Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) alleviates apoptosis and autophagy of neural stem cells induced by heat stress via p38 MAPK/MK2/Hsp27-78 signaling pathway

Ascorbic acid mitigates the impact of oxidative stress in a human model of febrile seizure and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Prolonged febrile seizures (FS) in children are linked to the development of temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The association between these two pathologies may be ascribed to the long-term effects that FS exert on neural stem cells, negatively affecting the generation of new neurons. Among the insults associated with FS, oxidative stress is noteworthy. Here, we investigated the consequences of exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells (iNSCs) model of a patient affected by FS and MTLE. In our study, we compare the findings from the MTLE patient with those derived from iNSCs of a sibling exhibiting a milder phenotype defined only by FS, as well as a healthy individual. In response to H2O2 treatment, iNSCs derived from MTLE patients demonstrated an elevated production of reactive oxygen species and increased apoptosis, despite the higher expression levels of antioxidant genes and proteins compared to other cell lines analysed. Among the potential causative mechanisms of enhanced vulnerability of MTLE patient iNSCs to oxidative stress, we found that these cells express low levels of the heat shock protein HSPB1 and of the autophagy adaptor SQSTM1/p62. Pre-treatment of diseased iNSCs with the antioxidant molecule ascorbic acid restored HSBP1 and p62 expression and simultaneously reduced the levels of ROS and apoptosis. Our findings suggest the potential for rescuing the impaired oxidative stress response in diseased iNSCs through antioxidant treatment, offering a promising mechanism to prevent FS degeneration in MTLE.

p38 MAPK involvement in the thermal stress response occurs via HSP27 and caspase3 in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is a multifunctional molecule that is involved in cellular response to various stressful stimuli. In the present study, the full-length cDNA sequence of p38 MAPK (Lcp38 MAPK) was identified from the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea, which encoded a polypeptide of 361 amino acid residues. The predicted Lcp38 MAPK protein contained a highly conserved Thr-Gly-Tyr (TGY) motif, a glutamate and aspartate (ED) site, a substrate binding site (Ala-Thr-Arg-Trp < ATRW>), and a serine/threonine kinase catalytic (S_TKc) domain characteristic of the MAPK family. The constitutive expression of Lcp38 MAPK was detected in most of the tissues examined with the strongest expression in intestine. Subcellular localization in LCK cells (kidney cell line from a L. crocea) revealed that Lcp38 MAPK existed in both the cytoplasm and cell nucleus. The expression of Lcp38 MAPK after temperature stress was tested in LCK cells. The results indicated that Lcp38 MAPK transcripts were significantly upregulated under both cold (10 °C) and heat stress (35 °C) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK as well the transcriptional levels of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and caspase3 in LCK cells were significantly induced under thermal exposure (P < 0.05). However, the cold- and heat induced HSP27 and caspase3 expression was significantly suppressed by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38-MAPK (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that Lcp38 MAPK might be involved in the cellular stress response via HSP27 and caspase3 in large yellow croaker.

Xuebijing Injection Attenuates Heat Stroke-Induced Brain Injury through Oxidative Stress Blockage and Parthanatos Modulation via PARP-1/AIF Signaling

Heat stroke (HS) is a potentially fatal acute condition caused by an interplay of complex events including inflammation, endothelial injury, and coagulation abnormalities that make its pharmacological treatment a challenging problem. The traditional Chinese medicine Xuebijing injection (XBJ) has been shown to reduce inflammatory responses and prevent organ injuries in HS-induced mice. However, the underlying mechanism of XBJ in HS-induced brain injury remains unclear. In this study, HS-induced rat models and cell models were established to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of XBJ injection on HS-induced brain injury in vivo and in vitro. The results revealed that XBJ injection improved the survival outcome of HS rats and attenuated HS-induced brain injury in a concentration-dependent manner. Subsequently, the reduction in viability and proliferation of neurons induced by HS were reversed by XBJ treatment, while the HS-induced increased ROS levels and neuron death were also inhibited by XBJ injection. Mechanistically, HS activated PARP-1/AIF signaling in vitro and in vivo, inducing the translocation of AIF from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, leading to PARP-1-dependent cell death of neurons. Additionally, we compared XBJ injection effects in young and old age rats. Results showed that XBJ also provided protective effects in HS-induced brain injury in aging rats; however, the treatment efficacy of XBJ injection at the same concentration was more significant in the young age rats. In conclusion, XBJ injection attenuates HS-induced brain injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and Parthanatos via the PARP-1/AIF signaling, which might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HS treatment.

Platelet-activating factor receptor antagonists of natural origin for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review of current evidence

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a common cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. Recent trials of platelet-activating factor receptor antagonists (PAFRA) appeared to indicate that they could play a neuroprotective role in the treatment of AIS; therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of PAFRA in patients with AIS.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in seven electronic databases from inception to 11 March 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which patients were treated with PAFRA strategies within 7 days of stroke onset were included. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was selected as the primary outcome of this systematic review. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed based on the Cochrane Collaborations tool. The review protocol was previously registered (PROSPERO CRD42020182075).

Results: Fifteen RCTs comprising a total of 3,907 participants were included in this study. The PAFRA-related compounds included natural preparations of terpenoids, flavonoids, and saponins, namely, ginkgo endoterpene diester meglumine (GEDM, seven RCTs), ginkgo biloba dropping pill (GBDP, one RCT), ginkgolide injection (GDI, four RCTs), hesperidin (HES, one RCT), ginsenoside Rd injection (GSRI, one RCT), and hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA, one RCT). All studies were conducted in China between 2017 and 2021, employing a two-arm parallel design with sample sizes ranging from 40 to 1,113. Eight studies (53.3%) provided no information on their method of randomization, and only two studies (13.3%) utilized the double-blind design. Treatment was associated with improved clinical outcomes for (1) GEDM, GDI, and GBDP in patients treated with conventional treatment (CM) [GEDM + CM for AIS on mRS: MD_mRS = −0.42, 95% CI (−0.47, −0.37), five trials, p < 0.00001; GEDM + CM for AIS on NIHSS: MD_NIHSS = −1.02, 95% CI (−1.51, −0.52), four trials, p < 0.0001]; (2) GEDM and GDI in patients treated with neuroprotective agent (NPA) [GEDM + NPA + CM for AIS on mRS: MD_mRS = −0.40, 95% CI (−0.54, −0.26), p < 0.00001; GEDM + NPA + CM for AIS on NIHSS: MD_NIHSS = −3.93, 95%CI (−7.72, −0.14), p = 0.04]; (3) GBDP in patients treated with CM; (4) GDI and GSRI in patients treated with IV rt-PA therapy (IVT); and (5) HSYA in patients compared with Dengzhan Xixin injection (DZXXI). No access to improved clinical outcome was associated with HES in patients treated with IVT. Seven RCTs reported adverse events (AEs) but found that taking PAFRA-related preparations was not associated with an increased incidence of AEs.

Conclusions: This systematic review not only makes an important contribution to the existing body of current evidence but also lays a well-conducted basis for providing opinions and recommendation on the evaluation of PAFRA-based medicine, which could also highlight the need for well-designed clinical trials of PAFRA for AIS to increase the quality of available evidence. Further research is required, using standardized functional outcome measures for AIS, adequate blinding and suitable comparator groups reflecting current best practice.

The combination of HT-ac and HBET improves the cognitive and learning abilities of heat-stressed mice by maintaining mitochondrial function through the PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway

The aim was to investigate whether the combination of hydroxytyrosol acetate (HT-ac) and ethyl β-hydroxybutyrate (HBET) can improve the cognition of heat-stressed mice, meanwhile exploring the mechanism of action. Mice were divided into 5 groups: control, heat-stressed, HT-ac, HBET, and HT-ac + HBET. Mice were gavaged for 21 days and exposed to heat (42.5 ± 0.5 °C, RH 60 ± 10%, 1 h day^-1) on days 15-21, except for the control group. Results showed that the combination of HT-ac + HBET improved the cognitive and learning abilities of heat-stressed mice, which were tested by Morris water maze, shuttle box, and jumping stage tests. The combination of HT-ac + HBET maintained the integrity of neurons and mitochondria of heat-stressed mice. Likewise, this combination increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, the ATP content, the expression of phosphorylated PKA, BDNF, phosphorylated CREB and Bcl-2, and decreased the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and intracytoplasmic Cyt C in heat-stressed mice.

Protective Effects and Potential Mechanisms of Dietary Resveratrol Supplementation on the Spleen of Broilers Under Heat Stress

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenolic compound with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of RSV supplementation on the inflammatory responses of broilers during heat stress. A total of 432 28-d-old white-feathered broilers (817 crossbred chicken) with an average weight of 549 ± 4 g were randomly allotted to 4 equal groups (Half male and half female, 6 replicates/group, 18 chickens/replicate), including normal temperature (NT) group (24 ± 2°C for 24 h/d, basal diet), NT+RSV group (24 ± 2°C for 24 h/d, basal diet + RSV), heat stress (HT) group (37 ± 2°C for 8 h/d, basal diet), and HT+RSV group (37 ± 2°C for 8 h/d, basal diet + RSV). Serum samples were collected on d 7 and 14 of heat stress, and thymus, spleen, jejunum, and bursa of Fabricius samples were collected and analyzed on d14. RSV treatment decreased the feed conversion ratio, partially reversed the negative alternations in body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake caused by heat stress. RSV treatment also decreased the elevated levels of corticosterone on d 14, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and triiodothyronine in serum on d 7 caused by heat stress, and significantly increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum on d 14. Dietary RSV also reduced heat stress-induced splenic pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations. TUNEL assay showed that RSV significantly reduced heat stress-induced the number of apoptotic cells. Remarkably, RSV down-regulated some splenic related genes for apoptosis genes, including BCL-2, Apaf-1, and MDM2 mRNA levels induced by heat stress. According to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, the differential genes between HT and HT + RSV groups were mainly associated with immune system process, hematopoietic or lymphoid organ development, and toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The relative mRNA expression of NF-κB, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and p38 MAPK were markedly decreased by the combination of RSV and heat stress. These findings showed that RSV might reduce the splenic inflammatory response in heat-stressed white-feather broilers by inhibiting heat stress-induced activation of NF-B, MAPK, and HSP70, as well as inhibiting the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.

Hydroxysafflor yellow A protects against ulcerative colitis via suppressing TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Hydroxysafflower yellow A (HSYA) protects against acute kidney injury through TLR4/NF-κB pathway. However, the effect and potential mechanism of HSYA in ulcerative colitis (UC) have been rarely reported, which is thus investigated in this research. An in vivo UC model was established by oral administration of 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in Sprague-Dawley rats. After HSYA treatment, the daily body weight and colon length of rats were measured. Then rat colon tissues, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were examined by histopathological examination (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. The activated TLR4/NF-κB pathway was detected by Western blot. RAW 264.7 cell viability was detected by MTT assay after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, and ELISA and Western blot were performed again to investigate the effects of HSYA on LPS-treated cells. DSS administration increased body weight and colon length of rats and induced colon tissue injury. DSS or LPS treatment up-regulated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and activated TLR4/NF-κB pathway of colon tissues and cells, respectively. HSYA partially reversed the above effect of DSS and LPS treatment, and the effects of the drug were improved with the dosage. Taken together, HSYA alleviates UC by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which may provide a new insight for the treatment of UC.

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Blocks HIF-1α Induction of NOX2 and Protects ZO-1 Protein in Cerebral Microvascular Endothelium

Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) is a tight junction protein in the cerebrovascular endothelium, responsible for blood–brain barrier function. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is a major ingredient of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) with antioxidative activity. This study investigated whether HSYA protected ZO-1 by targeting ROS-generating NADPH oxidases (NOXs). HSYA administration reduced cerebral vascular leakage with ZO-1 protection in mice after photothrombotic stroke, largely due to suppression of ROS-associated inflammation. In LPS-stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cells, HSYA increased the ratio of NAD⁺/NADH to restore Sirt1 induction, which bound to Von Hippel–Lindau to promote HIF-1αdegradation. NOX2 was the predominant isoform of NOXs in endothelial cells and HIF-1α transcriptionally upregulated p47phox and Nox2 subunits for the assembly of the NOX2 complex, but the signaling cascades were blocked by HSYA via HIF-1α inactivation. When oxidate stress impaired ZO-1 protein, HSYA attenuated carbonyl modification and prevented ZO-1 protein from 20S proteasomal degradation, eventually protecting endothelial integrity. In microvascular ZO-1 deficient mice, we further confirmed that HSYA protected cerebrovascular integrity and attenuated ischemic injury in a manner that was dependent on ZO-1 protection. HSYA blocked HIF-1α/NOX2 signaling cascades to protect ZO-1 stability, suggestive of a potential therapeutic strategy against ischemic brain injury.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Targeting Heat Shock Proteins as Therapeutic Strategy for Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of multifarious heart diseases and is responsible for high hospitalization rates and mortality. Pathophysiological mechanisms of HF include cardiac hypertrophy, remodeling and fibrosis resulting from cell death, inflammation and oxidative stress. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) can ameliorate folding of proteins, maintain protein structure and stability upon stress, protect the heart from cardiac dysfunction and ameliorate apoptosis. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulates expression of HSPs and has beneficial therapeutic effect in HF. In this review, we summarized the function of HSPs in HF and the role of TCM in regulating expression of HSPs. Studying the regulation of HSPs by TCM will provide novel ideas for the study of the mechanism and treatment of HF.

miR‑3613‑3p/MAP3K2/p38/caspase‑3 pathway regulates the heat‑stress‑induced apoptosis of endothelial cells

Previous studies have identified microRNA (miRNA/miR)-3613-3p as a heat stress (HS)-related miRNA in endothelial cells that can lead to apoptosis. However, the mechanism underlying the miR-3613-3p-mediated apoptosis of HS-exposed endothelial cells remains unclear. In the present study, western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were used to determine protein and miRNA expression levels, respectively. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, caspase-3 activity measurements and DNA fragmentation assays were performed to detect apoptosis. To evaluate whether mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) was a direct target of miR-3613-3p, a luciferase reporter assay was performed. In addition, transient transfection was used to carry out loss- and gain-of-function experiments. The results revealed that miR-3613-3p expression was reduced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) following HS, which led to apoptosis. Mechanistically, following HS, a decrease in miR-3613-3p binding to the 3′-untranslated region of MAP3K2 directly upregulated its expression, and the downstream p38 and caspase-3 pathways, thereby leading to apoptosis. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that HS suppressed miR-3613-3p expression, which activated the MAP3K2/p38/caspase-3 pathway, leading to the apoptosis of HUVECs. In conclusion, the miR-3613-3p/MAP3K2/p38/caspase-3 pathway may serve an indispensable role in regulating the progression of apoptosis, indicating a regulatory role of miR-3613-3p in the pathophysiology of HS-exposed endothelial cells.

Role of Herbal Teas in Regulating Cellular Homeostasis and Autophagy and Their Implications in Regulating Overall Health

Tea is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages worldwide, and possesses numerous potential health benefits. Herbal teas are well-known to contain an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants and other ingredients, thereby implicating protection and treatment against various ailments, and maintaining overall health in humans, although their mechanisms of action have not yet been fully identified. Autophagy is a conserved mechanism present in organisms that maintains basal cellular homeostasis and is essential in mediating the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer, type II diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. The increasing prevalence of these diseases, which could be attributed to the imbalance in the level of autophagy, presents a considerable challenge in the healthcare industry. Natural medicine stands as an effective, safe, and economical alternative in balancing autophagy and maintaining homeostasis. Tea is a part of the diet for many people, and it could mediate autophagy as well. Here, we aim to provide an updated overview of popular herbal teas’ health-promoting and disease healing properties and in-depth information on their relation to autophagy and its related signaling molecules. The present review sheds more light on the significance of herbal teas in regulating autophagy, thereby improving overall health.

Bioactive Substances in Safflower Flowers and Their Applicability in Medicine and Health-Promoting Foods

Safflower flowers (Carthamus tinctorius) contain many natural substances with a wide range of economic uses. The most famous dye isolated from flower petals is hydroxysafflor A (HSYA), which has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This review is aimed at updating the state of knowledge about their applicability in oncology, pulmonology, cardiology, gynecology, dermatology, gastrology, immunology, and suitability in the treatment of obesity and diabetes and its consequences with information published mainly in 2018-2020. They were also effective in treating obesity and diabetes and its consequences. The issues related to the possibilities of using HSYA in the production of health-promoting food were also analyzed.

Genome-wide identification and functional prediction of long non-coding RNAs in Sprague-Dawley rats during heat stress

Background

Heat stress (HS) is a major stress event in the life of an animal, with detrimental upshots in production and health. Long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in many biological processes by transcriptional regulation. However, no research has been reported on the characterization and functionality of lncRNAs in heat-stressed rats.

Results

We studied expression levels of lncRNAs in rats during HS, using strand-specific RNA sequencing. Six rats, three in each of Control (22 ± 1 °C) and H120 (42 °C for 120 min) experimental groups, were used to screen for lncRNAs in their liver and adrenal glands. Totally, 4498 and 7627 putative lncRNAs were identified in liver and adrenal glands of the Control and H120 groups, respectively. The majority of lncRNAs were relatively shorter and contained fewer exons than protein-coding transcripts. In total, 482 (174 up-regulated and 308 down-regulated) and 271 (126 up-regulated and 145 down-regulated) differentially-expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs, P < 0.05) were identified in the liver and adrenal glands of the Control and H120 groups, respectively. Furthermore, 1274, 121, and 73 target differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver were predicted to interact with DElncRNAs based on trans−/cis- and sequence similarity regulatory modes. Functional annotation analyses indicated that these DEGs were mostly significantly enriched in insulin signalling, myeloid leukaemia, and glucagon signalling pathways. Similarly, 437, 73 and 41 target DEGs in the adrenal glands were mostly significantly enriched in the cell cycle (trans-prediction) and lysosome pathways (cis-prediction). The DElncRNAs interacting with DEGs that encode heat shock proteins (HSPs) may play an important role in HS response, which include Hsf4, Dnaja1, Dnajb4, Hsph1 and Hspb1 in the liver, and Dnajb13 and Hspb8 in the adrenal glands. The strand-specific RNA sequencing findings were also further verified through RT-qPCR.

Conclusions

This study is the first to provide a detailed characterization and functional analysis of expression levels of lncRNAs in liver and adrenal glands of heat-stressed rats, which provides basis for further studies on the biological functions of lncRNAs under heat stress in rats and other mammalian species.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07421-8.

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Suppressing NLRP3 Inflammasome and Activating Autophagy

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury is a serious threat to human health. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), the main water-soluble ingredient extracted from Carthami flos (Carthamus tinctorius L.), has therapeutic potential for treating MI/R injury. However, the mechanisms of HSYA−mediated protection from MI/R injury are incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects and the underlying mechanisms of HSYA during MI/R. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to left anterior descending artery ligation for 30 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion with or without HSYA treatment. The protective effect of HSYA was detected by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, and myocardial enzymes detections. Serum levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18, were detected using ELISA kits. The expression of NLRP3 and other related proteins in the myocardium was detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The expression of autophagy-related proteins, including Atg5, BECN1, P62, and LC3B, was detected by western blot to evaluate the effect of HSYA on autophagy. Results showed that HSYA decreased the myocardial infarct size and attenuated the cardiac dysfunction in rats after I/R. In addition, HSYA inhibited myocardial apoptosis compared with the I/R group, decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in rat serum, reduced NLRP3 inflammasome expression, and induced autophagy. Mechanistically, our results demonstrated that HSYA can activate AMPK to improve autophagy and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome by inhibiting the mTOR pathway. This work provides strong data supporting for the clinical applications of HSYA in MI/R injury.

Effect and Safety of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A for Injection in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke of Blood Stasis Syndrome: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multiple-Dose, Active-Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect and safety of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A for Injection (HSYAI) in treating patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and blood stasis syndrome (BSS).

METHODS

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, multiple-dose, active-controlled phase II trial was conducted at 9 centers in China from July 2013 to September 2015. Patients with moderate or severe AIS and BSS were randomly assigned to low-, medium-, high-dose HSYAI groups (25, 50 and 70 mg/d HSYAI by intravenous infusion, respectively), and a control group (Dengzhan Xixin Injection (, DZXXI) 30 mL/d by intravenous infusion), for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome was the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ⩽1 at days 90 after treatment. The secondary outcomes included the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ⩽1, Barthel Index (BI) score ⩾95, and BSS score reduced ⩾30% from baseline at days 14, 30, 60, and 90 after treatment. The safety outcomes included any adverse events during 90 days after treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 266 patients included in the effectiveness analysis, 66, 67, 65 and 68 cases were in the low-, medium-, and high-dose HSYAI and control groups, respectively. The proportions of patients in the medium- and high-dose HSYAI groups with mRS score ⩽1 at days 90 after treatment were significantly larger than the control group (P<0.05). The incidences of favorable outcomes of NIHSS and BI at days 90 after treatment as well as satisfactory improvement of BSS at days 30 and 60 after treatment in the medium- and high-dose HSYAI groups were all significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). No significant difference was reported among the 4 groups in any specific adverse events (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HSYAI was safe and well-tolerated at all doses for treating AIS patients with BSS. The medium (50 mg/d) or high dose (75 mg/d) might be the optimal dose for a phase III trial. (Registration No. ChiCTR-2000029608).

Effects of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A on the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Apoptosis of Pancreatic β-Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a complex metabolic disease, has become a major public health issue around the world. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is the major active chemical ingredient of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower), which is widely used in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and potential mechanism of HSYA on the high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ-)-induced T2DM rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T2DM rats were induced by feeding HFD (60% fat) for four weeks followed by intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of streptozocin (35mg/kg). The T2DM rats were treated with HSYA (120mg/kg) or metformin (90mg/kg) for eight weeks. Biochemical analysis, histological analysis and Western blot analysis were conducted after 8 weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

The treatment with HSYA evidently reduced fasting-blood glucose and insulin resistance in T2DM rats, indicated by results from fasting-blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, fasting insulin levels and histology of pancreas islets. The Western blot results revealed that HSYA reversed the down-regulation of PI3K and AKT in liver. The TUNEL assay analysis of pancreatic tissue showed that HSYA could inhibit the apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells to a certain extent. Moreover, HSYA-treatment increased the levels of glycogen synthase and hepatic glycogen and improved lipid metabolism by reducing the triglyceride, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, even though it did not change the rats' body weights.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggested that HSYA could promote PI3K/Akt activation and inhibit the apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells directly or indirectly, which might be the underlying mechanisms in HSYA to improve insulin resistance and regulate glycolipid metabolism in T2DM rats.

MRI Evaluation of Axonal Remodeling After Combination Treatment With Xiaoshuan Enteric-Coated Capsule and Enriched Environment in Rats After Ischemic Stroke

Xiaoshuan enteric-coated capsule (XSEC) is a compound Chinese medicine widely used for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Enriched environment (EE) is a rehabilitative intervention designed to facilitate physical, cognitive, and social activity after brain injury. This study aimed to assess whether the XSEC and EE combination could provide synergistic efficacy in axonal remodeling compared to that with a single treatment after ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by histological analysis. Rats were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with XSEC and EE alone or in combination for 30 days. T2-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed to examine the infarct volume and axonal remodeling, respectively. The co-localization of Ki67 with NG2 or CNPase was examined by immunofluorescence staining to assess oligodendrogenesis. The expressions of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and growth inhibitors NogoA/Nogo receptor (NgR)/RhoA/Rho-associated kinase2 (ROCK2) were measured using western blot and qRT-PCR. The Morris water maze (MWM) was performed to evaluate the cognitive function. MRI and histological measurements indicated XSEC and EE individually benefited axonal reorganization after stroke. Notably, XSEC + EE decreased infarct volume compared with XSEC or EE monotherapy and increased ipsilateral residual volume compared with vehicle group. DTI showed XSEC + EE robustly increased fractional anisotropy while decreased axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity in the injured cortex, striatum, and external capsule. Meanwhile, diffusion tensor tractography revealed XSEC + EE elevated fiber density in the cortex and external capsule and increased fiber length in the striatum and external capsule compared with the monotherapies. These MRI measurements, confirmed by histology, showed that XSEC + EE promoted axonal restoration. Additionally, XSEC + EE amplified oligodendrogenesis, decreased the expressions of NogoA/NgR/RhoA/ROCK2, and increased the expression of GAP-43 in the peri-infarct tissues. In parallel to these findings, rats treated with XSEC + EE exhibited higher cognitive recovery than those treated with XSEC or EE monotherapy, as evidenced by MWM test. Taken together, our data implicated that XSEC + EE exerted synergistic effects on alleviating atrophy and encouraging axonal reorganization partially by promoting oligodendrogenesis and overcoming intrinsic growth-inhibitory signaling, thereby facilitating higher cognitive recovery.

iRoot BP Plus promotes osteo/odontogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via MAPK pathways and autophagy

BACKGROUND

iRoot BP Plus is a novel bioceramic endodontic material. Recently, it has been considered as an alternative to MTA which is the most popular scaffold cover during regenerative endodontic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of iRoot BP Plus on the osteo/odontogenic capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), including the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

BMMSCs were collected by a whole marrow method and treated with iRoot BP Plus-conditioned medium (BP-CM). The proliferation ability was evaluated by cell counting kit 8 and flow cytometry. Complete medium was used as a blank control, and 2 mg/ml MTA-conditioned medium was served as a positive control. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, ALP staining, western blot, real-time RT-PCR, Alizarin Red S staining, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to explore the osteo/odontogenic potential and the involvement of MAPK pathways. Besides, autophagy was investigated by western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS