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Ge C, Wang S, Wu X, Lei L. Quercetin attenuates brain apoptosis in mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114934. [PMID: 38432303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common psychiatric disorder with limited effective treatments. Research suggests that depression involves apoptosis mechanisms. Quercetin (QUE) has been reported to have anti-apoptotic activities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of QUE in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression. METHODS After establishing mouse models of CUMS-induced depression, the mice were randomly assigned into four groups: control, CUMS, CUMS+QUE, and CUMS+Fluoxetine (FLX). The body weight of the mice was measured during the study. Then, depression-associated behaviors were evaluated using the sucrose preference test (SPT), novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Apoptosis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was determined using flow cytometry. Bcl-2 and Nrf2 protein expressions in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were also detected. Furthermore, Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of p-ERK, ERK, p-CREB, CREB, and Nrf2 in brain tissues. RESULTS QUE or FLX administration increased the body weight of the CUMS mice. Behavioral tests indicated that CUMS mice developed a state of depression, but QUE or FLX treatment improved their depression-associated behaviors. Meanwhile, QUE or FLX treatment decreased apoptosis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, the decreased Nrf2 protein expression, ERK and CREB phosphorylation in CUMS group were enhanced by QUE or FLX administration. CONCLUSION QUE could attenuate brain apoptosis in mice with CUMS-induced depression, and the mechanism may be related to the ERK/Nrf2 pathway, indicating that QUE could be a potential treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjie Ge
- Department of Psychiatric, HuZhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province 313000, China
| | - Shiliang Wang
- Department of Psychiatric, HuZhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province 313000, China
| | - Xuqi Wu
- Quality Management Division, HuZhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province 313000, China
| | - Lilei Lei
- Department of Psychiatric, HuZhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province 313000, China.
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Xiao Y, Duan C, Gong P, Zhao Q, Wang XH, Geng F, Zeng J, Luo T, Xu Y, Zhao J. Kinsenoside from Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. suppressed oxidative stress to attenuate aging-related learning and memory impairment via ERK/Nrf2 pathway. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 319:117152. [PMID: 37689328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Anoectochilusroxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (AR), as an exceptionally valuable traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat hepatitis, cancer, diabetes, etc. But, the effects and the primary functioning element of AR on attenuating aging and aging-related learning and memory degradation has not yet been explored. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed at exploring the protective property of aqueous extract of AR (AEAR) on alleviation of aging and aging-related learning and memory impairment in vivo, and further investigating the main active ingredient and mechanism of AEAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS D-galactose (D-gal) induced aging mice and HT22 cells exposed with L-Glutamic acid (Glu) were used as in vivo and in vitro model, separately. The effects of AEAR on aging and aging-related learning and memory degradation were explored by using morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry staining, biochemistry assay, etc. The effects and mechanism of AEAR and Kinsenoside (Kin) on antioxidation in vitro were investigated by cell viability assay, biochemistry assay, qRT-PCR, western blotting and molecular docking studies. RESULTS Treatment with AEAR (containing 69.52 ± 0.85% Kin, i.g.) for 63 days, alleviated low growth rate, abnormal brain, liver and thymus index, and decline in learning and memory capability of aging mice. Meanwhile, AEAR inhibited the decreased activities of SOD and GSH-PX, the decline in the ratio of GSH to GSSG, and the increase of MDA in both serum and brain, and also promoted the Nrf2 nuclear translocation in brain of aging mice induced by D-gal. The effects of AEAR on alleviating abnormal physiological characteristics, attenuating learning and memory impairment, and inhibiting oxidative stress in aging mice was similar to or even better than that of Vc. In HT22 cells exposed with Glu, Kin increased the cell viability, up-regulated the activities of SOD and GSH-PX, enhanced the ratio of GSH to GSSG, and down-regulated MDA, which was superior to AEAR. Kin up-regulated the ratio of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2, promoted the Nrf2 nuclear translocation and its downstream target genes, i.e. HO-1, NQO-1, GCLC and GCLM expression at the mRNA and protein levels, which were consistent with AEAR. Further, molecular docking results also confirmed that Kin had strong binding energy with ERK1 and ERK2. CONCLUSION The present study indicated that Kin could alleviate the oxidative stress in aging mice via activating the ERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway, in order to attenuate aging and aging-related learning and memory impairment, as the main active ingredient of AR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiao
- Engineering Research Center of Sichuan-Tibet Traditional Medicinal Plant, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China; College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Changsong Duan
- Engineering Research Center of Sichuan-Tibet Traditional Medicinal Plant, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China; College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Pushuang Gong
- Engineering Research Center of Sichuan-Tibet Traditional Medicinal Plant, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China; College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Qi Zhao
- Engineering Research Center of Sichuan-Tibet Traditional Medicinal Plant, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Xin Hui Wang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Fang Geng
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Jin Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Biological Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Tianfeng Luo
- Engineering Research Center of Sichuan-Tibet Traditional Medicinal Plant, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China; College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Yisha Xu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Junning Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Drug Regulatory Science, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, National Medical Products Administration of China, Beijing, 100037, China; Key Laboratory of Biological Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Wang N, Tian Y, Yan F, Zhao F, Wang R, Luo Y, Zheng Y. Berberine protects against chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage via regulation of the ERK/Nrf2 pathway. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 123:102119. [PMID: 35697268 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Vascular cognitive impairment caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) seriously affects the quality of life of elderly patients and places a great burden on society and family. With the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM approaches to the prevention and treatment of senile ischemic cerebrovascular disease has received increasing attention. In this study, rats with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) were treated with berberine (BBR). Their learning and memory function, neuronal injury and repair, the extracellular regulatory protein kinase (ERK)/nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, and impairment and improvement of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) were evaluated. This study found that BBR can alleviate the pathological injury to the brain, reduce neuronal loss and promote neuronal cell survival after CCH by interfering with the ERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. BBR can reduce BBB injury in CCH rats by inhibiting the expression of VEGF-A and MMP-9 in plasma, which reveals a protective effect of BBR on vascular cognitive impairment. This study provides a new research direction for BBR in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
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Yang SY, Pyo MC, Nam MH, Lee KW. ERK/Nrf2 pathway activation by caffeic acid in HepG2 cells alleviates its hepatocellular damage caused by t-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. Altern Ther Health Med 2019; 19:139. [PMID: 31221142 PMCID: PMC6585055 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2551-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Several studies have found that caffeic acid (CA), a well-known phytochemical, displays important antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. However, no evidence exists on the protective effect and its mechanisms that CA treatment alone has against oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) in HepG2 cells. Methods Hepatoprotective activities such as cell viability, mRNA expression, and report gene assay were measured using HepG2 cell. Three types of genes and proteins related with detoxification in liver were used for measuring the hepatoprotective effects. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA test and differences among groups were evaluated by Tukey’s studentized range tests. Results The present study indicate that treatment with CA up-regulates heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) mRNA and protein expressions in a CA-dose-dependent manner. In addition, translocation of nuclear factor-E2 p45-related factor (Nrf2) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK which have been shown to be involved in mitogen-activated protein kinases, MAPKs are significantly enhanced by CA treatment. Furthermore, in cell nuclei, CA enhances the 5′-flanking regulatory region of human antioxidant response element (ARE) and activates the ARE binding site. Conclusion Therefore, CA proved to be a stimulant of the expression of detoxification enzymes such as HO-1, GCLC, and GCLM through the ERK/Nrf2 pathway, and it may be an effective chemoprotective agent for protecting liver damage against oxidative damage. Graphical abstract ![]()
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2551-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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