NeuN Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody

Background Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) is crucial for triglyceride synthesis, yet its role in ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study investigated DGAT1 in ischemic stroke using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat models and highly differentiated PC12 cells subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R).Methods The therapeutic effects of DGAT1 inhibition in MCAO rats were assessed using the Zea-Longa score and 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The effects on highly differentiated PC12 cells subjected to OGD/R were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Ferroptosis-related mitochondrial damage was evaluated using transmission electron microscope. Additionally, the mechanisms by which DGAT1 inhibition regulates ferroptosis were further explored via immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qPCR, JC-1 assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection.Results DGAT1 expression was elevated in both MCAO and OGD/R models. The DGAT1 inhibitor A 922500 improved neurological deficits, reduced infarct volume, and minimized neuronal loss in MCAO rats, while also enhancing cell viability and reducing LDH levels in OGD/R-treated PC12 cells. DGAT1 inhibition significantly alleviated ferroptosis in MCAO rats, as indicated by (i) reduced mitochondrial shortening and cristae disruption, (ii) decreased 4-HNE levels, (iii) reduced MDA and increased SOD, and (iv) lowered levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α). Moreover, both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that DGAT1 inhibition significantly increased Gpx4 levels, whereas lentiviral delivery of Gpx4 shRNA markedly reversed its beneficial effects. In MCAO rats, Gpx4 shRNA significantly elevated 4-HNE levels and exacerbated ferroptosis-related mitochondrial damage. In vitro, DGAT1 inhibition increased mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced ROS, whereas rotenone, a mitochondrial function inhibitor, decreased Gpx4 and impaired cell viability. Furthermore, DGAT1 inhibition significantly upregulated the key β-oxidation gene Cpt1a, whereas etomoxir, a β-oxidation inhibitor, reduced cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased ROS, and downregulated Gpx4.Conclusion sOur study suggests that DGAT1 inhibition may enhance β-oxidation and mitochondrial function, thereby increasing Gpx4 levels, suppressing ferroptosis, and ultimately exerting neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke.

The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) plays a critical role in mediating neuropathic pain (NP) following peripheral nerve injury (PNI), although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated how Schwann cell (SCs)-derived extracellular vesicles (SC-EVs) regulate neuronal ferroptosis in NP after PNI. After validating isolated SCs (S-100) and DRG neurons (NeuN), SC-EVs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blotting for exosomal markers (Alix/CD9/CD63) and the absence of Calnexin. Co-localization of PKH67 with β-Tubulin-III confirmed SC-EVs uptake by DRG neurons. Biochemical assays and flow cytometry demonstrated SC-EVs suppressed ferroptosis in both LPS-stimulated DRG neurons and chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat models, while simultaneously inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, and NP progression. Mechanistically, RT-qPCR and western blotting revealed aberrant expression of PPARγ, p53, SAT1, and ALOX15 in LPS/CCI models. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that binding between PPARγ and p53 inhibits SAT1/ALOX15-mediated ferroptosis in DRG neurons. Notably, SC-EVs delivered MFG-E8 to upregulate PPARγ and suppress the activation of the p53/SAT1/ALOX15, thereby attenuating neuronal ferroptosis and ameliorating CCI-induced NP. In conclusion, MFG-E8 delivered via SC-EVs alleviates NP after PNI by modulating the PPARγ/p53/SAT1/ALOX15 signaling axis to inhibit CCI-induced ferroptosis, offering novel therapeutic insights.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a common cerebrovascular disease that can lead to cognitive impairment. Although tetrandrine (Tet) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent, its efficacy in the treatment of SAH has not been fully explored. To investigate Tet effects on SAH, a rat model was established and divided into an SAH + vehicle and an SAH + Tet group. Cognitive function and behavioral performance were assessed using the Morris water maze and open field tests. Inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, and hippocampal injury was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Neuronal loss was quantified using Nissl staining, while neuronal density was assessed via immunofluorescence. The expression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway related-proteins was examined by Western blotting, and 16 S rRNA sequencing was conducted to determine differences in gut microbiota composition across the groups. Tet treatment significantly reduced mNSS and SAH assessment scores in SAH rats, suggesting an improvement in neurological and cognitive function. Behavioral analysis demonstrated that Tet increased escape latency, movement speed, and total distance in the Morris water maze. Histological staining revealed attenuated hippocampal damage and decreased neuronal death in the Tet-treated group. These neuroprotective effects were accompanied by reduced expression of TLR4 and NF-κB pathway components, as well as decreased secretion of LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Notably, Tet modulated the gut microbiota, restoring microbial diversity and abundance, and this modulation was associated with changes in the CYP51 metabolic pathway. Tet improves cognitive function and reduces neuronal injury in SAH rats by regulating the gut microbiota and its associated CYP51 metabolic pathway, thereby suppressing activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade.

Background Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), the primary active compound found in turmeric, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties. The study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of BDMC in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods A rat TBI model was established using the Feeney’s freefall epidural impact method, followed by BDMC treatment. Rat cortical neuron cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to induce oxidative stress and then treated with BDMC. The cells were also pretreated with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1) inhibitor 17-AAG. Additionally, the experiments also involved treating H 2 O 2 -exposed cortical neurons with 17-AAG and silencing HSP90AA1 expression. Co-immunoprecipitation was utilized to verify interactions between HSP90AA1 and transcription factor EB (TFEB), TFEB and nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the localization of these complexes in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Results BDMC treatment significantly reduced modified neurological severity scores, brain water content, inflammatory infiltration, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of TBI rats. Additionally, BDMC treatment elevated the expression of Beclin 1 and light chain 3 (LC3) II/LC3 I ratio while decreasing p62 expression. It also promoted TFEB nuclear translocation and increased HSP90AA1 levels in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, along with elevated nuclear Nrf2 expressions in TBI models. In vitro experiments showed decreased malondialdehyde levels, elevated glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels upon BDMC treatment, along with repressed cortical neurons apoptosis, elevated Beclin 1 and LC3 II/LC3 I expressions, decreased p62 expressions, reduced cytoplasmic TFEB expression, increased nuclear TFEB and Nrf2 expression, and elevated HSP90AA1 expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Mechanistically, BDMC mediated autophagy and oxidative stress by activating HSP90AA1/TFEB/Nrf2 axis. Finally, HSP90AA1 was shown to regulate Nrf2 expression by binding to TFEB in the cellular model. Conclusions BDMC alleviated TBI in rats by regulating autophagy and oxidative stress through HSP90AA1-mediated nuclear translocation of TFEB.

Background Recent studies have revealed importance of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived exosomes (HUCB-Exo) in central nervous system diseases, but the role of HUCB-Exo in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the mechanisms of HUCB-Exo in HIE. Methods HIE models were constructed in 7-day-old neonatal rats using classical Rice-Vannucci modeling, and SH-SY5Y cells were induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) injury, followed by intervention with HUCB and HUBC-Exo, either non-transfected or transfected with si-NC/si-MFG-E8. Results HUBC-Exo decreased cerebral infarct size and cerebral water content in HIE neonatal rats and improved short-term and long-term neurological function. HUBC-Exo down-regulated Beclin1, ATG7, and LC3 II/I expression, while promoting p62 expression in HIE neonatal rats. After HUBC-Exo treatment, NCOA4 and ACSL4 expression in HIE neonatal rats decreased, while FTH1, SLC7A11, and GPX4 expression were increased. In addition, HUBC-Exo decreased Fe 2+ , MDA, and ROS levels in HIE neonatal rats. Similarly, these in vivo results were observed in vitro . HUBC-Exo inhibited autophagy and ferroptosis in OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells, and MFG-E8 silencing interrupted HUBC-Exo action. Further results showed that HUBC-Exo-derived MFG-E8 promoted p-GSK3β/GSK3β and Active-β-catenin/β-catenin levels in OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Importantly, the GSK3β agonist LiCl revoked the promotion of HUBC-Exo si-MFG-E8 on autophagy and ferroptosis in OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells. HUBC-Exo MFG-E8 inhibited autophagy and ferroptosis, thereby alleviating brain damage in HIE neonatal rats. Conclusion Our results suggested that HUBC-Exo-transmitted MFG-E8 inhibited autophagy and ferroptosis through GSK3β/β-catenin signaling, thereby alleviating brain injury in HIE neonatal rats, which provided a new idea for treating HIE.

Aims To investigate the effects of Nrf2 agonist tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)-stimulated neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation (NSC(TBHQ)) on neuronal damage and cognitive deficits in an AD model and its underlying principles. Methods BHQ-treated NSCs were examined with or without Aβ1-42 to investigate the effects of TBHQ on the proliferation and differentiation functions. The mitophagy inhibitor Cyclosporine A (CSA) was used to explore the regulation of mitophagy by TBHQ. The no-, ethanol-, and TBHQ-treated NSCs were transplanted into the bilateral hippocampal region of model mice to explore the effects of NSC(TBHQ) on neuronal, cognitive, and mitochondrial functional impairments in mice. Results TBHQ reversed the Aβ1-42-caused inhibition on NSC proliferation and differentiation, as well as on levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and mitochondrial fusion-associated proteins. TBHQ alleviated the Aβ1-42-induced increase in apoptosis, mitochondrial damage, mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS), and mitochondrial fission-related proteins. TBHQ activated the Parkin, Beclin, LC3II/I, and COXIV expression, while inhibiting the p62 expression. CSA reversed the effects of TBHQ on NSC proliferation and differentiation. After NSC(TBHQ) transplantation, it not only further extended the dwell time in the target quadrant and shorten the time and distance for finding the hidden platform, but also further decreased the Aβ and p-Tau/Tau levels, while increasing the expression of NeuN. The effects of NSC(TBHQ) transplantation on mitochondrial function were consistent with the in vitro experiments. Conclusions The study shows that NSC(TBHQ) intensifies the beneficial impact of NSCs transplantation on cognitive impairment and neuronal damage in AD models, likely due to TBHQ’s role in promoting NSCs growth and differentiation via mitophagy, thus laying a theoretical foundation for improving NSCs transplantation for AD.

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common and serious complication in older adult patients. While the tyrosine kinase ABL1 has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, its specific role in POCD remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate whether ABL1 influences POCD in aged mice by regulating microglial autophagy and neuroinflammation via the mTOR/ULK1 pathway. Methods: An aged mouse model of POCD was established, and ABL1 silencing and 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) were used to intervene in mice. The Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) assessment and water maze experiment were conducted. qRT-PCR quantified the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, hippocampal damage was assessed by immunofluorescence, and western blot analyzed the protein expression of autophagy-related genes and the mTOR/ULK1 pathway. Co-Immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) was used to detect the binding of ABL1 to mTOR. In vitro experiments used microglial cells, where ABL1 silencing and rapamycin (Rapa) were used to construct a cellular model and conduct relevant cell experiments. Results: ABL1 silencing or 3-MA rescued cognitive deficits in aged POCD mice, concurrently mitigating neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and aberrant autophagy in the hippocampus. We established ABL1 as a direct binding partner of mTOR. Silencing ABL1 activated the mTOR pathway, leading to ULK1 inhibition and suppression of autophagic activity. Consistent with these in vivo results, ABL1 knockdown in microglia attenuated pro-inflammatory responses, inhibited autophagy, and conferred protection against neuronal damage. Conclusions: ABL1 exacerbates POCD in aged mice by promoting microglial autophagy and neuroinflammation through the mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway. Targeted inhibition of ABL1 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating POCD.