OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of quercetin for mitigating HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Primary rat astrocytes were isolated and treated with quercetin, HIV-1 gp120, or gradient concentrations of quercetin combined with HIV-1 gp120. The formation of stress granules (SGs) in the treated cells was observed with immunofluorescence assay, and the levels of oxidative stress markers and protein expressions were measured using specific assay kits and Western blotting. HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice were treated with quercetin (50 mg/kg) by gavage for 4 weeks, and the changes in cognitive functions and oxidative stress levels were examined by behavioral assessments, oxidative stress index analysis in serum, and immunohistochemical and Western blotting of the brain tissue. RESULTS: In primary rat astrocytes, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced HIV-1 gp120-induced SG formation, increased the levels of antioxidant indexes, decreased the levels of oxidative substances, and up-regulated protein level associated with SG depolymerization. In the transgenic mouse models, quercetin obviously improved the cognitive function of the rats, reduced oxidative stress levels, and promoted the expression of proteins associate with SG depolymerization in the brain tissues. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin mitigates HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and cognitive function impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress, enhancing expressions of SG depolymerization-related proteins, and promoting SG disassembly, suggesting the value of quercetin as a potential therapeutic agent for neuroprotection in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Rats ; Stress Granules/drug effects* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cells, Cultured

Objective To establish a capillary gas chromatography method for determination of camphol and isoborneol in Shaoshang yuhe gao ( burn healing cream) . Methods The capillary gas chromatography was adopted under the following conditions: use PEG-2000 as the stationary liquid,nitrogen as carrier gas,ZB-WAX (30 m×0. 25 mm,0. 25 μm) as the chromatographic column,and the flame ionization detector. The column temperature was programmed at 80 ℃ for 5 min as the initial temperature,then raised to 180 ℃ at the rate of 5℃·min-1 and kept for 10 min. The shunt ratio was 101. Results The liner range for camphol was 0. 487 5-31. 25 μg ( r =0. 999 6),and the average recovery was 95. 95%( n =6). The liner range for isoborneol was 0. 487 5-31. 25 μg( r =0. 999 7),and the average recovery was 96. 44%( n =6). Conclusion The method is accurate,sensitive,and can be applied to quality control of shaoshang yuhe gao.