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Zhai X, Zhang H, Xia Z, Liu M, Du G, Jiang Z, Zhou H, Luo D, Dou D, Li J, Wang W, Li X, Jin B. Oxytocin alleviates liver fibrosis via hepatic macrophages. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101032. [PMID: 38882603 PMCID: PMC11177191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Previous studies demonstrated oxytocin treatment effectiveness in reducing mortality and reversing liver fibrosis in mice. However, the underlying mechanism remains obscure, given the absence of oxytocin receptor expression in hepatic stellate cells, the primary liver fibrosis effector cells. Methods A comprehensive map of cell populations in fibrotic liver was generated using single-cell sequencing. The map enabled our study of the target cells of oxytocin action in the liver in more dimensions. Furthermore, we elucidated the mechanism of the oxytocin signaling system in hepatic macrophages using oxytocin receptor-specific knockout mice and liver fibrosis animal models. Results The carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis and bile duct ligation hepatic fibrosis mouse models demonstrated that oxytocin reversed hepatic fibrosis in mice. The mapped liver cell populations demonstrated that oxytocin promoted the phenotypic switch from Ly6high to Ly6Clow in myeloid-derived macrophages. The phenotypic control of oxytocin signaling system activation on this phenotypic switch was validated using myeloid-specific oxytocin receptor knockout mice. Subsequent studies demonstrated that the calcium inward flow induced by oxytocin receptor activation activated the key orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, which controls macrophage phenotypic switching. Specifically, calcium ions activated CREB, a key target regulator of NR4A1 expression. Conclusions The findings established hepatic macrophages as a hub responsible for the oxytocin-mediated alleviation of liver fibrosis. This study revealed a novel pathway where oxytocin regulates macrophage phenotype. Impact and implications Previous studies revealed for the first time the expression of oxytocin receptors in the liver. The present study shows that oxytocin reverses hepatic fibrosis and that hepatic macrophages are the central hub of oxytocin-mediated alleviation of hepatic fibrosis by promoting a phenotypic switch in hepatic macrophages, transitioning from Ly6high to Ly6Clow expression. The present study reveals a novel pathway by which oxytocin regulates macrophage phenotype. In addition, the potential applications of oxytocin and its analogues, as traditional drugs for clinical application, in the treatment of liver fibrosis deserve to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mingkun Liu
- Organ Transplant Department, Qilu Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
| | - Gang Du
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Organ Transplant Department, Qilu Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhengchen Jiang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Huaxin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Pathology Tissue Bank, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dandan Dou
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingxin Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaosong Li
- Clinical Molecular Medicine Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Organ Transplant Department, Qilu Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, China
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Li S, Shi Y, Zhu J, Li J, Wang S, Liu C. Protective effect of oxytocin on vincristine-induced gastrointestinal dysmotility in mice. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1270612. [PMID: 38655179 PMCID: PMC11037254 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1270612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Aims: Vincristine (VCR), an antineoplastic drug, induces peripheral neuropathy characterized by nerve damage, limiting its use and reducing the quality of life of patients. VCR causes myenteric neuron damage, inhibits gastrointestinal motility, and results in constipation or paralytic ileus in patients. Oxytocin (OT) is an endogenous neuropeptide produced by the enteric nerve system, which regulates gastrointestinal motility and exerts neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate whether OT can improve VCR-induced gastrointestinal dysmotility and evaluate the underlying mechanism. Methods: Mice were injected either with saline or VCR (0.1 mg/kg/d, i. p.) for 14 days, and OT (0.1 mg/kg/d, i.p.) was applied 1 h before each VCR injection. Gastrointestinal transit and the contractile activity of the isolated colonic segments were assessed. The concentration of OT in plasma was measured using ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze myenteric neurons and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, the indicators of oxidative stress were detected. The protein expressions of Nrf2, ERK1/2, P-ERK1/2, p38, and P-p38 in the colon were tested using Western blot. Results: VCR reduced gastrointestinal transit and the responses of isolated colonic segments to electrical field stimulation and decreased the amount of neurons. Furthermore, VCR reduced neuronal nitric oxide synthase and choline acetyltransferase immunopositive neurons in the colonic myenteric nerve plexus. VCR increased the concentration of OT in plasma. Exogenous OT pretreatment ameliorated the inhibition of gastrointestinal motility and the injury of myenteric neurons caused by VCR. OT pretreatment also prevented the decrease of superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione content, total antioxidative capacity, and Nrf2 expression, the increase of ROS levels, and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK following VCR treatment. Conclusion: Our results suggest that OT pretreatment can protect enteric neurons from VCR-induced injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and MAPK pathways (ERK1/2, p38). This may be the underlying mechanism by which it alleviates gastrointestinal dysmotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yao Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianchun Zhu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingxin Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuanglian Wang
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Chuanyong Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Provincial Key Lab of Mental Disorders, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Li S, Yang M, Shi Y, Li J, Liu C. Downregulation of mesenteric afferent sensitivity following long-term systemic treatment of vincristine in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 484:116887. [PMID: 38458354 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116887] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Gastrointestinal paresthesia and dysmotility are common side effects of vincristine (VCR) chemotherapy, which have become one of the factors for dose reduction, therapy delay or discontinuation. However, the mechanism is not entirely clear, whether it is related to autonomic nerves injury remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to study whether VCR-induced gastrointestinal toxicity is related to changes in mesenteric afferent activity. METHODS The effects of a single VCR stimulation and long-term systemic VCR treatment on mesenteric afferent activity were investigated by directly recording mesenteric afferent discharge in vitro. RESULTS Our results showed that a single VCR (0.001-1 μmol/L) stimulation obviously increased the spontaneous, chemically evoked and mechanically evoked discharge of jejunal and colonic mesenteric afferents. This kind of hypersensitivity of VCR could be blocked by capsazepine, a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonist. For the mice treated with VCR (0.1 mg/kg/d, i.p.) for 14 days, the abdominal withdrawal reflex and writhing response scores were reduced. Meanwhile, the spontaneous discharge of colonic mesenteric afferents and the afferent response to VCR was downregulated, and the afferent sensitivity to chemical and mechanical stimulation was reduced. Moreover, the expression of TRPV1 in colon was decreased. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the direct stimulation by VCR increases the mesenteric afferent sensitivity by activating TRPV1, which may be the reason of VCR-induced abdominal pain; the long-term systemic treatment of VCR decreases mesenteric afferent sensitivity by reducing TRPV1, which may be the reason of VCR-induced constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Mengyuan Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yao Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 30 Shuang Qing Road, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jingxin Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Chuanyong Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Provincial Key Lab of Mental Disorders, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
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Usman M, Malik H, Tokhi A, Arif M, Huma Z, Rauf K, Sewell RDE. 5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin ameliorates vincristine induced neuropathic pain: potential role of 5HT 3 receptors and monoamines. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1213763. [PMID: 37920212 PMCID: PMC10619918 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1213763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vincristine is the drug of choice for Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite its significant anticancer effects, it causes dose-dependent neuropathy, leading to compulsive dose reduction. The available drugs used for vincristine-induced neuropathic pain (VINP) have a range of safety, efficacy, and tolerability issues prompting a search for new therapies. 5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin (5,7-DMC) also known as citropten, is a natural coumarin found in the essential oils of citrus plants such as lime, lemons, and bergamots, and it possesses both antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate the possible analgesic and antiallodynic effects of 5,7-DMC in a murine model of VINP. Vincristine was administered to groups of BALB/c male mice (0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) once daily for 14 days to induce VINP. Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were quantified using the tail immersion test and von Frey filament application method. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and vitamin C in frontal cortical, striatal and hippocampal tissues, as well as the TNF-α level in plasma, were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography and ELISA respectively. On day 15 of the protocol, acute treatment with 5,7-DMC clearly reversed VINP thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical static allodynia, mechanical dynamic allodynia, and cold allodynia. The activity of 5,7-DMC against hyperalgesia and allodynia was inhibited by pretreatment with ondansetron but not naloxone, implicating a 5-HT3 receptor involvement. VINP vitamin C levels were restored by 5,7-DMC in the frontal cortex, and changes in serotonin, dopamine, adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine levels caused by vincristine were reversed either fully or partially. Additionally, the vincristine-induced rise in hippocampal serotonin, dopamine, inosine and striatal serotonin was appreciably reversed by 5,7-DMC. 5,7-DMC also reversed the vincristine-induced increase in the plasma level of TNF-α. In negating the changes in the levels of some neurotransmitters in the brain caused by vincristine, 5,7-DMC showed stronger effects than gabapentin. It was concluded that, there is a potential role of 5-HT3 receptors and monoamines in the amelioration of VINP induced by 5,7-DMC, and the use of this compound warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Hurmat Malik
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Ahmed Tokhi
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Mehreen Arif
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Zilli Huma
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Rauf
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Robert D. E. Sewell
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Kamrani-Sharif R, Hayes AW, Gholami M, Salehirad M, Allahverdikhani M, Motaghinejad M, Emanuele E. Oxytocin as neuro-hormone and neuro-regulator exert neuroprotective properties: A mechanistic graphical review. Neuropeptides 2023; 101:102352. [PMID: 37354708 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2023.102352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegeneration is progressive cell loss in specific neuronal populations, often resulting in clinical consequences with significant medical, societal, and economic implications. Because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, oxytocin has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective and neurobehavioral therapeutic agent, including modulating mood disturbances and cognitive enchantment. METHODS Literature searches were conducted using the following databases Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Google Scholar, the Core Collection, and Cochrane from January 2000 to February 2023 for articles dealing with oxytocin neuroprotective properties in preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders and diseases with a focus on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis/cell death. RESULTS The neuroprotective effects of oxytocin appears to be mediated by its anti-inflammatory properties, inhibition of neuro inflammation, activation of several antioxidant enzymes, inhibition of oxidative stress and free radical formation, activation of free radical scavengers, prevent of mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibition of apoptosis. CONCLUSION Oxytocin acts as a neuroprotective agent by preventing neuro-apoptosis, neuro-inflammation, and neuronal oxidative stress, and by restoring mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Kamrani-Sharif
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Wallace Hayes
- University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mina Gholami
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Salehirad
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Allahverdikhani
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Motaghinejad
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Li Y, Drabison T, Nepal M, Ho RH, Leblanc AF, Gibson AA, Jin Y, Yang W, Huang KM, Uddin ME, Chen M, DiGiacomo DF, Chen X, Razzaq S, Tonniges JR, McTigue DM, Mims AS, Lustberg MB, Wang Y, Hummon AB, Evans WE, Baker SD, Cavaletti G, Sparreboom A, Hu S. Targeting a xenobiotic transporter to ameliorate vincristine-induced sensory neuropathy. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e164646. [PMID: 37347545 PMCID: PMC10443802 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.164646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Vincristine is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of multiple malignant diseases that causes a dose-limiting peripheral neurotoxicity. There is no clinically effective preventative treatment for vincristine-induced sensory peripheral neurotoxicity (VIPN), and mechanistic details of this side effect remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that VIPN is dependent on transporter-mediated vincristine accumulation in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Using a xenobiotic transporter screen, we identified OATP1B3 as a neuronal transporter regulating the uptake of vincristine. In addition, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the murine orthologue transporter OATP1B2 protected mice from various hallmarks of VIPN - including mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and changes in digital maximal action potential amplitudes and neuronal morphology - without negatively affecting plasma levels or antitumor effects of vincristine. Finally, we identified α-tocopherol from an untargeted metabolomics analysis as a circulating endogenous biomarker of neuronal OATP1B2 function, and it could serve as a companion diagnostic to guide dose selection of OATP1B-type transport modulators given in combination with vincristine to prevent VIPN. Collectively, our findings shed light on the fundamental basis of VIPN and provide a rationale for the clinical development of transporter inhibitors to prevent this debilitating side effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
- Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Thomas Drabison
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Mahesh Nepal
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
- Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Richard H. Ho
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alix F. Leblanc
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Alice A. Gibson
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Yan Jin
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Wenjian Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kevin M. Huang
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Muhammad Erfan Uddin
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Mingqing Chen
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Duncan F. DiGiacomo
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Xihui Chen
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Sobia Razzaq
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | | | - Dana M. McTigue
- The Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury & Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, and
| | - Alice S. Mims
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Maryam B. Lustberg
- The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yijia Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Amanda B. Hummon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - William E. Evans
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sharyn D. Baker
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Guido Cavaletti
- Experimental Neurology Unit and Milan Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alex Sparreboom
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Shuiying Hu
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
- Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Khan A, Shal B, Ullah Khan A, Ullah Shah K, Saniya Zahra S, ul Haq I, ud Din F, Ali H, Khan S. Neuroprotective mechanism of Ajugarin-I against Vincristine-Induced neuropathic pain via regulation of Nrf2/NF-κB and Bcl2 signalling. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110046. [PMID: 36989890 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Vincristine (VCR) is a well-known chemotherapeutic agent that frequently triggers neuropathic pain. Ajugarin-I (Aju-I) isolated from Ajuga bracteosa exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorative potential of Aju-I against VCR-induced neuropathic pain and explored the underlying mechanism involved. The neuroprotective potential of Aju-I was first confirmed against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in PC12 cells. For neuropathic pain induction, vincristine was given intraperitoneally (i.p.) into adult male albino mice (BALB/c) of the same age (8-12 weeks old) for 10 days (days 1-10). Aju-I (1 and 5 mg/kg) doses were administered from day 11 to 21 intraperitoneally (i.p.) after the neuropathic induction. Initially, behavioral tests such as thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, and cold allodynia were performed to investigate the antinociceptive potential of Ajugarin-I (1 and 5 mg/kg, b.w). The nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), BCL2-associated × protein (Bax), and B-cell-lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) signaling proteins were determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant, and oxidative stress parameters were also measured in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve. The behavioral results demonstrated that Aju-I (5 mg/kg) markedly alleviated VCR-induced neuropathic pain behaviors including hyperalgesia and allodynia. It reversed the histological alterations caused by VCR in the sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. It significantly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation by regulating the immunoreactivity of Nrf2/NF-κB signaling. It suppressed apoptosis by regulating the immunoreactivity of Bcl-2/Bax and Caspase-3. The flow cytometry and comet analysis also confirmed its anti-apoptotic potential. It considerably improved the antioxidant status and mitigated VCR-induced inflammatory cytokines. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis indicated that Aju-I crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and penetrated the brain tissue. These findings suggest that Aju-I treatment inhibited vincristine-induced neuropathy via regulation of Nrf2/NF-κB and Bcl2 signaling.
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Dixon TA, Muotri AR. Advancing preclinical models of psychiatric disorders with human brain organoid cultures. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:83-95. [PMID: 35948659 PMCID: PMC9812789 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01708-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are often distinguished from neurological disorders in that the former do not have characteristic lesions or findings from cerebrospinal fluid, electroencephalograms (EEGs), or brain imaging, and furthermore do not have commonly recognized convergent mechanisms. Psychiatric disorders commonly involve clinical diagnosis of phenotypic behavioral disturbances of mood and psychosis, often with a poorly understood contribution of environmental factors. As such, psychiatric disease has been challenging to model preclinically for mechanistic understanding and pharmaceutical development. This review compares commonly used animal paradigms of preclinical testing with evolving techniques of induced pluripotent cell culture with a focus on emerging three-dimensional models. Advances in complexity of 3D cultures, recapitulating electrical activity in utero, and disease modeling of psychosis, mood, and environmentally induced disorders are reviewed. Insights from these rapidly expanding technologies are discussed as they pertain to the utility of human organoid and other models in finding novel research directions, validating pharmaceutical action, and recapitulating human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Anthony Dixon
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Alysson R. Muotri
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics and Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, Archealization Center (ArchC), La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
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Chow LH, Wu WC, Kuo CL, Hung HY, Chen YH, Pan W, Huang EYK. Estrogen can abolish oxytocin-induced spinal anti-hyperalgesia. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105603. [PMID: 34891047 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study verified a sex difference of anti-hyperalgesia in rats and anti-allodynia in mice induced by intrathecal oxytocin (OT). In the model of intraplantar carrageenan-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia, intrathecal OT injection induced a substantial anti-hyperalgesia in male rats even at a low dose (0.125 nmol). In contrast, female rats only responded to an extremely high dose (1.25 nmol). This sex difference concurs with a lower expression of OT receptors and higher expression of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP; OT degrading enzyme) in the spinal cords of female rats. In this study, we further determined the role of female hormones in this sex difference by using ovariectomized rats. Our results show that a low dose of intrathecal OT caused a significant anti-hyperalgesia effect in ovariectomized female rats, similar to that seen in male rats. Ovariectomy did not cause any change of paw edema except at the late stage of convalescence when compared with the sham-operated group. Ovariectomy-induced faster recovery from edema but did not affect the severity of hyperalgesia. Moreover, there was a similar amount of IRAP expression in ovariectomized and sham rats. When estradiol (E2) was given together with OT, OT-induced anti-hyperalgesia was abolished at the developmental stage of hyperalgesia in ovariectomized rats. These results show an inhibitory role of female hormones generated from ovaries (mainly estrogen) in the sex difference of anti-hyperalgesia induced by OT. This study suggests the feasibility of a novel OT-based remedy to treat hyperalgesia in men and in menopausal women no receiving hormonal supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lok-Hi Chow
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chuan Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Lin Kuo
- Department of General Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Yuan Hung
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Hao Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Weihong Pan
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; BioPotentials Consult, Sedona, AZ, United States
| | - Eagle Yi-Kung Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Wang P, Wang SC, Liu X, Jia S, Wang X, Li T, Yu J, Parpura V, Wang YF. Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation. ASN Neuro 2022; 14:17590914221100706. [PMID: 35593066 PMCID: PMC9125079 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221100706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT), a nonapeptide, has a variety of functions. Despite extensive studies on OT over past decades, our understanding of its neural functions and their regulation remains incomplete. OT is mainly produced in OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and accessory nuclei between the SON and PVN. OT exerts neuromodulatory effects in the brain and spinal cord. While magnocellular OT neurons in the SON and PVN mainly innervate the pituitary and forebrain regions, and parvocellular OT neurons in the PVN innervate brainstem and spinal cord, the two sets of OT neurons have close interactions histologically and functionally. OT expression occurs at early life to promote mental and physical development, while its subsequent decrease in expression in later life stage accompanies aging and diseases. Adaptive changes in this OT system, however, take place under different conditions and upon the maturation of OT release machinery. OT can modulate social recognition and behaviors, learning and memory, emotion, reward, and other higher brain functions. OT also regulates eating and drinking, sleep and wakefulness, nociception and analgesia, sexual behavior, parturition, lactation and other instinctive behaviors. OT regulates the autonomic nervous system, and somatic and specialized senses. Notably, OT can have different modulatory effects on the same function under different conditions. Such divergence may derive from different neural connections, OT receptor gene dimorphism and methylation, and complex interactions with other hormones. In this review, brain functions of OT and their underlying neural mechanisms as well as the perspectives of their clinical usage are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Stephani C. Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuwei Jia
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoran Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Neuroscience Laboratory for Translational Medicine, School of Mental Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jiawei Yu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Kerqin District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Vladimir Parpura
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids attenuate paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy through PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway. Chin Med 2021; 16:58. [PMID: 34281577 PMCID: PMC8287815 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corydalis saxicola Bunting, affiliated with the Papaveraceae Juss., has been proven to work well in anti-inflammation, hemostasis, and analgesia. This study was designed to observe the effect and potential mechanism of Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids (CSBTA) on paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN). Materials and methods Rats were injected 2 mg/kg paclitaxel 4 times and administrated with 30 or 120 mg/kg CSBTA. Mechanical and thermal allodynia and hyperalgesia were tested. After 40 days, serum was collected to detect PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β by ELISA. The L4-L6 segment spinal cord, DRG, and plantar skin were harvested, and Western-blot or RT-qPCR analyzed protein and gene levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, p38 MAPK, PKCε, and TRPV1. The PIPN cell model was established with paclitaxel (300 nM, 5 d) in primary DRG neurons. We examined the effect of CSBTA (25 μg/ml or 50 μg/ml) by measuring the mRNA levels in PGE2, TNF-α and CGRP, and the protein expression on the PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway in the PIPN cell model. Results The results showed that CSBTA effectively ameliorated allodynia and hyperalgesia, and regulated cytokines' contents (PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and neuropeptides (CGRP and SP) in different tissues in vivo. In addition, CSBTA significantly decreased cytokine gene levels of DRG neurons (PGE2, TNF-α, and CGRP) and the protein expressions of PKCε/p38 MAPK/TRPV1 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion Therefore, CSBTA has a perspective therapeutic effect on the treatment of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy.
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