Anti Fibrosis Research Articles

Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Reveal the Mechanism of Vine Grape Tea Polyphenols on Hyperuricemia-Induced Renal Injury in Mice.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disease and contributes to renal injury (RI). Vine grape tea polyphenols (VGTP) have been widely used to treat HUA and RI. However, the potential mechanism of VGTP activity remains unclear. To explore the underlying mechanism of VGTP treatment for HUA-induced RI based on network pharmacology that is confirmed by an in vivo study. All ingredients of VGTP were retrieved using a Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database systems. The related targets of HUA and RI were obtained from GeneCards and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases. Some ingredients and targets were selected for molecular docking verification. One hour after administering potassium oxonate (300 mg/kg), VGTP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d) was orally administered to HUA mice for 4 weeks. Histopathology and western blotting were performed in renal tissue. Our results showed that VGTP significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, and significantly improved the RI and fibrosis of HUA mice. There were 54 active ingredients and 62 targets of HUA-induced RI. Further studies showed that VGTP decreased the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase 3, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1), CHOP, p-STAT3, and P53, and increased Bcl-2 expression in renal tissue. The related signaling pathways have apoptosis, TGF-β1, P53 and STAT, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). In this study, VGTP exerted antihyperuricemic and anti fibrosis effects by regulating the apoptosis and ERS signaling pathways. VGTP is expected to become a drug for combating HUA and RI.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs): a review article

Introduction: Stem Cells (SC) are cells having characteristic features of self-renewal and plasticity that can differentiate and proliferate into many types of cells to form an individual. This literature study aims to evaluate the Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) comprehensively.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted by the author to obtain relevant studies from PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane for the last fifteen years. The author sought articles with the following keywords: Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, AND Fibrosis, OR Wound Healing, OR Growth Factor, hypoxic culture OR, Normoxic Culture, OR cytokine.Results: ADSCs become one of the strong potential stem cell-based therapies, for instance, preventing fibrosis tissue formation in the wound healing process. The source is mainly on the body’s surface, and harvesting using a minimally invasive procedure made ADSCs superior to the other stem cell sources. Using a better precondition technique, such as the hypoxia precondition technique, can increase the proliferation of stem cells and the viability of stem cells.Conclusion: ADSCs are a source of visible cell-based therapy to be currently used. ADSCs can counteract fibrosis by the anti-inflammatory and anti fibrosis effects.

Research progress on potential application of chalcone and its derivatives in prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019)

Since the occurrence of coronavirus diseaseZOl9, the epidemic has progressed rapidly and seriously that threatened people's health. At present, there is no specific drug for its treatment in clinic, and most of them are symptomatic treatment, mainly to delay the body damage caused by the new coronavirus, and it is urgent to find a safe and effective drug. Chalcone and its derivatives have a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrosis. The pharmacological action and mechanism of chalcone and its derivatives are mainly summarized, and the feasibility of its application in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 is discussed, which may provide reference for clinical treatment. Key words: chalcone and its derivatives;coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019);antiviral;anti-inflammatory;anti fibrosis.

Research of the anti-fibrosis factors affecting liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy for hepatic cellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis

Hepatic cellular carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in China. Partial hepatectomy is still the most effective treatment for hepatic cellular carcinoma. The liver is an organ with strong regenerative ability, and its regenerative mechanism is very complex. Majority of patients with hepatic cellular carcinoma are accompanied by cirrhosis, and cirrhosis is an important factor affecting the regeneration of the remaining liver after surgery. Liver regeneration is obviously impaired under this condition. However, the anti-liver fibrosis mechanisms behind these processes have not been completely elucidated, the current treatment of fibrosis is merely supportive care, and thus further definition of the anti-liver fibrosis related factors such as keratinocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8, collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor, ex vivo expansion of circulating CD34+ cells has far-reaching significance for improving their prognosis. This article mainly introduces some relevant factors associated with anti liver fibrosis, for later use of single factor or a combination of multifarious factors to resist liver fibrosis, to provide reference for improving the ability of remained liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Key words: Liver regeneration; Liver cirrhosis; Hepatic cellular carcinoma; Anti-fibrosis

The effects of quercetin on oxidative stress and fibrosis markers in chronic kidney disease rat model

Background: Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of (CKD), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor involved in cell defense mechanism against oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the effect of quercetin, a polyphenplic antioxidant anti fibrosis compund in fruits and vegetables, on the 5/6 nephrectomy-induced CKD progression model rats through modulation of Nrf2 expression.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (C), untreated 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), quercetin-treated 5/6 nephrectomy (100 mg/kgBW/day orally) (NxQ), and captopril-treated 5/6 nephrectomy (10 mg/kgBW/day orally) (NxK) for 8 weeks. At the end of study, all animals were sacrified. Urine, blood, and kidney tissues were taken for examination of proteinuria, plasma creatinine, urea, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, Nrf2, Keap1, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions, and renal fibrosis.Results: Quercetin administration did not affect the level of protein in urine, plasma creatinine, and urea. However, it tended to reduce the level of MDA, increase GPx activity, Nrf2, Keap1, and HO-1 expression as well as the degree of fibrosis.Conclusion: In 5/6 nephrectomized rats, quercetin tended to ameliorate the level of MDA, GPx activity, Nrf2, Keap1, and HO-1 expression. In addition, quercetin tended to decrease the degree of fibrosis in the remnant kidney.

Research progress of salvianolic acid A

Salvianolic acid A is a water-soluble component from Danshen, which is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. High performance liquid chromatography was often used to analyze content of salvianolic acid A. The yield of salvianolic acid A increased by the technological improvement of extraction and separation. Salvianolic acid A possessed multiple pharmacological activities, including antioxidants, myocardial ischemic protection, antithrombatic, neuroprotection, anti fibrosis, prevention of diabetes and complications. Recently, preliminary pharmacokinetics characteristics of salvianolic acid A were clarified. Based on the research literature and study work from author's laboratory, this review will focus on recent developments concerning the chemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetic of salvianolic acid A, and prospect further research.