Proteomic changes in the hippocampus and motor cortex in a rat model of cerebral palsy: Effects of topical treatment

MiR-29a-3p ameliorate behavioral deficiency in hypoxia-ischemia brain damage in neonatal mice by inhibiting BTG2

It has been reported that miR-29a-3p played a part in series neurological disorders. However, it remains unclear whether miR-29a-3p participate in the pathological mechanism in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) brain injury. In this study, we detected the change of miR-29a-3p level in the ipsilateral cortex following HI brain injury and found that miR-29a-3p was significantly increased at 3 days in the ipsilateral cortex following HI insult in neonatal mice. Therefore, we further explored the role of miR-29a-3p in HI brain injury and its molecular mechanism. The results showed that miR-29a-3p mimics attenuated and miR-29a-3p antagomir aggravated brain infarction volume at 3 days following HI insult. We further found that overexpression of miR-29a-3p also suppressed apoptosis and neuroinflammation, reduced synaptic loss and prevent HI-induced microglial morphological changes 3 days following HI insult. Neurobehavioral tests revealed that overexpression of miR-29a-3p could improve both short-term and long-term behavioral defects after HI injury. Furthermore, we proved that miR-29a-3p targets B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) and further inhibits the expression of Bax by luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR. Moreover, overexpression of miR-29a-3p, by applying liposomes through intranasal route, could also achieve the same therapeutic effect in HI injury. Our data showed that by inhibiting BTG2/Bax, increasing level of miR-29a-3p might serve as a strategy to prevent brain damage and behavioral deficiency in HI.

Integrative Multi-Omics Research in Cerebral Palsy: Current Progress and Future Prospects

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a heterogeneous group of non-progressive neurodevelopmental disorders affecting movement and posture. The etiology and diagnostic biomarkers of CP are a hot topic in clinical research. Recent advances in omics techniques, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics, have offered new insights to further understand the pathophysiology of CP and have allowed for identification of diagnostic biomarkers of CP. In present study, we reviewed the latest multi-omics investigations of CP and provided an in-depth summary of current research progress in CP. This review will offer the basis and recommendations for future fundamental research on the pathogenesis of CP, identification of diagnostic biomarkers, and prevention strategies for CP.

Analgesic and neuroprotective effects of Baimai Ointment on diabetic peripheral neuropathy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Baimai (BM) ointment, a traditional Tibetan medicine, has been widely used to treat "white vein" disease, paralysis, hemiplegia and claudication caused by trauma, because of its great effects on muscle stretching and collateral activation. As one of the most terrible complications in diabetes patients, diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is mainly manifested as abnormal pain or numbness in extremities. However, whether BM ointment is a potential drug for DPN treatment is unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of BM on DPN in a high-fat diet/low-dose of streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes rat model and explore underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

The chemical components of BM were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the possible targets and related pathways candidates involved in the effects of BM on DPN were predicted using network pharmacology methods. Next, the effects of different doses (1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg) of BM on physiological changes, pain behaviors, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in DPN rats were assessed and compared with placebo- and mecobalamine (Meco)-treated DPN controls. Then, the effects of BM on the expression of pain associated genes as well as the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and MAPKs pathways in DRG of DPN rats were examined.

RESULTS

Through HPLC analysis, curcumin was identified as one of the primary contents of BM. The information from network pharmacology indicated a series of target candidates for BM including IL6, IL10, TNF, CCL2, CXCL12, EGF, VEGFA, BDNF, TGFβ1 and TNF, as well as PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. Topical treatment of BM significantly improved the hypersensitivity of mechanical and thermal pain, MNCV and the morphological changes and demyelination of sciatic nerve fibers, without affecting the body weight, serum metabolism or blood glucose. The up-regulated levels of neuropeptides Cgrp, Sst, Sp and chemokines Ccl2 and Ccl3 along with the abnormal expression of p-P38, p-ERK and p-AKT in the DRG of DPN rats were alleviated by BM application.

CONCLUSION

BM ointment has great activities in relieving pain hypersensitivity, neuroprotecting peripheral nerves damage caused by DPN, which may be related to the inhibition of related neuropeptide (Cgrp, Sst, Sp) and chemokine (Ccl2, Ccl3) expression and the regulation of PI3K/AKT and MAPKs signaling pathways in DRG.