Artemisia Leaf Extract protects against neuron toxicity by TRPML1 activation and promoting autophagy/mitophagy clearance in both in vitro and in vivo models of MPP+/MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease

Functional modification of recombinant brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its protective effect against neurotoxicity

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic protein that promotes neuronal survival, increases neurotransmitter synthesis, and has potential therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, but its drug development has been limited by the fact that recombinant proteins of BDNF are unstable and do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we fused a TAT membrane-penetrating peptide with BDNF to express a recombinant protein (TBDNF), which was then PEG-modified to P-TBDNF. Protein characterization showed that P-TBDNF significantly improved the stability of the recombinant protein and possessed the ability to penetrate the BBB, and in cellular experiments, P-TBDNF prevented MPTP-induced nerve cell oxidative stress damage, apoptosis and inflammatory response, and its mechanism of action was closely related to the activation of tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor and inhibition of microglia activation. In animal experiments, P-TBDNF improved motor and cognitive deficits in MPTP mice and inhibited pathological changes in Parkinson's disease (PD). In conclusion, this paper is expected to reveal the mechanism of action of P-TBDNF in inhibiting neurotoxicity, provide a new way for treating PD, and lay the foundation for the future development of recombinant P-TBDNF.

Mitophagy in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis

Mitochondria are critical cellular energy resources and are central to the life of the neuron. Mitophagy selectively clears damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria through autophagic machinery to maintain mitochondrial quality control and homeostasis. Mature neurons are postmitotic and consume substantial energy, thus require highly efficient mitophagy pathways to turn over damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. Recent evidence indicates that mitophagy is pivotal to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. However, more work is needed to study mitophagy pathway components as potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we briefly discuss the characteristics of nonselective autophagy and selective autophagy, including ERphagy, aggrephagy, and mitophagy. We then introduce the mechanisms of Parkin-dependent and Parkin-independent mitophagy pathways under physiological conditions. Next, we summarize the diverse repertoire of mitochondrial membrane receptors and phospholipids that mediate mitophagy. Importantly, we review the critical role of mitophagy in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Last, we discuss recent studies considering mitophagy as a potential therapeutic target for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Together, our review may provide novel views to better understand the roles of mitophagy in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation alleviates oxidative stress via mitophagy in Parkinson's disease

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) has the potential to delay Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Whether oxidative stress participates in the neuroprotective effects of DBS and related signaling pathways remains unknown. To address this, we applied STN-DBS to mice and monkey models of PD and collected brain tissue to evaluate mitophagy, oxidative stress, and related pathway. To confirm findings in animal experiments, a cohort of PD patients was recruited and oxidative stress was evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid. When PD mice received STN stimulation, the mTOR pathway was suppressed, accompanied by elevated LC3 II expression, increased mitophagosomes, and a decrease in p62 expression. The increase in mitophagy and balance of mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics in the substantia nigra caused a marked enhancement of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels. Subsequently, fewer mitochondrial apoptogenic factors were released to the cytoplasm, which resulted in a suppression of caspase activation and reservation of dopaminergic neurons. While interfaced with an mTOR activator, oxidative stress was no longer regulated by STN-DBS, with no neuroprotective effect. Similar results to those found in the rodent experiments were obtained in monkeys treated with chronic STN stimulation. Moreover, antioxidant enzymes in PD patients were increased after the operation, however, there was no relation between changes in antioxidant enzymes and motor impairment. Collectively, our study found that STN-DBS was able to increase mitophagy via an mTOR-dependent pathway, and oxidative stress was suppressed due to removal of damaged mitochondria, which was attributed to the dopaminergic neuroprotection of STN-DBS in PD.

TRPML1 contributes to antimony-induced nephrotoxicity by initiating ferroptosis via chaperone-mediated autophagy

Evidence suggests that ferroptosis participates in kidney injury. However, the role of ferroptosis in antimony (Sb) induced nephrotoxicity and the mechanism are unknown. Here, we demonstrated that Sb induced injury in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) and ferroptosis. Inhibition of ferroptosis reduced RTECs injury. Besides, elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) alleviated ferroptosis and RTECs injury. Moreover, exposure to Sb not only increased the co-localization of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and LAMP1, but also decreased the levels of MEF2D and LRRK2, while increased the levels of HSC70, HSP90, and LAMP2a. These findings suggest that Sb activates chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), enhances lysosomal transport and subsequent degradation of GPX4, ultimately leads to ferroptosis. Additionally, up-regulation of lysosomal cationic channel, TRPML1, mitigated RTECs injury and ferroptosis. Mechanistically, up-regulation of TRPML1 mitigated the changes in CMA-associated proteins induced by Sb, diminished the binding of HSC70, HSP90, and TRPML1 with LAMP2a. Furthermore, NAC restored the decreased TRPML1 level caused by Sb. In summary, deficiency of TRPML1, secondary to increased ROS induced by Sb, facilitates the CMA-dependent degradation of GPX4, thereby leading to ferroptosis and RTECs injury. These findings provide insights into the mechanism underlying Sb-induced nephrotoxicity and propose TRPML1 as a promising therapeutic target.

A prospective review of the health-promoting potential of Jing Si Herbal Tea

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained considerable attention over the past few years for its multicomponent, multitarget, and multi-pathway approach to treating different diseases. Studies have shown that TCMs as adjuvant therapy along with conventional treatment may benefit in safely treating various disorders. However, investigations on finding effective herbal combinations are ongoing. A novel TCM formula, "Jing Si Herbal Tea (JSHT)," has been reported recently for their health-promoting effects in improving overall body and mental health. JSHT is a combination of eight herbs recognized in Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia for their anti-viral, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties as well as protective effects against cardiovascular, metabolic, neural, digestive, and genitourinary diseases. Thus, to better understand the beneficial effects of the ingredients of JSHT on health, this review intends to summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of the ingredients of JSHT on human health and diseases, and possible therapeutic effects with the related mode of actions and future prospects for their application in complementary therapies.

Autophagy as an Anti-senescent in Aging Neurocytes

Neuron homeostasis is crucial for the organism, and its maintenance is multifactorial, including autophagy. The turnover of aberrant intracellular components is a fundamental pathogenetic mechanism for cell aging. Autophagy is involved in the acceleration of the neurocyte aging process and the modification of cell longevity. Neurocyte aging is a process of loss of cell identity through cellular and subcellular changes that include molecular loss of epigenetics, transcriptomic, proteomic, and autophagy dysfunction. Autophagy dysfunction is the hallmark of neurocyte aging. Cell aging is the credential feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Pathophysiologically, aged neurocytes are characterized by dysregulated autophagy and subsequently neurocyte metabolic stress, resulting in accelerated neurocyte aging. In particular, chaperone- mediated autophagy perturbation results in upregulated expression of aging and apoptosis genes. Aged neurocytes are also characterized by the down-regulation of autophagy-related genes, such as ATG5-ATG12, LC3-II / LC3-I ratio, Beclin-1, and p62. Slowing aging through autophagy targeting is sufficient to improve prognosis in neurodegenerative diseases. Three primary anti-senescent molecules are involved in the aging process: mTOR, AMPK, and Sirtuins. Autophagy therapeutic effects can be applied to reverse and slow aging. This article discusses current advances in the role of autophagy in neurocyte homeostasis, aging, and potential therapeutic strategies to reduce aging and increase cell longevity.

Icariside II protects dopaminergic neurons from 1‑methyl‑4‑phenylpyridinium‑induced neurotoxicity by downregulating HDAC2 to restore mitochondrial function

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Icariside II (ICS II) is known to confer notable therapeutic effects against a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of ICS II on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced SK-N-SH cell injury, in addition to understanding the underlying mechanism of action. The MPP+-induced SK-N-SH cell model was used to simulate PD in vitro. The viability and mitochondrial membrane potential of SK-N-SH cells were detected by MTT assay and JC-1 staining, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, ATP levels and complex I activity in treated SK-N-SH cells were measured using LDH activity, ATP and Complex I assay kits, respectively. The protein expression levels of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and γ-H2A histone family member X and the copy number of mitochondrial DNA were measured by western blotting or reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, respectively. Autodock 4.2 was used to predict the molecular docking site of ICS II on HDAC2. The results of the present study demonstrated that ICS II mitigated SK-N-SH cytotoxicity induced by MPP+. Specifically, ICS II alleviated DNA damage and restored mitochondrial function in SK-N-SH cells treated with MPP+. In addition, ICS II reduced the HDAC2 protein expression levels in MPP+-induced SK-N-SH cells. However, overexpression of HDAC2 reversed the protective effects of ICS II on DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in MPP+-induced SK-N-SH cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that ICS II can protect dopaminergic neurons from MPP+-induced neurotoxicity by downregulating HDAC2 expression to restore mitochondrial function.

TRPML1 as a potential therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer: a review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most refractory subtype of breast cancer, and effective treatments are urgently needed owing to its poor prognosis. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, alone or in combination, are the leading choices for TNBC therapy. Although promising approaches and procedures have emerged, several challenges, such as off-target effects, drug resistance, and severe side effects, remain to be addressed. Recently, transient receptor potential channel mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) has attracted the attention of researchers because its expression has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer. TRPML1 regulates biological events and signaling pathways, including autophagic flux, exocytosis, ionic homeostasis, and lysosomal biogenesis, all contributing to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. TRPML1 also functions as a building block for cancer cell growth, mitogenic signaling, priming tissues for metastasis, and activation of transcriptional programs, processes involved in several malignant tumors. This review provides an overview of breast cancer epidemiology and diagnostic techniques and then discusses the existing therapeutics. Additionally, we elaborate on the development of, and associated challenges to, TNBC diagnostics and treatment and the feasibility of TRPML1 as a therapeutic target for TNBC.

A combination of isoliquiritigenin with Artemisia argyi and Ohwia caudata water extracts attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by modulating Nrf2/Ho-1 signaling pathways in SD rats with doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity

Ohwia caudata (Thunb.) H. Ohashi (Leguminosae) also called as "Evergreen shrub" and Artemisia argyi H.Lév. and Vaniot (Compositae) also named as "Chinese mugwort" those two-leaf extracts frequently used as herbal medicine, especially in south east Asia and eastern Asia. Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin (DOX) are commonly used as effective chemotherapeutic drugs in anticancer therapy around the world. However, chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, dilated cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure are seen in patients who receive DOX therapy, with the mechanisms underlying DOX-induced cardiac toxicity remaining unclear. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cardiomyocytes have been shown to play crucial roles in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL, 10 mg/kg) is a bioactive flavonoid compound with protective effects against inflammation, neurodegeneration, cancer, and diabetes. Here, in this study, our aim is to find out the Artemisia argyi (AA) and Ohwia caudata (OC) leaf extract combination with Isoliquiritigenin in potentiating and complementing effect against chemo drug side effect to ameliorate cardiac damage and improve the cardiac function. In this study, we showed that a combination of low (AA 300 mg/kg; OC 100 mg/kg) and high-dose(AA 600 mg/kg; OC 300 mg/kg) AA and OC water extract with ISL activated the cell survival-related AKT/PI3K signaling pathway in DOX-treated cardiac tissue leading to the upregulation of the antioxidant markers SOD, HO-1, and Keap-1 and regulated mitochondrial dysfunction through the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Moreover, the water extract of AA and OC with ISL inhibited the inflammatory response genes IL-6 and IL-1β, possibly through the NFκB/AKT/PI3K/p38α/NRLP3 signaling pathways. The water extract of AA and OC with ISL could be a potential herbal drug treatment for cardiac hypertrophy, inflammatory disease, and apoptosis, which can lead to sudden heart failure.

Mitochondrial dysfunction-targeting therapeutics of natural products in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, often occurs in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The pathogenesis of PD is complex and includes mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Recently, natural products with multiple structures and their bioactive components have become one of the most important resources for small molecule PD drug research targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. Multiple lines of studies have proven that natural products display ameliorative benefits in PD treatment by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, a comprehensive search of recent published articles between 2012 and 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, Elesvier, Wliey and Springer was carried out, focusing on original publications related to natural products against PD by restoring mitochondrial dysfunction. This paper presented the mechanisms of various kinds of natural products on PD-related mitochondrial dysfunction regulation and provided evidence that natural products are promising to be developed as drugs for PD therapeutics.

The multifaceted roles of natural products in mitochondrial dysfunction

Mitochondria are the primary source of energy production in cells, supporting the metabolic demand of tissue. The dysfunctional mitochondria are implicated in various diseases ranging from neurodegeneration to cancer. Therefore, regulating dysfunctional mitochondria offers a new therapeutic opportunity for diseases with mitochondrial dysfunction. Natural products are pleiotropic and readily obtainable sources of therapeutic agents, which have broad prospects in new drug discovery. Recently, many mitochondria-targeting natural products have been extensively studied and have shown promising pharmacological activity in regulating mitochondrial dysfunction. Hence, we summarize recent advances in natural products in targeting mitochondria and regulating mitochondrial dysfunction in this review. We discuss natural products in terms of their mechanisms on mitochondrial dysfunction, including modulating mitochondrial quality control system and regulating mitochondrial functions. In addition, we describe the future perspective and challenges in the development of mitochondria-targeting natural products, emphasizing the potential value of natural products in mitochondrial dysfunction.

Effects of Apamin on MPP+-Induced Calcium Overload and Neurotoxicity by Targeting CaMKII/ERK/p65/STAT3 Signaling Pathways in Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells

Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The pathogenesis of PD is associated with several factors including oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ca²⁺ signaling plays a vital role in neuronal signaling and altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis has been implicated in many neuronal diseases including PD. Recently, we reported that apamin (APM), a selective antagonist of the small-conductivity Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK) channel, suppresses neuroinflammatory response. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the vulnerability of DA neurons were not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether APM affected 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP⁺)-mediated neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. We found that APM decreased Ca²⁺ overload arising from MPP⁺-induced neurotoxicity response through downregulating the level of CaMKII, phosphorylation of ERK, and translocation of nuclear factor NFκB/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3. Furthermore, we showed that the correlation of MPP⁺-mediated Ca²⁺ overload and ERK/NFκB/STAT3 in the neurotoxicity responses, and dopaminergic neuronal cells loss, was verified through inhibitors. Our findings showed that APM might prevent loss of DA neurons via inhibition of Ca²⁺-overload-mediated signaling pathway and provide insights regarding the potential use of APM in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analyses Unveil the Mechanisms of Yiguanjian Decoction against Parkinson’s Disease from Inner/Outer Brain Perspective

Objective

This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic mechanism of Yiguanjian (YGJ) decoction against Parkinson's disease (PD) through integrating the central nervous (inner brain) and peripheral system (outer brain) relationship spectrum.

Methods

The active components of YGJ were achieved from the TCMSP, TCMID, and TCM@Taiwan databases. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of the active components along with their corresponding targets was evaluated utilizing the existing website, namely, SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction. The targets of PD were determined through database retrieval. The interaction network was constructed upon the STRING database, followed by the visualization using Cytoscape software. Then, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses on potential targets. Finally, the molecular docking approach was employed to assess the binding affinity between key components and key targets.

Results

Overall, we identified 79 active components, 128 potential targets of YGJ, and 97 potential targets of YGJ-BBB potentially suitable for the treatment of PD. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the YGJ treatment of PD mainly relied on PI3K-Akt pathway while the YGJ-BBB was mostly involved in endocrine resistance. The molecular docking results displayed high affinity between multiple compounds and targets in accordance with previous observations.

Conclusions

Our study unveiled the potential mechanisms of YGJ against PD from a systemic perspective: (1) for the YGJ, they have potential exerting effects on the peripheral system and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis through regulating the PI3K-Akt pathway; (2) for the YGJ-BBB, they can directly modulate endocrine resistance of the central nervous and holistically enhance body resistance to PD along with YGJ on PI3K-Akt pathway.