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{"title":"<ArticleTitle xmlns:ns0=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\">Measurement of thermodiffusion in liquid <ns0:math> <ns0:mrow><ns0:msub><ns0:mtext>Ag</ns0:mtext> <ns0:mn>60</ns0:mn></ns0:msub> <ns0:msub><ns0:mtext>Cu</ns0:mtext> <ns0:mn>40</ns0:mn></ns0:msub> </ns0:mrow></ns0:math>.","authors":"Asbjørn Torsvik Krüger, Elke Sondermann, Andreas Meyer","doi":"10.1140/epje/s10189-026-00647-y","DOIUrl":"10.1140/epje/s10189-026-00647-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermodiffusion, or the Soret effect, designates a diffusive motion of particles driven by a temperature gradient, leading to a build-up of a concentration gradient. This effect is here measured in the liquid state on the eutectic alloy <math> <mrow><msub><mtext>Ag</mtext> <mn>60</mn></msub> <msub><mtext>Cu</mtext> <mn>40</mn></msub> </mrow> </math> , which shows negligible excess volume. No significant thermodiffusion was observed using both in situ X-ray radiography or ex situ energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy on separately solidified parts of the sample. This is in contrast to the significant Soret coefficients observed in molten Ag-Al and Al-Ni. Molecular dynamics simulations of thermodiffusion in liquid Ag-Cu [Sarder et al., Philos. Mag. 99, 468-491 (2019)] report significantly stronger thermodiffusion. However, the trend that thermodiffusion in liquid Ag-Cu is weaker than in other liquid alloys like Al-Ni is supported by our experiment.</p>","PeriodicalId":790,"journal":{"name":"The European Physical Journal E","volume":"49 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aqueous extract of Ormocarpum cochinchinense promotes fracture healing through coordinated angiogenic, osteogenic, and cytoprotective mechanisms.","authors":"Preethi Vincent, Arun Pugazhendi, Vishnugurubaran Dhanakaran, Krishna Priya Mani","doi":"10.1007/s10735-026-11003-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-026-11003-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ormocarpum cochinchinense has long been used in traditional medicine for the management of bone fractures. Despite its widespread ethnomedicinal use, scientific evidence supporting its efficacy and underlying mechanisms in fracture healing remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the safety and fracture-healing potential of the aqueous extract of O. cochinchinense (OCE) with emphasis on angiogenesis and osteogenesis, and to elucidate its role in modulating endothelial cell inflammation. The biological activity of OCE was assessed using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches. The phytochemical characterization of the extract was performed using GC-MS analysis. The safety profile of OCE was assessed through in vivo toxicity evaluation and the fracture-healing efficacy was investigated through radiographic and histological analyses. Molecular mechanisms were examined by assessing the expression of angiogenic and osteogenic marker genes. Additionally, endothelial protective effects were evaluated under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions by measuring oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory mediators. GC-MS analysis identified a total of 25 phytocompounds in OCE. OCE exhibited no observable toxicity in rats. It accelerated fracture healing by promoting advanced callus formation, enhancing collagen-rich matrix deposition, and improving mineralization. OCE significantly upregulated angiogenic (VEGFA, VEGFR2) and osteogenic (BMP2, SP7, RUNX2, ALP, Col1A1, OPN, OCN) gene expression, indicating coordinated activation of bone regeneration pathways. Furthermore, OCE protected endothelial cells from LPS-induced cytotoxicity by reducing reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide levels and downregulating inflammatory mediators including NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. OCE promoted fracture healing through a multifaceted mechanism involving enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis. It also confers endothelial protection by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress that might aid in improved endothelial function and thereby fracture healing. These findings validate its traditional use and highlight its potential as a safe and effective natural therapeutic agent for bone regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":650,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Histology","volume":"57 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated computational and biochemical identification of quinoline-8-arylsulfonamides as disruptors of the Skp2-Cks1 protein-protein interaction.","authors":"Emadeldin M Kamel, Ahmed A Allam, Hassan A Rudayni, Sarah I Othman, Fahad M Alshabrmi, Faris F Aba Alkhayl, Al Mokhtar Lamsabhi","doi":"10.1007/s00894-026-06978-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00894-026-06978-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>The Skp2-Cks1 protein-protein interaction is essential for the recognition and ubiquitination of cell-cycle regulators such as p27 and represents an attractive target for anticancer drug discovery. This study aimed to identify small-molecule disruptors of the Skp2-Cks1 interface from a quinoline-8-arylsulfonamide library using an integrated computational and experimental approach. Comparative MM/PBSA analysis indicated that C2 and C1 produced the greatest predicted weakening of the interface, with ΔΔGₚₚᵢ values of +13.19 and +9.54 kcal/mol, respectively. Conversely, C3 and C4 yielded negative values of -15.21 and -26.47 kcal/mol, consistent with predicted interface stabilization. These computational findings were supported by the biochemical activity ranking: C2 and C1 exhibited the lowest IC₅₀ values, at 1.48 ± 0.13 and 1.87 ± 0.13 µM, respectively, compared with 2.62 ± 0.35 µM for the reference compound NSC689857. C3 and C4 showed substantially weaker activity. These findings identify quinoline-8-arylsulfonamides as a promising chemotype for targeting the Skp2-Cks1 interface and prioritize C2 for further optimization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A funnel-based virtual screening strategy was applied to 74 compounds, incorporating diversity and drug-likeness filtering, molecular docking with AutoDock Vina, short molecular dynamics refinement, and MM/PBSA rescoring. Prioritized complexes underwent 1000 ns molecular dynamics simulations, free-energy landscape analysis, quantitative assessment of protein-protein interaction disruption metrics, and in silico ADMET profiling. Comparative MM/PBSA calculations evaluated ligand-induced changes in Skp2-Cks1 interaction energy relative to the apo complex. Biochemical inhibitory activity was assessed using an in vitro homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay.</p>","PeriodicalId":651,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Modeling","volume":"32 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of efficient betaine-based natural deep eutectic solvents for metal leaching from waste printed circuit boards.","authors":"Emmanuel Anuoluwapo Oke, Johannes Hermanus Potgieter","doi":"10.1007/s11356-026-38292-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-026-38292-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid growth of electronic waste has intensified the need for sustainable approaches for metal recovery from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). In this study, betaine-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were developed as lixiviants for metal extraction from WPCBs. Betaine (BET) was used as the hydrogen bond acceptor, while ethane-1,2-diol (ETD), propane-1,2-diol (PPD), and butane-1,2-diol (BTD) served as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) to investigate the influence of HBD structure on the physicochemical properties and leaching performance of the resulting NADES. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated intermolecular interactions between BET and the diol-based HBDs, while thermogravimetric analysis/derivative thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) showed pronounced mass-loss-rate maxima above 240 °C for all three NADES. Rheological measurements revealed Newtonian flow behaviour, with viscosity increasing with increasing diol chain length; BET:ETD exhibited the lowest viscosity (50.1 mPa·s) at 20 °C. Under the experimental conditions of 75 °C, 6 h, 1.0 M H₂O₂, 500 rpm, and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20, BET:ETD achieved leaching efficiencies of 99.3% for Cu, 99.5% for Pb, 97.8% for Fe, 95.4% for Al, 90.5% for Sn, and 73.9% for Ti. Kinetic analysis based on the shrinking core model and activation energy evaluation indicated a mixed-control mechanism involving interfacial reaction and diffusion processes. SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses further indicated substantial dissolution of metallic phases while the polymeric and glass-fibre matrix was largely preserved. Overall, the results demonstrate that betaine-based NADES, most especially BET:ETD, offer tunable physicochemical properties and effective metal-leaching performance for WPCB recycling.</p>","PeriodicalId":545,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science and Pollution Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149222988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal controls of soil Pb distribution and ecological risk in the Qorveh mining region, Western Iran.","authors":"Mahin Saedpanah, Bubak Souri","doi":"10.1007/s10661-026-16074-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-16074-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To investigate the spatiotemporal variability of lead (Pb) in mining environments, 100 topsoil samples were collected from different locations across a semi-arid mining district in western Iran over a 4-month monitoring period, with sampling conducted at different sites in each month. Key explanatory variables, namely, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), zirconium (Zr), and elevation and slope as topographic attributes alongside normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), were integrated into the Geographic and Temporal Weighted Regression (GTWR) framework. Pb was selected because of its strong association with mining activities, high environmental persistence, and ecological significance. The effectiveness of the GTWR model was evaluated and compared with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Temporally Weighted Regression (TWR) using multiple statistical evaluation metrics and model-fitting criteria. In addition, the ecological implications of Pb contamination were assessed using the risk quotient (RQ) index. The evaluation metrics demonstrated the superiority of GTWR (R² = 0.79) over the other models. The results indicate that Pb distribution was influenced by geological, geochemical, and biological factors, with Zr showing a predominantly spatially positive association, EC exhibiting spatially variable effects, and NDVI and pH showing relatively stable temporal associations with Pb. Furthermore, RQ values exceeded the ecological threshold throughout the study area, indicating widespread potential ecological risk. Integrating GTWR with ecological risk assessment provides a useful framework for characterizing heterogeneous Pb patterns and supporting the identification of priority areas for environmental monitoring and risk management in mining-affected landscapes.</p>","PeriodicalId":544,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","volume":"198 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149222973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing surface ozone concentrations in Wuhan: an interpretable machine learning analysis.","authors":"Dong-Yang Yang, Su-Ying Chai, Ji-Xiong Wang, Jiu-Yuan Yu, Zeng-Zeng Yu, Yan Cao, Yi-Yao Wen, Fang Bai, Wei-Hua Zhao, Wei-Jie Guo","doi":"10.1007/s10661-026-16066-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-16066-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ground-level ozone (O₃) has become a major challenge for air quality improvement in China, but its short-term variability is controlled by complex interactions among pollutant persistence, precursor conditions, and meteorological factors. In this study, hourly air quality observations and ERA5 reanalysis meteorological data for an urban monitoring site in Wuhan during 2019-2025 were integrated to evaluate O₃ temporal variability and interpretable machine learning prediction. Three models, namely, deep neural network (DNN), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were compared using baseline and lag-enhanced feature sets, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were used to interpret predictive contributions. O₃ remained at relatively high levels during 2019-2025, with exceedances of the national grade II standard in 2019, 2023, and 2024, while most primary pollutants generally declined. O₃ exhibited a unimodal diurnal cycle with afternoon peaks at 14:00-16:00 and a seasonal pattern of summer > spring > autumn > winter. The enhanced XGBoost model achieved the best short-term prediction performance, with R² = 0.9756 and RMSE = 6.35 μg m^-3 on the test set. SHAP analysis showed that the 1-h lagged O₃ concentration was the dominant predictor, indicating strong short-term persistence rather than independent chemical forcing. NO₂ and lagged NO₂ showed negative predictive contributions, consistent with the expected role of NO titration under high-NOₓ conditions, whereas temperature and radiation-related variables showed positive contributions. These results suggest that interpretable machine learning can help identify the statistical conditions associated with O₃ variability, but the absence of direct VOC observations means that O₃ sensitivity and VOC-related control implications should be further verified using VOC measurements or chemical transport/observation-based modeling.</p>","PeriodicalId":544,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","volume":"198 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149223053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microglia in Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Emerging Concepts of Microglial Heterogeneity","authors":"Han Wang,&nbsp;Xinyi Wang,&nbsp;Qijie Ai,&nbsp;Daqing Pei","doi":"10.1007/s11064-026-04926-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11064-026-04926-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) comprise a spectrum of cognitive disturbances after anesthesia and surgery, affecting learning, memory, and executive function. Although systemic inflammation, surgical trauma, anesthetic exposure, and patient vulnerability have been implicated in PND, the mechanisms linking perioperative stress to persistent cognitive changes remain incompletely understood. Microglia, as resident immune cells of the central nervous system, are important regulators of neuroimmune interactions and may contribute to PND through alterations in inflammatory signaling, synaptic regulation, vascular function, metabolism, and epigenetic programs. In this Overview, we summarize current evidence regarding microglial involvement in PND across five interconnected domains: neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, microglia–neuron communication, mitochondrial and metabolic regulation, and epigenetic remodeling. We further discuss emerging single-cell transcriptomic and multi-omic studies indicating that microglial responses are heterogeneous, dynamic, and context dependent rather than adequately described by the traditional M1/M2 framework. We propose that PND involves complex interactions among peripheral immune activation, neurovascular dysfunction, microglial state transitions, and neuronal vulnerability. Finally, we highlight current challenges in translating microglial mechanisms into clinical applications and discuss future directions for identifying biomarkers and developing context-specific perioperative neuroprotective strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":719,"journal":{"name":"Neurochemical Research","volume":"51 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149219464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An interstitial fluid-like NICHE-chip for neural stem cell niche modeling and nanoscale neurotrophic delivery.","authors":"Surim Shim, Yejin Lee, Hyun Lee, Nayoung Lee, Da Eun Kim, Jongsoo Han, Kang Moo Huh, Hyun-Do Jung, Kisuk Yang","doi":"10.1186/s40580-026-00584-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40580-026-00584-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in anatomically confined niches, where three-dimensional (3D) geometry and interstitial fluid (ISF) flow collectively regulate NSC behavior. However, in vitro platforms that simultaneously recapitulate size-controlled 3D architecture, ISF-like dynamics, and nanoscale therapeutic delivery remain limited. Here, we present a 3D printing-based platform with multi-sized microwells, termed the Neural-Inspired Culture for a Hydrodynamic Environment (NICHE)-chip, which incorporates an osmosis-driven flow system to generate ISF-like flow. The NICHE-chip enabled stable formation of uniform human neural stem cell (hNSC) neurospheres across defined microwell sizes. Under ISF-like flow, hNSC neurospheres showed enhanced viability, reduced apoptosis, and increased self-renewal and differentiation marker expression, particularly in 100 μm microwells. ISF-like flow also promoted laminin-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and cell-cell interactions, suggesting niche-like remodeling of the 3D microenvironment. In the ISF-integrated 100 μm neurosphere model, amyloid-β (Aβ) was introduced to establish an Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neurotoxicity model, which was then used to evaluate nanoparticle-mediated neurotrophic factor delivery using brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. BDNF-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (BDNF-NPs) enabled sustained BDNF delivery, attenuated Aβ-induced neuronal marker loss, and counter-regulated a subset of Aβ-induced transcriptional alterations associated with neuroprotection. Overall, the NICHE-chip provides an ISF-integrated 3D neurosphere culture platform for NSC niche modeling, AD-like neurotoxicity assessment, and nanoscale neurotrophic factor delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":712,"journal":{"name":"Nano Convergence","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances in MXene, MOF, and COF based NH₃ gas sensors for environmental monitoring: sensing mechanisms, analytical performance, and future perspectives.","authors":"Khursheed Ahmad, Chellakannu Rajkumar, Tae Hwan Oh, Mohd Shabbir","doi":"10.1007/s00604-026-08447-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-026-08447-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing use of ammonia (NH₃) in agriculture, refrigeration, chemical processing, and energy applications has increased concerns over its toxicity and corrosiveness. This suggest the need for sensitive NH₃ monitoring under practical conditions. This review critically evaluates recent advances in MXene, metal-organic framework (MOF), and covalent organic framework (COF) based NH₃ sensors. MXenes are promising for room-temperature sensing because of their high conductivity and efficient charge transport, but oxidation, restacking, and humidity interference continue to hinder stable and reproducible performance. In contrast, MOFs provide molecular-sieving capability, high porosity, and Lewis-acidic adsorption sites, but their poor conductivity and limited stability necessitate integrating it with semiconductors, polymers, or carbon-based materials. Similarly, COFs exhibit tunable pore structures, ordered transport pathways, and good chemical stability. Despite these advantages, their application in NH₃ sensing remains relatively limited. The analytical performance of MXene, MOF, and COF based NH₃ sensors has been critically discussed with the underlying sensing mechanisms. The key challenges, future perspectives, and emerging research directions are also discussed. Unlike earlier reviews that discuss these materials separately, this review compares MXene, MOF, and COF based NH₃ sensors using the same performance criteria, providing a clearer view of their strengths and remaining limitations. We believe that this review will provide a useful overview for researchers developing MXene, MOF, and COF based NH₃ sensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":705,"journal":{"name":"Microchimica Acta","volume":"193 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149226926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulating the WNK1-SPAK/OSR1-KCC2 Pathway: Acupuncture’s Therapeutic Potential in Mitigating Muscle Hypertonia in Ischemic Stroke Rats","authors":"Tian-Yi Sun,&nbsp;Liang-Xiao Ma,&nbsp;Wen-Xu Zhang,&nbsp;Si-Biao Lu,&nbsp;Jing-Yun Xiu,&nbsp;Meng-Yu Chen","doi":"10.1007/s11064-026-04927-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11064-026-04927-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on post-stroke muscle hypertonia (PSMH) in rats, focusing on the WNK1-SPAK/OSR1-KCC2 pathway to elucidate its underlying mechanisms and support clinical translation. Behavioral, electrophysiological, TTC staining, AChE staining, and transmission electron microscope analyses were used to assess the efficacy of acupuncture. RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the expression of the medullary WNK1-SPAK/OSR1-KCC2 pathway. Pharmacological modulation using WNK463 and Gabazine suggested the involvement of WNK kinase activity. Acupuncture reduced neurological deficits and spasticity, enhanced motor recovery, suppressed spinal motor neuron hyperexcitability, and ameliorated neuromuscular dysfunction and muscular structural abnormality. Mechanistically, it downregulated WNK1, SPAK, and OSR1 and increased membrane KCC2 expression in the medulla oblongata. WNK463 partially mimicked acupuncture’s effects, while Gabazine partially reversed them. Acupuncture alleviates muscle hypertonia and enhances locomotor recovery in rats with PSMH, potentially by inhibiting the medullary WNK1-SPAK/OSR1 pathway and thereby upregulating KCC2 expression and membrane localization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":719,"journal":{"name":"Neurochemical Research","volume":"51 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149219429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}