Angiogenesisis a key restorative mechanism in response to ischemia, and pro-angiogenic therapy could be beneficial in stroke. Accumulating experimental and clinical evidence suggest that human urinary kallidinogenase (HUK) improves stroke outcome, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. The aim of current study was to verify roles of HUK in post-ischemic angiogenesis and identify relevant mediators. In rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, we confirmed that HUK treatment could improve stroke outcome, indicated by reduced infarct size and improved neurological function. Notably, the ¹⁸F-FDG micro-PET scan indicated that HUK enhanced cerebral perfusion in rats after MCAO treatment. In addition, HUK promotespost-ischemic angiogenesis, with increased vessel density as well as up-regulated VEGF andapelin/APJ expression in HUK-treated MCAO mice. In endothelial cell cultures, induction of VEGF and apelin/APJ expression, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by HUK was further confirmed. These changes were abrogated by U0126, a selective ERK1/2 inhibitor. Moreover, F13A, a competitive antagonist of APJ receptor, significantly suppressed HUK-induced VEGF expression. Furthermore, angiogenic functions of HUK were inhibited in the presence of selective bradykinin B1 or B2 receptor antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings indicate that HUK treatment promotes post-ischemic angiogenesis and cerebral perfusion via activation of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors, which is potentially due to enhancement expression of VEGF and apelin/APJ in ERK1/2 dependent way.

Pyroptosis is a key inflammatory form of cell death participating in the progression of many inflammatory diseases, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and sepsis. Identification of small molecules to inhibit pyroptosis is emerging as an attractive strategy. In this study, we performed a screening based on in silico docking of compounds on the reported Gasdermin D (GSDMD) three-dimensional structure and found C202-2729 demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory effects in both endotoxin shock and EAE mouse models. Oral administration of C202-2729 was capable of attenuating EAE disease severity significantly and has the comparable effects to teriflunomide, the first-line clinical drug of multiple sclerosis. We found C202-2729 remarkably suppressed macrophage and T cell–associated immune inflammation. Mechanistically, C202-2729 neither impact GSDMD cleavage nor the upstream inflammasome activation in mouse immortalized bone marrow–derived macrophages. However, C202-2729 exposure significantly repressed the IL-1β secretion and cell pyroptosis. We found C202-2729 directly bonds to the N terminus of GSDMD and blocks the migration of the N-terminal GSDMD fragment to cell membrane, restraining the pore-forming and mature IL-1β release. Collectively, our findings provide a new molecule with the potential for translational application in GSDMD-associated inflammatory diseases.

To clarify the role of lipid composition in the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with diabetes mellitus (DM) and its influence factors. Data was collected from the patients hospitalization in Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from October 2008 to May 2012, which included AIS and non-AIS consist of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and Vertigo or dizzy. Lipid and other risk factors including blood glucose (BG), uric acid (UA), hypertension, DM and atrial fibrillation (AF) were investigated in relation to occurrence of AIS. The level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was decreased obviously in the DM group compared to the non-DM group and low level of HDL cholesterol was prevalent in the AIS patients with DM. logistic regression demonstrated that decreased HDL cholesterol was correlated to the AIS with DM, not all AIS, and the relative risk of ischemic stroke in low HDL cholesterol level group was 2.113 (95% CI = 1.191-3.749, P = 0.011) compared to the high level group. Furthermore, age has the obviously impact on it. HDL cholesterol was correlated to the AIS with DM just in the populations of aged ≦70 years (OR = 0.192, P = 0.000), low level of HDL cholesterol had more high risk of ischemic stroke than that in the high level group (OR = 6.818, P = 0.002). Decreased HDL cholesterol was correlated to the occurrence of AIS with DM, especially in the populations of aged ≦70 years.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with higher anxiety or depression (A/D) incidence. We investigated associations of WMHs with A/D, cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and functional connectivity (FC) to identify potential pathomechanisms. Participants with WMH (n = 239) and normal controls (NCs, n = 327) were assessed for A/D using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The CVR and FC maps were constructed from resting-state functional MRI. Two-way analysis of covariance with fixed factors A/D and WMH was performed to identify regional CVR abnormalities. Seed-based FC analyses were then conducted on regions with WMH × A/D interaction effects on CVR. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the utility of these measurements for identifying WMH-related A/D. Participants with WMH related A/D exhibited significantly greater CVR in left insula and lower CVR in right superior frontal gyrus (SFG.R), and HAMA scores were negatively correlated with CVR in SFG.R (r = -0.156, P = 0.016). Insula-SFG.R negative FC was significantly weaker in WMH patients with suspected or definite A/D. A model including CVR plus FC changes identified WMH-associated A/D with highest sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, NCs with A/D exhibited greater CVR in prefrontal cortex and stronger FC within the default mode network (DMN) and between the DMN and executive control network. This cross-sectional study requires validation by longitudinal and laboratory studies. Impaired CVR in SFG.R and weaker negative FC between prefrontal cortex and insula may contribute to WMH-related A/D, providing potential diagnostic imaging markers and therapeutic targets.