Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology 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.

Cannabis/Cannabinoids for Treating COVID-19 Associated Neuropsychiatric Complications
AbstractCOVID-19 epidemic has resulted in devastating mortality and morbidity consisting of socioeconomic and health effects that have included respiratory/pulmonary, cardiovascular, mental health and neurological consequences such as anxiety, depression, and substance use. Several effective vaccines have been developed and extensive efforts are underway to develop therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Cannabis and/or its product-cannabidiol (CBD) are being advertised for the treatment of COVID-19 associated mental/neurological complications and substance use disorders. However, research reviewed shows that there is insufficient...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Protective Role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Probiotic in Reversing Cocaine-Induced Oxidative Stress, Glial Activation and Locomotion in Mice
In this study, groups of male C56BL6 mice were administered gut-resident commensal bacteriaL. rhamnosus probiotic (oral gavage) concurrently with cocaine (20  mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 28 days and assessed for oxidative stress and cellular activation in both the gut and brain as well as alterations in locomotion behavior. Cocaine-induced gut dysregulation was associated with increased formation of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) adducts, increased expression of pERK-1/2, pNF-kB-p65 and antioxidant mediators (SOD1, GPx1). In cocaine administered mice, there was increased activation of both microglia and astrocytes in the striat...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 9, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

The Role of Plasma Exchange in the Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Neurological Diseases: a Narrative Review
AbstractAutoimmune neurological disorders are commonly treated with immunosuppressive therapy. In patients with refractory conditions, standard immunosuppression is often insufficient for complete recovery or to prevent relapses. These patients rely on other treatments to manage their disease. While treatment of refractory cases differs between diseases, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange (PLEX), and immune-modulating treatments are commonly used. In this review, we focus on five autoimmune neurological disorders that were the themes of the 2018 Midlands Neurological Society meeting on PLEX in refractory neurology...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 2, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Mitochondrial Dynamics in SARS-COV2 Spike Protein Treated Human Microglia: Implications for Neuro-COVID
AbstractEmerging clinical data from the current COVID-19 pandemic suggests that  ~ 40% of COVID-19 patients develop neurological symptoms attributed to viral encephalitis while in COVID long haulers chronic neuro-inflammation and neuronal damage result in a syndrome described as Neuro-COVID. We hypothesize that SAR-COV2 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of th e mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathway, resulting in microglial and neuronal apoptosis. The goal of our study was to determine the effect of SARS-COV2 on mitochondrial biogenesis and to monitor cell apoptosis in human microglia non-in...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 2, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Decreased Astrocytic CCL2 Accounts for BAF-312 Effect on PBMCs Transendothelial Migration Through a Blood Brain Barrier in Vitro Model
AbstractDisruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) is a common event in several neurological diseases and in particular, in multiple sclerosis (MS), it contributes to the infiltration of the central nervous system by peripheral inflammatory cells. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive molecule with pleiotropic effects. Agonists of S1P receptors such as fingolimod and siponimod (BAF-312) are in clinical practice for MS and have been shown to preserve BBB function in inflammatory conditions. Using an in vitro BBB model of endothelial-astrocytes co-culture exposed to an inflammatory insult (tumor necrosis factor- α a...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 2, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Intranasal Salvinorin A Improves Long-term Neurological Function via Immunomodulation in a Mouse Ischemic Stroke Model
In this study, adult male mice were subjected to transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (tMCAO) and then were treated intranasally with SA (50  μg/kg) or with the vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Multiple behavioral tests were used to evaluate neurofunction. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the brain. The tracer cadaverine and endogenous immunoglobuli n G (IgG) extravasation were used to detect blood brain barrier leakage. We observed that SA intranasal administration after ischemic stroke decreased the expression of pro-inflammat...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 1, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Correction to: Extracellular Microvesicles Released From Brain Endothelial Cells are Detected in Animal Models Of HIV ‑1 Signifying Unresolved Inflammation
(Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - October 1, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Brief Hydromorphone Exposure During Pregnancy Sufficient to Induce Maternal and Neonatal Microbial Dysbiosis
AbstractPrenatal opioid exposure is associated with significantly adverse medical, developmental, and behavioral outcomes in offspring, though the underlying mechanisms driving these impairments are still unclear. Accumulating evidence implicates gut microbial dysbiosis as a potential modulator of these adverse effects. However, how opioid exposure during pregnancy alters the maternal and neonatal microbiome remain to be elucidated. Here, we utilize a murine model of brief hydromorphone exposure during pregnancy (gestation day 11 –13; i.p.; 10 mg/kg) to examine its impact on the maternal and neonatal microbiome. Fecal s...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - September 25, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Inhibition of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Attenuates Recurrent Seizures Associated Cardiac Damage in a Zebrafish Kindling Model of Chronic Epilepsy
AbstractSudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is primarily linked with the cardiac irregularities that occur due to recurrent seizures. Our previous studies found a role of mTOR pathway activation in seizures-linked cardiac damage in a rat model. In continuation to the earlier work, the present study was devised to explore the role of rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor and clinically used immunosuppressive agent) in a zebrafish kindling model and associated cardiac damage. Adult zebrafish were incubated with increasing concentrations of rapamycin (1, 2 and, 4 μM), followed by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) exposure to record seizu...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - September 19, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Recovery of Latent HIV-1 from Brain Tissue by Adoptive Cell Transfer in Virally Suppressed Humanized Mice
AbstractDefining the latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) burden in the human brain during progressive infection is limited by sample access. Human hematopoietic stem cells (hu-HSCs)-reconstituted humanized mice provide an opportunity for this study. The model mimics, in measure, HIV-1 pathophysiology, transmission, treatment, and elimination in an infected human host. However, to date, brain HIV-1 latency in hu-HSC mice during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) was not studied. To address this need, hu-HSC mice were administered long acting (LA) ART 14  days after HIV-1 infection was established. Anim...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - September 15, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Racial Health Disparity and COVID-19
AbstractThe infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and resultant coronavirus diseases-19 (COVID-19) disproportionally affects minorities, especially African Americans (AA) compared to the Caucasian population. The AA population is disproportionally affected by COVID-19, in part, because they have high prevalence of underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, which are known to exacerbate not only kidney diseases, but also COVID-19. Further, a decreased adherence to COVID-19 guidelines among tobacco smokers could result in increased infection, inflammation, reduced i...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - September 9, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

The Role of Cannabis, Cannabidiol and Other Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain. The Perspective of Physicians
AbstractCurrently, there is a renewed interest in treatments with medical cannabis and cannabinoids. Based on an increasing number of publications over the last decades that permitted new insights into mechanisms, efficacy and safety of cannabinoids, the use of cannabinergic medications is authorised in an increasing number of European and non-European countries. The alleviation of chronic, painful conditions is, since thousands of years, one of the primary reasons for the use of cannabis. Depending on the country, a wide range of medicinal cannabis preparations are available:ranging from defined cultivars of medical canna...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - August 31, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Oral Enrichment of Streptococcus and its Role in Systemic Inflammation Related to Monocyte Activation in Humans with Cocaine Use Disorder
This study revealed that chronic cocaine use-associated inflammation in the blood may result from increased oralStreptococcus and its effects on myeloid cell activation, but does not result from cocaine directly.Graphical abstract (Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - August 26, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Extracellular Microvesicles Released From Brain Endothelial Cells are Detected in Animal Models Of HIV-1 Signifying Unresolved Inflammation
AbstractTreatment of HIV-infected patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) has effectively suppressed viral replication; however, the central nervous system is still a major target and reservoir of the virus leading to the possible development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Furthermore, a hallmark feature of HAND is the disruption of the blood –brain barrier that leads to loss of tight junction protein (TJP) complexes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by every cell type in the body, occur in greater quantities in response to cellular activation or injury. We have found that inflammatory insult...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - August 26, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Interactive Effects of HIV Infection and Cannabis Use on Insula Subregion Functional Connectivity
AbstractChronic inflammation in the central nervous system is one mechanism through which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may lead to progressive cognitive decline. Given cannabis ’s (CB’s) anti-inflammatory properties, use prevalence among people living with HIV (PLWH), and evidence implicating the insula in both, we examined independent and interactive effects of HIV and CB on insular circuitry, cognition, and immune function. We assessed resting-state functional connec tivity (rsFC) of three insula subregions among 106 participants across four groups (co-occurring: HIV+/CB+;HIV –only: HIV+/CB −;CB –only: HI...
Source: Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology - August 24, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research