Low-n oligomers as therapeutic targets of Alzheimer's disease

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease involves the progressive accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). Recent studies using synthetic Aβ peptides, a cell culture model, Aβ precursor protein transgenic mice models suggest that pre-fibrillar forms of Aβ are more deleterious than extracellular fibril forms. Recent findings obtained using synthetic Aβ peptides and human samples indicated that low-n oligomers (from dimers to octamers) may be proximate toxins for neuron and synapse. Here, we review the recent studies on the soluble oligomers, especially low-n oligomers in Alzheimer's disease.     

Parkin， Parkin 底物和帕金森病

Parkin 是隐性遗传性少年型帕金森病的致病基因 . 现认为 Parkin 行使泛素蛋白连接酶功能,参与蛋白质的泛素化过程 . 它的功能缺陷致使其底物蛋白质毒性积聚,从而介导多巴胺能神经元选择性死亡 . 越来越多的研究显示 Parkin 还具有神经保护作用,能对抗多种神经毒性刺激,并且可能参与路易体的形成过程,因此认为它在散发性帕金森病的致病过程中也可能起重要作用 .     

Immunology of inflammatory bowel diseases.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases involves complex interactions among genetic, environmental and immunologic factors, where the immune system plays a crucial role. The initiating factor may be a commonly present environmental antigen, but the defective mucosal immune response can't downregulate the inflammatory process, the resulting in chronic inflammation and tissue damage. The abnormal amplification of the immune system seems more likely to be a secondary and not a primary factor in the disease. IBD patients exhibit abnormalities in epithelial antigen presentation, and in the cellular and humoral immune system. The role of autoimmunity is unclear in IBD. The inflammatory mediator production and balance is also altered in IBD. Crohn's disease is characterised by a Th1 cytokine profile, while ulcerative colitis is characterised rather by a Th2 cytokine profile. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD led to major changes in the treatment of the disease. The newer agents target the key mediators involved in the inflammatory process.     

Anti-cholinesterase hybrids as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer’s disease (1998–2018)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a genetically complex, progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder of the brain which involves multiple associated etiological targets. The complex pathogenesis of AD gave rise to multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) principle to combat this dreaded disease. Within this approach, the design and synthesis of hybrids prevailed greatly because of their capability to simultaneously target the intertwined pathogenesis components of the disease. The hybrids include pharmacophoric hybridization of two or more established chemical scaffolds endowed with the desired pharmacological properties into a single moiety. In AD, the primary foundation of medication therapy and drug design strategies includes the inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes. Hence the development of ChE inhibition based hybrids is the central choice of AD medicinal chemistry research. To illustrate the progress of ChE inhibition based hybrids and novel targets, we reviewed the medicinal chemistry and pharmacological properties of the multi-target molecules published since 1998-December 2018. We hope that this article will allow the readers to easily follow the evolution of this prominent medicinal chemistry approach to develop a more efficient inhibitor.     

TREM2 Attenuates Aβ1-42-Mediated Neuroinflammation in BV-2 Cells by Downregulating TLR Signaling

Neurochemical Research - The pathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) mainly involves abnormal accumulation of extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) and the consequent neurotoxic...     

Gene-Expression Profiling of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model that serves as an experimental tool for studying the etiology, pathogenesis, as well as new therapeutic approaches of multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE is a polygenic chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the nervous system that involves the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies have identified multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling different aspects of disease pathogenesis. However, progress in identifying new susceptibility genes outside the MHC locus has been slow. With the advent of new global methods for genetic analysis such as large-scale sequencing, gene expression profiling combined with classic linkage analysis and congenic and physical mapping progress is considerably accelerating. Here we review our preliminary work on the use of gene expression mapping to identify new putative genetic pathways contributing to the pathogenesis of EAE.     

Alzheimer vaccine: amyloid-beta on trial

A new therapeutic approach is being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This approach involves the deliberate induction of an autoimmune response to amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide, the constituent of neuritic plaques that is thought to cause the neurodegeneration and dementia in AD. If this approach is to be effective, antibodies must be produced that can selectively target the toxic forms of Abeta, while leaving the functionally-relevant forms of Abeta and its precursor protein untouched. Furthermore, an approach needs to be found that avoids provoking an acute neuroinflammatory response. The situation is made even more challenging by uncertainty regarding which isoforms of Abeta contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.     

糖尿病心肌病发病机制的研究进展

糖尿病心肌病（diabetic cardiomyopathy, DCM）是一种特殊类型的心脏疾病，在一定程度上增加了糖尿病患者发生心力衰竭的风险，也是糖尿病患者死亡的主要原因之一。DCM的发病机制涉及多个方面，心肌细胞代谢紊乱（如高血糖和胰岛素抵抗）、心肌炎症和纤维化是DCM发病的基础，这些因素单独或联合作用于DCM的发生和发展。目前临床上尚无根治DCM的有效药物，研究疾病的发病机制在开发靶向治疗药物中具有重要意义。主要对当前DCM发病机制的研究进展展开综述，以期为DCM的早期预防和治疗提供理论基础。     

Direct membrane association drives mitochondrial fission by the Parkinson disease-associated protein alpha-synuclein

The protein α-synuclein has a central role in Parkinson disease, but the mechanism by which it contributes to neural degeneration remains unknown. We now show that the expression of α-synuclein in mammalian cells, including neurons in vitro and in vivo, causes the fragmentation of mitochondria. The effect is specific for synuclein, with more fragmentation by α- than β- or γ-isoforms, and it is not accompanied by changes in the morphology of other organelles or in mitochondrial membrane potential. However, mitochondrial fragmentation is eventually followed by a decline in respiration and neuronal death. The fragmentation does not require the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 and involves a direct interaction of synuclein with mitochondrial membranes. In vitro, synuclein fragments artificial membranes containing the mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin, and this effect is specific for the small oligomeric forms of synuclein. α-Synuclein thus exerts a primary and direct effect on the morphology of an organelle long implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease.     

Duchenne肌营养不良（DMD）发病机制及治疗研究进展

Duchenne肌营养不良（Duchenne muscular dystrophy,DMD）为X连锁、隐性、致死性遗传病,其致病基因位于X染色体的Xp21.1-3区,编码抗肌萎缩蛋白dystrophin。随着对该病研究的不断深入,人们从宏观到微观对DMD的再认识不断更新,发现其发病涉及到从基因、胞膜缺陷,到细胞的炎性机制,以及纤维化及肌细胞再生等多个层面。就其细胞及亚细胞水平发病机制及治疗上的进展进行综述。     

Interplay of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in neurodegenerative disorders

The common underlying feature of most neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD), prion diseases, Parkinson disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves accumulation of misfolded proteins leading to initiation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and stimulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Additionally, ER stress more recently has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Autophagy plays an essential role in the clearance of aggregated toxic proteins and degradation of the damaged organelles. There is evidence that autophagy ameliorates ER stress by eliminating accumulated misfolded proteins. Both abnormal UPR and impaired autophagy have been implicated as a causative mechanism in the development of various neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights recent advances in the field on the role of ER stress and autophagy in AD, prion diseases, PD, ALS and HAND with the involvement of key signaling pathways in these processes and implications for future development of therapeutic strategies.     

The myeloid cytokine network in AIDS pathogenesis

The complex pathogenesis of HIV and SIV infections involves the activation, dysfunction, and increased turnover of numerous immune cell subsets. Myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), are a particularly relevant cell type capable of providing targets for virus infection as well as a source of immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines. Here, we review recent literature about the interplay between HIV/SIV and myeloid cells, including viral infection, type I interferon signaling, and the contribution of myeloid cells to HIV-associated immune activation. Understanding the cytokine and chemokine networks in which monocytes, macrophages, and mDCs participate during HIV infection may yield new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease.     

New insight into inter-organ crosstalk contributing to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver dysfunction and a significant global health problem with substantial rise in prevalence over the last decades. It is becoming increasingly clear that NALFD is not only predominantly a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, but also involves extra-hepatic organs and regulatory pathways. Therapeutic options are limited for the treatment of NAFLD. Accordingly, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD is critical for gaining new insight into the regulatory network of NAFLD and for identifying new targets for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. In this review, we emphasize on the current understanding of the inter-organ crosstalk between the liver and peripheral organs that contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFLD.     

Does inflammatory acne result from imbalance in the keratinocyte innate immune response?

Acne is a multifactorial chronic disease affecting around 80% of teenage population. The pathogenesis of acne involves inflammatory reactions and colonization by the Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) strain. P. acnes stimulates the keratinocytes involved in the innate immune response, the intensity of which could be influenced either by bacterial intrinsic factors or by endogenous factors of the host.     

Strategies for clinical approach to neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disorder of unknown aetiology that involves the loss of upper and lower motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Significant progress in understanding the cellular mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration in ALS has not been matched with the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent disease progression, and riluzole remains the only available therapy, with only marginal effects on disease survival. More recently alterations of mRNA processing in genetically defined forms of ALS, as those related to TDP-43 and FUS-TLS gene mutations have provided important insights into the molecular networks implicated in the disease pathogenesis. Here we review some of the recent progress in promoting therapeutic strategies for neurodegeneration.     

From bedside to bench to clinic trials: identifying new treatments for severe asthma

Asthmatics with a severe form of the disease are frequently refractory to standard medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, underlining the need for new treatments to prevent the occurrence of potentially life-threatening episodes. A major obstacle in the development of new treatments for severe asthma is the heterogeneous pathogenesis of the disease, which involves multiple mechanisms and cell types. Furthermore, new therapies might need to be targeted to subgroups of patients whose disease pathogenesis is mediated by a specific pathway. One approach to solving the challenge of developing new treatments for severe asthma is to use experimental mouse models of asthma to address clinically relevant questions regarding disease pathogenesis. The mechanistic insights gained from mouse studies can be translated back to the clinic as potential treatment approaches that require evaluation in clinical trials to validate their effectiveness and safety in human subjects. Here, we will review how mouse models have advanced our understanding of severe asthma pathogenesis. Mouse studies have helped us to uncover the underlying inflammatory mechanisms (mediated by multiple immune cell types that produce Th1, Th2 or Th17 cytokines) and non-inflammatory pathways, in addition to shedding light on asthma that is associated with obesity or steroid unresponsiveness. We propose that the strategy of using mouse models to address clinically relevant questions remains an attractive and productive research approach for identifying mechanistic pathways that can be developed into novel treatments for severe asthma.     

Molecular determinants of the pathogenesis of disease due to non-typable Haemophilus influenzae

Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae is a common commensal organism in the human upper respiratory tract and an important cause of localized respiratory tract disease. The pathogenesis of disease begins with bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx, a process that involves establishment on the mucosal surface and evasion of local immune mechanisms. Under the proper circumstances, the organism spreads contiguously to the middle ear, the sinuses, or the lungs, and then stimulates a brisk inflammatory response, producing symptomatic infection. In this review, we summarize our present understanding of the molecular determinants of this sequence of events. Continued investigation of the molecular mechanism of non-typable H. influenzae pathogenicity should facilitate development of novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of H. influenzae disease.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans ABL-1 tyrosine kinase is required for Shigella flexneri pathogenesis

Shigellosis is a diarrheal disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Shigella flexneri. Following ingestion of the bacterium, S. flexneri interferes with innate immunity, establishes an infection within the human colon, and initiates an inflammatory response that results in destruction of the tissue lining the gut. Examination of host cell factors required for S. flexneri pathogenesis in vivo has proven difficult due to limited host susceptibility. Here we report the development of a pathogenesis system that involves the use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study S. flexneri virulence determinants and host molecules required for pathogenesis. We show that S. flexneri-mediated killing of C. elegans correlates with bacterial accumulation in the intestinal tract of the animal. The S. flexneri virulence plasmid, which encodes a type III secretory system as well as various virulence determinants crucial for pathogenesis in mammalian systems, was found to be required for maximal C. elegans killing. Additionally, we demonstrate that ABL-1, the C. elegans homolog of the mammalian c-Abl nonreceptor tyrosine kinase ABL1, is required for S. flexneri pathogenesis in nematodes. These data demonstrate the feasibility of using C. elegans to study S. flexneri pathogenesis in vivo and provide insight into host factors that contribute to S. flexneri pathogenesis.