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Dasatinib, as a second-generation broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor, presents an antitumor effect by inhibiting tyrosine kinases. However, dasatinib causes serious side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and liver toxicity, possibly through the activation of ROCK kinase and MLC phosphorylation. At present, there is no effective prevention and treatment method. Previous research studies have shown that YQFM (YiQiFuMai powder injection) protects the blood-brain barrier by inhibiting the ROCK/MLC signaling pathway; whether YQFM can alleviate the side effects of dasatinib is unknown. In this study, dasatinib was injected (i.p. 70 mg/kg) and YQFM (i.p. 0.336 g/kg, 0.672 g/kg, 1.342 g/kg) was given in advance for 3 days to mice, to explore the effect of YQFM on side effects induced by Dasatinib. The results confirmed that YQFM significantly decreased Evans blue leakage in the small intestine and increased intestinal blood flow, increased the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and VE-cadherin, and reduced the contents of D-lactic acid, s-VE-cadherin, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. Finally, YQFM inhibited the expression of ROCK-1 and phosphorylation of MLC induced by Dasatinib. These findings suggested that YQFM could improve the side effects caused by Dasatinib linked with the ROCK/MLC signaling pathway, as shown in the graphical abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Hypoxic activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and fibrosis in adipose tissue contribute to adipose dysfunction. This study was designed to investigate the effects of metformin and resveratrol on the regulation of HIF-1α and fibrosis in hypoxic adipose tissue.Experimental Approach: Mice were fed a high-fat diet to induce hypoxia and fibrosis in adipose tissue; adipose tissue incubated in vitro in 1% O2 showed a similar change. The effects of metformin and resveratrol on hypoxia, HIF-1α accumulation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and gene expressions of extracellular matrix components and pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined.Key Results: Oral administration of metformin or resveratrol prevented hypoxia and reduced HIF-1α accumulation with dephosphorylation of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, indicative of suppression of hypoxic HIF-1α activation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Metformin and resveratrol down-regulated gene expressions of Col3α, Col6α, elastin and lysyl oxidase and thereby reduced collagen deposition in adipose tissue. The increased gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and F4/80 were also down-regulated by metformin and resveratrol. Metformin and resveratrol had similar effects in adipose tissue exposed to 1% O2 . Metformin reduced ATP production and prevented the reduction in oxygen tension in 3T3-L1 cells, suggesting that it prevented hypoxia by limiting oxygen consumption, whereas resveratrol reduced HIF-1α accumulation by promoting its proteasomal degradation via the regulation of AMPK/SIRT1.Conclusion and Implications: Hypoxia and fibrosis are early causes of adipose dysfunction in obesity. Both metformin and resveratrol effectively inhibited HIF-1α activation-induced fibrosis and inflammation in adipose tissue, although by different mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

QiShenYiQi is a Chinese herbal formula composed of Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. ex Bunge , root; Slauia miltiorrhiza Bunge , root and rhizome; Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H.Chen , root; and Dalbergia odorifera T.C.Chen , heartwood of trunk and root with a proportion of 10:5:1:0.067. Its dripping pills were approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in 2003 and could be used in the clinical treatment of ischemic heart diseases. Ferroptosis is an important pathological mechanism in the process of myocardial ischemia (MI). Whether QSYQ can improve ferroptosis induced by myocardial ischemia is still unclear. In this study, the potential mechanisms of QSYQ against ferroptosis in MI-induced injury were investigated. The main components of QSYQ were analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. MI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and then treated with QSYQ dropping pills for 14 days. The cardiac function of mice was evaluated by echocardiography. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to detect the pathological changes in heart tissue. Serum biochemical indexes were analyzed by biochemical kit. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the mitochondria ultrastructure and mitochondrial ROS was detected by immunofluorescence. Then, photoacoustic imaging was used to observe the redox status of the mice' hearts. Finally, the mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis related proteins and the proteins of ferroptosis were analyzed by western blotting. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression changes of ferroptosis. A total of 20 principal components of QSYQ were characterized by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. QSYQ significantly improved cardiac function and myocardial injury in MI mice. Furthermore, the lipid peroxidation change levels (MDA, 4-HNE, and GSH) in serum were attenuated and myocardial iron content was reduced after QSYQ treatment. On this basis, QSYQ also improved the expression changes of ferroptosis related mRNA and proteins. In addition, QSYQ promoted mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α, Nrf1, and TFAM) and mitochondrial fusion (MFN-2 and OPA1) and inhibited mitochondrial excessive fission (Phosphorylation of Drp1 at ser616) in vitro and in vivo , indicating that the cardioprotection of QSYQ might be related to promoting mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamic homeostasis. In summary, QSYQ could alleviate MI-induced ferroptosis by improving mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamic homeostasis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Guizhi Fuling formula, a well-known Chinese herbal formula recorded in the Eastern Han Dynasty, is composed of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl (Cassia bark), Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Poria), Paeonia suffruticosa andrews (Moutan Cortex), Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Herbaceous peony), and Amygdalus persica L.(Persicae Semen). It has clinical efficacy of activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis and is commonly used for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. However, its therapeutic mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study is to reveal molecular mechanisms of action using in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Material and methods The ICR mouse uterine contraction was induced by oxytocin exposure following estradiol benzoate pretreatment. Mice were given GZFLC (0.54, 1.08 g/kg) by gavage. The levels of NO, PGF 2α and Ca 2+ in uterine tissue were determined according to instructions. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) proteins in uterine tissue were assessed by Western Blot. Mouse isolated uterus strips were mounted in tissue organ baths containing Locke's solution. The contractile responses were recorded with Power Lab recording system. The effect of GZFLC on spontaneous uterine contraction, and uterine contraction induced by oxytocin, PGF 2α was observed. Myometrial cells were exposed to oxytocin (5 U/L) to induce calcium release, and the effect of GZFLC and its components (PL, PGG, CA) on intracellular Ca 2+ was analyzed with fluorometry imaging. Results In vivo study demonstrated that GZFLC significantly reduced oxytocin-induced writhing responses with a maximal inhibition of 55%. It also decreased the levels of NO, PGF 2α and Ca 2+ in oxytocin-induced mice uterine tissue. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that COX-2 and OTR expressions in uterine tissue of dysmenorrhea mice were significantly reduced. GZFLC inhibited spontaneous uterus contractions in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC 50 value was 0.99 mg/ml. The IC 50 values of GZFLC on PGF 2α , oxytocin-induced contractions were 1.45 mg/ml, 3.53 mg/ml, respectively. Further in vitro studies indicated that GZFLC and its components (PL, PGG, CA) could restrain intracellular calcium levels in favour of uteri relaxation. Conclusions Both in vivo and in vitro results indicated that GZFLC possessed a significant spasmolytic effect on uterine tetanic contraction. The present study provides in vivo and in vitro experimental evidence to support the use of GZFLC for the clinical treatment of primary dysmenorrheal (PD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Modified Si-Miao-San (mSMS) has showed anti-inflammatory potency and has been used in the clinic to treat metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, but whether its anti-inflammatory activity contributes to improving insulin resistance remains to be determined. This study aims to investigate the mechanistic relationship between its anti-inflammatory activity and modulation of insulin sensitivity in free fatty acid-stimulated HepG2 cells. Materials and methods: HepG2 cells were stimulated with palmitate (PA) and the effect of mSMS on insulin mediated-glycogen synthesis and triglyceride secretion was observed. The inhibition of mSMS on gene expression of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inhibitor of NF-κB kinase-β (IKKβ) activation was investigated. In addition, the effects of mSMS on insulin signaling transduction along insulin receptor substrates-1 (IRS-1)/Akt pathway were also evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of mSMS on glucose intolerance induced by conditioned-medium derived from activated macrophages was also assessed in normoglycemic mice. Results: Treatment of hepatocytes with PA reduced insulin sensitivity and mSMS effectively increased insulin-mediated glycogen synthesis and restored insulin inhibition of triglyceride secretion. mSMS suppressed IKKβ activation and down-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 gene over-expression, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory activity in hepatocytes. PA-evoked inflammation impaired insulin signaling cascades and mSMS improved insulin signaling transduction by modification of Ser/Thr phosphorylation of IRS-1 and downstream Akt (T308), thereby improved insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes. mSMS also improved glucose intolerance induced by inflammatory cytokines in normoglycemic mice, which further demonstrated its modulation toward insulin sensitivity in vivo. Conclusions: The results suggest that mSMS inhibited inflammatory response and improved insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes via an IKKβ/IRS-1/Akt-dependent pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, a new drug combination GRS comprising ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), ruscogenin (R-Rus) and schisandrin (S-SA) was screened based on ShengMai preparations, which exhibited a prominent cardioprotective effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. Aim of the study : To investigate their systemic and individual mechanism of each compound in combination GRS. The mice model of MI/R and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocytes injury were performed to explore the respective characteristics of each compound in GRS against myocardial injury. Each component in the combination GRS attenuated MI/R injury as evidenced by decreased myocardial infarct size, ameliorated histological features, and improved biochemical indicators. Meanwhile, ingredient G, R and S in combination also individually performed a significant decrease of apoptotic index in MI/R mice and H/R-induced cardiomyocytes injury. Mechanistically, component G in GRS could markedly increase the ATP content in cardiomyocytes through activation of AMPKα phosphorylation. Interestingly, the anti-apoptotic actions of G were profoundly attenuated by knockdown of AMPKα, while no alteration was observed on composition R and S. Moreover, component R in GRS significantly reduced the IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression, as well as the content of IL-6 via the modulation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Further, component S exhibited the most powerful anti-oxidative capacity in GRS and remarkably decreased the production of MDA and ROS, and potential mechanisms might at least in part through activating the Akt-14-3-3 signaling pathway and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Bad and ERK1/2. Our results indicated that the respective mechanism of each compound in combination GRS against MI/R injury might closely associated with energy metabolism modulation, suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thalictrum minus L., a Mongolian folk medicinal plant, was applied for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infection, tuberculosis and lung inflammation. Aim of the study : The present work aims to elucidate the protective effects of Thalictrum minus L.(TML) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury and the underlying mechanisms. The mice model of acute lung injury was induced by LPS via endotracheal drip, and TML (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) were administered orally 1 h prior to LPS. The efficacy and molecular mechanisms in the presence or absence of TML were investigated. We demonstrated that treatment with TML aqueous extract protected the mice from acute lung injury induced by LPS administration. TML significantly inhibited weight loss in mice, decreased the lung wet to dry weight (W/D) ratios and attenuated lung histopathological changes, such as infiltration of inflammatory cells and coagulation, pulmonary edema. Furthermore, we found that TML markedly reduced the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), decreased nitric oxide (NO), and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and effectively ameliorated LPS-induced increased total protein, leukocyte and macrophages in BALF. In addition, TML pronouncedly suppressed the activation of the MAPKs p38-NLRP3/caspase-1 and COX2, increased the expression of p-AMPK-Nrf2, and suppressed the expression of KEAP, apoptotic-related protein as well as autophagy. These results suggested that TML ameliorated LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines and reducing oxidative damage associated with the MAPKs p38-NLRP3/caspase-1 and COX2 signaling pathways, AMPK-Nrf2/KEAP signaling pathways, as well as apoptosis and autophagy. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]