The effect of Jiedu Huoxue decoction on rat model of experimental nonbacterial prostatitis via regulation of miRNAs

The potential mechanism of huazhuojiedu decoction in the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Huazhuojiedu decoction (HZJDD), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been clinically proven to be an effective treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the mechanism of HZJDD in the treatment of UC remains unclear. This study combined network pharmacology with experimental validation to explore the potential mechanism of HZJDD on UC. First, the relationship network diagrams between HZJDD and UC were established based on multiple databases. Then, the HZJDD-UC intersection genes target network was constructed and Gene Ontology-Biological processes (GO-BP) analysis was performed to discover the potential pharmacological mechanism. Finally, the results of GO-BP were verified in dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced UC rats. The network pharmacology results showed that 119 active components and 146 potential targets were screened for HZJDD, and six of the top 15 biological processes belonged to inflammatory response, cellular response to hypoxia, and cellular response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The GO-BP results indicated that the mechanism of HZJDD treatment of UC was related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and the regulation of LPS. Animal experiments showed that HZJDD could significantly reduce the disease activity index (DAI) score, improve colon length, and effectively repair the histomorphological and micromorphological changes in DSS-induced UC rats. Moreover, HZJDD reduced the expressions of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, LPS, IL-1β, and IL-18; downregulated the activity of MDA; and upregulated the activities of CAT, GSH, and SOD in DSS-induced UC rats. Furthermore, HZJDD suppressed the expression of the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway at the gene and protein levels to inhibit pyroptosis. Network pharmacology and animal experiments showed that HZJDD exerted a therapeutic effect on DSS-induced UC rats by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and restraining the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway to inhibit pyroptosis.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Revealed the Mechanism of Yiqi Jianpi Recipe on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective

The study aimed to explore the active ingredients, targets, and mechanism of action of Yiqi Jianpi recipe (YQJPR) in the treatment of COPD based on the network pharmacology and COPD rat models.

Methods

The active ingredients and targets of YQJPR were collected by TCMSP. Disease-related protein targets were obtained from GeneCards. The Venn diagram was used to show the key therapeutic targets of COPD in YQJPR. The PPI network was established by STRING, and cytoHubba plug-in was used to screen the core targets within the network. GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed to describe the functions and pathways of the core targets. Cytoscape software was used to construct the ingredient-target network and the core target-enrichment pathway network. The chemical constituents of YQJPR were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS.

Results

The network pharmacology showed 152 active ingredients and 225 targets in YQJPR for the treatment of COPD. The key active ingredients were quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, tanshinone IIA, and baicalein. The contents of quercetin and luteolin in YQJPR were quantitatively measured by HPLC-MS/MS. 22 core genes were screened, including AKT1, IL-6, JUN, VEGFA, and CASP3, which were mainly involved in BPs such as cell proliferation and differentiation, oxidative/chemical stress, and regulation of DNA-binding transcription factor activity and regulated viral infection, tumor, HIF-1, MAPK, TNF, and IL-17 pathways. Animal experiments showed that YQJPR could significantly reduce the expression of p-ERK1/2, p-Akt, c-Myc, cleaved caspase-3, and p-Stat3 in lung tissue (p < 0.05). HE staining showed that, compared with the model group, YQJPR significantly improved lung tissue morphology and reduced lung inflammation in rats.

Conclusion

The effects of YQJPR on COPD may involve multiple components, pathways, and targets. This study provides new ideas for further and more comprehensive exploration of the therapeutic effect of YQJPR on COPD in the future.

Investigating the multi-target therapeutic mechanism of Guihuang formula on Chronic Prostatitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a complex, intractable and prevalent urological disorder in men with no effective treatment. Guihuang formula (GHF) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound that is advantageous as a CP treatment, but its aetiology is poorly understood. Research and exploration of the mechanism of GHF will help the development of a potentially valuable drug for CP and provide deeper insight into CP.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine and further clarify the multi-target therapeutic mechanism of GHF on CP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical components in GHF were identified using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The active components and potential targets of GHF for the treatment of CP were screened and analyzed using network pharmacology and molecular docking. We constructed a CP rat model to investigate the therapeutic effect of GHF on CP and verify the influence of key targets and core pathways based on the results of network pharmacology.

RESULTS

A total of 143 ingredients were identified in GHF using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, and 111 potential targets for GHF of CP were predicted. The "drug-ingredient-target-pathway" network was constructed and in compliance with the "Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi" principle. GHF significantly reduced the prostate index, alleviated histological damage in the prostate, decreased CD3⁺ T cells and CD45⁺ leukocyte infiltration in the prostate, downregulated the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, COX-2, MCP-1 and TNF-α, decreased ROS levels and alleviated the production of MDA accompanied by an increase of SOD and GSH-PX levels. Meanwhile, GHF suppressed apoptosis in macrophages, downregulated the mRNA levels of PI3K, AKT and P65 NF-κB and inhibited the phosphorylation of the PI3K, AKT and P65 NF-κB.

CONCLUSION

A network pharmacology and experimental validation-based strategy was used to elucidate the underlying "multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway" mode of action of GHF against CP. We verified that GHF inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory response, suppressed apoptosis in macrophages, inhibited the activation of the inflammation-related PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway in CP rat. These findings extend the conventional views of "one drug hits one target", and offer novel insights and indication paradigm for the future discovery on the multi-target therapeutic mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine compound.

Improvement of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis by Jiedu Huoxue decoction through inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNBP) accounts for more than 90 % of clinical prostatitis cases, and there is no specific and effective treatment for CNBP. The regulatory role of Jiedu Huoxue decoction (JDHXD)in CNBP remains unclear. We investigated if JDHXD could improve CNBP METHODS: The animal model of CNBP was established by carrageenan injection with 1 % carrageenan (50 μL). The prostate index, epithelial thickness, lumen area, and pain response time were investigated. The apoptosis levels were measured with TUNEL staining and flow cytometry, respectively. Inflammatory factors in the serum were measured with ELISA method.

RESULTS

Treatment with JDHXD significantly improve prostate tissues injury in CNBP rats. Some parameters, such as prostate index, and pain response time, reflecting the prostate function were improved by JDHXD. Inhibition of apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammatory response were achieved by JDHXD in vivo. JDHXD markedly suppressed the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway, and activation of TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway could reverse the improvement of CNBP injury by JDHXD. The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects of JDHXD were proved.

CONCLUSION

JDHXD might improve CNBP injury through suppressing inflammation response, ROS, and apoptosis by targeting TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. This research might provide a new thought for the prevention and treatment of CNBP through inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway.

Jiedu Huoxue decoction improves chronic abacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome through activating Wnt/GSKβ/β-catenin signaling pathway and alleviating apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Chronic abacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) accounts for 90% of clinical prostatitis, and there is no specific and effective treatment for it. Jiedu Huoxue decoction (JDHXD) has been believed to be an effective agent for CP/CPPS, but the specific mechanism remains unclear.

METHODS

Carrageenan and LPS were used to established the animal and cell models of CP/CPPS, respectively. The prostate index, urine volume, lumen area, epithelial thickness, and pain response time were investigated. TUNEL staining and flow cytometry were applied to measure apoptosis levels in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

JDHXD improved CP/CPPS recovery in a dose-dependent manner. JDHXD restrained apoptosis and activated Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in the CP/CPPS animal model. Inhibition of Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway remarkably aggravated apoptosis and suppressed the improvement of CP/CPPS by JDHXD. XAX939 markedly reversed the suppression of cell apoptosis and ROS level caused by JDHXD in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Jiedu Huoxue decoction improved CP/CPPS through activating Wnt/GSKβ/β-catenin signaling pathway and inhibiting apoptosis. This study might provide a novel insight for the prevention and treatment of CP/CPPS through activating Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Clinical Significance of miR-21-5p in Predicting Occurrence and Progression of Uremic Vascular Calcification in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

PURPOSE

Vascular calcification (VC) is a common complication of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to examine changes in the expression of miR-21-5p in ESRD patients with VC and to explore its clinical value in predicting the occurrence and progression of uremic VC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

120 ESRD patients were divided into patients without VC group (n=38) and patients with VC group (n=82). All patients were followed up for 2 years to evaluate VC progression. qRT-PCR was used to detect serum miR-21-5p levels. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to assess diagnostic value. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods were utilized to calculate associations between VC progression and risk factors.

RESULTS

Serum miR-21-5p levels were significantly higher in ESRD patients with VC than in those without VC and increased progressively with increasing disease severity. Serum miR-21-5p levels were able to distinguish patients with VC from those without VC, with an area under the curve value of 0.883, a sensitivity of 81.7%, and a specificity of 84.2%. After 2 years of follow-up, miR-21-5p expression had increased in patients with worse VC severity, compared with those with stable VC severity. Patients with high miR-21-5p levels were more likely to develop more severe VC, indicating an association between miR-21-5p and VC progression (log-rank p=0.002). Multivariable Cox regression analysis suggested that serum miR-21-5p is an independent predictive factor of VC progression in ESRD patients (hazard ratio=2.064, 95% confidence interval=1.225-3.478, p=0.006).

CONCLUSION

miR-21-5p is overexpressed in the serum of ESRD patients with VC. Our results suggest that overexpression of miR-21-5p is closely associated with VC progression.

Effects of Xialiqi capsules on rats with nonbacterial prostatitis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of Xialiqi capsules in rats with nonbacterial prostatitis.

METHODS

A total of 90 healthy male SD rats, weighing 200-220 g, were randomly divided into a blank control group (BCG, n=30), a model group (MG, n=30), and an intervention group (IG, n=30). After establishing the model of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, IG was treated with 50 mg/kg Xialiqi capsules via gavage. The three groups received the same dose of saline via gavage for 7 consecutive days. The differences in leukocytes, phospholipid vesicle density, number of colonies, prostate mass, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the prostate fluid, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, CD3+, CD8+ levels after intervention were compared in the three groups.

RESULTS

Compared with the BCG, the number of leukocytes and colonies in the prostate fluid of the MG was elevated, and the density of lipid vesicles was decreased, and the number of leukocytes and colonies in the prostate fluid of the MG significantly decreased and the density of lipid vesicles rebounded after the intervention of Xialiqi capsules (P>0.05). Compared with the BCG, the prostate mass, ADC and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration were elevated in the MG. There was a significant reversion of the above indices after the intervention of Xialiqi capsules (P<0.05). The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in the MG were significantly higher than those in the IG, and the levels in the IG were higher than that in the BCG (P<0.05). The serum levels of CD3+ and CD8+ in the MG were significantly lower than those in the IG, and the levels in the IG were lower than that in the BCG (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Xialiqi capsules have a good intervention effect on nonbacterial prostatitis, which can significantly alleviate the immune status and reduce the level of cytokines in the serum and tissues of rats.