何首乌苷通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号通路拮抗H2O2诱导的大鼠海马神经元氧化损伤

探讨脑源性神经营养因子/酪氨酸激酶受体B(BDNF/TrkB)信号通路激活参与何首乌苷(PMG)对过氧化氢(H2O2)诱导神经元氧化应激损伤的保护作用。实验采用神经元原代培养,建立大鼠乳鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤模型。实验结果显示高浓度的H2O2与MTT测定的细胞存活率降低相关,选择细胞存活率在40%~50%之间的200μmol/LH2O2浓度作为氧化应激损伤的实验浓度。与模型组相比,PMG预处理组(200μmol/L)可抑制H2O2诱导的神经元损伤(P<0.001)。TUNEL和β-微管蛋白III荧光染色显示PMG保护H2O2诱导的神经细胞损伤,明显降低细胞凋亡率(P<0.001),细胞骨架形态恢复正常。与PMG+H2O2预处理组相比较,当加入BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路阻断剂K252a后,PMG+H2O2+K252a组神经元细胞存活率大幅度下降(P<0.01),细胞骨架形态呈损伤状态。同时,我们发现PMG预处理恢复H2O2诱导的BDNF和P-TrkB的低表达水平,并且用K252a阻断BDNF/TrkB信号传导抑制了PMG对BDNF和P-TrkB表达水平的影响(P<0.01)。综上所述,何首乌苷可能通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路及维护神经元骨架的完整,实现对大鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤的拮抗作用。     

运动调节神经细胞自噬改善阿尔茨海默病

自噬作为细胞内的一种分解代谢途径,可将胞质中异常聚集的蛋白质、受损细胞器及其他细胞成分转运至溶酶体进行降解,以维持蛋白质稳态和细胞代谢平衡。研究表明,阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease, AD)脑内β淀粉样蛋白(amyloid-β, Aβ)沉积、Tau蛋白异常磷酸化和突触可塑性失调与细胞自噬紊乱有关。适宜的运动能够调节神经细胞自噬水平和抑制AD动物脑内的多种病变,但具体机制尚不明确。综述近期研究成果发现,运动可能通过以下途径保护大脑和改善AD:(1)运动可以激活AMP依赖的蛋白激酶(AMP-activated protein kinase, AMPK)和抑制哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR)信号诱导自噬启动,提高自噬流和自噬溶酶体的降解,从而促进Aβ和磷酸化Tau蛋白的自噬清除。(2)运动增加脑内脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF)表达,经由BDNF/酪氨酸激酶受体B(tyrosine kinase receptor B, TrkB)信号,以及磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, PI3K)/蛋白质丝氨酸苏氨酸激酶(protein-serine-threonine kinase, AKT)信号途径调节自噬流,从而介导BDNF诱导的突触可塑性。(3)运动可能通过调节神经细胞自噬,维持神经递质稳态和突触传递。     

BDNF、TrkB在子宫内膜癌中的表达及意义

目的:观察脑源性神经生长因子(BDNF)及其受体酪氨酸激酶受体B(TrkB)在子宫内膜癌中的表达,并分析其临床意义。方法:采用免疫组织化学染色方法对11例正常子宫内膜、16例增生子宫内膜、31例子宫内膜癌组织进行BDNF及其受体TrkB表达的检测,并分析子宫内膜癌组织中BDNF、TrkB的表达与其临床病理特征的关系。结果:BDNF及TrkB在正常子宫内膜中呈阴性或弱阳性表达,在增生子宫内膜及子宫内膜癌中呈阳性表达,三组间的差异存在统计学意义(P0.05)。子宫内膜癌中BDNF、TrkB的表达与肿瘤细胞分化程度、临床病理分期、肌层浸润深度、淋巴结转移的有无均显著相关(P0.05)。结论:BDNF及其受体TrkB的相互作用可能在子宫内膜癌的发生发展中起重要作用,二者联合检测可能对子宫内膜癌的术前病情评估及术后预后预测均具有重要的参考意义。     

应激抑郁发生中糖皮质激素对BDNF信号通路的影响

脑源性神经营养因子(brain derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)是一个关键性的神经营养因子,它既影响突触的形成和重构,又可以通过突触前和突触后机制改变突触传递的效能,从而对神经结构和功能可塑性发挥调节作用。BDNF主要通过结合TrkB受体激活细胞内信号系统来发挥它积极的生物学效应。研究表明,中枢神经系统BDNF表达或功能的变化与抑郁症的发生相关,而应激引起糖皮质激素(glucocorticoid,GC)的增加也是导致抑郁发生的重要原因之一。值得注意的是,GCs的增加会影响BDNF,一方面GCs降低BDNF的表达,另一方面GCs受体GR与BNDF受体TrkB相互作用。过多的GCs干扰了BDNF信号,使BDNF功能受到影响,导致抑郁患者脑内,尤其是海马结构的损害。就抑郁发生中糖皮质激素对BDNF功能影响的研究进展作一介绍。     

周围神经损伤中P2Y12受体-p38MAPK通路的研究进展

周围神经损伤是临床中常见的神经损伤之一,神经胶质细胞和信号通路转导在周围神经损伤和再生修复中发挥重要作用。小胶质细胞的活化与周围神经损伤导致的神经损伤及疼痛密切相关,小胶质细胞是周围神经损伤与修复的关键场所。脊髓背角的小胶质细胞可被嘌呤信号通路的P2Y_(12)受体活化,进而导致p38MAPK磷酸化,造成相关神经损伤及感觉功能障碍。以脊髓背角的小胶质细胞为靶点,从P2Y_(12)受体-p38MAPK通路的角度可揭示周围神经损伤的部分可能机制。探究从嘌呤信号通路与小胶质细胞活化的新角度,将神经损伤后的P2Y_(12)受体与p38MAPK的磷酸化表达联系为P2Y_(12)受体-p38MAPK通路,可为临床治疗周围神经损伤提供新的思路。本文就周围神经损伤中P2Y_(12)受体-p38MAPK通路的研究进展作一综述。     

自噬与Nrf2信号通路之间联系的研究进展

自噬是人体内常见且重要的生理现象之一,对于维持细胞的稳定及代谢需要具有关键意义。核因子E2相关因子(nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor,Nrf2)是调控细胞对抗外来异物和氧化损伤的关键转录因子,Nrf2信号通路在抗肿瘤、抗应激等方面发挥着广泛的细胞保护功能。随着研究进展,发现自噬与Nrf2信号通路间存在着广泛的相互作用机制。抑制自噬会导致p62积累,进而结合Keap1(Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1)而激活Nrf2信号通路;同时也有研究发现,磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶/蛋白激酶B(phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B,PI3K/Akt)等自噬和Nrf2的共同调节通路、活性氧(reactive oxidative species,ROS)等因素也参与自噬与Nrf2之间的相互调控。该文将以近期关于Nrf2信号通路与自噬之间关系研究进展作一综述,希望为临床疾病治疗提供新的视角。     

螺旋藻对运动疲劳大鼠海马损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的：研究BDNF/TrkB神经营养信号在运动疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤中的作用与螺旋藻改善运动致脑海马损伤的作用及其可能的机制。方法：60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为：正常对照组（NC组）、正常+螺旋藻灌胃组（NS组）、运动模型组（EM组）、运动+螺旋藻灌胃组（ES组）、阳性对照组（PC组）,每组12只。EM组、ES组和PC组采用3周的递增式跑台训练建立运动疲劳模型。NC组不施加任何干预,用作对照。NS组和ES组按每天300 mg/kg体重灌胃螺旋藻,PC组以同等体积的人参提取物（1.92 g/kg）灌胃,连续灌胃3周。实验末,用免疫组化和免疫印迹法检测各组大鼠海马BDNF、TrkB、p-TrkB蛋白表达水平,并用尼氏染色法观察海马CA1区形态结构的变化,同时观察大鼠体重等一般情况。结果：与NC组比较,EM组大鼠的体重降低,海马CA1区神经元细胞形态异常且排列紊乱,部分细胞固缩呈不规则变化,部分神经元消失不见,海马BDNF、TrkB和p-TrkB蛋白表达均明显升高（P<0.01）;与EM组比较,ES组大鼠的体重增加,海马神经元损伤得到明显改善,神经元数目和尼氏小体数量增加,神经元排列渐趋规则,形态较完整,ES组海马BDNF、TrkB和p-TrkB蛋白表达均明显升高（P<0.05或P< 0.01）,且与PC组相比,已无明显差别（P>0.05）。结论：BDNF/TrkB神经营养信号可能参与运动致疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤的修复过程;螺旋藻补充能改善运动疲劳大鼠海马神经元损伤,其原因可能与其上调BDNF和其受体（TrkB）及其受体磷酸化（p-TrkB）蛋白表达而发挥神经保护作用有关。     

B型酪氨酸激酶受体的轴浆转运

脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)在发育及成熟的中枢神经系统(central nervoussystem,CNS)中起到举足轻重的调节作用,而其中绝大部分作用由其B型酪氨酸激酶受体(tyrosine kinase receptortype B,TrkB)介导,因此TrkB在神经元中的轴浆转运过程显得尤为重要。本文从动力蛋白、潜在调节分子、细胞骨架蛋白等方面对TrkB轴浆转运分子机制的研究进展进行综述,并就其进一步研究提出一系列的问题与展望。     

bFGF通过抑制Nogo-A信号减少脊髓损伤后胶质瘢痕的形成

脊髓损伤后胶质瘢痕的形成是阻碍神经恢复的关键原因之一。碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF)具有良好的神经保护及促进脊髓损伤的修复作用,然而其对于胶质瘢痕的影响及其机制仍不清楚。本研究通过采用血管动脉夹(30 g)夹闭雌性SD大鼠脊髓2min造成急性脊髓损伤模型并予以每天皮下注射bFGF(80μg/kg),探讨bFGF促进脊髓损伤的恢复作用是否涉及到胶质瘢痕调控和Nogo-A/NgR信号的相关机制。通过检测损伤后28 d,各组BBB评分和斜板试验,发现bFGF显著促进脊髓损伤后大鼠运动功能的恢复。HE及尼氏染色显示,bFGF处理组相对于生理盐水处理组,其神经元明显增多,空洞面积减少。同时,星形胶质细胞标记物GFAP免疫荧光结果表明,bFGF减少胶质瘢痕形成,抑制星形胶质细胞过度激活。同样,通过Western印迹检测发现,bFGF处理后,胶质瘢痕相关蛋白(如GFAP,neurocan)以及神经突生长抑制蛋白(Nogo-A)信号通路相关蛋白质表达量下降。上述结果表明,bFGF可能通过抑制Nogo-A信号蛋白的表达,从而抑制胶质瘢痕的形成,促进脊髓损伤的恢复。此机制研究为脊髓损伤的治疗和恢复提供全新的思路和药物靶点。     

Early exercise in spinal cord injured rats induces allodynia through TrkB signaling

Rehabilitation is important for the functional recovery of patients with spinal cord injury. However, neurological events associated with rehabilitation remain unclear. Herein, we investigated neuronal regeneration and exercise following spinal cord injury, and found that assisted stepping exercise of spinal cord injured rats in the inflammatory phase causes allodynia. Sprague-Dawley rats with thoracic spinal cord contusion injury were subjected to assisted stepping exercise 7 days following injury. Exercise promoted microscopic recovery of corticospinal tract neurons, but the paw withdrawal threshold decreased and C-fibers had aberrantly sprouted, suggesting a potential cause of the allodynia. Tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was expressed on aberrantly sprouted C-fibers. Blocking of BDNF-TrkB signaling markedly suppressed aberrant sprouting and decreased the paw withdrawal threshold. Thus, early rehabilitation for spinal cord injury may cause allodynia with aberrant sprouting of C-fibers through BDNF-TrkB signaling.     

Differential effects of transient and sustained activation of BDNF‐TrkB signaling

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serves a pleiotropic role in the central nervous system, ranging from promoting neuronal survival and differentiation during development and synaptic modulation in the adult. An important, yet unanswered question is how BDNF could serve such diverse functions, sometimes in the same cell. At least two modes of BDNF actions have been elucidated so far based on BDNF signaling kinetics and/or the activity status of the responding neurons. Acute and gradual increases in extracellular BDNF concentrations elicit, respectively, transient and sustained activation of TrkB receptor and its downstream signaling, leading to differential molecular and cellular functions. In cultured neurons, sustained TrkB activation promotes neuronal dendritic arborization and spinogenesis, whereas transient TrkB activation facilitates dendritic growth and spine morphogenesis. In hippocampal slices, slow delivery of BDNF facilitates LTP, whereas fast application of BDNF enhances basal synaptic transmission in schaffer collateral synapses. High‐frequency stimulation of neurons converts BDNF‐induced TrkB signaling from a transient to a sustained mode. These initial insights lay the foundation for future investigation of the BDNF‐TrkB pathway, and analogous signaling pathways to gain a comprehensive understanding to enable translational research. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 647–659, 2018     

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Increases Synaptic Protein Levels via the MAPK/Erk Signaling Pathway and Nrf2/Trx Axis Following the Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in promoting the growth, differentiation, survival and synaptic stability of neurons. Presently, the transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is known to induce neural repair to some extent after injury or disease. In this study, to investigate whether NSCs genetically modified to encode the BDNF gene (BDNF/NSCs) would further enhance synaptogenesis, BDNF/NSCs or naive NSCs were directly engrafted into lesions in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Immunohistochemistry, western blotting and RT-PCR were performed to detect synaptic proteins, BDNF-TrkB and its downstream signaling pathways, at 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks after transplantation. Our results showed that BDNF significantly increased the expression levels of the TrkB receptor gene and the phosphorylation of the TrkB protein in the lesions. The expression levels of Ras, phosphorylated Erk1/2 and postsynaptic density protein-95 were elevated in the BDNF/NSCs-transplanted groups compared with those in the NSCs-transplanted groups throughout the experimental period. Moreover, the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2/Thioredoxin (Nrf2/Trx) axis, which is a specific therapeutic target for the treatment of injury or cell death, was upregulated by BDNF overexpression. Therefore, we determined that the increased synaptic proteins level implicated in synaptogenesis might be associated with the activation of the MAPK/Erk1/2 signaling pathway and the upregulation of the antioxidant agent Trx modified by BDNF-TrkB following the BDNF/NSCs transplantation after TBI.     

A novel role for BDNF-TrkB in the regulation of chemotherapy resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Mechanisms of resistance for HNSCC to cisplatin (CDDP), the foundational chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of this disease, remain poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that cisplatin resistance (CR) can be overcome by targeting Trk receptor. In the current study, we explored the potential mechanistic role of the BDNF-TrkB signaling system in the development of CDDP resistance in HNSCC. Utilizing an in vitro system of acquired CR, we confirmed a substantial up-regulation of both BDNF and TrkB at the protein and mRNA levels in CR cells, suggesting an autocrine pathway dysregulation in this system. Exogenous BDNF stimulation led to an enhanced expression of the drug-resistance and anti-apoptotic proteins MDR1 and XiAP, respectively, in a dose-dependently manner, demonstrating a key role for BDNF-TrkB signaling in modulating the response to cytotoxic agents. In addition, modulation of TrkB expression induced an enhanced sensitivity of cells to CDDP in HNSCC. Moreover, genetic suppression of TrkB resulted in changes in expression of Bim, XiAP, and MDR1 contributing to HNSCC survival. To elucidate intracellular signaling pathways responsible for mechanisms underlying BDNF/TrkB induced CDDP-resistance, we analyzed expression levels of these molecules following inhibition of Akt. Inhibition of Akt eliminated BDNF effect on MDR1 and Bim expression in OSC-19P cells as well as modulated expressions of MDR1, Bim, and XiAP in OSC-19CR cells. These results suggest BDNF/TrkB system plays critical roles in CDDP-resistance development by utilizing Akt-dependent signaling pathways.     

Lecithinized brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes the differentiation of embryonic stem cells in vitro and in vivo

The addition of lecithin molecules to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been reported to markedly enhance its pharmacological effect in vivo. In the current study, we show that lecithinized BDNF (PC-BDNF) has a higher affinity than BDNF for neural precursor cells. Although BDNF only slightly increased the expression of the genes for Mash-1, p35, 68 kDa neurofilament, and TrkB receptor, PC-BDNF caused a significant increase in their expression. PC-BDNF also increased the level of neurofilament protein and dramatically increased TrkB mRNA gene expression, which was followed by a sustained activation of the p42/p44 extracellular-regulated kinases. Finally, transplantation of PC-BDNF-treated cells was more effective than BDNF-treated cells at improving impaired motor function caused by spinal cord injury. These findings showed that PC-BDNF has a better potential than BDNF for promoting neural differentiation, partly due to a higher cellular affinity. Furthermore, PC-BDNF-treated cells could be useful for transplantation therapy for central nervous system injuries.     

BDNF heightens the sensitivity of motor neurons to excitotoxic insults through activation of TrkB

The survival promoting and neuroprotective actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are well known but under certain circumstances this growth factor can also exacerbate excitotoxic insults to neurons. Prior exploration of the receptor through which BDNF exerts this action on motor neurons deflects attention away from p75. Here we investigated the possibility that BDNF acts through the receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkB, to confer on motor neurons sensitivity to excitotoxic challenge. We blocked BDNF activation of TrkB using a dominant negative TrkB mutant or a TrkB function blocking antibody, and found that this protected motor neurons against excitotoxic insult in cultures of mixed spinal cord neurons. Addition of a function blocking antibody to BDNF to mixed spinal cord neuron cultures is also neuroprotective indicating that endogenously produced BDNF participates in vulnerability to excitotoxicity. We next examined the intracellular signaling cascades that are engaged upon TrkB activation. Previously we found that inhibition of the phosphatidylinositide-3'-kinase (PI3'K) pathway blocks BDNF-induced excitotoxic sensitivity. Here we show that expression of a constitutively active catalytic subunit of PI3'K, p110, confers excitotoxic sensitivity (ES) upon motor neurons not incubated with BDNF. Parallel studies with purified motor neurons confirm that these events are likely to be occuring specifically within motor neurons. The abrogation of BDNF's capacity to accentuate excitotoxic insults may make it a more attractive neuroprotective agent.     

Dissection of NT3 functions in vivo by gene replacement strategy.

The development of the peripheral nervous system is governed in part by a family of neurotrophic factors that signal through Trk tyrosine kinase receptors. Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) ablation in mice causes a more severe neuronal phenotype than deletion of its receptor TrkC, suggesting that NT3 acts also through other non-preferred Trk receptors. To study the role of low-affinity ligand receptor interactions in vivo, we have replaced the Nt3 gene with the gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a TrkB ligand. As in NT3 and TrkC null mice, the proprioception system of these mutants failed to assemble. However, sensory fiber projections in the embryonic spinal cord suggest chemotropic effects of BDNF in vivo. In the dorsal root ganglia, the developmental dynamic of neuron numbers demonstrates that NT3 is required for activation of TrkB during neurogenesis and that TrkA is required during target tissue innervation. In the inner ear, the ectopic BDNF rescued the severe neuronal deficits caused by NT3 absence, indicating that TrkB and TrkC activate equivalent pathways to promote survival of cochlear neurons. However, specific increased innervation densities suggest unique functions for BDNF and NT3 beyond promoting neuronal survival. This mouse model has allowed the dissection of specific spatiotemporal Trk receptor activation by NT3. Our analysis provides examples of how development can be orchestrated by complex high- and low-affinity interactions between ligand and receptor families.     

Role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in learning and memory

In addition to its actions on neuronal survival and differentiation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a role in the regulation of synaptic strength. Long-term potentiation, a form of synaptic plasticity, is markedly impaired in BDNF mutant mice, but the changes were restored by the re-expression of BDNF. BDNF also influences the development of patterned connections and the growth and complexity of dendrites in the cerebral cortex. These results suggest a role for BDNF in learning and memory processes, since memory acquisition is considered to involve both short-term changes in electrical properties and long-term structural alterations in synapses. Memory acquisition is associated with an increase in BDNF mRNA and TrkB receptor activation in specific brain areas. Moreover, the pharmacologic and genetic deprivation of BDNF or its receptor TrkB results in severe impairment of learning and memory in mice, rats and chicks. The effect of BDNF on learning and memory may be linked to the modulation of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor functions as well as the expression of synaptic proteins required for exocytosis. Activation of the mitogen-associated protein kinase and/or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways may be involved in BDNF-dependent learning and memory formation. It is concluded that BDNF/TrkB signaling plays an important role in learning and memory.     

Dual inhibition of BDNF/TrkB and autophagy: a promising therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common digestive cancer in the Western world. Despite effective therapies, resistance and/or recurrence frequently occur. The present study investigated the impact of two survival pathways—neurotrophic factors (TrkB/BDNF) and autophagy—on cell fate and tumour evolution. In vitro studies were performed on two CRC cell lines, SW480 (primary tumour) and SW620 (lymph node invasion), which were also used for subcutaneous xenografts on a nude mouse model. In addition, the presence of neurotrophic factors (NTs) and autophagy markers were assessed in tissue samples representative of different stages. On the basis of our previous study (which demonstrated that TrkB overexpression is associated with prosurvival signaling in CRC cells), we pharmacologically inhibited NTs pathways with K252a. As expected, an inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway was observed and CRC cells initiated autophagy. Conversely, blocking the autophagic flux with chloroquine or with ATG5‐siRNA overactivated TrkB/BDNF signaling. In vitro, dual inhibition improved the effectiveness of single treatment by significantly reducing metabolic activity and enhancing apoptotic cell death. These findings were accentuated in vivo, in which dual inhibition induced a spectacular reduction in tumour volume following long‐term treatment (21 days for K252a and 12 days for CQ). Finally, significant amounts of phospho‐TrkB and LC3II were found in the patients’ tissues, highlighting their relevance in CRC tumour biology. Taken together, our results show that targeting NTs and autophagy pathways potentially constitutes a new therapeutic approach for CRC.