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Chen SY, Chen YL, Li PC, Cheng TS, Chu YS, Shen YS, Chen HT, Tsai WN, Huang CL, Sieber M, Yeh YC, Liu HS, Chiang CL, Chang CH, Lee AS, Tseng YH, Lee LJ, Liao HJ, Yip HK, Huang CYF. Engineered extracellular vesicles carrying let-7a-5p for alleviating inflammation in acute lung injury. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:30. [PMID: 38500170 PMCID: PMC10949767 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01019-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening respiratory condition characterized by severe inflammation and lung tissue damage, frequently causing rapid respiratory failure and long-term complications. The microRNA let-7a-5p is involved in the progression of lung injury, inflammation, and fibrosis by regulating immune cell activation and cytokine production. This study aims to use an innovative cellular electroporation platform to generate extracellular vesicles (EVs) carring let-7a-5p (EV-let-7a-5p) derived from transfected Wharton's jelly-mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) as a potential gene therapy for ALI. METHODS A cellular nanoporation (CNP) method was used to induce the production and release of EV-let-7a-5p from WJ-MSCs transfected with the relevant plasmid DNA. EV-let-7a-5p in the conditioned medium were isolated using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system. EV characterization followed the minimal consensus guidelines outlined by the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles. We conducted a thorough set of therapeutic assessments, including the antifibrotic effects using a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced cell model, the modulation effects on macrophage polarization, and the influence of EV-let-7a-5p in a rat model of hyperoxia-induced ALI. RESULTS The CNP platform significantly increased EV secretion from transfected WJ-MSCs, and the encapsulated let-7a-5p in engineered EVs was markedly higher than that in untreated WJ-MSCs. These EV-let-7a-5p did not influence cell proliferation and effectively mitigated the TGF-β-induced fibrotic phenotype by downregulating SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in LL29 cells. Furthermore, EV-let-7a-5p regulated M2-like macrophage activation in an inflammatory microenvironment and significantly induced interleukin (IL)-10 secretion, demonstrating their modulatory effect on inflammation. Administering EVs from untreated WJ-MSCs slightly improved lung function and increased let-7a-5p expression in plasma in the hyperoxia-induced ALI rat model. In comparison, EV-let-7a-5p significantly reduced macrophage infiltration and collagen deposition while increasing IL-10 expression, causing a substantial improvement in lung function. CONCLUSION This study reveals that the use of the CNP platform to stimulate and transfect WJ-MSCs could generate an abundance of let-7a-5p-enriched EVs, which underscores the therapeutic potential in countering inflammatory responses, fibrotic activation, and hyperoxia-induced lung injury. These results provide potential avenues for developing innovative therapeutic approaches for more effective interventions in ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin-Yu Chen
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833401, Taiwan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 833401, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chen Li
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Shan Cheng
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 220216, Taiwan
| | - Yeh-Shiu Chu
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shan Shen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 220216, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106319, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Tung Chen
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ni Tsai
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | | | - Yuan-Chieh Yeh
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, 204201, Taiwan
- Program in Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Sheng Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701401, Taiwan
- Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807378, Taiwan
- Teaching and Research Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 812015, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Ling Chiang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Chih-Hung Chang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 220216, Taiwan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, 320315, Taiwan
| | | | - Yen-Han Tseng
- Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112201, Taiwan
| | - Ly James Lee
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Spot Biosystems Ltd., Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Hsiu-Jung Liao
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 220216, Taiwan.
| | - Hon-Kan Yip
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833401, Taiwan.
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 833401, Taiwan.
- Center for Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 833401, Taiwan.
- Department of Nursing, Asia University, Taichung, 413305, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 404328, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Ying F Huang
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807378, Taiwan.
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Lin Y, Qi X, Wan Y, Chen Z, Fang H, Liang C. Genome-wide analysis of the MADS-box gene family in Lonicera japonica and a proposed floral organ identity model. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:447. [PMID: 37553575 PMCID: PMC10408238 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09509-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lonicera japonica Thunb. is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Medicinal L. japonica mainly consists of dried flower buds and partially opened flowers, thus flowers are an important quality indicator. MADS-box genes encode transcription factors that regulate flower development. However, little is known about these genes in L. japonica. RESULTS In this study, 48 MADS-box genes were identified in L. japonica, including 20 Type-I genes (8 Mα, 2 Mβ, and 10 Mγ) and 28 Type-II genes (26 MIKCc and 2 MIKC*). The Type-I and Type-II genes differed significantly in gene structure, conserved domains, protein structure, chromosomal distribution, phylogenesis, and expression pattern. Type-I genes had a simpler gene structure, lacked the K domain, had low protein structure conservation, were tandemly distributed on the chromosomes, had more frequent lineage-specific duplications, and were expressed at low levels. In contrast, Type-II genes had a more complex gene structure; contained conserved M, I, K, and C domains; had highly conserved protein structure; and were expressed at high levels throughout the flowering period. Eleven floral homeotic MADS-box genes that are orthologous to the proposed Arabidopsis ABCDE model of floral organ identity determination, were identified in L. japonica. By integrating expression pattern and protein interaction data for these genes, we developed a possible model for floral organ identity determination. CONCLUSION This study genome-widely identified and characterized the MADS-box gene family in L. japonica. Eleven floral homeotic MADS-box genes were identified and a possible model for floral organ identity determination was also developed. This study contributes to our understanding of the MADS-box gene family and its possible involvement in floral organ development in L. japonica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiwu Qi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Wan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zequn Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hailing Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Yang X, Yu A, Hu W, Zhang Z, Ruan Y, Kuang H, Wang M. Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Health Benefits, and Application of the Polysaccharides from Lonicera japonica Thunb.: A Review. Molecules 2023; 28:4828. [PMID: 37375383 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a widely distributed plant with ornamental, economic, edible, and medicinal values. L. japonica is a phytoantibiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and a potent therapeutic effect on various infectious diseases. The anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-depression, antioxidative, immunoregulatory, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-gout, and anti-alcohol-addiction effects of L. japonica can also be explained by bioactive polysaccharides isolated from this plant. Several researchers have determined the molecular weight, chemical structure, and monosaccharide composition and ratio of L. japonica polysaccharides by water extraction and alcohol precipitation, enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) and chromatography. This article searched in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI databases within the last 12 years, using "Lonicera. japonica polysaccharides", "Lonicera. japonica Thunb. polysaccharides", and "Honeysuckle polysaccharides" as the key word, systematically reviewed the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, structure-activity relationship, and health benefits of L. japonica polysaccharides to provide insights for future studies. Further, we elaborated on the potential applications of L. japonica polysaccharides in the food, medicine, and daily chemical industry, such as using L. japonica as raw material to make lozenges, soy sauce and toothpaste, etc. This review will be a useful reference for the further optimization of functional products developed from L. japonica polysaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinpeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Aiqi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Wenjing Hu
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Zhaojiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Ye Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Haixue Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150000, China
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4
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Yang C, Song C, Wang Y, Zhou W, Zheng W, Zhou H, Deng G, Li H, Xiao W, Yang Z, Kong L, Ge H, Song Y, Sun Y. Re-Du-Ning injection ameliorates radiation-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis by inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 102:154184. [PMID: 35665679 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common side effect in chest radiotherapy patients, and there is no good medicine to treat it. Re-Du-Ning (RDN) injection is a traditional Chinese medicine that is clinically used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and acute bronchitis. RDN has the advantage of high safety and mild side effects. The mechanism of most traditional Chinese medicine preparations is unknown. PURPOSE To illustrate the mechanisms of RDN for the treatment of RILI. METHODS Female C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a RILI model via irradiation, and RDN injection was intraperitoneally administered at doses of 5, 10, and 20 ml/kg. The cytokines were measured by ELISA and qPCR. The data related to Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome were analyzed via ELISA and a network pharmacological approach. In addition, the data related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were analyzed via immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and a network pharmacological approach. RESULTS RDN robustly alleviated RILI. Meanwhile, RDN downregulated inflammatory cells' infiltration and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Next, the potential molecular mechanisms of RDN were predicted through network pharmacology analysis. RDN may ameliorate radiation pneumonitis (RP) by inhibiting AIM2-mediated pyroptosis. Moreover, RDN treatment inhibited EMT and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. The active compounds from Lonicera japonica Thunb. decreased the phosphorylation of Akt. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that RDN, as a traditional Chinese medicine preparation, will be a candidate drug for treating RILI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chenglin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 157 Daming Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210012 China
| | - Wencheng Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Han Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China
| | - Guoliang Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haibo Li
- Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China
| | - Zhongqi Yang
- Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 16 Jichang Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China
| | - Lingdong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huiming Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yaohong Song
- Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 157 Daming Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210012 China.
| | - Yang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Deparment of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Chen N, Zhang H, Zang E, Liu ZX, Lan YF, Hao WL, He S, Fan X, Sun GL, Wang YL. Adaptation insights from comparative transcriptome analysis of two Opisthopappus species in the Taihang mountains. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:466. [PMID: 35751010 PMCID: PMC9233376 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08703-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Opisthopappus is a major wild source of Asteraceae with resistance to cold and drought. Two species of this genus (Opisthopappus taihangensis and O. longilobus) have been employed as model systems to address the evolutionary history of perennial herb biomes in the Taihang Mountains of China. However, further studies on the adaptive divergence processes of these two species are currently impeded by the lack of genomic resources. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, a comparative analysis of these two species was conducted. Among the identified transcription factors, the bHLH members were most prevalent, which exhibited significantly different expression levels in the terpenoid metabolic pathway. O. longilobus showed higher level of expression than did O. taihangensis in terms of terpenes biosynthesis and metabolism, particularly monoterpenoids and diterpenoids. Analyses of the positive selection genes (PSGs) identified from O. taihangensis and O. longilobus revealed that 1203 genes were related to adaptative divergence, which were under rapid evolution and/or have signs of positive selection. Differential expressions of PSG occurred primarily in the mitochondrial electron transport, starch degradation, secondary metabolism, as well as nucleotide synthesis and S-metabolism pathway processes. Several PSGs were obviously differentially expressed in terpenes biosynthesis that might result in the fragrances divergence between O. longilobus and O. taihangensis, which would provide insights into adaptation of the two species to different environments that characterized by sub-humid warm temperate and temperate continental monsoon climates. The comparative analysis for these two species in Opisthopappus not only revealed how the divergence occurred from molecular perspective, but also provided novel insights into how differential adaptations occurred in Taihang Mountains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Chen
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - En Zang
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Zhi-Xia Liu
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Ya-Fei Lan
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Wei-Li Hao
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Shan He
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Xing Fan
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Gen-Lou Sun
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, B3H3C3, Canada.
| | - Yi-Ling Wang
- College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China.
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6
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Yeh YC, Doan LH, Huang ZY, Chu LW, Shi TH, Lee YR, Wu CT, Lin CH, Chiang ST, Liu HK, Chuang TH, Ping YH, Liu HS, Huang CYF. Honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica) and Huangqi ( Astragalus membranaceus) Suppress SARS-CoV-2 Entry and COVID-19 Related Cytokine Storm in Vitro. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:765553. [PMID: 35401158 PMCID: PMC8990830 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.765553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is threatening human health worldwide but no effective treatment currently exists for this disease. Current therapeutic strategies focus on the inhibition of viral replication or using anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory compounds to improve host immunity, but not both. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds could be promising candidates due to their safety and minimal toxicity. In this study, we have developed a novel in silico bioinformatics workflow that integrates multiple databases to predict the use of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus) as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Using extracts from honeysuckle and Huangqi, these two herbs upregulated a group of microRNAs including let-7a, miR-148b, and miR-146a, which are critical to reduce the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, these herbs suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 or TNF-α, which were both identified in the cytokine storm of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of COVID-19 death. Furthermore, both herbs partially inhibited the fusion of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-transfected BHK-21 cells with the human lung cancer cell line Calu-3 that was expressing ACE2 receptors. These herbs inhibited SARS-CoV-2 Mpro activity, thereby alleviating viral entry as well as replication. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that honeysuckle and Huangqi have the potential to be used as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 virus entry that warrants further in vivo analysis and functional assessment of miRNAs to confirm their clinical importance. This fast-screening platform can also be applied to other drug discovery studies for other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Chieh Yeh
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,Program in Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ly Hien Doan
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Zi-Yi Huang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,ASUS Intelligent Cloud Services, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wei Chu
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hau Shi
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ray Lee
- Department of Medical Research, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Tao Wu
- Division of Big Data, Phalanx Biotech Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hsiung Lin
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Aging and Health Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Tuan Chiang
- Chuang Song Zong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Ligang Plant, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Kang Liu
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM), Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.,Ph. D. Program in the Clinical Drug Development of Herbal Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Chuang
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.,Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Hsin Ping
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biophotonics, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Sheng Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Ying F Huang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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7
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Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acids in Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251390. [PMID: 34038434 PMCID: PMC8153468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251390] [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: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz (L. macranthoides) is a medicinal herb that is widely distributed in South China. The developmental stage and corolla dehiscence of the flower are the important factors affecting the quality of medicinal ingredients. However, neither the regulatory mechanism controlling chlorogenic acids biosynthesis in L. macranthoides nor the molecular basis of effect of corolla dehiscence on the quality of medicinal materials is fully understood. In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to analyze the metabolic and transcriptional differences of two different cultivars closed bud type (Bt), and flowering type (Ft), as well as the effect of jasmonic acid methyl ester (MeJA) on chlorogenic acids (CGAs) biosynthesis. In total, large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were filtered among three lines of samples. Gene metabolite correlation analyses revealed a ‘core set’ of 30 genes and 54 genes that were strongly correlated with CGAs biosynthesis and regulating the flowering, respectively. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results proved the alterations in the expression levels of genes encoding the pathways involved in CGAs biosynthesis. The ion abundances of CGAs were most significantly increased, while some of the CGAs derived and Caffeoyl-CoA-derived substances showed the most largely reduced abundances in the closed bud type (Bt) compared to the flowering type (Ft). MeJA may leads to the activation of downstream genes in CGAs biosynthesis pathway. Overall, there were significant differences in the transcriptional and metabolic levels of CGAs biosynthesis pathway in flower buds of different flowering cultivars. The redirection of metabolic flux may contribute to increased accumulation of CGAs. However, whether MeJA and flowering have direct effects on the accumulation of CGAs needs further studied. These researches effectively expanded the functional genomic library and provide new insights into CGAs biosynthesis in L. macranthoides.
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