Xiaoyun Liu’s research while affiliated with Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other places

Notch signaling pathway is activated abnormally in solid and hematological tumors, which perform essential functions in cell differentiation, survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis. The activation of Notch signaling and communication among Notch and other oncogenic pathways heighten malignancy aggressiveness. Thus, targeting Notch signaling offers opportunities for improved survival and reduced disease incidence. Already, most attention has been given to its role in the cancer cells. Recent research shows that natural bioactive compounds can change signaling molecules that are linked to or interact with the Notch pathways. This suggests that there may be a link between Notch activation and the growth of tumors. Here, we sum up the natural bioactive compounds that possess inhibitory effects on human cancers by impeding the Notch pathway and preventing Notch crosstalk with other oncogenic pathways, which provoke further study of these natural products to derive rational therapeutic regimens for the treatment of cancer and develop novel anticancer drugs. This review revealed Notch as a highly challenging but promising target in oncology.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction (MXF), as a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat the immunocompromised individuals infected with influenza A virus (IAV). Aim of the study: The study aims to explore the regulatory of MXF on inflammation and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibodies immune response in BALB/c-nude mice infected with IAV. Materials and methods: The BALB/c-nude mice were infected with IAV, then different dosages of MXF were orally administrated to the mice. The weight, rectal temperature, spontaneous activity, spleen index, lung index, pathological changes of lung tissues, and the relative mRNA expression level of H1N1 M gene were measured for the purpose of valuing the antiviral effect of MXF. The expression levels of cytokines in lungs and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in serum of BALB/c-nude mice were determined with Cytometric Bead Array System (CBA). SIgA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) was detected with Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expression levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF), chemokine receptors 10 (CCR10), and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in the lung tissues, which are related to the secretion of SIgA, were determined by using RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: MXF could alleviate the clinical features and reduce the severity of viral lung lesions, including improving the body weight, rectal temperature and spontaneous activity of nude mice infected with IAV, increasing spleen index, decreasing lung index, alleviating pathological damage, and decreasing the relative expression level of H1N1 M gene. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were also significantly decreased after treatment with MXF. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), an antiviral cytokine, was significantly up-regulated in high dose MXF (3.12 g/kg) group. Moreover, after MXF treatment, the expressions of SIgA in BALF and IgA in serum were both at relatively low levels. And the mRNA and protein expressions of BAFF, CCR10, and pIgR were significantly decreased after treatment with MXF. Conclusions: MXF has obviously protective effects on BALB/c-nude mice infected with IAV by inhibiting virus replication, calming inflammatory cytokine storm, and regulating SIgA immune response weakly.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction (MXF), as a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat the symptoms of fever, nasal congestion and headache in elderly people for almost a thousand years. Aim of the study The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of MXF on thermal stimulation-induced mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cell apoptosis. Materials and methods The apoptosis of the MCM cell model was induced by a PCR-calculated temperature control system with a gradual heating pattern at 43 °C for one hour. The cytotoxic effects were determined using real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) technology. Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD staining, and JC-1 fluorescence were used to assess apoptosis. Specific substrates, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and Western blotting were used to identify proteins in the mitochondrial-mediated pathway. The identification of chemical components in the mouse heart was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Results MXF inhibited apoptosis through the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway, including ameliorating MMP reduction, blocking mitochondrial Cyt C release, reducing Bax levels and increasing Bcl-2 levels, suppressing caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation in cytoplasmic fractions. Moreover, the components of MXF that act on the heart are mainly ephedra alkaloids and aconitine alkaloids. Conclusions The findings demonstrated that MXF treatment markedly reduced MCM cell apoptosis induced by thermal stimulation, which may be ascribed to the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway.

Background: Depression is one of the most common illnesses in the world. In the flu season, depressed patients are more prone to influenza infection. It causes serious health problem worldwide. Chaihu-guizhi decoction (CGD) is a classic prescription to treat depressed patients with fever in clinical practice in China. However, the pharmacological activity and mechanisms of CGD against this disease have never been reported before. We investigated the changes of depressed condition, antiviral effects, anti-inflammatory, genes and protein expressions of T-helper cell type 1/type 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokines with CGD in combined mice model. This work will provide reliable evidence of the experiments for its better clinical practice. Methods: Depressed mice were dealt with by intraperitoneal injection of reserpine solution, then intranasal infection influenza A (H1N1) virus to create combined mice model. Oral administration of CGD was conducted in mice with 30.55-61.1 g/kg/d lasting up to 6 days. Physiological indicators, behavior changes, histopathological manifestations, digestive abilities, dopamine levels and virus expressions^ of the mice were detected. Moreover, levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α, were detected in the sera of mice. Results: The extraction of CGD at dosages of 30.55-61.1 g/kg could effectively relieve the state of depression, decrease influenza virus genes expression, reduce viscera index of the lung, ameliorate lung edema and inflammation. Administration of CGD significantly down-regulated the expression of IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ. CGD also manifested a decreasing trend in the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-10, compared with that of model treatment groups. Conclusion: The results reveal that the CGD could treat depression syndrome in mice combined with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by reducing inflammation and ameliorating depressive status.