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Li J, You Y, Zhang P, Huang X, Dong L, Yang F, Yu X, Chang D. Qiangjing tablets repair of blood-testis barrier dysfunction in rats via regulating oxidative stress and p38 MAPK pathway. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:133. [PMID: 35568844 PMCID: PMC9107122 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03615-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is a physical barrier of the testis to prevent various exogenous substrates from entering apical compartments and provides immune privilege for spermatogenesis, which is essential for normal spermatogenic function of testis. It has been shown that oxidative stress can damage BTB by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qiangjing tablets (QJT) improve spermatogenesis and increase pregnancy rates. Previous studies have confirmed that QJT can improve sperm quality and have obvious antioxidant effects. In this study, we explore whether QJT contributes to recovery from BTB dysfunction in rats. METHODS BTB dysfunction was induced in rats by 1% Cyclophosphamide (CP). The CP-induced rats in the treatment group were given a dose of QJT (0.45 g/kg·d) by gavage. Testis tissues were collected for histopathological and biochemical analysis, and the testis weight was estimated. Levels of BTB-related proteins and antioxidant enzyme were analyzed in the testis tissues. RESULTS QJT resolved the pathological injury of rats testis induced by CP. Furthermore, MDA levels were significantly reduced, and the levels of SOD markedly increased in the testicular tissue after QJT treatment. In addition, QJT down-regulated the expression of p38 protein in rat testis and up-regulated the expressions of key proteins ZO-1, occludin and F-actin in BTB. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that QJT exerts protective effects on CP-induced rats with BTB dysfunction, likely by regulating the oxidative stress-mediated p38 MAPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Li
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China
- The Reproductive & Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610041, The People's Republic of China
| | - Yaodong You
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China
| | - Peihai Zhang
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaopeng Huang
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Dong
- The Reproductive & Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610041, The People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Yang
- The Reproductive & Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610041, The People's Republic of China
| | - Xujun Yu
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China.
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, The People's Republic of China.
| | - Degui Chang
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, The People's Republic of China.
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Wang N, Li H, Zhu Y, Li N, Chen ZJ, Zhang C. Melatonin protects against Epirubicin-induced ovarian damage. J Reprod Dev 2019; 66:19-27. [PMID: 31735743 PMCID: PMC7040211 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2019-085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One major side effect of chemotherapy that young women with cancer suffer from is ovarian damage. Therefore, it is necessary to study the pathogenesis of chemotherapeutic drugs in order to develop pharmaceutical agents to preserve fertility. Epirubicin is one of the commonly used chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer patients. This research explored the side effects of epirubicin in mice. We found that epirubicin significantly reduced the body weight, the weight of the ovaries and uteri, and the pups' number, while melatonin, which is extremely resistant to oxidation, significantly reduced these damages. Moreover, co-treatment with melatonin prevented epirubicin-induced decrease in E<inf>2</inf> and progesterone, and the loss of follicles. Mechanism study showed that melatonin significantly reduced the levels of proapoptotic genes p53, Caspase3, and Caspase9 while it upregulated antiapoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bcl2l1, and antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 1 and catalase compared with the epirubicin group. In addition, melatonin markedly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the transcription of Caspase12 and Chop, which is vital in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated apoptosis. These results indicate melatonin protects against epirubicin-induced ovarian damage by reducing ROS-induced ERS. Therefore, melatonin has a therapeutic potential for the protection of ovarian function and preservation of fertility during chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ji'nan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Shandong 250001, China
| | - Yunqing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Zi-Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong 250014, China.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China
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Kaleağasıoğlu F, Zaharieva MM, Konstantinov SM, Berger MR. Alkylphospholipids are Signal Transduction Modulators with Potential for Anticancer Therapy. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2019; 19:66-91. [PMID: 30318001 DOI: 10.2174/1871520618666181012093056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alkylphospholipids (APLs) are synthetically derived from cell membrane components, which they target and thus modify cellular signalling and cause diverse effects. This study reviews the mechanism of action of anticancer, antiprotozoal, antibacterial and antiviral activities of ALPs, as well as their clinical use. METHODS A literature search was used as the basis of this review. RESULTS ALPs target lipid rafts and alter phospholipase D and C signalling cascades, which in turn will modulate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathways. By feedback coupling, the SAPK/JNK signalling chain is also affected. These changes lead to a G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequently induce programmed cell death. The available knowledge on inhibition of AKT phosphorylation, mTOR phosphorylation and Raf down-regulation renders ALPs as attractive candidates for modern medical treatment, which is based on individualized diagnosis and therapy. Corresponding to their unusual profile of activities, their side effects result from cholinomimetic activity mainly and focus on the gastrointestinal tract. These aspects together with their bone marrow sparing features render APCs well suited for modern combination therapy. Although the clinical success has been limited in cancer diseases so far, the use of miltefosine against leishmaniosis is leading the way to better understanding their optimized use. CONCLUSION Recent synthetic programs generate congeners with the increased therapeutic ratio, liposomal formulations, as well as diapeutic (or theranostic) derivatives with optimized properties. It is anticipated that these innovative modifications will pave the way for the further successful development of ALPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferda Kaleağasıoğlu
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Maya M Zaharieva
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Infectious Microbiology, The "Stephan Angeloff" Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Spiro M Konstantinov
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Martin R Berger
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Immunosuppressants and Male Reproduction. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1034:179-210. [PMID: 29256132 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-69535-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged use of immunosuppressant medications is occasionally seen in infertile men with chronic inflammatory conditions; autoimmune disorders; or an organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Chronic inflammation impacts negatively on male reproductive endpoints, so immunosuppressant therapy can produce improvements. Corticosteroids have been used to treat antisperm antibodies and even as an empirical treatment for male infertility in general. Trials of these methods have provided mixed results on semen quality and fertility, with improvement, no change and negative effects reported by different investigators. In a substantial number of observational studies, patients on long-term therapy with prednisone for chronic inflammatory disease, testosterone levels were lower compared to untreated controls, though randomized controlled trials have not been conducted. Similarly decreases in testosterone have been reported in men receiving corticosteroids to minimize transplant rejection; however, most were treated with multiple immunosuppressive medications that may have contributed to this effect. A large number of trials of healthy men treated with corticosteroids have shown some disruption in reproductive hormone levels, but other studies reported no effect. Studies in monkeys, rats (at human equivalent dose), cattle, sheep, and horses have shown endocrine disruption, including low testosterone with dexamethasone treatment. Of the cytostatic immunosuppressives, which have high potential for cellular damage, cyclophosphamide has received the most attention, sometimes lowering sperm counts significantly. Methotrexate may decrease sperm numbers in humans and has significant negative impacts in rodents. Other chemotherapeutic drugs used as immunosuppressants are likely to impact negatively on male fertility endpoints, but few data have been collected. The TNF-α Inhibitors have also received little experimental attention. There is some evidence that the immunophilin modulators: cyclosporine, sirolimus, and everolimus cause endocrine disruption and semen quality impairment. As we review in this chapter, results in experimental species are concerning, and well-designed studies are lacking for the effects of these medications on reproductive endpoints in men.
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Dialkylamino and nitrogen heterocyclic analogues of hexadecylphosphocholine and cetyltrimetylammonium bromide: Effect of phosphate group and environment of the ammonium cation on their biological activity. Eur J Med Chem 2009; 44:4970-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2009.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Revised: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 08/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Xu JH, Li AX, Zhu XQ, Feng LQ, Xie MQ. The effect of turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) shell extract in normal and cyclophosphamide-treated mice. FOOD AGR IMMUNOL 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/09540100701327781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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