1.Analysis of expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress and trophoblast apoptosis-related markers in placental tissues of early and late-onset severe preeclampsia
Fen Kang ; Yongyuan Wu ; Xiaolan Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):102-108
Objective:
To explore the correlation between the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) and trophoblast apoptosis-related markers and severe preeclampsia(SPE) in placental tissues of pregnant women with early-and late-onset SPE and normal pregnancy.
Methods:
Placental tissues from 20 early and late haired severe preeclamptic singleton pregnant women who attended the Hospital were collected(early-onset group, late-onset group), and 20 cases pregnant women of normal blood pressure and no other pregnancy complications who delivered in our hospital during the same period were selected as the normal group. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of the endoplasmic reticulum of trophoblast cells in placental tissues. Protein blotting assay was used to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins, including Glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP), Phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α(p-eIF2α) and Phosphatidylinositol-requiring enzyme 1(p-IRE1)α. Immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Ki67), a proliferation marker, in placental tissues, and TUNEL staining was used to detect placental tissue trophoblast apoptosis.
Results:
The endoplasmic reticulum of trophoblast cells in the placental tissues of the normal pregnant women group was normal in volume, with no dilatation or swelling. In contrast, the endoplasmic reticulum of placental tissues in the severe preeclampsia group showed obvious edema and significant dilatation, and the dilatation was more obvious in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group. The expression level of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins GRP78(P<0.001,P<0.05) and CHOP(P<0.01,P<0.001), the phosphorylation levels of eIF2α(P<0.000 1,P<0.01) and IRE1α(P<0.000 1,P<0.001) increased in placental tissues of both early-onset and late-onset groups compared to those of the normal group. The p-eIF2α/eIF2α(P<0.001) to p-IRE1α/IRE1α ratio(P<0.05) and GRP78(P<0.01) protein expression levels were significantly higher in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group. Compared with the normal group, the number of Ki67-positive cells per field of view was significantly reduced in the early-onset and late-onset groups(P<0.000 1,P<0.05), and the number of Ki67-positive cells was significantly lower in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group(P<0.01). There were more positive apoptotic cells per field of view in the placental tissues of the early-onset group, and the apoptosis rate of trophoblast cells was significantly higher than that in the other two groups(P<0.001,P<0.01).
Conclusion
Increased trophoblast apoptosis and suppressed proliferation in placental tissues of patients with severe preeclampsia may be associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress overactivation, and the activation level is higher in placental tissues of early-onset severe preeclampsia than that of late-onset group.
2.Pattern Identification and Treatment of Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on the Turbidity Toxin Theory
Shiyuan FAN ; Qian YANG ; Diangui LI ; Zheng ZHI ; Xiaolan SU ; Bolin LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):300-303
Guided by the turbidity toxin theory, it is believed that the key pathogenesis of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome is the obstruction of turbidity toxin and the disruption of intestinal function. Treatment is based on the principles of dispelling turbidity toxin and promoting intestinal function. The clinical patterns can be divided into three types, turbidity toxin heat accumulation pattern, turbidity toxin combined with liver depression and qi stagnation pattern, and turbidity toxin combined with qi and yin deficiency pattern. The treatment can respectively use self-prescribed Tongfu Jiangzhuo Formula (通腑降浊方) to clear heat and unblock the bowels, direct the turbid downward and resolve toxins; use self-prescribed Shugan Jiangzhuo Formula (疏肝降浊方) to soothe the liver and move qi, direct the turbid downward and resolve toxins; use self-prescribed Mazhi Jiangzhuo Formula (麻枳降浊方) to boost qi and nourish yin, moisten the intestines to remove turbidity and resolve toxins.
3.Experience of Using Charcoal-Processed Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Gynecological Hemorrhagic Disorders
Xiaolan WU ; Zhaoling YOU ; Guiyun WANG ; Kailing WANG ; Xiaojuan YE ; Lingyu LIAO ; Yueheng LI ; Huiping LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):308-311
Charcoal-processed traditional Chinese herbal medicine has various therapeutic effects, including astringing, hemostasis, anti-diarrhea, clearing heat, tonifying, and warming the interior. This paper summarizes the clinical application features, compatible experiences, dosages, and precautions for over 20 types of charcoal-processed herbal medicine in the treatment of gynecological bleeding disorders caused by dysfunctions such as dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometriosis, uterine incision pseudocavity, and vaginal bleeding resulting from threatened miscarriage. The charcoal-processed herbal medicine include Huangqin (Scutellaria Baicalensis) Charcoal, Dahuang (Rheum Palmatum) Charcoal, Cebai (Platycladus Orientalis) Charcoal, Diyu (Sanguisorba Officinalis) Charcoal, Daji (Cirsium Setosum) Charcoal, Xiaoji (Cirsium Japonicum) Charcoal, Shengdi (Rehmannia Glutinosa) Charcoal, Aiye (Artemisia Argyi) Charcoal, Paojiang (Zingiber Officinale) Charcoal, Xuduan (Dipsacus Asper) Charcoal, Duzhong (Eucommia Ulmoides) Charcoal, Qiancao (Rubia Cordifolia) Charcoal, Puhuang (Typha Angustifolia) Charcoal, Shanzha (Crataegus Pinnatifida) Charcoal, Jingjie (Schizonepeta Tenuifolia) Charcoal, Xueyu (Carthamus Tinctorius) Charcoal, Zonglyu (Areca Catechu) Charcoal, Wumei (Prunus Mume) Charcoal, Shudahuang (Rheum Officinale) Charcoal, Lianfang (Nymphaea Alba) Charcoal, Mianmaguanzhong (Clematis Armandii) Charcoal, and Oujie (Nelumbo Nucifera) Charcoal.
4.Characteristics of ecological executive function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Xiaolan CAO ; Zhaomin WU ; Juan LIU ; Ying LI ; Linlin ZHANG ; Binrang YANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(4):295-301
BackgroundExecutive function deficits constitute a core problem in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous assessments of executive function in children with ADHD have predominantly relied on performance-based neuropsychological tests conducted in laboratory settings, though their predictive validity for real-world functional outcomes remains limited. In contrast, ecological executive function emphasizes the evaluation of complex task management in naturalistic contexts, demonstrating a stronger predictive power for functional adaptation in daily living among children with ADHD, such as multitasking performance, social interactions and so on. However, current empirical evidence regarding ecological executive function in this population remains insufficient. ObjectiveTo investigate the executive function characteristics of children with ADHD from an ecological perspective, thereby providing references for developing targeted interventions. MethodsA case control study was conducted, including 277 ADHD children who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria and were selected at the Child Health Care and Mental Health Center of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from June 2017 to December 2020, as well as 98 healthy controls were recruited from primary and secondary schools in Shenzhen. All participants were assessed using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC-IV) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Differences in WISC-IV and BRIEF scores were compared between ADHD group and control groups, followed by the comparison of BRIEF scores by gender and ADHD subtypes. ResultsAmong the 277 children with ADHD, 136 cases (49.10%) had predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-I), 6 cases (2.17%) had predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD-HI), and 135 cases (48.73%) had combined type (ADHD-C). ADHD group demonstrated significantly lower scores on both the WISC-IV total IQ and four index scores (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed) than control group (t=3.698~9.335, P<0.01). After controlling for WISC-IV total IQ as a covariate, the scores of each factor in the dimensions of behavioral regulation index (inhibition, shifting, emotional control) and metacognition index (task initiation, working memory, planning, monitoring and organization) were all higher in ADHD group than in control group, and the differences were statistically significant (F=46.563~290.475, P<0.01). In terms of gender, no statistically significant difference was found in BRIEF composite scores (behavioral regulation index or metacognition index) of children with ADHD (t=0.105~1.190, P>0.05). In terms of ADHD subtypes, children with ADHD-C reported significantly higher scores than those with ADHD-I on the scores of inhibition, emotional control, organization and monitoring in BRIEF (t=2.481~7.343, P<0.05 or 0.01). ConclusionChildren with ADHD have multidimensional deficits in ecological executive function, which vary across different subtypes. [Funded by Shenzhen Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Talent Training Project (number, RCYX20221008092849069); the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen]
5.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
6.Research on Regulatory Mechanism of Verbenalin on HCoV-229E-infected Macrophage Injury Based on Mitophagy
Qiyue SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Xihe CUI ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xian LIU ; Rui XIE ; Xiaolan CUI ; Shanshan GUO ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):29-37
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of verbenalin on mouse mononuclear macrophage leukemia cells (RAW264.7) damaged by human coronavirus (HCoV)-229E infection, thereby providing experimental evidence for its development and application. MethodsRAW264.7 macrophages were infected with different concentrations of HCoV-229E to establish a coronavirus-induced macrophage injury model using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay for assessing cell proliferation and viability. Cells were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, verbenalin group (125 μmol·L-1), model group (HCoV-229E), and HCoV-229E + verbenalin group (HCoV-229E + 125 μmol·L-1 verbenalin). Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, and the maximum non-toxic concentration (CC0), half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50), half-maximal effective concentration (EC50), and selectivity index (SI) of verbenalin were calculated. Calcein/PI double staining was used to assess cell viability and cytotoxicity, and JC-1 staining was applied to evaluate changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). mito-Keima adenovirus labeling was used to assess mitophagy levels in each group. ResultsA macrophage infection model was successfully established by infecting RAW264.7 cells with the original concentration of HCoV-229E for 36 h. The CC0 of verbenalin was 125 μmol·L-1. The CC50 was 448.25 μmol·L-1. The EC50 against HCoV-229E-infected cells was 46.28 μmol·L-1, and the SI was 9.68. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly reduced cell survival rate (P<0.01), increased cell death rate (P<0.01), decreased MMP (P<0.01), and suppressed mitophagy (P<0.01). In contrast, verbenalin treatment significantly improved cell survival rate (P<0.01), reduced cell death rate (P<0.01), alleviated MMP loss (P<0.01), and enhanced mitophagy levels (P<0.01) compared with the model group. ConclusionVerbenalin can enhance the survival rate of macrophages following HCoV-229E infection. The underlying mechanism may be associated with the activation of mitophagy, maintenance of MMP stability, and alleviation of mitochondrial damage.
7.Therapeutic Effect of Jidesheng Sheyao Tablets on VZV-induced Skin Vesicles in Guinea Pigs and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats
Rui XIE ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Qiyue SUN ; Xinwei WANG ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):38-47
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and its associated postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application and secondary development of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets. MethodsFifty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.92, 0.96, 0.48 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.96 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The skin on the back of the guinea pigs in each group was depilated and then abraded with sandpaper. Except for the normal group, 200 μL of VZV solution was dropped on the damaged parts of the back of the guinea pigs in the other groups, and the infection lasted for 2 consecutive days. The drug administration started 2 hours after the infection on the first day and lasted for 7 days. The pathological changes of the back of the guinea pigs in each group were observed every day starting from the second day after the infection. On the 7th day, the guinea pigs were sacrificed by CO2 anesthesia. The locally infected skin was taken, and the viral DNA nucleic acid load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The pathological histology examination was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.08, 0.54, 0.27 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.54 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The rats in each group (except the normal group) were subcutaneously inoculated with 50 μL of VZV suspension between the web of the first and second fingers of the left forelimb. The skin on the back of the rats was depilated, and the drug administration started 2 hours after the infection and lasted for 10 days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws of the rats was detected by a Von Frey filament algometer before inoculation and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th days after inoculation, and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats was detected by a hot and cold plate algometer. On the 10th day after the virus inoculation, the rats were anesthetized after the behavioral examination, and the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord segments were taken. The contents of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the guinea pigs in the model group had obvious skin herpes lesions (P<0.01). The viral nucleic acid load was high (P<0.01), and there were disorganized subcutaneous cellular structures and obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells and cell necrosis (P<0.01). The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of topical administration of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets and the group of oral administration combined with topical application could significantly improve the lesions such as skin redness and herpes of the guinea pigs caused by VZV infection (P<0.01), reduce the VZV viral nucleic acid load in the skin tissues of the guinea pigs (P<0.01), alleviate the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and skin cell necrosis in the skin tissue (P<0.05), significantly increase the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats (P<0.05), and decrease the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats (P<0.01). ConclusionJidesheng Sheyao tablets demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on VZV-induced skin infections and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of VZV infections.
8.Construction and Application of An Animal Model of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Based on Humanized IGF1R Mice
Xiaowei YANG ; Dan XIE ; Shuran LI ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Xian LIU ; Mengyao CUI ; Yaxin WANG ; Shan CAO ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):48-53
ObjectiveTo construct an animal model of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)-infected pneumonia suitable for preclinical studies. MethodsThe virulence of RSV to the four cell lines was observed by cytopathic effect (CPE), and 50% tissue culture infective dose(TCID50) was calculated. Twenty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group. Six BALB/c-hIGF1R mice served as the humanized IGF1R model group. Except for the normal group, the other groups received intranasal RSV infection on days 1 and 3 to establish a viral pneumonia model. The efficacy of establishing an RSV-induced pneumonia animal model based on humanized insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) mice was evaluated by measuring organ indices, peripheral blood lymphocyte percentages, pulmonary pathology and imaging, and pulmonary viral load. Additionally, ten BALB/c mice served as normal group, and thirty-two BALB/c-hIGF1R mice were randomly assigned to humanized IGF1R model group, ribavirin group (82.5 mg·kg-¹·d-¹), and high and low dose groups of Lianhua Qingwen (3.3 mg·kg-¹·d-¹ , 1.65 mg·kg-¹·d-¹), with 8 mice per group. The viral load in lung tissue was measured after ribavirin and Lianhua Qingwen intervention, and the model was applied to the evaluation of anti-RSV drugs. ResultsIn the lungs of the humanized IGF1R model group, large solid and diffuse ground-glass shadows were seen, and the lung volume was significantly increased (P<0.01). The lung index was significantly increased (P<0.01), and both the spleen index and thymus index were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The percentages of CD3+ and CD4+T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and there was a large amount of inflammation and stasis in the perivascular area of the lung tissue, which was predominantly characterized by lymphocytes. The endothelium of blood vessels was partially detached, with a small number of eosinophils. After infecting BALB/c-hIGF1R mice with RSV, the expression of viral nucleic acids in the lung tissue of the mice was significantly increased, with significant differences compared with the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of viral nucleic acids in the ribavirin group and the high and low dose groups of Lianhua Qingwen was significantly reduced, with significant differences compared with the normal group (P<0.01). ConclusionHumanized IGF1R mice are more susceptible to respiratory SVC, and the animal model of RSV-infected pneumonia based on humanized IGF1R mice was successfully constructed, which is suitable for the evaluation of anti-RSV drugs.
9.Establishment and Application of Animal Models for Disease-syndrome Combination in Viral Pneumonia: A Review
Dan XIE ; Shuran LI ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Jing SUN ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Xian LIU ; Mengyao CUI ; Xiaowei YANG ; Xiaolan CUI ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):61-69
Currently, viral pneumonia (VP) presents a major challenge to global public health. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prevention and treatment of VP is guided by the core concept of strengthening vital energy and eliminating pathogenic factors rather than targeting specific pathogens, alongside a holistic approach of syndrome differentiation and treatment. By summarizing the clinical syndromes of patients, the core pathogenesis was clarified to achieve individualized therapy. Animal models for disease-syndrome combination integrate the etiology and pathogenesis of VP and simulate the individualized manifestations of patients at different disease stages, providing an experimental platform for elucidating the theoretical basis of TCM in treating VP and promoting the development of effective TCM formulations. However, there are limitations in the application and promotion of disease-syndrome combination animal models due to the lack of standardization and normalization of model construction systems, which arise from diverse species selection, compound modeling methods, and multidimensional evaluation indicators. This paper systematically reviewed the recent research on animal models for disease-syndrome combination in VP from the perspective of species selection, modeling methods, evaluation indicators, and application status. Furthermore, it summarized the advantages and limitations of existing models, identifies future directions for improvement, and proposes optimization strategies. This review provides a reference for establishing standardized and normalized animal models for disease-syndrome combinations in VP, supporting the theoretical modernization of TCM in preventing and controlling emerging respiratory infectious diseases, and contributing to the development of new TCM drugs.
10.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.


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