Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits aggregation of pulmonary fibrosis associated mutant surfactant protein A2 via a proteasomal degradation pathway

Modulating NLRP3 Inflammasomes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Review on Flavonoid-Based Interventions

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a severe, rapidly advancing disease that drastically diminishes life expectancy. Without treatment, it can progress to lung cancer. The precise etiology of IPF remains unknown, but inflammation and damage to the alveolar epithelium are widely thought to be pivotal in its development. Research has indicated that activating the NLRP3 inflammasome is a crucial mechanism in IPF pathogenesis, as it triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-18, and TGF-β. These cytokines contribute to the myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Currently, treatment options for IPF are limited. Only two FDA-approved medications, pirfenidone and nintedanib, are available. While these drugs can decelerate disease progression, they come with a range of side effects and do not cure the disease. Additional treatment strategies primarily involve supportive care and therapy. Emerging research has highlighted that numerous flavonoids derived from traditional medicines can inhibit the critical regulators responsible for activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. These flavonoids show promise as potential therapeutic agents for managing IPF, offering a new avenue for treatment that targets the core inflammatory processes of this debilitating condition.

(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate protects pancreatic β-cell against excessive autophagy-induced injury through promoting FTO degradation

Excessive macroautophagy/autophagy leads to pancreatic β-cell failure that contributes to the development of diabetes. Our previous study proved that the occurrence of deleterious hyperactive autophagy attributes to glucolipotoxicity-induced NR3C1 activation. Here, we explored the potential protective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) on β-cell-specific NR3C1 overexpression mice in vivo and NR3C1-enhanced β cells in vitro. We showed that EGCG protects pancreatic β cells against NR3C1 enhancement-induced failure through inhibiting excessive autophagy. RNA demethylase FTO (FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase) caused diminished m6A modifications on mRNAs of three pro-oxidant genes (Tlr4, Rela, Src) and, hence, oxidative stress occurs; by contrast, EGCG promotes FTO degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in NR3C1-enhanced β cells, which alleviates oxidative stress, and thereby prevents excessive autophagy. Moreover, FTO overexpression abolishes the beneficial effects of EGCG on β cells against NR3C1 enhancement-induced damage. Collectively, our results demonstrate that EGCG protects pancreatic β cells against NR3C1 enhancement-induced excessive autophagy through suppressing FTO-stimulated oxidative stress, which provides novel insights into the mechanisms for the anti-diabetic effect of EGCG.Abbreviation 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; AAV: adeno-associated virus; Ad: adenovirus; ALD: aldosterone; AUC: area under curve; βNR3C1 mice: pancreatic β-cell-specific NR3C1 overexpression mice; Ctrl: control; CHX: cycloheximide; DEX: dexamethasone; DHE: dihydroethidium; EGCG: (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate; FTO: FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase; GSIS: glucose-stimulated insulin secretion; HFD: high-fat diet; HG: high glucose; i.p.: intraperitoneal; IOD: immunofluorescence optical density; KSIS: potassium-stimulated insulin secretion; m6A: N6-methyladenosine; MeRIP-seq: methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing; NO: nitric oxide; NR3C1/GR: nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1; NR3C1-Enhc.: NR3C1-enhancement; NAC: N-acetylcysteine; NC: negative control; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PI: propidium iodide; OCR: oxygen consumption rate; Palm.: palmitate; RELA: v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (avian); RNA-seq: RNA sequencing; O2.-: superoxide anion; SRC: Rous sarcoma oncogene; ROS: reactive oxygen species; T2D: type 2 diabetes; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TLR4: toll-like receptor 4; TUNEL: terminal dUTP nick-end labeling; UTR: untranslated region; WT: wild-type.

Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies Induced by Environmental Pollutants: Heat Shock Proteins and Proteasome as Promising Therapeutic Tools

Environmental pollutants' (EPs) amount and diversity have increased in recent years due to anthropogenic activity. Several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are theorized to be related to EPs, as their incidence has increased in a similar way to human EPs exposure and they reproduce the main ND hallmarks. EPs induce several neurotoxic effects, including accumulation and gradual deposition of misfolded toxic proteins, producing neuronal malfunction and cell death. Cells possess different mechanisms to eliminate these toxic proteins, including heat shock proteins (HSPs) and the proteasome system. The accumulation and deleterious effects of toxic proteins are induced through HSPs and disruption of proteasome proteins' homeostatic function by exposure to EPs. A therapeutic approach has been proposed to reduce accumulation of toxic proteins through treatment with recombinant HSPs/proteasome or the use of compounds that increase their expression or activity. Our aim is to review the current literature on NDs related to EP exposure and their relationship with the disruption of the proteasome system and HSPs, as well as to discuss the toxic effects of dysfunction of HSPs and proteasome and the contradictory effects described in the literature. Lastly, we cover the therapeutic use of developed drugs and recombinant proteasome/HSPs to eliminate toxic proteins and prevent/treat EP-induced neurodegeneration.

Evolution of Natural Product Scaffolds as Potential Proteasome Inhibitors in Developing Cancer Therapeutics

Homeostasis between protein synthesis and degradation is a critical biological function involving a lot of precise and intricate regulatory systems. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is a large, multi-protease complex that degrades most intracellular proteins and accounts for about 80% of cellular protein degradation. The proteasome, a massive multi-catalytic proteinase complex that plays a substantial role in protein processing, has been shown to have a wide range of catalytic activity and is at the center of this eukaryotic protein breakdown mechanism. As cancer cells overexpress proteins that induce cell proliferation, while blocking cell death pathways, UPP inhibition has been used as an anticancer therapy to change the balance between protein production and degradation towards cell death. Natural products have a long history of being used to prevent and treat various illnesses. Modern research has shown that the pharmacological actions of several natural products are involved in the engagement of UPP. Over the past few years, numerous natural compounds have been found that target the UPP pathway. These molecules could lead to the clinical development of novel and potent anticancer medications to combat the onslaught of adverse effects and resistance mechanisms caused by already approved proteasome inhibitors. In this review, we report the importance of UPP in anticancer therapy and the regulatory effects of diverse natural metabolites, their semi-synthetic analogs, and SAR studies on proteasome components, which may aid in discovering a new proteasome regulator for drug development and clinical applications.

Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine: New hopes for drug discovery in pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and irreversible pulmonary disease, and can lead to decreased lung function, respiratory failure and even death. The pathogenesis research and treatment strategy of PF significantly lag behind the medical progress and clinical needs. The treatment of this disease remains a thorny clinical problem, and the effective therapeutic drugs are still limited. Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine own various biological activities and high safety. They play a broad part in treating diseases and is also a candidate drug for preventing and treating PF. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanism of action and potential value of various anti-PF monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine. These monomeric compounds can attenuate inflammatory response, oxidative stress, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and other processes of lung through many signaling pathways, and inhibit the activation and differentiation of fibroblasts, thus contributing to the treatment of PF. This review can provide new ideas for the development of anti-PF drugs in high efficiency with low toxicity.

The medicinal value of tea drinking in the management of COVID-19

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is presently the largest international public health event, individuals infected by the virus not only have symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and lung infection at the time of onset, but also possibly have sequelae in the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, mental health and other aspects. However, numerous studies have depicted that the active ingredients in tea show good antiviral effects and can treat various diseases by regulating multiple pathways, and the therapeutic effects are associated with the categories of chemical components in tea. In this review, the differences in the content of key active ingredients in different types of tea are summarized. In addition, we also highlighted their effects on COVID-19 and connected sequelae, further demonstrating the possibility of developing a formulation for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and its sequelae through tea extracts. We have a tendency to suggest forestalling and treating COVID-19 and its sequelae through scientific tea drinking.

Epigallocatechine-3-gallate Inhibits the Adipogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the Regulation of Protein Phosphatase-2A and Myosin Phosphatase

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has widespread effects on adipocyte development. However, the molecular mechanisms of EGCG are not fully understood. We investigate the adipogenic differentiation of human-derived mesenchymal stem cells, including lipid deposition and changes in the expression and phosphorylation of key transcription factors, myosin, protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A), and myosin phosphatase (MP). On day 6 of adipogenic differentiation, EGCG (1–20 µM) suppressed lipid droplet formation, which was counteracted by an EGCG-binding peptide for the 67 kDa laminin receptor (67LR), suggesting that EGCG acts via 67LR. EGCG decreased the phosphorylation of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein beta via the activation of PP2A in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner, leading to the partial suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and adiponectin expression. Differentiated cells exhibited a rounded shape, cortical actin filaments, and lipid accumulation. The EGCG treatment induced cell elongation, stress fiber formation, and less lipid accumulation. These effects were accompanied by the degradation of the MP target subunit-1 and increased the phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain. Our results suggest that EGCG acts as an agonist of 67LR to inhibit adipogenesis via the activation of PP2A and suppression of MP. These events are coupled with the decreased phosphorylation and expression levels of adipogenic transcription factors and changes in cell shape, culminating in curtailed adipogenesis.

Natural products are an important source for proteasome regulating agents

BACKGROUND

Natural medicines have a long history in the prevention and treatment of various diseases in East Asian region, especially in China. Modern research has proved that the pharmacological effects of numerous natural medicines involve the participation of ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). UPS can degrade the unwanted and damaged proteins widely distributed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of various eukaryotes.

PURPOSE

The objective of the present study was to review and discuss the regulatory effects of natural products and extracts on proteasome components, which may help to find new proteasome regulators for drug development and clinical applications.

METHODS

The related information was compiled using the major scientific databases, such as CNKI, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Wiley Online, and GeenMedical. The keywords "natural product" and "proteasome" were applied to extract the literature. Nature derived extracts, compounds and their derivatives involved in proteasome regulation were included, and the publications related to synthetic proteasome agents were excluded.

RESULTS

The pharmacological effects of more than 80 natural products and extracts derived from phytomedicines related to the proteasome regulation were reviewed. These natural products were classified according to their chemical properties. We also summarized some laws of action of natural products as proteasome regulators in the treatment of diseases, and listed the action characteristics of the typical natural products.

CONCLUSION

Natural products derived from nature can induce the degradation of damaged proteins through UPS or act as regulators to directly regulate the activity of proteasome. But few proteasome modulators are applied clinically. Summary of known rules for proteasome modulators will contribute to discover, modify and synthesize more proteasome modulators for clinical applications.

Therapeutic potential of plant-derived tannins in non-malignant respiratory diseases

Respiratory diseases are the major cause of human illness and death around the world. Despite advances in detection and treatment, very few classes of safe and effective therapy have been introduced to date. At present, phytochemicals are getting more attention because of their diverse beneficial activities and minimal toxicity. Tannins are polyphenolic secondary metabolites with high molecular weights, which are naturally present in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and leguminous seeds. Many tannins are endowed with well-recognized protective properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and many others. This review summarizes a large body of experimental evidence implicating that tannins are helpful in tackling a wide range of non-malignant respiratory diseases including acute lung injury (ALI), pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mechanistic pathways by which various classes of tannins execute their beneficial effects are discussed. In addition, clinical trials and our perspective on future research with tannins are also reviewed.

Upregulation and stabilization of senescence marker protein-30 by epigallocatechin gallate against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30), a novel ageing marker, suppresses oxidative stress in the liver. However, studies on phytochemical-mediated regulation of SMP30 expression are lacking. Here, we showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a polyphenol abundant in green tea, positively regulates SMP30 expression in the rat hepatoma-derived Fao cells. EGCg maintained SMP30 expression even in the presence of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. Furthermore, treatment of cells with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tert-BHP), an oxidative promoter, decreased SMP30 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while EGCg treatment inhibited these effects. Male mice (7-week-old) were divided into 4 groups—Control (saline), tert-BHP (1.5 mmol/kg tert-BHP), EGCg + tert-BHP (30 mg/kg/day of EGCg and 1.5 mmol/kg tert-BHP), and EGCg (30 mg/kg/day). After oral EGCg administration for 6 consecutive days, EGCg + tert-BHP group mice were administered tert-BHP. The tert-BHP-administered mice showed decreased SMP30 expression in the liver and increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase (hepatic injury marker enzymes) activities; however, EGCg treatment attenuated these changes. Thus, EGCg-induced SMP30 upregulation may alleviate tert-BHP-induced liver injury. The findings of this study offer new perspectives of the anti-ageing properties of EGCg.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG), an Active Compound of Green Tea Attenuates Acute Lung Injury Regulating Macrophage Polarization and Krüpple-Like-Factor 4 (KLF4) Expression

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are serious clinical complications with a high frequency of morbidity and mortality. The initiation and amplification of inflammation is a well-known aspect in the pathogenesis of ALI and related disorders. Therefore, inhibition of the inflammatory mediators could be an ideal approach to prevent ALI. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea, has been shown to have protective effects on oxidative damage and anti-inflammation. The goal of the present study was to determine whether EGCG improves phenotype and macrophage polarisation in LPS-induced ALI. C57BL/6 mice were given two doses of EGCG (15 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (IP) 1 h before and 3 h after LPS instillation (2 mg/kg). EGCG treatment improved histopathological lesions, Total Leucocyte count (TLC), neutrophils infiltration, wet/dry ratio, total proteins and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in LPS-induced lung injury. The results displayed that EGCG reduced LPS-induced ALI as it modulates macrophage polarisation towards M2 status. Furthermore, EGCG also reduced the expression of proinflammatory M1 mediators iNOS TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the LPS administered lung microenvironment. In addition, it increased the expression of KLF4, Arg1 and ym1, known to augment the M2 phenotype of macrophages. EGCG also alleviated the expression of 8-OHdG, nitrotyrosine, showing its ability to inhibit oxidative damage. TREM1 in the lung tissue and improved lung regenerative capacity by enhancing Ki67, PCNA and Ang-1 protein expression. Together, these results proposed the protective properties of EGCG against LPS-induced ALI in may be attributed to the suppression of M1/M2 macrophages subtype ratio, KLF4 augmentation, lung cell regeneration and regulating oxidative damage in the LPS-induced murine ALI.