BackgroundBoth modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam serve as effective treatments for chronic insomnia disorder （CID）. Default mode network （DMN） dysfunction is recognized as the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying CID. However， it remains unclear whether the two treatments exert their therapeutic effects via convergent modulation of DMN functional connectivity. ObjectiveTo investigate the convergent remodeling characteristics of bidirectional effective connectivity （EC） of core DMN nodes with both the intra-network and the remaining whole-brain regions in CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome following the treatment with modified Suanzaoren Decoction or estazolam， so as to provide neuroimaging evidence for the convergent neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both therapies in treating CID. MethodsEighty-two patients diagnosed with CID according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorder， third edition （ICSD-3） were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center from October 2020 to September 2023. Based on treatment preference， patients were assigned to receive a 6-week intervention in either the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group （n=52） or the estazolam group （n=30）. Ultimately， 66 patients completed follow-up assessments （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group， n=41； estazolam group， n=25）. All CID patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after treatment. Core DMN nodes including medial prefrontal cortex （mPFC）， bilateral inferior parietal lobule （IPL）， and precuneus （PCUN） were selected as seed regions. Granger causality analysis （GCA） was employed to assess bidirectional EC between the seed regions and both the other intra-DMN nodes and the remaining whole-brain regions. Hepatic and renal function indices were detected pre- and post-treatment to evaluate the safety profiles of both treatments. ResultsAt baseline， significant between-group differences were identified in EC from the left IPL to the left middle fronto-orbital gyrus/gyrus rectus （t=5.24， Z=4.84， voxel-level P<0.001， cluster-level P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， with the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group exhibiting stronger EC than the estazolam group. No significant between-group differences were observed in EC between other core DMN nodes and remaining whole-brain regions （P>0.05）. Within-group pre- to post-treatment comparisons demonstrated consistent connectivity alterations in both groups. Specifically， EC from the left IPL to the supplementary motor area （SMA） decreased after treatment （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=-6.28， Z=5.208； estazolam group： t=-5.58， Z=4.425）. Conversely， EC from the SMA to the left IPL increased （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=5.89， Z=4.968； estazolam group： t=6.15， Z=4.720）. Furthermore， both groups demonstrated reduced EC from the PCUN to the left IPL （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=-5.85， Z=4.94； estazolam group： t=-5.75， Z=4.515）， and elevated EC from the left IPL to the PCUN （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=5.29， Z=4.579； estazolam group： t=4.55， Z=3.826） （voxel-level P<0.001， cluster-level P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. No significant pre- to post-treatment differences were observed in hepatic or renal function indices in either group （P>0.05）. ConclusionIn CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome， both modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam induce convergent bidirectional remodeling of EC between the left IPL and the SMA and the PCUN. ［Funded by Natural Science Fund Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region （number， 2019MS08099）； ClinicalTrials.gov number， NCT06452953］

Objective Benzothiazole derivative BD960 has immunosuppressive activity after cell -based assays for high-throughput screening.The paper aimed to investigate the involved mechanism of BD960 on T cell proliferation. Methods Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the immunomagnetic microbeads.Then the T cells were activated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAbs or alloantigen.The effect of BD960 on activa-ted T cell proliferation, the cytotoxic effect BD960 on resting T cells and the expression of activated T cells marker CD25 were measured by flow cytometer.Cytokine levels, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A and IFN-γ, were determined by ELISA. Results BD960 significantly inhibited the proliferation of T cells stimulated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAb or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner.The IC50 value is (2.3 ±0.3)μmol/L or (2.5 ±0.3)μmol/L, respectively.Moreover, BD960 had no obvious cytotoxic effects on rest-ing T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, even at a high concentration ( up to 100μmol/L) .The ratio of CD25 expression on T cell was 69.7%after stimulated by Anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs with 72 h, the concentration (0.625、2.5、10)μmol/L of BD960 also had no potent effects on the ratio, but 0.1μmol/L FK506 could inhibit CD25 expression as low as 9.4%.The G0/G1 phase of activated T cells was 58.5%after stimulated by BD960 with 96 h.BD960 could induce cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in activated T cells with the increase of concentration and RAPA in the concentration of 0.1 μmol/L was 91.5%.In addition, BD960 (0.625、2.5、10)μmol/L could inhibit the secretion of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in activated T cells with the increase of concentration, without any effects on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Conclusion BD960 not only exerts the inhibition on the late stage of T cell activation of cell proliferation but also inhibits the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-17 and IFN-γ, while the mechanism of BD960 on T cell proliferation was not the same as FK506.As a result, BD960 has the potential to be the lead compound to develop a new immunosuppressant.

BACKGROUND:Herba epimedi, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a long time in dealing with various orthopedic disorders. Icarinwithmany biological activites is one of the most important compositions of Herba epimedi. OBJECTIVE:Toinvestigate the effects of icarin on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cels and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were treated using icarin with or without osteogenic mediumin vitro. Osteogenic differentiation markers, including runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin and osterix, were detected by real time-qPCR. Alizarin red staining was used to measure calcium nodes generated by osteoblasts induced frombonemarrow mesenchymal stem cels. The proximal tibia bone structure of rats fed with icarin (2 mgperday) for 5 weeks was detected and analyzed by MicroCT. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Icarin was able to promote the expression of genes related to osteogenic differentiation in the absence or presence of osteogenic induction. Icarin could obviously increase the quantity of calcium nodes whenmesenchymal stem celswere cultured in the osteogenic medium. The animal experiment showed that icarin improved formation of trabecular bone.

Obej ctive Abnormal proliferation of T cells plays an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The article aimed to study the inhibitory effect of small molecule compound BD691 on T cell proliferation and its mechanism. Methods Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the immunomagnetic microbeads,then T cells were ac-tivated with anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs or alloantigen.The inhibitory effect of BD691 on activated T cell proliferation, the cytotoxic effect BD891 on resting T cells and the expression of activated T cells marker CD25 were measured by flow cytometry.Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect the secretion of cytokines associated with T cell differentiation. Results BD691 significantly inhibited the prolif-eration of T cells being stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner, and IC50 values are (8.5 ± 1.5)μmol/L and (7.2 ±1.3)μmol/L, respectively.However, BD691 had no obvious cytotoxic effects on resting T cells and periph-eral blood mononuclear cells, even at a high concentration ( up to 100μmol/L) .In T cells which were not activated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb, the percentage of CD25+T cells is only 1.6%of the total cells, while the number increased to 68% after activating treatment.Mean-while, in T cells which were activated by 0, 3.3, 10, 30μmol/L BD691, no obvious change of CD25 expression were observed, while immunosuppressant FK506 (0.1μmol/L) significantly decreased the expression of CD25 +T cells (14.9%).In unactivated T cells, 95.6%cells were at G0/G1 phase, while after activation, the percentage of cells at G0/G1 phase reduced to 57.7%.In addition, BD691 inhibited the secretion of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in activated T cells, but had no effects on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Co nclusion BD691 exerts no effects on T cell activation, but it inhibits T cell proliferation by inducing T cell cycling arrest at G0/G1 phase.Moreover, BD691 inhibits the secretion of key cytokines (such as IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17) closely related to the differ-entiation of Th1 and Th17 cells.The results suggest that BD 691 is a potential lead compound to develop a new immunosuppressant for the inhibition of abnormal proliferation and differentiation of T cells.

The objective of this research was to fabricate a novel tissue inducible nerve guide conduit, and to evaluate its biologic property. The microspheres were prepared with chitosan that encapsulated ligustrazine. The drug release of the chitosan microspheres was detected with application of the controlled release method in vitro. Chitosan microspheres were mixed with collagen to fabricate the tissue inducible nerve conduit, which were crosslinked with 2% genipin for 24h. Mechanical properties of the nerve guide conduit samples, including maximum load and breaking load, were measured using an Instron Series IX Automated Materials Testing System. The flexibility of the nerve guide conduit was determined with the texture evaluation instrument. Different methods, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), light microscope (LMS) and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the spatial structure of the nerve guide conduit, the distribution of the microspheres, the state of the nerve duct combined with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the effect of the ligustrazine that released from chitosan microsphere on MSCs differentiation into nerve cells, respectively. The results showed that the chitosan microspheres had better releasing effect. The mechanical properties resultant nerve guide conduit were determined. The maximum load and breaking load of the genipin crosslinked samples were significantly higher than that observed with the non-crosslinkers, increasing to (0.76 +/- 0.15) N and (0.69 +/- 0.17) N from (0.23 +/- 0.09) N and (0.20 +/- 0.12) N for the non-crosslinkers (P < 0.01). The degradation rates of non-crosslinked and crosslinked by genipin were(58.62 +/- 7.59) mg and (9.23 +/- 2.47) mg, respec- tively. This had a statistical significance (P < 0.01). The average linearities in dry and hygrometric state of the nerve guide conduit were (0.597 +/- 0.012) LC and (0.333 +/- 0.015) LC, respectively, which also had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The flexibility in the hygrometric state of the nerve guide conduit was better than that of the dry. SEM analysis of the samples demonstrated that the structures of the nerve guide conduit were significantly changed in crosslinking samples, the microspheres were uniformly distributed on the surface of scaffold, the ligustrazine that released from the chitosan microspheres could promote MSCs to express NSE and MAP2 that were the relevant marker molecule of nerve cells. The nerve guide conduit is combined with MSCs, which promote MSCs proliferation and NSE expression by the ligustrazine that released from the chitosan microspheres. The conduit has better biological compatibility and tissue inducible function.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Microspheres ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry