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Zhu K, Pu PM, Li G, Zhou LY, Li ZY, Shi Q, Wang YJ, Cui XJ, Yao M. Shenqisherong pill ameliorates neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the JNK/caspase-3 signaling pathway in a rat model of cervical cord compression. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 318:116901. [PMID: 37437792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Shenqisherong (SQSR) pill is an empirical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which originated from the National Chinese Medical Science Master, Shi Qi. It has been widely used in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and promote the recovery of spinal cord function, but underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The objective of this study was to confirm the neuroprotective effects of the SQSR pill. MATERIALS AND METHODS A rat model of chronic compression at double-level cervical cord was used in vivo. The protective role of SQSR pill on CSM rats was measured by Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale, inclined plane test, forelimb grip strength assessment, hindlimb pain threshold assessment, and gait analysis. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined by Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein (DCF) assay, and apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of apoptosis proteins was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. RESULTS SQSR pill could facilitate locomotor function recovery in rats with chronic cervical cord compression, reduce local ROS in the spinal cord and downregulate the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)/caspase-3 signaling pathway. In addition, the SQSR pill could protect primary rat cortical neurons from glutamate-treated toxicity in vitro by reducing the ROS and downregulating the phosphorylation of JNK and its downstream factors related to neuronal apoptosis meditated by the caspase cascade. Then, the neuroprotective effect was counteracted by a JNK activator. CONCLUSIONS Together, SQSR pill could ameliorate neuronal apoptosis by restraining ROS accumulation and inhibiting the JNK/caspase-3 signaling pathway, indicating that SQSR pill could be a candidate drug for CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhu
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Pei-Min Pu
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Gan Li
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Long-Yun Zhou
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Zhuo-Yao Li
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qi Shi
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yong-Jun Wang
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xue-Jun Cui
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Min Yao
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Kim HW, Yong H, Shea GKH. Blood-spinal cord barrier disruption in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:68. [PMID: 37743487 PMCID: PMC10519090 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00463-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent cause of spinal cord dysfunction in the aging population. Significant neurological deficits may result from a delayed diagnosis as well as inadequate neurological recovery following surgical decompression. Here, we review the pathophysiology of DCM with an emphasis on how blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption is a critical yet neglected pathological feature affecting prognosis. In patients suffering from DCM, compromise of the BSCB is evidenced by elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to serum protein ratios and abnormal contrast-enhancement upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In animal model correlates, there is histological evidence of increased extravasation of tissue dyes and serum contents, and pathological changes to the neurovascular unit. BSCB dysfunction is the likely culprit for ischemia-reperfusion injury following surgical decompression, which can result in devastating neurological sequelae. As there are currently no therapeutic approaches specifically targeting BSCB reconstitution, we conclude the review by discussing potential interventions harnessed for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Woo Kim
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, LKS Faulty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hu Yong
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, LKS Faulty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Graham Ka Hon Shea
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, LKS Faulty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Pu PM, Li ZY, Dai YX, Sun YL, Wang YJ, Cui XJ, Yao M. Analysis of gene expression profiles and experimental validations of a rat chronic cervical cord compression model. Neurochem Int 2023:105564. [PMID: 37286109 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a severe non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) wherein the spinal canal and cervical cord are compressed due to the degeneration of cervical tissues. To explore the mechanism of CSM, the ideal model of chronic cervical cord compression in rats was constructed by embedding a polyvinyl alcohol polyacrylamide hydrogel in lamina space. Then, the RNA sequencing technology was used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways among intact and compressed spinal cords. A total of 444 DEGs were filtered out based on the value of log2(Compression/Sham); these were associated with IL-17, PI3K-AKT, TGF-β, and Hippo signaling pathways according to the GSEA, KEGG, and GO analyses. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the changes in mitochondrial morphology. Western blot and immunofluorescent staining revealed neuronal apoptosis, astrogliosis and microglial neuroinflammation in the lesion area. Specifically, the expression of apoptotic indicators, such as Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, were upregulated. The activation of IL-17 signaling pathways was observed in microglia instead of neurons or astrocytes, the activation of TGF-β and inhibition of Hippo signaling pathways were detected in astrocytes instead of neurons or microglia, and the inhibition of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was discovered in neurons rather than microglia of astrocytes in the lesion area. In conclusion, this study indicated that neuronal apoptosis was accompanied by inhibiting of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Then, the activation of microglia IL-17 pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome effectuated the neuroinflammation, and astrogliosis was ascribed to the activation of TGF-β and the inhibition of the Hippo pathway in the chronic cervical cord of compression. Therefore, therapeutic methods targeting these pathways in nerve cells could be promising CSM treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Min Pu
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhuo-Yao Li
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yu-Xiang Dai
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yue-Li Sun
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yong-Jun Wang
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xue-Jun Cui
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Min Yao
- Spine Disease Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Liang QQ, Yao M, Cui XJ, Li ZY, Zhou AF, Li G, Zhou LY, Pu PM, Zhu K, Zheng Z, Wang YJ. Chronic spinal cord compression associated with intervertebral disc degeneration in SPARC-null mice. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:634-642. [DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.350210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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