BACKGROUND:A large number of studies have shown that neurodegenerative diseases are closely related to oxidative stress injury and the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics.Lycium barbarum polysaccharides have a neuroprotective effect.However,it is not clear whether lycium barbarum polysaccharides can ameliorate apoptosis induced by oxidative stress injury by regulating abnormal mitochondrial dynamics.OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of lycium barbarum polysaccharides on apoptosis induced by H2O2 in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.METHODS:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in three groups.The control group was cultured for 24 hours.The hydrogen peroxide group was treated with H2O2 for 24 hours,and the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group was treated with lycium barbarum polysaccharide for 2 hours and then treated with H2O2 for 24 hours.After treatment,the levels of malondialdehyde,glutathione,and superoxide dismutase in the precipitation of the cells were detected by kit.Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 kit.Cell viability was detected by MTT assay.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.The expression levels of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (phosphorylated promoter protein 1,mitochondrial fission protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1) and apoptotic proteins (Bax,Bcl-2,and Caspase-3) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the control group,the levels of malondialdehyde were increased (P<0.05),and the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the malondialdehyde level was decreased (P<0.05),and the superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(2) The mitochondrial membrane potential in the H2O2 group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05),and that of lycium barbarum polysaccharide group was higher than that of the H2O2 group (P<0.05).(3) Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 protein were increased (P<0.05),while the cell viability and the expression of Bcl-2 protein were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 protein were decreased (P<0.05),while the cell viability and the expression of Bcl-2 protein were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(4) Compared with the control group,the protein expression levels of phosphorylated promoter protein 1 and mitochondrial fission protein 1 were increased (P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1 were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the protein expression levels of phosphorylated promoter protein 1 and mitochondrial fission protein 1 were decreased (P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1 were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(5) These results indicate that lycium barbarum polysaccharide can improve SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis caused by oxidative stress damage by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

BACKGROUND:In the occurrence and development of demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system,neuroinflammation caused by microglia is the main pathological feature,so inhibiting the inflammatory response is very important to alleviate demyelination.Hydroxysafflor yellow A can protect the blood-brain barrier,inhibit neuronal apoptosis,and improve neurological function.OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibiting bicyclohexanone oxalyl dihydrazone-induced demyelination in mice.METHODS:(1)In vivo:Thirty healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups:normal group,cuprizone group,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group.The mice in the cuprizone group and the hydroxysafflor yellow A group were fed with 0.2％cuprizone diet for 6 weeks to establish mouse models of demyelination.The mice in the normal group were fed with normal diet.At the end of the 4th week,the mice in the hydroxysafflor yellow A group were intraperitoneally injected with hydroxysafflor yellow A 20 mg/kg per day.The mice in the normal and cuprizone groups were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 2 weeks.The behavioral changes of mice were evaluated by open field test and elevated plus maze test.The loss of myelin sheath in corpus callosum was detected by black gold staining,myelin basic protein and degraded myelin basic protein immunofluorescence staining.The activation of microglia and the expression of inflammatory factors were detected by I ba-1 immunofluorescence staining and ELISA,respectively.The protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4,myeloid differentiation factor 88,and nuclear factor κB p65 in the brain of mice in each group were detected by western blot assay.(2)In vitro experiment:The inflammation model of BV2 microglia was established by lipopolysaccharide induction.BV2 cells were divided into normal group,lipopolysaccharide group(1 μg/mL),and lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL)+hydroxysafflor yellow A(25 μmol/L)group.The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 in the supernatant were detected by ELISA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal group,the mice in the cuprizone group had severe anxiety,abnormal autonomic movement ability,and a large amount of myelin sheath loss in the corpus callosum.The average fluorescence intensity of myelin basic protein was significantly reduced,and the average fluorescence intensity of degraded myelin basic protein was significantly increased.The number of lba1+microglia increased,the contents of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 6 in the brain increased,and the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4,myeloid differentiation factor 88,and nuclear factor κB p65 increased significantly.The above symptoms and indexes of mice were reversed after hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment.(2)Hydroxysafflor yellow A significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 6 induced by lipopolysaccharide in BV2 microglia.(3)The above results demonstrate that hydroxysafflor yellow A can significantly improve cuprizone-induced demyelination in mice.The mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of microglial activation-mediated inflammatory response through the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor κB p65 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving motor function and regulating microglial activation based on Notch receptor 1 (Notch1)/Hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1) pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 12 mice in each group. PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days in the model group and the EA group. From the 1st day of modeling, EA was applied at "Baihui" (GV20) and bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) in the EA group, with continuous wave, in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 2 mA, 15 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. The behavioral performance was evaluated by gait test, pole climbing test and hanging test, the number of positive cells of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the co-expression positive cells of Notch1/ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the substantia nigra of midbrain was assessed by immunofluorescence, the protein expression of TH, α-synuclein (α-syn), Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Arginase-1 (ARG1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 was detected by Western blot, the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the stride frequency was accelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was shortened (P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was prolonged (P<0.01) and the grip level was reduced (P<0.01); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was decreased (P<0.001), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was increased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the stride frequency was decelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was shortened (P<0.05) and the grip level was increased (P<0.05); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was increased (P<0.01), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was decreased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was increased (P<0.05, P<0.001, P<0.01), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve the behavioral performance and protect the dopaminergic neurons in PD mice, its mechanism may relate to the inhibition of Notch1/Hes1-mediated neuroinflammation, thus inhibiting the microglial activation.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Transcription Factor HES-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To investigate the effect of ginkgolide B(GB)on astrocyte(AST)phagocytosis of myelin debris,and to investigate the mechanism of this functional therapy to demyelination by targeting AST.Methods:In vitro culture of AST,and divided AST into three groups:Control group,Myelin debris(Debris)group and Debris+GB group,incubed them in a constant temperature CO2 cell culture incubator for 24 hours,and then detected relevant indicators to observe the effect of GB on AST on phagocytic myelin debris.Results:Compared to the phagocytosis of myelin debris by primary AST,GB could effectively promote the phagocytosis by AST and show enhanced ABCA-1 expression(both P<0.05).Phagocytosis of myelin debris had no effect on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by in vitro cultured AST.Debris+GB increased the expressions of neurotrophic CNTF and B-FGF compared to Debris(both P<0.05).Furthermore,Debris+GB decreased Bax and Caspase-3,while increased Bcl-2 expression(all P<0.05).Conclusion:GB can promote the phagocytosis of myelin debris by AST,which may be related to the upregulation of ABCA-1.Meanwhile,phagocytosis of myelin debris by AST increases the expression of the neurotrophic factors and the inhibits the apoptosis of AST themselves.

Objective:To explore effects and mechanism of Hydroxylsafflower Yellow A(HSYA)on expression of NLRP3 in glial cells after cerebral ischemic injury.Methods:A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model was established in male SD rats.After successfully modeling for 24 h,Longa scoring and corner test were used to evaluate degree of neurological dys-function.Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect expressions of JAK2/STAT3 molecules and NLRP3,ELISA was used to measure IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α levels.A glucose-oxygen deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R)model was established in microg-lia,and JAK2 and STAT3 inhibitor AG490 was used to further verify action of HSYA on NLRP3.Results:Compared with sham group,neurological dysfunction aggravated in MCAO/R group(P<0.01),HSYA treatment improved neurological function(P<0.01).Expres-sions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3 in MCAO/R group were higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01);and HSYA treatment reduced expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3(P<0.01).Levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in MCAO/R group than sham group(P<0.01),and HSYA inhibited expressions of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.01 or P<0.05).In vi-tro experiments showed expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3 in OGD/R group were significantly higher than normal control group(P<0.01),after adding AG490,phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased,NLRP3 expression was inhibited(P<0.01).Inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α levels were higher in OGD/R group than normal control group(P<0.01),and HSYA inhibited expressions of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion:HSYA alleviates brain damage,probably by regu-lating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inhibiting NLRP3 expression in microglia after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory response of NLRP3 inflammasome in BV2 microglial cells.Methods:BV2 microglial cells were routinely cultured.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations(0.5,1,1.5,2 g/L)LBP on cell activity.Cells were di-vided into three groups:control group,LPS group and LBP+LPS group.Effect of LBP on LPS-induced cell activity was detected by CCK-8 method;RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β expressions.Western blot was used to detect expressions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65,IL-18,IL-1β and TNF-α pro-teins.Results:CCK-8 assay showed that 1 g/L LBP was the most applicable.Compared with control group,cell viability in LPS group was decreased;RT-qPCR,immunofluorescence and Western blot results showed that fluorescence intensity,mRNA and protein expres-sions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β were increased in LPS group.Western blot results showed that TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65 and TNF-α protein expressions were increased in LPS group.After LBP treatment,cell viability was increased;expres-sions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB p65,TLR4,MyD88,IL-18,IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased.Conclusion:LBP may in-hibit LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles in BV2 cells via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:In the occurrence and development of demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system,neuroinflammation caused by microglia is the main pathological feature,so inhibiting the inflammatory response is very important to alleviate demyelination.Hydroxysafflor yellow A can protect the blood-brain barrier,inhibit neuronal apoptosis,and improve neurological function.OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibiting bicyclohexanone oxalyl dihydrazone-induced demyelination in mice.METHODS:(1)In vivo:Thirty healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups:normal group,cuprizone group,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group.The mice in the cuprizone group and the hydroxysafflor yellow A group were fed with 0.2％cuprizone diet for 6 weeks to establish mouse models of demyelination.The mice in the normal group were fed with normal diet.At the end of the 4th week,the mice in the hydroxysafflor yellow A group were intraperitoneally injected with hydroxysafflor yellow A 20 mg/kg per day.The mice in the normal and cuprizone groups were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 2 weeks.The behavioral changes of mice were evaluated by open field test and elevated plus maze test.The loss of myelin sheath in corpus callosum was detected by black gold staining,myelin basic protein and degraded myelin basic protein immunofluorescence staining.The activation of microglia and the expression of inflammatory factors were detected by I ba-1 immunofluorescence staining and ELISA,respectively.The protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4,myeloid differentiation factor 88,and nuclear factor κB p65 in the brain of mice in each group were detected by western blot assay.(2)In vitro experiment:The inflammation model of BV2 microglia was established by lipopolysaccharide induction.BV2 cells were divided into normal group,lipopolysaccharide group(1 μg/mL),and lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL)+hydroxysafflor yellow A(25 μmol/L)group.The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 in the supernatant were detected by ELISA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal group,the mice in the cuprizone group had severe anxiety,abnormal autonomic movement ability,and a large amount of myelin sheath loss in the corpus callosum.The average fluorescence intensity of myelin basic protein was significantly reduced,and the average fluorescence intensity of degraded myelin basic protein was significantly increased.The number of lba1+microglia increased,the contents of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 6 in the brain increased,and the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4,myeloid differentiation factor 88,and nuclear factor κB p65 increased significantly.The above symptoms and indexes of mice were reversed after hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment.(2)Hydroxysafflor yellow A significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 6 induced by lipopolysaccharide in BV2 microglia.(3)The above results demonstrate that hydroxysafflor yellow A can significantly improve cuprizone-induced demyelination in mice.The mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of microglial activation-mediated inflammatory response through the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor κB p65 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:A large number of studies have shown that neurodegenerative diseases are closely related to oxidative stress injury and the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics.Lycium barbarum polysaccharides have a neuroprotective effect.However,it is not clear whether lycium barbarum polysaccharides can ameliorate apoptosis induced by oxidative stress injury by regulating abnormal mitochondrial dynamics.OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of lycium barbarum polysaccharides on apoptosis induced by H2O2 in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.METHODS:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in three groups.The control group was cultured for 24 hours.The hydrogen peroxide group was treated with H2O2 for 24 hours,and the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group was treated with lycium barbarum polysaccharide for 2 hours and then treated with H2O2 for 24 hours.After treatment,the levels of malondialdehyde,glutathione,and superoxide dismutase in the precipitation of the cells were detected by kit.Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 kit.Cell viability was detected by MTT assay.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.The expression levels of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (phosphorylated promoter protein 1,mitochondrial fission protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1) and apoptotic proteins (Bax,Bcl-2,and Caspase-3) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the control group,the levels of malondialdehyde were increased (P<0.05),and the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the malondialdehyde level was decreased (P<0.05),and the superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(2) The mitochondrial membrane potential in the H2O2 group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05),and that of lycium barbarum polysaccharide group was higher than that of the H2O2 group (P<0.05).(3) Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 protein were increased (P<0.05),while the cell viability and the expression of Bcl-2 protein were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 protein were decreased (P<0.05),while the cell viability and the expression of Bcl-2 protein were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(4) Compared with the control group,the protein expression levels of phosphorylated promoter protein 1 and mitochondrial fission protein 1 were increased (P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1 were decreased (P<0.05) in the H2O2 group.Compared with the H2O2 group,the protein expression levels of phosphorylated promoter protein 1 and mitochondrial fission protein 1 were decreased (P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of mitochondrial fusion protein 1,mitochondrial fusion protein 2,and optic atrophy protein 1 were increased (P<0.05) in the lycium barbarum polysaccharide group.(5) These results indicate that lycium barbarum polysaccharide can improve SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis caused by oxidative stress damage by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Objective:To explore effects and mechanism of Hydroxylsafflower Yellow A(HSYA)on expression of NLRP3 in glial cells after cerebral ischemic injury.Methods:A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model was established in male SD rats.After successfully modeling for 24 h,Longa scoring and corner test were used to evaluate degree of neurological dys-function.Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect expressions of JAK2/STAT3 molecules and NLRP3,ELISA was used to measure IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α levels.A glucose-oxygen deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R)model was established in microg-lia,and JAK2 and STAT3 inhibitor AG490 was used to further verify action of HSYA on NLRP3.Results:Compared with sham group,neurological dysfunction aggravated in MCAO/R group(P<0.01),HSYA treatment improved neurological function(P<0.01).Expres-sions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3 in MCAO/R group were higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01);and HSYA treatment reduced expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3(P<0.01).Levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in MCAO/R group than sham group(P<0.01),and HSYA inhibited expressions of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.01 or P<0.05).In vi-tro experiments showed expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and NLRP3 in OGD/R group were significantly higher than normal control group(P<0.01),after adding AG490,phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased,NLRP3 expression was inhibited(P<0.01).Inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α levels were higher in OGD/R group than normal control group(P<0.01),and HSYA inhibited expressions of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion:HSYA alleviates brain damage,probably by regu-lating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inhibiting NLRP3 expression in microglia after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory response of NLRP3 inflammasome in BV2 microglial cells.Methods:BV2 microglial cells were routinely cultured.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations(0.5,1,1.5,2 g/L)LBP on cell activity.Cells were di-vided into three groups:control group,LPS group and LBP+LPS group.Effect of LBP on LPS-induced cell activity was detected by CCK-8 method;RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β expressions.Western blot was used to detect expressions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65,IL-18,IL-1β and TNF-α pro-teins.Results:CCK-8 assay showed that 1 g/L LBP was the most applicable.Compared with control group,cell viability in LPS group was decreased;RT-qPCR,immunofluorescence and Western blot results showed that fluorescence intensity,mRNA and protein expres-sions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β were increased in LPS group.Western blot results showed that TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65 and TNF-α protein expressions were increased in LPS group.After LBP treatment,cell viability was increased;expres-sions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB p65,TLR4,MyD88,IL-18,IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased.Conclusion:LBP may in-hibit LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles in BV2 cells via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.