Gang Huang

Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate atherosclerosis via reciprocal regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation by inducing liver X receptor alpha expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen has been used as a health product and natural remedy in traditional medicine for cardiovascular diseases for more than 1000 years in Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the major effective ingredients extracted from Panax notoginseng. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) attenuated atherosclerosis by inducing liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) expression and to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS The AS rats were treated once daily with PNS (100 mg/kg, i.p.), and pathological changes in the aorta were observed using Sudan IV staining. The expression of LXRα in the aortic wall was measured by Western blot analysis. THP-1 macrophages were cultured with PNS in the presence or absence of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate ammonium salt (GGPP), an LXRα antagonist. The expression of LXRα and its target genes ATP-binding cassette A1 and G1 (ABCA1, ABCG1) were determined by qRT-PCR. The transcriptional activation of the LXRα gene promoter was analyzed by a reporter assay. The NF-κB DNA binding activity and the expression of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was evaluated respectively by Trans-AM NF-κB ELISA and ELISA in THP-1 macrophages that were stimulated with LPS after treatment with PNS and GGPP. RESULTS PNS treatment alleviated the typical pathological changes associated with atherosclerosis in rats. The expression of LXRα was increased in rat aortas after treatment with PNS. In vitro, PNS increased LXRα mRNA levels in THP-1 macrophages. The reporter assays showed that PNS enhanced transcriptional activation of the LXRα gene promoter and led to the upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. This upregulation could be reversed by treatment with GGPP. Additionally, PNS inhibited NF-κB DNA binding activity and reduced secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1 in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. These effects could be reversed by GGPP. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the PNS-mediated attenuation of AS may, at least partly, due to LXRα uprergulation. The mechanisms of action included enhancement transcriptional activation of the LXRα gene promoter by PNS and subsequent upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 and inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding activity.

Downregulation of Human Farnesoid X Receptor by miR-421 Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that is highly expressed in liver, kidney, adrenal gland, and intestine. It plays an important role in regulating the progression of several cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). So it is necessary to study the regulation of FXR. In this study, we found that the expression of miR-421 was inversely correlated with FXR protein level in HCC cell lines. Treatment with miR-421 mimic repressed FXR translation. The reporter assay revealed that miR-421 targeted 3′ untranslated region of human FXR mRNA. Furthermore, downregulation of FXR by miR-421 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results suggest that miR-421 may serve as a novel molecular target for manipulating FXR expression in hepatocyte and for the treatment of HCC. Mol Cancer Res; 10(4); 516–22. ©2012 AACR.

Upregulation of scavenger receptor class B type I expression by activation of FXR in hepatocyte

OBJECTIVE The farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by regulating the metabolism and transport of cholesterol and triglyceride. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), a high-density lipoprotein receptor, plays an important role in decreasing lipid metabolism-associated cardiovascular diseases by regulating reverse cholesterol transport. Recent studies have shown that SR-BI expression is upregulated by several nuclear receptors. However, the role of FXR in the regulation of SR-BI expression is not well known. In the present study, we investigate the regulation of SR-BI by FXR in hepatocyte and the corresponding mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS Treatment of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 with FXR ligands resulted in upregulation of SR-BI at the levels of both mRNA and protein. Reporter assays showed that activation of FXR significantly enhanced the SR-BI promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that FXR induced SR-BI expression by binding to a novel FXR element (FXRE), a directed repeat DNA motif, DR8 (-703 AGGCCAcgttctagAGCTCA -684). The in vivo experiment demonstrated that gavaging mice with a natural ligand of FXR increased SR-BI expression in liver tissues. CONCLUSIONS FXR can directly upregulate SR-BI expression in hepatocyte, and DR8 is a likely novel FXRE that is involved in SR-BI regulation. FXR may serve as a novel molecular target for manipulating SR-BI expression in hepatocyte.

MicroRNA-613 represses lipogenesis in HepG2 cells by downregulating LXRα

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as new important regulators of lipid homeostasis by regulating corresponding genes. MiR-613 is a newly discovered microRNA, of which the biological function is unknown. A recent report has shown that miR-613 downregulates liver X receptor α (LXRα), a ligand-activated nuclear receptor playing an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect and the molecular basis of miR-613 on lipogenesis in HepG2 cells.MethodsHepG2 cells were transiently transfected with miR-613 mimic or control microRNA. Real time PCR, Western blot, Luciferase reporter assay and Oil Red O staining were employed to examine the expression of LXRα and its target genes involved in lipogenesis, binding site for miR-613 in 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of LXRα mRNA and lipid droplet accumulation in the cells.ResultsMiR-613 dramatically suppressed the expression of LXRα and its target genes including sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), carbohydrate responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Reporter assay showed that miR-613 directly bound to 3′-UTR of LXRα mRNA. Moreover, miR-613 significantly repressed LXRα-induced lipid droplet accumulation in HepG2 cells. Ectopic expression of LXRα without 3′-UTR markedly attenuated the miR-613-mediated downregulation of LXRα’s target genes and LXRα-induced lipid droplet accumulation.ConclusionsMiR-613 suppresses lipogenesis by directly targeting LXRα in HepG2 cells, suggesting that miR-613 may serve as a novel target for regulating lipid homeostasis.

FXR ligands protect against hepatocellular inflammation via SOCS3 induction

Because of the anti-inflammatory actions of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists, FXR has received much attention as a potential therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms of actions have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we reported that in the animal model of LPS-induced liver injury, administration of the FXR natural ligand CDCA could attenuate hepatocyte inflammatory damage, reduce transaminase activities, suppress inflammation mediators (IL-6, TNF-α and ICAM-1) expression and inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation. These protective effects of FXR were accompanied by an increased expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), which is a negative feedback regulator of cytokine-STAT3 signaling. We then demonstrated that the beneficial effects of FXR agonist in STAT3 activation were weakened by small interfering RNA-mediated SOCS3 knockdown in hepacytes. Moreover we observed both natural ligand CDCA and synthetic ligand GW4064 could upregulate SOCS 3 expression by enhancing the promoter activity in hepatocytes. These results suggest modulation of SOCS3 expression may represent a novel mechanism through which FXR activation could selectively affect cytokine bioactivity in inflammation response. FXR ligands may be potentially therapeutic in the treatment of liver inflammatory diseases via SOCS3 induction.

NF-κB Plays a Key Role in Inducing CD274 Expression in Human Monocytes after Lipopolysaccharide Treatment

CD274, one of two co-stimulatory ligands for programmed death 1 and widely expressed in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), may co-stimulate T cells and regulates inflammatory responses. However, changes in CD274 gene expression and the underlying molecular mechanism are poorly understood during inflammatory responses. Therefore, delineation of the complex mechanisms regulating CD274 expression is critical to understand this immunoregulatory system during inflammatory responses. The purpose of this study was to assess the molecular mechanisms regulating CD274 expression in an in vitro monocyte model of inflammatory response. Firstly, CD274 expression levels in human primary monocytes after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment were observed and correlated with NF-κB activation. Secondly, based on the distribution of putative NF-κB binding sites, 5′ truncated human CD274 promoter reporters were constructed, transfected into U937 cells and critical promoter regions for basal (nt −570 to +94) and LPS-induced (nt −1735 to −570) transcription were identified by dual luciferase assays. Finally, a key NF-κB binding site (nt −610 to −601) for LPS-inducible CD274 transcriptional activity was characterized by point mutation analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis assays (ChIP). Thus, the present study establishes a molecular basis to understand the mechanisms governing CD274 expression in certain infections and inflammatory disorders.

Upregulation of microRNA-122 by farnesoid X receptor suppresses the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BackgroundmicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is the most abundant and specific miRNA in the liver. It acts as an important tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through regulating its target genes, but details of its own regulation are largely unknown. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a transcription factor with multiple functions, plays an important role in protecting against liver carcinogenesis, but it is unclear whether the anti-HCC effect of FXR is involved in the regulation of miR-122.MethodsThe levels of miR-122 and FXR in HCC tissues and cell lines were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). qRT-PCR was also used to detect the expression of miR-122 target genes at mRNA level, while Western blotting was used to analyze that of their protein products. The effect of FXR on the transcriptional activity of miR-122 promoter was evaluated by a luciferase reporter assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were performed to identify the FXR binding site within miR-122 promoter region. The cell proliferation was analyzed by a CCK-8 assay. The influence of FXR on tumor growth and miR-122 expression in vivo was monitored using HCC xenografts in nude mice.ResultsThe expression of FXR was positively correlated with that of miR-122 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Activation of FXR in HCC cells upregulated miR-122 expression and in turn downregulated the expression of miR-122 target genes including insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and cyclin G1. FXR bound directly to the DR2 element (−338 to −325) in miR-122 promoter region, and enhanced the promoter’s transcriptional activity. Functional experiments showed that the FXR-mediated upregulation of miR-122 suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and the growth of HCC xenografts in vivo.ConclusionsmiR-122 is a novel target gene of FXR, and the upregulation of miR-122 by FXR represses the growth of HCC cells, suggesting that FXR may serve as a key transcriptional regulator for manipulating miR-122 expression, and the FXR/miR-122 pathway may therefore be a novel target for the treatment of HCC.

Downregulation of B lymphocyte stimulator expression by curcumin in B lymphocyte via suppressing nuclear translocation of NF-κB.

Overexpression of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is closely involved in the pathogenesis and progression of some autoimmune diseases. Curcumin, a pharmacologically safe agent, has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is not clear whether curcumin affects the expression of BLyS. In this study, we report that curcumin inhibits the expression of BLyS and that a DNA-binding site for the transcriptional factor NF-κB in the BLyS promoter region is required for this regulation. Moreover, we find that curcumin reduces the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB to the BLyS promoter region and suppresses nuclear translocation of p65, suggesting that curcumin may suppress BLyS expression via negatively interfering with NF-κB signaling. These results suggest that curcumin may serve as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of autoimmune diseases by targeting BLyS.

The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of HMGB1 A Box Is Enhanced When Fused with C-Terminal Acidic Tail

HMGB1, composed of the A box, B box, and C tail domains, is a critical proinflammatory cytokine involved in diverse inflammatory diseases. The B box mediates proinflammatory activity, while the A box alone acts as a specific antagonist of HMGB1. The C tail contributes to the spatial structure of A box and regulates HMGB1 DNA binding specificity. It is unknown whether the C tail can enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of A box. In this study, we generated fusion proteins consisting of the A box and C tail, in which the B box was deleted and the A box and C tail were linked either directly or by the flexible linker sequence (Gly4Ser)3. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the two fusion proteins had a higher anti-inflammatory activity compared to the A box alone. This suggests that the fused C tail enhances the anti-inflammatory effect of the A box.

FXR induces SOCS3 and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is regarded as a vital repressor in the liver carcinogenesis mainly by inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity. Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR), highly expressed in liver, has an important role in protecting against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is unclear whether the tumor suppressive activity of FXR involves the regulation of SOCS3. In the present study, we found that activation of FXR by its specific agonist GW4064 in HCC cells inhibited cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, elevated p21 expression and repressed STAT3 activity. The above anti-tumor effects of FXR were dramatically alleviated by knockdown of SOCS3 with siRNA. Reporter assay revealed that FXR activation enhanced the transcriptional activity of SOCS3 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay displayed that FXR directly bound to IR9 DNA motif within SOCS3 promoter region. The in vivo study in nude mice showed that treatment with FXR ligand GW4064 could decelerate the growth of HCC xenografts, up-regulate SOCS3 and p21 expression and inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation in the xenografts. These results suggest that induction of SOCS3 may be a novel mechanism by which FXR exerts its anti-HCC effects, and the FXR-SOCS3 signaling may serve as a new potential target for the prevention/treatment of HCC.