Objective To review research progress of the relation between glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and motoneuron development and motoneuron disease. Methods The recent articles on GDNF and motonerons were extensively reviewed. The molecular structure, the mode of action and the route of administration of GDNF were investigated. Results GDNF plays extensive roles in the development anddisease of motoneuron. GDNF might regulate the development of the motonerons of the spinal cord to some extent and also save the injured motoneurons. Conclusion GDNF has a potential clinical value and inestimable futurein the treatment of motoneuron diseases.
Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) on pulmonary fibrosis through the PI3K/AKt/mTOR signalling pathway. Methods Paraquat intraperitoneal injection was used to establish a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty-six SPF C57BL/6J female mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a paraquat group (20 mg/kg) and a HCQ intervention group. The HCQ intervention group was divided into two subgroups (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) according to different doses. The general condition and body weight changes of mice were observed. twenty-one days later, lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s pathological staining, and the content of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and hydroxyproline (HYP) were detected by ELISA. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), E-cadherin (E-cad), the expression levels of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-related proteins, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were detected by Western blot. The gene expression levels of α-SMA and E-cad were detected by q-PCR. Results Compared with the blank group, the mice in the paraquat group had lower body weight, worse general condition, higher serum levels of inflammatory factors, increased lung structure destruction and collagen deposition, significantly increased HYP content, and higher expression level of PI3K/AKt/mTOR signaling pathway related proteins (all P<0.05). The expression levels of E-cad protein and gene decreased, α-SMA protein and gene increased (all P<0.05). While the HCQ intervention group improved the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in different degrees, and the relevant indexes of PI3K/AKt/mTOR signaling pathway decreased compared with the paraquat group (all P<0.05). Conclusion HCQ can ameliorate paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKt/mTOR signaling pathway.