Proteomics reveals that Di Dang decoction can regulate the Jak2/Stat5 signaling pathway and inhibit apoptosis by reducing the oxidative stress response in rats with acute intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke

Perspective insights into versatile hydrogels for stroke: From molecular mechanisms to functional applications

As the leading killer of life and health, stroke leads to limb paralysis, speech disorder, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, mental depression and other symptoms, which entail a significant financial burden to society and families. At present, physiology, clinical medicine, engineering, and materials science, advanced biomaterials standing on the foothold of these interdisciplinary disciplines provide new opportunities and possibilities for the cure of stroke. Among them, hydrogels have been endowed with more possibilities. It is well-known that hydrogels can be employed as potential biosensors, medication delivery vectors, and cell transporters or matrices in tissue engineering in tissue engineering, and outperform many traditional therapeutic drugs, surgery, and materials. Therefore, hydrogels become a popular scaffolding treatment option for stroke. Diverse synthetic hydrogels were designed according to different pathophysiological mechanisms from the recently reported literature will be thoroughly explored. The biological uses of several types of hydrogels will be highlighted, including pro-angiogenesis, pro-neurogenesis, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis. Finally, considerations and challenges of using hydrogels in the treatment of stroke are summarized.

Remote Ischemic Post-conditioning Reduces Cognitive Impairment in Rats Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Possible Involvement in STAT3/STAT5 Phosphorylation and Th17/Treg Cell Homeostasis

The inflammatory response following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may lead to Early Brain Injury and subsequently contribute to poor prognosis such as cognitive impairment in patients. Currently, there is a lack of effective strategies for SAH to ameliorate inflammation and improve cognitive impairment in clinical. This study aims to examine the inhibitory impact of remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIPostC) on the body's inflammatory response by regulating Th17/Treg cell homeostasis after SAH. The ultimate goal is to search for potential early treatment targets for SAH. The rat SAH models were made by intravascular puncture of the internal carotid artery. The intervention of RIPostC was administered for three consecutive days immediately after successful modeling. Behavioral experiments including the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests were conducted to assess cognitive functions such as spatial memory, working memory, and learning abilities 2 weeks after successful modeling. The ratio of Th17 cells and Treg cells in the blood was detected using flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the infiltration of neutrophils into the brain. Signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation levels, receptor-related orphan receptor gamma-t (RORγt), and forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) levels were detected by Western blot. The levels of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-2, IL-10, IL-5, etc.) and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-14, etc.) in blood were detected using Luminex Liquid Suspension Chip Assay. RIPostC significantly improved the cognitive impairment caused by SAH in rats. The results showed that infiltration of Th17 cells and neutrophils into brain tissue increased after SAH, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, and TNF-α). This response can be inhibited by RIPostC. Additionally, RIPostC facilitates the transfer of Treg from blood to the brain and triggers the release of anti-inflammatory (IL-2, IL-10, and IL-5) factors to suppress the inflammation following SAH. Finally, it was found that RIPostC increased the phosphorylation of STAT5 while decreasing the phosphorylation of STAT3. RIPostC reduces inflammation after SAH by partially balancing Th17/Treg cell homeostasis, which may be related to downregulation of STAT3 and upregulation of STAT5 phosphorylation, which ultimately alleviates cognitive impairment in rats. Targeting Th17/Treg cell homeostasis may be a promising strategy for early SAH treatment.

Hyperglycemia effect of Pinctada martensii hydrolysate in diabetic db/db mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pinctada martensii (Dunker) and other marine shellfish flesh have been traditionally used in China as folk remedies regulate blood sugar.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the main active constituents and the pharmacological mechanism of Pinctada martensii flesh enzymatic hydrolysate (PMH) against T2DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hypoglycemic activity of enzymolysis peptides from Pinctada martensii was evaluated by using db/db mice, through the influence of glycemic index, blood lipid and key protein expression of PI3K-Akt pathway. In addition, label-free quantitative proteomics was used to screen the key proteins for Pinctada martensii hydrolysate (PMH) to improve T2DM, and Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to verify the expression difference of differential proteins at protein and mRNA levels between different groups.

RESULTS

PMH were prepared and characterized. In vivo investigations revealed that the PMH could regulate blood glucose and improve glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance, reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in db/db mice. Western blot results showed that PMH could up-regulate IRS-1, P-PI3K/PI3K and P-Akt/Akt levels in db/db mice. Label-free quantitative proteomic approach was used to analyze the proteome in db/db mouse liver, 231 proteins were reversed significantly (p < 0.05), and these proteins were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and other pathways. Further screened 15 proteins with FC > 1.2 could be enriched in the retinol metabolic pathway, and the proteins in this pathway were also verified.

CONCLUSIONS

PMH has hypoglycemic effect and can be used as a potential natural T2DM intervener. The hypoglycemic activity of PMH is related to its regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The PI3K/AKT pathway and the retinol pathway are considered as another potential pathway for PMH to exert hypoglycemic effects.

The role of ROS-pyroptosis in PM2.5 induced air-blood barrier destruction

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has attracted increasing attention due to its health-threatening effects. Although numerous studies have investigated the impact of PM2.5 on lung injuries, the specific mechanisms underlying the damage to the air-blood barrier after exposure to PM2.5 remain unclear. In this study, we established an in vitro co-culture system using lung epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cells. Our findings indicated that the tight junction (TJ) proteins were up-regulated in the co-cultured system compared to the monolayer-cultured cells, suggesting the establishment of a more closely connected in vitro system. Following exposure to PM2.5, we observed damage to the air-blood barrier in vitro. Concurrently, PM2.5 exposure induced significant oxidative stress and activated the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathway. When oxidative stress was inhibited, we observed a decrease in pyroptosis and an increase in TJ protein levels. Additionally, disulfiram reversed the adverse effects of PM2.5, effectively suppressing pyroptosis and ameliorating air-blood barrier dysfunction. Our results indicate that the oxidative stress-pyroptosis pathway plays a critical role in the disruption of the air-blood barrier induced by PM2.5 exposure. Disulfiram may represent a promising therapeutic option for mitigating PM2.5-related lung damage.