DLC2 inhibits development of glioma through regulating the expression ratio of TAp73α/TAp73ß.

To date, the anti-tumor mechanism of the deleted in liver cancer 2 (DLC2) in gliomas is still unclear. The study shows that TAp73α expression and TAp73α/TAp73ß ratio are frequently high in gliomas and that TAp73α and TAp73ß have opposite roles in regulating proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells. Moreover, DLC2 is low-expressed in gliomas, which negatively correlates with TAp73α expression and TAp73α/TAp73ß ratio. More importantly, DLC2 inhibits development of glioma by decreasing expression of TAp73α, which changes the expression ratio of TAp73α/TAp73ß in glioma cells. Mechanically, DLC2 interacts directly with TAp73α and induces TAp73α ubiquitination and degradation, which is mediated through SAM domain of DLC2 and TAp73α. In detail, DLC2 with SAM domain deletion fails to interact with TAp73α and induce TAp73α ubiquitination and degradation, and SAM deletion decreased tumorigenesis-inhibition effect of DLC2. In conclusion, DLC2 inhibits glioma development by inducing TAp73α degradation and subsequent change of TAp73α/TAp73ß expression ratio.

Association between inflammatory cytokines and the risk of post-stroke depression, and the effect of depression on outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke in a 2-year prospective study.

The association between inflammatory cytokines and the risk of post-stroke depression (PSD) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate this association and the effect of PSD on the outcomes of ischemic stroke patients. A total of 355 patients who had experienced ischemic stroke participated in inflammatory cytokine detection by ELISA, in addition to depression, quality of life (QOL) and body performance testing. Cox regression was used to evaluate the associations between PSD risk, inflammatory cytokines and the outcomes of patients. Measurement data was evaluated using Student's t test, and counted data was measured by χ2 test. The incidence of PSD during the 2-year follow-up was 23.1%. The risk of PSD elevated with increased interleukin (IL)-6 expression levels [hazard ratio (HR)=3.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37-7.36] following the adjustment of confounders. However, no significant associations were identified between PSD and other inflammatory cytokines. QOL and body performance in the depressed group were significantly worse compared with those in the non-depressed group. The risk of stroke recurrence in patients with depression increased two-fold compared with patients without depression (HR=2.020; 95% CI, 1.123-3.635; Ptrend=0.019). No significant associations between PSD and the risk of mortality (HR=1.497; 95% CI, 0.547-4.098) were observed. In conclusion, depression is prevalent in patients following ischemic stroke. IL-6 is positively associated with the risk of PSD, and may predict its development in patients following ischemic stroke. PSD correlates with outcomes of patients, and the effective management of PSD may improve the prognosis of patients.

Curcumin induces G2/M arrest and triggers apoptosis via FoxO1 signaling in U87 human glioma cells.

It has previously been demonstrated that curcumin possesses an antitumor activity, which is associated with its ability to induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However the detailed underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanism of curcumin­induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in U87 human glioblastoma cells. By immunofluorescence staining, subcellular fractionation and western blotting, the present study demonstrated that curcumin was able to induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by increasing the expression levels of cyclin G2, cleaved caspase­3 and Fas ligand (FasL), and decreasing the expression of cyclin­dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). In addition, increased expression of forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) and decreased expression of phosphorylated (p)­FoxO1 were detected in the curcumin­treated U87 cells. Curcumin was also able to induce the translocation of FoxO1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Furthermore, following knockdown of FoxO1 expression in curcumin­treated U87 cells using FoxO1 small interfering RNA, the expression levels of cyclin G2, cleaved caspase­3 and FasL were inhibited; however, the expression levels of CDK1 were not markedly altered. Notably, following knockdown of CDK1 expression under normal conditions, the total expression of FoxO1 was not affected; however, p­FoxO1 expression was decreased and FoxO1 nuclear expression was increased. Furthermore, curcumin­induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis could be attenuated by FoxO1 knockdown. These results indicated that curcumin may induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in U87 cells by increasing FoxO1 expression. The present study identified a novel mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of curcumin, and may provide a theoretical basis for the application of curcumin in glioma treatment.

Relationship between inflammatory cytokines and risk of depression, and effect of depression on the prognosis of high grade glioma patients.

Depression is found to be associated with up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. However, the relationship in high grade glioma (HGG) patients is still unclear. In this prospective study, a total 132 HGG patients participated in blood sample collection for inflammatory cytokines detection by ELISA, mental status, quality of life (QOL) and physical functional status testing. The association between inflammatory cytokines and depression risk was assessed using conditional logistic regression. The incidences of depressive symptoms and depression in high grade glioama patients were 45.5 and 25 % respectively during 12 months follow-up. We found the risk of depression was elevated with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in high grade glioma patients after adjustment of confounders. The serum levels of CRP and IL-6 in patients with transient depression and depression were higher than those without depressive symptoms. In addition, depression had significant effects on the survival, QOL and physical functional status of patients. Depression is prevalent among patients with HGG. The present study suggests that serum CRP and IL-6 may serve as a depression marker for HGG patients. The survival and quality of life of HGG patients may be improved by an effective management for depression.

Far-lateral approach assisted by multimodal neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring technique for complex clival tumor.

Large clival meningiomas are a major surgical challenge with risks to life and permanent deficit. A 65-year-old man with a meningioma anterior to the medulla oblongata with brain stem compression was operated with far-lateral approach assisted by multimodal neuronavigation and neurophysiological monitoring techniques. Total resection of the tumor was achieved with no intra- or post-operative complications. This case illustrates the benefits obtained by a multimodal approach.

Metabolic syndrome factors and risk of postoperative depression in high-grade glioma patients in a 1.5-year prospective study.

To date, the relationship between metabolic syndrome factors and the risk of glioma-related depression is still unclear, and no study investigates this relationship. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome factors and the risk of postoperative depression in high-grade patients. A total of 386 high-grade glioma patients participated in blood sample collection for metabolic syndrome factors analysis and the hospital anxiety and depression scale testing. The association between metabolic syndrome factors and the risk of postoperative depression was assessed using Cox regression proportional hazards models, and Student's t tests were used to evaluate the differences in demographic variables and clinical characteristics in subgroups. The incidence of postoperative depression in our 1.5-year follow-up was 30.5%. We found the risk of postoperative depression was elevated with increased blood glucose level [hazard ratios (HR) 2.277, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.201-4.320, top vs. bottom quartile]. The hazard ratio was increased for z-scores of blood glucose (HR 1.672 per unit standard deviation, 95% CI 1.311-2.133] and of the combined metabolic syndrome score (HR 1.080, 95% CI 1.000-1.167). In addition, risk of postoperative depression risk was increased in high-grade glioma patients with high blood glucose levels (≥6.0 mmol/l) (HR 2.084, 95% CI 1.235-3.515). However, we did not find significant associations between postoperative depression and other metabolic syndrome factors, including body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Depression is prevalent among patients with high-grade glioma after operation. Blood glucose level is positively associated with the risk of postoperative depression, and might be involved in the etiology of postoperative depression, and may predict its development in high-grade glioma patients.

Carvacrol alleviates cerebral edema by modulating AQP4 expression after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice.

Carvacrol is a natural compound extracted from many plants of the family Lamiaceae. Previous studies have demonstrated that carvacrol has potential neuroprotective effects in central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia. In this study, we investigated the preclinical effect of carvacrol on cerebral edema after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) using a bacterial collagenase-induced ICH mouse model. Mice were randomly divided into sham (n=43), vehicle-treated (n=51), and carvacrol-treated groups (n=101). In carvacrol-treated group, carvacrol was administrated to mice at 0h, 1h, or 3h after ICH induction. Carvacrol was injected intraperitoneally with single doses of 10, 25, 50, or 100mg/kg. Neurologic dysfunctions, brain water content, aquaporins (AQPs) mRNAs level and AQP4 protein expression in the perihematomal area were evaluated post ICH. Our results showed that carvacrol administration improved neurological deficits after day 3 following ICH (p<0.05). Carvacrol reduced cerebral edema and Evans Blue leakage at day 3 (p<0.05). We also found that carvacrol treatment decreased AQP4 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner at 24h. Furthermore, AQP4 protein expression in the perihematomal area was reduced by carvacrol significantly at day 3 after ICH (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that carvacrol may exert its protective effect on ICH injury by ameliorating AQP4-mediated cerebral edema.

Curcumin protects against iron induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons by attenuating necroptosis.

Necroptosis was reported as one backup way of programmed cell death when apoptosis was blocked, and the receptor interacting protein 1 was considered as the key necroptosis regulator protein. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of curcumin which attenuates necroptosis. Primary cortical neurons were cultured and were injured by ferrous chloride, z.vad.fmk was applied to block apoptosis, curcumin was administrated to protect neurons, necrostatin-1 was applied to inhibit necroptosis if needed. Cell viability was measured by detecting lactate dehydrogenase activity in lysates of surviving cells, and assessed by cell counting kit-8. The expression of receptor interacting protein 1 was detected by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. Results showed that necroptosis mainly occurred in the concentrations of ferrous chloride ranging from 100 to 200µM, curcumin attenuated necroptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin decreased expression of receptor interacting protein 1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumin protects against iron induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons by attenuating necroptosis.

Neuroprotection and sensorimotor functional improvement by curcumin after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice.

Previous studies revealed that curcumin is neuroprotective in diseases of the central nervous system such as cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury. However, the effect of curcumin on intracerebral hemorrhage remains unclear. We, therefore, investigated the pre-clinical effect of curcumin treatment on neurological outcomes following intracerebral hemorrhage, using a mouse model. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by autologous blood injection into the right basal ganglia. Curcumin (150 mg/kg) was administered 15 min after intracerebral hemorrhage. Grid walk and neurological scores were evaluated at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days post-injury. Mice were killed at 24 h or 28 days following injury, for histological examination. Evans Blue and water content in the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were measured to evaluate the extent of blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema. Zonula occludens-1 was detected by immunostaining. In situ zymography was used to measure the localization and focal enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase. Our results demonstrated that curcumin reduced brain edema, measured by alleviated water content and Evans Blue leakage at 24 h (p<0.05). Lateral ventricle measurements indicated that curcumin reduced brain tissue loss in the ipsilateral hemisphere (p<0.05). The same dose of curcumin also significantly attenuated neurological deficits at 1 and 3 days of intracerebral hemorrhage (p<0.05). Immunostaining showed that tight junction continuity around the hematoma was better sustained in curcumin-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. At 24 h, the number of matrix metalloproteinase-positive cells was significantly reduced by curcumin (p<0.05). Our study suggests that curcumin ameliorates intracerebral hemorrhage damage by preventing matrix metalloproteinase-mediated blood-brain barrier damage and brain edema, which might provide therapeutic potential for intracerebral hemorrhage.