Objective To investigate the effects of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on neurologica severity score,brain edema,neuron apoptosis,and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) response after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods TBI rat models were established using modified Feeney's method.Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups with a random number table:sham operation group (Sham group),TBI group,Gln supplementation group (TBI + Gln group) and ERS inducer 2-deoxy-D-glucose group (TBI +Gln + 2-DG group).We measured the rats' neurobehavioral outcomes by modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) on day 1,3,7 and 14 after TBI.Neuron apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining.Brain water content was measured with wet-dry weight method.The apoptosis-related protein (caspase-12,caspase3,and Bcl-2) and ERS-related cytokines [inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1),C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)] expressions in TBI cerebral cortex were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot.Results Compared with the Sham group,the levels of brain edema,mNSS,apoptosis-related protein (caspase-12,caspase-3,Bcl-2) and ERS-related proteins (IRE-1,CHOP) were significantly increased in the other three groups (all P =0.00).Compared with the TB1 group,the TBI +Gln group showed significant lower brain water content [3 d:(81.39±0.59)％ vs.(83.54±0.52)％,P=0.04;7 d:(74.86±0.38)％ vs.(77.32±0.66)％,P=0.03],improved mNSS (8.63 ±0.22 vs.10.37±0.29,P=0.03),suppressed expressions of apoptosis-and ERS-related proteins (caspase-12,caspase-3,IRE-1,and CHOP)(P =0.01,P ＜ 0.01),and increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (P =0.02).Compared withthe TBI + Gln group,the expression of ERS-related factors (IRE-1 and CHOP),brain edema level,and neurological severity were increased in the TBI + Glu + 2-DG group.Conclusion Glutamine supplementation may have neuroprotection function,demonstrated as reducing brain edema and neuron apoptosis,and improving neurobehaviroal outcomes after TBI,possibly mediated by inhibiting TBI-induced ERS response.

Objective To investigate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA)supplementation on brain edema,autophagy response and neurobehavioral outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and the related mechanisms.Methods TBI rat models were established using Feeney's method.Seventy-two SD rats were divided into 4 groups using random number table:sham operation group,TBI group,ω-3 PUFA supplementation group (TBI + ω-3 group) and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine group (TBI + 3-MA group) (all n =18),each group was further divided into 3 sub-groups (n =6) corresponding to 3 time points (days 1,3,and 7 after TBI).On each of the 3 time points,we measured rat behavioral outcomes with modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) tests;brain water content was measured with wet-dry weight method.The mRNA and protein expressions of autophagy-related factors (LC3-Ⅱ and Beclin-1) in TBI cerebral cortex were determined by immunohistochemistry staining,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot on day 3 after TBI.Results Compared with the sham group,on days 1,3,and 7 after injuary,the TBI group,the TBI + ω-3 group,and the TBI + 3-MA group had significantly higher mNSS scores (TBI group:12.42±0.27vs.1.34±0.32,12.07±0.27vs.1.16±0.29,10.22±0.39vs.1.22±0.30;TBI+ω-3 group:12.05 ±0.23 vs.1.34 ±0.32,11.38 ±0.21 vs.1.16±0.29,8.20 ±0.21 vs.1.22±0.30;TBI +3-MA group:11.93 ±0.20 vs.1.34 ±0.32,11.09 ±0.19 vs.1.16 ±0.29,7.93 ±0.17 vs.1.22 ± 0.30;all P =0.00) and brain water content [TBI group:(79.82 ± 0.61) ％ vs.(71.87 ± 0.43) ％,(83.04±0.42)％ vs.(72.13 ±0.53)％,(75.12 ±0.72)％ vs.(71.78 ±0.38)％;TBI+ω-3 group:(76.81 ±0.63)％ vs.(71.87 ±0.43)％,(79.39 ±0.59)％ vs.(72.13 ±0.53)％,(73.86 ±0.38)％ vs.(71.78 ±0.38)％;TBI+3-MAgroup:(75.98 ±0.49)％ vs.(71.87 ±0.43)％,(77.14 ±0.46)％ vs.(72.13 ±0.53)％,(72.24 ±0.37)％ vs.(71.78 ±0.38)％;all P =0.00].The mRNA and protein expressions of LC3-Ⅱ and Beclin-1 in the brain were also significantly higher on day 3 in the TBI group,the TBI + ω-3 group,and the TBI + 3-MA group (all P =0.00).Compared with the TB1 group,on day 3 and day 7 after injury,the TBI + ω-3 group and the TBI + 3-MA group had significantly lower mNSS scores (TBI + ω-3 group:11.38±0.21 vs.12.07±0.27,P=0.04,8.20±0.21 vs.10.22±0.39,P=0.01;TBI+3-MA group:11.09±0.19vs.12.07 ± 0.27,P=0.01,7.93 ± 0.17 vs.10.22±0.39,P=0.00).Ondays1,3,and 7,compared with the TBI group,the TBI + ω-3 group and the TBI + 3-MA group had significantly lower brain water content [TBI + ω-3 group:(76.81 ± 0.63) ％ vs.(79.82 ± 0.61) ％,P =0.04,(79.39 ±0.59)％ vs.(83.04±0.42)％,P=0.01,(73.86±0.38)％ vs.(75.12±0.72)％,P=0.03;TBI+3-MAgroup:(75.98 ±0.49)％ vs.(79.82 ±0.61)％,P=0.01,(77.14 ±0.46)％ vs.(83.04 ±0.42)％,P =0.00,(72.24 ± 0.37) ％ vs.(75.12 ± 0.72) ％,P =0.02].On day 3,the TBI + ω-3 group and the TBI + 3-MA group had significantly reduced LC3-Ⅱ and Beclin-1 mRNA expression compared with the TBI group (TBI +ω-3 group:P=0.04,P =0.01;TBI +3-MA group:P =0.01,P =0.00) and protein expression (TBI+ω-3 group:P=0.01,P=0.03;TBI +3-MA group:both P=0.00).Conclusion ω-3 PUFA supplementation could markedly reduce brain edema and improve neurological functions after TBI,showing a neuroprotective effect,possibly through inhibiting TBI-induced autophagy responses.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on oxidative stress,autophagy response and neurobehavioral outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods TBI animal models were established using Feeney's method.Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham operation group (group Sham),Sham + glutamine supplementation group (group Sham+ GLN),traumatic brain injury group (group TBI),and TBI + glutamine supplementation group (group TBI+ GLN).We measured rat behavioral outcomes by modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) tests at day 1,3,7 and 14 after TBI.The apoptosis neurons in TBI cerebral cortex were determined by TUNEL staining.The expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was tested by ROS kits.Oxidative stress and autophagy related cytokines (HO-1,NQO1,Nrf2,LC3-Ⅱ and Beclin-1) were tested with Western blotting.Results Compared with the TBI group,the neurological function was improved [(9.79±0.43) vs.(8.43±0.30),F =6.775,P =0.010] and the apoptosis rate decreased (19.88％ ± 1.60％ vs.15.35％ ± 1.28％,P =0.013) in the TBI+ GLN group after 7-day treatment.Compared with the Sham group,the protein expression of ROS increased (P=0.000),and the expression of anti-oxidative stress factors (HO-1,NQO1) and Nrf2 pathway significantly decreased in the TBI group.After glutamine supplementation was given,the expression of ROS decreased and the expressions of HO-1 and NQO1 increased.The Nrf2 pathway and autophagy response also were activated with the expressions of Nrf2,LC3-Ⅱ and Beclin-1 increasing.Conclusion Glutamine supplementation can markedly reduce neuron apoptosis and improve neurological outcomes after TBI,thus has the protective effect on nerves by inhibiting TBI-induced oxidative stress response,activating Nrf2 pathway and autophagy response.

Objective To investigate the effect of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway on inflammatory response,neuron apoptosis,brain edema,and neurobehavioral outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods Fifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham-operated group,TBI group and JNK inhibitor group (n=18).Rats in the later two groups were established TBI animal models by using Feeney's method; rats in the sham-operated group were only opened the bone window without beating.Half h after TBI,intraperitoneal injection of SP600125 (15 mg/kg) was performed in rats of the JNK inhibitor group,while the same volume of solvent was given to rats in the other two groups.One,3 and 7 d after TBI,rat behavioral outcomes were measured by modified neurologic severity scale (mNSS),brain water content was measured with wet-dry weight method,and apoptosis neurons were detected by TUNEL.Three d after TBI,immunohistochemistry staining was used to determine the apoptosis relative proteins (caspase-3 and Bcl-2 associated X protein [Bax]) expressions in the cerebral cortex,real time PCR was employed to detect the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNFα],interleukin [IL]-1α,IL-1β,IL-6),and Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of TNFα,IL-1α,IL-1β,IL-6,JNK and phosphorylation-JNK (p-JNK).Results As compared with those in the sham-operated group,the mNSS scores,brain water content and apoptosis rate in TBI group and JNK inhibitor group were significantly higher 1,3 and 7 d after TBI (P＜0.05); the mNSS scores in the JNK inhibitor group was statistically lower than those in the TBI group 3 and 7 d after TBI (P＜0.05),and significantly reduced brain edema and improved neurobehavioral outcomes were noted in the JNK inhibitor group as compared with those in the TBI group 1,3 and 7 d after TBI (P＜0.05).As compared with the TBI group,the JNK inhibitor group had significantly lower caspase-3 expression and increased Bcl-2 expression.As compared with those in the sham-operated group,the TNFα,IL-1α,IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA and protein expressions and p-JNK protein expression were significantly increased in the TBI group and JNK inhibitor group,and those in the JNK inhibitor group were statistically lower than those in the TBI group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Suppressing activation of JNK signaling pathway can markedly improve the neurological outcomes after TBI,reduce brain edema and neuron apoptosis,which might be mediated by inhibiting TBI-induced cerebral inflammatory response and reducing the expression of TNFα,IL-1α,IL-1β and IL-6.

The aim of this study is to construct an injectable gel with stable phototherapy and chemotherapy. Res-PTX@IR780 gel with phototherapy and chemotherapy property was prepared by introduction of photosensitizer IR780 and antioxidant resveratrol (Res) into the polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of paclitaxel (PTX). The results showed that PTX, PTX@IR780 and Res-PTX@IR780 could form gels and the gels were injectable. ATR-FTIR results indicated not only components of the gels but also the formation of hydrogen bonding during the gelation. The results of UV showed instability of IR780 solution and stability improvement of Res-IR780 solution under infrared radiation (IR) irradiation. Photothermal tests showed that Res-PTX@IR780 displayed better photothermal conversion and photothermal stability under multiple irradiations than PTX@IR780. The results of
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gels ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nanoparticles ; Paclitaxel ; Phototherapy