Synergistic Network Pharmacology for Traditional Chinese Medicine Liangxue Tongyu Formula in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke

Liangxue Tongyu prescription attenuates neuroinflammation by increasing cholecystokinin octapeptide in acute intracerebral hemorrhage rats

Inflammatory reactions after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (AICH) contribute significantly to a poor prognosis. Liangxue Tongyu Prescription (LTP) has been proven to be clinically effective in treating AICH. Numerous studies have shown that LTP suppresses brain inflammatory damage in AICH, while the internal mechanisms underlying its action remain unclear. The aim of this study was to verify the anti-inflammatory effects of LTP on an AICH rat model and investigate the potential mechanisms. The AICH rat models were created by injecting autologous blood into the right caudate nucleus. LTP markedly decreased cerebral hematoma and brain water content and recovered from neurological deficits. Meanwhile, LTP prevented microglial activation and reduced the inflammatory reaction caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Notably, the expression of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) in the brain and intestine was increased by LTP or CCK-8 treatment. LTP further suppressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the brains of rats with AICH. Moreover, LTP increased the protein and mRNA expression of Occludin and Claudin-1 in the intestine and decreased the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum. Furthermore, the results showed that LTP increased the protein and mRNA expression of Claudin-5 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the brain. CCK-8 receptor antagonists increased the expression of NF-κB and the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggested that LTP attenuated neuroinflammation by increasing CCK-8 in the brain and intestine, and its mechanism might be related to alterations in the gut-brain axis (GBA).

Knockdown of LCN2 Attenuates Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage via Suppressing Pyroptosis

Objective

The aims of this study are to screen novel differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and reveal the role of Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in ICH.

Methods

We constructed the ICH model by injection of autologous whole blood into the right basal ganglia in rats. RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify the DEGs between ICH and sham rats, and some important ones were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). LCN shRNA was used to knockdown of LCN2 in ICH rats. Pathological examination was carried out using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemistry detected Caspase-3, and co-staining of Terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and NEUN staining were performed for neuron apoptosis assessment. Western blot analysis was performed to quantify pyroptosis-related proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure inflammatory cytokine levels.

Results

ICH rats exhibited significant hematomas, higher brain water content, obvious interstitial edema, and inflammatory infiltration, as well as more apoptotic cells in brain tissues. RNA-seq analysis identified 103 upregulated and 81 downregulated DEGs. The expression of LCN2, HSPB1, CXCL10, and MEF2B were upregulated in ICH rats. ICH triggered the release of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-18, and promoted the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins Caspase-1, GSDMD, NLRP3, and ASC. LCN2 knockdown attenuated the pathological characteristics of ICH, and also reduced pyroptosis in brain tissues.

Conclusion

Inhibition of LCN2 attenuates brain injury after ICH via suppressing pyroptosis, which provide guidance for ICH management.

Molecular mechanism of Acanthopanax senticosus in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Acanthopanax senticosus, also known as Ciwujia or Siberian ginseng in Chinese, has a wide range of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The study aims to explore the action mechanism of A. senticosus against Alzheimer's disease using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active ingredients and targets of A. senticosus were searched through the ETCM database, and Alzheimer's disease-related targets were obtained through the OMIM and GeneCards databases. The Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct a "drug-component-target" relationship network, and the target genes of A. senticosus against Alzheimer's disease were imported into the String database to establish a protein interaction (PPI) network. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes gene enrichment analyses were performed through the Metascape database to obtain potential pathways of action of A. senticosus for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and the ability of these active ingredients to bind to core targets was then verified by molecular docking. 51 active ingredients were screened from A. senticosus, and 88 effective targets for Alzheimer's disease were screened. Topological and pathway-enrichment analyses revealed that A. senticosus could play a beneficial role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by regulating apoptosis and inflammation. Molecular docking results showed that Ciwujianoside B, Chiisanoside, and Ciwujianoside D1 had strong binding abilities to key target proteins (TNFα, IL1β, and CASP3). Collectively, A. senticosus is feasible in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions (XJZ, JSS) ameliorate spleen inflammatory response and antioxidant capacity by synergistically regulating NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways in piglets

Weaning transition generally impairs the immune system, inducing immune disturbance, which may be associated with post-weaning diarrhea and high mortality in piglets. The spleen is a pivotal lymphatic organ that plays a key role in the establishment of the immune system. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions, XiaoJianZhong (XJZ) and Jiansananli-sepsis (JSS), are widely used prescriptions for treating spleen damage and diarrhea. Here, we hypothesized that XJZ and JSS maintain the spleen physiological function by ameliorating antioxidant capacity and inflammatory response in weaned piglets. In this study, 18 weaned piglets were assigned to the Control, XJZ and JSS groups. By hematoxylin and eosin staining, hematological analysis, flow cytometric analysis, qRT-PCR and western blot, the effects of both TCM prescriptions on the spleen antioxidant defense system and inflammatory pathway were explored. Results showed that both TCM treatment significantly ameliorated the weaning-induced morphological damage in piglets, as evidenced by clearer and more perfect spleen histology, as well as higher relative area of white pulp. Meanwhile, both XJZ and JSS exerted better blood parameters, as supported by the changes of monocyte level and lymphocyte subpopulations CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory markers, IL1β, IL6, IL8, and TNF-α in the spleen were markedly decreased after supplemented with both TCM prescriptions. Importantly, the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and its downstream effector genes (IL6, IL8, and TNF-α) in both XJZ and JSS treatment groups further confirmed alleviation of inflammatory responses in the spleen. In addition, both XJZ and JSS enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the spleen by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-activated antioxidant defense system. Notably, the results of PCA and network correlation analysis indicated that XJZ and JSS treatment altered the expression profiles of inflammatory and antioxidant-related factors in the spleen of weaned-piglets, which may involve the synergy of NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. In summary, our study showed that TCM prescriptions, XJZ and JSS could ameliorate inflammatory response and antioxidant capacity in the spleen by synergistically regulating NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways in piglets.

Identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates for stasis-heat symptom pattern of acute intracerebral hemorrhage by quantitative plasma proteomics

OBJECTIVE

To explore the novel biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates related to the stasis-heat syndrome of acute intracerebral hemorrhage (AICH).

METHODS

Applying an isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation-(iTRAQ-) based quantitative proteomic approach, plasma samples from AICH patients with stasis-heat, and AICH patients with non-stasis-heat and healthy control subjects were collected and analyzed to distinguish differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) correlated to AICH with stasis-heat in this block design. The standard Western blot was applied to verify DEPs. Additionally, DEPs were analyzed via bioinformatic platforms and further approved via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA).

RESULTS

A total of 26 DEPs were found among AICH with the stasis-heat, AICH with non-stasis-heat, and healthy control group. The seven DEPs compared with the non-stasis-heat group are closely related to the pathogenesis of stasis heat. These proteins showed three different protein expression patterns. The alpha-1-b glycoprotein (A1BG) and copper-protein (CP) were up-regulated in the stasis-heat group, but down-regulated in the non-stasis-heat group. Compared with the non-stasis-heat group, the expression abundance of actinin, alpha 1 (ACTN1), carbonic anhydrase I (CA1), peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), and vinculin (VCL) is higher in the stasis-heat group, while the CD44 is the opposite. These differences reflect that stasis-heat syndrome has more severe inflammatory immune response, coagulation disorders and damage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that a wide variety of cellular and metabolic processes and some signaling pathways were involved in the pathophysiology of AICH with stasis-heat. AICH with stasis-heat syndrome showed more severe inflammatory reactions, tissue damage, and coagulation disorders than non-stasis heat syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

There are differences in the protein expression patterns between the stasis-heat syndrome and non-stasis-heat syndrome. These differences reflect that stasis-heat syndrome has more severe damage. CD44, CP, ACTN1, CA1, VCL, PRDX2, and A1BG could be the potential biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates of the stasis-heat subtype. This study provides a reasonable explaination for Liangxue Tongyu decoction through anti-inflammatory and brain protection treatment.

High-throughput UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS coupled with multivariable data processing approach for the rapid screening and characterization of chemical constituents and potential bioactive compounds from Danggui Shaoyao San

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), a herbal formula, has been widely used for decades in China to treat senile dementia and dysmenorrhea. Here, an integrative high-throughput UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method coupled with a multivariable data processing approach was established for rapidly screening and identifying chemical constituents and potential bioactive compounds from DSS. Through the comparison with mass fragment ions, relevant literature, and in-house reference material database coupled with MS cleavage mechanism, 150 chemical constituents, mainly including triterpenoids, flavonoids, phathalides, and organic acids, were tentatively characterized. Most of them were identified for the first time. Then, principal component analysis was used to evaluate the differences in chemical profiles between groups, whereas the variable importance of the projection (VIP) spectrum (VIP > 1) and the trend plot of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were applied to intuitively screen the candidate variables present only in the dosed group. Consequently, by comparison with all the characterized components in vitro, 23 potential bioactive compounds were successfully identified, comprising 5 triterpenoids, 4 phathalides, 4 flavonoids, 4 organic acids, 3 lactones, and 3 other compounds, which were present in various medicinal materials, reflecting a synergistic mechanism. This work developed a rapid, reliable, and robust approach for comprehensive characterization of the chemical components and potential bioactive compounds of DSS, providing solid data for further research on pharmacodynamic substances and pharmacological mechanisms of DSS.

Underlying Mechanism and Active Ingredients of Tianma Gouteng Acting on Cerebral Infarction as Determined via Network Pharmacology Analysis Combined With Experimental Validation

Cerebral infarction (CI), a common cerebrovascular disease worldwide, is caused by unknown factors common to many diseases, including hypokalemia, respiratory diseases, and lower extremity venous thrombosis. Tianma Gouteng (TMGT), a traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescription, has been used for the clinical treatment of CI. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint analysis was used to detect and identify major chemical constituents of TMGT. TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases were used to screen for active TMGT constituent compounds, while the GeneCards database was used to screen for protein targets associated with CI. Next, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of these core nodes were performed to determine the identities of key associated biological processes and signal pathways. Meanwhile, a total of six possible gene targets of TMGT, including NFKBIA, PPARG, IL6, IL1B, CXCL8, and HIF1A, were selected for further study using two cellular models of CI. For one model, PC12 cells were treated under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions to generate an OGD cellular model of CI, while for the other model, BV2 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to generate a cellular model of CI-associated inflammation. Ultimately TMGT treatment increased PPARγ expression and downregulated the expression of p-P65, p-IκBα, and HIF-1α in both OGD-induced and LPS-induced cell models of CI. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that one TMGT chemical constituent, quercetin, may be a bioactive TMGT compound with activity that may be associated with the alleviation of neuronal damage and neuroinflammation triggered by CI. Moreover, additional data obtained in this work revealed that TMGT could inhibit neuroinflammation and protect brain cells from OGD-induced and LPS-induced damage by altering HIF-1α/PPARγ/NF-κB pathway functions. Thus, targeting this pathway through TMGT administration to CI patients may be a strategy for alleviating nerve injury and neuroinflammation triggered by CI.