Taurine attenuates arsenic-induced pyroptosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting the autophagic-inflammasomal pathway

Taurine ameliorates liver fibrosis by repressing Fpr2-regulated macrophage M1 polarization

Liver fibrosis is a reversible pathophysiological condition characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition that can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure if left untreated. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, protects the liver from damage. However, the effects of taurine on liver fibrogenesis have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we used amino acid metabolomics, gene expression microanalysis, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the roles of taurine, formyl peptide receptor 2 (Fpr2), and proinflammatory macrophages in liver fibrosis in human fibrotic sections and two distinct mouse models of liver fibrosis. Taurine transporter SLC6A6 wild-type and knockout littermate models and critical element inhibitors were also used. We found that taurine levels were significantly reduced in both human and murine fibrotic sections and that exogenous taurine supplementation alleviated fibrosis via SLC6A6. Furthermore, gene expression microarray analysis and scRNA-seq analyses demonstrated that exogenous taurine mitigated liver fibrosis, mainly by regulating Fpr2-related macrophage status. WRW4-mediated inhibition of Fpr2 ameliorated M1 macrophage polarization and alleviated liver fibrosis. Additionally, exogenous taurine suppressed Fpr2-modulated macrophage M1 polarization and the production of associated proinflammatory cytokines by repressing NF-κBp65 phosphorylation; moreover, SLC6A6 deficiency or treatment of liver fibrosis mouse models with an NF-κB inhibitor, BAY, impaired this protective effect of taurine. Therefore, taurine exerts a protective effect against liver fibrosis by repressing Fpr2/NF-κBp65-regulated macrophage M1 polarization, highlighting its potential therapeutic agent.

Associations of non‑essential metals and their mixture with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese older adults

BACKGROUND

Research investigating the impact of the non-essential metal (NEM) mixture on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among the elderly is presently insufficient. This study investigated the relationships between individual NEMs, their mixtures, and NAFLD in elderly individuals residing in Chinese communities.

METHODS

The analysis included 2741 participants drawn from the baseline survey of a longitudinal study. Urinary concentrations of aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), cesium (Cs), barium (Ba), thallium (Tl), uranium (U), and cadmium (Cd) were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). NAFLD diagnosis was determined using abdominal ultrasound imaging. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were utilized to evaluate the relationships between individual NEMs and NAFLD. Additionally, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based computation regression (QGC) models were employed to assess the impact of the NEM mixture on NAFLD.

RESULTS

After adjusting for covariates, Tl was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of NAFLD (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.44). Both RCS and BKMR models confirmed a linear relationship between urine Tl and the risk of NAFLD. Additionally, both BKMR and QGC models highlighted a significant connection between the NEMs mixture and NAFLD, identifying Tl as the primary driver. Significant interactions were observed between Tl and Ba, as well as between Tl and hypertension (Pinteraction = 0.055) and Tl and central obesity (Pinteraction = 0.008), collectively demonstrating synergistic impacts on NAFLD risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The NEM mixture is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD in Chinese old adults, with Tl as the primary contributor. Additional investigation is required to validate these findings and shed light on underlying biological pathways through which co-exposure to NEMs contribute to NAFLD.

Unveiling the nexus: pyroptosis and its crucial implications in liver diseases

Pyroptosis, a distinctive form of programmed cell death orchestrated by gasdermin proteins, manifests as cellular rupture, accompanied by the release of inflammatory factors. While pyroptosis is integral to anti-infection immunity, its aberrant activation has been implicated in tumorigenesis. The liver, as the body's largest metabolic organ, is rich in various enzymes and governs metabolism. It is also the primary site for protein synthesis. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of pyroptosis as a significant player in the pathogenesis of specific liver diseases, exerting a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological processes. A comprehensive exploration of pyroptosis can unveil its contributions to the development and regression of conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, offering innovative perspectives for clinical prevention and treatment. This review consolidates current knowledge on key molecules involved in cellular pyroptosis and delineates their roles in liver diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of leveraging pyroptosis as a novel or existing anti-cancer strategy.

The inducible role of autophagy in cell death: emerging evidence and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradation pathway for recycling intracellular materials and removing damaged organelles, and it is usually considered a prosurvival process in response to stress stimuli. However, increasing evidence suggests that autophagy can also drive cell death in a context-dependent manner. The bulk degradation of cell contents and the accumulation of autophagosomes are recognized as the mechanisms of cell death induced by autophagy alone. However, autophagy can also drive other forms of regulated cell death (RCD) whose mechanisms are not related to excessive autophagic vacuolization. Notably, few reviews address studies on the transformation from autophagy to RCD, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still vague.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review aims to summarize the existing studies on autophagy-mediated RCD, to elucidate the mechanism by which autophagy initiates RCD, and to comprehensively understand the role of autophagy in determining cell fate.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This review highlights the prodeath effect of autophagy, which is distinct from the generally perceived cytoprotective role, and its mechanisms are mainly associated with the selective degradation of proteins or organelles essential for cell survival and the direct involvement of the autophagy machinery in cell death. Additionally, this review highlights the need for better manipulation of autophagy activation or inhibition in different pathological contexts, depending on clinical purpose.

Qige Decoction attenuated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through regulating SIRT6-PPARα-mediated fatty acid oxidation

BACKGROUND

Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a potential therapeutic target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has been shown to regulate fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). However, the impact of SIRT6-PPARα pathway on NAFLD phenotype has not yet been reported. Qige decoction (QG), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely applied to treat disorders of glycolipid metabolism. Our previous experiments showed that QG reduced hepatic steatosis and provided preliminary evidence that QG may promote FAO. However, a thorough understanding of molecular mechanisms by which QG regulates FAO requires further investigation.

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway on NAFLD phenotype and explore the mechanism by which QG improves NAFLD and its relationship with FAO regulated by SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway.

METHODS

In vivo study, NAFLD mice induced by high fat diet (HFD) were divided into two parts. The first part involved four groups: control (CON), model (MOD), PPARα agonist (WY-14,643, WY), and SIRT6 inhibitor (OSS-128,167, OS) groups. The second part involved five groups: CON group, MOD group, positive drug (POS) group, low dose QG (QGL) group, and high dose QG (QGH) group. Widely-targeted lipidomic were performed by UHPLC-QTOF/MS to analyse differential lipids (DELs) in the liver, while differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by transcriptome analysis on the Illumina sequencing platform. In vitro study, co-immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase assay were employed to further identify the molecular mechanisms of SIRT6-PPARα interaction. The lentiviral vector, TG assay, and acetyl-CoA assay were used to clarify the indispensable role of the SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway on QG amelioration of lipid accumulation in vitro.

RESULTS

Down-regulation of SIRT6 inhibited PPARα-mediated FAO and aggravated lipid accumulation in hepatocytes both in vivo and in vitro. SIRT6 bound to PPARα in HepG2 cells; however, SIRT6 activation of the PPARα promoter was not detected. Along with QG reduced hepatocyte lipid accumulation, SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway was upregulated in vivo and in vitro. However, the alleviating effect of QG on lipid accumulation was blocked by SIRT6 silencing in vitro.

CONCLUSION

This study verified that SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway inhibition exacerbated NAFLD dyslipidaemia and hepatic steatosis. In addition, this study provided the first in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanisms by which QG ameliorates NFALD, involving promotion of FAO through activation of the SIRT6-PPARα signalling pathway. Our study offers significant insights for the clinical application of QG.

Protective Effects of Lactoferrin Treatment Against Sodium Arsenite Exposure-Induced Nephrotoxicity

It is said that a wide range of renal functions are at risk from arsenic exposure. We examined how lactoferrin administration may mitigate inflammation, apoptosis, redox imbalance, and fibrosis in order to counteract arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity. Accordingly, male C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks) were divided into six experimental groups with six mice in each group. The first and second groups were intragastrically administered normal saline and sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) at 5 mg/kg body weight concentrations as the negative control (NC) and NaAsO2 groups. The third, fourth, and fifth groups were intragastrically administered lactoferrin at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight in addition to NaAsO2 at concentrations of 5 mg/kg body weight. The sixth group was intragastrically administered lactoferrin at a concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight with the experimental group set as the lactoferrin group. After daily drug administration for 4 weeks, the lactoferrin concentrations were optimized based on the results of renal index and renal function. Histopathological, biochemical, and gene expression analyses were performed to evaluate the status of renal tissue architecture, redox imbalance, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis to confirm the alleviative effect of lactoferrin treatment against the NaAsO2 exposure-induced nephrotoxicity. The results confirmed that the 200 mg/kg lactoferrin treatment mitigated these arsenic effects and maintained the normal renal frameworks. Conclusively, disrupting the renal redox balance and triggering inflammation, apoptosis, along with fibrosis is a milieu that arsenic, robustly exerts its nephrotoxic effect. Lactoferrin, probably by its direct and indirect control mechanism on these said pathways, can mitigate the nephrotoxicity and preserve the normal renal health.

Ginsenoside Rg1: A bioactive therapeutic agent for diverse liver diseases

Diverse liver diseases are characterised by late diagnosis and rapid progression and have become one of the major threats to human health. To delay the transition from benign tissue lesions to a substantial organ injury, scientists have gradually applied natural compounds derived from plants as a complementary therapy in the field of hepatology. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is a tonic traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and natural products, including ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1), which is a kind of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol saponin with a relatively high biological activity, can be isolated from the roots or stems of ginseng. Given these information, this review aimed to summarise and discuss the metabolic mechanisms of G-Rg1 in the regulation of diverse liver diseases and the measures to improve its bioavailability. As a kind of monomer in Chinese medicine with multitarget pharmacological effects, G-Rg1 can provide significant therapeutic benefits in the alleviation of alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, etc., which mainly rely on the inhibition of apoptosis, strengthening endogenous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, activation of immune responses and regulation of efflux transport signals, to improve pathological changes in the liver caused by lipid deposition, inflammation, oxidative stress, accumulation of hepatotoxic product, etc. However, the poor bioavailability of G-Rg1 must be overcome to improve its clinical application value. In summary, focusing on the hepatoprotective benefits of G-Rg1 will provide new insights into the development of natural Chinese medicine resources and their pharmaceutical products to target the treatment of liver diseases.

The Role of miR-150-5p/SOCS1 Pathway in Arsenic-Induced Pyroptosis of LX-2 Cells

This study aims to explore the mechanism of pyroptosis of human hepatocyte LX-2 cells induced by NaAsO2 through the miR-150-5p/SOCS1 pathway. LX-2 cells were transfected with different concentrations of NaAsO2, miR-150-5p inhibitor, and SOCS1 agonist. Cell activity, cell pyroptosis, and the expression of related genes and proteins were detected by scanning electron microscopy, CCK-8, qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. Compared with the control group, 10 µmol/L and 20 µmol/L NaAsO2 significantly elevated the protein expression levels of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, caspase1, and cleaved caspase1 as well as the mRNA levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, caspase1, IL-18, and IL-1β. The typical pyroptosis with swelling and rupture of the plasma membrane was observed through scanning electron microscopy. The expression of miR-150-5p of the NaAsO2 intervention group increased, while the expression of SOCS1 decreased; then the level of NF-κB p65 elevated. With co-treatment of miR-150-5p inhibitor, SOCS1 agonist, and NaAsO2, the cell pyroptosis was attenuated, and the expressions of NLRP3, caspase1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, p65 of the group of miR-150-5p inhibitor and NaAsO2 group, and of the group of SOCS1 agonist and NaAsO2 reduced compared with the NaAsO2 group. Arsenic exposure promotes miR-150-5p, inhibits the expression of SOCS1, and activates the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in LX-2 cell pyroptosis.

The Protective Effects of Taurine, a Non-essential Amino Acid, Against Metals Toxicities: A Review Article

Taurine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid derived from cysteine. It is involved in several phenomena such as the regulation of growth and differentiation, osmoregulation, neurohormonal modulation, and lipid metabolism. Taurine is important because of its high levels in several tissues such as the central nervous system (CNS), heart, skeletal muscles, retinal membranes, and platelets. In this report, we present the functional properties of taurine indicating that it has potential effects on various metal toxicities. Therefore, a comprehensive literature review was performed using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. According to the search keywords, 61 articles were included in the study. The results indicate that taurine protects tissues against metal toxicity through enhancement of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, modulation of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, involvement in different molecular pathways, and interference with the activity of various enzymes. Taken together, taurine is a natural supplement that presents antitoxic effects against many types of compounds, especially metals, suggesting public consumption of this amino acid as a prophylactic agent against the incidence of metal toxicity.

Sulforaphane regulation autophagy-mediated pyroptosis in autoimmune hepatitis via AMPK/mTOR pathway

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease marked by inflammation of unknown origin. If untreated, it can progress to cirrhosis or liver failure, posing a significant health risk. Currently, effective drug therapies are lacking in clinical practice. Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound found in various cruciferous vegetables, alleviate pyroptosis and improve impaired autophagic flux, both of which contribute to AIH progression. However, whether SFN modulates autophagic flux and pyroptosis in S100-induced EAH through the AMPK/mTOR pathway remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether SFN can regulate AIH and elucidate its potential mechanisms of action. In this study, experimental AIH (EAH) was induced in male C57BL/6 J mice through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of S100. SFN was administered intraperitoneally every other day. After 28 days, the mice were euthanized, and their livers and serum were collected for histological and biochemical analyses. AML12 cells were used for the in vitro studies. The results showed that SFN mitigated pyroptosis by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and improving autophagic flux, which alleviates S100-induced EAH. Conversely, the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA negated the protective effects of SFN against inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, SFN activated the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, offering protection against S100-induced EAH. Selective inhibition of AMPK suppressed the improvement in autophagic flux and protected against SFN-induced pyroptosis. Overall, SFN significantly ameliorates S100-induced EAH by enhancing autophagic flux and mitigating pyroptosis through activation of the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Dual role of pyroptosis in liver diseases: mechanisms, implications, and therapeutic perspectives

Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death induced by inflammasome with a mechanism distinct from that of apoptosis, occurs via one of the three pathway types: classical, non-classical, and granzyme A/B-dependent pyroptosis pathways. Pyroptosis is implicated in various diseases, notably exhibiting a dual role in liver diseases. It facilitates the clearance of damaged hepatocytes, preventing secondary injury, and triggers immune responses to eliminate pathogens and damaged cells. Conversely, excessive pyroptosis intensifies inflammatory responses, exacerbates hepatocyte damage and promotes the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells, accelerating liver fibrosis. Furthermore, by sustaining an inflammatory state, impacts the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. This review comprehensively summarizes the dual role of pyroptosis in liver diseases and its therapeutic strategies, offering new theoretical foundations and practical guidance for preventing and treating of liver diseases.

Arsenic Exposure Triggers Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Repressing S-Adenosylmethionine-Dependent Histone Methylation in Rats

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid widespread in the environment, and its exposure has been associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes. As exposure is demonstrated to cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the roles of histone modifications in low-level As exposure-induced NAFLD in rats. The results showed that exposure to As caused lipid accumulation and upregulated the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes Fabp1, Srebf1, and Apoc3, while downregulated Acox1 and Cpt1a in rat liver. In addition, it was found that inorganic arsenite (iAsIII) was methylated to DMA, and the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) level was decreased, which would contribute to the repression of H3K9me1/2 in rat liver after exposure. The in vitro studies revealed that SAM supplementation attenuated lipid accumulation by restoring H3K9me1/2 in HepG2 cells, which further confirmed our animal results. Therefore, it is suggested that As methylation depleted SAM, which inhibited H3K9me1/2 and activated Fabp1, Srebf1, and Apoc3 expressions, leading to NAFLD upon inorganic As exposure. Overall, these data shed new light on the role of SAM-mediated histone methylation in As-triggered NAFLD, which could be useful for the prevention and intervention of hepatotoxicity induced by environmental As exposure.

CISD2-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and iron redistribution contributes to ferroptosis in arsenic-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Arsenic in the environment, such as sodium arsenic (NaAsO2), is a frequently occurring hazard that has been linked to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our prior research established the involvement of ferroptosis in arsenic-induced NASH, but the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we found that exposure to NaAsO2 had a suppressive effect on the expression of CDGSH iron-sulfur domain-containing protein 2 (CISD2) at the protein and gene levels, and overexpression of CISD2 inhibited NaAsO2-induced ferroptosis and NASH. Additionally, administration of NaAsO2 to hepatocytes triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, manifesting as the release of cytochrome c, impairment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and reduction in ATP synthesis. However, these adverse effects were alleviated through overexpression of CISD2. Intracellular iron redistribution was induced by overexpression of CISD2 and inhibited NaAsO2-induced ferroptosis. This inhibition was characterized by a reduction in cytoplasmic iron levels and an increase in mitochondrial iron levels. Our study demonstrated that NaAsO2 induced intracellular iron reorganization and mitochondrial dysfunction through CISD2 inhibition, leading to ferroptosis and NASH. This may provide a novel means of treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease triggered by environmental factors.

Mechanisms of Metal-Induced Hepatic Inflammation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Worldwide, there is an increasing prevalence of hepatic diseases. The most common diseases include alcoholic-associated liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease/ metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MAFLD/MASH) and viral hepatitis. While there are many important mediators of these diseases, there is increasing recognition of the importance of the inflammatory immune response in hepatic disease pathogenesis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hepatic inflammation triggers the onset and progression of liver diseases. Chronic and sustained inflammation can lead to fibrosis, then cirrhosis and eventually end-stage cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma. Importantly, growing evidence suggest that metal exposure plays a role in hepatic disease pathogenesis. While in recent years, studies have linked metal exposure and hepatic steatosis, studies emphasizing metal-induced hepatic inflammation are limited. Hepatic inflammation is an important hallmark of fatty liver disease. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr)-induced hepatic inflammation as they contribute to hepatic toxicity and to identify data gaps for future investigation.

Shikonin from lithospermum erythrorhizon induces pyroptosis in trophoblast cells by activating the CTSB-NLRP3 inflammasome

BACKGROUND

With the decline of global fertility, drug therapeutic of ectopic pregnancy is of great significance. Lithospermum erythrorhizon is using for embryo killing as herbal medicine. Shikonin is the critical nucleus of Lithospermum erythrorhizon; however, the mechanism is still unclear. The study aimed to explore the mechanism of shikonin against ectopic pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, we examined the viability and LDH release of HTR-8/SVneo cells by assays, observed pore formation in cell membranes by microscopy imaging and PI staining, and IL-1β release by WB and ELISA assay kit. Then, we used network pharmacology to analyse the potential interaction between shikonin, ectopic pregnancy and pyroptosis and used molecular docking techniques to verify interactions between shikonin and core common targets. Finally, western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to explore the mechanism of shikonin-inducing pyroptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells.

RESULTS

Shikonin could cause a significant inhibition of HTR-8/SVneo cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In HTR-8/SVneo cells, shikonin-induced cell swelling, bubble formation, an increase in the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and up-regulation of several pyroptosis-associated factors. And network pharmacology showed that The main targets of shikonin-ectopic pregnancy-pyroptosis were IL-1β and caspase-1, and molecular docking results showed that shikonin can closely bind to IL-1β, caspase-1 and GSDMD. Additionally, the necroptosis inhibitor GSK'872 could not suppress the expression of mature-IL-1β and prevent the pyroptosis phenotype from developing. However, the nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inhibitor MCC-950 could downregulate the expression of pyroptosis-associated factors and prevent the pyroptosis phenotype from developing. Shikonin led to an elevation in the expression of cathepsin B (CTSB), and the CTSB inhibitor CA-074 abolished pyroptosis induced by shikonin; however, the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC-950 could not inhibit the expression of CTSB.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that shikonin activates CTSB to induce NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in HTR-8/SVneo cells. This study has important clinical implications for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome: key players in kidney stone formation

The mitochondrion serves as a critical intracellular organelle, engaging in essential roles in the regulation of energy production, oxidative stress management, calcium homeostasis, and apoptosis. One such disease that has been particularly associated with these functions is kidney stone disease (KSD), specifically calcium oxalate (CaOx). It is underpinned by oxidative stress and tissue inflammation. Recent studies have shed light on the vital involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction, the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, endoplasmic reticulum stress and subsequent cell death in CaOx crystal retention and aggregation. These processes are pivotal in the pathogenesis of kidney stone formation. This review focuses on the pivotal roles of mitochondria in renal cell functions and provides an overview of the intricate interconnectedness between mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the context of KSD. It is essential to recognise the utmost significance of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that safeguard mitochondrial function and regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Such knowledge carries significant scientific implications and opens up promising avenues for the development of innovative strategies to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

The distinct mechanism regulating taurine homeostasis in mice: Nutrient availability affects taurine levels in the liver and energy restriction influences it in the intestine

AIMS

Our previous findings indicate that caloric restriction (CR) stimulates the production and secretion of taurine-conjugated bile acids in mice. Subsequent processing by gut microbiota leads to increased levels of deconjugated bile acids, taurine, and various taurine conjugates in the intestine. Furthermore, we demonstrated that carbohydrate restriction and protein restriction, to a smaller extent, mirror the impact of CR in terms of hepatic production of bile acids but not their secretion. We hypothesized that modulating dietary macronutrient levels would influence taurine homeostasis in the liver and intestine of ad libitum-fed and CR animals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ad libitum-fed male mice were allocated to receive either a control, low-protein (LP), low-fat (LF), or low-carbohydrate (LC) diet. Meanwhile, CR groups were given 80 % of their regular voluntary food intake as a control, high-protein (HP), high-fat (HF), or high-carbohydrate (HC) diet.

KEY FINDINGS

While CR did not affect the taurine levels and its conjugates in the liver, alteration in carbohydrates and protein intake impacted it. Conversely, in the intestine, CR increased the amount of free and conjugated taurine, whereas the various diets did not affect it or disrupt the CR-specific phenotype. Notably, variations in diet composition impacted the expression of the taurine transporter (Slc6a6) and glutathione-S transferases (GST) in the intestine as well as cysteine dioxygenase (Cdo) in the liver.

SIGNIFICANCE

The liver and the intestine show distinct responses to dietary interventions, with hepatic taurine being affected by the diet composition, while intestinal taurine is governed by energy availability.

Analysis of low-density lipoprotein receptor gene mutations in a family with familial hypercholesterolemia

BACKGROUND

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common monogenic autosomal dominant disorder, primarily mainly caused by pathogenic mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. Through phenotypic-genetic linkage analysis, two LDLR pathogenic mutations were identified in FH families: c.G1027A (p.Gly343Ser) and c.G1879A (p.Ala627Thr).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Whole exome sequencing was conducted on the proband with familial hypercholesterolemia to identify the target gene and screen for potential pathogenic mutations. The suspicious responsible mutation sites in 14 family members were analyzed using Sanger sequencing to assess genotype-phenotype correlations. Mutant and wild type plasmids were constructed and transfected into HEK293T cells to evaluate LDLR mRNA and protein expression. In parallel, bioinformatics tools were employed to predict structural and functional changes in the mutant LDLR.

RESULTS

Immunofluorescence analysis revealed no significant difference in the intracellular localization of the p.Gly343Ser mutation, whereas protein expression of the p.Ala627Thr mutation was decreased and predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Western blotting has showed that protein expression levels of the mutant variants were markedly declined in both cell lysates and supernatants. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay has demonstrated that LDLR protein levels in the supernatant of cell culture medium was not significant different from those of the wild-type group. However, LDLR protein levels in the cell lysate of both the Gly343Ser and Ala627Thr variants groups were significantly lower than those in the wild-type group. Bioinformatic predictions further suggested that these mutations may affect post-translational modifications of the protein, providing additional insight into the mechanisms underlying the observed reduction in protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we identified two heterozygous pathogenic variants in the LDLR gene, c.G1027A (p.Gly343Ser) and c.G1879A (p.Ala627Thr), in a family with familial hypercholesterolemia. We also conducted preliminary investigations into the mechanisms by which these mutations contribute to disease pathology.

Targeting cell death in NAFLD: mechanisms and targeted therapies

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a group of chronic liver disease which ranges from simple steatosis (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and is characterized by lipid accumulation, inflammation activation, fibrosis, and cell death. To date, a number of preclinical studies or clinical trials associated with therapies targeting fatty acid metabolism, inflammatory factors and liver fibrosis are performed to develop effective drugs for NAFLD/NASH. However, few therapies are cell death signaling-targeted even though the various cell death modes are present throughout the progression of NAFLD/NASH. Here we summarize the four types of cell death including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in the NAFLD and the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the pathogenic factors such as free fatty acid and LPS induce cell death in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In addition, we also review the effects of cell death-targeted therapies on NAFLD. In summary, our review provides comprehensive insight into the roles of various cell death modes in the progression of NAFLD, which we hope will open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

The genetic advantage of healthy centenarians: unraveling the central role of NLRP3 in exceptional healthspan

Despite extensive research into extending human healthspan (HS) and compressing morbidity, the mechanisms underlying aging remain elusive. However, a better understanding of the genetic advantages responsible for the exceptional HS of healthy centenarians (HC), who live in good physical and mental health for one hundred or more years, could lead to innovative health-extending strategies. This review explores the role of NLRP3, a critical component of innate immunity that significantly impacts aging. It is activated by pathogen-associated signals and self-derived signals that increase with age, leading to low-grade inflammation implicated in age-related diseases. Furthermore, NLRP3 functions upstream in several molecular aging pathways, regulates cellular senescence, and may underlie the robust health observed in HC. By targeting NLRP3, mice exhibit a phenotype akin to that of HC, the HS of monkeys is extended, and aging symptoms are reversed in humans. Thus, targeting NLRP3 could offer a promising approach to extend HS. Additionally, a paradigm shift is proposed. Given that the HS of the broader population is 30 years shorter than that of HC, it is postulated that they suffer from a form of accelerated aging. The term 'auto-aging' is suggested to describe accelerated aging driven by NLRP3.

Macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155 regulating hepatocyte pyroptosis in MAFLD

Background

Previous studies have shown that pyroptosis in hepatocyte is essential for the development of MAFLD. Growing evidence has shown that exosomal miRNAs-mediated communication between inflammatory cells and hepatocyte is an important link in MAFLD. In the present study, we aim to elucidate whether macrophage-derived exosomal miRNAs contribute to the hepatocyte pyroptosis in the pathophysiological process of MAFLD.

Methods

The effects of hepatocyte pyroptosis were investigated in an HFD-induced MAFLD mouse model and in the liver tissues from patients with MAFLD using immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, Western blotting, and luciferase reporter assay, among other techniques. MiR-155 inhibitor tail injections and AAV-FoxO3a-GFP were also administered to respectively inhibit or overexpress its expression in an HFD-induced MAFLD mouse model.

Results

Hepatocyte pyroptosis was heightened in the liver tissue of patients with MAFLD or HFD-induced MAFLD mouse. Importantly, treatment with a caspase-1 inhibitor or overexpression of FoxO3a reversed this trend. Our study also demonstrated that miR-155 expression and the number of infiltrated macrophages were increased, and knockdown of miR-155 attenuated hepotocyte pyroptosis and liver fibrosis in HFD-induced mouse. In addition, we demonstrated that macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155 was transferred to hepatocytes, leading to hepatocyte pyroptosis in MAFLD mouse. Furthermore, blockade of exosome secretion improved hepotocyte pyroptosis and liver fibrosis in HFD-induced mouse. On the contrary, macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155 worsened hepotocyte pyroptosis. Moreover, we found that miR-155 promoted hepatocyte pyroptosis in MAFLD by down-regulating FoxO3a.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results demonstrated that macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155 promotes hepatocyte pyroptosis and liver fibrosis in MAFLD.

The role and mechanism of pyroptosis and potential therapeutic targets in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical pathological syndrome characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat within liver cells, which can progress to end-stage liver disease in severe cases, posing a threat to life. Pyroptosis is a distinct, pro-inflammatory form of cell death, differing from traditional apoptosis. In recent years, there has been growing research interest in the association between pyroptosis and NAFLD, encompassing the mechanisms and functions of pyroptosis in the progression of NAFLD, as well as potential therapeutic targets. Controlled pyroptosis can activate immune cells, eliciting host immune responses to shield the body from harm. However, undue activation of pyroptosis may worsen inflammatory responses, induce cellular or tissue damage, disrupt immune responses, and potentially impact liver function. This review elucidates the involvement of pyroptosis and key molecular players, including NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and the caspase family, in the pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD. It emphasizes the promising prospects of targeting pyroptosis as a therapeutic approach for NAFLD and offers valuable insights into future directions in the field of NAFLD treatment.

NBR1-mediated autophagic degradation of caspase 8 protects vascular endothelial cells against arsenite-induced apoptotic cell death

Vascular endothelial cells play a critical role in maintaining the health of blood vessels, but dysfunction can lead to cardiovascular diseases. The impact of arsenite exposure on cardiovascular health is a significant concern due to its potential adverse effects. This study aims to explore how NBR1-mediated autophagy in vascular endothelial cells can protect against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by arsenite. Initially, our observations revealed that arsenite exposure increased oxidative stress and triggered apoptotic cell death in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). However, treatment with the apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK notably reduced arsenite-induced apoptosis. Additionally, arsenite activated the autophagy pathway and enhanced autophagic flux in HUVECs. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy exacerbated arsenite-induced apoptotic cell death. Our findings also demonstrated the importance of autophagy receptor NBR1 in arsenite-induced cytotoxicity, as it facilitated the recruitment of caspase 8 to autophagosomes for degradation. The protective effect of NBR1 against arsenite-induced apoptosis was compromised when autophagy was inhibited using pharmacological inhibitors or through genetic knockdown of essential autophagy genes. Conversely, overexpression of NBR1 facilitated caspase 8 degradation and reduced apoptotic cell death in arsenite-treated HUVECs. In conclusion, our study highlights the vital role of NBR1-mediated autophagic degradation of caspase 8 in safeguarding vascular endothelial cells from arsenite-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death. Targeting this pathway could offer a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate cardiovascular diseases associated with arsenite exposure.

Punicalagin Ameliorates Diabetic Liver Injury by Inhibiting Pyroptosis and Promoting Autophagy via Modulation of the FoxO1/TXNIP Signaling Pathway

Diabetic liver injury (DLI) is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus, which seriously jeopardizes human health. Punicalagin (PU), a polyphenolic compound mainly found in pomegranate peel, has been shown to ameliorate metabolic diseases such as DLI, and the mechanism needs to be further explored. In this study, a HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mouse model is established to investigate the effect and mechanism of PU on DLI. The results show that PU intervention significantly improves liver histology and serum biochemical abnormalities in diabetic mice, significantly inhibits the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins such as NLRP3, Caspase1, IL-1β, and GSDMD in the liver of diabetic mice, and up-regulated the expression of autophagy-related proteins. Meanwhile, PU treatment significantly increases FoxO1 protein expression and inhibits TXNIP protein expression in the liver of diabetic mice. The above results are further verified in the HepG2 cell injury model induced by high glucose. AS1842856 is a FoxO1 specific inhibitor. The intervention of AS1842856 combined with PU reverses the regulatory effects of PU on pyroptosis and autophagy in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PU may inhibit pyroptosis and upregulate autophagy by regulating FoxO1/TXNIP signaling, thereby alleviating DLI.

Postprandial Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins-Induced Lysosomal Dysfunction and Impaired Autophagic Flux Contribute to Inflammation in White Adipocytes

BACKGROUND

Obesity and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by an increase in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), cause chronic low-grade inflammation. It is unclear how postprandial TRLs affect inflammation in white adipocytes.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the study were to explore the inflammatory response of postprandial TRLs in white adipocytes and investigate the possible mechanism.

METHODS

We measured postprandial triglyceride (TG) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations in 204 recruited subjects and treated white adipocytes from mice with postprandial TRLs from above patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

RESULTS

Serum hsCRP concentrations and BMI were positively related to TG concentrations in the postprandial state. Postprandial TRLs increased mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1β, via the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1 pathway, and impaired autophagy flux in white adipocytes of mice. TRLs also induced lysosomal damage as evidenced by the reduced protein expression of lysosome-associated membrane proteins-1 and Cathepsin L. Inhibition of Cathepsin B, NLRP3, and mTOR signaling improved autophagy/lysosome dysfunction and inhibited the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and inflammatory factors induced by TRLs in white adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia causes chronic inflammation in adipocytes through TRL-induced lysosomal dysfunction and impaired autophagic flux in an mTOR-dependent manner.

Comprehensive pulmonary metabolic responses to silica nanoparticles exposure in Fisher 344 rats

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) could induce adverse pulmonary effects, but the mechanism was not clear enough. Metabolomics is a sensitive and high-throughput approach that could investigate the intrinsic causes of adverse health effects caused by SiNPs. The current investigation represented the first in vivo metabolomics study examining the chronic pulmonary toxicity of SiNPs at a low dosage, mimicking real human exposure situation. The recovery process after the cessation of exposure was also taken into consideration. Fisher 344 rats were treated with either saline or SiNPs for 6 months. Half of the animals in each group received an additional six-month period for recovery. The findings indicated that chronic low-level exposure to SiNPs resulted in notable alterations in pulmonary metabolism of amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleotides. SiNPs exerted an impact on various metabolites and metabolic pathways which are linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and tumorigenesis. These included but were not limited to L-carnitine, spermidine, taurine, xanthine, and glutathione metabolism. The metabolic alterations caused by SiNPs exhibited a degree of reversibility. However, the interference of SiNPs on two metabolic pathways related to tumorigenesis was observed to persist after a recovery period. The two metabolic pathways are glycerophospholipid metabolism as well as phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. This study elucidated the metabolic alterations induced by chronic low-level exposure to SiNPs and presented novel evidence of the chronic pulmonary toxicity and carcinogenicity of SiNPs, from a metabolomic perspective.

Alleviation of taurine on liver injury of type 2 diabetic rats by improving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and reduced insulin production, which causes abnormally elevated blood glucose. It has been reported that T2DM can enhance oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and stimulate a variety of complications including liver injury. Studies have shown that taurine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can not only ameliorate diabetes but also alleviate liver injury caused by various diseases. However, its effect on liver injury in T2DM is not clear. In our study, a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce liver injury in T2DM rats, and taurine was given as a treatment. Through the use of HE staining on paraffin sections, ELISA, and qRT-PCR, the effects of taurine on liver pathological alterations, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory response were investigated. We found that: hepatic transaminase levels of rats were reduced significantly following taurine administration; histopathological observations revealed that the morphology of rat hepatocytes was close to normal, and the number of inflammatory cells around liver vessels was significantly reduced; antioxidant-related indicators were significantly increased, including SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and T-AOC, while related factors of the Nrf2 signalling pathway and its downstream HO-1, NQO1 and γ-GCS were significantly increased; the expression of the JAK2-STAT1 signalling pathway, TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway and NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle-related factors were significantly reduced. Our results suggest taurine can alleviate T2DM-induced liver injury by improving the antioxidant capacity of the liver and inhibiting macrophage M1-type polarization and the inflammatory response mediated thereby.

Arsenic trioxide: applications, mechanisms of action, toxicity and rescue strategies to date

Arsenical medicine has obtained its status in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. In the 1970s, arsenic trioxide was identified to have high efficacy and potency for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, which promoted many studies on the therapeutic effects of arsenic trioxide. Currently, arsenic trioxide is widely used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia and various solid tumors through various mechanisms of action in clinical practice; however, it is accompanied by a series of adverse reactions, especially cardiac toxicity. This review presents a comprehensive overview of arsenic trioxide from preclinical and clinical efficacy, potential mechanisms of action, toxicities, and rescue strategies for toxicities to provide guidance or assistance for the clinical application of arsenic trioxide.

Serine protease inhibitor from the muscle larval Trichinella spiralis ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via anti-inflammatory properties and gut-liver crosstalk

Trichinella spiralis is recognized for its ability to regulate host immune responses. The serine protease inhibitor of T. spiralis (Ts-SPI) participates in T. spiralis-mediated immunoregulatory effects. Studies have shown that helminth therapy exhibits therapeutic effects on metabolic diseases. In addition, we previously found that T. spiralis-derived crude antigens could alleviate diet-induced obesity. Thus, Ts-SPI was hypothesized to alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, recombinant Ts-SPI (rTs-SPI) was prepared from the muscle larvae T. spiralis. The relative molecular mass of rTs-SPI was approximately 35,000 Da, and western blot analysis indicated good immunoreactivity. rTs-SPI ameliorated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and pyroptosis in NAFLD mice, which validated the hypothesis. rTs-SPI also reduced macrophage infiltration, significantly expanded Foxp3+ Treg population, and inactivated TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling in the liver. Furthermore, rTs-SPI treatment significantly shifted the gut microbiome structure, with a remarkable increase in beneficial bacteria and reduction in harmful bacteria to improve gut barrier integrity. Finally, Abx-treated mice and FMT confirmed that gut-liver crosstalk contributed to NAFLD improvement after rTs-SPI treatment. Taken together, Taken together, these findings suggest that rTs-SPI exerts therapeutic effects in NAFLD via anti-inflammatory activity and gut-liver crosstalk.

Mediating Role of Liver Dysfunction in the Association between Arsenic Exposure and Diabetes in Chinese Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) 2017-2018

Inconsistent results have been reported regarding the association between low-to-moderate arsenic (As) exposure and diabetes. The effect of liver dysfunction on As-induced diabetes remains unclear. The cross-sectional study included 10,574 adults from 2017-2018 China National Human Biomonitoring. Urinary total As (TAs) levels were analyzed as markers of As exposure. Generalized linear mixed models and restricted cubic splines models were used to examine the relationships among TAs levels, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations, and diabetes prevalence. Mediating analysis was performed to assess whether liver dysfunction mediated the association between TAs and diabetes. Overall, the OR (95% CI) of diabetes in participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of TAs were 1.08 (0.88, 1.33), 1.17 (0.94, 1.45), and 1.52 (1.22, 1.90), respectively, in the fully adjusted models compared with those in the lowest quartile. Serum ALT was positively associated with TAs and diabetes. Additionally, mediation analyses showed that ALT mediated 4.32% of the association between TAs and diabetes in the overall population and 8.86% in the population without alcohol consumption in the past year. This study suggested that alleviating the hepatotoxicity of As could have implications for both diabetes and liver disease.

Sesamin ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro

Sesamin (Ses) is a natural lignan abundantly present in sesame and sesame oil. Pyroptosis, a newly identified type of pro-inflammatory programmed necrosis, contributes to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when hepatocyte pyroptosis is excessive. In this study, Ses treatment demonstrated an improvement in hepatic damage in mice with high-fat, high-cholesterol diet-induced NASH and palmitate (PA)-treated mouse primary hepatocytes. Notably, we discovered, for the first time, that Ses could alleviate hepatocyte pyroptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, a protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) agonist, increased PKCδ phosphorylation and attenuated the protective effects of Ses against pyroptosis in PA-treated mouse primary hepatocytes. Mechanistically, Ses treatment alleviated hepatocyte pyroptosis in NASH, which was associated with the regulation of the PKCδ/nod-like receptor family CARD domain-containing protein 4/caspase-1 axis. This study introduces a novel concept and target, suggesting the potential use of functional factors in food to alleviate liver damage caused by NASH.

[Overexpression of lncRNA HEM2M alleviates liver injury in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HEM2M overexpression on liver injury in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

Wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) mice and myeloid cell-specific HEM2M knock-in (MYKI) mice were fed normal (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. After intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests, the mice were euthanized for detection of liver function indicators in the serum and liver tissue. HE staining and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining were used to examine liver pathologies, and the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the liver tissues were determined with ELISA. The mRNA expressions of HEM2M and the markers of M1 macrophages (TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6) and M2 macrophages (Arg-1, YM-1, and IL-10) were detected using qRT-PCR, and the protein expressions of P-AKT, T-AKT, NLRC4, caspase-1 and GSDMD were assayed using immunoblotting. Caspase-1 activity in the liver tissues was determined with colorimetric measurement and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTS

Compared with HFD-fed WT mice, MYKI mice with HFD feeding showed milder liver function damage (P < 0.01), alleviated hepatic steatosis, and reduced liver macrophage infiltration, glucose tolerance impairment and insulin resistance (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α and mRNA expressions of M1 type macrophage markers were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and those of M2 type markers increased (P < 0.01) in the liver tissues of HFD-fed MYKI mice, which also showed reduced NLRC4 inflammasome activity, caspase-1 activation, and GSDMD-N protein expression compared with their WT counterparts (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of HEM2M reduces the production of hepatic inflammatory factors, improves insulin resistance and inhibits hepatic NLRC4 inflammasome activation, which leads to reduced hepatic pyroptosis and liver injury in NAFLD mice.

Role of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy and Lipophagy in Baicalin and N-Acetylcysteine Mitigation of Cadmium-Induced Lipid Accumulation in Liver

Cadmium (Cd) is a major health concern globally and can accumulate and cause damage in the liver for which there is no approved treatment. Baicalin and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) have been found to have protective effects against a variety of liver injuries, but it is not clear whether their combined use is effective in preventing and treating Cd-induced lipid accumulation. The study found that Cd increased the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) and elevated the level of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). Interestingly, mROS-mediated CMA exacerbates the Cd-induced inhibition of lipophagy. Baicalin and NAC counteracted inhibition of lipophagy by attenuating Cd-induced CMA, suggesting an interplay between CMA elevation, mitochondrial destruction, and mROS formation. Maintaining the stability of mitochondrial structure and function is essential for alleviating Cd-induced lipid accumulation in the liver. Choline is an essential component of the mitochondrial membrane and is responsible for maintaining its structure and function. Mitochondrial transcriptional factor A (TFAM) is involved in mitochondrial DNA transcriptional activation and replication. Our study revealed that the combination of baicalin and NAC can regulate choline metabolism through TFAM and thereby maintain mitochondrial structure and functionality. In summary, the combination of baicalin and NAC plays a more beneficial role in alleviating Cd-induced lipid accumulation than the drug alone, and the combination of baicalin and NAC can stabilize mitochondrial structure and function and inhibit mROS-mediated CMA through TFAM-choline, thereby promoting lipophagy to alleviate Cd-induced lipid accumulation.

Role of Autophagy and Pyroptosis in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a chronic degenerative disease caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, mainly manifested as lower back pain. At present, the diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration mainly relies on imaging. However, early intervertebral disc degeneration is usually insidious, and there is currently a lack of relevant clinical biomarkers that can reliably reflect early disease progression. Pyroptosis is a regulatory form of cell death triggered by the activation of inflammatory bodies and caspase, which can induce the formation of plasma membrane pores and cell swelling or lysis. Previous studies have shown that during the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration, sustained activation of inflammasomes leads to nuclear cell pyroptosis, which can occur in the early stages of intervertebral disc degeneration. Moreover, intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells adapt to the external environment through autophagy and maintain cellular homeostasis and studying the mechanism of autophagy in IDD and intervening in its pathological and physiological processes can provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of IDD. This review analyzes the effects of pyroptosis and autophagy on IDD by reviewing relevant literature in recent years, in order to explore the relationship between pyroptosis, autophagy and IDD.

Arsenic and polystyrene-nano plastics co-exposure induced testicular toxicity: Triggers oxidative stress and promotes apoptosis and inflammation in mice

Co-existing of polystyrene-nano plastics (PSNPs) and arsenic (As) in the environment caused a horrendous risk to human health. However, the potential mechanism of PSNPs and As combination induced testicular toxicity in mammals has not been elucidated. Therefore, we first explore the testicular toxicity and the potential mechanism in male Kunming mice exposed to As or/and PSNPs. Results revealed that compared to the As or PSNPs group, the combined group showed more significant testicular toxicity. Specifically, As and PSNPs combination induced irregular spermatozoa array and blood-testis barrier disruption. Simultaneously, As and PSNPs co-exposure also exacerbated oxidative stress, including increasing the MDA content, and down-regulating expression of Nrf-2, HO-1, SOD-1, and Trx. PSNPs and As combination also triggered testicular apoptosis, containing changes in apoptotic factors (P53, Bax, Bcl-2, Cytc, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3). Furthermore, co-exposed to As and PSNPs aggravated inflammatory damage characterized by targeted phosphorylation of NF-κB and degradation of I-κB. In summary, our results strongly confirmed As + PSNPs co-exposure induced the synergistic toxicity of testis through excessive oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation, which could offer a new sight into the mechanism of environmental pollutants co-exposure induced male reproductive toxicity.

Sesamol as a potential candidate for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis, based on its regulation of FXR/LXR axis-mediated inhibition of autophagy through crosstalk between hepatic cells and macrophage

BACKGROUND

Sesamol (SEM), a natural lignan compound isolated from sesame, has strong anti-oxidant property, regulating lipid metabolism, decreasing cholesterol and hepatoprotection. However, its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect and mechanisms have not been comprehensively elucidated.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the anti-hepatic fibrosis of SEM and its underlying mechanisms.

METHOD

C57BL/6 mice with hepatic fibrosis were induced by TAA, then administrated with SEM or curcumin, respectively. HSCs were stimulated by TGF-β or conditioned medium, and then cultured with SEM, GW4064, GW3965, Rapamycin (RA) or 3-methyladenine (3-MA), respectively. Mice with hepatic fibrosis also were administrated with SEM, RA or 3-MA to estimate the effect of SEM on autophagy.

RESULTS

In vitro, SEM significantly inhibited extracellular matrix deposition, P2 × 7r-NLRP3, and inflammatory cytokines. SEM increased FXR and LXRα/β expressions and decreased MAPLC3α/β and P62 expressions, functioning as 3-MA (autophagy inhibitor). In vivo, SEM reduced serum transaminase, histopathology changes, fibrogenesis, autophagy markers and inflammatory cytokines caused by TAA. LX-2 were activated with conditioned medium from LPS-primed THP-1, which resulted in significant enhance of autophagy markers and inflammatory cytokines and decrease of FXR and LXRα/β expressions. SEM could reverse above these changes and function as 3-MA, GW4064, or GW3965. Deficiency of FXR or LXR attenuated the regulation of SEM on α-SMA, MAPLC3α/β, P62 and IL-1β in activated LX-2. In activated THP-1, deficiency of FXR could decrease the expression of LXR, and vice versa. Deficiency of FXR or LXR in activated MΦ decreased the expressions of FXR and LXR in activated LX-2. Deficiency FXR or LXR in activated MΦ also attenuated the regulation of SEM on α-SMA, MAPLC3α/β, P62, caspase-1 and IL-1β. In vivo, SEM significantly reversed hepatic fibrosis via FXR/LXR and autophagy.

CONCLUSION

SEM could regulate hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting fibrogenesis, autophagy and inflammation. FXR/LXR axis-mediated inhibition of autophagy contributed to the regulation of SEM against hepatic fibrosis, especially based on involving in the crosstalk of HSCs-macrophage. SEM might be a prospective therapeutic candidate, and its mechanism would be a new direction or strategy for hepatic fibrosis treatment.

The role and mechanism of miR-425-3p regulating neuronal pyroptosis -mediated inorganic arsenic-induced generalized anxiety disorder

Pyroptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of mental disorders. However, its specific role and mechanism in arsenic (As)-induced generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remain elusive. We utilized the data from CtdBbase, Phenopedia and DisGeNet to analyze genes that interact with arsenic poisoning and GAD. Subsequently KEGG and GO enrichment analysis were conducted to preliminatively predict the mechanism of inorganic arsenic-induced GAD. Male Wistar rats were administered water containing NaAsO2 (50, 100 μg/L) to evaluate GAD-like behavior through open field test and elevated plus maze. The expression of differential miRNAs including miR-425-3p, and pyroptosis in the prefrontal cortex of rats were detected. Furthermore, SKNSH cells were stimulated with NaAsO2 to examine the molecular changes, and then miR-425-3p mimic was transfected into SKNSH cells to detect pyroptosis in order to verify the function of miR-425-3p. Inorganic arsenic was confirmed to induce GAD-like behavior in rats, characterized by decreased locomotor activity and exploratory activities. Rats with inorganic arsenic-induced GAD exhibited reduced miR-425-3p expression levels in the prefrontal cortex and increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18. Treating with different concentrations of NaAsO2 showed that inorganic arsenic exposure downregulates miR-425-3p expression in SKNSH cells and upregulates the expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments demonstrated that miR-425-3p targets the NFKB1. Overexpressing miR-425-3p reversed the inorganic arsenic-induced pyroptosis in SKNSH cells by inhibiting the expression of NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18. Our findings suggest that inorganic arsenic exposure may induce GAD-like behavior in rats by downregulating miR-425-3p in prefrontal cortex, which targets NF-κB and regulates pyroptosis in neuronal cells.

Protective effects of macromolecular polyphenols, metals (zinc, selenium, and copper) - Polyphenol complexes, and different organs with an emphasis on arsenic poisoning: A review

For the potential health benefits and nutritional value, polyphenols are one of the secondary metabolites of plants that have received extensive research. It has anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity-reducing properties in addition to a high antioxidant content. Macromolecular polyphenols and polysaccharides are biologically active natural polymers with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Arsenic is an ecologically toxic metalloid. Arsenic in drinking water is the most common way people come into contact with this metalloid. While arsenic is known to cause cancer, it is also used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The treatment's effectiveness is hampered by the adverse effects it can cause on the body. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and the inability to regulate cell death cause the most adverse effects. Polyphenols and other macromolecules like polysaccharides act as neuroprotectants by mitigating free radical damage, inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production, lowering A42 fibril formation, boosting antioxidant levels, and controlling apoptosis and inflammation. To prevent the harmful effects of toxins, polyphenols and pectin lower oxidative stress, boost antioxidant levels, improve mitochondrial function, control apoptosis, and suppress inflammation. Therefore, it prevents damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. This review aims to identify the effects of the polyphenols in conjugation with polysaccharides as an ameliorative strategy for arsenic-induced toxicity in various organs.

Dissecting the role of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The objective of the present study was to review the existing epidemiological and laboratory findings supporting the role of toxic metal exposure in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The existing epidemiological studies demonstrate that cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) exposure was associated both with an increased risk of NAFLD and altered biochemical markers of liver injury. Laboratory studies demonstrated that metal exposure induces hepatic lipid accumulation resulting from activation of lipogenesis and inhibition of fatty acid β-oxidation due to up-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and down-regulation of PPARα. Other metabolic pathways involved in this effect may include activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. The mechanisms of hepatocyte damage during development of metal-induced hepatic steatosis were shown to involve oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and dysregulation of autophagy. Induction of inflammatory response contributing to progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) upon toxic metal exposure was shown to be mediated by up-regulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and activation of NRLP3 inflammasome. Moreover, epigenetic effects of the metals, as well as their effect on gut microbiota and gut wall integrity were also shown to mediate their role in NAFLD development. Despite being demonstrated for Cd, Pb, and As, the contribution of these mechanisms into Hg-induced NAFLD is yet to be estimated. Therefore, further studies are required to clarify the intimate mechanisms underlying the relationship between heavy metal and metalloid exposure and NAFLD/NASH to reveal the potential targets for treatment and prevention of metal-induced NAFLD.

Distinct Types of Cell Death and Implications in Liver Diseases: An Overview of Mechanisms and Application

Cell death is associated with a variety of liver diseases, and hepatocyte death is a core factor in the occurrence and progression of liver diseases. In recent years, new cell death modes have been identified, and certain biomarkers have been detected in the circulation during various cell death modes that mediate liver injury. In this review, cell death modes associated with liver diseases are summarized, including some cell death modes that have emerged in recent years. We described the mechanisms associated with liver diseases and summarized recent applications of targeting cell death in liver diseases. It provides new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. In addition, multiple cell death modes can contribute to the same liver disease. Different cell death modes are not isolated, and they interact with each other in liver diseases. Future studies may focus on exploring the regulation between various cell death response pathways in liver diseases.

Current Advances in the Regulatory Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Dietary Resources on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Role of Autophagy

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease characterized by lipid metabolic disorder primarily due to sedentary lifestyles and excessive food consumption. However, there are currently no approved and effective drugs available to treat NAFLD. In recent years, research has shown that dietary bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavones, and alkaloids, have the potential to improve NAFLD by regulating autophagy. However, there is no up-to-date review of research progress in this field. This review aims to systematically summarize and discuss the regulatory effects and molecular mechanisms of dietary bioactive compounds on NAFLD through the modulation of autophagy. The existing research has demonstrated that some dietary bioactive compounds can effectively improve various aspects of NAFLD progression, such as lipid metabolism, insulin resistance (IR), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial homeostasis, and inflammation. Molecular mechanism studies have revealed that they exert their beneficial effects on NAFLD through autophagy-mediated signaling pathways, predominantly involving transcription factor EB (TFEB), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), SIRT, and PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/parkin. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of current research in this field are highlighted. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the potential treatment of NAFLD using dietary bioactive compounds that can modulate autophagy.

NLRP3 and cancer: Pathogenesis and therapeutic opportunities

More than a decade ago IL-1 blockade was suggested as an add-on therapy for the treatment of cancer. This proposal was based on the overall safety record of anti-IL-1 biologics and the anti-tumor properties of IL-1 blockade in animal models of cancer. Today, a new frontier in IL-1 activity regulation has developed with several orally active NLRP3 inhibitors currently in clinical trials, including cancer. Despite an increasing body of evidence suggesting a role of NLRP3 and IL-1-mediated inflammation driving cancer initiation, immunosuppression, growth, and metastasis, NLRP3 activation in cancer remains controversial. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in the understanding of NLRP3 activation in cancer. Further, we discuss the current opportunities for NLRP3 inhibition in cancer intervention with novel small molecules.

Establishment of a novel indicator of pyroptosis regulated gene transcription level and its application in pan-cancer

Pyroptosis is a type of programmed cell death and plays a dual role in distinct cancers. It is elusive to evaluate the activation level of pyroptosis and to appraise the involvement of pyroptosis in the occurrence and development of diverse tumors. Accordingly, we herein established an indicator to evaluate pyroptosis related gene transcription levels based on the expression level of genes involved in pyroptosis and tried to elaborated on the association between pyroptosis and tumors across diverse tumor types. We found that pyroptosis related gene transcription levels could predict the prognosis of patients, which could act as either a favorable or a dreadful factor in diverse cancers. According to signaling pathway analyses we observed that pyroptosis played a significant role in immune regulation and tumorigenesis and had strong links with other forms of cell death. We also performed analysis on the crosstalk between pyroptosis and immune status and further investigated the predictive potential of pyroptosis level for the efficacy of immunotherapy. Lastly, we manifested that pyroptosis status could serve as a biomarker to the efficacy of chemotherapy across various cancers. In summary, this study established a quantitative indicator to evaluate pyroptosis related gene transcription levels, systematically explored the role of pyroptosis in pan-cancer. These results could provide potential research directions targeting pyroptosis, and highlighted that pyroptosis may be used to develop a novel strategy for the treatment of cancer.

Filamin A facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome activation during arsenic-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Prolonged exposure to arsenic can cause nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays an essential role in the process of NASH. However, the mechanism by which arsenic promotes NLRP3 expression remains unclear. Three-month NaAsO2 gavage led to the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway activation and NASH. Additionally, NaAsO2 upregulated the level of Filamin A (FLNA) and pyroptosis, thereby activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in SD rat liver. Using FLNA siRNA, NASH-associated inflammation and pyroptosis were clearly mitigated by reducing activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, arsenic treatment facilitated activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and promoted p-p65 translocation into the nucleus. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (Ch-IP) assay indicated that FLNA promoted p65 binding to the NLRP3 gene and upregulated the transcription of NLRP3, ultimately leading to pyroptosis and NASH. Our findings indicate that FLNA and pyroptosis are strongly associated with NASH induced by NaAsO2. Collectively, the findings of this study indicated that FLNA mediates NF-κB signaling pathway-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and ultimately activates pyroptosis and NASH upon NaAsO2 exposure. This information may be useful for improving therapeutic strategies against arsenic-induced NASH.

AS3MT facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome activation by m6A modification during arsenic-induced hepatic insulin resistance

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) messenger RNA methylation is the most widespread gene regulatory mechanism affecting liver functions and disorders. However, the relationship between m6A methylation and arsenic-induced hepatic insulin resistance (IR), which is a critical initiating event in arsenic-induced metabolic syndromes such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remains unclear. Here, we showed that arsenic treatment facilitated methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14)-mediated m6A methylation, and that METTL14 interference reversed arsenic-impaired hepatic insulin sensitivity. We previously showed that arsenic-induced NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation contributed to hepatic IR. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the role of arsenic toward the post-transcriptional modification of NLRP3 remain unclear. Here, we showed that NLRP3 mRNA stability was enhanced by METTL14-mediated m6A methylation during arsenic-induced hepatic IR. Furthermore, we demonstrated that arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT), an essential enzyme in arsenic metabolic processes, interacted with NLRP3 to activate the inflammasome, thereby contributing to arsenic-induced hepatic IR. Also, AS3MT strengthened the m6A methylase association with NLRP3 to stabilize m6A-modified NLRP3. In summary, we showed that AS3MT-induced m6A modification critically regulated NLRP3 inflammasome activation during arsenic-induced hepatic IR, and we identified a novel post-transcriptional function of AS3MT in promoting arsenicosis.

The Impact of Taurine on Obesity-Induced Diabetes Mellitus: Mechanisms Underlying Its Effect

This review explores the potential benefits of taurine in ameliorating the metabolic disorders of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), highlighting the factors that bridge these associations. Relevant articles and studies were reviewed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between obesity and the development of T2D and the effect of taurine on those conditions. The loss of normal β-cell function and development of T2D are associated with obesity-derived insulin resistance. The occurrence of diabetes has been linked to the low bioavailability of taurine, which plays critical roles in normal β-cell function, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammation. The relationships among obesity, insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and T2D are complex and intertwined. Taurine may play a role in ameliorating these metabolic disorders through different pathways, but further research is needed to fully understand its effects and potential as a therapeutic intervention.

Open a new epoch of arsenic trioxide investigation: ATOdb

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is a great discovery in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which has been used in an increasing number of malignant diseases. Systematic integrative analysis will help to precisely understand the mechanism of ATO and find new combined drugs. Therefore, we developed a one-stop comprehensive database of ATO named ATOdb by manually compiling a wealth of experimentally supported ATO-related data from 3479 articles, and integrated analysis tools. The current version of ATOdb contains 8373 associations among 2300 ATO targets, 80 conditions and 262 combined drugs. Each entry in ATOdb contains detailed information on ATO targets, therapeutic/side effects, systems, cell names, cell types, regulations, detection methods, brief descriptions, references, etc. Furthermore, ATOdb also provides data visualization and analysis results such as the drug similarities, protein-protein interactions, and miRNA-mRNA relationships. An easy-to-use web interface was deployed in ATOdb for users to easily browse, search and download the data. In conclusion, ATOdb will serve as a valuable resource for in-depth study of the mechanism of ATO, discovery of new drug combination strategies, promotion of rational drug use and individualized treatments. ATOdb is freely available at http://bio-bigdata.hrbmu.edu.cn/ATOdb/index.jsp.

Programmed Cell Death in Liver Fibrosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a comprehensive term that encompasses various forms of cell death, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. PCD facilitates the elimination of aberrant cells, particularly activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are the primary producers of extracellular matrix (ECM). The removal of HSCs may impede ECM synthesis, thereby mitigating liver fibrosis. As such, PCD has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for the development of novel drugs to treat liver fibrosis. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of PCD in the elimination of activated HSCs and other aberrant liver cells in fibrotic liver tissue, including hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoid endothelial cells (LSECs), and Kupffer cells (KCs). The induction of PCD, the interplay between different forms of PCD, and the potential harm or benefit of PCD in liver fibrosis are topics of ongoing research. Evidences suggest that PCD is a complex process with dual effects on liver fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent advances in PCD and liver fibrosis research.

Combined exposure to benzo(a)pyrene and dibutyl phthalate aggravates pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization in spleen via pyroptosis involving cathepsin B

Humans are often simultaneously exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) through consumption of food and water. Yet, direct evidence of the link between BaP and DBP co-exposure and the risk of splenic injury is lacking. In the present study, we established the rats and primary splenic macrophages models to evaluate the effects of BaP or/and DBP exposure on spleen and underlying mechanisms. Compared to the single exposure or control groups, the co-exposure group showed more severe spleen damage and higher production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Co-exposure to BaP and DBP resulted in a 1.79-fold, 2.11-fold and 1.9-fold increase in the M1 macrophage markers iNOS, NLRP3 (pyroptosis marker protein) and cathepsin B (CTSB), respectively, and a 0.8-fold decrease in the M2 macrophage marker Arg1 in vivo. The more prominent effects in perturbation of imbalance in M1/M2 polarization (iNOS, 2.25-fold; Arg1, 0.55-fold), pyroptosis (NLRP3, 1.43-fold), and excess CTSB (1.07-fold) in macrophages caused by BaP and DBP co-exposure in vitro were also found. Notably, MCC950 (the NLRP3-specific inhibitor) treatment attenuated the pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and following pro-inflammatory cytokine production triggered by BaP and DBP co-exposure. Furthermore, CA-074Me (the CTSB-specific inhibitor) suppressed the macrophages pyroptosis, pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine induced by BaP and DBP co-exposure. In conclusion, this study indicates co-exposure to BaP and DBP poses a higher risk of spleen injury. Pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization regulated by pyroptosis involving CTSB underlies the spleen injury caused by BaP and DBP co-exposure.

Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates abdominal aorta coarctation-induced myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting pyroptosis through regulating eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α phosphorylation and activating PI3K/AKT1 pathway

This study aimed to assess the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC) induced myocardial fibrosis (MF) and autophagy in rats. Forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, AAC group, AAC + H2S group, and H2S control group. After a model of rats with AAC was built surgically, AAC + H2S group and H2S group were injected intraperitoneally with H2S (100 μmol/kg) daily. The rats in the control group and the AAC group were injected with the same amount of PBS. We observed that H2S can improve left ventricular function and the deposition of myocardial collagen fibers, inhibit pyroptosis, down-regulate the expression of P-eif2α in myocardial tissue, and inhibit cell autophagy by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT1 signaling pathway (p < 0.05). In addition, angiotensin II (1 μM) H9c2 cardiomyocytes were injured in vitro experiments, and it was also observed that pyroptosis was inhibited after H2S (400 μmol/kg) intervention, the expression of P-eif2α in cardiomyocytes was significantly down-regulated, and the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway was activated at the same time. Therefore, increasing the expression of P-eif2α reverses the activation of the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway by H2S. In conclusion, these findings suggest that exogenous H2S can ameliorate MF in rats with AAC by inhibiting pyroptosis, and the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting the phosphorylation of eif2α and activating the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway to inhibit excessive cell autophagy.