Inhibition of lysyl oxidase by pharmacological intervention and genetic manipulation alleviates epilepsy-associated cognitive disorder.

Epilepsy-associated cognitive disorder (ECD), a prevalent comorbidity in epilepsy patients, has so far uncharacterized etiological origins. Our prior work revealed that lysyl oxidase (Lox) acted as a novel contributor of ferroptosis, a recently discovered cell death mode in the regulation of brain function. However, the role of Lox-mediated ferroptosis in ECD remains unknown. ECD mouse model was established 2 months later following a single injection of kainic acid (KA) for. After chronic treatment with KA, mice were treated with different doses (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) of Lox inhibitor BAPN. Additionally, hippocampal-specific Lox knockout mice was also constructed and employed to validate the role of Lox in ECD. Cognitive functions were assessed using novel object recognition test (NOR) and Morris water maze test (MWM). Protein expression of phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding (CREB), a well-known molecular marker for evaluation of cognitive performance, was also detected by Western blot. The protein distribution of Lox was analyzed by immunofluorescence. In KA-induced ECD mouse model, ferroptosis process was activated according to upregulation of 4-HNE protein and a previously discovered ferroptosis in our group, namely, Lox was remarkably increased. Pharmacological inhibition of Lox by BAPN at the dose of 100 mg/kg significantly increased the discrimination index following NOR test and decreased escape latency as well as augmented passing times within 60 s following MWM test in ECD mouse model. Additionally, deficiency of Lox in hippocampus also led to pronounced improvement of deficits in ECD model. These findings indicate that the ferroptosis regulatory factor, Lox, is activated in ECD. Ablation of Lox by either pharmacological intervention or genetic manipulation ameliorates the impairment in ECD mouse model, which suggest that Lox serves as a promising therapeutic target for treating ECD in clinic.

Huayu Qutan Recipe promotes lipophagy and cholesterol efflux through the mTORC1/TFEB/ABCA1-SCARB1 signal axis.

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of the anti-atherosclerosis effect of Huayu Qutan Recipe (HYQT) on the inhibition of foam cell formation. In vivo, the mice were randomly divided into three groups: CTRL group, MOD group and HYQT group. The HYQT group received HYQT oral administration twice a day (20.54 g/kg/d), and the plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice was observed using haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and oil red O (ORO) staining. The co-localization of aortic macrophages and lipid droplets (LDs) was examined using fluorescent labelling of CD11b and BODIPY fluorescence probe. In vitro, RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h and then treated with HYQT for 24 h. The accumulation of LDs was evaluated using ORO and BODIPY. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The co-localization of LC3b and BODIPY was detected via immunofluorescence and fluorescence probe. LysoTracker Red and BODIPY 493/503 were used as markers for lysosomes and LDs, respectively. Autophagosome formation were observed via transmission electron microscopy. The levels of LC3A/B II/LC3A/B I, p-mTOR/mTOR, p-4EBP1/4EBP1, p-P70S6K/P70S6K and TFEB protein level were examined via western blotting, while SQSTM1/p62, Beclin1, ABCA1, ABCG1 and SCARB1 were examined via qRT-PCR and western blotting. The nuclear translocation of TFEB was detected using immunofluorescence. The components of HYQT medicated serum were determined using Q-Orbitrap high-resolution MS analysis. Molecular docking was employed to identify the components of HYQT medicated serum responsible for the mTOR signalling pathway. The mechanism of taurine was illustrated. HYQT has a remarkable effect on atherosclerotic plaque formation and blood lipid level in ApoE-/- mice. HYQT decreased the co-localization of CD11b and BODIPY. HYQT (10% medicated serum) reduced the LDs accumulation in RAW 264.7 cells. HYQT and RAPA (rapamycin, a mTOR inhibitor) could promote cholesterol efflux, while chloroquine (CQ, an autophagy inhibitor) weakened the effect of HYQT. Moreover, MHY1485 (a mTOR agonist) also mitigated the effects of HYQT by reduced cholesterol efflux. qRT-PCR and WB results suggested that HYQT improved the expression of the proteins ABCA1, ABCG1 and SCARB1.HYQT regulates ABCA1 and SCARB1 protein depending on the mTORC1/TFEB signalling pathway. However, the activation of ABCG1 does not depend on this pathway. Q-Orbitrap high-resolution MS analysis results demonstrated that seven core compounds have good binding ability to the mTOR protein. Taurine may play an important role in the mechanism regulation. HYQT may reduce cardiovascular risk by promoting cholesterol efflux and degrading macrophage-derived foam cell formation. It has been observed that HYQT and ox-LDL regulate lipophagy through the mTOR/TFEB signalling pathway, rather than the mTOR/4EBP1/P70S6K pathway. Additionally, HYQT is found to regulate cholesterol efflux through the mTORC1/TFEB/ABCA1-SCARB1 signal axis, while taurine plays a significant role in lipophagy.

Gingipains may be one of the key virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis to impair cognition and enhance blood-brain barrier permeability: An animal study.

AIM: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disorder is one of the early findings in cognitive impairments. We have recently found that Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteraemia can cause cognitive impairment and increased BBB permeability. This study aimed to find out the possible key virulence factors of P. gingivalis contributing to the pathological process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57/BL6 mice were infected with P. gingivalis or gingipains or P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis LPS group) by tail vein injection for 8 weeks. The cognitive behaviour changes in mice, the histopathological changes in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, the alternations of BBB permeability, and the changes in Mfsd2a and Cav-1 levels were measured. The mechanisms of Ddx3x-induced regulation on Mfsd2a by arginine-specific gingipain A (RgpA) in BMECs were explored. RESULTS: P. gingivalis and gingipains significantly promoted mice cognitive impairment, pathological changes in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, increased BBB permeability, inhibited Mfsd2a expression and up-regulated Cav-1 expression. After RgpA stimulation, the permeability of the BBB model in vitro increased, and the Ddx3x/Mfsd2a/Cav-1 regulatory axis was activated. CONCLUSIONS: Gingipains may be one of the key virulence factors of P. gingivalis to impair cognition and enhance BBB permeability by the Ddx3x/Mfsd2a/Cav-1 axis.

Evidence of Clinical Efficacy and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Resveratrol in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and pharmacological mechanisms of resveratrol in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. METHODS: We conducted a thorough exploration of existing randomized controlled trials concerning the treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients using resveratrol, utilizing accessible open databases. Quantitative variables were represented as a standardized mean difference (SMD), accompanied by a 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, we examined the potential targets and plausible pathways associated with the impact of resveratrol on Alzheimer's disease using network pharmacology techniques. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis comprised five trials involving 271 AD patients, of whom 139 received resveratrol treatment and 132 received placebo treatment. Compared with placebo therapy, resveratrol treatment resulted in a significant improvement in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study- Activities of Daily Living (ADAS-ADL) scores (SMD=0.51; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.78) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aß40 (SMD=0.84; 95% CI, 0.21 to 1.47) and plasma Aß40 levels (SMD=0.43; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.79). However, the improvement in the resveratrol-treated group compared with the placebo treatment group on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, CSF Aß42 and plasma Aß42 levels, and brain volume was not significant. There were no noteworthy statistical variances in the occurrence of adverse effects noted between the two groups. The outcomes of network pharmacology divulged that the principal enriched interaction pathway between resveratrol and Alzheimer's disease is primarily concentrated within the PI3K signaling pathways. Resveratrol's potential key targets for the treatment of AD include MAKP1, HRAS, EGFR, and MAPK2K1. CONCLUSION: While having a high safety profile, resveratrol has efficacy in AD patients to a certain extent, and more data are required to validate the efficacy of resveratrol for the treatment of AD in the future. Suppression of the PI3K signaling pathways could hold significant importance in the treatment of AD patients using resveratrol.

Mechanisms of myocardial hypoxia-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial autophagy on cardiac arrhythmias in fitness enthusiasts and athletes

Arrhythmias are a prevalent cardiovascular condition, frequently seen in athletes and fitness enthusiasts due to their high-intensity physical activities, which can complicate or be secondary to heart failure, myocardial hypoxia, ischemia, and in severe cases, lead to sudden death. In the context of athletic and fitness-oriented lifestyles, myocardial hypoxia—often a result of intense physical exertion—can significantly impact endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial autophagy. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a crucial role in cellular protein synthesis. Disruptions in ER homeostasis, due to various factors including strenuous physical activity, can lead to an accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER, triggering ER stress. This stress has been identified in various diseases and is of particular interest in the athletic population, where the body's systems, including the heart, are often pushed to their limits. Furthermore, mitochondrial autophagy, a process vital for maintaining cellular health by degrading and recycling mitochondrial components, has been linked to arrhythmia. This connection is especially pertinent in athletes, as their hearts undergo considerable physiological stress and adaptation in response to ongoing physical demands. This study aims to explore the mechanisms by which myocardial hypoxia induces ER stress and mitochondrial autophagy, and how these processes contribute to the development of cardiac arrhythmias in athletes and fitness enthusiasts. By focusing on this specific group, the research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the cardiac risks associated with high levels of physical activity and to inform preventative and therapeutic strategies tailored to this population (AU)

Hepatocyte steatosis activates macrophage inflammatory response accelerating atherosclerosis development. / è‚ç»†èƒžè„‚è‚ªå˜æ€§å½±å“å·¨å™¬ç»†èƒžç‚Žç—‡ååº”åŠ é€ŸåŠ¨è„‰ç²¥æ ·ç¡¬åŒ–å½¢æˆ.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism of comorbidity between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis (AS) based on metabolomics and network pharmacology. METHODS: Six ApoE－/－ mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 16 weeks as a comorbid model of NAFLD and AS (model group). Normal diet was given to 6 wildtype C57BL/6J mice (control group). Serum samples were taken from both groups for a non-targeted metabolomics assay to identify differential metabolites. Network pharmacology was applied to explore the possible mechanistic effects of differential metabolites on AS and NAFLD. An in vitro comorbid cell model was constructed using NCTC1469 cells and RAW264.7 macrophage. Cellular lipid accumulation, cell viability, morphology and function of mitochondria were detected with oil red O staining, CCK-8 assay, transmission electron microscopy and JC-1 staining, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 85 differential metabolites associated with comorbidity of NAFLD and AS were identified. The top 20 differential metabolites were subjected to network pharmacology analysis, which showed that the core targets of differential metabolites related to AS and NAFLD were STAT3, EGFR, MAPK14, PPARG, NFKB1, PTGS2, ESR1, PPARA, PTPN1 and SCD. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed the top 10 signaling pathways were PPAR signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, alcoholic liver disease, prolactin signaling pathway, insulin resistance, TNF signaling pathway, hepatitis B, the relax in signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and NAFLD. Experimental validation showed that lipid metabolism-related genes PPARG, PPARA, PTPN1, and SCD were significantly changed in hepatocyte models, and steatotic hepatocytes affected the expression of macrophage inflammation-related genes STAT3, NFKB1 and PTGS2; steatotic hepatocytes promoted the formation of foam cells and exacerbated the accumulation of lipids in foam cells; the disrupted morphology, impaired function, and increased reactive oxygen species production were observed in steatotic hepatocyte mitochondria, while the formation of foam cells aggravated mitochondrial damage. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammatory response are distinctive features of comorbid AS and NAFLD. Hepatocyte steatosis causes mitochondrial damage, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species and activation of macrophage inflammatory response, resulting in the acceleration of AS development.

D-galactose causes sinoatrial node dysfunction: from phenotype to mechanism.

With the population aging, age-related sinoatrial node dysfunction (SND) has been on the rise. Sinoatrial node (SAN) degeneration is an important factor for the age-related SND development. However, there is no suitable animal modeling method in this field. Here, we investigated whether D-galactose could induce SAN degeneration and explored the associated mechanism. In vivo, twelve C57BL/6 mice were divided into Control and D-galactose group to receive corresponding treatments. Senescence was confirmed by analyzing the hair and weight; cardiac function was evaluated through echocardiography, cerebral blood flux and serum-BNP; the SAN function was evaluated by electrocardiogram; fibrotic change was evaluated by Masson's trichrome staining and oxidative stress was assessed through DHE staining and serum indicators. Mechanism was verified through immunofluorescence-staining and Western blotting. In vitro, mouse-atrial-myocytes were treated with D-galactose, and edaravone was utilized as the ROS scavenger. Senescence, oxidative stress, proliferation ability and mechanism were verified through various methods, and intuitive evidence was obtained through electrophysiological assay. Finally, we concluded that D-galactose can be used to induce age-related SND, in which oxidative stress plays a key role, causing PITX2 ectopic expression and downregulates SHOX2 expression, then through the downstream GATA4/NKX2-5 axis, results in pacing-related ion channels dysfunction, and hence SND development.

Lutein suppresses ferroptosis of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells via positive regulation of IRF in cardiac hypertrophy.

Cardiac microvascular dysfunction contributes to cardiac hypertrophy (CH) and can progress to heart failure. Lutein is a carotenoid with various pharmacological properties, such as anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Limited research has been conducted on the effects of lutein on pressure overload-induced CH. Studies have shown that CH is accompanied by ferroptosis in the cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). This study aimed to investigate the effect of lutein on ferroptosis of CMECs in CH. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor (IRF) is associated with immune system function, tumor suppression, and apoptosis. The results of this study suggested that pressure overload primarily inhibits IRF expression, resulting in endothelial ferroptosis. Administration of lutein increased the expression of IRF, providing protection to endothelial cells during pressure overload. IRF silencing downregulated solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression, leading to the induction of ferroptosis in CMECs. Lutein supplementation suppressed endothelial ferroptosis by upregulating IRF. These data suggest that IRF may function as a transcription factor for SLC7A11 and that lutein represses ferroptosis in CMECs by upregulating IRF expression. Therefore, targeting IRF may be a promising therapeutic strategy for effective cardioprotection in patients with CH and heart failure.

Effect of WiFi signal exposure in utero and early life on neurodevelopment and behaviors of rats.

The aim of this study is to examine the long-term effects of prenatal and early-life WIFI signal exposure on neurodevelopment and behaviors as well as biochemical alterations of Wistar rats. On the first day of pregnancy (E0), expectant rats were allocated into two groups: the control group (n = 12) and the WiFi-exposed group (WiFi group, n = 12). WiFi group was exposed to turn on WiFi for 24 h/day from E0 to postnatal day (PND) 42. The control group was exposed to turn-off WiFi at the same time. On PND7-42, we evaluated the development and behavior of the offspring, including body weight, pain threshold, and swimming ability, spatial learning, and memory among others. Also, levels of proteins involved in apoptosis were analyzed histologically in the hippocampus in response to oxidative stress. The results showed that WiFi signal exposure in utero and early life (1) increased the body weight of WiFi + M (WiFi + male) group; (2) no change in neuro-behavioral development was observed in WiFi group; (3) increased learning and memory function in WiFi + M group; (4) enhanced comparative levels of BDNF and p-CREB proteins in the hippocampus of WiFi + M group; (5) no neuronal loss or degeneration was detected, and neuronal numbers in hippocampal CA1 were no evidently differences in each group; (6) no change in the apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3 and Bax) levels; and (7) no difference in GSH-PX and SOD activities in the hippocampus. Prenatal WiFi exposure has no effects on hippocampal CA1 neurons, oxidative equilibrium in brain, and neurodevelopment of rats. Some effects of prenatal WiFi exposure are sex dependent. Prenatal WiFi exposure increased the body weight, improved the spatial memory and learning function, and induced behavioral hyperactivity of male rats.

Screening of key pathogenic genes in advanced knee osteoarthritis based on bioinformatics analysis.

Background: At present, the progression mechanism of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has not been fully elucidated, and there is a clinical need for late KOA-specific diagnostic markers to provide reference for preventive treatment. This study aimed to analyze the sequencing results of early- and late-stage KOA synovial tissue based on the key genes of late-stage KOA in combination with a machine learning algorithm. Methods: The whole transcriptome sequencing results of synovial tissue from KOA patients (GSE176223 and GSE32317) were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Thirty-nine early KOA synovial tissue samples and 31 late KOA synovial tissue samples were included in this study. The diagnostic criteria and baseline data balance of early and late KOA were referred to the data source literature, and the two groups of data had good baseline data balance. R software (V3.5.1) and R packages were used for screening and enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The key genes were screened by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of key genes for advanced KOA. Results: A total of 211 DEGs related to knee arthritis were screened out. Compared with synovial tissue of early knee arthritis, 111 genes were upregulated and 100 genes were downregulated in the synovial tissue of late knee arthritis. Sixty-six key genes were screened out through WGCNA and 34 key genes were screened out in the LASSO analysis. The genes obtained by the two algorithms combined with three overlapping genes, namely interleukin- 6 (IL-6), C-X-C chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), and macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF). The areas under the ROC curves of CXCL12, IL-6, and MIF were 0.96, 0.944, and 0.961, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions: IL-6, CXCL12, and MIF are the key pathogenic genes of KOA, which have good diagnostic efficacy for advanced KOA.

Mechanism of cell death pathways in status epilepticus and related therapeutic agents.

The most severe form of epilepsy, status epilepticus (SE), causes brain damage and results in the development of recurring seizures. Currently, the management of SE remains a clinical challenge because patients do not respond adequately to conventional treatments. Evidence suggests that neural cell death worsens the occurrence and progression of SE. The main forms of cell death are apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Herein, these mechanisms of neuronal death in relation to SE and the alleviation of SE by potential modulators that target neuronal death have been reviewed. An understanding of these pathways and their possible roles in SE may assist in the development of SE therapies and in the discovery of new agents.

Kai-Xin-San Inhibits Tau Pathology and Neuronal Apoptosis in Aged SAMP8 Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurological disorder. Currently, there is no effective cure for AD due to its complexity in pathogenesis. In light of the complex pathogenesis of AD, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Kai-Xin-San (KXS), which was used for amnesia treatment, has been proved to improve cognitive function in AD animal models. However, the active ingredients and the mechanism of KXS have not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, network pharmacology analysis predicts that KXS yields 168 candidate compounds acting on 863 potential targets, 30 of which are associated with AD. Enrichment analysis revealed that the therapeutic mechanisms of KXS for AD are associated with the inhibition of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Therefore, we chose 7-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice as AD mouse model, which harbors the behavioral and pathological hallmarks of AD. Subsequently, the potential underlying action mechanisms of KXS on AD predicted by the network pharmacology analyses were experimentally validated in SAMP8 mice after intragastric administration of KXS for 3 months. We observed that KXS upregulated AKT phosphorylation, suppressed GSK3ß and CDK5 activation, and inhibited the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate Tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation, thus suppressing neuronal apoptosis and improving the cognitive impairment of aged SAMP8 mice. Taken together, our findings reveal a multi-component and multi-target therapeutic mechanism of KXS for attenuating the progression of AD, contributing to the future development of TCM modernization, including KXS, and broader clinical application.

Inorganic Nanozymes: Prospects for Disease Treatments and Detection Applications.

In recent years, with the development of nanomaterials, a slice of nanomaterials has been demonstrated to possess high catalytic activity similar to natural enzymes and counter the dilemmas including easy inactivation and low yield natural of enzymes, which are labeled as nanozymes. The catalytic activity of nanozymes could be easily regulated by size, structure, surface modification and other factors. In comparison with natural enzymes, nanozymes featured with a more stable structure, economical preparation and preservation, diversity of functions and adjustable catalytic activity, thus becoming the potentially ideal substitute for natural enzymes. Generally, the are mainly three types containing metal oxide nanozymes, noble metal nanozymes and carbon-based nanozymes, owing various applications in biomedical, energy and environmental fields. In this review, to summarize the recent representative applications of nanozymes, and potentially explore the scientific problems in this field at the same time, we are going to discuss the catalytic mechanisms of diverse nanozymes, with the emphasis on their applications in the fields of tumor therapy, anti-inflammatory and biosensing, hoping to help and guide the future development of nanozymes.

Aberrant expression of HDL-bound microRNA induced by a high-fat diet in a pig model: implications in the pathogenesis of dyslipidaemia.

BACKGROUND: A high-fat diet can affect lipid metabolism and trigger cardiovascular diseases. A growing body of studies has revealed the HDL-bound miRNA profiles in familial hypercholesterolaemia; in sharp contrast, relevant studies on high-fat diet-induced dyslipidaemia are lacking. In the current study, HDL-bound miRNAs altered by a high-fat diet were explored to offer some clues for elucidating their effects on the pathogenesis of dyslipidaemia. METHODS: Six pigs were randomly divided into two groups of three pigs each, namely, the high-fat diet and the balanced diet groups, which were fed a high-fat diet and balanced diet separately for six months. HDL was separated from plasma, which was followed by dissociation of the miRNA bound to HDL. miRNA sequencing of the isolated miRNA was performed to identify the differential expression profiles between the two groups, which was validated by real-time PCR. TargetScan, miRDB, and miRWalk were used for the prediction of genes targeted by the differential miRNAs. RESULTS: Compared with the balanced diet group, the high-fat diet group had significantly higher levels of TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C at six months. miRNA sequencing revealed 6 upregulated and 14 downregulated HDL-bound miRNAs in the high-fat diet group compared to the balanced diet group, which was validated by real-time PCR. GO enrichment analysis showed that dysregulated miRNAs in the high-fat diet group were associated with the positive regulation of lipid metabolic processes, positive regulation of lipid biosynthetic processes, and positive regulation of Ras protein signal transduction. Insulin resistance and the Ras signalling pathway were enriched in the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty HDL-bound miRNAs are significantly dysregulated in high-fat diet-induced dyslipidaemia. This study presents an analysis of a new set of HDL-bound miRNAs that are altered by a high-fat diet and offers some valuable clues for novel mechanistic insights into high-fat diet-induced dyslipidaemia. Further functional verification study using a larger sample size will be required.

Galangin attenuated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibition of ferroptosis through activating the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in gerbils.

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of galangin treatment on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in gerbils and to identify potential mechanisms of the protective effect of galangin on hippocampal neurons after I/R injury. PRINCIPAL METHODS: A cerebral ischemia model using bilateral common carotid artery ligation in gerbils was established. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of gerbils. The cell viability was evaluated with an MTT assay. The levels of lipid peroxide biomarkers were measured to estimate the injury due to lipid peroxide. The morphology was detected by electron micrography, immunofluorescence and Nissl staining. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to measure the molecular characteristics. KEY FINDINGS: In the MWM, gerbils treated with galangin after I/R injury showed significant improvements in learning and memory. In addition, galangin treatment reduced the levels of lipid peroxide in the brains of gerbils that underwent I/R as well as reduced the amount of cell death and increased the expression of SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Furthermore, the expression of the marker of ferroptosis was decreased in galangin-treated gerbils, and the effect of galangin was weakened when SLC7A11 was knocked down. These results show that galangin can inhibit ferroptosis by enhancing the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 as well as reduce neuronal cell death. SIGNIFICANCE: Galangin inhibits ferroptosis through activation of the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis and has a protective effect on hippocampal neurons in gerbils after I/R.

Calcium-/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II (CaMKII) Inhibition Induces Learning and Memory Impairment and Apoptosis.

OBJECTIVES: Inhibition of calcium-/calmodulin- (CaM-) dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is correlated with epilepsy. However, the specific mechanism that underlies learning and memory impairment and neuronal death by CaMKII inhibition remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, KN93, a CaMKII inhibitor, was used to investigate the role of CaMKII during epileptogenesis. We first identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in primary cultured hippocampal neurons with or without KN93 treatment using RNA-sequencing. Then, the impairment of learning and memory by KN93-induced CaMKII inhibition was assessed using the Morris water maze test. In addition, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL staining were performed to determine neuronal death, apoptosis, and the relative signaling pathway. RESULTS: KN93-induced CaMKII inhibition decreased cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein activity and impaired learning and memory in Wistar and tremor (TRM) rats, an animal model of genetic epilepsy. CaMKII inhibition also induced neuronal death and reactive astrocyte activation in both the Wistar and TRM hippocampi, deregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases. Meanwhile, neuronal death and neuron apoptosis were observed in PC12 and primary cultured hippocampal neurons after exposure to KN93, which was reversed by SP600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). CONCLUSIONS: CaMKII inhibition caused learning and memory impairment and apoptosis, which might be related to dysregulated JNK signaling.

IL-38 restrains inflammatory response of collagen-induced arthritis in rats via SIRT1/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the restraining effect of IL-38 on inflammatory response in collagen-induced arthritis rats (CIA), and to explore the regulatory mechanism of SIRT1/HIF-1α signaling pathway. METHODS: 40 SD rats were randomly divided into Control group, CIA group, CLL group and CLH group, with 10 rats in each group; CIA rat model was established. The effects of IL-38 on arthritis index, inflammatory response, osteogenic factor and angiogenic factor were observed by methods including HE staining, ELISA, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence. Human synoviocytes were cultured in vitro, and SIRT1 inhibitors were added to detect the expression for relating factors of SIRT1/HIF-1α signaling pathway by Western blot. RESULTS: IL-38 could alleviate CIA joint damage and restrain inflammatory response, could up-regulate the expression of OPG in CIA rats and could down-regulate the expression of RANKL and RANK. IL-38 could restrain the expression of VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and HIF. Moreover, we found that IL-38 could up-regulate the SIRT1 expression and down-regulate the HIF-1α, TLR4 and NF-KB p65 expression in CLL and CLH groups. From the treatment of synoviocytes to simulate the CIA model and the treatment of SIRT1 inhibitors, we demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of IL-38 on inflammatory factors and regulation of SIRT1/HIF-1α signaling pathway-related proteins were inhibited. CONCLUSION: IL-38 can restrain the inflammatory response of CIA rats, can promote the expression of osteogenic factors, can inhibit neovascularization, and can alleviate joint damage in rats. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of SIRT1/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Transplantation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Decreases Cognitive Impairment from Chronic Cerebral Ischemia by Reducing Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats.

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are a unique postnatal stem cell population with high self-renewal ability that originates from the cranial neural crest. Since SHED are homologous to the central nervous system, they possess superior capacity to differentiate into neural cells. However, whether and how SHED ameliorate degenerative central nervous disease are unclear. Chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is a kind of neurological disease caused by long-term cerebral circulation insufficiency and is characterized by progressive cognitive and behavioral deterioration. In this study, we showed that either systemic transplantation of SHED or SHED infusion into the hippocampus ameliorated cognitive impairment of CCI rats in four weeks after SHED treatment by rescuing the number of neurons in the hippocampus area. Mechanistically, SHED transplantation decreased the apoptosis of neuronal cells in the hippocampus area of CCI rats through downregulation of cleaved caspase-3. In summary, SHED transplantation protected the neuronal function and reduced neuronal apoptosis, resulting in amelioration of cognitive impairment from CCI. Our findings suggest that SHED are a promising stem cell source for cell therapy of neurological diseases in the clinic.

Valproic acid attenuates global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in gerbils via anti-pyroptosis pathways.

Ischemic stroke is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability worldwide in adults. The antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) was reported to protect cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the action mechanism of VPA in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury has not been fully understood. We explored the action mechanism of VPA in vivo and in vitro. Gerbils were subjected to transient global cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury, and hippocampal neuron injury was treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction. Histopathological examinations and western blot were performed to evaluate the pyroptosis of neurons. The results showed that VPA attenuated the cognitive dysfunction, pyroptosis of the gerbils suffer from ischemic-reperfusion injury and decreased hippocampal neurons pyroptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. In addition, western blot and real-time PCR analysis revealed that VPA modulated the protein expression of apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC), caspase-1 and IL-1ß/IL-18. Our results suggested that VPA alleviated ischemic/reperfusion injury-mediated neuronal impairment by anti-pyroptotic effects.

Baicalin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells by regulating the MEG3/p53 pathway following treatment with ox­LDL.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a systemic disease associated with lipid metabolic disorders and abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Baicalin is a flavonoid compound isolated from the dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and exerts anti­proliferative effects in various types of cells. However, the effect of baicalin on AS remains unclear. In the present study, serum samples were collected from patients with AS and an in vitro model of AS was established using oxidized low­density lipoprotein (ox­LDL)­treated human aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (HA­VSMCs). The siRNA transfection and overexpression efficiency of endogenous maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) and the expression level of MEG3 were analyzed by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR). The effects of alterations in expression levels of MEG3 were assessed by MTT assay, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay, 5­ethynyl­2'­deoxyuridine staining, wound healing assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting in HA­VSMCs. qPCR indicated that the expression of MEG3 was reduced in serum samples from patients with AS and ox­LDL­treated HA­VSMCs, compared with serum samples from healthy patients and untreated HA­VSMCs, respectively. Further experiments indicated that ox­LDL­induced decrease of MEG3 expression was reversed by treatment with baicalin in a concentration­dependent manner. Following treatment with ox­LDL, decreased expression of MEG3 promoted proliferation and migration, and suppressed apoptosis in HA­VSMCs. Furthermore, treatment with baicalin reversed these effects on proliferation and apoptosis in ox­LDL­treated HA­VSMCs. The current study indicated that downregulated expression of MEG3 increased cell cycle­associated protein expression. However, treatment with baicalin inhibited the expression of cell­cycle associated proteins in HA­VSMCs with MEG3 knockdown. In addition, baicalin activated the p53 signaling pathway and promoted the expression and transport of p53 from the cytoplasm to nucleus following MEG3 knockdown in ox­LDL­treated HA­VSMCs. Baicalin inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis by regulating the expression of MEG3/p53, indicating that baicalin may serve a role in AS by activating the MEG3/p53 signaling pathway. The present study suggested a potential mechanism underlying the protective role of baicalin in the in vitro model of AS, and these results may be used to develop novel therapeutic approaches for the affected patients.