BACKGROUND: In valerian-ligusticum extract (VLE), valeriana offici nalis extract (VOE) is γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor kinetin, which can relax cerebral vascular spasm; ligusticum wallichii Fr. Extraxt (LWE)can pass through blood-brain barrier, enhance microcirculation of tissue and inhibit blood platelet aggregation and 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effects of VLE prepared with effective components on prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemic injury.DESIGN:Complete randomized, negative and positive control experiment.SETTING: Institute of Senile Medicine and Pharmacology of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Institute of Senile Medicine Pharmacology of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of ent blood perfusion in brain tissue: Fifty Kunming mice were employed,which was randomized into normal group, solvent control (model) group,ligustrazine 50 mg/kg group, VLE 170 mg/kg group and VLE 85 mg/kg Fifty Wistar rats were employed, which was randomized into solvent control (model) group, compound danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) 5 g/kg group,VLE 156 mg/kg group, VLE 94 mg/kg group and VLE 31.3 mg/kg group,Sixty Wistar rats were employed, which was randomized into sham-operation group, solvent control (model) group, ligustrazine 10 mg/kg group, VLE 156 mg/kg group, VLE 95 mg/kg group and VLE 31.3 mg/kg, 10 mice in each were employed, which was randomized into normal group, solvent control (model) group, ligustrazine 10 mg/kg group, VLE 200 mg/kg group and VLE 40 mg/kg, 10 mice in each one.sue, in advance, VLE (85, 170 mg/kg), ligustrazine (50 mg/kg) or solvent enhancer of equal volume (0.2 mL) were injected abdominally in each group. Twenty minutes later, pituitrin (2.5 u/kg) was injected intravenously; and 10 minutes later, isotope 99Tcm+ L, L-EthylCysteinate Dimer and Stannous Chloride (ECD) 3.7×1010Bq/ L(0.1 mL/per mouse) was injected in coccygeal nerve. Fifteen minutes later, radio-immunity counter was used periment of arteral-ovenous bypass method for thrombosis, before the opercal saline successively, continuously for 7 days, once per day. After 24 hours of medication pause, with abdominal anesthesia with pentobarbitol sodium, a catheter (with surgical thread inside) was used in vitro to connect common cervical vein and carotid artery. Thrombus mass was scaled 15 dominal anesthesia of chloral hydrate, intraluminal thread approach (ITA)was used to block unilateral MCA. Except that ITA was not used, the other management in sham-operation group was same as experimental groups.Gastric perfusion was done with VLE(156, 94, 31.3 mg/kg), ligustrazine operation and 3 hours and 12 hours after operation. 24 hours after modeling, the assessment was done for behavioral neurological damage and brain sive cerebral ischemia experiment, the model was prepared by coccygeal injection of collagen + adrenalin (AD). Respectively, 30 minutes before modeling injection and 1 hour after injection, gastric perfusion was done with VLE (200, 40 mg/kg), ligustrazine (10 mg/kg) or solvent enhancer of equal volume successively to observe the numbers of dead mice in 5 minutes after modeling and the numbers of hemiplegia mice in 15 minutes;and to determine brain mass index 8 hours later after sacrificed and lactic acid level of brain tissue homogenate with ultraviolet spectrophotometry.group.RESULTS: In the experiment of acute extensive brain ischemia in mice, in solvent control, during modeling, 3 mice were died and the rest 207 mice brain tissue in mice, the ratios of brain with and blood γ ray pulsating intensity in VLE 85 mg/kg group and VLE 170 mg/kg were higher than model group (0.53±0.09, 0.55±0.08, 0.45±0.08, t=2.234 6, 2.793 3, P method in rats, the thrombus masses in VLE 156 mg/kg group, 94 mg/kg group and 31.3 g/kg group were lower remarkably than the model group [(12.66±4.79), (13.31 ±3.97), (13.49±4.09), (19.21±5.76) g, (t=2.667 0,31.3 mg/kg group, 94 mg/kg group and 156 mg/kg group was lower remarkably than model group successively [(5.9±1.9), (6.0±2.0), (5.8±2.2),(8.7±0.9) score], and cerebral infarction index was lower than model group [(16.52±5.78)%,(16.54±3.00)%, (14.18±6.13)%, (24.03±4.85)%, (t=3.118 9-chemia in mice, brain mass indexes of VLE 40 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups were lower remarkably than model group [(0.91 ±0.20) and (0.82±0.24)%, (1.40±0.32)%], and lactic acid in brain tissue was lower than model group [(17.44±6.71),(14.43±2.81), (29.07±7.33) μmol/g (t=3.388 5-5.800 5, P＜ 0.01)].CONCLUSION: Valerian-liqusticum extract improves significantly cerebral ischemia in mice induced by pituitrin and the damage by medium cerebral artery embolism in rats, and it inhibits significantly blood platelet aggregation and thrombosis induced by AD+ collagen mixture or foreign objects. It is suggested that valerian-ligustrazine extract prevents and treats significantly the perfusion disturbance of cerebral microcirculation.

Objective:To analyze the serum levels of integrin-associated proteins (CD47) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore its association with disease activity and bone destruction in RA.Methods:Serum and clinical data were collected from 65 RA patients and 25 healthy subjects. RA patients were grouped into low, moderate, and high bone erosion groups according to 7-joint ultrasonography score (US7). The levels of serum CD47, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA) in patients with RA and healthy subjects. The statistical analysis was carried out with independent t-test, analysis of variance, nonparametric rank sum test, pearson or Spearman correlation and logistic regression. Results:① The Serum levels of CD47, TSP-1, and RANKL were higher in the RA group than in the healthy controls ( P<0.01). ② In RA patients, serum CD47 level was positively correlated with disease course ( r=0.301, P<0.05), C-reactionprotein (CRP)( r=0.316, P<0.05), number of tender joints (TJC) ( r=0.254, P<0.05), number of swollen joints (SJC) ( r=0.316, P<0.05), disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) ( r=0.255, P<0.05), RANKL ( r=0.252, P<0.05) and TSP-1 ( r=0.260, P<0.05). Serum TSP-1 level was positively correlated with CRP ( r=0.299, P<0.05), TJC ( r=0.335, P<0.01), DAS28 ( r=0.315, P<0.05), RANKL ( r=0.305, P<0.05). ③ The disease course [ OR(95% CI)=1.048(1.033, 1.017)] and TSP-1 [ OR(95% CI)=1.013(1.000, 1.026)] were independently relevant factors affecting bone destruction. Conclusion:CD47 levels is significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls, and is associated with disease activity and bone destruction. CD47 may be involved in the bone destruction process of RA by acting on TSP-1.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tofacitinib on early atherosclerosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and explore the possible relationship between lupus nephritis and early atherosclerosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:Sixteen 8-week-old female MRL/lpr mice with a body weight of 20~25 g were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and placebo group, with 8 mice in each group. The treatment group diluted tofacitinib by normal saline, and given at a dose of 10 mg·kg -1·d -1, and the placebo group (starch tablets) administered the medication in the same way as the treatment group for a total of 8 weeks. The ELISA method was applied to detect serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the two groups of mice. Bradford method protein concentration was used to determine the level of urine protein in mice. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect blood lipids, urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, complement C3, complement C4 levels. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase family 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) in aortic and kidney tissues. After the aortic arch section were prepared, oil red O was used to stain the sections, and the vascular plaque area and intimal thickness were evaluated by ImageJ software. The kidneys were dissected and stained with HE, and the active lesions of lupus nephritis were evaluated using the glomerular activity scoring system. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis, in which the between-group comparison was performed using two independent samples t-test, and the correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman method. Results:①The serum anti-dsDNA antibody expression level in the treatment group [(5.2±1.0) U/ml] was lower than that in the placebo group [(6.9±1.2) U/ml], ( Z=-3.07, P=0.008), and the levels of complement C3 and complement C4 were higher than those in the placebo group [(293±10) mg/L vs. (260±19) mg/L, Z=2.72, P=0.017]; (16±6) mg/L vs. (8±9) mg/L, Z=3.78, P=0.006]. There was no significant difference in serum BUN and Scr between the treatment group and the placebo group [(10.6±0.7) mmol/L vs. (11.5±1.1) mmol/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.071; (17±5) μmol/L vs. (22±6) μmol/L, Z=-1.79, P=0.095]. ② Compared with the placebo group, the levels of LDL, TC and TG in the treatment group decreased [(0.83±0.15) mmol/L vs. (1.08±1.05) mmol/L, Z=-3.95, P=0.001; (2.90±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=-5.17, P=0.001; (1.10±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.60±0.42) mmol/L, Z=-3.23, P=0.013], and HDL level increased [(2.02±0.99) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=4.42, P=0.001]. ③ Compared with the placebo group, the levels of aortic MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1 and STAT2 in the treatment group were reduced [(0.17±0.30) vs. (0.23±0.05), Z=-3.06, P=0.009; (0.83±0.09) vs. (1.05±0.19), Z=-3.07, P=0.008; (0.77±0.07) vs. (0.94±0.13), Z=-2.83, P=0.014; (0.70±0.07) vs. (0.82±0.09), Z=-2.83, P=0.013], the aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness were lower than those in the placebo group [(12±31) μm 2vs. (1 242±1 101) μm 2, Z=-3.12, P=0.016; (63±7) μm vs. (82.10±8.06) μm, Z=-5.13, P<0.001]. ④ Compared with the placebo group, the urine protein level and glomerulonephritis activity score in the treatment group were decreased [(0.08±0.03) mg/mL vs. (0.20±0.11) mg/mL, Z=-3.08, P=0.015; (1.79±0.38) vs. (2.79±0.14) points, Z=-7.08, P<0.001)], and renal tissue MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1.Compared with the placebo group, STAT2 levels were reduced [(0.364±0.040) vs. (0.425±0.021), Z=-3.85, P=0.003; (0.689±0.074) vs. (0.838±0.068), Z=-4.19, P=0.001; (0.508±0.070) vs. (0.646±0.019), Z=-2.85, P=0.015; (0.618±0.062) vs. (0.740±0.101), Z=-2.94, P=0.013. ⑤ The glomerular mobility scores of the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TCHO, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.51, P=0.043; r=0.79, P<0.001; r=0.64, P=0.008; r=0.82, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.53, P=0.036). The urine protein levels in the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TC, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.67, P=0.004; r=0.68, P=0.004; r=0.53, P=0.033; r=0.80, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.57, P=0.021). Conclusion:The severity of lupus nephritis is correlated with atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia in the early stage of systemic lupus erythematosus. Tofacitinib may reduce the degree of early arteriosclerosis and lupus nephritis in MRL/LPR mice, and reduce blood lipid levels, which may be effective in improving the prognosis of SLE and improving the survival rate of patients.

Autoimmune epilepsy (AE) is a type of epilepsy mediated by autoantibodies and immune cells. The main pathogenesis of AE is that autoimmune antibodies related to AE interact with surface of nervous cell membrane antigens or intracellular antigens, which leads to the disorder of excitatory and inhibitory nervous system and causes epileptic seizures. Glutamate receptor subunit 3 peptide B antibodies (GluR3B Ab's) are one type of anti-neuron autoantibodies related to AE, and they can combine with GluR3B subunit of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR), which causes an increase of intracellular calcium. Intracellular calcium overload further leads to dysregulation of energy metabolism in neurons or oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). The damage of neurons or OPCs eventually trigger seizure. Here, we mainly discuss the mechanisms of GluR3B Ab's involving in the development of autoimmune epilepsy.

The massive loss of oligodendrocytes caused by various pathological factors is a basic feature of many demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Based on a variety of studies, it is now well established that impairment of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to differentiate and remyelinate axons is a vital event in the failed treatment of demyelinating diseases. Recent evidence suggests that Foxg1 is essential for the proliferation of certain precursors and inhibits premature neurogenesis during brain development. To date, very little attention has been paid to the role of Foxg1 in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs in demyelinating diseases of the CNS. Here, for the first time, we examined the effects of Foxg1 on demyelination and remyelination in the brain using a cuprizone (CPZ)-induced mouse model. In this work, 7-week-old Foxg1 conditional knockout and wild-type (WT) mice were fed a diet containing 0.2% CPZ w/w for 5 weeks, after which CPZ was withdrawn to enable remyelination. Our results demonstrated that, compared with WT mice, Foxg1-knockout mice exhibited not only alleviated demyelination but also accelerated remyelination of the demyelinated corpus callosum. Furthermore, we found that Foxg1 knockout decreased the proliferation of OPCs and accelerated their differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Wnt signaling plays a critical role in development and in a variety of diseases. GSK-3β, a key regulatory kinase in the Wnt pathway, regulates the ability of β-catenin to enter nuclei, where it activates the expression of Wnt target genes. We then used SB216763, a selective inhibitor of GSK-3β activity, to further demonstrate the regulatory mechanism by which Foxg1 affects OPCs in vitro. The results showed that SB216763 clearly inhibited the expression of GSK-3β, which abolished the effect of the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs caused by the knockdown of Foxg1. These results suggest that Foxg1 is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs through the Wnt signaling pathway. The present experimental results are some of the first to suggest that Foxg1 is a new therapeutic target for the treatment of demyelinating diseases of the CNS.