Shionone Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Regulating Macrophage Polarization via the ECM1/STAT5 Pathway

Construction of M2 macrophage-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and revealing different immunotherapy response in bladder cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer development is closely associated with the dynamic interaction and communication between M2 macrophages and tumor cells. However, specific biomarkers for targeting M2 macrophages in immunotherapy remain limited and require further investigation.

METHODS

In this study, we identified key co-expressed genes in M2 macrophages and developed gene signatures to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients. Public database provided the bioinformatics data used in the analysis. We created and verified an M2 macrophage-related gene signature in these datasets using Lasso-Cox analysis.

RESULTS

The predictive value and immunological functions of our risk model were examined in bladder cancer patients, and 158 genes were found to be significantly positively correlated with M2 macrophages. Moreover, we identified two molecular subgroups of bladder cancer with markedly different immunological profiles and clinical prognoses. The five key risk genes identified in this model were validated, including CALU, ECM1, LRP1, CYTL1, and CCDC102B, demonstrating the model can accurately predict prognosis and identify unique responses to immunotherapy in patients with bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we constructed and validated a five-gene signature related to M2 macrophages, which shows strong potential for forecasting bladder cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response.

2,5-Dihydroxyacetophenone attenuates acute kidney injury induced by intra-abdominal infection in rats

AIMS

As one of the most serious complications of sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI) is pathologically associated with excessive inflammation. 2,5-Dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) is isolated from Radix rehmanniae praeparata and exhibit potent anti-inflammatory property. This research aimed at determining the role of DHAP in sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Plasma creatinine (Cre), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels of SA-AKI patients were detected to evaluate their clinical characteristics. SA-AKI rat models were established by using caecum ligation puncture (CLP) surgery. CLP-induced rats were administered via oral gavage with 20 or 40 mg DHAP after 2 h of CLP surgery. Subsequently, survival rates, serum indexes, histopathological changes, inflammatory factors, renal function indexes and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathways were detected.

RESULTS

SA-AKI patients exhibited markedly higher levels of plasma Cre, BUN, TNF-α and IL-1β than healthy people. Compared with sham rats, CLP-induced septic rats showed significantly decreased survival rate, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase activity and serum lactate level, obvious renal histopathological injury, upregulated TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β1 levels, elevated serum creatinine, BUN and serum cystatin C concentrations, serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1 levels and reduced renal artery blood flow. All the above CLP-induced changes in septic rats were mitigated after DHAP administration. Additionally, CLP-induced elevation in phosphorylated-ERK1/2 and nuclear NF-κB p65 protein levels was inhibited by DHAP treatment.

CONCLUSION

DHAP hinders SA-AKI progression in rat models by inhibiting ERK and NF-κB signalling pathways.

Shionone relieves oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation induced SH-SY5Y cells injury by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) can affect patient outcomes and can even be life-threatening. This study aimed to explore the role of Shionone in cerebral I/R and reveal its mechanism of action through the cerebral I/R in vitro model.

METHODS

SH-SY5Y cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to induce cerebral I/R in vitro model. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with different concentrations of Shionone. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry assays were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis levels. The levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde were determined using their corresponding kits to examine the level of oxidative stress. The inflammation response was detected by IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels, using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels of p38 and NF-κB. Western blotting was used to quantify the apoptosis-related proteins and p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway proteins.

RESULTS

Shionone exhibited no toxic effects on SH-SY5Y cells. Shionone inhibited OGD/R-induced cell apoptosis, improved the inflammatory response caused by OGD/R, and reduced the level of oxidative stress in cells. Western blot assay results showed that Shionone alleviated OGD/R-induced injury by inhibiting the activity of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The p38/MAPK agonist P79350 reversed the beneficial effects of Shionone.

CONCLUSION

Shionone alleviates cerebral I/R and may thus be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating cerebral I/R.

Pharmacological Properties of Shionone: Potential Anti-Inflammatory Phytochemical against Different Diseases

Shionone is a triterpenoid that is the primary constituent of an important ancient Chinese medicine named Radix Asteris. It has emerged as an attractive candidate against different important diseases, including interstitial cystitis, colitis, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and urinary tract infections, and was found to have a protective effect on multiple organs, including the colon, kidneys, lungs, brain, and bladder. The anti-inflammation activity of shionone may be considered an important property that imparts the positive health outcomes of shionone. Important molecular targets and markers such as TNF-α, STAT3, NLRP3, and NF-κB were also found to be targeted by shionone and were verified in different diseases. This suggests the possible potential of shionone against other diseases associated with these targets. Pharmacokinetic studies also support the therapeutic potential of shionone and provide the initial track that may be pursued for its development. Yet, the compilation of the pharmacological activities of shionone and its important genes and pathway targets are absent in the existing literature, which would direct its development as a therapeutic and/or supplement. Hence, the present review provides a compilation of information concerning pharmacological activities, highlights the existing holes, and proposes a specific direction for the expansion of shionone as a therapeutic against different diseases and conditions.

Sepsis-mediated renal dysfunction: Pathophysiology, biomarkers and role of phytoconstituents in its management

Sepsis has evolved as an enormous health issue amongst critically ill patients. It is a major risk factor that results in multiple organ failure and shock. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent complications underlying sepsis, which portends a heavy burden of mortality and morbidity. Thus, the present review is aimed to provide an insight into the recent progression in the molecular mechanisms targeting dysregulated immune response and cellular dysfunction involved in the development of sepsis-associated AKI, accentuating the phytoconstituents as eligible candidates for attenuating the onset and progression of sepsis-associated AKI. The pathogenesis of sepsis-mediated AKI entails a complicated mechanism and is likely to involve a distinct constellation of hemodynamic, inflammatory, and immune mechanisms. Novel biomarkers like neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1, procalcitonin, alpha-1-microglobulin, and presepsin can help in a more sensitive diagnosis of sepsis-associated AKI. Many bioactive compounds like curcumin, resveratrol, baicalin, quercetin, and polydatin are reported to play an important role in the prevention and management of sepsis-associated AKI by decreasing serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cystatin C, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and level of PPARγ. The plant bioactive compounds could be developed into a drug-developing candidate in managing sepsis-mediated acute kidney injury after detailed follow-up studies. Lastly, the gut-kidney axis may be a more promising therapeutic target against the onset of septic AKI, but a deeper understanding of the molecular pathways is still required.

Immunoregulatory mechanism of acute kidney injury in sepsis: A Narrative Review

Sepsis acute kidney injury (SAKI) is a common complication of sepsis, accounting for 26-50 % of all acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is an independent risk factor for increased mortality risk in patients with sepsis. The excessive inflammatory cascade reaction in SAKI is one of the main causes of kidney damage. Both the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system are involved in the inflammation process of SAKI. Under the action of endotoxin, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, T cells and other complex immune network reactions occur, and a large number of endogenous inflammatory mediators are released, resulting in the amplification and loss of control of the inflammatory response. The study of immune cells in SAKI will help improve the understanding of the immune mechanisms of SAKI, and will lay a foundation for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. This article reviews the role of known immune mechanisms in the occurrence and development of SAKI, with a view to finding new targets for SAKI treatment.

Shionone-Targeted Pneumolysin to Ameliorate Acute Lung Injury Induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae In Vivo and In Vitro

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), as a Gram-positive bacterium, can cause severe bacterial pneumonia, and result in high morbidity and mortality in infected people. Meanwhile, isolated drug-resistant S. pneumoniae is growing, which raises concerns about strategies for combatting S. pneumoniae infection. To disturb S. pneumoniae pathogenicity and its drug-resistance, developing novel anti-infective strategies or compounds is urgent. In this study, the anti-infective effect of shionone was explored. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay and growth curve determination were performed to evaluate the effect of the tetracyclic triterpenoid compound shionone against S. pneumoniae. Hemolysis tests, western blotting, oligomerization inhibition assays, and molecular docking were carried out to explore the anti-infective mechanism of shionone. Moreover, the protective effect of shionone was also confirmed in a mousepneumonia model. The results showed that the excellent hemolytic inhibitory activity of shionone was observed at less than 8 μg/mL. Meanwhile, shionone could disturb the oligomerization of pneumolysin (PLY) but did not interfere with PLY expression at less than 4 μg/mL. Molecular docking suggested that shionone targeted the ASP-59, ILE-60, THR-57, PHE-344, and ASN-346 amino acid sites to reduce S. pneumoniae pathogenicity. Furthermore, shionone alleviated lung histopathologic injury and decreased lung bacterial colonization in vivo. The above results showed that shionone could bind to the PLY active pocket under the concentrations of 8 μg/mL and neutralize PLY hemolysis activity to reduce S. pneumoniae pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses Revealed the Effects of Poly (I:C) on the Liver and Spleen of Argyrosomus japonicus

Poly (I:C) can work as an immunostimulant and a viral vaccine; however, its functional mechanism in aquatic animals needs to be further investigated. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses were performed to investigate the effects of poly (I:C) on Argyrosomus japonicus at 12 h and 48 h postinjection. A total of 194 and 294 differentially expressed genes were obtained in the liver and spleen, respectively. At 12 h, poly (I:C) injection could significantly influence the function of the metabolism-related pathways and immune-related pathways in the liver through the upregulation of the genes GST, LPIN, FOXO1, CYP24A1, ECM1, and SGK1, and the downregulation of the genes IL-1β, CXC19, TNFAIP3, and IRF1. At 48 h, poly (I:C) could enhance the liver energy metabolism by upregulating the genes TXNRD and ECM1, while it also induced some injury in the cells with the downregulation of the genes HBA and CYP24A1. In the spleen, poly (I:C) could regulate the fish immunity and inflammatory response by upregulating the genes DDIT4, C3, EFNA, and MNK, and by downregulating the genes ABCA1, SORT1, TNF, TLR2, IL8, and MHCII at 12 h, and at 48 h, the poly (I:C) had a similar influence as that in the liver. Intersection analyses demonstrated that CYP24A1 and ECM1 were the main functional genes that contributed to the health of the liver. Ten and four genes participated in maintaining the health of the two tissues after 12 h and 48 h, respectively. In summary, our results provided a new insight into ploy (I:C) application in A. japonicus, and it also helped us to better understand the fish response mechanism to the viral vaccine injection.