Article
Immunology
Karina S. MacDowell, David Martin-Hernandez, Cristina Ulecia-Moron, Alvaro G. Bris, Jose L. M. Madrigal, Borja Garcia-Bueno, Javier R. Caso
Summary: This study investigated the potential involvement of inflammasomes in stress-induced neuroinflammation and the modulatory effects of paliperidone. The findings suggest that chronic stress induces inflammasome complexes in the frontal cortex of rats, and pre-treatment with paliperidone can normalize this response, highlighting its inhibitory action on stress-induced inflammasomes. Targeting inflammasome pathways could be a promising approach for future therapeutic interventions in neuropsychiatric diseases.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Imran, Fawad Ali Shah, Humaira Nadeem, Alam Zeb, Muhammad Faheem, Shagufta Naz, Asma Bukhari, Tahir Ali, Shupeng Li
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease affected by lifestyle factors, with alcohol consumption exacerbating memory impairments. A study on benzimidazole acetamide derivatives showed potential neuroprotective effects in ethanol-induced neurodegeneration in a rat model, with three derivatives significantly modulating ethanol-induced memory deficits and neuroinflammatory-oxidative stress cycle.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Serena Paladini, Vittoria Spero, Veronica Begni, Francesca Marchisella, Alice Guidi, Piotr Gruca, Magdalena Lason, Ewa Litwa, Maurisz Papp, Marco A. Riva, Raffaella Molteni
Summary: The study suggests that the second-generation antipsychotic blonanserin may normalize emotionality deficits induced by Chronic Mild Stress in rats by modulating redox mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex, providing new insights into its therapeutic properties and potential use as a treatment for psychiatric disorders.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noha A. Mowaad, Marwa E. A. El-Shamarka, Yasser A. Khadrawy
Summary: Boldenone and tramadol abuse in adolescents led to impaired memory and cognitive functions, reduced motor activity, increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, decreased acetylcholinesterase level, and reduced number of survived neurons in the cortex. These changes were accompanied by decreased Bcl2 level and neuronal death as shown by histopathological examination.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea C. Rossetti, Maria Serena Paladini, Cesar Augusto Bruning, Vittoria Spero, Maria Grazia Cattaneo, Giorgio Racagni, Mariusz Papp, Marco A. Riva, Raffaella Molteni
Summary: Neuroinflammation has been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the mechanism of action of antidepressants. This study investigated the involvement of IL-6 signaling in the therapeutic effects of the antidepressant drug agomelatine in rats exposed to chronic stress. The results revealed that agomelatine was able to restore the negative modulation of IL-6 signaling and improve the anhedonic-like behavior induced by chronic stress.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tyciane S. Nascimento, Daniel Pinto, Ronaldo P. Dias, Ramon S. Raposo, Paulo Iury G. Nunes, Cassia R. Roque, Flavia A. Santos, Geanne M. Andrade, Jose Lucas Viana, Anne H. Fostier, Alessandra Sussulini, Jacqueline Alvarez-Leite, Carlos Fontes-Ribeiro, Joao O. Malva, Reinaldo B. Oria
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of chronic methylmercury exposure on adult mice, revealing that methylmercury leads to increased weight gain, elevated lipid and inflammation levels, oxidative stress in the hippocampus, altered amino acid levels, neuroinflammation, and negative behavioral effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hong Xu, Hui Li, Dexiang Liu, Wen Wen, Mei Xu, Jacqueline A. Frank, Jing Chen, Haining Zhu, Nicholas J. Grahame, Jia Luo
Summary: Chronic alcohol abuse can cause a variety of physical and mental disorders by affecting neurotransmitters, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and thiamine levels in the brain. This study using female cHAP mice as a model of chronic voluntary drinking found that alcohol consumption led to anxiety-like behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Qinglan Zong, Yue Pan, Yongfang Liu, Zhengcun Wu, Zhangqiong Huang, Ying Zhang, Kaili Ma
Summary: Neuroinflammation is closely related to neurodegenerative diseases, and pNaktide has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in various diseases. This study showed that pNaktide improved behavioral deficits and inhibited inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways induced by LPS. It also alleviated the inhibition of autophagy and enhancement of apoptosis caused by LPS, protecting newborn neurons in the hippocampus.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Ali Haidar, Zaynab Shakkour, Chloe Barsa, Maha Tabet, Sarin Mekhjian, Hala Darwish, Mona Goli, Deborah Shear, Jignesh D. Pandya, Yehia Mechref, Riyad El Khoury, Kevin Wang, Firas Kobeissy
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects of MitoQ in traumatic brain injury using a mouse model. The results showed that MitoQ improved neurological and cognitive functions, reduced inflammation, and prevented axonal injury.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiao Zhang, Yaping Guo, Zhonghong Zhang, Xintong Wu, Li Li, Zhiping Yang, Zhipeng Li
Summary: The neuroprotective effect and molecular mechanism of bavachin, a flavonoid compound in Psoralea corylifolia, were investigated. The study found that bavachin inhibited neuroinflammation and exerted antioxidative stress effects. It also showed neuronal protective and anti-apoptotic effects by increasing Bcl-2 expression and inhibiting Bax expression. Mechanistically, bavachin upregulated Sirt1 and Nrf2 expression and inhibited the phosphorylation level of p65. This study provided evidence that bavachin could be a potential candidate for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cuiqin Fan, Ye Li, Tian Lan, Wenjing Wang, Xueqin Mao, Shu Yan Yu
Summary: The study demonstrates that curcumin can alleviate depressive behaviors in a rat model by suppressing oxidative stress, neural inflammation, and synaptic dysregulation, potentially through the miR-146a-5p/ERK signaling pathway. This suggests a neuroprotective and antidepressant role of curcumin as a potential therapeutic strategy for depression.
Article
Immunology
Bingxu Huang, Guiqiu Hu, Xiaofeng Zong, Shuo Yang, Dewei He, Xiyu Gao, Dianfeng Liu
Summary: Our study demonstrates that alpha-Cyperone alleviates dopaminergic neurodegeneration by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in LPS-induced PD rat model via activating Nrf2/HO-1 and suppressing NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Alpha-Cyperone ameliorated motor dysfunction, protected dopaminergic neurons, and inhibited the reduction of dopamine and its metabolites. It also suppressed the activation of microglia and the expression of neuroinflammatory factors.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward S. Wickstead, Bradley T. Elliott, Sarah Pokorny, Christopher Biggs, Stephen J. Getting, Simon McArthur
Summary: Regulation of microglial activation by targeting formyl peptide receptor 2 (Fpr2) can reverse inflammation induced by bacterial inflammogen and has therapeutic potential for neuroinflammatory diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Ya-Qun Zhou, Dai-Qiang Liu, Cheng Liu, Ai-Jun Xu, Yu-Ke Tian, Wei Mei, Xue-Bi Tian
Summary: Chronic pain remains a challenging issue in clinical practice, with limited improvements in pain treatment strategies. Researchers have found that the downregulation of α7 nAChR in rodent models of chronic pain is associated with the development and maintenance of pain. Recent studies have shown that potentiating α7 nAChR can alleviate pain behaviors in chronic pain models, suggesting its therapeutic potential for chronic pain management.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Aleksandar Dobric, Simone N. De Luca, Sarah J. Spencer, Steven Bozinovski, Michael M. Saling, Christine F. McDonald, Ross Vlahos
Summary: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and a leading cause of death worldwide. Cognitive dysfunction is highly prevalent in COPD and has significant impacts on quality of life and survival. Understanding the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in COPD could lead to novel therapeutic opportunities.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paula Fernanda Kinoshita, Ana Maria Marques Orellana, Vinicius Watanabe Nakao, Natacha Medeiros de Souza Port's, Luis Eduardo Menezes Quintas, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto, Cristoforo Scavone
Summary: Na+/K+-ATPase is crucial for maintaining the electrochemical gradient and plays a role in regulating calcium signaling and neuronal death. Understanding the interaction between Na+/K+-ATPase and calcium signaling may lead to discovering new targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Louise F. Kimura, Leonardo S. Novaes, Gisele Picolo, Carolina D. Munhoz, Chi W. Cheung, Rosana Camarini
Summary: This review discusses the role of inflammation as a major biological substrate and etiological factor of chronic pain and depression/anxiety, as well as the potential beneficial actions of environmental enrichment in chronic pain and comorbid depression/anxiety through its effects on microglia. Additionally, alternative interventions like environmental enrichment may improve treatment compliance and patient outcomes according to clinical guidelines.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jacqueline Alves Leite, Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante-Silva, Martina Raissa Ribeiro, Geovanni de Morais Lima, Cristoforo Scavone, Sandra Rodrigues-Mascarenhas
Summary: This review examines the potential regulatory role of the cardiac steroid ouabain in neutrophilic neuroinflammation.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alexis Bailey, Daniel C. Berwick, Rosana Camarini, Cristoforo Scavone
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Andre L. F. Nascimento, Pamela O. S. Medeiros, Luiz F. A. T. Pedrao, Vitoria C. Queiroz, Luiz M. Oliveira, Leonardo S. Novaes, Ariadiny L. Caetano, Carolina D. Munhoz, Ana C. Takakura, Barbara Falquetto
Summary: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurogenerative disorder characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNpc), leading to motor, cognitive, learning, and respiratory dysfunctions. New evidence revealed that breathing impairment in PD mainly results from oxidative stress (OS) that initiates apoptotic signaling in respiratory neurons. In this study, the role of OS inhibition using apocynin in a 6-OHDA PD animal model was investigated. The results showed that OS contributes to respiratory neuron death and breathing dysfunction in the PD animal model. Preventing oxidative stress may provide a new perspective for preventing respiratory impairments in PD.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Fernando Midea Cuccovia Reis, Leonardo Santana Novaes, Nilton Barreto dos Santos, Kelvia Carolina Ferreira-Rosa, Juliano Genaro Perfetto, Marcus Vinicius C. Baldo, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz, Newton Sabino Canteras
Summary: Previous studies have found that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the ventral hippocampus (VH) play critical roles in predator-related fear memory storage. Protein synthesis and glucocorticoid hormones are involved in modulating this process. Exposure to a predatory threat leads to rapid glucocorticoid release and facilitates fear memory consolidation.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jacqueline Alves Leite, Elisa Pocas, Gisele Silva Maia, Leandro Barbosa, Luis Eduardo M. Quintas, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto, Maria Luiza Correia da Silva, Cristoforo Scavone, Luciana E. Drumond de Carvalho
Summary: This article systematically reviews the in vitro effects of cardiotonic steroids on Ca2+ in the brain of rats and mice. The studies demonstrate that ouabain can increase cholinergic, noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, significantly increase intracellular signaling molecules such as InsPs, IP3 and cAMP, and stimulate myelin basic protein synthesis. The ouabain-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase may play a crucial role in cellular homeostasis and function.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rodrigo Campos-Cardoso, Livea Dornela Godoy, Willian Lazarini-Lopes, Leonardo Santana Novaes, Nilton Barreto dos Santos, Juliano Genaro Perfetti, Norberto Garcia-Cairasco, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz, Claudia Maria Padovan
Summary: This study investigates the impact of light conditions on anxiety-like behavior in rats and finds that higher light intensity decreases exploration of the lit compartment, while lower light intensity increases exploration. The results suggest that 65/0 lux is a neutral condition to study the anxiolytic/anxiogenic effects of drugs and/or exposure to previous aversive stimuli.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vanessa O. Zambelli, Nat Prime Alia Gabriele Hosch, Sarah Farom, Bianca C. Zychar, Diva D. Spadacci-Morena, Luciana Vieira Carvalho, Rui Curi, Lucilia B. Lepsch, Cristoforo Scavone, Osvaldo Augusto Sant'Anna, Luis Roberto C. Goncalves, Yara Cury, Sandra C. Sampaio
Summary: Crotoxin, isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus, displays immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral effects. It promotes leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells and reduces blood cell and lymphocyte numbers. The exact lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoid involved in the immunosuppressive effects of CTX is unknown. This study found that formyl peptide receptors mediate CTX-induced redistribution of lymphocytes and that 15-epi-LXA4 is a key mediator of CTX's immunosuppressive effects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vinicius Wanatable Nakao, Caio Henrique Yokowama Mazucanti, Larissa de Sa Lima, Paloma Segura de Mello, Natacha Medeiros de Souza Port's, Paula Fernanda Kinoshita, Jacqueline Alves Leite, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto, Cristoforo Scavone
Summary: Alpha-Klotho is an anti-aging protein that has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on renal cells and in the central nervous system. It shows potential in inhibiting neuroinflammation and improving neuronal health.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Fernanda Kinoshita, Ana Maria Orellana, Diana Zukas Andreotti, Giovanna Araujo de Souza, Natalia Prudente de Mello, Larissa Lima, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto, Cristoforo Scavone
Summary: This study investigated the effects of ouabain on a TNFR1 knockout mouse model. The results showed that the hippocampus of TNFR1 knockout mice exhibited a compensatory mechanism, and ouabain activated TNF-alpha-converting enzyme/adam 17, decreased NR2A expression, and induced anxiety-like behavior in both genotype animals, independent of the presence of TNFR1. However, ouabain only increased IL-1 beta levels in the hippocampus, decreased IL-6 levels in the serum, and increased NR1 expression in wild-type mice, indicating that TNFR1 or TNFR2 expression may be important for some effects of ouabain.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shirley Jaqueline Szriber, Leonardo Santana Novaes, Nilton Barreto Dos Santos, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz, Deise Carla Almeida Leite-Dellova
Summary: The study found an imbalance in MR-to-GR ratio, lower MR expression, and more degenerating neurons in the polymorphic layer of the DG in aged dogs, which have clinical implications for understanding cognitive changes associated with hippocampal memory formation in aged dogs.
Article
Neurosciences
Rodrigo Campos-Cardoso, Leonardo Santana Novaes, Livea Dornela Godoy, Nilton Barreto dos Santos, Juliano Genaro Perfetto, Willian Lazarini-Lopes, Norberto Garcia-Cairasco, Claudia Maria Padovan, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
Summary: The study investigated how stressful experiences affect physiological and behavioral responses in adolescent rats and how the release of corticosterone contributes to anxiety-like behavior. The researchers found that early adolescent male rats were resilient to the delayed effects of acute restraint stress, while metyrapone treatment increased exploration in rats immediately and ten days after stress. These findings suggest that there is a specific age at which adolescent rats are more resilient to stress and that the modulation of corticosterone levels has long-term behavioral consequences.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacqueline Alves Leite, Ana Maria Orellana, Diana Zukas Andreotti, Amanda Midori Matumoto, Natacha Medeiros de Souza Ports, Larissa de Sa Lima, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto, Carolina Demarchi Munhoz, Cristoforo Scavone
Summary: This study investigates the effects of endogenous substance ouabain (OUA) on the rat's central nervous system under chronic stress. The results suggest that intermittent administration of OUA can alleviate HPA axis abnormal activity caused by chronic stress, by reducing glucocorticoids levels, CRH-CRHR1 expression, and neuroinflammation via decreasing iNOS activity, without interfering with antioxidant enzymes expression. These changes may lead to the rapid extinction of aversive memory in the hypothalamus and hippocampus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandre Chagas Santana, Wellington Andraus, Dan Zimelewicz Oberman, Nicollas Nunes Rabelo, Filipe Miranda Oliveira Silva, Humberto Delle, Rafael Pepineli, Edvaldo Leal de Moraes, Cristoforo Scavone, Larissa de Sa Lima, Sabrina Degaspari, Sergio Brasil, Davi Jorge Fontoura Solla, Liliane Moreira Ruiz, Karina Andrighetti de Oliveira-Braga, Natalia Aparecida Nepomuceno, Paulo Manuel Pego-Fernandes, Stefan Gunther Tullius, Eberval Gadelha Figueiredo
Summary: Liver transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage liver failure, with most livers coming from brain-dead donors. Brain death triggers a broad inflammatory response characterized by increased cytokines, which makes the graft more immunogenic.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.