Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis
|更新时间:2026-07-16
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Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis
GUAN Yajie,ZHANG Qizhen,XU Junjiao,et al.Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis[J].ZHONGGUO YAOFANG,2026,37(07):864-869.
GUAN Yajie,ZHANG Qizhen,XU Junjiao,et al.Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis[J].ZHONGGUO YAOFANG,2026,37(07):864-869.DOI: 10.6039/j.issn.1001-0408.2026.07.07.
Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis
To focus on the classic NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pyroptosis pathway and explore the mechanism by which Huatan qushi huoxue formula (HQHF) inhibits macrophage pyroptosis to ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
METHODS
2
RAW264.7 cells were divided into 5 groups: Control group (10% blank serum), Model group [10% blank serum+5 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], HQHF-L group (2.5% drug-containing serum+7.5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS), HQHF-M group (5% drug-containing serum+5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS), and HQHF-H group (10% drug-containing serum+5 μg/mL LPS). After 24 h of routine culture post-administration, cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cell morphology was observed via scanning electron microscopy and phase-contrast microscopy; localization and expression of gasdermin D-N (GSDMD-N) were observed by immunofluorescence. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 contents in supernatants were detected by ELISA; mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD were measured using real-time PCR and Western blot.
RESULTS
2
Compared with the Control group, the Model group showed typical pyroptotic morphology (cell membrane bulging and pore formation), increased aggregation and fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N on the cell membrane (
P
<0.05), significantly increased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants (
P
<0.05), and significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in cells (
P
<0.05). Compared with the Model group, the HQHF-L, HQHF-M and HQHF-H groups showed improved pyroptotic morphology, reduced membrane localization and significantly weakened fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N (
P
<0.05), significantly decreased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants (
P
<0.05), and significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in cells (
P
<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
2
HQHF inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pyroptosis, and its mechanism of improving MASH may be associated with the suppression of the activation of the classical NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.
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Keywords
references
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