1
|
Zingerone Targets Status Epilepticus by Blocking Hippocampal Neurodegeneration via Regulation of Redox Imbalance, Inflammation and Apoptosis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14020146. [PMID: 33670383 PMCID: PMC7918711 DOI: 10.3390/ph14020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is an intricate neurological disease where the neurons are severely affected, leading to the mortality of millions worldwide. Status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium chloride (LiCl) and pilocarpine, is the most accepted model for epilepsy. The current work aims to unravel the mechanisms underlying the anti-epileptic efficacy of zingerone (an active ingredient of ginger), which has beneficial pharmacological activities on seizure-induced behavioral, histological, neurochemical, and molecular patterns in mice. Zingerone restored cognitive function by diminishing seizure activity, escape latency, and subsequent hippocampal damage manifested in histology. Seizures are associated with local inflammation, redox imbalance, and neural loss, confirmed by the present study of SE, and was attenuated by zingerone treatment. Nuclear factor-kappa B and its downstream signaling molecules (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NO, MPO) were activated in the LiCl-and-pilocarpine-induced group leading to inflammatory signaling, which was substantially ameliorated by zingerone treatment. The intrinsic apoptotic process was triggered subsequent to SE, as demonstrated by augmentation of cleaved caspase-3, downregulation of Bcl-2. However, zingerone treatment downregulated caspase-3 and upregulated Bcl-2, increasing cell survival and decreasing hippocampal neural death, deciphering involvement of apoptosis in SE. Therefore, zingerone plays an essential role in neuroprotection, probably by precluding oxidative stress, inflammation, and obstructing the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
Collapse
|
2
|
Tutka P, Mróz K, Mróz T, Buszewicz G, Aebisher D, Bartusik-Aebisher D, Kołodziejczyk P, Łuszczki JJ. Effects of androsterone on the protective action of various antiepileptic drugs against maximal electroshock-induced seizures in mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 101:27-34. [PMID: 30408720 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of androsterone (AND), a metabolite of testosterone, on the ability of selected classical and novel antiepileptic drugs to prevent seizures caused by maximal electroshock (MES), which may serve as an experimental model of human generalized tonic-clonic seizures in mice. Single intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of AND (80 mg kg-1) significantly raised the threshold for convulsions in the MES seizure threshold test. Lower doses of AND (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1) failed to change the threshold. AND at a subthreshold dose of 40 mg kg-1 significantly enhanced the protective activity of carbamazepine, gabapentin, and phenobarbital against MES-induced seizures decreasing their median effective doses (ED50) values ± SEM from 8.59 ± 0.76 to 6.05 ± 0.81 mg kg-1 (p = 0.0308) for carbamazepine, from 419.9 ± 120.6 to 111.5 ± 41.1 mg kg-1 (p = 0.0405) for gabapentin, and from 20.86 ± 1.64 to 10.0 ± 1.21 mg kg-1 (p = 0.0007) for phenobarbital. There were no significant changes in total brain concentrations of carbamazepine, gabapentin, and phenobarbital following AND administration. This suggests that the enhancing effects of AND on the protective activity of these antiepileptic drugs are not related to pharmacokinetic factors. A lower dose of AND (20 mg kg-1) had no effect on the protective activity of carbamazepine, gabapentin, and phenobarbital. AND administered at a dose of 40 mg kg-1 failed to change the anticonvulsant activity of lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, topiramate, and valproate in the MES test. In the chimney test, AND given at a dose enhancing the protective activity of carbamazepine, gabapentin, and phenobarbital (which alone was without effect on motor performance of mice) did not affect impairment of motor coordination produced by the antiepileptics. Our findings recommend further preclinical and clinical research on AND in respect of its use as adjuvant therapy in the management of epilepsy in men with deficiency of androgens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Tutka
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Al. Kopisto 2a, PL, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland; Laboratory for Innovative Research in Pharmacology, Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences', University of Rzeszów, Warzywna 1A, PL, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Mróz
- Department of Neurology, District Hospital, Cicha 14, PL, 21-100, Lubartów, Poland
| | - Tomasz Mróz
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, PL, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Buszewicz
- Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, PL, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - David Aebisher
- Department of Photomedicine and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Al. Kopisto 2a, PL, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Al. Kopisto 2a, PL, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Patrycjusz Kołodziejczyk
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Al. Kopisto 2a, PL, 35-959, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Jarogniew J Łuszczki
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, PL, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cruz DA, Glantz LA, McGaughey KD, Parke G, Shampine LJ, Kilts JD, Naylor JC, Marx CE, Williamson DE. Neurosteroid Levels in the Orbital Frontal Cortex of Subjects with PTSD and Controls: A Preliminary Report. CHRONIC STRESS (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2019; 3:2470547019838570. [PMID: 31276078 PMCID: PMC6604657 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019838570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Neurosteroids mediate stress signaling and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both preclinical and clinical studies. Compared to controls, subjects with PTSD exhibit altered neurosteroid levels in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid as well as hypoactivity in the medial orbital frontal cortex (mOFC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare neurosteroid levels in the mOFC of subjects with PTSD (n = 18) and controls (n = 35). Methods Gray matter was dissected from fresh-frozen mOFC, and levels of the neurosteroids pregnenolone, allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, epiallopregnanolone, epipregnanolone, tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, and androsterone were determined by gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Results Analyses of unadjusted levels revealed that males with PTSD had significantly decreased levels of allopregnanolone (p = 0.03) compared to control males and females with PTSD had significantly increased levels of pregnenolone (p = 0.03) relative to control females. After controlling for age, postmortem interval, and smoking status, results showed that males with PTSD had significantly decreased levels of androsterone (t46 = 2.37, p = 0.02) compared to control males and females with PTSD had significantly increased levels of pregnanolone (t46 = -2.25, p = 0.03) relative to control females. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of neurosteroid levels in postmortem brain tissue of subjects with PTSD. Although replication is required in other brain regions and in a larger cohort of subjects, the results suggest a dysregulation of allopregnanolone and androsterone in males with PTSD and pregnanolone in females with PTSD in the mOFC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dianne A. Cruz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Leisa A. Glantz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kara D. McGaughey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gillian Parke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lawrence J. Shampine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jason D. Kilts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Naylor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christine E. Marx
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Durham
VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC, Durham, NC,
USA
| | - Douglas E. Williamson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Durham
VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ni H, Chen SH, Li LL, Jin MF. Alterations in the Neurobehavioral Phenotype and ZnT3/CB-D28k Expression in the Cerebral Cortex Following Lithium-Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus: the Ameliorative Effect of Leptin. Biol Trace Elem Res 2019; 187:100-106. [PMID: 29687372 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-018-1343-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3)-dependent "zincergic" vesicular zinc accounts for approximately 20% of the total zinc content of the mammalian telencephalon. Elevated hippocampal ZnT3 expression is acknowledged to be associated with mossy fiber sprouting and cognitive deficits. However, no studies have compared the long-term neurobehavioral phenotype with the expression of ZnT3 in the cerebral cortex following status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the long-term neurobehavioral phenotype as well as the expression of ZnT3 and calcium homeostasis-related CB-D28k in the cerebral cortex of rats subjected to neonatal SE and to determine the effects of leptin treatment immediately after neonatal SE. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal day 6, P6) were randomly assigned to two groups: the pilocarpine hydrochloride-induced status epilepticus group (RS, n = 30) and control group (n = 20). Rats were further divided into the control group without leptin (Control), control-plus-leptin treatment group (Leptin), RS group without leptin treatment (RS), and RS-plus-leptin treatment group (RS + Leptin). On P6, all rats in the RS group and RS + Leptin group were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lithium chloride (5 mEq/kg). Pilocarpine (320 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min after the scopolamine methyl chloride (1 mg/kg) injection on P7. From P8 to P14, animals of the Leptin group and RS + Leptin group were given leptin (4 mg/kg/day, i.p.). The neurological behavioral parameters (negative geotaxis reaction reflex, righting reflex, cliff avoidance reflex, forelimb suspension reflex, and open field test) were observed from P23 to P30. The protein levels of ZnT3 and CB-D28k in the cerebral cortex were detected subsequently by the western blot method. Pilocarpine-treated neonatal rats showed long-term abnormal neurobehavioral parameters. In parallel, there was a significantly downregulated protein level of CB-D28k and upregulated protein level of ZnT3 in the cerebral cortex of the RS group. Leptin treatment soon after epilepticus for 7 consecutive days counteracted these abnormal changes. Taken together with the results from our previous reports on another neonatal seizure model, which showed a significant positive inter-relationship between ZnT3 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα), the data here suggest that ZnT3/CB-D28k-associated Zn (2+)/Ca(2+) signaling might be involved in neonatal SE-induced long-term brain damage in the aspects of neurobehavioral impairment. Moreover, consecutive leptin treatment is effect at counteracting these hyperexcitability-related changes, suggesting a potential clinical significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ni
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Su-Hong Chen
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Li Li
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei-Fang Jin
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pottoo FH, Tabassum N, Javed MN, Nigar S, Rasheed R, Khan A, Barkat MA, Alam MS, Maqbool A, Ansari MA, Barreto GE, Ashraf GM. The Synergistic Effect of Raloxifene, Fluoxetine, and Bromocriptine Protects Against Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:1233-1247. [PMID: 29881945 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1121-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
6
|
Increased Superoxide Dismutase 2 by Allopregnanolone Ameliorates ROS-Mediated Neuronal Death in Mice with Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus. Neurochem Res 2018; 43:1464-1475. [PMID: 29855848 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2561-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), along with dysfunction of the antioxidant defense system, such as that involving superoxide dismutase (SOD), may play a major role in neuronal death following status epilepticus (SE). Neurosteroids, which are allosteric modulators of the GABAA receptor in cerebral metabolism, have been suggested as being neuroprotective in various animal models; however, their effect to preventing ROS has not been examined. Herein, we investigate the neuroprotective role of allopregnanolone, the prototypical neurosteroid in the brain, in relation to the ROS-mediated neuronal injury. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to SE and treated with allopregnanolone. Hippocampal cell death was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, and ROS production was investigated by in situ detection of oxidized hydroethidine. SOD2 expression was analyzed by both western blot and immunofluorescent staining in the hippocampal subfields. In mice treated with allopregnanolone after SE, hippocampal cell death, DNA fragmentation, oxidative DNA damage, and ROS production were reduced significantly compared to mice subjected to vehicle treatment after SE. Hippocampal SOD2 expression was significantly increased by allopregnanolone. These finding suggest that allopregnanolone plays a neuroprotective role, with not only anticonvulsant but also antioxidant effects, by increasing SOD2 in pilocarpine-induced SE model.
Collapse
|
7
|
Ni H, Chen SH, Li LL, Jin MF. Leptin treatment prevents long-term abnormalities in cognition, seizure threshold, hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting and ZnT3/CB-D28k expression in a rat developmental "twist" seizure model. Epilepsy Res 2017; 139:164-170. [PMID: 29287786 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of linking neonatal seizures with long-term brain damage is unclear, and there is no effective drug to block this long-term pathological process. Recently, the fat-derived hormone leptin has been appreciated for its neuroprotective function in neurodegenerative processes, although less is known about the effects of leptin on neonatal seizure-induced brain damage. Here, we developed a "twist" seizure model by coupling pilocarpine-induced neonatal status epilepticus (SE) with later exposure to penicillin to test whether leptin treatment immediately after neonatal SE would exert neuroprotective effects on cognition, seizure threshold and hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting, as well if leptin had any influence on the expression of zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) and calcium homeostasis-related CB-D28k in the hippocampus. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal day 6, P6) were randomly assigned to four groups: control (n = 10), control with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of leptin (Leptin, n = 10), pilocarpine-induced neonatal SE (RS), and RS i.p. leptin injection (RS+Leptin). At P6, all the rats in the RS group and RS+Leptin group were injected with lithium chloride i.p. (5 mEq/kg). Pilocarpine (320 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min after scopolamine methyl chloride (1 mg/kg) injection at P7 to block the peripheral effect of pilocarpine. From P8 to P14, the animals in the Leptin group and RS+Leptin group were given leptin (4 mg/kg, i.p.). The Morris water maze test was performed during P28-P33. Following routine seizure threshold detection and Timm staining procedures, Western blot analysis was performed for each group. Pilocarpine-induced neonatal SE severely impaired learning and memory abilities, reduced seizure threshold, and induced aberrant hippocampal CA3 mossy fiber sprouting. In parallel, there was a significantly down-regulated protein level of CB-D28k and an up-regulated protein level of ZnT3 in the hippocampus of the RS group. Furthermore, leptin treatment soon after neonatal SE for seven consecutive days counteracted these hyperexcitability-related alterations. These novel findings established that leptin has a neuroprotective role in the model of cholinergic neonatal SE and highlights ZnT3/CB-D28k associated-Zn (2+)/Ca (2+) signaling as a promising therapeutic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ni
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, PR China.
| | - Su-Hong Chen
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Li-Li Li
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Mei-Fang Jin
- Neurology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 303, Jingde Road, 215003, Suzhou, PR China
| |
Collapse
|