Objective Inflammation and fibrosis are key features of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Triptolide(TP)exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties,though its mechanisms of action in DN remain unclear.CREKA(Cys-Arg...Objective Inflammation and fibrosis are key features of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Triptolide(TP)exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties,though its mechanisms of action in DN remain unclear.CREKA(Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala)is a pentapeptide that specifically binds to fibronectin(FN),and the CREKA-modified liposome(CREKA-Lip)represents a novel FN-targeted drug delivery system.This study aimed to investigate the role of TP in diabetic db/db mice and determine whether encapsulation within CREKA-Lip enhances therapeutic efficacy while reducing the multi-organ toxicity of TP.Methods Eight-week-old diabetic db/db mice received tail vein injections twice weekly with vehicle,free TP,or CREKA-Lip/TP for 10 weeks.Urine and serum parameters were measured,and kidney,heart,liver,and testis tissues were collected for pathological evaluation.Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape and its plug-ins to identify core targets and elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of TP against DN.Inflammatory,fibrotic,apoptotic,and lipid metabolism markers were evaluated in the kidneys of diabetic mice with DN and in high glucose-treated mouse mesangial cells and podocytes using qPCR,Western blot,immunohistochemistry,and immunofluorescence assays.Results TP administration reduced fasting blood glucose levels and glomerular mesangial expansion in diabetic mice.TP significantly suppressed renal inflammation,fibrosis,and apoptosis while enhancing lipid metabolism.Integration of network pharmacology,molecular docking,and transcriptomics revealed that TP ameliorated DN by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT1 signaling pathway.In vitro,TP inhibited high glucose-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1,reduced collagen production in mesangial cells,decreased apoptosis,and improved lipid metabolism in podocytes.Moreover,CREKA-Lip/TP exhibited superior efficacy compared with free TP,with a more sustained reduction in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and greater inhibition of mesangial expansion.Notably,CREKA-Lip/TP treatment did not induce systemic toxicity.Conclusion TP improves renal inflammation,fibrosis,apoptosis,and lipid homeostasis,thereby ameliorating DN by inhibiting JAK2-STAT1 activation.Targeted delivery of TP via FN-binding CREKA-Lip enhances therapeutic efficacy while minimizing multi-organ toxicity.展开更多
The published article titled“Triptolide inhibits proliferation and migration of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by upregulating microRNA-181a”has been retracted from Oncology Research,Vol.26,No.8,2018,PP.1235-1243.
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a progressive autoimmune disease characterized by bone destruction that is primarily caused by the overactivation of osteoclasts(OCs),which are critical therapeutic targets.Triptolide(TP)has...Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a progressive autoimmune disease characterized by bone destruction that is primarily caused by the overactivation of osteoclasts(OCs),which are critical therapeutic targets.Triptolide(TP)has strong anti-RA effects but is limited by its narrow therapeutic window and associated toxicity,necessitating combination therapy to increase its efficacy and reduce side effects.Medicarpin(Med),a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-bone destruction properties,has shown potential in reducing osteoclastogenesis.However,the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of TP and Med on RA treatment remain unclear.We addressed this issue by evaluating the effects of TP,Med,and their combination on a collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rat model,with a focus on bone erosion as the primary research endpoint.We subsequently performed experimental validation in an in vitro OC dif-ferentiation model to assess the impacts of these treatments on OC formation and function.Based on polymerase chain reaction(PCR)microarray data from RA patients,further investigations focused on N^(6)-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)methylation and its regulatory factors,methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3)and YT521-B homology domain family protein 1(YTHDF1),which have been identified as potential tar-gets of TP and Med.Key findings revealed that the TP and Med combination significantly alleviated bone destruction and inhibited OC differentiation,exerting stronger effects at lower doses than either drug alone.Mechanistically,TP and Med synergistically modulated METTL3 and YTHDF1 to suppress osteo-clastogenesis through distinct m6 A methylation pathways,contributing to the mitigation of RA-associated bone destruction.Overall,our data highlight the potential of the m^(6)A modification as a ther-apeutic mechanism for the combined use of TP and Med for RA treatment,providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of herbal active ingredient combinations.展开更多
From the dried roots and leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii^(1.2),a new diter- penoid triepoxide,16-hydroxytriptolide was isolated,and its structure and stereochemistry elucidated as 16-(S)-hydroxy-triptolide on the bas...From the dried roots and leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii^(1.2),a new diter- penoid triepoxide,16-hydroxytriptolide was isolated,and its structure and stereochemistry elucidated as 16-(S)-hydroxy-triptolide on the basis of spectral data(IR, MS, UV,~1HNMR,^(13)CNMR,2d-NMR,Selective Long-range DEPT)and x-ray crystallographic analysis.This compound showed definite antiinflammatory action,strong immunosuppressive and antifertile activities.In addition,a known compound,triptolide was also isolated and all the spectral signals of^1 HNMR and ^(13)CNMR were assigned.展开更多
Objective Neuroinflammation with microglial activation has been implicated to have a strong association with the progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. The present study was undertaken ...Objective Neuroinflammation with microglial activation has been implicated to have a strong association with the progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the activation profile of microglia in 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium （MPP^＋）-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. Triptolide, a potent immunosuppressant and microglia inhibitor, was then examined for its efficacy in protecting dopaminergic neurons from injury and ameliorating behavioral disabilities induced by MPP^＋. Methods The rat model of PD was established by intranigral microinjection of MPP^＋. At baseline and on day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 following MPP^＋ injection, the degree of microglial activation was examined by detecting the immunodensity of OX-42 （microglia marker） in the substantia nigra （SN）. The number of viable dopaminergic neurons was determined by measuring tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） positive neurons in the SN. Behavioral performances were evaluated by counting the number of rotations induced by apomorphine, calculating scores of forelimb akinesia and vibrissae-elicited forelimb placing asymmetry. Results Intranigral injection of MPP^＋ resulted in robust activa- tion of microglia, progressive depletion of dopaminergic neurons, and ongoing aggravation of behavioral disabilities in rats. Triptolide significantly inhibited microglial activation, partially prevented dopaminergic cells from death and improved behavioral performances. Conclusion These data demonstrated for the first time a neuroprotective effect of triptolide on dopaminergic neurons in MPP^＋ induced hemiparkinsonian rats. The protective effect of triptolide may, at least partially, be related to the inhibition of MPP^＋-induced microglial activation. Our results lend strong support to the use of immunosuppressive agents in the management of PD.展开更多
2015年12月29日,Oncotarget杂志（IF=6.359）在线发表西北农林科技大学生命科学学院雷鸣教授课题组的最新研究成果“Triptolide induces protective autophagy through activation of the CaMKKβ-AMPK signaling pathway in prostate c...2015年12月29日,Oncotarget杂志（IF=6.359）在线发表西北农林科技大学生命科学学院雷鸣教授课题组的最新研究成果“Triptolide induces protective autophagy through activation of the CaMKKβ-AMPK signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells”（DOI：10.18632/oncotarget.6783）。展开更多
Triptolide was given orally to adult male Sprague-Dawley rat sat a dosage of 75 μg/kg for 35 days.After 28 days of treatment,the result of mating tests showed that all the drug treated rats were infertile.At the end ...Triptolide was given orally to adult male Sprague-Dawley rat sat a dosage of 75 μg/kg for 35 days.After 28 days of treatment,the result of mating tests showed that all the drug treated rats were infertile.At the end of drug treatment,the density of caudal spermatozoa and the weight of cpididymis were reduced significantly.All the spermatozoa were immobile.There was no detectable damage of spermatogenesis and epididymal epithelia in triptolide treated rats under microscopical examination.However,modcrate and severe damage of spermatozoa were seen in the corpus and caudal epididymis.The content of cytosolic and nuclear dihydrotestosterone (DHT) receptors in the caput and caudal epididymides was increased but insignificantly as compared with that of the controls.However, the content of DHT receptor in the cytosal of the ventral prostate was elevated very,significantly (P< 0.01).This result suggests that one of the sitcs of action of triptolide might be the epididymis.展开更多
AIM: To investigate apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide (TL), and the relationship between this apoptosis and expression of caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer c...AIM: To investigate apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide (TL), and the relationship between this apoptosis and expression of caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was cultured in DMEM media for this study. MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate in vitro. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to detect the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells before and after TL treatment. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated gene caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. RESULTS: TL inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. TL induced human pancreatic cancer cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics. TUNEL assay showed that after the treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with 40 ng/mL TL for 12 h and 24 h, the apoptotic rates of human pancreatic cancer cells increased significantly. RT-PCR demonstrated that caspase-3 and bax were significantly up-regulated in SW1990 cells treated with TL while bcl-2 mRNA was not. CONCLUSION: TL is able to induce the apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. This apoptosis may be mediated by up-regulating the expression of apoptosis- associated caspase-3 and bax gene.展开更多
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor ...Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor dii Hook F., has been demonstrated to act as a potent immunosuppressive drug c apab le of inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. However, little is known a bout the effects of triptolide on DCs. The present study shows that triptolide d oes not affect phenotypic differentiation and LPS-induced maturation of murine DCs. But triptolide can dramatically reduce cell recovery by inducing apoptosis of DCs at concentration as low as 10 ng/ml, as demonstrated by phosphatidylserin e exposure, mitochondria potential decrease, and nuclear DNA condensation. Tript olide induces activation of p38 in DCs, which precedes the activation of caspase 3. SB203580, a specific kinase inhibitor for p38, can block the activation of caspase 3 and inhibit the resultant apoptosis of DCs. Our results suggest that t he anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of triptolide may be due, in part, to its apoptosis-inducing effects on DCs.展开更多
Triptolide,a component of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F,has been proved to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).However,its underlying mechanisms on RA have not yet been well esta...Triptolide,a component of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F,has been proved to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).However,its underlying mechanisms on RA have not yet been well established.We observed the inhibitory effect of triptolide on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS)induced by the complex of interleukin-6(IL-6)and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor(sIL-6R).Furthermore,to clarify the underlying mechanisms,we treated FLS with the Janus-activated kinase 2(JAK2)inhibitor/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)activation blocker AZD1480.In this study,immunohistochemical staining was used to identify vimentin(+)and CD68(−)in FLS.The FLS proliferation was measured by cell proliferation assay,and the cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry.Furthermore,ELISA was used to detect the expression of the inflammatory factors in culture solution.The expression levels of p-JAK2,JAK2,p-STAT3 and STAT3 were investigated through Western blotting analysis.The results showed that IL-6/sIL-6R significantly increased the cell proliferation and expression of inflammatory cytokines,including IL-6,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Triptolide or AZD1480 inhibited the cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokine expression in IL-6/sIL-6R-stimulated FLS by suppressing JAK2/STAT3.The study suggested that the physiological effects of triptolide on RA were due to its contribution to the inhibition of the inflammatory cytokine expression and FLS proliferation by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.It may provide an innovative insight into the effect of triptolide in preventing RA pathogenesis.展开更多
Triptolide（TPL/TL） is a natural drug with novel anticancer effects. Preclinical studies indicated that TPL inhibits cell proliferation, induces cell apoptosis, inhibits tumor metastasis and enhances the effect of ot...Triptolide（TPL/TL） is a natural drug with novel anticancer effects. Preclinical studies indicated that TPL inhibits cell proliferation, induces cell apoptosis, inhibits tumor metastasis and enhances the effect of other therapeutic methods in various cancer cell lines. Multiple molecules and signaling pathways, such as caspases, heat-shock proteins, NF-κB, and deoxyribonucleic acid（DNA） repair-associated factors, are associated with the anti-cancer effect. TPL also improves chemoradiosensitivity in cancer therapy. Phase I trials indicate the potential clinical value of TPL use. However, further trials with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results.展开更多
Triptolide(TP) from Tripterygium wilfordii has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anticancer activities. TP is specially used for the treatment of awkward rheumatoid arthritis, but ...Triptolide(TP) from Tripterygium wilfordii has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anticancer activities. TP is specially used for the treatment of awkward rheumatoid arthritis, but its clinical application is confined by intense side effects. It is reported that licorice can obviously reduce the toxicity of TP, but the detailed mechanisms involved have not been comprehensively investigated. The current study aimed to explore metabolomics characteristics of the toxic reaction induced by TP and the intervention effect of licorice water extraction(LWE) against such toxicity. Obtained urine samples from control, TP and TP + LWE treated rats were analyzed by UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS. The metabolic profiles of the control and the TP group were well differentiated by the principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The toxicity of TP was demonstrated to be evolving along with the exposure time of TP. Eight potential biomarkers related to TP toxicity were successfully identified in urine samples. Furthermore, LWE treatment could attenuate the change in six of the eight identified biomarkers. Functional pathway analysis revealed that the alterations in these metabolites were associated with tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism. Therefore, it was concluded that LWE demonstrated interventional effects on TP toxicity through regulation of tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism pathways, which provided novel insights into the possible mechanisms of TP toxicity as well as the potential therapeutic effects of LWE against such toxicity.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Triptolide (TPT) is a diterpenoid triepoxide extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. It exhibits potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was undertaken...BACKGROUND: Triptolide (TPT) is a diterpenoid triepoxide extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. It exhibits potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was undertaken to investigate its effects on prolongation of islet allograft survival in rodents. Additionally, we investigated whether TPT would be toxic to islet function in vivo. METHODS: We transplanted BALB/c islets to either chemically induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice or spontaneously diabetic non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. TPT was injected within 2 weeks or continuously, until rejection, in the two combinations. Then, we evaluated the toxicity of TPT on islet function by daily injection to naive BALB/c or diabetic BALB/c that was cured by syngeneic islet transplantation under the kidney capsule. Mice injected with cyclosporine A (CsA) or vehicle served as controls. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTTs) performed at 4 and 8 weeks in the naive BALB/c group, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks in the syngeneic transplanted group. RESULTS: The medium survival time of islets allograft from TPT treated C57BL/6 and NOD recipients were 28.5 days (range 24-30 days, n=10) and 33.0 days (range 15-47 days, n=6), respectively, and they were significantly different from those of the vehicle treated controls, which were 14.0 days (range 13-16 days, n=6) and 5.0 days (range 4-10 days, n=6), respectively (all P<0.0001). The IPGTT demonstrated that there was no difference between the TPT treated and vehicle treated groups, either in the normal or syngeneic transplanted islet BALB/c mice. However, CsA injection impaired islet function in both normal and syngeneic transplanted mice as early as 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: TPT prolonged islets allograft survival in a chemically induced diabetic or an autoimmune diabetic murine model without impairment of islet function. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 312-318)展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has become the fourth predominant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide,and HCC is still one of the worst prognoses for survival as it is poorly responsive to both chemotherapy and surg...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has become the fourth predominant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide,and HCC is still one of the worst prognoses for survival as it is poorly responsive to both chemotherapy and surgical treatment due to drug resista nce and great toxic effects.Triptolide(TP),a key ingredient from the traditional Chinese medical herb,has been utilized to treat inflammation and antitumor for centuries.However,investigations of this potent agent have been met with only limited success due to the severe systemic toxicities in patients and low water solubility as well as its high toxicity over the past two decades.Herein,we reported the development of a reduction-responsive drug delive ry system loaded with TP fo r glutathione(GSH)-trigge red drug release for cancer therapy.With the GSH-sensitive TP loaded nanoparticles,the remarkable increases in tumor accumulation and amelioration of drug toxicity in animals are demonstrated,which is likely due to sustained stepwise release of active TP within cancer cells.Moreover,in a patient-derived tumor xenograft model of liver cancer,administration of tritolide nanoparticles enhances the antitumor efficacy relative to administration of free TP.These findings indicate that GSH-sensitive release of TP may be a promising strategy for cancer treatment.展开更多
This study investigated the role of reactive oxygen species（ROS） in the pathogenesis of triptolide-induced renal injury in vivo.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups（n=5 in each）：triptolide group in which the ...This study investigated the role of reactive oxygen species（ROS） in the pathogenesis of triptolide-induced renal injury in vivo.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups（n=5 in each）：triptolide group in which the rats were intraperitoneally injected with triptolide solution at a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight on day 8;control group in which the rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% physiological saline on day 8;vitamin C group in which the rats were pretreated with vitamin C by gavage at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight per day for 7 days before the same treatment as the control group on day 8;triptolide＋vitamin C group in which the rats were first subjected to an oral administration of vitamin C at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight per day for 7 days,and then to the same treatment as the triptolide group on day 8.All the rats were sacrificed on day 10.Blood samples were collected for detection of plasma creatinine（Pcr） and plasma urea nitrogen（PUN） concentrations.Both kidneys were removed.The histological changes were measured by haematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining.The production of ROS was determined by detecting the fluorescent intensity of the oxida-tion-sensitive probe rhodamine 123 in renal tissue.Renal malondialdehyde（MDA） content was meas-ured to evaluate lipid peroxidation level in renal tissue.TUNEL staining was performed to assess apop-tosis of renal tubular cells.Renal expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2,Bax,Bid,Bad,Fas and FasL,as well as corresponding encoding genes were assessed by Western Blotting and real-time PCR.The results showed that triptolide treatment promoted the generation of a great amount of ROS,up-regulated the expression of Bax,Bid,Bad,Fas and FasL at both protein and mRNA levels,as well as the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2,and caused the apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.However,pretreatment with an antioxidant,vitamin C,significantly reduced the generation of ROS and effectively inhibited the triptolide-induced apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.It was concluded that ROS plays a critical role in triptolide-induced apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.The protective administration of vitamin C may help alleviate triptolide-induced renal injury and nephrotoxicity.展开更多
Triptolide(TP) induces severe liver injury, but its hepatotoxicity mechanisms are still unclear. Inflammatory responses may be involved in the pathophysiology. Neutrophils are the first-line immune effectors for steri...Triptolide(TP) induces severe liver injury, but its hepatotoxicity mechanisms are still unclear. Inflammatory responses may be involved in the pathophysiology. Neutrophils are the first-line immune effectors for sterile and non-sterile inflammatory responses. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neutrophilic inflammatory response in TP-induced liver injury in C57 BL/6 mice. Our results showed that neutrophils were recruited and accumulated in the liver, which was parallel to or slightly after the development of liver injury. Neutrophils induced release of myeloperoxidase and up-regulation of CD11 b, which caused cytotoxicity and hepatocyte death. Hepatic expressions of CXL1, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP1 were increased significantly to regulate neutrophils recruitment and activation. Up-regulation of toll like receptors 4 and 9 also facilitated neutrophils infiltration. Moreover, neutrophils depletion using an anti-Gr1 antibody showed mild protection against TP overdose. These results indicated that neutrophils accumulation might be the secondary response, not the cause of TP-induced liver injury. In conclusion, the inflammatory response including neutrophil infiltration may play a role in TP-induced hepatotoxicity, but may not be severe enough to cause additional liver injury.展开更多
The principal pathology of Alzheimer＇s disease includes neuronal extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptides and formation of senile pl aques, which in turn induce neuroinflammation in the brain. Triptolide, a ...The principal pathology of Alzheimer＇s disease includes neuronal extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptides and formation of senile pl aques, which in turn induce neuroinflammation in the brain. Triptolide, a natural extract from the vine-like herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive efficacy. Therefore, we determined if triptolide can inhibit activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease. We used 1 or 5 μg/kg/d triptolide to treat APP/PS1 double transgenic mice （aged 4-4.5 months） for 45 days. Unbiased stereology analysis found that triptolide dose-dependent- ly reduced the total number of microglial cells, and transformed microglial cells into the resting state. Further, triptolide （5 μg/kg/d） also reduced the total number of hippocampal astrocytes. Our in vivo test results indicate that triptolide suppresses activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the hippocampus of APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice with Alzheimer＇s disease.展开更多
The present study was designed to explore the influence of water extracts of Atractylodes lancea rhizomes on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide(TP). A water extract was prepared from A. lancea rh...The present study was designed to explore the influence of water extracts of Atractylodes lancea rhizomes on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide(TP). A water extract was prepared from A. lancea rhizomes and co-administered with TP in C57BL/6 mice. The toxicity was assayed by determining serum biochemical parameters and visceral indexes and by liver histopathological analysis. The hepatic CYP3A expression levels were detected using Western blotting and RT-PCR methods. The data showed that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes reduced triptolide-induced toxicity, probably by inducing the hepatic expression of CYP3A. The anti-inflammatory effects of TP were evaluated in mice using a xylene-induced ear edema test. By comparing ear edema inhibition rates, we found that the water extract could also increase the anti-inflammatory effects of TP. In conclusion, our results suggested that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes, used in combination with TP, has a potential in reducing TP-induced toxicity and enhancing its anti-inflammatory effects.展开更多
Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown etiology, characterized by prostatic enlargement coincident with distinct alterations in tissue histology. In the present study, we investigated w...Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown etiology, characterized by prostatic enlargement coincident with distinct alterations in tissue histology. In the present study, we investigated whether triptolide can prevent testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. Castration was performed via the scrotal route after urethane aesthesia. BPH was induced in experimental groups by daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate(TP) for two weeks. Triptolide was administered daily by oral gavage at a dose of 100 and 50 μg×kg^(-1) for 2 weeks, along with the TP injections. On day 14, the animals were humanely killed by cervical dislocation after aesthesia. Prostates were excised, weighed, and used for histological studies. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone(DHT) levels in serum and prostate were measured. The results showed that triptolide significantly reduced the prostate weight, and the testosterone and DHT levels in both the serum and prostate. Histopathological examination also showed that triptolide treatment suppressed TP-induced prostatic hyperplasia. In conclusion, triptolide effectively inhibits the development of BPH induced by testosterone in a rat model.展开更多
文摘Objective Inflammation and fibrosis are key features of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Triptolide(TP)exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties,though its mechanisms of action in DN remain unclear.CREKA(Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala)is a pentapeptide that specifically binds to fibronectin(FN),and the CREKA-modified liposome(CREKA-Lip)represents a novel FN-targeted drug delivery system.This study aimed to investigate the role of TP in diabetic db/db mice and determine whether encapsulation within CREKA-Lip enhances therapeutic efficacy while reducing the multi-organ toxicity of TP.Methods Eight-week-old diabetic db/db mice received tail vein injections twice weekly with vehicle,free TP,or CREKA-Lip/TP for 10 weeks.Urine and serum parameters were measured,and kidney,heart,liver,and testis tissues were collected for pathological evaluation.Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape and its plug-ins to identify core targets and elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of TP against DN.Inflammatory,fibrotic,apoptotic,and lipid metabolism markers were evaluated in the kidneys of diabetic mice with DN and in high glucose-treated mouse mesangial cells and podocytes using qPCR,Western blot,immunohistochemistry,and immunofluorescence assays.Results TP administration reduced fasting blood glucose levels and glomerular mesangial expansion in diabetic mice.TP significantly suppressed renal inflammation,fibrosis,and apoptosis while enhancing lipid metabolism.Integration of network pharmacology,molecular docking,and transcriptomics revealed that TP ameliorated DN by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT1 signaling pathway.In vitro,TP inhibited high glucose-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1,reduced collagen production in mesangial cells,decreased apoptosis,and improved lipid metabolism in podocytes.Moreover,CREKA-Lip/TP exhibited superior efficacy compared with free TP,with a more sustained reduction in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and greater inhibition of mesangial expansion.Notably,CREKA-Lip/TP treatment did not induce systemic toxicity.Conclusion TP improves renal inflammation,fibrosis,apoptosis,and lipid homeostasis,thereby ameliorating DN by inhibiting JAK2-STAT1 activation.Targeted delivery of TP via FN-binding CREKA-Lip enhances therapeutic efficacy while minimizing multi-organ toxicity.
文摘The published article titled“Triptolide inhibits proliferation and migration of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by upregulating microRNA-181a”has been retracted from Oncology Research,Vol.26,No.8,2018,PP.1235-1243.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U22A20374).
文摘Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a progressive autoimmune disease characterized by bone destruction that is primarily caused by the overactivation of osteoclasts(OCs),which are critical therapeutic targets.Triptolide(TP)has strong anti-RA effects but is limited by its narrow therapeutic window and associated toxicity,necessitating combination therapy to increase its efficacy and reduce side effects.Medicarpin(Med),a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-bone destruction properties,has shown potential in reducing osteoclastogenesis.However,the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of TP and Med on RA treatment remain unclear.We addressed this issue by evaluating the effects of TP,Med,and their combination on a collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rat model,with a focus on bone erosion as the primary research endpoint.We subsequently performed experimental validation in an in vitro OC dif-ferentiation model to assess the impacts of these treatments on OC formation and function.Based on polymerase chain reaction(PCR)microarray data from RA patients,further investigations focused on N^(6)-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)methylation and its regulatory factors,methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3)and YT521-B homology domain family protein 1(YTHDF1),which have been identified as potential tar-gets of TP and Med.Key findings revealed that the TP and Med combination significantly alleviated bone destruction and inhibited OC differentiation,exerting stronger effects at lower doses than either drug alone.Mechanistically,TP and Med synergistically modulated METTL3 and YTHDF1 to suppress osteo-clastogenesis through distinct m6 A methylation pathways,contributing to the mitigation of RA-associated bone destruction.Overall,our data highlight the potential of the m^(6)A modification as a ther-apeutic mechanism for the combined use of TP and Med for RA treatment,providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of herbal active ingredient combinations.
文摘From the dried roots and leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii^(1.2),a new diter- penoid triepoxide,16-hydroxytriptolide was isolated,and its structure and stereochemistry elucidated as 16-(S)-hydroxy-triptolide on the basis of spectral data(IR, MS, UV,~1HNMR,^(13)CNMR,2d-NMR,Selective Long-range DEPT)and x-ray crystallographic analysis.This compound showed definite antiinflammatory action,strong immunosuppressive and antifertile activities.In addition,a known compound,triptolide was also isolated and all the spectral signals of^1 HNMR and ^(13)CNMR were assigned.
文摘Objective Neuroinflammation with microglial activation has been implicated to have a strong association with the progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the activation profile of microglia in 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium （MPP^＋）-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. Triptolide, a potent immunosuppressant and microglia inhibitor, was then examined for its efficacy in protecting dopaminergic neurons from injury and ameliorating behavioral disabilities induced by MPP^＋. Methods The rat model of PD was established by intranigral microinjection of MPP^＋. At baseline and on day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 following MPP^＋ injection, the degree of microglial activation was examined by detecting the immunodensity of OX-42 （microglia marker） in the substantia nigra （SN）. The number of viable dopaminergic neurons was determined by measuring tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） positive neurons in the SN. Behavioral performances were evaluated by counting the number of rotations induced by apomorphine, calculating scores of forelimb akinesia and vibrissae-elicited forelimb placing asymmetry. Results Intranigral injection of MPP^＋ resulted in robust activa- tion of microglia, progressive depletion of dopaminergic neurons, and ongoing aggravation of behavioral disabilities in rats. Triptolide significantly inhibited microglial activation, partially prevented dopaminergic cells from death and improved behavioral performances. Conclusion These data demonstrated for the first time a neuroprotective effect of triptolide on dopaminergic neurons in MPP^＋ induced hemiparkinsonian rats. The protective effect of triptolide may, at least partially, be related to the inhibition of MPP^＋-induced microglial activation. Our results lend strong support to the use of immunosuppressive agents in the management of PD.
文摘2015年12月29日,Oncotarget杂志（IF=6.359）在线发表西北农林科技大学生命科学学院雷鸣教授课题组的最新研究成果“Triptolide induces protective autophagy through activation of the CaMKKβ-AMPK signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells”（DOI：10.18632/oncotarget.6783）。
文摘Triptolide was given orally to adult male Sprague-Dawley rat sat a dosage of 75 μg/kg for 35 days.After 28 days of treatment,the result of mating tests showed that all the drug treated rats were infertile.At the end of drug treatment,the density of caudal spermatozoa and the weight of cpididymis were reduced significantly.All the spermatozoa were immobile.There was no detectable damage of spermatogenesis and epididymal epithelia in triptolide treated rats under microscopical examination.However,modcrate and severe damage of spermatozoa were seen in the corpus and caudal epididymis.The content of cytosolic and nuclear dihydrotestosterone (DHT) receptors in the caput and caudal epididymides was increased but insignificantly as compared with that of the controls.However, the content of DHT receptor in the cytosal of the ventral prostate was elevated very,significantly (P< 0.01).This result suggests that one of the sitcs of action of triptolide might be the epididymis.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu, No. BK2004049
文摘AIM: To investigate apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide (TL), and the relationship between this apoptosis and expression of caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was cultured in DMEM media for this study. MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate in vitro. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to detect the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells before and after TL treatment. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated gene caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. RESULTS: TL inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. TL induced human pancreatic cancer cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics. TUNEL assay showed that after the treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with 40 ng/mL TL for 12 h and 24 h, the apoptotic rates of human pancreatic cancer cells increased significantly. RT-PCR demonstrated that caspase-3 and bax were significantly up-regulated in SW1990 cells treated with TL while bcl-2 mRNA was not. CONCLUSION: TL is able to induce the apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. This apoptosis may be mediated by up-regulating the expression of apoptosis- associated caspase-3 and bax gene.
文摘Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor dii Hook F., has been demonstrated to act as a potent immunosuppressive drug c apab le of inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. However, little is known a bout the effects of triptolide on DCs. The present study shows that triptolide d oes not affect phenotypic differentiation and LPS-induced maturation of murine DCs. But triptolide can dramatically reduce cell recovery by inducing apoptosis of DCs at concentration as low as 10 ng/ml, as demonstrated by phosphatidylserin e exposure, mitochondria potential decrease, and nuclear DNA condensation. Tript olide induces activation of p38 in DCs, which precedes the activation of caspase 3. SB203580, a specific kinase inhibitor for p38, can block the activation of caspase 3 and inhibit the resultant apoptosis of DCs. Our results suggest that t he anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of triptolide may be due, in part, to its apoptosis-inducing effects on DCs.
基金the Shenzhen City Science and Technology Bureau of China(No.JCYJ20170307111755218)“San-Ming”Project of Medicine in Shenzhen(No.SZSM201612092).
文摘Triptolide,a component of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F,has been proved to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).However,its underlying mechanisms on RA have not yet been well established.We observed the inhibitory effect of triptolide on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS)induced by the complex of interleukin-6(IL-6)and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor(sIL-6R).Furthermore,to clarify the underlying mechanisms,we treated FLS with the Janus-activated kinase 2(JAK2)inhibitor/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)activation blocker AZD1480.In this study,immunohistochemical staining was used to identify vimentin(+)and CD68(−)in FLS.The FLS proliferation was measured by cell proliferation assay,and the cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry.Furthermore,ELISA was used to detect the expression of the inflammatory factors in culture solution.The expression levels of p-JAK2,JAK2,p-STAT3 and STAT3 were investigated through Western blotting analysis.The results showed that IL-6/sIL-6R significantly increased the cell proliferation and expression of inflammatory cytokines,including IL-6,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Triptolide or AZD1480 inhibited the cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokine expression in IL-6/sIL-6R-stimulated FLS by suppressing JAK2/STAT3.The study suggested that the physiological effects of triptolide on RA were due to its contribution to the inhibition of the inflammatory cytokine expression and FLS proliferation by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.It may provide an innovative insight into the effect of triptolide in preventing RA pathogenesis.
基金supported by a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu HigherEducation Institutions (PAPD) (JX10231801)grants from Key Academic Discipline of Jiangsu Province "Medical Aspects of Specific Environments"
文摘Triptolide（TPL/TL） is a natural drug with novel anticancer effects. Preclinical studies indicated that TPL inhibits cell proliferation, induces cell apoptosis, inhibits tumor metastasis and enhances the effect of other therapeutic methods in various cancer cell lines. Multiple molecules and signaling pathways, such as caspases, heat-shock proteins, NF-κB, and deoxyribonucleic acid（DNA） repair-associated factors, are associated with the anti-cancer effect. TPL also improves chemoradiosensitivity in cancer therapy. Phase I trials indicate the potential clinical value of TPL use. However, further trials with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81160541and 81373946)the Project of Health Department of Jiangxi Province(Grant No.2011A143)the priority academic program development of Jiangsu higher education institutions(PAPD)
文摘Triptolide(TP) from Tripterygium wilfordii has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anticancer activities. TP is specially used for the treatment of awkward rheumatoid arthritis, but its clinical application is confined by intense side effects. It is reported that licorice can obviously reduce the toxicity of TP, but the detailed mechanisms involved have not been comprehensively investigated. The current study aimed to explore metabolomics characteristics of the toxic reaction induced by TP and the intervention effect of licorice water extraction(LWE) against such toxicity. Obtained urine samples from control, TP and TP + LWE treated rats were analyzed by UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS. The metabolic profiles of the control and the TP group were well differentiated by the principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The toxicity of TP was demonstrated to be evolving along with the exposure time of TP. Eight potential biomarkers related to TP toxicity were successfully identified in urine samples. Furthermore, LWE treatment could attenuate the change in six of the eight identified biomarkers. Functional pathway analysis revealed that the alterations in these metabolites were associated with tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism. Therefore, it was concluded that LWE demonstrated interventional effects on TP toxicity through regulation of tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism pathways, which provided novel insights into the possible mechanisms of TP toxicity as well as the potential therapeutic effects of LWE against such toxicity.
文摘BACKGROUND: Triptolide (TPT) is a diterpenoid triepoxide extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. It exhibits potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was undertaken to investigate its effects on prolongation of islet allograft survival in rodents. Additionally, we investigated whether TPT would be toxic to islet function in vivo. METHODS: We transplanted BALB/c islets to either chemically induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice or spontaneously diabetic non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. TPT was injected within 2 weeks or continuously, until rejection, in the two combinations. Then, we evaluated the toxicity of TPT on islet function by daily injection to naive BALB/c or diabetic BALB/c that was cured by syngeneic islet transplantation under the kidney capsule. Mice injected with cyclosporine A (CsA) or vehicle served as controls. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTTs) performed at 4 and 8 weeks in the naive BALB/c group, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks in the syngeneic transplanted group. RESULTS: The medium survival time of islets allograft from TPT treated C57BL/6 and NOD recipients were 28.5 days (range 24-30 days, n=10) and 33.0 days (range 15-47 days, n=6), respectively, and they were significantly different from those of the vehicle treated controls, which were 14.0 days (range 13-16 days, n=6) and 5.0 days (range 4-10 days, n=6), respectively (all P<0.0001). The IPGTT demonstrated that there was no difference between the TPT treated and vehicle treated groups, either in the normal or syngeneic transplanted islet BALB/c mice. However, CsA injection impaired islet function in both normal and syngeneic transplanted mice as early as 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: TPT prolonged islets allograft survival in a chemically induced diabetic or an autoimmune diabetic murine model without impairment of islet function. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 312-318)
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81572797,81701817)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2019A1515011619)+1 种基金Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Department(No.2016A030311015)Shenzhen Science and Technology Project(No.JCYJ20180507183842516)。
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has become the fourth predominant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide,and HCC is still one of the worst prognoses for survival as it is poorly responsive to both chemotherapy and surgical treatment due to drug resista nce and great toxic effects.Triptolide(TP),a key ingredient from the traditional Chinese medical herb,has been utilized to treat inflammation and antitumor for centuries.However,investigations of this potent agent have been met with only limited success due to the severe systemic toxicities in patients and low water solubility as well as its high toxicity over the past two decades.Herein,we reported the development of a reduction-responsive drug delive ry system loaded with TP fo r glutathione(GSH)-trigge red drug release for cancer therapy.With the GSH-sensitive TP loaded nanoparticles,the remarkable increases in tumor accumulation and amelioration of drug toxicity in animals are demonstrated,which is likely due to sustained stepwise release of active TP within cancer cells.Moreover,in a patient-derived tumor xenograft model of liver cancer,administration of tritolide nanoparticles enhances the antitumor efficacy relative to administration of free TP.These findings indicate that GSH-sensitive release of TP may be a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
文摘This study investigated the role of reactive oxygen species（ROS） in the pathogenesis of triptolide-induced renal injury in vivo.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups（n=5 in each）：triptolide group in which the rats were intraperitoneally injected with triptolide solution at a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight on day 8;control group in which the rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% physiological saline on day 8;vitamin C group in which the rats were pretreated with vitamin C by gavage at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight per day for 7 days before the same treatment as the control group on day 8;triptolide＋vitamin C group in which the rats were first subjected to an oral administration of vitamin C at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight per day for 7 days,and then to the same treatment as the triptolide group on day 8.All the rats were sacrificed on day 10.Blood samples were collected for detection of plasma creatinine（Pcr） and plasma urea nitrogen（PUN） concentrations.Both kidneys were removed.The histological changes were measured by haematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining.The production of ROS was determined by detecting the fluorescent intensity of the oxida-tion-sensitive probe rhodamine 123 in renal tissue.Renal malondialdehyde（MDA） content was meas-ured to evaluate lipid peroxidation level in renal tissue.TUNEL staining was performed to assess apop-tosis of renal tubular cells.Renal expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2,Bax,Bid,Bad,Fas and FasL,as well as corresponding encoding genes were assessed by Western Blotting and real-time PCR.The results showed that triptolide treatment promoted the generation of a great amount of ROS,up-regulated the expression of Bax,Bid,Bad,Fas and FasL at both protein and mRNA levels,as well as the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2,and caused the apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.However,pretreatment with an antioxidant,vitamin C,significantly reduced the generation of ROS and effectively inhibited the triptolide-induced apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.It was concluded that ROS plays a critical role in triptolide-induced apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal injury.The protective administration of vitamin C may help alleviate triptolide-induced renal injury and nephrotoxicity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81703626,81773995,81773827,81573514,81673684,81673443,81573690,81173651,and 81320108029)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2632017PY11)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20151439)the College Students Innovation Project for the R&D of Novel Drugs(No.J1310032)
文摘Triptolide(TP) induces severe liver injury, but its hepatotoxicity mechanisms are still unclear. Inflammatory responses may be involved in the pathophysiology. Neutrophils are the first-line immune effectors for sterile and non-sterile inflammatory responses. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neutrophilic inflammatory response in TP-induced liver injury in C57 BL/6 mice. Our results showed that neutrophils were recruited and accumulated in the liver, which was parallel to or slightly after the development of liver injury. Neutrophils induced release of myeloperoxidase and up-regulation of CD11 b, which caused cytotoxicity and hepatocyte death. Hepatic expressions of CXL1, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP1 were increased significantly to regulate neutrophils recruitment and activation. Up-regulation of toll like receptors 4 and 9 also facilitated neutrophils infiltration. Moreover, neutrophils depletion using an anti-Gr1 antibody showed mild protection against TP overdose. These results indicated that neutrophils accumulation might be the secondary response, not the cause of TP-induced liver injury. In conclusion, the inflammatory response including neutrophil infiltration may play a role in TP-induced hepatotoxicity, but may not be severe enough to cause additional liver injury.
基金supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2016M590757the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University of China,No.20+4 种基金the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China,No.2015JJ6010a grant from the Basic Research Program of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Hunan Province of China,No.2015JC3059the Project Fund of the Department of Education in Hunan Province of China,No.15A023,13C1107the Scientific Research Project Fund of Health Department of Hunan Province of China,No.B2011-071,B2016096a grant from the Construction Program of the Key Discipline in Hunan Province of China
文摘The principal pathology of Alzheimer＇s disease includes neuronal extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptides and formation of senile pl aques, which in turn induce neuroinflammation in the brain. Triptolide, a natural extract from the vine-like herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive efficacy. Therefore, we determined if triptolide can inhibit activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease. We used 1 or 5 μg/kg/d triptolide to treat APP/PS1 double transgenic mice （aged 4-4.5 months） for 45 days. Unbiased stereology analysis found that triptolide dose-dependent- ly reduced the total number of microglial cells, and transformed microglial cells into the resting state. Further, triptolide （5 μg/kg/d） also reduced the total number of hippocampal astrocytes. Our in vivo test results indicate that triptolide suppresses activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the hippocampus of APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice with Alzheimer＇s disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81102522 and 81373480)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK2011473)the Excellent Youth Foundation of Jiangsu University
文摘The present study was designed to explore the influence of water extracts of Atractylodes lancea rhizomes on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide(TP). A water extract was prepared from A. lancea rhizomes and co-administered with TP in C57BL/6 mice. The toxicity was assayed by determining serum biochemical parameters and visceral indexes and by liver histopathological analysis. The hepatic CYP3A expression levels were detected using Western blotting and RT-PCR methods. The data showed that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes reduced triptolide-induced toxicity, probably by inducing the hepatic expression of CYP3A. The anti-inflammatory effects of TP were evaluated in mice using a xylene-induced ear edema test. By comparing ear edema inhibition rates, we found that the water extract could also increase the anti-inflammatory effects of TP. In conclusion, our results suggested that the water extract of A. lancea rhizomes, used in combination with TP, has a potential in reducing TP-induced toxicity and enhancing its anti-inflammatory effects.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81173651,81320108029,and 81303301)the 2011’ Program for Excellent Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Jiangsu Higher Education,“the 111 Project(111-2-07)”
文摘Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown etiology, characterized by prostatic enlargement coincident with distinct alterations in tissue histology. In the present study, we investigated whether triptolide can prevent testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. Castration was performed via the scrotal route after urethane aesthesia. BPH was induced in experimental groups by daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate(TP) for two weeks. Triptolide was administered daily by oral gavage at a dose of 100 and 50 μg×kg^(-1) for 2 weeks, along with the TP injections. On day 14, the animals were humanely killed by cervical dislocation after aesthesia. Prostates were excised, weighed, and used for histological studies. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone(DHT) levels in serum and prostate were measured. The results showed that triptolide significantly reduced the prostate weight, and the testosterone and DHT levels in both the serum and prostate. Histopathological examination also showed that triptolide treatment suppressed TP-induced prostatic hyperplasia. In conclusion, triptolide effectively inhibits the development of BPH induced by testosterone in a rat model.
