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Xu XX, Shi RX, Fu Y, Wang JL, Tong X, Zhang SQ, Wang N, Li MX, Tong Y, Wang W, He M, Liu BY, Chen GL, Guo F. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in apoptosis and pyroptosis in epilepsy. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:1277-1285. [PMID: 36453412 PMCID: PMC9838157 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.357906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase contributes to neurotoxicity, which triggers cell death in various neuropathological diseases, including epilepsy. Studies have shown that inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity increases the epilepsy threshold, that is, has an anticonvulsant effect. However, the exact role and potential mechanism of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in seizures are still unclear. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing, functional enrichment analysis, and weighted gene coexpression network analysis of the hippocampus of tremor rats, a rat model of genetic epilepsy. We found damaged hippocampal mitochondria and abnormal succinate dehydrogenase level and Na+-K+-ATPase activity. In addition, we used a pilocarpine-induced N2a cell model to mimic epileptic injury. After application of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole, changes in malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase, which are associated with oxidative stress, were reversed, and the increase in reactive oxygen species level was reversed by 7-nitroindazole or reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetylcysteine. Application of 7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c and reversed the apoptosis of epileptic cells. Furthermore, 7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the abnormally high expression of NLRP3, gasdermin-D, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. This indicated that 7-nitroindazole and N-acetylcysteine each reversed epileptic cell death. Taken together, our findings suggest that the neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in pyroptosis of epileptic cells, and inhibiting neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity or its induced oxidative stress may play a neuroprotective role in epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xue Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China,Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Rui-Xue Shi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yu Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jia-Lu Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xin Tong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shi-Qi Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Mei-Xuan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yu Tong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Bing-Yang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China,Correspondence to: Feng Guo, ; Gui-Lan Chen, ; Bing-Yang Liu, .
| | - Gui-Lan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China,Correspondence to: Feng Guo, ; Gui-Lan Chen, ; Bing-Yang Liu, .
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China,Correspondence to: Feng Guo, ; Gui-Lan Chen, ; Bing-Yang Liu, .
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Wu J, Zhu S, Zhao C, Xu X. Comprehensive investigation of molecular signatures and pathways linking Alzheimer's disease and Epilepsy via bioinformatic approaches. Curr Alzheimer Res 2022; 19:146-160. [PMID: 35114922 DOI: 10.2174/1567205019666220202120638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epileptic activity is frequent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and this may accelerate AD progression; however, the relationship between AD and epilepsy remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the molecular pathways and genes linking AD and epilepsy using bioinformatics approaches. METHODS Gene expression profiles of AD (GSE1297) and epilepsy (GSE28674) were derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The top 50% expression variants were subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify key modules associated with these diseases. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for the key modules were performed, and the intersected terms of functional enrichment and common genes within the key modules were selected. The overlapping genes were subjected to analyses of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, transcription factor (TF)-mRNA network, microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network, and drug prediction. RESULTS We identified 229 and 1187 genes in the AD-associated purple and epilepsy-associated blue modules, respectively. Six shared functional terms between the two modules included "calcium ion binding" and "calcium signaling pathway." According to 17 common genes discovered, 130 TF-mRNA pairs and 56 miRNA-mRNA pairs were established. The topological analyses of the constructed regulatory networks suggested that TF - FOXC1 and miRNA - hsa-mir-335-5p might be vital co-regulators of gene expression in AD and epilepsy. In addition, CXCR4 was identified as a hub gene, becoming the putative target for 20 drugs. CONCLUSION Our study provided novel insights into the molecular connection between AD and epilepsy, which might be beneficial for exploring shared mechanisms and designing disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wu
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Neurology, The People's Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Neurology, The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Shu Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoxue Xu
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Dai H, Wang P, Mao H, Mao X, Tan S, Chen Z. Dynorphin activation of kappa opioid receptor protects against epilepsy and seizure-induced brain injury via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:226-237. [PMID: 30595095 PMCID: PMC6343729 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1562286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynorphins act as endogenous anticonvulsants via activation of kappa opioid receptor (KOR). However, the mechanism underlying the anticonvulsant role remains elusive. This study aims to investigate whether the potential protection of KOR activation by dynorphin against epilepsy was associated with the regulation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Here, a pilocarpine-induced rat model of epilepsy and Mg2+-free-induced epileptiform hippocampal neurons were established. Decreased prodynorphin (PDYN) expression, suppressed PI3K/Akt pathway, and activated Nrf2/HO-1 pathway were observed in rat epileptiform hippocampal tissues and in vitro neurons. Furthermore, dynorphin activation of KOR alleviated in vitro seizure-like neuron injury via activation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Further in vivo investigation revealed that PDYN overexpression by intra-hippocampus injection of PDYN-overexpressing lentiviruses decreased hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats. The protection of PDYN in vivo was associated with the activation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. In conclusion, dynorphin activation of KOR protects against epilepsy and seizure-induced brain injury, which is associated with activation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Dai
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peipei Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huafang Mao
- Department of Child Hygiene, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen City, ShenZhen, China
| | - Xiao Mao
- Department of Medical Genetics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Shan Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhiheng Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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