Annexin-A1 tripeptide enhances functional recovery and mitigates brain damage in traumatic brain injury by inhibiting neuroinflammation and preventing ANXA1 nuclear translocation in mice.

This study explores the role and mechanism of Annexin-A1 Tripeptide (ANXA1sp) in mitigating neuronal damage and promoting functional recovery in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our goal is to identify ANXA1sp as a potential therapeutic drug candidate for TBI treatment. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI) to simulate TBI, supplemented by an in vitro model of glutamate-induced TBI in HT22 cells.  We assessed neurological deficits using the Modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), tested sensorimotor functions with beam balance and rotarod tests, and evaluated cognitive performance via the Morris water maze. Neuronal damage was quantified using Nissl and TUNEL staining, while microglial activation and inflammatory responses were measured through immunostaining, quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blotting, and ELISA. Additionally, we evaluated cell viability in response to glutamate toxicity using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Intraperitoneal administration of ANXA1sp significantly enhanced neurological outcomes, markedly reducing sensorimotor and cognitive impairments caused by TBI. This treatment resulted in a significant reduction in lesion volume and decreased neuronal cell death in the ipsilateral cortex. Moreover, ANXA1sp effectively diminished microglial activation around the brain lesion and decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and TGF-ß in the cortex, indicating a significant reduction in neuroinflammation post-TBI. ANXA1sp also offered protection against neuronal cell death induced by glutamate toxicity, primarily by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of ANXA1, highlighting its potential as a neuroprotective strategy in TBI management. Administration of ANXA1sp significantly reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death, primarily by blocking the nuclear translocation of ANXA1. This treatment substantially reduced brain damage and improved neurological functional recovery after TBI. Consequently, ANXA1sp stands out as a promising neuroprotective agent for TBI therapy.

Multi-color electrochromism containing green color based on electrochemically polymerized star-shaped phenyl bithiophene.

A star-shaped thiophene derivative, namely PHBT, consisting of one central core of phenyl and three arms of bithiophene, was newly synthesized and characterized, in order to further investigate the relationship between the star-shaped monomer structure (central core and peripheral arm) and the polymeric electrochromic properties. Then it was further successfully prepared into the corresponding cross-linked polymer pPHBT via electrochemical polymerization. After applying positive voltage, pPHBT exhibited excellent electrochromic properties with surprising multi-color changes between three colors, orange-yellow, green and blue, and a fast color switching speed. Furthermore, electronic structure, cyclic voltammetry and electrochromic results of pPHBT can contribute much to explain the electrochromic behavior of pTPABT with the triphenylamine core and the quadruple thiophene arm. The electrochromism of pTPABT might consist of two parts derived from the oxidative states of triphenylamine and quadruple thiophene groups, respectively. This offers a new insight into the electrochromism mechanics of conjugated polymers.