Inflammation, depression, and anxiety disorder: A population-based study examining the association between Interleukin-6 and the experiencing of depressive and anxiety symptoms

Worry Moderates Plasma Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and Cognition in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI)

BACKGROUND

Elevated worry is an early indicator of cognitive decline in older adults. Worry has been linked to pro-inflammatory processes though the exact relations between worry, inflammation, and cognition in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) remain unexplored. The present study studied the association of worry with proteomic biomarkers of inflammation and cognition.

METHOD

Participants include 66 community-dwelling older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Inflammation was analyzed using the modified aptamer-based assay SomaScan Platform. Primary analyses consisted of two hierarchical regression models with mean-centered worry and inflammation as independent variables and age as covariate. Composite scores of executive function and processing speed were entered as the dependent variable in separate models.

RESULTS

Results indicate a significant interaction between worry and placental growth factor (PIGF) on processing speed, such that worry intensifies the inverse relationship of PIGF and processing speed. Worry did not interact with PIGF to predict executive functioning.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate an important moderating role of worry in the association of pro-inflammatory PIGF and processing speed. Results suggest that older adults with cognitive impairment may be more susceptible to the indirect impact of worry and expands emerging research on the role of PIGF in cognitive impairment.

The impact of exercise interventions on sleep in adult populations with depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress: review of the current evidence and future directions

Consistent evidence suggests that exercise leads to improvements in subjective sleep quality and also objective sleep metrics in non-psychiatric adult populations. However, the degree to which exercise provides sleep benefits for adults with psychiatric disorders is less known, despite the potential benefits given that sleep disturbance is prevalent in these populations. In this narrative review, we synthesize results of randomized controlled trials examining the influence of aerobic and/or resistance exercise interventions on sleep outcomes in adult psychiatric populations. We specifically focus on populations with elevated symptoms or diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder. A systematic search through June 2024 yielded 26 relevant trials. Overall, most trials reported improvement of subjective sleep quality after aerobic and/or resistance exercise programs in samples with depression. Similar effects were observed for posttraumatic stress; however, larger trials are needed. Further research is needed to examine the impact of exercise on sleep in anxiety populations as only one trial with mixed results was identified. Results were more equivocal for the subpopulation of adult women with perinatal or postpartum depression, demonstrating the importance of understanding exercise effects on sleep in specific subpopulations. Few studies examined objective sleep outcomes, impact of acute exercise on next day sleep, or the interplay between exercise, sleep, and psychiatric symptom changes, all important areas of future research. Other implications and future directions are discussed, including potential moderators and mechanisms of action that warrant further study to better understand how exercise interventions may optimally target sleep in psychiatric populations.

Association of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines with anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults

There is growing evidence on the association between meeting the recommendations of isolated movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep) with anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, the joint association of meeting the 24 h movement guidelines with anxiety and depressive symptoms is still unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines with symptoms of anxiety and of depression in adults. The sample included 212 participants. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), while physical activity and sedentary time were evaluated by accelerometry, and daily slept hours were self-reported. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, accelerometer wear time, and waist circumference were covariates. Poisson regression models (crude and adjusted by covariates) were used to analyze association between variables. Meeting isolate recommendations of 24-hour movement guidelines were not associated with symptoms of anxiety or depression. However, meeting two or three recommendations was inversely associated with symptoms of anxiety (β= -0.235; 95%CI= -0.447; -0.024); (β= -0.569; 95%CI= -0.853; -0.285) and of depression (β= -0.275; 95%CI= -0.509; -0.040); (β= -0.551; 95%CI= -0.877; -0.224), respectively. Intervention strategies for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms should target the meeting of more than one movement guidelines, such as increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and promoting adequate sleep time for adults.

Physiological Effects of Psychological Interventions Among Persons with Financial Stress: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Introduction to Psychophysiological Economics

It is known that economic problems can cause psychological stress, and that psychological stress causes physiological changes often linked to disease. Here we report a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on physiological effects of psychological treatment for individuals with economic problems. Of 5071 papers in our initial PsycInfo search, we identified 16 papers on physiological effects for psychological treatment of the economically stressed. We found 11 controlled studies, among which we found a small to moderate significant effect size, Hedges' g = 0.319, p < 0.001. The largest effect sizes were found for heart rate variability and measures of inflammation, and the smallest for measures involving cortisol. The studies were all on chronically poor populations, thus restricting generalization to other financially stressed populations such as students, athletes in training, and those stressed by relative deprivation compared with neighbors or other reference groups. None of the studies examined effects of these psychophysiological changes on disease susceptibility, and none included elements of financial planning. The nascent field of financial psychophysiology calls for more research in these areas. Even so, results suggest that financially stressed people can benefit physiologically from psychological stress management methods.

Insomnia symptoms as long-term predictors of anxiety symptoms in middle-aged and older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and the role of systemic inflammation

Insomnia, i.e., difficulties in sleep onset and sleep maintenance, may increase the risk of anxiety symptoms, although long-term follow-up studies are rarely reported. Here, we examined whether insomnia symptoms may predict anxiety symptoms in a 9-year follow-up, and whether inflammation may play a mediating role. Data from 1355 participants (63.44 ± 7.47 years, 55.1 % females) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were analysed. Insomnia symptoms were assessed in 2012/13. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, was measured in 2016/17. Anxiety symptoms were assessed in 2020/21. After adjusting for confounders and baseline levels, structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that insomnia symptoms significantly predicted anxiety symptoms (β = 0.357, p < .001) but not hs-CRP (β = -0.016, p = .634). Similarly, hs-CRP was not related to anxiety symptoms (β = -0.024, p = .453). The hs-CRP mediation hypothesis was therefore rejected (β = 0.0004; 95 % BCI -0.001 to 0.005), and multi-group SEM showed that sex did not moderate these paths. However, baseline diagnoses of anxiety disorders prospectively predicted higher hs-CRP (B = 0.083, p = .030). Results of the current study suggest that individuals with baseline anxiety disorders may be at higher risk of developing low-grade chronic inflammation. Several alternative psychophysiological mechanisms linking insomnia and anxiety symptoms should be explored, including autonomic and cortical pre-sleep arousal, cortisol reactivity, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, insomnia symptoms may be a treatment target to lower the risk of anxiety symptoms in elderly.

Regulatory T-cell phenotypes in prenatal psychological distress

BACKGROUND

Experiencing symptoms of psychological distress during pregnancy is common and has been linked to dysregulated immune functioning. In this context, immunoregulatory function is especially relevant because of its crucial role in establishment and maintenance of healthy pregnancy. However, little research has examined associations between women's prenatal psychological distress and immunoregulatory biomarkers. We investigated how symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress relate to circulating levels of regulatory T-cells (Tregs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnant Latina women were assessed at around 12 weeks of pregnancy (N = 82). These assessments included blood draws and self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression, state anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety, and perceived stress. Flow cytometry on PBMCs was used to quantify circulating Tregs, defined as CD3+CD4+CD25hiCD127loFoxP3+, and subpopulations positive for one of the following intra- or extracellular markers, CD45RA, CTLA-4, Helios, PD-1, TIM-3, and TIGIT. We collected 82 samples at 12 weeks. Multivariable linear regressions tested for associations between symptoms of psychological distress and Treg concentrations, adjusted for gestational age.

RESULTS

State anxiety symptoms at 12 weeks were negatively associated with parent Treg cell levels (b = -4.02, p = 0.023) and subpopulations Helios+ (b = -3.29, p = 0.019) and TIM3+ (b = -3.17, p = 0.008). Perceived stress was negatively associated with the PD-1+ subpopulation at 12 weeks (b = -4.02, p = 0.023). Depression was not related to Tregs or the subpopulations.

CONCLUSION

Our observation that symptoms of anxiety and stress are related to tolerogenic immunology suggests a possible biomechanism explaining correlations of maternal mood disorders with adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring.

Exploring the impact of ketogenic diet on multiple sclerosis: obesity, anxiety, depression, and the glutamate system

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder. Individuals with MS frequently present symptoms such as functional disability, obesity, and anxiety and depression. Axonal demyelination can be observed and implies alterations in mitochondrial activity and increased inflammation associated with disruptions in glutamate neurotransmitter activity. In this context, the ketogenic diet (KD), which promotes the production of ketone bodies in the blood [mainly β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB)], is a non-pharmacological therapeutic alternative that has shown promising results in peripheral obesity reduction and central inflammation reduction. However, the association of this type of diet with emotional symptoms through the modulation of glutamate activity in MS individuals remains unknown.

Aim

To provide an update on the topic and discuss the potential impact of KD on anxiety and depression through the modulation of glutamate activity in subjects with MS.

Discussion

The main findings suggest that the KD, as a source of ketone bodies in the blood, improves glutamate activity by reducing obesity, which is associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, promoting central inflammation (particularly through an increase in interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17). This improvement would imply a decrease in extrasynaptic glutamate activity, which has been linked to functional disability and the presence of emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Chemical profiles and pharmacological attributes of Apis cerana indica beehives using combined experimental and computer-aided studies

The current study sought to determine the anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties of distilled water-soluble extract of beehive (WSE-BH). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) studies were used to characterize the chemical compositions obtained from beehives extracted in water and methanol (also fractions). The GC-MS analysis identified 19 compounds in WSE-BH, including high total phenol and flavonoid contents, compared with the methanol extract (21 compounds), ethyl acetate fraction (9 compounds), and CCl4 fraction (27 compounds). The oral administration of WSE-BH (50 and 150 mg/kg) showed significant anxiolytic activities assessed by time spent in (30.80% and 39.47%, respectively) and entry into (47.49% and 55.93%, respectively) the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Only the 150 mg/kg dose resulted in a significant effect on the number of head-dipping events in the hole-board test (HBT) (40.2 ± 2.33; p < 0.01) vs. diazepam (64.33 ± 3.16; p < 0.001). Both the 50 and 150 mg/kg doses resulted in significant (p < 0.001) decreases in immobility in the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspensions test (TST), corresponding to the effect of fluoxetine. WSE-BH inhibited histamine-induced paw edema significantly beginning at 60 min, with the 150 mg/kg dose having the highest effect at 180 min. The current findings suggested that WSE-BH had anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation and severity of depressive symptoms in physically active individuals after COVID-19 – An exploratory immunopsychological study investigating the effect of inflammation on depressive symptom severity

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms such as lack of energy, loss of interest, and depressed mood. Inflammatory processes might underline this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and the severity of depression after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the predictive effect of inflammatory markers on the severity of depressive symptoms. Lifestyle factors and lifestyle-related diseases can influence inflammation and depressive symptoms. As these lifestyle factors and lifestyle-related diseases are less common in physically active individuals, they are a suitable population for investigating this research question.

Methods

We investigated 61 at least moderate physically active individuals on average ∼6 months (SD = 4.22, range = 0.5–19 months) after SARS-CoV-2 infection (t₀) and performed a follow-up after 3 months (t₁). Depressive symptoms and biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-8, IL-10, Ferritin, Lipopolysaccharide-binding-protein [LBP], neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR]) and kynurenine [KYN] were measured at both time points. Concentrations of inflammatory markers at t₀ were used to predict the severity of depressive symptoms at t₀ and t₁.

Results

Concentrations of KYN were negatively related to the severity of depressive symptoms at t_0. Concentrations of LMR predicted higher depressive symptoms at t₀ as well as at t₁. Furthermore, individuals with lower concentrations of LBP at t₀ showed a higher severity of depressive symptoms at t₁. No correlation was found between severity of depressive symptoms and IL1β, IL-8, IL-10, ferritin, NLR, and PLR at both time points.

Conclusions

KYN, LBP and LMR might be useful as a predictive factor of depressive symptoms in physically active individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection. While the results for KYN confirm the current scientific evidence, our results highlight the importance of the innovative inflammatory markers LMR and LBP. LMR and LBP might be interesting targets for predicting the development of depressive symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infected populations and should be further investigated in future studies.

The Relationship between Psychological Stress and Emotional State in Chinese University Students during COVID-19: The Moderating Role of Physical Exercise

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between psychological stress and the emotional state of Chinese college students and the moderating effect of physical exercise.

METHODS

Students in a university in Jiangsu Province were randomly selected for the survey, and questionnaires were administered using the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Chinese College Student Psychological Stress Scale. A total of 715 questionnaires were distributed, and 494 valid questionnaires were returned. Among the students, there were 208 (42.1%) males and 286 (57.9%) females, with a mean age of 19.27 years (SD = 1.06).

RESULTS

We found a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and psychological stress (r = -0.637, p < 0.001); a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and emotional state (r = -0.032, p < 0.001); and a significant positive correlation between psychological stress and emotional state (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Physical exercise negatively moderates the relationship between psychological stress and emotional state (B = -0.012, p < 0.01, ΔR² = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Physical exercise is negatively correlated with both emotional state and psychological stress. Physical exercise can reduce the influence of psychological stress on emotional state and promote emotional health.

Neuroinflammation in HIV-associated depression: evidence and future perspectives

People living with HIV face a high risk of mental illness, especially depression. We do not yet know the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying HIV-associated depression. Depression severity in the general population has been linked to acute and chronic markers of systemic inflammation. Given the associations between depression and peripheral inflammation, and since HIV infection in the brain elicits a neuroinflammatory response, it is possible that neuroinflammation contributes to the high prevalence of depression amongst people living with HIV. The purpose of this review was to synthesise existing evidence for associations between inflammation, depression, and HIV. While there is strong evidence for independent associations between these three conditions, few preclinical or clinical studies have attempted to characterise their interrelationship, representing a major gap in the literature. This review identifies key areas of debate in the field and offers perspectives for future investigations of the pathophysiology of HIV-associated depression. Reproducing findings across diverse populations will be crucial in obtaining robust and generalisable results to elucidate the precise role of neuroinflammation in this pathophysiology.

Are pro-inflammatory markers associated with psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of healthy adolescents 15-17 years of age? The Fit Futures study

Background

Inflammatory markers have been associated with depression and anxiety disorder in adolescents. Less is known about the association between inflammation and subclinical symptoms in the form of psychological distress. We investigated prevalence of psychological distress and examined the associations between common pro-inflammatory markers and psychological distress in an adolescent population sample.

Methods

The study was based on data from 458 girls and 473 boys aged 15–17 years from the Fit Futures Study, a large-scale study on adolescent health, conducted in Northern Norway. Psychological distress was measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10). Serum-levels of the following low-grade inflammatory markers were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 1 (TRANCE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 2 (TWEAK). Associations between quartiles of inflammatory markers and HSCL-10 were examined by logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders in sex-stratified analyses.

Results

The proportion of psychological distress above cutoff were 26.9% and 10.8% among girls and boys, respectively. In both girls and boys, crude analysis showed positive associations between all inflammatory markers and HSCL-10, except for TWEAK and TRANCE in boys. However, none of these associations were statistically significant. Further, there were no significant findings in the adjusted analyses.

Conclusion

There was a higher prevalence of psychological distress in girls compared to boys. Pro-inflammatory markers were not significantly associated with psychological distress in data from healthy adolescents aged 15–17 years.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-022-00779-8.

Black Seed (Nigella sativa) Efficacy in Improving Clinical Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Levels Schizophrenic Patients

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia with a global prevalence of 0.33–0.75% and one of the top 15 causes of disability. The etiology underlying this disease is still controversial. One of the causes is the Vulnerability Stress-Schizophrenia Inflammatory Model which shows an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, one of which is Interleukin-6 (IL-6). AIM: It is hoped that through the adjuvant anti-inflammatory effect of black seed or Nigella sativa can improve the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of Serum IL-6 as a marker of therapeutic efficacy, as well as observing the effect of treatment on liver function. METHODS: The present study was conducted 22 schizophrenic patients hospitalized at the psychiatric hospital (Rumah Sakit Khusus Daerah) of South Sulawesi aged 20–45 years and received risperidone 4 mg/day therapy. Patients were divided into two groups, the control and treatment groups received N. sativa 1000 mg/d for 4 weeks. Each group was measured for baseline and week 4 clinical symptoms of schizophrenia with Positive and Negative Symptom of Schizophrenia (PANSS) and serum IL-6 levels. The analysis also measured serum IL-6 levels in 14 healthy people by assessing the side effects of N. sativa adjuvants by measuring liver function enzymes of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT). RESULTS: Serum IL-6 levels of schizophrenic patients were higher than healthy controls. Administration of adjuvant N. sativa 1000 mg for 4 weeks significantly p < 0.001 improved PANSS value, decreased serum IL-6 levels 2.5 times faster in the treatment group and did not give a significant change in SGOT and SGPT values. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that N. sativa may consider as an adjuvant therapy to improve clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of IL-6 was faster than control group and is safe for liver function.

The efficacy and acceptability of curcumin for the treatment of depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Curcumin, a potential natural substance is a promising complementary and alternative therapeutic intervention for depression or depressive symptoms. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from the inception up until March 4, 2020. The Outcomes were depressive symptoms, response rates, drop-out rates, and adverse effects.

RESULTS

A total of 594 patients from ten trials were subjected to meta-analysis. Three trials were judged to be at high risk of bias, four at unclear risk of bias and three at low risk of bias. Most of the domains for risk of bias were at low risk or unclear risks and three domains at high risks. The pooling results suggested a significant difference in depression or depressive symptoms(SMD= -0.32, 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.13, I2=15%, n=594) and response rates (OR=3.20, 95% CI: 1.28-7.99, I2=35%, n=271). However, there was no difference between drop-out rates (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 0.58-1.93, I2=0%, n=594), digestive symptoms (OR=1.27, 95% CI: 0.69-2.32, I2=0%, n=284) and neurological symptoms (OR=1.08, 95% CI: 0.49-2.36, I2=0%, n=284). Subgroup analysis showed depression was associated with a reduction(SMD= -0.35, 95% CI: -0.56 to -0.15, I2=7%, n=432) but depressive symptoms were not (SMD= -0.17, 95% CI: -0.61 to 0.26, I2=40%, n=162).

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence quality is low, indicating that there is great uncertainty about the efficacy and acceptability of curcumin for the treatment of depression or depressive symptoms.

Role of PPARs in Progression of Anxiety: Literature Analysis and Signaling Pathways Reconstruction

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) group includes three isoforms encoded by PPARG, PPARA, and PPARD genes. High concentrations of PPARs are found in parts of the brain linked to anxiety development, including hippocampus and amygdala. Among three PPAR isoforms, PPARG demonstrates the highest expression in CNS, where it can be found in neurons, astrocytes, and glial cells. Herein, the highest PPARG expression occurs in amygdala. However, little is known considering possible connections between PPARs and anxiety behavior. We reviewed possible connections between PPARs and anxiety. We used the Pathway Studio software (Elsevier). Signal pathways were created according to previously developed algorithms. SNEA was performed in Pathway Studio. Current study revealed 14 PPAR-regulated proteins linked to anxiety. Possible mechanism of PPAR involvement in neuroinflammation protection is proposed. Signal pathway reconstruction and reviewing aimed to reveal possible connection between PPARG and CCK-ergic system was conducted. Said analysis revealed that PPARG-dependent regulation of MME and ACE peptidase expression may affect levels of nonhydrolysed, i.e., active CCK-4. Impairments in PPARG regulation and following MME and ACE peptidase expression impairments in amygdala may be the possible mechanism leading to pathological anxiety development, with brain CCK-4 accumulation being a key link. Literature data analysis and signal pathway reconstruction and reviewing revealed two possible mechanisms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors involvement in pathological anxiety: (1) cytokine expression and neuroinflammation mechanism and (2) regulation of peptidases targeted to anxiety-associated neuropeptides, primarily CCK-4, mechanism.

Habitually inactive physically - a proposed procedure of counteracting cognitive decline in women with diminished insulin sensitivity through a high-intensity circuit training program

This study verified the impact of five weeks of high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on changes in concentration of exerkines in relation to cognitive functions. Sedentary women (n = 33; age=39±13 years) were randomly assigned into the HICT (n = 21) group or the control group (n = 12). The HICT group performed 15 training sessions; meanwhile, the control group performed the HICT twice, only at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Blood samples were collected before, 1 h and 24 h after the first and last HICT, to evaluate the concentration of exerkines: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), irisin, fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cathepsin B (CATB) using enzyme immunoassay method. Cognitive functions and quality of life were assessed using the Vienna Test System and the Short Form Health Survey. HICT induced improvement of cognitive function and quality of life, and these changes were accompanied by an increase of BDNF and shifts in CATB concentration. HICT program caused a decrease in FGF-21 concentration, which was modified by age and insulin sensitivity. The improvement of cognitive functions was more pronounced in females, who experienced a drop in FGF-21. In summary, HICT program, that can be performed during pandemic, enhanced cognitive functions and this response was related to changes in exerkines.

Using Traditional Chinese Medicine to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting Tumor Immunity

As the leading cause of cancer-related death, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) threatens human health and limited treatments are available to cure the disease efficiently and effectively. The particularly immunotolerant environment of the liver lowers the efficacy of current therapies in patients with advanced HCC. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gathering increasing interest due to the immunoregulatory properties of certain compounds. In advanced HCC, TCM can restore immunosurveillance to promote antitumor effects in several ways, including the upregulation of immunostimulatory factors and the downregulation of immunosuppressive factors. The characteristic multitarget regulation of TCM compounds may provide new insights regarding effective HCC immunotherapies. Here, we review the immunoregulatory potency of TCMs for treating HCC and explain how individual TCM drugs and complex formulas remodel the immune environment in various cell- and cytokine-dependent manners.

Anxiolytic Effects of 8-O-Acetyl Shanzhiside Methylester on Acute and Chronic Anxiety via Inflammatory Response Inhibition and Excitatory/Inhibitory Transmission Imbalance

Anxiety leads to a global decline in quality of life and increase in social burden. However, treatments are limited, because the molecular mechanisms underlying complex emotional disorders are poorly understood. We explored the anxiolytic effects of 8-O-acetyl shanzhiside methylester (8-OaS), an active component in Lamiophlomis rotata (L. rotata; Benth.) or Kudo, a traditional herb that has been shown to be effective in the clinical treatment of chronic pain syndromes in China. Two mouse anxiety models were used: forced swimming stress (FSS)–induced anxiety and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)–induced chronic inflammatory pain. All animal behaviors were analyzed on the elevated plus maze and in the open-field test. 8-OaS significantly ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors in both anxiety models and inhibited the translation enhancement of GluN2A, GluN2B, and PSD95. Moreover, a reduction in GABA receptors disrupted the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), indicated by increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory presynaptic release. 8-OaS also blocked microglia activation and reduced the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), NF-κB p65, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the BLA of anxiety mice. 8-OaS exhibits obvious anxiolytic effects by regulating the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) synaptic transmission and attenuating inflammatory responses in the BLA.