Morphine enhances LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis through a PPARγ-dependent mechanism

A Highly Stable, Multifunctional Janus Dressing for Treating Infected Wounds

The limited and unstable absorption of excess exudate is a major challenge during the healing of infected wounds. In this study, a highly stable, multifunctional Janus dressing with unidirectional exudate transfer capacity is fabricated based on a single poly(lactide caprolactone) (PLCL). The success of this method relies on an acid hydrolysis reaction that transforms PLCL fibers from hydrophobic to hydrophilic in situ. The resulting interfacial affinity between the hydrophilic/phobic PLCL fibers endows the Janus structure with excellent unidirectional liquid transfer and high structural stability against repeated stretching, bending, and twisting. Various other functions, including wound status detection, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, are also integrated into the dressing by incorporating phenol red and epigallocatechin gallate. An in vivo methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound model confirms that the Janus dressing, with the capability to remove exudate from the infected site, not only facilitates epithelialization and collagen deposition, but also ensures low inflammation and high angiogenesis, thus reaching an ideal closure rate up to 98.4% on day 14. The simple structure, multiple functions, and easy fabrication of the dressing may offer a promising strategy for treating chronic wounds, rooted in the challenges of bacterial infection, excessive exudate, and persistent inflammation.

Methadone administered to rat dams during pregnancy and lactation affects the circadian rhythms of their pups

The circadian clock is one of the most important homeostatic systems regulating the majority of physiological functions. Its proper development contributes significantly to the maintenance of health in adulthood. Methadone is recommended for the treatment of opioid use disorders during pregnancy, increasing the number of children prenatally exposed to long-acting opioids. Although early-life opioid exposure has been studied for a number of behavioral and physiological changes observed later in life, information on the relationship between the effects of methadone exposure and circadian system development is lacking. Using a rat model, we investigated the effects of prenatal and early postnatal methadone administration on the maturation of the circadian clockwork in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and liver, the rhythm of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) activity in the pineal gland, and gene expression in the livers of 20-day-old rats. Our data show that repeated administration of methadone to pregnant and lactating mothers has significant effect on rhythmic gene expression in the SCN and livers and on the rhythm of AA-NAT in the offspring. Similar to previous studies with morphine, the rhythm amplitudes of the clock genes in the SCN and liver were unchanged or enhanced. However, six of seven specific genes in the liver showed significant downregulation of their expression, compared to the controls in at least one experimental group. Importantly, the amplitude of the AA-NAT rhythm was significantly reduced in all methadone-treated groups. As there is a strong correlation with melatonin levels, this result could be of importance for clinical practice.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2021

This paper is the forty-fourth consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2021 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonizts and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).

Role of Autophagy in HIV-1 and Drug Abuse-Mediated Neuroinflammaging

Chronic low-grade inflammation remains an essential feature of HIV-1 infection under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and contributes to the accelerated cognitive defects and aging in HIV-1 infected populations, indicating cART limitations in suppressing viremia. Interestingly, ~50% of the HIV-1 infected population on cART that develops cognitive defects is complicated by drug abuse, involving the activation of cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and neurotoxin release, altogether leading to neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is the hallmark feature of many neurodegenerative disorders, including HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Impaired autophagy has been identified as one of the underlying mechanisms of HAND in treated HIV-1-infected people that also abuse drugs. Several lines of evidence suggest that autophagy regulates CNS cells' responses and maintains cellular hemostasis. The impairment of autophagy is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and immune senescence, a known characteristic of pathological aging. Therefore, autophagy impairment due to CNS cells, such as neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and pericytes exposure to HIV-1/HIV-1 proteins, cART, and drug abuse could have combined toxicity, resulting in increased neuroinflammation, which ultimately leads to accelerated aging, referred to as neuroinflammaging. In this review, we focus on the potential role of autophagy in the mechanism of neuroinflammaging in the context of HIV-1 and drug abuse.

H3K27 tri-demethylase JMJD3 inhibits macrophage apoptosis by promoting ADORA2A in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical disease, which is characterized by an uncontrolled, acute inflammatory response, diffuse lung damage and ultimately directly deteriorates into acute respiratory distress syndrome. The number of pro-inflammatory macrophages is related to the severity of ALI. Up-regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophage apoptosis can reduce the pro-inflammatory reactions. Jumonji domain-containing protein D3 (JMJD3)-mediated histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) demethylation may promote the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages under LPS stimulation. However, the mechanism of JMJD3 affecting macrophage apoptosis is still not clear. To explore this gap in knowledge, the ALI mice model with intratracheal administration of LPS and RAW264.7 cells with LPS stimulation were used as in vivo and in vitro experiments. The expression of JMJD3 and H3K27me3 and their cellular localization were analysed in lung tissue. Apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Expression of H3K27me3, ADORA2A and C/EBPβ were compared among different treatments and chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to investigate the regulatory relationship. Our study showed that JMJD3 expression was upregulated in LPS-induced ALI mice and RAW264.7 cells. JMJD3-indued H3K27me3 demethylation inhibited caspase-3 cleavage by upregulating ADORA2A to decrease LPS-stimulated macrophage apoptosis and promoted the inflammatory reaction. This H3K27me3 demethylation also increased C/EBPβ expression, which may enhance ADORA2A expression further. Besides, inhibiting ADORA2A can also promote LPS-limited macrophage apoptosis. Moreover, the inhibition of JMJD3 in vivo and in vitro relieved the inhibition of macrophage apoptosis thus leading to the resolution of the inflammation. JMJD3 might inhibit macrophage apoptosis by promoting ADORA2A expression in LPS-induced ALI.

Effects of propofol on macrophage activation and function in diseases

Macrophages work with monocytes and dendritic cells to form a monocyte immune system, which constitutes a powerful cornerstone of the immune system with their powerful antigen presentation and phagocytosis. Macrophages play an essential role in infection, inflammation, tumors and other pathological conditions, but these cells also have non-immune functions, such as regulating lipid metabolism and maintaining homeostasis. Propofol is a commonly used intravenous anesthetic in the clinic. Propofol has sedative, hypnotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects, and it participates in the body’s immunity. The regulation of propofol on immune cells, especially macrophages, has a profound effect on the occurrence and development of human diseases. We summarized the effects of propofol on macrophage migration, recruitment, differentiation, polarization, and pyroptosis, and the regulation of these propofol-regulated macrophage functions in inflammation, infection, tumor, and organ reperfusion injury. The influence of propofol on pathology and prognosis via macrophage regulation is also discussed. A better understanding of the effects of propofol on macrophage activation and function in human diseases will provide a new strategy for the application of clinical narcotic drugs and the treatment of diseases.

Multiple Sclerosis and the Endogenous Opioid System

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, neuronal degeneration and demyelinating lesions within the central nervous system. The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis and progression of MS are not fully known and current therapies have limited efficacy. Preclinical investigations using the murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, as well as clinical observations in patients with MS, provide converging lines of evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of this disease. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that endogenous opioid peptides, binding μ- (MOR), κ- (KOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR), function as immunomodulatory molecules within both the immune and nervous systems. The endogenous opioid system is also well known to play a role in the development of chronic pain and negative affect, both of which are common comorbidities in MS. As such, dysregulation of the opioid system may be a mechanism that contributes to the pathogenesis of MS and associated symptoms. Here, we review the evidence for a connection between the endogenous opioid system and MS. We further explore the mechanisms by which opioidergic signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology and symptomatology of MS.