Effect of Yiguanjian decoction on cell differentiation and proliferation in CCl4-treated mice

Peach Kernel Extracts Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Activation of HSC-T6 Hepatic Stellate Cells

There is an important role for hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. As it stands, many traditional Chinese medicine formulations can effectively improve liver fibrosis, whether it is clinically used or in animal studies; however, the efficacy and mechanism of the main formulations remain unclear, including the peach kernel, which contains numerous phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate peach kernel's anti-liver fibrosis effects. In this study, peach kernel extracts inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation in HSC-T6 cells and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and connective tissue growth factor induced by LPS in HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, peach kernel extracts inhibited signal transducers involving protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinase, which regulate downstream genes associated with inflammation. As a result, peach kernel extracts inhibited inflammatory responses and subsequently inhibited LPS-induced transformation of activated HSC-T6 cells.

Yiguanjian decoction inhibits macrophage M1 polarization and attenuates hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4/2-AAF

CONTEXT

Our previous studies indicated that Yiguanjian decoction (YGJ) has an anti-hepatic-fibrosis effect and could regulate macrophage status.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the mechanism of YGJ in regulating macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Liver cirrhosis was induced by CCl₄ for 12 weeks combined with 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) for the last 4 weeks in male Wistar rats. YGJ (3.56 mg/kg) orally administered in the last 4 weeks, and SORA (1 mg/kg) as control. In vitro, RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) to induce macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype, and they were co-cultured with WB-F344 cells and allocated to M group, YGJ group (2 μg/mL) and WIF-1 group (1 μg/mL) with untreated cells as control. The differentiation direction of WB-F344 cell line was observed in the presence or absence of YGJ. Pathology, fibrosis-related cytokines, macrophage polarization-related components, and Wnt signalling pathway components were detected.

RESULTS

In vivo, the expression levels of α-SMA, Col (1), OV6, SOX9, EpCAM and M1 macrophage-related components (STAT1, IRF3, IRF5, IRF8, SOCS3) significantly decreased in the YGJ group compared with those in the 2-AAF/CCl₄ group (p < 0.01 or 0.05). In vitro, the expression levels of M1 macrophage-related components, including STAT1, NF-κB, IRF3, IRF5, and SOCS3, in RAW264.7 cells decreased significantly in the YGJ group compared with those in the M group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The expression levels of Wnt3A, FZD5, LRP-5/-6, and β-catenin significantly increased in the YGJ group compared with those in the M group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). In addition, the expression levels of Wnt-4/-5A/-5B, and FZD2 significantly decreased in the YGJ group compared with those in the M group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the anti-cirrhosis effect of YGJ is associated with its ability to inhibit macrophage M1-polarization, which provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of YGJ.

Yiguanjian decoction enhances fetal liver stem/progenitor cell-mediated repair of liver cirrhosis through regulation of macrophage activation state

AIM

To investigate whether Yiguanjian decoction (YGJ) has an anti-liver cirrhotic effect and whether it regulates hepatic stem cell differentiation.

METHODS

A rat model of liver cirrhosis was established via subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 8 wk. From the beginning of the ninth week, the rats received 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) by oral gavage and a DLK-1⁺ fetal liver stem/progenitor cell (FLSPC) transplant or an FLSPC transplant in combination with YGJ treatment for 4 wk. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages were co-cultured with WB-F344 cells, and the differentiation of WB-F344 cells was observed in the presence and absence of YGJ treatment.

RESULTS

FLSPC transplantation improved liver function and histopathology, and inhibited the activation of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, while activating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. YGJ enhanced the therapeutic effects of FLSPCs and also promoted the liver regeneration differentiation of FLSPCs into hepatocytes. In vitro, LPS-activated macrophages promoted the differentiation of WB-F344 cells into myofibroblasts, and the canonical Wnt signaling was inhibited while the non-canonical Wnt signaling was activated in WB-F344 cells. YGJ suppressed the activation of macrophages and then inhibited non-canonical Wnt signaling and promoted canonical Wnt signaling.

CONCLUSION

YGJ enhances FLSPC-mediated repair of liver cirrhosis through regulation of macrophage activation state, and YGJ in combination with stem cell transplantation may be a suitable treatment for end-stage liver cirrhosis.

Ex Vivo Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1-Mediated Differentiation of Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Hepatocytes Is Enhanced by Chinese Medicine Yiguanjian Drug-Containing Serum

Yiguanjian is administered in traditional Chinese medicine for liver diseases and has been demonstrated to reduce liver fibrosis. This study investigated the effect of Yiguanjian drug-containing serum (YGJ) with Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 (SDF-1) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) on the differentiation of murine bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (BM-MSCs) into hepatocytes in vitro. Adherent MSCs were isolated from murine bone marrow. Differentiation was induced by 20 ng/mL HGF, 50 ng/mL SDF-1, and 20% Yiguanjian drug-containing serum for 7 to 28 days, and mature hepatocytes' marker albumin (ALB) and cholangiocytes' marker cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) were assessed by immunocytochemistry and western blot. BM-MSCs exhibited homogeneous spindle shape growth after subculture and stained positive for CD90 and negative for CD34. After induction with HGF + normal serum or YGJ for 14 days, HGF + SDF-1 + normal serum for 7 days, or HGF + SDF-1 + YGJ for 5 days, MSCs' morphology changed gradually and begun to resemble hepatocyte-like cells. Cultures supplemented with HGF + SDF-1 + YGJ contained significantly higher proportions of ALB and CK-18 positive cells than cultures supplemented with HGF + SDF-1 + normal serum at day 7. These observations corroborated the results of western blot. In conclusion, Yiguanjian drug-containing serum could facilitate the differentiation of murine BM-MSCs into hepatocytes in vitro and has a synergistic effect with SDF-1 and HGF.

Preclinical Models for Investigation of Herbal Medicines in Liver Diseases: Update and Perspective

Liver disease results from a dynamic pathological process associated with cellular and genetic alterations, which may progress stepwise to liver dysfunction. Commonly, liver disease begins with hepatocyte injury, followed by persistent episodes of cellular regeneration, inflammation, and hepatocyte death that may ultimately lead to nonreversible liver failure. For centuries, herbal remedies have been used for a variety of liver diseases and recent studies have identified the active compounds that may interact with liver disease-associated targets. Further study on the herbal remedies may lead to the formulation of next generation medicines with hepatoprotective, antifibrotic, and anticancer properties. Still, the pharmacological actions of vast majority of herbal remedies remain unknown; thus, extensive preclinical studies are important. In this review, we summarize progress made over the last five years of the most commonly used preclinical models of liver diseases that are used to screen for curative herbal medicines for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and liver. We also summarize the proposed mechanisms associated with the observed liver-protective, antifibrotic, and anticancer actions of several promising herbal medicines and discuss the challenges faced in this research field.

Yiguanjian decoction and its ingredients inhibit angiogenesis in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis mice

Background

Cirrhosis is associated with angiogenesis and disruption of hepatic vascular architecture. Yiguanjian (YGJ) decoction, a prescription from traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for treating liver diseases. We studied whether YGJ or its ingredients (iYGJ) had an anti-angiogenic effect and explored possible mechanisms underlying this process.

Methods

Cirrhosis was induced with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (ip) in C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. From week 4 to week 6, cirrhotic mice were randomly divided into four groups: sorafenib-treated, YGJ-treated and iYGJ-treated mice and placebo. Serum biochemistries, hydroxyproline (Hyp) content and histopathological changes of hepatic tissues were measured as were α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 2 and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α.

Results

Both YGJ and iYGJ improved serum biochemistries. Changes of histopathology showed that YGJ and iYGJ reduced hepatic tissue necroinflammatory and collagen fiber deposition in cirrhosis mice. Compared to the CCl₄ treated animals, Hyp, α-SMA, collagen I, CD31, VEGF, VEGFR, and HIF-1α expression decreased in YGJ and iYGJ groups.

Conclusions

YGJ and iYGJ inhibited liver angiogenesis in cirrhotic mice treated with CCl₄ by inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway, suggesting that anti-angiogenic effects of YGJ and iYGJ are associated with improving the hepatic hypoxic microenvironment.