Electroacupuncture improves cognitive deficits and insulin resistance in an OLETF rat model of Al/D-gal induced aging model via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Study on the molecular mechanisms of Liuwei Dihuang decoction against aging-related cognitive impairment based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

Objective

Based on network pharmacology and experimental validation, this study aimed to screen the potential targets of Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW) against mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods

Based on network pharmacology, this study preliminarily explored the targets and molecular mechanisms of LW in the treatment of MCI. The results showed that the mechanism of action of LW against MCI may be related to the cAMP pathway. Then, an aging cell and animal model was established to further verify its molecular mechanism.

Results

A total of 23 active ingredients were identified in LW. In addition, through network pharmacological analysis, we found 22 anti-MCI active ingredients in LW, of which alisol B had the most significant effect, and predicted the potential mechanism pathway by which LW may improve MCI through the cAMP signaling pathway. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that LW can alleviate cognitive dysfunction in aging mice and reduce D-galactose-induced senescent cells, which may be through activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study found that the traditional Chinese medicine formula LW may play a role in improving MCI by regulating the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway, which provides a reference for further clinical research on the anti-MCI effect of LW and its molecular mechanism.

Signaling pathways in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with acupuncture: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

To date, there is no effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. The objective of this review was to summarize the core targets and signaling pathways involved in acupuncture treatment for AD.

METHODS

We reviewed numerous signaling pathways, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3 K/Akt), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor (NF)-kB, p53, Wnt, nitric oxide (NO), Janus kinase / signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/ STAT), RhoA/ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase) and Ca2+/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) / cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element-binding protein (CREB). The relevant data were obtained from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases.

RESULTS

In summary, the effects of acupuncture are mediated by multiple targets and pathways. Furthermore, acupuncture can improve pathological changes associated with AD (such as abnormal deposition of amyloid (A)β, tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis) through multiple signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our findings provide a basis for future research into the effects of acupuncture on AD.

A review on traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture intervention for Alzheimer's disease based on the neuroinflammatory

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with insidious onset and progressive development. It is clinically characterized by cognitive impairment, memory impairment and behavioral change. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are important components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and are commonly used in clinical treatment of AD. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture treatment of AD, which combined with existing clinical and preclinical evidence, based on a comprehensive review of neuroinflammation, and discusses the efficacy and potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture treatment of AD. Resveratrol, curcumin, kaempferol and other Chinese herbal medicine components can significantly inhibit the neuroinflammation of AD in vivo and in vitro, and are candidates for the treatment of AD. Acupuncture can alleviate the memory and cognitive impairment of AD by improving neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, nerve cell apoptosis and reducing the production and aggregation of amyloid β protein (Aβ) in the brain. It has the characteristics of early, safe, effective and benign bidirectional adjustment. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for improving the clinical strategies of TCM for the treatment of AD.

Lycopene attenuates D-galactose-induced cognitive decline by enhancing mitochondrial function and improving insulin signalling in the brains of female CD-1 mice

The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is severely increasing with ageing. Lycopene (LYC), a carotenoid pigment, has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of LYC on D-galactose (D-gal) induced cognitive defects and the underlying mechanisms. Forty-five female CD-1 mice (two months old) were separated into three groups to be fed with either a normal diet or a LYC diet (0.03%, w/w, mixed into normal diet). Meanwhile, the mice were treated by intraperitoneal injection of normal saline or D-gal 150 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. The behavioural test results indicated that LYC alleviated D-gal induced cognitive impairments. LYC ameliorated brain ageing by decreasing the number of SA-β-gal- stained neurons, downregulating the protein expression of the cellular senescence associated genes P19/P21/P53, increasing the activities of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD, downregulating the level of ROS, inhibiting the activation of MAPKs signalling and downregulating the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFɑ in mouse brains. LYC ameliorated synaptic dysfunction by increasing the expression of the neurotrophic factor BDNF and synaptic proteins. Moreover, LYC attenuated D-gal-induced mitochondrial morphological damage, and promoted the expression of mitochondrial functional proteins. LYC also promoted insulin signal transduction in mouse brains through the regulation of IRS-1/AKT/GSK3β signalling.

Effect and mechanism of acupuncture on Alzheimer's disease: A review

With the development trend of an aging society, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become an urgent problem in the field of medicine worldwide. Cognitive impairment in AD patients leads to a decline in the ability to perform daily living and abnormalities in behavior and personality, causing abnormal psychiatric symptoms, which seriously affect the daily life of patients. Currently, mainly drug therapy is used for AD patients in the clinic, but a large proportion of patients will experience drug efficacy not working, and even some drugs bring severe sleep disorders. Acupuncture, with its unique concept and treatment method, has been validated through a large number of experiments and proved its reliability of acupuncture in the treatment of AD. Many advances have been made in the study of the neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of AD, further demonstrating the good efficacy and unique advantages of acupuncture in the treatment of AD. This review first summarizes the pathogenesis of AD and then illustrates the research progress of acupuncture in the treatment of AD, which includes the effect of acupuncture on the changes of biochemical indicators in AD in vivo and the specific mechanism of action to exert the therapeutic effect. Changes in relevant indicators of AD similarly further validate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment. The clinical and mechanistic studies of acupuncture in the treatment of AD are intensified to fit the need for social development. It is believed that acupuncture will achieve new achievements in the treatment of AD as research progresses.

CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2 over-expression alleviates neuronal ferroptosis and brain injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation via AKT/mTOR pathway following intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

Ferroptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and regulating this process is considered a potential therapy for alleviating further brain injury. A previous study showed that CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2 (CISD2) can inhibit ferroptosis in cancer. Thus, we investigated the effects of CISD2 on ferroptosis and the mechanisms underlying its neuroprotective role in mice after ICH. CISD2 expression markedly increased after ICH. CISD2 over-expression significantly decreased the number of Fluoro-Jade C-positive neurons and alleviated brain edema and neurobehavioral deficits at 24 h after ICH. In addition, CISD2 over-expression up-regulated the expression of p-AKT, p-mTOR, ferritin heavy chain 1, glutathione peroxidase 4, ferroportin, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase activity, which are markers of ferroptosis. Additionally, CISD2 over-expression down-regulated the levels of malonaldehyde, iron content, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, transferrin receptor 1, and cyclooxygenase-2 at 24 h after ICH. It also alleviated mitochondrial shrinkage and decreased the density of the mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, CISD2 over-expression increased the number of GPX4-positive neurons following ICH induction. Conversely, knockdown of CISD2 aggravated neurobehavioral deficits, brain edema, and neuronal ferroptosis. Mechanistically, MK2206, an AKT inhibitor, suppressed p-AKT and p-mTOR and reversed the effects of CISD2 over-expression on markers of neuronal ferroptosis and acute neurological outcome. Taken together, CISD2 over-expression alleviated neuronal ferroptosis and improved neurological performance, which may be mediated through the AKT/mTOR pathway after ICH. Thus, CISD2 may be a potential target to mitigate brain injury via the anti-ferroptosis effect after ICH.

Activation of POMC neurons to adiponectin participating in EA-mediated improvement of high-fat diet IR mice

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the common pathological manifestations of metabolic-related diseases, and the prevalence of relevant diseases is high. Acupuncture is beneficial to IR patients, but the central mechanism underlying this treatment remains unclear. This study provides mechanistic insights into how electroacupuncture (EA) improves IR through the response of Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons to adiponectin (Adipo).

Methods

Glucose tolerance tests (GTT), Insulin tolerance tests (ITT) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were detected by glucometer. Serum insulin, Adipo and skeletal muscle adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) protein levels were examined by ELISA. Homeostasis model assessment estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the following formula: HOMA-IR = fasting insulin (FINS) (mU/L) × FBG (mmol/L)/22.5. The expression levels of AdipoR1 and Adipo mRNA in skeletal muscle were detected by real-time PCR quantification. The co-marking of c-Fos/AdipoR1 and POMC neurons were investigated using immunofluorescence. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) of POMC neurons and the response of POMC neurons to Adipo were detected via electrophysiology.

Results

EA significantly ameliorated HFD-induced impairment of GTT, ITT, FBG, and HOMA-IR which was correlated with recovery of the expression level of AdipoR1 and Adipo in skeletal muscle. The improved response of POMC neurons to Adipo in the hypothalamus may be a key factor in correcting abnormal glucose tolerance and improving IR.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that EA can ameliorate HFD-induced impaired glucose tolerance through improved response of POMC neurons to Adipo in the hypothalamus, providing insight into the central mechanism of improving IR through EA.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke

BACKGROUND

We aim to make a systematic evaluation of the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of cognitive impairment after stroke, to provide evidence-based medical evidence for clinical practice.

METHODS

We searched all the randomized controlled trials of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan fang data knowledge service platform, VIP Chinese periodical service platform full-text Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library Database, and PubMed Database about acupuncture treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted the data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The bias risk assessment manual of Cochrane collaboration Network was used to evaluate the bias risk, and all data were analyzed by Stata16.0.

RESULTS

Fourteen articles were included, with a total of 2402 patients. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture combined with routine therapy could significantly reduce the score of cognitive impairment symptoms compared with the control group. The mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE) score (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 3.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89-4.56, P < .01), Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA) score (WMD = 3.41, 95% CI: 0.93-5.89, P < .01), Barthel index of activities of daily living (MBI) score (WMD = 4.59, 95% CI: 1.43-7.75, P < .01), and Lowenstein assessment scale (LOTCA) score (WMD = 8.60, 95% CI: 6.32-10.89, P = .00) were significantly improved in the patients receiving group acupuncture combined with routine therapy.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture combined with routine therapy seems to be more effective than conventional therapy alone in the treatment of PSCI. However, the differences between different acupuncture types need to be clarified in more high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Liuwei Dihuang Decoction Alleviates Cognitive Dysfunction in Mice With D-Galactose-Induced Aging by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

Background

Aging is an important cause of cognitive dysfunction. Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW), a commonly applied Chinese medicine formula, is widely used for the treatment of aging-related diseases in China. Previously, LW was confirmed to be effective in prolonging life span and reducing oxidative stress in aged mice. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanism of LW remains unclear. The aim of this study was to interpret the mechanism by which LW alleviates cognitive dysfunction related to aging from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Method

All C57BL/6 mice (n = 60) were randomly divided into five groups: the control, model, vitamin E (positive control group), low-dose LW and high-dose LW groups (n = 12 in each group). Except for those in the control group, D-galactose was subcutaneously injected into mice in the other groups to induce the aging model. The antiaging effect of LW was evaluated by the water maze test, electron microscopy, 16S rRNA sequencing, combined LC–MS and GC–MS metabolomics, and ELISA.

Results

Liuwei Dihuang decoction ameliorated cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal synaptic ultrastructure damage in aging mice. Moreover, LW decreased Proteobacteria abundance and increased gut microbiota diversity in aging mice. Metabolomic analysis showed that LW treatment was associated with the significantly differential abundance of 14 metabolites, which were mainly enriched in apelin signaling, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid and other metabolic pathways. Additionally, LW affected lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in aging mice. Finally, we also found that LW-regulated microbial species such as Proteobacteria and Fibrobacterota had potential relationships with lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and hippocampal metabolites.

Conclusion

In brief, LW improved cognitive function in aging mice by regulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress through restoration of the homeostasis of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Effects and mechanisms of probucol on aging-related hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of probucol on aging-related hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairment and explore the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

D-galactose (100 mg/kg, once daily for 6 weeks) was subcutaneously injected to induce aging in mice. Then the mice were administered with probucol or vehicle once a day for 2 weeks. The hippocampus-related cognition was evaluated with Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and contextual fear conditioning test. Moreover, synaptic plasticity was assessed, and RNA-sequencing was applied to further explore the molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

Aging mice induced by D-galactose showed conspicuous learning and memory impairment, which was significantly ameliorated by probucol. Meanwhile, probucol enhanced the spine density and dendritic branches, improved long-term potentiation, and increased the expression of PSD95 of aging mice. Probucol regulated 70 differentially expressed genes compared to D-galactose group, of which 38 genes were upregulated and 32 genes were downregulated. At last, RNA-sequencing results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Probucol improved learning and memory in aging mice through enhancing synaptic plasticity and regulating gene expression, indicating the potential application of probucol to prevent and treat aging-related disorders.

The Role of Acupuncture Improving Cognitive Deficits due to Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Diseases through Regulating Neuroplasticity

Dementia affects millions of elderly worldwide causing remarkable costs to society, but effective treatment is still lacking. Acupuncture is one of the complementary therapies that has been applied to cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), while the underlying mechanisms of its therapeutic efficiency remain elusive. Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of the nervous system to adapt to internal and external environmental changes, which may support some data to clarify mechanisms how acupuncture improves cognitive impairments. This review summarizes the up-to-date and comprehensive information on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on neurogenesis and gliogenesis, synaptic plasticity, related regulatory factors, and signaling pathways, as well as brain network connectivity, to lay ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanism of acupuncture on the regulation of neuroplasticity and promoting its clinical application as a complementary therapy for AD and VCI.