Aim Kuseonwangdogo is a traditional Korean immunomodulatory polyherbal prescription. However, there are no systemic findings on its complex immunomodulatory effects on in vivo models. In this study, we observed the immunomodulatory effects of Kuseonwangdogo-based mixed herbal formula aqueous extracts (MHFe) on cyclophosphamide- (CPA-) induced immunosuppression mouse model. Methods In total, 60 male 6-week-old ICR mice (10 mice/group) were selected based on body weight 24 h after the second CPA treatment and used in this experiment. Twelve hours after the end of the last (fourth) oral administration of MHFe, the animals were sacrificed. Results Following CPA treatment, a noticeable decrease in the body, thymus, spleen, and submandibular lymph node (LN) weights; white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet number, hemoglobin, and hematocrit concentrations; serum interferon-γ levels; splenic tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, and IL-10 content; and peritoneal and splenic natural killer cell activities was observed. Depletion of lymphoid cells in the thymic cortex, splenic white pulp, and submandibular LN-related atrophic changes were also observed. However, these CPA-induced myelosuppressive signs were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited by the oral administration of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg MHFe. Conclusion MHFe can be a promising, potent immunomodulatory therapeutic agent for various immune disorders.

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Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is associated with complex interactions among multiple factors, involving an intertwined network of various signaling pathways. The polypharmacological approach is an emerging therapeutic strategy that has been proposed to overcome the multifactorial nature of AD by targeting multiple pathophysiological factors including amyloid-β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau. We evaluated a blood-brain barrier penetrating phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, mirodenafil (5-ethyl-2-7-n-propyl-3,5-dihydrro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-one), for its therapeutic effects on AD with polypharmacological properties. Methods To evaluate the potential of mirodenafil as a disease-modifying AD agent, mirodenafil was administered to test its effects on the cognitive behaviors of the APP-C105 AD mouse model using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. To investigate the mechanisms of action that underlie the beneficial disease-modifying effects of mirodenafil, human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and mouse hippocampal HT-22 cells were used to show mirodenafil-induced alterations associated with the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)/cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) pathway, apoptotic cell death, tau phosphorylation, amyloidogenesis, the autophagy-lysosome pathway, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcriptional activity, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Results Here, mirodenafil is demonstrated to improve cognitive behavior in the APP-C105 mouse model. Mirodenafil not only reduced the Aβ and phosphorylated tau burdens in vivo, but also ameliorated AD pathology induced by Aβ through the modulation of the cGMP/PKG/CREB signaling pathway, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) activity, GR transcriptional activity, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in neuronal cells. Interestingly, homodimerization and nuclear localization of GR were inhibited by mirodenafil, but not by other PDE5 inhibitors. In addition, only mirodenafil reduced the expression levels of the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), thus activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusions These findings strongly suggest that the PDE5 inhibitor mirodenafil shows promise as a potential polypharmacological drug candidate for AD treatment, acting on multiple key signaling pathways involved in amyloid deposition, phosphorylated tau burden, the cGMP/PKG/CREB pathway, GSK-3β kinase activity, GR signaling, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Mirodenafil administration to the APP-C105 AD mouse model also improved cognitive behavior, demonstrating the potential of mirodenafil as a polypharmacological AD therapeutic agent.

Abstract. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) has been cultivated globally for food for millenia. Potato contains proteinase inhibitor II, which catalyzes the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), leading to delayed gastric emptying in humans. The present study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Slendesta™ Potato Extract (SLD), a standardized potato extract containing 5% proteinase inhibitor II, in the ob/ob obese mice. Three doses of SLD (50, 150 or 300 mg/kg) were orally administered to ob/ob mice once a day for 28 days, whereas control mice were administered distilled water. Four weeks after SLD treatment, the changes in body weight, food consumption, epididymal fat weight, serum chemistry, insulin, leptin and adiponectin contents, and fat histopathology were determined and compared with ob/ob mice treated with 750 mg/kg conjugate linoleic acid. As a result of SLD treatment in the obese mice, body weight, food consumption, epididymal fat, serum biochemistry, histomorphological changes of fat and pancreas were significantly and dose-dependently decreased compared with ob/ob control mice. These obesity and type 2 diabetes associated alterations were significantly inhibited after SLD treatment for 28 days. Thus, the present results indicate that SLD has potential as an alternative therapeutic agent for obesity.

Sepsis is predominantly initiated by bacterial infection and can cause systemic inflammation, which frequently leads to rapid death of the patient. However, this acute systemic inflammatory response requires further investigation from the perspectives of clinical judgment criteria and early treatment strategies for the relief of symptoms. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:0 may relieve septic symptoms, but the relevant mechanism is not clearly understood. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of LPC as a therapeutic treatment for acute inflammation in the lung induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice. Systemic inflammation of mice was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inoculation to investigate the role of LPC in the migration and the immune response of neutrophils during acute lung injury. By employing two-photon intravital imaging of the LPS-stimulated LysM-GFP mice and other in vitro and in vivo assays, we examined whether LPC alleviates the inflammatory effect of sepsis. We also tested the effect of LPC to human neutrophils from healthy control and sepsis patients. Our data showed that LPC treatment reduced the infiltration of innate immune cells into the lung. Specifically, LPC altered neutrophil migratory patterns and enhanced phagocytic efficacy in the damaged lung. Moreover, LPC treatment reduced the release of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), which can damage tissue in the inflamed organ and exacerbate disease. It also reduced human neutrophil migration under inflammatory environment. Our results suggest that LPC can alleviate sepsis-induced lung inflammation by regulating the function of neutrophils. These findings provide evidence for the beneficial application of LPC treatment as a potential therapeutic strategy for sepsis.

Background The accumulation of amyloid‐b (Ab) in the brain is the primary pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aggregated Ab is associated with cytotoxicity by a variety of mechanisms leading to neuronal apoptosis and synaptic impairments. Here, we present experimental evidence showing that AR1001, a highly selective and potent phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, acts as a polypharmacological agent for the treatment of AD by promoting neuronal cell survival and inhibiting Ab accumulation. Method The in vitro toxic effects of Ab were examined using the human neuroblastoma derived SH‐SY5Y cell line and mouse hippocampal neuronal HT‐22 cell line. Cell‐free Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay and SDS‐PAGE with PICUP (Photo‐Induced Cross‐Linking of Unmodified Proteins) of Ab plaques were employed to test inhibition of Ab aggregate formation and reduction of preformed oligomers and fibrils. To identify transcription factors responsible for inhibitory effects of AR1001 on Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) / b‐site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression, the Transcription Factor Profiling Plate Array was used to monitor the activation/inhibition of various transcription factors. 5XFAD transgenic mice were used to evaluate Ab42 induced neurodegeneration and amyloid plaque formation. NSE/APP‐C105 transgenic mice were used to test spatial and learning memory in the Morris water maze test and the passive avoidance test. Result AR1001 markedly increased cGMP levels and activated cGMP/cGMP‐dependent protein kinase/cAMP responsive element‐binding protein (CREB) cascade in Ab‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells, promoting neuronal cell survival. In Ab‐treated HT‐22 cells, downregulation of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) transcriptional activity by AR1001 was responsible for reduced expression of APP, BACE1 and Dickkopf‐1 (Dkk1). In addition, AR1001 disrupted pre‐formed Ab42 fibrils in vitro. Interestingly, AR1001 reduced deposition of Aβ plaques in 5XFAD transgenic mouse brain by activating the autophagic process. Finally, AR1001 significantly improved memory functions in NSE/APP‐C105 mice. Conclusion Our findings strongly support that AR1001 has benefits against the accumulation of Ab and cognitive deficits in AD mouse models. We have demonstrated that AR1001 serves as a polypharmacological agent to inhibit PDE5 activity, promoting cell survival, and downregulate GR activity, reducing APP/BACE1 expression.

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