NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4)as a biomarker and therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases

Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are defined by inflammation and the damage neurons undergo due to oxidative stress. A primary reactive oxygen species contributor in the central nervous system, NADPH oxidase 4, is viewed as a potential therapeutic touchstone and indicative marker for these ailments. This in-depth review brings to light distinct features of NADPH oxidase 4, responsible for generating superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, emphasizing its pivotal role in activating glial cells, inciting inflammation, and disturbing neuronal functions. Significantly, malfunctioning astrocytes, forming the majority in the central nervous system, play a part in advancing neurodegenerative diseases, due to their reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factor secretion. Our study reveals that aiming at NADPH oxidase 4 within astrocytes could be a viable treatment pathway to reduce oxidative damage and halt neurodegenerative processes. Adjusting NADPH oxidase 4 activity might influence the neuroinflammatory cytokine levels, including myeloperoxidase and osteopontin, offering better prospects for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This review sheds light on the role of NADPH oxidase 4 in neural degeneration, emphasizing its drug target potential, and paving the path for novel treatment approaches to combat these severe conditions.

Knockdown of NADPH oxidase 4 reduces mitochondrial oxidative stress and neuronal pyroptosis following intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage is often accompanied by oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species,which causes abnormal mitochondrial function and secondary reactive oxygen species generation.This creates a vicious cycle leading to reactive oxygen species accumulation,resulting in progression of the pathological process.Therefore,breaking the cycle to inhibit reactive oxygen species accumulation is critical for reducing neuronal death after intracerebral hemorrhage.Our previous study found that increased expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4(NADPH oxidase 4,NOX4)led to neuronal apoptosis and damage to the blood-brain barrier after intracerebral hemorrhage.The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of NOX4 in the circle involving the neuronal tolerance to oxidative stress,mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and modes of neuronal death other than apoptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage.We found that NOX4 knockdown by adeno-associated virus(AAV-NOX4)in rats enhanced neuronal tolerance to oxidative stress,enabling them to better resist the oxidative stress caused by intracerebral hemorrhage.Knockdown of NOX4 also reduced the production of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria,relieved mitochondrial damage,prevented secondary reactive oxygen species accumulation,reduced neuronal pyroptosis and contributed to relieving secondary brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.Finally,we used a mitochondria-targeted superoxide dismutase mimetic to explore the relationship between reactive oxygen species and NOX4.The mitochondria-targeted superoxide dismutase mimetic inhibited the expression of NOX4 and neuronal pyroptosis,which is similar to the effect of AAV-NOX4.This indicates that NOX4 is likely to be an important target for inhibiting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production,and NOX4 inhibitors can be used to alleviate oxidative stress response induced by intracerebral hemorrhage.

Activation of Plasma Membrane NADPH Oxidase and Generation of H_2O_2 Mediate the Induction of PAL Activity and Saponin Synthesis byEndogenous Elicitor in Suspension-Cultured Cells of Panax ginseng

Endogenous elicitor, termed cellulase-degraded cell wall (CDW), was prepared from the cell wall of suspension-cultured ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) cells via cellulase degradation. CDW activated the NADPH oxidase activity of isolated plasma membranes and stimulated in vivo H2O2 generation in ginseng cell suspensions. CDW also increased the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), expression of a P. ginseng squalene epoxidase (sqe) gene and saponin synthesis. NADPH oxidase inhibitors inhibited both in vitro NADPH oxidase activity and in vivo H2O2 generation. Induction of PAL activity, saponin synthesis and sqe gene expression were all inhibited by such inhibitor treatments and reduced by incubation with catalase and HA scavengers. These data indicate that activation of NADPH oxidase and generation of H2O2 are essential signalling events mediating defence responses induced by the endogenous elicitor(s) present in CDW.

NOX4 exacerbates Parkinson's disease pathology by promoting neuronal ferroptosis and neuroinflammation

Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta.Ferroptosis,a novel form of regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation,plays a vital role in the death of dopaminergic neurons.However,the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in dopaminergic neurons have not yet been completely elucidated.NADPH oxidase 4 is related to oxidative stress,however,whether it regulates dopaminergic neuronal ferroptosis remains unknown.The aim of this study was to determine whether NADPH oxidase 4 is involved in dopaminergic neuronal ferroptosis,and if so,by what mechanism.We found that the transcriptional regulator activating transcription factor 3 increased NADPH oxidase 4 expression in dopaminergic neurons and astrocytes in an 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's disease model.NADPH oxidase 4 inhibition improved the behavioral impairments observed in the Parkinson's disease model animals and reduced the death of dopaminergic neurons.Moreover,NADPH oxidase 4 inhibition reduced lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation in the substantia nigra of the Parkinson's disease model animals.Mechanistically,we found that NADPH oxidase 4 interacted with activated protein kinase Cαto prevent ferroptosis of dopaminergic neurons.Furthermore,by lowering the astrocytic lipocalin-2 expression,NADPH oxidase 4 inhibition reduced 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine-induced neuroinflammation.These findings demonstrate that NADPH oxidase 4 promotes ferroptosis of dopaminergic neurons and neuroinflammation,which contribute to dopaminergic neuron death,suggesting that NADPH oxidase 4 is a possible therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease.

Treatment with NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin alleviates diabetic neuropathic pain in rats

Increased reactive oxygen species by the activation of NADPH oxidase（NOX） contributes to the development of diabetic complications.Apocynin,a NOX inhibitor,increases sciatic nerve conductance and blood flow in diabetic rats.We investigated potential protective effect of apocynin in rat diabetic neuropathy and its precise mechanism of action at molecular level.Rat models of streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with apocynin（30 and 100 mg/kg per day,intragastrically） for 4 weeks.Mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia were determined weekly using analgesimeter and dynamic plantar aesthesiometer.Western blot analysis and histochemistry/immunohistochemistry were performed in the lumbar spinal cord and sciatic nerve respectively.Streptozotocin injection reduced pain threshold in analgesimeter,but not in aesthesiometer.Apocynin treatment increased pain threshold dose-dependently.Western blot analysis showed an increase in catalase and NOX-p47 phox protein expression in the spinal cord.However,protein expressions of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase（n NOS,i NOS）,superoxide dismutase,glutathion peroxidase,nitrotyrosine,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,interleukin-1β,aldose reductase,cyclooxygenase-2 or MAC-1（marker for increased microgliosis） in the spinal cord remained unchanged.Western blot analysis results also demonstrated that apocynin decreased NOX-p47 phox expression at both doses and catalase expression at 100 mg/kg per day.Histochemistry of diabetic sciatic nerve revealed marked degeneration.n NOS and i NOS immunoreactivities were increased,while S-100 immunoreactivity（Schwann cell marker） was decreased in sciatic nerve.Apocynin treatment reversed these changes dose-dependently.In conclusion,decreased pain threshold of diabetic rats was accompanied by increased NOX and catalase expression in the spinal cord and increased degeneration in the sciatic nerve characterized by increased NOS expression and Schwann cell loss.Apocynin treatment attenuates neuropathic pain by decelerating the increased oxidative stress-mediated pathogenesis in diabetic rats.

Possible Involvement of NADPH Oxidase in Lanthanide Cation-Induced Superoxide Anion Generation in BY-2 Tobacco Cell Suspension Culture

A rapid and concentration-dependent generation of superoxide anion （·O2^-）, measured with a superoxide-specific Cypridina luciferin-derived chemiluminescent reagent, was observed when two lanthanide salts （LaCl3 and CdCl3 ） were added to tobacco （ Nicotiana tabacum） cell suspension culture. Addition of superoxide dismutase （480 U·ml^-1） and Tiron （5 μmol·L^-1） to cell culture suspension decreases the level of lanthanide cation-induced ·O2^- generation, suggesting that ·O2^- generation is extra-cellular. Pretreatment of the cell culture suspension with diphenyleneiodonium （10 and 50 μmol·L^-1 ）, quinacrine （ 1 and 5 mmol· L^-1 ） and imidazol （ 10 mmol· L^-1 ）, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, notably inhibits the generation of superoxide induced by lanthanide cation, implying the possible involvement of activation of NADPH oxidase. In addition, addition of SHAM （1 and 5 mmol· L^-1）, azide （0.2 and 1 mmol· L^-1 ）, inhibitor of peroxidase, has no influence on ·O2^- generation.

NADPH Oxidase-dependent Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage in Hippocampus of D-galactose-induced Aging Rats

Mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) common deletion(CD) plays a significant role in aging and age-related diseases.In this study,we used D-galactose(D-gal) to generate an animal model of aging and the involvement and causative mechanisms of mitochondrial damage in such a model were investigated.Twenty 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups:D-gal group(n=10) and control group(n=10).The quantity of the mtDNA CD in the hippocampus was determined using a TaqMan real-time PCR assay.Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure in the hippocampus.Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NADPH oxidase(NOX) and uncoupling protein 2(UCP2).We found that the level of mtDNA CD was significantly higher in the hippocampus of D-gal-induced aging rats than in control rats.In comparison with the control group,the mitochondrial ultrastructure in the hippocampus of D-gal-treated rats was damaged,and the protein levels of NOX and UCP2 were significantly increased in the hippocampus of D-gal-induced aging rats.This study demonstrated that the levels of mtDNA CD and NOX protein expression were significantly increased in the hippocampus of D-gal-induced aging rats.These findings indicate that NOX-dependent reactive oxygen species generation may contribute to D-gal-induced mitochondrial damage.

NADPH oxidase 2 does not contribute to early reperfusion-associated reactive oxygen species generation following transient focal cerebral ischemia

Excess production of reactive oxygen species （ROS） critically contributes to occurrence of reperfusion injury, the paradoxical response of ischemic brain tissue to restoration of cerebral blood flow. However, the enzymatic sources of ROS generation remain to be unclear. This study examined Nox2-ontaining NADPH oxidase （Nox2） expression and its activity in ischemic brain tissue following post-ischemic reperfusion to clarify the mechanism of enzymatic reaction of ROS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 90-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 3 or 22.5 hours of reperfusion. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and western blot assay were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression of Nox2. Lucigenin fluorescence assays were performed to assess Nox activity. Our data showed that Nox2 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased （3.7-fold for mRNA and 3.6-fold for protein） in ischemic brain tissue at 22.5 hours but not at 3 hours following post-ischemic reperfusion. Similar results were obtained for the changes of NADPH oxidase activity in ischemic cerebral tissue at the two reperfusion time points. Our results suggest that Nox2 may not contribute to the early burst of reperfusion-related ROS generation, but is rather an important source of ROS generation during prolonged reperfusion.

Expression of NADPH Oxidase and Production of Reactive Oxygen Species in Aorta in an Active Immunization Mouse Model with AT1-EC2 Peptide

The antibody against AT1-EC2 plays a role in some kinds of inflammatory vascular diseases including malignant hypertension,preeclampsia,and renal-allograft rejection,but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear.In order to investigate the changes of NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species in the aorta in a mouse model which can produce AT1-EC2 antibody by active immunization with AT1-EC2 peptide,15 mice were divided into three groups:control group,AT1-EC2-immunized group,and AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group.In AT1-EC2-immunized group and AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group,the mice were immunized by 50 μg peptide subcutaneously at multiple points for 4 times:0,5,10,and 15 days after the experiment.In AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group,valsartan was given at a dose of 100 mg/kg every day for 20 days.After the experiment,the mice were sacrificed under anesthesia and the aortas were obtained and frozen in liquid nitrogen for the preparation of frozen section slides and other experiments.The titer of AT1-EC2 was assayed by using ELISA.The level of NOX1 mRNA in the aorta was determined by using RT-PCR.The expression of NOX1 was detected by using Western blotting.Confocal scanning microscopy was used to assay the α-actin and NOX1 expression in the aortic tissue.The O 2.production was detected in situ after DHE staining.The mice produced high level antibody against AT1-EC2 in AT1-EC2-immunized group and AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group,and the level of NOX1 mRNA in the aortic tissues was 1.6±0.4 times higher and the NOX1 protein expression was higher in AT1-EC2-immunized group than in control group.There were no significant differences in the level of NOX1 mRNA and protein expression between control group and AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group.The expression and co-localization of α-actin and NOX1 in AT1-EC2-immunized group increased significantly as compared with those in control group,and the O 2.production increased about 2.7 times as compared with control group.There were no significant differences between control group and AT1-EC2-immunized and valsartan-treated group.It is concluded that active immunization with AT1-EC2 can activate NOX1-ROS,and increase vascular inflammation,which can be inhibited by AT1 receptor blocker valsartan.This may partially explain the mechanism of the pathogenesis of inflammatory vascular diseases related to antibody against AT1-EC2.

NADPH Oxidase Accounts for Changes in Cerebrovascular Redox Status in Hindlimb Unweighting Rats

Objective The roles of cerebrovascular oxidative stress in vascular functional remodeling have been described in hindlimb-unweighting （HU） rats. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be established. Methods We investigated the generation of vascular reactive oxygen species （ROS）, Nox2/Nox4 protein and mRNA levels, NADPH oxidase activity, and manganese superoxide dismutase （MnSOD） and glutathione peroxidase-1 （GPx-1） mRNA levels in cerebral and mesenteric smooth muscle cells （VSMCs） of HU rats. Results ROS production increased in cerebral but not in mesenteric VSMCs of HU rats compared with those in control rats. Nox2 and Nox4 protein and mRNA levels were increased significantly but MnSOD/GPx-1 mRNA levels decreased in HU rat cerebral arteries but not in mesenteric arteries. NADPH oxidases were activated significantly more in cerebral but not in mesenteric arteries of HU rats. NADPH oxidase inhibition with apocynin attenuated cerebrovascular ROS production and partially restored Nox2/Nox4 protein and mRNA levels, NADPH oxidase activity, and MnSOD/GPx-1 mRNA levels in cerebral VSMCs of HU rats. Conclusion These results suggest that vascular NADPH oxidases regulate cerebrovascular redox status and participate in vascular oxidative stress injury during simulated microgravity.

TMEM16A contributes to endothelial dysfunction through accelerating Nox2 NADPH oxidase-derived ROS generation in hypertension

OBJECTIVE The Ca2+-activated Cl-channel(Ca CC)plays a crucial role in various physiological functions.Recent evidences suggest TMEM16A encodes CaC C in various cells,including endothelial cells.However,the role of TMEM16A in the vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypertension is unclear.METHODS In the study,RT-PCR,Western blotting,co-immunopricipitation,confocal imaging,patch-clamp,and endothelial-specific TMEM16A transgenic and knockout mice were employed.RESULTS We found that TMEM16A was expressed abundantly and functioned as Ca CC in endothelial cells.AngiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ)induced endothelial dysfunction with an increase in TMEM16A expression,which was alleviated by TMEM16A inhibitor.Further studies revealed that TMEM16A endothelial-specific knockout significantly lowered the blood pressure and ameliorated endothelial dysfunction in AngⅡ-induced hypertension,whereas,TMEM16A endothelial-specific overexpression showed the opposite effects.These results were related to the increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation,NADPH oxidase activation,and Nox2,p22phox expression facilitated by TMEM16A upon AngⅡ-induced hypertensive challenges.Moreover,TMEM16A directly interacted with Nox2 monomer and reduced the degradation of Nox2 through the proteasome-dependent endoplasmic recticulum-associated degradation pathway.TMEM16A also potentiated the translocation of p47phox and p67phox from cytosol to cell membrane and the subsequent interaction with Nox2.CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that TMEM16A,as Ca CC,is a positive regulator of ROS generation via upregulating the activation of Nox2 NADPH oxidase in the vascular endothelium,and therefore facilitates endothelial dysfunction and hypertension.Modification of TMEM16A may be a novel therapeutic strategy for endothelial dysfunction-associated cardiovascular diseases.

TNF-α Induces Endothelial Dysfunction via PKC-ζ-dependent NADPH Oxidase Activation

Endothelial dysfunction is implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases although the detailed mechanisms are not yet completely understood. A relationship has been suggested to exist between inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. TNF-α serves as one of the most important pro-inflammatory cytokines. The main objectives of the present study were to explore the effect of PKC-ζ on TNF-α-impaired endothelial function as well as the underlying mechanisms. Acetylcho-line-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation of mouse thoracic aorta stimulated by TNF-α was initially determined. PKC-ζ deficient mice and the specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase were respectively applied to elucidate their roles in TNF-α-induced endothelial dysfunction. In vitro superoxide generation in HAECs was detected by DHE staining after administration of TNF-α. Meanwhile, the regulatory p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase was evaluated by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The results showed that TNF-α conspicuously impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and the impairment was attenuated by either depleting PKC-ζ or inhibiting NADPH oxidase. In vitro TNF-α increased superoxide production and p47phox expression in HAECs, and such increases could be ameliorated by the specific PKC-ζ inhibitor. Our findings suggest that superoxide over-production triggered by PKC-ζ-dependent NADPH oxidase activation contributes to TNF-α-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Ferroptosis inhibition attenuates inflammatory response in mice with acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Ferroptosis is involved in developing inflammatory diseases;yet,its role in acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis(HTGP)remains unclear.AIM To explore whether ferroptosis is involved in the process of HTGP and elucidate its potential mechanisms.METHODS An HTGP mouse model was induced using intraperitoneal injection of P-407 and caerulein(CAE).Then,pancreatic tissues from the model animals were subjected to proteome sequencing analysis.The pathological changes and scores of the pancreas,lung,and kidney were determined using hematoxylin-eosin staining.The levels of serum amylase(AMY),triglyceride,and total cholesterol were measured with an automatic blood cell analyzer.Additionally,the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1βwere determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Malonaldehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH),and Fe^(2+)were detected in the pancreas.Finally,immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins.RESULTS Proteome sequencing revealed that ferroptosis was involved in the process of HTGP and that NADPH oxidase(NOX)2 may participate in ferroptosis regulation.Moreover,the levels of serum AMY,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1βwere significantly increased,MDA and Fe^(2+)were upregulated,GSH and ferroptosis-related proteins were reduced,and the injury of the pancreas,lung,and kidney were aggravated in the P407+CAE group compared to CAE and wild type groups(all P<0.05).Notably,the inhibition of ferroptosis and NOX2 attenuated the pathological damage and the release of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1βin the serum of the mice.CONCLUSION Ferroptosis was found to have an important role in HTGP and may be considered a potential target for clinical treatment.

High-starchy carbohydrate diet aggravates NAFLD by increasing fatty acids influx mediated by NOX2

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a high-incidence lipid disorder that affects more than a quarter of the population worldwide,and dietary intervention is the recognized treatment.Starch is the main component of staple foods that are consumed daily,and the effects,metabolic pathway,and molecular mechanism of starch in the context of NAFLD remain unclear.Our study showed that a high-starch carbohydrate diet(HCD)led to the occurrence and exacerbation of NAFLD in mice.Transcriptomics and metabonomic analyses showed that the increased fatty acid influx mediated by NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)exacerbated NAFLD.Knocking down NOX2 specifically alleviated HCD-induced NAFLD in vivo and in vitro.Moreover,the large amounts of ROS produced by NOX2 further exacerbated insulin resistance and increased lipolysis in perirenal white adipose tissue(periWAT),thereby providing fatty acids for hepatic lipid synthesis.In addition,the interaction between AMPKα1 and p47phox was the pathway that mediated the high expression of NOX2 induced by a HCD.Our study systematically demonstrated the effect of a HCD on NAFLD.Elevated fatty acid influx is a unique molecular regulatory pathway that mediates HCD-induced NAFLD exacerbation,which is different from the effect of simple sugars.Additionally,NOX2 was suggested to be a specific and effective drug target for NAFLD.

Anti-epileptic and Neuroprotective Effects of Ultra-low Dose NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor Dextromethorphan on Kainic Acid-induced Chronic Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Rats

Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and oxidative stress play pivotal roles in the development of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE).We postulated that kainic acid(KA)-Induced status epilepticus triggers microglia-dependent inflammation,leading to neuronal damage,a lowered seizure threshold,and the emergence of spontaneous recurrent seizures(SRS).Extensive evidence from our laboratory suggests that dextromethorphan(DM),even in ultra-low doses,has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in many animal models of neurodegenerative disease.Our results showed that administration of DM(10 ng/kg per day;subcutaneously via osmotic minipump for 4 weeks)significantly mitigated the residual effects of KA,including the frequency of SRS and seizure susceptibility.In addition,DM-treated rats showed improved cognitive function and reduced hippocampal neuronal loss.We found suppressed microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation and decreased expression of hippocampal gp91^(phox) and p47^(phox) proteins in KA-induced chronic TLE rats.Notably,even after discontinuation of DM treatment,ultra-low doses of DM continued to confer long-term anti-seizure and neuroprotective effects,which were attributed to the inhibition of microglial NADPH oxidase 2 as revealed by mechanistic studies.

Reynosin protects neuronal cells from microglial neuroinflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation mediated by NADPH oxidase

Neuroinflammation,mediated by the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing-3(NLRP3)inflammasome,is a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases(NDDs).Reynos-in,a natural sesquiterpene lactone(SL),exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects,suggesting its potential therapeutic value.However,the effects and mechanism of reynosin on neuroinflammation remain elusive.The current study explores the effects and mechanisms of reynosin on neuroinflammation using mice and BV-2 microglial cells treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Our findings reveal that reynosin effectively reduces microglial inflammation in vitro,as demonstrated by decreased CD11b expression and lowered interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)mRNA and protein levels.Correspondingly,in vivo,results showed a re-duction in the number of Iba-1 positive cells and alleviation of morphological alterations,alongside decreased expressions of IL-1βand IL-18.Further analysis indicates that reynosin inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation,evidenced by reduced transcription of NLRP3 and caspase-1,diminished NLRP3 protein expression,inhibited apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC)oli-gomerization,and decreased caspase-1 self-cleavage.Additionally,reynosin curtailed the activation of nicotinamide adenine dinuc-leotide phosphate(NADPH)oxidase,demonstrated by reduced NADP^(+)and NADPH levels,downregulation of gp91^(phox) mRNA,pro-tein expression,suppression of p47^(phox) expression and translocation to the membrane.Moreover,reynosin exhibited a neuroprotective effect against microglial inflammation in vivo and in vitro.These collective findings underscore reynosin’s capacity to mitigate mi-croglial inflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome,thus highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for managing neuroinflammation.

Mechanism of Oxidative Burst in Tobacco Leaves and Cells Induced by Palmin from Phytophthora palmi

In order to reveal the signaling pathways triggered by elicitor in plant-microbe interactions, the mechanisms of hypersensitive necrosis responses in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Gexin III induced by palmin were studied at molecular and cellular level. The burst of superoxide, intercellular diffusion of hydrogen peroxide and process of cell death induced by palmin were investigated in tobacco plants by biochemical methods and Confocal microscopy. The results showed that a large amount of O-2(.-) was rapidly generated in tobacco cell elicited by palmin as a result of activation of NADPH oxidase, and the O-2(.-) was dismutated into H2O2 immediately by superoxide dismutase (SOD). Accumulation and intercellular diffusion of H2O2 were shown to be a trigger for hypersensitive cell death; and Ca2+ and some specific protein kinase were also shown to be involved in the activation of oxidative burst in tobacco cell induced by palmin.

ROS-related Enzyme Expressions in Endothelial Cells Regulated by Tea Polyphenols

Objective Elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially the level of superoxide is a key event in many forms of cardiovascular diseases. To study the mechanism of tea polyphenols against cardiovascular diseases, we observed the expressions of ROS-related enzymes in endothelial cells. Methods Tea polyphenols were co-incubated with bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BCAECs) in vitro and intracellular NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p67phox, SOD-1, and catalase protein were detected using Western blot method. Results Tea polyphenols of 0.4 ug/mL and 4.0 ug/mL (from either green tea or black tea) down-regulated NADPH oxidase p22phox and p67phox expressions in a dose-negative manner (P<0.05), and up-regulated the expressions of catalase (P<0.05). Conclusions Tea polyphenols regulate the enzymes involved in ROS production and elimination in endothelial cells, and may be beneficial to the prevention of endothelial cell dysfunction and the development of cardiovascular diseases.

A RHOse by any other name:a comparative analysis of animal and plant Rho GTPases

Rho GTPases are molecular switches that act as key regulators of a many cellular processes, including cell movement, morphogenesis, host defense, cell division and gene expression. Rho GTPases are found in all eukaryotic kingdoms. Plants lack clear homologs to conventional Rho GTPases found in yeast and animals; instead, they have over time developed a unique subfamily, ROPs, also known as RAC. The origin of ROP-like proteins appears to precede the appearance of land plants. This review aims to discuss the evolution of ROP/RAC and to compare plant ROP and animal Rho GTPases, focusing on similarities and differences in regulation of the GTPases and their downstream effectors.

Protective effects of apocynin and allopurinol on ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver injury in mice

AIM: To determine the effects of allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, and apocynin, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, on oxidant stress and liver injury caused by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) procedure in mice. METHODS: Mice were pretreated with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, or NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor, apocynin before the hepatic I/R procedure. Then treated or untreated mice underwent the hepatic I/R procedure. The effects on hepatic injury and superoxide anions were determined after starting reperfusion. RESULTS: A standard warm hepatic I/R procedure led to a marked increase in superoxide anion production as indicated by a superoxide anion tracer, MCLA. At the same time, the procedure caused profound acute liver injury, as indicated by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, reduced liver glutathione levels and elevated malondialdehyde contents, as well as a high apoptotic cell count. All these changes were reversed by the use of apocynin or allopurinol prior to the hepatic I/R procedure. CONCLUSION: Allopurinol and apocynin exerted protective effects on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. The protection is associated with blocking the generationof superoxide anions during the hepatic I/R procedure by inhibiting xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase activity.