Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that VIM and IFITM3 are vital targets of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule to protect against cerebral ischemic injury

Multiscale Organization of Neural Networks in a 3D Bioprinted Matrix

The efficient establishment of in vitro neural models that accurately mimic the structural and functional connectivity of neural networks is critical in neuroscience research. 3D bioprinting shows great potential for constructing sophisticated in vitro models with high freedom of design. However, mature neurons are delicate and susceptible to manipulation. Here, extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is employed to fabricate gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based constructs containing embryonic day 18 (E18) rat cortical neurons, referred to as 3D neuMatrix. 3D neuMatrix displays favorable neuronal viability, with the progressive formation of a 3D brain-like neural network with local and long-range functional axon connections. Compared with 2D cultured neurons, 3D neuMatrix is more similar to the E18 cortex according to the bulk transcriptomic profile, with a recreation of cellular components in the cerebral cortex. The 3D neuMatrix is employed to establish a disease model of ischemic stroke, with a faithful recapitulation of the viability, function, and transcriptomic features of rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). These findings demonstrate the formation of multiscale neural circuits within 3D neuMatrix and its valuable potential in the study of neurodevelopment, disease modeling with drug screening, and in vitro intelligence.

Phytochemical profile of bioactive Siraitia grosvenorii root fraction and its potential against nonsmall cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo

Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey (SG) is an edible medicinal plant traditionally used to alleviate pulmonary and intestinal diseases in China. Rising demand for SG has led to significant generation of discarded SG roots (SGRs), while previous studies have shown that SGR extract possesses antiproliferative activity against cancer cells. However, its therapeutic potential for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain uncharacterized. In this study, liquid chromatography ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis identified 26 constituents from the active fraction of SGR (SGR2), predominantly categorized as cucurbitane or nor-cucurbitane triterpenoids and their glycosides. SGR2 inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In a xenograft tumor model, low-dose SGR2 treatment significantly suppressed tumor growth while exhibiting no observable adverse effects. RNA-seq analysis revealed that SGR2 impacted multiple targets and key pathways relevant to cancer therapy, notably including the JAK/STAT pathway. Western blotting analysis confirmed that SGR2 inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 pathway by reducing phosphorylation expression of JAK2 and STAT3 in both in vitro and in vivo models, and molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding affinities between active compounds and key target proteins. These findings underscore the remarkable efficacy of SG byproducts and demonstrate their potential applications in NSCLC treatment. The results also contribute to the enhanced productivity and sustainability of SG cultivation.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Ischemic Stroke Through Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis and Machine Learning

Ischemic stroke leads to permanent damage to the affected brain tissue, with strict time constraints for effective treatment. Predictive biomarkers demonstrate great potential in the clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke, significantly enhancing the accuracy of early identification, thereby enabling clinicians to intervene promptly and reduce patient disability and mortality rates. Furthermore, the application of predictive biomarkers facilitates the development of personalized treatment plans tailored to the specific conditions of individual patients, optimizing treatment outcomes and improving prognoses. Bioinformatics technologies based on high-throughput data provide a crucial foundation for comprehensively understanding the biological characteristics of ischemic stroke and discovering effective predictive targets. In this study, we evaluated gene expression data from ischemic stroke patients retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, conducting differential expression analysis and functional analysis. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we characterized gene modules associated with ischemic stroke. To screen candidate core genes, three machine learning algorithms were applied, including Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), ultimately identifying five candidate core genes: MBOAT2, CKAP4, FAF1, CLEC4D, and VIM. Subsequent validation was performed using an external dataset. Additionally, the immune infiltration landscape of ischemic stroke was mapped using the CIBERSORT method, investigating the relationship between candidate core genes and immune cells in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, as well as the key pathways associated with the core genes. Finally, the key gene VIM was further identified and preliminarily validated through four machine learning algorithms, including generalized linear model (GLM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), RF, and SVM-RFE. This study contributes to advancing our understanding of biomarkers for ischemic stroke and provides a reference for the prediction and diagnosis of ischemic stroke.

Monitoring of single-nucleus chromatin landscape of ischemic stroke in mouse cerebral cortex across time

Ischemic stroke constitutes a multifaceted neurological affliction that spans various cellular types. Lack of dynamic chromatin accessibility data after stroke is one of the obstacles to understanding this process. To gain insights into the variations in transcriptional regulation among various cell types subsequent to a stroke, we employed single-nucleus ATAC-seq to curate a chromatin accessibility compendium from the cerebral cortex of mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). Tissue samples were collected at various time points including 0, 6, 12, 24 hours, and 7, 14 days post-reperfusion, in addition to Sham control group. We obtained 99,271 high-quality nuclei across nine cell types, thereby establishing the single-nucleus chromatin accessibility atlas. This atlas provides data for interpreting the regulatory mechanisms that pervade the continuum of ischemic stroke. The data presented herein constitutes a valuable resource for the comprehension of regulatory interplays within the pathology-afflicted cerebrum.

Investigation of Anti-Apoptotic Effects and Mechanisms of Astragaloside IV in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

BACKGROUND

Ischemic stroke is a prevalent and life-threatening cerebrovascular disease that is challenging to treat and associated with a poor prognosis. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a primary bioactive component of Astragali radix, has demonstrated neuroprotective benefits in previous studies. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms through which AS-IV may treat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI).

METHODS

Network pharmacology was employed to identify key targets and pathways of AS-IV in CIRI therapy, combined with molecular docking to predict binding affinity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham, MCAO/R, AS-IV, SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), AS-IV + SP600125, and 3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) groups. Neurobehavioral deficits were assessed, and brain tissue damage was visualized through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, H&E, and TUNEL staining. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect CytC- and caspase-3-positive cells, while Western blotting, qPCR, and ELISAs were used to analyze apoptosis-related markers.

RESULTS

A total of 48 key targets of AS-IV predicted to be involved in the treatment of CIRI were identified, enriched in 136 pathways. AS-IV was effectively bound to the top five targets from 48 targets, and those associated with the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/Bid pathway, with binding energy values below -5.0 kJ·mol-1. JNK inhibition reduced infarcted brain areas, improved neurological function, reduced pathological brain tissue damage, and inhibited apoptosis, with AS-IV achieving similar neuroprotective effects. Both AS-IV and SP600125 reduced p-JNK, Bid, CytC, Apaf-1, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 levels in rats while decreasing CytC, caspase-3, and caspase-9 levels in serum.

CONCLUSION

AS-IV may suppress apoptosis partly through the modulation of JNK/Bid signaling, exerting neuroprotective effects. These findings support the potential development of AS-IV-based therapies for stroke treatment.

Single-cell RNA transcriptomics reveals Du-Zhong-Wan promotes osteoporotic fracture healing via YAP/β-catenin/VEGF axis in BMSCs

BACKGROUND

Our previous study demonstrated that Du-Zhong-Wan (DZW) promoted osteoporotic fracture (OPF) healing by enhancing osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and angiogenesis of endothelial cells (ECs). However, the heterogeneity of BMSCs and ECs, as well as the specific molecular mechanism underlying these effects, still require further evaluation.

PURPOSE

The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the heterogeneity of BMSCs and ECs, as well as the cellular-level mechanism of DZW against OPF through single-cell RNA sequencing.

METHODS

In this study, we presented a single-cell atlas of mouse femoral callus, comparing samples with and without DZW treatment, utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing. Variable genes were identified using the FindVariableGenes (FVG) and principal component analysis (PCA) analysis. Additionally, uniform manifold approximation and projection (U-MAP) was employed to reduce and visualize the distinct subclusters. The CellPhoneDB2 method was employed to analyze intercellular communication and quantify the interaction between ligands and receptors within distinct cell clusters. The osteogenic differentiation capacity of BMSCs was assessed by micro-CT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alizarin red S (ARS) assay. The scratch wound assay and tube formation assay were utilized to assess the angiogenic capabilities of ECs in vitro. Additionally, western blot and immunofluorescence experiments were utilized to elucidate the related protein expression.

RESULTS

Consistent with our previous studies, DZW obviously promoted osteoporotic fracture healing. Moreover, this study discovered 14 cell clusters at the femoral fracture callus, where the BMSCs most actively interacted with ECs, through single-cell sequencing. Notably, DZW significantly elevated the proportion of Lepr+ BMSCs and Podxl+ ECs subgroup, which were respectively considered essential cells for osteoblastogenesis and angiogenesis of arteriolar vessels. The increased proportion of Podxl+ ECs was partially attributed to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), secreted by BMSCs, which were able to be reversed by YAP pharmacological inhibitor verteporfin. Furthermore, the western blot assay revealed elevated expression levels of YAP/β-catenin, VEGF, RUNX2, and OCN in BMSCs treated with DZW, which were counteracted by verteporfin.

CONCLUSION

The data above indicates that DZW elevates the proportion of LEPR+ BMSCs and Podxl+ ECs, therefore contributing for the osteogenic ability of BMSCs and BMSCs-mediated angiogenesis via activation of the YAP/β-catenin/VEGF axis, which provides novel potential targets and mechanism for DZW in treating OPF in sub-clusters and molecular level.

Advancements in Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Research for Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases are a major cause of the global burden of disease. Although the mechanisms of the occurrence and development of neurological diseases are not fully clear, most of them are associated with cells mediating neuroinflammation. Yet medications and other therapeutic options to improve treatment are still very limited. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), as a delightfully potent breakthrough technology, not only identifies various cell types and response states but also uncovers cell-specific gene expression changes, gene regulatory networks, intercellular communication, and cellular movement trajectories, among others, in different cell types. In this review, we describe the technology of scRNA-seq in detail and discuss and summarize the application of scRNA-seq in exploring neurological diseases, elaborating the corresponding specific mechanisms of the diseases as well as providing a reliable basis for new therapeutic approaches. Finally, we affirm that scRNA-seq promotes the development of the neuroscience field and enables us to have a deeper cellular understanding of neurological diseases in the future, which provides strong support for the treatment of neurological diseases and the improvement of patients' prognosis.

Vitamin D deficiency and increased inflammatory factor intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 indicate severe leukoaraiosis in northern China

Background and objective

Commonly plaguing in the frigid zone of the world, vitamin D deficiency, as indicated by low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, exacerbated inflammatory responses and impaired endothelial function. Leukoaraiosis (LA) is a prevalent cause of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly and is potentially associated with inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D on the severity of LA.

Methods

Patients with LA were categorized based on 3.0 T brain MRI findings into mild (N = 43), moderate (N = 40), or severe groups (N = 29) using the Fazekas scale (scoring 1-6). A control group consisting of 41 healthy individuals was included. Serum fibrinogen C, homocysteine, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels were measured using ELISA.

Results

All LA severity groups exhibited lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared to the control group, with a more pronounced decrease observed as LA severity increased. Low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was identified as an independent risk factor for LA (P < 0.05) according to Multiple logistic regression analysis. Additionally, a negative association was observed between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vascular inflammatory factor ICAM-1.

Conclusions

Disease severity positively correlated with levels of the inflammatory marker ICAM-1, worsening as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration decreased. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D emerged as an independent risk factor for LA, potentially exacerbating the inflammatory response. These findings suggest 25-hydroxyvitamin D supplementation as a potential therapeutic approach for LA.

Perspective from single-cell sequencing: Is inflammation in acute ischemic stroke beneficial or detrimental?

BACKGROUND

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a common cerebrovascular event associated with high incidence, disability, and poor prognosis. Studies have shown that various cell types, including microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and neutrophils, play complex roles in the early stages of AIS and significantly affect its prognosis. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action of these cells will be beneficial for improving stroke prognosis. With the rapid development of single-cell sequencing technology, researchers have explored the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AIS at the single-cell level.

METHOD

We systematically summarize the latest research on single-cell sequencing in AIS.

RESULT

In this review, we summarize the phenotypes and functions of microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, as well as their respective subtypes, at different time points following AIS. In particular, we focused on the crosstalk between microglia and astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. Our findings reveal diverse and sometimes opposing roles within the same cell type, with the possibility of interconversion between different subclusters.

CONCLUSION

This review offers a pioneering exploration of the functions of various glial cells and cell subclusters after AIS, shedding light on their regulatory mechanisms that facilitate the transformation of detrimental cell subclusters towards those that are beneficial for improving the prognosis of AIS. This approach has the potential to advance the discovery of new specific targets and the development of drugs, thus representing a significant breakthrough in addressing the challenges in AIS treatment.

Pharmacodynamic advantages and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe cerebrovascular disease with a high incidence, mortality, and disability rate. The first-line treatment for IS is the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA). Regrettably, numerous patients encounter delays in treatment due to the narrow therapeutic window and the associated risk of hemorrhage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has exhibited distinct advantages in preventing and treating IS. TCM enhances cerebral microcirculation, alleviates neurological disorders, regulates energy metabolism, mitigates inflammation, reduces oxidative stress injuries, and inhibits apoptosis, thereby mitigating brain damage and preventing IS recurrence. This article summarizes the etiology, pathogenesis, therapeutic strategies, and relationship with modern biology of IS from the perspective of TCM, describes the advantages of TCM in the treatment of IS, and further reviews the pharmacodynamic characteristics and advantages of TCM in the acute and recovery phases of IS as well as in post-stroke complications. Additionally, it offers valuable insights and references for the clinical application of TCM in IS prevention and treatment, as well as for the development of novel drugs.