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Li N, Liu X, Wang H, Duan Y, Zhang Y, Zhou P, Dai H, Lan T. "Qi Nan" agarwood restores podocyte autophagy in diabetic kidney disease by targeting EGFR signaling pathway. Chin Med 2024; 19:63. [PMID: 38654354 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00923-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, contributing to end-stage renal disease with limited treatment options. The development of DKD is attributed to podocyte injury resulting from abnormal podocyte autophagy. Consequently, the restoration of podocyte autophagy is deemed a practicable approach in the treatment of DKD. METHODS Diabetic mice were induced by streptozotocin and high-fat diet feeding. Following 8 weeks of "QN" agarwood treatment, metrics such as albuminuria, serum creatinine (Scr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated. Renal histological lesions were evaluated by H&E, PAS, Masson, and Sirius red staining. Evaluation of the effects of "QN" agarwood on renal inflammation and fibrosis in DKD mice through WB, q-PCR, and IHC staining analysis. Cytoscape 3.7.1 was used to construct a PPI network. With the DAVID server, the gene ontology (GO) functional annotation and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways of the target enrichment were performed. Molecular docking and binding affinity calculations were conducted using AutoDock, while PyMOL software was employed for visualizing the docking results of active compounds and protein targets. RESULTS The results of this study show that "QN" agarwood reduced albuminuria, Scr, and BUN in DKD mice, and improved the renal pathological process. Additionally, "QN" agarwood was observed to downregulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors in the kidneys of DKD mice. Network pharmacology predicts that "QN" agarwood modulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. "QN" agarwood can increase the expression of LC3B and Nphs1 in DKD mice while reducing the expression of EGFR. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that "QN" agarwood ameliorated renal injury in DKD by targeting EGFR and restoring podocyte autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xuenan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hao Wang
- National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, International Joint Research Center of Agarwood, Hainan Engineering Research Center of Agarwood, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 4 Xue Yuan Road, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Yingling Duan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Nephrology, 290 Shayan West Second Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610045, Sichuan, China.
| | - Haofu Dai
- National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, International Joint Research Center of Agarwood, Hainan Engineering Research Center of Agarwood, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 4 Xue Yuan Road, Haikou, 571101, China.
| | - Tian Lan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
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Zhang J, Niu P, Li M, Wang Y, Ma Y, Wang P. Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Activities of Pericarps and Seeds Reveal the Controversy on "Enucleation" or "Nucleus-Retaining" of Cornus officinalis Fruits. Molecules 2024; 29:1473. [PMID: 38611753 PMCID: PMC11012811 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071473] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The fruits of Cornus officinalis are used not only as a popular health food to tonify the liver and kidney, but also as staple materials to treat dementia and other age-related diseases. The pharmacological function of C. officinalis fruits with or without seeds is controversial for treating some symptoms in a few herbal prescriptions. However, the related metabolite and pharmacological information between its pericarps and seeds are largely deficient. Here, comparative metabolomics analysis between C. officinalis pericarps and seeds were conducted using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, and therapeutic effects were also evaluated using several in vitro bioactivity arrays (antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and cholinesterase inhibitory activities, and cell inhibitory properties). A total of 499 secondary metabolites were identified. Thereinto, 77 metabolites were determined as key differential metabolites between C. officinalis pericarps and seeds, and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was identified as the most significantly different pathway. Further, 47 metabolites were determined as potential bioactive constituents. In summary, C. officinalis seeds, which demonstrated higher contents in total phenolics, stronger in vitro antioxidant activities, better α-glucosidase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, and stronger anticancer activities, exhibited considerable potential for food and health fields. This work provided insight into the metabolites and bioactivities of C. officinalis pericarps and seeds, contributing to their precise development and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyi Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China;
| | - Po Niu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China;
| | - Mingjie Li
- Biological Laboratory, HBN Research Institute, Shenzhen Hujia Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China;
| | - Yuan Wang
- Biological Laboratory, HBN Research Institute, Shenzhen Hujia Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China;
| | - Yao Ma
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
- Henan Funiu Mountain Biological and Ecological Environment Observatory, Nanyang 474550, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Machinery Science, Chengdu 610066, China;
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Zhou S, Liu J, Tan L, Wang Y, Li J, Wang Y, Ding C, Long H. Changes in metabolites in raw and wine processed Corni Fructus combination metabolomics with network analysis focusing on potential hypoglycemic effects. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1173747. [PMID: 37608891 PMCID: PMC10440738 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1173747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Corni Fructus (CF) is a Chinese herbal medicine used for medicinal and dietary purposes. It is available commercially in two main forms: raw CF (unprocessed CF) and wine-processed CF. Clinical observations have indicated that wine-processed CF exhibits superior hypoglycemic activity compared to its raw counterpart. However, the mechanisms responsible for this improvement are not well understood. Methods: To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted metabolomics analysis using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to compare the chemical composition of raw CF and wine-processed CF. Subsequently, network analysis, along with immunofluorescence assays, was employed to elucidate the potential targets and mechanisms underlying the hypoglycemic effects of metabolites in CF. Results: Our results revealed significant compositional differences between raw CF and wine-processed CF, identifying 34 potential markers for distinguishing between the two forms of CF. Notably, wine processing led to a marked decrease in iridoid glycosides and flavonoid glycosides, which are abundant in raw CF. Network analysis predictions provided clues that eight compounds might serve as hypoglycemic metabolites of CF, and glucokinase (GCK) and adenylate cyclase (ADCYs) were speculated as possible key targets responsible for the hypoglycemic effects of CF. Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, two bioactive compounds present in CF, significantly upregulated the expression of GCK and ADCYs in the HepG2 cell model. Discussion: These findings support the notion that CF exerted hypoglycemic activity via multiple components and targets, shedding light on the impact of processing methods on the chemical composition and hypoglycemic activity of Chinese herbal medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqian Zhou
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Leihong Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Yikun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yajing Wang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | | | - Hongping Long
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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Peng J, Yang K, Tian H, Lin Y, Hou M, Gao Y, Zhou X, Gao Z, Ren J. The mechanisms of Qizhu Tangshen formula in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease: Network pharmacology, machine learning, molecular docking and experimental assessment. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 108:154525. [PMID: 36413925 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Qizhu Tangshen Formula (QZTS) has been shown therapeutic effects on diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, to date, the pharmacological mechanisms remain vague. METHODS To explore the underlying mechanisms of QZTS in treating DKD using network pharmacology, machine learning, molecular docking and experimental assessment. RESULTS First, we found that QZTS improved glycolipid metabolism disorder, decreased proteinuria and alleviated kidney tissue injury in DKD model KKAy mice. Then, by integrating multiple databases, a total of 96 targets of 74 active compounds in QZTS and 759 DKD-related genes were acquired. Next, we identified 13 hub targets of QZTS in DKD by three rank algorithms, including functional similarity, topological similarity and shortest path. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses demonstrated that the pathways mainly centered on the processes of glycolipid metabolism disorder, inflammation and angiogenesis. Among them, VEGF signaling pathway was significantly enriched. Molecular docking showed that key active compounds of QZTS all had relatively good binding affinity with predicted hub targets. Finally, animal experiments found that QZTS significantly inhibited the secretion of plasma VEGF and downregulated the protein and mRNA expression levels of AKT, p38MAPK and VEGFR2. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that QZTS treated DKD via multiple targets and pathways and the VEGF signaling pathway may be highly involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juqin Peng
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Kuo Yang
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Haoyu Tian
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yadong Lin
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Min Hou
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yunxiao Gao
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Xuezhong Zhou
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
| | - Zhuye Gao
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Junguo Ren
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing 100091, China.
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Lin L, Tian E, Ren J, Wu Z, Deng J, Yang J. Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Primary Podocytosis: From Fundamental Science to Clinical Research. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:932739. [PMID: 36003509 PMCID: PMC9393213 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.932739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocytes form a key component of the glomerular filtration barrier. Damage to podocytes is referred to as “podocyte disease.” There are many causes of podocyte injury, including primary injury, secondary injury, and gene mutations. Primary podocytosis mostly manifests as nephrotic syndrome. At present, first-line treatment is based on glucocorticoid administration combined with immunosuppressive therapy, but some patients still progress to end-stage renal disease. In Asia, especially in China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) still plays an important role in the treatment of kidney diseases. This study summarizes the potential mechanism of TCM and its active components in protecting podocytes, such as repairing podocyte injury, inhibiting podocyte proliferation, reducing podocyte apoptosis and excretion, maintaining podocyte skeleton structure, and upregulating podocyte-related protein expression. At the same time, the clinical efficacy of TCM in the treatment of primary podocytosis (including idiopathic membranous nephropathy, minimal change disease, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) is summarized to support the development of new treatment strategies for primary podocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirong Lin
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (General Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - En Tian
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (General Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Jiangwen Ren
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatism and Immunology, Jiulongpo District People’s Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhifeng Wu
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (General Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | | | - Jurong Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (General Hospital), Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Jurong Yang,
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Wang YN, Feng HY, Nie X, Zhang YM, Zou L, Li X, Yu XY, Zhao YY. Recent Advances in Clinical Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy Options of Membranous Nephropathy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:907108. [PMID: 35694252 PMCID: PMC9178124 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.907108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome among adults, which is the leading glomerular disease that recurs after kidney transplantation. Treatment for MN remained controversial and challenging, partly owing to absence of sensitive and specific biomarkers and effective therapy for prediction and diagnosis of disease activity. MN starts with the formation and deposition of circulating immune complexes on the outer area in the glomerular basement membrane, leading to complement activation. The identification of autoantibodies against the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A (THSD7A) antigens illuminated a distinct pathophysiological rationale for MN treatments. Nowadays, detection of serum anti-PLA2R antibodies and deposited glomerular PLA2R antigen can be routinely applied to MN. Anti-PLA2R antibodies exhibited much high specificity and sensitivity. Measurement of PLA2R in immune complex deposition allows for the diagnosis of PLA2R-associated MN in patients with renal biopsies. In the review, we critically summarized newer diagnosis biomarkers including PLA2R and THSD7A tests and novel promising therapies by using traditional Chinese medicines such as Astragalus membranaceus, Tripterygium wilfordii, and Astragaloside IV for the treatment of MN patients. We also described unresolved questions and future challenges to reveal the diagnosis and treatments of MN. These unprecedented breakthroughs were quickly translated to clinical diagnosis and management. Considerable advances of detection methods played a critical role in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ni Wang
- Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hao-Yu Feng
- Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xin Nie
- Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ya-Mei Zhang
- Key Disciplines of Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Genetics Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Li
- Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
- Department of General Practice, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Xia Li, ; Xiao-Yong Yu, ; Ying-Yong Zhao,
| | - Xiao-Yong Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Xia Li, ; Xiao-Yong Yu, ; Ying-Yong Zhao,
| | - Ying-Yong Zhao
- Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Xia Li, ; Xiao-Yong Yu, ; Ying-Yong Zhao,
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Ying C, Zhou Z, Dai J, Wang M, Xiang J, Sun D, Zhou X. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by RAC1 mediates a new mechanism in diabetic nephropathy. Inflamm Res 2022; 71:191-204. [PMID: 35028708 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-021-01532-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inflammation is central to the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Although the exact mechanisms of inflammation in the kidney have not been well elucidated, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is involved in the onset and progression of DN. Here, we investigated the underlying regulatory mechanisms of hyperglycaemia-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the kidney. METHODS HEK293T cells received high glucose, and the cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected. Biochemical indicators in db/db mice were tested by kits, and the morphological changes in the kidney were observed using staining methods and transmission electron microscopy. The interaction of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) and NLRP3 inflammasome in cells and in mice was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and immunofluorescence. Expression of all proteins was examined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. In additional, the directly combination of RAC1 and NLRP3 was evaluated by GST Pulldown. RESULTS High-glucose and hyperglycaemia conditions resulted in Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) and NLRP3 inflammasome interactions in cells and in mice. Additionally, RAC1 promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation and then induced cell damage, and morphological and functional abnormalities in the kidney. We also observed that RAC1 activates the NLRP3 inflammasome by directly binding to NLRP3. CONCLUSION In the present study, we confirmed that RAC1 binding to NLRP3 is sufficient to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in the kidney and accelerate DN pathological processes. These results elucidate the upstream cellular and molecular mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and provide new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Ying
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyuan Zhou
- The Graduate School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Dai
- The Graduate School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wang
- The Graduate School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Xiang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoyan Zhou
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Baker MJ, Kazanietz MG. The anti-Rac1-GTP antibody and the detection of active Rac1: a tool with a fundamental flaw. Small GTPases 2022; 13:136-140. [PMID: 33910489 PMCID: PMC9707529 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2021.1920824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rac1 is a member of the Rho GTPase family and is involved in many cellular processes, particularly the formation of actin-rich membrane protrusions, such as lamellipodia and ruffles. With such a widely studied protein, it is essential that the research community has reliable tools for detecting Rac1 activation both in cellular models and tissues. Using a series of cancer cellular models, we recently demonstrated that a widely used antibody for visualizing active Rac1 (Rac1-GTP) does not recognize Rac1 but instead recognizes vimentin filaments (Baker MJ, J. Biol. Chem. 295:13698-13710, 2020). We believe that this tool has misled the field and impose on the GTPase research community the need to validate published results using this antibody as well as to continue the development of new resources to visualize endogenous active Rac1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J. Baker
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marcelo G. Kazanietz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,CONTACT Marcelo G. Kazanietz Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 1256 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA19104-6160, USA
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Xuan C, Xi YM, Zhang YD, Tao CH, Zhang LY, Cao WF. Yiqi Jiedu Huayu Decoction Alleviates Renal Injury in Rats With Diabetic Nephropathy by Promoting Autophagy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:624404. [PMID: 33912044 PMCID: PMC8072057 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.624404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a common microvascular complication of diabetes, is one of the main causes of end-stage renal failure (ESRD) and imposes a heavy medical burden on the world. Yiqi Jiedu Huayu decoction (YJHD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula, which has been widely used in the treatment of DN and has achieved stable and reliable therapeutic effects. However, the mechanism of YJHD in the treatment of DN remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of YJHD in the treatment of DN. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a diabetic group, an irbesartan group, and three groups receiving different doses of YJHD. Animal models were constructed using streptozotocin and then treated with YJHD for 12 consecutive weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected during this period, and metabolic and renal function was assessed. Pathological kidney injury was evaluated according to the kidney appearance, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, periodic-acid Schiff staining, periodic-acid Schiff methenamine staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of proteins and genes were detected by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and real-time qPCR. Our results indicate that YJHD can effectively improve renal function and alleviate renal pathological injury, including mesangial matrix hyperplasia, basement membrane thickening, and fibrosis. In addition, YJHD exhibited podocyte protection by alleviating podocyte depletion and morphological damage, which may be key in improving renal function and reducing renal fibrosis. Further study revealed that YJHD upregulated the expression of the autophagy-related proteins LC3II and Beclin-1 while downregulating p62 expression, suggesting that YJHD can promote autophagy. In addition, we evaluated the activity of the mTOR pathway, the major signaling pathway regulating the level of autophagy, and the upstream PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways. YJHD activated the AMPK pathway while inhibiting the PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathways, which may be crucial to its promotion of autophagy. In conclusion, our study shows that YJHD further inhibits the mTOR pathway and promotes autophagy by regulating the activity of the PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways, thereby improving podocyte injury, protecting renal function, and reducing renal fibrosis. This study provides support for the application of and further research into YJHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xuan
- Department of Combination of Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Meng Xi
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu-Di Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chun-He Tao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lan-Yue Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Fu Cao
- Department of Combination of Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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