Ropivacaine regulates the expression and function of heme oxygenase-1

Paresthesia in dentistry: The ignored neurotoxicity of local anesthetics

Local anesthetics are frequently used by dentists to relieve localized discomfort of the patient and improve treatment conditions. The risk of paresthesia after local anesthesia is frequently encountered in dental clinics. The neurotoxicity of local anesthetics is a disregarded factor in paresthesia. The review summarizes the types of common local anesthetics, incidence and influencing factors of paresthesia after local anesthesia, and systematically describes the neurotoxicity mechanisms of dental local anesthetic. Innovative strategies may be developed to lessen the neurotoxicity and prevent paresthesia following local anesthesia with the support of a substantial understanding of paresthesia and neurotoxicity.

Activation of NR1H3 signaling pathways by psoralidin attenuates septic myocardial injury

Sepsis can cause various organ dysfunction, which heart failure may be associated with significant mortality. Psoralidin (PSO), one of the main bioactive compounds from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L, exhibits remarkable protective effects in diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, and depression. Recently, NR1H3 is one of the emerging nuclear receptors targets for the various drugs. This study first reported the role of PSO in septic myocardial injury, which was mainly attributed to the NR1H3-dependent manner. NR1H3 knockout mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were used to investigate the involvement of NR1H3 in PSO protection evaluate. Our results showed that PSO prominently improved cardiac function, blood routine and blood biochemistry, attenuated inflammation, inhibited oxidative stress, improved mitochondrial function, regulated ERS, suppressed apoptosis, and increased NR1H3 and p-AMPK levels. However, NR1H3 knockout reversed the positive role of PSO in septic mice. Furthermore, activation of NR1H3 by T0901317 also increased the activity of AMPK and ACC in the HL-1 cardiomyocytes, indicating the regulatory relationship between NR1H3 and AMPK signaling. This study first demonstrated the beneficial effect of PSO in septic myocardial injury through activation of NR1H3/AMPK pathway.

Curcumin alleviates ketamine-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats' cerebral cortex and hippocampus

AIMS

To investigate curcumin's protective effect on nerve damage caused by ketamine anesthesia via the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Rats and PC12 cells were used in this experiment to investigate the mechanism of nerve injury caused by ketamine anesthesia. Furthermore, our findings suggest that curcumin may affect oxidative stress and apoptosis by targeting the Nrf2 pathway, thereby alleviating the nerve injury caused by ketamine.

METHODS

The rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus were stained with Nissl and immunohistochemistry to determine the number of neurons and the expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax. CCK-8 assay was used to determine the optimal concentration of ketamine, curcumin, and H₂ O₂ in PC12 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect changes in reactive oxygen species and the rate of apoptosis in each group. To determine whether Nrf2 entered the nucleus, immunofluorescence was used. Both tissues and cells were subjected to RT-PCR and Western blotting detection at the same time. The levels of oxidative stress were determined using a malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay kit.

RESULTS

Ketamine reduced the number of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of rats. The proteins Bax and Caspase-3 were upregulated, while Bcl-2 was down-regulated in the cortex and hippocampus. The viability of PC12 cells has decreased. MDA content increased while SOD activity decreased in cortex, hippocampus, and PC12 cells. Ketamine had an effect on the expression of some genes in the Nrf2 signaling pathway as well as apoptosis. Curcumin pretreatment may be able to prevent ketamine-induced damage.

CONCLUSIONS

The oxidative stress and apoptosis caused by ketamine during growth of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and PC12 cells may be decreased by curcumin's activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Our research provides a potential strategy for the secure administration of anesthetics in medical settings.

Dexmedetomidine protects against Ropivacaine-induced neuronal pyroptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been demonstrated to protect against ropivacaine (Ropi)-induced neuronal damages. This study was conducted to explore the protective role of DEX in Ropi-induced neuronal pyroptosis and provide a strategy to eliminate Ropi-induced neurotoxicity. The impacts of different concentrations of Ropi and DEX on neurotoxicity in SK-N-SH cells were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay and lactic dehydrogenase assay kits. Levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), cleaved Caspase-1, cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The Nrf2 level after nuclear/cytoplasmic separation was quantified. SK-N-SH cells were treated with si-Nrf2, Nigericin (NLRP3 activator), and Zinc Protoporphyrin (HO-1 inhibitor) to validate the mechanism. Ropi reduced SK-N-SH cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. DEX treatment alleviated Ropi-induced toxicity and inhibited pyroptosis. Ropi increased the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, and DEX further enhanced the increases and promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Nrf2/HO-1 inhibition or NLRP3 activation both neutralized the inhibitory role of DEX in Ropi-induced pyroptosis of SK-N-SH cells. Overall, DEX promoted the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to inhibit NLRP3 expression, thus alleviating Ropi-induced neuronal pyroptosis.

Pentagalloylglucose reduces AGE-induced inflammation by activating Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in mesangial cells

Pentagalloylglucose (PGG), a gallotannin polyphenolic compound, has been found to possess a host of beneficial pharmacologic activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. We previously demonstrated that PGG is capable of binding to the cell membrane of renal mesangial cells, but the pharmacological effect of PGG on diabetic renal injury and the underlying mechanisms are still not yet clear. In this study, the effects of PGG on Nrf2/HO-1 and JAK2/STAT3 signaling were explored in AGE-stimulated mesangial cells. Furthermore, the Nrf2 transcriptional inhibitor ML385 was used to verify the involvement of Nrf2 in the PGG-mediated inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 cascade. Our results showed that PGG significantly inhibited AGE-induced ROS generation and activated AGE-inhibited Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Moreover, AGE-induced inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and their signaling through JAK2/STAT3 were blocked by PGG. Furthermore, ML385 suppressed Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, elevated ROS and cytokine production, and activated JAK2/STAT3 cascade were reversed by PGG. These findings indicate that PGG inhibits the JAK2/STAT3 cascade by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.