Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Leke Wiering, Pallavi Subramanian, Linda Hammerich
Summary: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease with a wide range of severity, from simple hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, making hepatic fibrosis an important predictor of outcomes. Recent advancements in understanding the activation and inactivation of hepatic stellate cells, which drive fibrosis development, have shed light on the disease progression in NAFLD/NASH.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiting Yang, Xuzhen Yan, Hufeng Xu, Xu Fan, Mengyang Zhang, Tao Huang, Weiyu Li, Wei Chen, Jidong Jia, Hong You
Summary: The deficiency of HSCs-specific Loxl1 can prevent CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and reduce fibrosis and inflammation in liver tissue, with ITGA8/FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a being essential for the function and expression of LOXL1. The study suggests novel mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment of fibrosis in the future.
Article
Cell Biology
Wujun Geng, Chunxue Li, Yating Zhan, Rongrong Zhang, Jianjian Zheng
Summary: Thymoquinone (TQ) from Nigella sativa seeds has been shown to inhibit liver fibrosis by regulating the expression of miR-30a and Snai1, leading to the inactivation of the EMT process and suppression of HSC activation.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Yu-Feng Liu, Guo-Chao Niu, Chen-Yang Li, Jin-Bo Guo, Jia Song, Hui Li, Xiao-Lan Zhang
Summary: This study found that UC exacerbated CCl4-induced liver damage, inflammation, and fibrosis in mice, and exacerbated these lesions through the gut-liver axis. Gut barrier dysfunction in UC leads to bacterial translocation and elevated lipopolysaccharide, which may promote the activation of TLR4 signaling and HSCs in the liver.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Hideyoshi Harashima
Summary: This article reports a novel strategy for treating liver fibrosis by reprogramming activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (aHSCs) into quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells (qHSCs) using siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The optimized LNPs enable ligand-free, selective, and potent siRNA delivery to aHSCs, resulting in the reversal of liver fibrosis and restoration of normal liver function in mice. This scalable and ligand-free platform has potential for clinical translation.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shiqin Luo, Yuping Yang, Ting Zhao, Rongping Zhang, Changlong Fang, Yan Li, Zhirong Zhang, Tao Gong
Summary: Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play a critical role in liver fibrosis. The study introduces a nano platform called silibinin albumin nanocrystals (SLB-HSA NCs) for targeted therapy of liver fibrosis. The SLB-HSA NCs demonstrated a uniform particle size distribution of approximately 60 nm, high loading efficiency, and increased cellular uptake by aHSCs through SPARC-mediated endocytosis. In pharmacokinetic study, SLB-HSA NCs exhibited enhanced bioavailability compared with free SLB. Furthermore, they showed significant antifibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis mice.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-tian Sun, Xu-ling Liu, Guang-yue Yang, Wei Zhang, Le Tao, Wen-ting Ma, Liu Wu, Qigen Li, Cheng Liu
Summary: This study found that patients with hepatic fibrosis had significantly higher levels of neurokines, and that hepatic stellate cells interact with nerves to produce neurogenic substances that promote liver fibrosis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-Tian Sun, Xu-Ling Liu, Guang-Yue Yang, Wei Zhang, Le Tao, Wen-Ting Ma, Liu Wu, Qigen Li, Cheng Liu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the changes in nerve factors and neurokines and their relation to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. The results showed significantly increased expression levels of neurokines in both human and animal liver fibrosis. It was also observed that there is interaction between nerve cells and HSCs, and nerve cells produce neurogenic substances that promote liver fibrosis and HSC activation.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximilian Schinagl, Tamara Tomin, Juergen Gindlhuber, Sophie Honeder, Raphael Pfleger, Matthias Schittmayer, Michael Trauner, Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
Summary: This study investigated the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through an increase in growth medium serum concentration, revealing cellular processes involved in HSC transformation. Activated HSC showed increased production of ribosomal proteins and proteins related to migration and cell cycle control, along with a decrease in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis proteins. The findings provide insights into HSC activation characteristics and present a accessible model for studying HSC activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Dakota R. Kamm, Kyle S. McCommis
Summary: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play critical roles in the normal liver and in response to injury. They are activated during liver injury and produce extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. In the absence of injury, HSCs are in a quiescent state and store retinoids or vitamin A-containing metabolites. They also enhance the inflammatory response and express growth factors crucial for liver development and regeneration. Recent studies have identified diverse phenotypic alterations and unique subpopulations of HSCs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zi Xuan Li, Xiao Dong Sheng, Yu Lian Wang, Xiong Wen Lv
Summary: This study found that P2X4 receptor plays an important role in alcoholic liver fibrosis. The expression of P2X4 receptor is significantly increased when exposed to alcohol. Experimental results showed that a specific inhibitor of P2X4 receptor, 5-BDBD, can alleviate the pathological features of fibrosis. Furthermore, the activation of P2X4 receptor may be related to the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and RAW264.7 cells.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Qihong Cai, Ninggao Dai, Liming Xu, Qiandong Zhu, Qiyu Zhang, Qingqing Zhou
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of capsaicin on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Capsaicin dose-dependently inhibited HSC cell proliferation and suppressed HSC cell fibrosis. It achieved this by downregulating the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Yasuhiro Kon, Hideyoshi Harashima
Summary: In this study, a platform for selective delivery of mRNA to hard-to-transfect aHSCs was developed using microfluidic technology and pH-sensitive lipids. The lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) were optimized for efficient and safe mRNA delivery, and a promising lipid candidate CL15A6 was identified. The LNPs demonstrated ligand-free mRNA delivery to aHSCs in vivo, with high biosafety at high mRNA doses, and the uptake mechanism was found to be Clathrin-mediated endocytosis through PDGFR beta. This scalable platform holds great promise for clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Yufei Liu, Yuhong Zheng, Yang Yang, Ke Liu, Jianying Wu, Peiyang Gao, Chuantao Zhang
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a global health problem resulting from chronic liver injury. Hepatic stellate cells play a major role in liver fibrosis, and their transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts is triggered by pathological stimuli. The interactions between HSCs, immune cells, and cytokines are critical for the progression of liver fibrosis. Exosomes, as essential mediators of intercellular communication, regulate the activation of HSCs and the interaction between HSCs and immune cells in liver fibrosis. They also hold potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis treatment.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ye Tao, Tianming Qiu, Xiaofeng Yao, Liping Jiang, Ningning Wang, Jintong Jiang, Xue Jia, Sen Wei, Jingyuan Zhang, Yuhan Zhu, Wenyue Tian, Guang Yang, Xiaofang Liu, Shuang Liu, Yang Ding, Xiance Sun
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a significant global health issue characterized by HSCs activation and collagen deposition, which can be induced by arsenic exposure leading to ROS generation and IRE1α/NOX4 pathway activation.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Han, Zhen-Yu Cui, Jian Song, Hui-Qing Piao, Li-Hua Lian, Li-Shuang Hou, Ge Wang, Shuang Zheng, Xiu-Xiu Dong, Ji-Xing Nan, Yan-Ling Wu
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Wen-Jing Zhu, Ben-Wen Cui, Hui Min Wang, Ji-Xing Nan, Hu-Ri Piao, Li-Hua Lian, Cheng Hua Jin
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Review
Plant Sciences
Min Jiang, Ben-Wen Cui, Yan-Ling Wu, Ji-Xing Nan, Li-Hua Lian
Summary: The Gentiana genus has a long tradition of medicinal uses in Europe and Asia, with main bioactive components including iridoids, xanthones, and flavonoids showing various protective activities. Plants from this genus have potential therapeutic targets in treating certain diseases, with natural products showing no significant toxicity.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zhen-Yu Cui, Ge Wang, Jing Zhang, Jian Song, Yu-Chen Jiang, Jia-Yi Dou, Li-Hua Lian, Ji-Xing Nan, Yan-Ling Wu
Summary: Parthenolide (PNL) was found to decrease the expression of fibrosis markers, reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines, and induce apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by regulating the crosstalk of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hua-Min Zhang, Shuo Yuan, Huan Meng, Xiao-Ting Hou, Jiao Li, Jia-Chen Xue, You Li, Qi Wang, Ji-Xing Nan, Xue-Jun Jin, Qing-Gao Zhang
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing disease that greatly affects patients' quality of life. Stem cell therapy has shown potential to improve the clinical disease activity of patients with refractory IBD when conventional treatments are not effective, but its safety and long-term efficacy need further evaluation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Mei-Hua Piao, Hui Wang, Yin-Jing Jiang, Yan-Ling Wu, Ji-Xing Nan, Li-Hua Lian
Summary: This study demonstrates that Taxifolin can alleviate inflammation in MSU-induced acute gout by enhancing autophagy and phagocytic capacity of macrophages.
INFLAMMOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zi-Ying Zhan, Zhi-Hong Zhang, Hong-Xu Yang, Yan-Ling Wu, Ji-Xing Nan, Li-Hua Lian
Summary: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Costunolide (Cos) on improving psoriasis-like skin inflammation. The results showed that Cos improved the pathological changes of psoriasis-like skin inflammation by inhibiting epidermal damage and inflammation-related expression. The improvement might be through the P2X7R/IL-36 signaling pathway. Cos has potential skin health promoting benefits by preventing psoriasis-like skin inflammation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Chen Jiang, Xin Han, Jia-Yi Dou, Ming-Hui Yuan, Mei-Jie Zhou, Zhen-Yu Cui, Li-Hua Lian, Ji-Xing Nan, Xian Zhang, Yan-Ling Wu
Summary: Siberian onions (SOs) are delicious wild vegetables with unique taste and medicinal properties. This study reveals that SOs can alleviate hepatic fibrogenesis, apoptosis, and inflammation in liver dysfunction by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-Hong Zhang, Hong-Xu Yang, Quan Jin, Yan-Ling Wu, Zhen-Yu Cui, Yue Shang, Jian Liu, Zi-Ying Zhan, Li-Hua Lian, Ji-Xing Nan
Summary: This study investigated the effects of luteolin on liver injury caused by LPS, focusing on how luteolin participates in hepatitis by regulating the release of HMGB1 through the P2X7R-RAGE-TLR4 axis. The results showed that luteolin attenuated hepatic injury by suppressing the production and release of HMGB1, as well as the activation of caspase 1, in LPS-induced mice and HepG2 cells stimulated with LPS/ATP.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guang-Yue Su, Zhi-Yao Li, Rui Wang, Ye-Zhi Lu, Ji-Xing Nan, Yan-Ling Wu, Yu-Qing Zhao
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ben-Wen Cui, Ting Bai, Yong Yang, Yu Zhang, Min Jiang, Hong-Xu Yang, Mei Wu, Jian Liu, Chun-Ying Qiao, Zi-Ying Zhan, Yan-Ling Wu, Dong-Zhou Kang, Li-Hua Lian, Ji-Xing Nan
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Jun Cui, Cheng Chen, Xiao Zhou, Wenju Shan, Yuhong Jian, Panpan Li, Yang Sun, Wei Yi
Summary: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a promising therapy for sepsis, but metabolic syndromes threaten their effectiveness. This study investigated the potential of small extracellular vesicles from high-fat diet BMSCs in sepsis-induced liver-heart axis injury.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Binbin Zhu, Angyang Cao, Chunqu Chen, Weijian Zhou, Wenjun Luo, Yu Gui, Qinwen Wang, Zhipeng Xu, Jianhua Wang
Summary: GM6001 alleviates postoperative cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation, preserves blood-brain barrier integrity, and rescues aquaporin-4 mislocalization. MMP-9 inhibition plays a dual role in cognitive protection through direct anti-neuroinflammatory effects and regulation of aquaporin-4 membrane distribution.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Anika Sood, Valencia Fernandes, Kumari Preeti, Shruti Rajan, Dharmendra Kumar Khatri, Shashi Bala Singh
Summary: S1PR2 inhibitor improves cognitive function and skews microglia toward anti-inflammatory phenotype in type 2 diabetic mice, promising to be a potential therapy for neuroinflammation.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Haochun Guo, Ran Yu, Haijun Zhang, Wanpeng Wang
Summary: Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for thoracic malignancies, but it can cause radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), including radiation pneumonitis (RP) and radiation pulmonary fibrosis (RPF). The damage to normal lung cells during radiation treatment leads to a pulmonary inflammatory response, resulting in RP and RPF.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Guanghui Wang, Haotian Zheng, Yunzhi Xiang, Yadong Wang, Kai Wang, Xiaoyang Ren, Jiajun Du
Summary: This study identified a T-cell synthetic driver-associated prognostic model that accurately predicted prognosis and effectiveness of immunotherapy in LUAD patients. It also highlighted the role of LDHA in promoting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and resistance to treatment, as well as its involvement in immune escape within the tumor microenvironment. These findings provide a promising new therapeutic strategy for LUAD.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Bowen Wei, Aihua Wang, Wei Liu, Qingyun Yue, Yihua Fan, Bin Xue, Siwei Wang
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the association between pSS and cuproptosis, established a predictive model based on 5 genes, explored the pathogenic mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies for pSS, and identified EED, CBL, and NFU1 as potential targets for treatment.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Nusrit Iqbal Andrabi, Aminur R. Sarkar, Syed Assim Haq, Diljeet Kumar, Dilpreet Kour, Diksha Saroch, Sanket Kumar Shukla, Ajay Kumar, Asha Bhagat, Asif Ali, Gurleen Kour, Zabeer Ahmed
Summary: Koenimbine and its novel semi-synthetic derivative 1G demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B) signaling pathway.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Jing-Mei Lu, Xiang Xu, Fumie Aosai, Ming-Yue Zhang, Lian-Xun Piao
Summary: This study found that arctiin can improve allergic acute liver injury caused by T.g.HSP70 by inhibiting TLR4 signaling and reducing the production of inflammatory mediators.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Minxuan Xu, Fang Shi, Yongshen Gao, Shumei Han, Chensuo Huang, Qinsheng Hou, Xiaoweng Wen, Bengshi Wang, Zhenyu Zhu, Lei Zou, Mingxin Xiong, Wei Dong, Jun Tan
Summary: There is a growing body of research highlighting the involvement of metabolic imbalance and the inflammatory response in the advancement of colitis. This study recognizes arabinose as a significant protector of the intestinal mucosal barrier, reducing damage to the intestines. In addition, lower levels of arabinose in the bloodstream are associated with a higher severity of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Yueqing Han, Haoxin Song, Yanshan Li, Rongxin Li, Ling Chen, Bo Gao, Yijun Chen, Shuzhen Wang
Summary: The combination of tetracycline antibiotics, demeclocycline (D), chlortetracycline (C), and minocycline (M), showed therapeutic potential against liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells and the MAPK signaling. This study suggests that tetracyclines may be repurposed for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Yu Li, Hailing Liu, Danwen Zhao, Danjie Zhang
Summary: Chronic stress can lead to lung injury, with the spleen playing a crucial role. This study found that the spleen contributes to chronic restraint stress-induced lung injury, and splenic CD11b+ cells may be an important factor in this process.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Yingqian Mi, Mengyan Tang, Qiong Wu, Yinan Wang, Qihui Liu, Pei Zhu, Xiaoyang Xue, Yuntong Liu, Xinyu Chai, Yuyang Hou, Dongmei Yan
Summary: BCG therapy can induce macrophage polarization to the M1 type, and NMAAP1 plays a crucial role in this process by regulating glycolysis and HIF-1α expression. This promotes the antitumor effect of macrophages.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Xiaosheng Liu, Tingxia Lv, Xiuxia Li, Jing Xue, Ling Lin, Lianfeng Lu, Xiaodi Li, Yang Yang, Yuanni Wu, Qiang Wei, Wei Cao, Taisheng Li
Summary: LLDT-8 exhibits notable efficacy in alleviating immune activation in both an in vivo animal model and in vitro human cell experiments, suggesting its potential as a drug for managing systemic immune activation associated with SIV/HIV infection.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Honghong Yu, Qi Li, Huimin Zhu, Chang Liu, Weiwei Chen, Lingyun Sun
Summary: The activation of the inflammasome plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been shown to alleviate SLE by suppressing inflammasome activation. This study found that the NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in macrophages from SLE patients and mice, and its activation correlated with disease activity. After MSC transplantation, the severity of SLE was reduced, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation was inhibited. These findings suggest that MSC suppress inflammasome activation and provide a potential therapeutic target for SLE.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Wei Zhou, Dan Zeng, Shunan Liu, Yunxia Huang, Fenglin Lv, Weikang Zhou
Summary: This study found that inhibiting HDAC3 can protect the skin from atopic dermatitis by activating the Nrf2 transcription to upregulate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway activity.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2024)