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This toxicology study was conducted to assess the impact of formaldehyde, a common air pollutant found in Chinese gymnasiums, on the brain function of athletes. In this research, a total of 24 Balb/c male mice of SPF-grade were divided into four groups, each consisting of six mice. The mice were exposed to formaldehyde at different concentrations, including 0 mg/m3, 0.5 mg/m3, 3.0 mg/m3, and 3.0 mg/m3 in combination with an injection of L-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine), which is a nitric oxide synthase antagonist. Following a one-week test period (8 h per day, over 7 days), measurements of biomarkers related to the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP-cAMP signaling pathway were carried out on the experimental animals post-treatment. The study found that: (1) Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to brain cell apoptosis and neurotoxicity; (2) Additionally, formaldehyde exposure was found to alter the biomarkers of the NO/cGMP-cAMP signaling pathway, with some changes being statistically significant (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); (3) The use of L-NMMA, an antagonist of the NO/cGMP-cAMP signaling pathway, was found to prevent these biomarker changes and had a protective effect on brain cells. The study suggests that the negative impact of formaldehyde on the brain function of mice is linked to the regulation of the NO/cGMP-cAMP signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) spreads quickly and has a poor prognosis. Autophagy research on PAAD could reveal new biomarkers and targets for diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Autophagy-related genes were translated into autophagy-related gene pairs, and univariate Cox regression was performed to obtain overall survival (OS)-related IRGPs (P<0.001). LASSO Cox regression analyses were performed to construct an autophagy-related gene pair (ARGP) model for predicting OS. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-PAAD cohort was set as the training group for model construction. The model predictive value was validated in multiple external datasets. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate model performance. Tumor microenvironments and immune infiltration were compared between low- and high-risk groups with ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the groups were further analyzed by Gene Ontology biological process (GO-BP) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses and used to identify potential small-molecule compounds in L1000FWD. Results: Risk scores were calculated as follows: ATG4B|CHMP4C×(-0.31) + CHMP2B|MAP1LC3B×(0.30) + CHMP6|RIPK2 ×(-0.33) + LRSAM1|TRIM5×(-0.26) + MAP1LC3A|PAFAH1B2×(-0.15) + MAP1LC3A|TRIM21×(-0.08) + MET|MFN2×(0.38) + MET|MTDH×(0.47) + RASIP1|TRIM5×(-0.23) + RB1CC1|TPCN1×(0.22). OS was significantly shorter in the high-risk group than the low-risk group in each PAAD cohort. The ESTIMATE analysis showed no difference in stromal scores but a significant difference in immune scores (p=0.0045) and ESTIMATE scores (p=0.014) between the groups. CIBERSORT analysis showed higher naive B cell, Treg cell, CD8 T cell, and plasma cell levels in the low-risk group and higher M1 and M2 macrophage levels in the high-risk group. In addition, the results showed that naive B cells (r=-0.32, p<0.001), Treg cells (r=-0.31, p<0.001), CD8 T cells (r=-0.24, p=0.0092), and plasma cells (r=-0.2, p<0.026) were statistically correlated with the ARGP risk score. The top 3 enriched GO-BPs were signal release, regulation of transsynaptic signaling, and modulation of chemical synaptic transmission, and the top 3 enriched KEGG pathways were the insulin secretion, dopaminergic synapse, and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Several potential small-molecule compounds targeting ARGs were also identified. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the ARGP-based model may be a promising prognostic indicator for identifying drug targets in patients with PAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) is a renowned formula for the treatment of spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Its non-polysaccharides (NPS) component, dominated by various compounds of SJZD, has shown the remarkable efficacy in SDS, especially in gastrointestinal injury. However, the principle of compatibility of SJZD and the micro-mechanism of effect on SDS are still unclear. To elucidate the scientific implications of SJZD compatibility and its micro-mechanism in the treatment of SDS-induced intestinal injury. First, the chemical composition of NPS in SJZD and incomplete SJZD (iSJZD, including SJZD-R, SJZD-A, SJZD-P, SJZD-G) were comprehensively analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS, and comparing their chemical composition by multivariate statistical analysis to reveal the effect of a single herb on SJZD compatibility. Second, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to uncover the micro-mechanisms of potential active compounds in SJZD for the treatment of SDS, and develop an active component combination (ACC) by accurate quantification. Subsequently, the action of the potential active compounds and ACC was verified through in vivo and in vitro. A total of 112, 77, 93, 87, and 67 compounds were detected in NPS of SJZD, SJZD-R, SJZD-A, SJZD-P, and SJZD-G, respectively. Changes in the chemical components of SJZD_NPS and iSJZD_NPS revealed that RG and RAM, as well as RAM and Poria significantly affected the dissolution of each other's chemical components, and the co-decoction of four herbs promoted the dissolution of the active compounds and inhibited toxic compounds. Furthermore, network pharmacology showed that 274 compounds of 15 categories in SJZD_NPS acted on the 186 key targets to treat SDS by inhibiting inflammation, enhancing immunity, and regulating gastrointestinal function and metabolism. Finally, through in vitro experiments, six compounds among 18 potential compounds were verified to markedly repair intestinal epithelium injury by modulating the FAK/PI3K/Akt or LCK/Ras/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. It is worth mentioning that ACC, composed of 11 compounds accurately quantified, demonstrated significant in vivo treatment effects on intestinal damage with SDS similar to NPS or SJZD. This study elucidates the scientific evidence of the " Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi " and "detoxification and synergistic" in the decocting process of SJZD. An ACC, the active component of SJZD, ameliorate SDS-induced intestinal injury by the FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which provides a strategy for screening alternatives to effective combinations of TCMs. [Display omitted] • Uncovering the principle of "Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi" and "detoxification and synergistic" of four herbs in SJZD. • Various types of compounds in SJZD_NPS treat SDS through inhibiting inflammation, enhancing immunity, and regulating metabolism and gastrointestinal function. • Six potential active compounds and active component combination repaired the SDS with intestinal injury via modulating FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological evidence indicates a significant relationship between exposure to diisononyl phthalate and allergic asthma. Despite this, the mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. Previous toxicological researches have suggested that the development of allergic asthma may involve the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) pathways. Nevertheless, it is currently unknown whether these specific signaling pathways are implicated in diisononyl phthalate (DINP)-induced allergic asthma. The objective of this research was to understand how DINP exacerbates allergic asthma in Balb/c mice through ERS and NF-κB pathways. To systematically examine the aggravated effects of DINP in Balb/c mice, we measured airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung tissue pathology, cytokines, and ERS and NF-κB pathway biomarkers. Additionally, we applied the ERS antagonist phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) or the NF-κB antagonist pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) to verify the mediating effects of ERS and NF-κB on DINP-exacerbated allergic asthma. The results of our experiment show that oral DINP exposure may exacerbate airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling. This deterioration is accompanied by an imbalance in immunoglobulin levels, Th17/Treg cells, ERS, and NF-κB biomarkers, leading to the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, our study found that the blocking effect of 4-PBA or PDTC can inhibit the Th17/Treg imbalance and effectively alleviate symptoms resembling allergic asthma. In conclusion, ERS and NF-κB signaling pathways play an important role in regulating DINP-induced allergic asthma exacerbations. [Display omitted] • Exposure to diisononyl phthalate aggravates allergic asthma in Balb/c mice. • Endoplasmic reticulum stress and NF-κB pathway is involved in allergic asthma exacerbated by diisononyl phthalate. • Exposure to diisononyl phthalate triggers Th17/Treg immune imbalance in Balb/c mice. • 4-PBA or PDTC treatment can alleviate allergic asthma caused by combined exposure to ovalbumin and diisononyl phthalate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mume Fructus (MF) is processed from the near-ripe fruit of Prunus mume (Siebold) Siebold & Zucc by drying at low temperature until the color turns black. MF is often used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Previous studies have shown that the active components of MF against Crohn's disease (CD) are mainly citrate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives, which can alleviate the CD-induced inflammatory response and intestinal barrier damage. However, their molecular mechanisms on CD still need further elucidation. To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of citrate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives in MF on intestinal epithelial injury. Network pharmacology technology was used to predict the anti-CD targets and molecular mechanisms of 4 citrate and 11 hydroxycinnamate derivative prototypes and 5 hydroxycinnamate derivative metabolites in the 40% ethanol fraction of MF (MFE40), the active anti-CD ingredient group of MF. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated IEC-6 cells were used to investigate the effects of the above components on the proliferation of damaged IEC-6 cells and to verify the molecular mechanism of their regulation on the FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways for the promotion of the proliferation of IEC-6 cells. A "compound-target-pathway" network was constructed based on network pharmacology analysis, including 20 citrate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives that target 316 core proteins and 36 CD-related pathways, of which PI3K-AKT pathway and focal adhesion were the most enriched pathways. Further cell validation experiments showed that 1 citric acid (CA) compound and 10 hydroxycinnamate derivatives, including 3- O -caffeoylquinic acid (3CQA), 4- O -caffeoylquinic acid (4CQA), 5- O -caffeoylquinic acid (5CQA), caffeic acid (CFA), p-coumaric acid (PCMA), m-coumaric acid (MCMA), ferulic acid (FUA), isoferulic acid (IFUA), 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (3HPPA) and hippuric acid (HPP), could promote the proliferation of IEC-6 cells and inhibit the damage of LPS to IEC-6 cells. Ethyl caffeate (ECFA), a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative, had no effect on promoting the proliferation of IEC-6 cells and was weak in inhibiting the damage of IEC-6 cells caused by LPS. Further mechanistic verification experiments showed that 7 citrate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives (CA, CFA, 3CQA, MCMA, FUA, 3HPPA, and HPP) could upregulate the expression of p-FAK, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins. Among them, CA had the better effect on activating the FAK-PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Citrate and hydroxycinnamate derivatives in MF can ameliorate LPS-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury to demonstrate potential for Crohn's disease alleviation. This protective effect can be achieved by upregulating FAK/PI3K/AKT pathway. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary vascular remodeling was shown to lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), further trigger excessive apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and ultimately cause right ventricular failure (RVF), which involves the activation of Rho A/ROCK signaling pathway. Betaine has been found efficacious for attenuating PAH through its anti-inflammatory effects in our previous research while its effects on RVF due to PAH remains inconclusive. Thus, we attempted to elucidate the protective effects of betaine on PAH, RVF due to PAH as well as the potential mechanisms. To this end, male Sprague Dawley rats received a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (50 mg/kg) to imitate PAH and RVF, and subsequently oral administration of betaine (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day). Betaine treatment improved the hemodynamics and histomorphological parameters and echocardiographic changes. Moreover, betaine also alleviated the pulmonary vascular remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The mechanisms study revealed that administration of betaine significantly increased the expression of Rho A, ROCK1, and ROCK2. Furthermore, betaine alleviated the changes of its downstream molecules P53, Bcl-2, Bax, phosphorylated MYPT1 (p-MYPT1), total MYPT1 (t-MYPT1), p27kip1, and Cleaved Caspase-3. According to what we observed, this study indicated that betaine treatment could protect RVF due to PAH, which may be achieved through an altered Rho A/ROCK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]