Emodin Interferes With Nitroglycerin-Induced Migraine in Rats Through CGMP-PKG Pathway

Zolmitriptan niosomal transdermal patches: combating migraine via epigenetic and endocannabinoid pathways and reversal of migraine hypercoagulability

Conventional zolmitriptan (ZOL) has limited oral bioavailability, many adverse effects, and poor membrane penetrability that negatively influences its accessibility to its 5-HT1B/1D receptor binding pocket, located transmemberanous. This work aimed at preparing transdermal ZOL-nanoformulation (niosomes) to surpass these limitations and to explore novel antimigraine mechanisms for ZOL via modulation of the epigenetically-altered chronification genes (RAMP-1, NPTX-2) or microRNAs and affecting the endocannabinoid CB-1/MAPK pathway. The prepared ZOL niosomes (Fsp60/6-1:1) exhibited %EE of 57.28%, PS of 472.3 nm, PDI of 0.366, and ZP of -26 mV were cast into patch with content uniformity of 93.12%, maintained endurance after 200-times folding, no interaction between its components (FT-IR), a biphasic release pattern and good stability after storage at 4 °C for 6 months. In-vivo ZOL-patch application in rats with nitroglycerin-induced migraine showed significant management of migraine pain symptoms and photophobia assessed behaviorally, decreased brain levels of the trigeminal neuronal activation marker (c-fos), the migraine pain neurotransmitter (CGRP) and the serum levels of different migraine pain markers (substance P, nitric-oxide, and TNF-α). It also significantly decreased RAMP-1, NPTX-2, miR-382-5p, and CB-1/MAPK gene expression reflecting improved efficacy and brain receptors delivery to a much greater extent than conventional ZOL has done. Additionally, this nanoformulation significantly opposed migraine-induced platelet activation and hypercoagulable status in both central and peripheral circulations as evidenced by the significant decrease in adenosine diphosphate, thrombin, factor X, CD41, and Von-Willebrand factor levels assessed peripherally and centrally. TPFsp60/6-1:1 significantly improved ZOL efficacy and accessibility to brain-receptors to a much greater extent than conventional ZOL-solution.KeywordsEndocannabinoid receptors; Epigenetically-altered genes; Hemostatic pathways; Niosomal patch; Transdermal; Zolmitriptan.

Fibroblast reprogramming in the dura mater of NTG-induced migraine-related chronic hypersensitivity model drives monocyte infiltration via Angptl1-dependent stromal signaling

BACKGROUND

Migraine, characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headache, remains mechanistically enigmatic. While traditional theories emphasize trigeminovascular activation, the role of meningeal stromal-immune crosstalk in disease chronicity is poorly understood.

METHODS

A migraine-related chronic hypersensitivity model was utilized via intermittent intraperitoneal nitroglycerin (NTG, 10 mg/kg, every other day for 9 days) and peripheral mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed using von Frey filaments. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on dura tissues to construct a cellular atlas of NTG-induced remodeling. These data were then integrated with migraine genome-wide association study (GWAS) risk genes, cell-cell interaction networks, and transcriptional regulation analysis to dissect NTG-driven meningeal remodeling.

RESULTS

The NTG-induced migraine-related chronic hypersensitivity model demonstrated sustained mechanical allodynia, as evidenced by significantly decreased paw withdrawal thresholds (p < 0.0001). Single-cell profiling of the dura mater revealed a 2.4-fold expansion of a pro-inflammatory fibroblast subpopulation (Fibro_c5: 1.9% in Vehicle vs. 4.6% in NTG group), which exhibited marked activation of TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathways (normalized enrichment score [NES] = 1.83). Concomitantly, we observed an 82% increase in meningeal monocytes (5.7-10.4%) that showed preferential interaction with Fibro_c5 fibroblasts through Angptl1-mediated stromal-immune crosstalk (log2 fold change = 1.41). Regulatory network analysis identified Mafk as the upstream transcriptional regulator orchestrating Angptl1 expression in this pathological communication axis.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals that NTG reprograms meningeal fibroblasts to expand a pro-inflammatory fibroblast subtype, which drives migraine-related chronic hypersensitivity through TNF-α/NF-κB signaling and Angptl1-mediated monocyte crosstalk. The identified Mafk-Angptl1 axis presents a potential therapeutic target, though human validation remains essential.

Extracts of Chuanxiong and Baizhi Attenuate Neuroinflammation in Chronic Migraine Rats by Inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signal Pathway

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the mechanism by which a compound mixture of Chuanxiong and Baizhi (CMCB) modulates the TLR4/MyD88/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation in nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced chronic migraine (CM) rat models. In vivo CM rat models were induced with 10 mg/kg NTG, while in vitro models utilized BV2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Toxicity of CMCB extracts was assessed through CCK8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase detection. Protein and messenger RNA expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Immunofluorescence was employed to evaluate the nucleoplasmic distribution of NF-κB p65. Inflammatory status and cell apoptosis were evaluated through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that CMCB concentrations below 16 μM were nontoxic to BV2 cells and effectively reduced cell apoptosis and inflammation, akin to the effects of a TLR4 pathway inhibitor, TAK-242. CMCB extracts decreased protein expression of TLR4 and MyD88, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, and limited NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both zolmitriptan and CMCB treatment ameliorated symptoms like red ear, head scratching, and cage climbing in CM rat models. High dosages of CMCB exhibited comparable efficacy to zolmitriptan in reducing inflammatory responses, indicating that CMCB alleviates neuroinflammation in CM rat models through the inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

An emodin-mediated multifunctional nanoplatform with augmented sonodynamic and immunoregulation for osteomyelitis therapy

Emodin (ED), as a traditional Chinese medicine, possesses a variety of biological activities and is also one of natural sonosensitizer. Whether emodin could react with titanium dioxide to enhance the sonodynamic activity for safely treating osteomyelitis remains to be explored. Hence, an ED-conjugated Mn-doped titanium dioxide (TOM) nanorod array is designed and prepared on titanium to eliminate bacterial infections under ultrasound (US) treatment. The doping of Mn and the formation of an inorganic-organic interfacial between ED and TOM cause an imbalance in the interfacial charge and reduce the band gap of TOM, thereby increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under US. The generated ROS effectively destroys the bacterial cell membrane, accelerating Mn ions intake and thereby inducing ferroptosis-like death of MRSA. Moreover, the hybrid coating activates cAMP and cGMP-PKG pathways to modulate M1 polarization of macrophages to display potent phagocytosis to bacteria. After eliminating the bacterial infection, the coating also can facilitate macrophage M2 polarization to promote osteogenic differentiation. Overall, the Chinese medicine enhanced sonodynamic and immunotherapy have great promise in treating bacterial-infected osteomyelitis.

Molecular assessment of NMDAR subunits and neuronal apoptosis in the trigeminal ganglion in a model of male migraine-induced rats following Moringa oleifera alcoholic extract administration

INTRODUCTION

Migraine, a common disorder marked by severe and repetitive headaches, has been linked to the involvement of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), a receptor responsible for glutamate signaling. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera), recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties and therapeutic potential in various conditions, has been investigated. This study aims to assess the efficacy and precise mechanisms of M. oleifera for the treatment of migraine, for which evidence is limited.

METHODS

Rats were stratified into four distinct groups. The control group did not undergo the migraine-induction protocol. Post-induction, the "sumatriptan" group was administered sumatriptan injections, the "treatment" group received oral M. oleifera extract, and the "vehicle" group was provided with oral solvent treatment. Behavioral evaluations encompassing Von Frey's and hot plate assessments, in addition to qPCR analysis targeting Nr2a, Nr2b, Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3, were conducted.

RESULTS

Von Fery's and hot plate tests revealed a notable decrease in triggering pressure and temperature within the vehicle group when compared to the other groups (both ps < 0.001). The Nr2a expression levels in both the vehicle and treatment cohorts exhibited significantly higher values than those observed in the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.001) and the sumatriptan group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). Conversely, no substantial alterations in Nr2b or Bcl-2 expression levels were observed across the study groups (p = 0.404, p = 0.976). Notably, heightened expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax were evident in the vehicle group relative to the other groups (p = 0.013, p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Moringa oleifera extract appears to mitigate symptoms of migraine by inhibiting apoptosis, suggesting potential efficacy in migraine treatment; however, additional research investigating a wider range of pathways is necessary.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Histopathological effects of repeated 14-day administration of rizatriptan benzoate in a nitroglycerin-induced migraine rabbits model

Background

Migraine is one of multiple attack neurological conditions that causes moderate to severe headaches with no defined pathophysiology and few animal models.

Aim

Establishing an animal model that reproduces migraine-like action is important in medical research to identify the mechanism underlying this disorder. Additionally, it facilitates the availability and reliability of new models that may act as human surrogate models.

Method

Rabbits were divided into four groups. Negative group, migraine group, rizatriptan-nitroglycerin group, and rizatriptan group. The frequency of head scratching and the histopathological changes in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart for groups were evaluated in all groups.

Results

The behavioral characteristic of head scratching was significantly increased in the NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8) compared with the control group (9.2 ± 1.3) after 30 min of the experiment. Moreover, animals treated with rizatriptan benzoate (Riza) 10 mg/kg/orally for 14 days followed by NTG injection showed a significant decrease in the head scratch action (16.8 ± 2.3 and 17.6 ± 3.3) than the animals of NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8 and 43.6 ± 2.3) after 30 min and 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, animals treated with Riza alone showed no statistical differences in the head scratches (7.8 ± 1.3, 9.2 ± 0.8, 10.6 ± 1.1 and 9.6 ± 1.3, respectively) during the 120 min of the experiment, compared with the control group. Histopathological alterations in the brain of rabbits that received NTG showed severe diffuse dilated and engorged blood vessels. These changes were also recorded in the liver and kidney of this group. This marked vasodilation of blood vessels and central and portal veins confirms the successful induction of migraine in the rabbit model. In contrast, animals treated with Riza for 14 days demonstrated substantially less vascular dilation following NTG injection. No significant pathological lesions were observed in animals treated with Riza.

Conclusion

The current study successfully established a rabbit model of migraine using a single dose of NTG to induce migraine-like behavior. Moreover, pre-treatment with rizatriptan benzoate for fourteen days significantly reduced the symptoms of migraine and histopathological changes in different organs.

Histopathological effects of repeated 14-day administration of rizatriptan benzoate in a nitroglycerin-induced migraine rabbits model

Background

Migraine is one of multiple attack neurological conditions that causes moderate to severe headaches with no defined pathophysiology and few animal models.

Aim

Establishing an animal model that reproduces migraine-like action is important in medical research to identify the mechanism underlying this disorder. Additionally, it facilitates the availability and reliability of new models that may act as human surrogate models.

Method

Rabbits were divided into four groups. Negative group, migraine group, rizatriptan-nitroglycerin group, and rizatriptan group. The frequency of head scratching and the histopathological changes in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart for groups were evaluated in all groups.

Results

The behavioral characteristic of head scratching was significantly increased in the NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8) compared with the control group (9.2 ± 1.3) after 30 min of the experiment. Moreover, animals treated with rizatriptan benzoate (Riza) 10 mg/kg/orally for 14 days followed by NTG injection showed a significant decrease in the head scratch action (16.8 ± 2.3 and 17.6 ± 3.3) than the animals of NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8 and 43.6 ± 2.3) after 30 min and 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, animals treated with Riza alone showed no statistical differences in the head scratches (7.8 ± 1.3, 9.2 ± 0.8, 10.6 ± 1.1 and 9.6 ± 1.3, respectively) during the 120 min of the experiment, compared with the control group. Histopathological alterations in the brain of rabbits that received NTG showed severe diffuse dilated and engorged blood vessels. These changes were also recorded in the liver and kidney of this group. This marked vasodilation of blood vessels and central and portal veins confirms the successful induction of migraine in the rabbit model. In contrast, animals treated with Riza for 14 days demonstrated substantially less vascular dilation following NTG injection. No significant pathological lesions were observed in animals treated with Riza.

Conclusion

The current study successfully established a rabbit model of migraine using a single dose of NTG to induce migraine-like behavior. Moreover, pre-treatment with rizatriptan benzoate for fourteen days significantly reduced the symptoms of migraine and histopathological changes in different organs.

New perspectives on migraine treatment: a review of the mechanisms and effects of complementary and alternative therapies

Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurovascular disorder, with women being more susceptible, characterized by unilateral throbbing headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and often associated with various comorbidities such as brain and cardiovascular diseases, which can have a serious impact on quality of life. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main first-line medications for the treatment of pain, long-term use often leads to side effects and drug addiction, which emphasizes the need to investigate alternative pain management strategies with fewer adverse effects. Complementary and alternative medicine is a viable pain intervention often used in conjunction with traditional medications, including acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, bio-supplements, and acupressure, which offer non-pharmacological alternatives that are now viable pain management options. This review focuses on the mechanistic doctrine of migraine generation and the role and potential mechanisms of Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAT) in the treatment of migraine, summarizes the research evidences for CAT as an adjunct or alternative to conventional therapies for migraine, and focuses on the potential of novel migraine therapies (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) antagonists) with the aim of evaluating CAT therapies as adjunctive or alternative therapies to conventional migraine treatment, thereby providing a broader perspective on migraine management and the design of treatment programs for more effective pain management.

Validation of Core Ingredients and Molecular Mechanism of Cinobufotalin Injection Against Liver Cancer

Purpose

Cinobufotalin injection has obvious curative effects on liver cancer patients with less toxicity and fewer side effects than other therapeutic approaches. However, the core ingredients and mechanism underlying these anti-liver cancer effects have not been fully clarified due to its complex composition.

Methods

Multidimensional network analysis was used to screen the core ingredients, key targets and pathways underlying the therapeutic effects of cinobufotalin injection on liver cancer, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to confirm the findings.

Results

By construction of ingredient networks and integrated analysis, eight core ingredients and ten key targets were finally identified in cinobufotalin injection, and all of the core ingredients are tightly linked with the key targets, and these key targets are highly associated with the cell cycle-related pathways, supporting that both cinobufotalin injection and its core ingredients exert anti-liver cancer roles by blocking cell cycle-related pathways. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that either cinobufotalin injection or one of its core ingredients, cinobufagin, significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle progression and xenograft tumor growth, and the key target molecules involved in the cell cycle pathway such as CDK1, CDK4, CCNB1, CHEK1 and CCNE1, exhibit consistent changes in expression after treatment with cinobufotalin injection or cinobufagin. Interestingly, some key targets CDK1, CDK4, PLK1, CHEK1, TTK were predicted to bind with multiple of core ingredients of cinobufotalin injection, and the affinity between one of the critical ingredients cinobufagin and key target CDK1 was further confirmed by SPR assay.

Conclusion

Cinobufotalin injection was confirmed to includes eight core ingredients, and they play therapeutic effects in liver cancer by blocking cell cycle-related pathways, which provides important insights for the mechanism of cinobufotalin injection antagonizing liver cancer and the development of novel small molecule anti-cancer drugs.

Emodin derivative E35 and its combination with autophagy inhibitor against acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy with poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. The discovery of more effective therapeutic strategies for AML plays a crucial role. The present work showed that E35, a novel derivative of emodin, significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced autophagy and apoptosis in AML cells. Treatment with E35 markedly induced Beclin-1, LC3-II, cleaved Caspase-9 and PARP, and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. E35 exposure evoked autophagic activity prior to apoptosis induction, and autophagy inhibition by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) dramatically increased E35-induced apoptosis in both AML cell lines and patient-derived AML cells. Nevertheless, study on AML xenograft model showed that the combination E35 with 3-MA exhibited much more inhibitory effects on leukemia cell growth in vivo. No obvious adverse reactions occurred in the xenograft animals administered E35 alone or its cotreatment with 3-MA. These findings suggest that E35 could exert anti-leukemia effects, and that the combination of E35 and autophagy inhibitor might prove a more highly efficient strategy for AML treatment.

The plasma fibrinogen levels in the nitroglycerin-induced chronic migraine rat model and its association between migraine-associated vestibular dysfunction

The purpose of this study was to measure the vestibular function and plasma fibrinogen level in the nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced chronic migraine rats, and explore the effect of defibrinogenation on migraine and associated vestibular dysfunction. The chronic migraine rat model was built by recurrent NTG injection. Batroxobin was administrated as a defibrinogenating drug. We measured the mechanical withdrawal threshold, vestibular function, and fibrinogen level of the rats 30 min before and 2 h following the model establishment, as well as 1 h after batroxobin administration. The results showed that vestibular function was impaired in NTG-induced chronic migraine rats. The fibrinogen levels were increased following repeated NTG injections. However, defibrinogenation did not affect either aggravating or alleviating mechanical hyperalgesia or vestibular dysfunction in the migraine model rats. These findings suggest that the NTG-induced chronic migraine rat model can be used for research on migraine-associated vestibular symptoms. Albeit the association between elevated fibrinogen levels and migraine attacks can be observed, the role of excessive fibrinogen in the pathogenesis of chronic migraine is yet to be determined.

Metabolomics-based safety evaluation of acute exposure to electronic cigarettes in mice

INTRODUCTION

A growing number of epidemiological evidence reveals that electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) were associated with pneumonia, hypertension and atherosclerosis, but the toxicological evaluation and mechanism of E-cigs were largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Our study was aimed to explore the adverse effects on organs and metabolomics changes in C57BL/6J mice after acute exposure to E-cigs.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining found pathological changes in tissues after acute exposure to E-cigs, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, nuclear pyknosis, and intercellular interstitial enlargement. E-cigs could increase apoptosis-positive cells in a time-dependent way using Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Oxidative damage indicators of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonena (4-HNE) were also elevated after E-cigs exposure. There was an increasing trend of total glycerol and cholesterol in serum, while the glucose and liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) had no significant change compared to that of control. Further, Q Exactive high field (HF) mass spectrometer was used to conduct metabolomics, which revealed that differential metabolites including l-carnitine, Capryloyl glycine, etc. Trend analysis showed the type of compounds that change over time. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that E-cigs affected 24 metabolic pathways, which were mainly regulated amino acid metabolism, further affected the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Additionally, metabolites-diseases network analysis found that the type 2 diabetes mellitus, propionic acidemia, defect in long-chain fatty acids transport and lung cancer may be related to E-cigs exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provided important clues for metabolites biomarkers of E-cigs acute exposure and are beneficial for disease prevention.

Unpredictable Sound Stress Model Causes Migraine-Like Behaviors in Mice With Sexual Dimorphism

Migraine represents one of the major causes of disability worldwide and is more prevalent in women; it is also related to anxiety symptoms. Stress, such as sound stress, is a frequently reported trigger in migraine patients, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. However, it is known that patients with migraine have higher levels of plasma inflammatory cytokines and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Stress mediated by unpredictable sound is already used as a model of painful sensitization, but migraine-like behaviors and sexual dimorphism have not yet been evaluated. This study characterized nociception and anxiety-related symptoms after the induction of sound stress in mice. C57BL/6 mice (20-30 g) were exposed to unpredictable sound stress for 3 days, nonconsecutive days. We observed enhanced plasma corticosterone levels on day 1 after stress induction. First, 7 days after the last stress session, mice developed hind paw and periorbital mechanical allodynia, grimacing pain behavior, anxiety-like symptoms, and reduced exploratory behavior. The nociceptive and behavioral alterations detected in this model were mostly shown in female stressed mice at day 7 post-stress. In addition, on day 7 post-stress nociception, these behaviors were consistently abolished by the CGRP receptor antagonist olcegepant (BIBN4096BS, 100 mg/kg by intraperitoneal route) in female and male stressed mice. We also demonstrated an increase in interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and CGRP levels in stressed mice plasma, with female mice showing higher levels compared to male mice. This stress paradigm allows further preclinical investigation of mechanisms contributing to migraine-inducing pain.

Emodin inhibits U87 glioblastoma cells migration by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated receptor to mediates the biological reactions of many environmental and natural compounds, which is highly expressed in glioblastoma. Although it has been reported that AhR agonist emodin can suppress some kinds of tumors, its inhibitory effect on glioblastoma migration and its relationship with AhR remain unclear. Based on the complexity of tumor pathogenesis and the tissue specificity of AhR, we hope can further understand the effect of emodin on glioblastoma and explore its mechanism. We found that the inhibitory effect of emodin on the migration of U87 glioblastoma cells increased with time, and the cell migration ability was inhibited by about 25% after 36 h exposure. In this process, emodin promoted the expression of the tumor suppressor IL24 by activating the AhR signaling pathway. Reducing the expression of AhR or IL24 by interfering RNA could block or relieve the inhibitory effect of emodin on the U87 cells migration, which indicates the inhibition of emodin on the migration of glioblastoma is mediated by the AhR-IL24 axis. Our data proved the AhR-IL24 signal axis is an important pathway for emodin to inhibit the migration of glioblastoma, and the AhR signaling pathway can be used as a key target to research the regulation effect and its mechanism of compounds on glioblastoma migration.