Journal of pharmacological sciences
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Oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 is a Carapax trionycis extract component that has an effect on hepatic fibrosis, however, its mechanism of action is still unclear. This study investigated whether oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 could inhibit liver fibrosis by suppressing NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which are important in liver fibrosis. HSC-T6 cells were treated with oligo-peptide I-C-F-6, and rats were divided randomly into five groups: control (saline), CCl4, CCl4 plus oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 (0.12 and 0.24 mg/kg), and CCl4 plus colchicine (0.11 mg/kg). ⋯ Oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 also inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vivo and in vitro, as evaluated by the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which is a specific marker of HSC activation. Moreover, oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 significantly reduced the expression and distribution of β-catenin, P-AKT, phospho (P)-GSK-3β, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) P65, phospho-P65, and IκB kinase α/β (IKK-α/β) levels; additionally, IκB-α level was elevated both in vivo and in vitro. Together, these results indicate that oligo-peptide I-C-F-6 has hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects in animal models of liver fibrosis, the mechanism of which may be related to modulating NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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The clinical anti-cancer efficacy of vincristine is limited by the development of dose-dependent peripheral neuropathy. Up-regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is correlated with peripheral neuropathy following anti-cancer drug treatment. To analyze the contribution of TRPV1 to the development of vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia, TRPV1 expression in the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was analyzed after vincristine treatment. ⋯ Immunohistochemistry showed that isolectin B4-positive small DRG neurons co-expressed TRPV1 protein 14 days after treatment. These results suggest that vincristine treatment increases TRPV1 expression in small DRG neurons. TRPV1 expression may contribute to the development of vincristine-induced painful peripheral neuropathy.
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Prothymosin alpha (ProTα) suppresses stress-induced necrosis of cultured cortical neurons. As neuroprotection alone could not explain the long-lasting protective actions against cerebral ischemia by ProTα, we further examined whether ProTα, in addition to neuroprotective effects, has other anti-ischemic activities. ⋯ In evaluation of CD31- and tomato lectin-labeling as well as IgG and Evans blue leakage, rmProTα treatment (0.1 mg/kg) largely blocked ischemia-induced vascular damages. Therefore, rmProTα has novel beneficial effects against ischemia-induced brain damage through vascular mechanisms.
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Paclitaxel, an anticancer drug, frequently causes painful peripheral neuropathy. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of polaprezinc on paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats. ⋯ In addition, polaprezinc did not affect the anti-tumor activity of paclitaxel in cultured cell lines or tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest a clinical indication for polaprezinc in the prevention of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.
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Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug, used in standard treatment of colorectal cancer. L-OHP frequently causes acute peripheral neuropathies. These adverse effects limit cancer therapy with L-OHP. ⋯ The discharges during and after stimulation were increased in the L-OHP-treated rats. Cold stimulation, but not brush stimulation, increased the discharges in L-OHP-treated rats. These results suggest that sensitization of Aβ- and C-fibers, but not Aδ-fibers, contributes to the development of L-OHP-induced mechanical and cold allodynia.