Altered Iron-Mediated Metabolic Homeostasis Governs the Efficacy and Toxicity of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),a globally increasing autoimmune disorder,is associated with increased disability rates due to the disruption of iron metabolism.Tripterygium glycoside tablets(TGTs),a Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f.(TwHF)-based therapy,exhibit satisfactory clinical efficacy for RA treatment.However,drug-induced liver injury(DILI)remains a critical issue that hinders the clinical application of TGTs,and the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy and toxicity of TGTs in RA have not been fully elucidated.To address this problem,we integrated clinical multi-omics data associated with the anti-RA efficacy and DILI of TGTs with the chemical and target profiling of TGTs to perform a systematic network analysis.Subsequently,we identified effective and toxic targets following experimental validation in a collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)mouse model.Significantly different transcriptome–protein–metabolite profiles distinguishing patients with favorable TGTs responses from those with poor outcomes were identified.Intriguingly,the clinical efficacy and DILI of TGTs against RA were associated with metabolic homeostasis between iron and bone and between iron and lipids,respectively.Particularly,the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)–hepcidin(HAMP)/lipocalin 2(LCN2)–tartrate-resis tant acid phosphatase type 5(ACP5)and STAT3–HAMP–acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4)–lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3(LPCAT3)axes were identified as key drivers of the efficacy and toxicity of TGTs.TGTs play dual roles in ameliorating CIA-induced pathology and in inducing hepatic dysfunction,disruption of lipid metabolism,and hepatic lipid peroxidation.Notably,TGTs effectively reversed“iron–bone”disruptions in the inflamed joint tissues of CIA mice by inhibiting the STAT3–HAMP/LCN2–ACP5 axis,subsequently leading to“iron–lipid”disturbances in the liver tissues via modulation of the STAT3–HAMP–ACSL4–LPCAT3 axis.Additional bidirectional validation experiments were conducted using MH7A and AML12 cells to confirm the bidirectional regulatory effects of TGTs on key targets.Collectively,our data highlight the association between iron-mediated metabolic homeostasis and the clinical efficacy and toxicity of TGT in RA therapy,offering guidance for the rational clinical use of TwHF-based therapy with dual therapeutic and toxic potential.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis uncovers underlying mechanisms of acute liver injury induced by tripterygium glycosides tablet in mice

Tripterygium glycosides tablet(TGT),the classical commercial drug of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F.has been effectively used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,nephrotic syndrome,leprosy,Behcet's syndrome,leprosy reaction and autoimmune hepatitis.However,due to its narrow and limited treatment window,TGT-induced organ toxicity(among which liver injury accounts for about 40%of clinical reports)has gained increasing attention.The present study aimed to clarify the cellular and molecular events underlying TGT-induced acute liver injury using single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)technology.The TGT-induced acute liver injury mouse model was constructed through short-term TGT exposure and further verified by hematoxylin-eosin staining and liver function-related serum indicators,including alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin.Using the mouse model,we identified 15 specific subtypes of cells in the liver tissue,including endothelial cells,hepatocytes,cholangiocytes,and hepatic stellate cells.Further analysis indicated that TGT caused a significant inflammatory response in liver endothelial cells at different spatial locations;led to marked inflammatory response,apoptosis and fatty acid metabolism dysfunction in hepatocytes;activated hepatic stellate cells;brought about the activation,inflammation,and phagocytosis of liver capsular macrophages cells;resulted in immune dysfunction of liver lymphocytes;disturbed the intercellular crosstalk in liver microenvironment by regulating various signaling pathways.Thus,these findings elaborate the mechanism underlying TGT-induced acute liver injury,provide new insights into the safe and rational applications in the clinic,and complement the identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver protection.

Treatment of Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis by Corticosteroids and Tripterygium Glycoside Tablets:A Case Report

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis （FGN） is a rare kidney disease characterized by the deposition of randomly arranged fibril deposits 15-30 nm in diameter, mainly in the mesangium and/or glomerular basement membranes （GBMs）, and negative Congo red staining.（1＇2） The diagnosis of FGN is made in about 1% of native kidney biopsy specimens.（3）

Comparative Observation on the Effects of Radix Tripterygium Hypoglaucum Tablet and Tripterygium Glycosides Tablet in Treating Erosive Oral Lichen Planus

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of Radix Tripterygium hypoglaucum tablet (THT) and Tripterygium glycosides tablet (TGT) in treating erosive oral lichen planus(EOLP).Methods: The patients were randomized into two groups, and they were treated with THT (n=47) or TGT (n=47), respectively. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after 3 months treatment.Results: For the patients of grade 1, the total efficacy in TGT group was 85.71%, compared with 52.38% in THT group, the efficacy was statistically greater in the group receiving TGT (P=0.043). However, for the patients of grade 2, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.173).Conclusion: TGT is more effective in treating EOLP than THT for grade 1 patients. However, TGT is not suitable for patients of child bearing age.

COMPREHENSIVE TWO-DIMENSIONAL LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH QUADRUPLE TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS ANALYSIS OF TRIPTERYGIUM GLYCOSIDES TABLETS

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography platform(LC×LC)coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight(QTOF)mass spectrometry(MS)is developed to separate,identify and relatively determine the chemical constituents of two types of tripterygium glycosides tablets(TGT).The types and relative contents of the constituents discovered in two kinds of TGT tablets were subsequently compared.C8andC18 column were used for the separation of the first