scholarly journals Inhibiting IL-6 During Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: Potential Role of Natural Products

Author(s):  
Amirreza Nasirzadeh ◽  
Mohammad hosein Jafarzadeh Maivan ◽  
Javad Bazeli ◽  
Jafar Hajavi ◽  
Negar Yavarmanesh ◽  
...  

Plant species with anti-inflammatory properties might play an essential role in combatting COVID-19 via reducing cytokine storms. We aimed to review the extant evidence of the potential therapeutic efficacy of natural products against cytokine storms by inhibiting interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a major pathological mediator. Data were collected following an electronic search in major databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) and also preprint articles on preprint and medRxiv servers by using a combination of relevant keywords. Seventeen active compounds and medicinal plants were found and reviewed in the present review. Results of both in-vivo and in-vitro experiments conducted on these compounds showed that Phillyrin, SMFM, Qiangzhi decoction, curcumin, Shen-Fu, Forsythia, and Alpha-Mangostin inhibit the production of IL-6. Andrographolide and Liu Shen Wan have an inhibitory effect on releasing this agent, while Ilex Asprella and Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide and naringin reduce the expression of IL-6. Theaflavin and Cholorogenic acid inhibit the secretion of IL-6, Xuebijing, and Chai-Hu-Gui-Zi-Gan-Jiang-Tang and Lipanpaidu prescription can reduce the serum level of IL-6. These agents also effectively improve infected lungs, increase survival rates, and minimize tissue damage. Medicinal plants and their phytochemical ingredients with down-regulatory effects on the expression of IL-6 have a potential influence on the inhibition of cytokine storms during viral infection caused by COVID-19. Therefore, phytochemicals could be regarded as promising candidates for managing cytokine storm inflammatory responses due to COVID-19 infection.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Tang ◽  
Mengchun Zhou ◽  
Rongrong Huang ◽  
Ling Shen ◽  
Li Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Astrocytes participate in innate inflammatory responses within the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). HECT domain E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HECTD1) functions during microglial activation, suggesting a connection with neuroinflammation. However, the potential role of HECTD1 in astrocytes remains largely unknown. Results Here, we demonstrated that HECTD1 was upregulated in primary mouse astrocytes after 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Genetic knockdown of HECTD1 in vitro or astrocyte-specific knockdown of HECTD1 in vivo suppressed LPS-induced astrocyte activation, whereas overexpression of HECTD1 in vitro facilitated LPS-induced astrocyte activation. Mechanistically, we established that LPS activated σ-1R-JNK/p38 pathway, and σ-1R antagonist BD1047, JNK inhibitor SP600125, or p38 inhibitor SB203580 reversed LPS-induced expression of HECTD1, thus restored LPS-induced astrocyte activation. In addition, FOXJ2 functioned as a transcription factor of HECTD1, and pretreatment of primary mouse astrocytes with BD1047, SB203580, and SP600125 significantly inhibited LPS-mediated translocation of FOXJ2 into the nucleus. Conclusions Overall, our present findings suggest that HECTD1 participates in LPS-induced astrocyte activation by activation of σ-1R-JNK/p38-FOXJ2 pathway and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation induced by LPS or any other neuroinflammatory disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinjini Chakraborty ◽  
Veronika Eva Winkelmann ◽  
Sonja Braumüller ◽  
Annette Palmer ◽  
Anke Schultze ◽  
...  

AbstractSingular blockade of C5a in experimental models of sepsis is known to confer protection by rescuing lethality and decreasing pro-inflammatory responses. However, the role of inhibiting C5a has not been evaluated in the context of sterile systemic inflammatory responses, like polytrauma and hemorrhagic shock (PT + HS). In our presented study, a novel and highly specific C5a L-aptamer, NoxD21, was used to block C5a activity in an experimental murine model of PT + HS. The aim of the study was to assess early modulation of inflammatory responses and lung damage 4 h after PT + HS induction. NoxD21-treated PT + HS mice displayed greater polymorphonuclear cell recruitment in the lung, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) and reduced myeloperoxidase levels within the lung tissue. An in vitro model of the alveolar-capillary barrier was established to confirm these in vivo observations. Treatment with a polytrauma cocktail induced barrier damage only after 16 h, and NoxD21 treatment in vitro did not rescue this effect. Furthermore, to test the exact role of both the cognate receptors of C5a (C5aR1 and C5aR2), experimental PT + HS was induced in C5aR1 knockout (C5aR1 KO) and C5aR2 KO mice. Following 4 h of PT + HS, C5aR2 KO mice had significantly reduced IL-6 and IL-17 levels in the BALF without significant lung damage, and both, C5aR1 KO and C5aR2 KO PT + HS animals displayed reduced MPO levels within the lungs. In conclusion, the C5aR2 could be a putative driver of early local inflammatory responses in the lung after PT + HS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan L. Portman ◽  
Qiongying Huang ◽  
Michelle L. Reniere ◽  
Anthony T. Iavarone ◽  
Daniel A. Portnoy

ABSTRACT Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) represent a family of homologous pore-forming proteins secreted by many Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. CDCs mediate membrane binding partly through a conserved C-terminal undecapeptide, which contains a single cysteine residue. While mutational changes to other residues in the undecapeptide typically have severe effects, mutation of the cysteine residue to alanine has minor effects on overall protein function. Thus, the role of this highly conserved reactive cysteine residue remains largely unknown. We report here that the CDC listeriolysin O (LLO), secreted by the facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, was posttranslationally modified by S-glutathionylation at this conserved cysteine residue and that either endogenously synthesized or exogenously added glutathione was sufficient to form this modification. When recapitulated with purified protein in vitro, this modification completely ablated the activity of LLO, and this inhibitory effect was fully reversible by treatment with reducing agents. A cysteine-to-alanine mutation in LLO rendered the protein completely resistant to inactivation by S-glutathionylation, and a mutant expressing this mutation retained full hemolytic activity. A mutant strain of L. monocytogenes expressing the cysteine-to-alanine variant of LLO was able to infect and replicate within bone marrow-derived macrophages indistinguishably from the wild type in vitro, yet it was attenuated 4- to 6-fold in a competitive murine infection model in vivo. This study suggests that S-glutathionylation may represent a mechanism by which CDC-family proteins are posttranslationally modified and regulated and help explain an evolutionary pressure to retain the highly conserved undecapeptide cysteine.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Violaine Sironval ◽  
Mihaly Palmai-Pallag ◽  
Rita Vanbever ◽  
François Huaux ◽  
Jorge Mejia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Li-ion batteries (LIB) are increasingly used worldwide. They are made of low solubility micrometric particles, implying a potential for inhalation toxicity in occupational settings and possibly for consumers. LiCoO2 (LCO), one of the most used cathode material, induces inflammatory and fibrotic lung responses in mice. LCO also stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) -1α, a factor implicated in inflammation, fibrosis and carcinogenicity. Here, we investigated the role of cobalt, nickel and HIF-1α as determinants of toxicity, and evaluated their predictive value for the lung toxicity of LIB particles in in vitro assays. Results By testing a set of 5 selected LIB particles (LCO, LiNiMnCoO2, LiNiCoAlO2) with different cobalt and nickel contents, we found a positive correlation between their in vivo lung inflammatory activity, and (i) Co and Ni particle content and their bioaccessibility and (ii) the stabilization of HIF-1α in the lung. Inhibition of HIF-1α with chetomin or PX-478 blunted the lung inflammatory response to LCO in mice. In IL-1β deficient mice, HIF-1α was the upstream signal of the inflammatory lung response to LCO. In vitro, the level of HIF-1α stabilization induced by LIB particles in BEAS-2B cells correlated with the intensity of lung inflammation induced by the same particles in vivo. Conclusions We conclude that HIF-1α, stabilized in lung cells by released Co and Ni ions, is a mechanism-based biomarker of lung inflammatory responses induced by LIB particles containing Co/Ni. Documenting the Co/Ni content of LIB particles, their bioaccessibility and their capacity to stabilize HIF-1α in vitro can be used to predict the lung inflammatory potential of LIB particles.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (6) ◽  
pp. H1880-H1887 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Elias ◽  
J. Eisenhoffer ◽  
M. G. Johnston

Studies with a sheep isolated duct preparation in vivo demonstrated that the route of administration of hemoglobin was important in demonstrating its inhibitory effect on lymphatic pumping. With autologous oxyhemoglobin administered intravenously (final plasma concentration 5 x 10(-5) M), pumping was not inhibited. However, the addition of oxyhemoglobin (5 x 10(-5) M) into the reservoir (lumen of the duct) resulted in > 95% inhibition of pumping. The extraluminal administration of oxyhemoglobin (10(-5) M) to bovine mesenteric lymphatics in vitro resulted in a 40% inhibition of pumping, whereas the introduction of oxyhemoglobin (10(-5) M) into the lumen of the vessels suppressed pumping 95%. In vessels mechanically denuded of endothelium, intraluminal oxyhemoglobin inhibited pumping 50%. These results suggested that oxyhemoglobin depressed pumping through an effect on both smooth muscle and endothelium. Once pumping was inhibited with oxyhemoglobin administration, stimulation of the duct with elevations in transmural pressure restored pumping activity when endothelial cells were present. However, in the absence of endothelium, pumping decreased with increases in distending pressures. We conclude that oxyhemoglobin has a direct inhibitory effect on lymphatic smooth muscle. The ability of oxyhemoglobin to alter the pressure range over which the lymph pump operates appears to be dependent on an intact endothelium.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enhui Ma ◽  
Qianqian Wang ◽  
Jinhua Li ◽  
Xinqi Zhang ◽  
Zhenjia Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) is a kind of malignancy occurring in the prostate gland. Substantial researches have proved the major role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PCa. However, the role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1006 (LINC01006) in PCa has not been investigated yet. Methods RT-qPCR was used to examine the expression levels of LINC01006 and its downstream targets. The function of LINC01006 in PCa was tested by in vitro and in vivo assays. With application of RNA pull down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays, the interaction among LINC01006, miR-34a-5p and disheveled associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1) were verified. Results LINC01006 expression presented high in PCa cell lines. LINC01006 silencing suppressed cell proliferative, migratory, invasive capacities while accelerated apoptotic rate. Besides, LINC01006 knockdown also suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, miR-34a-5p, a tumor suppressor in PCa, was sponged by LINC01006. Moreover, DAAM1 was targeted by miR-34a-5p and promoted PCa progression. More intriguingly, rescue assays suggested that the inhibitory effect of LINC01006 knockdown on PCa development was offset by DAAM1 overexpression. Conclusions LINC01006 promoted PCa progression by sponging miR-34a-5p to up-regulate DAAM1, providing a novel target for PCa therapy.


Inflammasome ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuesong Sang ◽  
Hongbin Wang ◽  
Yihui Chen ◽  
Qiuhong Guo ◽  
Ailing Lu ◽  
...  

AbstractInflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that mediate maturation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Inflammasomes have been connected with various diseases, therefore the regulation of inflammasome activation is important for the development of novel therapies for many inflammatory syndromes. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and has regulatory effects on immune cells. Here we report that vitamin C has an inhibitory effect on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, this inhibition is through scavenging mitochondrial ROS but not through NF-κB inhibition. Moreover, specificity tests show that the AIM2 inflammasome and the NLRC4 inflammasome can also be inhibited by vitamin C. Our results have thus identified a new inflammasome regulator and provide therapeutic potential for inflammasome-associated diseases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galia Zamaratskaia ◽  
Martin Rasmussen ◽  
Isabelle Herbin ◽  
Bo Ekstrand ◽  
Vladimir Zlabek

In vitro inhibition of porcine cytochrome P450 by 17β-estradiol and 17α-estradiol Sexually mature pigs are known to possess high concentrations of testicular steroids, which have been shown to change the activities of cytochrome P450 in vitro. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the regulation of CYP1A and CYP2E1 activity by the steroids dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 3β-androstenol, 17β-estradiol and 17α-estradiol. Catalytic activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) were used as markers of CYP1A activities, while p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) was used as a marker of CYP2E1 activities. Of the steroids tested, only 17β-estradiol and 17α-estradiol inhibited EROD and MROD activities. This inhibition was observed when a steroid concentration of 100 μM was used, while lower concentrations showed no inhibitory effect. PNPH activities were inhibited only by 100 μM of 17β-estradiol. The significance of these results in vivo is unknown because inhibition was only found when concentrations of estrogens higher than physiological levels were used. Nevertheless, the results provided further evidence on the important role of estrogens in regulation of porcine cytochrome P450 activities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Jiao ◽  
Jianjian Wang ◽  
Huixue Zhang ◽  
Yuze Cao ◽  
Yang Qu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Microglia are rapidly activated after ischemic stroke and participate in the occurrence of neuroinflammation, which exacerbates the injury of ischemic stroke. Receptor Interacting Serine Threonine Kinase 1 (RIPK1) is thought to be involved in the development of inflammatory responses, but its role in ischemic microglia remains unclear. Here, we applied recombinant human thioredoxin-1 (rhTrx-1), a potential neuroprotective agent, to explore the role of rhTrx-1 in inhibiting RIPK1-mediated neuroinflammatory responses in microglia. Method Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and Oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) were conducted for in vivo and in vitro experimental stroke models. The expression of RIPK1 in microglia after ischemia was examined. The inflammatory response of microglia was analyzed after treatment with rhTrx-1 and Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1, inhibitors of RIPK1), and the mechanisms were explored. In addition, the effects of rhTrx-1 on neurobehavioral deficits and cerebral infarct volume were examined. Results RIPK1 expression was detected in microglia after ischemia. Molecular docking results showed that rhTrx-1 could directly bind to RIPK1. In vitro experiments found that rhTrx-1 reduced necroptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential damage, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and NLR Family, pyrin domain-containing 3 protein (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by inhibiting RIPK-1 expression, and regulated microglial M1/M2 phenotypic changes, thereby reducing the release of inflammatory factors. Consistently, in vivo experiments found that rhTrx-1 treatment attenuated cerebral ischemic injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the role of RIPK1 in microglia-arranged neuroinflammation after cerebral ischemia. Administration of rhTrx-1 provides neuroprotection in ischemic stroke-induced microglial neuroinflammation by inhibiting RIPK1 expression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Liu ◽  
Shaoping Lin ◽  
Yiyue Zhong ◽  
Jiaojiao Shen ◽  
Xuedi Zhang ◽  
...  

Remimazolam is a new benzodiazepine of sedative drugs with an ultra-short-acting anesthetic effect, commonly used for critically ill patients (especially septic patients) in intensive care units (ICUs). Although some anesthetics have been reported to show certain anti-inflammatory effects, the role of remimazolam in inflammation is still remained unknown. Here, we studied the effects of remimazolam on macrophage in response to LPS both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, compared with LPS treatment group, remimazolam remarkably improved survival rate of endotoxemia mice and decreased the release of LPS-induced inflammatory mediators (such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β). We further found that remimazolam not only inhibited the activation of MAPK signal pathway at 15 min after LPS treatment but also disturbed Rab5a related TLR4 expression at cell surface in response to LPS at a later time. Such evidence suggests that remimazolam might be beneficial to septic patients who are suffering from uncontrolled inflammatory responses.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document