Zhou Xian, Münch Gerald, Wohlmuth Hans, Afzal Sualiha, Kao Ming-Hui Tim, Al-Khazaleh Ahmad, Low Mitchell, Leach David, Li Chun Guang
NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Front Pharmacol. 2022 May 19;13:818166. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.818166. eCollection 2022.
Synergy plays a prominent role in herbal medicines to increase potency and widen the therapeutic windows. The mechanism of synergy in herbal medicines is often associated with multi-targeted behavior and complex signaling pathways which are challenging to elucidate. This study aims to investigate the synergistic mechanism of a combination (GT) of ginger (G) and turmeric (T) extracts by exploring the modulatory activity in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced inflammatory pathways and key molecular targets. A Bioplex ProTM mouse cytokine 23-plex assay was utilized to assess the broad anti-cytokine activity of GT in LPS and interferon (IFN)-ɣ (both at 50 ng/mL)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory effects of individual and combined G and T on major proinflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-6 were tested using Griess reagents and ELISA assays, respectively. Immunofluorescent staining and Western blot were used to investigate the modulatory effect of GT on key proteins in the LPS/TLR4 signaling transduction. The regulation of murine microRNA miR-155-5p was tested using real-time PCR. The IC value and combination index (CI) values were used to demonstrate potency and synergistic interaction, respectively. GT synergistically attenuated a range of pro-inflammatory mediators including inducible NO, major cytokines (TNF and IL-6) and secondary inflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF and MCP-1). GT significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-kB p65 translocation, the activation of TLR4, TRAF6, and phosphorylation of JNK and c-JUN. Moreover, the suppressive effect of GT on each of the protein targets in this axis was stronger than that of the individual components. Real-time PCR analysis showed that GT suppressed miR-155-5p to a greater extent than G or T alone in LPS-stimulated cells. Our study demonstrates the synergistic mechanism of GT in downregulating LPS-induced proinflammatory pathways at the miRNA and protein levels. Our results establish a scientific basis for the combined application of G and T as an advanced therapeutic candidate in inflammatory diseases with broad and synergistic anti-inflammatory activity and multi-targeted mechanisms.
协同作用在草药中起着重要作用,可增强药效并扩大治疗窗口。草药中的协同作用机制通常与多靶点行为和复杂的信号通路相关,难以阐明。本研究旨在通过探索姜(G)和姜黄(T)提取物组合(GT)在脂多糖(LPS)诱导的炎症途径和关键分子靶点中的调节活性,研究其协同机制。使用Bioplex ProTM小鼠细胞因子23-多重检测法评估GT在LPS和干扰素(IFN)-γ(均为50 ng/mL)激活的RAW 264.7细胞中的广泛抗细胞因子活性。分别使用Griess试剂和ELISA检测法测试单独及联合使用的G和T对主要促炎介质(包括一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)和白细胞介素(IL)-6)的抑制作用。采用免疫荧光染色和蛋白质印迹法研究GT对LPS/TLR4信号转导中关键蛋白的调节作用。使用实时PCR检测小鼠微小RNA miR-155-5p的调控情况。IC值和组合指数(CI)值分别用于证明药效和协同相互作用。GT协同减弱了一系列促炎介质,包括诱导型NO、主要细胞因子(TNF和IL-6)和次要炎症细胞因子(GM-CSF和MCP-1)。GT显著抑制LPS诱导的NF-κB p65易位、TLR4、TRAF6的激活以及JNK和c-JUN的磷酸化。此外,GT对该轴上每个蛋白质靶点的抑制作用均强于单个成分。实时PCR分析表明,在LPS刺激的细胞中,GT比单独的G或T更能抑制miR-155-5p。我们的研究证明了GT在miRNA和蛋白质水平下调LPS诱导的促炎途径的协同机制。我们的结果为G和T联合应用作为具有广泛协同抗炎活性和多靶点机制的炎症性疾病的先进治疗候选药物奠定了科学基础。