Echinacoside Ameliorates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Bladder Damage in Mice
Yunpeng Shao1, Yu Liu2, Baixin Shen1
1Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Journal of Medicinal Food
|June 27, 2022
Summary
Echinacoside (ECH) shows promise in treating interstitial cystitis (IC). This study found ECH improved bladder function and reduced inflammation and apoptosis in IC models, potentially via the PPARγ/NF-κB pathway.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Urology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition characterized by inflammation and apoptosis.
- Current treatments for IC have limitations, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of echinacoside (ECH) in preclinical models of interstitial cystitis (IC).
- To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of ECH's action, focusing on inflammation and apoptosis pathways.
Main Methods:
- Established cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced mouse model and LPS + ATP-induced human urothelial cell (SV-HUC-1) model for IC.
- Assessed bladder function using urodynamics, apoptosis via TUNEL assay, and protein expression via Western blotting.
- Investigated the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- ECH treatment significantly improved bladder function and reduced inflammatory damage and apoptosis in CYP-induced cystitis models.
- ECH decreased phosphorylation of IκB and NF-κB(p65) and upregulated PPARγ expression.
- The protective effects of ECH were dependent on PPARγ activity, as shown by experiments with a PPARγ antagonist.
Conclusions:
- Echinacoside (ECH) demonstrates a protective effect against interstitial cystitis (IC) in preclinical models.
- ECH's therapeutic mechanism involves the modulation of the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway, impacting inflammation and apoptosis in bladder tissue.
