Corrigendum to "Dioscin attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting theTLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway via up-regulation of HSP70" [Pharmacol. Res. 100 (2015) 341-352]

Dioscorea nipponica Makino: A comprehensive review of its chemical composition and pharmacology on chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread ailment that significantly impacts global health. It is characterized by high prevalence, poor prognosis, and substantial healthcare costs, making it a major public health concern. The current clinical treatments for CKD are not entirely satisfactory, leading to a high demand for alternative therapeutic options. Chinese herbal medicine, with its long history, diverse varieties, and proven efficacy, offers a promising avenue for exploration. One such Chinese herbal medicine, Dioscorea nipponica Makino (DNM), is frequently used to treat kidney diseases. In this review, we have compiled studies examining the mechanisms of action of DNM in the context of CKD, focusing on five primary areas: improvement of oxidative stress, inhibition of renal fibrosis, regulation of metabolism, reduction of inflammatory response, and regulation of autophagy.

Hepatocyte-Conditional Knockout of Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein 4 Aggravated LPS/D-GalN-Induced Acute Liver Injury via the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway

Acute liver injury (ALI) is a disease that seriously threatens human health and life, and a dysregulated inflammation response is one of the main mechanisms of ALI induced by various factors. Phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 4 (PEBP4) is a secreted protein with multiple biological functions. At present, studies on PEBP4 exist mainly in the field of tumors and rarely in inflammation. This study aimed to explore the potential roles and mechanisms of PEBP4 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced ALI. PEBP4 was downregulated after treatment with LPS/D-GalN in wild-type mice. PEBP4 hepatocyte-conditional knockout (CKO) aggravated liver damage and repressed liver functions, including hepatocellular edema, red blood cell infiltration, and increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotrans-ferase (ALT) activities. The inflammatory response was promoted through increased neutrophil infiltration, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, and cytokine secretions (interleukin-1β, IL-1β; tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α; and cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2) in PEBP4 CKO mice. PEBP4 CKO also induced an apoptotic effect, including increasing the degree of apoptotic hepatocytes, the expressions and activities of caspases, and pro-apoptotic factor Bax while decreasing anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. Furthermore, the data demonstrated the levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylation-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB Alpha (p-IκB-α), and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) p65 were upregulated, while the expressions of cytoplasmic IκB-α and NF-κB p65 were downregulated after PEBP4 CKO. More importantly, both the NF-κB inhibitor (Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, PDTC) and a small-molecule inhibitor of TLR4 (TAK-242) could inhibit TLR4/NF-κB signaling activation and reverse the effects of PEBP4 CKO. In summary, the data suggested that hepatocyte-conditional knockout of PEBP4 aggravated LPS/D-GalN-induced ALI, and the effect is partly mediated by activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Dioscin: A review on pharmacological properties and therapeutic values

Dioscin has gained immense popularity as a natural, bioactive steroid saponin, which offers numerous medical benefits. The growing global incidence of disease-associated morbidity and mortality continues to compromise human health, facilitating an increasingly urgent need for nontoxic, noninvasive, and efficient treatment alternatives. Natural compounds can contribute vastly to this field. Over recent years, studies have demonstrated the remarkable protective actions of dioscin against a variety of human malignancies, metabolic disorders, organ injuries, and viral/fungal infections. The successful usage of this phytocompound has been widely seen in medical treatment procedures under traditional Chinese medicine, and it is becoming progressively prevalent worldwide. This review provides an insight into the wide spectrum of pharmacological activities of dioscin, as reported and compiled in recent literature. The various novel approaches and applications of dioscin also verify the advantages exhibited by plant extracts against commercially available drugs, highlighting the potential of phytochemical agents like dioscin to be further incorporated into clinical practice.

TLR4-NLRP3-GSDMD-Mediated Pyroptosis Plays an Important Role in Aggravated Liver Injury of CD38-/- Sepsis Mice

Clinically, severe bacterial infection can cause septicemia and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, especially liver injury. CD38 is closely related to many inflammatory pathways, but its role in liver injury caused by bacterial infection remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to discuss the specific role of CD38 in bacterial liver injury. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (WT, CD38^−/− and CD38^−/−TLR4^mut) were used and stimulated with Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) or PBS, intraperitoneally. After 3 hours of bacterial stimulation, serum was collected to detect ALT and AST concentration, and liver tissue was harvested for hematoxylin and eosin staining and bacterial culture. The mRNA expressions of TLR4, NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, and GSDMD were quantitatively determined by RT-qPCR. The expressions of TLR4, MyD88, TRIF, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, GSDMD, and cytokines were detected by Western blot. The expression and localization of ERK1/2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that bacterial stimulation could upregulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines, leading to hepatic dysfunction. Moreover, bacterial stimulation of CD38-deficient mice can aggravate the inflammatory response, the expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, and ERK1/2 were significantly increased, and the biomarkers related to pyroptosis also manifested more obvious pyroptosis. However, TLR4 mutation significantly alleviated inflammation and pyroptosis in the liver caused by bacteria, on the basis of CD38 deficiency. Overall, CD38 knockout exacerbates bacteria-induced liver damage through TLR4-NLRP3-GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.