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ABSTRACT: Background
Schisandrin B (Sch B), the main ingredient of Schisandra chinensis, displays many bioactivities. This study aimed to identify the drug target of Sch B against liver fibrosis and describe the related molecular mechanisms.Methods
The effects of Sch B on liver fibrosis and macrophage polarization was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we analyzed the regulatory effect of Sch B on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ).Results
Our data showed that Sch B dramatically alleviated liver inflammation and fibrosis and inhibited macrophage activation via PPARγ. Sch B binds with PPARγ by molecular docking. Immunofluorescence double staining showed that PPARγ was mainly expressed in macrophages rather than hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. Importantly, Sch B strongly inhibited macrophage polarization in fibrotic livers compared with the model group. Further, the results revealed that Sch B efficiently inhibited macrophage polarization and also decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Knockdown of PPARγ by small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the effect of Sch B on macrophage polarization. Mechanistically, Sch B regulated macrophage polarization through inhibition of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway via PPARγ both in vivo and in vitro.Conclusions
These results suggested that Sch B alleviated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage polarization via targeting PPARγ.
SUBMITTER: Chen Q
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8573433 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Chen Qingshan Q Bao Leilei L Lv Lei L Xie Fangyuan F Zhou Xuwei X Zhang Hai H Zhang Guoqing G
Annals of translational medicine 20211001 19
<h4>Background</h4>Schisandrin B (Sch B), the main ingredient of <i>Schisandra chinensis</i>, displays many bioactivities. This study aimed to identify the drug target of Sch B against liver fibrosis and describe the related molecular mechanisms.<h4>Methods</h4>The effects of Sch B on liver fibrosis and macrophage polarization was investigated <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Furthermore, we analyzed the regulatory effect of Sch B on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ).<h ...[more]