scholarly journals Effect of Plastrum Testudinis Extracts on the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of rBMSCs by Regulating p38 MAPK-Related Genes

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Shang ◽  
Xiang Yu ◽  
Hui Ren ◽  
Gengyang Shen ◽  
Wenhua Zhao ◽  
...  

Extracts from plastrum testudinis (PTE) are active compounds that have been used to treat bone diseases in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. In previous studies, we demonstrated their effects on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis both in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms by which PTE regulates the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in vitro remain poorly understood. In this study, rBMSCs were treated with medium (CON), PTE, osteogenic induction (OI), and a combination of PTE and OI (PTE+OI) over a 21-day period. We found that PTE significantly promoted rBMSCs osteogenic differentiation and mineralisation after 21 days of culturing. Moreover, PTE+OI further enhanced the differentiation and mineralisation process. PTE upregulated STE20, IGF1R, and p38 MAPK mRNA expression and downregulated TRAF6 mRNA expression. The extracts inhibited TRAF6 protein expression and promoted STE20, IGF1R, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression. Our results imply that PTE promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs by upregulating p38 MAPK, STE20, and IGF1R and downregulating TRAF6 expression, which may provide experimental evidence of the potential of PTE in the treatment of osteoporosis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan He ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Guangli Du ◽  
Guofeng Meng ◽  
Jijia Sun ◽  
...  

Background: Guizhi has the pharmacological activity of anti-inflammatory. However, the effect mechanism of Guizhi against nephrotic syndrome (NS) remains unclear. A network pharmacological approach with experimental verification in vitro and in vivo was performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of Guizhi to treat NS.Methods: Active compounds and potential targets of Guizhi, as well as the related targets of NS were obtained from the public databases. The intersecting targets of Guizhi and NS were obtained through Venny 2.1.0. The key targets and signaling pathways were determined by protein-protein interaction (PPI), genes ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis. And the overall network was constructed with Cytoscape. Molecular docking verification was carried out by AutoDock Vina. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to verify the mechanism of Guizhi to treat NS.Results: 63 intersecting targets were obtained, and the top five key targets mainly involed in NF- Kappa B and MAPK signaling pathway. In the overall network, cinnamaldehyde (CA) was the top one active compound with the highest degree value. The molecular docking showed that the top five key targets were of good binding activity with the active components of Guizhi. To in vitro experiment, CA, the main active component of Guizhi, inhibited the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in LPS challenged RAW264.7 cells, and down regulated the protein expression of p-NF-κB p65 and p-p38 MAPK in LPS challenged RAW264.7 cells. In vitro experiment showed that, 24 urinary protein and renal function were increased in ADR group. To western blot, CA down regulated the protein expression of p-p38 MAPK in rats of adriamycin-induced nephropathy.Conclusion: CA might be the main active component of Guizhi to treat NS, and the underlying mechanism might mainly be achieved by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye-Sun Lim ◽  
Yu Jin Kim ◽  
Bu-Yeo Kim ◽  
Soo-Jin Jeong

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of bakuchiol on the inflammatory response and to identify the molecular mechanism of the inflammatory effects in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 mouse microglial cell line and mice model. The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, and IL-6 was measured using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was determined by western blot analysis. In vitro experiments, bakuchiol significantly suppressed the production of PGE2 and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells, without causing cytotoxicity. In parallel, bakuchiol significantly inhibited the LPS-stimulated expression of iNOS, COX-2, and IL-6 in BV-2 cells. However, bakuchiol had no effect on the LPS-stimulated production and mRNA expression of TNF-α or on LPS-stimulated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase phosphorylation. In contrast, p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation were inhibited by bakuchiol. In vivo experiments, Bakuchiol reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus and cortex tissue of LPS-injected mice. Bakuchiol significantly suppressed LPS-injected production of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum. These results indicate that the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of bakuchiol in activated microglia are mainly regulated by the inhibition of the p38 MAPK and ERK pathways. We suggest that bakuchiol may be beneficial for various neuroinflammatory diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shintaro Mukohara ◽  
Yutaka Mifune ◽  
Atsuyuki Inui ◽  
Hanako Nishimoto ◽  
Takashi Kurosawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal steroid, has a protective role against diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo protective effects of DHEA against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in tenocytes and tendons. Methods Tenocytes from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in low-glucose (LG) or high-glucose (HG) medium with or without DHEA. The experimental groups were: control group (LG without DHEA), LG with DHEA, HG without DHEA, and HG with DHEA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) 1 and 4, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined. Further, diabetic rats were divided into a control group and a DHEA-injected group (DHEA group). NOX1 and NOX4 protein expression and mRNA expression of NOX1, NOX4, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2, and type I and III collagens in the Achilles tendon were determined. Results In rat tenocytes, DHEA decreased the expression of NOX1 and IL-6, ROS accumulation, and apoptotic cells. In the diabetic rat Achilles tendon, NOX1 protein expression and mRNA expression of NOX1, IL-6, MMP-2, TIMP-2, and type III collagen were significantly lower while type I collagen expression was significantly higher in the DHEA group than in the control group. Conclusions DHEA showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, DHEA improved tendon matrix synthesis and turnover, which are affected by hyperglycemic conditions. DHEA is a potential preventive drug for diabetic tendinopathy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxuan Lin ◽  
Sipeng Chen ◽  
Jingjing Quan ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Muzi Liao ◽  
...  

Abstract Bone defect diseases, particularly induced by inflammation, render a challenge for designing ideal drug-loading scaffold that could facilitate bone repairing and eliminate inflammatory pathogens. LL37 is considered as promising alternative loading drug due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect and various bio-functions including osteogenic induction. In this study, we synthesized modified LL37 by adding collagen binding domain (CBD), which aim to provide a specific binding onto collagen and slow-releasing pattern. The modified peptide was proved to exhibit similar biological activities to nature LL37 on rat BMSCs including promoting migration activity, anti-inflammatory activity and osteogenic induction in vitro. Ectopic bone formation experiment further confirmed the angiogenesis and osteoinduction activities in vivo. Collectively, LL37-CBD may be a potential loaded drug for preventative and curative applications in Inflammation-induced bone diseases, exerting dual strategies including anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shintaro Mukohara ◽  
Yutaka Mifune ◽  
Atsuyuki Inui ◽  
Hanako Nishimoto ◽  
Takashi Kurosawa ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundDehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal steroid, has a protective role against diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo protective effects of DHEA against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in tenocytes and tendons. Methods In an in vitro study, tenocytes from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in low-glucose (LG) or high-glucose (HG) medium with or without DHEA. The experimental groups were: control group (LG without DHEA), LG with DHEA, HG without DHEA, and HG with DHEA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) 1 and 4, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined. In the in vivo study, diabetic rats were divided into a control group and a DHEA-injected group (DHEA group). NOX1 and NOX4 protein expression and mRNA expression of NOX1, NOX4, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2, and type I and III collagens in the Achilles tendon were determined. Results In rat tenocytes, DHEA decreased the expression of NOX1 and IL-6, ROS accumulation, and apoptotic cells. In the diabetic rat Achilles tendon, NOX1 protein expression and mRNA expression of NOX1, IL-6, MMP-2, TIMP-2, and type III collagen were significantly lower, while type I collagen expression was significantly lower in the DHEA group.Conclusions DHEA showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, DHEA improved tendon matrix synthesis and turnover which are affected by hyperglycemic conditions. DHEA could be a preventive drug for the diabetic tendinopathy.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. F595-F604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Sub Jung ◽  
Jin Ji Li ◽  
Seung-Jae Kwak ◽  
Sun Ha Lee ◽  
Jehyun Park ◽  
...  

Previous in vitro studies suggest that the p38 MAPK pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, but the consequences of the inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway have not been well elucidated in diabetic (DM) glomeruli. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of p38 MAPK inhibitor, FR167653, on fibronectin expression and apoptosis in DM glomeruli and in high-glucose-stimulated mesangial cells (MC). In vivo, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with diluent (control, N = 16) or streptozotocin intraperitoneally (DM, N = 16). Eight rats from each group were treated with FR167653 for 3 mo. In vitro, rat MC were exposed to medium containing 5.6 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose [high glucose (HG)] with or without 10−6 M FR167653 for 24 h. Fibronectin mRNA and protein expression were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Western blot for apoptosis-related molecules, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nick-end labeling assay, and Hoechst 33342 staining were performed to determine apoptosis. FR167653 ameliorated the increases in fibronectin-to-GAPDH mRNA ratio and protein expression in DM glomeruli by 89 and 79% and in HG-stimulated MC by 70 and 91%, respectively ( P < 0.05). Under diabetic conditions, Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased, whereas cleaved caspase-3 protein expression was increased ( P < 0.05), and these changes were inhibited by FR167653 treatment. Apoptotic cells were also significantly increased in DM glomeruli and in HG-stimulated MC ( P < 0.05), and FR167653 ameliorated these increases in apoptotic cells, both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway has a beneficial effect on the development of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the increase in fibronectin expression and apoptosis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weifeng Zou ◽  
Xiaoqian Wang ◽  
Ruiting Sun ◽  
Jinxing Hu ◽  
Dong Ye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: PM2.5-associated airway remodeling has recently been recognized as a central feature of COPD. The activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway is closely related to the occurrence of airway remodeling. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to determine whether Wnt5a/β-Catenin is involved in PM2.5-induced smooth muscle proliferation in vivo and vitro, which promoted the development of airway remodeling in COPD.Methods: The effect of Wnt5a on β-Catenin-mediated airway remodeling was assessed by using an in vivo model of PM2.5-induced COPD and PM2.5-exposed human bronchial smooth muscle cell (HBSMC) in vitro. Small animal spirometry to measure lung function in mice. H&E staining and immunohistological inspection of emphysema and airway remodeling indexes. qPCR to detect Wnt5a, β-Catenin, TGF-β1, CyclinD1 and c-myc mRNA expression. CCK8 assay for cellular activity. Western blotting for PCNA, α-SMA, Wnt5a, β-Catenin, PDGFRβ and TenascinC protein expression. Detection of β-Catenin expression by cellular immunofluorescence.Results: The exposure to PM2.5 led to emphysema, airway wall thickening, increased smooth muscle layer thickness, decreased lung function and induced the expression of Wnt5a, β-Catenin, PDGFRβ and Tenascin C protein expression in lung tissue of mice. BOX5 alleviated PM2.5-induced these outcomes in mice. Moreover, PM2.5 induced the mRNA expression of Wnt5a, β-Catenin, TGF-β1, CyclinD1 and c-myc in HBSMC. BOX5 also inhibited PM2.5-induced the increase of PCNA, α-SMA, Wnt5a, β-Catenin, PDGFRβ and Tenascin C protein expression in HBSMC. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PM2.5 exposure induce HBSMC proliferation, contributing to airway remodeling via Wnt5a/β-Catenin signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro, which could be a target of treatment of COPD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Xie ◽  
Xiong Xie ◽  
Bin Rao ◽  
Shengzhang Liu ◽  
Hongning Liu

Objective: Qingzaojiufei decoction (QD) is an empirical herbal formula from traditional Chinese medicine that is used for the treatment of lung-related diseases. However, the effect of QD on the growth of lung tumor cells has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the antitumor activity of QD in Lewis lung carcinomas (LLC) in vivo and in vitro, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The LLC cells were used to assess the antitumor activity of QD by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay in vitro. In vivo, mice were randomly assigned to 5 groups (n = 10/group): the model control (MC) group was intragastrically administered physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) twice daily from day 2 after tumor implantation for 2 weeks. The QD groups were intragastrically administered QD twice daily from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after tumor implantation for 4 weeks. The mRNA levels were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the proteins expression was determined by immunohistochemistry or western blotting. Results: Compared with the model group, QD showed inhibition of proliferation of LLC cells and reductions in tumor weight and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression. Furthermore, QD up-regulated p53 mRNA expression, and downregulated c-myc and Bcl-2 mRNA expression, while MMP-9, VEGF, and VEGFR protein expression was suppressed. Phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels were also reduced by QD in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that QD inhibited lung tumor growth and proliferation, by activation of tumor suppressor genes, inactivation of oncogenes, suppressing the potential for invasion and metastasis, and attenuating angiogenesis. The ERK/VEGF/MMPs signaling pathways may play an important role in QD-induced inhibition of malignant tumor cell proliferation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zirui Zhang ◽  
Shangcong Han ◽  
Panpan Liu ◽  
Xu Yang ◽  
Jing Han ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic inflammation and lack of angiogenesis are the important pathological mechanisms in deep tissue injury (DTI). Curcumin is a well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. However, curcumin is unstable under acidic and alkaline conditions, and can be rapidly metabolized and excreted in the bile, which shortens its bioactivity and efficacy. Objective: This study aimed to prepare curcumin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (CPNPs) and to elucidate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of wound healing in DTI models. Methods: CPNPs were evaluated for particle size, biocompatibility, in vitro drug release and their effect on in vivo wound healing. Results : The results of in vivo wound closure analysis revealed that CPNP treatments significantly improved wound contraction rates (p<0.01) at a faster rate than other three treatment groups. H&E staining revealed that CPNP treatments resulted in complete epithelialization and thick granulation tissue formation, whereas control groups resulted in a lack of compact epithelialization and persistence of inflammatory cells within the wound sites. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that treatment with CPNPs suppressed IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression, and up-regulated TGF-β, VEGF-A and IL-10 mRNA expression. Western blot analysis showed up-regulated protein expression of TGF-β, VEGF-A and phosphorylatedSTAT3. Conclusion: Our results showed that CPNPs enhanced wound healing in DTI models, through modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and subsequent upregulation of pro-healing factors.


Author(s):  
Maryam Muhammad Mailafiya ◽  
Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas ◽  
Kabeer Abubakar ◽  
Abubakar Danmaigoro ◽  
Samaila Musa Chiroma ◽  
...  

Background: Cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CSCaCO3NP) are natural biogenic inorganic material that is used in drug delivery mainly as a bone-remodeling agent as well as a delivery agent for various therapeutics against bone diseases. Curcumin possess wide safety margin and yet puzzled with the problem of poor bioavailability due to insolubility. Propounding in vitro and in vivo studies on toxicity assessments of newly synthesized nanoparticles are ongoing to overcome some crucial challenges regarding their safety administration. Nanotoxicology has paved ways for concise test protocols to monitor sequential events with regards to possible toxicity of newly synthesized nanomaterials. The development of nanoparticle with no or less toxic effect has gained tremendous attentions. Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro cytotoxic effect of curcumin-loaded cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CSCaCO3NP) and assessing its biocompatibility on normal cells using standard techniques of WST’s assay. Method: Standard techniques of WST’s assay was used for the evaluation of the biocompatibility and cytotoxicity. Result: The result showed that CSCaCO3NP and Cur-CSCaCO3NP possess minimal toxicity and high biocompatibility on normal cells even at higher dose of 500 µg/ml and 40 µg/ml respectively. Conclusion: CSCaCO3NP can be termed an excellent non-toxic nanocarrier for curcumin delivery. Hence, curcumin loaded cockle shell derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CSCaCO3NP) could further be assessed for various in vivo and in vitro therapeutic applications against various bone related ailments.


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