PMID: 

Tumour Biol. 2016 Sep ;37(9):12301-12313. Epub 2016 Jun 7. PMID: 27272157

Abstract Title: 

Enhanced antitumor activity and attenuated cardiotoxicity of Epirubicin combined with Paeonol against breast cancer.

Abstract: 

Epirubicin is widely used for the therapy of various breast cancers. However, it has serious adverse side effects, particularly cardiotoxicity, which can cause irreversible damage in patients. Paeonol, an active component from Moutan Cortex, enhances antitumor activity of antineoplastics and reduces toxicities induced by chemotherapeutics. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of Paeonol in combination with Epirubicin against breast cancer and the alleviated effect of Paeonol on cardiotoxicity induced by Epirubicin. The apoptosis results and the coefficient of drug interaction values suggested significantly synergistic in combination of Paeonol and Epirubicin to 4T1 and MCF-7 cells. We further examined antitumor activities of Paeonol or/and Epirubicin in vivo in BALB/c mice and found that co-treatment of Paeonol and Epirubicin had a synergistic inhibitory effect on tumor growth and enhanced apoptosis in tumors in vivo compared with Epirubicin alone. Increased apoptosis was associated with the activation of apoptosis-related proteins including PARP, Bax, caspase 3, and inhibition of p38/JNK/ERK MAPKs. Moreover, Paeonol exhibited a mitigative effect on Epirubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through suppressing NF-kB pathway. In conclusion, Paeonol (a) enhanced the antitumor activity of Epirubicin in a synergistic manner against breast cancer cells via inhibiting p38/JNK/ERK MAPKs and (b) alleviated Epirubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing NF-kB pathway. These findings suggest that combination of Paeonol and Epirubicin is potentially applicable for breast cancer treatment.

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PMID: 

Oncotarget. 2016 Jun 28 ;7(26):39497-39510. PMID: 27027358

Abstract Title: 

Paeonol protects endotoxin-induced acute kidney injury: potential mechanism of inhibiting TLR4-NF-κB signal pathway.

Abstract: 

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In order to determine the therapeutic effect and mechanism of paeonol on acute kidney injury induced by endotoxin, an acute kidney injury model was established by intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide in mice in vivo and on LPS-induced dendritic cells in vitro. Renal tissues were used for histologic examination. Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were detected, inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA. The relative proteins' expression of TLR4-NF-κB signal pathway was assessed by Western blot, the localization and expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 in kidney was monitored by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Treatment of paeonol successfully cuts histopathological scores and dilutes the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine as index of renal injury severity. In addition, paeonol reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases anti-inflammatory cytokines stimulated by LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Paeonol also inhibits the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB p65, IκBα and IKKβ, and restrains NF-κB p65 DNA-binding activity. Paeonol treatment also attenuates the effects of LPS on dendritic cells, with significant inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines release, then TLR4 expression and NF-κB signal pathway have been suppressed.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that paeonol has protective effects on endotoxin-induced kidney injury. The mechanisms underlying such effects are associated with its successfully attenuate inflammatory and suppresses TLR4 and NF-κB signal pathway. Therefore, paeonol has great potential to be a novel and natural product agent for treating AKI or septic-AKI.

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PMID: 

Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 Jan 15 ;795:84-93. Epub 2016 Dec 6. PMID: 27940053

Abstract Title: 

Paeonol alleviates epirubicin-induced renal injury in mice by regulating Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways.

Abstract: 

Renal injury is a dose-dependent side effect of epirubicin that limits its clinical application in the field of tumor chemotherapy. Paeonol is an active ingredient with a variety of biological activities, including the prevention of multiple antineoplastic-induced toxicities. In the present study, we assessed the renoprotective effect of paeonol on epirubicin-induced nephrotoxicity and investigated the underlying mechanism. Renal function, kidney histology, oxidative stress, nitrative stress, inflammation, apoptotic proteins and the effects on signaling pathways were investigated. Paeonol lowered the levels of biomarkers of renal injury, relieved histopathological alterations, alleviated oxidative stress and nitrative stress, and ameliorated inflammation. Moreover, paeonol inhibited epirubicin-induced apoptosis by suppressing the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, the Bax/Bcl-2 imbalance and cytochrome c release. Further studies suggest that paeonol up-regulates the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway by increasing the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and down-regulates the NF-κB pathway by reducing IκBα degradation and blocking the p-NF-κB nuclear translocation. In conclusion, paeonol alleviates epirubicin-induced renal injury in mice by regulating the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

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PMID: 

Int Immunopharmacol. 2017 May ;46:124-132. Epub 2017 Mar 7. PMID: 28282576

Abstract Title: 

Antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis by paeonol in LPS/d-GalN-induced acute liver failure in mice.

Abstract: 

To evaluate the hepatoprotective effects and potential mechanisms of paeonol (Pae) against acute liver failure (ALF) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (d-GalN) in mice, we examined anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities of Pae. We found that Pae pretreatment markedly reduced the activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase as well as the histopathological changes induced by LPS/d-GalN. Catalase, glutathione and superoxide dismutase activities increased and reactive oxygen species activity decreased after Pae treatment compared with LPS/d-GalN treatment. Pretreatment with Pae also significantly inhibited the expression levels of iNOS, nitric oxide (NO), COX-2 and prostaglandin E(PGE). In addition, Pae administration prevented the phosphorylated expression of IκB kinase, inhibitor kappa B in the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and suppressed the phosphorylated expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun-N-terminal kinase and p38 in the MAPK signaling pathway. Pretreatment with Pae also inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis by reducing the expression of caspases 3, 8, 9, and Bax, and increasing Bcl-2. In total, protective effects of Pae against LPS/d-GalN-induced ALF in mice are attributed to its antioxidative effect, inflammatory suppression in NF-κB and MARK signaling pathways, and inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis inhibition. Therefore, Pae can be a potential therapeutic agent in attenuating LPS/d-GalN-induced ALF in the future.

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PMID: 

Int J Mol Med. 2017 May ;39(5):1101-1110. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28339016

Abstract Title: 

Paeonol ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice by inhibiting the maturation and activation of dendritic cells.

Abstract: 

Paeonol, an active component derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Moutan, possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-allergic properties. Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory dermatosis accompanied by excessive activation of Toll‑like receptors (TLRs) in dendritic cells (DCs), which are primarily responsible for initiating an immune response. We investigated the effect of paeonol on inflammation in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model and murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) stimulated by R848. Mice were intragastrically administered 100 mg/kg (high), 50 mg/kg (medium) and 25 mg/kg (low)paeonol, respectively. We evaluated inflammation of psori-asis‑like lesions based on histological changes, protein levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and TLR8 in skin lesions by western blotting, and levels of CD11c+ DCs in skin by immunoassay and in spleens by flow cytometry.Inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-23, IL-12 and IL-1β] in skin lesions and BMDCs were also assessed by RT-PCR and ELISA. Application of paeonol decreased IMQ-induced keratinocyte proliferation, and infiltration of CD3+ cells, while the treatment ameliorated CD11c+ cells in the spleen andskin, and reduced MyD88 and TLR8 proteins in skin lesions. Paeonol inhibited IMQ-induced mRNA expression of IL-23, but not IL-12 and IL-1β in BMDCs, along with significantly lower levels of DCs expressing MHCⅡ, CD80 and CD86 in vitro. These results indicate that paeonol suppresses the maturation and activation of DCs by decreasing MyD88 and TLR8 proteins in the TLR7/8 signaling pathway which finally alleviates psoriasis‑like skin lesions. The TLR7/8 signaling pathway in DCs provides an important insight into the mechanism of psoriasis, and paeonol may be a potent therapeutic drug for psoriasis.

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PMID: 

Inflamm Res. 2017 Jul ;66(7):603-610. Epub 2017 Apr 11. PMID: 28401267

Abstract Title: 

Paeonol protects against TNF-α-induced proliferation and cytokine release of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes by upregulating FOXO3 through inhibition of miR-155 expression.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Paeonol (Pae) is a phenolic compound found in many traditional Chinese medicine remedies. However, the effects of Pae on TNF-α-stimulated FLS and the underlying molecular mechanism are unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effect of Pae against activated FLS.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rheumatoid arthritis FLS (RA-FLS) were pre-treated with different doses (25, 50, and 100 µM) of Pae or miR-155 inhibitor for 30 min or transfected with miR-155 mimic, and then treated with 50 ng/mL of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) for 1 h. Cells that were untreated served as control. At 24 h after drug pretreatment, the proliferation of FLS was detected using the MTT assay. The concentrations of interleukin IL-6 and IL-1β in cell culture supernatant were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and mRNA levels of Foxo3 and miR-155 expression in FLS were quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein expressions of forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), cyclin D1, and c-Myc were detected by Western Blot.RESULTS: TNF-α induced the proliferation of FLS, whereas Pae inhibited this proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Pae attenuated TNF-α-induced production of IL-6 and IL-1β, and inhibited the expression of miR-155 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, miR-155 inhibitor decreased TNF-α-induced proliferation of FLS, and attenuated TNF-α-induced production of IL-6 and IL-1β. In addition, pretreatment with different doses of Pae or miR-155 inhibitor markedly attenuated TNF-α-induced decrease in protein expression of FOXO3 in FLS. Mechanistic studies revealed FOXO3 as miR-155-5p direct target and inhibition of FOXO3 led to the abolishment of Pae protective effects.CONCLUSIONS: Paeonol protected against TNF-α-induced proliferation and cytokine release of FLS by decreasing the expression of miR-155 and upregulating its target FOXO3.

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PMID: 

Front Physiol. 2017 ;8:193. Epub 2017 Mar 31. PMID: 28408888

Abstract Title: 

Prevention of Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice by Paeonol.

Abstract: 

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe and progressive disease that is characterized by an abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, such as collagens. The pathogenesis of this disease may be initiated by oxidative damage of lung epithelial cells by fibrogenic stimuli, leading to lung inflammation, which in turn promotes various lung fibrotic responses. The profibrogenic effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on lung fibroblasts is crucial for the pathogenesis of this disease. Paeonol, the main phenolic compound present in the Chinese herb, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether paeonol has therapeutic effects against pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. Using a murine model, we showed that 21 days after the insult, intratracheal bleomycin caused pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, as evidenced by lung histopathological manifestations and increase in various indices. The inflammatory indices included an increase in total cell count, differential cell count, and total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The fibrotic indices included an increase in lung levels of TGF-β1, total collagen, type 1α1 collagen (COL1A1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA; a marker of myofibroblasts). Bleomycin also was found to cause an increase in oxidative stress as reflected by increased levels of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal in the lungs. Importantly, all these pathophysiological events were suppressed by daily treatment with paeonol. Using human lung fibroblasts, we further demonstrated that exposure of human lung fibroblasts to TGF-β1 increased productions of α-SMA and COL1A1, both of which were inhibited by inhibitors of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and Smad3. JNK and p38 are two subfamily members of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), whereas Smad3 is a transcription factor. TGF-β1 exposure also increased the phosphorylation of JNK, p38, and Smad3 prior to the induction of α-SMA and COL1A1. Notably, all these TGF-β1-induced cellular events were suppressed by paeonol treatment. Our findings suggest that paeonol has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic functions against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. The beneficial effect of paeonol may be, at least in part, mediated through the inhibition of the MAPKs/Smad3 signaling.

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PMID: 

Oncotarget. 2017 Apr 18 ;8(16):27093-27104. PMID: 28404919

Abstract Title: 

Paeonol suppresses solar ultraviolet-induced skin inflammation by targeting T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase.

Abstract: 

Excessive exposure to solar UV (SUV) is related with numerous human skin disorders, such as skin inflammation, photoaging and carcinogenesis. T-LAK cell- originated protein kinase (TOPK), an upstream of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), plays an important role in SUV -induced skin inflammation, and targeting TOPK has already been a strategy to prevent skin inflammation. In this study, we found that the expression of TOPK, phosphorylation of p38 or JNKs was increased in human solar dermatitis tissues. The level of phosphorylation of p38 or JNKs increased in a dose and time dependent manner in HaCat cells or JB6 Cl41 cells after SUV treatment. Paeonol is an active component isolated from traditional Chinese herbal medicines, and MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2H-tetrazdium) assay showed that it has no toxicity to cells. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay showed that paeonol can bind TOPK ex vivo. In vitro kinase assay showed paeonol can inhibit TOPK activity. Ex vivo studies further showed paeonol suppressed SUV-induced phosphorylation level of p38, JNKs, MSK1 and histone H2AX by inhibiting TOPK activity in a time and dose dependent manner. Paeonol inhibited the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in HaCat and JB6 cells ex vivo. In vivo studies demonstrated that paeonol inhibited SUV-induced increase of TOPK, the phosphorylation of p38, JNKs and H2AX, and the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in Babl/c mouse. In summary, our data indicated a protective role of paeonol against SUV-induced inflammation by targeting TOPK, and paeonol could be a promising agent for the treatment of SUV-induced skin inflammation.

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PMID: 

PLoS One. 2017 ;12(5):e0178365. Epub 2017 May 31. PMID: 28562691

Abstract Title: 

Chronic treatment with paeonol improves endothelial function in mice through inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated oxidative stress.

Abstract: 

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leads to endothelial dysfunction which is commonly associated in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases. We explored the vascular protective effects of chronic treatment with paeonol (2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyacetophenone), the major compound from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa on ER stress-induced endothelial dysfunction in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with ER stress inducer, tunicamycin (1 mg/kg/week) for 2 weeks to induce ER stress. The animals were co-administered with or without paeonol (20 mg/kg/oral gavage), reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, tempol (20 mg/kg/day) or ER stress inhibitor, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, 150 mg/kg/day) respectively. Blood pressure and body weight were monitored weekly and at the end of treatment, the aorta was isolated for isometric force measurement. Protein associated with ER stress (GRP78, ATF6 and p-eIF2α) and oxidative stress (NOX2 and nitrotyrosine) were evaluated using Western blotting. Nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability were determined using total nitrate/nitrite assay and western blotting (phosphorylation of eNOS protein). ROS production was assessed by en face dihydroethidium staining and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence assay, respectively. Our results revealed that mice treated with tunicamycin showed an increased blood pressure, reduction in body weight and impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations (EDRs) of aorta, which were ameliorated by co-treatment with either paeonol,TUDCA and tempol. Furthermore, paeonol reduced the ROS level in the mouse aorta and improved NO bioavailability in tunicamycin treated mice. These beneficial effects of paeonol observed were comparable to those produced by TUDCA and tempol, suggesting that the actions of paeonol may involve inhibition of ER stress-mediated oxidative stress pathway. Taken together, the present results suggest that chronic treatment with paeonol preserved endothelial function and normalized blood pressure in mice induced by tunicamycin in vivo through the inhibition of ER stress-associated ROS.

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PMID: 

Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2017 Apr 1 ;35(2):139-144. PMID: 28682542

Abstract Title: 

[Effects of paeonol on the function of bone marrow-derived macrophage from Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced mice].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to examine the effects of paeonol treatment on the ability of bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) to excrete inflammatory factors and to differentiate into osteoclasts upon induction with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). This work also aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of these abilities.METHODS: BMM culture was treated with different paeonol concentrations at for 1 h and then stimulated with P. gingivalis for 24 h before programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was quantified with flow cytometry. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The BMM culture was treated with the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and then with paeonol for 1 h prior to induction with P. gingivalis. Then, osteoclast formation was assessed using tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. The osteoclast-related proteins TRAP and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) were quantified by Western blotting.RESULTS: Paeonol was nontoxic to BMM within a range of 10-50μmol·L⁻¹. Flow cytometry showed that paeonol inhibited PD-L1 expression in P. gingivalis-induced BMM in a dose-dependent manner. ELISA indicated that paeonol dose-dependently inhibited the excretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by P. gingivalis-induced BMM (P

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