Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology 
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This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.Anti-Inflammation Associated Protective Mechanism of Berberine and its Derivatives on Attenuating Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Zebrafish
In this study, we synthesized two derivatives of berberine (BBR-D1 and BBR-D2) to compare their seizure reducing effect with BBR in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in zebrafish. We found a structure-activity relationship between hydrophilic/hydrophobic composition of the derivatives and their anticonvulsant activity. We also investigated the underlying mechanism related to their anti-inflammatory effect during seizures. BBR and its derivatives increased the seizure onset latency and suppressed the seizure-like behavior after PTZ treatment. Zebrafish larvae pretreated with BBR and its derivatives showed recovery o...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - January 5, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
The Protective Effects of Up-Regulating Prostacyclin Biosynthesis on Neuron Survival in Hippocampus
AbstractCellular arachidonic acid (AA), an unsaturated fatty acid found ubiquitously in plasma membranes, is metabolized to different prostanoids, such as prostacyclin (PGI2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), by the three-step reactions coupling the upstream cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms (COX-1 and COX-2) with the corresponding individual downstream synthases. While the vascular actions of these prostanoids are well-characterized, their specific roles in the hippocampus, a major brain area for memory, are poorly understood. The major obstacle for its understanding in the brain was to mimic the biosynthesis of each prostanoid. T...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - January 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Histamine Induces Microglia Activation and the Release of Proinflammatory Mediators in Rat Brain Via H 1 R or H 4 R
AbstractHistamine is a major peripheral inflammatory mediator and a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. We have reported that histamine induces microglia activation and releases proinflammatory factors in primary cultured microglia. Whether histamine has similar effects in vivo is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of histamine and its receptors in the release of inflammatory mediators and activation of microglia in rat brain. We site-directed injected histamine, histamine receptor agonists or histamine receptor antagonists in the rat lateral ventricle using stereotaxic techniques. ...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 19, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Selective Estrogen Receptor β Agonists: a Therapeutic Approach for HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
AbstractThe persistence of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in the post-cART era, afflicting between 40 and 70% of HIV-1 seropositive individuals, supports a critical need for the development of adjunctive therapeutic treatments. Selective estrogen receptor β agonists, including S-Equol (SE), have been implicated as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurocognitive disorders. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of 0.2 mg SE for the treatment of HAND was assessed to address two key questions in the HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat. First, does SE exhibit robust therapeutic efficacy when...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 18, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Successful Treatment of Long Standing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
We describe a case of long-standing CRPS with multi-limb spread and systemic autonomic features, controlled only with very high dose oral corticosteroids, which led to several complications. Multiple other treatment modalities failed or were insufficient to control the CRPS and allow tapering of the corticosteroids, but the patient had a dramatic response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), allowing a reduction in prednisone dose to just over the physiologic range. When symptoms started to increase several months later, a second course of HBOT treatments allowed reduction in prednisone dose into the physiologic range whil...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 13, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Bidirectional Associations among Nicotine and Tobacco Smoke, NeuroHIV, and Antiretroviral Therapy
AbstractPeople living with HIV (PLWH) in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era may lose more life-years to tobacco use than to HIV. Yet, smoking rates are more than twice as high among PLWH than the general population, contributing not just to mortality but to other adverse health outcomes, including neurocognitive deficits (neuroHIV). There is growing evidence that synergy with chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation that persists despite ART may be one mechanism by which tobacco smoking contributes to neuroHIV. This review will summarize the differential effects of nicotine vs tobacco smoking on inflammation in addi...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 12, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Heroin Abuse and/or HIV Infection Dysregulate Plasma Exosomal miRNAs
AbstractExosomes play an important role in cell-to-cell communication as they can transfer functional molecules such as microRNAs (miRNAs) from one cell to another, exerting biological and immunological functions. Here, we investigated the impact of HIV infection and/or heroin use on the expression of the miRNAs in plasma exosomes. We found that HIV infection or heroin use upregulated the majority (98%) of a panel of plasma exosomal miRNAs associated with immune regulation and inflammation. We also observed the enhanced effect of HIV infection and heroin use on some of these upregulated miRNAs. Our further investigation sh...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 10, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Therapy and the Blood-Brain Barrier: Is PrEP Neuroprotective?
(Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 10, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Activation of the Protective Arm of the Renin Angiotensin System in Demyelinating Disease
AbstractThe renin angiotensin system (RAS), which is classically known for blood pressure regulation, has functions beyond this. There are two axes of RAS that work to counterbalance each other and are active throughout the body, including the CNS. The pathological axis, consisting of angiotensin II (A1-8), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), is upregulated in many CNS diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the CNS characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal degeneration. Published research has described in...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 10, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
β-Adrenergic Signaling in Lung Cancer: A Potential Role for Beta-Blockers
AbstractLung cancer results in more patient deaths each year than any other cancer type. Additional treatment strategies are needed to improve clinical responses to approved treatment modalities and prevent the emergence of resistant disease. Catecholamines including norepinephrine and epinephrine are elevated as a result of chronic stress and mediate their physiological effects through activation of adrenergic receptors on target tissues. Lung cancer cells express β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs), and numerous preclinical studies indicate that β2-AR signaling on lung cancer cells facilities cellular programs including pr...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 10, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
CNS Neurotoxicity of Antiretrovirals
AbstractThe development of novel antiretroviral treatments has led to a significant turning point in the fight against HIV. Although therapy leads to virologic suppression and prolonged life expectancies, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains prevalent. While various hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, a growing body of literature explores the neurotoxic effects of antiretroviral therapy. Research to date brings into question the potential role of such medications in neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment seen in HIV-positive patients. This review highlights recent findings and...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Transmigration of Tetraspanin 2 (Tspan2) siRNA Via Microglia Derived Exosomes across the Blood Brain Barrier Modifies the Production of Immune Mediators by Microglia Cells
AbstractMicroglia are implicated in the neuropathogenesis of HIV. Tetraspanin 2 (Tspan2) is closely related to CD9 and CD81 proteins, and are expressed on microglia cells. They have been implicated in cell fusion and adhesion and in the immune response, and neuroinflammation. Developing therapeutics that target microglia remains a challenge as these therapeutics must cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Our goal was to use microglia derived exosomes as a vehicle to deliver siRNA across the BBB to target human telomerase reverse transcriptase immortalized human microglial cells (HTHU) latently infected by HIV (HTHU-HIV) and...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Targeting Neuroinflammation with Ibudilast to Treat Methamphetamine Use Disorder
AbstractMethamphetamine (MA) triggers neuroinflammation and medications that counteract MA-induced neuroinflammation may reduce MA-induced neurodegeneration and improve neurocognition and treatment outcomes in MA use disorder. We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine the safety and efficacy of ibudilast (IBUD), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that reduces neuroinflammation, for the treatment of MA use disorder. Treatment-seeking volunteers with MA use disorder were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of IBUD 50 mg twice daily (N = 64) or placebo (N = 61) with medication management counsel...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 8, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Treg Cells Attenuate Neuroinflammation and Protect Neurons in a Mouse Model of Parkinson ’s Disease
AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs), which secrete transforming growth factor (TGF)- β and interleukin (IL)-10, have essential role in anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic functions. Herein, we explore the neuroprotection of Tregs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) by adoptive transfer of Tregs. Tregs, isolated by magnetic sorting, were activated in vitro and then were adoptively transfer red to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. Neuroinflammation, dopaminergic neuronal loss and behavioral changes of PD mice were evaluated. Live cell imaging system detected a dynamic contact of Tregs with MN9D cell...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 3, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Inhibition of the Dead Box RNA Helicase 3 Prevents HIV-1 Tat and Cocaine-Induced Neurotoxicity by Targeting Microglia Activation
AbstractHIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) is a common and clinically detrimental complication of HIV infection. Viral proteins, including Tat, released from infected cells, cause neuronal toxicity. Substance abuse in HIV-infected patients greatly influences the severity of neuronal damage. To repurpose small molecule inhibitors for anti-HAND therapy, we employed MOLIERE, an AI-based literature mining system that we developed. All human genes were analyzed and prioritized by MOLIERE to find previously unknown targets connected to HAND. From the identified high priority genes, we narrowed the list to those with...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - December 3, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
