LRRC8A drives NADPH oxidase-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in allergic rhinitis

Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species in otorhinolaryngological diseases: insights from pathophysiology to targeted antioxidant therapies

Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and impaired antioxidant defenses, is closely linked to the pathogenesis of various otorhinolaryngological disorders. Mitochondria, as the primary site of cellular energy production, play a crucial role in modulating oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction exacerbates ROS generation, leading to cellular damage and inflammatory responses. In otorhinolaryngological diseases, oxidative stress is strongly associated with conditions such as hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis, where oxidative damage and tissue inflammation are key pathological features. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of antioxidant therapies to mitigate oxidative stress and restore homeostasis, offering promising avenues for alleviating symptoms in these diseases. However, despite the encouraging results from early-stage research, the clinical efficacy of antioxidant interventions remains to be fully established. This review provides an overview of the role of oxidative stress in otorhinolaryngological diseases and evaluates the therapeutic potential of antioxidant strategies.

Treatment with human placental extracts inhibits allergic rhinitis by modulating AMPK/SHP1/SHP2/STING signaling

The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects and mechanisms of human placental extracts (HPE) on rats and cell models of ovalbumin (OVA)‑induced allergic rhinitis (AR). IFN‑y and LPS induced AR in vitro. A total of 32 male Sprague‑Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: Sham group, model group, model + HPE group and model + HPE + AMPK inhibitor group (n=8 rats/group). With the exception of the sham group, the remaining three groups were sensitized with OVA to establish an AR model, followed by various treatments. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was utilized to observe morphological changes in the nasal mucosa, ELISA was employed to measure serum levels of IL‑1β, interferon (IFN)β, immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG1 and IgG2a, and western blotting was conducted to assess protein expression across the groups. The sham group exhibited intact tissue structure with no notable pathological alterations. The model group demonstrated pronounced pathological features, including extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells, tissue shedding and edema. The model + HPE group revealed a gradual restoration of tissue architecture, characterized by reduced edema and inflammatory infiltration, whereas the model + HPE + AMPK inhibitor group again exhibited significant inflammatory cell infiltration and other pathological manifestations. Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of IL‑1β, IFNβ, IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in the serum of the model group were elevated. The levels of IL‑1β, IFNβ, IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in the model + HPE group were lower than those in the model group. In addition, the levels of IL‑1β, IFNβ, IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in the model + HPE + AMPK inhibitor group were higher than those in the model + HPE group. Relative to the sham group, the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑AMPK/total (t)‑AMPK, p‑Src homology 2‑containing phosphatase (SHP)1/t‑SHP1 and p‑SHP2/t‑SHP2 were diminished, whereas the expression levels of p‑STING/t‑STING and p‑TBK1/t‑TBK1 were heightened in the model group. In comparison to the model group, the expression levels of p‑AMPK/t‑AMPK, p‑SHP1/t‑SHP1 and p‑SHP2/t‑SHP2 were enhanced, whereas the expression levels of p‑STING/t‑STING and p‑TBK1/t‑TBK1 were reduced in the model + HPE group. Conversely, when compared with the model + HPE group, the expression levels of p‑AMPK/t‑AMPK, p‑SHP1/t‑SHP1 and p‑SHP2/t‑SHP2 were decreased, whereas those of p‑STING/t‑STING and p‑TBK1/t‑TBK1 were increased in the model + HPE + AMPK inhibitor group. In conclusion, HPE may inhibit AR by modulating the AMPK/SHP1/SHP2/STING signaling pathway.

PARP14 inhibits microglial activation via NNT to alleviate depressive-like behaviors in mice

Microglial inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder; however, the underlying biological mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Consequently, we conducted a screening of the Poly ADP-ribose (PAR) polymerase (PARP) family expression in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) mouse models and investigated the specific role of PARP14 in microglial inflammation and its association with depression. Here, this study demonstrated the elevated PARP14 expression in the hippocampus of CUS mice. The knockdown of PARP14 in the hippocampus did not mitigate depressive-like behaviors in mice, whereas overexpression of PARP14 significantly mitigated these behaviors. Furthermore, PARP14 was abundant in microglia, and microglial-targeted PARP14 overexpression significantly alleviated depressive-behaviors in CUS, reduced microglial activation, and inhibited the central inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, PARP14 positively regulated nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) expression in microglia, and the inflammatory response of microglia induced by PARP14 knockdown was suppressed through NNT overexpression. Additionally, deficiency in NNT led to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent microglial inflammation, which was effectively inhibited by the ROS inhibitor N-Acetylcysteine. These findings suggest that PARP14 alleviates depressive-like behaviors in mice by inhibiting microglial activation via NTT-mediated clearance of ROS.