Antineuroinflammatory Effects of Modified Wu-Zi-Yan-Zong Prescription in β-Amyloid-Stimulated BV2 Microglia via the NF-κB and ERK/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathways

Wuzi Yanzong Pill relieves MPTP-induced motor dysfunction and neuron loss by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation

Parkinson disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, which is associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and neuroinflammation may lead to the occurrence of PD. Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP) has demonstrated neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, but its molecular mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, we used 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice and LPS-mediated BV2 microglia to explore WYP intervention, anti-inflammatory effect and molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that oral administration of WYP in MPTP-induced PD mice for 2 weeks ameliorated abnormal motor dysfunction, attenuated the loss of TH + neurons in SNpc, protected dopaminergic neurons, and inhibited the activation of microglia in MPTP-induced PD mice and LPS-stimulated BV2 cell. Meanwhile, WYP intervention inhibited the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, Pro-IL-1β, IL-1β, Pro-IL-18, IL-18 and enhanced the expression of IL-10 in the SNpc of PD mice. Simultaneously, WYP intervention inhibited the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, accompanied by the decrease of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. However, the exact target and interaction of WYP on NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway still needs to be further investigated.

Protective effects of endotoxin tolerance on peripheral lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neuronal injury

CONTEXT

Parkinson's disease is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by massive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Neuroinflammation has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. The role of immune tolerance in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases induced by peripheral factors is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study established a model of endotoxin tolerance to explore the protective effect of endotoxin tolerance on Parkinson-like changes induced by repeated peripheral injections of high-dose LPS, and to explore its inflammatory mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, mice were injected intraperitoneally with low dose (0.5 mg/kg) LPS for 4 days to induce endotoxin tolerance (ET). Then, high-dose (1 mg/kg) LPS was injected continuously intraperitoneally for 4 days to induce Parkinson-like changes. Cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Activation of microglial cells was detected by protein expression of CD68 and ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1(Iba-1) by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine (DA) were used to assess dopaminergic neuronal injury. The open field test and muscle tension test were used to assess behavioral disorders.

RESULTS

As expected, compared with non-ET animals, ET preconditioning significantly reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines in the substantia nigra, inhibited microglial activation, and alleviated the pathological changes of dopaminergic neurons.

CONCLUSIONS

ET may be a promising intervention method for neurodegenerative diseases.HighlightsET was successfully induced by continuous low-dose intraperitoneal LPS injection in mice.ET pretreatment inhibited neuroinflammation in the SN induced by continuous peripheral high doses of LPS.ET pretreatment inhibited continuous peripheral high-dose LPS injection-induced microglial activation in the SN.ET pretreatment decreased LPS-induced functional impairment of dopaminergic neurons.ET reversed the morphological changes of dopaminergic neurons induced by peripheral high-dose LPS.ET pretreatment improved continuous peripheral high-dose LPS injection-induced behavioral impairment.

Effect of Bushen Huoxue Prescription on Cognitive Dysfunction of KK-Ay Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Diabetic cognitive impairment is one of the common complications of type 2 diabetes, which can cause neurological and microvascular damage in the brain. Bushen Huoxue prescription (BSHX), a compound Chinese medicine, has been used clinically to treat diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, KK-Ay diabetic model mouse was administered BSHX daily for 12 weeks. Bodyweight, random blood glucose (RBG), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured every 4 weeks. Triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting serum insulin (FINS), and Morris water maze were tested after 12 weeks of administration. On the day of sacrifice, the hippocampus was collected for pathological staining and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) analysis to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of BSHX. Our results showed that BSHX treatment significantly ameliorated the T2DM related insults, including the increased bodyweight, blood glucose, TG, insulin levels, AGEs, the reduced HDL-C, the impaired spatial memory, and the neurological impairment. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that increased expression of receptors of AGEs (RAGEs), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the hippocampus were significantly inhibited by BSHX treatment. These results indicate that BSHX can significantly ameliorate glucose and lipid metabolism dysfunction, reduce the morphological changes in hippocampus tissues, and improve the cognitive function of KK-Ay mice. These protective effects of BSHX may involve regulation of the AGEs/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The genus Cuscuta (Convolvolaceac): An updated review on indigenous uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, is a genus of family convolvolaceace. Approximately 170 species of Cuscuta are extensively distributed in temperate and subtropical areas of the world. Species of this genus are widely used as essential constituents in functional foods and traditional medicinal systems. Various parts of many members of Cuscuta have been found efficacious against a variety of diseases. Phytochemical investigations have confirmed presence of biologically active moieties such as flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans, saponines, phenolics, tannins, and fatty acids. Pharmacological studies and traditional uses of these plants have proved that they are effective antibacterial, antioxidant, antiostioporotic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antipyretic, antihypertensive, analgesic, anti hair fall, and antisteriogenic agents.

Polysaccharide of Schisandra Chinensis Fructus ameliorates cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polysaccharides is an important ingredient of Schisandra Chinensis Fructus which often appears in ancient prescriptions for forgetfulness or dementia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of our study is to investigate the effects of polysaccharides of Schisandra Chinensis Fructus (SCP) on animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is a common disease of dementia, to elucidate the traditional medical theories with modern pharmacological methods and provide a reference for further clarifying its active mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hydrolysates of SCP were analyzed by HPLC. Y-maze, Morris water maze (MWM) were used for evaluating cognition processes of mice. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the deposition of Aβ. The levels of cytokine expression including Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the hippocampus were detected by ELISA kits. Activation of astrocytes and microglia was assessed by immunofluorescence labeling GFAP and Iba-1. The phosphorylated state of various mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) signaling molecules (p38 MAPK, ERK 1/2, and JNK) and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was studied by western blot. Histopathological changes were observed by H.E. straining.

RESULTS

SCP could significantly improve the cognition and histopathological changes of AD mice, reduce the deposition of Aβ, downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of glial cells in the hippocampus. Further, SCP decreased nuclear displacement of NF-κB and MAPKs phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

SCP could improve the cognition of mice, and it may play an anti-AD role by activating the NF-κB/MAPK pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation.

Pterostilbene inhibits amyloid-β-induced neuroinflammation in a microglia cell line by inactivating the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway

Neuroinflammation has been known as an important pathogenetic contributor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pterostilbene is a natural compound which has neuroprotective activity. However, the effect of pterostilbene on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neuroinflammation has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on Aβ-induced neuroinflammation in microglia. The results indicated that pterostilbene attenuated Aβ_1-42 -induced cytotoxicity of BV-2 cells. Aβ_1-42 induced NO production and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, while pterostilbene inhibited the induction. The expression and secretion levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were enhanced by Aβ_1-42 treatment, whereas pterostilbene decreased them. Aβ_1-42 activated NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome, which was inactivated by pterostilbene. In addition, the inhibitor of caspase-1 Z-YVAD-FMK attenuated the Aβ_1-42 -induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 cells. In conclusion, pterostilbene attenuated the neuroinflammatory response induced by Aβ_1-42 in microglia through inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway, indicating that pterostilbene might be an effective therapy for AD.

Computer-Aided Multi-Target Management of Emergent Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents an enormous global health burden in terms of human suffering and economic cost. AD management requires a shift from the prevailing paradigm targeting pathogenesis to design and develop effective drugs with adequate success in clinical trials. Therefore, it is of interest to report a review on amyloid beta (Aβ) effects and other multi-targets including cholinesterase, NFTs, tau protein and TNF associated with brain cell death to be neuro-protective from AD. It should be noted that these molecules have been generated either by target-based or phenotypic methods. Hence, the use of recent advancements in nanomedicine and other natural compounds screening tools as a feasible alternative for circumventing specific liabilities is realized. We review recent developments in the design and identification of neuro-degenerative compounds against AD generated using current advancements in computational multi-target modeling algorithms reflected by theragnosis (combination of diagnostic tests and therapy) concern.