Activation of medial septum cholinergic neurons restores cognitive function in temporal lobe epilepsy

Cognitive impairment is the most common complication in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal scle rosis.There is no effective treatment for cognitive impairment.Medial septum cholinergic neurons have been reported to be a potential target for controlling epileptic seizures in tempo ral lobe epile psy.However,their role in the cognitive impairment of temporal lobe epilepsy remains unclear.In this study,we found that patients with temporal lobe epile psy with hippocampal sclerosis had a low memory quotient and severe impairment in verbal memory,but had no impairment in nonverbal memory.The cognitive impairment was slightly correlated with reduced medial septum volume and medial septum-hippocampus tra cts measured by diffusion tensor imaging.In a mouse model of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy induced by kainic acid,the number of medial septum choline rgic neurons was reduced and acetylcholine release was reduced in the hippocampus.Furthermore,selective apoptosis of medial septum cholinergic neurons mimicked the cognitive deficits in epileptic mice,and activation of medial septum cholinergic neurons enhanced hippocampal acetylcholine release and restored cognitive function in both kainic acid-and kindling-induced epile psy models.These res ults suggest that activation of medial septum cholinergic neurons reduces cognitive deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy by increasing acetylcholine release via projections to the hippocampus.

Satellite glial cells in sensory ganglia play a wider role in chronic pain via multiple mechanisms

Satellite glial cells are unique glial cells that surround the cell body of primary sensory neurons.An increasing body of evidence suggests that in the presence of inflammation and nerve damage,a significant number of satellite glial cells become activated,thus triggering a series of functional changes.This suggests that satellite glial cells are closely related to the occurrence of chronic pain.In this review,we first summarize the morphological structure,molecular markers,and physiological functions of satellite glial cells.Then,we clarify the multiple key roles of satellite glial cells in chronic pain,including gap junction hemichannel Cx43,membrane channel Pannexin1,K channel subunit 4.1,ATP,purinergic P2 receptors,and a series of additional factors and their receptors,including tumor necrosis factor,glutamate,endothelin,and bradykinin.Finally,we propose that future research should focus on the specific sorting of satellite glial cells,and identify genomic differences between physiological and pathological conditions.This review provides an important perspective for clarifying mechanisms underlying the peripheral regulation of chronic pain and will facilitate the formulation of new treatment plans for chronic pain.

Hydrogen sulfide responsive nanoplatforms: Novel gas responsive drug delivery carriers for biomedical applications

Hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)is a toxic,essential gas used in various biological and physical processes and has been the subject of many targeted studies on its role as a new gas transmitter.These studies have mainly focused on the production and pharmacological side effects caused by H_(2)S.Therefore,effective strategies to remove H_(2)S has become a key research topic.Furthermore,the development of novel nanoplatforms has provided new tools for the targeted removal of H_(2)S.This paper was performed to review the association between H_(2)S anddisease,relatedH_(2)S inhibitory drugs,aswell as H_(2)S responsive nanoplatforms(HRNs).This review first analyzed the role of H_(2)S in multiple tissues and conditions.Second,common drugs used to eliminate H_(2)S,as well as their potential for combination with anticancer agents,were summarized.Not only the existing studies on HRNs,but also the inhibition H_(2)S combined with different therapeutic methods were both sorted out in this review.Furthermore,this review provided in-depth analysis of the potential of HRNs about treatment or detection in detail.Finally,potential challenges of HRNs were proposed.This study demonstrates the excellent potential of HRNs for biomedical applications.

Loss of Hrh2 on dopaminergic neurons leads to mania-like behavior in mice

OBJECTIVE Dysfunction of the dopaminergic(DA)neurons is implicated in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder(BPD).Hista⁃mine receptor 2(Hrh2)is highly expressed in DA neurons,and its antagonists have been reported to induce mania phase of BPD.However,whether Hrh2 on DA neurons contributes to BPD patho⁃genesis is unclear.The present study aims to explore the role of hrh2 on DA neurons in the pathology of BPD.METHODS AAV-FLEX-shHrh2 was injected into a targeted brain area of DAT-Cre mice,leading to a selective brain-regional loss of Hrh2 on DA neurons.A series of behavior tests were used to measure the sponta⁃neous activity,anxiety and depression level of Hrh2-deficient mice.RESULTS①In the open field test and home-cage activity test,Hrh2-defi⁃cient mice displayed increased spontaneous activity.②Hrh2-deficient mice showed reduced depression level in the tail suspension test,forced swimming test and sucrose preference test.③The anxiety level of Hrh2-deficient mice was decreased in the open field test.CONCLU⁃SION Hrh2 on DA neurons is closely related with mania-like behavior.

Neuroprotective effect of cerebroprotein hydrolysate on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury mice

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effect of cerebroprotein hydroly⁃sate(CH)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.METHODS A total of 60 male SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided,reforming longa method into sham group(sham),model group(tMCAO,reforming longa method),CH 0.2 and 0.5 g·kg-1 groups and positive drug control group(edaravone 0.008 g·kg-1).Neurological deficit score were performed 24 h after opera⁃tion.Mice with scores ranged between 1 and 3 were included in subsequent experiments.Each group had 8 mice.CH edaravone and normal sa⁃line were ip injected for 5 d.The tMCAO group and the sham group were administered the same amount of normal saline as administration groups.TTC staining was used to measure the volume of cerebral infarction;ELISA was per⁃formed to detect the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)in serum and penumbra.RESULTS TTC staining results showed that there was no infarction in sham group.Compared with tMCAO group,the infarct volume in each administration group was signifi⁃cantly decreased(P<0.01).ELISA results showed that IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γin serum and penumbra were of significant difference between tMCAO group and sham group(P<0.01),and BDNF was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with tMCAO group,IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γin serum and ischemic penumbra were sig⁃nificantly decreased in all administration groups(P<0.01),while the content of BDNF was in⁃creased in CH 0.2 g·kg-1 group and edaravone 0.008 g·kg-1 group(P<0.05),and other groups were significantly increased(P<0.01).CONCLU⁃SION CH could reduce the cerebral infarction vol⁃ume and improve the nerve injury caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.The mechanism was related to inhibit the expression of IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γand increase the expression of BDNF possibly.

Establishment of lipopolysaccharide induced microglial inflammation model

OBJECTIVE To establish an in vitro inflammatory model of BV2 by observing the activity,the release amount of NO and the expression of inflammatory factors of microglial cells(BV2)induced by lipopolysaccharides(LPS).METHODS BV2 was routinely cultured in vitro.Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 meth⁃od.And by drew cell growth curve to determine the logarithmic growth cycle of the cells.After 24 h of routine culture,BV2 were induced by adding different concentrations of LPS(0.1,1.0 and 10.0 mg·L-1)for 4,8,12,24 and 48 h,respectively.Meanwhile,the morphological changes of BV2 were observed under inverted microscope to compare the activation degree of microglia at dif⁃ferent time and concentration.Cell activity and nitric oxide(NO)level were determined by CCK-8 and Griess method respectively,which could help to determine the optimal concentration and time of modeling.Finally,It were determined by ELISA that the concentrations of tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and IL-1βin supernatant of LPS 1 mg·L-1 culture for 24 h.RESULTS BV2 were in logarithmic growth phase for 1 to 3 d after subculture.LPS 1 mg·L-1 induced BV2 for 24 or 48 h which could increase the release amount of NO significantly(P<0.05).In order to save time,LPS induced BV2 for 24 h were selected for subsequent experiments.Microglial cells in resting state were observed to be elongated spindle shape under inverted micro⁃scope.After LPS activation,the cell body became larger and the branching processes shrank back,presenting an amoeba-like appearance.ELISA results showed that the concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1βin supernatant of LPS 1 mg·L-1 cultured for 24 h were significantly increased which compared with the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION LPS could induce the activation of BV2 and up-regulate the level of inflammatory factors.The optimal condition for establishing stable BV2 microglial inflammatory model was used LPS 1 g·L-1 induced for 24 h.

Lignin-assisted construction of sub-10 nm supramolecular self-assembly for photothermal immunotherapy and potentiating anti-PD-1 therapy against primary and distant breast tumors

Photothermal therapy(PTT)has brought hope for cancer treatments,with hyperthermia-induced immunogenic cell death(ICD),which is a critical part of therapeutically induced antitumor immune responses.Limited immune stimulation response in PTT is the primary reason for incomplete tumor ablation,therefore demonstrating urgent requirements for ICD amplifier.Herein,a sub-10 nm supramolecular nanoassembly was formed by coassembly of clinically approved aluminum adjuvant and commonly used indocyanine green(ICG)under the assistance of lignosulfonate(LS,a green and sustainable multifunctional lignin derivative)for localized photothermal-immunotherapy of breast cancer.The overall results revealed that LS-Al-ICG is capable of inducing amplified ICD,efficiently eliciting solid immune responses through dendritic cells(DCs)activation and cytotoxic T-cell responses initiation for tumor killing.Moreover,anti-PD-1 therapy blocked the PD-1 pathway and led to remarkable anti-tumor efficacy against laser-irradiated primary tumors and distant tumors by potentiating systemic tumor specific T cell immunity.The results of this study demonstrate a handy and extensible approach for engineering green natural lignin nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy,which shows promise for delivering other therapeutics in biomedical applications.

Dissecting the brain with spatially resolved multi-omics

Recent studies have highlighted spatially resolved multi-omics technologies,including spatial genomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,and metabolomics,as powerful tools to decipher the spatial heterogeneity of the brain.Here,we focus on two major approaches in spatial transcriptomics(next-generation sequencing-based technologies and image-based technologies),and mass spectrometry imaging technologies used in spatial proteomics and spatial metabolomics.Furthermore,we discuss their applications in neuroscience,including building the brain atlas,uncovering gene expression patterns of neurons for special behaviors,deciphering the molecular basis of neuronal communication,and providing a more comprehensive explanation of the molecular mechanisms underlying central nervous system disorders.However,further efforts are still needed toward the integrative application of multi-omics technologies,including the real-time spatial multi-omics analysis in living cells,the detailed gene profile in a whole-brain view,and the combination of functional verification.

Stem Cell Transplantation Represents a New Strategy for the Treatment of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by faulty neuronal synchronization and repeated seizures.The balance between glutamatergic excitatory neurons and gammaaminobutyric acid inhibitory neurons is critical for optimal brain function.Malfunctions in inhibitory interneurons are one of the reasons that can result in the onset of epilepsy.

mTORC2:The“Ace in the Hole”for a Broader Control of Epileptic Seizures?

Over 70 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy-one of the most prevalent chronic neurological disorders[1].Despite the availability of over thirty anti-seizure drugs(ASDs)that mainly act on voltage-gated ion channels or inhibitory GABAergic receptors,the effectiveness of these drugs in achieving seizure freedom remains unsatisfactory due to pharmacoresistance and the inevitable occurrence of side-effects.

Activation of glutamatergic neurons in the somatosensory cortex promotes remyelination in ischemic vascular dementia

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion can cause progressive demyelination as well as ischemic vascular dementia,however no effective treatments are available.Here,based on magnetic resonance imaging studies of patients with white matter damage,we found that this damage is associated with disorganized cortical structure.In a mouse model,optogenetic activation of glutamatergic neurons in the somatosensory cortex significantly promoted oligodendrocyte progenitor cell(OPC)proliferation,remyelination in the corpus callosum,and recovery of cognitive ability after cerebral hypoperfusion.The therapeutic effect of such stimulation was restricted to the upper layers of the cortex,but also spanned a wide time window after ischemia.Mechanistically,enhancement of glutamatergic neuron-OPC functional synaptic connections is required to achieve the protection effect of activating cortical glutamatergic neurons.Additionally,skin stroking,an easier method to translate into clinical practice,activated the somatosensory cortex,thereby promoting OPC proliferation,remyelination and cognitive recovery following cerebral hypoperfusion.In summary,we demonstrated that activating glutamatergic neurons in the somatosensory cortex promotes the proliferation of OPCs and remyelination to recover cognitive function after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.It should be noted that this activation may provide new approaches for treating ischemic vascular dementia via the precise regulation of glutamatergic neuron-OPC circuits.

Revealing the complex role of CDKL5 in developmental epilepsy through a calcium channel related vision

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are severe neurological conditions in clinical practice,among which loss-of-function mutations in brain-enriched serine-threonine kinase cyclin dependent kinase like-5(CDKL5)exists as one of the most common types.It is unknown,therefore,how precisely CDKL5 mutations lead to neuronal hyper-excitation.A recent study that looked at the connection between voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.3 and CDKL5 in an experimental context was published in Nature Communications.This study has revealed that Cav2.3,a physi-ological phosphorylation target of CDKL5,would show delayed inactivation and increased cholinergic stimulation in CDKL5 knock out conditions.This would in turn cause neuronal hyperexcitability and related enhanced seizure susceptibility.This work,in our opinion,provided fresh insight into the epileptic encephalopathies linked to CDKL5 and highlighted Cav2.3 as a possible target for it.

From Acupoints to Mylohyoid: Revealing the Neural Circuitry Basis of Electroacupuncture for Dysphagia

Acupuncturea representative and historical treatment in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),has been used to cure diseases for Chinese people in the past centuries.Since the late 1990s,acupuncture has been further accepted worldwide.The World Health Organization(WHO)proposed Clinical Research Specification for acupuncture in 1995 and the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved acupuncture as a complementary and alternative therapy for various kinds of diseases in 1996,with clinical advantages such as convenience and effectiveness[1].Cumulative evidence has proved that acupuncture could produce different degrees of efficacy for treating various kinds of diseases(such as neuropathic pain,migraine,Parkinson's disease et al.)and alleviate symptoms[2-4].However,unlike its evidence-based efficacies.

Xanthoangelol alleviates ischemic stroke injury by inhibiting the inflammatory activation of microglia

Background:Local inflammation induced by microglial activation plays a significant role in the pathological process of cerebral ischemia.Angelica keiskei(Miq.)Koidz.,a traditional botanical drug,can be used as a diuretic,laxative or galactagogue.Xanthoangelol(XA),an active chalcone compound from the aerial part of Angelica keiskei,has anti-inflammatory effects in the peripheral tissues.However,its effect against neuroinflammation is yet unclear.Objective:The present study aims to investigate whether XA could mitigate ischemic stroke damage through attenuating neuroinflammation due to microglia activation.Methods:Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)induced cerebral ischemia and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R)or lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells were utilized to evaluate XA’s protection against ischemic injury and neuroinflammation.The severity of brain injury was assessed using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining and neurological assessment.The expressions of inflam-matory cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Reactive oxygen species(ROS)were assessed using dichlorodihydrofluores-cein diacetate(DCF-DA)staining.NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation was confirmed by immunofluorescence(IF)staining.The expressions of proteins were quantified by Western blotting.Results:XA was efficacious in reducing infarct size and improving neurological function in MCAO/R mice.In ischemic brain tissue,XA reduced microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine expression.In lipopolysac-charide(LPS)and OGD/R-induced cell models,XA suppressed the production of ROS and decreased the secretion of inflammatory cytokines.Additionally,XA suppressed the nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and blocked the activation of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)inflammasome.The protec-tion of XA against MCAO/R-induced damages was not attenuated in TLR4^(−/−)and MD2^(−/−)mice.Mito-TEMPO treatment reversed XA’s anti-inflammatory properties in OGD/R-induced BV2 cells.Conclusion:XA attenuates ischemic stroke injury by suppressing microglial inflammatory responses.This efficacy is tied to its antioxidant activity and is independent of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)or myeloid differentiation protein 2(MD2).

Anticonvulsant Effect of Xingnaojing Injection on Acute Seizure Models in Mice

Background:Epilepsy is characterized by acute recurrent seizures.The control of seizures is largely hampered by the tolerance to current anti-seizure drugs.Complementary anti-convulsant pharmacotherapies are urgently needed.Objective:Here,we aimed to investigate the anti-convulsant effects of Xingnaojing Injection(XNJ)which is an approved Traditional Chinese Medicine injection on different acute seizure models in mice.Methods:The effects of XNJ were tested on the maximal electroshock(MES),pentylenetetrazol(PTZ)and kainic acid(KA)acute seizure models.Also,whether XNJ can directly inhibit hippocampal neuronal firings were exam-ined by in vitro electrophysiology.Results:XNJ could shorten the durations of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the MES model.It also significantly prolonged the latencies to generalized myo-clonic seizures in the PTZ model.In the KA model,XNJ showed various efficacies including inhibiting the seizure stages,prolonging the latency to the occurrence of the first seizures or generalized seizures,shortening the seizure durations,decreasing the numbers of generalized seizures.In vitro electrophysiological recordings further verified XNJ directly inhibited both the spontaneous and evoked action potentials of hippocampal pyramidal neurons,but did not influence the excitatory or inhibitory synaptic transmissions.Conclusion:These findings proposed XNJ as an alternative anti-convulsant pharmacotherapy for controlling acute epileptic seizures.

One Small Step for Neurotechnology,One Giant Leap for an In-Depth Understanding of the Brain

Is science mostly driven by ideas or by tools?The answers to the everlasting question remain open.But the advances in techniques undoubtedly push forward scientific research to investigate both more in-breadth and in-depth aspects.

Now We Can Tame the Wild West of Controlling Astrocytes for Treating Neocortical Epilepsy

Are activated astrocytes pro-excitatory in epilepsy?The answer tends to be"yes"with cumulative evidence proposing that astrocytic activation leads to hyperexcitability through excitatory transmitter release or neuroinflammatory pathways[1-3].But a very recent study published in Nature Communications by Zhao J et al.has refreshed this viewpoint by showing that optogenetic activation of astrocytes can alleviate neocortical seizures(a type of epileptic symptom that originates in the neocortex which is part of the external surface layer of the brain)through astrocytic Na^(+)-K^(+)-ATPase in animal models[4](Fig.1).

GABAergic Interneuron Cell Therapy for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Epilepsy,one of the most common central nervous system disorders,affects about 70 million people of all ages worldwide[1].It is characterized by hyperactive neuronal networks,resulting from imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory activity.Despite the development of multiple next-generation anti-seizure medicines,one-third of epilepsy patients are still drug-resistant[2].