Activation of the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 pathway improves pulmonary arterial hypertension in MCT-induced rats by inhibiting autophagy.

Autophagy is implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to investigate whether the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 pathway affects the development of PAH by mediating autophagy. A PAH rat model was established using monocrotaline (MCT).

[Protective effect of ligustilide against low potassium induced apoptosis in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons].

Objective: To investigate the effect of ligustilide (LIG) on low potassium-induced apoptosis in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGN).

Methods: Apoptosis was induced by low potassium in cultured neonatal rat CGN in vitro. The CGN was divided into control/model/CGP54626 + LIG and LIG group.

Klotho upregulation contributes to the neuroprotection of ligustilide in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

Klotho, an aging-suppressor gene, encodes a protein that potentially acts as a neuroprotective factor by modulating insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling and oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of Klotho in the therapeutic effect of ligustilide against Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neuropathologies and memory impairment in aged senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8) mice. Ligustilide treatment (10 and 40 mg/kg for 8 weeks, intragastrically) in 10-month-old SAMP8 mice reduced memory deficits, amyloid-β(1)-42 accumulation, tau phosphorylation, and neuron loss, increased mitochondrial manganese-superoxide dismutase and catalase expression and activity, and decreased malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine levels in the brain.