Diallyl sulfide ameliorates carbon tetrachloride‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats via suppressing stress‐activated MAPK signaling pathways

The underlined effects of diallyl sulfide (DAS) against CCL₄‐induced oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic acute hepatic damage were assessed. Administration of DAS (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) along with CCL ₄ effectively mitigated serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase activities, MDA, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and MCP‐1 levels, as well as significantly restored HO‐1, GSH levels and SOD activity in liver tissues compared with those in rats treated with CCL ₄. Moreover, DAS inhibited CCL ₄‐induced increase of liver NF‐κB (p65), Bax, p38 MAPK, and JNK protein expression. In addition, DAS accelerated protein expression of Nrf2 and Bcl‐2. The hepatoprotective properties of DAS were further confirmed by the reduced severity of hepatic damage as demonstrated by histopathological findings. In conclusion, DAS achieved its protective potential against CCL4‐induced hepatotoxicity through antiapoptotic activity, as well as the synchronized modulation of NF‐κB and Nrf2 for the favor of antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory effects via suppression of the upstream stress‐activated MAPKs pathways.     

抑制p38MAPK信号通路对Bpiv3复制的影响

由牛副流感病毒3型(Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3,Bpiv3)感染引起的牛副流感病已成为各国牛场最重要的传染病之一,每年都会给世界养牛业造成巨大的经济损失,但关于该病致病的分子机制研究较少。本研究通过观察Bpiv3感染对MDBK细胞中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MKK3)及其下游分子p38丝裂酶原活化的蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)的表达的影响,探讨相关的信号转导机制,对p38 MAPK通路在Bpiv3感染过程中的作用进行了初步研究。Bpiv3感染细胞后,采用Western Blot检测MKK3,p38 MAPK在蛋白水平的表达变化,并采用ELISA法检测细胞上清中IL-6,IL-8,IL-13和TNF-α的水平变化,采用SPSS 12软件进行统计学分析。结果表明,Bpiv3在感染后能够诱导MKK3的激活以及p38的磷酸化,激活了p38 MAPK信号通路。而且p38 MAPK信号通路参与了Bpiv3的复制过程。ELISA检测Bpiv3感染后以及使用抑制剂SB202190处理后的细胞上清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-13和TNF-α的水平发现,p38 MAPK信号通路参与了Bpiv3诱导的炎症反应。研究证实Bpiv3感染能够激活p38 MAPK通路,显著上调MKK3的表达并诱导p38发生磷酸化,进一步激活下游分子发挥生物学活性,促进Bpiv3的复制及诱导促炎细胞因子的产生。p38 MAPK信号通路的激活可能是Bpiv3感染诱发炎症反应的机制之一。     

Impact of transient stress and stress enzymes on development

Stress enzymes triggered by transient stress mediate reprioritization of developmental and homeostatic events to flexibly accomplish the next essential developmental event. This review analyzes recent studies on stress and stress enzyme function during early mammalian development and describes the diverse consequences that result from measurement, analysis of function, and management of stress and stress enzymes during development.     

p38MAP Kinase activity is required for human primary adipocyte differentiation

Little is known about the role of p38MAPK in human adipocyte differentiation. Here we showed that p38MAPK activity increases during human preadipocytes differentiation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38MAPK during adipocyte differentiation of primary human preadipocytes markedly reduced triglycerides accumulation and adipocyte markers expression. Cell cycle arrest or proliferation was not affected by p38MAPK inhibition. Although induction of C/EBPbeta was not altered by the p38MAPK inhibitor, its phosphorylation on Threonine(188) was decreased as well as PPARgamma expression. These results indicate that p38MAPK plays a positive role in human adipogenesis through regulation of C/EBPbeta and PPARgamma factors.     

盐敏感性高血压大鼠纹蛋白水平变化对醛固酮及p38MAPK通路的影响

摘要 目的：探讨盐敏感性高血压大鼠纹蛋白水平变化对醛固酮及p38MAPK通路的影响。方法：通过向新生大鼠皮下注射辣椒素和高盐饮食构建盐敏感性高血压大鼠模型,分别使用醛固酮（ALDO）和醛固酮、依普利酮联合给药,实验分组为：1）正常对照组;2）模型组;3）假手术组;4）ALDO组;5）ALDO+依普利酮组。通过ELISA检测大鼠血浆中ALDO含量和外周血肾素含量,通过qPCR和WB检测大鼠心脏、肾脏、血管平滑肌中striatin和p38 MAPK的mRNA和蛋白的表达变化。结果：造模后在给药前大鼠血压有不同程度的升高,给药后ALDO组和ALDO+ Eplerenone组血压均有一定程度的下降;给药后ALDO+Eplerenone组大鼠血浆中ALDO和外周血中肾素含量升高;在肾脏与Control组和Model组相比,ALDO+Eplerenone组的striatin和p38 MAPK蛋白表达水平显著升高,p38 MAPK的 mRNA表达水平显著升高;在心脏中与Model组相比,ALDO+Eplerenone组的p38 MAPK蛋白表达水平显著升高;在主动脉中与Control组和Model组相比,ALDO+Eplerenone组的striatin和p38 MAPK蛋白表达水平显著降低。结论：纹蛋白水平的改变与盐敏感高血压具有相关性,其可通过调节ALDO/MR→p38MAPK相关通路影响盐敏感性高血压。     

淫羊藿苷缓解腹部皮瓣缺血再灌注损伤模型大鼠的作用及机制研究

摘要 目的：研究淫羊藿苷缓解腹部皮瓣缺血再灌注损伤（IRI）模型大鼠的作用及机制。方法：取30只SD级大鼠作为研究对象,将其按照随机数字表法分作假手术组、模型组以及淫羊藿苷组,每组各10只。其中模型组和淫羊藿苷组大鼠均制作大鼠腹部皮瓣IRI模型,假手术组以及模型组大鼠予以生理盐水腹腔注射,淫羊藿苷组大鼠则予以淫羊藿苷腹腔注射。对比各组大鼠皮瓣存活面积及存活率、血清炎症因子以及氧化应激指标水平、皮瓣组织中p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38 MAPK）信号通路相关蛋白表达情况。结果：模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠的皮瓣存活面积及存活率均低于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组大鼠的皮瓣存活面积及存活率均高于模型组（P＜0.05）。模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清白细胞介素-10（IL-10）均低于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组高于模型组;模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清肿瘤坏死因子-?琢（TNF-?琢）均高于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组低于模型组（P＜0.05）。模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）水平均低于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清SOD、GSH水平均高于模型组;模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清丙二醛（MDA）水平均高于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组大鼠血清MDA水平低于模型组（P＜0.05）。模型组、淫羊藿苷组大鼠皮瓣组织p38 MAPK、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶-2（MKP-2）相对表达量均高于假手术组,但淫羊藿苷组皮瓣组织p38 MAPK相对表达量低于模型组,而MKP-2相对表达量高于模型组（P＜0.05）。结论：淫羊藿苷可通过调控p38 MAPK信号通路缓解炎症反应及氧化应激,发挥减轻腹部皮瓣IRI的作用。     

Thrombospondin-4 critically controls transforming growth factor β1 induced hypertrophic scar formation

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a growth factor presenting important functions during tissue remodeling and hypertrophic scar (HS) formation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we identified thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) as a TGF-β1 target that essentially mediates TGF-β1-induced scar formation both in vitro and in vivo. The expression of TSP-4 was compared on both mRNA and protein levels between hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) and normal skin fibroblast (NFs) in response to TGF-β1 treatment. Two signaling molecules, Smad3 and p38, were assessed for their importance in regulating TGF-β1-mediated TSP-4 expression. The significance of TSP-4 in controlling TGF-β1-induced proliferation, invasion, migration, and fibrosis in HSFs was analyzed by knocking down endogenous TSP-4 using small hairpin RNA (shRNA) (TSP-4 shRNA). Finally, a skin HS model was established in rats and the scar formation was compared between rats treated with vehicle (saline), TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + TSP-4 shRNA. The TSP-4 level was significantly higher in HSFs than in NFs and TGF-β1 more potently boosted TSP-4 expression in the former than in the latter. Both Smad3 and p38 essentially mediated TGF-β1-induced TSP-4 expression. TSP-4 shRNA significantly suppressed TGF-β1-stimulated proliferation, invasion, migration, or fibrosis of HSFs in vitro and drastically improved wound healing in vivo. TGF-β1, by activating both Smad3 and p38, induces TSP-4, which in turn not only presents a positive feedback regulation on the activation of Smad3 and p38, but also essentially mediates TGF-β1-induced HS formation. Targeting TSP-4 thus may benefit HS treatment.     

Evaluation of the combination mode and features of p38 MAPK inhibitors: construction of different pharmacophore models and molecular docking

Abnormal expression of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) can lead to various pathological reactions, such as arthritis, psoriasis, krone disease, etc. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is an important signal transduction enzyme that plays important roles in influencing the release of intracellular TNF-α factor. It is very meaningful to study the targeting kinase with specific inhibitors in the treatment of related diseases. In order to achieve a deeper insight, it is necessary to analyse the structural characteristics and the action mode of the p38 MAPK inhibitors in the active site. In the study, a ligand-based common feature pharmacophore model and the receptor structure-based pharmacophore model were constructed, respectively. Their common chemical features consisted of the hydrophobic groups (H) and the hydrogen bond acceptors (A), and kept the consistency of spatial structure distribution. Then, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed with the eight training set compounds. The binding characteristics of molecules binding were described in the topological region of the active site. Finally, the structure–activity relationship (SAR) was obtained by analysing docking results with the different pharmacophore models. This research leads to the proposal of an interaction model in the p38 MAPK active site and provides guidance for the screening and design of more potent and selective p38 MAPK inhibitors.