Berberine Induces Mitophagy through Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase and Ameliorates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in PINK1 Knockout Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

The anti-senescence effect of D-β-hydroxybutyrate in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome involves progerin clearance by the activation of the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway

D-β-hydroxybutyrate, BHB, has been previously proposed as an anti-senescent agent in vitro and in vivo in several tissues including vascular smooth muscle. Moreover, BHB derivatives as ketone esters alleviate heart failure. Here, we provide evidence of the potential therapeutic effect of BHB on Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare condition characterized by premature aging and heart failure, caused by the presence of progerin, the aberrant protein derived from LMNA/C gene c.1824C > T mutation. We have assessed several hallmarks of HGPS-senescent phenotype in vitro, such as progerin levels, nuclear morphometric aberrations, nucleolar expansion, cellular senescent morphology, SA-βGal-positive cells, H3K9me3 heterochromatin, γH2AX foci, Lamin B1, p21Waf1/Cip1 and p16CDKN2A abundance, and autophagy. Strikingly, BHB improved nuclear and nucleolar morphometrics, diminished the senescence-phenotype, and unstuck autophagy in HGPS as observed by an enhanced degradation of the cargo protein receptor SQSTM1/p62, suggesting the stimulation of the autophagic flux. Additionally, we observed a decrease in progerin abundance, the cause of senescence in HGPS. Furthermore, compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, and SBI-0206965, an inhibitor of ULK1/2 and AMPK, which prevent autophagy activation, reversed BHB-induced progerin decline as well as its anti-senescent effect in an AMPK-mTORC1 dependent manner. Altogether, these results suggest that the anti-senescence effect of BHB involves progerin clearance by autophagy activation supporting the potential of BHB for HGPS therapeutics and further preclinical trials.

Plant Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Mitochondrial Health: An Overview of Their Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Apoptotic, and Mitophagic Mechanisms

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are a diverse group of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, and terpenoids, which have been recognised for their critical role in modulating cellular functions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of PSMs on mitochondrial health, with particular emphasis on their therapeutic potential. Emerging evidence shows that these metabolites improve mitochondrial function by reducing oxidative stress, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, and regulating key processes such as apoptosis and mitophagy. Mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of many pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome, has been shown to benefit from the protective effects of PSMs. Recent studies show that PSMs can improve mitochondrial dynamics, stabilise mitochondrial membranes, and enhance bioenergetics, offering significant promise for the prevention and treatment of mitochondrial-related diseases. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, including modulation of key signalling pathways and direct interactions with mitochondrial proteins, are discussed. The integration of PSMs into therapeutic strategies is highlighted as a promising avenue for improving treatment efficacy while minimising the side effects commonly associated with synthetic drugs. This review also highlights the need for future research to elucidate the specific roles of individual PSMs and their synergistic interactions within complex plant matrices, which may further optimise their therapeutic utility. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into the complex role of PSMs in mitochondrial health and their potential as natural therapeutic agents targeting mitochondrial dysfunction.

The role of Chinese herbal medicine in the regulation of oxidative stress in treating hypertension: from therapeutics to mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Although the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is not clear, a large number of studies have shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in the occurrence and development of hypertension and target organ damage.

PURPOSE

This paper systematically summarizes the relationship between oxidative stress and hypertension, and explores the potential mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the regulation of oxidative stress in hypertension, aiming to establish a scientific basis for the treatment of hypertension with CHM.

METHODS

To review the efficacy and mechanism by which CHM treat hypertension through targeting oxidative stress, data were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the VIP Information Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and the Wanfang Database from their inception up to January 2024. NPs were classified and summarized by their mechanisms of action.

RESULTS

In hypertension, the oxidative stress pathway of the body is abnormally activated, and the antioxidant system is inhibited, leading to the imbalance between the oxidative and antioxidative capacity. Meanwhile, excessive production of reactive oxygen species can lead to endothelial damage and vascular dysfunction, resulting in inflammation and immune response, thereby promoting the development of hypertension and damaging the heart, brain, kidneys, blood vessels, and other target organs. Numerous studies suggested that inhibiting oxidative stress may be the potential therapeutic target for hypertension. In recent years, the clinical advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of hypertension have gradually attracted attention. TCM, including active ingredients of CHM, single Chinese herb, TCM classic formula and traditional Chinese patent medicine, can not only reduce blood pressure, improve clinical symptoms, but also improve oxidative stress, thus extensively affect vascular endothelium, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system, target organ damage, as well as insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and other pathological mechanisms and hypertension related risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

CHM display a beneficial multi-target, multi-component, overall and comprehensive regulation characteristics, and have potential value for clinical application in the treatment of hypertension by regulating the level of oxidative stress.

Prepubertal Repeated Berberine Supplementation Enhances Cerebrocerebellar Functions by Modulating Neurochemical and Behavioural Changes in Wistar Rats

Antioxidant-rich supplementation plays an essential role in the function of mammals' central nervous system. However, no research has documented the effect of berberine (BER) supplementation on the cerebrocerebellar function of prepubertal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of BER supplementation on neurochemical and behavioural changes in prepubertal male rats. Five groups (90 ± 5 g, n = 7 each) of experimental rats were orally treated with corn oil or different doses of BER (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw) from the 28th at 68 post-natal days. On the 69 days of life, animals underwent behavioural assessment in the open field, hanging wire, and negative geotaxis tests. The result revealed that BER administration improved locomotive and motor behaviour by increasing distance travelled, line crossings, average speed, time mobile, and absolute turn angle in open field test and decrease in time to re-orient on an incline plane, a decrease in immobility time relative to the untreated control. Furthermore, BER supplementation increased (p < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, and TSH and prevented increases (p < 0.05) in oxidative and inflammatory levels as indicated by decreases in RONS, LPO, XO, carbonyl protein, NO, MPO, and TNF-α compared to the untreated control. BER-treated animals a lessened number of dark-stained Nissl cells compared to the untreated control rats. Our findings revealed that BER minimised neuronal degeneration and lesions, improved animal behaviour, and suppressed oxidative and inflammatory mediators, which may probably occur through its agonistic effect on PPAR-α, PPAR-δ, and PPAR-γ - essential proteins known to resolve inflammation and modulate redox signalling towards antioxidant function.

Shear Stress-Induced AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Modulation in Endothelial Cells: Its Role in Metabolic Adaptions and Cardiovascular Disease

Endothelial cells (ECs) line the inner surface of all blood vessels and form a barrier that facilitates the controlled transfer of nutrients and oxygen from the circulatory system to surrounding tissues. Exposed to both laminar and turbulent blood flow, ECs are continuously subject to differential mechanical stimulation. It has been well established that the shear stress associated with laminar flow (LF) is atheroprotective, while shear stress in areas with turbulent flow (TF) correlates with EC dysfunction. Moreover, ECs show metabolic adaptions to physiological changes, such as metabolic shifts from quiescence to a proliferative state during angiogenesis. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is at the center of these phenomena. AMPK has a central role as a metabolic sensor in several cell types. Moreover, in ECs, AMPK is mechanosensitive, linking mechanosensation with metabolic adaptions. Finally, recent studies indicate that AMPK dysregulation is at the center of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and that pharmacological targeting of AMPK is a promising and novel strategy to treat CVDs such as atherosclerosis or ischemic injury. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge relevant to this topic, with a focus on shear stress-induced AMPK modulation and its consequences for vascular health and disease.

Novel Insights into Psychosis and Antipsychotic Interventions: From Managing Symptoms to Improving Outcomes

For the past 70 years, the dopamine hypothesis has been the key working model in schizophrenia. This has contributed to the development of numerous inhibitors of dopaminergic signaling and antipsychotic drugs, which led to rapid symptom resolution but only marginal outcome improvement. Over the past decades, there has been limited research on the quantifiable pathological changes in schizophrenia, including premature cellular/neuronal senescence, brain volume loss, the attenuation of gamma oscillations in electroencephalograms, and the oxidation of lipids in the plasma and mitochondrial membranes. We surmise that the aberrant activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by toxins derived from gut microbes or the environment drives premature cellular and neuronal senescence, a hallmark of schizophrenia. Early brain aging promotes secondary changes, including the impairment and loss of mitochondria, gray matter depletion, decreased gamma oscillations, and a compensatory metabolic shift to lactate and lactylation. The aim of this narrative review is twofold: (1) to summarize what is known about premature cellular/neuronal senescence in schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders, and (2) to discuss novel strategies for improving long-term outcomes in severe mental illness with natural senotherapeutics, membrane lipid replacement, mitochondrial transplantation, microbial phenazines, novel antioxidant phenothiazines, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonists.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Endothelial Progenitor Cells: Unraveling Insights from Vascular Endothelial Cells

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with several lifestyle-related diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and it contributes significantly to the global health burden. Recent research indicates a link between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial impairment, and endothelial dysfunction. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are recruited into the vessel wall to maintain appropriate endothelial function, repair, and angiogenesis. After attachment, EPCs differentiate into mature endothelial cells (ECs). Like ECs, EPCs are also susceptible to CVRFs, including metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction of EPCs may have long-term effects on the function of the mature ECs into which EPCs differentiate, particularly in the presence of endothelial damage. However, a link between CVRFs and impaired mitochondrial function in EPCs has hardly been investigated. In this review, we aim to consolidate existing knowledge on the development of mitochondrial and endothelial dysfunction in the vascular endothelium, place it in the context of recent studies investigating the consequences of CVRFs on EPCs, and discuss the role of mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of mechanisms involved in EPC deterioration in relation to CVRFs and address potential therapeutic interventions targeting mitochondrial health to promote endothelial function.