Qi Liu , Lin-Xiang Liu , Bi-Min Li , Wang Zhang , Yue Zhang , Peng Chen , Chen-Kai Huang , Yuan Nie , Xuan Zhu
{"title":"基于NOX2/NLRP3炎性体信号通路探索熊果酸预防肝纤维化和改善肠道微生物群的机制","authors":"Qi Liu , Lin-Xiang Liu , Bi-Min Li , Wang Zhang , Yue Zhang , Peng Chen , Chen-Kai Huang , Yuan Nie , Xuan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111305","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early-stage liver fibrosis can be reversed; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The intestinal tract hosts a substantial and diverse microbiota involved in various physiological activities and is closely linked to chronic liver disease. Previous studies have indicated that ursolic acid (UA), derived from herbal plants, possesses anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties; however, its precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Consequently, liver fibrosis models were constructed utilizing both the methionine/choline deficieny (MCD) diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intraperitoneal injections. 16S rRNA was conducted to analyze the intestinal microbiota. Results indicated that UA attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, reduced indices related to liver fibrosis, and decreased the expression levels of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). Hepatic fibrosis was alleviated in post-model NOX2 and NLRP3 gene knockout (NOX2<sup>−/−</sup> and NLRP3<sup>−/−</sup>) mice in comparison to post-model wild-type (WT) mice. Nonetheless, neither UA treatment nor control treatment significantly improved liver fibrosis in comparison to post-model knockout mice. Furthermore, the liver of NOX2<sup>−/−</sup> mice exhibited lower levels of NLRP3 expression. Importantly, knockout mice displayed a higher diversity of intestinal microbiota, characterized by an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduced presence of harmful bacteria compared to WT mice. In conclusion, UA exerts antifibrotic effects through the inhibition of the NOX2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. UA has the potential to reverse liver fibrosis by modulating this signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the gut microbiota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":274,"journal":{"name":"Chemico-Biological Interactions","volume":"405 ","pages":"Article 111305"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Exploring the mechanism of ursolic acid in preventing liver fibrosis and improving intestinal microbiota based on NOX2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway\",\"authors\":\"Qi Liu , Lin-Xiang Liu , Bi-Min Li , Wang Zhang , Yue Zhang , Peng Chen , Chen-Kai Huang , Yuan Nie , Xuan Zhu\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111305\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>Early-stage liver fibrosis can be reversed; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The intestinal tract hosts a substantial and diverse microbiota involved in various physiological activities and is closely linked to chronic liver disease. Previous studies have indicated that ursolic acid (UA), derived from herbal plants, possesses anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties; however, its precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Consequently, liver fibrosis models were constructed utilizing both the methionine/choline deficieny (MCD) diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intraperitoneal injections. 16S rRNA was conducted to analyze the intestinal microbiota. Results indicated that UA attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, reduced indices related to liver fibrosis, and decreased the expression levels of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). Hepatic fibrosis was alleviated in post-model NOX2 and NLRP3 gene knockout (NOX2<sup>−/−</sup> and NLRP3<sup>−/−</sup>) mice in comparison to post-model wild-type (WT) mice. Nonetheless, neither UA treatment nor control treatment significantly improved liver fibrosis in comparison to post-model knockout mice. Furthermore, the liver of NOX2<sup>−/−</sup> mice exhibited lower levels of NLRP3 expression. Importantly, knockout mice displayed a higher diversity of intestinal microbiota, characterized by an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduced presence of harmful bacteria compared to WT mice. In conclusion, UA exerts antifibrotic effects through the inhibition of the NOX2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. UA has the potential to reverse liver fibrosis by modulating this signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the gut microbiota.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":274,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Chemico-Biological Interactions\",\"volume\":\"405 \",\"pages\":\"Article 111305\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.7000,\"publicationDate\":\"2024-11-03\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Chemico-Biological Interactions\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009279724004514\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chemico-Biological Interactions","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009279724004514","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Exploring the mechanism of ursolic acid in preventing liver fibrosis and improving intestinal microbiota based on NOX2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway
Early-stage liver fibrosis can be reversed; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The intestinal tract hosts a substantial and diverse microbiota involved in various physiological activities and is closely linked to chronic liver disease. Previous studies have indicated that ursolic acid (UA), derived from herbal plants, possesses anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties; however, its precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Consequently, liver fibrosis models were constructed utilizing both the methionine/choline deficieny (MCD) diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intraperitoneal injections. 16S rRNA was conducted to analyze the intestinal microbiota. Results indicated that UA attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, reduced indices related to liver fibrosis, and decreased the expression levels of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). Hepatic fibrosis was alleviated in post-model NOX2 and NLRP3 gene knockout (NOX2−/− and NLRP3−/−) mice in comparison to post-model wild-type (WT) mice. Nonetheless, neither UA treatment nor control treatment significantly improved liver fibrosis in comparison to post-model knockout mice. Furthermore, the liver of NOX2−/− mice exhibited lower levels of NLRP3 expression. Importantly, knockout mice displayed a higher diversity of intestinal microbiota, characterized by an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduced presence of harmful bacteria compared to WT mice. In conclusion, UA exerts antifibrotic effects through the inhibition of the NOX2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. UA has the potential to reverse liver fibrosis by modulating this signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the gut microbiota.
期刊介绍:
Chemico-Biological Interactions publishes research reports and review articles that examine the molecular, cellular, and/or biochemical basis of toxicologically relevant outcomes. Special emphasis is placed on toxicological mechanisms associated with interactions between chemicals and biological systems. Outcomes may include all traditional endpoints caused by synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals, both in vivo and in vitro. Endpoints of interest include, but are not limited to carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, respiratory toxicology, neurotoxicology, reproductive and developmental toxicology, and immunotoxicology.