Astragalus membranaceus and its monomers treat peritoneal fibrosis and related muscle atrophy through the AR/TGF-β1 pathway

Jiawei Danxuan Koukang and its key component Quercetin intervened in OSF carcinogenesis by inhibiting the AR/eIF5A2 signaling pathway-mediated EMT

OBJECTIVE

This work aims to investigate the mechanism of Jiawei Danxuan Koukang (JDK) and Quercetin in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) carcinogenesis.

DESIGN

We established an OSF model for rats by injecting Arecoline into the oral mucosa of rats to study the impact of JDK and Quercetin on the progression of OSF and OSCC. Then, the viability, proliferation, and migration ability of Arecoline-induced hOMF, CAL27 and SCC-25 cells in JDK and quercetin intervention were detected.

RESULTS

The oral mucosal epithelial cells of OSF model and OSF rats were atrophy and thinning, α-SMA, CollageI, Vimentin, Snail, AR and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 (eIF5A2) expression increased apparently, and E-cadherin expression decreased. The intervention of JDK and Quercetin reversed the changes in oral mucosal epithelial cells and OSF rats. The levels of AR in CAL27 and SCC-25 cells were higher than those in hOMF cells, and Arecoline intervention increased the levels of AR in hOMF, CAL27 and SCC-25 cells. Overexpression of AR up-regulated eIF5A2 to enhance the viability, proliferation and migration of hOMF, CAL27 and SCC-25 cells, and promoted EMT. Quercetin reversed changes in cell feature, and EMT levels in oe-AR intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

JDK and Quercetin inhibited OSF carcinogenesis by inhibiting the AR/eIF5A2 signal-mediated EMT.

Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide in Alleviating Bovine Mammary Fibrosis Through ROS/NLRP3 Inhibition and EMT Regulation

Mastitis in dairy cows, typically caused by bacterial infection, is a common inflammatory condition of the mammary tissue that leads to fibrosis, adversely affecting cow health, milk production, and dairy product quality. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has shown effectiveness in alleviating inflammation and fibrosis in various organs. The study employed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce fibrotic conditions in two experimental systems: MAC-T bovine mammary epithelial cells and Kunming mouse models. Key parameters, including relative gene mRNA expression, protein levels, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, were assessed using RT-qPCR, Western blotting (WB), and 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) techniques, while histological analysis of mammary tissue was performed using H&E and Masson trichrome staining. Measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, assessing the enzyme activities of catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were two methods of assessing oxidative stress. These methods were also tested in mouse mammary glands. APS significantly decreased ROS concentrations (p < 0.01), restored oxidative stress balance in mice (p < 0.05), and reduced fibrosis and inflammation, as demonstrated by histological observations and analysis. It also exerted regulatory effects on fibrosis markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-SMA) and inflammation markers (NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β), as demonstrated by changes in their mRNA and protein expression. These findings endorse APS's viability as an alternative therapeutic agent for mammary fibrosis therapy by demonstrating its ability to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and mammary fibrosis in vivo, while also mitigating ROS production and reducing inflammation.

Integrated serum metabolomics and network pharmacology reveal molecular mechanism of Qixue Huazheng formula on peritoneal fibrosis

Background

Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) causes peritoneal dialysis (PD) withdrawal due to ultrafiltration failure. Qixue Huazheng formula (QXHZF), comprising Astragalus membranaceus, Centella asiatica, and Ligusticum sinense, is applied to treat PD-related peritoneum injury related; however, the active components, core genes, and underlying mechanism involved remain unclear.

Methods

The anti-PF effects of QXHZF were verified in vivo and in vitro. Targets underlying QXHZF-mediated improvement of PD-induced PF were predicted using network pharmacology analysis. Metabolites associated with QXHZF treatment of PD-related PF were analyzed by serum metabolomics. Integration of network pharmacology and serum metabolomics findings identified potentially important pathways, metabolites, and targets, and molecular docking studies confirmed the interactions of key components and targets. Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) staining, and flow cytometry were conducted.

Results

QXHZF had potent therapeutic efficacy against PF according to WB, qRT-PCR, and pathological section examination. Network pharmacological analysis indicated that multiple QXHZF compounds contributed to improving PF by modulating various targets and pathways. Differential metabolites were identified by serum metabolomics analysis. Integrated data analysis indicated that steroid hormone biosynthesis, the Ras signaling pathway, apoptosis, and estrogen signaling contributed to the effects of QXHZF. Metabolite-target network and molecular docking analyses revealed that QXHZF can bind to estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma 1 (RAF1) through its components. WB demonstrated that QXHZF treatment reversed activation of the above-mentioned signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting PD fluid-induced PF.

Conclusion

QXHZF can significantly ameliorate PD-induced PF and may regulate estrogen signaling, the Ras pathway, and apoptosis in this context.