Effect of Tripterygium Wilfordii Polyglycoside on Experimental Prostatitis Caused by Ureaplasma Urealyticum in Rats

Voltage-gated sodium channels, potential targets of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. to exert activity and produce toxicity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. has been widely used in clinical practice due to its good anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. However, its application is limited by potential toxicity and side effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to identify the mechanisms responsible for the pharmacological activity and cardiotoxicity of the main monomers of Tripterygium wilfordii.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Database analysis predicted that ion channels may be potential targets of Tripterygium wilfordii. The regulatory effects of monomers (triptolide, celastrol, demethylzeylasteral, and wilforgine) on protein Nav1.5 and Nav1.7 were predicted and detected by Autodock and patch clamping. Then, we used the formalin-induced pain model and evaluated heart rate and myocardial zymograms to investigate the analgesic activity and cardiotoxicity of each monomer in vivo.

RESULTS

All four monomers were able to bind to Nav1.7 and Nav1.5 with different binding energies and subsequently inhibited the peak currents of both Nav1.7 and Nav1.5. The monomers all exhibited analgesic effects on formalin-induced pain; therefore, we hypothesized that Nav1.7 is one of the key analgesic targets. Demethylzeylasteral reduced heart rate and increased the level of creatine kinase-MB, thus suggesting a potential cardiac risk; data suggested that the inhibitory effect on Nav1.5 might be an important factor underlying its cardiotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide an important theoretical basis for the further screening of active monomers with higher levels of activity and lower levels of toxicity.

Differences in Multicomponent Pharmacokinetics, Tissue Distribution, and Excretion of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets in Normal and Adriamycin-Induced Nephrotic Syndrome Rat Models and Correlations With Efficacy and Hepatotoxicity

Tripterygium glycosides tablets (TGT) are widely used for treating nephrotic syndrome (NS), but hepatotoxicity is frequently reported. The presence of underlying disease(s) can alter the disposition of drugs and affect their efficacy and toxicity. However, no studies have reported the impact of NS on the ADME profiles of TGT or its subsequent impact on the efficacy and toxicity. Thus, the efficacy and hepatotoxicity of TGT were evaluated in normal and NS rats after oral administration of TGT (10 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. The corresponding ADME profiles of the six key TGT components (triptolide (TPL), wilforlide A (WA), wilforgine (WFG), wilfortrine (WFT), wilfordine (WFD), and wilforine (WFR)) were also measured and compared in normal and NS rats after a single oral gavage of 10 mg/kg TGT. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) of the severity of NS and the in vivo exposure of the six key TGT components was performed to screen the anti–NS and hepatotoxic material bases of TGT. Finally, the efficacy and hepatotoxicity of the target compounds were evaluated in vitro. The results showed that TGT decreased the NS symptoms in rats, but caused worse hepatotoxicity under the NS state. Significant differences in the ADME profiles of the six key TGT components between the normal and NS rats were as follows: higher plasma and tissue exposure, lower urinary and biliary excretion, and higher fecal excretion for NS rats. Based on CCA and in vitro verification, TPL, WA, WFG, WFT, WFD, and WFR were identified as the anti–NS material bases of TGT, whereas TPL, WFG, WFT, and WFD were recognized as the hepatotoxic material bases. In conclusion, NS significantly altered the ADME profiles of the six key TGT components detected in rats, which were related to the anti–NS and hepatotoxic effects of TGT. These results are useful for the rational clinical applications of TGT.

Tripterygium glycoside ameliorates neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Aβ25-35-induced Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting the phosphorylation of IκBα and p38

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is acommon neurodegenerative disease in the aged population. Tripterygium glycoside (TG) has been reported to protect the nervous system. However, the effect of TG on AD is still unknown. We aimed to explore the effect of TG on AD. Thirty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected and assigned to the normal control, AD model, AD+donepezil, and AD+TG groups. PC12 cells were assigned to the normal control, AD cell model, and AD+TG groups. The alterations in spatial memory and learning abilities of mice were measured by Morris water maze. Neuronal damage in mice was detected using Nissl staining. The expression levels of Aβ_25-35, p-Tau, and CD11b in brain tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, NO, p-P38, P38, p-IκBα, Caspase1, COX2, and iNOS were measured using ELISAs, qRT-PCR, and western blotting.TG significantly improved the spatial memory and learning abilities of AD mice. Compared toAD model group, significantly lower expression levels of Aβ_25-35, p-Tau, and CD11b were observed in AD+TG group (p < 0.05). The neuron density significantly increased in AD+TG group (p < 0.05). Significantly lower expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, NO, caspase-1, COX2, iNOS, p-IκBα and p-P38 MAPK were detected in AD+TG group (p < 0.05). In summary, TG may exert aneuroprotective effect by suppressing the release of inflammatory factors and microglial activity and inhibiting the phosphorylation of IκBα and p38 MAPK. These findings may improve our understanding of the mechanism of TG intervention in AD.

Tripterygium glycoside improves regulatory T cells and attenuates acute organ dysfunction in septic mice

Sepsis is a fatal infectious disease accompanied by multiple organ failure. Immune dysfunction and inflammatory response play an important role in the progression of the disease. Tripterygium glycoside (TG) has immune suppression and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we investigated the effects of TG on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Septic mice model was induced by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP), after administration of TG, specimens are collected at designated time points. Histopathology changes of lung tissues and Kidney tissues were observed under light microscope, magnetic microbeads were used to isolate splenic CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and phenotypes were then analyzed by flow cytometry. ELISA method was employed to detect the concentrations of plasma TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Nuclear p-NF-κB and Cytoplasmic IkB-a was detected by western blot. TG administration significantly alleviated lung and kidney inflammatory injury and improved the survival of septic mice. Furthermore, the suppressive function of regulatory T cells was enhanced and plasma expression of IL-10 was increased following TG treatment. The NF-B signaling pathway and secretion of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 was notably inhibited in septic mice treated with TG. TG exerts protective effects through improving regulatory T cells and attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokines in septic mice.

GrpE Immunization Protects Against Ureaplasma urealyticum Infection in BALB/C Mice

Nucleotide exchange factor (GrpE), a highly conserved antigen, is rapidly expressed and upregulated when Ureaplasma urealyticum infects a host, which could act as a candidative vaccine if it can induce an anti-U. urealyticum immune reaction. Here, we evaluated the vaccine potential of recombinant GrpE protein adjuvanted by Freund's adjuvant (FA), to protect against U. urealyticum genital tract infection in a mouse model. After booster immunization in mice with FA, the GrpE can induced both humoral and cellular immune response after intramuscular injection into BALB/c mice. A strong humoral immune response was detected in the GrpE-immunized mice characterized by production of high titers of antigen-specific serum IgG (IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3) antibodies. At the same time, the GrpE also induced a Th1-biased cytokine spectrum with high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α after re-stimulation with immunogen GrpE in vitro, suggesting that GrpE could trigger the Th1 response when used for vaccination in the presence of FA. Although GrpE vaccination in the presence of a Th1-type adjuvant-induced had readily detectable Th1 responses, there wasn't increase inflammation in response to the infection. More importantly, the robust immune responses in mice after immunization with GrpE showed a significantly reduced U. urealyticum burden in cervical tissues. Histopathological analysis confirmed that tissues of GrpE-immunized BALB/c mice were protected against the pathological effects of U. urealyticum infection. In conclusion, this study preliminarily reveals GrpE protein as a promising new candidate vaccine for preventing U. urealyticum reproductive tract infection.

Treatment of bullous pemphigoid in Chinese patients with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) is a traditional Chinese herb used in many medicinal applications, but the treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP) with TwHF has never been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TwHF in BP patients. A retrospective study was performed from January 2015 to September 2019 in the Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A total of 10 patients with mild to moderate BP and treated with TwHF were enrolled in the study with 10 mild or moderate BP patients treated with systemic glucocorticoid randomly selected as controls. In the TwHF group, a major response was seen in seven patients, a minor response in one and no response was seen in two patients. In the glucocorticoid group, a major response was seen in nine patients and a minor response in one patient. Two patients experienced treatment failure. The time to disease control in the TwHF group (34 ± 11 days) was longer as compared to the glucocorticoid group (18 ± 8 days, P < .05). Ten patients relapsed during the follow-up period. The adverse events in the TwHF group were lower than those in the glucocorticoid group (13 vs 19). Low-dose TwHF may be effective and safe for treating mild and moderate BP.

Expression and Regulation of Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Natriuretic Peptide Receptor A (NPR-A) in L6-S1 Dorsal Root Ganglia in a Rat Model of Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis

BACKGROUND The study aimed to investigate the expression of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) in L6-S1 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in a rat model of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP). MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (N=50) and a study group (N=50). The control group underwent prostatic injection of 0.1 ml of normal saline on days 3, 7, 10, 14, and 28. The study group, or rat model of CNP, underwent prostatic injection of 0.1 ml of complete Freund's adjuvant on days 3, 7, 10, 14, and 28. At the end of the study, the rats were euthanized, and the prostate tissues and L6-S1 DRG were removed. Histology was performed on the prostate tissue from the rats in the study group and control group. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were used to study the expression of BNP and NPR-A mRNA and protein in the DRG from the rats in the study group and control group. RESULTS In the rat model of CNP, the expression of BNP and NPR-A were significantly increased in L6-S1 DRG compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of CNP, the increased expression of BNP and NPR-A in L6-S1 DRG may have a role in pain signaling pathways associated with chronic prostatitis.

Phenolic constituents from Alisma plantago-aquatica Linnaeus and their anti-chronic prostatitis activity

Background

The plant Alisma plantago-aquatica Linnaeus, which is widely distributed in southwest of China, is the main material of traditional Chinese medicine “Zexie”. It was used as folk medicine for immune-modulation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Previous chemical studies on A. plantago-aquatica reported the identification of triterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, steroids, alkaloids and phenolic acid. Terpenes and phenolic acid were regard as major secondary metabolites from this medicine plant.

Results

A new phenolic acid, plantain A (1), along with four known compounds (2–5) were isolated and identified from A. plantago-aquatica by extensive chromatographic and spectrometric methods. In the present study, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, PEG2 and TGF-β1 were increased in model group rats, whereas on treatment with the isolated compound (1 and 4) at 50 mg/kg, there was a significant decrease in the cytokine levels. Therefore, the anti-CNP effect of 1 and 4 may be related to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusions

A new phenolic acid and four known phenolic compounds were isolated from A. plantago-aquatica. Moreover, compounds 1 and 4 shows significant anti-chronic prostatitis activity in rats.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13065-017-0350-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Erythema elevatum diutinum involving palms and soles: a case report and literature review

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare chronic inflammatory dermatosis and a part of the spectrum of cutaneous leukocytoclasticvasculitis. The most common site of involvement is extensor surface of the extremities, with a predilection for the skin overlying joints, particularly hands, feet, elbows and knees, as well as buttocks and Achilles tendons. Here we report a case of EED with atypical presentation involving palms and soles. The patient showed dramatic response to the treatment with prednisolone combined with Tripterygium wilfordii glycoside (TWP). The lesions improved significantly after three months of therapy. We will also review the atypical cases of EED that were previously published in English literature.