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Among the diseases of the digestive system, the incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) has increased. Although the AP is primarily self-limited, mortality remains high when it progressed to severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Despite significant advances in new drug development, treatments for AP are not ideal. Here, we discovered a novel hydroxycinnamic acid, sinapic acid (SA), which is widely distributed in plants and is an effective treatment for AP. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrated that pretreatment with SA ameliorated cerulein-induced pancreatic damage and inflammation and inhibited the activation of Caspase-1 and Caspase-11, which mediate pyroptosis of pancreatic acinar cells during AP. These effects may occur through the inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation and downregulation of NF- κ B. Our findings demonstrate the therapeutic effects and reveal the underlying mechanisms of SA, which warrants its further study as an effective treatment for AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cerebral ischemic stroke befalls in response to the abrupt occlusion of blood vessels that leads to deprived oxygen and glucose in brain and causes brain injuries. Stroke is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rate globally. Syringin is a bioactive compound from Eleutherococcus senticosus and possesses plentiful biological actions. Objectives: In this research work, we envisioned to observe the neuroprotective actions of syringin against ischemic-reperfusion (I/R)-provoked ischemic stroke in rats. Materials and Methods: The focal cerebral I/R injuries were roused to the male Wistar rats through the middle coronary artery occlusion (MCAO) technique. The syringin (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) was administered to the rats through intragastric route for 7 successive days prior to MCAO and another 3 days after MCAO. Sham rats were administered with usual diet. The neurological score and parameters were measured by standard methods. The status of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in both serum and brain tissues was considered by commercial assay kits. The mRNA expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, MyD88, Fas, and FasL was inspected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: The syringin administration to I/R rats established the lessened neurological score and parameters. Syringin supplementation was meritoriously suppressed the levels of the inflammatory cytokine, i.e., interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α and enhanced the IL-10 status in I/R rats. Syringin abridged the inflammatory mediators like cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin-2, and nuclear factor kappa B levels in the serum and brain tissues. The mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, Fas, and FasL was noticeably downregulated by the syringin. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showed the curative role of syringin against ischemic stroke in rats. Syringin can be an auspicious anti-stroke agent in future to treat ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac dysfunction in severe sepsis is associated with increased mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying septic heart dysfunction remain unclear. Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (Pgc-1α), concentrations of inflammatory factors, and activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway were examined in H9c2 cells after a 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation period using qPCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and western blots (WBs), respectively. Pgc-1α was overexpressed and suppressed in cells using a lentivirus vector and siRNA, respectively. The effects of Pgc-1α dysfunction on the release of inflammatory factors and apoptosis were analyzed. Pgc-1α expression was increased after LPS induction for 0.5 h and returned to the pre-induction level at 2 h. Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α increase after LPS induction for 0.5 h and accumulated in the culture supernatants over time. The WBs revealed the highest Pgc-1α and phospho (p)-p65 protein levels after LPS induction for 0.5 h, followed by a decrease; moreover, the cleaved-caspase-3 level increased after LPS induction for 0.5 h and increased gradually thereafter. A functional analysis of Pgc-1α revealed that overexpression of this protein enhanced LPS-induced inflammatory factors and p-p65 levels and inhibited apoptosis during the early stage after LPS induction (0.5 and 4 h). In contrast, the inhibition of Pgc-1α expression inhibited the LPS expression–associated increases in inflammatory factors and p-p65 and promoted apoptosis. Pgc-1α promoted LPS-induced p65 phosphorylation and inflammatory factor release while inhibiting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco (CP) occupies an important position in the history of clinical applications of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In traditional use, CP is used to treat diseases related to the digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, as well as to regulate Qi and promote blood circulation throughout the body. In China, a special cultivar of CP named Guang Chen Pi (GCP) which is collected exclusively from Citrus reticulata Blanco's cultivars 'Chachi', is considered to be the best CP with high medicinal and dietary value. Modern pharmacology shows that CP has high effect on regulating metabolic disorders and cardiovascular systems diseases. Atherosclerosis (AS) is not only an inflammatory disease but also cardiovascular lipid metabolism disorder. Foam cells formation is the hallmark of AS. Several reports indicated that CP can mitigate the development of AS, but involved signaling pathway and its role in foam cell formation is unclear. Since the main components of GCP has protective effects in cardiovascular diseases, we evaluated its effect of inhibiting foam cell formation to support the traditional usage of GCP. The objective of this study aims to investigate the effects of GCP on suppressing RAW264.7 foam cell formation and anti-inflammatory in vitro. To evaluate the anti-foam cell formation and anti-inflammatory activity of GCP, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced RAW264.7 macrophages model was involved. Meantime, foam cell developing status was also closely monitored. RT-qPCR and Western blot were then applied to further investigate receptors in associated signaling pathways. GCP shown inhibitory effect on macrophage-derived foam cell formation in Oil Red O staining analysis, which was further confirmed by flow cytometry of Dil-ox-LDL staining and TG and TC analysis. The HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux was also promoted by GCP. Mechanistic studies showed that GCP significantly down-regulate SRA1 and CD36 protein expression, while significantly increasing the expression of PPARγ, LXRα, SRB1 and ABCG1. Also, GCP reduced ox-LDL-induced inflammatory factors level, and inhibited phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, NF-κB p65 and IKKα/β. GCP exhibited anti-atherogenic ability by interfering RAW264.7 foam cell formation, through inhibiting lipid uptake and promoting HDL-mediated cholesterol. PPARγ-LXRα-ABCG1/SRB1 pathway and its anti-inflammatory effect may involve. This proposed anti-foam cell formation activity is expected to provide new insight on comprehensive utilization of GCP. [Display omitted] • GCP decreased ox-LDL influx through suppression of the SRA1 and CD36 pathway in RAW264.7 cells. • GCP promotes cholesterol efflux from foam cells through upregulation of PPARγ/LXRα/ABCG1/SRB1 expression. • GCP inhibits ox-LDL-induced release of NO, ROS and inflammatory factors. • GCP treatment inhibited ox-LDL-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, NF-κB p65 and IKKα/β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]