scholarly journals Humulene Inhibits Acute Gastric Mucosal Injury by Enhancing Mucosal Integrity

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 761
Author(s):  
Dahee Yeo ◽  
Su-Jung Hwang ◽  
Ye-Seul Song ◽  
Hyo-Jong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Gastric Ulcers ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Gastric Injury ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Trefoil Factor ◽  
Expression Levels

This study was designed to determine whether α-humulene, a major constituent in many plants used in fragrances, has a protective role against gastric injury in vivo and in vitro. A rat model of hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol-induced gastritis and human mast cells (HMC-1) were used to investigate the mucosal protective effect of α-humulene. α-Humulene significantly inhibited gastric lesions in HCl/ethanol-induced acute gastritis and decreased gastric acid secretion pyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcers in vivo. In addition, α-humulene reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde through upregulation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In HMC-1 cells, α-humulene decreased intracellular calcium and increased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, resulting in low histamine levels. α-Humulene also reduced the expression levels of cytokine genes such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by downregulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation. Finally, α-humulene upregulated the expression levels of mucin 5AC (Muc5ac), Muc6, trefoil factor 1 (Tff1), trefoil factor 2 (Tff2), and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pigr). α-Humulene may attenuate HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis by inhibiting histamine release and NF-κB activation and stimulating antioxidants and mucosal protective factors, particularly Muc5ac and Muc6. Therefore, these data suggest that α-humulene is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of stress-induced or alcoholic gastritis.

scholarly journals ALCAP2 inhibits lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion via the ubiquitination of β-catenin by upregulating the E3 ligase NEDD4L

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijie Zhang ◽  
Ruochen Zhang ◽  
Yuanyuan Zeng ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
Yikun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
E3 Ligase ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Proliferation And Metastasis

AbstractLung cancer is recognized as the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the predominant subtype, accounting for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. Although great efforts have been made to treat lung cancer, no proven method has been found thus far. Considering β, β-dimethyl-acryl-alkannin (ALCAP2), a natural small-molecule compound isolated from the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon. We found that lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell proliferation and metastasis can be significantly inhibited after treatment with ALCAP2 in vitro, as it can induce cell apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle. ALCAP2 also significantly suppressed the volume of tumours in mice without inducing obvious toxicity in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that ALCAP2-treated cells can suppress the nuclear translocation of β-catenin by upregulating the E3 ligase NEDD4L, facilitating the binding of ubiquitin to β-catenin and eventually affecting the wnt-triggered transcription of genes such as survivin, cyclin D1, and MMP9. As a result, our findings suggest that targeting the oncogene β-catenin with ALCAP2 can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD cells, and therefore, ALCAP2 may be a new drug candidate for use in LUAD therapeutics.

scholarly journals Lemon Balm and Its Constituent, Rosmarinic Acid, Alleviate Liver Damage in an Animal Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myungsuk Kim ◽  
GyHye Yoo ◽  
Ahmad Randy ◽  
Yang-Ju Son ◽  
Chi Rac Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Damage ◽  
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽  
Rosmarinic Acid ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Lemon Balm ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges in severity from hepatic steatosis to cirrhosis. Lemon balm and its major constituent, rosmarinic acid (RA), effectively improve the liver injury and obesity; however, their therapeutic effects on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of RA and a lemon balm extract (LBE) on NAFLD and liver fibrosis and elucidated their mechanisms. Palmitic acid (PA)-exposed HepG2 cells and db/db mice fed a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet were utilized to exhibit symptoms of human NASH. LBE and RA treatments alleviated the oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzymes and modulated lipid metabolism-related gene expression by the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in vitro and in vivo. LBE and RA treatments inhibited the expression of genes involved in hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Together, LBE and RA could improve liver damage by non-alcoholic lipid accumulation and may be promising medications to treat NASH.

Tamarix articulata (T. articulata) - An Important Halophytic Medicinal Plant with Potential Pharmacological Properties

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan ◽  
Bilal Rah
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Phytochemical Analysis ◽  
Pharmacological Properties

Background:Tamarix Articulata (T. articulata), commonly known as Tamarisk or Athal in Arabic region, belongs to the Tamaricaece species. It is an important halophytic medicinal plant and a good source of polyphenolic phytochemical(s). In traditional medicines, T. articulata extract is commonly used, either singly or in combination with other plant extracts against different ailments since ancient times.Methods:Electronic database survey via Pubmed, Google Scholar, Researchgate, Scopus and Science Direct were used to review the scientific inputs until October 2018, by searching appropriate keywords. Literature related to pharmacological activities of T. articulata, Tamarix species, phytochemical analysis of T. articulata, biological activities of T. articulata extracts. All of these terms were used to search the scientific literature associated with T. articulata; the dosage of extract, route of administration, extract type, and in-vitro and in-vivo model.Results:Numerous reports revealed that T. articulata contains a wide spectrum of phytochemical(s), which enables it to have a wide window of biological properties. Owing to the presence of high content of phytochemical compounds like polyphenolics and flavonoids, T. articulata is a potential source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. In view of these pharmacological properties, T. articulata could be a potential drug candidate to treat various clinical conditions including cancer in the near future.Conclusion:In this review, the spectrum of phytochemical(s) has been summarized for their pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action, and the possible potential therapeutic applications of this plant against various diseases discussed.

In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations into the Carbene Copper Bromide Anticancer Drug Candidate WBC4

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 825-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Walther ◽  
Iduna Fichtner ◽  
Frauke Hackenberg ◽  
Wojciech Streciwilk ◽  
Matthias Tacke
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Drug ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Copper Bromide

scholarly journals Development of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Orally Administered Fexuprazan in Humans

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Yoo-Seong Jeong ◽  
Min-Soo Kim ◽  
Nora Lee ◽  
Areum Lee ◽  
Yoon-Jee Chae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Acid ◽  
Pbpk Model ◽  
Pbpk Modeling ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Metabolite Formation ◽  
Pbpk Models ◽  
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Physiologically Based

Fexuprazan is a new drug candidate in the potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) family. As proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), P-CABs inhibit gastric acid secretion and can be used to treat gastric acid-related disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models predict drug interactions as pharmacokinetic profiles in biological matrices can be mechanistically simulated. Here, we propose an optimized and validated PBPK model for fexuprazan by integrating in vitro, in vivo, and in silico data. The extent of fexuprazan tissue distribution in humans was predicted using tissue-to-plasma partition coefficients in rats and the allometric relationships of fexuprazan distribution volumes (VSS) among preclinical species. Urinary fexuprazan excretion was minimal (0.29–2.02%), and this drug was eliminated primarily by the liver and metabolite formation. The fraction absorbed (Fa) of 0.761, estimated from the PBPK modeling, was consistent with the physicochemical properties of fexuprazan, including its in vitro solubility and permeability. The predicted oral bioavailability of fexuprazan (38.4–38.6%) was within the range of the preclinical datasets. The Cmax, AUClast, and time-concentration profiles predicted by the PBPK model established by the learning set were accurately predicted for the validation sets.

scholarly journals Inhibition of RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis by Novel Mutant RANKL

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Yuria Jang ◽  
Hong Moon Sohn ◽  
Young Jong Ko ◽  
Hoon Hyun ◽  
Wonbong Lim
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Osteoclast Differentiation ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Mice Model ◽  
Gsk 3Β ◽  
Rank Signaling

Background: Recently, it was reported that leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4, also called GPR48) is another receptor for RANKL and was shown to compete with RANK to bind RANKL and suppress canonical RANK signaling during osteoclast differentiation. The critical role of the protein triad RANK–RANKL in osteoclastogenesis has made their binding an important target for the development of drugs against osteoporosis. In this study, point-mutations were introduced in the RANKL protein based on the crystal structure of the RANKL complex and its counterpart receptor RANK, and we investigated whether LGR4 signaling in the absence of the RANK signal could lead to the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.; Methods: The effects of point-mutated RANKL (mRANKL-MT) on osteoclastogenesis were assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), resorption pit formation, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, NFATc1 nuclear translocation, micro-CT and histomorphological assay in wild type RANKL (mRANKL-WT)-induced in vitro and in vivo experimental mice model. Results: As a proof of concept, treatment with the mutant RANKL led to the stimulation of GSK-3β phosphorylation, as well as the inhibition of NFATc1 translocation, mRNA expression of TRAP and OSCAR, TRAP activity, and bone resorption, in RANKL-induced mouse models; and Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that the mutant RANKL can be used as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis by inhibiting RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via comparative inhibition of RANKL. Moreover, the mutant RANKL was found to lack the toxic side effects of most osteoporosis treatments.

scholarly journals Phaseolin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in RAW 264.7 Cells and Zebrafish

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
Su-Jung Hwang ◽  
Ye-Seul Song ◽  
Hyo-Jong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Raw 264.7 Cells ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Raw 264.7 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Bioactive Constituents

Kushen (Radix Sophorae flavescentis) is used to treat ulcerative colitis, tumors, and pruritus. Recently, phaseolin, formononetin, matrine, luteolin, and quercetin, through a network pharmacology approach, were tentatively identified as five bioactive constituents responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of S. flavescentis. However, the role of phaseolin (one of the primary components of S. flavescentis) in the direct regulation of inflammation and inflammatory processes is not well known. In this study, the beneficial role of phaseolin against inflammation was explored in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation models of RAW 264.7 macrophages and zebrafish larvae. Phaseolin inhibited LPS-mediated production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), without affecting cell viability. In addition, phaseolin suppressed pro-inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, phaseolin reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity as well as macrophage adhesion in vitro and the recruitment of leukocytes in vivo by downregulating Ninjurin 1 (Ninj1), an adhesion molecule. Finally, phaseolin inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In view of the above, our results suggest that phaseolin could be a potential therapeutic candidate for the management of inflammation.

scholarly journals Preclinical Studies in Anti-Trypanosomatidae Drug Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 644
Author(s):  
Cintya Perdomo ◽  
Elena Aguilera ◽  
Ileana Corvo ◽  
Paula Faral-Tello ◽  
Elva Serna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Murine Macrophages ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Trypanosomatid Parasites

The trypanosomatid parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania are the causative agents of human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis, respectively. These infections primarily affect poor, rural communities in the developing world, and are responsible for trapping sufferers and their families in a disease/poverty cycle. The development of new chemotherapies is a priority given that existing drug treatments are problematic. In our search for novel anti-trypanosomatid agents, we assess the growth-inhibitory properties of >450 compounds from in-house and/or “Pathogen Box” (PBox) libraries against L. infantum, L. amazonensis, L.braziliensis, T. cruzi and T. brucei and evaluate the toxicities of the most promising agents towards murine macrophages. Screens using the in-house series identified 17 structures with activity against and selective toward Leishmania: Compounds displayed 50% inhibitory concentrations between 0.09 and 25 μM and had selectivity index values >10. For the PBox library, ~20% of chemicals exhibited anti-parasitic properties including five structures whose activity against L. infantum had not been reported before. These five compounds displayed no toxicity towards murine macrophages over the range tested with three being active in an in vivo murine model of the cutaneous disease, with 100% survival of infected animals. Additionally, the oral combination of three of them in the in vivo Chagas disease murine model demonstrated full control of the parasitemia. Interestingly, phenotyping revealed that the reference strain responds differently to the five PBox-derived chemicals relative to parasites isolated from a dog. Together, our data identified one drug candidate that displays activity against Leishmania and other Trypanosomatidae in vitro and in vivo, while exhibiting low toxicity to cultured mammalian cells and low in vivo acute toxicity.

scholarly journals LINGO-1 shRNA protects the brain against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3

Human Cell ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaying Zhu ◽  
Zhu Zhu ◽  
Yipin Ren ◽  
Yukang Dong ◽  
Yaqi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Ischemia ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Mice Model ◽  
Down Regulation

AbstractLINGO-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. However, its biological function and underlying molecular mechanism in cerebral ischemia remain to be further defined. In our study, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MACO/R) mice model and HT22 cell oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) were established to simulate the pathological process of cerebral ischemia in vivo and in vitro and to detect the relevant mechanism. We found that LINGO-1 mRNA and protein were upregulated in mice and cell models. Down-regulation LINGO-1 improved the neurological symptoms and reduced pathological changes and the infarct size of the mice after MACO/R. In addition, LINGO-1 interference alleviated apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation in HT22 of OGD/R. Moreover, down-regulation of LINGO-1 proved to inhibit nuclear translocation of p-NF-κB and reduce the expression level of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. In conclusion, our data suggest that shLINGO-1 attenuated ischemic injury by negatively regulating NF-KB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways, highlighting a novel therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

scholarly journals RIP3 impedes transcription factor EB to suppress autophagic degradation in septic acute kidney injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruizhao Li ◽  
Xingchen Zhao ◽  
Shu Zhang ◽  
Wei Dong ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Septic Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Transcription Factor Eb ◽  
Autophagic Degradation ◽  
Lps Treatment

AbstractAutophagy is an important renal-protective mechanism in septic acute kidney injury (AKI). Receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) has been implicated in the renal tubular injury and renal dysfunction during septic AKI. Here we investigated the role and mechanism of RIP3 on autophagy in septic AKI. We showed an activation of RIP3, accompanied by an accumulation of the autophagosome marker LC3II and the autophagic substrate p62, in the kidneys of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic AKI mice and LPS-treated cultured renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). The lysosome inhibitor did not further increase the levels of LCII or p62 in LPS-treated PTECs. Moreover, inhibition of RIP3 attenuated the aberrant accumulation of LC3II and p62 under LPS treatment in vivo and in vitro. By utilizing mCherry-GFP-LC3 autophagy reporter mice in vivo and PTECs overexpression mRFP-GFP-LC3 in vitro, we observed that inhibition of RIP3 restored the formation of autolysosomes and eliminated the accumulated autophagosomes under LPS treatment. These results indicated that RIP3 impaired autophagic degradation, contributing to the accumulation of autophagosomes. Mechanistically, the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of the lysosome and autophagy pathway, was inhibited in LPS-induced mice and LPS-treated PTECs. Inhibition of RIP3 restored the nuclear translocation of TFEB in vivo and in vitro. Co-immunoprecipitation further showed an interaction of RIP3 and TFEB in LPS-treated PTECs. Also, the expression of LAMP1 and cathepsin B, two potential target genes of TFEB involved in lysosome function, were decreased under LPS treatment in vivo and in vitro, and this decrease was rescued by inhibiting RIP3. Finally, overexpression of TFEB restored the autophagic degradation in LPS-treated PTECs. Together, the present study has identified a pivotal role of RIP3 in suppressing autophagic degradation through impeding the TFEB-lysosome pathway in septic AKI, providing potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of septic AKI.

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