Zuogui Pills Improve the Learning and Memory Ability of Brain-Aging Mice through the Estrogen Receptor ERα Methylation Pathway.

Introduction: Sex hormones are important factors in maintaining brain function and acting as brain protectors. Recent research suggests that neuronal damage in brain aging may be linked to the methylation of the estrogen receptor α (ERα). However, the mechanism of Zuogui Pills (ZGW) in brain-aging ERα DNA methylation and neuronal repair remains unknown.

Involvement of estrogen receptor activation in kaempferol-3-O-glucoside's protection against aging-related cognition impairment and microglial inflammation.

Estrogens have been demonstrated to inhibit age-related cognitive decline via binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). As a natural flavonoid component of Cuscuta Chinensis Lam., Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (K-3-G) not only possesses anti-neuroinflammatory potential but also functions as an agonist for ERα and ERβ.

The effect of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate on blood pressure and inflammation markers: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have explored the impact of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate administration on blood pressure and inflammation markers, however, their findings have often been contradictory. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to assess the effects of this drug combination on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant published RCTs.

Astragalin alleviates cognitive deficits and neuronal damage in SAMP8 mice through upregulating estrogen receptor expression.

Senile plaques composed of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of intracellular hyper-phosphorylated tau are major causes of cognitive impairment and neuronal damage in Alzheimer disease (AD). Astragalin (AST), a naturally-occurring flavonoid compound, was reported to have neuroprotective effects in the brain, but its effects in AD remain unknown. Herein, the learning and memory deficits were alleviated and neuronal damage in the hippocampus were inhibited after the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse were given AST (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) daily by gavage for 2 months.

Zuogui Pill Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognitive Function in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Injured Rats.

Introduction: Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a devasting cerebrovascular disease, accompanied with ischemia stroke, cerebral infarction. Zuogui Pill (ZGP), as a Chinese traditional medicine, is proved to be effective in many diseases and cancers. Our study aimed to detect the roles of ZGP in CI/R injury.

Zuoguiwan Ameliorates Cognitive Deficits and Neuro-Inflammation in Streptozotocin-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Rats.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is the most popular neurodegenerative disorder with no effective drugs to stop the progression. Zuoguiwan (ZGW), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been applied in many diseases. Our study aimed to detect the function and mechanisms of ZGW in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

TlR2 and TlR4 are involved in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts with a medicated serum of asarinin through inhibition of T1/T17 cytokines.

Asarinin is one of the main active chemical components isolated from Xixin, a Chinese medicine. To investigate the role of asarinin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the present study investigated the effect of an asarinin-medicated serum on human fibroblast-like synoviocytes . An asarinin-medicated serum was generated and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Amelioration of CIA by Asarinin Is Associated to a Downregulation of TLR9/NF-κB and Regulation of Th1/Th2/Treg Expression.

To study the role of asarinin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and its treatment mechanism on dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells. Before the onset of arthritis, asarinin were given orally to CIA mouse. Macroscopic scoring and micrometer caliper measurement were used to assess arthritis.

Corrigendum to "Toll-Like Receptor 4-Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Gene 88 Pathway Is Involved in the Shikonin Treatment of CIA by Regulating Treg/Th17 Expression".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/2428546.].

Toll-Like Receptor 4-Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Gene 88 Pathway Is Involved in the Shikonin Treatment of CIA by Regulating Treg/Th17 Expression.

Objective: To investigate the effect of shikonin on (CIA) collagen-induced arthritis and its influence and mechanism on the balance between Th17 cells and Treg cells.

Methods: Three doses of shikonin were administered orally to mice before the onset of CIA, and celecoxib was used as positive control drug. The arthritis response was monitored visually by macroscopic scoring and hindpaw swelling.

Suppression of Th1 and Th17 Responses and Induction of Treg Responses by IL-18-Expressing Plasmid Gene Combined with IL-4 on Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

Objectives: IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine with multiple immunoregulatory properties. We studied the effect of IL-18 gene therapy on the development of murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: Plasmid pCAGGS-IL-18 along or in combination with IL-10 or IL-4 was administered to CIA mice.

Extent of extracellular signal-regulated kinases phosphorylation determines the sensitivity of hepatic stellate cells to staurosporine-induced apoptosis.

Objective: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the principal cells responsible for the development of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. During the fibrotic process, HSCs undergo proliferation and transdifferentiation from a quiescent to myofibroblast-like phenotype. The fate of myofibroblast like HSCs includes apoptosis or reversion back to a quiescent phenotype.

Bone morphogenetic protein-4 induced rat hepatic progenitor cell (WB-F344 cell) differentiation toward hepatocyte lineage.

Hepatic progenitor cells are local stem cells in the liver and they can be differentiated into either hepatocytes or cholangiocytes depending on different stimulations. These stimulations include extracellular growth factors and intracellular transcription factors. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a member of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and was first identified as growth factor to induce ectopic bone formation from skeletal muscle.

Therapeutic effect of low-dose IL-18 combined with IL-10 on collagen-induced arthritis by down-regulation of inflammatory and Th1 responses and induction of Th2 responses.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory or pleiotropic immunomodulatory role of interleukin-18 (IL-18), collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice were administrated with IL-18 along or in combination with IL-10, IL-4 or IL-12. IL-18 treatment along had no therapeutic effect on onset or established CIA mice. However, the combined treatment of low-dose IL-18 with IL-10 ameliorated the disease progression.

Dual role of shikonin in early and late stages of collagen type II arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory effect of shikonin on early stage and established murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: Mouse were injected intraperitoneally with shikonin (5 mg/kg) for 10 days along before or after the onset of CIA. The arthritis response was monitored visually by macroscopic scoring.