Meldonium, as a potential neuroprotective agent, promotes neuronal survival by protecting mitochondria in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a globally dangerous disease capable of causing irreversible neuronal damage with limited therapeutic options. Meldonium, an inhibitor of carnitine-dependent metabolism, is considered an anti-ischemic drug. However, the mechanisms through which meldonium improves ischemic injury and its potential to protect neurons remain largely unknown. METHODS: A rat model with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to investigate meldonium's neuroprotective efficacy in vivo. Infarct volume, neurological deficit score, histopathology, neuronal apoptosis, motor function, morphological alteration and antioxidant capacity were explored via 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, Longa scoring method, hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay, rotarod test, transmission electron microscopy and Oxidative stress index related kit. A primary rat hippocampal neuron model subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation reperfusion was used to study meldonium's protective ability in vitro. Neuronal viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial morphology, respiratory function, ATP production, and its potential mechanism were assayed by MTT cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay kit, cell-permeant MitoTracker® probes, mitochondrial stress, real-time ATP rate and western blotting. RESULTS: Meldonium markedly reduced the infarct size, improved neurological function and motor ability, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in vivo. Meldonium enhanced the morphology, antioxidant capacity, and ATP production of mitochondria and inhibited the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats. Additionally, meldonium improved the damaged fusion process and respiratory function of neuronal mitochondria in vitro. Further investigation revealed that meldonium activated the Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway to inhibit mitochondria-dependent neuronal apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that meldonium shows a neuroprotective function during CIRI by preserving the mitochondrial function, thus prevented neurons from apoptosis.

Role of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: modulation of M2 macrophage polarization.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) poses significant challenges due to limited treatment options despite its complex pathogenesis involving cellular and molecular mechanisms. This study investigated the role of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels in regulating M2 macrophage polarization in IPF progression, potentially offering novel therapeutic targets. Using a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model in C57BL/6J mice, we assessed the therapeutic potential of the TRPA1 inhibitor HC-030031. TRPA1 upregulation was observed in fibrotic lungs, correlating with worsened lung function and reduced survival. TRPA1 inhibition mitigated fibrosis severity, evidenced by decreased collagen deposition and restored lung tissue stiffness. Furthermore, TRPA1 blockade reversed aberrant M2 macrophage polarization induced by bleomycin, associated with reduced Smad2 phosphorylation in the TGF-ß1-Smad2 pathway. In vitro studies with THP-1 cells treated with bleomycin and HC-030031 corroborated these findings, highlighting TRPA1's involvement in fibrotic modulation and macrophage polarization control. Overall, targeting TRPA1 channels presents promising therapeutic potential in managing pulmonary fibrosis by reducing pro-fibrotic marker expression, inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization, and diminishing collagen deposition. This study sheds light on a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention in IPF, addressing a critical need in the management of this challenging disease.