Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate improves cognitive impairment via regulating Aβ transportation in AD transgenic mouse model

SCG5 and MITF may be novel markers of copper metabolism immunorelevance in Alzheimer's disease

The slow-developing neurological disorder Alzheimer's disease (AD) has no recognized etiology. A bioinformatics investigation verified copper metabolism indicators for AD development. GEO contributed AD-related datasets GSE1297 and GSE5281. Differential expression analysis and WGCNA confirmed biomarker candidate genes. Each immune cell type in AD and control samples was scored using single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) grouping, and expression analysis between control and AD samples discovered copper metabolism indicators that impacted AD progression. We test clinical samples and cellular function to ensure study correctness. Biomarker-targeting miRNAs and lncRNAs were predicted by starBase. Trust website anticipated biomarker-targeting transcription factors. In the end, Cytoscape constructed the TF/miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA networks. The DGIdb database predicted biomarker-targeted drugs. We identified 57 differentially expressed copper metabolism-related genes (DE-CMRGs). Next, fourteen copper metabolism indicators impacting AD progression were identified: CCK, ATP6V1E1, SYT1, LDHA, PAM, HPRT1, SCG5, ATP6V1D, GOT1, NFKBIA, SPHK1, MITF, BRCA1, and CD38. A TF/miRNA-mRNA regulation network was then established with two miRNAs (hsa-miR-34a-5p and 34c-5p), six TFs (NFKB1, RELA, MYC, HIF1A, JUN, and SP1), and four biomarkers. The DGIdb database contained 171 drugs targeting ten copper metabolism-relevant biomarkers (BRCA1, MITF, NFKBIA, CD38, CCK2, HPRT1, SPHK1, LDHA, SCG5, and SYT1). Copper metabolism biomarkers CCK, ATP6V1E1, SYT1, LDHA, PAM, HPRT1, SCG5, ATP6V1D, GOT1, NFKBIA, SPHK1, MITF, BRCA1, and CD38 alter AD progression, laying the groundwork for disease pathophysiology and novel AD diagnostic and treatment.

Neurotrophic Natural Products

Neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT3, NT4) can decrease cell death, induce differentiation, as well as sustain the structure and function of neurons, which make them promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, neurotrophins have not been very effective in clinical trials mostly because they cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier owing to being high-molecular-weight proteins. Thus, neurotrophin-mimic small molecules, which stimulate the synthesis of endogenous neurotrophins or enhance neurotrophic actions, may serve as promising alternatives to neurotrophins. Small-molecular-weight natural products, which have been used in dietary functional foods or in traditional medicines over the course of human history, have a great potential for the development of new therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this contribution, a variety of natural products possessing neurotrophic properties such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth promotion (neuritogenesis), and neuroprotection are described, and a focus is made on the chemistry and biology of several neurotrophic natural products.

The therapeutic effect of tanshinone IIA in mouse astrocytes after treatment with Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larval excretory-secretory products

BACKGROUND

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important food-borne zoonotic parasite that causes eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in humans. Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) are valuable targets for studying host-parasite relationships. ESPs are composed of a variety of molecules that are used to penetrate defensive barriers and avoid immune attack of the host. Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) is a vasoactive cardioprotective drug that is widely used in studies evaluating potential therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we will evaluate the therapeutic effects of TSIIA in mouse astrocytes after A. cantonensis fifth-stage larvae (L5) ESPs treatment.

METHODS

Here, we examined the therapeutic effect of TSIIA by real-time qPCR, western blotting, activity assay, and cell viability assays.

RESULTS

First, the results showed that TSIIA can elevate cell viability in astrocytes after stimulation with ESPs. On the other hand, TSIIA downregulated the expression of apoptosis-related molecules. However, the expression of molecules related to antioxidant, autophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum stress was significantly increased. The results of antioxidant activation assays showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase were significantly increased. Finally, we found that cell apoptosis and oxidative stress were reduced in TSIIA-treated astrocytes by immunofluorescence staining.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study suggest that TSIIA can reduce cellular damage caused by A. cantonensis L5 ESPs in astrocytes and clarify the related molecular mechanisms.

Multifunctional icariin and tanshinone IIA co-delivery liposomes with potential application for Alzheimer's disease

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective barrier for brain safety, but it is also a major obstacle to the delivery of drugs to the cerebral parenchyma such as the hippocampus, hindering the treatment of central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this work, an anti-AD brain-targeted nanodrug delivery system by co-loading icariin (ICA) and tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) into Aniopep-2-modified long-circulating (Ang2-ICA/TSIIA) liposomes was developed. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) was a receptor overexpressed on the BBB. Angiopep-2, a specific ligand of LRP1, exhibited a high binding efficiency with LRP1. Additionally, ICA and TSIIA, drugs with neuroprotective effects are loaded into the liposomes, so that the liposomes not only have an effective BBB penetration effect, but also have a potential anti-AD effect. The prepared Ang2-ICA/TSIIA liposomes appeared narrow dispersity and good stability with a diameter of 110 nm, and a round morphology. Cell uptake observations, BBB models in vitro, and imaging analysis in vivo showed that Ang2-ICA/TSIIA liposomes not only penetrate the BBB through endocytosis, but also accumulate in N2a cells or brain tissue. The pharmacodynamic analysis in vivo demonstrated that Ang2-ICA/TSIIA liposomes could improve AD-like pathological features in APP/PS1 mice, including inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, reducing apoptosis, protecting neurons, and improving cognitive function. Therefore, Ang2-ICA/TSIIA liposomes are considered a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for AD.