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Yang X, Zhang J, Li Y, Hu H, Li X, Ma T, Zhang B. Si-Ni-San promotes liver regeneration by maintaining hepatic oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 326:117918. [PMID: 38382654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The efficacy of clinical treatments for various liver diseases is intricately tied to the liver's regenerative capacity. Insufficient or failed liver regeneration is a direct cause of mortality following fulminant hepatic failure and extensive hepatectomy. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a renowned traditional Chinese medicine prescription for harmonizing liver and spleen functions, has shown clinical efficacy in the alleviation of liver injury for thousands of years. However, the precise molecular pharmacological mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. AIMS OF THE STUDY This study aimed to investigate the effects of SNS on liver regeneration and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mouse model of 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) was used to analyze the effects of SNS on liver regeneration. Aquaporin-9 knockout mice (AQP9-/-) were used to demonstrate that SNS-mediated enhancement of liver regeneration was AQP9-targeted. A tandem dimer-Tomato-tagged AQP9 transgenic mouse line (AQP9-RFP) was utilized to determine the expression pattern of AQP9 protein in hepatocytes. Immunoblotting, quantitative real-time PCR, staining techniques, and biochemical assays were used to further explore the underlying mechanisms of SNS. RESULTS SNS treatment significantly enhanced liver regeneration and increased AQP9 protein expression in hepatocytes of wild-type mice (AQP9+/+) post 70% PHx, but had no significant effects on AQP9-/- mice. Following 70% PHx, SNS helped maintain hepatic oxidative equilibrium by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species scavengers glutathione and superoxide dismutase and reducing the levels of oxidative stress molecules H2O2 and malondialdehyde in liver tissues, thereby preserving this crucial process for hepatocyte proliferation. Simultaneously, SNS augmented glycerol uptake by hepatocytes, stimulated gluconeogenesis, and maintained glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis, ensuring the energy supply required for liver regeneration. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first evidence that SNS maintains liver oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis by upregulating AQP9 expression in hepatocytes, thereby promoting liver regeneration. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular pharmacological mechanisms of SNS in promoting liver regeneration and provide guidance for its clinical application and optimization in liver disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Junqi Zhang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanghao Li
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Huiting Hu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Tonghui Ma
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Li Y, Yang X, Bao T, Sun X, Li X, Zhu H, Zhang B, Ma T. Radix Astragali decoction improves liver regeneration by upregulating hepatic expression of aquaporin-9. Phytomedicine 2024; 122:155166. [PMID: 37918281 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic efficacy of liver injuries heavily relies on the liver's remarkable regenerative capacity, necessitating the maintenance of glycose/lipids homeostasis and oxidative eustasis during the recovery process. Astragali Radix, an herbal tonic widely used in China and many other countries, is believed to have many positive effects, including immune stimulation, nourishing, antioxidant, liver protection, diuresis, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer and expectorant. Astragali Radix is widely integrated into hepatoprotective formulas as it is believed to facilitate liver regeneration. Nevertheless, the precise molecular pharmacological mechanisms underlying this hepatoprotective effect remain elusive. PURPOSE To investigate the improving effects of Astragali Radix on liver regeneration and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS A mouse model of 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) was employed to investigate the impact of Radix Astragali decoction (HQD) on liver regeneration. HQD was orally administered for 7 days before the PHx procedure and throughout the experiment. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used as a positive control for liver regeneration. Liver regeneration was assessed by evaluating the liver-to-body weight ratio (LW/BW) and the expression of representative cell proliferation marker proteins. Oxidative stress and glucose metabolism were analyzed using biochemical assays, Western blotting, dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining methods. To understand the role of AQP9 as a potential molecular target of HQD in promoting liver regeneration, td-Tomato-tagged AQP9 transgenic mice (AQP9-RFP) were employed to determine the expression pattern of AQP9 protein. AQP9 knockout mice (AQP9-/-) were used to assess the specific targeting of AQP9 in the promotion of liver regeneration by HQD. RESULTS HQD significantly upregulated hepatic AQP9 expression, alleviated liver injury and promoted liver regeneration in wild-type (AQP9+/+) mice after 70% PHx. However, the beneficial impact of HQD on liver regeneration was absent in AQP9 gene knockout (AQP9-/-) mice. Moreover, HQD facilitated the uptake of glycerol by hepatocytes, enhanced gluconeogenesis, and concurrently reduced H2O2 content and oxidative stress levels in AQP9+/+ but not AQP9-/- mouse livers. Additionally, main active substance of Radix Astragali, astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and cycloastragenol (CAG), demonstrated substantial upregulation of AQP9 expression and promoted liver regeneration in AQP9+/+ but not AQP9-/- mice. CONCLUSION This study is the first to demonstrate that Radix Astragali and its main active constituents (AS-IV and CAG) improve liver regeneration by upregulating the expression of AQP9 in hepatocytes to increase gluconeogenesis and reduce oxidative stress. The study revealed novel molecular pharmacological mechanisms of Radix Astragali and provided a promising therapeutic target of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanghao Li
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xu Yang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Tiantian Bao
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xiaojuan Sun
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Huilin Zhu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| | - Tonghui Ma
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Avenue 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
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Amanzougaghene N, Tajeri S, Yalaoui S, Lorthiois A, Soulard V, Gego A, Rametti A, Risco-Castillo V, Moreno A, Tefit M, van Gemert GJ, Sauerwein RW, Vaillant JC, Ravassard P, Pérignon JL, Froissard P, Mazier D, Franetich JF. The Host Protein Aquaporin-9 is Required for Efficient Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoite Entry into Human Hepatocytes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:704662. [PMID: 34268141 PMCID: PMC8276244 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.704662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte invasion by Plasmodium sporozoites represents a promising target for innovative antimalarial therapy, but the molecular events mediating this process are still largely uncharacterized. We previously showed that Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite entry into hepatocytes strictly requires CD81. However, CD81-overexpressing human hepatoma cells remain refractory to P. falciparum infection, suggesting the existence of additional host factors necessary for sporozoite entry. Here, through differential transcriptomic analysis of human hepatocytes and hepatoma HepG2-CD81 cells, the transmembrane protein Aquaporin-9 (AQP9) was found to be among the most downregulated genes in hepatoma cells. RNA silencing showed that sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes requires AQP9 expression. AQP9 overexpression in hepatocytes increased their permissiveness to P. falciparum. Moreover, chemical disruption with the AQP9 inhibitor phloretin markedly inhibited hepatocyte infection. Our findings identify AQP9 as a novel host factor required for P. falciparum sporozoite hepatocyte-entry and indicate that AQP9 could be a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Amanzougaghene
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Shahin Tajeri
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Samir Yalaoui
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Lorthiois
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Soulard
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Gego
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | - Armelle Rametti
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | | | - Alicia Moreno
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maurel Tefit
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, MMB-NCMLS, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, MMB-NCMLS, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Vaillant
- AP-HP, Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Bilio-Pancréatique et Transplantation Hépatique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Ravassard
- CR-ICM - LGN CNRS UMR-7991, IFR des Neurosciences, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Pérignon
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Froissard
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S945, Paris, France.,INSERM, U945, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Mazier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Franetich
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
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Opdal SH, Ferrante L, Rognum TO, Stray-Pedersen A. Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-9 gene variations in sudden infant death syndrome. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:719-25. [PMID: 33462668 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02493-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have indicated that a vulnerability in the development and regulation of brain function is involved in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the genes encoding the brain aquaporins (AQPs) AQP1 and AQP9 in SIDS. The hypothesis was that specific variants of these genes are part of the genetic vulnerability predisposing infants to sudden unexpected death. The study included 168 SIDS cases with a median age of 15.5 (range 2–52) weeks and 372 adolescent/adult deceased controls with a median age of 44 (range 11–91) years. In the AQP1 gene, the rs17159702 CC/CT genotypes were found to be associated with SIDS (p = 0.02). In the AQP9 gene, the combination of a TT genotype of rs8042354, rs2292711 and rs13329178 was more frequent in SIDS cases than in controls (p = 0.03). In the SIDS group, an association was found between genetic variations in the AQP1 gene and maternal smoking and between the 3xTT combination in the AQP9 gene and being found lifeless in a prone position. In conclusion, this study adds further evidence to the involvement of brain aquaporins in SIDS, suggesting that specific variants of AQP genes constitute a genetic predisposition, making the infant vulnerable to sudden death together with external risk factors and probably other genetic factors.
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