The Neuroprotective Effect of Steroid Receptor Coactivator-Interacting Protein (SIP) in Astrocyte Model of 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-Induced Parkinson's Disease

FOXA1 Suppresses Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Oxidative Stress, and Neuronal Apoptosis in Parkinson's Disease by Activating PON2 Transcription

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress (OS) are often related states in pathological conditions including Parkinson's disease (PD). This study investigates the role of anti-oxidant protein paraoxonase 2 (PON2) in ER stress and OS in PD, along with its regulatory molecule. PD was induced in C57BL/6 mice using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP) treatment and in SH-SY5Y cells using 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. PON2 was found to be poorly expressed in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of PD mice, and its overexpression improved motor coordination of mice. Through the evaluation of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transporter, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) levels and neuronal loss in mice, as well as the examination of CHOP, glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94), GRP78, caspase-12, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase levels in SH-SY5Y cells, we observed that PON2 overexpression mitigated ER stress, OS, and neuronal apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) was identified as a transcription factor binding to the PON2 promoter to activate its transcription. Upregulation of FOXA1 similarly protected against neuronal loss by alleviating ER stress and OS, while the protective roles were abrogated by additional PON2 silencing. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that FOXA1-mediated transcription of PON2 alleviates ER stress and OS, ultimately reducing neuronal apoptosis in PD.

Astrocytic transcription factors REST, YY1, and putative microRNAs in Parkinson's disease and advanced therapeutic strategies

Transcription factors (TF) and microRNAs are regulatory factors in astrocytes and are linked to several Parkinson's disease (PD) progression causes, such as disruption of glutamine transporters in astrocytes and concomitant disrupted glutamine uptake and inflammation. REST, a crucial TF, has been documented as an epigenetic repressor that limits the expression of neuronal genes in non-neural cells. REST activity is significantly linked to its corepressors in astrocytes, specifically histone deacetylases (HDACs), CoREST, and MECP2. Another REST-regulating TF, YY1, has been studied in astrocytes, and its interaction with REST has been investigated. In this review, the molecular processes that support the astrocytic control of REST and YY1 in terms of the regulation of glutamate transporter EAAT2 were addressed in a more detailed and comprehensive manner. Both TFs' function in astrocytes and how astrocyte abnormalities cause PD is still a mystery. Moreover, microRNAs (short non-coding RNAs) are key regulators that have been correlated to the expression and regulation of numerous genes linked to PD. The identification of numerous miRs that are engaged in astrocyte dysfunction that triggers PD has been shown. The term "Gut-brain axis" refers to the two systems' mutual communication. Gut microbial dysbiosis, which mediates an imbalance of the gut-brain axis, might contribute to neurodegenerative illnesses through altered astrocytic regulation. New treatment approaches to modify the gut-brain axis and prevent astrocytic repercussions have also been investigated in this review.

Steroid Receptor Coactivator-Interacting Protein (SIP) Alleviates Ischemic Cerebral Infarction Damage Through the NF-κB Pathway

Ischemic stroke leads to high mortality and disability rates in humans. Cerebral ischemic injury has a severe complex pathophysiological mechanism. The abnormal release of inflammatory cytokines will cause brain tissue damage and destroy the blood-brain barrier integrity, which aggravates the process of brain injury. Therefore, attenuating the level of inflammatory response is critical for the therapy of cerebral ischemia injury. This study examined the rule of SIP treatment to support neuron protective effect after cerebral injury in an animal model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After ischemia/reperfusion, neurological function, neuroglia cells activation, infarction volume, brain water content, brain tissue apoptosis ratio, and inflammatory response were assessed, and quantitative PCR and western blot were also detected, respectively. Treatment of SIP ameliorated neurological dysfunction, brain infarction, brain edema, and brain cell apoptosis after MCAO operation. Overexpression SIP also suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines release. Furthermore, the protective effect of SIP on brain injury occurs through reduced neuroglia cells activation through downregulation of the NF-κB pathway. In summary, the present work indicated that SIP prevents ischemic cerebral infarction-induced inflammation and apoptosis by blocking inflammasome activation via NF-κB signaling pathway. Those results suggest that SIP treatment is an attractive strategy for prevention of ischemic cerebral infarction.

Effects of Medicinal Plants and Flavonoids on Parkinson's Disease: A Review on Basic and Clinical Evidences

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by typical symptoms including gradual progressive muscle rigidity, tremor and loss of motor skills. Although there is no definitive cure for PD, the extract of some medicinal plants and their ingredients have been suggested to relieve its symptoms and to prevent disability in patients. This review is focused on therapeutic effects of some medicinal plants and their ingredients on PD. The findings presented in this review were collected from experimental and clinical studies in databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar until the end of May 2019. The keywords "neurotoxicity " or "Parkinson’s disease" or "neuroprotective" and "Medicinal plants" and "Flavonoids" were searched. Based on the results of animal and clinical studies, the extract of medicinal plants and their components which are discussed in this review have neuro-protective effects against PD. These protective properties mainly are mediated through inhibition of dopamine metabolizing enzymes, reduction oxidant markers, increase of antioxidant agents and suppression of neuro-inflammation.

Therapeutic effects of KANK2 in myocardial infarction rats might be associated with the NF-κB p65 inhibition

OBJECTIVE

KN motif and ankyrin repeat domains 2 (KANK2) may inhibit the activation of (NF-kappaB) p65, which plays a role in myocardial injury. Thus, our study aims to discover the effect of KANK2 on myocardial infarction (MI) induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) through regulating NF-κB p65 in vivo.

METHODS

MI rats underwent LAD ligation were administered with intramyocardial injections of KANK2/Control activation plasmids. Six weeks after MI, pressure-volume (P/V) loops was used to investigate the cardiac function of rats, then the following detections were performed, including TTC staining, HE staining, immunofluorescence, Masson' s trichrome staining, ELISA assay, TUNEL staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

MI rats decreased in maximum pressure (p_max), ejection fraction (EF%), peak rate of pressure rise (dpdt_max) and decline (-dpdt_max) with increased end diastolic pressure (EDP), which was partially reversed by KANK2 overexpression. Besides, KANK2 CRISPR activation plasmids reduced infarct size with less collagen fiber proliferation and neutrophil infiltration in infarct tissues, as well as suppressed pro-inflammatory factors expressions in MI rats. Moreover, injection of KANK2 activation plasmid decreased collagen deposition, aggravated cardiomyocyte apoptosis, enhanced the capillary density, and increased the expressions of VEGF and bFGF in the infarct and peri-infarct regions of MI rats. KANK2 lowered myocardial NF-κB p65 expression in MI rats.

CONCLUSION

KANK2 may play its therapeutic role in MI through improving cardiac function, decreasing myocardial collagen deposition, reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and increasing angiogenesis, which might be associated with the reduction of NF-κB p65 expression.