This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism of Liujing Toutong Tablets(LJTT) on a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO). The pMCAO model was established using the suture method. Eighty-four male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a nimodipine group(0.020 g·kg~(-1)), and high-, medium-, and low-dose LJTT groups(2.8, 1.4, and 0.7 g·kg~(-1)). The Longa score, adhesive removal test and laser speckle contrast imaging technique were used to evaluate the degree of neurological functional impairment and changes in local cerebral blood flow. The survival and mortality of rats in each group were recorded daily. After seven days of continuous administration following the model induction, the rats in each group were euthanized, and brain tissue and blood samples were collected for corresponding parameter measurements. Nissl staining was used to examine pathological changes in brain tissue neurons. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-1β, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), beta-endorphin(β-EP), and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) in rat serum were measured using specific assay kits. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of various indicators. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα(p-IκBα), and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase alpha(p-IKKα) in brain tissue were determined using Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1) and C-C chemokine receptor 5(CCR5) in rat brain tissue. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed significantly higher neurological functional impairment scores, prolonged adhesive removal time, decreased cerebral blood flow, increased neuronal damage, reduced survival rate, significantly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in serum, significantly decreased levels of VEGF and β-EP, significantly increased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-IKKα in rat brain tissue, and significantly upregulated protein expression of CKLF1 and CCR5. Compared with the model group, the high-dose LJTT group significantly improved the neurological functional score of pMCAO rats after oral administration for 7 days. LJTT at all doses significantly reduced adhesive removal time and restored cerebral blood flow. The high-and medium-dose LJTT groups significantly improved neuronal damage. The LJTT groups at all doses showed reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in rat serum, increased VEGF and β-EP levels, and significantly decreased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, p-IKKα, and CCR5 protein in rat brain tissue. The entropy weight analysis revealed that CGRP and β-EP were significantly affected during the model induction, and LJTT exhibited a strong effect in reducing the release of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β. LJTT may exert a neuroprotective effect on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia by reducing neuroinflammatory damage, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the regulation of the CKLF1/CCR5 axis. Additionally, LJTT may exert certain analgesic effects by reducing CGRP and NO levels and increasing β-EP levels.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; I-kappa B Kinase/pharmacology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Brain Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Tablets

Objective To investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the regulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in the peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted from normal healthy individuals and AR patients, then stimulated with CGRP, interleukin 33 (IL-33) and CGRP combined with IL-33 for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of ILC2 in the four groups was measured by flow cytometry. After being sorted, ILC2 was given to CGRP, IL-33 and CGRP combined with IL-33 stimulation for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of IL-5 and IL-13 positive cells in ILC2 was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in ILC2 supernatant were measured by ELISA. Results The percentage of ILC2 in the peripheral blood of AR patients was significantly higher than that of the control group. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were significantly increased by IL-33 single stimulation after culturing PBMCs. After adding IL-33 combined with CGRP stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were significantly reduced; after CGRP single stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were further decreased. After ILC2 was sorted and cultured, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 showed significant increase after IL-33 single stimulation. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were decreased by IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation, and they were further reduced after CGRP single stimulation. Compared to IL-33 single stimulation, IL-5 and IL-13 levels dropped significantly due to the IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation. The levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were further reduced by CGRP single stimulation. Conclusion CGRP inhibits the proliferation and activation of peripheral blood ILC2 in AR and exert anti-inflammatory effects in AR.
Humans ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/pharmacology* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-33/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-13 ; Lymphocytes ; Interleukin-5/pharmacology* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Cell Proliferation

Our previous studies have shown that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) exerts protective effects on the acute lung injury induced by oxidative stress. This study was aimed to investigate whether autophagy was involved in the protection of CGRP against oxidative stress-induced lung injury in neonatal rats. Newborn Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, oxidative stress model group (Model group), Model + CGRP group, Model + CGRP + Rapamycin (an autophagy agonist) group, and Model + CGRP + LY294002 (an autophagy inhibitor) group. The model of hyperoxia-induced lung injury was established by continuous inhalation of oxygen (FiO₂ = 90%-95%) for 14 days in neonatal SD rats. Pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and mean linear intercept (MLI) was measured. The quantitative changes of autophagic vesicles (AV) in type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) were measured under the transmission electron microscope. The protein expressions of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, mTOR, and Beclin-1 in lung tissue lysates were detected by Western blot. The results showed that, compared to the Model group at the same time point, the number of AV in AECII and the expression level of Beclin-1 protein of the lung tissue were increased, while the expression level of mTOR protein was decreased, with alleviated pathological changes, reduced MLI value and Caspase-3 protein expression level, increased Bcl-2 protein expression level in the lung tissue of Model + CGRP group. In addition, we found that the protective effect of CGRP on hyperoxia-induced lung injury could be enhanced by autophagy activator Rapamycin and abolished by autophagy inhibitor LY294002. Together, these findings indicate that CGRP could attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats by enhancing autophagy.
Acute Lung Injury/pathology* ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Autophagy ; Calcitonin/metabolism* ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Hyperoxia/pathology* ; Lung/pathology* ; Lung Injury/prevention & control* ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sirolimus/pharmacology*

Microglia are important cells involved in the regulation of neuropathic pain (NPP) and morphine tolerance. Information on their plasticity and polarity has been elucidated after determining their physiological structure, but there is still much to learn about the role of this type of cell in NPP and morphine tolerance. Microglia mediate multiple functions in health and disease by controlling damage in the central nervous system (CNS) and endogenous immune responses to disease. Microglial activation can result in altered opioid system activity, and NPP is characterized by resistance to morphine. Here we investigate the regulatory mechanisms of microglia and review the potential of microglial inhibitors for modulating NPP and morphine tolerance. Targeted inhibition of glial activation is a clinically promising approach to the treatment of NPP and the prevention of morphine tolerance. Finally, we suggest directions for future research on microglial inhibitors.
Humans ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Drug Tolerance ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology* ; Microglia/physiology* ; MicroRNAs/physiology* ; Minocycline/pharmacology* ; Morphine/pharmacology* ; Neuralgia/etiology* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction/physiology*

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the long-term depression (LTD) of hippocampus in mice. Sixty C57BL/6J mice (30 days old) were randomly divided into control group, three CGRP (50, 100, and 200 nmol/L) groups, CGRP + CGRP group and CGRP + APV group (10 mice for each group). The effects of exogenous application of different concentrations of CGRP on synaptic plasticity and LTD in hippocampus of mice were detected by in vitro recording of local field potential. The results showed that higher doses (100 and 200 nmol/L) of CGRP significantly enhanced the induction of LTD in the hippocampus. Moreover, CGRP increased the magnitude of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents. The above-mentioned effects of CGRP were blocked by either CGRP selective antagonist CGRP or NMDA receptor antagonist APV. These results suggest that CGRP can dose-dependently enhance the induction of LTD in hippocampus of mice, and the underlying mechanism involves the mediation of NMDA receptor function.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Synaptic Depression ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of melatonin on the gastrointestinal motility and plasma levels of the stress hormone in overtraining rats.

METHODThirty adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, over-training group, melatonin intervention group. 30 min before each training, rats in the control and over-training groups were fed with normal saline (15 mg/kg) once a day and 5 times per week, while rats in the melatonin intervention group were administrated with melatonin, perfusion in the intervention group (15 mg/kg). Excessive training group and melatonin intervention group rats were subjected to excessive training at 5 times a week for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the gastric emptying rate, small intestinal propulsion ratio and levels of plasma motilin (MTL) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), cortisol (CORT) and catecholamines (CA) were observed in all groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the gastric emptying rate, small intestinal propulsion ratio and levels of plasma MTL, CORT and CA were increased significantly (P < 0.01) while the content of CGRP was reduced (P < 0.01) in over-training group. After treated with melatonin, this trend was reversed, that was, the gastric emptying rate, small intestinal propulsion ratio and levels of plasma MTL, CORT and CA were surpressed significantly (P < 0.01) while the content of CGRP was improved obviously (P < 0.01) in over-training group.

CONCLUSIONMelatonin plays an important role in protecting gastrointestinal tract from dysfunction, in which MTL, CGRP, CORT and CA are all involved.

Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Catecholamines ; blood ; Fatigue ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Motilin ; blood ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological

The increase of pronociceptive mediators in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of inflammatory pain and opioid tolerance. Adrenomedullin (AM) belongs to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family and has been recently demonstrated to be a pain-related peptide. It has also been shown that the expression and release of AM are increased in the DRG and spinal dorsal horn during inflammation and repeated use of morphine. Intrathecal administration of the selective AM receptor antagonist AM22-52 abolishes inflammatory pain and morphine tolerance, suggesting that enhanced AM receptor signaling in the DRG and spinal dorsal horn contributes to the induction of inflammatory pain and morphine tolerance. The present review highlights the recent developments regarding the involvement of AM in these two disorders. The neurological mechanisms of AM's actions are also discussed.
Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Drug Tolerance ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Pain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenomedullin ; metabolism

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play important roles in vascular injury and protection. In order to determine the role of CGRP receptor component protein (RCP) in signal transduction whereby CGRP and Ang II mediate the expression of vascular peroxidase-1 (VPO1) in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), mouse derived A10 vascular smooth muscle cell line (A10VSMC) was cultured with CGRP or/and Ang II in vitro. RCP-specific small interference RNA (siRNA-RCP) was used to silence oligonucleotide sequence. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to determine the protein and mRNA expressions of RCP and VPO1, respectively. The results showed that the expressions of RCP and VPO1 were increased in the presence of CGRP or Ang II in the quiescent A10VSMC. But the protein expressions of RCP and VPO1 induced by Ang II were decreased by pretreatment of CGRP (P < 0.05). The expressions of VPO1 were decreased in all the groups treated with siRNA-RCP, compared with those of wide-type counterparts. Meanwhile, the expression of VPO1 was significantly induced by CGRP but not Ang II in the siRNA-RCP treated A10VSMCs. Ang II in combination with CGRP increased the protein expression of VPO1 in the siRNA-RCP-transfected cells, compared with Ang II alone, and this effect could be abolished by catalase. The results suggest that RCP may play an important role in the integration of signal transduction whereby CGRP and Ang II receptors jointly regulate VPO1 expression in VSMC.
Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of oral administration of mixed enteral nutritional agent on intestinal mucosal barrier of patients with severe burn injury at early stage.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with severe burn injury admitted to our burn ward from August 2013 to September 2014, conforming to the study criteria, were divided into conventional therapy group (n = 12) and early enteral feeding group (n = 12) according to the random number table. Patients in conventional therapy group received conventional treatment immediately after admission, while those in early enteral feeding group were orally given 100 mL of a mixture of glutamine, probiotics, and prebiotics once a day besides conventional treatment for 7 days. Serum levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and procalcitonin (PCT) and plasma level of LPS were determined by ELISA before treatment and on treatment day (TD) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Wound secretion and blood samples were collected for bacterial culture within the 21 TD. The incidence of MODS within the 21 TD was observed. Data were processed with Fisher's exact test, rank sum test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and LSD-t test.

RESULTS(1) Serum levels of DAO in patients of early enteral feeding group on TD 7, 14, and 21 were respectively (14.9 ± 3.7), (12.4 ± 3.1), and (9.5 ± 0.7) ng/mL, which were significantly lower than those of conventional therapy group [(17.5 ± 4.0), (16.3 ± 3.3), and (13.0 ± 1.1) ng/mL, with t values from 2.913 to 15.304, P values below 0.01]. Serum levels of DAO at the other time points were close between the two groups (with t values from -0.598 to 0.139, P values above 0.05). (2) Compared with serum levels of PCT in patients of conventional therapy group [(11.7 ± 20.9) and (12.9 ± 23.9) ng/mL], those of early enteral feeding group were significantly lower on TD 7 and 14 [(2.7 ± 8.1) and (2.0 ± 5.6) ng/mL, with Z values respectively -2.919 and -2.139, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. Serum levels of PCT at the other time points were close between the two groups (with Z values from -1.833 to -0.346, P values above 0.05). (3) Plasma level of LPS in patients of early enteral feeding group on TD 7 was (33 ± 56) pg/mL, which was significantly lower than that of conventional therapy group [(102 ± 108) pg/mL, Z = -2.046, P < 0.05]. Plasma levels of LPS at the other time points between the two groups showed no significant difference (with Z values from -2.003~-0.526, P values above 0.05). (4) Positive results in bacterial culture of wound secretion were approximately the same between the two groups (P > 0.05). Bacterial culture of blood was positive in 7 patients of conventional therapy group and 1 patient of early enteral feeding group, showing significantly statistical difference (P < 0.05). MODS was observed in 1 patient of conventional therapy group, showing no significantly statistical difference with that of early enteral feeding group (no patient, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly intestinal feeding of mixed enteral nutritional agent in addition to conventional therapy can effectively promote repair of the impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier, protect integrity of intestinal mucosa, reduce damage to intestines, and alleviate inflammatory response in patients suffering from severe burn injury.

Administration, Oral ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; blood ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Compound Tongtu Granule (CTG) on intestinal permeability in elderly sepsis patients.

METHODSEighty elderly sepsis patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group by randomized double blinded method, 40 in each group. On the basis of conventional antiseptic treatment program, patients in the experimental group took CTG, while those in the control group took placebos. The dosage for CTG or placebos was 14.3 g each package, one package each time, twice daily for 14 successive days. Patients' abdominal symptoms and signs, levels of serum inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), levels of plasma endotoxin, and the intestinal permeability (IP, represented by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion rate) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 14-day treatment, patients in the experimental group had improved abdominal symptoms, increased frequency of defecation, significantly decreased levels of plasma endotoxin and IP, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTG could improve the intestinal barrier function in elderly sepsis patients.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Defecation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Permeability ; Protein Precursors ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology