scholarly journals Detoxication mechanisms of Radix Tripterygium wilfordii via compatibility with Herba Lysimachia christinae in S180-bearing mice by involving Nrf2

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Ming Wang ◽  
Hong Cai ◽  
Jin-Hua Li ◽  
Rong-Xing Chen ◽  
Yue-Yue Zhang ◽  
...  

The combined administration between Radix Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (LGT) and Herba Lysimachia christinae Hance (JQC) belongs to mutual detoxication compatibility of seven emotions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. However, until now, the compatibility detoxication mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was undertaken to observe detoxication mechanisms of LGT through compatibility with JQC in tumor-bearing mice by involving NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant defenses. In addition, influence of compatibility on antitumor activity was also investigated here. Our results demonstrated that compatibility with JQC administration significantly reversed LGT-elevated serum alanine/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST) levels and alleviated hepatocytes’ swelling or degeneration damage, and at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) produced the strongest detoxication effect. Besides, compatibility with JQC administration reversed not only LGT-elevated hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) but also the LGT lowered GSH, glutathione-s transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and interleukin (IL)-10 levels. Furthermore, compatibility with JQC administration significantly up-regulated protein expression of Nrf2 and mRNA expression of it regulated downstream antioxidant genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), and glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). In addition, compatibility with JQC further decreased LGT-decreased tumor weight and at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) also exerted the strongest synergistic effect. Collectively, through compatibility with JQC exerted detoxication effect on LGT-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanisms could be at least partly attributed to up-regulation of Nrf2 and its downstream signals, thereby enhancing antioxidant defenses, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Additionally, at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) exerted the strongest effects on both detoxication and synergism.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Xiong ◽  
Jinyu Huang ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
Yanfang Gao ◽  
Chunmei Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial toxin with known correlates of oxidative stress and cognitive deficits in the brain. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcriptional factor that represents a central cellular antioxidant defense mechanism and transcribes many antioxidant genes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) is a well-known nuclear receptor to regulate lipid metabolism in many tissues, and it has been also associated with the control of oxidative stress, neuronal death, neurogenesis and differentiation. The role of Nrf2 and PPARγ in As-induced neurotoxicity is still debated. The present study was designed to investigate the neurobehavioral toxic effect of sub-chronic and middle-dose sodium arsenite exposure in mice hippocampus, as well as the response of Nrf2/PPARγ expression and influence on protein expression levels of their downstream antioxidant genes. Our results showed that mice treated with intraperitoneal injection of sodium arsenite (50 mg/kg body wt.) twice a week for 7 weeks resulted in increased generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of spatial cognitive function. The present study also found a positive association between Nrf2/PPARγ expression in hippocampus of mice, and activation of antioxidant defenses by the evidently upregulated expression of their downstream genes, including superoxide dismutase, heme oxygenase-1 and glutathione peroxidase-3. Therefore, our findings were helpful for further understanding the role of Nrf2/PPARγ feedback loop in As-induced neurobehavioral toxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Mona Tawfik ◽  
Samy Makary ◽  
Mohammed Keshawy

IntroductionIschemic preconditioning (Ipre) provides protection against renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury with its associated remote organ damage. This study examined the enhancing protective effect of Ipre with levosimendan or cilostazol in I/R-induced kidney and lung injury in a rat model.Material and methodsRats were divided into: sham-operated, I/R control, Ipre control, I/R + cilostazol or levosimendan and Ipre + cilostazol or levosimendan. Drugs were given 30 min before left renal I/R or 4 cycles of Ipre just before renal ischemia.ResultsThe Ipre combined with the implemented drugs enhanced physio­logical antioxidant defense genes including renal nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its dependent genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) and improved malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase renal tissue levels. The combined effect improved I/R consequences for blood urea, creatinine, and creatinine clearance and improved blood oxygenation and metabolic acidosis. Moreover, the combination improved the renal soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) with histopathological improvement of tubular necrosis with a decrease in the apoptotic marker caspase-3 and an increase in the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression.ConclusionsCilostazol or levosimendan potentiates the renoprotective effect of Ipre against renal I/R injury, associated with upregulation of antioxidant genes Nrf2, HO-1, and NOQ-1 expression.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayi Chen ◽  
Fangting He ◽  
Sijing Liu ◽  
Tao Zhou ◽  
Saira Baloch ◽  
...  

Ligustrum robustum is a traditional herbal tea that is widely distributed in southwest China. The health effects of L. robustum are characteristics of clearing heat, antioxidant, inducing resurgence, and improving digestion. However, the molecular mechanisms related to these effects, particularly the antioxidant mechanism, have been seldom reported. The objective of this study was to assess antioxidative capacity of L. robustum, and its protective effects and mechanisms against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) - induced toxicity in Caco-2 cells. Total phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activity, and reducing capacity of L. robustum were measured. The effects of L. robustum on the cell viability and antioxidant defense system were explored. The expression of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and antioxidant genes: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) were analyzed by western blot and qPCR. Pretreatment of L. robustum could significantly reduce H2O2-induced toxicity, decrease the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GR). By activating the expression of Nrf2 and antioxidant genes (NQO1, HO-1, and GCL), L. robustum exerts cytoprotective effect in Caco-2 cells dealt with H2O2. Therefore, the well-established model of Caco-2 cells demonstrates that L. robustum may modulate the cytoprotective effect against the H2O2-induced oxidative stress through the Nrf2 signaling pathway.


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Shen ◽  
W Wang ◽  
L Ding ◽  
Y Sao ◽  
Y Huang ◽  
...  

Aim: This study aimed to determine whether nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 antagonized the oxidative stress induced by di- N-butylphthalate (DBP) in testicular Leydig cells. Methods: Mouse TM3 testicular Leydig cells were treated with Nrf2 knockdown (KD) or overexpression in the presence and absence of DBP. Oxidative profiles were examined. Nrf2 target antioxidant genes were studied, and the effects of Nrf2 inducer sulphoraphane (SFN) were tested. Results: DBP induced intracellular oxidative stress to a similar extent with Nrf2 KD. Expression and protein levels of Nrf2 were increased together with its target genes, namely heme oxygenase 1, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase 1 and peroxiredoxin 6, following DBP stimulation. Use of SFN not only restored the intracellular oxidative toxicity but also cell proliferation and testosterone secretion in response to DBP. Conclusion: Increased Nrf2 activity, for example, by SFN can effectively antagonize the oxidative stress in testicular Leydig cells caused by DBP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjian Dong ◽  
Xiaoming Zhang ◽  
Shijing Wang ◽  
Chenchen Xu ◽  
Manli Gao ◽  
...  

Studies have indicated that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. Research has also revealed that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) triggers the expression of antioxidant genes via a series of antioxidant response elements (AREs), thus preventing oxidative stress. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the bioactive component of Nigella sativa, a medicinal plant that exhibits antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. In the present study we examined whether TQ alleviates in vivo and in vitro neurodegeneration induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by acting as an activator of the Nrf2/ARE cascade. We showed that TQ significantly reduced MPP+-mediated cell death and apoptosis. Moreover, TQ significantly elevated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and significantly increased the subsequent expression of antioxidative genes such as Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST). The application of siRNA to silence Nrf2 led to an abolishment in the protective effects of TQ. We also found that the intraperitoneal injection of TQ into a rodent model of PD ameliorated oxidative stress and effectively mitigated nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration by activating the Nrf2-ARE pathway. However, these effects were inhibited by the injection of a lentivirus wrapped Nrf2 siRNA (siNrf2). Collectively, these findings suggest that TQ alleviates progressive dopaminergic neuropathology by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling cascade and by attenuating oxidative stress, thus demonstrating that TQ is a potential novel drug candidate for the treatment of PD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (10) ◽  
pp. G885-G896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arwa S. Kathiria ◽  
Mackenzie A. Butcher ◽  
Jason M. Hansen ◽  
Arianne L. Theiss

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased antioxidant response in the intestinal mucosa. Expression of the mitochondrial protein prohibitin (PHB) is also decreased during intestinal inflammation. Our previous study showed that genetic restoration of colonic epithelial PHB expression [villin-PHB transgenic (PHB Tg) mice] attenuated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis/oxidative stress and sustained expression of colonic nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a cytoprotective transcription factor. This study investigated the role of Nrf2 in mediating PHB-induced protection against colitis and expression of the antioxidant response element (ARE)-regulated antioxidant genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1). PHB-transfected Caco-2-BBE human intestinal epithelial cells maintained increased ARE activation and decreased intracellular ROS levels compared with control vector-transfected cells during Nrf2 knockdown by small interfering RNA. Treatment with the ERK inhibitor PD-98059 decreased PHB-induced ARE activation, suggesting that ERK constitutes a significant portion of PHB-mediated ARE activation in Caco-2-BBE cells. PHB Tg, Nrf2−/−, and PHB Tg/Nrf2−/− mice were treated with DSS or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), and inflammation and expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 were assessed. PHB Tg/Nrf2−/− mice mimicked PHB Tg mice, with attenuated DSS- or TNBS-induced colitis and induction of colonic HO-1 and NQO-1 expression, despite deletion of Nrf2. PHB Tg/Nrf2−/− mice exhibited increased activation of ERK during colitis. Our results suggest that maintaining expression of intestinal epithelial cell PHB, which is decreased during colitis, reduces the severity of inflammation and increases colonic levels of the antioxidants HO-1 and NQO-1 via a mechanism independent of Nrf2.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Enikő Balogh ◽  
Arpan Chowdhury ◽  
Haneen Ababneh ◽  
Dávid Máté Csiki ◽  
Andrea Tóth ◽  
...  

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a heart disease characterized by the progressive fibro-calcific remodeling of the aortic valves, an actively regulated process with the involvement of the reactive oxygen species-mediated differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) into osteoblast-like cells. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the expression of a variety of antioxidant genes, and plays a protective role in valve calcification. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an Nrf2-target gene, is upregulated in human calcified aortic valves. Therefore, we investigated the effect of Nrf2/HO-1 axis in VIC calcification. We induced osteogenic differentiation of human VICs with elevated phosphate and calcium-containing osteogenic medium (OM) in the presence of heme. Heme inhibited Ca deposition and OM-induced increase in alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin (OCN) expression. Heme induced Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in VICs. Heme lost its anti-calcification potential when we blocked transcriptional activity Nrf2 or enzyme activity of HO-1. The heme catabolism products bilirubin, carbon monoxide, and iron, and also ferritin inhibited OM-induced Ca deposition and OCN expression in VICs. This study suggests that heme-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway inhibits the calcification of VICs. The anti-calcification effect of heme is attributed to the end products of HO-1-catalyzed heme degradation and ferritin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-226
Author(s):  
Yibing Zhang ◽  
Yong Zhao ◽  
Yongwang Ran ◽  
Jianyou Guo ◽  
Haifeng Cui ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundSevoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, is known to induce widespread neuronal degeneration and apoptosis. Recently, the stress-inducible protein sestrin 2 and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) have been found to regulate the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppress oxidative stress. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), a saponin isolated from Panax notoginseng, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects. The effects of NGR1 against neurotoxicity induced by sevoflurane were assessed.MethodsSprague-Dawley rat pups on postnatal day 7 (PD7) were exposed to sevoflurane (3%) anesthesia for 6 h. NGR1 at doses of 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight was orally administered to pups from PD2 to PD7.ResultsPretreatment with NGR1 attenuated sevoflurane-induced generation of ROS and reduced apoptotic cell counts. Western blotting revealed decreased cleaved caspase 3 and Bad and Bax pro-apoptotic protein expression. NGR1 substantially upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression along with increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 levels, suggesting Nrf2 signaling activation. Enhanced sestrin-2 and phosphorylated AMPK expression were noticed following NGR1 pretreatment.ConclusionThis study revealed the neuroprotective effects of NGR1 through effective suppression of apoptosis and ROS via regulation of apoptotic proteins and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and sestrin 2/AMPK signaling cascades.


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