高压氧治疗对急性脑创伤后血脑屏障损伤大鼠MMP-9 mRNA表达的影响

目的 观察高压氧(hyperbaric oxygen,HBO)治疗对急性脑创伤后血脑屏障损伤大鼠MMP-9 mRNA表达的影响,探讨高压氧治疗急性脑损伤的机制.方法 选取40只SD大鼠,采用自由落体打击法制备急性脑创伤模型.造模成功后采用数字表法随机分为4组,每组10只.分别为正常对照组:动物置于加压舱内,模拟除压力和氧浓度以外的其他实验条件.急性颅脑损伤24 h组:动物颅脑打击后1h,置于加压舱内,模拟除压力和氧浓度以外的其他实验条件,于伤后24 h断头取材.急性颅脑损伤高压氧治疗24h组:动物颅脑打击后1h和12 h,置于高压氧舱内,在0.25 MPa HBO下各停留40 min,于伤后24 h断头取材.急性颅脑损伤常氧高氮治疗24 h组:动物颅脑打击后1h和12 h,置于高压氧舱内,在0.25 MPa常氧高氮环境下各停留40 min,于伤后24 h 6只断头取材行含水量及RT-PCR测定,4只行脑组织伊文蓝(Evans blue,EB)测定.结果 急性颅脑损伤伤侧和非伤侧脑组织含水量为77.39 mg和72.25 mg,与急性颅脑损伤HBO治疗24 h组(70.83 mg、70.27 mg)比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).急性颅脑损伤经0.25 MPa HBO治疗后,脑组织含水量较未治疗组下降(P＜0.01),高压氧治疗组半球及海马EB均显著增加(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).急性颅脑损伤经0.25 MPa HBO治疗后,损伤侧和非损伤侧半球及海马EB较未治疗组下降(P＜0.0,1),急性颅脑损伤组及0.25 MPa常氧高氮组损伤侧半球及海马EB多于非损伤侧(P＜0.05),0.25 MPa HBO治疗组损伤侧半球及海马EB高于非损伤侧(P＜0.05).急性颅脑损伤经0.25 MPa HBO治疗后,损伤侧和非损伤侧半球及海马MMP-9 mRNA较未治疗组下降(P＜0.0,1).急性颅脑损伤组、0.25 MPa常氧高氮组及0.25 MPa HBO治疗组损伤侧半球及海马MMP-9mRNA高于非损伤侧(均P＜0.05).结论 HBO治疗急性脑创伤可以保护血脑屏障,从而减轻脑水肿,机制之一是HBO治疗减少了MMP-9 mRNA表达.     

Temporal control of glucocorticoid neurodynamics and its relevance for brain homeostasis,neuropathology and glucocorticoid-based therapeutics

Glucocorticoids mediate plethora of actions throughout the human body. Within the brain, they modulate aspects of immune system and neuroinflammatory processes, interfere with cellular metabolism and viability, interact with systems of neurotransmission and regulate neural rhythms. The influence of glucocorticoids on memory and emotional behaviour is well known and there is increasing evidence for their involvement in many neuropsychiatric pathologies. These effects, which at times can be in opposing directions, depend not only on the concentration of glucocorticoids but also the duration of their presence, the temporal relationship between their fluctuations, the co-influence of other stimuli, and the overall state of brain activity. Moreover, they are region- and cell type-specific. The molecular basis of such diversity of effects lies on the orchestration of the spatiotemporal interplay between glucocorticoid- and mineralocorticoid receptors, and is achieved through complex dynamics, mainly mediated via the circadian and ultradian pattern of glucocorticoid secretion. More sophisticated methodologies are therefore required to better approach the study of these hormones and improve the effectiveness of glucocorticoid-based therapeutics.     

Insights on the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease: The crosstalk between amyloid pathology,neuroinflammation and the peripheral immune system

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, whose prevalence is growing along with the increased life expectancy. Although the accumulation and deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the brain is viewed as one of the pathological hallmarks of AD and underlies, at least in part, brain cell dysfunction and behavior alterations, the etiology of this neurodegenerative disease is still poorly understood. Noticeably, increased amyloid load is accompanied by marked inflammatory alterations, both at the level of the brain parenchyma and at the barriers of the brain. However, it is debatable whether the neuroinflammation observed in aging and in AD, together with alterations in the peripheral immune system, are responsible for increased amyloidogenesis, decreased clearance of Aβ out of the brain and/or the marked deficits in memory and cognition manifested by AD patients. Herein, we scrutinize some important traits of the pathophysiology of aging and AD, focusing on the interplay between the amyloidogenic pathway, neuroinflammation and the peripheral immune system.     

Assessing blood granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as a potential biomarker of acute traumatic brain injury in mice and humans

Previous work has found that serum G-CSF was acutely elevated in mice 24 h but not one week after controlled cortical impact (CCI). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether blood G-CSF correlates with the elevated brain cytokines in mice after CCI and also if it correlates with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. Here, we found in mice undergoing CCI, a procedure that induces direct injury to the brain, that serum G-CSF correlated directly or indirectly with several brain cytokines, indicating it is a useful marker for the neuroinflammation of TBI. A pilot study in humans (phase I, n = 19) confirmed that plasma G-CSF is acutely elevated on day 1 (p < 0.001) of TBI and has returned to baseline by one week. In a second human sample (phase II) (n = 80), we found plasma G-CSF peaks about 12 h after arriving in the emergency department (41.6 +/− 5.4 pg/ml). Aging was weakly associated (p < 0.05) with a less robust elevation in serum G-CSF, but there was no difference with gender. ISS, a measure of total severity of injury, correlated with the degree of elevation in serum G-CSF (r = .419; p < 0.05), but severity of head injury (via AIS) did not. The latter may have been because of the statistically narrow range of head injuries among our cases and the high number of cases diagnosed with closed head injury (a non-codable diagnosis). In conclusion, plasma G-CSF may be a useful biomarker of TBI, correlating with neuroinflammation in the animal model and in the human studies with time since injury and total severity of injury. As such, it may be useful in determining whether TBI has occurred within the last 24 h.     

Barriers to Food Literacy: A Conceptual Model to Explore Factors Inhibiting Proficiency

Food literacy research typically conceptualizes food-related knowledge and skills as contributing to improved health and nutrition; however, there is limited research examining the process that leads to this improvement. This article reviews the literature reporting barriers to food literacy proficiency in order to examine the relationship between food-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Informed by these barrier types, its central objective is to develop a model of food literacy proficiency that highlights the relationship between nutrition education and health-related outcomes. This model will help researchers, educators, and nutrition professionals implement effective interventions with enhanced capacity to change food-related behaviors.     

双配体修饰聚合物泡囊的制备及细胞摄取

目的构建一种主动靶向的新型纳米药物载体——聚合物泡囊(polymer vesicles,PVs),并考察其细胞摄取。方法以马来酰亚胺-聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物(MAL-PEG-PLGA)为载体材料,通过自组装制备PVs,用转铁蛋白(Tf)与Tet-1对PVs进行修饰,构建纳米药物载体(Tf/Tet-1-PVs)。以香豆素-6作为荧光探针包载于药物载体,考察脑微血管内皮细胞(BCEC)及神经细胞(Neuro-2a)对载体系统的摄取。结果 PVs粒径约80nm,形态圆整,电镜观察具有明显膜层结构。BCEC细胞和Neuro-2a细胞对Tf/Tet-1-PVs的摄取均显著优于空白对照组和单配体修饰对照组。结论 PVs经双配体Tf及Tet-1修饰后可促进脑微血管内皮细胞和神经细胞的摄取。     

Novel vascular endothelial growth factor blocker improves cellular viability and reduces hypobaric hypoxia‐induced vascular leakage and oedema in rat brain

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important cerebral angiogenic and permeability factor under hypoxia. There is a need to find effective molecules that may ameliorate hypoxia‐induced cerebral oedema. In silico identification of novel candidate molecules that block VEGF‐A site were identified and validated with a Ramachandran plot. The active site residues of VEGF‐A were detected by Pocketfinder, CASTp, and DogSiteScorer. Based on in silico data, three VEGF‐A blocker (VAB) candidate molecules (VAB1, VAB2, and VAB3) were checked for improvement in cellular viability and regulation of VEGF levels in N2a cells under hypoxia (0.5% O₂). Additionally, the best candidate molecule's efficacy was assessed in male Sprague‐Dawley rats for its ameliorative effect on cerebral oedema and vascular leakage under hypobaric hypoxia 7260 m. All experimental results were compared with the commercially available VEGF blocker sunitinib. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐A blocker 1 was found most effective in increasing cellular viability and maintaining normal VEGF levels under hypoxia (0.5% oxygen) in N2a cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐A blocker 1 effectively restored VEGF levels, decreased cerebral oedema, and reduced vascular leakage under hypobaric hypoxia when compared to sunitinib‐treated rats. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐A blocker 1 may be a promising candidate molecule for ameliorating hypobaric hypoxia‐induced vasogenic oedema by regulating VEGF levels.     

缺血后处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后紧密连接的保护作用及ZO-1蛋白表达的影响

目的观察缺血后处理对脑缺血再灌注后紧密连接的保护作用及相关蛋白ZO-1表达的影响。方法 45只Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为假手术(Sham)组、缺血再灌注(I/R)组、缺血后处理(IP)组。采用线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉缺血模型,脑缺血2 h后,I/R组予再灌注,IP组给予缺血后处理之后予再灌注。于脑缺血再灌注后24 h行TTC染色观察脑梗死体积,应用电镜观察紧密连接蛋白结构改变,Western blot观察ZO-1蛋白表达的变化。结果 IP组脑梗死体积明显小于I/R组,与Sham组相比,I/R组血脑屏障紧密连接开放,ZO-1蛋白表达明显减少;与I/R组比较,IP组紧密连接开放程度减轻及ZO-1表达增加。结论缺血后处理减小脑梗死体积;缺血后处理能够减轻紧密连接破坏,其保护机制可能与ZO-1蛋白表达增加有关。     

甲基苯丙胺与HIV-Tat蛋白协同改变大鼠血脑屏障通透性的氧化应激作用机制

目的 观察甲基苯丙胺与HIV-Tat蛋白协同对大鼠血脑屏障的作用机制.方法 雄性SD大鼠每天2次腹腔注射给予MA10 mg/kg的同时尾静脉注射给予HIV-Tat 400 ng/kg,连续7d,给药结束24 h后随机取10只大鼠尾静脉注射伊文思蓝检测脑组织EB含量,随机取5只大鼠断颈取脑,用于SOD活力、GSH和MDA含量的测定.余下2只大鼠快速断颈取脑,戊二醛-锇酸溶液固定前额叶皮质部分,透射电镜观察结构变化.结果 与正常对照组相比,实验组脑组织中EB含量不同程度增加,提示实验组血脑屏障通透性增加(P＜0.05);MDA含量升高、SOD活力和GSH含量不同程度降低,提示实验组氧化应激反应增强(P＜0.05).MA+Tat组与MA组、Tat组相比,EB含量升高明显,提示MA与HIV-Tat蛋白联用能协同增加血脑屏障通透性;MDA含量显著升高,SOD活力、GSH含量明显下降,提示MA与HIV-Tat蛋白联用能协同增强大鼠脑组织氧化应激反应(P＜0.01);NAC+MA+Tat组与MA+Tat组相比,EB含量降低,提示NAC能一定程度拮抗MA与HIV-Tat蛋白对血脑屏障通透性的影响(P＜0.01);MDA含量下降,SOD活力、GSH含量明显升高,反映NAC能在一定程度拮抗MA与HIV-Tat蛋白对大鼠脑内氧化应激反应增强作用(P＜0.01).各实验组在电镜下观察到血脑屏障一系列超微结构改变,如脑微血管内皮细胞肿胀变薄,血管周围胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞肿胀,胞饮小泡增加等,这些改变以MA+Tat组最为显著.结论 MA和HIV-Tat蛋白能改变血脑屏障通透性,两者具有协同作用,协同作用机制可能与氧化应激有关.     

模式动物斑马鱼在组织屏障发育及功能研究中的进展

斑马鱼作为一种新型的模式动物,以其独特的优势,已经成为现代遗传学、发育生物学等研究的重要模式生物。与人类及其它高等脊椎动物相似,斑马鱼同样具有不同的组织屏障系统。近年来,此领域的研究者利用斑马鱼对血脑屏障等组织屏障的研究取得了重要的进展。这对揭示诸多生理屏障相关的人类疾病的发病机制,以及探讨通过调控组织屏障通透性来达到药物有效投递的可行性等研究具有重要的启示作用。本文将介绍近年来斑马鱼作为模式动物在血脑屏障、血-视网膜屏障、皮肤表皮屏障、肠粘膜上皮屏障等组织屏障发育和功能研究中的最新进展。