Effects of modified Sanhuang decoction () enema on serum tumor necrosis factor-α and colonic mucosa interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 levels in ulcerative colitis rats. Chin J Integr Med. 2014;20:865-869. [PMID: 24126972 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-013-1538-z]

Systems pharmacology and transcriptomics reveal the mechanisms of Sanhuang decoction enema in the treatment of ulcerative colitis with additional Candida albicans infection

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an important inflammatory phenotype in bowel disease (IBD), which is caused by multiple potential factors, including fungal dysbiosis. Candida albicans (C. albicans) was confirmed to be an important factor promoting the occurrence and development of UC. Sanhuang decoction (SHD) has been used for UC therapy in China for thousand of years, although its core active constituents and pharmacological mechanism remain undefined.

Methods

In this work, a murine model of UC with C. albicans colonization was established with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and C. albicans intragastric administration. The major bioactive constituents and potential mechanism of SHD against UC with fungal dysbiosis were comprehensively examined by combining systems pharmacology and in vivo transcriptomics.

Results

SHD attenuated C. albicans burden, reduced DAI, increased mucosal integrity and relived systemic inflammation in UC mice. Systems pharmacology analysis identified 9 core bioactive ingredients and 45 hub targets of SHD against UC. Transcriptomics analysis confirmed 370 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after SHD treatment, which were mainly enriched in inflammatory and immune response related signaling pathways. Toll-like receptor and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were screened out as the candidate targets involved in the action of SHD on fungal dysbiosis-associated UC, which were consistent with the findings in systems pharmacology. The expression of TLR4, IL-1β, NF-κB, PI3K and Akt proteins were stimulated by C. albicans, and partially reversed by SHD in UC mice.

Conclusion

These findings suggested SHD could be a candidate for the treatment of fungal dysbiosis-associated UC via TLR4-NF-κB and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-021-00487-2.

Protective effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone analogs in DSS-induced colitis in mice

Besides its metabolic and endocrine effects, growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) is involved in the modulation of inflammation. Recently synthetized GHRH antagonist MIA-690 and MR-409, GHRH agonist, developed by us have shown potent pharmacological effects in various experimental paradigms. However, whether their administration modify resistance to chronic inflammatory stimuli in colon is still unknown. Ex vivo results demonstrated that MIA-690 and MR-409 inhibited production of pro-inflammatory and oxidative markers induced by lipopolysaccharide on isolated mouse colon specimens. In vivo, both MIA-690 and MR-409 have also been able to decrease the responsiveness to nociceptive stimulus, in hot plate test. Additionally, both peptides also induced a decreased sensitivity to acute and persistent inflammatory stimuli in male mice, in formalin test and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model, respectively. MIA-690 and MR-409 attenuate DSS-induced colitis with particular regard to clinical manifestations, histopathological damage and release of pro-inflammatory and oxidative markers in colon specimens. Respect to MR-409, MIA-690 showed higher efficacy in inhibiting prostaglandin (PG)E₂, 8-iso-PGF_2α and serotonin (5-HT) levels, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and nitric oxide synthase gene expression in colon specimens of DSS-induced colitis. Furthermore, MIA-690 decreased serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels in mice DSS-treated, respect to MR-409. Thus, our findings highlight the protective effects of MIA-690 and MR-409 on inflammation stimuli. The higher antinflammatory and antioxidant activities observed with MIA-690 could be related to decreased serum IGF-1 levels.

Astragaloside IV inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer via promoting the long noncoding RNA TRHDE-AS1

Astragaloside IV (ASV), which has several pharmacological abilities, shows potential therapeutic effects on certain cancers by regulating the expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). However, the anticancer role that ASV plays by regulating lncRNAs in breast cancer remains unknown. In this study, we first demonstrated that the lncRNA of TRHDE antisense RNA 1 (TRHDE-AS1) was downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cells. Low TRHDE-AS1 expression is associated with poor outcomes in patients with breast cancer and potentially contributes to the aggressive tumor biology of breast cancer. Furthermore, ASV significantly increased TRHDE-AS1 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. By upregulating TRHDE-AS1, ASV repressed breast cancer cell growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data indicated that TRHDE-AS1 participates in the anticancer role of ASV in breast cancer, which provides evidence for the application of ASV for breast cancer therapy.

Efficacy and safety of retention enema with traditional Chinese medicine for ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of retention enema with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for ulcerative colitis (UC) through a meta-analysis of published studies.

METHODS

Literatures were retrieved from five electronic databases. Quality evaluation and meta-analysis were respectively conducted using the Cochrane collaboration and RevMan5.3. Overall quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE system. Effect sizes were pooled using random effect models.

RESULTS

Seventeen RCTs were included. Compared with routine pharmacotherapies (RPs), TCM enema exhibited a statistically significant difference in clinical efficacy and reduction of the recurrence rate. The results of qualitative description for other endpoints, such as improvements in anabrosis, ulcer, diarrhea, and hematochezia, suggested that TCM enema had better efficacy than RPs. Furthermore, the incidence of side effects in TCM was lower than that in RPs.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis confirmed the efficacy and safety of TCM enema for improving UC symptoms. However, further well-designed researches are needed.

Jiaweishaoyao Decoction Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via Inhibiting Inflammation

Purpose

Jiaweishaoyao decoction (JWSYD) is a traditional prescription of Chinese medicine that is initially used for the treatment of diarrhea. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of JWSYD on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

DSS-induced UC mice and LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were used as the UC model in vivo and in vitro. UC was assessed by body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and histopathological score (HE staining). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were analyzed by ELISA and qRT-PCR. The levels of NLRP3 inflammasome- and NF-κB pathway-associated proteins were measured by western blot.

Results

JWSYD alleviated DSS-induced UC in respect to body weight, DAI, colon length, spleen weight, and histopathological score. JWSYD reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in DSS-induced UC mice and the supernatants of LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. JWSYD suppressed the protein levels of inflammasome-associated proteins, including NLRP3, ASC1, Procaspase-1, Cleaved caspase-1, and Cleaved IL-1β in DSS-induced UC mice and LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In addition, JWSYD suppressed the NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

JWSYD alleviated DSS-induced UC via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway.

Effects of Astragaloside IV on treatment of breast cancer cells execute possibly through regulation of Nrf2 via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has from ancient times been applied in China for the treatment of breast cancer with its own unique theoretical system. Sanhuang decoction composed of astragalus membranaceus, prepared rhubarb, and rhizoma curcumae longae has traditionally been used for antioxidant stress, inflammatory reaction, and angiogenesis. However, the role and mechanism of Sanhuang decoction in breast cancer remains unknown. The present study demonstrated the antitumor activity of Sanhuang decoction against breast cancer xenografts in nude mice. Notably, Sanhuang decoction promoted severe necrosis and induced cell death. In addition, Sanhuang decoction obviously regulated the inflammation and oxidative stress. Despite these, Sanhuang decoction could increase the expression of Nrf2. Moreover, si-Nrf2 exhibited the opposite effects compared with the Sanhuang decoction treatment group and reversed the antibreast cancer role of Sanhuang decoction. Further, Sanhuang decoction remarkably suppressed the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, Sanhuang decoction was firstly evaluated to possess potent antibreast cancer effect in vivo through regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress accomplished by up-regulation of Nrf2 via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and Sanhuang decoction might be a powerful candidate formula for antibreast cancer.

Effect of HSF2 silencing on NLRP3 inflammasome in THP-1 cells

AIM: To study the effect of heat shock transcription factor 2 (HSF2) silencing on NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in THP-1 cells.

METHODS: THP-1 cells were transfected with a lentivirial vector (LV-HSF2-RNAi) to induce HSF2 silencing. PMA was used to induce THP-1 cells to differentiate into macrophages. Then different groups of cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase1 and IL-1β were measured by RT-PCR and Western Blot, respectively. The level of IL-1β was measured by ELISA.

RESULTS: The protein level of HSF2 in the HSF2-siRNA group was significantly lower than those in the control group and negative siRNA group (P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase1 and IL-1β in the HSF2-siRNA group were significantly higher than those in the control group and negative siRNA group (P < 0.05). IL-1β levels in cell supernants in the HSF2-siRNA group were significantly higher than those in the control group and negative siRNA group (control group: 257.010 pg/mL±26.148 pg/mL; siRNA group: 538.800 pg/mL±52.250 pg/mL; negative siRNA group: 238.231 pg/mL±29.245 pg/mL) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: HSF2 silencing significantly raises the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in THP-1 cells.

Interleukin-6, but not the interleukin-6 receptor plays a role in recovery from dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis

Interleukin (IL)-6-deficient, but not IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)‑deficient mice present with a delayed skin wound healing phenotype. Since IL-6 solely signals via the IL-6R and glycoprotein 130 (gp130), Il-6r-deficient mice are expected to exhibit a similar phenotype as Il-6-deficient mice. However, p28 (IL-30) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) have been identified as additional low‑affinity ligands of the IL-6R/gp130/LIFR complex. IL-6 plays an inflammatory and regenerative role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the present study, we compared Il-6r-deficient mice with mice treated with neutralizing IL-6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in a model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Our results, in agreement with those of previous reports, demonstrated that IL-6 mAbs slightly attenuated DSS-induced colitis during the regeneration phase. Il-6r-deficient mice and mice with tissue-specific deletion of the Il-6r in the myeloid cell lineage (LysMCre) with acute and chronic DSS-induced colitis were, however, indistinguishable from wild-type mice. Our data suggest that IL-6 and IL-6R have an additional role in colitis, apart from the IL-6/IL-6R classic and trans-signaling.