ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Gandou decoction （GDD） on the mitophagy of hippocampal neurons in toxic milk （TX） mouse model of Wilson disease and explore the protective mechanism of GDD against neuron injury through the PTEN induced kinase 1 （Pink1） /E3 ubiquitin ligase （Parkin） pathway. MethodSixty mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a penicillamine group （0.09 g·kg-1）， and low- （5.5 g·kg-1）， medium- （11 g·kg-1）， and high-dose （22 g·kg-1） GDD groups， and treated correspondingly by gavage for 8 weeks. Morris water maze， traction test， and pole test were used for the evaluation of animal behaviors. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe cell apoptosis， ultrastructure， autophagy， and mitochondrial structure. The levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and malondialdehyde （MDA） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of Pink1， Parkin， autophagy-associated protein Beclin-1， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ （LC3Ⅱ）， and p62. Western blot was conducted to detect the protein expression of Pink1， Parkin， Beclin-1， LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ， and p62. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency， decreased times of platform crossing， lower score in the traction test， and longer pole climbing time （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose GDD groups and the penicillamine group showed shortened escape latencies， increased times of platform crossing， higher scores in the traction test， and shortened pole climbing time （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group displayed severely damaged neurons and increased autophagosomes. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose GDD groups and the penicillamine group showed improved neuron damage and reduced autophagosomes. The levels of ROS and MDA were higher and SOD was lower in the model group than those in the blank group （P<0.01）， while the levels of the above indicators were reversed by GDD intervention as compared with the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group exhibited up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of Pink1， Parkin， LC3Ⅱ， and Beclin-1 and down-regulated p62 （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose GDD groups showed reduced mRNA and protein expression of Pink1， Parkin， LC3Ⅱ， and Beclin-1 and increased p62 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionGDD can significantly inhibit the excessive mitophagy in neurons of TX mice and protect neurons from damage. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Pink1/Parkin pathway.
ABSTRACT
Wilson disease (WD) is a treatable neurological inherited disorder characterized by copper metabolism impairment. Metal chelating drugs, such as penicillamine, have been used to treat WD for decades, is exposuring its limitations of effect and utilize sphere. Genetic therapy was considered as the most potential way of curing WD, is still can only be achieved in the laboratory, which have massive problems to solve before its clinical utilization. Based on this, we started to research the curative mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) donated by national natural science fund project funding, found that TCM formula Gandou decoction regulate the metabolic disorders caused by liver cells and neurons apoptosis, autophagy, such as programmed cell death,from the molecular pathways of copper metabolism, Wnt/β-catenin pathway and mitogen-activated protein kmase(MAPK) pathways regulating liver damage such as cell signaling pathways, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) pathway and liver kinase B1(LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase(AMPK) pathway and the cell signaling pathway of neuronal damage. The above experimental results were verified by TX mice, a reliable WD animal models. This paper aimed to systematically review the research of GDD therapeutic mechanisms from the sight of programmed cell death, including aptosis and autophagy, and provided theoretical for formula optimization. In addition, we elaborated some assumptions and feasible advice for the further research of GDD therapeutic mechanism.
ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the brain metabolic changes in WD patients receiving copper chelation by us?ing 1H-MRS. Method Thirty-nine patients with WD was randomly divided into four groups: non-brain type group (18 cases), brain type prior-treatment group and short-term treatment group (21 cases), long-term treatment group (20 cases) from short-term treatment group, and 20 healthy volunteers served as a control group. 1H-MRS and MRI were performed on patients on 1.5/MR/MRS system to detect these above-mentioned items before and after treatment. Result The mean of NAA/Cr was significantly lower in the left putamen and head of the caudate nucleus than in the left basal ganglion in the 39 patients with WD. The mean of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the left putamen and basal ganglion was significantly lower in non-brain type group than in control group(P0.05). The mean of NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho in the left putamen and basal ganglion was much higher in long-term treatment group than in brain type group(P<0.01 or P<0.05). The mean of Cho/Cr in the left head of caudate nucleus were much higher after treatment compared with prior-treatment group(P<0.05). The mean of NAA/Cr in the left putamen, head of the left caudate nucleus and basal ganglion in all groups was negatively correlated with course of the disease. Conclusion There are significant differences in brain metabolism among different type of WD. The long-term but not short-term copper chelation significantly improves brain metabolism. NAA/Cr may be used as a non-invasive indicator to examine the efficacy of treatment.
ABSTRACT
Background: Wilson’s disease is a common metabolic disease of the tropics, which is treatable, if diagnosed early. In the paediatric group, the manifestations are mainly hepatic. Aims: The objective was to study the varied presentations of the disease and to evaluate the diagnostic values of conventional tests in children. The prognostic importance of different indices in liver disorders was also assessed. Method: The prospective work was carried out in the Paediatric Medicine Department of Nilratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital (NRSMCH) over a span of three years on children 1 through 12 years of age who fulfilled the prerequisite inclusion criteria. Results: The mean age of the 34 children was 7.7 ± 2.13 years. Predominant liver involvement was seen in 17 patients, neurological disturbance in 7 and purely hematological manifestations in 2 cases; the remaining 8 children were incidentally diagnosed whilst screening the siblings of affected subjects. In our series the sensitivity of various diagnostic tests was: 24 hour urinary copper excretion - 100%, serum ceruloplasmin less than 20 mg/ dL - 82.3%, K-F rings - 32.35%. Eighteen of the 23 followed up cases (78.2%) responded to medical treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of the new Wilson Index was more than the Nazer index in predicting mortality with liver involvement. Conclusion: The superiority of the new Wilson Index over the Nazer index has to be validated on a larger scale. As the outcome of management was very promising, a high index of suspicion in pertinent cases can not only check mortality, but also prevent florid manifestations.