1.Effect of Tuina at "Weizhong (BL 40)" on Spinal Microglial Activation-related Proteins and the IL-10/β-EP Pathway in a Rat Model of Chronic Sciatic Nerve Compression Injury
Tianwei ZHANG ; Xiangqian LYU ; Yani XING ; Liuchen ZHU ; Qingguang ZHU ; Lingjun KONG ; Yanbin CHENG ; Zhen YAN ; Wuquan SUN ; Min FANG ; Zhiwei WU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):734-740
ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic effect of Tuina at the "Weizhong (BL 40)" on neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and its potential central spinal mechanisms. MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 rats in each group), sham-operated group, model group, Tuina group, and blockade group. The CCI model was established in the model group, Tuina group, and the blockade group by ligating the sciatic nerve with catgut, while the sham-operated group underwent only sciatic nerve exposure without ligation. From postoperative day 4 to day 14, rats in the Tuina group and the blockade group received Tuina manipulation at the "Weizhong (BL 40)" using a dynamic pressure distribution measurement system (5 N pressure, 2 Hz frequency, 10 min per session, once daily). The blockade group also received intraperitoneal injections of the microglial inhibitor minocycline (10 mg/kg) once daily. The sham-operated and the model group underwent the same handling and fixation as the Tuina group without actual Tuina. Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were measured before surgery and on day 3, 7, 10, and 14 post-surgery. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate sciatic nerve injury and repair, measuring axon diameter and total myelinated fiber diameter to calculate the g-ratio. Western Blotting was performed to detect the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), CD206, CD68, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and β-endorphin (β-EP) precursor pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed significantly reduced MWT and PWL on day 3, 7, 10, and 14 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Tuina group and the blockade group showed increased MWT and PWL on day 10 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the Tuina group, the blockade group exhibited higher MWT on day 7, 10, and 14, and higher PWL on day 10 (P<0.05). Sciatic nerve pathological morphology revealed intact and well-structured myelin in the sham-operated group, while the model group exhibited myelin collapse, distortion, and myelin ovoid formation. The Tuina group displayed partially irregular myelin with occasional myelin collapse, whereas the blockade group exhibited partial myelin irregularities and phospholipid shedding. Compared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed a decreased g-ratio and increased levels of Iba-1 and CD68 in the spinal dorsal horn (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Tuina group and the blockade group exhibited an increased g-ratio and reduced Iba-1 and CD68 levels. Additionally, the Tuina group showed elevated levels of CD206, IL-10, and POMC, whereas the blockade group had decreased CD206 levels (P<0.05). ConclusionTuina at "Weizhong (BL 40)" alleviates neuropathic pain in CCI rats, potentially by regulating microglial activation in the spinal cord, inhibiting M1 polarization while promoting M2 polarization, and activating the IL-10/β-EP pathway to exert analgesic effects.
2.A time-stratified case-crossover study on association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen
Ziyang ZOU ; Ruijun XU ; Ziquan LYU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiaxin CHEN ; Meilin LI ; Xiaoqian GUO ; Suli HUANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(5):586-593
Background Air pollution remains a critical public health issue, with persistent exposure to air pollutants continuing to pose significant health risks. Currently, research investigating the association between air pollution and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen remains inadequate. Objective To quantitatively assess the association between air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in residents. Methods Based on the mortality surveillance system of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of
3.Bone loss in patients with spinal cord injury: Incidence and influencing factors.
Min JIANG ; Jun-Wei ZHANG ; He-Hu TANG ; Yu-Fei MENG ; Zhen-Rong ZHANG ; Fang-Yong WANG ; Jin-Zhu BAI ; Shu-Jia LIU ; Zhen LYU ; Shi-Zheng CHEN ; Jie-Sheng LIU ; Jia-Xin FU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):477-484
PURPOSE:
To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of bone loss in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
METHODS:
A retrospective case-control study was conducted. Patients with SCI in our hospital from January 2019 to March 2023 were collected. According to the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) at different sites, the patients were divided into the lumbar spine group and the hip joint group. According to the BMD value, the patients were divided into the normal bone mass group (t > -1.0 standard deviation) and the osteopenia group (t ≤ -1.0 standard deviation). The influencing factors accumulated as follows: gender, age, height, weight, cause of injury, injury segment, injury degree, time after injury, start time of rehabilitation, motor score, sensory score, spasticity, serum value of alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus. The trend chart was drawn and the influencing factors were analyzed. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between the BMD values of the lumbar spine and bilateral hips. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of osteoporosis after SCI. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS:
The incidence of bone loss in patients with SCI was 66.3%. There was a low concordance between bone loss in the lumbar spine and the hip, and the hip was particularly susceptible to bone loss after SCI, with an upward trend in incidence (36% - 82%). In this study, patients with SCI were divided into the lumbar spine group (n = 100) and the hip group (n = 185) according to the BMD values of different sites. Then, the lumbar spine group was divided into the normal bone mass group (n = 53) and the osteopenia group (n = 47); the hip joint group was divided into the normal bone mass group (n = 83) and the osteopenia group (n = 102). Of these, lumbar bone loss after SCI is correlated with gender and weight (p = 0.032 and < 0.001, respectively), and hip bone loss is correlated with gender, height, weight, and time since injury (p < 0.001, p = 0.015, 0.009, and 0.012, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of bone loss after SCI was high, especially in the hip. The incidence and influencing factors of bone loss in the lumbar spine and hip were different. Patients with SCI who are male, low height, lightweight, and long time after injury were more likely to have bone loss.
Humans
;
Spinal Cord Injuries/complications*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Incidence
;
Adult
;
Bone Density
;
Middle Aged
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Osteoporosis/etiology*
;
Lumbar Vertebrae
;
Bone Diseases, Metabolic/etiology*
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
4.Impact of Spinal Manipulative Therapy on Brain Function and Pain Alleviation in Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Resting-State fMRI Study.
Xing-Chen ZHOU ; Shuang WU ; Kai-Zheng WANG ; Long-Hao CHEN ; Zi-Cheng WEI ; Tao LI ; Zi-Han HUA ; Qiong XIA ; Zhi-Zhen LYU ; Li-Jiang LYU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):108-117
OBJECTIVE:
To elucidate how spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) exerts its analgesic effects through regulating brain function in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients by utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
METHODS:
From September 2021 to September 2023, we enrolled LDH patients (LDH group, n=31) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs, n=28). LDH group underwent rs-fMRI at 2 distinct time points (TPs): prior to the initiation of SMT (TP1) and subsequent to the completion of the SMT sessions (TP2). SMT was administered once every other day for 30 min per session, totally 14 treatment sessions over a span of 4 weeks. HCs did not receive SMT treatment and underwent only one fMRI scan. Additionally, participants in LDH group completed clinical questionnaires on pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, whereas HCs did not undergo clinical scale assessments. The effects on the brain were jointly characterized using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). Correlation analyses were conducted between specific brain regions and clinical scales.
RESULTS:
Following SMT treatment, pain symptoms in LDH patients were notably alleviated and accompanied by evident activation of effects in the brain. In comparison to TP1, TP2 exhibited the most significant increase in ALFF values for Temporal_Sup_R and the most notable decrease in ALFF values for Paracentral_Lobule_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Additionally, the most substantial enhancement in ReHo values was observed for the Cuneus_R, while the most prominent reduction was noted for the Olfactory_R (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Moreover, a comparative analysis revealed that, in contrast to HCs, LDH patients at TP1 exhibited the most significant increase in ALFF values for Temporal_Pole_Sup_L and the most notable decrease in ALFF values for Frontal_Mid_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Furthermore, the most significant enhancement in ReHo values was observed for Postcentral_L, while the most prominent reduction was identified for ParaHippocampal_L (voxelwise P<0.005; clusters >30; FDR correction). Notably, correlation analysis with clinical scales revealed a robust positive correlation between the Cuneus_R score and the rate of change in the VAS score (r=0.9333, P<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term chronic lower back pain in patients with LDH manifests significant activation of the "AUN-DMN-S1-SAN" neural circuitry. The visual network, represented by the Cuneus_R, is highly likely to be a key brain network in which the analgesic efficacy of SMT becomes effective in treating LDH patients. (Trial registration No. NCT06277739).
Humans
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
;
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Brain/diagnostic imaging*
;
Adult
;
Manipulation, Spinal/methods*
;
Middle Aged
;
Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology*
;
Pain Management
;
Rest
;
Case-Control Studies
5.Research progress in animal models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interventional effect of traditional Chinese medicine
Zhen ZHANG ; Jiyu ZOU ; Ningzi ZANG ; Tianjiao WANG ; Lijian PANG ; Xiaodong LYU
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(5):704-720
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic progressive disease with a short survival time after diagnosis.Current treatments using western medicines have shown poor efficacy and lung transplantation is costly,highlighting the need to find new,safe,and effective treatments.Animal experiments are important for investigating the mechanisms of drug action,and suitable animal models of IPF are required for experimental research.Bleomycin is commonly used to induce IPF models.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has the advantages of multiple therapeutic targets and few adverse reactions,and is gradually gaining attention for the treatment of IPF.Ongoing experimental research is being carried out to verify the specific targets and mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of IPF,utilizing animal models of IPF.This review considers the selection of animal models of IPF,the method used to induce,establish,and evaluate the models,and the interventional effects of TCM.We also summarize the best modeling method for animal models of IPF and the current status of TCM treatments to provide a basis for further scientific research and the clinical treatment of IPF.
6.Effect of PLD1 on mitochondrial function in the lung of bronchopulmonary dysplasia model mice
Lyu JIN ; Xuhua GU ; Yanhua ZHOU ; Zhen WANG
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(10):48-58
Objective To investigate mitochondrial function mediated by phospholipase D1(PLD1)in the lungs of mice with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.Methods Wild-type(WT)and PLD1 knockout(PLD1-KO)newborn mice were assigned to four groups:normoxic+WT,normoxic+PLD1-KO,hyperoxic+WT,and hyperoxic+PLD1-KO,with nine mice in each group.Mice in the hyperoxia groups were exposed to hyperoxia(85% O2)for 14 days.Mice in the normoxic groups were exposed to normoxic conditions(21% O2)for 14 days.On the 14th day,the levels of oxidative stress,apoptosis,and fibrosis in lungs were evaluated using commercial kits for malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD),Western blot for BAX,BCL-2,and Cleaved Caspase-3,and immunohistochemistry for α-SMA and AIF.The following MLE-12 cell groups were prepared,normoxic+si-NC,hyperoxic+si-NC,normoxic+si-PLD1,and hyperoxic+si-PLD1.After transient transfection,the cells were exposed to normoxia or hyperoxia for 24 h.Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)and function were measured using MitoSOX Red and the hippocampus mitochondrial stress test.Results The levels of α-SMA and AIF staining,MDA,Cleaved Caspase 3,and BAX in lung tissue were significantly increased in the hyperoxic groups compared with the normoxic groups(P<0.05),while SOD activity and BCL-2 levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05).α-SMA and AIF staining,and the abundance of Cleaved Caspase-3 and BAX in lung tissue were lower in the hyperoxia+PLD1-KO group than in the hyperoxia+WT group(P<0.05),while SOD activity and BCL-2 abundance were higher in the hyperoxia+PLD1-KO group than in the hyperoxia+WT group(P<0.05).The level of AIF in MLE-12 cell mitochondria in the hyperoxic groups was significantly lower than that in the normoxic groups(P<0.05);however,the level of AIF was increased significantly in the cytoplasm of the hyperoxic groups compared with the normoxic groups(P<0.05).The level of AIF in MLE-12 cell mitochondria in the hyperoxic+si-PLD1 group was significantly increased compared with that in the hyperoxic+si-NC group(P<0.05).The abundance of mtROS in hyperoxia MLE-12 cell groups was higher than that in the normoxia groups(P<0.05),and the abundance of mtROS in the hyperoxia+si-PLD1 group was lower than that in the hyperoxia+si-NC group(P<0.05).Compared with the normoxic+si-NC group,basic respiration,ATP production,maximum respiration,and spare respiratory capacity was significantly decreased in the hyperoxic+si-NC group(P<0.05).Compared with the hyperoxic+si-NC group,the hyperoxic+si-PLD1 group had significantly increased basic respiration,ATP production,maximum respiration,and spare respiratory capacity(P<0.05).Conclusions PLD1 is involved in hyperoxia-induced injury of mouse BPD and MLE-12 cells.Deletion of the PLD1 gene may alleviate hyperoxia-induced lung injury by inhibiting mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis.
7.A prognostic model for patients was established based on negative fluid balance during septic shock treatment
Zhen ZHANG ; Donghao WANG ; Yang LYU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(11):1687-1693
Objective To determine the predictive power of negative fluid balance in the risk of death in septic shock patients after fluid resuscitation therapy.Methods The medical records of patients with septic shock admitted to the Intensive Care Department of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from March 2022 to December 2024 were retrospectively collected,and the final outcome was defined as death within 28 days during hospitalization.The study objects were randomly divided into the training set and the validation set,and then the model was built by Logistic regression method,and the nomogram and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve)were drawn.Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to evaluate the calibration degree of the prediction model,and the calibration curve was drawn to evaluate the differentiation degree of the prediction model.Decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to test the efficiency of the prediction model.Results A total of 286 patients with septic shock were included in the study,including 200 in the training set and 86 in the verification set,which were comparable.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that negative fluid balance,APACHE II score and SOFA score were independent risk factors for poor survival and prognosis of ICU septic shock patients(all P<0.05).Based on the results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis,a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival and prognosis of patients with septic shock in ICU.In the training set and validation set,the area under the curve(AUC)of the ROC curve prediction model was 0.83(95%CI:0.73~0.93)and 0.83(95%CI:0.66~1.00),respectively.Hosmer-Lemeshow calibration curve has a good fit(training set P=0.169;The verification set P=1.000)is not significant.DCA showed that when the threshold probability of patients was 0.05~0.70,it was more beneficial to use the nomogram prediction model to predict the risk of death in septic shock patients.Conclusion Negative fluid balance after fluid resuscitation is associated with survival and prognosis of patients with septic shock.The predictive model of mortality risk of patients with septic shock was established by combining APACHEⅡ score and SOFA score,which has good predictive ability and clinical practicability.
8.Clinical research on the main syndrome of Sini decoction-reverse coldness of limbs
Zhen ZHANG ; Yang LYU ; Wenwen ZHANG ; Tian TIAN ; Yuqi GUO ; Peiyang LI
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2025;32(3):335-341
Objective Explore the correlation among difference of skin temperature(ΔT)between proximal and distal ends,peripheral serum indicators and cardiac function,to screen the influencing factors of the main syndrome of"reverse coldness of limbs"in Sini decoction.Methods The clinical data of 134 critically ill patients who visited the emergency department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to September 2023 were collected,including echocardiographic indicators[ejection fraction(EF),anterior-posterior diameter of the aortic sinus,left atrial anterior-posterior diameter,right ventricle left-right diameter,right atrial left-right diameter,left ventricular diastolic end anterior-posterior diameter,interventricular septum thickness,left ventricular posterior wall thickness,left ventricular posterior wall movement amplitude,main pulmonary artery inner diameter,pulmonary artery valve flow velocity,aortic valve flow velocity,mitral valve flow velocity,pulmonary artery systolic pressure],blood routine[white blood cell count(WBC),red blood cell count(RBC),platelet count(PLT),hemoglobin(Hb)],myocardial markers[troponin(cTnI,cTnT),MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase(CK-MB),myoglobin(MYO),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)],D-dimer,blood gas analysis[pH value,arterial oxygen partial pressure(PaO2),arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2),lactic acid(Lac),arterial oxygen saturation(SaO2)],coagulation function indicators[prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),thrombin time(TT),international normalized ratio(INR),fibrinogen(Fib)],infection indicators[C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT)],biochemical indicators[K+,Na+,Cl-,Ca2+,P3+,total protein(TP),albumin(Alb),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),creatine kinase(CK),α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase(α-HBDH),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),urea,creatinine(Cr),uric acid(UA)],mean arterial pressure(MAP),and the top 10 disease types.These data were used as independent variables,and the ΔT value was used as the dependent variable for univariate linear regression analysis.Variables with statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis were subjected to multivariate linear regression analysis to identify the influencing factors causing an increase in the ΔT value.Results The univariate analysis analysis showed that variables such as shock,MAP,WBC,MYO,Lac,PT,APTT,TT,CRP,K+,P3+,Alb,urea,Cr,right ventricular left-right diameter,left ventricular posterior wall motion amplitude,main pulmonary artery diameter,pulmonary artery valve velocity,and aortic valve velocity were all risk factors influencing the increase of ΔT between the left axilla and the left hand in critically ill patients(all P<0.05);shock,respiratory failure,MAP,WBC,cTNI,MYO,Lac,PT,APTT,TT,CRP,Ca2+,P3+,Alb,urea,Cr,right ventricular left-right diameter,interventricular septum motion amplitude,left ventricular posterior wall motion amplitude,and main pulmonary artery inner diameter were all risk factors influencing the increase of ΔT between the left axilla and the left foot in critically ill patients(all P<0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that APTT,Lac,right ventricular left and right diameters,and urea were independent risk factors for the increase of ΔT in the left axilla and left hand[95%confidence interval(95%CI)was 0.016-0.036,0.024-0.095,-0.031 to-0.003,0.002-0.029,respectively;P values were 0.000,0.001,0.015,0.028,respectively],while PT,right ventricular left and right diameters,interventricular septal motion amplitude,and MYO were independent risk factors for the increase of ΔT left axilla and left foot(95%CI was 0.023-0.178,-0.103 to-0.019,0.031-0.245,0.000-0.002,respectively;P values were 0.012,0.006,0.013,0.015,respectively).Conclusion APTT,PT,Lac,MYO,urea,the right ventricular diameter and interventricular septal motion amplitude are key factors affecting the ΔT value of critically ill patients,which can cause reverse coldness of limbs.
9.Influenza vaccination on preventing the respiratory tract infection in preschool children
Mei LYU ; Zhen WANG ; Yu' ; e WANG ; Liyun FANG ; Yang YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(4):73-76
Objective To explore the effect of influenza vaccination on the prevention of respiratory tract infection in preschool children. Methods The clinical data of 400 preschool children (1-6 years old) who were diagnosed with respiratory tract infection for the first time in department of pediatrics of Xi'an Third Hospital and second department of respiratory medicine of Xi'an Children's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed from January 2023 to December 2023, including acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infection and pneumonia. According to the actual influenza vaccination status, the patients were divided into vaccination group (n=210) and non-vaccination group (n=190). The incidence of respiratory tract infection was compared between both groups. The fever duration, average course of disease, hospitalization rate, clinical symptoms scores (fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat), inflammation indicators [C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil percentage (NE%)] and recurrence rate after 6 months of follow-up were compared. Results The incidence of respiratory tract infection in the vaccination group was significantly lower than that in the non-vaccination group (21.43% vs 43.16%, P<0.05), and the hospitalization rate was significantly lower compared with that in the non-vaccination group (P<0.05). The scores of fever, cough, nasal congestion and sore throat were lower in the vaccination group than those in the non-vaccination group (P<0.05), and the CRP, WBC and NE% were significantly lower compared to the non-vaccination group (P<0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, the recurrence rate in the vaccination group was 11.11% (5/45), which was significantly lower than 26.83% (22/82) in the non-vaccination group (χ2=0.038, P=4.288<0.05). Conclusion Influenza vaccination can effectively reduce the incidence of respiratory tract infection in preschool children, relieve the symptoms and shorten the disease course after infection. Its preventive effect on influenza is particularly significant, suggesting the importance of strengthening influenza vaccination in preschool children.
10.Polysaccharide extract PCP1 from Polygonatum cyrtonema ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting TLR4/NLRP3 pathway.
Xin ZHAN ; Zi-Xu LI ; Zhu YANG ; Jie YU ; Wen CAO ; Zhen-Dong WU ; Jiang-Ping WU ; Qiu-Yue LYU ; Hui CHE ; Guo-Dong WANG ; Jun HAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2450-2460
This study aims to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide extract PCP1 from Polygonatum cyrtonema in ameliorating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury in rats through modulation of the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) signaling pathway. In vivo, SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, model group, PCP1 group, nimodipine(NMDP) group, and TLR4 signaling inhibitor(TAK-242) group. A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) model was established, and neurological deficit scores and infarct size were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Nissl staining were used to observe pathological changes in ischemic brain tissue. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) assessed ultrastructural damage in cortical neurons. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-18(IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-10(IL-10), and nitric oxide(NO) in serum. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze the expression of TLR4 and NLRP3 proteins. In vitro, a BV2 microglial cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R) model was established, and cells were divided into the control, OGD/R, PCP1, TAK-242, and PCP1 + TLR4 activator lipopolysaccharide(LPS) groups. The CCK-8 assay evaluated BV2 cell viability, and ELISA determined NO release. Western blot was used to analyze the expression of TLR4, NLRP3, and downstream pathway-related proteins. The results indicated that, compared with the model group, PCP1 significantly reduced neurological deficit scores, infarct size, ischemic tissue pathology, cortical cell damage, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and NO(P<0.01). It also elevated IL-10 levels(P<0.01) and decreased the expression of TLR4 and NLRP3 proteins(P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, in vitro results showed that, compared with the OGD/R group, PCP1 significantly improved BV2 cell viability(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduced cell NO levels induced by OGD/R(P<0.01), and inhibited the expression of TLR4-related inflammatory pathway proteins, including TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappaB dimer RelA(p-p65)/nuclear factor-kappaB dimer RelA(p65), NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), GSDMD-N, IL-1β, and IL-18(P<0.05, P<0.01). The protective effects of PCP1 were reversed by LPS stimulation. In conclusion, PCP1 ameliorates cerebral I/R injury by modulating the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway, exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-pyroptotic effects.
Animals
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Rats
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Reperfusion Injury/genetics*
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Male
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Polysaccharides/isolation & purification*
;
Polygonatum/chemistry*
;
Brain Ischemia/genetics*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Mice
;
Humans


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