Ethnopharmacological relevance: The flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge (Ranunculaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat various inflammatory diseases, including upper respiratory infections, chronic tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. Recently, there has been growing research on the antiviral role of the flowers of T. chinensis Bunge. However, little is known about its anti-influenza virus effects and the underlying mechanisms. Aim of the study: This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the crude extract from the flowers of T. chinensis Bunge (CEFTC) on mice infected with influenza virus. We further explored its mechanism by detecting the expression of vital proteins (TLR3, TBK1, TAK1, IKK alpha, IRF3, and IFN-beta) related to TLR3 signaling pathway. Materials and methods: Mice were infected with influenza A virus (H1N1) through the nasal cavity and were intragastrically administered CEFTC at the dose of 0.2 mg/g once daily. The therapeutic effects of CEFTC were evaluated by blood cell count, lung index, spleen index, alveolar lavage fluid testing, and HE staining. Network pharmacology analysis predicted the potential signaling pathway between the flowers of T. chinensis Bunge and pneumonia. The expression of TLR3, TBK1, TAK1, IKK alpha, IRF3, and IFN-beta in lung tissues were examined by Western blot assay. In addition, the immunofluorescence assay was applied to assess the effect of CEFTC on the distribution of IRF3 and IFN-beta between nuclei and cytoplasm. Results: Compared with the infected group, the lung index was markedly reduced, and the pathological damage of the lungs was also attenuated in the CEFTC treatment group. The network pharmacology analysis indicated that the NF-kappa B pathway was a potential signaling pathway in the flowers of T. chinensis Bunge for the treatment of pneumonia, TLR3, IRF3, and TBK1 were crucial targets associated with pneumonia. Western blot assay demonstrated that in the high-dose virus infected group, CEFTC reduced the expression of TLR3, TAK1, TBK1, and IRF3. Furthermore, CEFTC could increase the nuclear distribution of IRF3 in alveolar epithelial cells after virus infection. Conclusions: These results suggested that different doses of influenza virus could cause varying infection symptoms in mice. Moreover, CEFTC could exert anti-influenza virus effects by regulating the expression of TLR3, IRF3, IFN-beta, TAK1, and TBK1 in the TLR3 signaling pathway.

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课题组前期实验发现黄芪注射液可通过调控TLR3 信号通路保护流感病毒感染的 Raw264. 7 细胞[1].本次研究选择了不同黄芪剂型,即黄芪水煎剂(Astragalus decoction, AD)进行后续实验,重点探讨 AD 对流感病毒的作用及机制,为其临床应用提供实验依据.

Background/Aim Rhubarb, a traditional Chinese medicine derived from three species, is commonly used in the prescriptions for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis based on its traditional effects of removing blood stasis and dredging the meridians. It has been reported that rhubarb can protect blood vessels by reducing inflammation and inhibiting vascular endothelial injury (VEI), but the effective components and mechanism of rhubarb inhibiting VEI are still unclear. This study aimed to compare the differences in chemical compositions of the three species of rhubarb and their inhibitory effect on VEI, so as to explain the material basis and select the dominant species to inhibit VEI, and to elucidate the mechanism of rhubarb's inhibitory effect on VEI. Methods Plant metabolomics was used to compare the chemical components of three species of rhubarb. The efficacy of three species of rhubarb in inhibiting VEI was compared through cell experiments in vitro. At the same time, combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking, the effective components and pathways of rhubarb involved in inhibiting VEI were screened. The mechanism of rhubarb inhibiting VEI was verified by molecular biology. Results There were significant differences in the distribution of chemical components among the three species of rhubarb. We identified 36 different chemical components in the positive ion mode and 38 different chemical components in the negative ion mode. Subsequently, the results showed significant differences in inhibiting VEI among the three species of rhubarb based on the contents of inflammatory factors (such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), ROS, and NO and confirmed that R. tanguticum had the best inhibitory effect on VEI in the light of the comprehensive efficacy, compared with R. palmatum and R. officinale. Three species of rhubarb alleviated the inflammatory response in LPS-induced EA.hy926 cells by reducing the contents of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α and decreasing expressions of PI3K, AKT, NF-κB p65, and STAT3 protein in the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway and the inhibition of proteins phosphorylation. In addition, three species of rhubarb could lessen the contents of ROS and NO in EA.hy926 cells induced by LPS. All results indicated that the process of inflammation-induced cellular oxidative stress, which resulted in VEI, was obviously improved by three species of rhubarb. Conclusion R. tanguticum was more effective among three species of rhubarb, and it had been proved that gallic acid, gallic-acid-O-galloyl-glucoside, procyanidin B-2,3,3′-di-O-gallatein, and other potential components could reduce the contents of inflammatory factors (such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), ROS, and NO by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway and protected the vascular endothelium and the blood vessels by improving the inflammation and oxidative stress reaction.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, mature, noncoding RNA that lead to posttranscriptional gene silencing to regulate gene expression. miRNAs are instrumental in biological processes such as cell development, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis. The miRNA-mediated gene silencing is an important part of the regulation of gene expression in many kinds of diseases. miR-155, one of the best-characterized miRNAs, has been found to be closely related to physiological and pathological processes. What is more, miR-155 can be used as a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. We analyze the articles about miR-155 for nearly five years, review the advanced study on the function of miR-155 in different inflammatory cells like T cells, B cells, DCs, and macrophages, and then summarize the biological functions of miR-155 in different inflammatory cells. The widespread involvement of miR-155 in human diseases has led to a novel therapeutic approach between Chinese and Western medicine.

Background: Malignant melanoma has high morbidity and mortality and limited treatment options. Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential in the clinical therapy of cancer, and the theory of compatibility is one core content of Chinese medical theory. Astragalus Membranaceus and Radix Trichosanthis are clinically effective for the treatment of various cancers.Methods: We verified the effects of AMD, RTD, and their "cocktail" on melanoma model in vitro and in vivo and the mechanism of its effect on the Akt-related signaling pathway by network pharmacology, MTT, flow cytometry, LDH, SOD, MDA assay, and Western blot.Results: The network pharmacology analysis indicated that the PI3K-Akt pathway plays a crucial role in the treatment of malignant melanoma with these two herbs. In addition, AMD, RTD, and their "cocktail" could inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells by reducing the survival rate in a concentration-dependent manner and by regulating the cell cycle, and the compatibility of two herbs also could inhibit melanoma growth. They could, respectively, induce apoptosis and inhibit migration by affecting the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, snail, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. Furthermore, LDH activity was decreased, while SOD increased and MDA reduced. The factors of the Akt-related signaling pathway, Akt and p-Akt, were decreased.Conclusion: This study showed that AMD, RTD, and their "cocktail" could regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis in A375 cells through the suppression of the Akt-related signaling pathway, and the "cocktail" groups had detoxification and additive effects. The best compatibility of the two herbs also can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

目的 观察牵正散合大补阴丸水煎剂对蛋白酶抑制因子I(proteasome inhibitor I,PSI)诱导的帕金森病体外细胞模型大鼠肾上腺嗜铬瘤细胞(pheochromocy-toma cells,PC12)增殖、凋亡的影响,并探讨其作用机制.方法 共设立9组,分别是模型组、模型加药组7组(PSI+Q0组,PSI+Q25组,PSI+D0组,PSI+D25组,P+D25+Q25组,P+D25+Q0组,P+Q25+D0组)以及空白对照组.流式细胞术检测牵正散合大补阴丸水煎剂对PC12细胞模型中细胞凋亡的影响;NBT核黄素比色法检测不同浓度药物处理PC12细胞模型后细胞上清液中总超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)含量;蛋白免疫印迹法检测PC12细胞模型中泛素/蛋白酶体途径中相关因子TBP1-19、PA28α的表达水平.结果(1)与空白对照组相比,模型组与模型加药组细胞坏死、凋亡呈升高趋势;与模型组相比,P+Q25+D0组及P+Q0组、P+Q25组细胞坏死、凋亡趋势下降.(2)与空白对照组相比,模型组的SOD值降低(P<0.05);与模型组相比,各模型加药组SOD值升高(P<0.05).(3)与空白对照组相比,模型组TBP1-19、PA28α蛋白的表达降低;与模型组相比,各模型加药组TBP1-19、PA28α蛋白的表达水平升高.结论 牵正散、大补阴丸水煎剂及其合方均可改善PSI诱导的PC12细胞的细胞坏死及凋亡情况,可能是通过影响泛素/蛋白酶体途径中相关蛋白TBP1-19和PA28α的表达水平来改善PSI诱导的PC12细胞模型的凋亡和SOD活性,且不同浓度的合方对PSI诱导的PC12细胞模型保护程度不同.

目的 观察黄芪、天花粉及其配伍对小鼠恶性黑色素瘤B16细胞增殖和迁移的影响,探讨其作用机制.方法 MTT法检测B16细胞增殖,根据结果计算细胞生长抑制率为0％时对应的各药物浓度(IC0)、为25％时对应的各药物浓度(IC25)、为50％时对应的各药物浓度(IC50).设空白组、配伍组(黄芪注射液IC0+天花粉水煎剂IC0、黄芪注射液IC0+天花粉水煎剂IC25、黄芪注射液IC0+天花粉水煎剂IC50、黄芪注射液IC25+天花粉水煎剂IC0、黄芪注射液IC25+天花粉水煎剂IC25).细胞划痕实验检测B16细胞迁移,Western blot检测B16细胞迁移相关蛋白E-cadherin、N-cadherin表达.结果 MTT检测结果表明,不同剂量黄芪和天花粉均可抑制B16细胞增殖,具有浓度依赖性;细胞划痕实验结果显示,黄芪和天花粉均影响B16细胞划痕愈合,抑制细胞迁移,具有浓度依赖性;两药不同比例配伍的细胞增殖抑制率明显高于单味中药,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);Western blot检测结果显示,黄芪和天花粉均增加E-cadherin蛋白的表达,降低N-cadherin蛋白的表达.结论 黄芪、天花粉及其配伍均可抑制小鼠恶性黑色素瘤B16细胞增殖及迁移,且两药配伍效果优于单味中药,黄芪和天花粉抑制细胞迁移的机制与E-cadherin和N-cadherin蛋白的表达相关.