Cryptotanshinone reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation process and attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Cryptotanshinone alleviates immunosuppression in endometriosis by targeting MDSCs through JAK2/STAT3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis (EMS), a well-recognized chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by significant immune dysregulation, in which myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are essential for facilitating immunosuppression and driving to disease progression. Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is an active compound capable of modulating MDSC-mediated immunosuppression; however, its therapeutic effects and mechanisms in the treatment of EMS remain unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of CTS in modulating MDSCs through JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and to evaluate its effects on immune microenvironment and endometriotic lesion growth in EMS.

METHODS

Transcriptomic data (GSE141549) and single-cell RNA sequencing data (GSE213216) were analyzed to compare immune cell populations in control endometrium (CE), eutopic endometrium (EuE) and ectopic endometrium (EcE) of patients with EMS. Network pharmacology analysis, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were utilized to explore the molecular mechanism of CTS's effects on MDSCs. A C57BL/6J EMS mice model was established to evaluate CTS's influence on MDSC-mediated immune response in vivo. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the immune cell populations, particularly MDSCs and CD8+ T cells. Ex vivo bone marrow (BM)-derived MDSCs were prepared to investigate the modulatory activities of CTS on the frequency and function of MDSCs. The impacts of CTS on JAK2/STAT3 pathway were further examined by western blot.

RESULTS

Bioinformatic analysis revealed that, among the three progression stages (CE, EuE, and EcE), the EcE stage exhibited a relatively elevated level of MDSCs and a reduced level of CD8+ T cells. Network pharmacological analysis, along with SPR and CETSA identified that CTS potentially modulates MDSCs in EMS by targeting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. In vivo studies demonstrated that a relatively high dose of CTS treatment (60mg/kg) effectively inhibited lesion growth, reduced the population of MDSCs, and enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration. Ex vivo experiments showed that CTS decreased the BM-derived MDSC frequency and rescued the suppressive ability of MDSC upon CD8+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further mechanism analysis confirmed that CTS modulates the expression of immunosuppressive genes and proteins associated with MDSCs through JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that CTS is a promising natural compound for EMS treatment by inhibiting MDSC accumulation and modulating MDSC-mediated immune responses. Its therapeutic efficacy is linked to the modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Polyphyllin VI Ameliorates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Suppressing the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways via Upregulating DUSP6

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a lethal disease caused by inordinate repair of damaged lungs, for which limited strategies are available. Polyphyllin VI (PPVI), extracted and isolated from Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara, has been regarded as an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of respiratory system diseases. This study evaluated effects of PPVI on PF and its underlying mechanism. Experimental procedure For evaluating the anti-PF effect of PPVI, we established an in vivo PF mouse model via intratracheal infusion of bleomycin (BLM) in mice and an in vitro PF model induced by TGF-β1 in NIH/3T3, HPF and A549, respectively. Subsequently, the mechanism of PPVI effects was further explored using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The in vivo and in vitro results demonstrated that PPVI significantly inhibited inflammation, oxidative damage, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, RNA sequencing indicated that PPVI ameliorated PF by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress responses. Furthermore, dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6), was the shared and most significant differentially expressed gene associated with inflammation and oxidative stress response after PPVI treatment. Mechanistically, silencing DUSP6 can eliminate the suppressive impact on PPVI for the activation of fibroblast and the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT. Summarily, our findings revealed the potential of PPVI in mitigating PF via upregulating DUSP6 and highlighted the regulatory function of DUSP6 in the pathogenesis of PF.

Bioinformatics analysis based on extracted ingredients combined with network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to explore the mechanism of Jinbei oral liquid in the therapy of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Objective

Jinbei oral liquid (JBOL), which is derived from a traditional hospital preparation, is frequently utilized to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and has shown efficacy in clinical therapy. However, there are now several obstacles facing the mechanism inquiry, including target proteins, active components, and the binding affinity between crucial compounds and target proteins. To gain additional insight into the mechanisms underlying JBOL in anti-IPF, this study used bioinformation technologies, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation, with a substantial amount of data based on realistic constituents.

Methods

Using network pharmacology, we loaded 118 realistic compounds into the SwissTargetPrediction and SwissADME databases and screened the active compounds and target proteins. IPF-related targets were collected from the OMIM, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases, and the network of IPF-active constituents was built with Cytoscape 3.10.1. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were carried out using Metascape, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen the key targets with the STRING database. Finally, the reciprocal affinity between the active molecules and the crucial targets was assessed through the use of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation.

Results

A total of 122 targets and 34 tested active compounds were summarized in this investigation. Among these, kaempferol, apigenin, baicalein were present in high degree. PPI networks topological analysis identified eight key target proteins. AGE-RAGE, EGFR, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways were found to be regulated during the phases of cell senescence, inflammatory response, autophagy, and immunological response in anti-IPF of JBOL. It was verified by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation that the combining way and binding energy between active ingredients and selected targets.

Conclusions

This work forecasts the prospective core ingredients, targets, and signal pathways of JBOL in anti-IPF, which has confirmed the multiple targets and pathways of JBOL in anti-IPF and provided the first comprehensive assessment with bioinformatic approaches. With empirical backing and an innovative approach to the molecular mechanism, JBOL is being considered as a potential new medication.

Mechanisms of Bleomycin-induced Lung Fibrosis: A Review of Therapeutic Targets and Approaches

Pulmonary toxicity is a serious side effect of some specific anticancer drugs. Bleomycin is a well-known anticancer drug that triggers severe reactions in the lungs. It is an approved drug that may be prescribed for the treatment of testicular cancers, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, ovarian cancer, head and neck cancers, and cervical cancer. A large number of experimental studies and clinical findings show that bleomycin can concentrate in lung tissue, leading to massive oxidative stress, alveolar epithelial cell death, the proliferation of fibroblasts, and finally the infiltration of immune cells. Chronic release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic molecules by immune cells and fibroblasts leads to pneumonitis and fibrosis. Both fibrosis and pneumonitis are serious concerns for patients who receive bleomycin and may lead to death. Therefore, the management of lung toxicity following cancer therapy with bleomycin is a critical issue. This review explains the cellular and molecular mechanisms of pulmonary injury following treatment with bleomycin. Furthermore, we review therapeutic targets and possible promising strategies for ameliorating bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Cryptotanshinone alleviates liver fibrosis via inhibiting STAT3/CPT1A-dependent fatty acid oxidation in hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a major source of fibrogenic cells and play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. HSC activation depends on metabolic activation, for which it is well established that fatty acid oxidation (FAO) sustains their rapid proliferative rate. Studies have indicated that tanshinones inhibit HSC activation, however, the anti-fibrosis mechanisms of tanshinones are remain unclear. Herein, we reported that cryptotanshinone (CTS), a lipid-soluble ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on HSC-LX2 proliferation and activation. CTS could induce lipocyte phenotype in mouse primary HSC and HSC-LX2. Transcriptomic sequencing and qPCR revealed that CTS regulated fatty acid metabolism and inhibited CPT1A and CPT1B expression. Target prediction suggested CTS regulates lipid metabolism by targeting STAT3. Mechanistically, the level of ATP and acetyl-CoA were reduced by the treatment of CTS, indicating that CTS could inhibit the level of FAO. Furthermore, CTS could inhibit the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3. Additionally, CPT1A overexpression reversed the efficacy of CTS. Finally, CTS (40 mg/kg/day) attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and inhibited collagen production and HSC activation. Moreover, the results of immunofluorescence showed that α-SMA and p-STAT3 were co-located, and CTS could reduce the levels of p-STAT3 and α-SMA. In summary, CTS alleviated liver fibrosis by inhibiting the p-STAT3/CPT1A-dependent FAO both in vitro and in vivo, making it a potential candidate drug for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Research Progress of Triptolide Against Fibrosis

Fibrosis leads to organ failure and death, which is the final stage of many chronic diseases. Triptolide (TPL) is a terpenoid extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F (TwHF). Triptolide and its derivatives (Omtriptolide, Minnelide, (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide) have been proven to have a variety of pharmacological effects. This study comprehensively reviewed the antifibrotic mechanism of TPL and its derivatives, and discussed the application of advanced nanoparticles (NPs) drug delivery system in the treatment of fibrotic diseases by TPL. The results show that TPL can inhibit immune inflammatory response, relieve oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), regulate collagen deposition and inhibit myofibroblast production to play an anti-fibrosis effect and reduce organ injury. A low dose of TPL has no obvious toxicity. Under pathological conditions, a toxic dose of TPL has a protective effect on organs. The emergence of TPL derivatives (especially Minnelide) and NPs drug delivery systems promotes the anti-fibrosis effect of TPL and reduces its toxicity, which may be the main direction of anti-fibrosis research in the future.

Niclosamide-loaded nanoparticles (Ncl-NPs) reverse pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening interstitial lung disease, is characterized by excessive activation and proliferation of fibroblasts and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) accompanied by a large amount of extracellular matrix aggregation. There are no therapies to reverse pulmonary fibrosis, and nintedanib and pirfenidone could only slow down the decline of lung function of IPF patients and delay their survival time. Niclosamide (Ncl) is an antihelminthic drug approved by FDA, which has been reported to have pleiotropic pharmacological activities in recent years, but it's almost complete insolubility in water limits its clinical application.

OBJECTIVES

To improve the water solubility of Ncl, explore its ability to reverse BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and its specific mechanism of action.

METHODS

The Niclosamide-loaded nanoparticles (Ncl-NPs) were formed by emulsification solvent evaporation method. A mouse model induced by bleomycin (BLM) was established to evaluate its effects and mechanisms of inhibiting and reversing fibrosis in vivo. The cell models treated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were used to examine the mechanism of Ncl-NPs inhibiting fibrosis in vitro. Flow cytometry, IHC, IL-4-induced macrophage model and co-culture system were used to assess the effect of Ncl-NPs on M2 polarization of macrophages.

RESULTS

The Ncl-NPs improved the poor water solubility of Ncl. The lower dose of Ncl-NPs (2.5 mg/kg) showed the same effect of reversing established pulmonary fibrosis as free Ncl (5 mg/kg). Mechanistic studies revealed that Ncl-NPs blocked TGF-β/Smad and signaling transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling pathways and inhibited the M2 polarization of macrophages. Additionally, H&E staining of the tissues initially showed the safety of Ncl-NPs.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate Ncl-NPs may serve as a new idea for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

A systematic review of the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine against pulmonary fibrosis: from a pharmacological perspective

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease caused by a variety of etiologies. The disease can eventually lead to irreversible damage to the lung tissue structure, severely affecting respiratory function and posing a serious threat to human health. Currently, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants are the main drugs used in the clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, but their efficacy is limited and they can cause serious adverse effects. Traditional Chinese medicines have important research value and potential for clinical application in anti-pulmonary fibrosis. In recent years, more and more scientific researches have been conducted on the use of traditional Chinese medicine to improve or reduce pulmonary fibrosis, and some important breakthroughs have been made. This review paper systematically summarized the research progress of pharmacological mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines and their active compounds in improving or reducing pulmonary fibrosis. We conducted a systematic search in several main scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia, natural products, herbal medicine, and therapeutic methods. Ultimately, 252 articles were included and systematically evaluated in this analysis. The anti-fibrotic mechanisms of these traditional Chinese medicine studies can be roughly categorized into 5 main aspects, including inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, improvement of extracellular matrix deposition, mediation of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress. The purpose of this article is to provide pharmaceutical researchers with information on the progress of scientific research on improving or reducing Pulmonary fibrosis with traditional Chinese medicine, and to provide reference for further pharmacological research.

Fufang Shenhua tablet inhibits renal fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K/AKT

BACKGROUND

Fufang Shenhua tablet (SHT), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, has been utilized in the clinical management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for a long time. Nevertheless, the fundamental active constituents and potential mechanism of action remain unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the renoprotective effect of SHT on residual renal tissue in CKD model rats and to explore its primary efficacious components and their underlying mechanism.

METHODS

After a 12-week period of SHT treatment through gavage in a 5/6 nephrectomized animal model of CKD, we evaluated the body weight, renal function, and renal pathological changes. Furthermore, the expression levels of fibronectin (FN), collagen I (COL-1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and vimentin in renal tissues were assessed. In addition, network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were utilized to predict the primary active components, potential therapeutic targets, and intervention pathways through which SHT could potentially exert its anti-kidney fibrosis effects. Subsequently, these predictions were validated in renal tissues of rats with CKD and in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced HK-2 cells.

RESULTS

SHT significantly improved renal function and reduced renal pathological damage and fibrosis in CKD model rats. Network pharmacological analysis identified 62 active components in SHT, with quercetin ranked first, and 105 protein targets shared by SHT and CKD. Based on the protein‒protein interaction network (PPI) and the SHT-CKD-pathway network, AKT1, MYC, IL2, and VEGFA were identified as key targets. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the renoprotective effect of SHT on CKD was closely associated with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results demonstrated that the main active components of SHT had a strong binding affinity to the hub genes. During experimental validation, SHT hindered the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the renal tissue of CKD model rats. Furthermore, activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was correlated with a modified fibrotic phenotype in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy-induced CKD and TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. Conversely, SHT and quercetin curtailed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibited the formation of renal fibrosis, thus indicating that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is the basis of the antifibrotic effects of SHT. Ultimately, administration of the PI3K/AKT agonist 740Y-P counteracted the fibrotic phenotype of TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells induced by SHT.

CONCLUSIONS

In this investigation, we employed a fusion of systems pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments to elucidate the mechanism of SHT's antifibrotic properties via obstruction of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, we surmised that AKT may be the principal target of SHT for the management of CKD and that quercetin may be its efficacious component. We have thus identified SHT as a promising drug for the amelioration of renal fibrosis and the progression of CKD.

The effectiveness of blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) in lung cancer progression-a comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) are a class of herbs that have the effect of dilating blood vessels and dispersing stagnation. Modern pharmaceutical research has demonstrated that they are capable of improving hemodynamics and micro-flow, resist thrombosis and promote blood flow. BAST contain numerous active ingredients, which can theoretically regulate multiple targets at the same time and have a wide range of pharmacological effects in the treatment of diseases including human cancers. Clinically, BAST have minimal side effects and can be used in combination with Western medicine to improve patients' quality of life, lessen adverse effects and minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis of cancers.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

We aimed to summarize the research progression of BAST on lung cancer in the past five years and present a prospect for the future. Particularly, this review further analyzes the effects and molecular mechanisms that BAST inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies about BSAT were collected from PubMed and Web of science.

RESULTS

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rate. Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and are highly susceptible to metastasis. Recent studies have shown that BAST, a class of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the function of opening veins and dispersing blood stasis, significantly improve hemodynamics and microcirculation, prevent thrombosis and promote blood flow, and thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. In the current review, we analyzed 51 active ingredients extracted from BAST. It was found that BAST and their active ingredients contribute to the prevention of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer through multiple mechanisms, such as regulation of EMT process, specific signaling pathway and metastasis-related genes, tumor blood vessel formation, immune microenvironment and inflammatory response of tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

BSAT and its active ingredients have showed promising anticancer activity and significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A growing number of studies have realized their potential clinical significance in the therapy of lung cancer, which will provide substantial evidences for the development of new TCM for lung cancer therapy.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis rats treated with cryptotanshinone

Introduction: Cryptotanshinone(CTS), a compound derived from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been linked to various of diseases, particularly pulmonary fibrosis. In the current study, we investigated the benefit of CTS on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats induced by bleomycin (BLM) and established high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods to compare pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in subsequent normal and modulated SD rats.

Methods: The therapeutic effect of CTS on BLM-induced SD rats was evaluated using histopathology, lung function and hydroxyproline content measurement, revealing that CTS significantly improved SD rats induced by BLM. Additionally, a simple, rapid, sensitive and specific HPLC-MS/MS method was developed to determine the pharmacokinetics of various components in rat plasma.

Results: Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that CTS was slowly absorbed by oral administration and had low bioavailability and a slow clearance rate. The elimination of pulmonary fibrosis in 28-day rats was slowed down, and the area under the curve was increased compared to the control group. Long-term oral administration of CTS did not accumulate in vivo, but the clearance was slowed down, and the steady-state blood concentration was increased. The tissue distribution study revealed that CTS exposure in the lungs and liver.

Discussion: The lung CTS exposure was significantly higher in the model group than in the control group, suggesting that the pathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis were conducive to the lung exposure of CTS and served as the target organ of CTS.

Cryptotanshinone modulates proliferation, apoptosis, and fibrosis through inhibiting AR and EGFR/STAT3 axis to ameliorate benign prostatic hyperplasia progression

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic proliferative non-tumorous disease that mainly bothers males older than 50 and significantly disturbs the quality of life. Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a herbal extract, has been proven with therapeutic effects on various diseases. However, the effects and possible mechanisms of CTS in BPH have not yet been elucidated. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of CTS on the BPH-associated pathological processes and the possible mechanisms underlying it. Herein, CTS was intragastrically administrated to estradiol/testosterone (E2/T) (1:100)-induced BPH rats, and finasteride (Fi) was used as the positive control. Human benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cells (BPH-1) and normal human prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1) were used for the in vitro experiments. Results indicated that E2/T injection was able to induce BPH manifestation, featured with increased prostate index. Furthermore, it accelerated proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stromal collagen deposition, and inhibited apoptosis of rat prostate. However, the administration of CTS partially reversed the changes mentioned above. The therapeutic effects of CTS on BPH were also confirmed by in vitro experiments. The efficacy of CTS on these processes might be attributed to the suppression of AR and EGFR/STAT3 axis activity. In conclusion, CTS might suppress BPH progression by modulating proliferation, apoptosis, EMT, and stromal collagen deposition via suppressing AR and EGFR/STAT3 axis.

Novel perspectives on the therapeutic role of cryptotanshinone in the management of stem cell behaviors for high-incidence diseases

Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a diterpenoid quinone, is found mostly in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) and plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation/self-renewal, differentiation and apoptosis. In particular, CTS’s profound physiological impact on various stem cell populations and their maintenance and fate determination could improve the efficiency and accuracy of stem cell therapy for high-incidence disease. However, as much promise CTS holds, these CTS-mediated processes are complex and multifactorial and many of the underlying mechanisms as well as their clinical significance for high-incidence diseases are not yet fully understood. This review aims to shed light on the impact and mechanisms of CTS on the actions of diverse stem cells and the involvement of CTS in the many processes of stem cell behavior and provide new insights for the application of CTS and stem cell therapy in treating high-incidence diseases.

Jinlian Xiaodu Decoction Protects against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

Background

Jinlian Xiaodu Decoction (JXD) was reported to have anti-inflammatory and lung protection effects. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of JXD on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Methods

The UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS system was applied to analyze JXD composition. The PF model was established by BLM intratracheal administration in Wistar rats. Subsequently, BLM-treated rats were intragastrically administered with dexamethasone (DXM, 1 g/kg/d) or JXD (3.5, 7 or 14 g/kg/d). Next, the lung coefficient was calculated; H&E, Masson, and TUNEL staining were used for lung morphological analysis and apoptosis assessment. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) biochemical analysis was conducted to count the inflammatory cell number. The expression of inflammatory factors mRNA in the lung tissue and BALF were measured by qRT-PCR. The content and activity of oxidative stress-related proteins were detected. The expression of PF-related, apoptosis-related, and TGF-β1 pathway-related protein were assessed by immunohistochemistry or Western blot.

Results

Twenty-six compounds were identified from JXD in both negative and positive ion modes. In BLM-induced rats, JXD reduced the lung coefficient and alleviated PF injury. JXD decreased inflammatory cell count and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 content. Meanwhile, JXD blunted BLM-induced oxidative stress and a high level of HYP. Furthermore, TUNEL analysis found that JXD inhibited cell apoptosis and increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio in BLM-induced lung. Moreover, JXD relieved the role of BLM on α-SMA, TGF-β1, collagen I, fibronectin, E-cadherin protein expression, and the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in PF rat.

Conclusion

This study revealed the protective effect and possible element of JXD on BLM-caused PF.

An Overview of Herbal Medicines for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung scarring condition with the histological characteristic of typical interstitial pneumonia. Injury to alveolar epithelial cells is a critical precursor in the pathogenesis of this disease. The prevalence of IPF is growing exponentially, with substantial morbidity and mortality rates increasing the burden on economic healthcare costs. A multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis is used to rule out the alternative causes of interstitial lung disease. Pirfenidone and nintedanib, two innovative antifibrotic medicines introduced in recent years, have provided therapeutic benefits to many IPF patients, and several IPF medications are in the early phases of clinical trials. However, available medications can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. More efforts have been made to uncover alternative treatments towards a more personalised patient-centred care and hence improve the outcomes in the IPF patients. Through a multi-level and multi-target treatment approach, herbal medicines, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have been identified as revolutionary medical treatment for IPF. Due to their natural properties, herbal medicines have shown to possess low adverse effects, stable therapeutic impact, and no obvious drug dependencies. Herbal medicines have also shown anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, which make them a promising therapeutic target for IPF. A growing number of formulas, herbal components, and various forms of Chinese herbal medicine extracts are available for IPF patients in China. This review summarises the role of herbal medicines in the prevention and treatment of IPF.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Strategies to Illustrate the Mechanism of Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen Formula in Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen formula (JPYSF), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been recommended to treat renal fibrosis for decades. Previous studies had shown that JPYSF could inhibit epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), an important regulatory role in renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism of JPYSF action is largely unknown. In this study, network pharmacology and experimental verification were combined to elucidate and identify the potential mechanism of JPYSF against renal fibrosis by suppressing EMT at molecular and pathway levels. Network pharmacology was first performed to explore the mechanism of JPYSF against renal fibrosis targeting EMT, and then a 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx)-induced rat model of renal fibrosis was selected to verify the predictive results by Masson’s trichrome stains and western blot analysis. Two hundred and thirty-two compounds in JPYSF were selected for the network approach analysis, which identified 137 candidate targets of JPYSF and 4,796 known therapeutic targets of EMT. The results of the Gene Ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis included 2098, 88, and 133 GO terms for biological processes (BPs), molecular functions (MFs), and cell component entries, respectively. The top 10 enrichment items of BP annotations included a response to a steroid hormone, a metal ion, oxygen levels, and so on. Cellular composition (CC) is mainly enriched in membrane raft, membrane microdomain, membrane region, etc. The MF of JPYSF analysis on EMT was predominately involved in proximal promoter sequence-specific DNA binding, protein heterodimerization activity, RNA polymerase II proximal promoter sequence-specific DNA binding, and so on. The involvement signaling pathway of JPYSF in the treatment of renal fibrosis targeting EMT was associated with anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammation, podocyte protection, and metabolism regulation. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments confirmed that JPYSF effectively ameliorated interstitial fibrosis and inhibited the overexpression of α-SMA, Wnt3a, and β-catenin, and increased the expression of E-cadherin by wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway in 5/6 Nx-induced renal fibrosis rats. Using an integrative network pharmacology-based approach and experimental verification, the study showed that JPYSF had therapeutic effects on EMT by regulating multi-pathway, among which one proven pathway was the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings provide insights into the renoprotective effects of JPYSF against EMT, which could suggest directions for further research of JPYSF in attenuating renal fibrosis by suppressing EMT.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as a Potential Natural Compound against COVID-19

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, commonly called danshen, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects, which include antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preclinical potential of S. miltiorrhiza extracts for the treatment of COVID-19. First, the impact of the extract on the binding between SARS-CoV-2 and the cellular ACE2 receptors was assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing a significant reduction in binding by the extract at concentrations in the µg/mL range. Second, the interference of this extract with the inflammatory response of blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined, demonstrating potent inhibitory properties in the same concentration range on pro-inflammatory cytokine release and interference with the activation of NFκB signaling. Together, these in vitro data demonstrate the potential of S. miltiorrhiza against COVID-19, consisting first of the blockade of the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the ACE2 receptor and the mitigation of the inflammatory response from leukocytes by interfering with NFκB signaling. This dataset prompts the launch of a clinical trial to address in vivo the clinical benefits of this promising agent.

Cryptotanshinone Protects against PCOS-Induced Damage of Ovarian Tissue via Regulating Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Inflammation, and Apoptosis via Regulating Ferroptosis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age. Cryptotanshinone (CRY) has been shown to be effective in reversing reproductive disorders, but whether it can be used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome remains unclear. We aimed to explore whether the mechanism of cryptotanshinone (CRY) in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be driven via regulating ferroptosis. A rat model of PCOS was established by daily injection of human chorionic gonadotropin and insulin for 22 days. An in vitro model of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of granulosa cells was established. The in vitro and rat models of PCOS were subjected to different treatments including ferroptosis activators and inhibitors, CRY, and MAPK inhibitor. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the activities of SOD, MDA, and GSH-PX. Total body weight and ovarian weight, as well as the levels of LH and the LH to FSH ratio, significantly increased in rats with PCOS, compared with controls. The expression of Bax was increased in PCOS tissues while PGC1α, NFR1, GPX4, catalase p-ERK, and Bcl-2 were all downregulated. Ferroptosis activator, erastin, had effects similar to those of PCOS while the contrary was found with CRY and ferroptosis inhibitor treatment groups. In vitro, CRY inhibited oxidative stress, MMP, and NF-κB and activated MAPK/ERK signaling by regulating ferroptosis. Overall, this study indicated that CRY protects against PCOS-induced damage of the ovarian tissue, via regulating oxidative stress, MMP, inflammation, and apoptosis via regulating ferroptosis.

Inhalable cryptotanshinone spray-dried swellable microparticles for pulmonary fibrosis therapy by regulating TGF-β1/Smad3, STAT3 and SIRT3 pathways

Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is a promising therapeutic option for pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, clinical applications of CTS are limited owing to high photosensitivity and poor oral bioavailability. Pulmonary drug delivery, especially sustained pulmonary drug delivery, is promising for local treatment of chronic lung diseases. In this study, CTS was encapsulated in an optimized chitosan/L-leucine-based swellable microparticles (SMs) system, which exhibited an appropriate aerosolization performance, sustained release and storage stability. SMs enhanced the in vitro anti-fibrosis efficacy of CTS as shown by the improved cellular uptake. The effect of PF status on in vivo fate of the pulmonary delivered drug was also assessed. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of oral and pulmonary delivery CTS in bleomycin-induced PF rats were compared. Pulmonary delivery exhibited high drug concentrations in pulmonary lesion areas, with reduced exposure to blood and non-targeted tissues after administration at a significantly lower dose compared with oral delivery. Moreover, PF pathological status enhanced activity of SMs, implying that pulmonary delivery was highly effective for PF treatment. Compared to oral delivery, Inhaled SMs showed comparable or even better efficacies at approximately 60-fold low dose compared with oral delivery. A sustained efficacy was observed under a prolonged administration interval (corresponding to half the total dose). Inhalation safety of SMs was established, and important mechanism-related signaling pathways against PF were investigated in vitro and in vivo. In summary, the findings showed that the developed CTS-loaded sustained pulmonary delivery system is a safe and effective strategy for chronic PF treatment.

Epigenetic regulation in fibrosis progress

Fibrosis, a common process of chronic inflammatory diseases, is defined as a repair response disorder when organs undergo continuous damage, ultimately leading to scar formation and functional failure. Around the world, fibrotic diseases cause high mortality, unfortunately, with limited treatment means in clinical practice. With the development and application of deep sequencing technology, comprehensively exploring the epigenetic mechanism in fibrosis has been allowed. Extensive remodeling of epigenetics controlling various cells phenotype and molecular mechanisms involved in fibrogenesis was subsequently verified. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in organ fibrosis, focusing on heart, liver, lung and kidney. Additionally, we emphasize the diversity of epigenetics in the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to fibrosis. Finally, the potential and prospect of targeted therapy for fibrosis based on epigenetic is discussed.

The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine promotes immune response and inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by suppressing the VWF/p38 MAPK axis

Background/aim

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) demonstrates applications in the prevention of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is often characterized by fibrosis of the small airways. This study aims at investigating the physiological mechanisms by which NAC might mediate the pulmonary fibrosis in COPD.

Methods

A total of 10 non-smokers without COPD and 10 smokers with COPD were recruited in this study, and COPD rat models were established. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) cell models were constructed. The gain- or loss-of-function experiments were adopted to determine the expression of VWF and the extent of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) in the serum of COPD rats and supernatant of alveolar epithelial cells and to detect cell invasion and migration and the ratio of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺T lymphocytes.

Results

Expression of VWF and the extent of p38 MAPK phosphorylation were increased in COPD. NAC inhibited p38 MAPK phosphorylation by reducing the VWF expression. NAC could inhibit cell migration and invasion, elevate E-cadherin expression, the ratio of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺T lymphocytes, and levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM, and reduce N-cadherin expression and levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in CSE cells and serum of COPD rats. NAC promoted immune response and suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) to relieve COPD-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the VWF/p38 MAPK axis.

Conclusions

Collectively, NAC could ameliorate COPD-induced pulmonary fibrosis by promoting immune response and inhibiting EMT process via the VWF/p38 MAPK axis, therefore providing us with a potential therapeutic target for treating COPD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-021-00342-y.

Mechanism of Fei-Xian Formula in the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis on the Basis of Network Pharmacology Analysis Combined with Molecular Docking Validation

Objective

This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of Fei-Xian formula (FXF) in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis based on network pharmacology analysis combined with molecular docking validation.

Methods

Firstly, ingredients in FXF with pharmacological activities, together with specific targets, were identified based on the BATMA-TCM and TCMSP databases. Then, targets associated with pulmonary fibrosis, which included pathogenic targets as well as those known therapeutic targets, were screened against the CTD, TTD, GeneCards, and DisGeNet databases. Later, Cytoscape was employed to construct a candidate component-target network of FXF for treating pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, for nodes within the as-constructed network, topological parameters were calculated using CytoHubba plug-in, and the degree value (twice as high as the median degree value for all the nodes) was adopted to select core components as well as core targets of FXF for treating pulmonary fibrosis, which were subsequently utilized for constructing the core network. Furthermore, molecular docking study was carried out on those core active ingredients together with the core targets using AutoDock Vina for verifying results of network pharmacology analysis. At last, OmicShare was employed for enrichment analysis of the core targets.

Results

Altogether 12 active ingredients along with 13 core targets were identified from our constructed core component-target network of FXF for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. As revealed by enrichment analysis, the 13 core targets mostly concentrated in regulating biological functions, like response to external stimulus (from oxidative stress, radiation, UV, chemical substances, and virus infection), apoptosis, cell cycle, aging, immune process, and protein metabolism. In addition, several pathways, like IL-17, AGE-RAGE, TNF, HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, NOD-like receptor, T/B cell receptor, and virus infection-related pathways, exerted vital parts in FXF in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusions

FXF can treat pulmonary fibrosis through a “multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway” mean. Findings in this work lay foundation for further exploration of the FXF mechanism in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

The role of natural products in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis: a review

Pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable end-stage lung disease and remains a global public health problem. Although there have been some breakthroughs in understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, effective intervention methods are still limited. Natural products have the advantages of multiple biological activities and high levels of safety, which are important factors for preventing and treating pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms and health benefits of natural products against pulmonary fibrosis. These natural products target oxidative stress, inflammatory injury, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix accumulation and metabolic regulation, and the mechanisms involve the NF-κB, TGF-β1/Smad, PI3K/Akt, p38 MAPK, Nrf2-Nox4, and AMPK signaling pathways. We hope to provide new ideas for pulmonary fibrosis prevention and treatment strategies.

Anti-Fibrosis Effects of Magnesium Lithospermate B in Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis: By Inhibiting TGF-βRI/Smad Signaling

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe and irreversible interstitial pulmonary disease with high mortality and few treatments. Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is a hydrosoluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza and has been reported to have antifibrotic effects in other forms of tissue fibrosis. In this research, we studied the effects of MLB on pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms. Our results indicated that MLB treatment (50 mg/kg) for seven days could attenuate bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis by reducing the alveolar structure disruption and collagen deposition in the C57 mouse model. MLB was also found to inhibit transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-stimulated myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) cells and collagen production by human type II alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) cells, mainly by decreasing the expression of TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) and regulating the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Further studies confirmed that the molecular mechanisms of MLB in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice were similar to those observed in vitro. In summary, our results demonstrated that MLB could alleviate experimental pulmonary fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that MLB has great potential for pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

A review of the biological activity and pharmacology of cryptotanshinone, an important active constituent in Danshen

Cryptotanshinone (IUPAC name: (R)-1,2,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-1,6,6-trimethyl-phenanthro(1,2-b)furan-10,11-dione), a biologically active constituent extracted from the roots and rhizomes of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been studied in depth as a medicinally active compound and shown to have efficacy in the treatment of numerous diseases and disorders. In this review, we describe in detail the current status of cryptotanshinone research, including findings relating to the structure, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activity, and derivatives of this compound. Cryptotanshinoneh as a diverse range of pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immune regulatory, neuroprotective, and anti-fibrosis activities. Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying the activities of cryptotanshinone have established that the JAK2/STAT3, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, AMPK, and cell cycle pathways are involved in the inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of cryptotanshinone on different tumor cell lines, these molecular pathways interact in a coordinated manner to inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion,and induce transformation, autophagy, necrosis, and cellular immunity. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of cryptotanshinone have been found to be associated with the TLR4-MyD88/PI3K/Nrf2 and TLR4-MyD88/NF-κB/MAPK pathways, whereasthe Hedgehog, NF-κB, and Nrf-2/HO-1 pathways are regulated by cryptotanshinone to reduce organ fibrosis, and its inhibitory effects on the PI3K/AKT-eNOS pathway have been linked to neuroprotective effects. Given the potential medicinal utility of cryptotanshinone, further research is needed to verify the efficacy and safety of this compound in clinical use, evaluate its pharmacological activity, and identify molecular targets.

Detection of Type I and III collagen in porcine acellular matrix using HPLC-MS

Acellular matrix (ACM) has been widely used as a biomaterial. As the main component of ACM, collagen type and content show influence on the material properties. In this research, the collagen in ACM from different tissues of pig were determined by detection of marker peptides. The marker peptides of Type I and III collagen were identified from the digested collagen standards using ions trap mass spectrometry (LCQ). The relationship between the abundance of marker peptide and collagen concentration was established using triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TSQ). The contents of Type I and III collagen in ACM from different tissues were determined. The method was further verified by hydroxyproline determination. The results showed that, the sum of Type I and III collagen contents in the ACM from small intestinal submucosa, dermis and Achilles tendon of pig were about 87.59, 81.41 and 61.13%, respectively, which were close to the total collagen contents in these tissues. The results proved that this method could quantitatively detect the collagen with different types in the ACM of various tissues.