Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer＇s dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese her...Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer＇s dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese herbs epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root could relieve the abnormal expression of iron metabolism-related protein in Alzheimer＇s disease patients. An APPs,~JPSI^E9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease was used. The intragas- tric administration of compounds from epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root improved pathological alterations such as neuronal edema, increased the number of neurons, downregulated divalent metal transporter 1 expression, upregulated ferroportin 1 expression, and inhibited iron overload in the cerebral cortex of mice with Alzheimer＇s disease. These com- pounds reduced iron overload-induced impairment of the central nervous system, indicating a new strategy for developing novel drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease.展开更多
Degeneration of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）, whereas pharmacological approaches to increase noradrenaline bioavailability m...Degeneration of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）, whereas pharmacological approaches to increase noradrenaline bioavailability may provide neuroprotection. Noradrenaline inhibits microglial activation and suppresses pro-inflamma- tory mediator production （e.g., tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1β ＆ inducible nitric oxide synthase activity）, thus limiting the cytotoxicity of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in response to an inflamma- tory stimulus. Neighbouring astrocyte populations promote a neurotrophic environment in response to β2-adrenoceptor （β2-AR） stimulation via the production of growth factors （e.g., brain derived neurotrophic factor, cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor ＆ glial cell derived neurotrophic factor which have shown promising neuroprotective and neuro-restorative effects in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. More recent findings have demonstrated a role for the β2-AR in down-regulating expression levels of the human a-synuclein gene SNCA and relative a-synuclein protein abundance. Given that a-synuclein is a major protein constituent of Lewy body pathology, a hallmark neuropathological feature in Parkinson＇s disease, these findings could open up new avenues for pharmacological intervention strategies aimed at alleviating the burden of a-synucleinopathies in the Parkinsonian brain. In essence, the literature reviewed herein supports our hypothesis of a tripartite neuroprotective role for noradrenaline in combating PD-related neuropathology and motor dysfunction via （1） inhibiting nigral microglial activation ＆ pro-inflammatory mediator production, （2） promoting the synthesis of neurotrophic factors from midbrain astrocytes and （3） downregulating a-synuclein gene expression and protein abundance in a β2-AR-dependent manner. Thus, taken together, either pharmacologically enhancing extra-synaptic noradrenaline bioavailability or targeting glial β2-ARs directly makes itself as a promising treatment option aimed at slowing/halting PD progression.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273983the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province in China,No.C2010001471+1 种基金the Scientific and Technological Research Youth Foundation of Colleges and Universities in Hebei Province of China,No.Q2012036the Hebei Provincial Food and Drug Administration in China,No.PT2014053
文摘Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer＇s dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese herbs epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root could relieve the abnormal expression of iron metabolism-related protein in Alzheimer＇s disease patients. An APPs,~JPSI^E9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease was used. The intragas- tric administration of compounds from epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root improved pathological alterations such as neuronal edema, increased the number of neurons, downregulated divalent metal transporter 1 expression, upregulated ferroportin 1 expression, and inhibited iron overload in the cerebral cortex of mice with Alzheimer＇s disease. These com- pounds reduced iron overload-induced impairment of the central nervous system, indicating a new strategy for developing novel drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease.
基金Eoin O’Neill was supported by a Trinity College postgraduate award
文摘Degeneration of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）, whereas pharmacological approaches to increase noradrenaline bioavailability may provide neuroprotection. Noradrenaline inhibits microglial activation and suppresses pro-inflamma- tory mediator production （e.g., tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1β ＆ inducible nitric oxide synthase activity）, thus limiting the cytotoxicity of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in response to an inflamma- tory stimulus. Neighbouring astrocyte populations promote a neurotrophic environment in response to β2-adrenoceptor （β2-AR） stimulation via the production of growth factors （e.g., brain derived neurotrophic factor, cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor ＆ glial cell derived neurotrophic factor which have shown promising neuroprotective and neuro-restorative effects in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. More recent findings have demonstrated a role for the β2-AR in down-regulating expression levels of the human a-synuclein gene SNCA and relative a-synuclein protein abundance. Given that a-synuclein is a major protein constituent of Lewy body pathology, a hallmark neuropathological feature in Parkinson＇s disease, these findings could open up new avenues for pharmacological intervention strategies aimed at alleviating the burden of a-synucleinopathies in the Parkinsonian brain. In essence, the literature reviewed herein supports our hypothesis of a tripartite neuroprotective role for noradrenaline in combating PD-related neuropathology and motor dysfunction via （1） inhibiting nigral microglial activation ＆ pro-inflammatory mediator production, （2） promoting the synthesis of neurotrophic factors from midbrain astrocytes and （3） downregulating a-synuclein gene expression and protein abundance in a β2-AR-dependent manner. Thus, taken together, either pharmacologically enhancing extra-synaptic noradrenaline bioavailability or targeting glial β2-ARs directly makes itself as a promising treatment option aimed at slowing/halting PD progression.
