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Qu C, Li QP, Su ZR, Ip SP, Yuan QJ, Xie YL, Xu QQ, Yang W, Huang YF, Xian YF, Lin ZX. Nano-Honokiol ameliorates the cognitive deficits in TgCRND8 mice of Alzheimer's disease via inhibiting neuropathology and modulating gut microbiota. J Adv Res 2022; 35:231-243. [PMID: 35024199 PMCID: PMC8721355 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Honokiol (HO) exerts neuroprotective effects in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the poor dissolution hampers its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Objectives A novel honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system (Nano-HO) with smaller size and excellent stability was developed in this study to improve the solubility and bioavailability of HO. The anti-AD effects of Nano-HO was determined. Methods Male TgCRND8 mice were daily orally administered Nano-HO or HO at the same dosage (20 mg/kg) for 17 consecutive weeks, followed by assessment of the spatial learning and memory functions using the Morris Water Maze test (MWMT). Results Our pharmacokinetic study indicated that the oral bioavailability was greatly improved by Nano-HO. In addition, Nano-HO significantly improved cognitive deficits and inhibited neuroinflammation via suppressing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the brain, preventing the activation of microglia (IBA-1) and astrocyte (GFAP), and reducing β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice. Moreover, Nano-HO was more effective than HO in modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing via suppressing β-secretase, as well as enhancing Aβ-degrading enzymes like neprilysin (NEP). Furthermore, Nano-HO more markedly inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation via decreasing the ratio of p-Tau (Thr 205)/tau and regulating tau-related apoptosis proteins (caspase-3 and Bcl-2). In addition, Nano-HO more markedly attenuated the ratios of p-JNK/JNK and p-35/CDK5, while enhancing the ratio of p-GSK-3β (Ser9)/GSK-3β. Finally, Nano-HO prevented the gut microflora dysbiosis in TgCRND8 mice in a more potent manner than free HO. Conclusion Nano-HO was more potent than free HO in improving cognitive impairments in TgCRND8 mice via inhibiting Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation through suppressing the activation of JNK/CDK5/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Nano-HO also more potently modulated the gut microbiota community to protect its stability than free HO. These results suggest that Nano-HO has good potential for further development into therapeutic agent for AD treatment.
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Key Words
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- APH-1, anterior pharynx-defective-1
- APP, amyloid precursor protein
- Aβ, β-amyloid
- BACE-1, β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1
- Bcl-2, B cell lymphoma-2
- CDK5, cyclin-dependent kinase 5
- CMC-Na, sodium carboxymethylcellulose
- Cognitive deficits
- GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3β
- Gut microbiota
- HO, Honokiol
- HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography
- Honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system
- IDE, insulin degrading enzyme
- IL-1β, interleukin 1β
- IL-6, interleukin 6
- JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase
- MCT, Medium-chain triglycerides
- MWMT, Morris Water Maze test
- NEP, neprilysin
- NFTs, neurofibrillary tangles
- Nano-HO, honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system
- Neuroinflammation
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- PDI, poly-dispersity index
- PS-1, presenilin-1
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- TEM, transmission electron microscope
- TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor
- Tau protein hyperphosphorylation
- TgCRND8 mice
- WT, wild type
- ZP, zeta potential
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Qu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qiao-Ping Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zi-Ren Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Siu-Po Ip
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - You-Liang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qing-Qing Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wen Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yan-Feng Huang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.,Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Li HQ, Ip SP, Yuan QJ, Zheng GQ, Tsim KKW, Dong TTX, Lin G, Han Y, Liu Y, Xian YF, Lin ZX. Isorhynchophylline ameliorates cognitive impairment via modulating amyloid pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation: Studies in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 82:264-278. [PMID: 31476414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.08.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Isorhynchophylline (IRN) has been demonstrated to have distinct anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity in several animal models of AD. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the preventive effect of IRN on the cognitive deficits and amyloid pathology in TgCRND8 mice. Male TgCRND8 mice were administered with IRN (20 or 40 mg/kg) by oral gavage daily for 4 months, followed by assessing the spatial learning and memory functions with the Radial Arm Maze (RAM) test. Brain tissues were determined immunohistochemically or biochemically for changes in amyloid pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Our results revealed that IRN (40 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated cognitive deficits in TgCRND8 mice. In addition, IRN (40 mg/kg) markedly reduced the levels of Aβ40, Aβ42 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β, and modulated the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and phosphorylation by altering the protein expressions of β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1), phosphorylated APP (Thr668), presenilin-1 (PS-1) and anterior pharynx-defective-1 (APH-1), as well as insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), a major Aβ-degrading enzyme. IRN was also found to inhibit the phosphorylation of tau at the sites of Thr205 and Ser396. Immunofluorescence showed that IRN reduced the Aβ deposition, and suppressed the activation of microglia (Iba-1) and astrocytes (GFAP) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice. Furthermore, IRN was able to attenuate the ratios of p-c-Jun/c-Jun and p-JNK/JNK in the brains of TgCRND8 mice. IRN also showed marked inhibitory effect on JNK signaling pathway in the Aβ-treated rat primary hippocampus neurons. We conclude that IRN improves cognitive impairment in TgCRND8 transgenic mice via reducing Aβ generation and deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation through inhibiting the activation of JNK signaling pathway, and has good potential for further development into pharmacological treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qin Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Siu-Po Ip
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Guo-Qing Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
| | - Karl K W Tsim
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Tina T X Dong
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Ge Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Yifan Han
- Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Yue Liu
- Cardiovascular Disease Centre, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Brain Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Zhang X, Liu XD, Xian YF, Zhang F, Huang PY, Tang Y, Yuan QJ, Lin ZX. Berberine enhances survival and axonal regeneration of motoneurons following spinal root avulsion and re-implantation in rats. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 143:454-470. [PMID: 31472247 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) occurs when the spinal nerve roots are pulled away from the surface of the spinal cord and disconnects neuronal cell body from its distal downstream axon, which induces massive motoneuron death, motor axon degeneration and de-innervation of targeted muscles, thereby resulting in permanent paralysis of motor functions in the upper limb. Avulsion injury triggers oxidative stress and intense local neuroinflammation at the lesioned site, leading to the death of most motoneurons. Berberine (BBR), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid derived from medicinal herbs of Berberis and Coptis species, has been reported to possess neuro-protective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in various animal models of central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of BBR on motoneuron survival and axonal regeneration following spinal root avulsion plus re-implantation in rats. Our results indicated BBR significantly accelerated motor function recovery in the forelimb as revealed by the increased Terzis grooming test score, facilitated motor axon regeneration as evidenced by the elevated number of Fluoro-Gold-labeled and P75-positive regenerative motoneurons. The survival of motoneurons was notably promoted by BBR administration presented with boosted ChAT-immunopositive and neutral red-stained neurons. BBR treatment efficiently alleviated muscle atrophy, attenuated functional motor endplates loss in biceps and prevented the reduction of motor axons in the musculocutaneous nerve. Additionally, BBR treatment markedly mitigated the avulsion-induced neuroinflammation via inhibiting microglial and astroglial reactivity, up-regulated the expression of antioxidative indicator Cu/Zn SOD, and down-regulated the levels of nNOS, 3-NT, lipid peroxidation and NF-κB, as well as promoted SIRT1, PI3K and Akt activation. Collectively, BBR might be a promising therapy to assist re-implantation surgery for the treatment of BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Xiao-Dong Liu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Peng-Yun Huang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Ying Tang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
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Zhang X, Wu JZ, Lin ZX, Yuan QJ, Li YC, Liang JL, Zhan JYX, Xie YL, Su ZR, Liu YH. Ameliorative effect of supercritical fluid extract of Chrysanthemum indicum Linnén against D-galactose induced brain and liver injury in senescent mice via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. J Ethnopharmacol 2019; 234:44-56. [PMID: 30610932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Chrysanthemum indicum Linne (C. indicum), a healthy food and folk medicine in China for thousands of years, has been reported to exert heat-clearing and detoxifying effects and extensively applied to treat various symptoms such as inflammation diseases, hepatitis and headache. AIM OF THIS STUDY The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extract from flowers and buds of C. indicum (CISCFE) on D-galactose-induced brain and liver damage during aging process and to illuminate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice were orally administrated with CISCFE (100, 150 and 300 mg/kg) after injection with D-galactose. 24 h after the last administration, the blood samples, whole brain and liver tissues were collected for biochemical analysis, histological examination and western blot analysis. The body weight, spleen and thymus indexes, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain and liver, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected. Besides, the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by western blot assay. RESULTS The results indicated that CISCFE effectively increased the suppressed body weight, attenuated the decline of thymus and spleen indexes, and reduced the elevated levels of ALT and AST induced by D-gal. Furthermore, CISCFE might notably alleviate D-gal-induced abnormal alterations in structure and function of brain and liver dose-dependently via renewing normal antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px), reducing MDA accumulation, decreasing inflammatory cytokines productions (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), as well as attenuating the increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-3 activation in the liver and brain. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our present results suggested that CISCFE treatment could effectively mitigate the D-gal-induced hepatic and cerebral injury, and the underlying mechanism might be tightly related to the decreased oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, indicating CISCFE might be an alternative and promising agent for the treatment of aging and age-associated brain and liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
| | - Jia-Zhen Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
| | - Qiu-Ju Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yu-Cui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Jia-Li Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Janis Ya-Xian Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - You-Liang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; Dongguan Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Zi-Ren Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; Dongguan Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Dongguan 523808, China.
| | - Yu-Hong Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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