Lactoferrin-modified nanoemulsions enhance brain-targeting and therapeutic efficacy of arctigenin against Toxoplasma gondii-induced neuronal injury

乳铁蛋白修饰纳米乳剂增强牛蒡子苷元对弓形虫诱发的神经元损伤的脑靶向性和治疗效果

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作者:Jing-Mei Lu, Guang-Nan Jin, Yan Xin, Jing-Wen Ma, Xin-Yu Shen, Yan-Zhu Quan, Yi-Ming Liu, Jin-Yi Zhou, Bing-Zhe Wang, Ying-Biao Li, Xiang Xu, Lian-Xun Piao

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii, a neurotropic protozoan parasite, affects the central nervous system and causes various neurological disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that Arctigenin (AG) exhibits anti-T. gondii activity and reduces depression-like behaviors induced by T. gondii infection. This study aimed to enhance AG's brain-targeting and therapeutic efficacy by developing lactoferrin-modified nanoemulsions loaded with AG (Lf-AG-NEs). Lf-modified nanoemulsions were prepared and assessed using in vivo and in vitro infection models with the T. gondii RH strain, and a co-culture system of BV2 microglia and primary neuron cells. The effects of Lf-AG-NEs on T. gondii-induced neuronal injury were examined, and potential molecular mechanisms were elucidated through real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and Nissl staining. In vitro assessments showed significant increases in cellular uptake and blood-brain barrier penetration by Lf-AG-NEs. These nanoemulsions notably inhibited T. gondii proliferation in brain tissue and BV2 cells, surpassing the effects of free AG or AG-NEs alone. Additionally, Lf-AG-NEs substantially alleviated neuropathological changes and reduced microglial activation and neuroinflammation by downregulating the TLR4/NF-κB and TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathways. Co-culturing BV2 cells with primary cortical neurons indicated that Lf-AG-NEs, similarly to CLI-095 and R7050, attenuated T. gondii-induced microglial activation and subsequent neuronal injury. In conclusion, the successfully prepared Lf-AG-NEs not only enhanced the anti-T. gondii effect but also strengthened the protective impact against neuronal injury induced by T. gondii, through the modulation of microglial signaling pathways.

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