👤 Guangfeng Zhao

Atherosclerosis (AS) remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, characterized by intricate interactions between immune dysregulation and lipid metabolism abnormalities-identifying key mediators in its pathogenesis is critical for improving diagnostics and therapies. This study focuses on Transmembrane Protein 106A (TMEM106A) to clarify its role and clinical relevance in AS progression. Public transcriptomic datasets (GSE43292, GSE100927, GSE28829) were analyzed to assess TMEM106A expression and diagnostic value; single-cell RNA-seq data (GSE159677) defined its cellular localization. Immune infiltration (ssGSEA, Cibersort, xCell) and CellChat (intercellular communication) analyses explored its immune associations. TMEM106A was significantly upregulated in AS samples across datasets, with strong diagnostic efficacy (AUC 0.80-0.95). Single-cell analysis confirmed its specific enrichment in macrophages, with functional links to immune-related pathways. TMEM106A promoted macrophage infiltration, foam cell formation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, while regulating PLCB2 in chemokine signaling; silencing TMEM106A alleviated these pro-atherosclerotic effects. TMEM106A contributes to AS progression by modulating macrophage-mediated immune responses and chemokine signaling, as validated in experimental models. These findings support its potential as a clinically relevant biomarker and promising therapeutic target for AS intervention. Show less

Cholesterol plays a crucial role in regulating synaptic membrane fluidity and ion channels. Due to the blood-brain barrier, cholesterol in the brain is primarily self-synthesized by astrocytes. However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of polystyrene nanoplastic (PS-NPs) on intracranial cholesterol metabolic pathways. In this study, we exposed whole-brain organoids (WBOs) to PS-NPs and identified significant changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways through whole-transcriptome sequencing. To investigate potential mechanisms of altered cholesterol pathways, we constructed a Transwell neuronal-astrocyte co-culture model. Results demonstrated that PS-NPs induced significant endoplasmic reticulum stress in astrocytes, specifically manifested by elevated levels of ATF4 and CHOP, along with increased autophagy indicated by the elevated LC3-II/I ratio. PS-NPs significantly inhibited the AKT/ACLY pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis, leading to marked reductions in acetyl-CoA and cholesterol within astrocytes (P < 0.05). In addition, PS-NPs led to a significant reduction of apolipoprotein APOE, which hindered cholesterol transport and ultimately inhibited synaptin (SYN) formation. In summary, PS-NPs induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in astrocytes, impair cholesterol de novo synthesis and apolipoprotein-mediated transport, ultimately inhibiting neuronal synaptogenesis. Furthermore, specific inhibition of ERs restored cholesterol synthesis in astrocytes and neuronal synapses. This study demonstrates that PS-NPs produce neurotoxic effects by affecting cholesterol homeostasis in the brain. Show less

Pathological tau aggregates form distinct polymorphic species across diseases and even across Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, tau aggregate polymorphism across the apolipoprotein E isoforms (APOE ε2, ε3, ε4), the strongest predictors of late-onset AD development, is unknown. This study assessed the conformational and bioactivity properties of tau oligomers from 14 patients with varying APOE genotypes. Tau oligomers differ in proteolytic stability and cleavage site profiles across the APOE isoforms, indicating conformationally distinct polymorphs. APOE isoform-associated tau oligomers affect synaptic plasticity differently, with ε4-associated oligomers having the highest potency and strongest impact on synaptic functioning. Bioactivity assays reveal that ε4-associated oligomers demonstrate particularly high seeding activity. Interestingly, tau oligomer synaptotoxicity and seeding activity are independent characteristics. The APOE isoforms are associated with distinct tau oligomer polymorphs with varying bioactivity, underscoring the importance of considering APOE status when generating AD therapies. Polymorph-specific targeting of pathological tau species could provide a novel method of combating AD. Conformational and bioactivity distinctions of tau oligomers have not yet been investigated across the APOE isoforms (ε2, ε3, ε4). Tau oligomers differ in conformational properties across the APOE isoforms. APOE ε4-relevant tau oligomers strongly impair synaptic plasticity and demonstrate high tau seeding activity. APOE ε4-relevant tau oligomers exist as a particularly toxic species, making them an ideal target for tau-based AD therapies. Show less

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and recent research has increasingly illuminated a complex, bidirectional relationship between the two. This review synthesizes epidemiological, mechanistic, imaging, and genetic evidence linking CVD and AD through the heart-brain axis-a network of interrelated physiological and demographic pathways. We detail how cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, and systemic amyloidosis contribute to shared neurodegenerative and cardiovascular outcomes. Multi-organ imaging studies, including MRI and PET, reveal that dysfunction of the cardiovascular system correlates with brain atrophy, white matter lesions, glymphatic impairment, and accumulation of AD-related proteinopathies. Genetic analyses further support overlapping risk architectures, particularly involving APOE and loci associated with lipid metabolism, vascular integrity, and inflammation. Age and sex are critical modifiers, with midlife CVD exerting the strongest influence on later cognitive decline, and sex-specific physiological responses shaping disease susceptibility. Finally, we explore how modifiable lifestyle factors, pharmacologic interventions, and precision medicine approaches targeting inflammatory and vascular pathways can jointly reduce the burden of both CVD and AD. Multidisciplinary collaboration to understand the interconnected biology of the heart and brain is essential for advancing integrated prevention and treatment strategies in aging populations. Show less

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which celastrol (Cel) alleviates atherosclerosis (AS) through the regulation of macrophage autophagy. An AS model was established using ApoE Cel markedly reduced aortic plaque formation, ameliorated dyslipidemia, attenuated inflammatory responses, and enhanced plaque stability in ApoE Cel exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by activating macrophage autophagy via the AMPK/ULK1 pathway, thereby improving lipid metabolism, reducing inflammation, and stabilizing plaques. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Cel and provide new insights into autophagy-targeted strategies against AS. Show less

Sparstolonin B (SSNB) and Curcumin (Cur), from a pair of compatible herbs, were previously identified as anti-inflammation and T helper 17 (Th17) modulation reagents. However, their compatible roles in atherosclerosis (AS) and underlying mechanisms remain uninvestigated. In vivo, the apoE The gene-disease interaction and hub gene network reveals Th17-associated genes in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In vitro, SSNB and Cur reduced oxLDL-induced BMDC activation by downregulating CD36. SSNB showed stronger inhibition to inflammatory activation of DC, while Cur more intensively suppressed co-stimulatory molecules. For the Th17/Treg bias in co-culture of BMDC and CD4 Our findings reveal, for the first time, that SSNB and Cur alleviate AS by modulating Th17-stromal cell interactions, with the IL-17RA-TAK1-NF-κB pathway as a related mediator. Notably, SSNB and Cur exhibit distinct anti-atherogenic roles. SSNB primarily targets TLR4/CD36 to inhibit DC activation, Th17 differentiation, VSMC inflammation and mainly inhibited TAK1 phosphorylation, while Cur more significant inhibited macrophage inflammation, and more directly inhibited NF-κB P65 phosphorylation. This study will be valuable for developing novel and precise adjuvant therapies for AS. Show less

Rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is a major cause of acute cardiovascular events. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence promotes plaque vulnerability by impairing fibrous cap integrity. Although melatonin exhibits atheroprotective potential, its capacity to stabilize plaques by targeting VSMC senescence along with the underlying mechanisms, remains unclear. In this study, a vulnerable plaque model was established in ApoE Show less

Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is an epigenetic modifying enzyme closely linked to the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial inflammation is a critical factor in atherosclerosis. However, the role of HDAC3 in mediating epigenetic modifications and regulating endothelial inflammation in atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of HDAC3 on endothelial inflammation and its contribution to atherosclerosis. Firstly, single-cell transcriptomic analysis identified elevated expression of HDAC3 and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in inflammatory endothelial cells of atherosclerotic plaques in symptomatic patients. Endothelial-specific knockout HDAC3 in an apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE Show less

Evidence is accumulating that links gut microbiota, a crucial component of the immune environment, to Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The mechanisms underlying the influence of gut microbiota on the onset and development of SS are still not completely understood. To this end, we applied a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to investigate whether inflammatory cytokines mediate the association of gut microbiota with SS. Our MR analysis leveraged publicly available GWAS data, including information on 211 gut microbiota taxa sourced from the MiBioGen consortium (18,340 participants), summary statistics for 91 inflammatory cytokines obtained from a study of 14,824 individuals, and genetic data for SS derived from the UK Biobank (407,746 participants). To investigate causal associations between gut microbiota and SS, we primarily employed the inverse variance weighted method, supported by additional techniques such as MR-Egger, simple mode, weighted median, and weighted mode for validation. The potential mediating effect of inflammatory cytokines in the gut microbiota-SS relationship was investigated using both mediation MR and multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses. MR analysis identified five microbiota taxa causally associated with SS. Particularly, class Gammaproteobacteria (OR = 3.468, 95% CI = 1.139-10.557, The findings suggest that certain gut microbiota is sociated with an increased risk of SS, mediated by specific inflammatory cytokines. Show less

Neuroinflammation represents a central pathological mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inducer of neuroinflammation and demonstrates elevated circulating levels in AD patients. This study aims to investigate the genetic association between serum LPS activity level, inflammatory proteins and AD. A two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to explore the causal effect of serum LPS activity level and 91 inflammatory proteins on AD, including 1, 260, 136 sporadic AD and 2, 838, 825 familial AD patients, respectively. Meta-analysis was conducted on multiple datasets to determine statistically significant results that was initially observed in one dataset. Serum LPS activity level is a risk factor for early onset sporadic AD with OR = 1.392, 95% CI: 1.038-1.869. In most other sporadic AD datasets, LPS shows a trend of increasing the risk of AD onset. After meta-analysis in 10 independent datasets, no association between LPS and sporadic AD was observed. In most familial AD datasets, LPS level demonstrated a trend of decreasing AD risk in MR analysis, however, meta-analysis of the combined 8 datasets showed no statistically significant difference. Two inflammatory proteins, AXIN1 and IL-1 alpha, were identified as significant risk factors for sporadic AD. This study suggested that serum LPS activity level may present a risk effect in early onset sporadic AD. Two inflammatory proteins AXIN1 and IL-1 alpha were associated with the risk of sporadic AD. These findings provide a new perspective for the early diagnosis and treatment of sporadic and familial AD. Show less

Muscle wasting, characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, severely impacts patient quality of life and is associated with numerous chronic diseases and aging. The molecular mechanisms are complex, involving protein synthesis/degradation imbalance. Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7) have diverse cellular roles, but their coordinated function in skeletal muscle homeostasis remains poorly understood. DYRK1A overexpression in vivo induced muscle atrophy phenotypes, including reduced muscle mass, grip strength, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), altered fiber type composition, and neuromuscular junction integrity, accompanied by elevated atrophy markers: muscle atrophy F-box protein (Atrogin-1), muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF-1), myostatin and suppressed myogenic markers: myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD), myogenin (MyoG), myocyte enhancer factor 2C (Mef2c), myogenic factor 5 (Myf5). Conversely, pharmacological inhibition of DYRK1A with Harmine ameliorated these atrophy phenotypes in transgenic DYRK1A overexpressing (TgD) mice. In vivo, USP7 deficiency resulted in similar muscle wasting phenotypes. In vitro, DYRK1A overexpression or USP7 overexpression inhibited C2C12 myoblast proliferation and differentiation, effects rescued by Wnt3a treatment or USP7 knockdown, respectively. Mechanistically, DYRK1A activity suppressed active β-catenin levels. USP7 was found to interact with and deubiquitinate axis inhibition protein 1 (Axin1), leading to its stabilization. Knockdown of USP7 increased Axin1 ubiquitination and degradation, thereby promoting β-catenin signaling and myogenesis, counteracting the effects of DYRK1A. Our findings reveal a novel signaling axis where DYRK1A and USP7 cooperatively suppress Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote muscle wasting. DYRK1A likely acts upstream, potentially phosphorylating pathway components, whereas USP7 stabilizes the β-catenin destruction complex scaffold protein Axin1 through deubiquitination. This coordinated action inhibits myogenesis and activates atrophy pathways. Targeting DYRK1A or USP7 could represent promising therapeutic strategies for muscle wasting disorders. Show less

This study aimed to elucidate the bidirectional causal relationships between Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and the effect of inflammatory cytokines on AD and CSVD using Mendelian randomization (MR). We employed publicly available summary-level data from genome-wide association studies for AD, CSVD, and 91 inflammatory cytokines. Genetic variants strongly associated with each risk factor were selected as instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was primarily used for causal inference, with sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger and weighted median estimators. MR analysis revealed that genetically predicted CSVD significantly increased the risk of AD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.035, 95% CI, 1.015-1.056, P = 0.001). Conversely, AD did not significantly influence CSVD risk (OR = 0.878, 95% CI, 0.701-1.100, P = 0.257). Among inflammatory cytokines, Axin1 (OR = 1.082, 95% CI, 1.009-1.159, P = 0.026) and bNGF (OR = 1.061, 95% CI, 1.001-1.125, P = 0.048) increased AD risk, while CD5 (OR = 0.937, 95% CI, 0.887-0.991, P = 0.022) and CXCL11 (OR = 0.951, 95% CI, 0.912-0.992, P = 0.019) decreased AD risk. FGF19 (OR = 0.560, 95% CI, 0.405-0.773, P < 0.001) and TNFSF14 (OR = 0.744, 95% CI, 0.580-0.954, P = 0.020) were protective against CSVD. Our findings suggest that CSVD may increase AD risk, while specific inflammatory cytokines exhibit differential associations with these conditions. Targeting vascular health and inflammation may offer promising therapeutic avenues for managing neurodegenerative diseases. Show less

As a highly heterogeneous cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows different response rates to the multi-kinase inhibitor lenvatinib. Thus, it is important to explore genetic biomarkers for precision lenvatinib therapy in HCC. The effect and mechanism of AXIN1 mutation on HCC were revealed by cell proliferation assay, long-term clone formation assay, sphere formation assay and small molecule inhibitor library screening. A new therapeutic strategy targeting HCC with AXIN1 mutation was evaluated in humanized models (patient-derived xenograft [PDX] and patient-derived organoid [PDO]). Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, we screened 6 most frequently lost tumour suppressor genes in HCC (TP53, ARID1A, AXIN1, CDKN2A, ARID2 and PTEN) and identified AXIN1 as the most crucial gene for lenvatinib sensitivity. Further study showed that AXIN1-knockout HCC cells had a more malignant phenotype and lower sensitivity to lenvatinib in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the WNT pathway and its target gene c-Myc were activated when AXIN1 was missing, and the expression of tumour suppressor p15 was inhibited by transcription co-repressors c-Myc and Miz-1, resulting in the exacerbation of the resistant phenotype. Screening of a library of epigenetic-related enzyme inhibitors showed that a KDM5B inhibitor up-regulated p15 expression, leading to increased sensitivity to lenvatinib in vitro and in vivo. AXIN1-deficient patients have a lower response to lenvatinib, which may be associated with suppression of p15 mediated by WNT pathway activation. KDM5B inhibitors can restore p15 levels, resulting in efficient killing of resistant cells in HCC. Show less

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and lethal interstitial lung disease with an unclear etiology and limited treatment options. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) plays various roles in metabolic-related diseases. This study demonstrates that FASN expression is increased in fibroblasts from the lung tissues of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in bleomycin-treated mice. In MRC-5 cells, the inhibition of FASN using shRNA or the pharmacological inhibitor C75 resulted in the increased mRNA and protein expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β and Axin1, both negative regulators of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and promoted autophagy. This outcome led to a decrease in β-catenin protein and mRNA levels, effectively inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, while inducing the differentiation of fibroblasts into adipofibroblasts. In vivo experiments showed that C75 alleviated bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice by inhibiting β-catenin. In conclusion, these findings suggest that inhibiting FASN in fibroblasts may diminish the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing a potential therapeutic avenue for pulmonary fibrosis. Show less

As a member of Rho GAPs family, Rho GTPase-Activating Protein 17 (ARHGAP17) regulates cytoskeletal recombination, cell polarity, cell proliferation and cell migration. ARHGAP17 is identified as a tumor suppressor in numerous cancer types. Current study intends to examine ARHGAP17 expression and its possible influence on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ARHGAP17 expression in HCC cells was verified by RT-PCR and western blot. The proliferation and invasion of HCC cells were evaluated by CCK8 assay and transwell assay, respectively. The mRNA expression of ARHGAP17, PCNA, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, GSK-3β, Axin1, and APC were detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of ARHGAP17, PCNA, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, p-β-catenin, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β, Axin1, and APC were detected by western blot. ARHGAP17 staining was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. ARHGAP17 expression decreased significantly in HCC tumors and HCC cells after EMT. In response to overexpression of ARHGAP17, the capacities of HCC cell proliferation and invasion were reduced significantly, which were also confirmed by tumorigenesis experiments in vivo. With overexpression of ARHGAP17 in HCC cells, the p-GSK3β/GSK3β decreased, while the p-β-catenin/β-catenin, Axin1 and APC increased. In conclusion, ARHGAP17 inhibits HCC progression by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Show less

The deposition of toxic aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ), resulting from continuous cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase, is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) have shown great potential for disease treatment by specifically silencing target genes. However, the poor brain delivery efficiency of siRNAs limits their therapeutic efficacy against AD. We designed a simplified and effective BACE1 siRNA (siBACE1) delivery system, namely, dendritic polyamidoamine modified with the neurotropic virus-derived peptide RVG29 and polyethylene glycol (PPR@siBACE1). PPR@siBACE1 crossed the blood-brain barrier efficiently and entered brain parenchyma in large amount, with subsequent neurotropism and potential microglia-targeting ability. Both in vitro and in vivo studies validated the effective brain delivery of siBACE1 and strong BACE1 silencing efficiency. Treatment of AD mice with PPR@siBACE1 inhibited the production of Aβ, potentiated Aβ phagocytosis by microglia, improved the memory deficits and reduced neuroinflammatory response in AD mice. This study provides a reliable delivery platform for gene therapies for AD. Show less

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a neurodegenerative condition characterized by steadily increasing prevalence and incidence, arising significant challenge to both patients and social insurance. However, the etiology of AD remains controversial so far, and pathogenesis is far more complicated. Presently, no definitive therapeutic methodologies were available for AD, and only partial symptomatic relief can be achieved. Consequently, early diagnosis and intervention are emergently needed for AD patients. The diagnostic criteria for AD are continuously evolving, and biomarker testing is becoming increasingly critical for diagnosis. Currently, the diagnosis of AD primarily relies on the detection of pathological proteins through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing and positron emission tomography (PET). However, factors such as high costs, operational contraindications, and invasiveness limited the application of these technologies, making them particularly challenging to implement in large-scale clinical trials and screenings. Core fluid biomarkers for AD including β-amyloid (Aβ), phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau), total tau protein (t-tau), and their combinations were found in CSF. Although these biomarkers were demonstrated with significant specificity and sensitivity, challenges remain high concerning the collection of CSF. Blood-derived biomarkers for Aβ and tau proteins are essential for preliminary screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of AD. Additionally, other bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, and tears have been investigated for their potential as biomarkers, offering unique characteristics and applications. Emerging biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL), neurogranin (Ng), Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), synaptosome associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), as well as inflammation-related and gene-related factors, provided valuable insights into the diagnosis and pathogenesis of AD from diverse perspectives. Despite the substantial progress made in AD biomarker research, there are still baskets of limitations concerning the complication of the disease. The current review focused on the reported literature to summarize the biomarkers associated with AD. By critically analyzing studies published over the past decade, we aimed to strengthen the recent research progress, theoretical frameworks, and unresolved challenges related to AD biomarkers. Show less

Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the hippocampus triggers cognitive memory decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The incidence and mortality of sporadic AD were tightly associated with diabetes and hyperlipidemia, while the exact linked molecular mechanism is uncertain. Here, the present investigation identified significantly elevated serum Kallistatin levels in AD patients concomitant with hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia, suggesting potential crosstalk between neuroendocrine regulation and metabolic dysregulation in AD pathophysiology. In addition, the constructed Kallistatin-transgenic (KAL-TG) mice defined its cognitive memory impairment phenotype and lower long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons accompanied by increased Aβ deposition and tau phosphorylation. Mechanistically, Kallistatin could directly bind to the Notch1 receptor and thereby upregulate BACE1 expression by inhibiting PPARγ signaling, resulting in Aβ cleavage and production. Besides, Kallistatin could promote the phosphorylation of tau by activating GSK-3β. Fenofibrate, a hypolipidemic drug, could alleviate cognitive memory impairment by downregulating Aβ and tau phosphorylation of KAL-TG mice. Collectively, the experiments clarified a novel mechanism for Aβ accumulation and tau protein hyperphosphorylation regulation by Kallistatin, which might play a crucial role in linking metabolic syndromes and cognitive memory deterioration, and suggested that fenofibrate might have the potential for treating metabolism-related AD. Show less

Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are used for glycemic control in diabetes and show potential neuroprotective properties, but their effects on AD and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that GLP-1RAs can alleviate AD-related phenotypes by activating 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. We found that plasma GLP-1 levels were decreased in AD model mice and negatively correlated with amyloid-beta (Aβ) load in patients with AD. Enhancing GLP-1 signaling through GLP-1RAs increased CaMKK2-AMPK signaling, which subsequently reduced BACE1-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ generation. GLP-1RAs also increased AMPK activity in microglia, inhibiting neuroinflammation and promoting Aβ phagocytosis. Consequently, GLP-1RAs inhibited plaque formation and improved memory deficits in AD model mice. Our findings indicate that AMPK activation mediates the effects of GLP-1RAs on AD, highlighting the therapeutic potential of GLP-1RAs for the treatment of AD. Show less

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neuropathology characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and cholinergic system dysfunction. At present, there is no effective treatment strategy for AD. Our previous research showed that ZJQ-3F acts as an inhibitor of AChE/BACE1/GSK3β, and showed good blood-brain barrier permeability, appropriate bioavailability and oral safety. In order to further study, the protective effect of ZJQ-3F on APP/PS1/Tau transgenic mice was determined. APP/PS1/Tau transgenic mice model of AD was treated with ZJQ-3F from the age of 8 to 12 months, and then behavioral tests was conducted. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the level of tau protein, Aβ plaques and synaptic function. Our results revealed that administration of ZJQ-3F could improve the cognitive function of APP/PS1/Tau transgenic mice. In addition, compared with APP/PS1/Tau mice, the protein expression levels of tau protein phosphorylation site at Ser396, Thr212 and Thr181 in the cortex and hippocampus of ZJQ-3F treated mice was significantly decreased. Moreover, the results showed that ZJQ-3F significantly reduced the deposition of Aβ in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, the results indicated that the protein expression levels of PSD95, SYP and SYT in the cortex and hippocampus were increased markedly after ZJQ-3F was given. Our studies suggest that the chronic administration of ZJQ-3F can improve learning and memory ability, reduce tau protein phosphorylation, reduce Aβ deposition and improve synaptic dysfunction in APP/PS1/Tau transgenic model of AD, indicating that ZJQ-3F can be used as a multi-target inhibitor to slow down the progress of AD. Show less

Lead (Pb) exposure poses significant health risks, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigates the neuroprotective effects of pea peptide (PP4) on PC12 cells exposed to Pb. Using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), pretreatment with PP4 at 50 and 200 µM concentrations significantly improved cell viability compared to Pb-only treated cells (P < 0.05), indicating a protective effect. Moreover, Pb exposure led to increased Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) expression at 10 and 20 µM after 24 h (P < 0.05), while β-site amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) levels were elevated across all concentrations tested (P < 0.05). We established that PP4 can mitigate Pb-induced cytotoxicity and reduce the expression of APP and BACE1 by activating the Phosphoinositide 3-kinase / Protein Kinase (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. This study highlights the potential of PP4 as a therapeutic agent in preventing neurotoxic damage associated with lead exposure, suggesting a novel approach for the management of AD. Show less

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and seriously affects people's quality of life. In recent years, many circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as potential diagnostic biomarkers for AD. However, there are no reliable miRNAs for early diagnosis of AD because miRNAs are dynamically changing during the disease process. The present study was to seek reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD by detecting changes in miRNAs in plasma from young APPswe/PS1Δ9 double-transgenic mice (APP/PS1 mice) using a quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method. Some behavioral experiments and pathological tests were used to characterize the progress of AD in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. The results showed that the expression levels of several plasma miRNAs targeting BACE1 and APP showed consistent trends in the early stages of APP/PS1 mice. The expression levels of miR-34a-5p, miR-29c-3p, miR-107-3p, and miR-101a-3p in the plasma of APP/PS1 female mice decreased with cognitive decline, demonstrating their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis of female AD patients. The expression levels of these miRNAs fluctuated significantly in APP/PS1 male mice, and the reason for this difference may be related to the biological sex differences in AD. This fluctuation may serve as an indicative risk signal for the early stage of AD in male patients. Show less

People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) carry a considerable risk of developing dementia. Studies have shown that female sex hormones have long-lasting neuroprotective and anti-aging properties, and the increased risk of MCI and AD is associated with the lack of estrogen during menopause. Previous studies have shown that Tiao Geng Decoction (TGD) may have antioxidant and anti apoptotic properties, which may prevent neurodegenerative diseases. However, whether TGD is effective in improving mild cognitive impairment due to postmenopausal estrogen deficiency and its potential pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible pharmacological mechanisms of TGD in preventing postmenopausal MCI. We utilized RNA-seq technology to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrichment pathways in the hippocampal tissue of different groups of mice. Additionally, we adopted single-cell sequencing technology to study the cell types of Alzheimer's disease (AD) group and Normal Control (NC) group, the differential marker genes of each cell subgroup, and the GO enrichment analysis of each cell type. Both RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing results showed a significant correlation between TGD and NF-κb pathway in improving mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women. The experimental verification results showed that the spatial learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 model mice were weakened after ovariectomy, and the reproductive cycle on vaginal smears was in the interphase of diestrus. The levels of serum E2, and P-tau181 in mice were significantly down regulated, while the levels of brain tissue homogenate A β 42, IL-1 β, and IL-18 were significantly up-regulated, indicating successful modeling. Combining Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and transmission electron microscopy analyses, it was found that the low estrogen environment induced by oophorectomy can activate the NF-κb signaling pathway, activate the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and A β secretase BACE1, and induce neuroinflammatory damage in hippocampal astrocytes. These results conform to the modeling characteristics of MCI. After TGD intervention, the spatial learning and memory abilities of MCI mice were significantly improved. The pharmacological validation results indicated that high concentration doses of TGD had a more significant effect on MCI. Subsequently, we used high concentration TGD (0.32 g/ml) as the traditional Chinese medicine group for further validation, protein blotting and RT-qPCR results indicated that TGD can effectively stimulate the secretion of ER α and ER β, inhibit the NF-κb pathway, downregulate BACE1, and inhibit the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome related proteins. In addition, the immunofluorescence results of hippocampal astrocytes showed that TGD can effectively facilitate the expression of AQP1 and significantly lower the sedimentation of A β compared with the model group. Our research suggests that there is a high correlation between a low estrogen environment and the occurrence and development of MCI. TGD may regulate the ERs/NF - κ b/AQP1 signaling pathway, promote estrogen secretion, activate AQP1, reduce A β deposition, reverse MCI neuroinflammatory injury, improve mild cognitive impairment, and prevent the occurrence of AD. This study revealed for the first time that TGD may be a potential new alternative drug for preventing and improving menopausal MCI. Show less