Pycnogenol achieves neuroprotective effects in rats with spinal cord injury by stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential

Mechanism Study of Polydatin in Treating Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating central lesions, and mitochondrial function plays an important role in secondary injury after SCI. Polydatin (PD) is a natural glycosylated precursor of resveratrol, showing mitochondrial preservation effects in the central nervous system. This study aimed to identify the hub target genes of PD on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in SCI. A comprehensive analysis was performed on SCI-related genes, MMP-related genes, and PD targets screening from public databases. Differential expression analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SCI. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were employed to assess pathway enrichment. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and molecular docking were conducted to identify key genes and evaluate the binding affinity between PD and hub genes. A total of 16,958 SCI-related genes, 2,786 MMP-related genes, 318 PD-related target genes, and 7229 DEGs were identified. Intersection analysis revealed 46 genes common to all four categories. GSEA and GSVA analysis identified significant enrichment of pathways associated with suppressed and activated SCI biological processes. The PPI network analysis identified seven core hub genes: EGFR, SRC, VEGFA, STAT3, ERBB2, TP53, and RHOA. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities between PD and ERBB2, EGFR, and RHOA. The findings based on computational investigation from public databases suggest that PD may have therapeutic potential for SCI by modulating MMP. These results contribute to the understanding of SCI pathogenesis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) Bark Extract Attenuates Aβ-Induced Cognitive Impairment by Regulating Cholinergic Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation

In this study, we investigated the anti-amnesic effect of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) bark extract (KRPBE) against amyloid beta_1-42 (Aβ_1-42)-induced neurotoxicity. We found that treatment with KRPBE improved the behavioral function in Aβ-induced mice, and also boosted the antioxidant system in mice by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reducing glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, KRPBE improved the cholinergic system by suppressing reduced acetylcholine (ACh) content while also activating acetylcholinesterase (AChE), regulating the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and synaptophysin. KRPBE also showed an ameliorating effect on cerebral mitochondrial deficit by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP levels. Moreover, KRPBE modulated the expression levels of neurotoxicity indicators Aβ and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, p-IκB-α, and IL-1β. Furthermore, we found that KRPBE improved the expression levels of neuronal apoptosis-related markers BAX and BCl-2 and increased the expression levels of BDNF and p-CREB. Therefore, this study suggests that KRPBE treatment has an anti-amnestic effect by modulating cholinergic system dysfunction and neuroinflammation in Aβ_1-42-induced cognitive impairment in mice.

N-Acetylcysteine alleviates spinal cord injury in rats after early decompression surgery by regulating inflammation and apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Decompression surgery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) has a neuroprotective effect by alleviating secondary injury and improving neurological outcomes. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, has been shown to play neuroprotective roles via attenuation of apoptosis and inflammation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of early or late decompression surgery in combination with NAC administration on acute SCI, as well as investigate the underlying mechanisms of its actions.

METHODS

In this study, an acute SCI model was established in rats. The rats were treated with decompression surgery 24/48 h post-SCI in combination with or without NAC.

RESULTS

The results showed that decompression surgery in combination with NAC lead to a better outcome than decompression alone, as demonstrated by the higher Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores. Histopathological examination demonstrated that early decompression surgery in combination with NAC exerted the best therapeutic effect on spinal cord recovery, which was further confirmed by the extent of inflammation and apoptosis. Additionally, we found that NAC might compensate for a lack of late surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, early decompression surgery and NAC could be a promising combination for the treatment of acute SCI, and its therapeutic effects may be associated with the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis.

Effects of Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Interconnected Pathways during Spinal Cord Injury

Despite the progression in targeting the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a lack of effective treatments. Moreover, conventional therapies suffer from associated side effects and low efficacy, raising the need for finding potential alternative therapies. In this regard, a comprehensive review was done regarding revealing the main neurological dysregulated pathways and providing alternative therapeutic agents following SCI. From the mechanistic point, oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways are major upstream orchestras of cross-linked dysregulated pathways (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, and extrinsic mechanisms) following SCI. It urges the need for developing multitarget therapies against SCI complications. Polyphenols, as plant-derived secondary metabolites, have the potential of being introduced as alternative therapeutic agents to pave the way for treating SCI. Such secondary metabolites presented modulatory effects on neuronal oxidative stress, neuroinflammatory, and extrinsic axonal dysregulated pathways in the onset and progression of SCI. In the present review, the potential role of phenolic compounds as critical phytochemicals has also been revealed in regulating upstream dysregulated oxidative stress/inflammatory signaling mediators and extrinsic mechanisms of axonal regeneration after SCI in preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, the coadministration of polyphenols and stem cells has shown a promising strategy for improving post-SCI complications.

The ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 ameliorates blood-spinal cord barrier disruption by reducing tight junction protein degradation via the MYPT1-MLC2 pathway after spinal cord injury in rats

The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) is a physiological barrier between the blood and spinal cord parenchyma. This study aims to determine whether Y-27632, a Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, can protect the BSCB using in vivo models. The Evans blue fluorescence assay was used to detect leakage of the BSCB. Western blotting was used to define alterations in ROCK-related and tight junction (TJ) protein expression. Immunofluorescence triple-staining was used to evaluate histologic alterations in TJs. Locomotor function was evaluated using the open-field test, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score, and footprint analysis. Two peaks of BSCB leakage after spinal cord injury (SCI) occurred at 24 h and 5 days. The ROCK inhibitor reduced the BSCB leakage at the second peak after SCI. Moreover, the ROCK inhibitor ameliorated the integrity of the BSCB and improved motor function recovery after SCI by regulating the phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase subunit-1 (MYPT1) and cofilin. ROCK inhibitors might protect the BSCB, which provides a new strategy for transitioning SCI treatment from the bench to bedside.

Codonopsis pilosula Polysaccharides Alleviate Aβ 1-40-Induced PC12 Cells Energy Dysmetabolism via CD38/NAD+ Signaling Pathway

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and has a complex pathogenesis with no effective treatment. Energy metabolism disorders, as an early pathological event of AD,have attracted attention as a promising area of AD research. Codonopsis pilosula Polysaccharides are the main effective components of Codonopsis pilosula, which have been demonstrated to regulate energy metabolism.

Methods

In order to further study the roles and mechanisms of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides in AD, this study used an Aβ_1-40-induced PC12 cells model to study the protective effects of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides and their potential mechanisms in improving energy metabolism dysfunction.

Results

The results showed that Aβ_1-40 induced a decrease in PC12 cells viability, energy metabolism molecules (ATP, NAD+, and NAD+/NADH) and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP) and an increase in ROS. Additionally, it was found that Aβ_1-40 increased CD38 expression related to NAD+ homeostasis, whereas Silent Information Regulation 2 homolog1 (SIRT1, SIRT3), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and SIRT3 activity were decreased. Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides increased NAD+, NAD+/NADH, SIRT3, SIRT1, and PGC-1α related to NAD+, thus partially recovering ATP.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides protected PC12 cells from Aβ_1-40-induced damage, suggesting that these components of the Codonopsis pilosula herb may represent an early treatment option for AD patients.

Hsa-miR-5581-3p and Hsa-miR-542-3p Target the F8 Gene in Hemophilia A without F8 Mutations

Objective

This study aims at uncovering the effects of microRNAs (miRNAs) on the F8 gene and FVIII protein in hemophilia A (HA).

Methods

F8-targeting miRNAs were predicted by TargetScan, miRDB, and starBase. MiRNAs, predicted by at least two of the three databases, were selected for further study, and their expressions in the blood of HA patients without F8 mutations and healthy controls were detected. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the binding between hsa-miR-5581-3p/hsa-miR-542-3p and F8. In addition, the regulation of F8 by hsa-miR-5581-3p/hsa-miR-542-3p was investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) that displayed endogenous expression of FVIII. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of miRNAs and F8 gene, and Western blotting was conducted to measure the expression of FVIII protein.

Results

A total of 42 F8-targeting miRNAs were predicted by at least two of the three databases. Among these miRNAs, hsa-miR-5581-3p and hsa-miR-542-3p were highly expressed in the blood of HA patients and have not been reported in previous studies of HA. Both hsa-miR-5581-3p and hsa-miR-542-3p could bind the 3′UTR of F8 mRNA. Upregulation of hsa-miR-5581-3p or hsa-miR-542-3p suppressed the expressions of F8 mRNA and FVIII protein in HUVECs and LCL cells.

Conclusion

Hsa-miR-5581-3p and hsa-miR-542-3p target the F8 gene and suppress the expression of FVIII protein, which may contribute to the development of HA without F8 mutations.