Limin Xu

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a common life-threatening complication in hospitalized and critically ill patients [1–3]. S-AKI increases the in-hospital mortality rate by 6 to 8 t...

Neuroinflammatory processes are increasingly recognized as central to the pathophysiology of diverse central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Microglia, the resident immune effector cells of the CNS, are key regulators of neuroimmune responses and engage in bidirectional communication with the serotonergic system. Activation of microglia toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype can disrupt serotonergic neurotransmission by altering the expression and function of the serotonin transporter (SERT) and modulating downstream 5-HT receptor signaling pathways. Conversely, serotonergic neurotransmission—mediated through receptor subtypes such as 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A/_2B, and 5-HT₇—can regulate microglial phenotypic polarization and cytokine production, thereby influencing the inflammatory milieu and CNS homeostasis. This review synthesizes current evidence on the dynamic interplay between microglial activation states and serotonergic signaling, emphasizing their mutual contributions to disease onset and progression. Furthermore, we examine the therapeutic potential of targeting this neuroimmune interface using pharmacological strategies, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-inflammatory agents, and receptor-specific ligands. Clarifying this bidirectional crosstalk may inform the development of innovative interventions for neuroinflammation-associated neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Background. Stroke is the third main reason of mortality, which is the leading reason for adult disability in the globe. Poststroke inflammation is well known to cause acute ischemic stroke‐ (AIS‐) induced brain injury (BI) exacerbation. Celastrol (CL) has exhibited anti‐inflammatory activities in various inflammatory traits though underlying mechanisms remain unknown. So, the present investigation is aimed at studying CL protective mechanism against AIS‐induced BI. Methods. A mouse model regarding middle cerebral artery occlusion and an oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model with or not CL treatment were constructed to study CL protective effects. NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) was then silenced in BV2 microglia cells (BV2) to study Nrf2 role regarding CL‐mediated neuroprotection. Results. The results showed that CL treatment suppressed AIS‐induced BI by inhibiting NLRP3/caspase‐1 pathway activations and induction of apoptosis and pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. NLRP3/caspase‐1 pathway blocking activation suppressed OGD‐induced cell pyroptosis and apoptosis. Also, CL treatment reversed OGD‐induced microglial injury by promoting Nrf2/heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) pathway activations. Nrf2 downregulation reversed CL protective effects against OGD‐induced microglial injury, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Conclusion. The findings advise that CL treatment ameliorated AIS‐induced BI by inhibiting microglial injury and activating the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway.

The development of resistance to therapy continues to be a serious clinical problem in lung cancer management. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. However, almost all treatments fail after ∼1 year of treatment because of drug tolerance, probably occurring from the threonine 790 mutation (T790M) of the EGFR, resulting in overactivation of the EGFR. Celastrol is a natural compound that exhibits antiproliferative activity. In this study, we showed that celastrol combined with EGFR-TKIs significantly suppressed cell invasion of lung cancer cells with a T790M mutation by suppressing the EGFR pathway. Combined therapy with celastrol and EGFR-TKIs inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Together, these results suggested that combined therapy with EGFR-TKIs and celastrol may be a more effective treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer with T790M mutations of the EGFR.

Background/Aims: Recent studies have indicated that exosomes secreted from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have important effects in the treatment of ischemic injury. However, the treatment mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ADSC-derived exosomes enriched with microRNA (miR)-30d-5p have a protective effect on acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: In the current study, inflammatory factors and miR-30d-5p expression were assessed in 70 subjects with AIS and 35 healthy controls. Exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and further examined using nanoparticle tracking analyses. A rat model of AIS and an in vitro model of oxygen- and glucose-deprived (OGD) primary microglia were established to study the protective mechanism of exosomes from miR-30d-5p-overexpressing ADSCs in ischemia-induced nerve injury. Results: The results showed that following AIS, the expression of inflammatory cytokines increased, while the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and miR-30d-5p decreased both in patients and in animal models. Moreover, in vitro studies demonstrated that suppression of autophagy significantly reduced the OGD-induced inflammatory response. In addition, exosome treatment was more effective in suppressing the inflammatory response by reversing OGD-induced and autophagy-mediated microglial polarization to M1. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that exosomes derived from ADSCs significantly decreased the cerebral injury area of infarction by suppressing autophagy and promoting M2 microglia/macrophage polarization. Conclusions: Our results suggest that miR-30d-5p-enhanced ADSC-derived exosomes prevent cerebral injury by inhibiting autophagy-mediated microglial polarization to M1.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the most common type of cerebrovascular disease and is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Recently, a study suggested that transformation of microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 state to the anti-inflammatory and tissue-reparative M2 phenotype may be an effective therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. Celastrol, a traditional oriental medicine, may have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We first determined the expression levels of inflammatory factors in patients and rodent models associated with AIS; we then determined the anti-inflammatory effects of celastrol in AIS, both in vivo and in vitro, using animal models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and cell models of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) treatment with or without celastrol, respectively. The results indicated that expression of both inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) cytokines, as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-33, and IL-10, were increased following AIS in patients and in animal models. Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed that celastrol treatment decreased inflammatory cytokine expression induced by OGD through an IL-33/ST2 axis-mediated M2 microglia/macrophage polarization. Finally, celastrol is protected against ischemic-induced nerve injury, both in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these data suggest that celastrol post-treatment reduces ischemic stroke-induced brain damage, suggesting celastrol may represent a novel potent pharmacological therapy.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the body can damage liver cells and cause disorders in blood lipid metabolism. Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism, but no study on the HBV regulation of ApoC3 has been reported. This purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of HBV on ApoC3 expression and its regulatory mechanism. The expression levels of ApoC3 mRNA and protein in the human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 were determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. The HepG2 cells were co-transfected with the ApoC3 gene promoter and either HBV-infected clone pHBV1.3 or its individual genes. The changes in luciferase activity were assayed. The expression levels of ApoC3 mRNA and protein were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot. The content of ApoC3 in the supernatant of the cultured cells was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sera were collected from 149 patients with HBV infection and 102 healthy subjects at physical examination as the normal controls. The serological levels of ApoC3 in the HBV group and the normal control group were determined using ELISA. The contents of serum triglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the HBV patients and the normal control were determined using an automatic biochemical analyser. The expression levels of ApoC3 mRNA and protein were lower in the HepG2.2.15 cells than in the HepG2 cells. pHBV1.3 and its X gene could inhibit the activity of the ApoC3 promoter and its mRNA and protein expression. The serum levels of ApoC3, VLDL and TG were 65.39 ± 7.48 μg/ml, 1.24 ± 0.49 mmol/L, and 0.46 ± 0.10 mmol/L in the HBV patients and 41.02 ± 6.88 μg/ml, 0.76 ± 0.21 mmol/L, 0.29 ± 0.05 mmol/L in the normal controls, respectively, statistical analysis revealed significantly lower serum levels of ApoC3, VLDL and TG in HBV patients than in the normal controls (P < 0.05). HBV can inhibit the in vivo and in vitro synthesis and secretion of ApoC3.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer (GC), and to investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) in GC tissues. First, 6 ml peripheral blood with added anticoagulant was collected from each of the 42 patients with GC, followed by determination of the number of EPCs and ECs by flow cytometry using the surface markers cluster of differentiation (CD)34brightCD133+CD31+CD45dim and CD34dimCD133‑CD31brightCD45‑, respectively. VEGF expression in patients with GC was detected by the streptomycin avidin‑peroxidase immunohistochemical method, and MVD was calculated using the marker CD34. EPC and EC levels were positively associated with VEGF expression level, as well as with MVD. VEGF expression was positive in 66.67% GC cases, and its level was significantly associated with tumor‑node‑metastasis (TNM) stage, invasion depth and lymph‑node metastasis (P<0.05). VEGF expression level was also positively associated with MVD. MVD in GC was significantly larger than that in normal tissue (P<0.01), and it was significantly associated with TNM stage (P<0.05), invasion depth (P<0.01) and lymph‑node metastasis (P<0.01). EPCs in the peripheral blood have an important role in GC development, and may be a promising indicator of GC diagnosis and prognosis.