Catalpol as a Component of Rehmannia glutinosa Protects Spinal Cord Injury by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis

Mechanism of Valeriana Jatamansi Jones for the treatment of spinal cord injury based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by high rates of disability and death. Valeriana jatamansi Jones (VJJ), a Chinese herbal medicine, has been identified to improve motor function recovery in rats with SCI. The study aimed to analyze the potential molecular mechanisms of action of VJJ in the treatment of SCI. The main ingredients of VJJ were obtained from the literature and the SwissADME platform was used to screen the active ingredients. The Swiss TargetPrediction platform was used to predict the targets of VJJ, and the targets of SCI were obtained from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. The intersecting genes were considered potential targets of VJJ in SCI. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database and the hub genes of VJJ for SCI treatment were screened according to their degree values. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database. Cytoscape software was used to construct the "herb-ingredient-target-pathway" network. Preliminary validation was performed using molecular docking via Auto Dock Vina software. A total of 56 active ingredients of VJJ, mainly iridoids, were identified. There were 1493 GO items (P < .01) and 173 signaling pathways (P < .01) obtained from GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment, including the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling pathway, and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway. Molecular docking revealed that 12 hub genes enriched in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway had a high binding affinity for the active ingredient of VJJ. VJJ may exert its therapeutic effects on SCI through the iridoid fraction, acting on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, CASP3, AKT1, tumor necrosis factor, mammalian target of rapamycin, interleukin 6, and other hub genes, which may be related to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Gut microbiota changes in animal models of spinal cord injury: a preclinical systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of studies show that the intestinal flora is closely related to spinal cord injury. Many researchers are exploring the changes in the richness, diversity, and evenness of intestinal flora in spinal cord injury animal models to identify the characteristic bacteria.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. A meta-analysis was performed using R 4.3.1 to evaluate the comparison of microbiota diversity, richness, and evenness and the relative abundance of intestinal microbiota in animals with spinal cord injury and blank controls.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, of which 12 involved gut microbiota distribution indicators and 11 included intestinal microflora relative abundance indicators. Meta-analysis of high-dimensional indicators describing the distribution of the gut microbiota identified a substantial decline in the evenness and richness of the intestinal flora. In addition, the Actinobacteria phylum and Erysipelotrichales and Clostridiales orders were significantly different between the spinal cord injury and sham groups; therefore, they may be the characteristic bacteria in spinal cord injury models.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggested that the gut microbiota in the spinal cord injury animal model group was altered compared with that in the control group, with varying degrees of changes in richness and evenness and potentially pathogenic characteristic flora. More rigorous methodological studies are needed because of the high heterogeneity and limited sample size. Further research is needed to clinically apply intestinal microbiota and potentially guide fecal microbiota transplantation therapy.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: a novel targeted approach to repair bone defects by regulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis

Bone regeneration therapy is clinically important, and targeted regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is important in regenerative medicine. The processing of proteins in the ER controls cell fate. The accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins occurs in pathological states, triggering ER stress. ER stress restores homeostasis through three main mechanisms, including protein kinase-R-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1ɑ (IRE1ɑ) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), collectively known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the UPR has both adaptive and apoptotic effects. Modulation of ER stress has therapeutic potential for numerous diseases. Repair of bone defects involves both angiogenesis and bone regeneration. Here, we review the effects of ER stress on osteogenesis and angiogenesis, with emphasis on ER stress under high glucose (HG) and inflammatory conditions, and the use of ER stress inducers or inhibitors to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition, we highlight the ability for exosomes to regulate ER stress. Recent advances in the regulation of ER stress mediated osteogenesis and angiogenesis suggest novel therapeutic options for bone defects.