Endogenous BMP-4/ROS/COX-2 Mediated IPC and Resveratrol Alleviated Brain Damage

Effect and mechanisms of resveratrol in animal models of ischemic stroke: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis

Resveratrol (RSV) holds promise as cerebroprotective treatment in cerebral ischemia. This systematic review aims to assess the effects and mechanisms of RSV in animal models of ischemic stroke. We searched Medline, Embase and Web of Science to identify 75 and 57 eligible rodent studies for qualitative and quantitative syntheses, respectively. Range of evidence met 10 of 13 STAIR criteria. Median (Q1, Q3) quality score was 7 (5, 8) on the CAMARADES 15-item checklist. Bayesian meta-analysis showed SMD estimates (95% CI) favoring RSV: infarct size (-1.72 [-2.03; -1.41]), edema size (-1.61 [-2.24; -0.98]), BBB impairment (-1.85 [-2.54; -1.19]), neurofunctional impairment (-1.60 [-1.92; -1.29]), and motor performance (1.39 [0.64; 2.08]); and less probably neuronal survival (0.63 [-1.40; 2.48]) and apoptosis (-0.96 [-2.87; 1.02]). Species (rat vs mouse) was associated to a larger benefit. Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of the estimates. Reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis underlie these effects. Our results quantitatively state the beneficial effects of RSV on structural and functional outcomes in rodent stroke models, update the evidence on the mechanisms of action, and provide an exhaustive list of targeted signaling pathways. Current evidence highlights the need for conducting further high-quality preclinical research to better inform clinical research.

Potential Role of Natural Antioxidants in Countering Reperfusion Injury in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke

Stroke and acute myocardial infarction are leading causes of mortality worldwide. The latter accounts for approximately 9 million deaths annually. In turn, ischemic stroke is a significant contributor to adult physical disability globally. While reperfusion is crucial for tissue recovery, it can paradoxically exacerbate damage through oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and cell death. Therefore, it is imperative to explore diverse approaches aimed at minimizing ischemia/reperfusion injury to enhance clinical outcomes. OS primarily arises from an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or decreased endogenous antioxidant potential. Natural antioxidant compounds can counteract the injury mechanisms linked to ROS. While promising preclinical results, based on monotherapies, account for protective effects against tissue injury by ROS, translating these models into human applications has yielded controversial evidence. However, since the wide spectrum of antioxidants having diverse chemical characteristics offers varied biological actions on cell signaling pathways, multitherapy has emerged as a valuable therapeutic resource. Moreover, the combination of antioxidants in multitherapy holds significant potential for synergistic effects. This study was designed with the aim of providing an updated overview of natural antioxidants suitable for preventing myocardial and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuries.

Molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and relevance to inflammation

INTRODUCTION

Inflammation is a defensive response of the organism to irritation which is manifested by redness, swelling, heat, pain and dysfunction. The inflammatory response underlies the role of various diseases. Ferroptosis, a unique modality of cell death, driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, is regulated by multifarious cellular metabolic pathways, including redox homeostasis, iron processing and metabolism of lipids, as well as various signaling pathways associated with diseases. A growing body of evidence suggests that ferroptosis is involved in inflammatory response, and targeting ferroptosis has great prospects in preventing and treating inflammatory diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant literatures on ferroptosis, inflammation, inflammatory factors and inflammatory diseases published from January 1, 2010 to now were searched in PubMed database.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms associated with ferroptosis, discuss the interaction between ferroptosis and inflammation, the role of mitochondria in inflammatory ferroptosis, and the role of targeting ferroptosis in inflammatory diseases. As more and more studies have confirmed the relationship between ferroptosis and inflammation in a wide range of organ damage and degeneration, drug induction and inhibition of ferroptosis has great potential in the treatment of immune and inflammatory diseases.

A meta-analysis of resveratrol protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: Evidence from rats studies and insight into molecular mechanisms

Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol (RES) in rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Data sources: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases were searched from their inception dates to July 2022. No language restriction was used in the literature search.

Date Selection: Studies were selected that RES were used to treat cerebral I/R injury in vivo. Two reviewers conducted literature screening, data extraction and methodological quality assessment independently.

Outcome measures: Cerebral infarct volume was included as primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included cerebral water content and neurological deficit scores. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used to evaluate oxidative stress during medication.

Results: A total of 41 studies were included, and only a few of them the methodological quality was relatively low. Compared with the control group, RES significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume (29 studies, standard mean difference (SMD) = −2.88 [−3.23 to −2.53], p < 0.00001) and brain water content (nine studies, MD = −9.49 [−13.58 to −5.40], p < 0.00001) after cerebral I/R injury, then neurological function was improved (15 studies, SMD = −1.96 [−2.26 to −1.65], p < 0.00001). The MDA level (six studies, SMD = −8.97 [−13.60 to −4.34], p = 0.0001) was decreased notably after treatment of RES, while the SOD level (five studies, SMD = 3.13 [−0.16 to 6.43], p = 0.06) was increased unsatisfactory. Consistently, subgroup analysis of cerebral infarct volume suggested that the optimal therapeutic dose is 30 mg/kg (eight studies, SMD = −5.83 [−7.63 to −4.04], p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, 60 min of occlusion (three studies, SMD = −10.89 [−16.35 to −5.42], p < 0.0001) could get maximum benefit from compared with 90 min and 120 min of occlusion. On the other hand, the publication bias cannot be ignored. The pharmacological mechanisms of RES on cerebral I/R injury models as reported have be summarized, which can be used for reference by researchers to further plan their future experiments.

Conclusion: RES might have a good neuroprotective effect on cerebral I/R injury in rats, then 30 mg/kg RES may be the optimal dose for treatment, and early administration of RES should be more neuroprotective. Also it need to be further verified through exploration of dose effect relationship, or delay administration or not.

Effect of Parecoxib Sodium Preemptive Analgesia on the Recovery Period of General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Glioma Resection

Objective

To investigate the effect of parecoxib sodium preemptive analgesia on postoperative complications and postoperative recovery of patients undergoing glioma resection.

Methods

A total of 200 eligible patients with low-grade gliomas in the functional brain area scheduled for an awake craniotomy between January 2017 and December 2020 were reviewed. The subjects were divided into two groups: the study group (n = 100) given dexmedetomidine plus parecoxib sodium for pre-emptive analgesia 30 minutes preoperatively, and the control group (n = 100) receiving dexmedetomidine alone. Venous blood was collected before surgery, at the time of postoperative recovery, and 24 hours after operation, mean artery pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded during surgery. Sedation satisfaction, agitation rate, numerical pain score (NRS), postoperative complications, minimental state examination (MMSE) scores, quality of life (QoL) scores, and incidence of adverse events were also investigated after the surgery.

Results

There were no significant differences in operation time, awakening time, intraoperative awakening time, and extubation time between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the ΔMAP (7.26 ± 2.21 versus 5.78 ± 2.36 mmHg) and the ΔHR (11.35 ± 3.66 versus 8.84 ± 2.47 beats/min) were significantly lower in the study group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the satisfaction was higher and agitation rate was lower in the study group (P < 0.05). The incidence of intracranial infection and pulmonary infection decreased after operation (P < 0.05). The NRS of the study group was remarkably lower than the control group at 12 hours postoperatively Preoperative MMSE score and QoL score showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05), while postoperative MMSE and QoL scores showed statistical difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study suggests that parecoxib sodium can significantly improve the level of sedation and analgesia in patients undergoing glioma resection, reduce the incidence of intracranial infection and pulmonary infection.

Resveratrol has an Overall Neuroprotective Role in Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis in Rodents

Background: Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic phytoalexin, is broadly presented in dietary sources. Previous research has suggested its potential neuroprotective effects on ischemic stroke animal models. However, these results have been disputable. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the effect of resveratrol treatment in ischemic stroke rodent models.

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the effect of resveratrol treatment in ischemic stroke rodent models.

Methods: A literature search of the databases Pubmed, Embase, and Web of science identified 564 studies that were subjected to pre-defined inclusion criteria. 54 studies were included and analyzed using a random-effects model to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) with corresponding confidence interval (CI).

Results: As compared with controls, resveratrol significantly decreased infarct volume (SMD −4.34; 95% CI −4.98 to −3.69; p < 0.001) and the neurobehavioral score (SMD −2.26; 95% CI −2.86 to −1.67; p < 0.001) in rodents with ischemic stroke. Quality assessment was performed using a 10-item checklist. Studies quality scores ranged from 3 to 8, with a mean value of 5.94. In the stratified analysis, a significant decrease of infarct volume and the neurobehavioral score was achieved in resveratrol sub-groups with a dosage of 20–50 mg/kg. In the meta-regression analysis, the impact of the delivery route on an outcome is the possible source of high heterogeneity.

Conclusion: Generally, resveratrol treatment presented neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke models. Furthermore, this study can direct future preclinical and clinical trials, with important implications for human health.

Neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of ischemic/hypoxic preconditioning on neurological diseases

As the organ with the highest demand for oxygen, the brain has a poor tolerance to ischemia and hypoxia. Despite severe ischemia/hypoxia induces the occurrence and development of various central nervous system (CNS) diseases, sublethal insult may induce strong protection against subsequent fatal injuries by improving tolerance. Searching for potential measures to improve brain ischemic/hypoxic is of great significance for treatment of ischemia/hypoxia related CNS diseases. Ischemic/hypoxic preconditioning (I/HPC) refers to the approach to give the body a short period of mild ischemic/hypoxic stimulus which can significantly improve the body's tolerance to subsequent more severe ischemia/hypoxia event. It has been extensively studied and been considered as an effective therapeutic strategy in CNS diseases. Its protective mechanisms involved multiple processes, such as activation of hypoxia signaling pathways, anti-inflammation, antioxidant stress, and autophagy induction, etc. As a strategy to induce endogenous neuroprotection, I/HPC has attracted extensive attention and become one of the research frontiers and hotspots in the field of neurotherapy. In this review, we discuss the basic and clinical research progress of I/HPC on CNS diseases, and summarize its mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the limitations and challenges of their translation from basic research to clinical application.

A Spectrum of Topics for 2019: Advances in Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular Disease, Autism, Exosomes, and Central Nervous System Diseases

Advances in various fields were discussed in the reviews and original research articles published in 2019 in Current Pharmaceutical Design. Here, I review some of the major highlights for selected areas. A better understanding of disease mechanisms was a prominent recurrent theme and new therapeutic targets based on those mechanisms are highlighted here. Inflammation and oxidative stress are major features of many diseases, therefore, interventions to address these processes are reviewed. Although repurposing of old drugs occurred in several fields, drug targeting and drug delivery, especially of nanoparticles, also continues to be a major area of interest.

Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol via inhibiting TXNIP-oxidative stress pathway in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type I hypersensitivity mediated by IgE in the nose. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) plays a pivotal role in the process of producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Resveratrol is a TXNIP inhibitor. Nonetheless, its role and mechanism in AR are still undetermined. The present study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of resveratrol on an ovalbumin (OVA) induced mouse model of AR.

Methods

AR murine model was established using OVA and administrated intranasally with resveratrol or N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain was used for evaluating eosinophils. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and real-time PCR were employed to evaluate immunolabeling and mRNA expression of TXNIP in nasal mucosas of mice. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in nasal tissue homogenates were measured using MDA and SOD Assay Kit. Concentrations of OVA-specific IgE and histamines in serum, and OVA-specific IgE, PGD2, LTC4, ECP, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-33 and TNF-α in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) were assayed by ELISA. In vitro studies, western blotting, real-time PCR, ELISA, ROS detecting dye DCFH-DA, MDA, and SOD Assay Kit were performed to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of OVA, resveratrol or NAC on spleen mononuclear cells.

Results

We found significant alternations of sneezing, nasal rubbing, inflammatory cytokines, eosinophil numbers, TXNIP, MDA, and SOD levels in resveratrol or NAC treated mice compared with untreated AR mice. In cultured spleen mononuclear cells, TXNIP, MDA, SOD, ROS and inflammatory cytokines levels were altered by OVA but reversed by resveratrol or NAC.

Conclusions

Resveratrol could effectively alleviate murine AR by inhibiting TXNIP-oxidative stress pathway.

Endothelial BMP4 Promotes Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion and Is Elevated in Patients After Survived Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Leukocyte recruitment is a fundamental step in the inflammatory response during ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Rolling and adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelium promote tissue inflammation after IRI and require presentation of adhesion molecules E-selectin and ICAM-1 on the endothelial surface. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 is a prominent member of the BMP family expressed and secreted by endothelial cells. BMP4 derived from endothelial cells has important functions in vascular disease but its influence on the leukocyte adhesion cascade during inflammation is incompletely understood. In the present study, we challenged mice with an inducible endothelial-specific BMP4 deletion (referred to as EC-BMP4^-/- mice) and their control littermates (EC-BMP4^+/+) with thioglycollate i.p. and assessed extravasation of different leukocyte subsets during peritonitis. Peritoneal lavages were performed and peritoneal cells were counted. Total cell count in lavages of EC-BMP4^-/- mice was markedly reduced compared with lavages of EC-BMP4^+/+ mice. FACS analyses of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells revealed that diverse leukocyte subsets were reduced in EC-BMP4^-/- mice. Intravital microscopy of cremaster venules demonstrated that rolling and adhesion of leukocytes were significantly diminished in EC-BMP4^-/- mice in comparison with control mice in response to TNFα. These observations indicate that endothelial BMP4 is essential for rolling, adhesion, and extravasation of leukocytes in vivo. To understand the underlying mechanisms, levels of endothelial adhesion molecules E-selectin and ICAM-1 were quantified in EC-BMP4^-/- and EC-BMP4^+/+ mice by quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Interestingly, ICAM-1 and E-selectin expressions were reduced in the hearts of EC-BMP4^-/- mice. Next we confirmed pro-inflammatory properties of BMP4 in a gain of function experiments and found that administration of recombinant BMP4 in male C57BL/6 mice increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion in cremaster venules in vivo. To assess the regulation of BMP4 in inflammatory disease in humans, we collected plasma samples of patients from day 0 to day 7 after survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA, n = 42). Remarkably, plasma of OHCA patients contained significantly higher BMP4 protein levels compared with patients with coronary artery disease (CAD, n = 12) or healthy volunteers (n = 11). Subgroup analysis revealed that elevated plasma BMP4 levels after ROSC are associated with decreased survival and unfavorable neurological outcome. Collectively, endothelial BMP4 is a potent activator of inflammation in vivo that promotes rolling, adhesion, and extravasation of leukocyte subsets by induction of E-selectin and ICAM-1. Elevation of plasma BMP4 levels in the post-resuscitation period suggests that BMP4 contributes to pathophysiology and poor outcome of post-cardiac arrest syndrome.