The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

Microglia, the resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), rapidly transition from a resting to an active state in the acute phase of ischemic brain injury. This active state mediates a pro-inflammatory response that can exacerbate the injury. Targeting the pro-inflammatory response of microglia in the semi-dark band during this acute phase may effectively reduce brain injury. Shionone (SH), an active ingredient extracted from the dried roots and rhizomes of the genus Aster (Asteraceae), has been reported to regulate the inflammatory response of macrophages in sepsis-induced acute lung injury. However, its function in post-stroke neuroinflammation, particularly microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, remains uninvestigated. This study found that SH significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevation of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in microglia in vitro. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that SH alleviated infarct volume and improved behavioral performance in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice, which may be attributed to the inhibition of the microglial inflammatory response induced by SH treatment. Mechanistically, SH potently inhibited the phosphorylation of serine-threonine protein kinase B (AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). These findings suggest that SH may be a potential therapeutic agent for relieving ischemic stroke (IS) by alleviating microglia-associated neuroinflammation.
Animals ; Microglia/immunology* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain Ischemia/immunology* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/drug therapy* ; Neuroprotective Agents/administration & dosage* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/immunology* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics* ; Lipopolysaccharides

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective To detect the expression changes of interleukin-10(IL-10)and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)during the development of deep vein thrombosis in mice,and to explore the application value of them in thrombus age estimation.Methods The mice in the experimental group were subjected to ligation of inferior vena cava.The mice were sacrificed by excessive anesthesia at 1 d,3 d,5 d,7 d,10 d,14 d and 21 d after ligation,respectively.The inferior vena cava segment with thrombosis was extracted below the ligation point.The mice in the control group were not ligated,and the inferior vena cava segment at the same position as the experimental group was extracted.The ex-pression changes of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC),Western blot-ting and real-time qPCR.Results IHC results revealed that IL-10 was mainly expressed in monocytes in thrombosis and TGF-β1 was mainly expressed in monocytes and fibroblast-like cells in thrombosis.Western blotting and real-time qPCR showed that the relative expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in each experimental group were higher than those in the control group.The mRNA and protein levels of IL-10 reached the peak at 7 d and 10 d after ligation,respectively.The mRNA expression level at 7 d after ligation was 4.72±0.15 times that of the control group,and the protein expression level at 10 d after ligation was 7.15±0.28 times that of the control group.The mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1 reached the peak at 10 d and 14 d after ligation,respectively.The mRNA expression level at 10 d after ligation was 2.58±0.14 times that of the control group,and the protein expression level at 14 d after ligation was 4.34±0.19 times that of the control group.Conclusion The expressions of IL-10 and TGF-β1 during the evolution of deep vein thrombosis present time-dependent sequential changes,and the expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 can provide a reference basis for thrombus age estimation.

Objective To explore the effect of gastrodin(GAS)on the polarization of M2 microglia under oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD)and the effect of p38 MAPK inhibition on the polarization status of microglia.Methods BV2 microglia was divided into the control group(Ctrl),p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 group(Ⅰ),OGD group(OGD),OGD+I group,gastrodin treatment group(G+OGD),and G+OGD+Ⅰ group.The expressions of p38 MAPK,phosphorylated p38 MAPK(p-p38 MAPK),M2 microglia marker arginase-1(Arg-1)and chitinase like protein 1/2(YM1/2)were detected by immunofluorescent staining and Western blotting.Results Immunofluorescent staining results showed that the pretreatment with gastrodin reduced the fluorescence expression of p-p38 MAPK in OGD induced BV2 microglia,enhanced the fluorescence expressions of Arg-1 and YM1/2.After pretreatment with SB203580,the fluorescence expressions of p-p38 MAPK further decreased,the fluorescence expressions of Arg-1 and YM1/2 further increased,both were significantly different from the G+OGD group(n=3,P＜0.05).The fluorescence expressions of p38 MAPK in each group was not statistically significant(n=3,P＞0.05).Western blotting results showed that the protein expressions of p-p38 MAPK,Arg-1 and YM1/2 in the OGD group enhanced,compared with that in the control group(n=3,P＜0.05).After the pretreatment with gastrodin,the protein expression of p-p38 MAPK was reduced significantly,the protein expressions of Arg-1 and YM1/2 was enhanced obviously,both were significantly different from the OGD group(n=3,P＜0.05).After pretreatment with SB203580,the protein expressions of p-p38 MAPK was further reduced,the protein expression of Arg-1 and YM1/2 were further enhanced,both were significantly different from the G+OGD group(n=3,P＜0.05).In addition,there was no significant change in p38 MAPK protein expression among groups(n=3,P＞0.05).Conclusion Gastrodin inhibits p38 MAPK signaling activation to promote BV2 microglial polarization towards the M2 phenotype,reducing inflammatory responses and exerting a protective effect.

Aim To explore the improvement effect of Bazi Bushen capsule on thymic degeneration in SAMP6 mice and the possible mechanism.Methods Twenty 12 week old male SAMP6 mice were randomly divided into the model group(SAMP6)and the Bazi Busheng capsule treatment group(SAMP6+BZBS).Ten SAMR1 mice were assigned to a homologous control group(SAMR1).The SAMP6+BZBS group was oral-ly administered Bazi Bushen capsule suspension(2.8 g·kg-1)daily,while the other two groups were orally administered an equal amount of distilled water.After nine weeks of administration,the morphology of the thymus in each group was observed and the thymus in-dex was calculated;HE staining was used to observe the structural changes of thymus tissue;SA-β-gal stai-ning was used to detect thymic aging;flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of thymic CD3+T cells in each group;Western blot was used to detect the levels of p16,Bax,Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in thymus;immunofluorescence was applied to detect the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells in each group;ELISA was employed to detect IL-7 lev-els in thymus.Results Compared with the SAMP6 group,the thymic index of the SAMP6+BZBS group significantly increased(P＜0.05);the disordered thy-mic structure was significantly improved;the positive proportion of SA-β-gal staining significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the proportion of CD3+T cells apparently increased(P＜0.05);the level of p16 protein signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.05);the level of Bcl-2 pro-tein significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the lev-el of cleaved caspase-3 protein markedly decreased(P＜0.05);the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells evidently increased;the level of IL-7 significantly increased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Bazi Bushen capsule can delay thymic degeneration,inhibit cell ap-optosis in thymus and promote thymic cell development in SAMP6 mice,which may be related to increasing the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells and promoting IL-7 secretion.

AIM To investigate the protective effect of Mongolian medicine Naru-3 on rat rheumatoid arthritis(RA)using imaging method.METHODS With the rats divided into the normal group,the model group,the positive medicine group,and the low,medium and high dose Naru-3 groups(0.1,0.2 and 0.4 g/kg),the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)was established by immune induction method.After 4 weeks of corresponding drug administration,the rats had their changes of arthritis index(AI)level and body weight observed;their serum levels of VEGF,TNF-α and IL-1 detected by ELISA;their synovial hyperplasia and neovascularization evaluated by high-frequency ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS);their bone destruction of ankle joint evaluated by X-ray and high-resolution micro-CT;and their synovial membrane and expressions of CD31,VEGF,TNF-α and IL-1 β observed by HE and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the Naru-3 groups displayed increased rat weight(P＜0.05);no significantly changed AI score(P＞0.05);and overally decreased levels of serum VEGF,TNF-α,synovial membrane thickness,blood flow signal by power Doppler imaging(PDI)and contrast intensity revealed,X-ray score,and CD31 expression(P＜0.05),in addition to the decreased level of IL-1 and HE score in high-dose group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Naru-3 is protective to the joint tissue in rat model of RA through alleviating synovitis,bone erosion and delaying the progress of the disease by inhibiting synovial neovascularization and inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: To screen the key genes involved in gefitinib resistance of lung adenocarcinoma PC9/GR cells which harbored 19 exon mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, and discuss the effect and mechanism of downregulation of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) on the gefitinib resistance of PC9/GR cells. Methods: RNA microarray was conducted to detect the gene expressions in PC9 and PC9/GR cells. The differently expressed genes were screened by using limma package of R language and analyzed by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Western blotting was performed to determine the expression of SLC7A11 protein in PC9 and PC9/GR cells. PC9/GR cells were infected with lentivirus plasmid containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting SLC7A11 or negative control shRNA (sh-NC), respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to evaluate the efficacy of shRNA on the expression of SLC7A11 mRNA. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was conducted to determine the suppressing effect of gefitinib on PC9/GR cells. Mito-Tracker Red CMXRos probe and malondialdehyde (MDA) assay kit were used to evaluate gefitinib-induced ferroptosis in PC9/GR cells. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to detect the expression of SLC7A11 protein in the tumor tissues of advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring 19 exon mutation of EGFR gene. Thirty-six advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma patients who received EGFR-tyrosihe kinase inhibitor(TKI) as first-line treatment in Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical Unviersity were enrolled. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn to analyze the correlation between SLC7A11 expression and progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients. Results: RNA array demonstrated that 2 888 genes were differently expressed between PC9 and PC9/GR cells. KEGG analysis showed that ferroptosis-related gene was one of the most enriched region of the differently expressed genes between PC9 and PC9/GR cells. These ferroptosis-related gene cohort contained 13 genes, among which SLC7A11 exhibited the most significant difference. Western blotting showed that the expression of SLC7A11 protein in PC9/GR cells was significantly higher than that in PC9 cells (0.76±0.03 vs. 0.19±0.02, P<0.001). The 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) of gefitinib was 35.08 μmol/L and 64.01 μmol/L for sh-SLC7A11 and sh-NC group PC9/GR cells, respectively. PC9/GR cells in sh-SLC7A11 group exhibited significantly lower density of mitochondria fluorescence after gefitinib treatment, compared to the sh-NC group (213.77±26.50 vs. 47.88±4.55, P<0.001). In addition, PC9/GR cells in sh-SLC7A11 group exhibited significantly higher MDA after gefitinib treatment, compared to the sh-NC group [(15.43±1.60) μmol/mg vs. (82.18±7.77) μmol/mg, P<0.001]. The PFS of the patients with low expression of SLC7A11 (n=18) was significantly longer than the patients with high expression of SLC7A11 (n=18, 16.77 months vs. 9.14 months, P<0.001). Conclusion: Downregulation of SLC7A11 could increase the sensitivity of PC9/GR cells to gefitinib by promoting ferroptosis.
Humans ; Gefitinib/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Down-Regulation ; Quinazolines/therapeutic use* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; ErbB Receptors/metabolism* ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism*

Objective: To evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of envafolimab monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: This open-label, multicenter phase I trial included dose escalation and dose expansion phases. In the dose escalation phase, patients received subcutaneous 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg envafolimab once weekly (QW) following a modified "3+ 3" design. The dose expansion phase was performed in the 2.5 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg (QW) dose cohorts. Results: At November 25, 2019, a total of 287 patients received envafolimab treatment. During the dose escalation phase, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) was observed. In all dose cohorts, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for all grades occurred in 75.3% of patients, and grade 3 or 4 occurred in 20.6% of patients. The incidence of immune-related adverse reactions (irAE) was 24.0% for all grades, the most common irAEs (≥2%) included hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, immune-associated hepatitis and rash. The incidence of injection site reactions was low (3.8%), all of which were grades 1-2. Among the 216 efficacy evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 11.6% and 43.1%, respectively. Median duration of response was 49.1 weeks (95% CI: 24.0, 49.3). Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure to envafolimab is proportional to dose and median time to maximum plasma concentration is 72-120 hours based on the PK results from the dose escalation phase of the study. Conclusion: Subcutaneous envafolimab has a favorable safety and promising preliminary anti-tumor activity in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors.
Humans ; East Asian People ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use*