Upregulation of Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Expression Following Chronic Paracetamol Treatment in Astrocyte

Neuroinflammation of traumatic brain injury: Roles of extracellular vesicles

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of neurological disorder or death, with a heavy burden on individuals and families. While sustained primary insult leads to damage, subsequent secondary events are considered key pathophysiological characteristics post-TBI, and the inflammatory response is a prominent contributor to the secondary cascade. Neuroinflammation is a multifaceted physiological response and exerts both positive and negative effects on TBI. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), as messengers for intercellular communication, are involved in biological and pathological processes in central nervous system (CNS) diseases and injuries. The number and characteristics of EVs and their cargo in the CNS and peripheral circulation undergo tremendous changes in response to TBI, and these EVs regulate neuroinflammatory reactions by activating prominent receptors on receptor cells or delivering pro- or anti-inflammatory cargo to receptor cells. The purpose of this review is to discuss the possible neuroinflammatory mechanisms of EVs and loading in the context of TBI. Furthermore, we summarize the potential role of diverse types of cell-derived EVs in inflammation following TBI.

Novel cyclic C5-curcuminoids penetrating the blood-brain barrier: Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity against astrocytoma and neuroblastoma cells

Novel series of cyclic C₅-curcuminoids 17a-j and 19-22 were prepared as cytotoxic agents and evaluated against human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) or human grade IV astrocytoma (CCF-STTG1) cell lines in low (∼0.1 nM - 10 nM) concentrations. Among the tested 21 derivatives, 16 displayed potent antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar to picomolar range (IC₅₀ = 7.483-0.139 nM). Highly active compounds like N-monocarboxylic derivative 19b with IC₅₀ = 0.139 nM value against neuroblastoma and N-alkyl substituted 11 with IC₅₀ = 0.257 nM against astrocytoma proved some degree of selectivity toward non-cancerous astrocytes and kidney cells. This potent anticancer activity did not show a strong correlation with experimental logP_TLC values, but the most potent antiproliferative molecules 11-13 and 19-22 are belonging to discrete subgroups of the cyclic C₅-curcuminoids. Compounds 12, 17c and 19b were subjected to blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration studies, too. The BBB was revealed to be permeable for all of them but, as the apparent permeability coefficient (P_app) values mirrored, in different ratios. Lower toxicity of 12, 17c and 19b was observed toward primary rat brain endothelial cells of the BBB model, which means they remained undamaged under 10 µM concentrations. Penetration depends, at least in part, on albumin binding of 12, 17c and 19b and the presence of monocarboxylic acid transporters in the case of 19b. Permeation through the BBB and albumin binding, we described here, is the first example of cyclic C₅-curcuminoids as to our knowledge.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Vicenin-2 on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Vicenin-2 on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6J mice by administration of 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. In addition to DSS, Vicenin-2 (50 mg kg^-1 /day^-1 ) was administrated orally to the test group. The ulceration extent and severity were assessed macroscopically, histopathologically, and by disease activity index. The Vicenin-2 treated group showed significant differences in physiological parameters including bodyweight, colon weight, and colon length, compared to DSS-induced colitis group. In addition, Vicenin-2 treatment effectively reduced stool consistency and bleeding scores. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and specific key inflammatory markers (iNOS and COX-2) significantly increased in DSS-induced colitis colon tissues. However, administration of Vicenin-2 effectively reduced the MPO activity, attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and key inflammatory markers, in DSS-induced colitis mice. These results were comparable with sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug used routinely for ulcerative colitis (UC). These findings suggest that Vicenin-2 effectively suppresses DSS-induced colitis by attenuating expressions of key inflammatory mediators and found to be an attractive therapeutic drug for treating UC.