Effectiveness of double-filtration plasmapheresis in reducing immunoglobulin and culprit antibody levels in neuroimmune disorders: A single-center retrospective analysis from China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) in reducing immunoglobulins and culprit antibodies in neuroimmune disorders. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 51 patients with neuroimmune diseases treated with DFPP, immunotherapy, and symptomatic treatment. Immunoglobulin and antibody levels were measured pre- and post-treatment, along with neurological function assessments using scales like the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE), and Myasthenia Gravis-specific scales. RESULTS: The cohort included patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), autoimmune encephalitis (AIE), myasthenia gravis (MG), anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD), and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS). DFPP significantly reduced immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) by ∼70 %. Most patients showed decreased antibody titers and significant neurological improvement. The median mRS score improved from 2 (IQR 2-3) to 1 (IQR 1-2) post-treatment, with further improvement at 90 days. Notable improvements were observed across various scales specific to NMOSD, MOGAD, AIE, and MG. Minor adverse events were reported, with no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: DFPP is effective in reducing immunoglobulin and antibody levels, leading to improved neurological function in neuroimmune disorders. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Machine learning algorithms for FPGA Implementation in biomedical engineering applications: A review.

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are integrated circuits that can be configured by the user after manufacturing, making them suitable for customized hardware prototypes, a feature not available in general-purpose processors in Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). In this paper, we review the vast Machine Learning (ML) algorithms implemented on FPGAs to increase performance and capabilities in healthcare technology over 2001-2023. In particular, we focus on real-time ML algorithms targeted to FPGAs and hybrid System-on-a-chip (SoC) FPGA architectures for biomedical applications. We discuss how previous works have customized and optimized their ML algorithm and FPGA designs to address the putative embedded systems challenges of limited memory, hardware, and power resources while maintaining scalability to accommodate different network sizes and topologies. We provide a synthesis of articles implementing classifiers and regression algorithms, as they are significant algorithms that cover a wide range of ML algorithms used for biomedical applications. This article is written to inform the biomedical engineering and FPGA design communities to advance knowledge of FPGA-enabled ML accelerators for biomedical applications.

The effect of double filtration plasmapheresis and corticosteroids on patients with anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 encephalitis.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) encephalitis is a rare condition with varied symptoms including gastrointestinal issues, weight loss, cognitive and mental dysfunction, and hyperexcitability of the central nervous system. METHODS: We studied five patients with anti-DPPX encephalitis who received immunotherapy, specifically DFPP, at our hospital. We analyzed their clinical symptoms, lab results, electrophysiological and imaging findings, and outcomes with immunotherapy. RESULTS: Patients presented with cognitive dysfunction, tremor, seizures, psychiatric disturbances, and cerebellar and brainstem dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed brain abnormalities in one patient and elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels in two patients. Antibodies against DPPX were detected in all patients and in CSF in two patients. One patient had antibodies against anti-CV2/contactin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5). All patients responded well to DFPP and corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: DFPP may be an effective treatment for anti-DPPX encephalitis. Further research is needed to understand disease progression and evaluate immunotherapy efficacy.

Drug-drug interaction between paxlovid and tacrolimus in a patient with myasthenia gravis and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Patients with both myasthenia gravis (MG) and SARS-CoV-2 infection face treatment challenges due to potential drug interactions. One common immunosuppressant for MG, Tacrolimus, is primarily metabolized by the cytochrome P450. However, Paxlovid, an antiviral medication, inhibits cytochrome P450 activity, which can lead to increased Tacrolimus levels and potential toxicity when the two drugs are combined. In this case report, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman with early-onset MG who was initially treated with Tacrolimus. Later, she received Paxlovid for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which resulted in a sudden spike in Tacrolimus levels due to the drug interaction. This case emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment plans and close monitoring of drug interactions in patients with multiple health conditions. Clinicians should exercise vigilance regarding potential Tacrolimus interactions and regularly monitor blood levels to prevent adverse effects. Caution and close monitoring of Tacrolimus levels are essential when administering Paxlovid to patients on Tacrolimus therapy.

Positive association between urinary albumin-creatinine ratio and lower extremity peripheral arterial disease in Chinese diabetes patients: A cross-section study with propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Elevated urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) is an established risk factor for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in non-diabetes individual. This study aimed to determine the relationship between urinary ACR level and PAD in diabetes population. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-section study with 1396 hospitalized diabetes participants from department of endocrinology and neurology were performed and the propensity score matching method was applied to reduce the effects of confounding factors between the matched PAD and Non-PAD groups. The relationship between urinary ACR and ankle-brachial index (ABI) was analyzed by linear curve fitting analyses and multiple logistic regression models. Our study showed that the prevalence of PAD (low ABI, ABI<0.9) was 7.09% in our diabetes patients. The ABI level was significantly lower in high ACR group compared with those in normal urinary ACR group (1.11 ± 0.17 vs 1.13 ± 0.15, p = 0.010). The prevalence of PAD was increased with the increased tertile's of log2-transformed ACR in total patients before and after propensity score matching (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The OR (95% CI) between log2-transformed ACR and PAD was 1.0 and 1.70 (1.08-2.69, p = 0.022) respectively in normal and high ACR levels in diabetes patients after adjusting for potential confounders. After propensity score matching, the OR (95% CI) between log2-transformed ACR and PAD was 1.0 and 1.85 (1.05-3.23, p = 0.031) respectively in normal and high ACR levels in diabetes patients after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: The elevated urinary ACR level was associated with PAD in Chinese diabetes patients.

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (hUC-MSC-NMOSD): A Study Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is severe relapsing and disabling autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Its optimal first-line treatment to reduce relapse rate and ameliorate neurological disability remains unclear. We will conduct a prospective, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in treating NMOSD. Methods: The trial is planned to recruit 430 AQP4-IgG seropositive NMOSD patients. It consists of three consecutive stages. The first stage will be carried out in the leading center only and aims to evaluate the safety of hUC-MSCs. Patients will be treated with three different doses of hUC-MSCs: 1, 2, or 5 × 106 MSC/kg·weight for the low-, medium-, and high-dose group, respectively. The second and third stages will be carried out in six centers. The second stage aims to find the optimal dosage. Patients will be 1:1:1:1 randomized into the low-, medium-, high-dose group and the controlled group. The third stage aims to evaluate the effectiveness. Patients will be 1:1 randomized into the optimal dose and the controlled group. The primary endpoint is the first recurrent time and secondary endpoints are the recurrent times, EDSS scores, MRI lesion numbers, OSIS scores, Hauser walking index, and SF-36 scores. Endpoint events and side effects will be evaluated every 3 months for 2 years. Discussion: Although hUC-MSC has shown promising treatment effects of NMOSD in preclinical studies, there is still a lack of well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hUC-MSC among NMOSD patients. As far as we know, this trial will be the first one to systematically demonstrate the clinical safety and efficacy of hUC-MSC in treating NMOSD and might be able to determine the optimal dose of hUC-MSC for NMOSD patients. Trial registration: The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (CHICTR.org.cn) on 2 March 2016 (registration No. ChiCTR-INR-16008037), and the revised trial protocol (Protocol version 1.2.1) was released on 16 March 2020.

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Cerebrovascular Disorders.

Imaging techniques including transcranial Doppler (TCD), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and cerebral angiography are available for cerebrovascular disease diagnosis. TCD is a less expensive, non-invasive, and practically simpler approach to diagnosing cerebrovascular disorders than the others. TCD is a commonly available and inexpensive diagnostic tool. However, owing to its large operator dependency, it has a narrow application area. Cerebrovascular disease indicates a group of disorders that alter the flow of blood in the brain. The brain's functions can be temporarily or permanently impaired as a result of this change in blood flow. Timely diagnosis and treatment can restore the brain-impaired functions, resulting in a much-improved prognosis for the patients. This review summarizes the basic principles underlying the TCD imaging technique and its utility as a diagnostic tool for cerebrovascular disease.

A Stable Cell Line Expressing Clustered AChR: A Novel Cell-Based Assay for Anti-AChR Antibody Detection in Myasthenia Gravis.

Cell-based assays (CBAs) and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) are the most sensitive methods for identifying anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody in myasthenia gravis (MG). But CBAs are limited in clinical practice by transient transfection. We established a stable cell line (KL525) expressing clustered AChR by infecting HEK 293T cells with dual lentiviral vectors expressing the genes encoding the human AChR α1, ß1, δ, ϵ and the clustering protein rapsyn. We verified the stable expression of human clustered AChR by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and real-time PCR. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to detect anti-AChR antibodies in 103 MG patients and 58 healthy individuals. The positive results of MG patients reported by the KL525 was 80.6% (83/103), 29.1% higher than the 51.4% (53/103) of RIPA. 58 healthy individuals tested by both the KL525 CBA and RIPA were all negative. In summary, the stable expression of clustered AChR in our cell line makes it highly sensitive and advantageous for broad clinical application in CBAs.

High-Throughput Cell Trapping in the Dentate Spiral Microfluidic Channel.

Cell trapping is a very useful technique in a variety of cell-based assays and cellular research fields. It requires a high-throughput, high-efficiency operation to isolate cells of interest and immobilize the captured cells at specific positions. In this study, a dentate spiral microfluidic structure is proposed for cell trapping. The structure consists of a main spiral channel connecting an inlet and an out and a large number of dentate traps on the side of the channel. The density of the traps is high. When a cell comes across an empty trap, the cell suddenly makes a turn and enters the trap. Once the trap captures enough cells, the trap becomes closed and the following cells pass by the trap. The microfluidic structure is optimized based on the investigation of the influence over the flow. In the demonstration, 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells injected into the chip can be efficiently captured and isolated in the different traps. The cell trapping operates at a very high flow rate (40 µL/s) and a high trapping efficiency (>90%) can be achieved. The proposed high-throughput cell-trapping technique can be adopted in the many applications, including rapid microfluidic cell-based assays and isolation of rare circulating tumor cells from a large volume of blood sample.

Yi-Zhi-Fang-Dai Formula Exerts a Protective Effect on the Injury of Tight Junction Scaffold Proteins in Vitro and in Vivo by Mediating Autophagy through Regulation of the RAGE/CaMKKß/AMPK/mTOR Pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegeneration disease that is closely related to the abnormal tight junction scaffold proteins (TJ) proteins of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recently, Yi-Zhi-Fang-Dai Formula (YZFDF) had exerted a neuronal protective effect against amyloid peptide (Aß) toxicity. Still, the therapeutic mechanism of YZFDF in restoring Aß-induced injury of TJ proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of YZFDF in alleviating the injury of TJ proteins. We examined the impacts of YZFDF on autophagy-related proteins and the histopathology of Aß in the APP/PS1 double-transgenic male mice. We then performed the free intracellular calcium levels [Ca2+]i analysis and the cognitive behavior test of the AD model. Our results showed that YZFDF ameliorated the injury of TJ proteins by reducing the mRNA transcription and expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), the levels of [Ca2+]i, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase ß (CaMKKß), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Accordingly, YZFDF increased the expression of the phosphorylated mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR), leading to inhibition of autophagy (downregulated LC3 and upregulated P62). Moreover, the Aß1-42 oligomers-induced alterations of autophagy in murine mouse brain capillary (bEnd.3) cells were blocked by RAGE small interfering RNA (siRNA). These results suggest that YZFDF restored TJ proteins' injury by suppressing autophagy via RAGE signaling. Furthermore, YZFDF reduced the pathological precipitation of Aß in the hippocampus, and improved cognitive behavior impairment of the AD model suggested that YZFDF might be a potential therapeutic candidate for treating AD through RAGE/CaMKKß/AMPK/mTOR-regulated autophagy pathway.

Iron Deposition Leads to Hyperphosphorylation of Tau and Disruption of Insulin Signaling.

Iron deposition in the brain is an early issue in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the pathogenesis of iron-induced pathological changes in AD remains elusive. Insulin resistance in brains is an essential feature of AD. Previous studies determined that insulin resistance is involved in the development of pathologies in AD. Tau pathology is one of most important hallmarks in AD and is associated with the impairment of cognition and clinical grades of the disease. In the present study, we observed that ferrous (Fe2+) chloride led to aberrant phosphorylation of tau, and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor ß (IRß), insulin signal substrate 1 (IRS-1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85α (PI3K p85α), in primary cultured neurons. In the in vivo studies using mice with supplemented dietary iron, learning and memory was impaired. As well, hyperphosphorylation of tau and disrupted insulin signaling in the brain was induced in iron-overloaded mice. Furthermore, in our in vitro work we identified the activation of insulin signaling following exogenous supplementation of insulin. This was further attenuated by iron-induced hyperphosphorylation of tau in primary neurons. Together, these data suggest that dysfunctional insulin signaling participates in iron-induced abnormal phosphorylation of tau in AD. Our study highlights the promising role of insulin signaling in pathological lesions induced by iron overloading.

Decreased Function of Delayed Recall in Non-demented Elderly Subjects With Apolipoprotein E ε4 Allele.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inconsistent results about the role of APOE ε4 alleles on cognitive decline of community non-dementia elderly have been reported. This study aimed to examine the relationship between APOE ε4 allele and cognitive abilities in the subjects aged 60 years or above from a community in Shanghai, China. A total of 1445 participants voluntarily accepted the analysis of APOE genotype and global cognitive assay using the Mini Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE). There were no significant differences in total MMSE scores between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. In addition, the performances of orientation, registration, attention, calculation, and language had no significant differences between subjects with and without APOE ε4 allele. However, stratified analysis showed that the performance of delayed recall in subjects with APOE ε4 allele was inferior to that in non-ε4 carriers (p = 0.041). Further, the multiple linear regression analysis showed the significant correlations between the presence of APOE ε4 allele and the scores of the delayed memory subdomain if age, gender, and education were adjusted but no significant correlations if the related factors were not adjusted. The results indicate that significant impact of APOE ε4 allele only on the delay memory but not on global or other sub-domains of cognitive abilities.

Physiological dosages of estradiol and diarylpropionitrile decrease depressive behavior and increase tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe nucleus of rats subjected to the forced swim test.

The dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) is a crucial source of serotonin (5-HT) neurons involved in the regulation of stress-induced depression. Estrogen receptors have been identified in the DR, yet the role of estrogen in modulating this adaptive response is incompletely understood. The current study investigated the effects of different dosages of estradiol (E2, 10 and 50 µg/rat/day for 11 consecutive days) and selective estrogen receptor modulators: Diarylpropionitrile (DPN, 10 µg/rat/day for 11 consecutive days) and propyl pyrazole triol (PPT, 10 µg/rat/day for 11 consecutive days) on behavior and the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and glucocorticoid receptor in the DR of ovariectomized rats subjected to the forced swim test (FST). 10 µg E2 and DPN, an estrogen receptor ß agonist, increased swimming and decreased immobility in the FST, while 50 µg E2 and PPT, an estrogen receptor α agonist, failed to influence the behavior of the rats in the FST. Similarly, 10 µg E2 and DPN increased TPH protein expression in the DR, while 50 µg E2 and PPT did not. Both 10 µg E2 and 50 µg E2 increased glucocorticoid receptor protein expression in the DR. Interestingly, 50 µg E2 led to a greater increase in plasma corticosterone levels compared with 10 µg E2. These observations suggest that a physiological dosage of E2 reduces depressive behavior and enhances TPH expression. High dosage of E2 lacks antidepressant activity in part due to heightened effects on corticosterone levels, which may conversely decrease TPH expression in the DR.

Elevated microRNA-520d-5p in the serum of patients with Parkinson's disease, possibly through regulation of cereloplasmin expression.

Iron metabolism dysfunction and redox-active iron-induced oxidative stress in the brain may contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We have previously demonstrated that reduced serum ceruloplasmin level exacerbates nigral iron deposition in Parkinson's disease, although the underlying cause of the low serum ceruloplasmin level in Parkinson's disease remains unknown. Fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that patients with Parkinson's disease had higher serum levels of microRNA (miR)-520d-5p than controls (p = 0.0011). Patients with Alzheimer's disease or multiple system atrophy did not have significantly elevated miR-520d-5p levels. Expression of miR-520d-5p did not correlate with disease severity or the motor phenotype of Parkinson's disease. Luciferase assays confirmed that miR-520d-5p was associated with ceruloplasmin gene expression, as predicted by the TargetScan tool and miRBase. In vitro experiments showed that miR-520d-5p reduced ceruloplasmin gene expression in the U251 astrocyte cell line. Our data suggest that miR-520d-5p may be a potential regulator of ceruloplasmin gene expression in vitro.

Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3: Emerging Role Linking Central Insulin Resistance and Alzheimer's Disease.

Currently, the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still elusive. Central insulin resistance has been determined to play an important role in the progress of AD. However, the mechanism underlying the development of disrupted insulin signaling pathways in AD is unclear. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is a member of the SOCS protein family that acts as a negative modulator of insulin signaling in sensitive tissues, such as hepatocytes and adipocytes. However, little is known about its role in neurological diseases. Recent evidence indicates that the level of SOCS3 is increased in the brains of individuals with AD, especially in areas with amyloid beta deposition, suggesting that SOCS3 may regulate the central insulin signaling pathways in AD. Here, we discuss the potential role of SOCS3 in AD and speculate that SOCS3 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of AD.

Pseudo-phosphorylation at AT8 epitopes regulates the tau truncation at aspartate 421.

Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes hyperphosphorylation and truncation of tau. Phosphorylation at S422 is found to suppress truncation of tau at D421 that leading to the generation of ΔTau. However, the interrelation between hyperphosphorylation and generation of ΔTau in AD remains elusive. In current study, staurosporine (Stau) induced ΔTau generation by caspases in SH-SY5Y cells with tau overexpression was found to be accompanied by a dramatic dephosphorylation at S422 and the epitope of the diagnostic antibody AT8 (S199 + S202 + T205), but a moderate dephosphorylation of PHF1 (S396 + S404) epitope. Therefore, to explore the effect of AT8 epitope on tau truncation, the residues in AT8 epitope were mutated to produce "pseudo-phosphorylated" (AT8E) or "pseudo-unphosphorylated" (AT8A) tau constructs. With Stau treatment, the generation of ΔTau from tau-AT8E was significantly attenuated comparing with that from tau-AT8A, which was S422-independent in that addition of S422A mutation still preserved this effect. Interestingly, this modulatory effect was able to be reversed by addition of PHF1E mutation. Moreover, treating the crude tau extracts with recombinant caspase-3 in vitro, also showed that ΔTau level was suppressed by AT8E, and potentiated by AT8E + PHF1E. The results primarily revealed the modulating effects of phosphorylation on ΔTau generation which may have potential implications in tau pathological processes and therapeutic intervention.

Aß1-42 oligomer induces alteration of tight junction scaffold proteins via RAGE-mediated autophagy in bEnd.3 cells.

Compelling evidences have shown that amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide is one of the major pathogenic factors resulting in blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism underlying BBB breakdown remains elusive. In our present study, we employed murine brain capillary endothelial cells (bEnd.3) as an in vitro BBB model to investigate the role of autophagy in Aß1-42 oligo induced BBB disruption. We first identified Aß1-42 oligo cytotoxicity to bEnd.3 cells as observed in the reduced cell viability and downregulation of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5. Based on the observation that both downregulated expression of p-mTOR/m-TOR and upregulated ratio of LC3-II/ß-actin were induced by Aß1-42 oligo, we then applied 3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy, to test the role of autophagy in Aß1-42 oligo induced Tight junction (TJ) proteins damage. Results have shown that 3-MA partially reversed Aß1-42 oligo induced downregulation of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5, which was further determined by LC3 siRNA. We also used rapamycin to activate autophagy and found that TJ proteins damage induced by Aß1-42 was deteriorated even further. Given that the receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a pivotal receptor that mediates Aß toxicity, RAGE siRNA was utilized to identify the involvement of RAGE in Aß1-42 oligo induced autophagy. The results demonstrated a suppressed autophagy with increased p-mTOR/m-TOR and decreased LC3-II/ß-actin as well as increased ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5 in transfected cells after Aß1-42 oligo treatment, as compared to the non-transfected group. In summary, these results suggested that Aß1-42 oligo induced TJ proteins disruption via a RAGE-dependent autophagy pathway.

Aß1-42 induces cell damage via RAGE-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress in bEnd.3 cells.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been determined to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanisms of BBB disruption in AD remain unclear. Our previous study suggested that the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) functioned as a signal transduction receptor in Aß1-42-induced damage in endothelial cells. In our present study, we revealed that RAGE-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is essential for Aß-induced endothelial cell damage. Here, we found that Aß1-42 activated ERS by upregulation of Grp78, xbp-1 and CHOP in endothelial cells and that Aß1-42-resulted lesions, including the upregulations of caspase-12 and caspase-3, the augment of bax/bcl-2 ratio, and the downregulations of ZO-1 and Occludin in bEnd.3 cells, were ameliorated by the pretreatment of salubrinal, an ERS inhibitor. Furthermore, the expressions of Grp78, xbp-1 and CHOP induced by Aß1-42 were blocked by transfection of RAGE small interfering RNA (siRNA), which indicated that Aß1-42 activated ERS in a RAGE-dependent manner. Additionally, bEnd.3 cells transfected with RAGE siRNA showed lower expressions of caspase-12 and caspase-3, decreased bax/bcl-2 ratio, and higher expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin following Aß1-42 treatment, comparing to control cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Aß1-42 induced endothelial cells damage via activation of ERS in a RAGE-dependent manner.

Iron Deposition Leads to Neuronal α-Synuclein Pathology by Inducing Autophagy Dysfunction.

Growing evidence has indicated that iron deposition in the substantia nigra plays an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanism is still elusive. Using primary dopaminergic neurons and SH-SY5Y cells cultured in vitro, we observed that iron loading increased α-synuclein and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in these cells but did not affect the intracellular α-synuclein mRNA levels. Furthermore, iron loading significantly downregulated Beclin-1 levels and decreased the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 isoforms (LC3 II/LC3 I). However, a significant change in the levels of autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5) was not observed in either neurons or SH-SY5Y cells after iron treatment. After treatment with rapamycin, the iron loading-induced increase in the α-synuclein level was significantly reversed and ROS generation was alleviated in both cultured neurons and SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that the inhibition of autophagy is critical for the pathological alterations in α-synuclein induced by iron loading. Moreover, treatment with vitamin E did not affect the increase in the α-synuclein levels but significantly eliminated the iron-induced ROS production. Together, our study shows that autophagy dysfunction contributes to iron-induced α-synuclein pathology.

Intranasal BMP9 Ameliorates Alzheimer Disease-Like Pathology and Cognitive Deficits in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and has no effective therapies. Previous studies showed that bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), an important factor in the differentiation and phenotype maintenance of cholinergic neurons, ameliorated the cholinergic defects resulting from amyloid deposition. These findings suggest that BMP9 has potential as a therapeutic agent for AD. However, the effects of BMP9 on cognitive function in AD and its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, BMP9 was delivered intranasally to 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice for 4 weeks. Our data showed that intranasal BMP9 administration significantly improved the spatial and associative learning and memory of APP/PS1 mice. We also found that intranasal BMP9 administration significantly reduced the amyloid ß (Aß) plaques overall, inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation, and suppressed neuroinflammation in the transgenic mouse brain. Furthermore, intranasal BMP9 administration significantly promoted the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), an important membrane receptor involved in the clearance of amyloid ß via the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and elevated the phosphorylation levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (Ser9), which is considered the main kinase involved in tau hyperphosphorylation. Our results suggest that BMP9 may be a promising candidate for treating AD by targeting multiple key pathways in the disease pathogenesis.