Astrocytes and microglia constitute nearly half of all central nervous system cells and are indispensable for its proper function. Both exhibit striking morphological and functional heterogeneity, adopting either neuroprotective (A2, M2) or proinflammatory (A1, M1) phenotypes in response to cytokines, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)/damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation, and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling. Crucially, many of these phenotypic transitions arise during the earliest stages of neurodegeneration, when glial dysfunction precedes overt neuronal loss and may act as a primary driver of disease onset. This review critically examines glial-centered hypotheses of neurodegeneration, with emphasis on their roles in early disease phases: (i) microglial polarization from an M2 neuroprotective state to an M1 proinflammatory state; (ii) NLRP3 inflammasome assembly via P2X purinergic receptor 7 (P2X7R)-mediated K⁺ efflux; (iii) a self-amplifying astrocyte–microglia–neuron inflammatory feedback loop; (iv) impaired microglial phagocytosis and extracellular-vesicle–mediated propagation of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau; (v) astrocytic scar formation driven by aquaporin-4 (AQP4), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/vimentin, connexins, and janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) signaling; (vi) cellular reprogramming of astrocytes and NG2 glia into functional neurons; and (vii) mitochondrial dysfunction in glia, including Dynamin-related protein 1/Mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Drp1/Fis1) fission imbalance and dysregulation of the sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (Sirt1/PGC-1α) axis. Promising therapeutic strategies target pattern-recognition receptors (TLR4, NLRP3/caspase-1), cytokine modulators (interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10)), signaling cascades (JAK2–STAT, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K–AKT), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)), microglial receptors (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2)/spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK)/ DNAX-activating protein 10 (DAP10), siglec-3 (CD33), chemokine C-X3-C motif ligand 1/ CX3C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CL1/CX3CR1), Cluster of Differentiation 200/ Cluster of Differentiation 200 receptor 1 (CD200/CD200R), P2X7R), and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways, with a focus on normalizing glial phenotypes rather than simply suppressing pathology. Interventions that restore neuroglial homeostasis at the earliest stages of disease may hold the greatest potential to delay or prevent progression. Given the complexity of glial phenotypes and molecular isoform diversity, a comprehensive, multitargeted approach is essential for mitigating Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. This review not only synthesizes pathogenesis but also highlights therapeutic opportunities, offering what we believe to be the first concise overview of the principal hypotheses implicating glial cells in neurodegeneration. Rather than focusing on isolated mechanisms, our goal is a holistic perspective—integrating diverse glial processes to enable comparison across interconnected pathological conditions.

The recovery period after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often complicated by secondary damage that may last for days or even months after trauma. Two proteins, Hsp70 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), were recently described as modulating post-traumatic processes, and in this study, we test them as targets for combination therapy using an inhibitor of GAPDH aggregation (derivative of hydrocortisone RX624) and an inducer of Hsp70 synthesis (the pyrrolylazine derivative PQ-29). The protective effect of the combination on C6 rat glioblastoma cells treated with the cerebrospinal fluid of traumatized animals resulted in an increase in the cell index and in a reduced level of apoptosis. Using a rat weight drop model of TBI, we found that the combined use of both drugs prevented memory impairment and motor deficits, as well as a reduction of neurons and accumulation of GAPDH aggregates in brain tissue. In conclusion, we developed and tested a new approach to the treatment of TBI based on influencing distinct molecular mechanisms in brain cells.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an important class of medications; however, they have some drawbacks. We are developing a new NSAID with pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and a very low toxicity—(Z)-3-(2-oxo-2-(p-tolyl)ethylidene)piperazin-2-one (piron). In this work, we describe the synthesis of the main metabolite of piron—(Z)-4-(2-(3-oxopiperazin-2-ylidene)acetyl)benzoic acid. The anti-inflammatory activity of the synthesized metabolite was determined in vivo.

Introduction. Antioxydant activity, membrane stabilizing and cytoprotective effect of dihydropyrimidin analoges are widely described in various literary sources. One of the importantant mechanisms of action of antioxidants is their antihypoxic activity. It is the ability to increase tissue resistance to hypoxia. The search for drugs to increase the body's resistance under hypoxic conditions is an actual task in experimental and clinical pharmacology.Aim. Study of the antihypoxic activity of new S-analogs of dihydropyrimidin-2-ones and their condensed derivatives in various models of hypoxia.Materials and methods. 13 compounds S-analogs of dihydropyrimidin-2-ones and their condensed derivatives are objects of research. Their structure has been confirmed by spectroscopy methods. The antihypoxic activity was carried out by recommended methods for preclinical study of new pharmacological substances.Results and discussion. This paper presents the results of testing the obtained compounds of different structures on three models of hypoxia. The activity of a number of condensed tricyclic derivatives of dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones was studied in more detail using a model of acute normobaric hypoxia with hypercapnia.Conclusion. The compounds did not demonstrate high antihypoxic activity; some «structure-property» patterns were revealed.

The biological activity of extracts from Cirsium heterophyllum leaves is of interest. Traditional medicine and preliminary studies indicate that this raw material may have the potential for anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of an aqueous extract of Cirsium heterophyllum leaves. We studied the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts of Cirsium heterophyllum leaves harvested in Vasilyevka village, Perm district, Perm territory (kray), Russia. The extracts were standardized for the content of flavonoids in terms of cynaroside. To study the anti-inflammatory activity, we used carrageenan-induced paw edema model in outbred ICR (CD-1) mice and outbred Wistar rats. Diclofenac was used as a reference drug. The test substances were dissolved in a 2% starch solution and injected intraperitoneally to the animals. The paw volume was measured hydrometrically and photometrically. The study has shown that the aqueous extracts of Cirsium heterophyllum have a mild effect compared to diclofenac. In mice, the percentage of inhibition of edema at the 4th hour was 19% (p-value = 0.0310) and 20% (p-value = 0.0130) for photometry and hydrometry, respectively. In rats, the percentage of edema inhibition was 47% (p-value = 0.0300) at the 1st hour and 28.7% (p-value = 0.0170) at 3 hours for hydrometry; photometry did not confirm these results. The results suggest that the aqueous extract of Cirsium heterophyllum has a mild activity in comparison with diclofenac, which may be due to the mutual action of the extract substances when applied intraperitoneally, as well as the presence of polysaccharides in the aqueous extract. Further research is required to determine whether the anti-inflammatory activity of its aqueous extract might be better combined with wound healing effects when applied topically.