the therapeutic effects of induced neural stem cells on neuronal injury,cerebral edema,and neurological disorders post–closed head injury.In conclusion,our findings reveal that Akt activation may enhance the immunoregulatory effects of induced neural stem cells on microglial activation via upregulation of CXCR4 and Crry,thereby promoting induced neural stem cell–mediated improvement of neuronal injury,cerebral edema,and neurological disorders following closed head injury.

ROR2 promotes invasion and chemoresistance of triple-negative breast cancer cells by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the role of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2(ROR2)in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).Methods:ROR2 expression in primary TNBC and metastatic TNBC tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and PCR.ROR2 expression in TNBC cell lines was detected by PCR and Western blot analysis.The migration,invasion and chemosensitivity of TNBC cells with overexpression or knockdown of ROR2 were examined.Results:ROR2 expression was high in metastatic TNBC tissues.ROR2 knockdown suppressed the migration,invasion and chemoresistance of TNBC cells.ROR2 overexpression in MDA-MB-435 cells promoted the migration,invasion,and chemoresistance.Moreover,ROR2 knockdown in HC1599 and MDA-MB-435 adriamycin-resistant cells enhanced chemosensitivity to adriamycin.ROR2 could activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in TNBC cells.Conclusion:ROR2 is upregulated and promotes metastatic phenotypes of TNBC by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling.

Zuo Gui Wan Promotes Osteogenesis via PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway:Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Validation

Objective Osteogenesis is vitally important for bone defect repair,and Zuo Gui Wan(ZGW)is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for strengthening bones.However,the specific mechanism by which ZGW regulates osteogenesis is still unclear.The current study is based on a network pharmacology analysis to explore the potential mechanism of ZGW in promoting osteogenesis.Methods A network pharmacology analysis followed by experimental validation was applied to explore the potential mechanisms of ZGW in promoting the osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).Results In total,487 no-repeat targets corresponding to the bioactive components of ZGW were screened,and 175 target genes in the intersection of ZGW and osteogenesis were obtained.And 28 core target genes were then obtained from a PPI network analysis.A GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the relevant biological processes mainly involve the cellular response to chemical stress,metal ions,and lipopolysaccharide.Additionally,KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that multiple signaling pathways,including the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT)signaling pathway,were associated with ZGW-promoted osteogensis.Further experimental validation showed that ZGW could increase alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity as well as the mRNA and protein levels of ALP,osteocalcin(OCN),and runt related transcription factor 2(Runx 2).What’s more,Western blot analysis results showed that ZGW significantly increased the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT,and the increases of these protein levels significantly receded after the addition of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002.Finally,the upregulated osteogenic-related indicators were also suppressed by the addition of LY294002.Conclusion ZGW promotes the osteogenesis of BMSCs via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

5-methoxytryptophan induced apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a phosphorylation in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a highly prevalent malignancy worldwide,and new therapeutic targets urgently need to be found to prolong patient survival.5-methoxytryptophan(5-MTP)is a tryptophan metabolite found in animals and humans.However,the effects of 5-MTP on proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells are currently unknown.AIM To investigate the effects of 5-MTP on the proliferation,migration,invasion,and apoptosis abilities of CRC cells.Additionally,we seek to explore whether 5-MTP has the potential to be utilized as a drug for the treatment of CRC.METHODS In order to evaluate the effect of 5-MTP on CRC cells,a series of experiments were conducted for evaluation.Colony formation assay and Cell Counting Kit 8 assays were used to investigate the impact of 5-MTP on the proliferation of CRC cell lines.Cell cycle assays were employed to examine the effect of 5-MTP on cellular growth.In addition,we investigated the effects of 5-MTP on apoptosis and reactive oxygen species in HCT-116 cells.To obtain a deeper understanding of how 5-MTP affects CRC,we conducted a study to examine its influence on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in CRC cells.RESULTS This article showed that 5-MTP promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cells.In many articles,it has been reported that PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a signaling pathway is one of the most important signaling pathways involved in internal regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Nevertheless, 5-MTP combined with PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a signaling pathway inhibitors significantly promotedapoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cells compared with 5-MTP alone in ourstudy.CONCLUSIONTherefore, there is strong evidence that 5-MTP can be used as an effective medicine for CRC treatment.

The effects of hormone-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling on spermatogenesis in Sertoli cells

The phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt(PI3K/AKT)signaling pathway is crucial for Sertoli cell development and completing spermatogenesis.Its main role is to promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis.Many factors activate the PI3K/AKT pathway,like hormones,such as follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),androgen,estrogen,insulin to name a few.Many of these factors have receptors inside or on the surface of Sertoli cells(SCs).This review summarizes how these hormones directly regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in SCs,which in turn affects SC proliferation and differentiation.Further,hormone-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling also stimulates SC secretion,which is essential for germ cell development,suggesting an indirect role of PI3K/AKT signaling during spermatogenesis.These functions include promoting spermatogonia proliferation and differentiation,meiosis of spermatocytes,sperm maturation,and their release.This review also provides potential hints for clinically treating male infertility issues like cryptorchidism and Sertoli cell-only syndrome.

Liqi Huoxue dripping pill protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway in rats

Background:Liqi Huoxue dripping pill(LQHXDP),a traditional Chinese drug for coronary heart disease,has a protective effect on the heart of rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)in previous studies;however,its mechanism of action remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective mechanism of LQHXDP on MIRI in rats and its relationship with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods:In this study,Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-infused with LQHXDP(175 mg/kg/d)for 10 days.PI3K inhibitor LY294002(0.3 mg/kg)was intravenously injected 15 minutes before ischemia.The rat model of MIRI was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.Subsequently,cardiac hemodynamics,serum myocardial injury markers,inflammatory factors,myocardial infarct size,antioxidant indexes,myocardial histopathology,and phosphorylation levels of key proteins of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were assessed in rats.Results:LQHXDP was found to improve cardiac hemodynamic indexes,reduce serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme activity and cardiac troponin and heart-type fatty acid binding protein levels,lower serum interleukin-1 beta,interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factorαlevels,reduce the myocardial infarct size and enhance the antioxidant capacity of myocardial tissue in MIRI rats.Pathological analysis revealed that LQHXDP attenuated the extent of myocardial injury and protected mitochondria from damage in MIRI rats.Immunoblot analysis revealed that LQHXDP increased the expression levels of p-Akt and p-GSK-3βin MIRI rat cardiomyocytes.PI3K inhibitor LY294002 could impair these effects of LQHXDP.Conclusion:LQHXDP attenuated myocardial injury,attenuated oxidative stress injury and reduced inflammatory response in MIRI rats,and its protective effects were mediated by activating of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3βsignaling pathway.

FGF2 promotes the chemotherapy resistance in colon cancer cells through activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Background:To investigate the role of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)in chemotherapy resistance of colon cancer.Methods:An HCT116/5-fluorouracil(5-FU)-resistant cell line was established,and FGF2 levels were detected in a sensitive cell group(HCT116)and a resistant cell group(HCT1116-R)using different methods.Fibroblast growth factor 2 levels in the medium were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay.The protein expressions of FGF2,fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1),and phospho-FGFR1 were assessed by Western blotting,and FGF2 mRNA levels were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Fibroblast growth factor 2 recombinant protein was added to sensitive cells,and FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 was added to resistant cells,and the cell survival rate was determined using the cell counting kit-8 method and the protein expressions of PI3K(phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase),p-PI3K(phospho-PI3K),Akt(protein kinase B),p-Akt(phospho-Akt),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),p-mTOR(phospho-mTOR),Bad(Bcl-xL/Bcl-2-associated death promoter),NF-κB(nuclear factorκB),GSK-3(glycogen synthase kinase-3),FKHR(forkhead box protein O1),and PTEN(phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten)were detected by Western blotting.Results:Fibroblast growth factor 2 protein and mRNA expression levels in the HCT116-R group were significantly higher than those in the HCT116 group.Fibroblast growth factor 2 increased the survival rate of HCT116 cells;improved tolerance to 5-FU;upregulated p-PI3K,p-Akt,and p-mTOR;and downregulated Bad.The FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 decreased cell survival rate and tolerance to 5-FU;downregulated p-PI3K,p-Akt,and p-mTOR expression;and upregulated Bad.Conclusions:Fibroblast growth factor 2 promotes chemotherapy tolerance in colon cancer cells by activating the Akt/mTOR and Akt/Bad signaling pathways downstream of PI3K.

Simiao Wan alleviates obesity-associated insulin resistance via PKCε/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation

Background:The purpose of the study was to investigatethe active ingredients and potential biochemicalmechanisms of Simiao Wan(SMW)in obesity-associated insulin resistance.Methods:An integrated network pharmacology method to screen the active compoundsand candidate targets,construct the protein-protein-interaction network,and ingredients-targets-pathways network was constructed for topological analysis to identify core targets and main ingredients.To find the possible signaling pathways,enrichment analysis was performed.Further,a model of insulin resistance in HL-7702 cells was established to verify the impact of SMW and the regulatory processes.Results:An overall of 63 active components and 151 candidate targets were obtained,in which flavonoids were the main ingredients.Enrichment analysis indicated that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was the potential pathway regulated by SMW in obesity-associated insulin resistance treatment.The result showed that SMW could significantly ameliorate insulin sensitivity,increase glucose synthesis and glucose utilization and reduce intracellular lipids accumulation in hepatocytes.Also,SMW inhibited diacylglycerols accumulation-induced PKCεactivity and decreased its translocation to the membrane.Conclusion:SMW ameliorated obesity-associated insulin resistance through PKCε/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling axis in hepatocytes,providing a new strategy for metabolic disease treatment.

Expression and correlation of pyroptosis-related markers and PI3K/AKT pathway in endometriosis

Objective:The expression of pyroptosis related factors GSDMD,Caspase-1,NLRP3,IL-1β,IL-18 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in ovarian endometriosis was investigated and their correlations analyzed.Methods:A total of 50 patients with endometriosis who underwent ovarian cystectomy in the Department of Gynecology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2022 to January 2023 were enrolled as endometriosis group.In addition,55 patients with normal endometrial tissue who underwent hysteroscopic surgery in the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group,and patients with endometriosis were excluded during the operation.RT-qPCR,Western Blot was used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related factor and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway mRAN,protein in the above tissues,and the correlation between the expression of the two was analyzed by Pearson correlation test.Results:The expression of pyroptosis-related factors and mRAN of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ectopic ovarian cyst tissues was significantly higher than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that pyroptosis-related factors in ectopic ovarian cysts were positively correlated with the mRNA expression levels of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway(P<0.05).Conclusion:The pyroptosis correlation factors GSDMD,Caspase-1,NLRP3,IL-1β,IL-18 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways are highly expressed in ovarian endometriosis,and the pyroptosis-related factors are positively correlated with the expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,suggesting that the regulation of endometriosis by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is likely to be achieved by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Antitumor activity of miR-188-3p in gastric cancer is achieved by targeting CBL expression and inactivating the AKT/mTOR signaling

BACKGROUND Altered miR-188-3p expression has been observed in various human cancers.AIM To investigate the miR-188-3p expression,its roles,and underlying molecular events in gastric cancer.METHODS Fifty gastric cancer and paired normal tissues were collected to analyze miR-188-3p and CBL expression.Normal and gastric cancer cells were used to manipulate miR-188-3p and CBL expression through different assays.The relationship between miR-188-3p and CBL was predicted bioinformatically and confirmed using a luciferase gene reporter assay.A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to associate miR-188-3p or CBL expression with patient survival.A nude mouse tumor cell xenograft assay was used to confirm the in vitro data.RESULTS MiR-188-3p was found to be lower in the plasma of gastric cancer patients,tissues,and cell lines compared to their healthy counterparts.It was associated with overall survival of gastric cancer patients(P<0.001),tumor differentiation(P<0.001),lymph node metastasis(P=0.033),tumor node metastasis stage(I/II vs III/IV,P=0.024),and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage(I/II vs III/IV,P=0.03).Transfection with miR-188-3p mimics reduced tumor cell growth and invasion while inducing apoptosis and autophagy.CBL was identified as a direct target of miR-188-3p,with its expression antagonizing the effects of miR-188-3p on gastric cancer(GC)cell proliferation by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and autophagy through the inactivation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.The in vivo data confirmed antitumor activity via CBL downregulation in gastric cancer.CONCLUSION The current data provides ex vivo,in vitro,and in vivo evidence that miR-188-3p acts as a tumor suppressor gene or possesses antitumor activity in GC.

A study of acupoint specificity and mechanism of electroacupuncture intervention on chronic colitis in rats based on PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Objective:This study aimed to elucidate the differences in effects and mechanisms of action of electric-needle therapy at Tian Shu(ST25),Da Chang Shu(BL25),Zu San Li(ST36)and Shang Ju Xu(ST37)acupoints on chronic experimental colitis in rats through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods:Sixty pathogen-free SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups:the normal,model,Tian Shu(ST25),Da Chang Shu(BL25),Zu San Li(ST36)and Shang Ju Xu(ST37)groups,each with 10 rats.Chronic colitis was induced in rats by combining immunization and local stimulation.After model establishment,electrical needle intervention combined with dispersing wave of 2 Hz/50 Hz with a current intensity of 2 mA once daily for 20 min was applied on acupoints of each group.Subsequently,the inflammation of colonic mucosa and serum levels of inflammatory factors(IL-23,IL-17,IL-10)were observed;ELISA was used to detect mRNA expressions of PI3K,Akt and mTOR in colitic tissues by RT-PCR as well as protein content of p-PI3k/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,and p-mTOR/mTOR in colitic tissues by Western blotting.Result:Compared with the normal group,the model rats showed a poor general condition,serious damage to the colonic mucosa with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration.The serum IL-23 and IL-17 expressions were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the serum IL-10 expression was significantly decreased(P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K,Akt,mTOR and p-PI3K,p-Akt and p-mTOR were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the pathological slices of rats in each acupoints intervention group showed obvious improvement of colitis inflammatory reaction and tissue damage;the serological levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were significantly reduced(P<0.01),while the serology level of IL-10 was significantly increased(P<0.01);the expressions of PI3K,Akt,mTOR mRNA and p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with Tian Shu(ST25),Da Chang Shu(BL25),Zu San Li(ST36)groups,the recovery degree of mucosa layers in Shang Ju Xu(ST37)group was closer to that of normal group,and the curative effect was relatively the best;in terms of serological levels of IL-23 and IL-17,the Shang Ju Xu(ST37)group was significantly lower(P<0.05),while the level of IL-10 was significantly higher(P<0.01);the expressions of PI3K,Akt,mTOR mRNA and p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion:Results indicate that electrical acupuncture at Tian Shu(ST25),Da Chang Shu(BL25),Zu San Li(ST36)and Shang Ju Xu(ST37)show similar effects in relieving the colitis-induced damage in the mucosa of chronic colitis rats,as well as inflammatory response.Among them,Shang Ju Xu(ST25)has a superior overall effect in treating chronic colitis compared to Tian Shu(ST25),Da Chang Shu(BL25)and Zu San Li(ST36).The mechanism may be related to inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

The role and research progress of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head(NONFH)is one of the most common orthopedic diseases,influenced by multiple signaling pathways and inflammatory factors.The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is closely related to various biological processes such as apoptosis,autophagy,and metabolism in cells.Increasing evidence suggests that it plays an important role in the development of femoral head necrosis.This paper aims to explore the mechanism of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of NONFH by analyzing its regulation of lipid metabolism,cell apoptosis and autophagy,and intravascular coagulation.This study provides new insights for the research of NONFH.

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes neural stem cell proliferation after ischemic stroke

Prolife ration of neural stem cells is crucial for promoting neuronal regeneration and repairing cerebral infarction damage.Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)has recently emerged as a tool for inducing endogenous neural stem cell regeneration,but its underlying mechanisms remain unclea r In this study,we found that repetitive TMS effectively promotes the proliferation of oxygen-glucose deprived neural stem cells.Additionally,repetitive TMS reduced the volume of cerebral infa rction in a rat model of ischemic stro ke caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion,im p roved rat cognitive function,and promoted the proliferation of neural stem cells in the ischemic penumbra.RNA-sequencing found that repetitive TMS activated the Wnt signaling pathway in the ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia.Furthermore,PCR analysis revealed that repetitive TMS promoted AKT phosphorylation,leading to an increase in mRNA levels of cell cycle-related proteins such as Cdk2 and Cdk4.This effect was also associated with activation of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin signaling pathway,which ultimately promotes the prolife ration of neural stem cells.Subsequently,we validated the effect of repetitive TMS on AKT phosphorylation.We found that repetitive TMS promoted Ca2+influx into neural stem cells by activating the P2 calcium channel/calmodulin pathway,thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation and activating the glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin pathway.These findings indicate that repetitive TMS can promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells through a Ca2+influx-dependent phosphorylated AKT/glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.This study has produced pioneering res ults on the intrinsic mechanism of repetitive TMS to promote neural function recove ry after ischemic stro ke.These results provide a stro ng scientific foundation for the clinical application of repetitive TMS.Moreover,repetitive TMS treatment may not only be an efficient and potential approach to support neurogenesis for further therapeutic applications,but also provide an effective platform for the expansion of neural stem cells.

Integration of network pharmacology and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells experimental research to reveal the molecular mechanisms for Hai Honghua medicinal liquor against osteoporosis

Background:Hai Honghua medicinal liquor(HHML)formula has been used in clinical practice for a long time,mainly for the treatment of freshly closed fractures,to promote osteogenesis,to increase bone mass,and thus to promote fracture healing.However,the underlying mechanisms of HHML in the treatment of osteoporosis(OP)are still unclear.Methods:Firstly,Traditional Chinese Medicines Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine were used to screen the targets of the active compounds of HHML.At the same time,OP targets were identified through GeneCards,Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man,DisGeNET,Therapeutic Target Database,Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and Human Phenotype Ontology databases.Next,protein-protein interaction and pathway networks were constructed for compound-disease common targets,and core targets and compounds were screened for molecular docking.Furthermore,rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted as model cells,and the osteogenic effects of HHML were verified via in vitro experiments.Results:Total of 343 common targets of HHML-OP and the top 10 target proteins in the protein-protein interaction network are TP53,AKT1,STAT3,HSP90AA1,ESR1,TNF,IL6,MAPK1,MAPK3 and MAPK8.Enrichment analysis yielded that the key molecular pathway was the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Molecular docking analysis showed that baicalein,erysodienone and naringenin docked with the target proteins AKT1,STAT3 and TP53,respectively,with low binding energy and high affinity.In addition,In vitro experiments demonstrated that HHML promoted the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells;compared with the control group,HHML-treated cells showed enhanced alkaline phosphatase staining,promoted the expression of OCN,RUNX2,BSP,and COL1 mRNAs as well as the expression of PI3K and AKT phosphorylated proteins.Secondly,the expression of target proteins revealed that HHML promoted the phosphorylation of STAT3 protein and inhibited the expression of P53.Conclusions:Our study investigated that HHML treatment with OP promotes bone formation possibly through activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and may involve STAT3 and TP53 target interactions.

Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway mediates FSH-stimulated VEGF expression in ovarian serous cystadenocarclnoma

There is evidence to suggest that follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH） can facilitate the neovascularization of ovarian cancers by increasing vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） expression in cancer cells, although the underlying molecular mechanism of this process is not well known. Therefore, we investigated the effect of FSH on VEGF expression in the ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3 and ES-2. Treatment with FSH significantly increased VEGF expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, FSH treatment enhanced the expression of survivin and hypoxlainducible factor-1 （HIF-1α）. Knockdown of survivin or HIF-1α suppressed VEGF expression, but only knockdown of survivin inhibited FSH-stimulated VEGF expression. Pretreatment with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/AKT inhibitor, neutralized the enhanced expression of survivin induced by FSH, but treatment with U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor, had no such effect. We further showed that ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma samples had much higher incidence of positive AKT and phosphorylated AKT （pAKT） protein staining than did benign ovarian cystadenoma samples （p 〈 0.01）. The 5-year survival rate was only about 15% in patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma who had AKT and pAKT expression, whereas it was about 80% in those who did not have AKT or pAKT expression. Taken together, these results indicate that FSH increases the expression of VEGF by upregulating the expression of survivin, which is activated by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Understanding the role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in FSH-stimulated expression of survivin and VEGF will be beneficial for evaluating the prognosis for patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and for pursulug effective treatment against this disease.

Baicalin attenuates blood-spinal cord barrier disruption and apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway after spinal cord injury

Baicalin is a natural active ingredient isolated from Scutellariae Radix that can cross the blood-brain barrier and exhibits neuroprotective effects on multiple central nervous system diseases.However,the mechanism behind the neuroprotective effects remains unclear.In this study,rat models of spinal cord injury were established using a modified Allen's impact method and then treated with intraperitoneal injection of Baicalin.The results revealed that Baicalin greatly increased the Basso,Beattie,Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale score,reduced blood-spinal cord barrier permeability,decreased the expression of Bax,Caspase-3,and nuclear factorκB,increased the expression of Bcl-2,and reduced neuronal apoptosis and pathological spinal cord injury.SH-SY5 Y cell models of excitotoxicity were established by application of 10 m M glutamate for 12 hours and then treated with 40μM Baicalin for 48 hours to investigate the mechanism of action of Baicalin.The results showed that Baicalin reversed tight junction protein expression tendencies(occludin and ZO-1)and apoptosis-related protein expression(Bax,Bcl-2,Caspase-3,and nuclear factor-κB),and also led to up-regulation of PI3 K and Akt phosphorylation.These effects on Bax,Bcl-2,and Caspase-3 were blocked by pretreatment with the PI3 K inhibitor LY294002.These findings suggest that Baicalin can inhibit bloodspinal cord barrier permeability after spinal cord injury and reduce neuronal apoptosis,possibly by activating the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway.This study was approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Xi'an Jiaotong University on March 6,2014.