6-Gingerol protects intestinal barrier from ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage via inhibition of p38 MAPK to NF-κB signalling

Honokiol ameliorates pyroptosis in intestinal ischemia‑reperfusion injury by regulating the SIRT3‑mediated NLRP3 inflammasome

Intestinal ischemia‑reperfusion (IIR) injury is caused by the restoration of blood supply after a period of ischemia. It occurs in numerous clinical pathologies, such as intestinal obstruction, incarcerated hernia and septic shock, with mortality rates of 50‑80%. Honokiol (HKL), isolated from the herb Magnolia officinalis, is a biphenolic natural product with antioxidative, antibacterial, antitumor and anti‑inflammatory properties. Additionally, HKL has protective effects in ischemia‑reperfusion injuries, but its role and specific mechanisms in IIR injury are yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the superior mesenteric artery was ligated in rats to establish an IIR model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and ELISA revealed that HKL administration ameliorated IIR‑induced injury in rats, which was demonstrated by a reduced destruction to the intestinal mucosa, as well as a reduced serum intestinal fatty acid‑binding protein concentration and Chiu's score in 10 mg/kg HKL treated IIR‑induced rats compared with those without HKL treatment. Additionally, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and western blotting revealed that the occludin and tight junction protein 1 protein levels were increased in the 10 mg/kg HKL treated IIR‑induced rats compared with those without HKL treatment. Furthermore, an in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cell model was established using IEC‑6 cells. Cell Counting Kit‑8 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays indicated that HKL mitigated the H/R‑inhibited cell viability and decreased the LDH levels in cell supernatants. Mechanistically, immunofluorescent (IF) staining and western blotting revealed that HKL inhibited H/R‑triggered pyroptosis. Furthermore, Mito‑Tracker, mitochondrial membrane potential and MitoSOX staining as well as western blotting revealed that reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibited the H/R‑induced pyroptosis by mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction. In the present H/R cell model, HKL improved the mitochondrial function by increasing the expression of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), while IF staining and western blotting indicated that silencing SIRT3 notably reduced the beneficial effect of HKL on pyroptosis. In addition, IHC staining and western blotting revealed that HKL treatment mitigated the IIR‑induced pyroptosis in rats. Therefore, HKL treatment may mitigate IIR‑induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reduce mitochondrial ROS production by increasing the expression of SIRT3 protein, potentially resulting in an inhibition of pyroptosis during IIR.

Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells regulate SREBF2/HMGB1 axis by transporting miR-378a-3p to inhibit ferroptosis in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) injury represents a life-threatening and complex pathophysiological process that remains challenging to treat clinically, and emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis plays an essential role in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate whether extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC-EVs) can mitigate II/R-induced ferroptosis in a murine model. Using a bioinformatics database, we initially identified genes with abnormal expression patterns in II/R injury. Then, we confirmed the association between II/R injury, ferroptosis, and the HMGB1/SREBF2 axis through in vivo and in vitro experiments. To determine the role of HMGB1 in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced ferroptosis in Caco-2 cells, we transfected cells with either sh-HMGB1 or control sh-NC constructs and developed an H/R model in vitro. Subsequently, we examined factors regulating HMGB1-mediated ferroptosis in Caco-2 cells and assessed the effect of BMSC-EVs on this process. To further explore the mechanism underlying the protective effects of BMSC-EVs in II/R injury, we screened for miRNAs with reduced expression during II/R and verified their involvement. Among these, miR-378a-3p was identified as a candidate for regulating ferroptosis. To confirm its functional role, we treated II/R mice with BMSC-EVs overexpressing miR-378a-3p and assessed the outcomes. Our findings revealed that HMGB1, which is a key regulatory factor of ferroptosis, was significantly upregulated during II/R injury, and its knockdown alleviated H/R-induced ferroptosis in Caco-2 cells. We also found that SREBF2 directly regulates HMGB1 expression to promote H/R-induced ferroptosis in vitro. Importantly, BMSC-EVs alleviated II/R injury by suppressing ferroptosis in Caco-2 cells, and mechanistically, miR-378a-3p, a miRNA derived from BMSC-EVs, inhibited II/R-induced ferroptosis by modulating the SREBF2/HMGB1 axis. In conclusion, BMSC-EVs may exert protective effects against II/R injury by delivering miR-378a-3p, which regulates the SREBF2/HMGB1 axis to suppress ferroptosis, providing important insights into the pathological mechanisms underlying II/R injury and potential therapeutic strategies for its management.

Apigenin Alleviates Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Upregulating Nrf2-Mediated Tight Junction Integrity

Epithelial barrier dysfunction, critically involved in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, is significantly regulated by Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress. Apigenin, a flavonoid commonly found in fruits and vegetables with diverse biological properties, has an unclear impact on intestinal I/R injury. We hypothesize that apigenin improves intestinal barrier dysfunction by activating Nrf2 signaling. Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups to establish an I/R model using superior mesenteric artery occlusion. Hypoxia and re-oxygenation (H/R) model was developed utilizing Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells, which were exposed to hypoxic conditions followed by re-oxygenation. Apigenin protected against intestinal mucosal damage by suppressing inflammatory cytokines release (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MPO, p < 0.01), ameliorating oxidative stress (MDA, SOD, GSH, GSH-Px, p < 0.01), and improving barrier dysfunction (DAO and TEER, p < 0.01) both in vivo and in vitro, without causing significant changes in the corresponding normal controls (p > 0.05). Apigenin up-regulated the protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and tight junction (TJ) proteins (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the knockdown of Nrf2 significantly abrogated apigenin-enhanced the TJ expression. Apigenin pretreatment alleviates intestinal I/R-induced barrier damage through Nrf2 activation and TJ upregulation, offering new strategies for preventing or treating I/R-associated intestinal diseases.

Ergosterone ameliorates RRR-induced spleen deficiency by gut microbiota-gut metabolites and P38MAPK signaling pathway

Spleen deficiency is an important immune and digestive system change. Ergosterone (ER) is bioactive steroid; however, to date, no relevant studies have explored its potential efficacy in treating spleen deficiency. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of ER on spleen deficiency syndrome induced by Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RRR). RRR was used to induce the development of a spleen deficiency rat model to observe changes in body weight and pathological changes in organ tissues. Additionally, the levels of relevant immune factors and gastrointestinal hormones were measured, as well as the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins and the P38MAPK signaling pathway. Changes in intestinal microbiota and metabolites were measured, and the effect of ER on the RRR-induced spleen deficiency rat model was evaluated. ER notably alleviated the symptoms of RRR-induced spleen deficiency induced in rats and offered protection against organ damage. Ergosterone can increase the expression of immunoglobulins, inhibits the increase in inflammatory factors, improve gastrointestinal hormone disorders, protect the intestinal mucosa, and repair intestinal barrier damage. The ER-treated group exhibited substantial upregulation of claudin and occludin mRNA and protein expression levels in the colonic tissue. Additionally, ER inhibited the P38MAPKsignaling pathway, thereby improving RRR induced spleen deficiency syndrome in rats. ER also influences the metabolic pathways of protein digestion and absorption, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and arachidonic acid metabolism. In addition, ER can regulate and enhance the composition of intestinal flora in rats with spleen deficiency, increase the diversity of dominant flora, and inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria. ER can treat spleen deficiency syndrome by enhancing immune function, improving gastrointestinal function, repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating intestinal flora and intestinal metabolites.

Sustainable isolation of ginger (Zingiber officinale) herbal dust bioactive compounds with favorable toxicological profile employing natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES)

The usage of ginger (Zingiber officinale) has increased in recent years due to its positive effect on human health affiliated with its richness in gingerols and shogaols. This study optimized the Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for better phenolic compounds isolation from ginger herbal dust (GHD), a filter tea industry by-product. The extraction was performed using raw and defatted GHD-previously processed by Supercritical fluid extraction - CO2. An additional advantage was using COSMOtherm software for 71 natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) screening, to select the optimal one for GHD 6-gingerol recovery. As an optimal NADES, Malic acid:Glucose (MA:Glc) in the 1:1 ratio was determined. The optimal MA: Glc-based extract with a 6-gingerol content of 1.90±0.05 mg/g, an antioxidant activity of 321.28±5.09 μmol TE/g, and a favorable toxicological profile was obtained in 2 min of UAE under the sonication amplitude of 20 %, approving the benefits and the sustainability of the present study.

Adipose-derived stem cells promote the recovery of intestinal barrier function by inhibiting the p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Intestinal barrier damage causes an imbalance in the intestinal flora and microbial environment, promoting a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) repair intestinal barrier damage. The human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 and rats were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish in vitro and in vivo models, respectively, of intestinal barrier damage. The expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, HMGB1, IL-1β and IL-6), antioxidant enzymes (iNOS, SOD and CAT), and oxidative products (MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α) was detected using ELISA kits and related reagent kits. Apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9), tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, E-cadherin, and Claudin-1) and p38 MAPK pathway-associated protein were detected by Western blotting. In addition, cell viability and apoptosis was determined by a CCK-8 kit and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell permeability was assayed by the transepithelial electrical resistance value and FITC-dextran concentration. The homing effect of ADSCs was detected by fluorescence labeling, and intestinal barrier tissue was observed by HE staining. After ADSC treatment, the level of phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein decreased, the expression of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis decreased, the expression of tight junction proteins increased, and cell permeability decreased in Caco-2 cells stimulated with LPS. In rats, ADSCs are directionally recruited to damaged intestinal tissue. ADSCs significantly decreased the levels of D-lactate, diamine oxidase (DAO) and FITC-dextran induced by LPS. ADSCs promoted tight junction proteins and inhibited oxidative stress in intestinal tissue. These effects were reversed after the use of a p38 MAPK activator. ADSCs can be directionally recruited to intestinal tissue, upregulate tight junction proteins, and reduce apoptosis and oxidative stress by inhibiting the p38MAPK signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into the treatment of intestinal injury.

The Protective Effects of Modified Dachaihu Decoction against LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury via Modulating PI3K/Akt Signalling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Modified Dachaihu decoction (MDD) is a herbal prescription that has shown promising therapeutic benefits in ameliorating pulmonary diseases in clinical practice. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to elucidate the lung-protective effects of MDD against acute lung injury (ALI) and the involvement of underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to identify the main active ingredients of MDD. Network pharmacological method was adapted to explore the potential mechanisms. Mice were orally administered MDD (11.25, 22.5, and 45 g/kg) once daily for 7 days. H&E staining was performed to evaluate histological changes in the lungs. Levels of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers were measured to determine the extent of lung injury. Total protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung wet/dry weight ratio were measured to assess the severity of pulmonary edema. TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to detect apoptosis. RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to validate the mechanisms involved.

RESULTS

About 10 main active ingredients of MDD were identified. Notably, treatment with MDD resulted in a remarkable reduction in total protein content in BALF and lung W/D weight ratio, as well as substantial mitigation of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway was activated. Moreover, MDD pretreatment downregulated p53 and caspase-9 mRNA expression and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio to ameliorate lung apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

MDD exhibited pronounced therapeutic effects via attenuating inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. These therapeutic effects could be attributed to the synergistic effect of the main active ingredients and are believed to be associated with the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

6-gingerol and its derivatives inhibit Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal inflammation and improve gastrin and somatostatin secretion

The resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has increased in recent years, prompting a trend in the research and development of new drugs. In our study, three derivatives (JF-1, JF-2, and JF-3) were synthesized using 6-gingerol as the main component, while JF-4, containing both 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol as the main components, was extracted from dried ginger. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), determined using the ratio dilution method, were 80 μg/mL for JF-1, 40 μg/mL for JF-2, 30 μg/mL for JF-3, 40 μg/mL for JF-4, 60 μg/mL for 6-gingerol standard (SS), and 0.03 μg/mL for amoxicillin (AMX). After treating H. pylori-infected mice, the inflammation of the gastric mucosa was suppressed. The eradication rate of H. pylori was 16.7% of JF-3 low-dose treatment (LDT), 25.0% of JF-3 high-dose treatment (HDT), 16.7% of JF-4 LDT, 16.7% of JF-4 HDT, 30% of SS LDT, 50% of SS HDT, and 36.4% of the positive control group (PCG). The levels of gastrin, somatostatin (SST), IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-8 were significantly recovered in the JF-3 and JF-4 administration groups, but the effect was stronger in the high-dose group. These results demonstrate that 6-gingerol and its derivatives have significant anti-Helicobacter pylori effects and are promising potential treatments for H. pylori infection.

Kidney-tonifying blood-activating decoction delays ventricular remodeling in rats with chronic heart failure by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/p65 nuclear factor kappa-B/aquaporin-4 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Myocardial infarction has likely contributed to the increased prevalence of heart failure(HF).As a result of ventricular remodeling and reduced cardiac function, colonic blood flow decreases, causing mucosal ischemia and hypoxia of the villous structure of the intestinal wall.This damage in gut barrier function increases bowel wall permeability, leading to fluid metabolism disorder,gut microbial dysbiosis, increased gut bacteria translocation into the circulatory system and increased circulating endotoxins, thus promoting a typical inflammatory state.Traditional Chinese Medicine plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of HF.Kidney-tonifying Blood-activating(KTBA) decoction has been proved for clinical treatment of chronic HF.However,the mechanism of KTBA decoction on chronic HF is still unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The effect of KTBA decoction on gut microbiota and metabolites and p38MAPK/p65NF-κB/AQP4 signaling in rat colon was studied to investigate the mechanism that KTBA decoction delays ventricular remodeling and regulates water metabolism disorder in rats with HF after myocardial infarction based on the theory of "Kidney Storing Essence and Conducting Water".

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In vivo,a rat model of HF after myocardial infarction was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery combined with exhaustive swimming and starvation.The successful modeling rats were randomly divided into five groups:model group, tolvaptan group(gavaged 1.35mg/(kg•D) tolvaptan),KTBA decoction group(gavaged 15.75g/(kg•D) of KTBA decoction),KTBA decoction combined with SB203580(p38MAPK inhibitor) group(gavaged 15.75g/(kg•D) of KTBA decoction and intraperitoneally injected 1.5mg/(kg•D) of SB203580),and KTBA decoction combined with PDTC(p65NF-kB inhibitor) group(gavaged 15.75g/(kg•D) of KTBA decoction and intraperitoneally injected 120mg/(kg•D) of PDTC).The sham-operation group and model group were gavaged equal volume of normal saline.After 4 weeks of intervention with KTBA decoction,the effect of KTBA decoction on the cardiac structure and function of chronic HF model rats was observed by ultrasonic cardiogram.General state and cardiac index in rats were evaluated.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in rat serum.Hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining,and transmission electron microscope(TEM) were used to observe the morphology and ultrastructure of myocardial and colonic tissue,and myocardial fibrosis was measured by Masson's staining.Cardiac E-cadherin level was detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression and protein expression levels of p38MAPK,I-κBα, p65NF-κB,AQP4,Occludin and ZO-1 in colonic tissue were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Protein expression of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK,I-κBα,p-I-κBα,p65NF-κB, p-p65NF-κB,AQP4,Occludin and ZO-1 in rat colon was detected using Western blot.Colonic microbiota and serum metabolites were respectively analyzed by amplicon sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.In vitro, CCD-841CoN cell was placed in the ischemic solution under hypoxic conditions (94%N2,5%CO2,and 1%O2) in a 37 °C incubator to establish an ischemia and hypoxia model.The CCD-841CoN cells were divided into 7 groups, namely blank group and model group with normal rat serum plus control siRNA, tolvaptan group with rat serum containing tolvaptan plus control siRNA, KTBA group with rat serum containing KTBA plus control siRNA, KTBA plus p38MAPK siRNA group, KTBA plus p65NF-κB siRNA group,and KTBA plus AQP4siRNA group.After 24h and 48h of intervention with KTBA decoction,RT-qPCR,immunofluorescence and Western blot was used to detect the mRNA expression and protein expression levels of p38MAPK,I-κBα,p65NF-κB,AQP4, Occludin and ZO-1 in CCD-841CoN cells.

RESULTS

Compared with the model, KTBA decoction improved the general state, decraesed the serum NT-proBNP level,HW/BW ratio, LVIDd and LVIDs, increased E-cadherin level,EF and FS,reduced number of collagen fibers deposited in the myocardial interstitium,and recovered irregular arrangement of myofibril and swollen or vacuolated mitochondria with broken crista in myocardium.Moreover, KTBA decoction inhibited the expression of p38MAPK,I-κBα,and p65NF-κB and upregulated AQP4, Occludin and ZO-1 in colon tissues and CCD-841CoN cells.Additionally,p38siRNA or SB203580, p65siRNA or PDTC, and AQP4siRNA partially weakened the protective effects of KTBA in vitro and vivo.Notably,The LEfSe analysis results showed that there were six gut biomaker bacteria in model group, including Allobaculum, Bacillales,Turicibacter, Turicibacterales,Turicibacteraceae,and Bacilli. Besides, three gut biomaker bacteria containing Deltaproteobacteria, Desulfovibrionaceae,and Desulfovibrionales were enriched by KTBA treatment in chronic HF model.There were five differential metabolites, including L-Leucine,Pelargonic acid, Capsidiol,beta-Carotene,and L- Erythrulose, which can be regulated back in the same changed metabolic routes by the intervention of KTBA.L-Leucine had the positive correlation with Bacillales, Turicibacterales,Turicibacteraceae,and Turicibacter.L-Leucine significantly impacts Protein digestion and absorption, Mineral absorption,and Central carbon metabolism in cancer regulated by KTBA, which is involved in the expression of MAPK and tight junction in intestinal epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

KTBA decoction manipulates the expression of several key proteins in the p38MAPK/p65NF-κB/AQP4 signaling pathway, modulates gut microbiota and metabolites toward a more favorable profile, improves gut barrier function, delays cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis,and improves cardiac function.

Positive Effect of 6-Gingerol on Functional Plasticity of Microglia in a rat Model of LPS-induced Depression

Neuroinflammation has emerged as a crucial factor in the development of depression. Despite the well-known anti-inflammatory properties of 6-gingerol, its potential impact on depression remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of 6-gingerol by suppressing microglial activation. In vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of 6-gingerol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced behavioral changes and neuroinflammation in rat models. In vitro studies were performed to examine the neuroprotective properties of 6-gingerol against LPS-induced microglial activation. Furthermore, a co-culture system of microglia and neurons was established to assess the influence of 6-gingerol on the expression of synaptic-related proteins, namely synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), which are influenced by microglial activation. In the in vivo experiments, administration of 6-gingerol effectively alleviated LPS-induced depressive behavior in rats. Moreover, it markedly suppressed the activation of rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) microglia induced by LPS and the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway, while also reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. In the in vitro experiments, 6-gingerol mitigated nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, NLRP3 activation, and maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, all of which were induced by LPS. Furthermore, in the co-culture system of microglia and neurons, 6-gingerol effectively restored the decreased expression of SYP and PSD95. The findings of this study demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of 6-gingerol in the context of LPS-induced depression-like behavior. These effects are attributed to the inhibition of microglial hyperactivation through the suppression of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway.

Effects of butyrate on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury via the HMGB1-TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

This study combined bioinformatics and experimental verification in a mouse model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) to explore the protection mechanism exerted by butyrate against IRI.

METHODS

GeneCards, Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine and GSE190581 were used to explore the relationship between butyrate and IRI and aging. Protein-protein interaction networks involving butyrate and IRI were constructed via the STRING database, with hub gene analysis performed through Cytoscape. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted on intersection genes. A mouse model of IRI was established, followed by direct arterial injection of butyrate. The experiment comprised five groups: normal, sham, model, vehicle, low-dose butyrate, and high-dose butyrate. Intestinal tissue observation was done via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), histological examination via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, tight junction proteins detection via immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis of hub genes. Drug-target interactions were evaluated through molecular docking.

RESULTS

Butyrate protected against IRI by targeting 458 genes, including HMGB1 and TLR4. Toll-like receptor pathway was implicated. Butyrate improved intestinal IRI by reducing mucosal damage, increasing tight junction proteins, and lowering levels of HMGB1, TLR4, and MyD88. Molecular docking showed strong binding energies between butyrate and HMGB1 (-3.7 kcal/mol) and TLR4 (-3.8 kcal/mol).

CONCLUSIONS

According to bioinformatics predictions, butyrate mitigates IRI via multiple-target and multiple-channel mechanisms. The extent of IRI can be reduced by butyrate through the inhibition of the HMGB1-TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway, which is related to senescence.

6-Gingerol attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury through regulating MKP5-mediated P38/JNK pathway

6-Gingerol, the main bioactive compound of ginger, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and neuroprotective effects. However, it is unclear whether 6-Gingerol has protective effects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, the mouse liver I/R injury model and the mouse AML12 cell hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model were established by pretreatment with 6-Gingerol at different concentrations to explore the potential effects of 6-Gingerol. Serum transaminase levels, liver necrotic area, cell viability, inflammatory response, and cell apoptosis were used to assess the effect of 6-Gingerol on hepatic I/R or cell H/R injury. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression. The results show that 6-Gingerol decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, liver necrosis, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α expression, Ly6g+ inflammatory cell infiltration, protein phosphorylation of NF-κB signaling pathway, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells, cell apoptosis rate, the protein expression of pro-apoptotic protein BAX and C-Caspase3, increased cell viability, and expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. Moreover, 6-Gingerol could increase the mRNA and protein expression of mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatase 5 (MKP5) and inhibit the activation of P38/JNK signaling pathway. In MKP5 knockout (KO) mice, the protective effect of 6-gingerol and the inhibition of P38/JNK pathway were significantly weakened. Therefore, our results suggest that 6-Gingerol exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects to attenuate hepatic I/R injury by regulating the MKP5-mediated P38/JNK signaling pathway.

L-theanine attenuates H2O2-induced inflammation and apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells via inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling pathway

This study investigated the protective effects of L-theanine on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells. Results showed that L-theanine reduced H2O2-induced IPEC-J2 cells inflammation and apoptosis, and decreased protein phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). The p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) decreased oxidative stress, the protein expression of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB, the H2O2-induced increase in mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory related genes expression and secretion, and tight junction protein related genes expression, which was similar to the effect of L-theanine. In conclusion, L-theanine inhibited H2O2-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory reaction, eliminated apoptosis, and protected intestinal epithelial barrier damage by inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Quercetin protects against hyperglycemia-induced retinopathy in Sprague Dawley rats by regulating the gut-retina axis and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 pathway

Hyperglycemia-related retinopathy is a disease with a high blindness rate. Recent reports indicate that many flavonol compounds have the potential to prevent the occurrence of disease in the retina by regulating the gut-retina axis. Here, we hypothesized that quercetin could alleviate the symptoms of retinopathy. To clarify the mechanism, Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet containing quercetin for 12 weeks and injected with streptozotocin in the ninth week. Additionally, neomycin and ampicillin were used to establish a pseudo-sterile rat model. Afterward, changes in the retina were investigated by using electroretinogram and optical coherence tomography. Blood and tissue samples were collected and biochemical components were analyzed. The extent of intestinal injury was determined via hematoxylin-eosin staining. Microbial community structure was analyzed by using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Finally, the expression of genes was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that quercetin reduced the decline in electroretinography amplitude and outer nuclear layer thickness, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased the contents of proinflammatory factors and blood glucose, enhanced the concentration of insulin, and inhibited intestinal dysbiosis and improved gut morphology. Importantly, the underexpression of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 in the retina was reversed by quercetin. However, trend changes were no longer significant in most of the indicators after antibiotic treatment. In summary, quercetin has therapeutic effects on retinopathy by regulating the gut-retina axis and nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 pathway, and the presence of gut microbiota helps quercetin exert its effects on the retina.

Corilagin attenuates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice by inhibiting ferritinophagy-mediated ferroptosis through disrupting NCOA4-ferritin interaction

AIMS

Intestinal ischemia reperfusion (II/R) is a common clinical emergency. Ferroptosis is reported to play a role in II/R injury. Our previous studies revealed that corilagin significantly attenuates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injuries. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear and requires further study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DAO, GSSG/T-GSH, MDA, and Fe2+ were measured by assay kits, 4-HNE was assessed by IHC, and 15-LOX was measured by ELISA. Mitochondrial damage was observed by TEM and cellular oxidation levels were detected by C11-BODIPY 581/591 and DHE probes. LC3, p62, Beclin1, ACSL4, GPX4, NCOA4, and ferritin expression were examined by WB in vivo and in vitro. IF, co-IF, q-PCR, and constructed NCOA4-knock-down IEC-6 cells were used to evaluate the role of NCOA4 in the effect of corilagin against II/R injury. Temporal and nucleoplasmic variations with or without corilagin were observed by WB. Co-IP and molecular docking were used to investigate the NCOA4-ferritin interaction.

KEY FINDINGS

Corilagin attenuated II/R-induced ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Further study revealed that the anti-ferroptosis bioactivity of corilagin might be due to the modulation of iron homeostasis via inhibition of ferritinophagy in an NCOA4-dependent manner.

SIGNIFICANCE

Corilagin might be a potential therapeutic agent for II/R-induced tissue injury.

Transcriptomic and physiological analyses reveal changes in secondary metabolite and endogenous hormone in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in response to postharvest chilling stress

Storing postharvest ginger at low temperatures can extend its shelf life, but can also lead to chilling injury, loss of flavor, and excessive water loss. To investigate the effects of chilling stress on ginger quality, morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic changes were examined after storage at 26 °C, 10 °C, and 2 °C for 24 h. Compared to 26 °C and 10 °C, storage at 2 °C significantly increased the concentrations of lignin, soluble sugar, flavonoids, and phenolics, as well as the accumulation of H2O2, O2-, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, chilling stress inhibited the levels of indoleacetic acid, while enhancing gibberellin, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid, which may have increased postharvest ginger's adaptation to chilling. Storage at 10 °C decreased lignin concentration and oxidative damage, and induced less fluctuant changes in enzymes and hormones than storage at 2 °C. RNA-seq revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased with decreasing temperature. Functional enrichment analysis of the 523 DEGs that exhibited similar expression patterns between all treatments indicated that they were primarily enriched in phytohormone signaling, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and cold-associated MAPK signaling pathways. Key enzymes related to 6-gingerol and curcumin biosynthesis were downregulated at 2 °C, suggesting that cold storage may negatively impact ginger quality. Additionally, 2 °C activated the MKK4/5-MPK3/6-related protein kinase pathway, indicating that chilling may increase the risk of ginger pathogenesis.

Naringin protects against inflammation and apoptosis induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury through deactivation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway

Effective amelioration of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced intestinal injury and revealing its mechanisms remain the challenges in both preclinic and clinic. Potential mechanisms of naringin in ameliorating I/R-induced intestinal injury remain unknown. Based on pre-experiments, I/R-injured rat intestine in vivo and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R)-injured IEC-6 cells in vitro were used to verify that naringin-alleviated I/R-induced intestinal injury was mediated via deactivating cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Naringin improved intestinal damage using hematoxylin and eosin staining and decreased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase contents in plasma. Naringin decreased inflammation characterized by reducing IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-β contents in both plasma and IEC-6 cells. Naringin mitigated oxidative stress via recovering superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels in the I/R-injured intestine. Naringin reduced the expression of apoptotic proteins, including Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2, and reduced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling-positive cells both in vivo and in vitro, and decreased Hoechst 33342 signals in vitro. cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3, and NF-κB expressions were up-regulated both in vivo and in vitro respectively and the up-regulated indexes were reversed by naringin. Transfection of cGAS-siRNA and cGAS-cDNA significantly down-regulated and up-regulated cGAS-STING signaling-related protein expressions, respectively, and partially weakened naringin-induced amelioration on these indexes, suggesting that deactivation of cGAS-STING signaling is the crucial target for naringin-induced amelioration on I/R-injured intestine.

Effects of dietary irritants on intestinal homeostasis and the intervention strategies

Abundant diet components are unexplored as vital factors in intestinal homeostasis. Dietary irritants stimulate the nervous system and provoke somatosensory responses, further inducing diarrhea, gut microbiota disorder, intestinal barrier damage or even severe gastrointestinal disease. We depicted the effects of food with piquancy, high fat, low pH, high-refined carbohydrates, and indigestible texture. The mechanism of dietary irritants on intestinal homeostasis were comprehensively summarized. Somatosensory responses to dietary irritants are palpable and have specific chemical and neural mechanisms. In contrast, even low-dose exposure to dietary irritants can involve multiple intestinal barriers. Their mechanisms in intestinal homeostasis are often overlapping and dose-dependent. Therefore, treating symptoms caused by dietary irritants requires personalized nutritional advice. The reprocessing of stimulant foods, additional supplementation with probiotics or prebiotics, and enhancement of the intestinal barrier are effective intervention strategies. This review provides promising preliminary guidelines for the treatment of symptoms and gastrointestinal injury caused by dietary irritants.

Tat-RAN attenuates brain ischemic injury in hippocampal HT-22 cells and ischemia animal model

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neuronal injury, including ischemia. Ras-related nuclear protein (RAN), a member of the Ras superfamily, involves in a variety of biological roles, such as cell division, proliferation, and signal transduction. Although RAN reveals antioxidant effect, its precise neuroprotective mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of RAN on HT-22 cell which were exposed to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and ischemia animal model by using the cell permeable Tat-RAN fusion protein. We showed that Tat-RAN transduced into HT-22 cells, and markedly inhibited cell death, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under oxidative stress. This fusion protein also controlled cellular signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), NF-κB, and apoptosis (Caspase-3, p53, Bax and Bcl-2). In the cerebral forebrain ischemia animal model, Tat-RAN significantly inhibited both neuronal cell death, and astrocyte and microglia activation. These results indicate that RAN significantly protects against hippocampal neuronal cell death, suggesting Tat-RAN will help to develop the therapies for neuronal brain diseases including ischemic injury.

The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation on clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Introduction: different lines of evidence have shown that ginger administration may be beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of ginger supplementation on disability, physical and psychological quality of life (QoL), body mass index (BMI), neurofilament light chain (NfL), interlukin-17 (IL-17), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Methods: this was a 12 week double-blind parallel randomized placebo-controlled trial with a 3 week run-in period. The treatment (n = 26) and control (n = 26) groups received 500 mg ginger and placebo (corn) supplements 3 times daily, respectively. Disability was evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). QoL was rated using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). BMI was calculated by dividing weight by height squared. Serum levels of NfL, IL-17, and MMP-9 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NLR was determined using a Sysmex XP-300™ automated hematology analyzer. All outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention and analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. Results: in comparison with placebo, ginger supplementation caused a significant reduction in the EDSS (-0.54 ± 0.58 vs. 0.08 ± 0.23, P < 0.001), the MSIS-29 physical scale (-8.15 ± 15.75 vs. 4.23 ± 8.46, P = 0.001), the MSIS-29 psychological scale (-15.71 ± 19.59 vs. 6.68 ± 10.41, P < 0.001), NfL (-0.14 ± 0.97 vs. 0.38 ± 1.06 ng mL-1, P = 0.049), IL-17 (-3.34 ± 4.06 vs. 1.77 ± 6.51 ng L-1, P = 0.003), and NLR (-0.09 ± 0.53 vs. 0.53 ± 1.90, P = 0.038). Nevertheless, the differences in BMI and MMP-9 were not significant between the groups. Conclusion: ginger supplementation may be an effective adjuvant therapy for patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Exploring the mechanism of Xingpi Capsule in diarrhea predominant-irritable bowel syndrome treatment based on multiomics technology

BACKGROUND

Xingpi Capsule (XP), a commercially available over-the-counter herbal medicine in China, plays a prominent role in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Nevertheless, the potential mechanisms remain unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate XP efficacy in IBS-D and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

A rat IBS-D model was established by senna decoction gavage combined with restraint stress and swimming exhaustion. The changes in rat body weight and stool were recorded daily. Colon pathological changes and the number of colonic goblet cells of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Alcian blue plus periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining, respectively. The expression of Occludin, a tight-junction-associated protein, was examined via immunohistochemistry. Images of colonic microvilli were obtained by TEM. Western blotting (WB) was used to analyze the protein expression of the ASK1/P38 MAPK pathway. The composition of the rat intestinal microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing. Changes in colonic metabolites were evaluated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Changes in colon RNA expression were assessed by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The nontoxic range of hypoxanthine (HPX) was screened by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), the cell model of human colonic epithelial cells (NCM460) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established, and the effective concentration of HPX was screened by CCK8. After transfection of pcDNA3.1-MAP3K5, Hoechst 33,342 staining, flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis, and immunofluorescence to detect the fluorescence changes of ASK1 and ZO-1. WB detection of ASK1/P38 MAPK pathway protein expression changes.

RESULTS

XP increased the body weight of IBS-D patients and reduced the loose stool rate, loose stool index, and Bristo score. In addition, XP mitigated colon lesions, increased the number of goblet cells and the expression of Occludin, and prevented severe distortion and effacement of the microvillous structure. Specifically, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that XP decreased the abundance of Desulfurium and Prevotella 9 at the phylum and genus levels while increasing the abundance of Bacteroides at the genus level. RNA-Seq combined with WB validation showed that XP exerted antidiarrheal effects by inhibiting the ASK1/P38 MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, XP also increased the relative expression level of the metabolite HPX, as revealed by untargeted metabolomics analysis. Impressively, the correlation analysis between 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS suggested that HPX and Prevotella 9 are negatively correlated, which indicated that XP might increase the content of HPX by reducing the abundance of Prevotella 9. Meanwhile, a negative correlation between HPX and ASK1 was indicated through RNA-Seq and LC-MS, which suggested that the inhibition of ASK1 (Map3k5) may be ascribed to the increase in HPX after XP treatment. In vitro experiments have proven that HPX can alleviate LPS-induced NCM460 damage, specifically manifested as enhancing cell viability, reducing cell apoptosis, increasing ZO-1 expression, reducing the fluorescence intensity of MAP3K5 in the model group, and inhibiting the expression of ASK1/P38 MAPK pathway proteins. The protective effect of HPX was reversed after transfection with pcDNA 3.1-MAP3K5, which fully demonstrated that the protective mechanism of HPX was achieved by inhibiting MAP3K5 and its downstream pathways.

CONCLUSION

XP displayed multifaceted protection against IBS-D in rats by regulating the intestinal microbiota, increasing the relative expression level of HPX, a metabolite of the microbiota, and inhibiting the ASK1/P38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Corilagin alleviates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury by relieving oxidative stress and apoptosis via AMPK/Sirt1-autophagy pathway

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) injury is a common pathological process with high clinical morbidity and mortality. Autophagy plays an important role in the pathological development of II/R. Corilagin (CA) is a natural ellagitannin with various pharmacological effects such as autophagy regulation, antioxidant, and antiapoptosis. However, whether CA alleviates II/R injury is still unclear. In this study, we had found that CA significantly attenuated II/R induced intestinal tissue pathological damage, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis in rats. Further studies showed that CA significantly promoted AMPK phosphorylation and sirt1 expression, and thus activated autophagy by upregulating protein expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and LC3II and promoting SQSTM1/P62 degradation both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation by its inhibitor compound C(CC) significantly abolished CA-mediated autophagy activation and the relievable effects on oxidative stress and apoptosis in vitro, suggesting the excellent protective activity of CA against II/R injury via AMPK/Sirt1-autophagy pathway. These findings confirmed the potent effects of CA against II/R injury, and provided novel insights into the mechanisms of the compound as a potential candidate for the treatment of II/R.

Zingiber officinale Rosc. in the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome Disorders-A Review of In Vivo Studies

Inflammation is a protective reaction of the innate immune system as a response to imbalances caused by a specific stimulus, a disease or a pathogen. A prolonged inflammatory condition may lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, which affects more than one-fourth of the world's population. This condition leads to the development of multi-organ disorders based on disrupted blood lipid and sugar levels, hypertension and oxidative stress. The review aims to present Zingiber officinale Rosc. as a plant that exhibits a variety of healing properties and restores the organism's equilibrium. Ginger (GI) rhizomes have been commonly used in traditional medicine to treat arthritis, stomach ache, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, rheumatism, nervous system syndromes, asthma, diabetes and nausea caused by pregnancy or chemotherapy. This review gathers together data from in vivo experiments related to the application of ginger for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, obesity, diabetes and other related disorders as a consequence of metabolic syndrome, including the confirmed molecular mechanisms of action.

Cardioprotective Effects of 6-Gingerol against Alcohol-Induced ROS-Mediated Tissue Injury and Apoptosis in Rats

The present study investigated the cardioprotective properties of 6-gingerol against alcohol-induced ROS-mediated cardiac tissue damage in rats. Experiments were conducted on 4 groups of rats, orally treated with control, 6-gingerol (10 mg/kg body weight), alcohol (6 g/kg body weight) and combination of 6-gingerol plus alcohol for two-month. In the results, we found 6-ginger treatment to alcohol-fed rats substantially suppressed ROS production in cardiac tissue. Alcohol-induced elevated 8-OHDG and protein carbonyls which represent oxidative modification of DNA and proteins were completely reversed by 6-gingerol. This was further endorsed by restored superoxide dismutase and catalase activities with 6-gingerol against alcohol-induced loss. The elevated cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB, cTn-T, cTn-I) and dyslipidemia in alcohol-intoxicated rats was significantly reversed by 6-gingerol. Furthermore, alcohol-induced apoptosis characterized by overexpression of cytochrome C, caspase-8 and caspase-9 was diminished with 6-gingerol treatment. Transmission electron microscope images conferred the cardioprotective properties of 6-gingerol as we have seen less structural derangements in mitochondria and reappearance of myofilaments. Our findings conclude that 6-ginger effectively protect alcohol-induced ROS-mediated cardiac tissue damage, which may be due to its potent antioxidant efficacy. Therefore, 6-gingerol could be a potential therapeutic molecule that can be used in the treatment of alcohol-induced myocardial injury.

Phenol-Rich Botanicals Modulate Oxidative Stress and Epithelial Integrity in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Botanicals are mainly known for their role as antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories. Thus, the dual purpose of the study was to verify the antioxidant potential of the tested botanicals and to evaluate their possible modulation of intestinal barrier integrity. As the effects of various phenol-rich extracts were screened, the human Caco-2 cell line was determined to be most suitable for use as the in vitro model for the intestinal epithelium. The tested botanicals, all approved as feed additives, are ginger essential oil, tea tree oil, grape seed extract, green tea extract, olive extract, chestnut extract, pomegranate extract, thyme essential oil, and capsicum oleoresin. The cells were treated with incremental doses of each botanical, followed by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), gene expression of tight junctions (TJs), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results showed how different phenol-rich botanicals could modulate barrier functions and oxidative stress in different ways. Interestingly, all the botanicals tested exerted an antioxidant potential by dropping the cytoplasmatic ROS, while the beneficial effect was exerted at different concentrations for each botanical. Our data support the role of plant extracts and essential oils in controlling gut barrier function and in reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby supporting gut barrier functionality.

Bibliometric and visual analysis of intestinal ischemia reperfusion from 2004 to 2022

Background

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common tissue-organ damage occurring in surgical practice. This study aims to comprehensively review the collaboration and impact of countries, institutions, authors, subject areas, journals, keywords, and critical literature on intestinal I/R injury from a bibliometric perspective, and to assess the evolution of clustering of knowledge structures and identify hot trends and emerging topics.

Methods

Articles and reviews related to intestinal I/R were retrieved through subject search from Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses were conducted on Excel 365, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix (R-Tool of R-Studio).

Results

A total of 1069 articles and reviews were included from 2004 to 2022. The number of articles on intestinal I/R injury gradually plateaued, but the number of citations increased. These publications were mainly from 985 institutions in 46 countries, led by China and the United States. Liu Kx published the most papers, while Chiu Cj had the largest number of co-citations. Analysis of the journals with the most outputs showed that most journals focused on surgical sciences, cell biology, and immunology. Macroscopic sketch and microscopic characterization of the entire knowledge domain were achieved through co-citation analysis. The roles of cell death, exosomes, intestinal flora, and anesthetics in intestinal I/R injury are the current and developing research focuses. The keywords "dexmedetomidine", "proliferation", and "ferroptosis" may also become new trends and focus of future research.

Conclusion

This study comprehensively reviews the research on intestinal I/R injury using bibliometric and visualization methods, and will help scholars better understand the dynamic evolution of intestinal I/R injury and provide directions for future research.

Bioactive components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases based on flavor-oriented analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) was first recorded in a Chinese medical classic, Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which was written in the Eastern Han dynasty of China. This ancient prescription consists of seven kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, namely, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Ginseng, Jujube, and Radix Glycyrrhizaepreparata. In clinic practice, its original application in China mainly has focused on the treatment of chronic gastritis for several hundred years. BXD is also effective in treating other gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) in modern medical application. Despite available literature support and clinical experience, the treatment mechanisms or their relationships with the bioactive compounds in BXD responsible for its pharmacological actions, still need further explorations in more diversified channels. According to the analysis based on the five-flavor theory of TCM, BXD is traditionally viewed as the most representative prescription for pungent-dispersion, bitter-purgation and sweet-tonification. Consequently, based on the flavor-oriented analysis, the compositive herbs in BXD can be divided into three flavor groups, namely, the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups, each of which has specific active ingredients that are possibly relevant to GID treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper summarized recent literatures on BXD and its bioactive components used in GID treatment, and provided the pharmacological or chemical basis for the further exploration of the ancient prescription and the relative components.

METHOD

ology: Relevant literature was collected from various electronic databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Citations were based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Chinese during the last decade.

RESULTS

Multiple components were found in the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups in BXD. The corresponding bioactive components include gingerol, shogaol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in the pungent group; berberine, palmatine, coptisine, baicalein, and baicalin in the bitter group; and ginsenosides, polysaccharides, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid in the sweet group. These components have been found directly or indirectly responsible for the remarkable effects of BXD on GID.

CONCLUSION

This review provided some valuable reference to further clarify BXD treatment for GID and their possible material basis, based on the perspective of the flavor-oriented analysis.

OptNCMiner: a deep learning approach for the discovery of natural compounds modulating disease-specific multi-targets

Background

Due to their diverse bioactivity, natural product (NP)s have been developed as commercial products in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic sectors as natural compound (NC)s and in the form of extracts. Following administration, NCs typically interact with multiple target proteins to elicit their effects. Various machine learning models have been developed to predict multi-target modulating NCs with desired physiological effects. However, due to deficiencies with existing chemical-protein interaction datasets, which are mostly single-labeled and limited, the existing models struggle to predict new chemical-protein interactions. New techniques are needed to overcome these limitations.

Results

We propose a novel NC discovery model called OptNCMiner that offers various advantages. The model is trained via end-to-end learning with a feature extraction step implemented, and it predicts multi-target modulating NCs through multi-label learning. In addition, it offers a few-shot learning approach to predict NC-protein interactions using a small training dataset. OptNCMiner achieved better prediction performance in terms of recall than conventional classification models. It was tested for the prediction of NC-protein interactions using small datasets and for a use case scenario to identify multi-target modulating NCs for type 2 diabetes mellitus complications.

Conclusions

OptNCMiner identifies NCs that modulate multiple target proteins, which facilitates the discovery and the understanding of biological activity of novel NCs with desirable health benefits.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-022-04752-5.

Old targets, new strategy: Apigenin-7-O-β-d-(-6″-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside prevents endothelial ferroptosis and alleviates intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury through HO-1 and MAO-B inhibition

With the increasing morbidity and mortality, intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IIRI) has attracted more and more attention, but there is no efficient therapeutics at present. Apigenin-7-O-β-D-(-6″-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (APG) is a new flavonoid glycoside isolated from Clematis tangutica that has strong antioxidant abilities in previous studies. However, the pharmacodynamic function and mechanism of APG on IIRI remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of APG on IIRI both in vivo and in vitro and identify the potential molecular mechanism. We found that APG could significantly improve intestinal edema and increase Chiu's score. MST analysis suggested that APG could specifically bind to heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and monoamine oxidase b (MAO-B). Simultaneously, APG could attenuate ROS generation and Fe²⁺ accumulation, maintain mitochondria function thus inhibit ferroptosis with a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we used siRNA silencing technology to confirm that knocking down both HO-1 and MAO-B had a positive effect on intestine. In addition, we found the HO-1 and MAO-B inhibitors also could reduce endothelial cell loss and protect vascular endothelial after reperfusion. We demonstrate that APG plays a protective role on decreasing activation of HO-1 and MAO-B, attenuating IIRI-induced ROS generation and Fe²⁺ accumulation, maintaining mitochondria function thus inhibiting ferroptosis.

VX-765 prevents intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome

BACKGROUND

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI) is a common clinical event that can cause serious consequences. The study aimed to investigated the effect of VX-765 in IIRI and its mechanism.

METHODS

The hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) cell model and IIRI mouse model were generated to examine the in vitro and in vivo effects of VX-765 on IIRI. IIRI was evaluated by histological assessment. ELISA was performed to determine the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, caspase-1, and GSDMD in intestinal tissues as well as the levels of MDA, SOD, CAT, caspase-1, and GSDMD in Caco-2 cells. Relative protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, IL-18, IL-1β, cleaved Caspase1, and GSDMD-N were analyzed by Western blotting. CCK-8 Assay was conducted to determine the optimal concentration of VX-765 for the in vitro studies. Flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to assess ROS levels and the mRNA levels of IL-18 and IL-1β, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to examine the subcellular localization of P65 and NLRP3.

RESULTS

VX-765 reduced IIRI-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response both in vivo and in vitro, while it decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β as well as the modified Park/Chiu scores. The optimal concentration of VX-765 for the in vitro studies was 10 μM. Moreover, VX-765 inhibited the nuclear translocation of P65, reduced oxidative stress and down-regulated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

CONCLUSION

VX-765 prevents IIRI presumably by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

6-Gingerol exerts a protective effect against hypoxic injury through the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 and p38/NF-κB pathway in H9c2 cells

Ginger, one of the most widely consumed condiment for various foods and beverages, has many pharmacological effects. 6-gingerol, a naturally occurring phenol, is one of the major pungent constituents of ginger. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of 6-gingerol on the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 and p38/NF-κB signaling pathway, as a possible means of combating hypoxia-related oxidative stress. H9c2 cells were chemically induced with CoCl₂ to mimic hypoxia-associated cellular damage. Cardiomyocyte injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Reactive oxygen species production was assessed by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. The antioxidative property of 6-gingerol was measured by estimating the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutathione disulfide. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after Annexin V-FITC-propidium iodide double staining. Western blotting was used to evaluate levels of p-p38, p38, cytoplasm p65, nuclear p65, total p65, nuclear Nrf2, total Nrf2, Keap1, HIF-1α, and HO-1. 6-gingerol was able to counter hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury as evidenced by inhibiting the levels of oxidative stress indexes and increasing the percentage of apoptosis. Furthermore, 6-gingerol was able to down-regulate p-p38/p38, nuclear p65, total p65 and Keap1 expression induced by CoCl₂ stimulation and increased cytoplasm p65, nuclear Nrf2, total Nrf2, HO-1, and HIF-1α expression. However, treatment with specific Nrf2 inhibitor blunted the activation of Nrf2 signaling and removed the protective effects of 6-gingerol. These experiments provide evidence that 6-gingerol exerts cytoprotective effects, which may be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis, potentially through activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting the p38/NF-κB pathways.

Dihydrotanshinone I inhibits ovarian tumor growth by activating oxidative stress through Keap1-mediated Nrf2 ubiquitination degradation

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT), a bioactive compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza, was reported to exhibit cytotoxicity against various malignancies. However, the underlying mechanism on ovarian cancer remains unclear. Here, DHT inhibited cell viability of ovarian cancer HO8910PM, SKOV3, A2780 and ES2 cells. It showed moderate inhibitory effect on ovarian epithelial IOSE80 cells and lower toxicity than chemotherapy drugs. DHT induced apoptosis and G2 cell cycle arrest accompanied by reduced expression of Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and increased Bax. Meanwhile, DHT increased ROS accumulation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and activated oxidative stress in HO8910PM and ES2 cells. Mechanistically, DHT inhibited Nrf2 and p62 expression, Nrf2 target genes and enzymes, and Nrf2 nuclear translocation, while increased the expression of Nrf2 inhibitor Keap1. NAC, a ROS scavenger, rescued DHT-induced proliferation inhibition, ROS generation and Nrf2 inhibition. DHT alleviated tBHQ-induced Nrf2 expression and increased its mRNA level. However, the proteasome inhibitor MG132 blocked DHT-induced Nrf2 inhibition, suggesting a post-translational regulation manner. DHT enhanced Nrf2 binding with Keap1, leading to potentiated Nrf2 ubiquitination degradation. Furthermore, Nrf2 and p62 overexpression blocked DHT-induced Nrf2 and p62 inhibition. Consistent with the in vitro results, DHT significantly delayed tumor growth in HO8910PM and ES2 xenograft nude mice, decreased tumor marker HE4 and CA125 levels, reversed the abnormally expressed proteins including Ki67, Nrf2, p62, Keap1, Bcl-2, CyclinB1, Cdc-2, and antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT in vivo. Serum from DHT-treated mice also inhibited cell growth in vitro. Taken together, DHT exhibits anti-ovarian tumor effect by activating oxidative stress through ubiquitination-mediated Nrf2 degradation. Our findings implicate a potential application of DHT for ovarian cancer therapy.

Promising Therapeutic Candidate for Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: What Are the Possible Mechanisms and Roles of Phytochemicals?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the most effective reperfusion strategies for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) despite myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, causing one of the causes of most cardiomyocyte injuries and deaths. The pathological processes of myocardial I/R injury include apoptosis, autophagy, and irreversible cell death caused by calcium overload, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Eventually, myocardial I/R injury causes a spike of further cardiomyocyte injury that contributes to final infarct size (IS) and bound with hospitalization of heart failure as well as all-cause mortality within the following 12 months. Therefore, the addition of adjuvant intervention to improve myocardial salvage and cardiac function calls for further investigation. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive bioactive secondary compounds abundantly found in Chinese herbal medicine. Great effort has been put into phytochemicals because they are often in line with the expectations to improve myocardial I/R injury without compromising the clinical efficacy or to even produce synergy. We summarized the previous efforts, briefly outlined the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury, and focused on exploring the cardioprotective effects and potential mechanisms of all phytochemical types that have been investigated under myocardial I/R injury. Phytochemicals deserve to be utilized as promising therapeutic candidates for further development and research on combating myocardial I/R injury. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury treatment using phytochemicals and possible side effects associated with this approach.

Ginger and 6-gingerol prevent lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal barrier damage and liver injury in mice

BACKGROUND

Inflammation-related diseases present a significant public health problem. Ginger is a flavoring spice and medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated the preventive effects of ginger extract (GE) and its main bioactive component, 6-gingerol (6G), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and liver injury in mice.

RESULTS

GE and 6G were orally administered to mice for seven consecutive days before LPS administration. After 24 h, the mice were sacrificed. GE and 6G were found to significantly reverse LPS-induced inflammation in the mouse ileum by modifying the NF-κB pathway. They also alleviated apoptosis in the ileum by downregulating Bax and cytochrome c gene expression and by inhibiting the caspase-3 pathway. Through the aforementioned mechanisms, GE and 6G restored the intestinal barrier by increasing ZO-1 and claudin-1 protein expressions. Gut-derived LPS induced inflammation and apoptosis in the liver; these effects were markedly reversed through GE and 6G treatment. 6G was the most abundant component in GE, as evidenced through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and accounted for >50% of total gingerols and shogaols in GE.

CONCLUSION

The current results support the use of GE and 6G as dietary supplements to protect against gut-derived endotoxemia-associated inflammatory response and disorders. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Remifentanil Promotes PDIA3 Expression by Activating p38MAPK to Inhibit Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Background: Remifentanil protects against intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, its exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of remifentanil in intestinal I/R injury in mice.

Methods: We evaluated the intestine-protective effect of remifentanil in adult male mice with 45 min superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by 4 h reperfusion by determining the following: intestinal Chiu’s scores, diamine oxidase, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein in serum; the apoptotic index, lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the intestinal mucosa; and the intestinal mRNA and protein expressions of Bip, CHOP, caspase-12, and cleaved caspase-3, reflecting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, conditional knockout mice, in which the protein disulfide isomerase A3 (PDIA3) gene was deleted from the intestinal epithelium, and SB203580 (a selective p38MAPK inhibitor) were used to determine the role of PDIA3 and p38MAPK in I/R progression and intestinal protection by remifentanil.

Results: Our data showed that intestinal I/R induced obvious oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress–related cell apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the intestinal mucosal malondialdehyde, a decrease in the intestinal mucosal SOD, and an increase in the apoptotic index and the mRNA and protein expression of Bip, CHOP, caspase-12, and cleaved caspase-3. Remifentanil significantly improved these changes. Moreover, the deletion of intestinal epithelium PDIA3 blocked the protective effects of remifentanil. SB203580 also abolished the intestinal protection of remifentanil and downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of PDIA3.

Conclusion: Remifentanil appears to act via p38MAPK to protect the small intestine from intestinal I/R injury by its PDIA3-mediated antioxidant and anti-ER stress properties.

[Dexmedetomidine preconditioning alleviates acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) against acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) in rats and its effect on NLRP3 inflammasome activity.

METHODS

Thirty-two normal male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8): the sham operation group, where the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was exposed only; II/R group, where the SMA was occluded for 1 h followed by reperfusion for 2 h; Dex+II/R group, where the rats were subjected to II/R and received intraperitoneal injection of Dex before reperfusion; and Dex group, where the rats received Dex pretreatment and sham operation. The rats in sham operation group and II/R group received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissues were measured, and HE staining was used to evaluate lung pathologies and determine lung injury score of the rats. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β) in the lung tissue were detected using ELISA, and the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and p-AMPK proteins were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with the sham-operated rats, the rats with II/R injury showed obvious lung pathologies and significantly increased W/D value, MPO activity and expression of TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β in the lung tissue (P < 0.05) with also significantly increased expressions of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 proteins (P < 0.05) but obviously lowered expression of p-AMPK protein (P < 0.05) in the lung tissues. Compared with those in II/R group, the rats in Dex+II/R group showed milder lung pathologies, significantly reduced W/D value, MPO activity and expressions of TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β in the lung tissue (P < 0.05), and significant lower expressions of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 (P < 0.05) but higher expression of p-AMPK protein (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dex treatment reduces II/R-induced inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, thereby improving acute lung injury caused by II/R in rats.

Preoperative fasting confers protection against intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury by modulating gut microbiota and their metabolites in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a grave surgical event with high morbidity and mortality. Preoperative fasting might confer protection against intestinal I/R injury by altering the composition of gut microbiota and their respective metabolites.

METHODS

An intestinal I/R mouse model was established and subjected to preoperative fasting for 24 h or fed ad libitum. Intestinal I/R injury was assessed using histological examination and survival analysis. Faecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomic analysis. Faecal transplantation of fasted and non-fasted mice and humans was conducted to evaluate the effects of gut microbiota on intestinal I/R. Murine small intestinal cells wecre subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation as an in vitro I/R model.

RESULTS

Preoperative fasting protected against intestinal I/R injury and improved survival in mice (P<0.001). In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that preoperative fasting increased the diversity and restructured the composition of the gut microbiota after intestinal I/R. Mice that received microbiota from fasted mice and humans showed less intestinal damage than those that received microbiota from fed subjects. Metabolomic analysis showed that the profiles of gut microbial metabolites differed between fasted and fed groups. Specifically, the concentration of petroselinic acid was significantly higher in the fasted group (P=0.009). Treatment of intestinal I/R mice with petroselinic acid alleviated intestinal injury in vivo and decreased cell apoptosis by mediating AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin-P70S6K signaling in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative fasting protected against intestinal I/R injury by modulating gut microbiota and petroselinic acid, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy.

6-Gingerol protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis via TRPV1 / FAF1 complex dissociation-mediated autophagy

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies demonstrated that autophagy alleviates cerebral I/R injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation. 6-Gingerol, a phenolic compound extracted from ginger, was reported to possess potent antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities and is associated with autophagy. However, the effects of 6-Gingerol in cerebral I/R injury have not been elucidated, and whether they involve autophagy-induced NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition remains unclear.

METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 h, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. 6-Gingerol and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were injected intraperitoneally, and si-TRPV1 was injected via the lateral ventricle. Cerebral infarct volume, brain edema, neurological deficits, HE and Nissl were used to evaluate the morphological and functional changes of brain tissue, respectively. TRPV1, FAF1, autophagy related (LC3II/I, P62, Beclin1), inflammation related (NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, caspase-1, cleaved-IL-1β, IL-1β, cleaved-IL-18, IL-18) and apoptosis related (Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved-caspase-3) proteins were assessed by Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitation, respectively. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the changes in the expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18), respectively. The degree of neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining. Neuronal ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULT

6-Gingerol treatment significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, improved brain edema and neurological scores, and reversed brain histomorphological damage after I/R injury. In addition, 6-Gingerol significantly reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-derived inflammation and neuronal apoptosis and upregulated autophagy. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA rescued the effects of 6-Gingerol on the NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis. Moreover, the findings illustrated that 6-Gingerol inhibited autophagy-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and apoptosis through the dissociation of TRPV1 from FAF1.

CONCLUSION

In brief, 6-Gingerol exerts antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects via TRPV1/FAF1 complex dissociation-mediated autophagy during cerebral I/R injury. Therefore, 6-Gingerol may be an effective drug for the treatment of I/R injury.

6-Gingerol protects against cardiac remodeling by inhibiting the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

6-Gingerol, a pungent ingredient of ginger, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, but the effect of 6-gingerol on pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling remains inconclusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of 6-gingerol on cardiac remodeling in in vivo and in vitro models, and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC), and treated with 6-gingerol (20 mg/kg, ig) three times a week (1 week in advance and continued until the end of the experiment). Four weeks after TAC surgery, the mice were subjected to echocardiography, and then sacrificed to harvest the hearts for analysis. For in vitro study, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were used to validate the protective effects of 6-gingerol in response to phenylephrine (PE) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) challenge. We showed that 6-gingerol administration protected against pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and dysfunction in TAC mice. In the in vitro study, we showed that treatment with 6-gingerol (20 μM) blocked PE-induced-cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and TGF-β-induced cardiac fibroblast activation. Furthermore, 6-gingerol treatment significantly decreased mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p38) phosphorylation in response to pressure overload in vivo and extracellular stimuli in vitro, which was upregulated in the absence of 6-gingerol treatment. Moreover, transfection with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 expressing adenoviruses (Ad-MKK6), which specifically activated p38, abolished the protective effects of 6-gingerol in both in vitro and in vivo models. In conclusion, 6-gingerol improves cardiac function and alleviates cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload in a p38-dependent manner. The present study demonstrates that 6-gingerol is a promising agent for the intervention of pathological cardiac remodeling.

Therapeutic potential of ginger against COVID-19: Is there enough evidence?

In addition to the respiratory system, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strikes other systems, including the digestive, circulatory, urogenital, and even the central nervous system, as its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in various organs, such as lungs, intestine, heart, esophagus, kidneys, bladder, testis, liver, and brain. Different mechanisms, in particular, massive virus replication, extensive apoptosis and necrosis of the lung-related epithelial and endothelial cells, vascular leakage, hyper-inflammatory responses, overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokine storm, oxidative stress, downregulation of ACE2, and impairment of the renin-angiotensin system contribute to the COVID-19 pathogenesis. Currently, COVID-19 is a global pandemic with no specific anti-viral treatment. The favorable capabilities of the ginger were indicated in patients suffering from osteoarthritis, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, respiratory distress, liver diseases and primary dysmenorrheal. Ginger or its compounds exhibited strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative influences in numerous animal models. This review provides evidence regarding the potential effects of ginger against SARS-CoV-2 infection and highlights its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory impacts in an attempt to consider this plant as an alternative therapeutic agent for COVID-19 treatment.

Sesamin Protects against and Ameliorates Rat Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury with Involvement of Activating Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 Signaling Pathway

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) may induce cell/tissue injuries, leading to multiple organ failure. Based on our preexperiments, we proposed that sesamin could protect against and ameliorate intestinal I/R injuries and related disorders with involvement of activating Nrf2 signaling pathway. This proposal was evaluated using SD intestinal I/R injury rats in vivo and hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) injured rat small intestinal crypt epithelial cell line (IEC-6 cells) in vitro. Sesamin significantly alleviated I/R-induced intestinal histopathological injuries and significantly reduced serum biochemical indicators ALT and AST, alleviating I/R-induced intestinal injury in rats. Sesamin also significantly reversed I/R-increased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and MPO activity in serum and MDA in tissues and I/R-decreased GSH in tissues and SOD in both tissues and IEC-6 cells, indicating its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress effects. Further, sesamin significantly decreased TUNEL-positive cells, downregulated the increased Bax and caspase-3 protein expression, upregulated the decreased protein expression of Bcl-2 in I/R-injured intestinal tissues, and significantly reversed H/R-reduced IEC-6 cell viability as well as reduced the number of apoptotic cells among H/R-injured IEC-6 cell, showing antiapoptotic effects. Activation of Nrf2 is known to ameliorate tissue/cell injuries. Consistent with sesamin-induced ameliorations of both intestinal I/R injuries and H/R injuries, transfection of Nrf2 cDNA significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, respectively. On the contrary, either Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) or Nrf2 siRNA transfection significantly decreased the expression of these proteins. Our results suggest that activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway is involved in sesamin-induced anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects in protection against and amelioration of intestinal I/R injuries.

Anwulignan Ameliorates the Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion

Anwulignan is one of the monomer compounds in the lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera In this study, we observed the effect of anwulignan on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) injury in male Sprague-Dawley rats and explored the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that pretreatment with oral anwulignan could significantly increase the mesenteric blood microcirculatory flow velocity; relieve the congestion and pathologic injury of jejunum; enhance the autonomic tension of jejunum smooth muscle and its reactivity to acetylcholine; increase the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and choline acetyltransferase; increase the contents of acetylcholine and glutathione in the serum or jejunal tissue; decrease the activities of myeloperoxidase, protein kinase C, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase; reduce the contents of malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, nicotinamide adenine, reactive oxygen species, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β; increase the expression levels of muscarinic receptor 3, PI3K, phosphorylation protein kinase B, p-GSK3β Ser9, Nrf2, p-Nrf2, heme oxygenase (decycling) 1, and b-cell lymphoma 2 in the jejunal tissue; and decrease the expression levels of p-GSK3β Tyr216, kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3, suggesting that anwulignan can ameliorate II/R-induced jejunal tissue injury in rats and that the mechanism may be related to its activating the PI3K/protein kinase B pathway and then regulating the Nrf2/Anti-oxidative Response Element signaling pathway and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins to play antioxidant and antiapoptotic roles. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Anwulignan can significantly reduce jejunal tissue injury and the production of inflammatory factors in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, improve the antioxidant capacity, and reduce the apoptosis of jejunal tissue, and it has the effect of significantly improving intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, suggesting that anwulignan may be used as a potential drug for the prevention and treatment of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury or a resource for the development of health food.

mTOR Inhibition Promotes Pneumonitis Through Inducing Endothelial Contraction and Hyperpermeability

Compromised endothelial (EC) barrier function is a hallmark of inflammatory diseases. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, widely applied as clinical therapies, cause pneumonitis through mechanisms not yet fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate the EC mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of pneumonitis caused by mTOR inhibition (mTORi). Mice with EC-specific deletion of mTOR complex components (Mtor, Rptor or Rictor) were administered LPS to induce pulmonary injury. Cultured EC were treated with pharmacological inhibitors, small interfering RNA or overexpression-plasmids. EC barrier function was evaluated in vivo with Evan's blue assay and in vitro by measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance and albumin flux. mTORi increased basal and TNFα-induced EC permeability, which was caused by myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation-dependent cell contraction. Inactivation of mTOR kinase activity by mTORi triggered PKCδ/p38/NF-κB signaling that significantly upregulated TNFα-induced MLC kinase (MLCK) expression, while Raptor promoted the phosphorylation of PKCα/MYPT1 independent of its interaction with mTOR, leading to suppression of MLC phosphatase (MLCP) activity. EC-specific deficiency in mTOR, Raptor or Rictor aggravated lung inflammation in LPS-treated mice. These findings reveal that mTORi induces PKC-dependent endothelial MLC phosphorylation, contraction and hyperpermeability that promote pneumonitis.

Deficiency of myostatin protects skeletal muscle cells from ischemia reperfusion injury

Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury plays a pivotal role in many diseases and leads to collateral damage during surgical interventions. While most studies focus on alleviating its severity in the context of brain, liver, kidney, and cardiac tissue, research as regards to skeletal muscle has not been conducted to the same extent. In the past, myostatin (MSTN), primarily known for supressing muscle growth, has been implicated in inflammatory circuits, and research provided promising results for cardiac IR injury mitigation by inhibiting MSTN cell surface receptor ACVR2B. This generated the question if interrupting MSTN signaling could temper IR injury in skeletal muscle. Examining human specimens from free myocutaneous flap transfer demonstrated increased MSTN signaling and tissue damage in terms of apoptotic activity, cell death, tissue edema, and lipid peroxidation. In subsequent in vivo Mstn^Ln/Ln IR injury models, we identified potential mechanisms linking MSTN deficiency to protective effects, among others, inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling and SERCA2a modulation. Furthermore, transcriptional profiling revealed a putative involvement of NK cells. Collectively, this work establishes a protective role of MSTN deficiency in skeletal muscle IR injury.

Microbiome-Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Protection Mechanism of α-Ketoacid on Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease in Rats

Objectives: As nitrogen-free precursors of corresponding essential amino, α-ketoacid have been widely prescribed to end-stage renal disease patients together with a low protein diet However, the impact of α-ketoacid on intestinal microbiota in chronic kidney disease (CKD) individuals is unknown. The study aims at investigating the variation in the intestinal microbiota and metabolic profile in response to α-ketoacid treatment in an adenine-induced CKD rat model. Design: Rats in the treatment groups were given solution of compound α-ketoacid tablets. At the end of the study, blood, feces, colon tissues and kidney tissues were collected and processed for biochemical analyses, histological and western blot analyses, 16S rRNA sequence and untargeted metabolomic analyses. Results: α-Ketoacid treatment reduced serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24 h urine protein, and alleviated tubular atrophy, glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in adenine-induced CKD rats. Moreover, α-ketoacid significantly improved intestinal barrier and increased the abundance of Methanobrevibacter, Akkermansia, Blautia and Anaerositipes while reduced the abundance of Anaerovorax and Coprococcus_3 at the genus level. In addition, our results also demonstrated that α-ketoacid significantly reduced the concentrations of indoxyl sulfate, betaine, choline and cholesterol. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of Coprococcus_3 was positively correlated with serum level of betaine, trimethylamine N-oxide, indoxyl sulfate, cholic acid and deoxycholic acid. Conclusion: α-Ketoacid has a reno-protective effect against adenine-induced CKD, which may be mediated regulation of serum metabolic profiles via affecting intestinal microbial community.

Protective Role of Transduced Tat-Thioredoxin1 (Trx1) against Oxidative Stress-Induced Neuronal Cell Death via ASK1-MAPK Signal Pathway

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H₂O₂-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

Vasculoprotective effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and underlying molecular mechanisms

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a common and widely used spice. It is rich in various chemical constituents, including phenolic compounds, terpenes, polysaccharides, lipids, organic acids, and raw fibers. Herein, we reviewed its effects on the vascular system. Studies utilizing cell cultures or animal models showed that ginger constituents alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, increase nitric oxide synthesis, suppress vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages, inhibit angiogenesis, block voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, and induce autophagy. In clinical trials, ginger was shown to have a favorable effect on serum lipids, inflammatory cytokines, blood pressure, and platelet aggregation. Taken together, these studies point to the potential benefits of ginger and its constituents in the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial diseases, and other vascular diseases.