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Meinhardt J, Streit S, Dittmayer C, Manitius RV, Radbruch H, Heppner FL. The neurobiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:30-42. [PMID: 38049610 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00769-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, over 694 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with an estimated 55-60% of those infected developing COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019, different variants of concern have appeared and continue to occur. With the emergence of different variants, an increasing rate of vaccination and previous infections, the acute neurological symptomatology of COVID-19 changed. Moreover, 10-45% of individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection experience symptoms even 3 months after disease onset, a condition that has been defined as 'post-COVID-19' by the World Health Organization and that occurs independently of the virus variant. The pathomechanisms of COVID-19-related neurological complaints have become clearer during the past 3 years. To date, there is no overt - that is, truly convincing - evidence for SARS-CoV-2 particles in the brain. In this Review, we put special emphasis on discussing the methodological difficulties of viral detection in CNS tissue and discuss immune-based (systemic and central) effects contributing to COVID-19-related CNS affection. We sequentially review the reported changes to CNS cells in COVID-19, starting with the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier - as systemic factors from the periphery appear to primarily influence barriers and conduits - before we describe changes in brain parenchymal cells, including microglia, astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes as well as cerebral lymphocytes. These findings are critical to understanding CNS affection in acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in order to translate these findings into treatment options, which are still very limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Streit
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Dittmayer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina V Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Si W, Li X, Jing B, Chang S, Zheng Y, Chen Z, Zhao G, Zhang D. Stigmasterol regulates microglial M1/M2 polarization via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway to alleviate neuropathic pain. Phytother Res 2024; 38:265-279. [PMID: 37871970 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
(Switching from the microglial M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype is a promising therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain (NP). This study aimed to investigate the potential use of stigmasterol for treating NP. In animal experiments, 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, chronic constriction injury (CCI) group, CCI + ibuprofen group, and CCI + stigmasterol group. We performed behavioral tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin-esoin staining (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. In cell experiments, we performed flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. Stigmasterol reduced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and serum IL-1β and IL-8 levels and increased serum IL-4 and TGF-β levels in CCI rats. Stigmasterol reduced IL-1β, COX-2, and TLR4 expression in the right sciatic nerve and IL-1β expression in the spinal cord. Stigmasterol reduced the expression of Iba-1, TLR4, MyD88, pNF-κB, pP38 MAPK, pJNK, pERK, COX-2, IL-1β, and CD32 in the spinal cord of CCI rats while increasing the expression of IL-10 and CD206. Stigmasterol decreased M1 polarization markers and increased M2 polarization markers in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglia and decreased the expression of Iba-1, TLR4, MyD88, pNF-κB, pP38 MAPK, pJNK, pERK, iNOS, COX-2, and IL-1β in LPS-treated microglia while increasing the expression of Arg-1 and IL-10. Stigmasterol regulates microglial M1/M2 polarization via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway to alleviate NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waimei Si
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bei Jing
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiquan Chang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yachun Zheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenni Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Zheng Y, Zhao J, Chang S, Zhuang Z, Waimei S, Li X, Chen Z, Jing B, Zhang D, Zhao G. β-Sitosterol Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Affect Microglia Polarization through Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2023; 18:690-703. [PMID: 38041701 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-023-10091-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of neuropathic pain is mostly caused by mechanical deformation and neuroinflammation, of which neuroinflammation is the main cause of chronic neuropathic pain. Activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway mediates elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, and we clearly demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro Western blot experiments that β-sitosterol significantly inhibited the elevated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression levels and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation associated with inflammatory responses. In cellular experiments, we clearly saw that both β-sitosterol and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitors could inhibit M1 proinflammatory phenotype expression and promote M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype expression in GMI-R1 microglia by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays. Therefore, we suggest that β-sitosterol can affect microglial polarization by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway thereby reducing neuroinflammation and thus alleviating neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yachun Zheng
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, GuangDong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaji Zhao
- Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiquan Chang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zifeng Zhuang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Si Waimei
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zenni Chen
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Bei Jing
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Di Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Guoping Zhao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Tianhe District, West of Huangpu Road No. 601, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Begcevic Brkovic I, Reinicke M, Chey S, Bechmann I, Ceglarek U. Characterization of Non-Cholesterol Sterols in Microglia Cell Membranes Using Targeted Mass Spectrometry. Cells 2023; 12:cells12070974. [PMID: 37048046 PMCID: PMC10093698 DOI: 10.3390/cells12070974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-cholesterol sterols, as well as plant sterols, cross the blood-brain barrier and, thus, can be incorporated into cell membranes, affecting the cell's inflammatory response. The aim of our work was to develop an analytical protocol for a quantitative assessment of the sterol composition within the membrane microdomains of microglia. METHODS A protocol for cell membrane isolation using OptiPrepTM gradient ultracentrifugation, in combination with a targeted mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based assay, was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of free sterols in microglia cell membranes. RESULTS Utilizing an established LC-MS/MS assay, cholesterol and seven non-cholesterol sterols were analyzed with a limit of detection from 0.001 to 0.05 mg/L. Applying the detergent-free isolation of SIM-A9 microglia cell membranes, cholesterol (CH), desmosterol (DE), lanosterol (LA) stigmasterol (ST), beta-sitosterol (SI) and campesterol (CA) were quantified with coefficients of variations between 6 and 29% (fractions 4-6, n = 5). The highest concentrations of non-CH sterols within the microglia plasma membranes were found in the microdomain region (DE>LA>SI>ST>CA), with ratios to CH ranging from 2.3 to 435 lower abundancies. CONCLUSION By applying our newly developed and validated analytical protocol, we show that the non-CH sterol concentration is about 38% of the total sterol content in microglia membrane microdomains. Further investigations must clarify how changes in the non-sterol composition influence membrane fluidity and cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilijana Begcevic Brkovic
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Madlen Reinicke
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Soroth Chey
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uta Ceglarek
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Sun J, Li N, Xu M, Li L, Chen JL, Chen Y, Xu JG, Wang TH. Mechanism of gene network in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage by natural plant drugs in Lutong granules. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274639. [PMID: 36441671 PMCID: PMC9704616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To study the effects of Lu-tong Granules (LTG) in ICH etermine the underlying mechanism of molecular network. METHODS Modern bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods were used to predict molecular network mechanisms between ICH and LTG. Animal experiments were carried out to verify the effect of LTG for the treatment of ICH, combined with behavior test and morphologic detection. RESULTS Forty-three active components in LTG and involved 192 gene targets were identified successfully. Moreoner, they were intersected with 1132 genes of ICH,88 intersection targets were obtained. subsequently, Cytoscape was used to screen Hub genes, in which,6 core molecules, including AKT1, IL6, VEGFA, CASP3, JUN and MMP9 were recognized. Furthermore, we constructed Six core compounds by " disease-drug-active ingredient-target-KEGG " (D-D-A-T-K) network, showed including quercetin, luteolin, β sitosterol, stigmasterol, kaempferol and formononetin, and PPI protein network interaction showed that AKT1:OS3 and CNA2:DKN1A had the highest correlation. Whereas the enrichment of GO and KEGG indicated that LTG was most likely to play a therapeutic role in ICH through AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Integrated analysis also showed that the first 10 pathways of KEGG are integrated into 59 genes, among which 6 core genes are closely involved. Lastly, molecular docking showed that there was a good binding activity between the core components and the core genes, and animal experiments confirmed effect of LTG in the treatment of ICH, by using TTC staining and behavior test. CONCLUSION LTG are effective for the treatment of ICH, the underlying mechanism could be involved in gene network including anti-inflammatory response, nerve repair, analgesia, anti-epilepsy and other aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The first Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Na Li
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Min Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of acupuncture, Kunming Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Ji Lin Chen
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Yong Chen
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Jian Guo Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- * E-mail: (THW); (JGX)
| | - Ting Hua Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
- * E-mail: (THW); (JGX)
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