visualizing-spatiotemporal-dynamics-somatosensory-cortex-neurons

Visualizing Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Somatosensory Cortex Neurons During Electroacupuncture Using Two-Photon <em>In Vivo</em> Imaging

This protocol establishes a comprehensive experimental framework for investigating cortical circuit dynamics during EA (electroacupuncture) stimulation. ...

Jianghan University

To study on the mechanism of electroacupuncture for treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD).

[Effects of electroacupuncture on learning and memory ability and glial cells of the hippocampus in the rat of Alzheimer disease].

Fourteen sesquiterpenes, including one undescribed sesquiterpene lactone, were isolated from Youngia japonica, and their structures were identified by NMR, HRESIMS, ECD and calculated ECD. Cytotoxic activities of all isolates against A549, HeLa, and 4 T1 cell lines were detected by CCK8 assay. Among them, 2 showed obvious cytotoxic activity against A549 cells. Subsequently, the production of ROS, and apoptosis of A549 cells treated with 2 were evaluated. The result showed that 2 distinctly increased the ROS level, and induced the apoptosis of A549 cells. Further anticancer mechanism studies showed that 2 increased the expression of cleaved caspase 3. Taken together, our results demonstrated that 2 might become potential leading compounds for the treatment of lung cancer.

Discovery of sesquiterpene from Youngia japonica with antitumor effect.

In the process of searching for anti-breast cancer agents, five sesquiterpene lactones (1-5), including two previously undescribed ones, yjaponica B-C (1-2), were isolated from the herb of Youngia japonica. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses and Marfey's method. Cytotoxic activities of all compounds against A549, U87, and 4T1 cell lines were tested using the CCK8 assay. The result showed that compound 3 possessed the highest cytotoxic activity against 4T1 cells with an IC value of 10.60 μM. Furthermore, compound 3 distinctly induced apoptosis, inhibited immigration, and blocked the cell cycle of 4T1 cells. In addition, compound 3 induced the production of reactive oxygen species. Further anticancer mechanism studies showed that compound 3 significantly upregulated expression of the cleaved caspase 3 and PARP, whereas it downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, cyclin D1, cyclin A2, CDK4, and CDK2. Taken together, our results demonstrate that compound 3 has a high potential of being used as a leading compound for the discovery of new anti-breast cancer agent.

Discovery of Sesquiterpene Lactones with Cytotoxicity from the Herb of Youngia japonica.

The preliminary study revealed that the ethyl acetate eluate of  (YJ-E) could inhibit the expression of key proteins of p-p65, p-IκBα, p-IKKα/β, and p-AKT in LPS stimulated BV2 cell. Further phytochemical study led to the isolation of eight compounds from YJ-E, including one new sesquiterpene lactone. Their structures were elucidated by several spectroscopic data, and comparing the NMR data of known compound. In addition, all of the isolates were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory effect. As a result, compounds  and  distinctly attenuated the expressions of p-IκBα, p-p65, and p-AKT in LPS stimulated BV2 cell, respectively.

Discovery of sesquiterpene lactones with anti-inflammatory effect from .

Two undescribed sesquiterpene lactones (1 and 2), along with two known analogs (3 and 4), were isolated from Syneilesis aconitifolia. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculations, and single crystal x-ray diffraction. Compound 3 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against 4T1 cells, with an IC value of 10.89 µM. In addition, compound 3 significantly induced the apoptosis of 4T1 cells at the concentration of 20 µM. Further anticancer study showed that compound 3 distinctly increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species.

Isolation and Characterization of Sesquiterpene Lactones From Syneilesis aconitifolia and Evaluation of Their Anti-Breast Cancer Activity.

Hyperlipidemia, a metabolic disorder marked by dysregulated lipid metabolism, is a key contributor to the onset and progression of various chronic diseases. Maintaining normal lipid metabolism is critical for health, as disruptions lead to dyslipidemia. The gut and liver play central roles in lipid homeostasis, with their bidirectional communication, known as the gut-liver axis, modulated by bile acids (BAs), gut microbiota, and their metabolites. BAs are essential for regulating their own synthesis, lipid metabolism, and anti-inflammatory responses, primarily through the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5). Available evidence suggests that high-fat diet-induced the gut microbiota dysbiosis can induce "leaky gut," allowing toxic microbial metabolites to enter the liver via portal circulation, triggering liver inflammation and lipid metabolism disturbances, ultimately leading to hyperlipidemia. Extensive studies have highlighted the roles of probiotics and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in restoring gut-liver axis balance and modulating lipid metabolism through regulating the levels of lipopolysaccharides, short-chain fatty acids, and BAs. However, the therapeutic potential of probiotics and TCM for hyperlipidemia remains unclear. Here, firstly, we explore the intricate interplay among gut microbiota and metabolites, lipid metabolism, gut-liver axis, and hyperlipidemia. Secondly, we summarize the mechanisms by which probiotics and TCM can alleviate hyperlipidemia by altering the composition of gut microbiota and regulating lipid metabolism via the gut-liver axis. Finally, we emphasize that more clinical trials of probiotics and TCM are necessary to examine their effects on lipid metabolism and hyperlipidemia.

Probiotics for the treatment of hyperlipidemia: Focus on gut-liver axis and lipid metabolism.

EA effectively treats gastrointestinal diseases, pain symptoms, and emotional disorder. Furthermore, vHPC and mPFC are two of the crucial nuclei involved in controlling chronic pain and anxiety-like behaviors. In the present study, it is investigated whether EA may reduce visceral pain and anxiety associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by inhibition of vHPC-to-mPFC pathway. We found that EA alleviated visceral hyperalgesia and anxiety in TNBS-treated IBD mice. EA decreased the numbers of c-Fos and neurogranin (labeled glutamatergic neurons) co-labeled neurons in both vHPC and mPFC. EA suppressed the activation of vHPC and mPFC pyramidal neurons associated with anxiety-like behaviors and EA suppressed the activation of vHPC neuronal response to von Frey filament. In addition, chemogenetic inhibition of the vHPC-to-mPFC pathway alleviated mechanical allodynia, visceral hyperalgesia and anxiety in IBD mice. However, chemogenetic activation of vHPC-to-mPFC pathway antagonized the effect of EA on anxiety and visceral hyperalgesia, but not on mechanical allodynia in IBD mice. In conclusion, our findings revealed that vHPC-to-mPFC pathway is involved in the inhibitory effect of EA on anxiety and pain sensitivity in IBD mice. EA may exert anti-anxiety effect via inhibition of vHPC-to-mPFC pathway. Thus, our study provides new information about the cellular circuits mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of EA on the comorbidity of visceral pain and anxiety induced by IBD.

Electroacupuncture reduces visceral pain and anxiety associated with inflammatory bowel disease by inhibition of vHPC-to-mPFC pathway.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at "Fengfu" (GV16), "Taichong" (LR3) and "Zusanli" (ST36) on the behavior and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway mediated by the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in the substantia nigra of the midbrain in mice model with Parkinson's disease (PD), so as to explore the mechanism of EA in the prevention and treatment of PD.

Article	Year
[Effects of electroacupuncture on learning and memory ability and glial cells of the hippocampus in the rat of Alzheimer disease]. Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion\| PubMed ID: 19391539	2009
Discovery of sesquiterpene from Youngia japonica with antitumor effect. Fitoterapia\| PubMed ID: 38378132	2024
Discovery of Sesquiterpene Lactones with Cytotoxicity from the Herb of Youngia japonica. Chemistry & biodiversity\| PubMed ID: 38924351	2024
Discovery of sesquiterpene lactones with anti-inflammatory effect from . Journal of Asian natural products research\| PubMed ID: 38963349	2024
Isolation and Characterization of Sesquiterpene Lactones From Syneilesis aconitifolia and Evaluation of Their Anti-Breast Cancer Activity. Chemistry & biodiversity\| PubMed ID: 39641744	2025
Probiotics for the treatment of hyperlipidemia: Focus on gut-liver axis and lipid metabolism. Pharmacological research\| PubMed ID: 40068270	2025
Electroacupuncture reduces visceral pain and anxiety associated with inflammatory bowel disease by inhibition of vHPC-to-mPFC pathway. Molecular pain\| PubMed ID: 41190695	2025
[Effect of electroacupuncture on insulin signaling in the substantia nigra of the midbrain in mice with Parkinson's disease]. Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research\| PubMed ID: 41443914	2025

Shu-xiu Zhu

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