Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), caused by cerebrovascular dysfunction, severely impacts the quality of life in the elderly population, yet effective therapeutic approaches remain limited. Mitophagy, a selective mitochondrial quality-control mechanism, has emerged as a critical focus in neurological disease research. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitophagy modulates oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Key signaling pathways associated with mitophagy—including PINK1/Parkin, BNIP3/Nix, FUNDC1, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and AMPK—have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for VCI. This review summarizes the mechanistic roles of mitophagy in VCI pathogenesis and explores emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, aiming to provide novel insights for clinical intervention and advance the development of effective treatments for VCI.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of in alleviating colonic mucosal inflammation in ten-eleven translocation (TET) protein 2 gene knockout (TET2-/-) mice with ulcerative colitis (UC) by regulating DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and DNA hydroxymethylase. Methods: Male specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice (n = 8) and TET2-/- mice (n = 20) were used to establish UC models by freely drinking 3% dextran sulfate sodium solution for 7 d. After UC model validation through histopathological examination in two mice from each type, the remaining mice were divided into four groups (n = 6 in each group): WT model (WT + UC), TET2-/- model (TET2-/- + UC), TET2-/- mild moxibustion (TET2-/- + MM), and TET2-/- electroacupuncture (TET2-/- + EA) groups. TET2-/- + MM group received mild moxibustion on Tianshu (ST25) and Qihai (CV6) for 10 min daily for 7 d. The TET2-/- + EA group also applied electroacupuncture (1 mA, 2/100 Hz) at the same acupoints for 10 min daily for 7 d. The disease activity index (DAI) scores of each group of mice were accessed daily. The colon lengths of mice in groups were measured following intervention. The pathological changes in the colon tissues were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, C-C motif chemokine 17 (CCL17), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of DNMT proteins (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) in the colon tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), and DNA hydroxymethylase family proteins (TET 1 and TET3) was detected using immunofluorescence, which also determined the co-localization of TET1 and IL-6 protein. Results: Compared with WT + UC group, TET2-/- + UC group exhibited significantly higher DAI scores and shorter colon lengths (P < 0.01). Both mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture significantly decreased DAI scores and ameliorated colon shortening in TET2-/- mice (P < 0.001). Histopathological scores of TET2-/- + UC mice were significantly higher than those of WT + UC group (P < 0.001) and were significantly reduced after both mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture interventions (P < 0.001). Serum levels of IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 were significantly elevated in TET2-/- + UC group compared with WT + UC group (P < 0.001). Mild moxibustion significantly reduced IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 levels (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.01, respectively), while electroacupuncture also significantly reduced IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively). TET2-/- + UC mice showed increased expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3A , DNMT3B, and 5-mC (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), with decreased expression levels of TET1, TET3, 5-hmC, and HDAC2 (P < 0.001). Mild moxibustion significantly reduced DNMT1, DNMT3B, and 5-mC levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively), while increasing expression levels of TET1, TET3, 5-hmC, and HDAC2 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively). Electroacupuncture significantly decreased 5-mC and DNMT3B levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) and increased 5-hmC and HDAC2 levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively), but did not significantly affect TET1 and TET3 expression (P > 0.05). Compared with TET2-/- + MM group, TET2-/- + EA group showed significantly higher 5-mC expression (P < 0.001). TET2-/- + UC group exhibited markedly increased IL-6 expression and higher co-localization of TET1 and IL-6 in mucosal epithelium, whereas minimal IL-6 expression was observed in the other groups. Conclusion Mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture significantly ameliorate colonic inflammation exacerbated by TET2 deficiency in UC mice via epigenetic modulation. Distinct mechanisms exist between the two interventions: mild moxibustion regulates both DNMT and hydroxymethylase, whereas electroacupuncture primarily affects DNMT.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus of mice with cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:Sixty specific pathogen-free healthy adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice, aged 21-23 months, weighing 28-34 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=12 each) by a random number table method: sham operation + vehicle group (SV group), sham operation + dexmedetomidine group (SD group), TBI + vehicle group (TV group), TBI + dexmedetomidine group (TD group) and TBI + TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 group (TT group). The modified Feeney free fall epidural impact method was used to establish a mild TBI model. At 30 min before model preparation, dexmedetomidine 25 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in SD group and TD group, TAK-242 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in TT group, and the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected in SV group and TV group. Neurological severity scores (NSSs) were used to evaluate the neurological function at 1, 7 and 14 days after developing the model. The novel object recognition test (recognition index) and fear conditioning test (the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound) were used to evaluate the cognitive function of mice at 16 days after developing the model. The number and morphology of hippocampal neurons (NeuN-positive cells) and activated microglia (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1[IBA1]-positive cells) were measured by immunofluorescent staining. The expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), TLR4, MyD88 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with SV group, the NSS was significantly increased, the recognition index was decreased, the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound was decreased, the number of NeuN-positive cells was decreased, the number of IBA1-positive cells was increased and the cell body area was enlarged, the total branch length and intersection points were decreased, and the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was up-regulated in TV group ( P<0.05). Compared with TV group, the NSS was significantly decreased, the recognition index was increased, the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound was increased, the number of NeuN-positive cells was increased, the number of IBA1-positive cells was decreased and the cell body area was reduced, the total branch length and intersection points were increased, and the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was down-regulated in TD group and TT group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the aforementioned parameters between TD group and TT group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine mitigates TBI-induced cognitive impairment may be related to inhibition of the hippocampal TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and reduction of neuroinflammatory responses in mice.

Objective: To predict and screen potential biomarkers of systemic lupus eythematosus(SLE) based on machine learning algorithms and structural biology, and to reveal their mechanisms of action and to provide new targets for disease diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Four machine learning algorithms, random forest(RF), eXtreme gradient boosting(XGBoost), support vector machine(SVM), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO), were used to analyze the gene expression data of SLE patients in GEO(datasets: GSE121239 and GSE11907) to analyze the gene expression data of SLE patients and screen key markers. Peripheral blood single nucleated cells(PBMCs) from SLE patients were collected and RT-qPCR was used to detect differential gene expression levels. Subsequently, GSEA enrichment analysis was used to identify biomarker-related pathways. CIBERSORT immune infiltration analysis and protein interactions network were applied to calculate the sample immune cell infiltration abundance. Single-cell data were analyzed for gene expression specificity in immune cells. Interaction relationships in combination with AlphaFold3(AF3) were predicted. Results: Multiple algorithms were screened together to identify the unique marker gene HERC5 , and expression analysis of multiple datasets showed that HERC5 was highly expressed in SLE compared to the normal group (P < 0. 05) , and RT⁃qPCR verified the same trend (P = 0. 006 2) . Functional enrichment analysis identified the major pathway promoted by HERC5 in SLE as the interferon receptor signalling pathway (P < 0. 05) . Immune infiltration analysis showed that HERC5 was closely associated with immune cells (Neutrophils : r = 0. 39 , P < 0. 05 ; Memory B cells : r = 0. 33 , P < 0. 05 ; Activated dendritic cell : r = 0. 52 , P < 0. 05) . Most HERC5 ⁃related interacting proteins were associated with SLE ,and potential transcription factors of HERC5 and its related genes were also significantly associated with immune responses. Conclusion The HERC5 gene is an important biomarker for SLE , which upregulates the interferon pathway to promote SLE progression and provides a new target for SLE diagnosis and treatment.

Mitochondria are the center of intracellular energy metabolism.Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the dynamic process of mitochondrial fusion and fission,which plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and central nervous system function.Optic atrophy 1(OPA1)is a key factor involved in mitochondrial dynamics.OPA1 acts by regulating mitochondrial fusion and fission,reducing oxidative stress,inhibiting apoptosis,and promoting mitochondrial autophagy,to maintain the dynamic changes in mitochondrial quantity,structure,and biological function.Numerous studies have shown that OPA1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics plays an important role in ischemic stroke,Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,spinal cord injury,multiple sclerosis,and other central nervous system diseases.Here we review the regulatory mechanism of OPA1 in terms of mitochondrial dynamics and the important role of mitochondrial function mediated by OPA1 in central nervous system diseases,to provide new ideas for clinical treatment.

Objective:To explore the effects of astragaloside (Ast) on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway and excitation-inhibition balance in amygdala of mice with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).Methods:The C57BL/6 pregnant mice in model group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium valproate(500 mg/kg) on days 12-13 of pregnancy, while the C57BL/6 pregnant mice in control group were given an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution.The offspring mice were then divided into 5 groups according to the nest matching principle: the control+ normal saline group(Con+ NS group), the control+ Ast group (Con+ Ast group), the model+ normal saline group(Mod+ NS group), the model+ Ast group (Mod+ Ast group) and the Model+ Ast+ PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (Mod+ Ast+ LY group), with 12 mice in each group. At the age of 14 days, the mice in the Con+ Ast group and the Mod+ Ast group were intraperitoneally injected with Ast (20 mg/kg, once a day for 7 consecutive days), the mice in the Mod+ Ast+ LY group were intraperitoneally injected with Ast (20 mg/kg) and LY294002(30 mg/kg), the mice in Con+ NS group and Mod+ NS group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution.The depressive-like behavior and social function were evaluated by the marble-burying test (MBT), the three-chamber social interaction test(SIT), and the forced swimming test(FST). The expression levels of proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the amygdala were detected by Western blot. The immunofluorescence method was employed to determine the levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in the amygdala region.Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 9.5.0 software, and one-way ANOVA test was utilized for comparisons among multiple groups.Results:(1)Behavioral results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the number of buried beads of the MBT, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index of the SIT, and the immobility time and first immobile state incubation period of the FST among the five groups( F=28.85, 89.23, 77.62, 91.70, 125.40, all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ NS group were higher than those in Con+ NS group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were lower than those in Con+ NS group (all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ Ast group were lower than those in Mod+ NS group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were higher than those in Mod+ NS group(all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ Ast+ LY group were higher than those in Mod+ Ast group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were lower than those in Mod+ Ast group (all P<0.05).(2) Western blot results showed that there were statistically significant differences in p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT in amygdala among the five groups ( F=27.14, 25.50, both P<0.05). The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the amygdala of Mod+ NS group were lower than those of Con+ NS group(both P<0.05).The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in amygdala of Mod+ Ast group((0.67±0.04), (0.52±0.09))were higher than those of Mod+ NS group((0.48±0.06), (0.34±0.06))(both P<0.05). The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast+ LY group ((0.52±0.04), (0.36±0.10))were lower than those of Mod+ Ast group(both P<0.05). (3)Immunofluorescence results showed that the number of Glu- and GABA- positive cells in the amygdala region of the five groups were significantly different( F=41.84, 37.70, both P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ NS group was higher than that of Con+ NS group, and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ NS group was lower than that of Con+ NS group( P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast group((54.00±8.48)cells/mm 2)was lower than that of Mod+ NS group((82.17±7.36)cells/mm 2), and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ Ast group((59.20±11.22)cells/mm 2)was higher than that of Mod+ NS group((41.33±7.11)cells/mm 2) ( P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast+ LY group((75.67±9.15)cells/mm 2) was higher than that of Mod+ Ast group, and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ Ast+ LY group((43.33±4.27)cells/mm 2)was lower than that of Mod+ Ast group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Astragaloside can ameliorate social deficits in ASD mice via modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and excitation-inhibition balance in the amygdala.

Herpes zoster neuralgia(HZN)is a refractory neuropathic pain.Its incidence increases with age,along with higher prevalence of postherpetic neuralgia(PHN).The pain is severe and often lasts for months or even years,significantly impacting patients'work and life.How to reduce the pain level and prevent postherpetic neuralgia is the key to its treatment.However,conventional drug treatment often has adverse effects such as dizziness and drowsiness with low overall efficacy,which is not conducive to controlling and mitigating the pain.Botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A)is an exotoxin released by clostridium botulinum,which is simple to inject,and can effectively alleviate the pain level of PHN through mechanisms such as acting on synapses of neuromuscular junctions and inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses,thereby reducing the incidence of posterior neuralgia.This paper reviews the progress of BTX-A application in the diagnosis and treatment of PHN.

Objective:To explore the effects of astragaloside (Ast) on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway and excitation-inhibition balance in amygdala of mice with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).Methods:The C57BL/6 pregnant mice in model group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium valproate(500 mg/kg) on days 12-13 of pregnancy, while the C57BL/6 pregnant mice in control group were given an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution.The offspring mice were then divided into 5 groups according to the nest matching principle: the control+ normal saline group(Con+ NS group), the control+ Ast group (Con+ Ast group), the model+ normal saline group(Mod+ NS group), the model+ Ast group (Mod+ Ast group) and the Model+ Ast+ PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (Mod+ Ast+ LY group), with 12 mice in each group. At the age of 14 days, the mice in the Con+ Ast group and the Mod+ Ast group were intraperitoneally injected with Ast (20 mg/kg, once a day for 7 consecutive days), the mice in the Mod+ Ast+ LY group were intraperitoneally injected with Ast (20 mg/kg) and LY294002(30 mg/kg), the mice in Con+ NS group and Mod+ NS group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution.The depressive-like behavior and social function were evaluated by the marble-burying test (MBT), the three-chamber social interaction test(SIT), and the forced swimming test(FST). The expression levels of proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the amygdala were detected by Western blot. The immunofluorescence method was employed to determine the levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in the amygdala region.Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 9.5.0 software, and one-way ANOVA test was utilized for comparisons among multiple groups.Results:(1)Behavioral results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the number of buried beads of the MBT, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index of the SIT, and the immobility time and first immobile state incubation period of the FST among the five groups( F=28.85, 89.23, 77.62, 91.70, 125.40, all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ NS group were higher than those in Con+ NS group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were lower than those in Con+ NS group (all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ Ast group were lower than those in Mod+ NS group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were higher than those in Mod+ NS group(all P<0.05). The number of buried beads and immobility time in Mod+ Ast+ LY group were higher than those in Mod+ Ast group, and first immobile state incubation period, the social interaction index and social novelty preference index were lower than those in Mod+ Ast group (all P<0.05).(2) Western blot results showed that there were statistically significant differences in p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT in amygdala among the five groups ( F=27.14, 25.50, both P<0.05). The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the amygdala of Mod+ NS group were lower than those of Con+ NS group(both P<0.05).The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in amygdala of Mod+ Ast group((0.67±0.04), (0.52±0.09))were higher than those of Mod+ NS group((0.48±0.06), (0.34±0.06))(both P<0.05). The expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast+ LY group ((0.52±0.04), (0.36±0.10))were lower than those of Mod+ Ast group(both P<0.05). (3)Immunofluorescence results showed that the number of Glu- and GABA- positive cells in the amygdala region of the five groups were significantly different( F=41.84, 37.70, both P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ NS group was higher than that of Con+ NS group, and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ NS group was lower than that of Con+ NS group( P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast group((54.00±8.48)cells/mm 2)was lower than that of Mod+ NS group((82.17±7.36)cells/mm 2), and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ Ast group((59.20±11.22)cells/mm 2)was higher than that of Mod+ NS group((41.33±7.11)cells/mm 2) ( P<0.05). The number of Glu-positive cells in the amygdala of Mod+ Ast+ LY group((75.67±9.15)cells/mm 2) was higher than that of Mod+ Ast group, and the number of GABA-positive cells in Mod+ Ast+ LY group((43.33±4.27)cells/mm 2)was lower than that of Mod+ Ast group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Astragaloside can ameliorate social deficits in ASD mice via modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and excitation-inhibition balance in the amygdala.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus of mice with cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:Sixty specific pathogen-free healthy adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice, aged 21-23 months, weighing 28-34 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=12 each) by a random number table method: sham operation + vehicle group (SV group), sham operation + dexmedetomidine group (SD group), TBI + vehicle group (TV group), TBI + dexmedetomidine group (TD group) and TBI + TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 group (TT group). The modified Feeney free fall epidural impact method was used to establish a mild TBI model. At 30 min before model preparation, dexmedetomidine 25 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in SD group and TD group, TAK-242 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in TT group, and the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected in SV group and TV group. Neurological severity scores (NSSs) were used to evaluate the neurological function at 1, 7 and 14 days after developing the model. The novel object recognition test (recognition index) and fear conditioning test (the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound) were used to evaluate the cognitive function of mice at 16 days after developing the model. The number and morphology of hippocampal neurons (NeuN-positive cells) and activated microglia (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1[IBA1]-positive cells) were measured by immunofluorescent staining. The expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), TLR4, MyD88 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with SV group, the NSS was significantly increased, the recognition index was decreased, the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound was decreased, the number of NeuN-positive cells was decreased, the number of IBA1-positive cells was increased and the cell body area was enlarged, the total branch length and intersection points were decreased, and the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was up-regulated in TV group ( P<0.05). Compared with TV group, the NSS was significantly decreased, the recognition index was increased, the percentage of freezing time related to context and sound was increased, the number of NeuN-positive cells was increased, the number of IBA1-positive cells was decreased and the cell body area was reduced, the total branch length and intersection points were increased, and the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was down-regulated in TD group and TT group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the aforementioned parameters between TD group and TT group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine mitigates TBI-induced cognitive impairment may be related to inhibition of the hippocampal TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and reduction of neuroinflammatory responses in mice.

Mitochondria are the center of intracellular energy metabolism.Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the dynamic process of mitochondrial fusion and fission,which plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and central nervous system function.Optic atrophy 1(OPA1)is a key factor involved in mitochondrial dynamics.OPA1 acts by regulating mitochondrial fusion and fission,reducing oxidative stress,inhibiting apoptosis,and promoting mitochondrial autophagy,to maintain the dynamic changes in mitochondrial quantity,structure,and biological function.Numerous studies have shown that OPA1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics plays an important role in ischemic stroke,Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,spinal cord injury,multiple sclerosis,and other central nervous system diseases.Here we review the regulatory mechanism of OPA1 in terms of mitochondrial dynamics and the important role of mitochondrial function mediated by OPA1 in central nervous system diseases,to provide new ideas for clinical treatment.