Cranial electrotherapy stimulation alleviates depression-like behavior of post-stroke depression rats by upregulating GPX4-mediated BDNF expression

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor improves depression and cognitive dysfunction in rats with ischemic stroke by mediating wolfram syndrome 1

OBJECTIVE

This research aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) in improving post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment (PSDCI) by mediating wolfram syndrome 1 (Wfs1).

METHODS

PSDCI rat model was established through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) was utilized as an Nrf2 activator, while Wfs1 knockdown lentiviral plasmid was injected into rats for functional investigations. Cognitive function- and depression-relevant parameters were assessed using Morris water maze, forced swimming, sucrose preference, modified neurological severity score (mNSS) tests. The infarct size, pathological changes, and neuronal damage were also evaluated. Additionally, oxidative stress- and inflammatory response-associated proteins were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding relation between Nrf2 and the Wfs1 promoter region was analyzed and verified by dual-luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.

RESULTS

PSDCI rats had reduced Nrf2 and Wfs1 expression in the hippocampal tissue and inhibited nuclear translocation of Nrf2, showing aggravated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses as well as cognitive dysfunction- and depressive-like symptoms. However, these symptoms in PSDCI rats can be alleviated in response to Nrf2 activation. Furthermore, Nrf2 activation increased the enrichment level of Nrf2 in the Wfs1 promoter region, promoting the transcriptional expression of Wfs1. Wfs1 knockdown partly reversed the effect of Nrf2 activation on the neuronal damage, cognitive dysfunction- and depressive-like symptoms of PSDCI rats.

CONCLUSION

Nrf2 activation can promote Wfs1 expression to reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress responses, ultimately alleviating PSDCI in rats.

Potential role and therapeutic implications of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder with a complex and incompletely understood pathogenesis. Despite extensive research, a cure for Alzheimer's disease has not yet been found. Oxidative stress mediates excessive oxidative responses, and its involvement in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis as a primary or secondary pathological event is widely accepted. As a member of the selenium-containing antioxidant enzyme family, glutathione peroxidase 4 reduces esterified phospholipid hydroperoxides to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. With the discovery of ferroptosis, the central role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in anti-lipid peroxidation in several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, has received widespread attention. Increasing evidence suggests that glutathione peroxidase 4 expression is inhibited in the Alzheimer's disease brain, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, which are closely associated with pathological damage in Alzheimer's disease. Several therapeutic approaches, such as small molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological treatments, ameliorate pathological damage and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease by promoting glutathione peroxidase 4 expression and enhancing glutathione peroxidase 4 activity. Therefore, glutathione peroxidase 4 upregulation may be a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review provides an overview of the gene structure, biological functions, and regulatory mechanisms of glutathione peroxidase 4, a discussion on the important role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in pathological events closely related to Alzheimer's disease, and a summary of the advances in small-molecule drugs, natural plant products, and non-pharmacological therapies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Most prior studies on this subject used animal models, and relevant clinical studies are lacking. Future clinical trials are required to validate the therapeutic effects of strategies targeting glutathione peroxidase 4 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Circ_0008146 Exacerbates Ferroptosis via Regulating the miR-342-5p/ACSL4 Axis After Cerebral Ischemic/Reperfusion

Purpose

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has seriously threatened people's health worldwide and there is an urge need for early diagnosis and effective treatment of AIS. This research intended to clarify the regulatory role of circ_0008146/miR-342-5p/ACSL4 axis in AIS.

Methods

High-throughput small RNA sequencing analysis was adapted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs between the AIS and control group. The circ_0008146, miR-342-5p, and ACSL4 levels were detected by qRT-PCR. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) models were constructed in C57BL/6J mice. Assay kits were used to determine Fe2+ levels and a battery of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation indicators, including ROS, MDA, LPO, SOD and GSH/GSSG ratio. The protein levels of ACSL4 were measured by Western blot. The behavioral function was assessed using neurobehavioral tests. TTC staining was employed to visualize infarction size. Nissl staining was adapted to detect histopathological changes. Receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analysis were applied to investigate the clinical value and association of miR-342-5p and ACSL4.

Results

A total of 44 AIS patients and 49 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. The small RNA sequencing unveiled a significant decrease in miR-342-5p levels in AIS patients. MiR-342-5p inhibited oxidative stress and RSL3-induced ferroptosis after cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury in vivo by targeting ferroptosis-related gene ACSL4. Circ_0008146 acted as a sponge of miR-342-5p, and overexpression of circ_0008146 increased neurological deficits and brain injury in mice. Circ_0008146 contributed to ferroptosis in cerebral infarction via sponging miR-342-5p to regulate ACSL4. Plasma miR-342-5p and ACSL4 demonstrated significant correlation and good diagnostic value for AIS patients.

Conclusion

This study provides the first in vivo evidence to show that circ_0008146 exacerbates neuronal ferroptosis after AIS via the miR-342-5p/ACSL4 axis. Furthermore, miR-342-5p/ACSL4 axis holds promise as a viable therapeutic target and practical biomarkers for AIS patients.

Kaempferol-3-O-sophoroside (PCS-1) contributes to modulation of depressive-like behaviour in C57BL/6J mice by activating AMPK

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Kaempferol-3-O-sophoroside (PCS-1) is the main component in Crocus sativus (Saffron), a herb with mood-enhancing properties. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a potential therapeutic target for depression. This study explores the antidepressive-like properties of PCS-1 and its AMPK activation to confirm AMPK as a target for antidepression.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Corticosterone (CORT)-induced PC12 cell injury served as an in vitro model to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of PCS-1. Neuro-2a cells and primary neurons were utilized to evaluate the synaptogenesis role of PCS-1. CORT-induced mouse depression model and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model were used to assess the antidepressive-like properties of PCS-1 through behavioural tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and biochemical index measurements. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays were used to study the mechanisms of PCS-1. Cellular thermal shift assay was used to confirm the binding target.

KEY RESULTS

PCS-1 (12.5-50 μM) ameliorated CORT-induced PC12 cell damage, oxidative stress and inflammation. PCS-1 alone promoted an increase in synapses in Neuro-2a cells and primary neurons. Oral administration of PCS-1 (10 and 20 mg·kg-1 ) ameliorated weight loss, dyskinesia, and hippocampal volume reduction induced by CORT and CUMS. PCS-1 bound to AMPK to improve the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and induce autophagy.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

PCS-1 binds to AMPK to promote BDNF production and autophagy enhancement, ultimately achieving antidepressant effects. This study provides support for the clinical application of saffron petals and provides further evidence for AMPK as a potential target for antidepression.

HIF-1A regulates cognitive deficits of post-stroke depressive rats

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a serious neuropsychiatric complication post stroke and leads to cognitive deficits. This study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanism of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1A) in cognitive dysfunction in rats with PSD. The rat model of PSD was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 3 weeks of treatment with chronic unpredictable mild stress. The levels of miR-582-5p, HIF-1A, and neighbor of Brca1 gene (NBR1) in brain tissues were determined using RT-qPCR. The behaviors and cognitive capacity of rats were evaluated by various behavioral tests. PSD rats were injected with HIF-1A/miR-582-5p lowexpression vectors or NBR1 overexpression vectors via stereotactic method. The binding of HIF-1A to NBR1 or miR-582-5p was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assay. HIF-1A and NBR1 were highly expressed while miR-582-5p was poorly expressed in the brain of PSD rats. HIF-1A inhibition alleviated cognitive dysfunction of PSD rats. miR-582-5p was the upstream miRNA of HIF-1A, and HIF-1A specifically interacted with the NBR1 promoter to enhance NBR1 expression. miR-582-5p downregulation and NBR1 upregulation reversed the alleviative role of HIF-1A inhibition in cognitive dysfunction of PSD rats. In summary, HIF-1A inhibition may be a therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction post PSD.

A new perspective on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and post-stroke depression

Post-stroke depression, a common complication after stroke, severely affects the recovery and quality of life of patients with stroke. Owing to its complex mechanisms, post-stroke depression treatment remains highly challenging. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity is one of the key factors leading to post-stroke depression; however, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Numerous studies have found that neurotrophic factors, protein kinases and neurotransmitters influence depressive behaviour by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity. This review further elaborates on the role of hippocampal synaptic plasticity in post-stroke depression by summarizing recent research and analysing possible molecular mechanisms. Evidence for the correlation between hippocampal mechanisms and post-stroke depression helps to better understand the pathological process of post-stroke depression and improve its treatment.