Anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects of atorvastatin in acute ischemic stroke

Atorvastatin decreases inflammation and thrombogenesis in patients with carotid artery plaque. Atorvastatin is administered to lower lipid levels, but its anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic effects remain unclear. Eighty-nine patients from northeastern China with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis were randomly divided into the study and control groups. All patients received routine treatment, including antiplatelet therapy, circulatory support, and symp- tomatic treatment. The study group （n = 43） also received daily atorvastatin 20 mg/d, and the control group （n = 46） received daily placebo pills containing glucose. After 4 weeks, the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Decreases in the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were not associated with de- creases in the levels of triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest that atorvastatin reduces inflammation and thrombogenesis independent of its lipid-lowering effects in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis.

Protective effects of remote ischemic preconditioning in rat hindlimb on ischemia- reperfusion injury

Three cycles of remote ischemic pre-conditioning induced by temporarily occluding the bilateral femoral arteries （10 minutes） prior to 10 minutes of reperfusion were given once a day for 3 days before the animal received middle artery occlusion and reperfusion surgery. The results showed that brain infarct volume was significantly reduced after remote ischemic pre-conditioning. Scores in the forelimb placing test and the postural reflex test were significantly lower in rats having undergone remote ischemic pre-conditioning compared with those who did not receive remote ischemic pre-conditioning. Thus, neurological function was better in rats having undergone remote ischemic pre-conditioning compared with those who did not receive remote ischemic pre-conditioning. These results indicate that remote ischemic pre-conditioning in rat hindlimb exerts protective effects in ischemia-reperfusion injury.

DDAH1 promotes neurogenesis and neural repair in cerebral ischemia

Choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)-positive neurons in neural stem cell(NSC)niches can evoke adult neurogenesis(AN)and restore impaired brain function after injury,such as acute ischemic stroke(AIS).However,the relevant mechanism by which ChAT+neurons develop in NSC niches is poorly understood.Our RNA-seq analysis revealed that dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1(DDAH1),a hydrolase for asymmetric NG,NG-dimethylarginine(ADMA),regulated genes responsible for the synthesis and transportation of acetylcholine(ACh)(Chat,Slc5a7 and Slc18a3)after stroke insult.The dual-luciferase reporter assay further suggested that DDAH1 controlled the activity of ChAT,possibly through hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α).KC7F2,an inhibitor of HIF-1α,abolished DDAH1-induced ChAT expression and suppressed neurogenesis.As expected,DDAH1 was clinically elevated in the blood of AIS patients and was positively correlated with AIS severity.By comparing the results among Ddah1 general knockout(KO)mice,transgenic(TG)mice and wild-type(WT)mice,we discovered that DDAH1 upregulated the proliferation and neural differentiation of NSCs in the subgranular zone(SGZ)under ischemic insult.As a result,DDAH1 may promote cognitive and motor function recovery against stroke impairment,while these neuroprotective effects are dramatically suppressed by NSC conditional knockout of Ddah1 in mice.

Correlation between tongue manifestations and glucose, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with acute cerebral infarction

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between tongue manifestations and the levels of glucose (GLU), total cholesterol(TCH), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) in subjects with acute cerebral infarction.METHODS: Hospitalized patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction in the Neurological Department of Xuanwu Hospital were included and the correlation between tongue fur color, fur nature,and the levels of GLU,TCH, HDL-C were analyzed.RESULTS: HDL level in the thin fur group was higher than that in the thick fur group(P=0.02). The difference in the levels of GLU,TCH, and HDL-C among the groups was significant(P<0.05), classified in terms of slippery, moist, and dry fur. Further comparison between the groups by Student-Newman-Keuls test showed that GLU level in the dry fur group was the highest. Moreover, the TCH level in the slippery fur group was higher than the other two groups.CONCLUSION: A correlation between tongue manifestations and GLU, TCH, HDL-C was identified in the patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Loss of Wip1 aggravates brain injury after ischaemia/reperfusion by overactivating microglia

Background and purpose The inflammatory response mediated by microglia/macrophages is closely related to cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury.Wild-type p53-induced protein phosphatase 1(Wip1),a serine/threonine phosphatase,is expressed in various tissues.A growing number of reports have suggested that Wip1 is a negative regulator of inflammation in peripheral tissue;however,its role in the central nervous system(CNS)remains unclear.This study aimed to clarify whether Wip1 can inhibit CNS inflammation by regulating microglia/macrophage functions after ischaemic injury.Methods A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion was established in mice.CNS inflammation was simulated by lipopolysaccharide treatment of primary microglia.Laser speckle imaging was used to monitor regional cerebral blood flow.Behavioural outcomes were assessed with a TreadScan gait analysis system.TTC staining was used to evaluate the infarct volume,and western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect the phenotypical transformation of microglia.ELISA was performed to detect the levels of inflammatory factors.Results Wip1 expression was increased after ischaemia/reperfusion.Wip1-knockout(KO)mice displayed more severe brain injury than wild-type mice,as indicated by aggravated motor dysfunction,greater brain infarct volumes and higher expression of inflammatory cytokines(interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha)in the brain.We also found that Wip1 depletion increased microglial/macrophage activation in both in vitro and in vivo models,which all showed activation of microglia/macrophages.Lentivirus-Ppm1d reversed the injury induced by Wip1-KO.Conclusions Our results suggest that Wip1 may inhibit neuroinflammation by inhibiting microglial/macrophage activation after brain ischaemia/reperfusion injury.