The effects of melatonin on signaling pathways and molecules involved in glioma

Glioblastoma is one of the most common brain tumors with high invasion and malignancy. Despite extensive research in this area and the use of new and advanced therapies, the survival rate in this disease is very low. In addition, resistance to treatment has also been observed in this disease. One of the reasons for rapid progression and failure in treatment for this disease is the presence of a class of cells with high proliferation and high differentiation, a class called glioblastoma stem-like cells shown as being the source of glioblastoma tumors. It has been reported that several oncogenes are expressed in this disease. One important issue in recognizing the pathogenesis of this disease, and which could improve the treatment process, is the identification of involved oncogenes as well as molecules that affect the reduction of the expression of these oncogenes. Melatonin regulates the biological rhythm and inhibits the proliferation of malignant glioma cells due to antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Melatonin has been considered in biological processes and in signaling pathways involved in the development of glioma. The aim of this review is to investigate the effects of melatonin on signaling pathways and molecules involved in the progression of glioma.     

黄连碱上调miR-146a-5p后通过PI3K/AKT通路减轻由MPP+诱导的帕金森病细胞模型损伤

目的探讨黄连碱对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子(MPP+)诱导的帕金森病(PD)细胞损伤的影响及其机制。方法用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理SK-N-SH细胞作为PD细胞模型,记为MPP+组,以正常培养的细胞作为空白对照组。用浓度分别为10μmol/L、20μmol/L、40μmol/L的黄连碱预处理4h后再用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理作为不同浓度黄连碱处理组。将miR-con、miR-146a-5p转染至SK-N-SH细胞后再用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理记为MPP++miR-con组、MPP++miR-146a-5p组;将anti-miR-con、anti-miR-146a-5p转染至SK-N-SH细胞后用20μmol/L的黄连碱预处理4h及0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理记为MPP++Cop+anti-miR-con组、MPP++Cop+anti-miR-146a-5p组。四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法(MTT)检测细胞存活率;Western blotting实验检测活化的半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)、细胞周期蛋白D1(Cyclin D1)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B(p-AKT)、磷酸化磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(p-PI3K)蛋白表达水平;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测miR-146a-5p表达水平。结果与空白对照组比较,MPP+处理后SK-N-SH细胞存活率显著降低,活化caspase-3表达水平显著升高,细胞凋亡率显著升高,CyclinD1、miR-146a-5p表达水平显著降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。黄连碱处理及miR-146a-5p过表达后MPP+诱导的SK-N-SH细胞中细胞存活率显著升高,活化caspase-3表达水平显著降低,细胞凋亡率显著降低,CyclinD1、miR-146a-5p表达水平显著升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。低表达miR-146a-5p逆转了黄连碱对SK-N-SH细胞增殖促进和凋亡抑制的作用。黄连碱处理后MPP+诱导的SK-N-SH细胞中p-AKT、p-PI3K表达水平显著升高,低表达miR-146a-5p逆转了黄连碱对p-AKT、p-PI3K表达水平的促进作用。结论黄连碱可促进细胞存活,抑制MPP+诱导的细胞凋亡,其机制可能与miR-146a-5p及PI3K/AKT信号通路有关。     

虾青素对过氧化氢诱导胎盘滋养细胞HTR-8/SVneo的影响

目的观察虾青素通过烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸(NADPH)氧化酶/活性氧(ROS)信号通路对过氧化氢(H2O2)诱导人胎盘滋养细胞HTR-8/SVneo的影响。方法实验分为空白组、模型组和实验组,每组8个复孔;实验组HTR-8/SVneo细胞预先以10 nmol·L^-1虾青素处理24 h,之后实验组和模型组细胞均以250μmol·L-1H2O2作用24 h;空白组未进行任何药物干预。以噻唑蓝(MTT)法检测各组HTR-8/SVneo细胞增殖情况,以DCF-DA荧光染色检测各组HTR-8/SVneo细胞内ROS水平,检测各组HTR-8/SVneo细胞培养上清中乳酸(LDH)及氧化应激指标含量,以蛋白质印迹法检测各组细胞NADPH氧化酶4(NOX4)、p22phox蛋白表达情况。结果干预后24 h,空白组、模型组及实验组HTR-8/SVneo细胞内ROS荧光强度值分别为2.76±0.43,34.15±2.34,15.61±1.85,LDH分别为(756.24±31.05),(1785.46±34.69),(1235.26±26.75)U·L^-1,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)分别为(23.56±2.24),(10.04±2.02),(15.16±3.08)U·mg^-1,丙二醛(MDA)分别为(0.46±0.14),(0.96±0.21),(0.68±0.13)U·mg^-1,Nox4蛋白相对表达量分别为0.32±0.04,0.89±0.06,0.64±0.03,p22phox蛋白相对表达量分别为0.15±0.03,0.75±0.04,0.49±0.02,模型组分别与空白组和实验组比较,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论虾青素对H2O2诱导人胎盘滋养细胞HTR-8/SVneo氧化应激损伤具有保护作用,可能与干扰NADPH氧化酶/ROS信号通路活性有关。     

Bioinformatic identification of key candidate genes and pathways in axon regeneration after spinal cord injury in zebrafish

Zebrafish and human genomes are highly homologous;however,despite this genomic similarity,adult zebrafish can achieve neuronal proliferation,regeneration and functional restoration within 6–8 weeks after spinal cord injury,whereas humans cannot.To analyze differentially expressed zebrafish genes between axon-regenerated neurons and axon-non-regenerated neurons after spinal cord injury,and to explore the key genes and pathways of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury,microarray GSE56842 was analyzed using the online tool,GEO2R,in the Gene Expression Omnibus database.Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction networks were used to analyze the identified differentially expressed genes.Finally,we screened for genes and pathways that may play a role in spinal cord injury repair in zebrafish and mammals.A total of 636 differentially expressed genes were obtained,including 255 up-regulated and 381 down-regulated differentially expressed genes in axon-regenerated neurons.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment results were also obtained.A protein-protein interaction network contained 480 node genes and 1976 node connections.We also obtained the 10 hub genes with the highest correlation and the two modules with the highest score.The results showed that spectrin may promote axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury in zebrafish.Transforming growth factor beta signaling may inhibit repair after spinal cord injury in zebrafish.Focal adhesion or tight junctions may play an important role in the migration and proliferation of some cells,such as Schwann cells or neural progenitor cells,after spinal cord injury in zebrafish.Bioinformatic analysis identified key candidate genes and pathways in axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury in zebrafish,providing targets for treatment of spinal cord injury in mammals.     

Schwann cell-derived CXCL1 contributes to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120-induced neuropathic pain by modulating macrophage infiltration in mice

The neuroinflammatory responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coat proteins, such as glycoprotein 120 (gp120), are considered to be responsible for the HIV-associated distal sensory neuropathy. Accumulating evidences suggest that T-cell line tropic X4 gp120 increases macrophage infiltration into the peripheral nerves, and thereby induces neuroinflammation leading to pain. However, the mechanisms underlying X4 gp120-induced macrophage recruitment to the peripheral nervous systems remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that perineural application of X4 gp120 from HIV-1 strains IIIB and MN elicited mechanical hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain-like behaviors in mice. Furthermore, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical studies revealed increased infiltration of bone marrow-derived macrophages into the parenchyma of sciatic nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) 7 days after gp120 IIIB or MN application. Chemical deletion of circulating macrophages using clodronate liposomes markedly suppressed gp120 IIIB-induced pain-like behaviors. In in vitro cell infiltration analysis, RAW 264.7 cell (a murine macrophage cell line) was chemoattracted to conditioned medium from gp120 IIIB- or MN-treated cultured Schwann cells, but not to conditioned medium from these gp120-treated DRG neurons, suggesting possible involvement of Schwann cell-derived soluble factors in macrophage infiltration. We identified using a gene expression array that CXCL1, a chemoattractant of macrophages and neutrophils, was increased in gp120 IIIB-treated cultured Schwann cells. Similar to gp120 IIIB or MN, perineural application of recombinant CXCL1 elicited pain-like behaviors accompanied by macrophage infiltration to the peripheral nerves. Furthermore, the repeated injection of CXCR2 (receptor for CXCL1) antagonist or CXCL1 neutralizing antibody prevented both pain-like behaviors and macrophage infiltration in gp120 IIIB-treated mice. Thus, the present study newly defines that Schwann cell-derived CXCL1, secreted in response to X4 gp120 exposure, is responsible for macrophage infiltration into peripheral nerves, and is thereby associated with pain-like behaviors in mice. We propose herein that communication between Schwann cells and macrophages may play a prominent role in the induction of X4 HIV-1-associated pain.     

慢性温和不可预知应激抑郁模型大鼠脑组织1H-NMR代谢组学研究

目的 采用高分辨核磁共振¹H谱（¹H-NMR）代谢组学技术研究慢性温和不可预知应激（CUMS）抑郁大鼠脑组织中代谢物及代谢通路的变化，探讨抑郁症的发病机制。方法 12只雄性SD大鼠随机分为模型组和对照组，采用CUMS对模型组大鼠进行为期4周的造模，进行称体质量、旷场实验和糖水偏爱实验验证模型是否成功，造模结束后收集大鼠脑组织。采用两相提取法（甲醇/氯仿/水）对脑组织进行提取，得到水溶性和脂溶性代谢物。应用¹H-NMR技术结合多元统计和代谢通路分析筛选出与抑郁相关的脑内差异代谢物，并构建其代谢通路。结果 行为学数据显示，与对照组比较，模型组大鼠的体质量、糖水偏爱率、旷场的穿格数和直立次数均显著降低（P<0.05），显示了抑郁状态。在大鼠脑组织的¹H-NMR图谱中共指认出35种内源性代谢产物。脑组织中水溶性和脂溶性代谢物主成分分析（PCA）均显示模型组与对照组分开，与行为学结果一致，表明造模成功；OPLS-DA分析找到9个水溶性差异代谢物和6个脂溶性差异代谢物。就水溶性代谢物而言，与对照组比较，模型组中肌酐、谷氨酰胺、牛磺酸和γ-氨基丁酸含量显著增加（P<0.05、0.01、0.001），丙二醇、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸和赖氨酸含量显著降低（P<0.05、0.01、0.001）。就脂溶性代谢物而言，与对照组比较，模型组-（CH₂） n和-N （Me₃）₃含量显著升高（P<0.05、0.001），胆固醇的C18/19甲基、R-CH₃、CH₂OPO₂-、-CH=CH-含量显著降低（P<0.05、0.01、0.001）。与对照组比较，CUMS造模后5条代谢通路发生显著变化：缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸生物合成，牛磺酸和亚硫磺酸代谢，丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢，糖降解和糖异生通路和丙酮酸代谢。结论 运用¹H-NMR代谢组学技术结合多元统计分析和代谢通路分析，阐明抑郁症的发病机制与能量代谢、氨基酸代谢和神经递质合成等相关。     

Suppression of puerarin on polymethylmethacrylate-induced lesion of peri-implant by inhibiting NF-κB activation in vitro and in vivo

Puerarin (PR), a natural isoflavone isolated from Chinese traditional plant pueraria lobata, has attracted considerable attention due to its important biological and pharmacological activities. However, its effects on lesion of peri-implant and related mechanism of action are still not clear, which require further investigation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PR on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-induced lesion of peri-implant in vitro and in vivo, and explored its possible mechanism of action. Our results indicated that PR could inhibit PMMA-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells with a dose-dependent manner in vitro and effectively down-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB (RANK), primarily via the suppression of NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, we found that PMMA induction could directly cause the phosphorylation of IκB and significantly promote the nuclear translocation of p65 in RAW264.7 cells. In other words, PR was able to dose-dependently attenuate the PMMA-induced nuclear translocation of p65 in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo, PR was observed to attenuate PMMA-induced osteoclastogenesis, osteolysis, mRNA expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL) and RANK, as well as protein levels of MMP-9, TNF-α, IL-6, and p65 in a murine calvarial osteolysis model. These findings suggested that PR might be a potential therapeutic drug to lesion of peri-implant, and provided new insights for understanding its possible mechanism.