Serum autophagy-related gene 5 level in stroke patients: correlation with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment during a 3-year follow-up.

Autophagy-related gene (ATG) 5 regulates blood lipids, chronic inflammation, CD4+ T-cell differentiation, and neuronal death and is involved in post-stroke cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore the correlation of serum ATG5 with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment in stroke patients. Peripheral blood was collected from 180 stroke patients for serum ATG5 and T helper (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cell detection via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale was completed at enrollment, year (Y)1, Y2, and Y3 in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was also measured in 50 healthy controls (HCs). Serum ATG5 was elevated in stroke patients compared to HCs (P<0.001) and was positively correlated to Th2 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P<0.001), and Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.001) in stroke patients but not correlated with Th1 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, or Treg cells (all P>0.050). Serum ATG5 (P=0.037), Th1 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P=0.002), and Th17/Treg ratio (P=0.018) were elevated in stroke patients with MMSE score-identified cognition impairment vs those without cognition impairment, whereas Th2 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, and Treg cells were not different between them (all P>0.050). Importantly, serum ATG5 was negatively linked with MMSE score at enrollment (P=0.004), Y1 (P=0.002), Y2 (P=0.014), and Y3 (P=0.001); moreover, it was positively related to 2-year (P=0.024) and 3-year (P=0.012) MMSE score decline in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was positively correlated with Th2 and Th17 cells and estimated cognitive function decline in stroke patients.

Autophagy-related 5 in acute ischemic stroke: Variation and linkage with neurofunction, and survival.

OBJECTIVE: Autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) facilitates the pathologic process of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) via multiple ways. This study aimed to identify the association of serum ATG5 with clinical outcomes in AIS patients. METHODS: Serum ATG5 from 280 AIS patients were detected at admission, Day (D)1, D3, D7, D30, and D90 after admission by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median (interquartile range) follow-up was 21.1 (5.9-43.9) months. Another 50 healthy controls (HCs) were also enrolled for serum ATG5 determination. RESULTS: ATG5 was elevated (p < 0.001) (vs. HCs), and positively correlated with hyperlipidemia (p = 0.016), and the national institutes of health stroke scale score (p = 0.001) in AIS patients. Interestingly, ATG5 was increased from admission to D1, but gradually decreased until D90 (p < 0.001). Besides, 85 (30.4%) and 195 (69.6%) AIS patients were assessed as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) >2 and mRS ≤2 at D90, respectively. ATG5 at admission, D1, D3, D30, and D90 was elevated in AIS patients with mRS >2 versus those with mRS ≤2 (all p < 0.050). ATG5 at admission, D1, D3, D7, D30, or D90 was elevated in relapsed (vs. non-relapsed) or died (vs. survived) AIS patients (all p < 0.050). Recurrence-free survival was shortened in AIS patients with high (≥52.0 ng/mL) ATG5 versus those with low (<52.0 ng/mL) ATG5 at admission, D3, D7, and D30 (all p < 0.050); overall survival was shorter in AIS patients with high (vs. low) ATG5 at D7 and D30 (both p < 0.050). INTERPRETATION: Serum ATG5 elevates at first, thereafter gradually declines, whose elevation associates with neurological dysfunction, recurrence, and death risk in AIS patients.

Serum autophagy-related gene 5 level in stroke patients: correlation with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment during a 3-year follow-up

Abstract Autophagy-related gene (ATG) 5 regulates blood lipids, chronic inflammation, CD4+ T-cell differentiation, and neuronal death and is involved in post-stroke cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore the correlation of serum ATG5 with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment in stroke patients. Peripheral blood was collected from 180 stroke patients for serum ATG5 and T helper (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cell detection via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale was completed at enrollment, year (Y)1, Y2, and Y3 in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was also measured in 50 healthy controls (HCs). Serum ATG5 was elevated in stroke patients compared to HCs (P<0.001) and was positively correlated to Th2 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P<0.001), and Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.001) in stroke patients but not correlated with Th1 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, or Treg cells (all P>0.050). Serum ATG5 (P=0.037), Th1 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P=0.002), and Th17/Treg ratio (P=0.018) were elevated in stroke patients with MMSE score-identified cognition impairment vs those without cognition impairment, whereas Th2 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, and Treg cells were not different between them (all P>0.050). Importantly, serum ATG5 was negatively linked with MMSE score at enrollment (P=0.004), Y1 (P=0.002), Y2 (P=0.014), and Y3 (P=0.001); moreover, it was positively related to 2-year (P=0.024) and 3-year (P=0.012) MMSE score decline in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was positively correlated with Th2 and Th17 cells and estimated cognitive function decline in stroke patients.

Association between healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults: 10 year, population based, prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify an optimal lifestyle profile to protect against memory loss in older individuals. DESIGN: Population based, prospective cohort study. SETTING: Participants from areas representative of the north, south, and west of China. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 60 years or older who had normal cognition and underwent apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping at baseline in 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were followed up until death, discontinuation, or 26 December 2019. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: a healthy diet (adherence to the recommended intake of at least 7 of 12 eligible food items), regular physical exercise (≥150 min of moderate intensity or ≥75 min of vigorous intensity, per week), active social contact (≥twice per week), active cognitive activity (≥twice per week), never or previously smoked, and never drinking alcohol. Participants were categorised into the favourable group if they had four to six healthy lifestyle factors, into the average group for two to three factors, and into the unfavourable group for zero to one factor. Memory function was assessed using the World Health Organization/University of California-Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and global cognition was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Examination. Linear mixed models were used to explore the impact of lifestyle factors on memory in the study sample. RESULTS: 29 072 participants were included (mean age of 72.23 years; 48.54% (n=14 113) were women; and 20.43% (n=5939) were APOE ε4 carriers). Over the 10 year follow-up period (2009-19), participants in the favourable group had slower memory decline than those in the unfavourable group (by 0.028 points/year, 95% confidence interval 0.023 to 0.032, P<0.001). APOE ε4 carriers with favourable (0.027, 95% confidence interval 0.023 to 0.031) and average (0.014, 0.010 to 0.019) lifestyles exhibited a slower memory decline than those with unfavourable lifestyles. Among people who were not carriers of APOE ε4, similar results were observed among participants in the favourable (0.029 points/year, 95% confidence interval 0.019 to 0.039) and average (0.019, 0.011 to 0.027) groups compared with those in the unfavourable group. APOE ε4 status and lifestyle profiles did not show a significant interaction effect on memory decline (P=0.52). CONCLUSION: A healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. This study might offer important information to protect older adults against memory decline. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03653156.

Naringin Targets NFKB1 to Alleviate Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation-Induced Injury in PC12 Cells Via Modulating HIF-1α/AKT/mTOR-Signaling Pathway.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of naringin in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model and its mechanism. The target gene of naringin and the enriched pathways of the gene were searched and identified using bioinformatics analysis. Then OGD/R model was built using PC12 cells, after which the cells were treated with different concentrations of naringin. Subsequently, cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Meanwhile, the expression of NFKB1 in PC12 cells underwent OGD/R-induced injury was detected by qRT-PCR, while apoptosis-related and pathway-related proteins were checked by Western blot. DCF-DA kit was utilized to measure the level of ROS. Our results revealed that NFKB1, which was upregulated in MACO rats and OGD/R-treated PC12 cells, was a target gene of naringin. Naringin could alleviate OGD/R-induced injury via promoting the proliferation, and repressing the apoptosis of PC12 cells through regulating the expression of NFKB1 and apoptosis-associated proteins and ROS level. Besides, the depletion of NFKB1 was positive to cell proliferation but negative to cell apoptosis. Moreover, the depletion of NFKB1 enhanced the influences of naringin on cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and ROS level. Western blotting indicated that both naringin treatment and depletion of NFKB1 could increase the expression of HIF-1α, p-AKT, and p-mTOR compared with OGD/R group. What's more, treatment by naringin and si-NFKB1 together could significantly increase these effects. Nevertheless, the expression of AKT and mTOR among each group was almost not changed. In conclusion, naringin could prevent the OGD/R-induced injury in PC12 cells in vitro by targeting NFKB1 and regulating HIF-1α/AKT/mTOR-signaling pathway, which might provide novel ideas for the therapy of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Prevalence, risk factors, and management of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in adults aged 60 years or older in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: China has a large population of older people, but has not yet undertaken a comprehensive study on the prevalence, risk factors, and management of both dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: For this national cross-sectional study, 46 011 adults aged 60 years or older were recruited between March 10, 2015, and Dec 26, 2018, using a multistage, stratified, cluster-sampling method, which considered geographical region, degree of urbanisation, economic development status, and sex and age distribution. 96 sites were randomly selected in 12 provinces and municipalities representative of all socioeconomic and geographical regions in China. Participants were interviewed to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, medical history, current medications, and family history, and then completed a neuropsychological testing battery administered by a psychological evaluator. The prevalence of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other dementias) and MCI were calculated and the risk factors for different groups were examined using multivariable-adjusted analyses. FINDINGS: Overall age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence was estimated to be 6·0% (95% CI 5·8-6·3) for dementia, 3·9% (3·8-4·1) for Alzheimer's disease, 1·6% (1·5-1·7) for vascular dementia, and 0·5% (0·5-0·6) for other dementias. We estimated that 15·07 million (95% CI 14·53-15·62) people aged 60 years or older in China have dementia: 9·83 million (9·39-10·29) with Alzheimer's disease, 3·92 million (3·64-4·22) with vascular dementia, and 1·32 million (1·16-1·50) with other dementias. Overall MCI prevalence was estimated to be 15·5% (15·2-15·9), representing 38·77 million (37·95-39·62) people in China. Dementia and MCI shared similar risk factors including old age (dementia: odds ratios ranging from 2·69 [95% CI 2·43-2·98] to 6·60 [5·24-8·32]; MCI: from 1·89 [1·77-2·00] to 4·70 [3·77-5·87]); female sex (dementia: 1·43 [1·31-1·56]; MCI: 1·51 [1·43-1·59]); parental history of dementia (dementia: 7·20 [5·68-9·12]; MCI: 1·91 [1·48-2·46]); rural residence (dementia: 1·16 [1·06-1·27]; MCI: 1·45 [1·38-1·54]); fewer years of education (dementia: from 1·17 [1·06-1·29] to 1·55 [1·38-1·73]; MCI: from 1·48 [1·39-1·58] to 3·48 [3·25-3·73]); being widowed, divorced, or living alone (dementia: from 2·59 [2·30-2·90] to 2·66 [2·29-3·10]; MCI: from 1·58 [1·44-1·73] to 1·74 [1·56-1·95]); smoking (dementia: 1·85 [1·67-2·04]; MCI: 1·27 [1·19-1·36]), hypertension (dementia: 1·86 [1·70-2·03]; MCI: 1·62 [1·54-1·71] for MCI), hyperlipidaemia (dementia: 1·87 [1·71-2·05]; MCI: 1·29 [1·21-1·37]), diabetes (dementia: 2·14 [1·96-2·34]; MCI: 1·44 [1·35-1·53]), heart disease (dementia: 1·98 [1·73-2·26]; MCI: 1·17 [1·06-1·30]), and cerebrovascular disease (dementia: 5·44 [4·95-5·97]; MCI: 1·49 [1·36-1·62]). Nine of these risk factors are modifiable. INTERPRETATION: Dementia and MCI are highly prevalent in China and share similar risk factors. A prevention strategy should be developed to target the identified risk factors in the MCI population to thwart or slow down disease progression. It is also crucial to optimise the management of dementia and MCI as an important part of China's public health system. FUNDING: Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Project, Mission Program of Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals, Beijing Scholars Program, Beijing Brain Initiative from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Project for Outstanding Doctor with Combined Ability of Western and Chinese Medicine, and Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

Circulating high mobility group box-1 and toll-like receptor 4 expressions increase the risk and severity of epilepsy.

This study aimed to investigate the association of serum high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expressions with the risk of epilepsy as well as their correlations with disease severity and resistance to anti-epilepsy drugs. One hundred and five epilepsy patients and 100 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this case-control study, and serum samples were collected from all participants to assess the HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both serum HMGB1 (P<0.001) and TLR4 (P<0.001) expressions were higher in epilepsy patients than in HCs, and they displayed good predictive values for risk of epilepsy. Moreover, HMGB1 was positively correlated with TLR4 level (r=0.735, P<0.001). HMGB1 and TLR4 levels were both elevated in patients with an average seizure duration >5 min compared to patients with a seizure duration ≤5 min (P=0.001 and P=0.014, respectively). Also, HMGB1 and TLR4 were increased in patients with seizure frequency >3 times per month compared to patients with seizure frequency ≤3 times per month (both P=0.001). In addition, HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions were higher in intractable cases compared to drug-responsive cases (P<0.001). In conclusion, both HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions were correlated with increased risk and severity of epilepsy and their level was higher in patients resistant to anti-epilepsy drugs.

Circulating high mobility group box-1 and toll-like receptor 4 expressions increase the risk and severity of epilepsy

This study aimed to investigate the association of serum high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expressions with the risk of epilepsy as well as their correlations with disease severity and resistance to anti-epilepsy drugs. One hundred and five epilepsy patients and 100 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this case-control study, and serum samples were collected from all participants to assess the HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both serum HMGB1 (P<0.001) and TLR4 (P<0.001) expressions were higher in epilepsy patients than in HCs, and they displayed good predictive values for risk of epilepsy. Moreover, HMGB1 was positively correlated with TLR4 level (r=0.735, P<0.001). HMGB1 and TLR4 levels were both elevated in patients with an average seizure duration >5 min compared to patients with a seizure duration ≤5 min (P=0.001 and P=0.014, respectively). Also, HMGB1 and TLR4 were increased in patients with seizure frequency >3 times per month compared to patients with seizure frequency ≤3 times per month (both P=0.001). In addition, HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions were higher in intractable cases compared to drug-responsive cases (P<0.001). In conclusion, both HMGB1 and TLR4 expressions were correlated with increased risk and severity of epilepsy and their level was higher in patients resistant to anti-epilepsy drugs.

Activation of Nrf2-ARE signal pathway in hippocampus of amygdala kindling rats.

Oxidative stress resulting from excessive free-radical release is likely implicated in the initiation and progression of epilepsy. Therefore, antioxidant therapies have received considerable attention in epilepsy treatment. It is well known that the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) binds to antioxidant response element (ARE) to induce antioxidant and phase II detoxification enzymes under conditions of oxidative stress, which reduces oxidative stress and accumulation of toxic metabolites. However, whether Nrf2-ARE pathway is activated after seizure has not been studied. In the present study, Wistar rats were rapidly kindled in the amygdala. Twenty-four hours after the last seizure, the hippocampus of control, sham and kindled rats were examined for oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and glutathione) by spectrophotometry, the expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) were determined using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the kindled seizures induced oxidative stress, the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 at protein or gene levels significantly increased in hippocampus after seizure. According to these results, it could be postulated that Nrf2-ARE signal pathway was activated in the hippocampus after seizure.

Anticonvulsant effect of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of self-sustaining status epilepticus with prolonged amygdala stimulation.

Status epilepticus (SE), leading to 27 percent mortality in adult patients, becomes refractory to firstline intravenous diazepam, with prolonged seizure duration. The mechanism could be attributed to the declined inhibitory action of GABA; therefore, alternative medications acting on other targets are necessary. The aim of the present study was to examine whether DEX, a highly specific central α2-adrenoreceptor agonist, could show the anticonvulsant effect on self-sustaining SE (SSSE), and to explore the involved mechanisms. Five minutes after SSSE, which was induced in adult Wistar rats by constant amygdala stimulation for 25 min, DEX was injected intraperitoneally at two dosages (50/100 µg/kg). The number and cumulative time of repeated seizures were recorded; the levels of Glu/GABA and glutathione/malondialdehyde (GSH/MDA) in hippocampus tissue were detected. The results showed that DEX effectively decreased the number and cumulative time of repeated seizures, alleviated the levels of Glu and GSH/MDA in hippocampus tissue, but no effect was detected on the level of GABA, suggesting that DEX could be a potential agent for the treatment of SSSE, the possible mechanisms were antioxidation and inhibition of the Glu release.

Environmental enrichment restores cognitive deficits induced by prenatal maternal seizure.

Maternal seizure has adverse effects on brain histology as well as on learning and memory ability in progeny. An enriched environment (EE) is known to promote structural changes in the brain and improve cognitive and motor deficits following a variety of brain injuries. Whether EE treatment in early postnatal periods could restore cognitive impairment induced by prenatal maternal seizure is unknown. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into two groups and were injected intraperitoneally either saline or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) for 30 days. Then the fully kindled rats and control animals were allowed to mate. PTZ administration was continued until delivery, while the control group received saline at the same time. After weaning at postnatal day 22, one-half of the male offspring in the control and in the prenatal maternal group were given the environmental enrichment treatment through all the experiments until they were tested. Morris water maze testing was performed at 8 weeks of age. Western blot and synaptic ultrastructure analysis were then performed. We found that EE treatment reversed spatial learning deficits induced by prenatal maternal seizure. An EE also reversed the changes in synaptic ultrastructure following prenatal maternal seizure. In addition, prenatal maternal seizure significantly decreased phosphorylation states of cAMP response element binding (CREB) in the hippocampus, whereas EE reversed this reduced expression. These findings suggest that EE treatment on early postnatal periods could be a potential therapy for improving cognitive deficits induced by prenatal maternal seizure.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling, cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in rats.

Cognitive dysfunction is commonly observed in epileptic patients. It has been shown that not only epilepsy but also antiepileptic drugs could induce cognitive impairment. Thus, there is an urgent need for drugs that can suppress seizures without causing cognitive deficit. Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, and many antioxidants have an antiepileptic property. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a catechin polyphenols component, is found to be an effective antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of EGCG against seizures, seizure-induced oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 35 mg/kg of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) once every alternate day for 13 injections. EGCG was administered daily in two doses (25mg/kg and 50mg/kg) intraperitoneally along with alternate-day PTZ. Morris water maze test was carried out 24h after the last injection of PTZ, and the oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and glutathione) were assessed after the completion of the behavioral test. The results showed that EGCG dose-dependently suppressed the progression of kindling. EGCG also ameliorated the cognitive impairment and oxidative stress induced by PTZ kindling. These observations suggest that EGCG may be a potential agent for the treatment of epilepsy as well as a preventive agent against cognitive impairment induced by seizure.

[Exogenous carbon monoxide protects against liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion of hind limbs in rats].

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) on the liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of hind limbs in rats. METHODS: 100 SD rats were divided randomly into sham operated group (S), S+ CO group (SC), I/R group (I/R), I/ R+ CO group (RC). A rat model of ischemia in hind limbs and the reperfusion liver injury was established with the occlusion of the femoral arteries for 4 h and re-opening for 6 - 72 h, 10 d. The rats in SC and RC groups were exposed to air containing CO (the volume traction of CO: 0.05%) for 2 h before and after reperfusion or the corresponding control time point, while the other two groups were exposed to the routine air. The pathologic changes of liver tissue were morphologically observed by HE stain. Serum GPT activity was tested by Automatic Biochemical Analyzer. The percentage of apoptosis, expression levels of bax and bcl-2 protein in liver tissue were detected by Flow Cytometry. RESULTS: There was no difference between S and SC groups. Compared with SC group: (1) Pathological changes in liver tissue were significant in I/R and RC groups. (2) The serum GPT activity of I/R and RC groups was obviously increased. (3) In IR and RC groups, the percentage of apoptosis in liver tissue was all significantly increased. (4) The bax expression level was significantly increased. Compared RC group with I/R group: (1) Pathological change was slight. (2) The serum GPT activity was depressed. (3) The percentage of apoptosis and expression level of bax protein in liver tissue were depressed. (4) The expression level of bcl-2 protein in liver tissue was increased. CONCLUSION: Exogenous CO could attenuate liver tissue injury induced by limbs I/R in rats.