Berberine Protects Against NLRP3 Inflammasome via Ameliorating Autophagic Impairment in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease Model.

The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was reported to be regulated by autophagy and activated during inflammatory procession of Parkinson's disease (PD). Berberine (BBR) is well-studied to play an important role in promoting anti-inflammatory response to mediate the autophagy activity. However, the effect of Berberine on NLRP3 inflammasome in PD and its potential mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, in this study, we investigated the effects of BBR on 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice, by evaluating their behavioral changes, dopaminergic (DA) neurons loss, neuroinflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagic activity. BBR was also applied in BV2 cells treated with 1-methyl-4-pehnyl-pyridine (MPP+). The autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) was administrated to block autophagy activity both in vivo and in vitro. In our in vivo studies, compared to MPTP group, mice in MPTP + BBR group showed significant amelioration of behavioral disorders, mitigation of neurotoxicity and NLRP3-associated neuroinflammation, enhancement of the autophagic process in substantia nigra (SN). In vitro, compared to MPP+ group, BBR significantly decreased the level of NLRP3 inflammasome including the expressions of NLRP3, PYD and CARD domain containing (PYCARD), cleaved caspase 1 (CASP1), and mature interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), via enhancing autophagic activity. Furthermore, BBR treatment increased the formation of autophagosomes in MPP+-treated BV2 cells. Taken together, our data indicated that BBR prevents NLRP3 inflammasome activation and restores autophagic activity to protect DA neurons against degeneration in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that BBR may be a potential therapeutic to treat PD.

[Expression and significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-X4 protein in lungs of SARS patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-X4 protein expression in lungs of patients with SARS. METHODS: Pathological features of the lungs from 4 SARS patients were examined and the expression of SARS-CoV-X4 protein in the lungs was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining using specific antibodies against protein X4. RESULTS: Microscopically, all lungs from 4 cases showed edema, erythrocyte and fibrin exudates in the alveoli, hyperplasia of alveolar epithelium, necrosis, hyaline membrane formation and fibroblast foci. Immunohistochemical stains showed a strong positivity of X4 protein in denudation cells, vascular endothelial cells and also erythrocytes and neutrophils in the alveoli of the lung tissues from the 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of SARS-CoV-X4 protein in the lungs may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of SARS.

[The effect of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene particle on the tissues of joint prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the high molecular weight polyethylene on the periprosthetic tissue in vivo as to give some reference to treatment of loosening hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Every lower limb of 20 New Zealand white rabbits was implanted a Co-Cr-Mo plug in femur by intercondylar notch. 15 mg polyethylene particles, dispersed in 1.5 ml normal saline solution, were injected into one knee joint. The other knee joint was injected 1.5 ml normal saline solution as control. This procedure was repeated 2,4,6,8 and 10 weeks after the implantation. Both of two lower limbs were given a X-ray examination 10 weeks to assess if there were periprosthetic osteolysis and loosening of the plugs. All animals were killed 2 weeks afer the last injection. The distribution of polyethylene in the knee joint capsule was examined to understand if there were loosening of implants or tissue change around implants. Knee joint capsule tissues and periprosthetic tissues were examined by optical microscope. RESULTS: Nine cases formed fibrous membrane and four cases formed new bone around prostheses in experiment group. Eleven cases formed new bone and two cases formed fibrous membrane in control group (P < 0.05) The X-ray results indicated that the plugs were in distal medulla of femur. There was no sign of periprosthetic osteolysis, implants loosening or new bone formation. Optical microscope study indicated that there were a lot of polyethylene particles inside the capsule. The polyethylene particles were surrounded by multinucleated foreign-body giant cells and fibroblast. In some cases, there were fibroblasts and fibrous tissue around plug. There were no polyethylene particles and multinucleated foreign-body giant cells around plug in the marrow. There were a lot of polyethylene particles on the joint surface. The bone surface that contacted multinucleated foreign-body giant cells was coarse. CONCLUSION: Maximizing ultra high molecular weight polyethylene can restrain rabbit periprosthetic bone formation.