NOX4-derived ROS are neuroprotective by balancing intracellular calcium stores

Hyperexcitability is associated with neuronal dysfunction, cellular death, and consequently neurodegeneration. Redox disbalance can contribute to hyperexcitation and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are observed in various neurological diseases. NOX4 is an NADPH oxidase known to produce ROS and might have a regulating function during oxidative stress. We, therefore, aimed to determine the role of NOX4 on neuronal firing, hyperexcitability, and hyperexcitability-induced changes in neural network function. Using a multidimensional approach of an in vivo model of hyperexcitability, proteomic analysis, and cellular function analysis of ROS, mitochondrial integrity, and calcium levels, we demonstrate that NOX4 is neuroprotective by regulating ROS and calcium homeostasis and thereby preventing hyperexcitability and consequently neuronal death. These results implicate NOX4 as a potential redox regulator that is beneficial in hyperexcitability and thereby might have an important role in neurodegeneration.

A Review of Molecular Interplay between Neurotrophins and miRNAs in Neuropsychological Disorders

Various neurotrophins (NTs), including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4, promote cellular differentiation, survival, and maintenance, as well as synaptic plasticity, in the peripheral and central nervous system. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) and other small non-coding RNAs, as regulators of gene expression, is pivotal for the appropriate control of cell growth and differentiation. There are positive and negative loops between NTs and miRNAs, which exert modulatory effects on different signaling pathways. The interplay between NTs and miRNAs plays a crucial role in the regulation of several physiological and pathological brain procedures. Emerging evidence suggests the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of the interactions between NTs and miRNAs in several neuropsychological disorders, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse. Here, we review current data regarding the regulatory interactions between NTs and miRNAs in neuropsychological disorders, for which novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies are emerging. Targeting NTs-miRNAs interactions for diagnostic or therapeutic approaches needs to be validated by future clinical studies.

Status epilepticus and the presence of SARS‐COV ‐2 in the cerebrospinal fluid: A case report

A growing number of studies indicate a broad range of neurological manifestations, including seizures, occur in patients with COVID‐19 infection. We report a 29‐year‐old female patient with status epilepticus and positive SARS‐CoV‐2 in the cerebrospinal fluid. Our findings support previous reports suggesting seizure as a possible symptom of COVID‐19 infection.

A formulated poly (I:C)/CCL21 as an effective mucosal adjuvant for gamma-irradiated influenza vaccine

BACKGROUND

Several studies on gamma-irradiated influenza A virus (γ-Flu) have revealed its superior efficacy for inducing homologous and heterologous virus-specific immunity. However, many inactivated vaccines, notably in nasal delivery, require adjuvants to increase the quality and magnitude of vaccine responses.

METHODS

To illustrate the impacts of co-administration of the gamma-irradiated H1N1 vaccine with poly (I:C) and recombinant murine CCL21, either alone or in combination with each other, as adjuvants on the vaccine potency, mice were inoculated intranasally 3 times at one-week interval with γ-Flu alone or with any of the three adjuvant combinations and then challenged with a high lethal dose (10 LD50) of A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) influenza virus. Virus-specific humoral, mucosal, and cell-mediated immunity, as well as cytokine profiles in the spleen (IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-4), and in the lung homogenates (IL-6 and IL-10) were measured by ELISA. The proliferative response of restimulated splenocytes was also determined by MTT assay.

RESULTS

The findings showed that the co-delivery of the γ-Flu vaccine and CCL21 or Poly (I:C) significantly increased the vaccine immunogenicity compared to the non-adjuvanted vaccine, associated with more potent protection following challenge infection. However, the mice given a combination of CCL21 with poly (I:C) had strong antibody- and cell-mediated immunity, which were considerably higher than responses of mice receiving the γ-Flu vaccine with each adjuvant separately. This combination also reduced inflammatory mediator levels (notably IL-10) in lung homogenate samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that adjuvantation with the CCL21 and poly (I:C) can successfully induce vigorous vaccine-mediated protection, suggesting a robust propensity for CCL21 plus poly (I:C) as a potent mucosal adjuvant.

Improvement of Rat Spinal Cord Injury Following Lentiviral Vector-Transduced Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Epileptic Brain Tissue Transplantation with a Self-assembling Peptide Scaffold

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling neurological disorder that causes neural circuit dysfunction. Although various therapies have been applied to improve the neurological outcomes of SCI, little clinical progress has been achieved. Stem cell-based therapy aimed at restoring the lost cells and supporting micromilieu at the site of the injury has become a conceptually attractive option for tissue repair following SCI. Adult human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNS/PCs) were obtained from the epileptic human brain specimens. Induction of SCI was followed by the application of lentiviral vector-mediated green fluorescent protein-labeled hNS/PCs seeded in PuraMatrix peptide hydrogel (PM). The co-application of hNS/PCs and PM at the SCI injury site significantly enhanced cell survival and differentiation, reduced the lesion volume, and improved neurological functions compared to the control groups. Besides, the transplanted hNS/PCs seeded in PM revealed significantly higher migration abilities into the lesion site and the healthy host tissue as well as a greater differentiation into astrocytes and neurons in the vicinity of the lesion as well as in the host tissue. Our data suggest that the transplantation of hNS/PCs seeded in PM could be a promising approach to restore the damaged tissues and improve neurological functions after SCI.

Impairment of endothelial progenitor cells function in patient with mustard gas intoxication

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM), also known as mustard gas, was first widely used in the Iraq-Iran. After SM exposure, the most prominent clinical signs are the development of extensive non-healing skin wounds and pulmonary signs, persisting over long time. Since the most frequent complications in SM-intoxicated patients are respiratory and dermatologic lesions, and with respect to the important role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the pathophysiology of these lesion, we conducted this study to recognize the potential effects of SM on biological features of EPCs in patients exposed with this gas.Methods: In this study, 30 patients with the history of SM exposure during the Iran-Iraq war (1984-1988), 27 patients with pulmonary signs with no history of SM exposure and 20 healthy participants were included. Cell population and function of EPCs were assessed 4 years post-exposure. For this purpose, circulating EPCs (cEPCs) were harvested and cultivated, then the biological features of these cells, including migratory, proliferative, and tubulogenic activities were analyzed. We also measured serum antioxidants levels and mRNA levels of some proangiogenic factors in EPCs from SM-intoxicated patients.Results: Our results showed lesser number of cEPCs in patients exposed with SM, which was associated with decreased proliferative, migratory, and tubulogenic activity of these cells. Also, we found the lesser serum activity of SOD, GPX and MDA in the SM group than in the healthy control group.Conclusions: SM exposure resulted in decreased proliferation and migration of EPCs, which was associated with decreased tubule formation and angiogenic factors.

Risk factors for early mortality, relapse and overall survival in new cases of APL treated by arsenic trioxide

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Background: There are several known risk factors for APL treatment by ATRA and chemotherapy, but risk factors for new cases of APL treated by Arsenic Trioxide are unknown. Methods: Between May 2000 and September 2006, we treated 141 new cases of APL (Median age 28±12.8 y/o min=11, max=71) by 2 hours iv infusion of 0.15mg/kg ATO until complete remission. Trial approved by IRB and consent form obtained. Diagnosis was by clinical and morphologic characteristics and confirmed by cytogenetic and RT-PCR for detection of t(15,17) and presence of PML-RARa. After complete remission patients received consolidation by 28 days infusion of ATO for one or four courses. Known risk factors for APL treatment outcome (including PML-RARa isoforms, presence of MRD during follow up and WBC count at presentation analyzed for early mortality, relapse rate, DFS and OS. Results: Complete remission observed in 121 cases (85.8%) and early mortality rate was 14.9%. short isoform of detected in 36% of patients and 18% presented by WBC more than 10,000/μl. For early mortality, APL differentiation syndrome during treatment and WBC count more than 10,000/μl were risk factors. (P<0.001 and p=0.011 respectively) For DFS only predicting factor for relapse was detection of MRD (by nested PCR or by real time PCR) during follow up (P=0.05). For prediction of OS, again only risk factor was detection of MRD(P<0.0001). Conclusions: Although WBC count before treatment and APL differentiation syndrome during treatment are risk factor for relapse, short isoform of APL is not a risk factor. After achieving to CR only risk factor is detection of MRD.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.