AIM:To investigate the effects of Xiaoyao-Kang'ai-Jieyu formula(XYKAJY)-containing serum on the co-culture of BV2 and HT22 cells from mice with breast cancer-related depression(BCRD).METHODS:The op-timal concentration of XYKAJY-containing serum was determined using mouse HT22 cells.In vitro co-culture model of mouse HT22 and BV2 cells was established through incubation with 4T1 cell supernatant and 200 μmol/L corticosterone.The cells were then divided into control group,model group,blank serum group,positive drug serum group,5%XY-KAJY-containing serum group,10%XYKAJY-containing serum group,15%XYKAJY-containing serum group and 20%XYKAJY-containing serum group.Alterations in HT22 cell viability was detected by CCK8 assay.The concentration level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6 and IL-18 in the cell supernatant was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say(ELISA).Flow cytometry was conducted to assess the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells and quantify the expression levels of adhesion molecule CD11b on the surface of BV2 cells.Immunofluorescence was performed to determine the expression of neuron-specific enolase(NSE),synapsin 1(Syn1)and postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD95)in HT22 cells,and that of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in BV2 cells.RESULTS:Treatment with XYKAJY-containing serum down-regulated CD11b expression level in BV2 cells(P<0.01),and reduced the release of IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-18(P<0.01).Moreover,it significantly improved the viability of HT22 cells(P<0.01),enhanced cell morphology integrity,and reduced the apoptosis rate(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:These findings indicated that XYKAJY-containing serum im-proved the function of mouse HT22 neurons by regulating the polarization phenotype of mouse BV2 cells and alleviating neuroinflammatory-induced toxicity.

Depression is a mental disease with in-creasing prevalence worldwide,which seriously en-dangers human health with high disability rate and high suicide rate.Epigenetics is an emerging genet-ic theory in the 21st century.Its main research con-tent is to regulate the process of gene transcription or translation and affect its function and character-istics without changing the DNA sequence.These include DNA methylation,histone modification,chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA regula-tion.The nervous system is susceptible to changes in the activity of epigenetic modifiers,and an in-creasing number of studies have shown that genet-ics and environment play an important role in the development of depression.This review will focus on the epigenetic mechanisms of depression.

Depression is a mental disease with in-creasing prevalence worldwide,which seriously en-dangers human health with high disability rate and high suicide rate.Epigenetics is an emerging genet-ic theory in the 21st century.Its main research con-tent is to regulate the process of gene transcription or translation and affect its function and character-istics without changing the DNA sequence.These include DNA methylation,histone modification,chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA regula-tion.The nervous system is susceptible to changes in the activity of epigenetic modifiers,and an in-creasing number of studies have shown that genet-ics and environment play an important role in the development of depression.This review will focus on the epigenetic mechanisms of depression.

AIM:To investigate the effects of Xiaoyao-Kang'ai-Jieyu formula(XYKAJY)-containing serum on the co-culture of BV2 and HT22 cells from mice with breast cancer-related depression(BCRD).METHODS:The op-timal concentration of XYKAJY-containing serum was determined using mouse HT22 cells.In vitro co-culture model of mouse HT22 and BV2 cells was established through incubation with 4T1 cell supernatant and 200 μmol/L corticosterone.The cells were then divided into control group,model group,blank serum group,positive drug serum group,5%XY-KAJY-containing serum group,10%XYKAJY-containing serum group,15%XYKAJY-containing serum group and 20%XYKAJY-containing serum group.Alterations in HT22 cell viability was detected by CCK8 assay.The concentration level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6 and IL-18 in the cell supernatant was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say(ELISA).Flow cytometry was conducted to assess the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells and quantify the expression levels of adhesion molecule CD11b on the surface of BV2 cells.Immunofluorescence was performed to determine the expression of neuron-specific enolase(NSE),synapsin 1(Syn1)and postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD95)in HT22 cells,and that of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in BV2 cells.RESULTS:Treatment with XYKAJY-containing serum down-regulated CD11b expression level in BV2 cells(P<0.01),and reduced the release of IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-18(P<0.01).Moreover,it significantly improved the viability of HT22 cells(P<0.01),enhanced cell morphology integrity,and reduced the apoptosis rate(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:These findings indicated that XYKAJY-containing serum im-proved the function of mouse HT22 neurons by regulating the polarization phenotype of mouse BV2 cells and alleviating neuroinflammatory-induced toxicity.

Objective To explore the effect and related mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Prescription on neuroinflammation of nucleus accumbens in rats with diabetes mellitus(DM)complicated with depression based on dopamine receptor.Methods DM,depression and DM complicated with depression models were respectively established through a combination of high-fat feeding and streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection,as well as chronic unpredictable mild stress+solitary cage feeding.The rats were divided into control group,depression group,DM group,DM complicated with depression group,positive group,D1R agonists group,D2/3R agonists group and Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Prescription group.Depression and learning and memory abilities in rats were assessed using open field experiments,forced swimming experiments and water maze experiments.Neuronal damage in nucleus accumbens was detected through HE and Nissl staining.Serum contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),dopamine(DA),interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 were detected by ELISA.The expressions of D1R,D2R,D3R and Iba1/NLRP3 in nucleus accumbens were detected by immunofluorescence.The protein expressions of D1R,D2R,D3R,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 p20 and IL-1β in nucleus accumbens were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the changes of fasting blood glucose(FBG)in rats of DM complicated with depression group significantly increased(P<0.01),the total distance and number of activities in the open field experiment,the time ratio of staying in the original platform quadrant and the number of times crossed the original platform in the water maze experiment significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the forced swimming immobility time and the escape latency period in the water maze experiment were prolonged(P<0.05,P<0.01),the contents of serum 5-HT and DA significantly decreased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),neurons in the nucleus accumbens showed nuclear condensation,degeneration,and increased necrotic cells,with loss of Nissl bodies,the expressions of D1R,D2R and D3R were significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 p20 and IL-1β protein significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the DM complicated with depression group,the changes of FBG significantly decreased in the Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Prescription group,learning and memory abilities were enhanced,depression-like behavior was improved,and the damage to neurons in the nucleus accumbens was reduced,the contents of serum 5-HT and DA significantly increased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 significantly decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of D1R,D2R and D3R in the nucleus accumbens increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expressions of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 p20 and IL-1β protein decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion The dopaminergic system dysfunction and neuroinflammation are the key mechanisms of DM complicated with depression.Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Prescription may improve neuroinflammation by regulating the dopamine receptor to inhibit the activation of microglial NLRP3 signaling in the nucleus accumbens.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the intervention effect of Caulis sinomenii compatible with prepared Aconiti Lateralis on bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis （RA）model rats ，and to investigate its mechanism. METHODS Totally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，positive control group （indomethacin 0.013 5 g/kg）and C. sinomenii compatible with prepared Aconiti Lateralis group （C. sinomenii 1.08 g/kg+prepared Aconiti Lateralis 1.35 g/kg）according to body mass ，with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group ，all the other groups made RA rat models by injecting type Ⅱ bovine collagen. Rats in each group were given corresponding drugs or distilled water intragastrically. The general information ，body weight ，foot swelling and arthritis index （AI）scores of rats in each group were recorded. After the 30th day of administration ，the changes of ankle bone in rats were detected by small animal CT machine. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin- 31（IL-31），IL-25 and IL- 3] and chemokines [receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand（RANKL），receptor activator of nuclear factor κB （RANK）and osteoprotegerin （OPG）] in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological indexes of rat ankle joint were observed by HE staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of RANKL ，RANK and OPG in synovial tissue of rat ankle joint. RESULTS Compared with blank group ，the mental state of the model group was weak ， the activity decreased significantly ，the hair lost luster ，and the body weight decreased significantly on the 12th to 30th days （P＜ 0.05 or P＜0.01）；the swelling degree of the foot was significantly increased and the AI score was significantly increased on the 12th to 30th days（P＜0.01）；the ankle joint in model group had rough surface ，obvious tissue damage and serious bone erosion ； serum levels of IL- 31，IL-25，IL-3，RANKL and RANK were increased significantly ，while the level of OPG was decreased significantly （P＜0.01）； the expression of RANKL and RANK in synovium of ankle joint increased significantly ， while the expression of OPG decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group ，the above indexes of administration groups were improved to varying degrees ，and most of the differences were statistically significant （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS By inhibiting the RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway ，C. sinomenii compatible with prepared Aconiti Lateralis can inhibit the excessive proliferation of osteoclasts and restore the balance of bone metabolism so as to play a role in protecting bone joints and treating RA.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of Compound Chaijin Jieyu Tablets (复方柴金解郁片, CCJJYT) in rats with insomnia complicated with depression. Methods Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into eight groups: the control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), sleep deprivation (SD), CUMS + SD, positive drug (venlafaxine hydrochloride + diazepam), CCJJYT high-dose (CCJJYT˗2×), medium-dose (CCJJYT˗1×), and low-dose (CCJJYT˗0.5×) groups, with nine rats in each group. Depression-like behavior was evaluated by body weight, food intake, and behavioral tests such as the sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and pentobarbital-induced sleep test (PST). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Golgi-Cox staining were used to observe changes in pathological tissue and synaptic morphology, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of orexin-A and acetylcholine. The expression levels of orexin receptor 1 (OXR1), melatonin receptor 1 (MT1A), melatonin receptor 2 (MT1B), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results In the present study, rats in the model group showed significant behavioral changes as well as a reduction in hippocampal dendritic branch length and synaptic number, along with increasing the content of orexin A and acetylcholine (P< 0.05), and altered expression levels of OX1R, MT1A, MT1B, ChAT, and AChE in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex after modeling (P < 0.05). CCJJYT can improve depressive insomnia behavior and synaptic plasticity of rats (P < 0.05), which is similar to that of the positive drug group. It can also decrease the content of orexin A and acetylcholine, and reduce the expression levels of OXR1 and ChAT in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (P < 0.05), and increase the expression levels of MT1A, MT1B, and AChE proteins (P < 0.05). Conclusion CCJJYT has good antidepressant and insomnia effects, probably through the regu-lation of orexin-A, melatonin, and acetylcholine content in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats, improving synaptic plasticity and thus exerting antidepressant and insomnia effects.

Objective To investigate the regulating effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula (ZJJF) on Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-8 in hippocampus neuron damage in diabetes mellitus with depression (DD). Methods Hippocampal neurons from 18 d pregnant rats were primitively cultivated, and then combination of glucose and corticosterone was used to construct DD simulation environment. Cultivated hippocampal neurons were randomly divided into normal group, blank serum group, model group, positive medicine (metformin+fluoxetine) serum group and to-be-tested medicine (ZJJF) serum group. Normal group and model group were given same amount culture medium, while other group were given relevant amont of 10％ medicine serum or blank serum. After modeling intervention for 18 h,Hoechst staining was used to detect the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-8 was detected by high content analysis. Results Compared with the control group, hippocampal neuron dendrites ruptured or decreased, neural network connection decreased, cells showed significant staining, broken, uneven distribution of light spots, the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased significantly (P<0.05), but Bax and Caspase-8 were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, hippocampal neurons in both positive medicine serum group and ZJJF serum group gradually recovered. Hoechst staining showed that the nuclei were significantly homogenized, local highlights were significantly reduced, Bcl-2 protein expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while Bax and Caspase-8 were obviously down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion ZJJF has protective effects on hippocampal neurons in DD of model rats, and its mechanism is related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-8 in hippocampus neuron.

Objective To study the content of monoamine neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex in anxious depression rats, and explore the possible pathogenesis.Methods 60 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, vehicle group, anxiety group, depression group, and anxious depression group, 12 rats in each group.Chronic restraint stress combined with corticosterone injection was used to establish anxiety and depression model, the modeling time was 21 d.After modeling, elevated plus maze test, open field test, and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression-like behavior, HPLC-ECD was used to detect the content of 5-HT, NE, and DA in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex of rats.Western-blotting was used to detect the expression of BDNF and NT-3 in rats.Results Rats in anxious depression model group were comparable to the anxiety group in time and frequency entering open arm time, and number of locomotor activity in open field, and it had a significant difference when compared with the control and depression groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Immobile time in anxious depression model rats was increased significantly when compared with the control and anxiety groups (P<0.01).Meanwhile, compared with the control group, 5-HT in hippocampus and 5-HT, NE in amygdala or prefrontal cortex were significantly decreased in the depressive rats with anxiety (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Moreover, the content of BDNF and NT-3 was significantly decreased in each brain regions compared with the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and BDNF levels were obviously decreased compared with the anxiety group (P<0.05).Conclusions Rats of anxious depression have significant anxiety and depression-like behaviors.Its mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors BDNF and NT-3 in hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex region.

Objective To compare the biological characteristics of several different anxiety rat models established by different methods of stress at different time points and provide experimental basis for the most appropriate modeling methods .Methods 60 rats were randomly divided into normal , empty bottle stress , chronic emotional stress ( CES ) group, restraint stress for 3h, 6h, and modeling respectively .In the experimental 7 d, 14 d, 21 d, elevated plus maze and fear condition system was used to test anxiety-like behavior in rats , open field test to study anxiety or depression-like behavior , forced swimming test was used to detect depression-like behavior in rats , and using the Elisa test kit to detect the contents of 5-HT, DA in the hippocampus in rats .Results Anxiety-like behavioral test results showed that rats in empty bottle stress, CES, 6 h restraint stress group started to have anxiety-like behavior since 14 d, then anxiety-like behavior was becoming increasingly apparent .Forced swimming test results showed that immobility time in 6 h restraint rats was significantly increased in the first 7 d(P <0.05).Meanwhile, compared with control group, hippocampal 5-HT, DA contents in empty bottle stress and CES rats increased significantly since 14 d.Conclusions Among several stress methods established anxiety model , anxiety-like behavior in 3 h restraint stress was not obvious; 6 h restraint stress exhibited a depression-like behavior in the forced swimming test might be due to prolonged stress .Empty bottle stress and CES can successfully establish the anxiety rat model , and the anxiety behavior of the rats have some differences . Corresponding model methods can be selected according to different experimental purposes .