Cobalt(II) β-ketoaminato complexes as novel inhibitors of neuroinflammation

Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor PD98059 improves neuroimmune dysfunction in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL/J mice through the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B signaling in B cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe autoimmune disease leading to demyelination, followed by consequent axonal degeneration, causing sensory, motor, cognitive, and visual symptoms. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most well-studied animal model of MS. Most current MS treatments are not completely effective, and severe side effects remain a great challenge. In this study, we report the therapeutic efficacy of PD98059, a potent mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, on proteolipid protein (PLP)_139-151-induced EAE in SJL/J mice. Following the induction of EAE, mice were intraperitoneally treated with PD98059 (5 mg/kg for 14 days) daily from day 14 to day 28. This study investigated the effects of PD98059 on C-C motif chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), CD14, NF-κB p65, IκBα, GM-CSF, iNOS, IL-6, TNF-α in CD45R⁺ B lymphocytes using flow cytometry. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of PD98059 on CCR6, CD14, NF-κB p65, GM-CSF, iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA and protein expression levels using qRT-PCR analysis in brain tissues. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PD98059-treated in mice with EAE had reduced CD45R⁺CCR6⁺, CD45R⁺CD14⁺, CD45R⁺NF-κB p65⁺, CD45R⁺GM-CSF⁺, CD45R⁺iNOS⁺, CD45R⁺IL-6⁺, and CD45R⁺TNF-α⁺ cells and increased CD45R⁺IκBα⁺ cells compared with vehicle-treated control mice in the spleen. Moreover, downregulation of CCR6, CD14, NF-κB p65, GM-CSF, iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expression level was observed in PD98059-treated mice with EAE compared with vehicle-treated control mice in the brain tissue. The results of this study demonstrate that PD98059 modulates inflammatory mediators through multiple cellular mechanisms. The results of this study suggest that PD98059 may be pursued as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of MS.

CC Chemokine Ligand 7 Derived from Cancer-Stimulated Macrophages Promotes Ovarian Cancer Cell Invasion

In the tumor microenvironment, macrophages have been suggested to be stimulated by tumor cells, becoming tumor-associated macrophages that promote cancer development and progression. We examined the effect of these macrophages on human ovarian cancer cell invasion and found that conditioned medium of macrophages stimulated by ovarian cancer cells (OC-MQs) significantly increased cell invasion. CC chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) expression and production were significantly higher in OC-MQs than in the control macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages from patients with ovarian cancer showed higher CCL7 expression levels than those from healthy controls. Inhibition of CCL7 using siRNA and neutralizing antibodies reduced the OC-MQ-CM-induced ovarian cancer cell invasion. CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) was highly expressed in human ovarian cancer cells, and a specific inhibitor of this receptor reduced the OC-MQ-CM-induced invasion. Specific signaling and transcription factors were associated with enhanced CCL7 expression in OC-MQs. CCL7-induced invasion required the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 via activation of extracellular signal-related kinase signaling in human ovarian cancer cells. These data suggest that tumor-associated macrophages can affect human ovarian cancer metastasis via the CCL7/CCR3 axis.

Bioactive 3D porous cobalt-doped alginate/waterborne polyurethane scaffolds with a coral reef-like rough surface for nerve tissue engineering application

Bioactive 3D porous cobalt-doped alginate/waterborne polyurethane scaffolds with a coral reef-like rough surface were prepared for nerve tissue engineering application.

Modulation of microglial functions by methyl jasmonate

Neuroinflammation contributes to the neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); therefore, characterization of novel drug candidates aimed at combatting inflammation in the central nervous system is one of the potential avenues for the development of effective AD treatment and prevention strategies. Non-neuronal microglial cells orchestrate neuroinflammatory reactions, and their adverse activation has been linked to AD pathogenesis. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) has anti-cancer properties and has also been shown to reduce peripheral inflammation in pre-clinical models. Recently, anti-neuroinflammatory activity of MJ was demonstrated in mice, but the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for this beneficial effect are unknown. We hypothesized that MJ can regulate select microglial functions, and used two different in vitro models of microglia to test this hypothesis. MJ inhibited the production of damaging reactive oxygen species by differentiated human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells without reducing their viability. MJ also selectively upregulated phagocytic activity of murine BV-2 microglia, but had no effect on nitric oxide secretion by these cells. Since microglial phagocytosis can be beneficial for clearance of amyloid β aggregates in AD, the observed upregulation of phagocytic activity by MJ, combined with its inhibitory effect on reactive oxygen species production, supports continued studies of MJ as a candidate drug for managing adverse neuroinflammation in AD.

Crystal structure of 3,3′-(butane-1,4-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(1-phenylbut-1-en-1-olato)-κ4 N,N′,O,O′]copper(II), C24H26N2O2Cu

C24H26N2O2Cu, orthorhombic, C2221 (no. 20), a = 11.372(2) Å, b = 19.861(4) Å, c = 9.2904(19) Å, V = 2098.3(7) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0201, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0580, T = 296(2)K.

The role of inflammatory and oxidative stress mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease: focus on astrocytes

Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiologic, animal, human, and therapeutic studies support the role of oxidative stress and inflammatory cascade in initiation and progression of PD. In Parkinson's disease pathophysiology, activated glia affects neuronal injury and death through production of neurotoxic factors like glutamate, S100B, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandins, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. As disease progresses, inflammatory secretions engage neighboring cells, including astrocytes and endothelial cells, resulting in a vicious cycle of autocrine and paracrine amplification of inflammation leading to neurodegeneration. The exact mechanism of these inflammatory mediators in the disease progression is still poorly understood. In this review, we highlight and discuss the mechanisms of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators by which they contribute to the disease progression. Particularly, we focus on the altered role of astroglial cells that presumably initiate and execute dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD. In conclusion, we focus on the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration, which contributes to the basic understanding of the role of neuroinflammation in PD pathophysiology.

Oxidative stress and metal carcinogenesis

Occupational and environmental exposures to metals are closely associated with an increased risk of various cancers. Although carcinogenesis caused by metals has been intensively investigated, the exact mechanisms of action are still unclear. Accumulating evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by metals play important roles in the etiology of degenerative and chronic diseases. This review covers recent advances in (1) metal-induced generation of ROS and the related mechanisms; (2) the relationship between metal-mediated ROS generation and carcinogenesis; and (3) the signaling proteins involved in metal-induced carcinogenesis, especially intracellular reduction-oxidation-sensitive molecules.