Publications by authors named "J A Foss"

Neuroinflammation precedes the clinical onset of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), by years or frequently even decades (1-3). In terms of the underlying physiology, there is a great need for understanding and controlling interactions between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system in an attempt to develop approaches to prevent or delay the disease's progression. Nerve cells have limited motion capability, whereas immune cells can migrate freely via circulation.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Taxanes like paclitaxel and docetaxel are commonly used to treat breast cancer but can cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in up to 70% of patients, leading to sensory and motor function issues that affect quality of life.
  • - The causes of CIPN are complex and not fully understood, involving factors such as mitochondrial disruption and immune response activation, which make it challenging to find effective treatment options.
  • - Recent research aims to explore genetic differences that may affect how patients respond to taxanes, with hopes of identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting and targeting CIPN, although current genetic studies have yielded inconsistent results.
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Psychostimulant exposure and withdrawal cause neuroimmune dysregulation and anxiety that contributes to dependence and relapse. Here, we tested the hypothesis that withdrawal from the synthetic cathinone MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone) produces anxiety-like effects and enhanced levels of mesocorticolimbic cytokines that are inhibited by cyanidin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid and nonselective blocker of IL-17A signaling. For comparison, we tested effects on glutamate transporter systems that are also dysregulated during psychostimulant free period.

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Taxanes are a class of chemotherapeutics commonly used to treat various solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancers. Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) occurs in up to 70% of patients, impacting quality of life both during and after treatment. TIPN typically manifests as tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and can cause irreversible loss of function of peripheral nerves.

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Mitragynine (MG) is an alkaloid found in (kratom) that is used as an herbal remedy for pain relief and opioid withdrawal. MG acts at μ-opioid and α-adrenergic receptors in vitro but the physiological relevance of this activity in the context of neuropathic pain remains unknown. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the effects of MG in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and to investigate the potential impact of sex on MG's therapeutic efficacy.

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