Propofol Prevents Hippocampal Neuronal Loss and Memory Impairment in Cerebral Ischemia Injury Through Promoting PTEN Degradation

Research progress of propofol in alleviating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and death worldwide. The primary treatment for cerebral ischemia patients is to restore blood supply to the ischemic region as quickly as possible. However, in most cases, more severe tissue damage occurs, which is known as cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The pathological mechanisms of brain I/R injury include mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, calcium overload, neuroinflammation, programmed cell death and others. Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), a short-acting intravenous anesthetic, possesses not only sedative and hypnotic effects but also immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. Numerous studies have reported the protective properties of propofol during brain I/R injury. In this review, we summarize the potential protective mechanisms of propofol to provide insights for its better clinical application in alleviating cerebral I/R injury.

G-CSF improved the memory and dendritic morphology impairments in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons after brain ischemia in the male rats

BACKGROUND

Stroke remains the leading cause of death and disability in the world. A new potential treatment for stroke is the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which exerts neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms. Memory impairment is the most common cognitive problem after a stroke. The suggested treatment for memory impairments is cognitive rehabilitation, which is often ineffective. The hippocampus plays an important role in memory formation. This project aimed to study the effect of G-CSF on memory and dendritic morphology of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)in rats.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: the sham, control (MCAO + Vehicle), and treatment (MCAO + G-CSF) groups. G-CSF (50 µg/kg S.C) was administered at 6, 24, and 48 h after brain ischemia induction. The passive avoidance task to evaluate learning and memory was performed on days 6 and 7 post-ischemia. Seven days after MCAO, the brain was removed and the hippocampal slices were stained with Golgi. After that, the neurons were analyzed for dendritic morphology and maturity.

OUTCOMES

The data showed that stroke was associated with a significant impairment in the acquisition and retention of passive avoidance tasks, while the G-CSF improved learning and memory loss. The dendritic length, arborization, spine density, and mature spines of the hippocampus CA1 neurons were significantly reduced in the control group, and treatment with G-CSF significantly increased these parameters.

CONCLUSION

G-CSF, even with three doses, improved learning and memory deficits, and dendritic morphological changes in the CA1 hippocampal neurons resulted from brain ischemia.

Implications of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Akt (PI3K-Akt) Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the foremost type of dementia that afflicts considerable morbidity and mortality in aged population. Several transcription molecules, pathways, and molecular mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and immune system interact in a multifaceted way that disrupt physiological processes (cell growth, differentiation, survival, lipid and energy metabolism, endocytosis) leading to apoptosis, tauopathy, β-amyloidopathy, neuron, and synapse loss, which play an important role in AD pathophysiology. Despite of stupendous advancements in pathogenic mechanisms, treatment of AD is still a nightmare in the field of medicine. There is compelling urgency to find not only symptomatic but effective disease-modifying therapies. Recently, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt are identified as a pathway triggered by diverse stimuli, including insulin, growth factors, cytokines, and cellular stress, that link amyloid-β, neurofibrillary tangles, and brain atrophy. The present review aims to explore and analyze the role of PI3K-Akt pathway in AD and agents which may modulate Akt and have therapeutic prospects in AD. The literature was researched using keywords "PI3K-Akt" and "Alzheimer's disease" from PubMed, Web of Science, Bentham, Science Direct, Springer Nature, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases including books. Articles published from 1992 to 2021 were prioritized and analyzed for their strengths and limitations, and most appropriate ones were selected for the purpose of review. PI3K-Akt pathway regulates various biological processes such as cell proliferation, motility, growth, survival, and metabolic functions, and inhibits many neurotoxic mechanisms. Furthermore, experimental data indicate that PI3K-Akt signaling might be an important therapeutic target in treatment of AD.

Propofol Protects against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Down-Regulating Long Noncoding RNA SNHG14

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a serious central nervous system disease. Propofol (PPF) exerts a neuroprotective effect in CI/R injury; the underlying cause is still unclear. Here, we cultured mouse hippocampal neuron (HT22 cells) in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) conditions to mimic CI/R injury in vitro. PPF treatment promoted cell viability and reduced apoptotic cells in the OGD/R-treated HT22 cells, which was effectively abrogated by SNHG14 overexpression. Moreover, we constructed a CI/R injury mouse model on C57BL/6J mice by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R), followed by administration of PPF. PPF reduced neuronal damage and loss, enhanced glial cell hyperplasia, and ameliorated cerebral cortex tissue damage and brain infarct in MCAO/R-induced mice. SNHG14 overexpression aggravated MCAO/R-induced CI/R injury in mice. Furthermore, SNHG14 promoted the expression of Atg5 and Beclin 1 via competitively binding miR-30b-5p, which contributed to activate autophagy and apoptosis in HT22 cells. In addition, the levels of p-p38 and p-SP1 were reduced in the OGD/R-treated HT22 cells in the presence of PPF. SP1 interacted with the promoter of SNHG14 and elevated the expression of SNHG14. PPF treatment inhibited the SP1-mediated up-regulation of SNHG14. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that PPF inhibits SNHG14 expression though the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. SNHG14 promotes Atg5 and Beclin 1 expression by sponging miR-30b-5p and thus activates autophagy and aggravates CI/R injury.

Aagab acts as a novel regulator of NEDD4-1-mediated Pten nuclear translocation to promote neurological recovery following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a main cause of mortality and severe neurologic impairment in the perinatal and neonatal period. However, few satisfactory therapeutic strategies are available. Here, we reported that a rapid nuclear translocation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome TEN (PTEN) is an essential step in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD)- and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neuronal injures both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we found that OGD-induced nuclear translocation of PTEN is dependent on PTEN mono-ubiquitination at the lysine 13 residue (K13) that is mediated by neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4-1 (NEDD4-1). Importantly, we for the first time identified α- and γ-adaptin binding protein (Aagab) as a novel NEDD4-1 regulator to regulate the level of NEDD4-1, subsequently mediating Pten nuclear translocation. Finally, we demonstrated that genetic upregulation of Aagab or application of Tat-K13 peptide (a short interference peptide that flanks K13 residue of PTEN) not only reduced Pten nuclear translocation, but also significantly alleviated the deficits of myodynamia, motor and spatial learning and memory in HIBD model rats. These results suggest that Aagab may serve as a regulator of NEDD4-1-mediated Pten nuclear translocation to promote functional recovery following HIBD in neonatal rats, and provide a new potential therapeutic target to guide the clinical treatment for HIE.

Therapeutic modulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) pathway in cerebral ischemic injury

The cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury may leads to morbidity and mortality in patients. phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway has been believed to work in association with its downstream targets, other receptors, and pathways that may offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effects, neuroprotective role in neuronal excitotoxicity. This review elaborates the mechanistic interventions of the PI3K pathway in cerebral ischemic injury in context to nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulation, Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling (HIF-1), growth factors, Endothelial NOS (eNOS) proinflammatory cytokines, Erythropoietin (EPO), Phosphatase and tensin homologous protein of chromosome 10 gene (PTEN) signaling, NF-κB/Notch signaling, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) signaling pathway. Evidences showing the activation of PI3K inhibits apoptotic pathway, which results in its neuroprotective effect in ischemic injury. Despite discussing the therapeutic role of the PI3K pathway in treating cerebral ischemic injury, the review also enlighten the selective modulation of PI3K pathway with activators and inhibitors which may provide promising results in clinical and preclinical settings.

Ferritin reduction is essential for cerebral ischemia-induced hippocampal neuronal death through p53/SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis

Cerebral ischemia is the most common cause of hippocampal neuronal death and the most prevalent cause of stroke with high mortality rate. Ferroptosis has been suggested to affect the role of hippocampal neurons. This study explores the influence of lentivirus infection-induced ferritin overexpression in hippocampal neuronal injury and death through simulations in August Copenhagen Irish rat models. Twenty-four-hour cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in the rats after 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Ferritin overexpression was induced through lentivirus infection. The Morris Water Maze (MWM) test and tau hyperphosphorylation test were performed on hippocampal neurons to establish a MCAO model. The effect of ferritin overexpression on hippocampal neuronal death was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining and annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry. The MWM test revealed that MCAO modeling decreased the cognitive and locomotor capacity of the rats, whereas ferritin overexpression partially reversed the effect of MCAO. In addition, the hyperphosphorylation of tau caused by MCAO was reduced by ferritin. Pathogenic changes, impaired viability, increased apoptosis, and elevated caspase-9 cleavage in hippocampal neurons were clearly recovered by ferritin. Moreover, robust reactive oxygen species production and glutathione consumption, which was induced by MCAO modeling, were ameliorated by ferritin. Furthermore, two key modulators of ferroptosis, p53 and SLC7A11, were demonstrated to be upregulated by MCAO modeling and downregulated by ferritin. Ferritin reduction is essential for cerebral ischemia-induced hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis mediated via p53 and SLC7A11.

Silencing of miR-302b-3p alleviates isoflurane-induced neuronal injury by regulating PTEN expression and AKT pathway

Isoflurane (ISO) is an anesthesia and can result in neuron injury. A previous study has indicated that microRNA-302b-3p (miR-302b-3p) exerts a crucial function in modulating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion damage-induced neuronal injury. We sought to examine the role of miR-302b-3p in ISO-induced neuronal injury. In the present study, the effects of miR-302b-3p on ISO-induced neuron injury were investigated by MTT and TUNEL assays. We discovered that ISO stimulation led to miR-302b-3p upregulation and neuronal injury. MiR-302b-3p silencing exerted protective effects against ISO induced neuronal injury. In addition, phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) was a direct downstream target gene of miR-302b-3p. MiR-302b-3p targets the 3'UTR of PTEN to inhibit its mRNA expression, and further reduces its protein expression. Silencing of PTEN partially reversed the protecting effects of silenced miR-302b-3p on ISO-induced injury of hippocampal neurons. Further, miR-302b-3p activated the AKT signaling pathway in neurons exposed to ISO by downregulation of PTEN. Finally, in vivo studies revealed that silencing of miR-302b-3p alleviates ISO-induced injury and spatial memory impairment of rats partly by upregulation of PTEN. Overall, our findings indicated that miR-302b-3p targets PTEN to activate the AKT pathway, and silencing of miR-302b-3p plays a neuroprotective role in ISO-induced neuronal injury by the PTEN/AKT pathway, suggesting miR-302b-3p as a crucial target for ISO-induced neuronal injury.

Effects of chrysophanol on hippocampal damage and mitochondrial autophagy in mice with cerebral ischemia reperfusion

OBJECTIVE

The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model is crucial for the study of cerebral stroke. Chrysophanol (Chry) can protect nerve damage of mice in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effects of chrysophanol through mitochondrial autophagy in mice with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult mice were stochastically divided into five groups: sham, I/R (solvent), I/R+Chry (dose, 10.0ml/kg), I/R+Chry (dose, 1.0ml/kg), and I/R+Chry (dose, 0.1ml/kg). The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was made in I/R and I/R+Chry groups. The changes in hippocampal formation were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The expressions of LC3B-II and LC3B-I protein in hippocampus were demonstrated by western blot (WB). The fluorescence intensities of NIX, LC3B, and mitochondria were detected by immunohistochemistry fluorescent (IF).

RESULTS

Comparing with the I/R group, the I/R+Chry groups showed improvements in reducing the damage on the hippocampus, indicated by the reduced ratio of LC3B-II and LC3B-I protein, decreased fluorescence intensity of NIX and LC3B, and increased intensity of mitochondrial fluorescence.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that chrysophanol may regulate mitochondrial autophagy through NIX protein and alleviate the damage of hippocampus through decreasing the level of mitochondrial autophagy.

In-depth transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the hippocampus and cortex in a rat model after cerebral ischemic injury and repair by Shuxuetong (SXT) injection

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of systematic descriptions and characterization of strokes and their effects in both the cerebral hippocampus and cortex. Shuxuetong (SXT) injection was reported to have good therapeutic effects in the clinic; therefore, it was selected as a drug intervention method for cerebral ischemia repair in rat models. The aim of this study was to understand the features of molecules and pathways and to reveal key processes of SXT repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Evaluation of neurological deficit and infarct volume measurement was used to estimate the pharmacological effects of SXT injection on Ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) model rats. LC-MS/MS and RNA-Seq analysis were used to analyze the proteins and mRNA expression in the cerebral hippocampus and cortex 6 h and 24 h after ischemic injury and repair. A label-free approach (IBAQ) for proteomics analysis and FPKM based on gene read count for transcriptomics analysis were used to quantify the differences among the three experimental groups (Sham, Model and SXT-treated groups). Transcriptomics and proteomics analyses were verified by RT-qPCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

By combining LC-MS/MS and RNA-Seq, eight larger datasets (two time points and two tissues) were confidently identified in more than three biological replicates. An average of 4500 unique proteins and 8200 protein-coding genes were confidently identified. By combining the subcellular localization, hierarchical clustering, pathway enrichment analysis in the injury and repair phase, six core proteins and related genes that were significantly expressed were verified as candidates for cerebral ischemic injury by western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. Meanwhile, the results indicated that there was better expression in the 6 h group by significant proteomics analysis during the development and progression of cerebral ischemia. Two primary co-enriched pathways, the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways, and six related core candidates may play key roles in molecular mechanisms related to cerebral ischemic injury and repair by SXT injection.

CONCLUSION

Our data not only identified six core candidates and two key signaling pathways for cerebral ischemic injury and verification but also provided evidence for the explanation, prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia by SXT injection. The results of the present study provide evidence for the explanation, prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia by SXT injection.

Multiple protein and mRNA expression correlations in the rat cerebral cortex after ischemic injury and repair due to buchang naoxintong jiaonang (BNJ) intervention

Stroke is the one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Systematic description and characterization of the types of stroke and the effects induced in the cerebral cortex have not been performed so far. Here, we analyzed the protein and mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex12 h after ischemic injury and repair. Drug intervention using Buchang Naoxintong Jiaonang (BNJ), which has been reported to have good clinical therapeutic effects, was selected for our study of cerebral ischemic repair in rat models. Two powerful techniques can be merged in a single study to examine and yield new perspectives in physiology and pathophysiology. Combining LC-MS/MS and DNA microarray analyses of the rat cerebral cortex confidently identified two large datasets in more than three biological replicates. Quantitative approaches were then used to quantify the differences among the four experimental groups the naive, sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion MCAO and MCAO + BNJ groups by a label-free proteomics approach and a Cy5-labeled microarray approach. In brief, 3217 unique proteins and 24,300 unique gene symbols were confidently identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that of these unique proteins and gene symbols, 269 proteins and 632 gene symbols were identified to be differentially expressed. The results of subcellular localization, hierarchical clustering, and pathway enrichment analyses were combined with the results of the injury and repair phase analyses, and twelve proteins and twenty-seven gene symbols were significantly differentially expressed and were identified as potential candidates for cerebral ischemic injury involvement; all the candidates were verified by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The primary enriched MAPK signaling pathway may play a key role in the molecular mechanisms related to cerebral ischemic injury. The observations of the present study help to illuminate the regulatory mechanism of cerebral ischemic injury and repair due to BNJ intervention.

The Role of Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway and Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway in Cerebral Ischemia

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and autophagy-lysosome pathway are two major routes for clearance of aberrant cellular components to maintain protein homeostasis and normal cellular functions. Accumulating evidence shows that these two pathways are impaired during cerebral ischemia, which contributes to ischemic-induced neuronal necrosis and apoptosis. This review aims to critically discuss current knowledge and controversies on these two pathways in response to cerebral ischemic stress. We also discuss molecular mechanisms underlying the impairments of these protein degradation pathways and how such impairments lead to neuronal damage after cerebral ischemia. Further, we review the recent advance on the understanding of the involvement of these two pathways in the pathological process during many therapeutic approaches against cerebral ischemia. Despite recent advances, the exact role and molecular mechanisms of these two pathways following cerebral ischemia are complex and not completely understood, of which better understanding will provide avenues to develop novel therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke.

MicroRNA‑214 suppresses propofol‑induced neuroapoptosis through activation of phosphoinositide 3‑kinase/protein kinase B signaling by targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog expression

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of microRNA (miR)‑214 on neuroapoptosis induced by propofol and the possible mechanism of its anti‑apoptotic effects. Initially, it was observed that miR‑214 expression was upregulated in propofol‑induced neuroapoptosis rats. Next, propofol‑treated nerve cells were transfected with miR‑214 mimics. The results revealed that miR‑214 overexpression induced apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, inhibited cyclin D1 protein expression, promoted caspase‑3 activity and B‑cell lymphoma 2‑associated X protein expression, and enhanced the levels of inflammation factors in nerve cells treated with propofol. In addition, miR‑214 overexpression suppressed phosphoinositide 3‑kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling by targeting the activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and nuclear factor‑κB expression in nerve cells treated with propofol. Treatment with a PTEN inhibitor successfully suppressed the PTEN protein expression and decreased the apoptosis of propofol‑treated nerve cells subsequent to miR‑214 overexpression through PI3K/Akt signaling. In conclusion, the present study data revealed that miR‑214 suppressed propofol‑induced neuroapoptosis through the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling by targeting PTEN expression.

Validation and bioinformatic analysis of propofol-induced differentially expressed microRNAs in primary cultured neural stem cells

Propofol, a widely used intravenous anesthetic, was previously considered as a neuroprotective agent. Recently, however, accumulating evidence suggests that it may cause neurotoxicity, especially in the development of neural stem cells (NSCs). The potential mechanisms contributing to propofol-induced neurotoxicity during neurogenesis, such as those involving microRNAs (miRNAs), are still unknown. In this study, a total of 27 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in our initial screen and 6 miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. Three miRNAs were up-regulated (miR-377-5p, miR-194-3p and miR-143-5p), and three were down-regulated (miR-3583-3p, miR-466b-5p and miR-410-5p). Following gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, Gabbr1, Canca1b and Gabbr2, which are enriched in the GABAergic synapse pathway, were selected as genes potentially playing a role in propofol-induced neurotoxicity. Gabbr1 and Cacna1b, which are targeted by miRNAs that are up-regulated following propofol exposure, showed decreased expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Gabbr2, targeted by miRNAs that were down-regulated following treatment with propofol, was up-regulated at both the levels of mRNA and protein expression. The two clusters of miRNAs that show differential expression following propofol exposure may act in a synergistic manner to regulate several genes simultaneously during the development of NSCs. Our results may contribute to clarify the molecular mechanism and provide potential therapeutic targets for propofol induced neurotoxicity.

Propofol Protects Hippocampal Neurons from Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Injury by Decreasing Calcineurin-Induced Calcium Overload and Activating YAP Signaling

Objectives

Propofol is a popular anesthetic drug that is neuroprotective. However, the mechanisms of propofol for hippocampal neuroprotection remain elusive. This study is aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of propofol in hippocampal neurons exposed to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods

Hypoxia-reoxygenated (H/R) HT-22 cells were used to mimic I/R injury of the hippocampus in vitro. An MTT assay was used to determine cell viability. Cell apoptosis was detected by a TUNEL assay and a flow cytometry cell apoptosis assay. Expression levels of proteins were measured by Western blotting. Intracellular calcium was assessed by Fura-2/AM staining. Flow cytometry was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Coimmunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the stability of the FKBP-RyR complex. Calcineurin enzymatic activity was measured with a colorimetric method. YAP nuclear translocation was tested by immunofluorescence staining.

Results

H/R induced HT-22 cell viability depression, and apoptosis was reversed by propofol treatment. Propofol could alleviate H/R-induced intracellular calcium accumulation and MMP loss by inhibiting calcineurin activity and FKBP12.6-RyR disassociation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, YAP expression was crucial for propofol to protect HT-22 cell apoptosis from H/R injury. Propofol could activate YAP through dephosphorylation. Activated YAP stimulated the transcription of the Bcl2 gene, which promotes cellular survival. Our data also demonstrated that propofol activated YAP through the RhoA-Lats1 pathway without large G proteins or MST involvement. In addition, we showed that there was no interaction between calcineurin signaling and YAP activation in HT-22 cells.

Conclusions

Propofol protected hippocampal neurons from I/R injury through two independent signaling pathways, including the calcineurin/FKBP12.6-RyR/calcium overload pathway and the RhoA/Lats1/YAP/Bcl-2 pathway.

Pure mechanistic analysis of additive neuroprotective effects between baicalin and jasminoidin in ischemic stroke mice

Both baicalin (BA) and jasminoidin (JA) are active ingredients in Chinese herb medicine Scutellaria baicalensis and Fructus gardeniae, respectively. They have been shown to exert additive neuroprotective action in ischemic stroke models. In this study we used transcriptome analysis to explore the pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA, JA and their combination (BJ) contributing to phenotype variation and reversal of pathological processes. Mice with middle cerebral artery obstruction were treated with BA, JA, their combination (BJ), or concha margaritifera (CM). Cerebral infarct volume was examined to determine the effect of these compounds on phenotype. Using the hippocampus microarray and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software, we exacted the differentially expressed genes, networks, pathways, and functions in positive-phenotype groups (BA, JA and BJ) by comparing with the negative-phenotype group (CM). In the BA, JA, and BJ groups, a total of 7, 4, and 11 specific target molecules, 1, 1, and 4 networks, 51, 59, and 18 canonical pathways and 70, 53, and 64 biological functions, respectively, were identified. Pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA and JA were mainly overlapped in specific target molecules, functions and pathways, which were related to the nervous system, inflammation and immune response. The specific mechanisms of BA and JA were associated with apoptosis and cancer-related signaling and endocrine and hormone regulation, respectively. In the BJ group, novel target profiles distinct from mono-therapies were revealed, including 11 specific target molecules, 10 functions, and 10 pathways, the majority of which were related to a virus-mediated immune response. The pure additive effects between BA and JA were based on enhanced action in virus-mediated immune response. This pure mechanistic analysis may provide a clearer outline of the target profiles of multi-target compounds and combination therapies.

Postnatal calpain inhibition elicits cerebellar cell death and motor dysfunction

Calpain-1 deletion elicits neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ataxia. However, the function of calpain in postnatal neurodevelopment and its mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we revealed that postnatal intraperitoneal injection of various calpain inhibitors attenuated cerebellar cytosolic calpain activity. Moreover, postnatal application of calpeptin (2 mg/kg) apparently reduced spectrin breakdown, promoted suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian oscillatory protein (SCOP) accumulation in cerebellar tissue. In addition, application of calpeptin decreased phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) level (p<0.05), as well as total AKT level (p<0.05). We also evidenced that administration of calpeptin obviously increased phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTor) (p<0.01). Apoptosis of granular cells and activation of caspase-3 (p<0.01) were facilitated after calpain inhibition. Importantly, cell numbers of granular cells were reduced and motor function was remarkably impaired in 4-month-old rats receiving postnatal calpain inhibition. Taken together, our data implicated that calpain activity in the postnatal period was critical for the cerebellar development. Postnatal calpain inhibition causes cerebellar granular cell apoptosis and motor dysfunction, likely through SCOP/AKT and p-mTor signaling pathways.

Effects of reduced β2 glycoprotein I on high glucose‑induced cell death in HUVECs

Reduced β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) has been demonstrated to exhibit a beneficial effect in diabetic atherosclerosis and retinal neovascularization. However, the effect of reduced β2GPI on vascular disorders in diabetic mellitus (DM) remains to be elucidated. The present study established a high glucose‑induced injury model using human umbilical cords veins (HUVECs) and evaluated the protective effects of reduced β2GPI against the injury. The data demonstrated that a low concentration of reduced β2GPI (0.5 µM) mitigated high glucose‑induced cell loss, decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and resulted in calcium overloading. Mechanically, reduced β2GPI additionally reversed high glucose‑induced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) accumulation, decrease of protein kinase B phosphorylation and nitric oxide synthase activity, and increase of cyclooxygenase‑2 activity. It was further confirmed that PTEN inhibitor‑bpV (1 µM) exhibited similar effects to those resulting from reduced β2GPI. Overall, the data revealed that reduced β2GPI exerts protective effects from glucose‑induced injury in HUVECs, potentially via decreasing PTEN levels. The present study suggests reduced β2GPI may act as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of vascular disorders in DM.

In-Depth Proteomic Analysis of the Hippocampus in a Rat Model after Cerebral Ischaemic Injury and Repair by Danhong Injection (DHI)

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide. A systematic description and characterization of the strokes and the effects induced in the hippocampus have not been performed so far. Here, we analysed the protein expression in the hippocampus 24 h after cerebral ischaemic injury and repair. Drug intervention using Danhong injection (DHI), which has been reported to have good therapeutic effects in a clinical setting, was selected for our study of cerebral ischaemia repair in rat models. A larger proteome dataset and total 4091 unique proteins were confidently identified in three biological replicates by combining tissue extraction for rat hippocampus and LC-MS/MS analysis. A label-free approach was then used to quantify the differences among the four experimental groups (Naive, Sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and MCAO + DHI groups) and showed that about 2500 proteins on average were quantified in each of the experiment group. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that in total 280 unique proteins identified above were differentially expressed (P < 0.05). By combining the subcellular localization, hierarchical clustering and pathway information with the results from injury and repair phase, 12 significant expressed proteins were chosen and verified with respect to their potential as candidates for cerebral ischaemic injury by Western blot. The primary three signalling pathways of the candidates related may be involved in molecular mechanisms related to cerebral ischaemic injury. In addition, a glycogen synthase kinase-3β (Gsk-3β) inhibitor of the candidates with the best corresponding expression trends between western blotting (WB) and label-free quantitative results were chosen for further validation. The results of Western blot analysis of protein expression and 2,3,5- chloride three phenyl tetrazole (TTC) staining of rat brains showed that DHI treatment and Gsk-3β inhibitor are both able to confer protection against ischaemic injury in rat MCAO model. The observations of the present study provide a novel understanding regarding the regulatory mechanism of cerebral ischaemic injury.