Oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence is now regarded as an important driving mechanism in chronic lung diseases-particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 4[Formula: see text],5,7-trihydroxyflavone (Apigenin) is a natural flavonoid product abundantly present in fruits, vegetables, and Chinese medicinal herbs. It has been known that apigenin has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects. The efficacy of apigenin for lung aging, however, has not been reported. In this study, we selected the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O[Formula: see text]- or doxorubicin (DOXO)-induced senescence model in WI-38 human embryonic lung fibroblast cells to determine the potential anti-aging effects of apigenin <i>in vitro</i> and associated molecular mechanisms. We found that apigenin reduced senescence-associated [Formula: see text]-galactosidase (SA-[Formula: see text]-gal) activity and promoted cell growth, concomitant with a decrease in levels of Acetyl (ac)-p53, p21[Formula: see text], and p16[Formula: see text] and an increase in phospho (p)-Rb. Apigenin also increased the activation ratio of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD[Formula: see text], and NAD[Formula: see text]/NADH and inhibited cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. SIRT1 inhibition by SIRT1 siRNA abolished the anti-aging effect of apigenin. In addition, CD38 inhibition by CD38 siRNA or apigenin increased the SIRT1 level and reduced H₂O₂-induced senescence. Our findings suggest that apigenin is a promising phytochemical for reducing the impact of senescent cells in age-related lung diseases such as COPD.

Taken together, our study demonstrated that AF could be a therapeutic supplement for patients suffering from cancer cachexia.

Our previous report revealed that <i>Gardenia jasminoides</i> (GJ) has protective effects against acute pancreatitis. So, we examined whether aqueous extract of GJ has anti-inflammation and antifibrotic effects even against cerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis (CP). CP was induced in mice by an intraperitoneal injection of a stable cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, cerulein, six times a day, four days per week for three weeks. GJ extract (0.1 or 1[Formula: see text]g/kg) or saline (control group) were intraperitoneally injected 1[Formula: see text]h before first cerulein injection. After three weeks of stimulation, the pancreas was harvested for the examination of several fibrotic parameters. In addition, pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) were isolated using gradient methods to examine the antifibrogenic effects of GJ. In the cerulein-induced CP mice, the histological features of the pancreas showed severe tissue damage such as enlarged interstitial spaces, inflammatory cell infiltrate and glandular atrophy, and tissue fibrosis. However, treatment of GJ reduced the severity of CP such as pancreatic edema and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, treatment of GJ increased pancreatic acinar cell survival, and reduced pancreatic fibrosis and activation of PSC <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. In addition, GJ treatment inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the PSCs. These results suggest that GJ attenuated the severity of CP and the pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting JNK and ERK activation during CP.

Luteolin, a sort of flavonoid, has been reported to be involved in neuroprotective function via suppression of neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of luteolin against oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence and its molecular mechanism using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced cellular senescence model in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 cells (HEI-OC1). Our results showed that luteolin attenuated senescent phenotypes including alterations of morphology, cell proliferation, senescence-associated <i>β</i>-galactosidase expression, DNA damage, as well as related molecules expression such as p53 and p21 in the oxidant challenged model. Interestingly, we found that luteolin induces expression of sirtuin 1 in dose- and time-dependent manners and it has protective role against H₂O₂-induced cellular senescence by upregulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). In contrast, the inhibitory effect of luteolin on cellular senescence under oxidative stress was abolished by silencing of SIRT1. This study indicates that luteolin effectively protects against oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence through p53 and SIRT1. These results suggest that luteolin possesses therapeutic potentials against age-related hearing loss that are induced by oxidative stress.

Accumulating evidence suggests that developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2), an evolutionarily conserved GTP-binding protein, plays an important role in regulating cell growth, inflammation, and mitochondria dynamics. However, the effect of DRG2 in aging remains unclear. In this study, we found that endogenous DRG2 protein expression is upregulated in oxidative stress-induced premature senescence models and tissues of aged mice. Ectopic expression of DRG2 significantly promoted senescence-associated <i>β</i>-galactosidase (SA-<i>β</i>-gal) activity and inhibited cell growth, concomitant with increase in levels of acetyl (ac)-p53 (Lys382), ac-nuclear factor-kB (NF-<i>κ</i>B) p65 (Lys310), p21 <i>^Waf1/Cip1</i> , and p16 <i>^Ink4a</i> and a decrease in cyclin D1. In this process, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of H2A histone family member X (H2A.X), forming <i>γ</i>-H2A.X, were enhanced. Mechanistically, ectopic expression of DRG2 downregulated Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), resulting in augmented acetylation of p53 and NF-<i>κ</i>B p65. Additionally, DRG2 knockdown significantly abolished oxidative stress-induced premature senescence. Our results provide a possible molecular mechanism for investigation of cellular senescence and aging regulated by DRG2.

Objective: To investigate the potential anti-aging mechanism of 9-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxydalbergiquinol (HDDQ) on hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Methods: The effect of HDDQ on cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and the effects of HDDQ on senescence-like phenotypes were determined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, Western blotting analysis, and a cell proliferation assay. The expression level and activity of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) induced by HDDQ were also measured. Results: HDDQ reversed senescence-like phenotypes in the oxidant-challenged model, through reducing SA-β-gal activity and promoting cell growth. Meanwhile, decreases in ac-p53, p21 Cip1/WAF1 , and p16 Ink4a and an increase in pRb were observed. HDDQ induced the expression of SIRT1 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, HDDQ inhibited H 2 O 2 -induced phosphorylation of Akt by SIRT1 up-regulation and reduced SA-β-gal staining. Conclusions: HDDQ inhibits H 2 O 2 -induced premature senescence and upregulation of SIRT1 expression plays a vital role in the inhibition of the senescence phenotype in HDFs.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most severe cancers, and its incidence and mortality rates have steadily increased in the past decade. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of <i>Angelica gigas</i> Nakai extract on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. We prepared <i>A. gigas</i> Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) using roots of <i>A. gigas</i> Nakai and detected its active compound decursin from AGE by ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. AGE and decursin significantly decreased viability and colony formation of PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. AGE and decursin induced G0/G1 phase arrest through downregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4). Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis of PANC-1 cells was promoted by AGE and decursin. Additionally, nontoxic concentrations of AGE and decursin treatment could suppress matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that AGE and decursin have potential properties to be considered in PC treatment.

Oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence is now regarded as an important driving mechanism in chronic lung diseases-particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 4[Formula: see text],5,7-trihydroxyflavone (Apigenin) is a natural flavonoid product abundantly present in fruits, vegetables, and Chinese medicinal herbs. It has been known that apigenin has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects. The efficacy of apigenin for lung aging, however, has not been reported. In this study, we selected the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O[Formula: see text]- or doxorubicin (DOXO)-induced senescence model in WI-38 human embryonic lung fibroblast cells to determine the potential anti-aging effects of apigenin <i>in vitro</i> and associated molecular mechanisms. We found that apigenin reduced senescence-associated [Formula: see text]-galactosidase (SA-[Formula: see text]-gal) activity and promoted cell growth, concomitant with a decrease in levels of Acetyl (ac)-p53, p21[Formula: see text], and p16[Formula: see text] and an increase in phospho (p)-Rb. Apigenin also increased the activation ratio of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD[Formula: see text], and NAD[Formula: see text]/NADH and inhibited cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. SIRT1 inhibition by SIRT1 siRNA abolished the anti-aging effect of apigenin. In addition, CD38 inhibition by CD38 siRNA or apigenin increased the SIRT1 level and reduced H₂O₂-induced senescence. Our findings suggest that apigenin is a promising phytochemical for reducing the impact of senescent cells in age-related lung diseases such as COPD.

Taken together, our study demonstrated that AF could be a therapeutic supplement for patients suffering from cancer cachexia.