Barrier protective functions of hederacolchiside-E against HMGB1-mediated septic responses

3-Deoxysappanchalcone Inhibited High Mobility Group Box Protein 1-Mediated Severe Inflammatory Responses

Background/Objectives: Phytochemicals are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential in treating various diseases, including vascular disorders. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a key mediator of late-stage sepsis, triggers the release of proinflammatory cytokines, leading to inflammation and systemic complications. Elevated plasma levels of HMGB1 impair diagnosis and prognosis while worsening outcomes in inflammatory conditions. 3-deoxysappanchalcone (3-DSC), a compound derived from Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod., has demonstrated anti-influenza and anti-allergic effects, though its role in HMGB1-mediated severe vascular inflammation remains unclear. This study hypothesized that 3-DSC could modulate lipopolysaccharide-induced HMGB1 activity and its downstream inflammatory pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: In vitro and in vivo permeability; cell viability, adhesion, and excavation of leukocytes; the development of cell adhesion molecules; and lastly, the production of proinflammatory substances were investigated on human endothelial cells and mouse disease models to investigate the efficacy of 3-DSC in inflammatory conditions. Results: Experiments revealed that 3-DSC inhibited HMGB1 translocation from HUVECs, reduced neutrophil adhesion and extravasation, suppressed HMGB1 receptor formation, and blocked nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that 3-DSC effectively mitigates HMGB1-driven inflammation, offering promise as a therapeutic candidate for inflammatory diseases.

Endothelial dysfunction: Pathophysiology and therapeutic targets for sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

Sepsis and septic shock are critical medical conditions characterized by a systemic inflammatory response to infection, significantly contributing to global mortality rates. The progression to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) represents the most severe complication of sepsis and markedly increases clinical mortality. Central to the pathophysiology of sepsis, endothelial cells play a crucial role in regulating microcirculation and maintaining barrier integrity across various organs and tissues. Recent studies have underscored the pivotal role of endothelial function in the development of sepsis-induced MODS. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced MODS, with a specific focus on endothelial dysfunction. It also compiles compelling evidence regarding potential small molecules that could attenuate sepsis and subsequent multi-organ damage by modulating endothelial function. Thus, this review serves as an essential resource for clinical practitioners involved in the diagnosing, managing, and providing intensive care for sepsis and associated multi-organ injuries, emphasizing the importance of targeting endothelial cells to enhance outcomes of the patients.

High mobility group box-1: a potential therapeutic target for allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa primarily characterized by symptoms, such as nasal itching, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion. It has a high recurrence rate and low cure rate, with a lack of effective drugs for treatment. The current approach to management focuses on symptom control. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a highly conserved non-histone protein widely present in the nucleus of eukaryotes. It is recognized as a proinflammatory agent, and recent studies have demonstrated its close association with AR. Here, we will elaborate the role and mechanism of HMGB1 in AR, so as to reveal the potential value of HMGB1 in the occurrence and development of AR, and provide a new target for clinical research on the treatment of AR.

Therapeutic Candidates for Alzheimer's Disease: Saponins

Drug development for Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia, has been a long-standing challenge. Saponins, which are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides with various pharmacological activities, have displayed therapeutic potential in treating Alzheimer's disease. In a comprehensive review of the literature from May 2007 to May 2023, we identified 63 references involving 40 different types of saponins that have been studied for their effects on Alzheimer's disease. These studies suggest that saponins have the potential to ameliorate Alzheimer's disease by reducing amyloid beta peptide deposition, inhibiting tau phosphorylation, modulating oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and antiapoptosis. Most intriguingly, ginsenoside Rg1 and pseudoginsenoside-F11 possess these important pharmacological properties and show the best promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review provides a summary and classification of common saponins that have been studied for their therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease, showcasing their underlying mechanisms. This highlights the promising potential of saponins for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Jujuboside B Inhibited High Mobility Group Box Protein 1-Mediated Severe Inflammatory Responses in Human Endothelial Cells and Mice

High mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a biomolecule that acts as an alerting signal of late sepsis by accelerating the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and eventually leads to various inflammation-related symptoms. When released into plasma at high concentration, it disrupts precise diagnosis and prognosis and worsens the survival of patients with systemic inflammatory conditions. Jujuboside B (JB) is a natural compound pressed from the seed of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen, which is known for its medical efficacies in treating various conditions such as hyperlipidemia, hypoxia, and platelet aggregation. Nevertheless, the medicinal activity of JB on HMGB1-involved inflammatory response in vascular cells in the human body is still ambiguous. Therefore, we hypothesized that JB could regulate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced dynamics of HMGB1 and its mediated cascade in inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this experiment, JB and HMGB1 were administered in that order. In vitro and in vivo permeability, and cell viability, adhesion, and excavation of leukocytes, development of cell adhesion molecules, and lastly production of proinflammatory substances were investigated on human endothelial cells and mouse disease models to investigate the efficacy of JB in inflammatory condition. JB substantially blocked the translocation of HMGB1 from HUVECs and controlled HMGB1-induced adhesion and extravasation of the neutrophils through LPS-treated HUVECs. Moreover, JB decreased the formation of HMGB1 receptors and continually prevented HMGB1-induced proinflammatory mechanisms by blocking transcription of nuclear factor-κB and synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-α. In conclusion, JB demonstrated preventive effects against inflammatory pathologies and showed the potential to be a candidate substance for various inflammatory diseases by regulating HMGB1-mediated cellular signaling.

Calcium–Permeable Channels and Endothelial Dysfunction in Acute Lung Injury

The increased permeability of the lung microvascular endothelium is one critical initiation of acute lung injury (ALI). The disruption of vascular-endothelium integrity results in leakiness of the endothelial barrier and accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the alveoli. During ALI, increased endothelial-cell (EC) permeability is always companied by high frequency and amplitude of cytosolic Ca²⁺ oscillations. Mechanistically, cytosolic calcium oscillations include calcium release from internal stores and calcium entry via channels located in the cell membrane. Recently, numerous publications have shown substantial evidence that calcium-permeable channels play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the endothelium barrier function of the vessel wall in ALI. These novel endothelial signaling pathways are future targets for the treatment of lung injury. This short review focuses on the up-to-date research and provide insight into the contribution of calcium influx via ion channels to the disruption of lung microvascular endothelial-barrier function during ALI.

Down-regulated HDAC1 and up-regulated microRNA-124-5p recover myocardial damage of septic mice

Studies have revealed the relationship between histone deacetylases (HDACs)/microRNAs (miRNAs) and sepsis, but little has ever investigated the mechanism of HDAC1/miR-124-5p in sepsis. Herein, we studied the impacts of HDAC1/miR-124-5p on myocardial damage of septic mice via regulating high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1). Septic mice were induced by cecal ligation and puncture. HDAC1, miR-124-5p and HMGB1 expression in myocardial tissues of septic mice were detected. Septic mice were injected with HDAC1 low expression-, miR-124-5p high expression- or HMGB1 low expression-related structures to observe cardiac function, inflammatory response, oxidative stress response, myocardial pathological changes and apoptosis in myocardial tissues of septic mice. The relationship of HDAC1/miR-124-5p/HMGB1 was verified. HDAC1 and HMGB1 expression were upregulated while miR-124-5p expression was decreased in myocardial tissues of septic mice. Restored miR-124-5p/depleted HDAC1 or HMGB1 recovered the cardiac function, improved cardiac function, inflammatory response, oxidative stress response, myocardial pathological changes and inhibit ed cardiomyocyte apoptosis in septic mice. HDAC1 bound to miR-124-5p which directly targeted HMGB1. This study suggests that down-regulated HDAC1 or up-regulated miR-124-5p recovers myocardial damage of septic mice via decreasing HMGB1.