Molecular Characterization of Odorant-Binding Protein Genes Associated with Host-Seeking Behavior in Oides leucomelaena.

The identification of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) involved in host location by Oides leucomelaena (O. leucomelaena Weise, 1922, Coleoptera, Galerucinae) is significant for its biological control. Tools in the NCBI database were used to compare and analyze the transcriptome sequences of O. leucomelaena with OBP and other chemosensory-related proteins of other Coleoptera insects. Subsequently, MEGA7 was utilized for OBP sequence alignment and the construction of a phylogenetic tree, combined with expression profiling to screen for candidate antennae-specific OBPs. In addition, fumigation experiments with star anise volatiles were conducted to assess the antennae specificity of the candidate OBPs. Finally, molecular docking was employed to speculate on the binding potential of antennae-specific OBPs with star anise volatiles. The study identified 42 candidate OBPs, 8 chemosensory proteins and 27 receptors. OleuOBP3, OleuOBP5, and OleuOBP6 were identified as classic OBP family members specific to the antennae, which was confirmed by volatile fumigation experiments. Molecular docking ultimately clarified that OleuOBP3, OleuOBP5, and OleuOBP6 all exhibit a high affinity for ß-caryophyllene among the star anise volatiles. We successfully obtained three antennae-specific OBPs from O. leucomelaena and determined their high-affinity volatiles, providing a theoretical basis for the development of attractants in subsequent stages.

Huanshaodan regulates microglial glucose metabolism reprogramming to alleviate neuroinflammation in AD mice through mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Abnormal glucose metabolism in microglial is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reprogramming of microglial glucose metabolism is centered on regulating the way in which microglial metabolize glucose to alter microglial function. Therefore, reprogramming microglial glucose metabolism is considered as a therapeutic strategy for AD. Huanshaodan (HSD) is a Chinese herbal compound which shows significant efficacy in treating AD, however, the precise mechanism by which HSD treats AD remains unclear. This study is aim to investigate whether HSD exerts anti-AD effects by regulating the metabolic reprogramming of microglial through the mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. SAMP8 mice and BV2 cells were used to explore the alleviative effect of HSD on AD and the molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. The pharmacodynamic effects of HSD was evaluated by behavioral tests. The pathological deposition of Aß in brain of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry. ELISA method was used to measure the activity of HK2 and the expression of PKM2, IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus and cortex tissues of mice. Meanwhile, proteins levels of p-mTOR, mTOR, HIF-1α, CD86, Arg1 and IL-1ß were detected by Western-blot. LPS-induced BV2 cells were treated with HSD-containing serum. The analysis of the expression profiles of the CD86 and CD206 markers by flow cytometry allows us to distinguish the BV2 polarization. Glucose, lactic acid, ATP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, as well as lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activities were evaluated in the BV2. Western-blot analysis was employed to detect mTOR, p-mTOR, HIF-1α and IL-1ß levels in BV2. And the mTOR agonist MHY1485 (MHY) was chosen to reverse validate. In this study, it is found that HSD improved cognitive impairment in SAMP8 mice and reduced Aß deposition, suppressed the levels of glycolysis and neuroinflammation in mice. In LPS-induced BV2 cells, HSD also regulated glycolysis and neuroinflammation, and suppressed the mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. More importantly, these effects were reversed by MHY. It is demonstrated that HSD regulated microglial glucose metabolism reprogramming by inhibiting the mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway, alleviated neuroinflammation, and exerted anti-AD effects. This study provided scientific evidence for the clinical application of HSD for treating AD.

Multimorbidity, lifestyle, and cognitive function: A cross-cultural study on the role of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.

BACKGROUND: The effect of lifestyle factors on cognitive function related to four major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, and the relationship between these NCDs and cognitive function have not been fully studied. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between these NCDs and cognitive function in middle-aged and older people, and the combined effects of lifestyle factors. METHODS: By employing the data from three large-scale cohort studies from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2010-2019), English Longitudinal Study of Aging (2014-2019), and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2019), this study carried out a multi-cohort analysis to 77, 210 participants. Fixed-effects regression models were used to examine associations between NCD status and cognitive function. Margin plots were used to illustrate the effect of lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Our findings revealed the dose-dependent association between mounting these NCDs and declining cognitive performance, ranging from one NCD (ß = -0.05, 95 % CI: -0.08 to -0.02) to four NCDs (ß = -0.51, 95 % CI: -0.75 to -0.28). Decline in cognitive function associated with NCDs was exacerbated with physical inactivity, current smoking status, and an increase in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. LIMITATIONS: The observational study design precludes causal interrogation of lifestyles and four NCDs on cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: An increasing number of these NCDs were dose-dependently associated with the decline in cognitive function score. Unhealthy lifestyle factors expedite decline in cognitive function linked to these NCDs.

The effect of health literacy on health investment intention: a cross-sectional study among petrochemical employees in China.

Backgrounds: In the petrochemical industry, employees are exposed to various health hazards, which pose serious challenges to their health and hinder the sustainable development of the petrochemical industry. Investing in health has proved a potential strategy to enhance general health. However, global health investment is notably insufficient, mainly due to the public's limited intention to invest in their health. While past research has identified various determinants of health investment intentions, the relationship between health literacy and health investment intention remains somewhat controversial and needs more empirical validation. Objectives: This study aims to assess the level of health literacy and health investment intention among employees in one of China's largest petrochemical companies and to explore the effect of health literacy on health investment intention. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical company. The valid sample size for this study was 39,911 respondents. Data were collected using a designed questionnaire, including socio-demographic information, questions about health investment intention, and the "2020 National Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire." Several statistical analysis methods were employed, including descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, logistic regression, and multiple linear regression. Results: The study disclosed an average health literacy score of 56.11 (SD = 10.34) among employees, with 52.1% surpassing the qualification threshold. The "Chronic Disease" dimension exhibited the lowest qualification rate at 33.0%. Furthermore, 71.5% of the employees expressed an intention to invest in health, yet a significant portion (34.5%) opted for the minimal investment choice, less than 2,000 RMB. Logistic regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between health literacy and health investment intention (OR = 1.474; p < 0.001). This association's robustness was further indicated by multiple linear regression analyses (ß = 0.086, p<0.001). Conclusion: The employees' health literacy significantly exceeds the national average for Chinese citizens, yet the qualified rate in the "Chronic Disease" dimension remains notably low. A majority of employees have the intention to invest in health, albeit modestly. Furthermore, while health literacy does positively influence health investment intention, this effect is somewhat limited. Accordingly, personalized Health education should be prioritized, with a focus on improving chronic disease knowledge and facilitating the internalization of health knowledge into health beliefs.

Selective extraction and analysis of phenolic acids in herbal plants using Fe3O4@MXene@PEI aerogel.

A magnetic MXene aerogel (Fe3O4@MXene@PEI) was prepared by crosslinking amino modified MXene with polyethyleneimine using epichlorohydrin as a cross-linker. Adsorption properties of Fe3O4@MXene@PEI aerogel for phenolic acids were evaluated by adsorption kinetics and isotherms experiments, showing that the high adsorption affinity was governed by multilayer chemisorption process. An efficient MSPE/HPLC method was developed for the determination of phenolic acids with excellent selectivity, good linearity (0.025-5.0 µg mL-1), low LODs (0.007-0.017 µg mL-1), and satisfactory recoveries (80.0-120.0 %). Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the Fe3O4@MXene@PEI purified compounds was superior to that of the conventional method as demonstrated by the results of scavenging experiments on 2,2 -diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Finally, 65 organic acids were identified in the Fe3O4@MXene@PEI treated honeysuckle extracts by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS analysis. The proposed sorbent exhibits remarkable promise for the selective separation and purification of organic acids from herbal products.

Aloe-emodin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating microglial polarization and pyroptosis through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

BACKGROUND: Microglial activation plays a crucial role in injury and repair after cerebral ischemia, and microglial pyroptosis exacerbates ischemic injury. NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation has an important role in microglial polarization and pyroptosis. Aloe-emodin (AE) is a natural anthraquinone compound originated from rhubarb and aloe. It exerts antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effects during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, whether AE affects microglial polarization, pyroptosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation remains unknown. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effects of AE on microglial polarization, pyroptosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the cerebral infarction area after I/R. METHODS: The transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) methods were used to create cerebral I/R models in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Neurological scores and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and Nissl staining were used to assess the neuroprotective effects of AE. Immunofluorescence staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were applied to detect NLRP3 inflammasome activation and microglial polarization and pyroptosis levels after tMCAO or OGD/R. Cell viability and levels of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1ß were measured. Finally, MCC950 (an NLRP3-specific inhibitor) was used to evaluate whether AE affected microglial polarization and pyroptosis by regulating the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. RESULTS: AE improved neurological function scores and reduced the infarct area, brain edema rate, and Nissl-positive cell rate following I/R injury. It also showed a protective effect on BV-2 cells after OGD/R. AE inhibited microglial pyroptosis and induced M1 to M2 phenotype transformation and suppressed microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation after tMCAO or OGD/R. The combined administration of AE and MCC950 had a synergistic effect on the inhibition of tMCAO- or OGD/R-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which subsequently suppressed microglial pyroptosis and induced microglial phenotype transformation. CONCLUSION: AE exerts neuroprotective effects by regulating microglial polarization and pyroptosis through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation after tMCAO or OGD/R. These findings provide new evidence of the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of AE and may support the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies for cerebral ischemia.

Comparative Analysis of the Chloroplast Genomes of Eight Species of the Genus Lirianthe Spach with Its Generic Delimitation Implications.

Based on Sima and Lu's system of the family Magnoliaceae, the genus Lirianthe Spach s. l. includes approximately 25 species, each with exceptional landscaping and horticultural or medical worth. Many of these plants are considered rare and are protected due to their endangered status. The limited knowledge of species within this genus and the absence of research on its chloroplast genome have greatly impeded studies on the relationship between its evolution and systematics. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of eight species from the genus Lirianthe were sequenced and analyzed, and their phylogenetic relationships with other genera of the family Magnoliaceae were also elucidated. The results showed that the chloroplast genome sizes of the eight Lirianthe species ranged from 159,548 to 159,833 bp. The genomes consisted of a large single-copy region, a small single-copy region, and a pair of inverted repeat sequences. The GC content was very similar across species. Gene annotation revealed that the chloroplast genomes contained 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes, totaling 130 genes. Codon usage analysis indicated that codon usage was highly conserved among the eight Lirianthe species. Repeat sequence analysis identified 42-49 microsatellite sequences, 16-18 tandem repeats, and 50 dispersed repeats, with microsatellite sequences being predominantly single-nucleotide repeats. DNA polymorphism analysis revealed 10 highly variable regions located in the large single-copy and small single-copy regions, among which rpl32-trnL, petA-psbJ, and trnH-psbA were the recommended candidate DNA barcodes for the genus Lirianthe species. The inverted repeat boundary regions show little variation between species and are generally conserved. The result of phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the genus Lirianthe s. l. is a monophyletic taxon and the most affinal to the genera, Talauma and Dugandiodendron, in Sima and Lu's system and revealed that the genus Lirianthe s. s. is paraphyletic and the genus Talauma s. l. polyphyletic in Xia's system, while Magnolia subsection Gwillimia is paraphyletic and subsection Blumiana polyphyletic in Figlar and Nooteboom's system. Morphological studies found noticeable differences between Lirianthe species in aspects including leaf indumentum, stipule scars, floral orientation, tepal number, tepal texture, and fruit dehiscence. In summary, this study elucidated the chloroplast genome evolution within Lirianthe and laid a foundation for further systematic and taxonomic research on this genus.

Alisol B regulates AMPK/mTOR/SREBPs via directly targeting VDAC1 to alleviate hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of hyperlipidemia is significantly influenced by lipid synthesis, which is regulated by sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs), thus the development of drugs that inhibit lipid synthesis has become a popular treatment strategy for hyperlipidemia. Alisol B (ALB), a triterpenoid compound extracted from Alisma, has been reported to ameliorate no-nalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and slow obesity. However, the effect of ALB on hyperlipidemia and mechanism are unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the therapeutic impact of ALB on hyperlipidemia whether it inhibits SREBPs to reduce lipid synthesis. STUDY DESIGN: HepG2, HL7702 cells, and C57BL/6J mice were used to explore the effect of ALB on hyperlipidemia and the molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Hyperlipidemia models were established using western diet (WD)-fed mice in vivo and oleic acid (OA)-induced hepatocytes in vitro. Western blot, real-time PCR and other biological methods verified that ALB regulated AMPK/mTOR/SREBPs to inhibit lipid synthesis. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), molecular dynamics (MD), and ultrafiltration-LC/MS analysis were used to evaluate the binding of ALB to voltage-dependent anion channel protein-1 (VDAC1). RESULTS: ALB decreased TC, TG, LDL-c, and increased HDL-c in blood, thereby ameliorating liver damage. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated that ALB inhibited the biosynthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. Consistently, ALB inhibited the protein expression of n-SREBPs and downstream genes. Mechanistically, the impact of ALB on SREBPs was dependent on the regulation of AMPK/mTOR, thereby impeding the transportation of SREBPs from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to golgi apparatus (GA). Further investigations indicated that the activation of AMPK by ALB was independent on classical upstream CAMKK2 and LKB1. Instead, ALB resulted in a decrease in ATP levels and an increase in the ratios of ADP/ATP and AMP/ATP. CETSA, MD, and ultrafiltration-LC/MS analysis indicated that ALB interacted with VDAC1. Molecular docking revealed that ALB directly bound to VDAC1 by forming hydrogen bonds at the amino acid sites S196 and H184 in the ATP-binding region. Importantly, the thermal stabilization of ALB on VDAC1 was compromised when VDAC1 was mutated at S196 and H184, suggesting that these amino acids played a crucial role in the interaction. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that VDAC1 serves as the target of ALB, leading to the inhibition of lipid synthesis, presents potential target and candidate drugs for hyperlipidemia.

Exploring the anti-ferroptosis mechanism of Kai-Xin-San against Alzheimer's disease through integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation strategy in vivo and in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Kai Xin San (KXS), first proposed by Sun Simiao during the Tang Dynasty, has been utilized to treat dementia by tonifying qi and dispersing phlegm. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which KXS exerts its therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD) by targeting ferroptosis, using a combination of network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active target sites and the further potential mechanisms of KXS in protecting against AD were investigated through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and network pharmacology, and combined with the validation of animal experiments. RESULTS: Computational and experimental findings provide the first indication that KXS significantly improves learning and memory defects and inhibits neuronal ferroptosis by repairing mitochondria damage and upregulating the protein expression of ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) in vivo APP/PS1 mice AD model. According to bioinformatics analysis, the mechanism by which KXS inhibits ferroptosis may involve SIRT1. KXS notably upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of SIRT1 in both vivo APP/PS1 mice and in vitro APP-overexpressed HT22 cells. Additionally, KXS inhibited ferroptosis induced by APP-overexpression in HT22 cells through activating the SIRT1-FSP1 signal pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings suggest that KXS may inhibit neuronal ferroptosis through activating the SIRT1/FSP1 signaling pathway. This study reveals the scientific basis and underlying modern theory of replenishing qi and eliminating phlegm, which involves the inhibition of ferroptosis. Moreover, it highlights the potential application of SIRT1 or FSP1 activators in the treatment of AD and other ferroptosis-related diseases.

Different effects of selenium speciation on selenium absorption, selenium transformation and cadmium antagonism in garlic.

Currently, planting selenium-rich crops using inorganic selenium such as selenate and selenite is used to address human selenium deficiency problems. In this paper, besides the above two traditional inorganic selenium speciation, we chose a new organic selenium speciation of potassium selenocyanoacetate to investigate the different effects of selenium speciation on selenium absorption, selenium transformation and cadmium antagonism via foliar application. Plantingexperiments showed that the selenium content of garlic bulbs treated with organic selenium was 1.8-3.9 times higher than that of inorganic selenium. Additionally, the absorption and transformation efficiency of organic selenium in garlic was also the highest, reaching over 95 %. Importantly, it was noteworthy that the cadmium content in bulbs treated with organic selenium was significantly lower than the Chinese food safety standard (0.2 mg/kg). Hence, this study provides an efficient organic selenium speciation which is beneficial to meet human selenium requirements and ensure safe utilization of cadmium-contaminated soils.

Machine learning-derived identification of prognostic signature for improving prognosis and drug response in patients with ovarian cancer.

Clinical assessments relying on pathology classification demonstrate limited effectiveness in predicting clinical outcomes and providing optimal treatment for patients with ovarian cancer (OV). Consequently, there is an urgent requirement for an ideal biomarker to facilitate precision medicine. To address this issue, we selected 15 multicentre cohorts, comprising 12 OV cohorts and 3 immunotherapy cohorts. Initially, we identified a set of robust prognostic risk genes using data from the 12 OV cohorts. Subsequently, we employed a consensus cluster analysis to identify distinct clusters based on the expression profiles of the risk genes. Finally, a machine learning-derived prognostic signature (MLDPS) was developed based on differentially expressed genes and univariate Cox regression genes between the clusters by using 10 machine-learning algorithms (101 combinations). Patients with high MLDPS had unfavourable survival rates and have good prediction performance in all cohorts and in-house cohorts. The MLDPS exhibited robust and dramatically superior capability than 21 published signatures. Of note, low MLDIS have a positive prognostic impact on patients treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy by driving changes in the level of infiltration of immune cells. Additionally, patients suffering from OV with low MLDIS were more sensitive to immunotherapy. Meanwhile, patients with low MLDIS might benefit from chemotherapy, and 19 compounds that may be potential agents for patients with low MLDIS were identified. MLDIS presents an appealing instrument for the identification of patients at high/low risk. This could enhance the precision treatment, ultimately guiding the clinical management of OV.

Design, synthesis and in vitro/in vivo anticancer activity of tranylcypromine-based triazolopyrimidine analogs as novel LSD1 inhibitors.

Histone lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is responsible for the demethylation of mono-/dimethylated lysine residue on histone proteins. LSD1 plays an extensive and essential role in the pathogenesis and progression of many human diseases such as cancers, and thus is becoming an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Tranylcypromine (TCP) is an important chemical template for developing irreversible LSD1 inhibitors, representing a major chemotype of clinical candidates. Here we report a novel pool of TCP derivatives with triazolopyrimidine as a privileged heterocylic motif. Starting from ticagrelor, a clinically available antiplatelet agent, as a hit compound, our medicinal efforts have led to the identification of compound 9j with nanomolar inhibitory potency against LSD1 as well as broad-spectrum antiproliferative activities against tumor cells. Enzyme studies show that compound 9j is selective over MAO-A/B enzymes, and also cellular active to elevate the expression of H3K4me2 by inhibiting LSD1 in cells. Furthermore, in a H1650 xenograft mouse model, oral administration of compound 9j at low 10 and 20 mg/kg dosages could enable a significant reduction in tumor size and a remarkable extension of survival. The current work is expected to provide an additional strategy to achieve new TCP-based LSD1 inhibitors.

Inhibition of ferroptosis through regulating neuronal calcium homeostasis: An emerging therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease, generates a serious threat to the health of the elderly. The AD brain is microscopically characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. There are still no effective therapeutic drugs to restrain the progression of AD though much attention has been paid to exploit AD treatments. Ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, has been reported to promote the pathological occurrence and development of AD, and inhibition of neuronal ferroptosis can effectively improve the cognitive impairment of AD. Studies have shown that calcium (Ca2+) dyshomeostasis is closely related to the pathology of AD, and can drive the occurrence of ferroptosis through several pathways, such as interacting with iron, and regulating the crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. This paper mainly reviews the roles of ferroptosis and Ca2+ in the pathology of AD, and highlights that restraining ferroptosis through maintaining the homeostasis of Ca2+ may be an innovative target for the treatment of AD.

Efficacy of Cellular Therapy for Azoospermia in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study investigated the efficacy of stem cell transplantation for azoospermia, a major cause of male infertility. We conducted a systematic meta- analysis to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of stem cell transplant, using different transplant methods, injection sites, and stem cell types, and the reliability of this approach in different animal species. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies published from January 2006 to February 2022 that evaluated the use of stem cell transplant to treat azoospermia. We included 18 studies and conducted the analyses using Review Manager 5.2 software. Expression of the meiosis-related genes Vasa, Scp3, and Dazl and the average hematoxylin and eosin- positive staining area were improved after stem cell transplant. Subgroup analyses by mode of transplant showed higher expression of Scp3 and Dazl in the xenotransplant group. Although subgroup analyses by injection site showed that the seminiferous tubule group showed the most significant effect on Scp3 expression, spermatogenesis and repair of damaged testis were induced in the tunica albuginea group. The testicular torsion group also induced high levels of Scp3. Another subgroup analysis by stem cell type showed that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promoted the highest expression of meiosis-related genes and successfully induced spermatogenesis and the repair of damaged testis. Urine-derived stem cells, spermatogonial stem cells, and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells showed significantly therapeutic effects; however, more studies are needed for definitive conclusions. Subgroup analyses by type of azoospermia animal model indicated that the use of stem cell transplant in rat or mouse models had an obvious therapeutic effect, but no significant therapeutic effect was seen in azoospermia hamsters. The meta-analysis confirmed that stem cell transplant can effectively treat azoospermia in animal models. Xenotransplant is shown to enhance the therapeutic effects of stem cell transplant on azoospermia.

Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shu Dihuang) exerts neuroprotective effects on ICV-STZ-induced Alzheimer's disease mice through modulation of INSR/IRS-1/AKT/GSK-3ß signaling pathway and intestinal microbiota.

Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (RRP, Shu Dihuang in Cinese) is widely used as primal medicine in Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanism of RRP for AD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of RRP on intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced AD model mice and its potential mechanism. ICV-STZ mice were continuously gavaged with RRP for 21 days. The pharmacological effects of RRP were evaluated by behavioral tests, brain tissue H&E staining and hippocampal tau protein phosphorylation levels. The expression levels of insulin receptor (INSR), IRS-1, pSer473-AKT/AKT and pSer9-GSK-3ß/GSK-3ß proteins in hippocampal and cortical tissues were detected by Western-blot method. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes of intestinal microbiota in mice. The compounds in RRP were analyzed by mass spectrometry and their binding ability to INSR proteins was detected by molecular docking. The results showed that RRP ameliorated cognitive dysfunction and neuronal pathological changes of brain tissue in ICV-STZ mice, reduced tau protein hyperphosphorylation, INSR, IRS-1, pSer473-AKT/AKT, and pSer9-GSK-3ß/GSK-3ß levels in hippocampal and cortical tissues. Meanwhile, RRP reversed ICV-STZ-induced dysregulation of intestinal microbiota in AD mice. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the RRP consisted mainly of seven compounds, namely Acteoside (Verbascoside), 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF), Apigenin7-O-glucuronide, Icariin, Gallic acid, Quercetin-3ß-D-glucoside, and Geniposide. Molecular docking results further indicated that the compounds in RRP have binding ability to INSR protein and potential multiple synergistic effects. RRP ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and brain histopathological changes in AD mice. The mechanism of RRP ameliorating AD may be related to the regulation of INSR/IRS-1/AKT/GSK-3ß signaling pathway and intestinal microbiota. This study supports the potential anti-AD efficacy of RRP and initially reveals the pharmacological mechanism of RRP, providing a theoretical basis for further clinical application of RRP.

Hederagenin improves Alzheimer's disease through PPARα/TFEB-mediated autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Autophagic flux is coordinated by a network of master regulatory genes, which centered on transcription factor EB (TFEB). The disorders of autophagic flux are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and thus restoring autophagic flux to degrade pathogenic proteins has become a hot therapeutic strategy. Hederagenin (HD), a triterpene compound, isolated from a variety food such as Matoa (Pometia pinnata) Fruit, Medicago sativa, Medicago polymorpha L. Previous studies have shown that HD has the neuroprotective effect. However, the effect of HD on AD and underlying mechanisms are unclear. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of HD on AD and whether it promotes autophagy to reduce AD symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: BV2 cells, C. elegans and APP/PS1 transgenic mice were used to explore the alleviative effect of HD on AD and the molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The APP/PS1 transgenic mice at 10 months were randomized into 5 groups (n = 10 in each group) and orally administrated with either vehicle (0.5% CMCNa), WY14643 (10 mg/kg/d), low-dose of HD (25 mg/kg/d), high-dose of HD (50 mg/kg/d) or MK-886 (10 mg/kg/d) + HD (50 mg/kg/d) for consecutive 2 months. The behavioral experiments including morris water maze test, object recognition test and Y maze test were performed. The effects of HD on Aß deposition and alleviates Aß pathology in transgenic C. elegans were operated using paralysis assay and fluorescence staining assay. The roles of HD in promoting PPARα/TFEB-dependent autophagy were investigated using the BV2 cells via western blot analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, electron microscope assay and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: In this study, we found that HD upregulated mRNA and protein level of TFEB and increased the distribution of TFEB in the nucleus, and the expressions of its target genes. HD also promoted the expressions of LC3BII/LC3BI, LAMP2, etc., and promoted autophagy and the degradation of Aß. HD reduced Aß deposition in the head area of C. elegans and Aß-induced paralysis. HD improved cognitive impairment and pathological changes in APP/PS1 mice by promoting autophagy and activating TFEB. And our results also showed that HD could strongly target PPARα. More importantly, these effects were reversed by treatment of MK-886, a selective PPARα antagonist. CONCLUSION: Our present findings demonstrated that HD attenuated the pathology of AD through inducing autophagy and the underlying mechanism associated with PPARα/TFEB pathway.

Exploration of the main active components and pharmacological mechanism of Yerba Mate based on network pharmacology.

INTRODUCTION: Yerba mate is widely consumed in South American countries and is gaining popularity around the world. Long-term consumption of yerba mate has been proven to have health-care functions and therapeutic effects on many diseases; however, its underlying mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. In this research, we explored the pharmacological mechanism of yerba mate through a network pharmacological approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The bioactive components of yerba mate were screened from published literature and the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), and the targets and related diseases were retrieved by TCMSP. Furthermore, the component-target-disease network an protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed, and combined with gene ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis to explore the pharmacological mechanism of yerba mate. RESULTS: As a result, 16 bioactive components of yerba mate were identified, which acted on 229 targets in total. Yerba mate can be used to treat 305 diseases, such as breast cancer, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Protein kinase B (AKT1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), transcription factor AP-1 (JUN), cellular tumour antigen (p53) TP53, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), transcription factor p65 (RELA), interleukin-6 (IL6), amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were identified as the key targets of yerba mate playing pharmacological roles. The signalling pathways identified by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis that were most closely related to the effects of yerba mate included pathways in cancer, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and human cytomegalovirus infection. CONCLUSION: the results of our study preliminarily verify the basic pharmacological action and possible mechanism of yerba mate and provide a reference for the further development of its medicinal value.

Ginsenoside Rb1 improves brain, lung, and intestinal barrier damage in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) micevia the PPARγ signaling pathway.

Ischemic stroke causes brain inflammation and multi-organ injury, which is closely associated with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) signaling pathway. Recent studies have indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) can protect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier after stroke. In the current study, a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was established to determine whether GRb1 can ameliorate brain/lung/intestinal barrier damage via the PPARγ signaling pathway. Staining (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, hematoxylin, and eosin) and Doppler ultrasonography were employed to detect pathological changes. Endothelial breakdown was investigated with the leakage of Evans Blue dye and the expression of TJs (tight junctions) and AJs (adherent junctions). Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to determine the levels of cell junction proteins, PPARγ and NF-κB. Results showed that GRb1 significantly mitigated multi-organ injury and increased the expression of cerebral microvascular, pulmonary vascular, and intestinal epithelial connexins. In brain, lung, and intestinal tissues, GRb1 activated PPARγ, decreased the levels of phospho-NF-κB p65, and inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines, thereby maintaining barrier permeability. However, co-treatment with GRb1 and the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 reversed the barrier-protective effect of GRb1. These findings indicated that GRb1 can improve stroke-induced brain/lung/intestinal barrier damagevia the PPARγ pathway.

Metabolomic Profiling of Brain Protective Effect of Edaravone on Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice.

Edaravone (EDA) injection has been extensively applied in clinics for treating stroke. Nevertheless, the metabolite signatures and underlying mechanisms associated with EDA remain unclear, which deserve further elucidation for improving the accurate usage of EDA. Ischemia stroke was simulated by intraluminal occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 1 h, followed by reperfusion for 24 h in mice. Brain infarct size, neurological deficits, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were improved by EDA. Significantly differential metabolites were screened with untargeted metabolomics by cross-comparisons with pre- and posttreatment of EDA under cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The possibly involved pathways, such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, and phenylalanine, taurine, and hypotaurine metabolisms, were enriched with differential metabolites and relevant regulatory enzymes, respectively. The network of differential metabolites was constructed for the integral exhibition of metabolic characteristics. Targeted analysis of taurine, an important metabolic marker, was performed for further validation. The level of taurine decreased in the MCAO/R group and increased in the EDA group. The inhibition of EDA on cerebral endothelial cell apoptosis was confirmed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) stain. Cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), the rate-limiting enzyme of taurine generation, significantly increased along with inhibiting endothelial cell apoptosis after treatment of EDA. Thus, CSAD, as the possible new therapeutic target of EDA, was selected and validated by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Together, this study provided the metabolite signatures and identified CSAD as an unrecognized therapeutic intervention for EDA in the treatment of ischemic stroke via inhibiting brain endothelial cell apoptosis.