Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common age‑related neurodegenerative diseases, which results from a number of environmental and inherited factors. PD is characterized by the slow progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. The nigrostriatal DA neurons are particularly vulnerable to inflammatory attack. Neuroinflammation is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of age‑related neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD, and as such anti‑inflammatory agents are becoming a novel therapeutic focus. This review will discuss the current knowledge regarding inflammation and review the roles of intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways, which are specific inflammatory mediators in PD. Finally, possible therapeutic strategies are proposed, which may downregulate inflammatory processes and inhibit the progression of PD.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has still not been fully elucidated, however it is thought that the build up of amyloid plaque at least partially causes the symptoms of AD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non‑coding small RNA molecules that regulate the expression and degradation of proteins. The present study induced symptoms of AD in mice via intraventricular injection of amyloid‑β 1‑42 (Aβ1‑42), which decreased levels of miR‑107. However, miR‑107 levels increased following administration of miR‑107 mimic, a double‑stranded RNA molecule designed to imitate the native miRNA. Intraventricular injection of Aβ1‑42 aggregates led to spatial memory impairments, inhibited hippocampal long‑term potentiation (LTP) and resulted in the loss of pyramidal cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The miR‑107 mimic reversed the impairments of spatial memory and LTP and the loss of pyramidal neurons caused by Aβ neurotoxicity. Furthermore, the miR‑107 mimic reversed the Aβ‑induced increase in Aβ1‑42 and phosphorylated Tau levels. Critically, Aβ1‑42 injection decreased levels of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor and reduced the phosphorylation of tyrosine receptor kinase B and protein kinase B; these changes were reversed following treatment with the miR‑107 mimic. Collectively, these results demonstrated that miR‑107 may be a potential target for the treatment of AD.

This study investigates the impact of simvastatin on neuroinflammation in experimental parkinsonian cell models. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated pheochromocytoma-12 (PC12) cells were used to investigate the neuroprotective nature of simvastatin. After incubation with 6-OHDA, simvastatin, and/or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1 (NMDAR1) siRNA for 24 hr, test kits were used to detect the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate released from PC12 cells exposed to different culture media. The mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were determined by RT-PCR, and the protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. NMDAR1 were also determined by RT-PCR and the protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. LDH and glutamate levels in 6-OHDA-incubated PC12 cells increased compared with those in the controls, and incubation with simvastatin inhibited this elevation. Silencing of NMDAR1 with siRNA inhibited the expression of LDH and glutamate to a degree similar to simvastatin. The expression levels of NMDAR1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly upregulated after treatment with 6-OHDA. The 6-OHDA-stimulated mRNA and protein levels of the proinflammatory cytokines NMDAR1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were reduced by simvastatin. Silencing of NMDAR1 with siRNA decreased the NMDAR1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA and protein expression levels in 6-OHDA-stimulated PC12 cells. Simvastatin could also inhibit the expression of NMDAR1 and cytokines to a degree similar to silencing of NMDAR1 with siRNA. Our results suggest that NMDAR1 modulation could explain the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of simvastatin in experimental parkinsonian cell models.

Current evidence suggests that drugs, such as donepezil and memantine, can improve the prognosis of PSA. Donepezil has a significant effect in improving the ability of auditory comprehension, naming, repetition and oral expression. Memantine has a significant effect in improving the ability of naming, spontaneous speech and repetition. Bromocriptine showed no significant improvements in the treatment of aphasia after stroke. Data regarding galantamine, amphetamine and levodopa in the treatment of aphasia after stroke are limited and inconclusive.

This study aims to explore the effects of Notch1 gene on remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). A mouse model of acute demyelination was successfully established and the model mice were grouped as cuprizone (CPZ) group, CPZ + small interfering RNA (siRNA)-Notch1 (siNotch1) group, and CPZ + siRNA negative control (NC) group. Meanwhile, another 3 groups (control, control + siNotch1, and control + siRNA NC) were established in normal mice. The changes of weight and maintenance time in rotating drum of mice were observed. Western blot analysis for the protein expressions related to Notch signaling pathway and oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation in the corpus callosum of the mice. After model establishment, the weight of CPZ-induced demyelinated mice was decreased. During the repair period, the balance ability and movement of the mice was recovered, especially for those injected with siNotch1 plasmid. After model establishment, the number of myelinated axons was decreased. In comparison with the CPZ and CPZ siRNA NC groups, the CPZ + siNotch1 group had a decrease in the number of premature OLs, but increase in mature OLs, and a decrease in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes. The expressions of proteins related to Notch signaling pathway, such as HES, Jagged-1 were decreased in the CPZ + siNotch1 group in contrast to the CPZ and CPZ + siRNA groups, but the OL-related transcription factor Sox10 was increased in the CPZ + siNotch1 group than in the CPZ + siRNA NC and CPZ groups, and Id2 was decreased. Our study provided evidence that the inhibition of Notch1 gene could accelerate remyelination in MS.

The meta-analysis indicated the significant association of AGT gene polymorphisms (M235T, T174M) with risk of ischemic stroke in the Chinese population.

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier associated with endothelial dysfunction is an important hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a synthetic dopamine derivate often used to model PD as it results in retrograde degeneration of striatal dopaminergic (DA) terminals. Presently, the effects of 6-OHDA on endothelial dysfunction remain unknown. Using a 6-OHDA rodent model of PD, we found that administration of 6-OHDA could increase the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. An in vitro study displayed that treatment with 6-OHDA increased the release of these molecules in human brain microvascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Correspondingly, 6-OHDA significantly increased attachment of THP-1 monocytes to brain endothelial cells. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results indicated that 6-OHDA elevated the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, 6-OHDA treatment increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, as well as the production of prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide. Importantly, 6-OHDA elevated the transcriptional activity of NF-кB by increasing the phosphorylation, degradation, and subsequent nuclear translocation of p65. Mechanistically, the angiotensin II type 1 receptor was found to mediate 6-OHDA-induced endothelial dysfunction. Our findings suggest that 6-OHDA-induced endothelial inflammation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(11):887-895, 2017.

For many cerebrovascular diseases both blood pressure (BP) and hemodynamic changes are important clinical variables. In this paper, we describe the development of a novel approach to noninvasively and simultaneously monitor cerebral hemodynamics, BP, and other important parameters at high temporal resolution (250 Hz sampling rate). In this approach, cerebral Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. See http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/ publications/rights/index.html for more information.