Viral vectors as a novel tool for clinical and neuropsychiatric research applications

Background A viral vector is a genetically modified vector produced by genetic engineering. As pathogenic genes in the virus are completely or largely eliminated, it is safe to be widely used in multidisciplinary research fields for expressing genes, such as neuroscience, metabolism, oncology and so on. Neuroscience and psychiatry are the most closely related disciplines in either basic research or clinical research, but the application of viral vectors in neuropsychiatry has not received much attention or not been widely accepted.Aim This article will focus on the application of viral vectors in basic and clinical neuropsychiatric research.Methods By using viral vectors, scientists can perform neurological labelling, gene expression regulation and physiological manipulation for investigating phenomenon from molecular mechanisms to behaviours. At the same time, to treat mental or neurological disorders, viral vectors can be designed for gene therapy, which alter gene expression levels or repair mutated genes in the brains of patients.Perspective Viral vectors play an important role in basic research and clinical applications. To further understand brain function and prevent mental and neurological diseases, we hypothesize that viral vectors could be used along with various advanced technologies, such as sequencing and high-throughput expression analysis in the neuroscience research field.

An optimal medicinal and edible Chinese herbal formula attenuates particulate matter-induced lung injury through its anti-oxidative,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities

Objective:Identifying novel strategies to prevent particulate matter(PM)-induced lung injury is crucial for the reduction of the morbidity of chronic respiratory diseases.The combined intervention represented by herbal formulae for simultaneously targeting multiple pathological processes can provide a more beneficial effect than the single intervention.The aim of this paper is therefore to design a safe and effective medicinal and edible Chinese herbs(MECHs)formula against PM-induced lung injury.Methods:PM-induced oxidative stress,inflammatory response and apoptosis A549 cell model were used to screen anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic MECHs,respectively.A network pharmacology method was utilized to rationally design a novel herbal formula.Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was utilized to assess the quality control of MECHs formula.The excretion of magnetic iron oxide nanospheres of the MECHs formula was estimated in zebrafish.The MECH formula against PM-induced lung injury was investigated with mice experiments.Results:Five selected herbs were rationally designed to form a new MECH formula,including Citri Exocarpium Rubrum(Juhong),Lablab Semen Album(Baibiandou),Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(Baizhu),Mori Folium(Sangye)and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma(Yuzhu).The formula effectively promoted the magnetic iron oxide nanospheres excretion in zebrafish.The mid/high dose formula significantly prevented PM-induced lung damage in mice by enhancing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px,reducing the MDA and ROS level and attenuating the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine(IL-6,IL-8,IL-1βand TNFa),down regulating the protein expression of NF-κB,STAT3 and Caspase-3.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that the effective MECHs formula will become a novel strategy for preventing PM-induced lung injury and provide a paradigm for the development of functional foods using MECHs.