Fanlian Huazhuo Formula alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating autophagy and lipid synthesis signaling pathway

BACKGROUND Fanlian Huazhuo Formula(FLHZF)has the functions of invigorating spleen and resolving phlegm,clearing heat and purging turbidity.It has been identified to have therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in clinical application.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is frequently diagnosed in patients with T2DM.However,the therapeutic potential of FLHZF on NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms need further investigation.AIM To elucidate the effects of FLHZF on NAFLD and explore the underlying hepatoprotective mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.METHODS HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acid for 24 hours to induce lipid accumulation cell model.Subsequently,experiments were conducted with the different concentrations of freeze-dried powder of FLHZF for 24 hours.C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8-week to establish a mouse model of NAFLD,and then treated with the different concentrations of FLHZF for 10 weeks.RESULTS FLHZF had therapeutic potential against lipid accumulation and abnormal changes in biochemical indicators in vivo and in vitro.Further experiments verified that FLHZF alleviated abnormal lipid metabolism might by reducing oxidative stress,regulating the AMPKα/SREBP-1C signaling pathway,activating autophagy,and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.CONCLUSION FLHZF alleviates abnormal lipid metabolism in NAFLD models by regulating reactive oxygen species,autophagy,apoptosis,and lipid synthesis signaling pathways,indicating its potential for clinical application in NAFLD.

MIR-448 Regulates MAGEA6/AMPK Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Stem Cells

Objective: To explore the role of miR-448 in regulating MAGEA6/AMPK signaling pathway in the biological study of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor stem cells. Methods: Using the database, the hepatocellular carcinoma related expression chips were obtained and the regulatory mirnas of candidate genes were predicted, and the predicted results were analyzed. The effects of miR-448 and MAGEA6 on the pellet formation rate and clone formation rate of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells were detected by immunofluorescence identification of stem cell markers and light microscope counting method. The effects of miR-448 and MAGEA6 on migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells were detected by scratch and Transwell assay. Dual luciferase reporter assay to verify whether miR-448 targets MAGEA6. The expression and influence of miR-448 on MAGEA6 and AMPK pathway were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results: It was found that miR-448 may directly regulate the expression of MAGEA6. Overexpression of miR-448 inhibited the characteristics, proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells in vitro, as well as the ability of xenograft tumor formation in vivo. However, inhibition of miR-448 showed opposite results. In addition, miR-448 directly targets MAGEA6 and regulates AMPK signaling. Silencing MAGEA6 and adding AMPK activator further verified that miR-448 activated AMPK signaling pathway by targeting MAGEA6, thus affecting characteristics, proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatoma stem cells. Conclusions: Our results reveal that miR-448 activates AMPK signaling pathway by targeting MAGEA6, thereby affecting characteristics, proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatoma stem cells. It is suggested that overexpression of miR-448 may be a new therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Effect and Mechanism of Dicliptera chinensis Polysaccharide on miR-141/AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway in Rats with NAFLD

[Objectives]Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)rat model was established by feeding high-fat and high-sugar fodder to rats,and the protective effect of Dicliptera chinensis polysaccharide(DCP)on NAFLD rats was studied to explore its potential mechanism.[Methods]45 SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group,model control group and DCP treatment groups(100 and 300 mg/kg).The rats in the normal control group were fed with ordinary fodder,and the rats in other groups were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 14 weeks to establish NAFLD model.From the 9^(th)week,the rats in the DCP treatment groups were given different doses of DCP by intragastric administration(5 mL/kg)for 6 weeks.After the last intragastric administration,the rats fasted for 16 h,and the serum and liver of rats were collected for detection.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was conducted to observe the histopathological changes of rat liver,and alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),malondialdehyde(MDA),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected by biochemical method.Interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)and micrornA-141(micro RNA-141)were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The expression of SIRT1 and adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)in rat liver was detected by western blot.[Results]Compared with the model control group,the inflammatory damage and steatodegeneration of rats in the DCP groups were relieved to varying degrees,and the number of lipid vacuoles significantly reduced.The ALT,AST,TC,TG and LDL-C content in the serum and MDA content in the liver tissue decreased to varying degrees,while the HDL-C,SOD and GSH-Px content increased.The expression of SIRT1 and AMPK increased,while the expression of miR-141,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1βdeclined,and the DCP 300 mg/kg treatment group had better improvement effect.[Conclusions]DCP had a certain protective effect on NAFLD rats,which may be related to the regulation of miR-141/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Effect of Platelet-rich Plasma in Stimulating Macrophage Transformation into M2 Type under AMPK Signaling Pathway

Objective:To explore the effect of platelet-rich plasma(RPR)in stimulating the transformation of pro-inflammatory(M1)macrophages into antiinflammatory(M2)under the adenosine-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase(AMPK)signaling pathway.Methods:Rat peritoneal macrophages(RAW264.7)were cultured and randomly divided into 8 groups:blank control group,LPS group,RPR group A,RPR group B,LPS+RPR(12 h)group,LPS+RPR(24 h)group A,LPS+RPR(24 h)group B,LPS+RPR(24 h)group C.RPR was prepared based on blood donors.The expressions of AMPK signaling pathway-related proteins(AMPK,ULK1,m TOR)and macrophage markers(i NOS,Arg-1)in the blank control group,LPS group,LPS+RPR(12 h)group and LPS+RPR(24 h)group were observed and compared.The expressions of macrophage markers in LPS+RPR(24 h)B and C groups were compared,and the expressions of AMPK and TGF-βin RPR A and B groups were compared.Results:The gray values of AMPK and ULK1 in LPS cells decreased significantly,while those in LPS+RPR(12 h)and LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells increased significantly.The gray values of AMPK and ULK1 in LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells were higher than those in LPS+RPR(12 h)cells(P<0.05).The m TOR gray value of LPS cells was significantly higher than that of LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells,and the m TOR gray value of LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells was significantly lower than that of LPS+RPR(12 h)cells(P<0.05).The expression of i NOS in LPS cells was significantly decreased,the expression of i NOS in LPS+RPR(12 h)and LPS+RPR(24 h)cells was significantly increased,and the expression of i NOS in LPS+RPR(24 h)cells was higher than that in LPS+RPR(12 h)cells(P<0.05).The expression of Arg-1 in LPS cells was significantly decreased,the expression of Arg-1 in LPS+RPR(12 h)and LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells was significantly increased,and the expression of Arg-1 in LPS+RPR(24 h)A cells was higher than that in LPS+RPR(12 h)cells(P<0.05).The i NOS expression level of LPS+PRP(24 h)C cells was significantly higher than that of LPS+PRP(24 h)B cells,and the Arg-1 expression level was significantly lower than that of LPS+PRP(24 h)B cells(P<0.05).The gray values of AMPK and TGF-βin PRP B cells were significantly lower than those in PRP A cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:RPR can stimulate macrophage transformation from M1 to M2 by up-regulating AMPK signaling pathway.

Loganin regulates glycolipid metabolism by influencing intestinal microbiota and AMPK signaling in obese mice

Objective: We aimed to observe the effects of loganin(Log) on serum glycolipid levels and probe the mechanisms focusing on intestinal flora and AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) signaling in obese mice.Methods: A high-fat diet was given for 12 consecutive weeks to generate the obesity model in institute of cancer research(ICR) mice. Body weight was measured weekly and fasting blood glucose(FBG) was determined every 2 weeks. Both the oral glucose tolerance test and the intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test were performed. The serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride, high-density lipoproteincholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), and free fatty acids(FFA) were measured. The expression of key proteins in the AMPK signaling pathway in skeletal muscle tissue was detected by immunoblotting, and gut microbiota were characterized using 16S rDNA sequencing.Results: Log significantly decreased the body weight and the FBG in obese mice(P <.05), and it could restore FBG to normal levels. The total cholesterol, LDL-C, and FFA levels were significantly reduced by Log compared with the obese controls(TC: P =.0020;LDL-C: P =.0233;FFA: P =.0127), and the glucose tolerance of animals was significantly improved(P =.0477). The western blot results showed that Log could upregulate the protein expression of Adenosine 5‘-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPKa), Sirtuin 1(SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha(PGC1a) in skeletal muscle tissue of obese mice. 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that Log reduced the diversity of the gut flora in feces and altered the floral composition of obese mice.Conclusions: Log was effective in reducing body weight and improving glucolipid metabolism in obese mice, probably through activating AMPK signaling and regulating intestinal microbial diversity.

LncRNAs are involved in regulating ageing and age-related disease through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signalling pathway

A long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)is longer than 200 bp.It regulates various biological processes mainly by interacting with DNA,RNA,or protein in multiple kinds of biological processes.Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)is activated during nutrient starvation,especially glucose starvation and oxygen deficiency(hypoxia),and exposure to toxins that inhibit mitochondrial respiratory chain complex function.AMPK is an energy switch in organisms that controls cell growth and multiple cellular processes,including lipid and glucose metabolism,thereby maintaining intracellular energy homeostasis by activating catabolism and inhibiting anabolism.The AMPK signalling pathway consists of AMPK and its upstream and downstream targets.AMPK upstream targets include proteins such as the transforming growth factor b-activated kinase 1(TAK1),liver kinase B1(LKB1),and calcium/calmodulindependent protein kinase b(CaMKKb),and its downstream targets include proteins such as the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)complex 1(mTORC1),hepatocyte nuclear factor 4a(HNF4a),and silencing information regulatory 1(SIRT1).In general,proteins function relatively independently and cooperate.In this article,a review of the currently known lncRNAs involved in the AMPK signalling pathway is presented and insights into the regulatory mechanisms involved in human ageing and age-related diseases are provided.

Dietary choline activates the Ampk/Srebp signaling pathway and decreases lipid levels in Pacific white shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei)

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in Pacific white shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei)to evaluate the effects of dietary choline supplementation on choline transport and metabolism,hepatopancreas histological structure and fatty acid profile,and regulation of lipid metabolism.Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain different choline levels of 2.91(basal diet),3.85,4.67,6.55,10.70 and 18.90 g/kg,respectively.A total of 960 shrimp(initial weight,1.38±0.01 g)were distributed randomly into twenty-four 250-L cylindrical fiber-glass tanks,with each diet assigned randomly to 4replicate tanks.The results indicated that dietary choline significantly promoted the deposition of choline,betaine and carnitine(P<0.05).The diameters and areas of R cells,total lipid and triglyceride contents in hepatopancreas,and triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid contents in hemolymph were negatively correlated with dietary choline level.The contents of functional fatty acids in hepatopancreas,the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(Acc),and the mRNA expression of fas,srebp and acc were highest in shrimp fed the diet containing 4.67 g/kg choline,and significantly higher than those fed the diet containing 2.91 g/kg,the lowest level of choline(P<0.05).The number of R cells,content of very lowdensity lipoprotein(VLDL),activities of carnitine palmitoyl-transferase(Cpt1),lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase,and the mRNA expression levels of cpt1,fabp,fatp,ldlr,and ampk in hepatopancreas increased significantly as dietary choline increased(P<0.05).In addition,hepatopancreas m RNA expression levels of ctl1,ctl2,oct1,badh,bhmt,ck,cept,and cct were generally up-regulated as dietary choline level increased(P<0.01).In conclusion,dietary choline promoted the deposition of choline and its metabolites by up-regulating genes related to choline transport and metabolism.Moreover,appropriate dietary choline level promoted the development of hepatopancreas R cells and maintained the normal accumulation of lipids required for development,while high dietary choline not only promoted hepatopancreas lipid export by enhancing VLDL synthesis,but also promoted fatty acidβ-oxidation and inhibited de novo fatty acid synthesis by activating the Ampk/Srebp signaling pathway.These findings provided further insight and understanding of the mechanisms by which dietary choline regulated lipid metabolism in L.vannamei.

A new peptide,VD11,promotes structural and functional recovery after spinal cord injury

The regenerative capacity of the central nervous system is very limited and few effective treatments are currently available for spinal cord injury.It is therefore a priority to develop new drugs that can promote structural and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Previous studies have shown that peptides can promote substantial repair and regeneration of injured tissue.While amphibians have a pronounced ability to regenerate the spinal cord,few studies have investigated the effect of amphibian spinal cord-derived peptides on spinal cord injury.Here we report for the first time the successful identification and isolation of a new polypeptide,VD11(amino acid sequence:VDELWPPWLPC),from the spinal cord of an endemic Chinese amphibian(Odorrana schmackeri).In vitro experiments showed that VD11 promoted the secretion of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in BV2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide,as well as the proliferation and synaptic elongation of PC12 cells subjected to hypoxia.In vivo experiments showed that intravertebral injection of VD11 markedly promoted recovery of motor function in rats with spinal cord injury,alleviated pathological damage,and promoted axonal regeneration.Furthermore,RNA sequencing and western blotting showed that VD11 may affect spinal cord injury through activation of the AMPK and AKT signaling pathways.In summary,we discovered a novel amphibian-derived peptide that promotes structural and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

cPKCγ Deficiency Exacerbates Autophagy Impairment and Hyperphosphorylated Tau Buildup through the AMPK/mTOR Pathway in Mice with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)-induced cognitive dysfunction is common,but its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood.In this study,we found that knockout of conventional protein kinase C(cPKC)γsignificantly increased the phosphorylation of Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles,but did not affect the activities of GSK-3βand PP2A in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice.cPKCγdeficiency significantly decreased the level of autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice.Activation of autophagy greatly alleviated the cognitive impairment induced by cPKCγdeficiency in T1DM mice.Moreover,cPKCγdeficiency reduced the AMPK phosphorylation levels and increased the phosphorylation levels of mTOR in vivo and in vitro.The high glucose-induced Tau phosphorylation at Ser214 was further increased by the autophagy inhibitor and was significantly decreased by an mTOR inhibitor.In conclusion,these results indicated that cPKCγpromotes autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway,thus reducing the level of phosphorylated Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles.

Anti-hyperglycemic effects of dihydromyricetin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Dihydromyricetin(DHM),as a bioactive flavanonol compound,is mainly found in“Tengcha”(Ampelopsis grossedentata)cultivated in south of China.This study aimed to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activities of DHM using type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2D)rats,which was induced by feeding with high fat and fructose diet for 42 days and intraperitoneal administration of streptozocin.Forty-eight freshlyweaned rats were randomly assigned into the negative control(Blank),low dose(100 mg/kg),medium dose(200 mg/kg),high dose(400 mg/kg),and positive(40 mg/kg,met)groups.Fasting blood glucose and body weight were measured at weekly interval.Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on days 42.The results revealed that DHM possessed significant antihyperglycaemic and antihyperinsulinemic effects.Moreover,after the DHM treatment,p-Akt and p-AMPK expression was upregulated,and glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β)expression was downregulated,indicating that the potential anti-diabetic mechanism of DHM might be due to the regulation of the AMPK/Akt/GSK-3βsignaling pathway.

Promotion and Mechanism of Acupotomy on Chondrocyte Autophagy in Knee Osteoarthritis Rabbits

Objective:To explore the effect of acupotomy intervention on autophagy of chondrocytes in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and to determine the possible mechanisms of acupotomy to alleviate cartilage degeneration.Methods:The modified Videman method was used to construct a KOA rabbit model.After modeling,40 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups by a random number table:control;KOA(model);KOA+acupotomy(acupotomy),and KOA+sham acupotomy(sham),10 in each group.After a 3-week treatment course,the knee joint activity was determined by the modified Lequesne MG index.Hematoxylin-eosin staining staining was used to examine the morphological changes of chondrocytes.Autophagy of chondrocytes was observed by transmission electron microscopy.The surface morphology of cartilage tissue was observed by scanning electron microscope.The mRNA and protein levels of AMP kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/Unc-51(AMPK/mTOR/ULK1)signal pathway key proteins,autophagy-related factor Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3(LC3)in rabbit knee cartilage were assessed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot,respectively.Results:The modified Lequesne MG score of acupotomy group was significantly lower than that of model group(P<0.05).Pathological results showed that chondrocyte autophagy decreased and cartilage surface was rough in the model group,which recovered after acupotomy treatment.The mRNA expressions of AMPK,ULK1,Beclin-1 and the protein levels of p-AMPK,p-ULK1,Beclin-1,and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰwere decreased in the model group,while the mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR were increased(P<0.01).However,acupotomy treatment reversed these abnormal changes(P<0.05).Conclusions:Acupotomy could effectively up-regulate the expressions of AMPK,ULK1 and Beclin1,reduce the expression of mTOR,promote autophagy,and alleviate joint degeneration.Acupotomy is a promising complementary and alternative therapy for KOA.