稀土神经毒性研究

稀土是我国特有的优势资源,在工农业和医药等行业有着广泛的应用,随之带来了稀土的环境和药物毒性等问题.其中一个受到公众广泛关注的是＂稀土是否具有神经毒性＂的问题.在过去的十年内,人们在稀土神经效应及其机制上的研究上取得了重大的进步.本文总结了在稀土能否透过血脑屏障、稀土对神经系统的生物效应、稀土对神经细胞的作用及其分子机制等方面的进展,对如何进一步研究确认稀土的神经作用进行了讨论.     

AQP4 Attenuated TRAF6/NFκB Activation in Acrylamide-Induced Neurotoxicity

Acrylamide (ACR) is present in high-temperature-processed high-carbohydrate foods, cigarette smoke, and industrial pollution. Chronic exposure to ACR may induce neurotoxicity from reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the mechanisms underlying ACR-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. We studied 28-day subacute ACR toxicity by repeatedly feeding ACR (0, 15, or 30 mg/kg) to rats. We conducted RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses to identify differences in mRNA expression in the blood and in protein expression in the brain tissues, respectively, of the rats. AQP4 transient transfection was performed to identify potential associations with protein regulation. The rats treated with 30 mg/kg ACR exhibited hind-limb muscle weakness. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) expression was higher in the ACR-treated group than in the control group. ACR induced MMP-9 and AQP4 protein expression in the brain tissues of the rats, which subsequently presented with neurotoxicity. In the in vitro study, Neuro-2a cells were transiently transfected with AQP4, which inhibited MMP-9 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression, and inhibited ACR induced expression of TRAF6, IκBα, and nuclear factor κB (NFκB). Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments, this study revealed that depressive symptoms associated with ACR-induced neurotoxicity are associated with downregulation of AQP4 and induction of the TRAF6 pathway.     

Comparative neuroprotective effects of native curcumin and its galactomannoside formulation in carbofuran-induced neurotoxicity model

Abstract

Toxicity of the pesticide carbofuran (CF) can be alleviated by curcumin, if not for its poor bioavailability. Hence, we investigated the effect of a bioavailable curcumin-galactomannan complex (CGM) on CF-induced neurotoxicity in rats in comparison to that of unformulated standard curcumin (CS). The CF (5?mg/kg b.wt/day) treatment for 90?days produced chronicity model which were treated with either CS or CGM (100?mg/kg b.wt and 250?mg/kg b.wt/day) for another 30?days. Improvement in CF-induced behaviour was evident in endurance, motor co-ordination and pain response on both CS (p?<?0.01) and CGM (p?<?0.001) supplementation. Amelioration of CF-induced toxicity parameters, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction on CS (p?<?0.01) and CGM (p?<?0.001) supplementation was further confirmed by histopathology of brain and liver tissues. But, CGM was more effective in mitigating CF toxicity, with results comparable to that of normal. Hence, CGM might be superior in toxicity management against CF.     

A Hexameric Peptide Barrel as Building Block of Amyloid‐β Protofibrils

Oligomeric and protofibrillar aggregates formed by the amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) are believed to be involved in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Central to Alzheimer pathology is also the fact that the longer Aβ₄₂ peptide is more prone to aggregation than the more prevalent Aβ₄₀. Detailed structural studies of Aβ oligomers and protofibrils have been impeded by aggregate heterogeneity and instability. We previously engineered a variant of Aβ that forms stable protofibrils and here we use solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling to derive a structural model of these. NMR data are consistent with packing of residues 16 to 42 of Aβ protomers into hexameric barrel‐like oligomers within the protofibril. The core of the oligomers consists of all residues of the central and C‐terminal hydrophobic regions of Aβ, and hairpin loops extend from the core. The model accounts for why Aβ₄₂ forms oligomers and protofibrils more easily than Aβ₄₀.     

大气细颗粒物引发的神经毒性和分子机理

大气细颗粒物(Atmospheric fine particulate matters,PMs)对人体健康产生的潜在危害已得到广泛关注。越来越多的研究表明,PMs暴露可产生呼吸、心血管系统等损伤影响,然而PMs是否可以进入大脑并产生神经毒性,一直是近年来大气雾霾健康效应的重要研究方向。本文通过梳理现有流行病学研究证据以及体内外实验相关结果,讨论了PMs调控脑神经毒理学效应的潜在途径、不同生理阶段脑神经组织的损伤效应及其内在分子机理。据报道,大气PMs可通过血脑屏障途径和嗅觉神经途径和微生物群肠脑轴等影响神经系统。氧化应激、线粒体损伤、炎症、DNA损伤、表观遗传调节、血液稳态以及几个关键的信号通路被发现与大气PMs暴露引起的神经毒性有关。本文提出了进一步研究PMs神经毒理学效应,特别是针对特殊人群如儿童等神经发育的影响等方面研究的需求。在此基础上,本文指出了今后该领域的研究方向,为大气PMs的神经毒性和公共卫生危害的评价提供了理论依据。     

Protective Role of Quercetin in Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Toxicity in Rat Brain: Biochemical,Spectrophotometric Assays and Computational Approach

Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induces oxidative stress by free radical toxicities, inflammation, and neurotoxicity. Quercetin (Q), on the other hand, has a role as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and free radical-scavenging. This study explored protection given by quercetin against CCL4 induced neurotoxicity in rats at given concentrations. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups Group C: control group; Group CCL4: given a single oral dose of 1 mL/kg bw CCL4; Group Q: given a single i.p injection of 100 mg/kg bw quercetin; and Group Q + CCL4: given a single i.p injection of 100 mg/kg bw quercetin before two hours of a single oral dose of 1 mL/kg bw CCL4. The results from brain-to-body weight ratio, morphology, lipid peroxidation, brain urea, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, sodium, and enzyme alterations (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), catalase, and superoxide dismutase) suggested alterations by CCL4 and a significant reversal of these parameters by quercetin. In silico analysis of quercetin with various proteins was conducted to understand the molecular mechanism of its protection. The results identified by BzScore4 D showed moderate binding between quercetin and the following receptors: glucocorticoids, estrogen beta, and androgens and weak binding between quercetin and the following proteins: estrogen alpha, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ), Herg k+ channel, Liver x, mineralocorticoid, progesterone, Thyroid α, and Thyroid β. Three-dimensional/four-dimensional visualization of binding modes of quercetin with glucocorticoids, estrogen beta, and androgen receptors was performed. Based on the results, a possible mechanism is hypothesized for quercetin protection against CCL4 toxicity in the rat brain.     

Antibiotics and the Nervous System—Which Face of Antibiotic Therapy Is Real,Dr. Jekyll (Neurotoxicity) or Mr. Hyde (Neuroprotection)?

Antibiotics as antibacterial drugs have saved many lives, but have also become a victim of their own success. Their widespread abuse reduces their anti-infective effectiveness and causes the development of bacterial resistance. Moreover, irrational antibiotic therapy contributes to gastrointestinal dysbiosis, that increases the risk of the development of many diseases, including neurological and psychiatric. One of the potential options for restoring homeostasis is the use of oral antibiotics that are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., rifaximin alfa). Thus, antibiotic therapy may exert neurological or psychiatric adverse drug reactions which are often considered to be overlooked and undervalued issues. Drug-induced neurotoxicity is mostly observed after beta-lactams and quinolones. Penicillin may produce a wide range of neurological dysfunctions, including encephalopathy, behavioral changes, myoclonus or seizures. Their pathomechanism results from the disturbances of gamma-aminobutyric acid-GABA transmission (due to the molecular similarities between the structure of the β-lactam ring and GABA molecule) and impairment of the functioning of benzodiazepine receptors (BZD). However, on the other hand, antibiotics have also been studied for their neuroprotective properties in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory processes (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases). Antibiotics may, therefore, become promising elements of multi-targeted therapy for these entities.