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Balan I, Boero G, Chéry SL, McFarland MH, Lopez AG, Morrow AL. Neuroactive Steroids, Toll-like Receptors, and Neuroimmune Regulation: Insights into Their Impact on Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:582. [PMID: 38792602 PMCID: PMC11122352 DOI: 10.3390/life14050582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnane neuroactive steroids, notably allopregnanolone and pregnenolone, exhibit efficacy in mitigating inflammatory signals triggered by toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, thus attenuating the production of inflammatory factors. Clinical studies highlight their therapeutic potential, particularly in conditions like postpartum depression (PPD), where the FDA-approved compound brexanolone, an intravenous formulation of allopregnanolone, effectively suppresses TLR-mediated inflammatory pathways, predicting symptom improvement. Additionally, pregnane neurosteroids exhibit trophic and anti-inflammatory properties, stimulating the production of vital trophic proteins and anti-inflammatory factors. Androstane neuroactive steroids, including estrogens and androgens, along with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), display diverse effects on TLR expression and activation. Notably, androstenediol (ADIOL), an androstane neurosteroid, emerges as a potent anti-inflammatory agent, promising for therapeutic interventions. The dysregulation of immune responses via TLR signaling alongside reduced levels of endogenous neurosteroids significantly contributes to symptom severity across various neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroactive steroids, such as allopregnanolone, demonstrate efficacy in alleviating symptoms of various neuropsychiatric disorders and modulating neuroimmune responses, offering potential intervention avenues. This review emphasizes the significant therapeutic potential of neuroactive steroids in modulating TLR signaling pathways, particularly in addressing inflammatory processes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. It advances our understanding of the complex interplay between neuroactive steroids and immune responses, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual needs and providing insights for future research aimed at unraveling the intricacies of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Balan
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Giorgia Boero
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Samantha Lucenell Chéry
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Neuroscience Curriculum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Minna H. McFarland
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Neuroscience Curriculum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alejandro G. Lopez
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - A. Leslie Morrow
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Guo H, Wang G, Huang W, Li L, Bai Y, Wang H, Gao L. The Mechanism of Hepatic Encephalopathy Induced by Thioacetamide Based on Metabolomics and Proteomics: A Preliminary Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:284. [PMID: 38203455 PMCID: PMC10779174 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a central nervous system dysfunction syndrome caused by acute and chronic liver failure or various portal systemic shunt disorders. HE arises from metabolic disorder and excludes other known types of encephalopathy. HE is a major cause of death in people with liver disease. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are key to improving HE prognosis. Herein, we established a model of HE and performed metabolomics to identify 50 significantly differential metabolites between the HE group and control group. The main metabolic pathways associated with these differential metabolites were the purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, and glucose metabolism. Through proteomics analysis, we identified 226 significantly differential proteins (52 up-regulated and 174 down-regulated). The main (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment pathways were the Staphylococcus aureus infection, vitamin digestion and absorption, and complement and coagulation cascades. Through the conjoint analysis of proteomics and metabolomics, the differentially present proteins and metabolites were found to be involved in vitamin digestion and absorption, and ferroptosis pathways. In HE, malondialdehyde was significantly elevated, but glutathione was significantly diminished, and the redox balance was destroyed, thus leading to changes in proteins' levels associated with the ferroptosis pathway. In conclusion, this study preliminarily explored the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying HE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghui Guo
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Guang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Wei Huang
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Lingrui Li
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Haifeng Wang
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Lina Gao
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China; (H.G.); (W.H.)
- China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang 110122, China
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
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Li D, Ding L, Yan Y, Xing Y, Xu J, Qin L. Lactoferrin Alleviates Ethanol-Induced Injury via Promoting Nrf2 Nuclear Translocation in BRL-3A Rat Liver Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16848. [PMID: 38069169 PMCID: PMC10706351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous animal studies found that the preventive effects of lactoferrin (Lf) on alcoholic liver injury (ALI) are associated with nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). To further explore the causality, experiments were performed using rat normal liver BRL-3A cells. Lf treatment reduced ethanol-induced death and apoptosis; meanwhile, Lf treatment alleviated excessive LDH release. These findings confirmed the protection of Lf against ethanol-induced injury in BRL-3A cells. Mechanistically, Lf treatment reversed the reduction in nuclear Nrf2 induced by ethanol without affecting the cytoplasmic Nrf2 level, which led to antioxidant enzyme activity restoration. However, the blocking of Nrf2 nuclear translocation by ML385 eliminated the protective effects of Lf. In a conclusion, Lf protects BRL-3A cells from ethanol-induced injury via promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deming Li
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China; (D.L.); (L.D.); (Y.Y.); (Y.X.)
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Li Ding
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China; (D.L.); (L.D.); (Y.Y.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yilin Yan
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China; (D.L.); (L.D.); (Y.Y.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yifei Xing
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China; (D.L.); (L.D.); (Y.Y.); (Y.X.)
| | - Jiaying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Liqiang Qin
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China; (D.L.); (L.D.); (Y.Y.); (Y.X.)
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Ahmed HH, Essam RM, El-Yamany MF, Ahmed KA, El-Sahar AE. Unleashing lactoferrin's antidepressant potential through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in chronic restraint stress rats. Food Funct 2023; 14:9265-9278. [PMID: 37767889 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo02222f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a widespread neuropsychiatric illness whose etiology is yet mysterious. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein, is reported to promote neuroprotection through its role in the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the efficacy of LF against chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depressive behavior in rats. Depression was evidenced by a reduced grooming time in the splash test and an increased immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). This effect was also accompanied by reduced GSH and serotonin levels and elevated lipid peroxidation and corticosterone levels in the hippocampus. Additionally, an exaggerated hippocampal inflammatory response was also shown by a rise in NF-κB (p65) and TNF-α levels and a reduced IL-10 level. Moreover, CRS substantially reduced the BDNF content as well as the protein levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR while boosting the GSK3β content. Interestingly, LF therapy significantly improved CRS-induced behavioral and biochemical aberrations, an effect which was suppressed upon pretreatment with LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). This suggests that the antidepressant potential of LF may be mediated through the modulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, LF succeeded in restoring 5-HT and corticosterone levels, diminishing oxidative stress and ameliorating the inflammatory cascades. Therefore, and for the first time, LF might serve as a promising antidepressant drug through targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan H Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacy, Al-Noor University College, Nineveh, Iraq
| | - Reham M Essam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo, University, Cairo, Egypt.
- Biology Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Muhammed F El-Yamany
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo, University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Kawkab A Ahmed
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ayman E El-Sahar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo, University, Cairo, Egypt.
- Biology Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University, Giza, Egypt
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