Mingyan Liu

Anti-amnesic effect of pseudoginsenoside-F11 in two mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid β (Aβ) deposits, elevated oxidative stress, and apoptosis of the neurons. Pseudoginsenoside-F11 (PF11), a component of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng), has been demonstrated to antagonize the learning and memory deficits induced by scopolamine, morphine and methamphetamine in mice. In the present study, we investigated the effect of PF11 on AD-like cognitive impairment both in mice induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ1-42 (410 pmol) and in Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice. It was found that oral treatment with PF11 significantly mitigated learning and memory impairment in mice given Aβ1-42-treated mice for 15 days at doses of 1.6 and 8 mg/kg and APP/PS1 for 4 weeks at a dose of 8 mg/kg as measured by the Morris water maze and step-through tests. In APP/PS1 mice, PF11 8 mg/kg significantly inhibited the expressions of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ1-40 in the cortex and hippocampus, restored the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cortex. It also noticeably improved the histopathological changes in the cortex and hippocampus and downregulated the expressions of JNK 2, p53 and cleaved caspase 3 in the hippocampus. These findings suggested that the inhibitory effect on amyloidogenesis and oxidative stress and some beneficial effects on neuronal functions might contribute to the recognition improvement effect of PF11 in APP/PS1 mice. Cumulatively, the present study indicated that PF11 may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of AD.

Memantine improves spatial learning and memory impairments by regulating NGF signaling in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Memantine (MEM) is used for improving the cognitive impairments of the patients suffering from Alzheimers disease (AD) by multiple neuroprotective mechanisms. However, it is still not clear whether nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling is involved in the mechanisms of MEM. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of MEM treatment on the cognitive performance and amyloidosis in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and disclosed the NGF-related mechanism of MEM. We found that MEM treatment improved the cognitive performance by decreasing the escape latency and path length in the navigation test, by shortening the duration in target quadrant and reducing the frequency to pass through the target in probe trial, and by prolonging the latency and decreasing the frequencies of entering the dark compartment in passive avoidance test. The over-expressions of Aβ(1-42) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) were also decreased in the brains of APP/PS1 mice. Interestingly, MEM treatment improved the decreased NGF levels in APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, NGF/TrkA signaling was activated by increasing the phosphorylation levels of tyrosine kinase (TrkA), proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase, Raf1 (c-Raf), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2 and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) after MEM treatment. Simultaneously, MEM also inhibited NGF/p75(NTR) signaling via decreasing the cleavage substrate of p75(NTR), increasing the JNK2 phosphorylation and decreasing the levels of p53 and cleaved-caspase 3. Therefore, the dual-regulation on NGF signaling was attributed to the improvements of cognitive deficits and Aβ depositions in APP/PS1 mice. In conclusion, MEM treatment activated the NGF/TrkA signaling, and inhibited the p75(NTR) signaling in APP/PS1 mice to ameliorate the behavioral deficits and amyloidosis, indicating that NGF signaling was a new potential target of MEM treatment for AD therapy.

Pharmacokinetic Properties and Bioequivalence of Two Formulations of Arbidol: An Open-Label, Single-Dose, Randomized-Sequence, Two-Period Crossover Study in Healthy Chinese Male Volunteers

Abstract Background: Arbidol is an antiviral drug indicated for the prevention and treatment of all types of influenza infection and some other kinds of acute respiratory infections, specifically against influenza groups A and B, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. It is used to help prevent influenza infection as long as necessary with little risk for influenza mutation rendering it less effective. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic properties and tolerability, and to determine bioequivalence, of a newly developed generic dispersible tablet formulation (test) and a branded capsule formulation (reference) of arbidol 200 mg in healthy Chinese fasted male volunteers. Methods: This open-label, single-dose, randomized-sequence, 2-period crossover study was conducted in healthy native Chinese male volunteers. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single 200-mg dose of the test or reference formulation, followed by a 1-week washout period and administration of the alternate formulation. The study drugs were administered after a 12-hour overnight fast. After the study drug administration, serial blood samples were collected for 72 hours after administration. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Several pharmacokinetic pararameters, including Cmax, Tmax, t½, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞, were determined from the plasma concentrations of the 2 formulations of arbidol using noncom-partmental analysis. The formulations were to be considered bioequivalent if the log-transformed ratios of Cmax and AUC were within the predetermined bioequivalence range of 80% to 125% established by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of the Peoples Republic of China. Tolerability was assessed by monitoring vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and electrocardiography), laboratory analysis (hematology, blood biochemistry, hepatic function, and urinalysis), and subject interview on adverse events. Results: Twenty subjects were enrolled and completed the study (mean [SD] age, 21.1 [1.1] years; weight, 64.7 [5.1] kg; and height, 172.3 [3.1] cm). Neither period nor sequence effect was observed. The main pharmacokinetic properties with the test and reference formulations were as follows: Cmax, 417.4 (107.6) and 414.8 (95.1) ng/mL, respectively (P = NS); median (range) Tmax, 0.63 (0.25–1.0) and 0.75 (0.5–1.5) hours (P = 0.035); AUC0-t, 2033.6 (564.9) and 1992.0 (483.3) ng/mL/h (P = NS); AUC0-∞, 2285.4 (597.7) and 2215.2 (604.0) ng/mL/h (P = NS); and t1/2, 6.9 (4.2) and 6.1 (5.2) hours (P = NS). The 90% CIs for the log-transformed ratios of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were 91.7% to 109.7%, 91.0% to 112.8%, and 92.0% to 116.3%, respectively (all, P < 0.05), which were within the predetermined range for bioequivalence. No adverse events were found on analysis of vital signs or laboratory tests or reported by subjects in this study. Conclusion: In this study in healthy Chinese male volunteers, the dispersible tablet formulation and the 200-mg capsule formulation of arbidol met the SFDAs regulatory definition of bioequivalence based on the rate and extent of absorption.

Pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of two compound formulations of 1500 mg ampicillin (1167 mg)/probenecid (333 mg): a randomized-sequence, single-dose, open-label, two-period crossover study in healthy Chinese male volunteers.

BACKGROUND Ampicillin/probenecid is an antimicrobial formulation indicated for the treatment of respiratory, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal infections. Ampicillin sodium is the active antimicrobial ingredient that can act on the phase of bacterial breeding and inhibit the biosynthesis of bacterial mucopeptide in the cell wall. Probenecid acts synergistically by competitively inhibiting an organic anion transporter in renal tubules, increasing the plasma concentrations, and thus extending the plasma elimination t(1/2). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess and compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, bioavailability, and bioequivalence of a newly developed dispersible tablet formulation (test) of ampicillin/ probenecid with those of an established branded capsule formulation (reference) in healthy Chinese male volunteers. METHODS A randomized-sequence, single-dose, open-label, 2-period crossover study was conducted in fasted healthy Chinese male volunteers. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 6 dispersible tablets (test) or branded capsules (reference) (1500 mg total; 250 mg each containing ampicillin 194.5 mg and probenecid 55.5 mg), followed by a 7-day washout period and administration of the alternate formulation. Plasma samples were collected over a 24-hour period following administration and analyzed for ampicillin and probenecid content by HPLC. PK parameters such as C(max), AUC(0-t), and AUC(0-infinity) were also determined. The formulations were considered bioequivalent if the geometric mean ratios of the log-transformed C(max) and AUC values were within the equivalence range (80%-125%) predetermined by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of the Peoples Republic of China. Tolerability was based on the observation of adverse events (AEs), monitoring of vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, electrocardiography) and laboratory tests (hematology, blood biochemistry, hepatic function, urinalysis), and subjects interview on AEs. RESULTS The study was performed in 20 healthy Chinese male volunteers (mean [SD] age, 21.4 [2.2] years; weight, 64.1 [5.5] kg; height, 173.7 [5.3] cm; and body mass index, 21.2 [1.6] kg/m(2)). The mean (SD) C(max), T(max), AUC(0-24), and AUC(0-infinity) after administration of the test and reference formulations, respectively, were as follows: ampicillin, C(max), 13.45 (3.43) versus 15.04 (5.68) microg/mL, T(max), 1.58 (0.49) versus 1.78 (0.55) hours, AUC(0-24), 50.78 (13.39) versus 57.44 (17.27) micro/mL/h, and AUC(0-infinity), 51.95 (13.45) versus 58.74 (17.19) microg/mL/h; probenecid, C(max), 15.56 (2.94) versus 16.01 (2.88) microg/mL, T(max), 2.85 (0.78) versus 3.30 (1.51) hours, AUC(0-24), 129.23 (27.59) versus 127.29 (26.89) microg/mL/h, and AUC(0-infinity) 133.85 (28.80) versus 131.21 (28.25) microg/mL/h. On ANOVA, neither period nor sequence effects were observed for any of the PK properties. The 90% CIs of ampicillin for the log-transformed ratios of C(max), AUC(0-24), and AUC(0-infinity)) were 86.5% to 108.0%, 96.7% to 107.8%, and 83.3% to 100.7%, respectively, and the corresponding values for probenecid were 90.2% to 108.3%, 96.8% to 107.8%, and 97.2% to 108.5%. No AEs were observed or reported up to 1 week after study end. CONCLUSIONS In this small study in healthy Chinese male volunteers, a single 1500-mg dose of the dispersible tablet formulation (test) of ampicillin/probenecid met the SFDAs regulatory criteria for bioequivalence to the reference capsule formulation based on the rate and extent of absorption. Both formulations were well tolerated.

Association of Serum Manganese Levels with Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Manganese (Mn) is one of the most studied environmental heavy metals linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it remains unclear whether serum Mn levels are associated with AD and mild cognition impairment (MCI, a prodromal stage of AD). We conducted a meta-analysis to analyze the serum Mn levels in patients with AD and MCI. A systematic database search of PubMed, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) identified 17 studies, including 836 cases and 1254 health controls (HC). Random-effects meta-analysis showed that patients with AD had significantly reduced serum Mn levels compared with HC subjects (SMD = −0.39; 95% CI (−0.71, −0.08); p = 0.015). MCI individuals had a tendency toward reduced serum Mn levels compared with HC subjects (SMD = −0.31; 95% CI (−0.70, 0.08); p = 0.117). A significant decrease in serum Mn levels was found in patients with cognitive impairment (including both AD patients and MCI patients) (SMD = −0.37, 95% CI (−0.60; −0.13); p = 0.002). Finally, no significant differences were observed between AD and MCI patients in serum levels (SMD = 0.24; 95% CI (−0.23, 0.72); p = 0.310). Our findings show that the serum Mn levels are lower in AD patients, and Mn deficiency may be a risk factor for AD.

Association of circulating manganese levels with Parkinson’s disease: A meta-analysis

Whether systemic manganese (Mn) dysfunctions in Parkinsons Disease (PD) is still under ongoing debate. The recent reported studies on the circulating Mn levels in PD showed inconsistent results. A meta-analysis study was conducted to evaluate the association of circulating Mn levels with PD, and to clarify whether Mn should be considered as a potential risk factor for PD. A systematic searching was performed based on PubMed, web of science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Finally, 22 studies were identified, involving 637 PD patients and 802 health controls (HC) individuals for serum Mn, 1258 PD patients and 1304 HC individuals for peripheral blood Mn, and 195 PD patients and 196 HC individuals for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Mn. Forest plots were adopted to represent the comparison of the groups by assessing standardized mean difference with random effects model. This meta-analysis revealed a significantly increased serum Mn levels in PD patients (SMD=0.78; 95% CI [0.32, 1.24]; P=0.001), and it was further confirmed when serum, plasma and whole blood studies were analyzed together (SMD=0.58; 95% CI [0.25, 0.91]; P=0.001). Instead, no significant differences of CSF Mn were observed between PD patients and HC individuals (SMD=-0.09; 95% CI [-0.47, 0.29]; P=0.644). These results supported the notion that elevated Mn level should be a potential risk factor for PD, although the high heterogeneity and methodological limitations recommended caution in the interpretations for the present findings.

Epigallocatechin Gallate Reduces Amyloid β-Induced Neurotoxicity via Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis

SCOPE We investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the protective effects of EGCG against the neuronal apoptosis in Aβ1-42 -induced SH-SY5Y cells and APP/PS1 transgenic mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Cell viability (CCK8 assay), flow cytometry, Hoechst 33258 staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and western blotting were used. EGCG prevented Aβ1-42-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, increased cell viability, and decreased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In a subsequent mechanism study, it was found that this effect contributed to the down-regulation of GRP78, CHOP, cleaved-caspase-12 and -3. Moreover, EGCG also reduced the cytotoxicity induced by tunicamycin (TM) and thapsigargin (TG), two ER stress activators. Consistent with the in vitro study, EGCG inhibited neuronal apoptosis in the cortex of APP/PS1 transgenic mice, with the mitigation of ER abnormal ultrastructural swelling and the downregulation of ER-stress-associated proteins. CONCLUSION These results indicate that EGCG attenuates the neurotoxicity in Alzheimers disease (AD) via a novel mechanism that involves inhibition of ER-stress-associated neuronal apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the tremendous potential of EGCG for use in a nutritional preventive strategy against AD.

EGCG and nimodipine improve the symptoms of AD by inhibiting [Ca2+]i in hippocampal neurons of APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Background Recent studies have indicated that an alteration in intracellular calcium homeostasis could contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) . Previous studies supported that sustained changes in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca]i ) homeostasis could provide the final common pathway for the neuropathological changes associated with AD. Calcium influx is play a key role in calcium overload. Calmodulin (CaM)/ Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II /IV (/CaMK II /IV) is very important to regulate calcium homeostasis in the nervous system. (–)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is classified the catechin family and is one of the major polyphenol constituents of green tea. Research has shown that EGCG could reduce [Ca]i, lessen mitochondrial damage, thereby prevent calcium overload and protect neurons. Transgenic mouse models have been created with mutations in genes related to AD. APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice, provide a valuable model for evaluating the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, this study was designed to study the effect of EGCG and nimodipine on cognitive behavior, [Ca]i , CaM and CaMK II /IV in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice.

Comparative fasting bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of 2 formulations of glucosamine hydrochloride in healthy Chinese adult male volunteers.

Glucosamine (CAS 66-84-2) hydrochloride is an amino monosaccharide indicated for the treatment of arthrosis, especially osteoarthritis of the knee joint. This study was conducted to assess and compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, bioavailability of a newly developed dispersible tablet formulation (test) of glucosamine hydrochloride with those of an established branded capsule formulation (reference) in healthy Chinese adult male volunteers.This single-dose, randomized, open-label, 2-period crossover study was conducted in 18 healthy Chinese adult male volunteers under fasting condition. Plasma samples were collected at pre-specified times over a 12-h period following administration in each period and analyzed the plasma glucosamine concentrations by Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. The mean (SD) PK parameters of Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-12, and AUC0-∞ after administration of the test and reference formulations were, respectively, as follows: Cmax, 907.01 (444.22) vs. 944.40 (429.89) ng/mL, Tmax, 3.03 (0.95) vs. 3.30 (0.99) hours, AUC0-12, 2891.41 (1352.30) vs. 2889.69 (925.48) ng/mL/h, and AUC0-∞, 3029.90 (1321.36) vs. 3091.87 (870.36) ng/mL/h. The mean (SD) t1/2 was 1.10 (0.52) hours for the test formulation and 1.50 (1.17) hours for the reference formulation. On ANOVA, neither period nor sequence effects were observed for any PK properties. The relative bioavailability of the test formulation was 98.3% assessed by AUC0-12. The 90% CIs of glucosamine for the log-transformed ratios of Cmax, AUC0-12, and AUC0-∞ were 78.4-113.9%, 80.8-108.5% and 80.8-105.8%, respectively, meeting the predetermined criteria for bioequivalence of SFDA.

Association of interleukin-33 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to late onset Alzheimer’s disease: a meta-analysis

The association between interleukin-33 (IL-33) gene polymorphisms and late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) remains controversial in previous studies. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between the IL-33 polymorphisms (rs11792633 and rs7044343) and LOAD susceptibility. Crude odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the relationship strength. Sensitivity analysis was performed, and publication bias was estimated by the Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Overall, six independent studies involving 2,589 patients and 8,414 control samples met our inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that IL-33 rs11792633 polymorphism had statistically significant correlation with a decreased risk of LOAD in heterozygous comparison model (OR =0.64, 95% CI =0.48–0.83), homozygote comparison model (OR =0.83, 95% CI =0.74–0.93), dominant model (OR =0.78, 95% CI =0.67–0.91), recessive model (OR =0.70, 95% CI =0.59–0.84), and allelic model (OR =0.79, 95% CI =0.69–0.91), which were also validated by stratified subgroup analysis. Additionally, there was an apparent association between the IL-33 rs7044343 variant and LOAD risk under four genetic models for overall population (heterozygous comparison model: OR =0.75, 95% CI =0.63–0.89; dominant model: OR =0.83, 95% CI =0.70–0.98; recessive model: OR =0.80, 95% CI =0.68–0.94; allelic model: OR =0.86, 95% CI =0.79–0.94) as well as Caucasian subgroup. In summary, our meta-analysis implicated that IL-33 gene polymorphisms rs11792633 and rs7044343 were significantly associated with the susceptibility of LOAD.