Objective:To investigate the effects of stilbene glycoside(TSG)on okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells(SH-SY5Y)via the PI3K/AKT pathway.Methods:The optimal concentration of OA was screened by CC...Objective:To investigate the effects of stilbene glycoside(TSG)on okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells(SH-SY5Y)via the PI3K/AKT pathway.Methods:The optimal concentration of OA was screened by CCK-8 assay,and SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control group,model group,TSG group,LY294002 group and LY294002+TSG group.The proliferation and apoptosis in each group were detected by CCK-8 and TUNEL assays;Western blotting method and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of PI3K,P-PI3K(Y607),AKT,P-AKT(Ser473),Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.The relative protein expression was represented by P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax gray ratio.Results:CCK-8 screened the optimal concentration of OA as 40 nmol/L.Compared with the control group,the model group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,the pathway and apoptotic proteins expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were decreased,and the mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 were decreased.Bax mRNA expression level increased(P<0.05);Compared with model group,TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,increased protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT,Bcl-2/Bax,and increased mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and Bcl-2.Bax mRNA expression decreased(P<0.05),LY294002 group decreased relative cell viability,increased apoptosis rate,P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K protein expression levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05),P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax protein expression levels were significantly decreased,but there was no statistical significance,PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were decreased,and Bax mRNA expression levels were increased(all P<0.05);Compared with LY294002 group,LY294002+TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,and the protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were increased.The mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,Bcl-2 were increased,Bax was decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Stilbene glycoside may alleviate okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by interfering with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,which in turn regulates the expression of apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 and Bax.展开更多
Objective:To assess the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extract of Azadirachta(A.)indica in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:Thirty-five prepubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided...Objective:To assess the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extract of Azadirachta(A.)indica in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:Thirty-five prepubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups with 7 animals in each group.Group 1 received 0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally.Groups 2 to 5 received testosterone propionate(0.2 mg/kg,s.c.)dissolved in olive oil daily for 42 days to induce PCOS.In addition,group 3 was administered with A.indica extract(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally)from the 7th to 12th week,group 4 received quercetin(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally)and group 5 received wartmannin(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally).At the end of treatment,blood was collected for biochemical evaluation.Total follicular count and uterus corpus luteum count followed by PI3K gene expression in the ovary and uterus were evaluated.Results:The ethanolic extracts of A.indica significantly reduced body weight,ovary weight and uterus weight of rats.Extracts of A.indica also significantly increased the levels of serum glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein,very low-density lipoprotein,insulin,testosterone,and luteinizing hormone.Treatment also reduced lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant parameters in the liver homogenates of PCOS-induced rats.Histological examination of the ovary and uterus confirmed PCOS occurrence and remission state in the PCOS-induced and treated groups,respectively.Moreover,A.indica and quercetin significantly downregulated PI3K gene expression.Histopathological results of the ovary and uterus also proved the protective role of A.indica.Conclusions:A.indica leaf extract has beneficial effects in the treatment of PCOS by downregulation of PI3K gene expression.展开更多
[Objectives]To explore the protective effects of Zuogui Pill on ^(60)Co-γ-ray-induced premature aging of rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signal...[Objectives]To explore the protective effects of Zuogui Pill on ^(60)Co-γ-ray-induced premature aging of rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway.[Methods]Sixty sexually mature female SD rats were irradiated with ^(60)Co-γ-ray(6.0 Gy,LD 40)for 24 h at one time.These rats were randomly divided into model group,Progynova group[0.18(g·kg)/d],Progynova[0.09(g·kg)/d]+Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill medium dose[9.45(g·kg)/d)]group and Zuogui Pill low dose[4.725(g·kg)/d]group.The administration(once a day)lasted 21 d.The rat serum[follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH)and estradiol(E_(2))]were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The morphological changes of ovary were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The apoptosis rate of granulosa cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL).The protein expression of phosphorylated(p)-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot.[Results]Compared with the normal group,the model group showed significant increase in the serum FSH(P<0.01),significant decrease in serum E_(2)(P<0.05),and decrease in the number of early follicles and luteum in the ovary(P<0.01).Besides,the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells increased significantly(P<0.01);the expression of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue decreased significantly,while the expression of Bax increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of early follicles in the ovary increased and the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells decreased after intervention in each administration group.In addition,the protein expressions of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 increased,while the expression of Bax decreased,especially in Progynova+Zuogui Pill high dose group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).[Conclusions]Zuogui Pill may protect the radiation-injured ovary through activating the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR protein in ovarian tissue,increasing the amount of Bcl-2 protein and inhibiting the expression of Bax protein.展开更多
Osteoporosis is a metabolic dysregulation of bone that occurs mainly in postmenopausal women,and the hyperfunction of osteoclasts is the primary contributor to postmenopausal osteoporosis.However,the development of ef...Osteoporosis is a metabolic dysregulation of bone that occurs mainly in postmenopausal women,and the hyperfunction of osteoclasts is the primary contributor to postmenopausal osteoporosis.However,the development of effective therapeutic drugs and precise delivery systems remains a challenge in the field of anti-absorption therapy.Here,we reported theα-cyperone(α-CYP)for anti-osteoporosis and developed a liposome-based nano-drug delivery system ofα-CYP,that specifically targets the bone resorption interface.Firstly,we found that theα-CYP,one of the major sesquiterpenes of Cyperus rotundus L.,attenuated the progression of osteoporosis in ovariectomized(OVX)mice and down-regulated the expression of phosphorylated proteins of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt),causing down-regulation of osteoclast-related genes/proteins and curbing osteoclast differentiation.Furthermore,α-CYP reversed the activation of osteoclastic differentiation and enhanced osteoporosis-related proteins expression caused by PI3K/Akt agonist(YS-49).More importantly,we adopted the osteoclastic resorption surface targeting peptide Asp8 and constructed the liposome(lipαC@Asp8)to deliverα-CYP to osteoclasts and confirmed its anti-osteoporosis effect and enhanced osteoclast inhibition by blocking PI3K/Akt axis.In conclusion,this study demonstrated thatα-CYP inhibits osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis development by silencing PI3K/Akt pathway,and the liposome targeting delivery systems loaded withα-CYP might provide a novel and effective strategy to treat osteoporosis.展开更多
In addition to its contributing role in the development of chronic liver diseases, chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations, particularly, cutaneous-based disorders inclu...In addition to its contributing role in the development of chronic liver diseases, chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations, particularly, cutaneous-based disorders including those with pruritus as a symptom. Pruritus is frequently associated with the development of chronic liver diseases such as cholestasis and chronic viral infection, and the accumulation of bile acids in patients' sera and tissues as a consequence of liver damage is considered the main cause of pruritus. In addition to their role in dietary lipid absorption, bile acids can trigger the activation of specific receptors, such as the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor(GPBA/ TGR5). These types of receptors are known to play a crucial role in the modulation of the systemic actions of bile acids. TGR5 expression in primary sensory neurons triggers the activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1) leading to the induction of pruritus by an unknown mechanism. Although the pathologic phenomenon of pruritus is common, there is no uniformly effective therapy available. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the occurrence of pruritus together with the conduction of large-scale clinical and evidence-based studies, may help to create a standard treatment protocol. This review focuses on the etiopathogenesis and treatment strategies of pruritus associated with chronic HCV infection.展开更多
Doxorubicin （Dox） is a major anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. However, it causes cardiomyopathy due to the side effect of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We have previously reported that angiopoietin-1 significantly redu...Doxorubicin （Dox） is a major anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. However, it causes cardiomyopathy due to the side effect of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We have previously reported that angiopoietin-1 significantly reduced myocardial infarction after ischemic injury and protected cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. It is hypothesized that angiopoietin-1 may protect cardiomyocytes from Dox-induced apoptosis. Cardiomyocytes H9C2 were transfected with adenovirus expressing angiopoietin-1 （Ad5-Ang-1） 24 h before the cells were chal- lenged with Dox at a concentration of 2 ~tmol/L. Ad5-GFP served as the vector control. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V-FITC staining and caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity was determined by Western blotting. The results showed that Dox treatment significantly induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis as evidenced by the greater number of Annexin V-FITC stained cells and increases in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity. In contrast, overexpression of angiopoietin-1 significantly prevented Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanisms by which angiopoietin-1 protected cells from Dox-induced apoptosis, we analyzed both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. We observed that angiopoietin-1 prevented Dox-induced activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Specifically, angiopoietin-1 prevented DOX-induced in- creases in FasL and Bax levels and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-8 levels in H9C2 cells. In addition, overexpres- sion of angiopoietin-1 also activated the pro-survival phosphoinositide-3 kinase （PI3K）/Akt signaling pathway and decreased Dox-induced nuclear factor-kappaB （NF-~：B） activation. Our data suggest that promoting the expression of angiopoietin-1 could be a potential approach for reducing Dox-induced cardiomyocyte cytoxicity.展开更多
Treatment of patients with severe COVID-19, is challenging specifically when a patient carries high risk of mortality, such as old age, immune suppression or cancer. Also a patient who manifests the disease with sever...Treatment of patients with severe COVID-19, is challenging specifically when a patient carries high risk of mortality, such as old age, immune suppression or cancer. Also a patient who manifests the disease with severe symptoms, such as hypoxia, requiring supplemental oxygenation, or artificial ventilation has a poor prognosis. Here we review the scientific rationale used to design a very promising therapy based on existing literature, but in significantly different method and protocols, used to treat cases of severe COVID-19, and we conclude that although the effort on drug development has been enormous, but as of today, we do not have a therapy with specific characteristics as this protocol, to be used safely in human and yet potentially meet the expectations we would have for a so called “effective therapy”. Further clinical trials are needed to support this hypothesis and generate further hypothesis to prove the concept in larger cohort of patients.展开更多
Objective To investigate the potential role of Tongxinluo(TXL)in attenuating myocardial fibrosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)in mice.Methods A MIRI mouse model was established by left anterior de...Objective To investigate the potential role of Tongxinluo(TXL)in attenuating myocardial fibrosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)in mice.Methods A MIRI mouse model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 45 min.According to a random number table,66 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups(n=11 per group):the sham group,the model group,the LY-294002 group,the TXL group,the TXL+LY-294002 group and the benazepril(BNPL)group.The day after modeling,TXL and BNPL were administered by gavage.Intraperitoneal injection of LY-294002 was performed twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks.Echocardiography was used to measure cardiac function in mice.Masson staining was used to evaluate the degree of myocardial fibrosis in mice.Qualitative and quantitative analysis of endothelial mesenchymal transition(EndMT)after MIRI was performed by immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry,respectively.The protein expressions of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1(CD31),α-smoth muscle actin(α-SMA),phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)and phospho protein kinase B(p-AKT)were assessed using Western blot.Results TXL improved cardiac function in MIRI mice,reduced the degree of myocardial fibrosis,increased the expression of CD31 and inhibited the expression ofα-SMA,thus inhibited the occurrence of EndMT(P<0.05 or P<0.01).TXL significantly increased the protein expressions of PI3K and p-AKT(P<0.05 or P<0.01).There was no significant difference between TXL and BNPL group(P>0.05).In addition,the use of the PI3K/AKT pathway-specific inhibitor LY-294002 to block this pathway and combination with TXL intervention,eliminated the protective effect of TXL,further supporting the protective effect of TXL.Conclusion TXL activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit EndMT and attenuated myocardial fibrosis after MIRI in mice.展开更多
Skin wounds are common in accidental injuries,and the intricacies of wound repair are closely linked to endogenous electric fields.Electrical stimulation plays a pivotal role in the restorative processes of skin injur...Skin wounds are common in accidental injuries,and the intricacies of wound repair are closely linked to endogenous electric fields.Electrical stimulation plays a pivotal role in the restorative processes of skin injuries,encompassing collagen deposition,angiogenesis,inflammation,and re-epithelialization.Employing electrical stimulation therapy replicates and enhances the effects of endogenous wound electric fields by applying an external electric field to the wound site,thereby promoting skin wound healing.In this study,we developed a self-powered repetitive mechanical impacts-electrical stimulation(RMI-ES)system utilizing a BaTiO3/polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)piezoelectric composite film.Compared to conventional electrical stimulation devices,the fabricated piezoelectric composite film efficiently harvests energy from the pressure applied by the stimulation device and the tensile force occurring during natural rat activities.The results demonstrated that piezoelectric stimulation generated by the composite membrane expedited the cell cycle,promoting fibroblast proliferation.Additionally,piezoelectric stimulation induced favorable changes in fibroblast gene expression,including increased expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),collagen 1,collagen 3,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),while reducing interleukin-6(IL-6)expression.Transcriptome analysis revealed that piezoelectric stimulation may induce fibroblast migration,proliferation,and collagen expression by influencing PI3K/AKT serine/threonine kinase(AKT)pathways.Further confirmation through the addition of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 validated that piezoelectric stimulation can regulate the repair process after skin injury through the pathway.Importantly,in vivo results demonstrated that the electric field at the wound site effectively promoted wound healing,reduced inflammation,and stimulated collagen deposition and neovascularization.This study emphasizes the role of the piezoelectric membrane as an effective,safe,and battery-free electrical stimulator crucial for skin wound healing.展开更多
Background Apoptosis is a major cause of ischemic heart dysfunction. Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G-protein-coupled APJ receptor, has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects during myocardial injury. ...Background Apoptosis is a major cause of ischemic heart dysfunction. Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G-protein-coupled APJ receptor, has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects during myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apelin on apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes induced by glucose deprivation （GD） and study the related signaling pathway. Methods Apelin and APJ mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during different durations of GD. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide （PI） staining after GD for 12 hours with or without apelin-13 （10 and 100 nmol/L） pretreatment. Protein levels of Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） as well as cell apoptosis were detected in the presence or absence of LY294002 （a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases （PI3K） inhibitor） or rapamycin （a mTOR inhibitor）. Results Apelin mRNA expression was up-regulated when cardiomyocytes were exposed to GD for 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours compared with the base level （P 〉0.05, P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01）. However, when cardiomyocytes were exposed to GD for up to 36 hours, apelin mRNA expression was 17% lower than the base level （P〈0.05）. APJ mRNA expression paralleled that of apelin. Apelin-13 pretreatment at 100 nmol/L significantly inhibited GD-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis （P 〈0.05） and increased Akt and mTOR phosphorylation （P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01）. At the same time apelin-13 （100 nmol/L） up-regulated Bcl-2 protein expression and down-regulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression （P 〈0.01, P 〈0.05, P 〈0.05）. The anti-apoptotic effect of apelin-13 was blocked by LY294002 （P 〈0.01） but not by rapamycin. Conclusions The endogenous apelin-APJ system is compensatorily up-regulated and ultimately down-regulated following sustained myocardial ischemia. Apelin protects against ischemic cardiomyocyte apoptosis via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.展开更多
Pancreatic cancer is ranked as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality and is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030.The cause of this high mortality rate is due to p...Pancreatic cancer is ranked as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality and is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030.The cause of this high mortality rate is due to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’s rapid progression and metastasis,and development of drug resistance.Today,cancer immunotherapy is becoming a strong candidate to not only treat various cancers but also to combat against chemoresistance.Studies have suggested that complement system pathways play an important role in cancer progression and chemoresistance,especially in pancreatic cancer.A recent report also suggested that several signaling pathways play an important role in causing chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer,major ones including nuclear factor kappa B,signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor,and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B.In addition,it has also been proven that the complement system has a very active role in establishing the tumor microenvironment,which would aid in promoting tumorigenesis,progression,metastasis,and recurrence.Interestingly,it has been shown that the downstream products of the complement system directly upregulate inflammatory mediators,which in turn activate these chemo-resistant pathways.Therefore,targeting complement pathways could be an innovative approach to combat against pancreatic cancer drugs resistance.In this review,we have discussed the role of complement system pathways in pancreatic cancer drug resistance and a special focus on the complement as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81860709)Baise City Science and Technology Plan Project(No.Encyclopedia 20224139,Encyclopedia 20211807)2023 Youjiang Ethnic Medical College Graduate Innovation Program Project(No.YXCXJH2023013)。
文摘Objective:To investigate the effects of stilbene glycoside(TSG)on okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells(SH-SY5Y)via the PI3K/AKT pathway.Methods:The optimal concentration of OA was screened by CCK-8 assay,and SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control group,model group,TSG group,LY294002 group and LY294002+TSG group.The proliferation and apoptosis in each group were detected by CCK-8 and TUNEL assays;Western blotting method and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of PI3K,P-PI3K(Y607),AKT,P-AKT(Ser473),Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.The relative protein expression was represented by P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax gray ratio.Results:CCK-8 screened the optimal concentration of OA as 40 nmol/L.Compared with the control group,the model group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,the pathway and apoptotic proteins expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were decreased,and the mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 were decreased.Bax mRNA expression level increased(P<0.05);Compared with model group,TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,increased protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT,Bcl-2/Bax,and increased mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and Bcl-2.Bax mRNA expression decreased(P<0.05),LY294002 group decreased relative cell viability,increased apoptosis rate,P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K protein expression levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05),P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax protein expression levels were significantly decreased,but there was no statistical significance,PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were decreased,and Bax mRNA expression levels were increased(all P<0.05);Compared with LY294002 group,LY294002+TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,and the protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were increased.The mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,Bcl-2 were increased,Bax was decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Stilbene glycoside may alleviate okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by interfering with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,which in turn regulates the expression of apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 and Bax.
基金Institute of Pharmacy,Nirma University in the form of postgraduate contingency.
文摘Objective:To assess the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extract of Azadirachta(A.)indica in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:Thirty-five prepubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups with 7 animals in each group.Group 1 received 0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally.Groups 2 to 5 received testosterone propionate(0.2 mg/kg,s.c.)dissolved in olive oil daily for 42 days to induce PCOS.In addition,group 3 was administered with A.indica extract(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally)from the 7th to 12th week,group 4 received quercetin(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally)and group 5 received wartmannin(100 mg/kg,0.5%carboxy methyl cellulose orally).At the end of treatment,blood was collected for biochemical evaluation.Total follicular count and uterus corpus luteum count followed by PI3K gene expression in the ovary and uterus were evaluated.Results:The ethanolic extracts of A.indica significantly reduced body weight,ovary weight and uterus weight of rats.Extracts of A.indica also significantly increased the levels of serum glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein,very low-density lipoprotein,insulin,testosterone,and luteinizing hormone.Treatment also reduced lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant parameters in the liver homogenates of PCOS-induced rats.Histological examination of the ovary and uterus confirmed PCOS occurrence and remission state in the PCOS-induced and treated groups,respectively.Moreover,A.indica and quercetin significantly downregulated PI3K gene expression.Histopathological results of the ovary and uterus also proved the protective role of A.indica.Conclusions:A.indica leaf extract has beneficial effects in the treatment of PCOS by downregulation of PI3K gene expression.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(81760806)Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration of Gansu Province(GZK-2019-28)Innovation Ability Improvement Project of Higher Education Institutions of Gansu Province(2019B-103)。
文摘[Objectives]To explore the protective effects of Zuogui Pill on ^(60)Co-γ-ray-induced premature aging of rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway.[Methods]Sixty sexually mature female SD rats were irradiated with ^(60)Co-γ-ray(6.0 Gy,LD 40)for 24 h at one time.These rats were randomly divided into model group,Progynova group[0.18(g·kg)/d],Progynova[0.09(g·kg)/d]+Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill medium dose[9.45(g·kg)/d)]group and Zuogui Pill low dose[4.725(g·kg)/d]group.The administration(once a day)lasted 21 d.The rat serum[follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH)and estradiol(E_(2))]were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The morphological changes of ovary were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The apoptosis rate of granulosa cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL).The protein expression of phosphorylated(p)-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot.[Results]Compared with the normal group,the model group showed significant increase in the serum FSH(P<0.01),significant decrease in serum E_(2)(P<0.05),and decrease in the number of early follicles and luteum in the ovary(P<0.01).Besides,the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells increased significantly(P<0.01);the expression of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue decreased significantly,while the expression of Bax increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of early follicles in the ovary increased and the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells decreased after intervention in each administration group.In addition,the protein expressions of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 increased,while the expression of Bax decreased,especially in Progynova+Zuogui Pill high dose group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).[Conclusions]Zuogui Pill may protect the radiation-injured ovary through activating the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR protein in ovarian tissue,increasing the amount of Bcl-2 protein and inhibiting the expression of Bax protein.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project(No.2021YFA1201404)Major Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81991514,82272530)+2 种基金Jiangsu Province Medical Innovation Center of Orthopedic Surgery(No.CXZX202214)Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Center Foundation,Jiangsu Provincial Medical Outstanding Talent Foundation,Jiangsu Provincial Medical Youth Talent Foundation,Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Talent Foundationthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.14380493 and 14380494).
文摘Osteoporosis is a metabolic dysregulation of bone that occurs mainly in postmenopausal women,and the hyperfunction of osteoclasts is the primary contributor to postmenopausal osteoporosis.However,the development of effective therapeutic drugs and precise delivery systems remains a challenge in the field of anti-absorption therapy.Here,we reported theα-cyperone(α-CYP)for anti-osteoporosis and developed a liposome-based nano-drug delivery system ofα-CYP,that specifically targets the bone resorption interface.Firstly,we found that theα-CYP,one of the major sesquiterpenes of Cyperus rotundus L.,attenuated the progression of osteoporosis in ovariectomized(OVX)mice and down-regulated the expression of phosphorylated proteins of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt),causing down-regulation of osteoclast-related genes/proteins and curbing osteoclast differentiation.Furthermore,α-CYP reversed the activation of osteoclastic differentiation and enhanced osteoporosis-related proteins expression caused by PI3K/Akt agonist(YS-49).More importantly,we adopted the osteoclastic resorption surface targeting peptide Asp8 and constructed the liposome(lipαC@Asp8)to deliverα-CYP to osteoclasts and confirmed its anti-osteoporosis effect and enhanced osteoclast inhibition by blocking PI3K/Akt axis.In conclusion,this study demonstrated thatα-CYP inhibits osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis development by silencing PI3K/Akt pathway,and the liposome targeting delivery systems loaded withα-CYP might provide a novel and effective strategy to treat osteoporosis.
文摘In addition to its contributing role in the development of chronic liver diseases, chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations, particularly, cutaneous-based disorders including those with pruritus as a symptom. Pruritus is frequently associated with the development of chronic liver diseases such as cholestasis and chronic viral infection, and the accumulation of bile acids in patients' sera and tissues as a consequence of liver damage is considered the main cause of pruritus. In addition to their role in dietary lipid absorption, bile acids can trigger the activation of specific receptors, such as the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor(GPBA/ TGR5). These types of receptors are known to play a crucial role in the modulation of the systemic actions of bile acids. TGR5 expression in primary sensory neurons triggers the activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1) leading to the induction of pruritus by an unknown mechanism. Although the pathologic phenomenon of pruritus is common, there is no uniformly effective therapy available. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the occurrence of pruritus together with the conduction of large-scale clinical and evidence-based studies, may help to create a standard treatment protocol. This review focuses on the etiopathogenesis and treatment strategies of pruritus associated with chronic HCV infection.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30971258)the National 973 project of China(NO.2012CB517503)+1 种基金the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. 11KJA310004)Jiangsu "Six Personnel Peak" Talent-Funded Projects
文摘Doxorubicin （Dox） is a major anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. However, it causes cardiomyopathy due to the side effect of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We have previously reported that angiopoietin-1 significantly reduced myocardial infarction after ischemic injury and protected cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. It is hypothesized that angiopoietin-1 may protect cardiomyocytes from Dox-induced apoptosis. Cardiomyocytes H9C2 were transfected with adenovirus expressing angiopoietin-1 （Ad5-Ang-1） 24 h before the cells were chal- lenged with Dox at a concentration of 2 ~tmol/L. Ad5-GFP served as the vector control. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V-FITC staining and caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity was determined by Western blotting. The results showed that Dox treatment significantly induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis as evidenced by the greater number of Annexin V-FITC stained cells and increases in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity. In contrast, overexpression of angiopoietin-1 significantly prevented Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanisms by which angiopoietin-1 protected cells from Dox-induced apoptosis, we analyzed both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. We observed that angiopoietin-1 prevented Dox-induced activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Specifically, angiopoietin-1 prevented DOX-induced in- creases in FasL and Bax levels and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-8 levels in H9C2 cells. In addition, overexpres- sion of angiopoietin-1 also activated the pro-survival phosphoinositide-3 kinase （PI3K）/Akt signaling pathway and decreased Dox-induced nuclear factor-kappaB （NF-~：B） activation. Our data suggest that promoting the expression of angiopoietin-1 could be a potential approach for reducing Dox-induced cardiomyocyte cytoxicity.
文摘Treatment of patients with severe COVID-19, is challenging specifically when a patient carries high risk of mortality, such as old age, immune suppression or cancer. Also a patient who manifests the disease with severe symptoms, such as hypoxia, requiring supplemental oxygenation, or artificial ventilation has a poor prognosis. Here we review the scientific rationale used to design a very promising therapy based on existing literature, but in significantly different method and protocols, used to treat cases of severe COVID-19, and we conclude that although the effort on drug development has been enormous, but as of today, we do not have a therapy with specific characteristics as this protocol, to be used safely in human and yet potentially meet the expectations we would have for a so called “effective therapy”. Further clinical trials are needed to support this hypothesis and generate further hypothesis to prove the concept in larger cohort of patients.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81973692)Traditional Chinese Medicine Innovation Project of Hebei Province(No.223777120D)High-Level Talent Funding Program of Hebei(No.E2020100001)。
文摘Objective To investigate the potential role of Tongxinluo(TXL)in attenuating myocardial fibrosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)in mice.Methods A MIRI mouse model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 45 min.According to a random number table,66 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups(n=11 per group):the sham group,the model group,the LY-294002 group,the TXL group,the TXL+LY-294002 group and the benazepril(BNPL)group.The day after modeling,TXL and BNPL were administered by gavage.Intraperitoneal injection of LY-294002 was performed twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks.Echocardiography was used to measure cardiac function in mice.Masson staining was used to evaluate the degree of myocardial fibrosis in mice.Qualitative and quantitative analysis of endothelial mesenchymal transition(EndMT)after MIRI was performed by immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry,respectively.The protein expressions of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1(CD31),α-smoth muscle actin(α-SMA),phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)and phospho protein kinase B(p-AKT)were assessed using Western blot.Results TXL improved cardiac function in MIRI mice,reduced the degree of myocardial fibrosis,increased the expression of CD31 and inhibited the expression ofα-SMA,thus inhibited the occurrence of EndMT(P<0.05 or P<0.01).TXL significantly increased the protein expressions of PI3K and p-AKT(P<0.05 or P<0.01).There was no significant difference between TXL and BNPL group(P>0.05).In addition,the use of the PI3K/AKT pathway-specific inhibitor LY-294002 to block this pathway and combination with TXL intervention,eliminated the protective effect of TXL,further supporting the protective effect of TXL.Conclusion TXL activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit EndMT and attenuated myocardial fibrosis after MIRI in mice.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31870967 to W.L.and 81701841 to W.B.W.)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFC1105800 to W.L.)。
文摘Skin wounds are common in accidental injuries,and the intricacies of wound repair are closely linked to endogenous electric fields.Electrical stimulation plays a pivotal role in the restorative processes of skin injuries,encompassing collagen deposition,angiogenesis,inflammation,and re-epithelialization.Employing electrical stimulation therapy replicates and enhances the effects of endogenous wound electric fields by applying an external electric field to the wound site,thereby promoting skin wound healing.In this study,we developed a self-powered repetitive mechanical impacts-electrical stimulation(RMI-ES)system utilizing a BaTiO3/polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)piezoelectric composite film.Compared to conventional electrical stimulation devices,the fabricated piezoelectric composite film efficiently harvests energy from the pressure applied by the stimulation device and the tensile force occurring during natural rat activities.The results demonstrated that piezoelectric stimulation generated by the composite membrane expedited the cell cycle,promoting fibroblast proliferation.Additionally,piezoelectric stimulation induced favorable changes in fibroblast gene expression,including increased expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),collagen 1,collagen 3,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),while reducing interleukin-6(IL-6)expression.Transcriptome analysis revealed that piezoelectric stimulation may induce fibroblast migration,proliferation,and collagen expression by influencing PI3K/AKT serine/threonine kinase(AKT)pathways.Further confirmation through the addition of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 validated that piezoelectric stimulation can regulate the repair process after skin injury through the pathway.Importantly,in vivo results demonstrated that the electric field at the wound site effectively promoted wound healing,reduced inflammation,and stimulated collagen deposition and neovascularization.This study emphasizes the role of the piezoelectric membrane as an effective,safe,and battery-free electrical stimulator crucial for skin wound healing.
文摘Background Apoptosis is a major cause of ischemic heart dysfunction. Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G-protein-coupled APJ receptor, has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects during myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apelin on apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes induced by glucose deprivation （GD） and study the related signaling pathway. Methods Apelin and APJ mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during different durations of GD. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide （PI） staining after GD for 12 hours with or without apelin-13 （10 and 100 nmol/L） pretreatment. Protein levels of Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） as well as cell apoptosis were detected in the presence or absence of LY294002 （a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases （PI3K） inhibitor） or rapamycin （a mTOR inhibitor）. Results Apelin mRNA expression was up-regulated when cardiomyocytes were exposed to GD for 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours compared with the base level （P 〉0.05, P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01）. However, when cardiomyocytes were exposed to GD for up to 36 hours, apelin mRNA expression was 17% lower than the base level （P〈0.05）. APJ mRNA expression paralleled that of apelin. Apelin-13 pretreatment at 100 nmol/L significantly inhibited GD-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis （P 〈0.05） and increased Akt and mTOR phosphorylation （P 〈0.01, P 〈0.01）. At the same time apelin-13 （100 nmol/L） up-regulated Bcl-2 protein expression and down-regulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression （P 〈0.01, P 〈0.05, P 〈0.05）. The anti-apoptotic effect of apelin-13 was blocked by LY294002 （P 〈0.01） but not by rapamycin. Conclusions The endogenous apelin-APJ system is compensatorily up-regulated and ultimately down-regulated following sustained myocardial ischemia. Apelin protects against ischemic cardiomyocyte apoptosis via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
文摘Pancreatic cancer is ranked as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality and is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030.The cause of this high mortality rate is due to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’s rapid progression and metastasis,and development of drug resistance.Today,cancer immunotherapy is becoming a strong candidate to not only treat various cancers but also to combat against chemoresistance.Studies have suggested that complement system pathways play an important role in cancer progression and chemoresistance,especially in pancreatic cancer.A recent report also suggested that several signaling pathways play an important role in causing chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer,major ones including nuclear factor kappa B,signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor,and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B.In addition,it has also been proven that the complement system has a very active role in establishing the tumor microenvironment,which would aid in promoting tumorigenesis,progression,metastasis,and recurrence.Interestingly,it has been shown that the downstream products of the complement system directly upregulate inflammatory mediators,which in turn activate these chemo-resistant pathways.Therefore,targeting complement pathways could be an innovative approach to combat against pancreatic cancer drugs resistance.In this review,we have discussed the role of complement system pathways in pancreatic cancer drug resistance and a special focus on the complement as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
