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Lin Q, Ge X, Gao L, Chen Y, Su T, Ma M, Wang H, Chen C, Han B, Liu D. Betaine alleviates spermatogenic cells apoptosis of oligoasthenozoospermia rat model by up-regulating methyltransferases and affecting DNA methylation. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 129:155713. [PMID: 38735196 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oligoasthenozoospermia is the most common type of semen abnormality in male infertile patients. Betaine (BET) has been proved to have pharmacological effects on improving semen quality. BET also belongs to endogenous physiological active substances in the testis. However, the physiological function of BET in rat testis and its pharmacological mechanism against oligoasthenozoospermia remain unclear. PURPOSE This research aims to prove the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of BET on oligoasthenozoospermia rat model induced by Tripterygium wilfordii glycosides (TWGs). METHODS The oligoasthenozoospermia rat model was established by a continuous gavage of TWGs (60 mg/kg) for 28 days. Negative control group, oligoasthenozoospermia group, positive drug group (levocarnitine, 300 mg/kg), and 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg BET groups were created for exploring the therapeutic effect of BET on the oligoasthenozoospermia rat model. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by HE and TUNEL staining. Immunofluorescence assay of DNMT3A, PIWIL1, PRMT5, SETDB1, BHMT2, and METTL3, methylation capture sequencing, Pi-RNA sequencing, and molecular docking were used to elucidate potential pharmacological mechanisms. RESULTS It is proved that BET can significantly restore testicular pathological damage induced by TWGs, which also can significantly reverse the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. The spermatogenic cell protein expression levels of DNMT3A, PIWIL1, PRMT5, SETDB1, BHMT2, and METTL3 significantly decreased in oligoasthenozoospermia group. 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg BET groups can significantly increase expression level of the above-mentioned proteins. Methylation capture sequencing showed that BET can significantly increase the 5mC methylation level of Spata, Spag, and Specc spermatogenesis-related genes. Pi-RNA sequencing proved that the above-mentioned genes produce a large number of Pi-RNA under BET intervention. Pi-RNA can form complexes with PIWI proteins to participate in DNA methylation of target genes. Molecular docking indicated that BET may not directly act as substrate for methyltransferase and instead participates in DNA methylation by promoting the methionine cycle and increasing S-adenosylmethionine synthesis. CONCLUSION BET has a significant therapeutic effect on oligoasthenozoospermia rat model induced by TWPs. The mechanism mainly involves that BET can increase the methylation level of Spata, Specc, and Spag target genes through the PIWI/Pi-RNA pathway and up-regulation of methyltransferases (including DNA methyltransferases and histone methyltransferases).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyan Lin
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Xiyu Ge
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Leilei Gao
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Yanjun Chen
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Ting Su
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Menghua Ma
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Huijun Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Cunwu Chen
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China
| | - Bangxing Han
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China.
| | - Dong Liu
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Generic Technology Research Center for Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lu'an, 237012, Anhui, China.
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Lin J, Liang T, Huang Y, Zuo C, Wang D, Liu Y. Co-occurrence of Mycotoxin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice Inhibited by Lycopene: Mitochondrial Impairment and Early Hepatic Fibrosis. Mol Nutr Food Res 2023; 67:e2200671. [PMID: 37485620 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202200671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE Mycotoxins co-contamination of agricultural products poses a serious threat to human and animal health, especially hepatic dysfunction. Zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) are three commonly co-occurring mycotoxins. This study is to determine whether lycopene (LYC) can alleviate hepatic toxicity induced by the co-occurrence of ZEN, DON, and AFB1 in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Eighty 6-week-old male ICR mice are divided into four groups: CON group (solvent control), LYC group (10 mg kg-1 LYC), Co-M group (10 mg kg-1 ZEN + 1 mg kg-1 DON + 0.5 mg kg-1 AFB1), and LYC+Co-M group (10 mg kg-1 LYC + 10 mg kg-1 ZEN + 1 mg kg-1 DON + 0.5 mg kg-1 AFB1). The results show that LYC can suppress the co-occurrence of mycotoxin-induced mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization accompanied by dysregulation of indices of mitochondrial dynamics (Mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), Mfn2, Optic atrophy 1 (Opa1), Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), Fission 1 (Fis1) at the mRNA level; DRP1 and FIS1 at the protein level). LYC effectively inhibits co-occurrence of mycotoxin-induced activation of Cytochrome P450 2E1, and early fibrosis, as determined by staining with Masson's trichrome and α-SMA protein. CONCLUSION LYC successfully attenuates early hepatic fibrosis mainly through antioxidant activities and prevented mitochondrial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Lin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
| | - Tianzeng Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
| | - Yang Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
| | - Cuige Zuo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
| | - Yulan Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China
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Salama A, Elgohary R, Amin MM, Elwahab SA. Impact of protocatechuic acid on alleviation of pulmonary damage induced by cyclophosphamide targeting peroxisome proliferator activator receptor, silent information regulator type-1, and fork head box protein in rats. Inflammopharmacology 2023; 31:1361-1372. [PMID: 36877411 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapeutic agent that causes pulmonary damage by generating free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary damage has a high mortality rate due to the severe inflammation and edema occurred in lung. PPARγ/Sirt 1 signaling has been shown to be cytoprotective effect against cellular inflammatory stress and oxidative injury. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a potent Sirt1 activator and exhibits antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aims to investigate the therapeutic impacts of PCA against CP-induced pulmonary damage in rats. Rats were assigned randomly into 4 experimental groups. The control group was injected with a single i.p injection of saline. CP group was injected with a single i.p injection of CP (200 mg/kg). PCA groups were administered orally with PCA (50 and 100 mg/kg; p.o.) once daily for 10 consecutive days after CP injection. PCA treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the protein levels of MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation, NO and MPO along with a significant increase in GSH and catalase protein levels. Moreover, PCA downregulated anti-inflammatory markers as IL-17, NF-κB, IKBKB, COX-2, TNF-α, and PKC and upregulated cytoprotective defenses as PPARγ, and SIRT1. In addition, PCA administration ameliorated FoxO-1 elevation, increased Nrf2 gene expression, and reduced air alveoli emphysema, bronchiolar epithelium hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by CP. PCA might represent a promising adjuvant to prevent pulmonary damage in patients receiving CP due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with cytoprotective defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Salama
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. (Former El-Tahrir St.), Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Rania Elgohary
- Narcotics, Ergogenics and Poisons Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. (Former El-Tahrir St.), Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed M Amin
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. (Former El-Tahrir St.), Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Sahar Abd Elwahab
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine Cairo University Al Kasr Al Aini, Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
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Lin J, Zuo C, Liang T, Huang Y, Kang P, Xiao K, Liu Y. Lycopene alleviates multiple-mycotoxin-induced toxicity by inhibiting mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis in the mouse jejunum. Food Funct 2022; 13:11532-11542. [PMID: 36318035 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo02994d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple mycotoxins contamination in foods and feeds threatens human and animal health after they accumulate in the food chain, producing various toxic effects. The common mycotoxins contaimination in feeds are zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), but the effects of their co-exposure on the jejunum are not well understood. Lycopene (LYC) has been reported to have antioxidant activity that alleviates jejunal damage. In this study, we investigated the possible role of LYC as a treatment to mitigate the combined effects of ZEN, DON, and AFB1 on the jejunum of mice. Eighty male specific-pathogen-free ICR mice were randomly allocated to treatments with LYC (10 mg kg-1) and/or ZEN + DON + AFB1 (10 mg kg-1 ZEN, 1 mg kg-1 DON, and 0.5 mg kg-1 AFB1). The results indicated that LYC alleviated ZEN + DON + AFB1-induced jejunal injury by ameliorating the jejunal structural injury and increasing the villus height/crypt depth ratio and the levels of tight junction proteins (zonula occludens 1 [ZO1], occludin1 and claudin1) in the mouse jejunum. LYC also inhibited the oxidative stress induced by co-exposure to ZEN, DON, and AFB1 via reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhancing the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). LYC also alleviated jejunal mitochondrial damage in the ZEN + DON + AFB1-affected mice, evident as an increase in mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1) transcription and a reduction in mitochondrial mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) and Mfn2 transcription. Co-exposure to ZEN, DON, and AFB1 also significantly increased the transcription of ferroptosis-related genes (transferrin receptor 1 (Tfr1), ferritin heavy chain 1 [Fth1], solute carrier family 3 member 2 [Slc3a2], and glutathione peroxidase 4 [Gpx4]), TFR1 and Fe2+ concentration. Notably, LYC potentially alleviated ZEN + DON + AFB1-induced jejunal ferroptosis. These results demonstrate that LYC alleviates ZEN + DON + AFB1-induced jejunal toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis and mitochondrial damage in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Lin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Cuige Zuo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Tianzeng Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Yang Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Ping Kang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Kan Xiao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
| | - Yulan Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.
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Liu H, Huang Z, Zheng H, Zhu Z, Yang H, Liu X, Pang T, He L, Lin H, Hu L, Zeng Q, Han L. Jiawei Runjing Decoction Improves Spermatogenesis of Cryptozoospermia With Varicocele by Regulating the Testicular Microenvironment: Two-Center Prospective Cohort Study. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:945949. [PMID: 36016555 PMCID: PMC9395676 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.945949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the evidence of JWRJD in the treatment of cryptozoospermia. Methods: A total of 162 cryptozoospermia patients with varicocele who refused to undergo surgery were included from January 2021 to December 2021. They were divided into the Jiawei Runjing Decoction group (group A), tamoxifen group (group B), and no treatment group (group C), and after the follow-up for 3 months, therapeutic effectiveness was compared. Network pharmacology was used to analyze and validate the effects and mechanisms of JWRJD. Results: Fifty-eight patients were treated with JWRJD, 55 with tamoxifen, and 49 without any treatment. After treatment, five patients were lost: one in group A, one in group B, and three in group C. The sperm count and the decrease of FSH in group A were significantly higher, but the degree of decline in the testicular volume and the degree of vein expansion have decreased significantly, which were closely related to the testicular volume (TV) [especially changes in the left testicular volume (ΔL-TV)], citric acid (CC) and its changes (ΔCC), and the vein width (VW) [especially left spermatic vein width (L-VW) and mean vein width (M-VW) and their changes (ΔL-VW and ΔM-VW)], as well as the sperm count before the treatment (bSC), which were the significant indexes to predict the therapeutic effect, especially for patients >35 years old and with grade III varicoceles. Network pharmacological analysis verifies that it can be regulated by fluid shear stress and the atherosclerosis pathway to improve the testicular microenvironment for spermatogenesis. Conclusion: JWRJD may promote spermatogenesis in cryptozoospermia patients with varicocele, which may be closely related to improving the testicular microenvironment, especially for >35 year olds and grade III varicocele patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongwang Huang
- Department of Andrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Houbin Zheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Ultrasonography, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xingzhang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Pang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liping He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Hu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingqi Zeng
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Qingqi Zeng, ; Lanying Han,
| | - Lanying Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qingqi Zeng, ; Lanying Han,
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