1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Pristimerin enhances the doxorubicin sensitivity of breast cancer MCF-7 cells via the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway
CHENG Chao ; WANG Zhou ; ZHANG Weiqun
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;31(8):823-830
[摘 要] 目的:探讨扁蒴藤素(PT)通过蛋白激酶B(AKT)/糖原合成酶激酶-3β(GSK-3β)信号通路对人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7多柔比星(DOX)敏感性的影响。方法:体外培养MCF-7细胞并建立DOX耐药细胞MCF-7/DOX。MCF-7细胞设NC组、L-PT组(2 μmol/L PT)、M-PT组(4 μmol/L PT)、H-PT组(8 μmol/L PT)、H-PT + SC79组(8 μmol/L PT + 10 μmol/L的AKT/GSK-3β信号通路抑制剂SC79)、H-PT + LY294002组(8 μmol/L PT + 2.5 μmol/L的AKT/GSK-3β信号通路激活剂LY294002)。MCF-7/DOX细胞设MCF-7/DOX组(未处理)、DOX组(50 nmol/L DOX)、PT + DOX组(8 μmol/L PT和50 nmol/L DOX)、PT + DOX + SC79组(8 μmol/L PT + 50 nmol/L DOX + 10 μmol/L SC79)、PT + DOX + LY294002组(8 μmol/L PT + 50 nmol/L DOX + 2.5 μmol/L LY294002)。采用MTT法、平板克隆实验、划痕愈合实验、Transwell实验及WB法分别检测细胞增殖、集落形成数、迁移、侵袭和AKT/GSK-3β信号通路蛋白表达。建立MCF-7细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型,观察PT对移植瘤生长、移植瘤组织中AKT/GSK--3β 信号通路蛋白表达的影响。结果:与NC组相比,L-PT、M-PT、H-PT组MCF-7细胞增殖率、集落形成数、划痕愈合率、侵袭细胞数及p-AKT、p-GSK-3β蛋白表达均呈PT浓度依赖性降低(均P < 0.05);与H-PT组对比,H-PT + SC79组MCF-7细胞上述指标变化趋势与上述相反,PT + DOX + LY294002组MCF-7细胞上述指标变化趋势与上述相同(均P < 0.05)。MCF-7/DOX组与DOX组细胞增殖率、集落形成数、划痕愈合率、侵袭细胞数及p-AKT、p-GSK-3β蛋白表达无明显差异(均P > 0.05);分别与MCF-7/DOX组、DOX组对比,PT + DOX组MCF-7/DOX细胞上述指标均降低(均P < 0.05);对比PT + DOX组,PT + DOX + SC79组上述指标均升高,PT + DOX + LY294002组上述指标均降低(均P < 0.05)。裸鼠移植瘤实验显示,与对照组和DOX相比,PT + DOX组移植瘤质量、体积、p-AKT、p-GSK-3β蛋白表达均降低(均P < 0.05)。结论:PT抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭,并增强其对DOX的化疗敏感性,其机制与抑制AKT/GSK-3β信号通路有关。
3.Integrating genomics and metabolomics to reveal the genetic basis and potential therapeutic targets of diabetic foot.
Yi ZHANG ; Cheng CHEN ; Zhen-Dong LI ; Hai-Chao ZHOU ; Bing LI ; Yun-Feng YANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(9):891-901
OBJECTIVE:
To screen out the key metabolites related to diabetic foot (DF) by integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and metabolome genome-wide association studies (mGWAS).
METHODS:
The literature databases such as PubMed and China national knowledge infrastructure(CNKI), as well as genomics databases such as PAN UKBB, FinnGen, and IEU Open GWAS were systematically retrieved from database estobilishment to November 2024 on DF-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and genome-wide association studies. DF-single nucleotide polymorphism-metabolite network was constructed by mGWAS package and mGWAS-Explorer platform. The causal relationship between key factors was evaluated by two-sample Mendelian randomization. The genetic correlation between DF and 575 metabolites (source:IEU Open GWAS) was evaluated by linkage disequilibrium score regression. In vitro experiments were conducted to induce injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with 30 mM glucose and intervene with 20 μM γ-tocopherol. Changes in cell migration, scratch healing and tube formation function were detected.
RESULTS:
Twenty-senen literatures on single nucleotide polymorphism literatures and 3 studies on GWAS were included. Genetic analysis results showed DF-related single nucleotide polymorphisms were enriched in vascular endothelial dysfunction-related pathways (such as fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis). The results of metabolic network analysis screened out 19 associated metabolites, among which 12 such as γ -tocopherol and pyruvate had significant genetic correlations with DF. Mendelian randomization suggested matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) might be a potential driver of DF (β=0.658, P=0.063 8), and the occurrence of DF could reduce the level of high-density lipoprotein (β=-0.002, P=0.015 2). The results of in vitro experiments confirmed that γ -tocopherol could improve endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose, specifically manifested as an increase in the number of cell migrations, improvement in the scratch healing rate, and recovery of tubule formation ability (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
DF has a genetic basis centered on vascular endothelial dysfunction, and its occurrence can lead to further metabolic disorders. The key single nucleotide polymorphism loci integrated provided molecular markers for the risk stratification of foot ulcers in diabetic patients. In addition, γ -tocopherol has demonstrated clinical application potential as a therapeutic drug for DF by significantly improving the function of vascular endothelial cells in a high-glucose environment.
Humans
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Diabetic Foot/drug therapy*
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Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
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Genome-Wide Association Study
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Genomics
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Metabolomics
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Metabolome
4.IsoVISoR: Towards 3D Mesoscale Brain Mapping of Large Mammals at Isotropic Sub-micron Resolution.
Chao-Yu YANG ; Yan SHEN ; Xiaoyang QI ; Lufeng DING ; Yanyang XIAO ; Qingyuan ZHU ; Hao WANG ; Cheng XU ; Pak-Ming LAU ; Pengcheng ZHOU ; Fang XU ; Guo-Qiang BI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(2):344-348
5.Research Progress in Bleeding Risk Assessment of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant in Atrial Fibrillation.
Chao YU ; Wei ZHOU ; Tao WANG ; Ling-Juan ZHU ; Hui-Hui BAO ; Xiao-Shu CHENG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):452-461
The introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) into clinical use heralds a new age for anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).However,anticoagulation-related bleeding is currently a major challenge in the anticoagulation process.Assessing the risk of anticoagulation-related bleeding is an important part for the management of patients with AF.Clinical risk factor scores have moderate ability to predict the risk of anticoagulation-related bleeding.To improve the anticoagulation safety of NOACs,additional clinical and biological markers and genetic polymorphisms should be considered to enhance the predictive capability for anticoagulation-related bleeding.This review summarizes the challenges in the management of anticoagulation therapy,with emphases on the bleeding risk scores,biomarkers,clinical indicators,and genetic loci currently used to guide the risk assessment of anticoagulation-related bleeding in AF patients.This review is expected to provide research insights and reference frameworks for predicting and evaluating the bleeding risk associated with NOACs.
Humans
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Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy*
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Anticoagulants/therapeutic use*
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Hemorrhage/chemically induced*
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Risk Assessment
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Administration, Oral
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Risk Factors
6.Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment and Death in Menopausal Women With Hypertension.
Ling-Juan ZHU ; Tao WANG ; Chao YU ; Wei ZHOU ; Hui-Hui BAO ; Xiao-Shu CHENG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(4):527-534
Objective To explore the relationships of cognitive impairment with cardiovascular death and all-cause death in menopausal women with hypertension.Methods A total of 4 595 natural-menopausal women with hypertension screened in Wuyuan County of Jiangxi Province from July to August 2018 were selected as the research subjects,and a follow-up investigation of death information was completed from June to August 2022.According to the baseline mini-mental state examination(MMSE)score,all subjects were allocated into a normal cognitive function group and a cognitive impairment group.The basic characteristics and the cumulative risk of death evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier curve were compared between two groups.The multivariate Cox regression model was adopted to analyze the effect of cognitive function on death,and the relationship between MMSE score and death was fitted by the restricted cubic spline.Results A total of 4 595 subjects with the mean age of(65.1±8.4)years were included in this study,in which and 1 859(40.5%)patients with cognitive impairment were detected.During a mean follow-up period of(3.9±0.4)years,199 all-cause deaths were collected,including 102 cardiovascular deaths.The normal cognitive function group and the cognitive impairment group had the cumulative all-cause death rates of 2.6%and 6.9%and the cumulative cardiovascular death rates of 1.0%and 4.0%,respectively.The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the cumulative risks of all-cause death(χ2=47.287,P<0.001)and cardiovascular death(χ2=45.169,P<0.001)in the cognitive impairment group were higher than those in the normal cognitive function group.The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that compared with the normal cognitive function group,the cognitive impairment group had increased risks of all-cause death(HR=1.75,95%CI=1.28-2.39,P<0.001)and cardiovascular death(HR=2.56,95%CI=1.61-4.09,P<0.001).The results of the restricted cubic spline curve fitting showed that the MMSE score had linearly negative correlations with the risk of all-cause death(Pall<0.001, P n o n - l i n e a r i t y=0.519)and cardiovascular death(Pall<0.001, P n o n - l i n e a r i t y=0.195).Conclusion Cognitive impairment is an independent risk factor for all-cause death and cardiovascular death in menopausal women with hypertension,and early identification of cognitive impairment in this population is essential for timely intervention.
Humans
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Female
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Cognitive Dysfunction
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Hypertension/complications*
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Aged
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Middle Aged
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Menopause
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Proportional Hazards Models
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Risk Factors
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Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality*
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Cause of Death
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Kaplan-Meier Estimate
7.Clinical trial of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of adults with mild and moderate depression
Shu-Zhe ZHOU ; Zu-Cheng HAN ; Xiu-Zhen WANG ; Yan-Qing CHEN ; Ya-Ling HU ; Xue-Qin YU ; Bin-Hong WANG ; Guo-Zhen FAN ; Hong SANG ; Ying HAI ; Zhi-Jie JIA ; Zhan-Min WANG ; Yan WEI ; Jian-Guo ZHU ; Xue-Qin SONG ; Zhi-Dong LIU ; Li KUANG ; Hong-Ming WANG ; Feng TIAN ; Yu-Xin LI ; Ling ZHANG ; Hai LIN ; Bin WU ; Chao-Ying WANG ; Chang LIU ; Jia-Fan SUN ; Shao-Xiao YAN ; Jun LIU ; Shou-Fu XIE ; Mao-Sheng FANG ; Wei-Feng MI ; Hong-Yan ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(6):815-819
Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P<0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59%(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49%(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35%(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.
8.The antitumor activity and mechanisms of piperlongumine derivative C12 on human non-small cell lung cancer H1299 cells
Hai-tao LONG ; Xue LEI ; Jia-yi CHEN ; Jiao MENG ; Li-hui SHAO ; Zhu-rui LI ; Dan-ping CHEN ; Zhen-chao WANG ; Yue ZHOU ; Cheng-peng LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(10):2773-2781
The compound (
9.Efficacy and safety of deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive
Jing XIAO ; Chao LI ; Shuping ZHANG ; Xiaoyun CHENG ; Wenfeng HAN ; Hongmei ZHOU
Cancer Research and Clinic 2024;36(1):24-31
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC (albumin-bound paclitaxel + carboplatin) regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with driver gene negative and programmed death-1 receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression positive.Methods:A prospective case-control study was performed. A total of 84 advanced squamous NSCLC patients with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive in Hebei Seventh People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were collected, and all patients were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method, with 42 cases in each group. The control group was given the treatment of sintilimab combined with nab-PC regimen, and the observation group was given deep hyperthermia on the basis of the control group. After 4 consecutive cycles of treatment, the short-term efficacy of the two groups was compared. The levels of serum tumor markers [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFR21-1)], and the positive expression rates of immunohistochemistry markers [p40, p63, and cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6)] before and after treatment were compared between two groups. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung cancer module (FACT-L) scores, the adverse reactions and the long-term survival of the two groups were compared.Results:There were 26 males and 16 females in the observation group, and the age was (59±11) years; there were 22 males and 15 females in the control group, and the age was (58±11) years. The objective remission rate and the disease control rate were 71.43% (30/42), 90.48% (38/42), respectively in the observation group, and 50.00% (21/42), 80.95% (34/42), respectively in the control group; the objective remission rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.04, P = 0.044); and there was no statistically significant difference in the disease control rate of both groups ( χ2 = 1.56, P = 0.212). The levels of serum CEA, SCCA and CYFRA21-1, and the positive expression rates of p40, p63, and CK5/6 in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment (all P < 0.05); and the scores of physiological status, functional status, additional concern in FACT-L scores and the total score of the scale after treatment were higher than those before treatment (all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions including thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, fever of the two groups (all P > 0.05). The median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 6.5 months (95% CI: 3.82-12.75), 5.1 months (95% CI: 3.14-12.26),respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference in the median PFS time was statistically significantly of both groups ( χ2 = 4.21, P = 0.040). The median overall survival (OS) time was 12.9 months (95% CI: 6.25-15.46), 9.7 months (95% CI: 4.74-13.02), respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference in the median OS time was statistically significantly of both groups ( χ2 = 4.43, P = 0.035). Conclusions:Deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous NSCLC with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive can effectively reduce the serum tumor markers levels and positive expression rate of immunohistochemical markers, improve the quality of life of patients, and increase the short-term and long-term efficacy.
10.Application Study of Enzyme Inhibitors and Their Conformational Optimization in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Chao-Yang CHU ; Biao XIAO ; Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Kai XIE ; Shu-Jun XU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1510-1529
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.

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