Puerarin prevents sepsis-associated encephalopathy by regulating the AKT1 pathway in microglia

Puerarin alleviates silicon dioxide-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis via improving Autophagolysosomal dysfunction in alveolar macrophages of murine mice

Silicosis, caused by the inhalation of silicon dioxide (SiO2), is one of the most pressing public health problems. Nevertheless, there is currently no effective treatment. This study employed male C57BL/6 J mice and mouse alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S to investigate the biological mechanism in the development of silicosis, with a view to exploring the potential applications of puerarin (Pue) in the improvement of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in SiO2-exposed mice. This study elucidated that SiO2 could induce expression of inflammatory factors, accompanied by autophagy flux block, lysosome alkalization and membrane permeability in MH-S cells. Pue pretreatment could effectively inhibit expression of inflammatory factors in SiO2-exposed MH-S cells via alleviating autophagolysosomal dysfunction, and suppress TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation. In addition, Pue was also been demonstrated to mitigate autophagolysosomal dysfunction, pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in SiO2-exposed C57BL/6 J mice. Furthermore, the ingestion of Pue-enriched pueraria lobata tea (Plt), a traditional Chinese tea substitute that possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardiovascular benefits, was determined to improve imbalance of lysosome homeostasis, pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in SiO2-exposed mice. This study illustrates the anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties of Pue and Plt by alleviating autophagolysosomal dysfunction and, consequently, reducing pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis mechanism of silicosis and indicate potential avenues for application of Pue and Plt in the mitigation of silicosis.

Puerarin mitigates cognitive decline and white matter injury via CD36-Mediated microglial phagocytosis in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

BACKGROUND

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) contributes significantly to white matter injury (WMI) and cognitive impairment, often leading to vascular dementia (VaD). Inefficient clearance of myelin debris by microglia impedes white matter repair, making microglia-mediated myelin clearance a promising therapeutic strategy for WMI. Puerarin (Pu), an isoflavonoid monomer from Pueraria lobata, is known for its neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms in counteracting CCH-induced damage remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of puerarin in a CCH mouse model.

METHODS

Right unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (rUCCAO) was used to model CCH in C57BL/6J mice. Puerarin (400 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days starting immediately post-surgery. Cognitive function was assessed by the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. WMI, remyelination, neuroinflammation, and microglial phagocytosis were evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR, or flow cytometry both in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Puerarin treatment significantly improved cognitive performance and mitigated WMI in rUCCAO mice. These effects were associated with enhanced microglial phagocytosis and remyelination, reduced neuroinflammation, and increased CD36 expression. Additionally, puerarin also increased the levels of IL-10 and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) in brain tissues. Notably, IL-10 neutralization reversed these benefits effects by reducing microglial myelin debris uptake, downregulating STAT3 phosphorylation and CD36 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that puerarin has significant therapeutic potential in treating CCH-related cognitive impairments and WMI by modulating CD36-mediated microglial myelin clearance through the IL-10/STAT3 pathway. However, our study was reliant on preclinical animal models, further studies are needed to explore applicability in human subjects.

Pharmacological Mechanism and Drug Research Prospects of Ginsenoside Rb1 as an Antidepressant

This review explores the antidepressant effects of ginsenoside Rb1, a natural compound in traditional Chinese medicine, and its potential for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). The aetiology of depression was reviewed up to 2024, focusing on the pathways and mechanisms through which ginsenoside Rb1 may exert its effects. Notably, ginsenoside Rb1 regulates oxidative stress and inflammatory processes while enhancing neural plasticity by downregulating miR-134 expression and alleviating depressive symptoms. Unlike traditional antidepressants that act on a single target, ginsenoside Rb1 interacts with multiple pathways, reflecting its potential for broader therapeutic application. To compensate for the current deficiency in animal experiments, clinical data, and research on the side effects of ginsenoside Rb1 in the treatment of depression, we reviewed some clinical data on the use of this component in the treatment of other diseases to explore its relevance to depression. Ginsenoside Rb1 is expected to serve as a novel antidepressant or as a complementary component in combination with other antidepressant compounds. However, further clinical trials and molecular studies are necessary to confirm its efficacy and potential side effects.

Puerarin Attenuates Podocyte Damage in Mice With Diabetic Kidney Disease by Modulating the AMPK/Nrf2 Pathway

Background: This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of puerarin in alleviating diabetic nephropathy (DKD) in mice. Method: The DKD model was induced by multiple low-dose injections of streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-sugar and high-fat diet in male C57BL/6J mice. After confirming the onset of DKD, mice were given irbesartan, distilled water, or different concentrations of puerarin (40 and 80 mg/kg/d) by gavage for 8 weeks. HE staining and PAS staining were adopted to assess the pathological changes in the kidney tissues. Meanwhile, the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, creatinine, and cystatin C in the serum and the urine albumin and creatinine were measured, and the renal indices as well as the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) were calculated. The changes of podocin and protein expression levels associated with AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway were evaluated by western blot. Results: Puerarin significantly reduced the level of fasting blood glucose, renal index, glomerular mesangial expansion index, renal function, and oxidative stress induced by STZ (p < 0.05). The pathological injuries in kidney tissues were also alleviated. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression level of podocin and protein related to the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway was also decreased significantly by the treatment of puerarin. At the same time, the efficacy of puerarin in the treatment of DKD was better than that of irbesartan, and the treatment effect of the high-dose group (80 mg/kg/d) was also significantly better than that of the low-dose group (40 mg/kg/d). Conclusion: Puerarin could attenuate the severity of DKD and protect the podocyte in mice in a dose-dependent way. Also, it might be performed by regulating the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for updating the clinical management of DKD.

Role of PI3Kγ in the polarization, migration, and phagocytosis of microglia

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) is a signaling protein that is constitutively expressed in immune competent cells and plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, deformation, and immunology. Several studies have shown that high expression of PI3Kγ can inhibit the occurrence of inflammation in microglia while also regulating the polarization of microglia to inhibit inflammation and enhance microglial migration and phagocytosis. It is well known that the regulation of microglial polarization, migration, and phagocytosis is key to the treatment of most neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, in this article, we review the important regulatory role of PI3Kγ in microglia to provide a basis for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Hidden role of microglia during neurodegenerative disorders and neurocritical care: A mitochondrial perspective

The incidence of aging-related neurodegenerative disorders and neurocritical care diseases is increasing worldwide. Microglia, the main inflammatory cells in the brain, could be potential viable therapeutic targets for treating neurological diseases. Interestingly, mitochondrial functions, including energy metabolism, mitophagy and transfer, fission and fusion, and mitochondrial DNA expression, also change in activated microglia. Notably, mitochondria play an active and important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders and neurocritical care diseases. This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge on mitochondrial dysfunction in microglia in neurodegenerative disorders and neurocritical care diseases and comprehensively discusses the prospects of the application of neurological injury prevention and treatment targets by mitochondria.

A Bacterial Capturing, Neural Network-Like Carbon Nanotubes/Prussian Blue/Puerarin Nanocomposite for Microwave Treatment of Staphylococcus Aureus-Infected Osteomyelitis

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-infected osteomyelitis is a deep tissue infection that cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics. Microwave (MW) thermal therapy (MTT) and MW dynamic therapy (MDT) based on MW-responsive materials are promising for the therapy of bacteria-infected osteomyelitis occurring in deep tissues that cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics. In this work, the MW-responsive system of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/Prussian blue (PB)/puerarin (Pue) with stable network-like structures is constructed. The PB is grown in situ on the CNTs, and its introduction not only reduces the aggregation of the network-like structures of the CNTs, but the large specific surface area and mesoporous structure can also provide many active sites for the adsorption of oxygen and polar molecules. Pue is a natural anti-inflammatory material that reduces inflammation at the infection site. The composite of the CNTs and PB avoids the skin effect and thus can improve dielectric and reflection losses. The MW thermal response of CNTs/PB/Pue is mainly due to the occurrence of reflection loss, dielectric loss, multiple reflections and scattering, interface polarization, and dipole polarization. In addition, under MW irradiation, the CNTs/PB/Pue can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radical (·OH).

Review of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine in sepsis-associated encephalopathy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common and serious complication during the acute phase of and after recovery from sepsis that seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in modern medicine for neurological anomalies and has become a therapeutic tool for the treatment of SAE due to its multitargeting effects and low toxicity and side effects.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This review provides insights into the pathogenesis and treatments of SAE, focusing on the clinical and experimental impacts of TCM formulations and their single components.

METHODS

Several known databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and others were extensively explored with keywords and phrases such as "sepsis-associated encephalopathy", "traditional Chinese medicine", "herbs", "SAE", "sepsis", "cerebral" or other relevant terms to obtain literature between 2018 and 2024.

RESULTS

Extensive evidence indicated that TCM could decrease mortality and normalize neurological function in patients with sepsis; these effects might be associated with factors such as reduced oxidative stress and downregulated expression of inflammatory factors.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM shows notable efficacy in treating SAE, warranting deeper mechanistic studies to optimize its clinical application.

Single-cell RNA Sequencing Identifies a Novel Subtype of Microglia with High Cd74 Expression that Facilitates White Matter Inflammation During Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion

Vascular dementia (VaD) causes progressive cognitive decline in the elderly population, but there is short of available therapeutic measures. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is vigorously involved in the pathogenesis of VaD, but the traditional classification of microglial M1/M2 phenotypes remains restrictive and controversial. This study aims to investigate whether microglia transform into novel subtypes in VaD. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rat model was constructed to mimic VaD. Microglia were isolated via magnetic-activated cell sorting and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics. The findings inferred from scRNA-seq and bioinformatics were further validated through in vivo experiments. In this study, microglia were divided into eight clusters. The proportion of MG5 cluster was significantly increased in the white matter of the CCH group compared with the Sham group and was named chronic ischemia-associated microglia (CIAM). Immunity- and inflammation-related genes, including RT1-Db1, RT1-Da, RT1-Ba, Cd74, Spp1, C3, and Cd68, were markedly upregulated in CIAM. Enrichment analysis illustrated that CIAM possessed the function of evoking neuroinflammation. Further studies unveiled that Cd74 is associated with the most abundant GO terms involved in inflammation as well as cell proliferation and differentiation. In addition, microglia-specific Cd74 knockdown mediated by adeno-associated virus decreased the abundance of CIAM in the white matter, thereby mitigating inflammatory cytokine levels, alleviating white matter lesions, and improving cognitive impairment for CCH rats. These findings indicate that Cd74 is the core molecule of CIAM to trigger neuroinflammation and induce microglial differentiation to CIAM, suggesting that Cd74 may be a potential therapeutic target for VaD.

Pleiotropic role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the protection of psoralidin against sepsis-associated encephalopathy

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a severe complication that affects the central nervous system and is a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Psoralidin (PSO), a coumarin compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Psoralea corylifolia L., can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and has various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-depression. This study aims to explore whether PSO alleviates SAE and delve into the underlying mechanisms. We found that PSO treatment significantly reduced sepsis scores, aspartate transaminase (AST) and aspartate transaminase (LDH), while increased anal temperature and neurological scores in CLP-injured mice. Moreover, PSO treatment ameliorated sepsis-associated cognitive impairment, mood, anxiety disorders, inhibited inflammatory responses, as well as attenuated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). These results were also validated in vitro experiments, PSO treatment reduced ROS, inflammation response, and attenuated ERS in LPS-injured N2a cells. Importantly, tunicamycin (TUN), as ERS agonist, significantly reversed the protective effect of PSO on LPS-injured N2a cells, as evidenced by increased expression levels of IL-6, NLRP3, CHOP, and ATF6. Likewise, ATF6 overexpression also reversed the protective effect of PSO. In conclusion, these results confirmed that PSO has a protective effect on SAE, which was largely attributed to neuroinflammation and ERS. These findings provide new insights into the neuroprotective role of PSO and suggest that PSO is a new therapeutic intervention of SAE.

Puerarin-A Promising Flavonoid: Biosynthesis, Extraction Methods, Analytical Techniques, and Biological Effects

Flavonoids, a variety of plant secondary metabolites, are known for their diverse biological activities. Isoflavones are a subgroup of flavonoids that have gained attention for their potential health benefits. Puerarin is one of the bioactive isoflavones found in the Kudzu root and Pueraria genus, which is widely used in alternative Chinese medicine, and has been found to be effective in treating chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, gastric diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Puerarin has been extensively researched and used in both scientific and clinical studies over the past few years. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date exploration of puerarin biosynthesis, the most common extraction methods, analytical techniques, and biological effects, which have the potential to provide a new perspective for medical and pharmaceutical research and development.

Qingjie Huagong decoction inhibits pancreatic acinar cell pyroptosis by regulating circHipk3/miR-193a-5p/NLRP3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Safer and more effective drugs are needed for the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). Qingjie Huagong decoction (QJHGD) has been applied to treat AP for many years and has shown good clinical effects. However, the potential mechanism has not yet been determined.

PURPOSE

To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of the effects of QJHGD on AP both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

QJHGD was characterized by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. The protective effect of QJHDG and the underlying mechanism were investigated in MPC-83 cells in vitro. A caerulein-induced AP model was established to evaluate the protective effect of QJHGD in mice. CCK-8 assays were used to detect cell viability. The contents of inflammatory mediators were determined by ELISA. Expression levels of circRNA, miRNA and mRNA were determined by qRT-PCR. Protein expression was determined using Western blot. Pancreatic tissues were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Pull-down and luciferase activity assays were performed to determine the regulatory relationships of circHipk3, miR-193a-5p and NLRP3.

RESULTS

Our results confirmed that mmu-miR-193a-5p was sponged by mmu-circHipk3, and NLRP3 was a target of miR-193a-5p. In vitro experiments showed that QJHGD enhanced MPC-83 cell viability by regulating circHipk3 sponging mir-193a-5 targeting NLRP3 and inhibiting pyroptosis-related factors. Finally, we showed that QJHGD ameliorated pancreatic tissue injury in AP mice via this pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrate that QJHDG exerted its anti-AP effects via the circHipk3/miR-193a-5p/NLRP3 pathway, revealing a novel mechanism for the therapeutic effect of QJHDG on AP.