The present study used metabolomics, transcriptomics, protein analysis by immunoblots, chemical inhibition and gene knockout mice to determine the effects of celastrol on cholestasis and its mechanisms. Samples from patients were used to validate our findings, and the data supported the conclusions that celastrol protected against cholestatic liver injury through modulation of the SIRT1 and FXR.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights• 1. Celastrol alleviated cholestatic liver injury.• 2. Celastrol inhibited the decrease of SIRT1 induced by deoxycholic acid.• 3. SIRT1-FXR signaling pathway mediated the effect of celastrol.Celastrol, derived from the roots of the Tripterygium Wilfordi, shows a striking effect on obesity. In the present study, the role of celastrol in cholestasis was investigated using metabolomics and transcriptomics. Celastrol treatment significantly alleviated cholestatic liver injury in mice induced by ␣-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) and thioacetamide (TAA). Celastrol was found to activate sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), increase farnesoid X receptor (FXR) signaling and inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B and P53 signaling. The protective role of celastrol in cholestatic liver injury was diminished in mice on co-administration of SIRT1 inhibitors. Further, the effects of celastrol on cholestatic liver injury were dramatically decreased in Fxr-null mice, suggesting that the SIRT1-FXR signaling pathway mediates the protective effects of celastrol. These observations demonstrated a novel role for celastrol in protecting against cholestatic liver injury through modulation of the SIRT1 and FXR.
Unlike stable atherosclerotic plaques, vulnerable plaques are very likely to cause serious cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Meanwhile, how to non-invasively identify vulnerable plaques at early stages has been an urgent but challenging...
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