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    26 August 2018, Volume 8 Issue 4 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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    Xenon Exerts Antiepileptic Effects via Increased Autophagy on Kainic Acid-Induced Acute Generalized Seizures in Rats
    ZHANG Yu-rong,YU Jie,ZHANG Meng-di,SUN Hong-liu
    2018, 8 (4):  1-3. 
    Abstract ( 194 )  
    Objective:Xenon is an inhalation anesthetic with a favorable safety profile,and previous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective efficacy of xenon in Alzheimer’s disease,spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury,intrauterine asphyxia and neonatal asphyxia. Further studies confirmed the inhibition of uptake and efflux of glutamate and mediating the neuroprotective effect through the inhibition of excessive excitation and anti-apoptosis. However, whether xenon plays a role in epilepsy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of xenon treatment in kainic acid( KA)-induced acute generalized epileptic seizures in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods:All rats were treated with KA (1 mg/0.8 ml,0.65 μl/rat),which was injected into the lateral ventricle through the cannula. Seizure severity was staged as 1~5 based on Racine’s criteria. Rats in the xenon group were treated with xenon mixture (70% xenon/30% oxygen) for 1 h immediately after KA injection,while rats in the control group were treated with 70% nitrogen/30% oxygen. In order to assess the role of autophagy in the antiepileptic effects induced by xenon,the inhibitors of autophagy (3-methyladenine,3-MA or bafilomycin A1,BafA1) and the inducer of autophagy (rapamycin) were administered before xenon inhalation respectively. Western blot was used to investigate that the level of autophagy and apoptosis in the different group. Results:① After KA administration,almost all rats showed immediate and continuous epileptic seizures (mainly stage 4 or stage 5). Behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) results indicated that 70% xenon/30% oxygen inhalation significantly reduced the severity of epileptic seizures,such as decreased accumulated time in generalized seizure (6 min versus 49 min,P<0.001),accumulative afterdischarge duration( 8 min versus 53 min,P<0.001) and increased accumulated time in stage 0 (no epileptic seizure stage,48 min versus 0 min,P<0.001) compared with the control group. Moreover,mortality in the xenon treatment group was 0,while 3 out of 13 rats died in the KA group. The differences in stages were further compared every 5 min in xenon and control groups to assess the onset time of the anti-epileptic effect of xenon. The results
    showed that from the second 5 min measurement,the seizure intensity in the xenon group was significantly weaker than that in the KA group (stage 1.8 versus stage 4.7,P<0.001). Inhalation of 70% xenon/30% oxygen for 60 min was not enough to induce anesthesia and the rats kept sober and free activities during the entire experiment. Western blot results indicate that 70% xenon/30% oxygen treatment significantly upregulated the level of autophagy and attenuated apoptosis compared with the control group treated with 70% nitrogen/30% oxygen. ② The significant antiepileptic effect of xenon disappeared after treatment with 3-MA 6 h before xenon inhalation. Sixty minutes after KA administration,the 3-MA+KA+Xenon group was at a similar seizure stage in every time period compared to the Saline+KA group treated with 30% oxygen/70% nitrogen mixture instead of xenon mixture,and the reduced seizure stages from the second 5 min were reversed when xenon was administered. The accumulated time in every stage analysis showed that the time spent in stages 4 and 5 was significantly longer in the 3-MA+KA+Xenon group than in the Saline+KA+Xenon group (P<0.001 versus 0.001,respectively) and was similar that in the Saline+KA group (P>0.05). Moreover,3-MA treatment significantly prolonged the decreased cumulative afterdischarge duration and cumulative generalized seizures duration,which is induced by xenon treatment (P<0.001 and 0.001,respectively). Three rats died in the 3-MA+KA+Xenon group. Western blot results indicate that 3-MA treatment reversed the increased autophagy and weakened apoptosis induced by xenon inhalation. ③ The autophagic inhibitor BafA1 reversed the antiepileptic effect of xenon. BafA1 reversed the weakened epileptic seizure stage induced by xenon inhalation from the second 5 min. Furthermore,the reduced time spent in stages 2~5 induced by xenon disappeared in rats treated with BafA1. Moreover,the cumulative afterdischarge
    duration and generalized seizures duration in the BafA1-treated rats were significantly longer than those in the xenon-treated rats (P<0.001 and 0.001,respectively) and was similar to those in the non-xenon group treated with KA only (P>0.05). Two rats died in the BafA1-treated group. Moreover,BafA1treatment reduced the level of autophagy and strengthened apoptosis,which is significantly weakened after xenon treatment. ④ Rapamycin,which is used as an inducer of autophagy,was administered 1 h before KA administration to simulate the effect of xenon to strengthen the level of autophagy. The results showed that rapamycin treatment significantly reduced the epileptic seizure stages from the first 5 min and this effect was maintained for 60 min after KA administration (P<0.001) compared with the control group treated with DMSO (DMSO+KA group) instead of rapamycin. Rapamycin significantly reduced the time in generalized seizure (stage 4,P<0.05;stage 5,P<0.001) and prolonged the cumulative time of no behavioral seizure( stage 0,P<0.001). EEG results indicated that the cumulated afterdischarge duration in the rapamycin-treated group was significantly shorter than that in the control group treated with DMSO instead of rapamycin before KA administration (P<0.001). Importantly,the total time in stage 0 (no seizure stage was observed) was about 18 min in Rapamycin+KA group,whereas it was 0 min in the DMSO+KA group. No rats died in the rapamycin-treated group. Western blot results showed that rapamycin treatment increased the autophagic level and attenuated apoptosis. Conclusion:This study confirmed that a 70% xenon mixture has strong antiepileptic effects in KA-induced acute generalized seizures in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Because of the lack of toxic side effects,appropriate xenon inhalation may be a safe method to inhibit epileptic seizures. Furthermore,our results indicate that an increase in autophagy level may be the main mechanism underlying the antiepileptic effect of xenon,and may therefore be clinically useful as a therapeutic option for epilepsy. However,further studies are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of xenon, and confirm the optimal effective time-window and the appropriate xenon ratio.
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    The 5-HT6 Receptor-Related Mechanism for the Cognition-Enhancing Properties of Hypidone Hydrochloride (YL-0919), A Novel Protential Antidepressant
    JIN Zeng-lianga,c,1,CHEN Xiao-fei a,b,1,ZHANG Li-ming a,*,LI Yun-feng a,*
    2018, 8 (4):  3-5. 
    Abstract ( 200 )  
    Hypidone hydrochloride (YL-0919), the 5-HT1A/6 agonists and 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, is a novel potent antidepressant with original chemical structure. Previous studies confirmed that YL-0919 has significant antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects. Compared with first-line antidepressants, YL-0919 possesses rapid-onset and cognition-enhancing advantages without causing sexual disorders. Recently, it has been found that it has high affinity with 5-HT6 receptor.  Objective: To study the target characteristics of YL-0919 to 5-HT6 receptors, and to explore the relationship between the 5-HT6 receptor and the cognition-enhancing, antidepressant/anxiolytic-like effects of YL-0919 and targeting mechanisms. Methods: The radioligand binding inhibition test and [35S]-GTPγS binding assay were used to evaluate the binding affinity of YL-0919 to 5-HT6 receptor in rat striatum, transient CHO cell line and stable Hela cell lines. Novel object recognition (NOR), Morris water maze (MWM) and step-down test (SD) were used to evaluate the cognition-enhancing activity of YL-0919, and the selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist SB271046 was used to evaluate the relationship between behavioral improvement caused by YL-0919 and 5-HT6 receptor activation. To study the 5-HT6 receptor related mechanisms of YL-0919, the competitive immunofluorescence assay were used to examine the cAMP level in h5-HT6 receptor-expressed in the Hela cells Results: (1) Radioligand competitive binding experiments showed that YL-0919 had high binding affinity with 5-HT6 receptors in the rat striatum, the CHO cells transiently expressed the h5-HT6 receptor and the Hela cells stably expressed the h5-HT6 receptor, with Ki of 10.72, 14.76 and 28.12nM respectively; [35S]-GTPγS showed full agonist characteristics of YL-0919 in striatum and cells, with EC50 of 71.23, 64.73 and 52.92nM respectively, and the maximum efficiency (Emax) reached 100% which is the same to the 5-HT6 receptor agonist WAY208466, suggesting that YL-0919 is a full 5-HT6 receptor agonist. (2) Cognitive-related behavioral tests showed that subchronic oral administration of YL-0919 (1.25-2.5 mg•kg-1) could significantly increase the recognition index in NOR, the entries and duration in the target quadrant, the entries crossing the platform in WMW, shortened the first time crossing the platform in MWM and the step-down latency in SD, suggesting the cognition-enhancing effects of YL-0919; compared with Vilazodone, the partial agonist of 5-HT1A receptor and 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, which of no such functions; Further study showed that 5-HT6 receptor antagonist SB271046(10mg•kg-1) completely blocked the cognition-enhancing effects of YL-0919 without affecting the cognitive activity itself, suggesting that 5-HT6 receptor activation might be its underlying mechanisms; (3) Mechanism study found that YL-0919 could significantly increase cAMP levels in the Hela cells stably-expressed the h5-HT6 receptor, which could be dose-dependent blocked by SB271046. Conclusion: YL-0919 is a full agonist of 5-HT6 receptor. YL-0919 showed significant cognition-enhancing effects in various kinds of animal models, and its underlying important mechanism might be activating 5-HT6 receptor. In addition, enhancing downstream cAMP-CREB signaling pathway of 5-HT6 receptor might at least partially mediate the above process. Moreover, 5-HT6 receptor activation might also be one of the mechanisms of antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of YL-0919. In conclusion, this study confirmed the 5-HT6 receptor-related mechanisms of YL-0919, the 1.1 types of antidepressants, laying the experimental foundation for developing novel antidepressants with cognition-enhancing effects.
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    Effects and Mechanisms of Depression on Bone Fracture Healing in Rats
    FU Zhi-jiang1,LIU Yong1,GAO Yin1,ZHANG Wei2,GAO Yun2,LIU Zong-chao1*
    2018, 8 (4):  5-6. 
    Abstract ( 186 )  
    Objective: To explore the effect of depression on fracture healingand forecast its agnostic mechanism. Methods: Rats (Sprague Dawley, female, 8-month-old, 242.6±11.2 g ) wererandomly divided into Control (group A), Sham Control (group B) and Depression (group C) groups. Upper 1/3 transverse tibia fracture model and intramedullaryfix were applied to Group A and C and sham operations (similar surgeries with no fracture and fix) were applied to Group B. The serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured on day 7, 14, and 21after operation; the tibia image (DR) and pathology (HE stain) were examined onday14, 28, and 56 after operation; the Biomechanics (three-point bending test) were implemented on day 35 and 56 after operation; and the Micro-CT were performed on day 28and 56 after operation. Results: The tibia image (DR) showed no significant difference in callus volume between Groups A and C on Day 14 after operation(P>0.05,n=10), but had significant difference on Day 28 and 56 after operation(P<0.05,n=10).HE staining showed significantly worse recovery of the fracture zone in Group C than in Group A on Day 14, 28, and 56 after operation.The results from three point bending experiment revealed a significantly worse recovery of all bending indices (stiffness, strength, deflection, load, and movement) of Group C than the control Group A on Day 35 and 56 after operation (P<0.05,n=10). Micro-CTalsoshowed that the osteogenesis indicators such as bone volume fraction, thickness of trabecular bone, and number of trabecular bone were significantly lower in Group C than that in the control group A on Day 28 and 56 after operation (P < 0.05,n=10). The volume of interstitial bone trabecular space and area of trabecular bone of Group C was significantly greater than that of control Group A (P < 0.05,n=10).The serum P and ALP concentrations of Group C were significantly lower than those of group Bon Day 7 (P<0.05, P<0.01, n=10), 14 (P<0.05, P<0.01, n=10), and 21 (P<0.05, P<0.01, n=10) after operation, while the serum Ca concentrations did not show any significant changes (P>0.05, n=10). Conclusions: Depression may delay the primary callus and tibia fracture healing through an effect on the metabolism of phosphorus which caused a down-regulation of serum P and ALP concentrations in rats. These results provide a novel underlying mechanism and also a potential therapeutic strategy for depression caused delay of bone fracture healing.
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    Chronic Nicotine Treatment Alleviates Schizophrenia-Induced Memory Deficit through Regulating Pdlim5 and CRTC1 in Mice
    SUN Yan-yun,WANG Meng-wei,JIN Xin-chu
    2018, 8 (4):  6-7. 
    Abstract ( 198 )  
    Objective: Cognitive impairment is a core deficit of schizophrenia and current antipsychotic treatments have no or only very limited effects on cognitive impairment. Clinical studies have found that about 50-90% of all psychiatric patients are smokers, and the high rate of smoking may be due to the fact that the patients smoke tobacco to reduce their cognitive symptoms. Nicotine is the key psychoactive component and various studies have reported that nicotine can improve cognition under some circumstances. Therefore, we propose our hypothesis that nicotine alleviates schizophrenia-induced cognitive impairment. Our published results confirmed that nicotine treatment significantly improved rat’s working memory in the delayed alternate T maze task (DAT). Methods: In this current study, MK-801 was applied to induce schizophrenia-like behavior which was confirmed by pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) and T-maze used to assess cognitive performance. Results: Our data showed that MK-801 caused cognitive impairment accompanied by an increase of Pdlim5, anadaptor protein that is critically associated with schizophrenia in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Of note, chronic nicotine treatment attenuates MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like symptom as well as cognitive impairment by regulating Pdlim5. In addition, nicotine treatment also reduced MK-801-induced decrease of CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1(CRTC1), a coactivator of CREB which has been shown to play an important role in cognition. More important, MK-801 neither induced schizophrenia-like behavior in pdlim5-/-mice, nor decreased CRTC1 in mPFC. Conclusion: Our results showed that chronic nicotine treatment alleviates schizophrenia-induced memory deficit through regulating Pdlim5 and CRTC1 in mice.
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    Effects of Osthole on Learning and Memory and the Estrogen Pathway in Ovariectomized Rats
    YU Li-li1,2,XU Li1,WANG Yi-nuo1,XUE Lu-ning1,Gou Ji-wei1,LI Hong-bo1,HOU Xue-qin1*,ZHANG Han-ting1*
    2018, 8 (4):  7-8. 
    Abstract ( 189 )  
    Objective: To investigate the effects of osthole, a natural coumarin first derived from the Cnidium plant, on learning and memory, physiological and pathological changes, and expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α and β in the brain of ovariectomized (OVX) rats of Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. Methods: Female rats were randomly divided into six groups: 1) sham operation, and OVX plus: 2) saline, 3) Estradiol (0.1 mg/kg; positive control), 4) osthole at 12.5 mg/kg, 5) osthole at 25 mg/kg, and  5) osthole at 50 mg/kg; intragastric administration for 30 days. The Morris water-maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of rats, ELISA to measure the levels of estradiol in the serum, Western blotting to detect the expression of ERα and ERβ in the hippocampus, and HE staining to determine the histopathological changes in the brain. Results: 1. Effects on learning and memory: compared to the OVX alone, osthole at 25 or 50 mg/kg significantly increased the number of entries and the duration in the target quadrant in the water-maze probe trial test (P<0.05). 2. Effects on the estrogen pathway in the brain: the level of estradiol in the serum and expression of ERβ in the hippocampus in the OVX alone were significantly lower, while the expression of ERα was higher, relative to the sham operation control (P<0.01); osthole at 25 mg/kg reversed the OVX-induced changes in expression of ERα and ERβ (P<0.01). 3. Effects on histopathological change in the brain: in comparison with the sham operation group, the OVX rats treated with saline displayed increases in the number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampus, which was reversed by osthole at 25 or 50 mg/kg  (P<0.05), but not the lower dose of 12.5 mg/kg. Conclusion: Osthole produced enhancement of learning and memory in the ovariectomized dementia model, which was mediated, at least in part, by regulating neuronal apoptosis and the estrogen pathway. Therefore, osthole is potent in delaying the development of female neurodegenerative diseases, which provides a potential, new approach to treatment of female AD.
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    PDE4 Inhibitor Ameliorates Neuropathic Pain by Upregulating Spinal Connexin 43 Expression
    ZHANG Fang-fang1,ZHOU Yan-memg1,WANG Hao1,GAO Shan1,WANG Lei1,TAN Rui1,DU Xian1,ZHAO Xiao-min1,ZHANG Han-ting1,2 *
    2018, 8 (4):  8-9. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    Objective: Peripheral nerve injury downregulates connexin43 (Cx43) expression in spinal astrocytes. Therefore, restoration of spinal astrocyte Cx43 expression to normal levels could lead to the reduction of nerve injury-induced pain. It has been shown that inhibitors of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), an enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP (cAMP), reverse mechanical pain in mice with neuropathic pain. However, the antinociceptive mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the antinociceptive effect of PDE4 inhibitors and demonstrated a novel mechanism by which PDE4 mediates nociception via Cx43 in spinal astrocytes. Methods: The effects of PDE4 inhibitors on neuropathic pain and Cx43 expression in spinal astrocytes were evaluated in mice with partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Results: Single or repeated, intraperitoneal treatment with the selective PDE4 inhibitor rolipram or roflumilast of mice with PSNL significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity. This was mimicked by intrathecal administration of rolipram or roflumilast. In addition, repeated intrathecal treatment with rolipram or roflumilast of mice with PSNL completely prevented the downregulation of Cx43 expression in the spinal dorsal horn. Conclusion: The results suggest that PDE4 inhibitors ameliorate neuropathic pain, which is mediated by a spinal mechanism through the restoration of spinal Cx43 expression.
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    Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase-2 Activity in the Amygdala Produces Anxiolytic-Like Effects in Mice
    CHEN Ling1,CHENG Zi-juan2,JIN Ji3,LI Qing-yu1,WANG Gang 1
    2018, 8 (4):  8-9. 
    Abstract ( 183 )  
    Objective To explore the role of phosphodiesterase-2 activity in the amygdala produces anxiolytic-like effects in mice. Methods: Male ICR mice were implanted with guide cannula targeting the central nucleus of the amygdala bilaterally.  Following recovery from surgery, mice were administered either Bay 60-7550 or lentiviral vector/microRNA targeted to PDE2. The effects of pharmacological inhibition were assessed 30 min post-treatment while those of PDE2 knockdown were assessed beginning one week after treatment with the lentiviral vector/microRNA. Behavioral effects were assessed in the elevated plus-maze and the tail-suspension tests; ODQ was used to assess cyclic GMP involvement. Cannula placement and viral vector localization were determined histologically via its GFP tag. Results: Administration of Bay 60-7550 into the central nucleus of the amygdala resulted in anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects on behavior of mice in the elevated plus-maze and tail-suspension test, respectively; these effects were blocked by pretreatment with ODQ. Viral vector/microRNA-induced knockdown of PDE2 resulted in similar effects on behavior in these tests, which also were blocked by ODQ. The treatment reduced PDE2 expression by approximately 80%. Conclusion:The present study does provide an additional line of support that reduced PDE2 activity, achieved in this case via lentiviral vector/microRNA-induced knockdown, is associated with such behavioral effects,resulting from treatment with NO donors, which also increase cyclic GMP signaling.
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    Imbalanced Functional Link between Large-Scale Brain Networks in Heroin Addiction
    ZHU Yu-yang,WANG Lu-bin,CHEN pin-hong,YE en-mao,YANG Zheng1
    2018, 8 (4):  9-10. 
    Abstract ( 215 )  
    Objective: Addiction is a reward deficit and stress surfeit disorder. By using resting-state function-al connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI), the aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of aberrant brain networks in heroin addiction, and whether addiction-related brain abnormalities would be persistent or recovered after long periods of abstinence. Methods: Rs-fcMRI analysis was performed on groups of recently abstinent (no more than 3 months) heroin-dependent (HD) subjects, long-term abstinent (more than 3 years) HD subjects, and non-addicted control (CN) subjects. The left and right nucleus accumbens (NAc) were defined as the seed regions of interest (ROIs), a brain region implicated in relapse-related processes, including craving and reactivity to stress following acute and protracted withdrawal from heroin. For each subject, correlation maps were created by calculat-ing Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the time series of the seed ROIs and that of each voxel in the brain. These correlation maps were converted to Z-value maps using Fisher’s r-to-z transformation. Two-sample t-test was performed between different groups, to identify possible addiction-related NAc functional connectivity changes. The relationship between the duration of abstinence and the altered NAc functional connectivity in the heroin group was also examined. Re-sults: Compared to the CN group, the recently abstinent HD group showed significantly increased functional connectivity between the NAc and the reward network (caudate, amygdala, thalamus and ventral medial prefrontal cortex), whereas decreased functional connectivity between the NAc and the executive control network (frontal-parietal regions). The long-term abstinent HD group also showed imbalanced functional link between the reward and executive control networks. However, with longer abstinence time, the strength of some NAc functional connectivity gradually restored to near-normal levels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the imbalanced functional link between large-scale brain networks could serve as system-level neural underpinnings of persistent drug ad-diction and potential for relapse, which can at least partly be recovered after long periods of absti-nence.
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    Involvement of TGR5 in Aβ-Induced Neurotoxicity in Vivo
    LIU Cai-hong,WU Xian,TANG Su-su,HONG Hao*
    2018, 8 (4):  11-12. 
    Abstract ( 200 )  
    TGR5 (Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5) is a bile acid G protein-coupled receptor primarily expressed in liver,gallbladder,intestine,spleen,and brain and activated by bile acids. (AD). Herein,we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of TGR5 agonist,6α-ethyl-23(S)-methylcholic acid (S-EMCA,INT-777),in the Aβ1-42-treated mouse model of acute neurotoxicity. Single intracerebroventricular( i.c.v.) injection of aggregated Aβ1-42( 410 pmol/mouse;5 μL) into the mouse brain induced cognitive impairment,neuroinflammation,apoptosis,and synaptic dysfunction. In contrast,INT-777 (1.5 or 3.0 μg/mouse,i.c.v.) significantly improved Aβ1-42-induced cognitive impairment,as reflected by better performance in memory tests. Importantly, INT-777 treatment reversed Aβ1-42-induced TGR5 down-regulation,suppressed the increase of nuclear NF-κB p65,and mitigated neuroinflammation,as evidenced by lower proinflammatory cytokines and less Iba1-positive cells in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. INT-777 treatment
    also pronouncedly suppressed apoptosis through the reduction of TUNEL-positive cells, decreased activation of caspase-3,increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax,and ameliorated synaptic dysfunction by promoting dendritic spine generation with the upregulation of postsynaptic (PSD95) and presynaptic proteins in Aβ1-42-treated mice. Our results indicate that INT-777 has potent neuroprotective effects against Aβ1-42-induced neurotoxicity. Taken together,these findings suggest that TGR5 might participate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
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    Cyclic Nucleotides Coordinates Cellular Function by Altering Phosphorylation of not One but Many Different Proteins in the Cell at the Same Time
    Joseph Beavo
    2018, 8 (4):  13-14. 
    Abstract ( 176 )  
    The levels of the second messenger cyclic nucleotides,cAMP and cGMP are carefully regulated in all cells by the activity of a series of adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Most of the functions of these second messengers are mediated by activation of cyclic nucleotide dependent kinases or other discrete cyclic nucleotide binding proteins. Furthermore,the regulation and function of all of these enzymes are greatly influenced by the cellular and subcellular compartments in which they are localized. In this talk I will discuss several examples of cAMP-regulated cellular function that depend on the simultaneous,coordinated phosphorylation of multiple control points as determined by phosphoproteomic analysis of cells treated with and without selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The data strongly suggest that multiple PDEs work in a synergistic manner to coordinate different functional pools of cAMP. These different pools in turn coordinate not one,but many different steps to yield the final control of cellular function. The data imply that we likely therefore will need to consider a number of new and revised ways to think about cAMP regulation of cellular functions and also about drug design. For example,several different PDEs may need to be inhibited in order to produce meaningful pharmacological effects. The data also imply that the much of this cAMP regulation occurs as stochastic processes in different compartments in the cell.
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    Neuroanatomical Mechanisms of Language Processing and Language Disorders:Basic Cross-Language Research Findings and Clinical Practice
    TAN Li-hai
    2018, 8 (4):  14-14. 
    Abstract ( 175 )  
    Contrary to the conventional wisdom,recent research indicates that experience can quickly change both the human adult brain’s physical structure and functional organization. In this talk I will first summarize structural and functional MRI evidence from the study of the neurodevelopment of written Chinese and English which shows how brain networks change in response to language. I will then report on our experiments attempting to discover brain activity patterns during language-related tasks. We found that distinct cortical regions support the Chinese and the English language. These findings have been translated into clinical practices in guiding pre-surgical planning of the patients with brain disorders.
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    Nanogenerators for Powering Implantable Medical Devices and Self-Powered Sensors
    WANG Zhong-lin
    2018, 8 (4):  14-16. 
    Abstract ( 151 )  
    Self-powered system is a system that can sustainably operate without an external power supply for sensing,detection,data processing and data transmission. Nanogenerators (NG)were first developed for self-powered systems based on piezoelectric effect and triboelectrification effect for converting tiny mechanical energy into electricity,which have applications in internet of things,environmental/infrastructural monitoring,medical science,environmental science and security. NGs have three major application fields:micro/nano-power source,self-powered sensors and blue energy. We will present the applications of the NGs for harvesting body motion energy that will be used for medical science and bioengineering.
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    Purine-Mediated Signaling in Glial Cells
    DUAN Shu-min
    2018, 8 (4):  16-17. 
    Abstract ( 185 )  
    Glial cells can release signal molecules that mediate intercellular communication. In particular,ATP release from astrocytes is required for Ca2+ wave propagation among astrocytes and for feedback modulation of synaptic functions. We found that lysosomes in astrocytes contain abundant ATP and their partial exocytosis resulted in a low-level ATP release,whereas full exocytosis led to the release of a larger amount of ATP,together with lysosomal enzymes. Repetitive neuronal activity induces release of ATP / adenosine from astrocytes,which in turn causes both short-term and long-term hetero-synaptic plasticity. Microglia,resident macrophages in the central nervous system,are responsible for the maintenance of brain homeostasis. Nucleotides have been also found to induce microglial chemotaxis and ingestions,leading to their scavenging of the abnormal materials. We found that nucleotides trigger microglial macropinocytosis by activation of P2Y receptors. Further evidence indicates that the purinemediated microglial macropinocytosis plays an important role in the internalization of soluble proteins and peptides including antigens and beta amyloid. We demonstrated a size-based sorting mechanism of pinosomal luminal cargoes,provides physiological relevance for the kiss-and-run fusion of intracellular organelles,and suggests a refined model for processing and trafficking of exogenous antigen.
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    Research and Development of Neurological and Psychiatric Drugs Supported by National Science and Technology Major Project of “Major New Drugs R&D”
    ZHANG Yong-xiang
    2018, 8 (4):  17-18. 
    Abstract ( 200 )  
    National Science and Technology Major Project of "Major New Drugs R&D" have made great achievements during nearly 10 years since it was launched in 2008. In major drug research and development, a batch of innovative drugs for treatment of major diseases which seriously endanger the health of our people, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease, bacterial and virus bacterial infection diseases, etc., have been successfully developed. On the other hand, a number of common clinical drugs have been reformed technically and the qualities of them are improved significantly, aiming at the requirements of clinical medication. The research and development of new drugs of neuropsychiatric diseases are one of the important field supported by "Major New Drugs R&D" project. Up to now, more that 180 new drug projects of neuropsychiatric diseases in different research and development stages have been supported by the project, and some of them have made significant progresses and show potential and good prospects for development. For example, Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides, an antidepressant, has been approved and available to the public. 971, a new drug for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, has completed phase III clinical trials and obtained very good and encouraging results. Orcinoside, an antidepressant, is undergoing Phase II clinical trials. The research of sustained-release microsphere of antipsychotic drug, risperidone, has made significant progress.
    The period of the 13th Five-Year Plan is the final five years and final stage for implementation of "Major New Drugs R&D" Project. With the economic and social development, the demands of protecting health and improving people's livelihood are even greater and stronger. Thus, it is of great significance to implement "Major New Drugs R&D" Project better and faster. During the 13th Five-Year Plan, the project fully implements the innovation-driven development strategy, and further focuses on its purpose, emphasizes the key points and accelerates implementation according to the principle of focus development. Further more, the project focuses on new drug research and development and the related key technology studies, and strengthens the construction of innovation capabilities. The main tasks have been arranged according to the “Three Importance” principle which means research and development of major new drugs, meeting important needs and solving important problems, so that to make the aims and tasks of the project more focused and clearer. Next, the development strategy study of the14th Five-Year Plan for "Major New Drugs R&D" project will be initiated. The research and development of neuropsychiatric drugs would still be a major field in the project. On one hand, "Major New Drugs R&D" project would further advance of technological innovation and research innovative drugs. Meanwhile, based on long-term development, the project would support and strengthen the related basic research of neuropsychiatric disease, translate and apply the results of basic research to provide rich knowledge for new drugs research and development. On the other hand, fully taking advantage of traditional Chinese medicine to discover and develop new neuropsychiatric drugs from traditional Chinese medicine is of great significance with a broad application perspective.
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    Chinese Brain Initiative and Research Strategy of Major Brain Disorders
    WANG Xiao-min
    2018, 8 (4):  18-19. 
    Abstract ( 208 )  
    报告首先简要介绍了即将启动的中国脑计划的研究目标、研究内容、任务和预期成果。继之探讨了我国脑重大疾病的研究战略,重点聚焦在神经变性病(阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病等)。指出神经变性病的防治策略应该是重心前移,促进早诊早防早治。要建立包括遗传学、生化学、临床症状学和影像学指标的预警/ 早期诊断综合诊断体系,关键是要研发特异、灵敏和简便的生物标志物;要建立国人早期诊断用的脑认知功能体系(量表、常模和仪器);要确立新的药物靶点,开发具有神经保护作用的药物是首选,中药可能是有价值的宝藏;神经变性病也属于功能性脑疾病,要强化对脑功能进行调控的声、光、电、磁刺激仪的研发与运用,该领域前景广阔;可穿戴技术- 移动医疗将对健康人员的预警和患者的监测与管理带来医疗模式的变革;未来神经变性病的防治将可能通过神经调控、药物干预、基因治疗和干细胞治疗来实现。
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    Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment (‘Chemobrain’) and Its Management: from Animal Models to Clinical Trials
    ZHANG Zhang-jin
    2018, 8 (4):  20-21. 
    Abstract ( 177 )  
    Background: Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, also known as “chemobrain,” is a common side e?ect. Over the past five years, we have conducted a series of studies to explore its pathophysiological mechanisms and the effects of the two natural compounds, resveratrol and ginsenoside Rg1, in preventing chemobrain in animal models. We also have completed a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture prevention of chemobrain in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: for animal studies, a mouse model of chemobrain was developed with three injections of docetaxel, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (DAC) in combination at a 2-day interval. Resveratrol or Rg1 was given one week prior to DAC regimen for three weeks. Behavioral paradigms, in vivo neuroimaging, cytokine and molecular examinations were used to detect the effects of DAC and natural compounds. In a randomised controlled trial, 60 breast cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy were randomly assigned to comprehensive acupuncture treatment (CAT, n = 30) and control treatment with least acupuncture stimulation (LAS, n = 30) for 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at baseline and once biweekly thereafter. Results: (1) Animal model: Cotreatment with both natural compounds significantly improved chemobrain-like behavior in water maze test. In vivo neuroimaging revealed that natural compounds reversed DAC-induced decreases in prefrontal and hippocampal neuronal activity and ameliorated cortical neuronal dendritic spine elimination. They normalized DAC-caused abnormalities in the expression of multiple neuroplasticity biomarkers in the two brain regions. Resveratrol and Rg1 suppressed DAC-induced elevation of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 in multiple sera and brain tissues. They also modulated cytokine mediators and inhibited DAC-induced microglial polarization from M2 to M1 phenotypes. (2) Clinical trial: CAT-treated patients had significantly or marginal significantly greater improvement on total score on MoCA, score on attention and delayed recall subscale than LAS group at multiple assessment points. Conclusions: Resveratrol and Rg1 exert their anti-chemobrain effects in an association with the inhibition of neuroinflammation by modulating microglia-mediated cytokines and the related upstream mediators, protecting neuronal activity and promoting neuroplasticity in particular brain regions associated with cognition processing. Acupuncture therapy may be an effective intervention in preventing and ameliorating chemobrain
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    Drug Development for Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Salvianolic Acid A Research
    杜冠华 张莉 吕扬 杨秀颖
    2018, 8 (4):  21-22. 
    Abstract ( 220 )  
    糖尿病是一种严重影响人民身体健康的疾病之一。糖尿病并发症是严重影响病人生活质量和致死的主要原因。糖尿病并发症常见的严重表现为肾功能衰竭、周围神经病变,视网膜病变,心血管、周围血管、脑血管病的发生和发展。糖尿病并发外周神经病变是常见而且危害严重的病理变化。我国具有慢性并发症的糖尿病患者非常普遍,患病率高,危害严重。在慢性糖尿病并发症患者中,有神经病变者占半数以上,糖尿病并发神经病变成为糖尿病并发症的重要临床表现。
    防治糖尿病并发症的药物研究进展非常缓慢,临床用药十分匮乏,现有药物治疗效果不能满足临床治疗要求。临床上应用的口服治疗糖尿病的药物有十余种类型数十种药物,近年来,研发了一批新型的抗糖尿病药物,如胰高血糖素样肽(glucagon-like peptide-1,GLP-1)激动剂、二肽二基酶(dipeptidyl peptidase IV,DPP-4)抑制剂、Na+依赖葡萄糖转运载体(sodium-glucose co-transporters,SGLT-2)抑制剂等,这些新型药物的应用,有效提高了对糖尿病的治疗效果,达到了更好的降低血糖的目的。但是,用于防治糖尿病并发周围神经病变的药物依然缺乏。
    丹酚酸A是应用多种分子和细胞水平筛选模型,通过综合评价发现的对糖尿病周围神经病变有显著防治作用的药物。采用糖尿病动物并发周围神经病变模型研究表明,丹酚酸A可显著改善糖尿病模型大鼠坐骨神经传导速度,改善周围神经病变症状。丹酚酸A可降低糖尿病大鼠非酶糖基化终末产物(AGEs)含量,降低nNOS含量,缓解血管反应障碍。丹酚酸A可降低高脂动物血中低密度脂蛋白水平、总胆固醇含量。实验结果显示出丹酚酸A对糖尿病周围神经病变的防治作用。
    丹酚酸A 可以通过抑制醛糖还原酶、减轻高糖应激、拮抗氧化应激发挥防治糖尿病并发神经病变作用。作用机制研究结果显示,丹酚酸A可抑制醛糖还原酶活性,减轻神经组织病变,促进病变神经组织的恢复;具有较强的抗氧化作用,抑制氧化应激,可以有效清除高糖诱导产生的自由基,激活AMPK,减轻脂质过氧化损伤;提高组织中Na+-K+-ATP酶活性,促进能量代谢;可改善高糖应激反应,减少AGEs的生成,调整代谢紊乱,提高组织对糖的利用,促进糖脂代谢,从而发挥对神经的营养保护作用,促进受损伤神经的修复。
    丹酚酸A可以从多个途径发挥防治糖尿病神经病变的作用,可以有效延缓神经病变的进程,促进病变神经组织的功能恢复,并能够通过调整糖尿病患者血糖和脂质代谢过程,减轻神经病变环境的影响,达到防治糖尿病神经病变和改善神经病变症状的效果。
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    The Mechanism of AKAPs Mediated Curcuminin Antidepressant and Neuroprotective Eff ects
    李学军
    2018, 8 (4):  22-23. 
    Abstract ( 235 )  
    cAMP 依赖性蛋白激酶A(PKA)通过A 激酶锚定蛋白(A-kinase anchor proteins,AKAPs)靶向亚细胞位点,PKA 识别它的底物或效应蛋白,从而引导并放大cAMP 信号的生物学效应。AKAPs 是功能上相关的调节蛋白家族,具有结合PKA 的保守区和引导AKAPPKA复合体到亚细胞位点的靶向序列。AKAPs 不仅与PKA 相互作用,也与其它信号分子作用,主要是磷酸酶和激酶。AKAP-PKA 复合体可汇集和整合来自各种通路的信号,这个复合体不仅可局部增强cAMP 和其它信号,通过降低PKA 的基础活性,还可发挥远程效应。不同AKAP 的结构和功能,神经元AKAPs 主要包括AKAP150、AKAP79 和AKAP75。我们通过整体动物模型以及细胞培养等研究,观察了AKAPs 介导姜黄素抗抑郁和神经保护的作用,并探讨了可能的机制,确立了其作为药物治疗靶点的可能性。我们首先发现姜黄素与抗抑郁药能产生更为明显的抗抑郁作用,且不引起血糖升高。姜黄素能改善去甲丙咪嗪引起的胰岛β细胞胰岛素分泌功能的损伤,其机制可能与调节AKAP150 的表达,以及改善AKAP150 与PKA 以及PP2B 的结合有关;进一步我们探讨了姜黄素抗抑郁和神经保护作用的机制与神经细胞AKAPs 表达和功能变化的关系,证实姜黄素可能通过维持AKAP-Lbc 促进KSR-1 协同复合体锚定的信号传递作用有关;此外,我们建立了神经血管单元模型,在此基础上观察和探讨了药物对神经胶质以及血管内皮细胞的保护作用,发现姜黄素对神经血管单元机制的研究,特别是对内皮细胞的保护作用涉及自噬调节机制;我们证实了姜黄素对神经细胞和胰岛β细胞的保护作用与线粒体有关,并发现姜黄素通过下调Siah2 表达,减少神经细胞线粒体AKAP149 的降解,从而增加其水平和功能,减少线粒体凋亡,保护神经细胞;我们也初步证实姜黄素对AKAPs 锚定功能有一定的影响,并采用计算机分子对接做了证实,为新药的研究奠定基础。
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    Research of Quercetin’s Estrogen-Like Action on Central Nervous System and Its Mechanisms
    SHEN li-xia1,LIU Liang-liang1,ZHANG Ming1,LIU Yang1,ZHANG Dan-shen 2*
    2018, 8 (4):  23-25. 
    Abstract ( 209 )  
    Objective: A large number of clinical and epidemiological data showed that decreased estrogen levels in women during menopause may induce Alzheimer's disease (AD). Estrogen can Protect neurons by increasing neuronal activity and reducing Aβ aggregation in a variety of ways. However, clinical trial data of postmenopausal women showed that estrogen therapy has many adverse reactions, which limits its clinical application. Phytoestrogens, similar to the chemical structure of estrogens, are known as selective estrogen receptor modulators. And they have estrogen-like neuroprotective effects while reducing the adverse reactions of estrogen replacement therapy. Studies have shown that Quercetin (Que), as a phytoestrogens, has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and neuronal damage induced by β-amyloid and heavy metal. Our previous study also confirmed that Que can exhibit estrogen-like effects by binding to estrogen alpha receptors and promote the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. This study continues the previous works and deeply explore the protective effects of Que estrogen-like effects on brain neurons and its mechanisms. Methods: Primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons, cortical neurons, and PC12 cells treated by Aβ25-35 were used to observe the effects of different concentrations of Que for 24 and 48 hours. The effects of Que on the activity of neurons and PC12 cells were detected by MTT assay. The effects of Que on synaptic morphology of hippocampus and cortical neurons were compared by immunofluorescence staining. It was examined by Western blotting that the changes in the expression of related receptors and proteins in the PC12 cell model. And we studied in-depth on the mechanisms of estrogen-like neuroprotection of Que by using the estrogen receptor antagonist, such as ICI182,780, and the estrogen receptor alpha antagonist MPP, and the estrogen receptor beta antagonist PHTPP. Results: The results of MTT assay showed that Que could increase the activity of rat hippocampal neurons (P<0.05), and the protective effect of Que on hippocampal neurons increased in a dose-dependent manner. In low-density hippocampal neurons, 25μmol•L-1 Que had protective effects on hippocampal neurons (P<0.05). After estrogen receptor antagonism, 50μmol•L-1 Que could still increase the activity of hippocampal neurons (P<0.05). After prolonging the action time, three different concentrations of Que could increase the activity of hippocampal neurons. In the test of PC12 cells, with the increase of Aβ25-35 concentration, the inhibition of cell viability was gradually enhanced. Compared with the control group, Aβ25-3510μmol•L-1 could significantly reduce cell viability after 24h treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell viability of the three different concentrations of Que groups was significantly increased (P<0.05). The results of immunofluorescence staining test showed that Que could increase the number and length of synapses in hippocampal neurons (P<0.05) and promote synapse development. The Que (50, 100 μmol•L-1) groups significantly promoted synapse formation in cortical neurons. Most of the neurons were full of cells, and the synapses of the neurons were significantly thickened, which grew and connected into a dense neural network. After the estrogen receptor was completely antagonized, Que could still increase the number and length of synapses in hippocampal neurons (P<0.05). Que could increase the number and length of synapses in hippocampal neurons after estrogen receptor β antagonism, which was higher than that of estrogen receptor α (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that Que could increase the expression of estrogen receptor α protein. Compared with the model group, Que increased the expression of ERα and p-ERK1/2 protein (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the expression of ERβ protein (P>0.05). In the PC12 cell experiment, the results of Western blot showed that the expression ratio of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2/Bax was increased and the expression of Caspase-3 protein was decreased (P<0.05). When Que estrogen receptor was inhibited by ICI182,780, p-ERK1/2 protein expression decreased (P<0.05), Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased and Caspase-3 protein expression increased (P<0.05). When U0126 was applied to Que, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax decreased and the expression of Caspase-3 protein increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: It was further confirmed that Que coulld up-regulate the expression of estrogen receptor α protein, increase the number and length of neuronal synapses, promote the growth and occurrence of synapses, and thus improve the growth rate and survival rate of neuronal cells. Then Que played a protective role of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex in rats. The Que also protected the AD model of PC12 cell injury induced by Aβ25-35, mainly enhancing the expression of estrogen receptor α protein. It exerted its estrogen- like neuroprotective effect through the classical estrogen receptor pathway. And it can attenuate apoptosis through ERα-mediated activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In a word, Estrogen-like effect of Que has protective effects on brain neurons and AD-like injury. The main mechanism is related to the regulation of estrogen receptor α and the ERα-mediated MAPK signaling pathway.
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    Modulating the Balance of Synaptic and Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors Shows Positive Effects Against Amyloid-Beta-Induced Neurotoxicity
    ZHOU Wen-xia,HUANG Yan,SHEN Wei,SU Jie,CHENG Bin,LI Dong,LIU Gang,ZHANG Yong-xiang
    2018, 8 (4):  25-27. 
    Abstract ( 214 )  
    The unbalance between synaptic (GluN2A,mediating the protective pathway)and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors( NMDARs)( GluN2B,mediating the excitotoxic pathway) has been found in Alzheimer’s disease (AD),indicating restoring the balance of GluN2A and GluN2B should be beneficial for AD. In this study,the GluN2B-selective antagonist,ifenprodil,and the non-selective NMDAR agonist,NMDA,had little effects on amyloid-beta (Abeta)-induced longterm potentiation (LTP) deficits. Enhancing the activity of GluN2A had a protective effect against Abeta,and specific activation of GluN2A and inhibition of GluN2B showed a better protective effect. The combination of ifenprodil and D-cycloserine (a co-activator of NMDRs similar to D-serine) led to greater improvement in behavior tests than ifenprodil or D-cycloserine alone,meanwhile,the combination of ifenprodil and D-cycloserine reversed the signal pathway more significantly than ifenprodil or D-cycloserine alone. These results indicate that enhancing synaptic NMDARs and inhibiting extrasynaptic NMDARs concurrently showed protective effects against Abeta-induced neurotoxicity,suggesting that modulation of the balance between GluN2A and
    GluN2B might be a good strategy for AD therapy.
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    CLC-3 Chloride Channels in the Nervous System:Missed Targets in Cerebrovascular and Brain Diseases?
    Dayue Darrel Duan1,2,Lingyu Linda Ye1,YANG Si-Jin 1
    2018, 8 (4):  27-28. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    CLC-3 chloride (Cl-) channel,a member of an extended family of voltagegated CLC chloride channels and transporters,are ubiquitously expressed throughout the nervous system,including in the cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMC) and neurons in the brain. CLC-3 chloride channels play critical roles in the regulation of vascular tone and cell volume regulation,migration,proliferation,and apoptosis. Remodeling of CLC-3 Cl- channels in CVSMC contributes significantly to the development of vascular pathology and remodeling and may be novel mechanisms for hypertension and stroke. Targeting Cl- channels may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hypertension and stroke. CLC-3 Cl- channels are also involved in neuronal apoptosis and are important regulators of cell volume and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. Expression of CLC-3 in the presynaptic vesicles determines quantal size of inhibitory transmission in the hippocampus through impact on GABAergic synaptic transmission. A distinct presynaptic CLC-3 dependent regulatory mechanism may represent a novel target for the regulation of synaptic vesicle acidification and filling. It extends the role of Cl- in inhibitory transmission from that of a postsynaptic permeant species to a presynaptic regulatory element. The CLC-3 Cl- channels are important targets for glioma and cancer therapy. CLC-3 channels (Cl.vol)/transporters may play important roles in the regulation of many cellular functions and integrate their physiological and pathological roles with multi-chloride channels,including TMEM16A( Cl.ca),CFTR at the phenomic level in the cerebrovascular and nervous system. Deep understandings of CLC-3 Cl- channels expression and function in the nervous system may provide novel molecular insights into the cerebrovascular disease and brain disease including brain cancers.
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    Therapeutics and Biomarker Development in Huntington’ Disease
    DUAN Wen-zhen
    2018, 8 (4):  28-29. 
    Abstract ( 207 )  
    Most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease (HD), have converging pathogenesis, such as formation of abnormal protein aggregates and mitochondrial dysfunction. Unfortunately, despite tremendous efforts by many scientists and increasing knowledge about disease mechanisms, we still lack disease-modifying treatments for any of these diseases.  Drug discovery has been revolutionized in the past decade. Despite technological advances as a result of substantial investment, the number of new drug approvals remains stagnant and the cost of bringing a drug to market is higher than ever. This highlights the persistence of a model of drug development that has not adapted to changes in science and public perception of drug companies. While these diseases affect different areas of the brain and are distinct at the cellular and molecular levels, they share many underlying similarities. Thus, development of treatment for any of these diseases may provide clues to accelerate the path to the treatment for other neurodegenerative diseases.   Research into potential therapies for HD is particularly attractive because it is a genetically homogeneous disease for which well-established models exist. The HD gene encodes the protein huntingtin (Htt), whose polyglutamine expansion is believed to mediate the cytotoxic effects of HD.  Therefore, HD also serves a model for polyglutamine diseases. 
    HD is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutation of the gene Huntingtin. Htt lowering (gene silencing) strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides, shRNA, miRNA et al, have shown great preclinical promise, and the first HTT lowering clinical trial is underway. The key to success of these trials will be to know where and when to intervene, since these reagents do not penetrate the blood-brain-barrier, and must be delivered directly to the CNS.  HD is notable for preferential atrophy of the striatum but also involves degeneration in cortex, subcortical white matter, and specific subcortical grey matter regions.  It has been shown regional spread of pathology in the HD brain using neuroimaging.  In addition, neurodegeneration in HD is mainly caused by toxic effects of the abnormal Htt protein, and there is increasing evidence that mutant Htt can spread, like prions.  A better understanding of HD pathology at a cellular level and in the network context would be important for determining the optimal timing and brain regional location of therapeutic interventions.   HD mouse models provide unique values to answer these questions, as brain samples can be collected at a temporal manner from different disease stages (before disease onset, at the onset, after the onset) in a relatively short period. Knowledge of HD pathogenesis is bearing fruit in experimental treatments, using agents to decrease production of the huntingtin message RNA and protein. An understanding of how pathology of HD may spread throughout the brain can be guided by an understanding of the cortico-basal-ganglionic circuitry. Selective pathology within the basal ganglia circuit may contribute to features of HD phenotype.
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    Receptor Signaling Cascades, Promotes Neurogenesis, and Attenuates Emotional and Olfactory Dysfunctions in Chronic Corticosterone-Induced Depression
    SHEN Jian-gang
    2018, 8 (4):  29-31. 
    Abstract ( 200 )  
    Olfactory dysfunction is accompanied with anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Impaired neurogenesis in hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ)-olfactory bulb(OB) contribute to anxiety- and depressive behaviors and olfactory dysfunctions. However,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Adaptor proteins containing the pleckstrin homology domain,phosphotyrosine binding domain,and leucine zipper motif (APPLs) are involved in regulating many biological activities. APPL2 showed the potentials to modulate cell growth,but whether APPL2 could affect adult neurogenesis and animal mood behaviors remains unknown.Herein,we tested the hypothesis that APPL2 could affect glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling and modulate hippocampal neurogenesis,contributing to depressive and anxiety behaviors. APPL2 Tg mice had enhanced GR phosphorylation under basic condition but had no different plasma corticosterone (CORT) level and GR phosphorylation under stress stimulation. APPL2 Tg mice had decreased hippocampal neurogenesis that was reversed by GR antagonist RU486. APPL2 Tg mice had impaired hippocampal neurogenesis and depressive and anxiety behaviors. We further identified the roles of APPL2 in olfactory functions. APPL2 Tg mice displayed higher GR activity and less neurogenesis at olfactory system with less olfactory sensitivity than WT mice,indicating that APPL2 could be a potential therapeutic target for depression and olfactory deficits. We then studied the effects of baicalin,a natural antioxidant, on modulating APPL2/GR signaling pathway and promoting neurogenesis for antidepressant and improving olfactory functions. Baicalin inhibited APPL2/GR signaling pathway and improved neurogenesis at SVZ,OB, and hippocampus in APPL2 Tg mice and chronic corticosterone-induced depression mouse model. Baicalin attenuated depressive- and anxietylike behaviors and improved olfactory functions in chronic depression mouse model and APPL2 Tg mice. In conclusion,APPL2 could be a novel therapeutic target for improving depressant related olfactory dysfunctions. Antioxidant therapy with baicalin could inhibit APPL2-mediated GR hyperactivity and promote neurogenesis, releasing depressive and anxiety symptoms and improving olfactory functions.
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    3D Genome Mapping in Dopaminergic Neurons from Adult Human Midbrain
    Gill SE1,5#,Halene T1,6#,Rajarajan P2,Chandrasekaran S2,Kassim B1,Fullard JF1,5,Loh YHE8,Bannon MJ7,
    2018, 8 (4):  31-32. 
    Abstract ( 191 )  
    Objective: Monoamine system plays a key role in the pathophysiology of a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders including Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, drug addiction and many other conditions. Of note, there is a large amount of literatures exploring monoamine pathways in the context of adaptive mechanisms inside the cell nucleus, including changes in gene expression and alterations in chromatin modifications, structure and functions. However, such types of studies were largely focused on forebrain structures that receive input from monoaminergic neurons. Comprehensive genome-scale and cell-type specific mappings is lacking for brainstem areas that consist of monoaminergic neurons, including the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). This is especially the case for human study, due to the limited access to clinical human brain samples and lack of efficient assay for cell-type specific isolation from postmortem brain tissues after low-temperature or fixative preservations. Here, we introduce novel protocol to comprehensively map the 3D genome and nuclear transcriptome in selective population of dopaminergic neurons isolated from human midbrain. Methods: Mammalian chromatin is highly packed and compartmentalized into Topologically Associated Domains (TADs). Although TAD structures were reported to conserve in between species and cell types, chromatin contacts within TAD were often highly specific for different cell types in brain, and were implicated in the genetic risk of psychiatric disorders. Fragmentation-religation based DNA-DNA proximity (Hi-C) assays were designed to detect chromosomal conformations, which provide an additional layer of epigenomic regulation on top of previous well-studied epigenetic mechanisms including DNA and histone modifications. However, current Hi-C protocols either require millions of cells as input, or only offer limited resolution when applied to low input material, particularly when probing rare cell types from human postmortem brain tissue. Here, we designed Tn5-Hi-C, a modified Hi-C protocol that involves Transposase-based chromatin fragmentation, bypass the low-efficient and costly steps of biotin pull-down and adaptor-based library preparation, and was applicable to as low as 5000 nuclei as input. We performed Tn5-Hi-C on dopaminergic chromatin subsampling by fluorescence-activated sorting from human substantia nigra, delivered chromosomal contact maps at resolution similar to conventional Hi-C, while decreasing the input by three orders of magnitude.  Results: For the first time, we provided genome-wide mapping of 3D genome (Tn5-Hi-C) and transcriptome (nuclear RNA-seq) profiles in human dopaminergic neurons from substanina nigra, identified hundreds of chromosomal contacts associated with higher-order open chromatin and differential gene expression, including genes from regulatory networks critical for dopaminergic differentiation, maintenance and protection from neurodegeneration. Conclusion: These findings will provide unique features of dopaminergic neuronal epigenome and could illuminate the role of higher order chromatin in transcriptional regulation in adult human midbrain. The capacity of the protocols presented here could easily be scaled up to probe large disease cohorts, offering novel insights into the genomic organization and disease-associated alterations in brainstem monoamine neurons along with other rare brain cell populations assigned with critical roles in the regulation of human cognition and behavior.
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    Macrophage Gene Therapy in the Central Nervous System
    So Yoon Lee1,Cara Orji1,2,ZHANG Zi-jian 1,ZHANG Hao-yun 1,3,Anthony Bastian1,2,Adriana Galvez1,2,DOU
    2018, 8 (4):  32-34. 
    Abstract ( 186 )  
    Regulation of immune responses is particular important in recovery after stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain infections by inhibiting inflammation and reinstating rescue environment. Gene delivery based immunotherapy appears to have significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurological conditions by inhibition of neuroinflammation to prevent irreversible destructive mechanisms. However, current gene delivery systems lack desired convenience, efficiency, and safety. Nanocarriers offers an   attractive gene delivery system that overcome the immunogenic and long-term oncologic effects of the viral vectors. Using branched PEI lipids with PLGA, we developed a highly efficient core-shell nanoparticle (NP) gene delivery system. These IL-4 plasmid DNA (pIL-4) loaded NPs (pIL-4-NPs) were effectively delivered pIL-4 to the human blood monocytes derived macrophages (MDM) and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). Furthermore, pIL-4-NPs quickly escaped lysosomes and entered the nuclei of these cells. In in vitro transfection assays, the pIL-4-NPs had higher transfection efficiency, in contrast, PEI25KPEI liposomes and PLGA NPs were unable to transfect MDM and BMM. In LPS-induced inflammatory in vitro and in vivo models, transfection of pIL-4-NPs decreased LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL6, and TNF-?. Our findings indicate that pIL-4-NPs delivery system is capable of effectively deliver IL-4 plasmid DNA into human and murine macrophages, which consistently express IL-4 in vitro and in vivo. The pIL-4-NPs dramatically diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, exhibited anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective efficacy when macrophages were activated by LPS. Thus, branched PEI lipids and PLGA formed core-shell NPs are a promising gene delivery platform for immunotherapy in neurological ailments.
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    Adolescent Intermittent Alcohol Exposure Enhances Sensitivity to Future Stress Events that Promote Abnormal Fear-Related Behavior in Adulthood
    Judson Chandler
    2018, 8 (4):  34-35. 
    Abstract ( 197 )  
    It is becoming increasing apparent that abuse of alcohol during adolescence has long lasting effects of brain and behavior in adulthood. In the present study,we investigated the effect of adolescent alcohol exposure on fear-related behavior in adulthood. Using a rodent model of binge-like adolescent intermittent alcohol (AIE) exposure by vapor inhalation,we observed that exposure to a fear conditioning paradigm of adult rats subjected to AIE leads to alterations in memory consolidation resulting in deficits in fear extinction learning and the recall of extinction memories. However,treatment with an mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator (CDPPB) during fear extinction training attenuated these deficits in extinction learning and retention. In addition,when AIE exposed rats subsequently experienced a single episode of acute stress,we observed a synergistic effect of AIE and acute stress on alterations of fear behaviors. Taken together,these findings suggest that adolescent alcohol abuse may increase vulnerability to development of postsynaptic stress disorders (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD),and identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of these comorbid disorders.
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    The Alpha6*-nAChR is A Highly Sensitive Target for Low Dose Alcohol
    WU Jie
    2018, 8 (4):  36-38. 
    Abstract ( 192 )  
    Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious public health problem that affects approximately 17 million Americans and results in tremendous social,legal and medical costs to the society. Unlike other addictive drugs (e.g.,morphine,cocaine or nicotine) that have specific molecular targets,ethanol (EtOH) has no specific target. In most previous studies,EtOH concentrations used for investigation were too high (e.g.,>50 mmol·L-1) compared to the EtOH concentrations in human brain after alcohol drinking,and the high dose EtOH may produce nonspecific modulations of a variety of receptors,ion channels,intracellular signaling cascades,and gene expression in the brain. Therefore,it is important to understand low dose( e.g.,<10 mmol·L-1)
    EtOH effects in the brain. Unfortunately,the molecular and cellular targets that mediate the sensitivity to low dose EtOH remain to be defined. nAChRs containing α6 subunits( α6*-nAChRs) shows a highly restricted distribution in midbrain dopaminergic neurons that are associated with drug dependence and addiction. Here,we report that low dose EtOH (0.1~5 mmol·L-1)significantly potentiates α6*-nAChR function using patch-clamp whole-cell recordings. Since EtOH modulates α6*-nAChR-mediated function depending on both EtOH and nicotine concentrations,representing a positive allosteric modulation. In conclusion,our results demonstrate a functional α6*-nAChR transfected in human SH-EP1 cells that can be used as an excellent cell model to investigate α6*-nAChR function and pharmacology. Under patch-clamp recording condition,low dose EtOH modulates α6*-nAChR function as a positive allosteric modulator. Through this mechanism,brain α6*-nAChRs may play a critical role in mediating low dose alcohol’ effects on alcohol reward and dependence.
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    Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
    CHEN Shao-yu
    2018, 8 (4):  38-39. 
    Abstract ( 159 )  
    Maternal alcohol consumption is the leading known non-genetic cause of mental retardation.  Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause a range of structural and functional birth defects, which are defined as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).  Growing evidence suggests that excessive cell death in selected cell populations is a major component of the pathogenesis of FASD.  This suggests that a strategy for protecting against ethanol’s teratogenesis by epigenetically regulating the genes involved in the apoptotic pathway is promising for effective intervention and prevention of FASD. We have recently found that treatment with ethanol resulted in a significant decrease in miR-125b expression in neural crest cells (NCCs) and mouse embryos.  We also validated that Bcl-2 antagonist killer 1 (Bak1) and p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) are the direct targets of miR-125b in NCCs.  In addition, over-expression of miR-125b significantly reduced the ethanol-induced increase in Bak1 and PUMA protein expression, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis in NCCs, indicating that miR-125b can modulate ethanol-induced apoptosis by the regulation of Bcl-2 and p53 pathways.  Furthermore, microinjection of miR-125b mimic resulted in a significant increase in miR-125b expression and a decrease in the protein expression of Bak1 and PUMA in ethanol-exposed mouse embryos. Up-regulation of miR-125b also significantly reduced ethanol-induced caspase-3 activation and diminished ethanol-induced growth retardation in mouse embryos.  Our studies have also shown that exposure to ethanol resulted in a significant increase in the activities of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), and increased the methylation of Bcl-2 promoter in NCCs.  In addition, ChIP-qPCR assay revealed that ethanol exposure significantly decreased acetyl-histone H3 binding to the Bcl-2 promoter and the expression of Bcl-2.  Supplementing with sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables and a dual epigenetic regulator which can inhibit both DNMTs and HDACs, reversed the ethanol-induced hypermethylation of Bcl-2 promoter and reduction in acetyl-histone H3 binding to the Bcl-2 promoter.  Treatment with SFN also restored the expression of Bcl-2 in ethanol-exposed NCCs.  Furthermore, supplementing with SFN diminished ethanol-induced apoptosis in NCCs and in mouse embryos exposed to ethanol in vivo. These results demonstrate that SFN can epigenetically restore the expression of Bcl-2 and attenuate ethanol-induced apoptosis by decreasing methylation and increasing histone acetylation at the Bcl-2 promoter.  These findings support the potential of dietary consumption of SFN or SFN-rich broccoli sprouts to attenuate ethanol-induced apoptosis and confer in vivo protection against FASD through epigenetic regulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic genes.
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    Targeting PDE4 for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alcoholism: An implication in Alcohol-Related Dementia?
    WANG Hao1, ZHANG Fang-fang1, FU Hua-rong1, ZHOU Yan-meng1, LIU Xin1, HOU Xue-qin 1, HU Wei2, Rolf Hansen2, XU Ying3, James O’Donnell3, ZHANG Han-ting1,2
    2018, 8 (4):  39-41. 
    Abstract ( 216 )  
    Background:  Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), one of the 11 PDE enzyme families that hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides, is critical for controlling intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations and plays an important role in regulating alcohol consumption and mediating memory in dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Chronic alcohol consumption can cause alcohol-related dementia and 50-75% of detoxified alcoholics have memory or cognition impairment. However, the role of PDE4 and its mechanism remain to be characterized and elucidated. Methods: Using the water-maze, passive avoidance, or novel object recognition test, we examined the effects of rolipram, a prototypical PDE4 inhibitor, and roflumilast, a potent PDE4 inhibitor which has been approved for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in humans, on memory loss in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, a widely used model for AD. In addition, we tested the effects of the PDE4 inhibitors, via ip, intra-gastric, or intra-striatum infusion, on ethanol intake and preference using the mouse two-bottle choice paradigm. Mice deficient in PDE4A, PDE4B, or PDE4D (4AKO, 4BKO, and 4DKO, respectively) and their wild type (WT) controls were tested for ethanol consumption and memory; the latter was measured in the absence or presence of beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 (Abeta42) infused into the dorsal hippocampus. Results:  Similar to rolipram, roflumilast reversed memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice in all the memory tests and reduced ethanol intake and preference in C57BL/6 mice in two-bottle choice. Consistent with the results in the memory tests, roflumilast reduced the loss of neurons and neurocyte apoptosis in AD mice, as shown using HE and Nissl staining. It also reversed the decreased ratio of Bcl-2/BAX in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD mice. In addition, roflumilast reversed the decreased levels of cAMP and expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in AD mice. Compared to the WT controls, 4AKO mice displayed significant decreases in ethanol intake and preference and reversal of Abeta42-induced memory deficits. In contrast, 4BKO mice only mimicked the ability of 4AKO mice to reduce alcohol consumption while 4DKO mice only to reverse Abeta42-induced memory deficits. In addition, levels of cAMP and phospho-CREB (pCREB) were increased in the hippocampus of 4AKO or 4DKO mice, which also showed reversal of Abeta42-induced decreases in pCREB. 
    Conclusions:  These data suggest that PDE4 inhibitors such as roflumilast improve learning and memory in AD and reduce ethanol intake and preference likely via cAMP/CREB/BDNF signaling-mediated neuroprotection. PDE4 isoforms have different roles in mediating ethanol-drinking behavior and memory in AD. The results indicate PDE4A as a potential new target for alcohol-related dementia, although studies with animal models of alcohol-related dementia are needed to clarify this.
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    A Study of Diagnosis and Early Efficacy Prediction Biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder
    YUAN Yong-gui
    2018, 8 (4):  42-44. 
    Abstract ( 190 )  
    Background: Currently, diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) still relies on symptoms. There are some problems for the diagnostic criteria, like low diagnostic consistency and difficulty in differentiation of MDD and bipolar depression (BD) in the early stage. In terms of treatment, there are also many problems, such as low overall efficiency, slow onset effect, and large differences between individuals. At present, there are a lot of researches on MDD biomarkers, most focus on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and brain imaging both from domestic and foreign counterparts, but the main research focuses are genetics and imaging. This study is mainly combine genetics and imaging to conduct the discussions of MDD diagnosis and efficacy prediction biomarkers. Methods: Proteomics mainly included patients who met the diagnostic criteria. Blood samples were taken from the participants. Serum was collected after centrifugation for serum protein concentration detection. Receiver operation curve (ROC) analysis was used to test the diagnostic and differential powers of the single serum proteins or combined serum proteins. In the imageology groups, the 3.0T cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed on the subjects meeting the inclusion criteria, and the methods based on the deep learning of the resting-state fMRI data was used. The biological marker spectrums from molecular levels (genotyping or measuring genetic products) to clinical levels (depicting cognitive and motivational areas or clinical symptoms) to predict the outcome of the treatment. Results: In the diagnosis of MDD, accord to the results of previous animal experiments and clinical studies, we developed a highly accurate MDD diagnostic platform based on the serum levels of proteins in the P11-tPA-BDNF pathway. The sensitivity of the MDD diagnostic platform was 88.1%, specificity was 92.7%, and accuracy was as high as 90.6%. Based on the above findings, we further studied the diagnosis and differential diagnosis efficacy of serum proteins levels in this pathway for five common psychiatric diseases: schizophrenia (SZ), MDD, bipolar mania (BM), BD, and panic disorder (PD). The results suggest that the combination of serum proteins levels (tPA, PAI-1, BDNF, proBDNF, TrkB, p75NTR) in this pathway has a high accuracy not only in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MDD, but also in the diagnosis and identification of SZ, BM, BD and PD, which can be used as a diagnostic platform for common mental diseases. After that, we further studied serum VGF and BICC1 proteins upstream or downstream of this pathway. We found that serum VGF levels decreased in MDD while increased in BD patients compared with healthy controls (HC), had a significant ability for identifying MDD and BD, and its sensitivity is 95 %, specificity is 100%, and the accuracy is up to 95%. Similarly, BICC1 also has a good diagnostic and differential efficacy in MDD, BM, and BD. We also found that facial expressions also contribute to the diagnosis and severity of MDD. In addition, imaging studies also showed that MDD patients have characteristics of small-world networks that are different from other populations, showing an increase in the characteristic path length (Lp) and a decrease in network efficiency (E), which is beneficial to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MDD. In the efficacy of MDD, we found that CMHC differences are existed in the precuneus and infraorbital gyrus between responsive depression (RD) group and non-responding depression (NRD) group, and the precuneus VMHC values of RD group were significantly negatively associated with the baseline scores of Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD). ROC analysis showed that combining the VMHC values of above-mentioned brain regions can distinguish NRD more effectively. Similarly, imaging studies also found that the left ORBsup node was lower than that of the HC group, while the right ORBinf was increased; right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdor) nodes are lower when compare to NRD that may be the basis for different therapeutic effects. The combined ROC analysis showed that the degree of right SFGdor node and the characteristic path length can predict NRD well. We also found that there are significant correlations between bilateral NAcc network connectivity property and the severity as well as early efficacy of MDD, and the temporal variability between different efficacy MDD groups is different. The bimodal analysis based on CBF+ALFF showed that ALFF values of the bilateral occipital gyrus (MOG), left lentiform nuclear (lentiform), right superior temporal gyrus, and CBF and ALFF of right calcarine gyrus (Calcarine) and left caudate nucleus (Caudate) are significantly correlated with the severity or early efficacy of MDD at baseline. Including CBF of left Caudate and right middle frontal gyrus as well as ALFF of right inferior temporal gyrus can predict NRD better. Conclusion: Both proteomics and imaging have the feasibility of developing an objective tool for the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of MDD. In the future, larger samples of clinical studies are needed to obtain repeatable, scientific, and reliable specific biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of MDD and BD, and the precise clinical diagnosis and treatment of MDD.
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    Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression Induced by Liang’s Contextual-Stress Box in Mice
    LIANG Jian-hui1,2*, LIANG hui2, CHENG tao1, LIU Xiao-yan1, Simon M.Y.Lee3, TANG Ben-qin3, WANG Xiu-fen3, CHEN Feng4,Andrew J. Lawrence4
    2018, 8 (4):  44-45. 
    Abstract ( 158 )  
    Rationale: Comorbidity of depression and anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders in practice. Few experimental procedures, however, have focused on identifying mixed depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in animal models. Objectives: To develop a novel testing paradigm, the so-called Liang’s contextual-stress Box (briefly, Liang’s Box), for evaluating depression- and/or anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Methods: Liang’s Box consisted of a central area (CA) with three peripheral arms (PA). Mice were placed individually in the end of a peripheral arm facing to the central area and were allowed to travel around Liang's Box. During a test period, behavioral parameters were recorded and collected by a video-tracking system named SMART 3.0 (Panlab, Spain), including (1) Latency to CA, (2) Time spent in CA (CA-time), (3) Distance traveled in CA (CA-distance), (4) Distance traveled in PA (PA-distance), (5) Transition number between CA and PA, (6) Global activity, (7) CA-time/cm2, (8) PA-time/cm2, (9) CA-distance/cm2, and (10) PA-distance/cm2. In order to assess the reliability and validity of Liang’s Box and get baseline information, we undertook a series of experiment, including verifying consistency and stability in the various strains of mice (KM, ICR, and C57BL/6J mice), imposing high illumination, restraint and tail suspension stress, pre-treating with an anxiolytic (diazepam, buspirone) or antidepressant (desipramine, mianserin).
    Results: (1) There were not remarkable differences in all the parameters among KM, ICR, and C57BL/6J mice; (2) High illumination, restraint and tail suspension significantly increased the latency to CA and decreased the CA-time, CA-distance and transition number. However, these three types of stresses evoked different effect on global activity. High illumination increased activity, but restraint stress had no significant influence. In contrast with high illumination, tail suspension stress markedly reduced activity in mice; (3) The anxiolytics diazepam (0.25mg•kg-1 and 0.5mg•kg-1, i.p.) and buspirone (0.5mg•kg-1 and 1.0mg•kg-1, i.p.) significantly decreased latency to CA and transition number, and dose-dependently increased the CA-time. However, they did not affect CA- or PA-distance, or global activity; (4) The antidepressants desipramine (10.0mg•kg-1 and 30.0mg•kg-1, i.p.) and mianserin (0.25mg•kg-1 and 0.5mg•kg-1, i.p.) significantly decreased latency to CA, and dose-dependently enhanced CA-time, CA-distance and transition number, while neither affected PA-distance or global activity. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Liang’s Box is a useful experimental instrument and method for screening and assessing potential antidepressants and/or anxiolytics. Moreover, depression- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by Liang’s Box in mice may be a new hybrid animal model to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of anxiety and depression.
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    The Translocator Protein (18 kDa), A Potential Novel Drug Target of Mental Disorders
    LI Yun-feng
    2018, 8 (4):  45-46. 
    Abstract ( 183 )  
    Background: Recently, the translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO), previously called peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), has received increased attention in the pathophysiology of several kinds of neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the exact role of TSPO in the pathophysiology and treatment of mental disorders. Methods: Firstly, by using TSPO WT/KO mice or the lentiviral vectors mediating TPSO overexpression, we studied the important role of TSPO in the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. The results obtained in this studies provided new insights into the potential target of TSPO for the treatment of mental disorders. Secondly, we determined the the target profile of YL-IPA08, a potent and selective TSPO ligand synthesized by our institute. And we then measured its anti-PTSD, antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects in various mouse and rat models. Finally, we investigated its potential to cause side effects that are typically associated with conventional benzodiazepines. Results: Our results are the first to suggest that AC-5216, a selective TSPO ligand, produce antidepressant-like and cognitive enhancing behaviors in TSPO +/+mice, but not in TSPO -/-mice. The overexpression  of TSPO in the hippocampal dentate gyrus produced anxiolytic and antidepressant-like behavioural effects that are at least partially mediated by downstream allopregnanolone biosynthesis. We also showed that TSPO ligand YL-IPA08 caused significant anti-PTSD, antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects, but does not cause the side effects that are typically associated with conventional BZDs benzodiazepines, which might be partially mediated by binding to TSPO and the subsequent synthesis of allopregnanolone. Conclusions: These data suggest that TSPO may be the promising targets for the development of TSPO ligands as the novel and promising pharmacotherapies target for the mental disorders.
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    Hijacking Dorsal Raphe to Improve Moods and Metabolism via BDNF Gene Transfer in Mice
    修建波1,丁玉强2,许琪1
    2018, 8 (4):  46-48. 
    Abstract ( 216 )  
    Background: Mood disorders such as depression and metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes have significant comorbidities; furthermore, each disease increases the risk of the other one. Continuing use of antidepressant medication is associated with an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain. On the other hand, antiobesity drugs are found to have varying neuropsychiatric adverse event profiles. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more effective and safer therapies for mood disorders and metabolic diseases with minimal side effects. Both brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serotonin (5-HT) can regulate moods in the limbic system and metabolism in the hypothalamus, respectively. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) in the midbrain contains the largest number of serotonin-expressing neurons as well as other neurons expressing various neurotransmitters. Both serotonergic and nonserotonergic DR neurons send projections widely to the forebrain including the limbic system and the hypothalamus. This study aimed to investigate whether BDNF gene transfer in DR neurons can improve moods and metabolism. Methods: Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) was microinjected into DR to achieve BDNF gene transfer. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression in C57BL/6 mice was established to investigate the role of DR BDNF gene transfer in depression. Forced swimming test (FST) and sucrose consumption test (SCT) were used to examine the depressive-like behaviors. Open field test (OPT) and elevated zero maze (EZM) were used to examine the anxiety-like behaviors. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) and leptin receptor mutant db/db mice were employed to investigate the role of DR BDNF gene transfer in regulating metabolism. Metabolic profiling included body weight, food intake, fat mass, serum factors, energy expenditure, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine expression changes of several key genes in DR, hypothalamus, liver and fat tissues. Tph2 conditional knockout mice were used to examine whether 5-HT is essential for BDNF in improving metabolism. In addition, chemogenetic activation of DR neurons via AAV-mediated hM3Dq expression was also performed to examine whether there is a similar effect as BDNF. Results: FST and SCT showed significant anti-depressant effects of DR BDNF gene transfer in the CUMS model, meanwhile, OPT and EZM showed significant anxiolytic effects. BDNF gene transfer in DR also markedly ameliorated obesity and hyperglycemia in DIO and db/db mice, which was revealed by lightened body weight, decreased food intake, increased energy expenditure, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reduced levels of serum factors like insulin and leptin. The mRNA expression of genes related to 5-HT signaling such as tph2 and vmat2 was significantly increased in DR after BDNF gene transfer. Expression levels of multiple genes regulating energy balance in the hypothalamus, liver, and fat tissues also changed. Conditional knockout of tph2, encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis, did not block the effects of DR BDNF gene transfer in improving metabolism. Chemogenetic activation of DR neurons also had the effects of improving metabolism in DIO mice. Conclusions: BDNF gene transfer in DR of mice improves moods and metabolism. This study surmounts the “hypothalamocentric” paradigm dominating in metabolism research by connecting metabolism and moods via dorsal raphe.
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    Rapid Release of GABA Inhibiting Epilepsy in Vivo
    DING Ran1,LI Yuan-yuan1,QIAO Zhi-hong1,LIU Nan-nan1,ZHANG Xin1,WEI Liang-peng1,HOU Meng-zhu1, LIU Ai-li1,ZHENG Chen2,FU Bing1,XU Ying-shun1,MA Zheng-guan1,HOU Shao-wei1,WANG Fei-fei1,YUAN Shi-yang1,LI
    2018, 8 (4):  48-49. 
    Abstract ( 206 )  
    Objective:Epilepsy is a multi-etiological brain dysfunction syndrome characterized by synchronously repeated spontaneous discharges from neuronal cells. Its pathogenesis involves excitatory / inhibitory imbalance,ion channel abnormalities and may be related to the abnormal structure and function of neurotransmitter receptors. The research was to observe the effects of rapid increase inhbitory neurotransmitter GABA on the excitatory /inhibitory imbalance,ion channel abnormalities and abnormal neurotransmitter receptors in living epileptic mice from the level of free moving animal,cell,sub-cell and receptor. Methods: The techniques of fiber photometry and laser uncage of Rub-GABA for epileptic free moving mice induced by administration of Kainic acid (KA) or 4-AP,local field potentials (LFP),multicell bolus lording of calcium (OGB-1AM),virus transfection of calcium-sensitive protein GCaMP6f, transfection of fluorescent labeled AMPA receptors in cortical neurons by in utero electroporation,two-photon uncage of Rubi-GABA,two-photon imaging,two-photon calcium imaging,twophoton cell attach,two-photon targeted patch clamp and two-photon shadow patch clamp in living epileptic mice induced by 4-AP were used. Results: Laser photolysis of Rubi-GABA in hippocampal CA1 could immediately alleviate KA induced acute epileptic seizures in living mice. In cellular level,two-photon uncage Rub-GABA or rapid release of GABA significantly decreased the number of neurons releasing the calcium signals by multicell bolus lording of calcium,inhibited spikes recording by LFP and immediately inhibited both calcium signals and spikes using two-photon cell attaching technique in the living epileptic mice induced by 4-AP. Two-photon uncage Rub-GABA significantly decreased spikes induced by 4-AP recording with two-photon shadow patch clamp in vivo. In sub-cellular level,two-photon Rubi-GABA uncage of dendritic spines of cortical neurons transfected with GCaMP6f obviously decreased the frequency and amplitude of calcium signal on those dendritic spines in 4-AP induced epileptic living mice. Two-photon targeted patch clamp and shadow patch clamp were performed separately to both the cortical neurons transfected fluorescent labeled AMPA receptors in the mice by in utero electroporation and the cortical neurons with no fluorescent labeled AMPA receptors in control mice. The results showed that there was no difference in the electrophysiological indices between the two kinds of cortical neurons,meaning that there was no obvious change of electrophysiological characteristics in the cortical neurons transfected fluorescent labeled AMPA receptors. Further study showed that rapid disappearance of the AMPA receptors was found before disappearance of dendritic spines in epileptic living mice induced by high concentration of 4-AP,and the disappearance of the AMPA receptors was significantly delayed or the AMPA receptors even reappeared after rapid release of GABA with the different concentration of 4-AP in the living mice. Conlusion: Rapid release of GABA can rectify the excitatory / inhibitory imbalance and ion channel abnormalities of epilepsy,and rapidly inhibits epilepsy in free moving mice,and from cellular and sub-cellular level in vivo. It also protects the structure and function of
    neurotransmitter receptors during epilepsy in vivo.
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    Impaired mRNA Translational Capacity is Correlated with Aging-Dependent Memory Deficits and Behavioral Inflexibility
    YANG Wen-zhong1, ZHOU Xue-yan1, MA Tao1,2,3*
    2018, 8 (4):  50-52. 
    Abstract ( 171 )  
    Objective: Understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying age-associated cognitive impairments will not only contribute to our general knowledge about “aging” biology, but also provide insights for more effective strategies to prevent and improve the quality of life for both normal aging and pathological aging such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). multiple lines of evidence suggest that subtle morphological and/or biochemical neuronal changes, instead of profound loss of neurons, is responsible for aging-related impairments of cognition and synaptic plasticity, which is often measured in vertebrates as long-term potentiation (LTP), a synaptic model for memory. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that de novo protein synthesis (mRNA translation) is indispensable to maintain long-lasting forms of memory and synaptic plasticity. Of interest, activities of translational factors involved into various stages of protein synthesis and synthesis of translational machinery per se (i.e. translational capacity) are known to be regulated in synaptic plasticity and memory formation by various signaling pathways.
    Methods: Breeders for C57BL/6J mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME USA). All mice were housed in the barrier Mouse Facility at Wake Forest School of Medicine Animal Facility. Mice were kept in compliance with the National Institute of Health (NIH) guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The facility kept a 12 hour light/dark cycle with regular feeding, cage cleaning, and 24 hour access to water. Male and female mice, aged 3-5 or 19-21 months, were used for these experiments. Mice were subjected to the following behavioral tasks: hidden platform Morris water maze, which was consisted of 4 trials each day for 5 consecutive days, with probe trial being carried out 2 hours after training day 5; visible platform task, which was consisted of 4 trials each day for 2 consecutive days with the escape platform marked by a visible cue and moves randomly between four locations; novel object recognition, in which the amount of time spent exploring the novel object was normalized by the total time spent exploring both objects to yield a preference index to calculate percent object preference; reversal Y water maze: mice were trained to pick up one side of the maze, where a platform was hidden. The memory test phase began after a delay of 24 hours, which included 5 trials.  For mice chose the right arm, the escape platform was switched to the opposite arm, and the mice were trained to learn the new location of the platform. For electrophysiology experiments, acute 400 µm transverse hippocampal slices were prepared using a Leica VT1200S vibratome. Late long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced using high-frequency stimulation (HFS) consisting of two 1-sec 100 Hz trains separated by 60 sec, each delivered at 70-80% of the intensity that evoked spiked fEPSPs. Early LTP was induced using one-train HFS (100 Hz) delivered at 25-30% of the intensity that evoked spiked fEPSPs. Mouse brain tissue was harvested for biochemical experiments as described before (Ma et al., Nature Neuroscience, 2013).
    Results: Here we first assessed and compared the performance of cognition and synaptic plasticity in young (3-5 month old) and aged c57BL/6J mice (19-21 months old). Findings from behavioral tests demonstrated that old mice, compared to young mice, displayed impairments in spatial learning/memory, working memory, and behavioral flexibility. Further, synaptic electrophysiology experiments on hippocampal slices revealed that early form LTP (a synaptic model for memory formation) was inhibited in old mice.   At the molecular level, biochemical assays on brain tissue showed dysregulation of signaling pathways controlling protein synthesis capacity including: up-regulation of AKT-mTORC1-p70S6K signaling, which is associated with translation of terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) class of mRNAs that encode translational machinery; hyper-phosphorylation of mRNA translational elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and its upstream regulator AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), indicating repression of general protein synthesis. Moreover, young and old mice exhibited similar brain levels of translational initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) phosphorylation, which is known to be increased in AD and linked to the disease pathophysiology.
    Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence at the molecular level to highlight the similarity and difference between normal and pathological aging, which may contribute to future studies on diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for aging-related dementia syndromes.
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    The Effect of PHA-543613 on Memory Disorders in Presenilin1 and Presenilin2 Conditional Double Knockout Mice
    WANG Jia-Yue,DUAN Yan-Hong,Wang Xin-He,Zhang Xu-Liang,Xu Mei-Chen, Cao Xiao-Hua *
    2018, 8 (4):  52-53. 
    Abstract ( 186 )  
    The mutation in the amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) and presenilin genes (PSEN1 and PSEN2) cause autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s diease (ADAD) which is typically associated with early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD), however, the mechanism by which presenilin mutations cause memory disorders and neurodegeneration remains poorly understood. In the present study, using Presenilin-1 and Presenilin-2 double knockout mice (cDKO mice), we observed that the impaired spatial reference memory, spatial working memory and contextual fear memory in cDKO mice. Consistently, deficits of basal synaptic transmission and LTP formation, as well as down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway at hippocampus in cDKO mice. Furthermore, we found the expression levels of α7-nicotinic ACh receptors (α7nAChRs), NMDAR and AMPAR composition subunits, which related to synaptic plasticity and memory, were decreased at hippocampus in cDKO mice. Importantly, all above deficits could be reversed by α7nAChR agonist PHA-543613. Taken together, our results indicate that knockout of PS1 and PS2 can disrupt the function of α7nAChR, thereby down-regulate activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, reduce the synaptic expression levels of NMDAR and AMPAR composition subunits at hippocampus, consequently cause neuronal apoptosis, disrupt basal synaptic transmission and LTP formation at hippocampus, finally impair hippocampal-dependent memory.
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    Involvement of TGR5 in Aβ-induced Neurotoxicity in Vivo
    WU Xian, LV Yang-ge, TANG Su-Su, HONG Hao
    2018, 8 (4):  53-54. 
    Abstract ( 241 )  
    TGR5 (Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5) is a bile acid G protein-coupled receptor primarily expressed in liver, gallbladder, intestine, spleen, and brain and activated by bile acids. (AD). Herein, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of TGR5 agonist, 6α-ethyl-23(S)-methylcholic acid (S-EMCA, INT-777), in the Aβ1–42-treated mouse model of acute neurotoxicity. Single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of aggregated Aβ1–42 (410 pmol/mouse; 5 μl) into the mouse brain induced cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and synaptic dysfunction. In contrast, INT-777 (1.5 or 3.0 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) significantly improved Aβ1–42-induced cognitive impairment, as reflected by better performance in memory tests. Importantly, INT-777 treatment reversed Aβ1–42-induced TGR5 down-regulation, suppressed the increase of nuclear NF-κB p65, and mitigated neuroinflammation, as evidenced by lower proinflammatory cytokines and less Iba1-positive cells in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. INT-777 treatment also pronouncedly suppressed apoptosis through the reduction of TUNEL-positive cells, decreased activation of caspase-3, increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and ameliorated synaptic dysfunction by promoting dendritic spine generation with the upregulation of postsynaptic (PSD95) and presynaptic (synaptophysin) proteins in Aβ1–42-treated mice. Our results indicate that INT-777 has potent neuroprotective effects against Aβ1–42-induced neurotoxicity. Taken together, these findings suggest that TGR5 might participate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
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    Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4 by FCPR16 Protects SH-SY5Y Cells against MPP+-Induced Cell Death through Activating cAMP/PKA/CREB and Epac/Akt Signaling Pathways
    ZHONG Jia-hong, WANG Hai-tao, XU Jiang-ping
    2018, 8 (4):  54-55. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    Background: Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is a promising target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been well elucidated. Additionally, most of current PDE4 inhibitors produce severe nausea and vomiting response in patients, which limit their clinical application. FCPR16 is a novel PDE4 inhibitor with little emetic potential. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of FCPR16 against cellular apoptosis induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) were examined in SH-SY5Y cells and primary cultured neurons. Methods: CCK-8 assay, Hoechst staining, lactate dehydrogenase release and flow cytometry were used to study the protective effect of FCPR16 against cell damage caused by MPP+. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was measured by JC-1 staining. The extent of oxidation was evaluated using Cell ROXs Deep Red Reagent and malonaldehyde (MDA) kit. Pretreatments with various pathway inhibitors were used to investigate the possible pathways involved in the protection of FCPR16. The phosphorylated and total levels of various proteins were analyzed by Western blot.  Results: FCPR16 (12.5–50 μM) dose-dependently reduced MPP+-induced loss of cell viability, accompanied by reductions in nuclear condensation and lactate dehydrogenase release. The level of cleaved caspase 3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were also decreased after treatment with FCPR16 in MPP+-treated cells. Furthermore, FCPR16 (25 μM) significantly suppressed the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), prevented the decline of Δψm and attenuated the expression of MDA level. Further studies disclosed that FCPR16 enhanced the levels of cAMP and the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in SH-SY5Y cells. Western blotting analysis revealed that FCPR16 increased the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and protein kinase B (Akt) down-regulated by MPP+ in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of FCPR16 on the production of ROS and Δψm loss could be blocked by PKA inhibitor H-89 and Akt inhibitor KRX-0401. We also found that MPP+ induced a dose-dependent apoptosis in cultured neurons, and 500 μM MPP+ caused an approximately 50% loss of cortical neurons, while treatment with FCPR16 reversed the toxic effect of MPP+ and enhanced the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results suggest that FCPR16 attenuates MPP+-induced dopaminergic degeneration via lowering ROS and preventing the loss of Δψm in SH-SY5Y cells. Mechanistically, cAMP/PKA/CREB and Epac/Akt signaling pathways are involved in these processes
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    Advantageous Features and Novel Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treating Depression and Dementia
    CHEN Gang
    2018, 8 (4):  55-56. 
    Abstract ( 188 )  
    Background:Conventional medicine has pronounced disadvantage in delayed onset in treating depression,and there was no effective drugs on treating Alzheimer’s diseases. Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used for treatment these disorders,whereas the research that test the advantageous features of TCM treatment is lacking. Aims:I will present our study on detection of the advantageous features of treatment of depression and dementia using herbal medicine,and the novel mechanism underlying the effects,focusing on repair of neural plasticity associated with depression or dementia. Results:In preclinical studies,a single dose of Yueju rapidly attenuates the depression-like symptoms in various animal models and the antidepressant
    effects could last even longer than ketamine,the prototype fast-acting antidepressant. We also revealed the critical neuromolecular mechanisms involving improved neural plasticity by Yueju. Moreover,Yueju targeted more therapeutic sites,and the activation of PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway or not underlies the strain-dependent differences in the lasting antidepressant effects. Furthermore,we found the brain-gut peptide PACAP is the novel target of Yueju by which the PKA signaling was triggered. Yueju was also effective in a novel model of treatment-resistant postpartum depression. Importantly,a clinical pilot study supported its fast-onset antidepressant efficacy. Our study displayed that the Gardenia jasminoids Ellis (Zhi Zi) plays the primary role in the rapid antidepressant effects of Yueju and identified the effective fractions and candidate compounds. As conventional antidepressants have a major disadvantage in delayed onset for depression treatment,the novel findings of Yueju’s unique rapid antidepressant efficacy and underlying mechanisms are of great significance both clinically and scientifically. This line of studies suggest the classic TCM formula is invaluable therapeutically for treatment of depression and may be used for treatment of the treatment-resistant depression. Following this part,I will briefly introduce another direction of our lab on treatment of memory loss using traditional Chinese medicine. So far,all chemical compounds or biological reagents to reverse or slow down the AD process have failed in clinical trials. An integrative and multi-targeted strategy is increasingly appreciated to effectively combat this devastating disease. The Amnesia Remedy Formula (ARF) was invented by the Master of TCM Sun Simiao. Here We tested the efficacy of ARF on two animal models of AD,and examine the plausible role of PKA/CREB/BDNF as well as PKA/GSK3b/Tau signaling. In the scopolamine model,ARF effectively reversed the memory in Morris water maze (MWM) test. In a battery test of MWM,novel object recognition or T maze in 5-moth-old senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) strain mice,two weeks of administration of ARF showed overall better improvement in memory loss than the anti-dementia drug donepezil,and the effect lasted for at least 1 week after termination of administration of the formula. ARF increased expression of PKA/CREB/BDNF,and reduced GSK3b/Tau signaling the hippocampus. Conclusion:our studies support that some of TCM drugs may result in advantageous features in treating depression and dementia,which are underscored by novel mechanisms.
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    Molecular Mechanisms of Axonal Sprouting Post- Stroke
    LI Song-lin* 1,2,LI Xiao-kun 1,3,S. Thomas Carmichael2
    2018, 8 (4):  57-58. 
    Abstract ( 183 )  
    Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in adult. However, there is a limited and spontaneous process of repair and recovery after stroke. In stroke patients, this recovery is associated with re-mapping of sensory and motor functions in peri-infarct and connected cortical areas. In non-human primate and rodent models, stroke induces new connections to form in the same peri-infarct areas, by a process termed axonal sprouting. The process of axonal sprouting after stroke involves three key steps for an adult cortical neuron: stroke sends a signal to adjacent neurons (a trigger), which activates a gene expression program (transcription factor), and the neuron then initiates axonal growth through the brain (extracellular signaling or adhesion proteins). We previously shown that the mechanisms of cell injury and neuroprotection differ between aged and young adults after stroke and that in a mouse model of stroke, axonal sprouting in motor and premotor cortical circuits after stroke is causally associated with motor recovery. These studies identify axonal sprouting as an important cellular target in promoting enhanced recovery post-stroke.  We then identified a "sprouting transcriptome" of sprouting neurons in peri-infarct cortex after stroke and found that the gene expression profile of axonal sprouting after stroke is markedly different in the aged versus young adult brain.  Apparently, neurons in peri-infarct cortex are induced to express an age-related growth-associated genetic program that controls axonal sprouting and mediates the formation of new patterns of connections within the sensorimotor system.  Many studies have also identified important potential therapies that stimulate post-stroke axonal sprouting, including cell transplants, statins, cytokines, and clinically approved drugs. However, there have been relatively few studies of an actual endogenous molecular program that controls axonal growth in the brain after stroke. With gain- and loss-of-function strategies we have further selected a small set of genes that are highly regulated and specifically linked to the process of sprouting in neurons after stroke, and defined the role in vitro and in vivo of some key growth associated molecular systems in the formation of new axonal connections and the process of behavioral recovery after stroke. In particular, functional roles for Atrx, Gdf10, Igf1 and Chn1 in epigenetic and endogenous of axonal sprouting, growth factor–dependent survival of neurons and, in the aged mouse, paradoxical upregulation of ephrin receptors down-stream cascade in sprouting neurons. Axonal regeneration after stroke thus resembles a neurodevelopmental cellular program: a specific molecular program mediates formation of new axonal connections in neurons which require a growth factor for their survival. The axonal sprouting and the formation of new connections over large parts of the motor and sensory cortex may provide the substrate for the establishment of new circuits that compensate for lost functions during the process of rehabilitation.
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    D1 Receptor-Mediated Endogenous tPA Upregulation Contributes to Acute Blood Brain Barrier Damage
    WANG Xiao-na, ZHANG Xin-yu, SUN Yan-yun, JIN Xin-chun
    2018, 8 (4):  58-59. 
    Abstract ( 180 )  
    Background: Disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity at the early stage of ischemia is becoming a critical target to reduce hemorrhage transformation (HT) because of the potential to predict HT. However, the mechanism underlying early BBB damage is not very clear. It was reported that after acute ischemia, there was a significant increase of dopamine release in striatum where we have reported BBB damage as well as upregulation of HIF-1α after 2-h ischemia. Objective: In current study, we aimed to investigate the role of dopamine signal pathway in BBB damage after acute ischemia using in vivo rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Results: Our data showed that there was an increase of endogenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in BBB damage area and intra-striatum infusion of tPA inhibitor neuroserpin, significantly alleviated ischemia-induced BBB damage. In addition, intra-striatum infusion of D1 antagonist SCH23390 significantly decreased ischemia-induced upregulation of endogenous tPA, accompanied by decrease of BBB damage and occludin degradation. More important, inhibition of HIF-1 with inhibitor YC-1 significantly decreased acute ischemia-induced endogenous tPA upregulation and BBB damage. Conclusion: Taken together, our data demonstrate that acute ischemia disrupted BBB through activation of endogenous tPA via HIF-1 upreguation-induced dopamine increase, thus representing a new therapeutic target for protecting BBB, and may help alleviate HT following thrombolysis after ischemia stroke.
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    Therapeutic Effects of Adoptive Transfer of Regulatory T Cells on Stroke
    SUN Bao-liang
    2018, 8 (4):  59-60. 
    Abstract ( 181 )  
    The pathology of ischemic stroke and the mechanism of thrombolytic therapy induced lethal hemorrhagic transformation (HT) involve disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) . This study evaluated the effect of regulatory T cells (Tregs) transfer on ischemic stroke and rtPA-enhanced HT. In addition, we further investigated the mechanism underlying Treg-afforded BBB protection. Cerebral ischemia was induced in mouse by suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1h, or for 2h followed by intravenous rtPA infusion leading to HT. Systemic administration of purified Tregs at 2, 6, or 24 hours after the surgery, resulted in marked reduction of brain infarct and rtPA-induced cerebral hemorrhage. Treg-afforded neuroprotection was accompanied by attenuated blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption during early stages of ischemia in these two different model types. Further studies suggested that Tregs inhibited the elevation of matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP9) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) expression after stroke , thus preventing proteolytic damage of the BBB. Using MMP9 knockout and CCL2 knockout mice, we found that both molecules partially contribute to the protective actions of Tregs. Using In vitro model of BBB, we confirmed that Tregs inhibited tPA-induced endothelial expression of CCL2 and protected BBB against ischemic challenge. Clinical data revealed a significant decrease in the number of circulating Tregs upon stroke onset. The prolonged loss of circulating Tregs is correlated with poor stroke outcomes. It is concluded that Tregs reduces ischemia and rtPA-induced BBB damage by two inhibitory mechanisms targeting both CCL2 and MMP9. Tregs may represent a potent cell-based therapy to decrease the brain infarct and increase the safety of thrombolytic treatment for stroke.
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    Stroke Therapeutic Strategy Targeting Nampt(基于Nampt 的脑卒中治疗策略)
    缪朝玉
    2018, 8 (4):  60-62. 
    Abstract ( 230 )  
    我们希望通过瞄准机体内在防御机制,挖掘脑卒中治疗新靶标和新药物。烟酰胺磷酸核糖转移酶(Nampt)是NAD合成限速酶,NAD参与几百个氧化还原反应、生产ATP能量以及引发SIRTs等多种酶的信号转导,Nampt-NAD-SIRTs轴是机体重要的防御系统。早就知道脑缺血NAD耗竭导致脑细胞死亡,而研究Nampt作为脑卒中治疗靶标以及基于该靶标的新药发现还是近十年的事,我们是这个领域早期研究者,拥有该领域相关专利多项,并发表一系列论文。当前抗脑卒中靶标Nampt已得到全世界多家实验室验证,在此重点介绍基于Nampt的抗脑卒中治疗策略研究:(1) Nampt激活剂。基于Nampt酶活性的高通量筛选,完成了5.5万个小分子筛选,确认了结构多样的新型Nampt抑制剂,发现了首个Nampt荧光探针化合物,测试到一个潜在的Nampt激活剂具有抗脑卒中活性。(2) Nampt重组蛋白。离体细胞OGD模型上,野生型Nampt具有神经保护作用,而突变失活型Nampt则没有;脑室给Nampt可减轻脑缺血损伤;外周给Nampt可通过血脑屏障发挥作用。(3) Nampt表达提高。病毒介导的脑局部过表达Nampt、Nampt过表达转基因小鼠、神经元特异性Nampt过表达转基因小鼠,以及药物、缺血预适应等引起的Nampt表达提高,均可发挥抗脑缺血损伤作用。(4) Nampt直接酶产物烟酰胺单核苷酸(NMN)。NMN抗脑缺血损伤具有量效关系,缩小脑梗死体积,改善神经功能缺陷;可促进脑缺血后神经再生,有利于脑功能康复;能减轻脑缺血tPA治疗引起的出血转化不良反应;对脑出血损伤也有神经保护作用。作用机制主要涉及NAD-SIRTs通路,也有研究提示NMN还可抑制PARP1依赖的NAD耗竭。(5) 促进NMN生成的烟酰胺核糖(NR)。NR具有抗脑卒中作用。这些策略研究为发展基于Nampt的脑卒中治疗手段奠定了基础。
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    Advances in Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases(心脑血管疾病再生与修复治疗研究进展)
    王文*,孙芳玲, 刘婷婷, 艾厚喜, 郭德玉
    2018, 8 (4):  62-63. 
    Abstract ( 336 )  
    所谓心脑血管疾病是一个大类疾病的总称,其主要是指冠心病、中风和高血压等。心脑血管疾病是我国乃至世界性的多发、高发性疾病, 二者常相伴发病。心肌梗死与缺血性脑卒中二者有着许多共同危险因素,病理生理学过程及细胞与分子机制也相似,二者在临床上可先后同时并存。经临床研究统计发现,脑卒中后1周内为心血管病的主要发病期,其发病率可达到62%~90%。而在心脏患者中,约有10~45%可合并发生脑卒中,并且心脑同时发病率可占16%。心肌梗死的形成是在冠状动脉粥样硬化的基础上,冠状动脉粥样硬化斑块因某些因素破裂,血中活化的血小板和凝血因子在斑块表面聚集,形成血栓进而阻塞冠状动脉,发生心肌梗死。同样,如果血栓出现在脑部动脉,则会发生缺血性脑卒中。心脑血管病损伤与修复的分子机制随时间进展表现出不同的病理生理反应,在损伤早期抗细胞毒性,损伤后期促进组织修复与血管再生是主要治疗策略。目前临床上治疗缺血性心血管病和脑血管病的主要治疗手段为药物溶栓、经皮冠状动脉介入和手术搭桥等。其治疗原则主要为挽救缺血梗死的组织,然而这些治疗有一定局限性。通过药物治疗或者其他干预方法促进内源性自体干细胞生成、血管新生,最终达到组织再生、微循环重建为心脑血管病治疗提供了新的治疗方案。本文主要综述通过促进内源性自体干细胞、内皮祖细胞增殖来治疗心脑血管病的治疗研究进展,以期为心脑血管病的治疗提供新思路。
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