Mechanism Involved in Fortification by Berberine in CDDP-Induced Nephrotoxicity

A Review of Fibraurea tinctoria and Its Component, Berberine, as an Antidiabetic and Antioxidant

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia caused by resistance to insulin action, inadequate insulin secretion, or excessive glucagon production. Numerous studies have linked diabetes mellitus and oxidative stress. People with diabetes usually exhibit high oxidative stress due to persistent and chronic hyperglycemia, which impairs the activity of the antioxidant defense system and promotes the formation of free radicals. Recently, several studies have focused on exploring natural antioxidants to improve diabetes mellitus. Fibraurea tinctoria has long been known as the native Borneo used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. Taxonomically, this plant is part of the Menispermaceae family, widely known for producing various alkaloids. Among them are protoberberine alkaloids such as berberine. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid with many pharmacological activities. Berberine is receiving considerable interest because of its antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, which are based on many biochemical pathways. Therefore, this review explores the pharmacological effects of Fibraurea tinctoria and its active constituent, berberine, against oxidative stress and diabetes, emphasizing its mechanistic aspects. This review also summarizes the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of berberine and in silico studies of berberine in several diseases and its protein targets.

MicroRNAs Involved in Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway during Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: Potential Use of Natural Products against DDP-Induced Apoptosis

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), DDP) is an antineoplastic agent widely used in the treatment of solid tumors because of its extensive cytotoxic activity. However, the main limiting side effect of DDP use is nephrotoxicity, a rapid deterioration in kidney function due to toxic chemicals. Several studies have shown that epigenetic processes are involved in DDP-induced nephrotoxicity. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), a class of epigenetic processes, are molecules that regulate gene expression under physiological and pathological conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the most characterized class of ncRNAs and are engaged in many cellular processes. In this review, we describe how different miRNAs regulate some pathways leading to cell death by apoptosis, specifically the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, many classes of natural products have been tested for their ability to prevent DDP-induced apoptosis. The study of epigenetic regulation for underlying cell death is still being studied, which will allow new strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of this unwanted disease, which is presented as a side effect of antineoplastic treatment.

Prediction of the mechanisms of action of Zhibai Dihaung Granule in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury: A network pharmacology study and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zhibai Dihuang Granule (ZDG) is known as traditional Chinese patent medicine with the functions of "Ziyin decrease internal heat" in Traditional Chinses medicine. In clinical, it is also used to treat various kidney diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to provide a basis for the curative effect of ZDG on acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin (CIAKI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The active compounds and protein targets of ZDG, as well as the potential targets of the CIAKI were searched from the database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram and the drug-compounds-targets-disease network were constructed. Enrichment analysis was performed by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, the effect of ZDG on the prevention and treatment of CIAKI was experimentally validated in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

From the database, we screened 22 active compounds of ZDG and 226 related targets. We obtained 498 gene targets related to CIAKI, among which 40 genes overlapped with ZDG-related targets. Go enrichment and KEGG analysis got 339 terms and 64 pathways, respectively. Based on the above study, we speculated that ZDG has the potential effect on treatment CIAKI, and the mechanism may be related to cell apoptosis and inflammation. The results in vitro experiments showed that ZDG reduced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin to HK-2 and 293T cells, but did not affect the antitumor effect of cisplatin. Moreover, in vivo experiments further proved that ZDG effectively controlled kidney damage caused by cisplatin in SD rats. The results showed that ZDG could regulate the expression of CASP3, p65 and MAPK pathway related proteins, suggesting that ZDG's prevention of CIAKI may be related to apoptosis and inflammatory response.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that ZDG could prevent and treat CIAKI by inhibiting cell apoptosis and inflammation, which provided a new efficacy and clinical application for ZDG.

Protective effects of berberine on various kidney diseases: Emphasis on the promising effects and the underlined molecular mechanisms

Berberine (BBR) is a pentacyclic benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that can be found in diversity of medicinal plants. BBR has a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities, in addition when administrated orally, it has a broad safety margin. It has been used as an antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic drug in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Several scholars have found that BBR has promising renoprotective effects against different renal illnesses, including diabetic nephropathy, renal fibrosis, renal ischemia, renal aging, and renal stones. Also, it has renoprotective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by chemotherapy, heavy metal, aminoglycosides, NSAID, and others. These effects imply that BBR has an evolving therapeutic potential against acute renal failure and chronic renal diseases. Hence, we report herein the beneficial therapeutic renoprotective properties of BBR, as well as the highlighted molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the studies discussed throughout this review will afford a comprehensive overview about renoprotective effect of BBR and its therapeutic impact on different renal diseases.

Cryptotanshinone Induces Necroptosis through Ca2+ Release and ROS Production in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Necroptosis is a type of programmed necrosis mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinases 1 and 3 (RIP1 and RIP3), which is morphologically characterized by enlarged organelles, ruptured plasma membrane, and subsequent loss of intracellular contents. Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a diterpene quinone compound extracted from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been reported to have significant anticancer activities. However, the detailed mechanism of CPT has not been clearly illustrated.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to explore the cell death type and mechanisms of CPT-induced in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

METHODS

The cytotoxicity of CPT on A549 cells was assessed by MTS assay. Ca2+ release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were detected by flow cytometry. The changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were observed through JC-1 staining. The expressions of p-RIP1, p-RIP3, p-MLKL, and MAPKs pathway proteins were analyzed by western blotting analysis. The efficacy of CPT in vivo was evaluated by the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenograft mice model. Blood samples were collected for hematology analysis. ELISA investigated the effects of CPT on tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) was used to determine the tumor tissues. Proteins' expression of tumor tissues was quantified by western blotting.

RESULTS

CPT inhibited the cell viability of A549 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, which was reversed by Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1). In addition, CPT treatment increased the expression of p-RIP1, p-RIP3, p-MLKL, the release of Ca2+, ROS generation, and the MAPKs pathway activated in A549 cells. Moreover, animal experiment results showed that intraperitoneal injection of CPT (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) significantly inhibited tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice without affecting the bodyweight and injuring the organs.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that CPT-induced necroptosis via RIP1/RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that CPT may be a promising agent in the treatment of NSCLC.

Curcumin Improves the Renal Autophagy in Rat Experimental Membranous Nephropathy via Regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways

Membranous nephropathy (MN, also known as membranous glomerulopathy) is one of the many glomerular diseases causing nephrotic syndrome. The literature indicates that autophagy is associated with the homeostasis of podocytes in glomeruli. Curcumin, the main active component in turmeric, has drawn attention for its effective bioactivities against chronic kidney disease. The current study was aimed at assessing the effects of curcumin and exploring the underlying mechanism that mediates autophagy in an animal model of passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) in rats. Passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) was induced in male SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of anti-Fx1A serum. The rats were divided into 3 groups: control (n = 10, normal diet), model group (n = 10, 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose), and curcumin (n = 10, 300 mg/kg/d). The kidney function and oxidative stress indicators were measured using commercial diagnostic kits, and the histomorphology of renal tissues was observed. The number of podocytes was measured by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, the autophagosomes in podocyte were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and the immunofluorescence assay pointing to p62, an autophagic marker. Western blot analyzed the levels of apoptosis, autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway-associated proteins. The total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine volume, and urine albumin of PHN rats were significantly reduced by the administration of curcumin and attenuated renal histomorphological changes in model rats. Meanwhile, curcumin improved the oxidative stress response by decreasing MDA and increasing SOD, GSH, and CAT levels in the kidney of PHN rats. Furthermore, curcumin significantly ameliorated the podocyte loss, along with the fusion, and increased the autophagic vacuoles compared to the PHN control rats. In addition, curcumin downregulated the expression of Bax, Caspase-3, p62, PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins and upregulated the Bcl-2, beclin1, LC3, Nrf2, and HO-1 levels in this animal model. The results provide a scientific basis that curcumin could significantly alleviate the development of MN by inducing autophagy and alleviating renal oxidative stress through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.