Cryptotanshinone possesses therapeutic effects on ischaemic stroke through regulating STAT5 in a rat model

Naodesheng Pills Ameliorate Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Ferroptosis via Inhibition of the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

Background

Ferroptosis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and is regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). In China, Naodesheng Pills (NDSP) are prescribed to prevent and treat cerebrosclerosis and stroke. However, the protective effects and mechanism of action of NDSP against cerebral I/R-induced ferroptosis remain unclear. We investigated whether NDSP exerts its protective effects against I/R injury by regulating ferroptosis and aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The efficacy of NDSP was evaluated using a Sprague-Dawley rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model. Brain injury was assessed using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, and neurological scoring. Western blotting was performed to determine the expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1). Iron levels, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial morphology were also evaluated. Network pharmacology was used to assess the associated mechanisms.

Results

NDSP (1.08 g/kg) significantly improved cerebral infarct area, cerebral water content, neurological scores, and cerebral tissue damage. Furthermore, NDSP inhibited I/R- and OGD/R-induced ferroptosis, as evidenced by the increased protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11, suppression of TFR1 and DMT1, and an overall reduction in oxidative stress and Fe2+ levels. The protective effects of NDSP in vitro were abolished by the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that ERK1/2 was the core target gene and that NDSP reduced the amount of phosphorylated ERK1/2.

Conclusion

NDSP exerts its protective effects against I/R by inhibiting cerebral I/R-induced ferroptosis, and this mechanism is associated with the regulation of ferroptosis via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

ALKBH5 protects against stroke by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent inflammation injury via the STAT5/PERK/EIF2α/CHOP signaling pathway in an m6A-YTHDF1-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress causes neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis during ischemic stroke progression. This study has investigated the role of ALKBH5 in ER stress during ischemic stroke progression.

METHODS

In vivo and in vitro models of ischemic stroke were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and OGD/R treatment, respectively. Cerebral infarct size was detected using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (TTC), and pathological changes were examined using histological staining. The levels of inflammatory factors were analyzed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. The global m6A level was detected using the commercial kit, and STAT5 mRNA m6A level was determined using methylated RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP). ALKBH5, YTHDF1, and STAT5 interactions were analyzed using RIP and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

ALKBH5 was upregulated in MCAO animals and OGD/R cell models. ALKBH5 knockdown exacerbated ER stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis in brain tissues and neuronal cells. ALKBH5 inhibited STAT5 mRNA stability and expression in an m6A-YTHDF1-dependent manner. STAT5 promoted ER stress by activating the PERK/eIF2/CHOP signaling pathway. Furthermore, STAT5 knockdown reversed the effects of ALKBH5 knockdown on OGD/R-induced ER stress and neuroinflammation in HT22 cells.

CONCLUSION

ALKBH5 knockdown exacerbated ischemic stroke by increasing ER stress-dependent neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis via the STAT5/PERK/EIF2α/CHOP signaling pathway in an m6A-YTHDF1-dependent manner.

Uncovering Mechanism and Efficacy of Salvia Miltiorrhiza-Safflower in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemia (CI) is the main cause of stroke morbidity and disability. This study aims to identify the early molecular regulation responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of the Herb pair Danshen-Honghua (DH) for CI. The major targets of DH were identified by searching the public database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In addition, GeneCards, Disgenet, and GeneMap databases in OMIM were used to determine the disease targets of CI. A total of 88 common targets of DH and CI were selected, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established by Cytoscape, and 19 core targets were screened. These genes were primarily enriched in biological processes including wound healing, reaction to oxidative stress, and response to peptides, lipid and atherosclerosis, Age-rage signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway by KEGG and GO enrichments. The effective components of DH had stable binding to these key targets by molecular docking. Finally, it was verified that the mechanism of DH on CI treatment may be related to the activation of the TNF-α/JNK signaling pathway by establishing the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model.

Acupuncture with specific mode electro-stimulation effectively and transiently opens the BBB through Shh signaling pathway

To explore a new method that patients with brain diseases such as stroke sequelae are hindered by blood-brain barrier (BBB) in clinical treatment. Research preliminarily found that acupuncture with specific mode electro-stimulation (EA) to open BBB-assisted drug delivery may be is an effective means to improve the clinical efficacy of brain disease patients. So here we further explore the features and mechanism. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/R recovery rats were employed as the animal model. Laser Doppler monitoring cerebral blood flow decreased to 45 ± 10% of the baseline value as modeling criteria and TTC staining observed infarcted areas of brain tissue. The permeability of FITC-Dextran and EB in the frontal lobe of rats was observed by microscope. After that, Western blot and Immunofluorescence staining for the detection of the shh and Gli1 signal molecule, Claudin-5 Occludin ZO-1 tight junction (TJ) proteins. EA can open the BBB stably and effectively, and has the characteristics of starting to close soon after the end of EA; EA inhibits the Shh-Gli1 signaling pathway, and downregulates Occludin ZO-1 TJ proteins. These results suggest that EA is safe and reversible in opening the BBB, and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of Shh signaling pathway to down-regulate the expression of TJ proteins.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Alleviates Memory Deficit Induced by Ischemic Brain Injury in a Transient MCAO Mouse Model by Inhibiting Ferroptosis

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) has been used in oriental medicine for its neuroprotective effects against cardiovascular diseases and ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic mechanism underlying the effects of SM on stroke using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model. Our results showed that SM administration significantly attenuated acute brain injury, including brain infarction and neurological deficits, 3 days after tMCAO. This was confirmed by our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, which revealed a reduction in brain infarction with SM administration, as well as our magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study, which demonstrated the restoration of brain metabolites, including taurine, total creatine, and glutamate. The neuroprotective effects of SM were associated with the reduction in gliosis and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), along with the upregulation of phosphorylated STAT3 in post-ischemic brains. SM also reduced the levels of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which are markers of lipid peroxidation, induced by oxidative stress upregulation in the penumbra of the tMCAO mouse brain. SM administration attenuated ischemic neuronal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis. Additionally, post-ischemic brain synaptic loss and neuronal loss were alleviated by SM administration, as demonstrated by Western blot and Nissl staining. Moreover, daily administration of SM for 28 days after tMCAO significantly reduced neurological deficits and improved survival rates in tMCAO mice. SM administration also resulted in improvement in post-stroke cognitive impairment, as measured by the novel object recognition and passive avoidance tests in tMCAO mice. Our findings suggest that SM provides neuroprotection against ischemic stroke and has potential as a therapeutic agent.

Perspectives of herbs and their natural compounds, and herb formulas on treating diverse diseases through regulating complicated JAK/STAT signaling

JAK/STAT signaling pathways are closely associated with multiple biological processes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, differentiation, immune response, and epigenetics. Abnormal activation of the STAT pathway can contribute to disease progressions under various conditions. Moreover, tofacitinib and baricitinib as the JAK/STAT inhibitors have been recently approved by the FDA for rheumatology disease treatment. Therefore, influences on the STAT signaling pathway have potential and perspective approaches for diverse diseases. Chinese herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which are widespread throughout China, are the gold resources of China and have been extensively used for treating multiple diseases for thousands of years. However, Chinese herbs and herb formulas are characterized by complicated components, resulting in various targets and pathways in treating diseases, which limits their approval and applications. With the development of chemistry and pharmacology, active ingredients of TCM and herbs and underlying mechanisms have been further identified and confirmed by pharmacists and chemists, which improved, to some extent, awkward limitations, approval, and applications regarding TCM and herbs. In this review, we summarized various herbs, herb formulas, natural compounds, and phytochemicals isolated from herbs that have the potential for regulating multiple biological processes via modulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway based on the published work. Our study will provide support for revealing TCM, their active compounds that treat diseases, and the underlying mechanism, further improving the rapid spread of TCM to the world.