Berberine attenuates the expression of NLRP3 and downstream inflammasome effectors in diabetic retinopathy

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q3 CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL

Journal of Natural Medicines Pub Date : 2025-08-08 DOI:10.1007/s11418-025-01935-1

Na Li, Ji-Lin Chen, Yi-Jian Sun, Jia-Fan Sun, Ting-Hua Wang, Amy Yi Hsan Saik, Alan Han-Kiat Ong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the protective effects of berberine (BBR) on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its regulatory mechanism on NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. DR rat model was established by Streptozotocin (STZ) injection and treated with BBR. Retinal structure was evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, and immunofluorescence. NLRP3 pathway proteins were detected by Western blot (WB), and the effects were further studied using RNA interference. BBR significantly improved retinal structure in DR rats and decreased the expression of NLRP3, Cysteine-aspartic acid protease-1(Caspase-1), Gasdermin D (GSDMD), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) (p < 0.05). In an in vitro study using human RPE cells line, BBR administration improved cell viability and reduced RPE pyroptosis, while RNA interference of NLRP3 pathway enhanced BBR’s protective effects. BBR ameliorates DR by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathway.

Graphical Abstract

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小檗碱在糖尿病视网膜病变中减弱NLRP3和下游炎性体效应物的表达。

本研究旨在探讨小檗碱（berberine， BBR）对糖尿病视网膜病变（diabetic retinopathy， DR）的保护作用及其对nod样受体家族pyrin domain containing 3 （NLRP3）炎性体通路的调控机制。采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）注射建立DR大鼠模型，BBR处理。采用光学相干断层扫描（OCT）、苏木精和伊红（HE）染色及免疫荧光法评价视网膜结构。Western blot （WB）检测NLRP3通路蛋白，并通过RNA干扰进一步研究其作用。BBR可显著改善DR大鼠视网膜结构，降低NLRP3、半胱氨酸-天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1（Caspase-1）、Gasdermin D （GSDMD）、白细胞介素-1β (IL-1β)和白细胞介素-18 （IL-18）的表达(p

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来源期刊

Journal of Natural Medicines 医学-药学

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

3.00%

发文量

审稿时长

1.7 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Natural Medicines is an international journal publishing original research in naturally occurring medicines and their related foods and cosmetics. It covers: -chemistry of natural products -biochemistry of medicinal plants -pharmacology of natural products and herbs, including Kampo formulas and traditional herbs -botanical anatomy -cultivation of medicinal plants. The journal accepts Original Papers, Notes, Rapid Communications and Natural Resource Letters. Reviews and Mini-Reviews are generally invited.