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Kuwabara N, Sato S, Nakagawa S. Effects of Long-Term High-Ergosterol Intake on the Cholesterol and Vitamin D Biosynthetic Pathways of Rats Fed a High-Fat and High-Sucrose Diet. Biol Pharm Bull 2023; 46:1683-1691. [PMID: 37779053 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b23-00348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Dyslipidemia is a lifestyle-related (physical inactivity or obesity) disease; therefore, dietary foods that can easily be consumed in daily life is important to prevent dyslipidemia. Ergosterol, a precursor of vitamin D2, is a fungal sterol present in the membranes of edible mushrooms and other fungi. Ergosterol is converted to brassicasterol by 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), a cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (a precursor of vitamin D3) into cholesterol. Previously, we reported that ergosterol increases 7-dehydrocholesterol, decreases cholesterol levels by competitive effect of DHCR7, and reduces DHCR7 mRNA and protein levels in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. Here, we investigated the effects of long-term high ergosterol intake on the cholesterol, vitamin D2, and D3 biosynthetic pathways of rats fed a high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diet using GC-MS and LC with tandem mass spectrometry. In HFHS rats, oral ergosterol administration for 14 weeks significantly decreased plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total bile acid, and cholesterol precursor (squalene and desmosterol) levels and increased 7-dehydrocholesterol levels compared to HFHS rats without ergosterol. Ergosterol, brassicasterol, and vitamin D2 were detected, cholesterol levels were slightly decreased, and levels of vitamin D3 and its metabolites were slightly increased in rats fed HFHS with ergosterol. These results showed that ergosterol increased vitamin D2 levels, inhibited the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, and possibly promoted vitamin D3 biosynthesis in vivo. Therefore, daily ergosterol intake may aid in the prevention of dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Kuwabara
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences
| | - Shinji Sato
- Laboratory of Functional and Analytical Food Sciences, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences
| | - Saori Nakagawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences
- Division of Bio-Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences
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Shan D, Dai S, Chen Q, Xie Y, Hu Y. Hepatoprotective agents in the management of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: current knowledge and prospects. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1218432. [PMID: 37719856 PMCID: PMC10500604 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1218432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is characterized by unexplained distressing pruritus in the mother and poses significant risk to the fetus of perinatal mortality. Occurring in the second and third trimester, the serum bile acid and aminotransferase are usually elevated in ICP patients. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first line drug for ICP but the effectiveness for hepatoprotection is to a certain extent. In ICP patients with severe liver damage, combination use of hepatoprotective agents with UDCA is not uncommon. Herein, we reviewed the current clinical evidence on application of hepatoprotective agents in ICP patients. The underlying physiological mechanisms and their therapeutic effect in clinical practice are summarized. The basic pharmacologic functions of these hepatoprotective medications include detoxification, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and hepatocyte membrane protection. These hepatoprotective agents have versatile therapeutic effects including anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, elimination of free radicals, anti-steatohepatitis, anti-fibrosis and anti-cirrhosis. They are widely used in hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug induced liver injury and cholestasis. Evidence from limited clinical data in ICP patients demonstrate reliable effectiveness and safety of these medications. Currently there is still no consensus on the application of hepatoprotective agents in ICP pregnancies. Dynamic monitoring of liver biochemical parameters and fetal condition is still the key recommendation in the management of ICP pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Shan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yupei Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yayi Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Hao DC, Wang F, Xiao PG. Impact of Drug Metabolism/Pharmacokinetics and their Relevance Upon Traditional Medicine-based anti-COVID-19 Drug Research. Curr Drug Metab 2022; 23:374-393. [PMID: 35440304 DOI: 10.2174/1389200223666220418110133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The representative anti-COVID-19 herbs, i.e. Poria cocos, Pogostemon, Prunus, and Glycyrrhiza plants, are commonly used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Diverse medicinal compounds with favorable anti-COVID-19 activities are abundant in these plants, and their unique pharmacological/pharmacokinetic properties are being revealed. However, the current trends of drug metabolism/pharmacokinetic (DMPK) investigations of anti-COVID-19 herbs have not been systematically summarized. METHODS Here, the latest awareness, as well as the perception gaps of DMPK attributes, in the anti-COVID-19 drug development and clinical usage was elaborated and critically commented. RESULTS The extracts and compounds of P. cocos, Pogostemon, Prunus, and Glycyrrhiza plants show distinct and diverse absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADME/T) properties. The complicated herb-herb interactions (HHIs) and herb-drug interactions (HDIs) of anti-COVID-19 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb pair/formula dramatically influence the PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) performance of compounds thereof, which may inspire researchers to design innovative herbal/compound formulas for optimizing the therapeutic outcome of COVID-19 and related epidemic diseases. The ADME/T of some abundant compounds in anti-COVID-19 plants have been elucidated, but DMPK studies should be extended to more compounds of different medicinal parts, species and formulations, and would be facilitated by various omics platforms and computational analyses. CONCLUSION In the framework of systems pharmacology and pharmacophylogeny, the DMPK knowledge base would promote the translation of bench findings into the clinical practice of anti-COVID-19, and speed up the anti-COVID-19 drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Cheng Hao
- Biotechnology Institute, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China.,Institute of Molecular Plant Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Fan Wang
- Biotechnology Institute, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Pei-Gen Xiao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Alaei Faradonbeh F, Lastuvkova H, Cermanova J, Hroch M, Nova Z, Uher M, Hirsova P, Pavek P, Micuda S. Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 Deficiency Aggravates Estrogen-Induced Impairment of Bile Acid Metabolomics in Rats. Front Physiol 2022; 13:859294. [PMID: 35388287 PMCID: PMC8979289 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.859294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) mediates biliary secretion of anionic endobiotics and xenobiotics. Genetic alteration of Mrp2 leads to conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and predisposes to the development of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), characterized by increased plasma bile acids (BAs) due to mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize BA metabolomics during experimental Mrp2 deficiency and ICP. ICP was modeled by ethinylestradiol (EE) administration to Mrp2-deficient (TR) rats and their wild-type (WT) controls. Spectra of BAs were analyzed in plasma, bile, and stool using an advanced liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method. Changes in BA-related genes and proteins were analyzed in the liver and intestine. Vehicle-administered TR rats demonstrated higher plasma BA concentrations consistent with reduced BA biliary secretion and increased BA efflux from hepatocytes to blood via upregulated multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (Mrp3) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (Mrp4) transporters. TR rats also showed a decrease in intestinal BA reabsorption due to reduced ileal sodium/bile acid cotransporter (Asbt) expression. Analysis of regulatory mechanisms indicated that activation of the hepatic constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)-Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway by accumulating bilirubin may be responsible for changes in BA metabolomics in TR rats. Ethinylestradiol administration to TR rats further increased plasma BA concentrations as a result of reduced BA uptake and increased efflux via reduced Slco1a1 and upregulated Mrp4 transporters. These results demonstrate that Mrp2-deficient organism is more sensitive to estrogen-induced cholestasis. Inherited deficiency in Mrp2 is associated with activation of Mrp3 and Mrp4 proteins, which is further accentuated by increased estrogen. Bile acid monitoring is therefore highly desirable in pregnant women with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia for early detection of intrahepatic cholestasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Alaei Faradonbeh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Hana Lastuvkova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Jolana Cermanova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Milos Hroch
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Nova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Martin Uher
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Petra Hirsova
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Petr Pavek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Stanislav Micuda
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Stanislav Micuda,
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Younus I, Kochkina S, Choi CC, Sun W, Ford RC. ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters: Snap-on Complexes? Subcell Biochem 2022; 99:35-82. [PMID: 36151373 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-00793-4_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are one of the largest families of membrane proteins in prokaryotic organisms. Much is now understood about the structure of these transporters and many reviews have been written on that subject. In contrast, less has been written on the assembly of ABC transporter complexes and this will be a major focus of this book chapter. The complexes are formed from two cytoplasmic subunits that are highly conserved (in terms of their primary and three-dimensional structures) across the whole family. These ATP-binding subunits give rise to the name of the family. They must assemble with two transmembrane subunits that will typically form the permease component of the transporter. The transmembrane subunits have been found to be surprisingly diverse in structure when the whole family is examined, with seven distinct folds identified so far. Hence nucleotide-binding subunits appear to have been bolted on to a variety of transmembrane platforms during evolution, leading to a greater variety in function. Furthermore, many importers within the family utilise a further external substrate-binding component to trap scarce substrates and deliver them to the correct permease components. In this chapter, we will discuss whether assembly of the various ABC transporter subunits occurs with high fidelity within the crowded cellular environment and whether promiscuity in assembly of transmembrane and cytoplasmic components can occur. We also discuss the new AlphaFold protein structure prediction tool which predicts a new type of transmembrane domain fold within the ABC transporters that is associated with cation exporters of bacteria and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Younus
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sofia Kochkina
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Cheri C Choi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Wenjuan Sun
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Robert C Ford
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Zu Y, Yang J, Zhang C, Liu D. The Pathological Mechanisms of Estrogen-Induced Cholestasis: Current Perspectives. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:761255. [PMID: 34819862 PMCID: PMC8606790 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.761255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogens are steroid hormones with a wide range of biological activities. The excess of estrogens can lead to decreased bile flow, toxic bile acid (BA) accumulation, subsequently causing intrahepatic cholestasis. Estrogen-induced cholestasis (EIC) may have increased incidence during pregnancy, and within women taking oral contraception and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, and result in liver injury, preterm birth, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and intrauterine fetal death in pregnant women. The main pathogenic mechanisms of EIC may include deregulation of BA synthetic or metabolic enzymes, and BA transporters. In addition, impaired cell membrane fluidity, inflammatory responses and change of hepatocyte tight junctions are also involved in the pathogenesis of EIC. In this article, we review the role of estrogens in intrahepatic cholestasis, and outlined the mechanisms of EIC, providing a greater understanding of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zu
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinyu Yang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengliang Zhang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Molecular Pathogenesis of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 2021:6679322. [PMID: 34195157 PMCID: PMC8181114 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6679322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific liver disease. The maternal symptoms are characterized by skin pruritus and elevated bile acids, causing several adverse outcomes for fetuses, including an increased risk of preterm birth, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, neonatal depression, respiratory distress syndrome, and stillbirth. Genetic, hormonal, immunological, and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of ICP, and the estrogen-bile acid axis is thought to play a dominant role. The advances in the past 10 years uncover more details of this axis. Moreover, dysregulation of extracellular matrix and oxygen supply, organelle dysfunction, and epigenetic changes are also found to cause ICP, illuminating more potential drug targets for interfering with. Here, we summarize the molecular pathogenesis of ICP with an emphasis on the advancement in the past 10 years, aiming to give an updated full view of this field.
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Oh J, Yoon DH, Han JG, Choi HK, Sung GH. 1H NMR based metabolite profiling for optimizing the ethanol extraction of Wolfiporia cocos. Saudi J Biol Sci 2018; 25:1128-1134. [PMID: 30174512 PMCID: PMC6117373 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolite profiling of Wolfiporia cocos (family: Polyporaceae) had been much advancement in recent days, and its analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has become well established. However, the highly important trait of W. cocos still needs advanced protocols despite some standardization. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used as the multivariate statistical analysis of the 1H NMR data set. The PLS-DA model was validated, and the key metabolites contributing to the separation in the score plots of different ethanol W. cocos extract. 1H NMR spectroscopy of W. cocos identified 33 chemically diverse metabolites in D2O, consisting of 13 amino acids, 11 organic acids 2 sugars, 3 sugar alcohols, 1 nucleoside, and 3 others. Among these metabolites, the levels of tyrosine, proline, methionine, sarcosine, choline, acetoacetate, citrate, 4-aminobutyrate, aspartate, maltose, malate, lysine, xylitol, lactate threonine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, uridine, guanidoacetate, arabitol, mannitol, glucose, and betaine were increased in the 95% ethanol extraction sample compared with the levels in other samples, whereas level of acetate, phenylalanine, alanine, succinate, and fumarate were significantly increased in the 0% ethanol extraction sample. A biological triterpenoid, namely pachymic acid, was detected from different ethanol P. cocos extract using 1H-NMR spectra were found in CDCl3. This is the first report to perform the metabolomics profiling of different ethanol W. cocos extract. These researches suggest that W. cocos can be used to obtain substantial amounts of bioactive ingredients for use as potential pharmacological and nutraceuticals agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsang Oh
- Institute for Healthcare and Life Science, International St. Mary’s Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea
| | - Deok-Hyo Yoon
- Institute for Healthcare and Life Science, International St. Mary’s Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Gu Han
- Mushroom Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Kyoon Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding authors at: Institute for Healthcare and Life Science, International St. Mary’s Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea (G.-H. Sung); College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea (H.-K. Choi)
| | - Gi-Ho Sung
- Institute for Healthcare and Life Science, International St. Mary’s Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding authors at: Institute for Healthcare and Life Science, International St. Mary’s Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea (G.-H. Sung); College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea (H.-K. Choi)
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