Simvastatin protects hepatocytes from apoptosis by suppressing the TNF-α/caspase-3 signaling pathway in mice with burn injury

Reducing PKCδ inhibits tumor growth through growth hormone by inhibiting PKA/CREB/ERK signaling pathway in pituitary adenoma

Patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) often fail to exhibit the molecular signatures typically associated with tumorigenesis. This study investigates the role of protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) in modulating cell apoptosis, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in pituitary adenoma. We assessed the activation of the PKA/CREB/ERK signaling pathway and cell apoptosis through RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Wound-healing and transwell assays were employed to evaluate cell migration and invasion. Combined treatment with rottlerin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) reversed the inhibition of the PKA/CREB/ERK signaling pathway, downregulated cell apoptosis, and reduced growth hormone secretion in GH3 cells. A decrease in the level of PKCδ also inhibited the PKA/CREB/ERK signaling pathway, reduced cell apoptosis, and suppressed the secretion of growth hormone. Notably, growth hormone reversed the decline in cell migration and invasion following PKCδ siRNA treatment. Moreover, in nude mice with tumor models, growth hormone reversed the reduction in tumor volume induced by PKCδ siRNA. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that reducing PKCδ inhibits tumor growth by suppressing growth hormone via inhibition of the PKA/CREB/ERK signaling pathway.

Rosuvastatin accelerates the healing process of partial-thickness burn wounds in rats by reducing TNF-α levels

Introduction

Burn wound healing is a complex, dynamic process that involves a coordinated cascade of cellular responses and phases. Inflammation, proliferation and remodeling are the main phases of tissue repair, while tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and procalcitonin (PCT) seem to be important mediators affecting the inflammatory state. Our aim was to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on tissue repair after partial thickness burn injury in healthy animals.

Material and methods

In this randomized prospective experimental study, 36 male rats were randomly divided into two groups: placebo-treated (PG) and topical rosuvastatin-treated (SG). Under anesthesia, a partial-thickness burn trauma was induced in the dorsal region of the rats using an iron seal. Tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination as well.

Results

Variables of TNF-α, procalcitonin and macroscopic assessment were normally distributed between the two groups on all studied days. The expression of TNF-α was found to be lower in burn injuries treated with topical rosuvastatin in comparison with placebo-treated animals on days 3, 6 and 9. PCT values in rosuvastatin-treated subgroups were statistically significantly lower than in placebo subgroups. Upon macroscopic examination, a significantly smaller burnt area in the statin-treated group was detected compared to the non-statin group on all days, except for day 3. Histopathological examination demonstrated higher levels of mean neutrophil infiltration in the placebo group (day 3). Finally, fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and re-epithelization levels were noted to be higher after the topical application of rosuvastatin.

Conclusions

Rosuvastatin accelerated wound healing and down-regulated TNF-α and PCT levels.

The influence of simvastatin on osteoblast functionality in the presence of titanium dioxide particles In-vitro

OBJECTIVE

Leaching of particles from dental titanium implant surfaces into preimplant microenvironment causes detrimental effects on bone cells. The current study investigated influence of simvastatin in mitigating adverse pro-inflammatory effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2) micro (MP) and nano (NP) particles on hFOB 1.19 cells in vitro.

DESIGN

Viability of hFOB 1.19 cells following exposure to varying concentrations of TiO2 MPs and NPs and simvastatin were measured by XTT assay. hFOB 1.19 cells were treated with 100 µg/mL of TiO2 MPs, 100 µg/mL of TiO2 NPs, 0.1 µM simvastatin, 100 µg/mL of TiO2 MPs+ 0.1 µM simvastatin and 100 µg/mL of TiO2 NPs+ 0.1 µM simvastatin. After 24 h, ROS was measured by flow cytometry. On day 14, real-time PCR analysis for pro-inflammatory cytokines and bone formation markers was done for TNFα, IL1β, osteocalcin, ALP, and Col1 markers; while ALP and RANKL/OPG ratio were determined by colorimetric and ELISA assays respectively. Further, mineralization study using Alizarin Red S staining (ARS) and calcium quantification were performed.

RESULTS

Exposure of hFOB to TiO2 MPs and NPs generated ROS and reduced cell viability significantly, with upregulation of pro-inflammatory markers TNFα and IL1β and downregulation of bone formation markers OC and increased RANKL/OPG ratio and lowered degree of mineralization. Treatment with 0.1 µM of simvastatin treatment reversed the effects by mitigating oxidative stress, dampening pro-inflammatory markers, upregulation of bone formation markers, lowering RANKL/OPG ratio and increasing degree of mineralization.

CONCLUSION

Simvastatin possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-osteogenic properties that may support bone healing around titanium implants.

High-intensity interval training ameliorates postnatal immune activation-induced mood disorders through KDM6B-regulated glial activation

Postnatal immune activation (PIA) induces persistent glial activation in the brain and causes various neuropathologies in adults. Exercise training improves stress-related mood disorders; however, the role of exercise in psychiatric disorders induced by early-life immune activation and the association between exercise training and glial activation remain unclear. We compared the effects of different exercise intensities on the PIA model, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Both HIIT and MICT in adolescent mice inhibited neuroinflammation, remodeled synaptic plasticity, and improved PIA-induced mood disorders in adulthood. Importantly, HIIT was superior to MICT in terms of reducing inflammation and increasing body weight. RNA-seq of prefrontal cortex (PFC) tissues revealed a gene expression pattern, confirming that HIIT was more effective than MICT in improving brain glial cell activation through epigenetic modifications of KDM6B. We investigated the role of KDM6B, a specific histone lysine demethylation enzyme - histone 3 lysine 27 demethylase, in inhibiting glial activation against PIA-induced depression and anxiety by regulating the expression of IL-4 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Overall, our data support the idea that HIIT improves PIA-induced mood disorders by regulating KDM6B-mediated epigenetic mechanisms and indicate that HIIT might be superior to MICT in improving mood disorders with PIA in mice. Our findings provide new insights into the treatment of anxiety and depression disorders.

Treatment with β-sitosterol ameliorates the effects of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing cholesterol overload, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis

β-Sitosterol is a type of phytosterol that occurs naturally in plants. Previous studies have shown that it has anti-oxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-tumor effects, but it is unknown whether β-sitosterol treatment reduces the effects of ischemic stroke. Here we found that, in a mouse model of ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, β-sitosterol reduced the volume of cerebral infarction and brain edema, reduced neuronal apoptosis in brain tissue, and alleviated neurological dysfunction; moreover, β-sitosterol increased the activity of oxygen- and glucose-deprived cerebral cortex neurons and reduced apoptosis. Further investigation showed that the neuroprotective effects of β-sitosterol may be related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by intracellular cholesterol accumulation after ischemic stroke. In addition, β-sitosterol showed high affinity for NPC1L1, a key transporter of cholesterol, and antagonized its activity. In conclusion, β-sitosterol may help treat ischemic stroke by inhibiting neuronal intracellular cholesterol overload/endoplasmic reticulum stress/apoptosis signaling pathways.

Schisandrin B induces HepG2 cells pyroptosis by activating NK cells mediated anti-tumor immunity

Pyroptosis, an inflammatory programmed cell death, has been suggested as a novel molecular mechanism for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with chemotherapeutic agents. Recent studies showed that natural killer (NK) cells could inhibit apoptosis and regulate the progression of pyroptosis in tumor cells. Schisandrin B (Sch B), a lignan isolated from Schisandrae chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Schisandraceae) Fructus, has various pharmacological activities including anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NK cells on Sch B's regulation of pyroptosis in HCC cells and the molecular mechanisms implicated. The results showed that Sch B alone could decrease cell viability and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. However, Sch B induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was transformed into pyroptosis in the presence of NK cells. The mechanisms underlying NK cell's effect on pyroptosis in Sch B-treated HepG2 cells was related to its activation of caspase 3-Gasdermin E (GSDME). Further studies revealed that NK cell induced caspase 3 activation was derived from its activation of perforin-granzyme B pathway. This study explored the effect of Sch B and NK cells on pyroptosis in HepG2 cells and revealed that perforin-granzyme B-caspase 3-GSDME pathway is involved in the process of pyroptosis. These results proposed an immunomodulatory mechanism of Sch B on HepG2 cells pyroptosis and suggested Sch B as a promising immunotherapy combination partner for the treatment of HCC.

Advanced age heightens hepatic damage in a murine model of scald burn injury

BACKGROUND

Elderly burn patients exhibit a lower survival rate compared with younger counterparts. The liver is susceptible to damage after burn injury, which predisposes to poor outcomes. Lipid homeostasis and the antioxidant glutathione system play fundamental roles in preserving liver integrity. Herein, we explored changes in these major pathways associated with liver damage in the aging animals after burn injury.

METHODS

We compared liver enzymes, histology, lipid-peroxidation, and glutathione-metabolism profiles from young and aged female mice after a 15% total body surface area burn. Mice were euthanized at 24 hours after injury, and livers and serum were collected.

RESULTS

Aged burn animals exhibited elevated (p < 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels and increased inflammatory cell infiltration, edema, and necrosis compared with their younger counterparts. The percentage of adipophilin-stained area in livers from young sham, young burn, aged sham, and aged burn groups was 10%, 44%, 16%, and 78% (p < 0.05), respectively. Liver malondialdehyde levels were 1.4 ± 0.5 nmol/mg, 2.06 ± 0.2 nmol/mg, 1.81 ± 0.12 nmol/mg, and 3.45 ± 0.2 nmol/mg (p < 0.05) in young sham, young burn, aged sham, and aged burn mice, respectively. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content increased 50% in the young burn, and 88% in aged burn animals compared with the young sham group (p < 0.05). The reduced glutathione GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly reduced by 54% in aged burn mice compared with young sham animals (p < 0.05). Furthermore, glutathione peroxidase gene expression showed a 96% decrease in the aged burn group compared with young sham mice (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Aged burn animals exhibit severe liver damage from heightened lipid peroxidation and inadequate antioxidative response. The increased peroxidation is associated with abundant lipid deposits in hepatic tissue postburn and a weak antioxidative response due to hepatic glutathione peroxidase downregulation. Further studies will focus on the functional significance of these findings concerning hepatic homeostasis.

A narrative review of changes in microvascular permeability after burn

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to review and discuss some of the latest research results related to post-burn pathophysiological changes and provide some clues for future study.

BACKGROUND

Burns are one of the most common and serious traumas and consist of a series of pathophysiological changes of thermal injury. Accompanied by thermal damage to skin and soft tissues, inflammatory mediators are released in large quantities. Changes in histamine, bradykinin, and cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metabolic factors such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and activated neutrophils all affect the body's vascular permeability.

METHODS

We searched articles with subject words "microvascular permeability", "burn" "endothelium", and "endothelial barrier" in PubMed in English published from the beginning of database to Dec, 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

The essence of burn shock is the rapid and extensive fluid transfer in burn and non-burn tissue. After severe burns, the local and systemic vascular permeability increase, causing intravascular fluid extravasation, leading to a progressive decrease in effective circulation volume, an increase in systemic vascular resistance, a decrease in cardiac output, peripheral tissue edema, multiple organ failure, and even death. There are many cells, tissues, mediators and structures involved in the pathophysiological process of the damage to vascular permeability. Ulinastatin is a promising agent for this problem.

Safety profile of atorvastatin in the role of burn wound injury conversion

BACKGROUND

Atorvastatin could be beneficial in the treatment of burn patients to prevent burn wound progression from partial to full thickness. Our primary aim is to evaluate the safety of atorvastatin in burn patients.

METHODS

Single center retrospective chart review of burn patients receiving atorvastatin during admission May 2016-May 2019 with historic controls was performed. Demographics, burn total body surface area, atorvastatin doses, creatinine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase levels and adverse events were analyzed.

RESULTS

48 burn patients received atorvastatin during admission. Nine patients experienced elevated CK or AST levels during admission, but did not correlate with timing of atorvastatin administration and were comparable to levels in control patients. No adverse events associated with atorvastatin were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Atorvastatin administered to patients with burn injuries was not associated with any adverse events or attributable lab abnormalities. We believe that atorvastatin is safe to use in patients with burns and can be safely studied to determine the drug's effect on the prevention of burn wound conversion.

Ameliorative effects of autophagy inducer, simvastatin on alcohol-induced liver disease in a rat model

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses a variety of liver injuries with various underlying mechanisms but still no effective treatment. So we aimed to monitor the influence of simvastatin on alcohol-induced liver injury and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of its cytoprotective effect. Thirty male albino rats were randomly divided into five equal groups. Group 1 (control): received a standard diet; group 2: received simvastatin (10 mg kg^-1  day ^-1 ) once a day orally for 8 weeks; group 3: received 20% ethanol (7.9 g kg ^-1  day ^-1 ) daily orally for 8 weeks; group 4: received 20% ethanol along with same simvastatin dose daily for 8 weeks; group 5: received 20% ethanol orally for 8 weeks then received the same simvastatin dose for the next 8 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. Liver tissue malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione levels, and superoxide dismutase activity were estimated. B-cell lymphoma 2 and C/EBP homologous protein levels were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Light chain 3-II and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma messenger RNA expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-rat tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody. Our results revealed that simvastatin treatment was able to ameliorate alcohol-induced liver damage; the improved biochemical data were confirmed by histopathological evaluation. Simvastatin being an autophagy inducer was able to prevent and reverse alcohol-induced liver changes via induction of autophagy, attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. Therefore, our findings suggest that treatment with simvastatin may be a useful approach in the management strategy of ALD.

Simvastatin Inhibits Endotoxin-Induced Apoptosis in Liver and Spleen Through Up-Regulation of Survivin/NF-κB/p65 Expression

Endotoxemia is associated by dysregulated apoptosis of immune and non-immune cells. We investigated whether simvastatin has anti-apoptotic effects, and induces hepatocytes and lymphocytes survival signaling in endotoxin-induced liver and spleen injuries. Wistar rats were divided into the groups pretreated with simvastatin (20 or 40 mg/kg, orally) prior to a non-lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the LPS group, and the control. The severity of tissue inflammatory injuries was expressed as hepatic damage scores (HDS) and spleen damage scores (SDS), respectively. The apoptotic cell was detected by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) and immunohistochemical staining (expression of cleaved caspase-3, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL, survivin and NF-κB/p65). Simvastatin dose-dependently abolished HDS and SDS induced by LPS (p < 0.01), respectively. Simvastatin 40 mg/kg significantly decreased apoptotic index and caspase-3 cleavage in hepatocytes and lymphocytes (p < 0.01 vs. LPS group, respectively), while Bcl-XL markedly increased accordingly with simvastatin doses. In the simvastatin, groups were determined markedly increased cytoplasmic expression of survivin associated with nuclear positivity of NF-κB, in both hepatocytes and lymphocytes (p < 0.01 vs. LPS group). Cell-protective effects of simvastatin against LPS seemed to be mediated by up-regulation of survivin, which leads to reduced caspase-3 activation and inhibition of hepatocytes and lymphocytes apoptosis.

The changes and prognostic value of liver function in young adults with severe burn: A retrospective observational study

To analyze the changes in liver functions and the relationship between alterations in liver function and mortality risk in young adults with third-degree burn wounds on over 90% of the total body surface area (TBSA).A total of 23 fatally burned factory workers in an inflammable dust explosion and fire were enrolled from 2 intensive care units. Clinical data, particularly the laboratory tests for liver function, were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the survivor and non-survivor groups.Compared to survivors, non-survivors had significantly higher total bilirubin (TBIL), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) at the terminal point of this study (P <.05). In addition, the peak values of TBIL, GPT, and longer APTT were higher in non-survivors than in survivors during hospital course, and the peak values of TBIL was one of major prognostic factors for mortality risk. Furthermore, at the first 2 weeks, the cumulative survival rates were significantly lower in patients with liver dysfunction than those without liver dysfunction (P <.01).Our findings show that the great changes in liver function occurred in first 2 weeks after severe burns. Liver dysfunction may have an effect on clinical outcomes of post-burn. Measures to protect liver function and prevent from deterioration could be beneficial in improvement survival rate, especially during the first 2 weeks.

Simvastatin protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of simvastatin on acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity in a mouse model. Male C57BL/6 mice were allocated into the following groups: control, APAP, APAP+SIM10, APAP+SIM20, APAP+SIM100 and APAP+SIM200 groups. The mice in the APAP group were treated with saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) 72 h before and 24 h or 72 h after APAP challenge (i.p., 400 mg/kg of APAP). The simvastatin-treated groups were treated with different doses of simvastatin i.p. (10, 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) as in the APAP group. After 24 h or 72 h of APAP challenge, blood and liver samples were collected to detect hepatic injury and liver regeneration. The results showed that low doses of simvastatin (10 and 20 mg/kg) could significantly reverse the histological change and decrease hepatic injury. Simvastatin also reduced the serum cytokine levels and transcriptional levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the liver. The malonyldialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels significantly decreased in the simvastatin treatment groups compared with the APAP group. Simvastatin restored the decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activities induced by APAP hepatotoxicity. In addition, simvastatin inhibited hepatic C/EBP-homologous protein expression and hepatocyte apoptosis. However, simvastatin had no effect on liver regeneration after APAP hepatotoxicity. Moreover, high doses could aggravate APAP-induced liver injury. In conclusion, low doses of simvastatin had a significant therapeutic effect in APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. However, high doses of simvastatin had adverse hepatotoxicity.

Evidence for simvastatin anti-inflammatory actions based on quantitative analyses of NETosis and other inflammation/oxidation markers

Simvastatin (SMV) has been shown to exhibit promising anti-inflammatory properties alongside its classic cholesterol lowering action. We tested these emerging effects in a major thermal injury mouse model (3rd degree scald, ~20% TBSA) with previously documented, inflammation-mediated intestinal defects. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) inflammation measurement methods were used alongside classic gut mucosa inflammation and leakiness measurements with exogenous melatonin treatment as a positive control. Our hypothesis is that simvastatin has protective therapeutic effects against early postburn gut mucosa inflammation and leakiness. To test this hypothesis, we compared untreated thermal injury (TI) adult male mice with TI littermates treated with simvastatin (0.2 mg/kg i.p., TI + SMV) immediately following burn injury and two hours before being sacrificed the day after; melatonin-treated (Mel) (1.86 mg/kg i.p., TI + Mel) mice were compared as a positive control. Mice were assessed for the following: (1) tissue oxidation and neutrophil infiltration in terminal ileum mucosa using classic carbonyl, Gr-1, and myeloperoxidase immunohistochemical or biochemical assays, (2) NETosis in terminal ileum and colon mucosa homogenates and peritoneal and fluid blood samples utilizing flow cytometric analyses of the surrogate NETosis biomarkers, picogreen and Gr-1, and (3) transepithelial gut leakiness as measured in terminal ileum and colon with FITC-dextran and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Our results reveal that simvastatin and melatonin exhibit consistently comparable therapeutic protective effects against the following: (1) gut mucosa oxidative stress as revealed in the terminal ileum by markers of protein carbonylation as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Gr-1 infiltration, (2) NETosis as revealed in the gut milieu, peritoneal lavage and plasma utilizing picogreen and Gr-1 flow cytometry and microscopy, and (3) transepithelial gut leakiness as assessed in the ileum and colon by FITC-dextran leakiness and TEER. Thus, simvastatin exhibits strong acute anti-inflammatory actions associated with marked decreases in gut tissue and systemic NETosis and decreased gut mucosa leakiness.

Membrane potential-dependent uptake of 18F-triphenylphosphonium--a new voltage sensor as an imaging agent for detecting burn-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been closely related to many pathologic processes, such as cellular apoptosis. Alterations in organelle membrane potential are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. A fluorine-18 labeled phosphonium compound: (18)F-triphenylphosphonium ((18)F-TPP) was prepared to determine its potential use as a mitochondria-targeting radiopharmaceutical to evaluate cellular apoptosis.

METHODS

Studies were conducted in both ex vivo cell lines and in vivo using a burned animal model. Uptake of (18)F-TPP was assessed in PC-3 cells by gamma counting under the following conditions: graded levels of extracellular potassium concentrations, incubation with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and staurosporine. Apoptosis was studied in a burn animal model using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and simultaneous assessment of (18)F-TPP uptake by biodistribution.

RESULTS

We found that stepwise membrane depolarization by potassium (K) resulted in a linear decrease in (18)F-TPP uptake, with a slope of 0.62 ± 0.08 and a correlation coefficient of 0.936 ± 0.11. Gradually increased concentrations of m-chlorophenylhydrazone lead to decreased uptake of (18)F-TPP. Staurosporine significantly decreased the uptake of (18)F-TPP in PC-3 cells from 14.2 ± 3.8% to 5.6 ± 1.3% (P < 0.001). Burn-induced significant apoptosis (sham: 4.4 ± 1.8% versus burn: 24.6 ± 6.7 %; P < 0.005) and a reduced uptake of tracer in the spleens of burn-injured animals as compared with sham burn controls (burn: 1.13 ± 0.24% versus sham: 3.28 ± 0.67%; P < 0.005). Biodistribution studies demonstrated that burn-induced significant reduction in (18)F-TPP uptake in spleen, heart, lung, and liver, which were associated with significantly increased apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

(18)F-TPP is a promising new voltage sensor for detecting mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in various tissues.