EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
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2025
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IF 4.7
Shengli Quan,Jinhua Li,Shuxian Ding,Xingjie Zhuo,Yuanxiao Yang,Qin Li
Background Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, that commonly leads to motor dysfunction and dementia. Artemether is a semi - synthetic derivative of artemisinin, which is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua. And it is widely used in the treatment of malaria. Recent studies have shown that it exhibits significant neuroprotective effects and holds potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its effects and mechanisms in the context of Parkinson 's disease remain unclear. Objective To explore Artemether's neuroprotective effects and mechanisms in 6-OHDA-induced PD models. Methods Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential pathways and targets of Artemether against Parkinson's disease. PD models were established using 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cells and C57BL/6 mice to assess Artemether's effects and mechanisms. Results Through network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking verification, it was found that Artemether against Parkinson 's disease was related to apoptosis-related signaling pathways, and Artemether had good spontaneous binding activity with key targets PI3K, Akt, GSK-3β, and Bcl-2. Furthermore, the related experimental results showed that Artemether could increase the cell viability of PC12 cells induced by 6-OHDA, reduce intracellular ROS level, increase mitochondrial membrane potential and decrease apoptosis. In addition, Artemether improved motor dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson 's disease mice, and increased the expression of dopamine neurons in both the Substantia Nigra and Striatum. Conclusion Artemether exerted neuroprotective effects in Parkinson 's disease models in vitro and in vivo induced by 6-OHDA through the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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2024
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IF 10.7
Xiaomei Wu,Renxiang Yuan,Yichong Xu,Kai Wang,Hong Yuan,Tingting Meng,Fuqiang Hu
The challenge in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease lies in the lack of disease-modifying therapies that can halt or slow down the progression. Peptide drugs, such as exenatide (Exe), with potential disease-modifying efficacy, have difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to their large molecular weight. Herein, we fabricate multi-functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNP) Lpc-BoSA/CSO with BBB targeting, permeability-increasing and responsive release functions. Borneol is chemically bonded with stearic acid and, as one of the components of Lpc-BoSA/CSO, is used to increase BBB permeability. Immunofluorescence results of brain tissue of 15-month-old C57BL/6 mice show that Lpc-BoSA/CSO disperses across the BBB into brain parenchyma, and the amount is 4.21 times greater than that of conventional LNP. Motor symptoms of mice in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe group are significantly improved, and the content of dopamine is 1.85 times (substantia nigra compacta) and 1.49 times (striatum) that of PD mice. α-Synuclein expression and Lewy bodies deposition are reduced to 51.85% and 44.72% of PD mice, respectively. Immunohistochemical mechanism studies show AKT expression in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe is 4.23 times that of PD mice and GSK-3β expression is reduced to 18.41%. Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe could reduce the production of α-synuclein and Lewy bodies through AKT/GSK-3β pathway, and effectively prevent the progressive deterioration of Parkinson's disease. In summary, Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe increases the entry of exenatide into brain and promotes its clinical application for Parkinson's disease therapy.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药学
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纳米技术
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
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2019
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IF 2.635
Hui Wang,Ling Xiao,Huiling Wang,Gaohua Wang
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) and tau play an important role in developing Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to explore the involvement of LRP1 in microtubule dynamic and depressive-like behavior in a depressive-like rat model. It also investigated whether fluoxetine blocked the change induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Sprague–Dawley rats (200–250 g) were exposed to CUMS and fluoxetine for 4 weeks respectively. The body weight was determined, and behavior tests, including sucrose preference test, forced swimming test and open field test were performed. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein levels of LRP1, tubulin, Acet-tub, Tyr-tub and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for mRNA expression levels of LRP1. Immunohistochemical staining was applied for LRP1 and immunofluorescence staining for the co-location of p-tau (404,262) and Acet-tub. The CUMS group presented a decreased body weight and depressive-like behavior, which was improved by fluoxetine. The protein and mRNA expression levels of LRP1 were elevated in the CUMS group. The levels of Acet-tub increased following CUMS, accompanied by elevated levels of p-tau (404,262). The binding of p-tau and Acet-tub significantly decreased in depressive-like rats, and fluoxetine attenuated microtubule instability. Finally, the inhibition of CUMS-induced PI3K/Akt activated GSK-3β, and fluoxetine reversed the change in the signaling pathway. Hence, LRP1 might impair the microtubule dynamics accompanied by depressive-like behavior via the PI3K/ Akt /GSK3β pathway in adult depressive-like rats, and hippocampal LRP1 might be involved in the development of depression.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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行为科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
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2020
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IF 3.263
Shumin Jiang,Xueli Wu,Yi Wang,Jingtao Zou,Xiaoping Zhao
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is a specific enzyme hydrolyzing the incretin hormone glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) to reduce insulin secretion, meanwhile DPP-4 inhibitors play an important role in diabetic therapy. In present study, 14 potential inhibitors were screened with an inhibition over 50% on DPP-4 activity from Xiao-Ke-An formula (XKA) and 12 of them exhibited a dose-dependently inhibitory effect at concentrations of 5–50 μmol/l. We found 10 DPP-4 inhibitors restrained differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes as well as reducing the triglycerides and total cholesterol content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, 7 DPP-4 inhibitors promoted the glucose consumption in insulin-resistance BNL CL.2 cells. Thereinto, ginsenoside Rk 1 up-regulated the protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β) phosphorylation expression, while kukoamine B and coptisine hydrochloride obviously increased the phosphorylation of AKT protein and columbamine , panaxadiol , ginsenoside Ro , timosaponin AI significantly promoted the phosphorylation of GSK-3β protein. It's our first effort to confirm those seven compounds could serve as DPP-4 inhibitors to attenuate DPP-4 activities, accompanied with the ability to adjust glucolipid metabolism. Moreover, activating the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway to ameliorate insulin resistant may be the anti-diabetic mechanism of XKA.
研究领域:
药理学
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糖尿病研究
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子