BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.3390/biom15050738
Hemendra J Vekaria, Sarah J Shelley, Sarah J Messmer, Prashant D Kunjadia, Christopher J McLouth, Patrick G Sullivan, Justin F Fraser, Keith R Pennypacker, Chirayu D Pandya
{"title":"Sex- and Tissue-Specific Effects of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor on Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Following Ischemic Stroke.","authors":"Hemendra J Vekaria, Sarah J Shelley, Sarah J Messmer, Prashant D Kunjadia, Christopher J McLouth, Patrick G Sullivan, Justin F Fraser, Keith R Pennypacker, Chirayu D Pandya","doi":"10.3390/biom15050738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050738","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxidative stress due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and/or inflammation is considered to play an important role in ischemic stroke injury. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has been shown to protect both oligodendrocytes and neurons from ischemia by upregulating endogenous anti-oxidants, though the effect of ischemia and the protective role of LIF treatment in mitochondrial function have not been studied. The goal of this study was to determine whether LIF protects ischemia-induced altered mitochondrial bioenergetics in reproductively senescent aged rats of both sexes (≥18 months old), approximately equivalent to the average age of human stroke patients. Animals were euthanized at 3 days after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery. We found that MCAO surgery significantly reduced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in both the ipsilateral striatum and prefrontal cortex in male aged rats compared to their respective contralateral regions of the brain. MCAO injury showed mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction only in the striatum in female rats; however, the prefrontal cortex remained unaffected to the injury. LIF-treated rats significantly prevented mitochondrial dysfunction in the striatum in male rats compared to their vehicle-treated counterparts. Collectively, MCAO-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and LIF's potential as a therapeutic biomolecule exhibited sex- and tissue-specific effects, varying between the striatum and prefrontal cortex in male and female rats.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-19DOI: 10.3390/biom15050736
Xinyu Zhu, Xu Liu
{"title":"Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of <i>Artemisia schmidtiana</i> Maxim. Essential Oil.","authors":"Xinyu Zhu, Xu Liu","doi":"10.3390/biom15050736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Artemisia schmidtiana</i> Maxim., a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, is renowned for its extensive ethnomedicinal applications and distinctive aromatic qualities. This study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α-glucosidase, and β-lactamase of its essential oil (EO). The major constituents of the EO were identified as germacrene D (16.29%), falcarinol (11.02%), β-caryophyllene (9.43%), α-zingiberene (7.93%), phytol (6.06%), and α-humulene (4.04%). The EO demonstrated radical scavenging activity against DPPH (44.9% at 5 mg/mL) and ABTS (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.72 ± 0.02 mg/mL) radicals, with a FRAP antioxidant capacity of 126.61 ± 0.59 μmol·g<sup>-1</sup>. Additionally, the EO exhibited modest AChE inhibition (16.7% at 250 μg/mL) and significant inhibition of α-glucosidase and β-lactamase, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 178.80 ± 17.02 μg/mL and 40.06 ± 8.22 μg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking revealed favorable interactions between the major EO compounds and the tested enzymes, providing a theoretical foundation for future drug development. These findings suggest that <i>A. schmidtiana</i> EO holds potential for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, warranting further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multimodal Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Psoriasis Treatment.","authors":"Jiaxin Ou, Ziqing Li, Danni Yao, Chuanjian Lu, Xiang Zeng","doi":"10.3390/biom15050737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by the innate and adaptive immune systems, and its pathogenesis involves multiple aspects, including abnormal interleukin (IL)-23-Th17 axis, dysfunction of Tregs and other immune cells, and a complex relationship between keratinocytes and the vascular endothelium. Dysfunction of mesenchymal stem cells in psoriatic skin may also be the main reason for the dysregulated inflammatory response. Mesenchymal stem cells, a type of adult stem cells with multidifferentiation potential, are involved in the regulation of multiple links and targets in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Thus, a detailed exploration of these mechanisms may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of psoriasis. In this paper, the role of mesenchymal stem cells in skin homeostasis, the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and the multimodal function of using mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of psoriasis are reviewed.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Exogenous NO Donor Provokes Mechanical Alternans in Normal Rat Atria and Impairs Sarcomere Contractility in Right Atrial Cardiomyocytes in Atrial Fibrillation.","authors":"Xenia Butova, Tatiana Myachina, Polina Mikhryakova, Raisa Simonova, Daniil Shchepkin, Anastasia Khokhlova","doi":"10.3390/biom15050735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. AF is associated with a deficiency in nitric oxide (NO) production, which contributes to disturbances in the electrical and mechanical function of the atrial myocardium. NO donors are considered promising for the treatment and prevention of AF, but their effects on atrial contractility are unclear. This study examines the direct impact of a low-molecular-weight NO donor, spermine-NONOate (NOC-22), on the contractile function of atrial cardiomyocytes in paroxysmal AF. To study whether an NO donor-induced increase in NO level causes chamber-specific changes in atrial contractility, we measured sarcomere length (SL) dynamics in contracting single cardiomyocytes from the rat left and right atria (LA, RA) using a 7-day acetylcholine-CaCl<sub>2</sub>-induced AF model. We showed that in control rats NOC-22 provoked alternans of sarcomere shortening in both LA and RA cardiomyocytes. In AF, NOC-22 decreased the sarcomere-shortening amplitudes and velocities of sarcomere shortening-relengthening and increased the magnitude of sarcomere-shortening alternans only in RA cardiomyocytes. The negative effects of NO donors on RA contractility warrant careful consideration of their use in AF treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.3390/biom15050730
Adrian Pysiewicz, Antonina Mazur, Jolanta Kotlińska, Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka, Krzysztof Fronc, Małgorzata Łupina, Marta Kruk-Słomka, Joanna Listos
{"title":"The Influence of Topiramate on Morphine Dependence in Mice.","authors":"Adrian Pysiewicz, Antonina Mazur, Jolanta Kotlińska, Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka, Krzysztof Fronc, Małgorzata Łupina, Marta Kruk-Słomka, Joanna Listos","doi":"10.3390/biom15050730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Topiramate evokes pharmacological activity via a blockade of voltage-dependent sodium channels, reduction in glutamate release, inhibition of AMPA receptors and kainate receptors, and potentiation of GABAergic neurotransmission. Therefore, it is used not only as an antiseizure drug but is also effective in migraine prophylaxis, cluster headaches, neuropathic pain, and alcohol dependence. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of topiramate in morphine dependence in mice, particularly in terms of morphine tolerance, morphine withdrawal signs, and morphine sensitization. In these experiments, topiramate was administered both acutely and chronically. Topiramate significantly reduced the morphine tolerance in the hot-plate test and attenuated naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal signs. Its effect on morphine sensitization to the locomotor activity of mice was poor. The obtained results showed that topiramate might be an effective drug for reducing the physical symptoms of morphine dependence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.3390/biom15050731
Carlos Pernas-Pleite, Amparo M Conejo-Martínez, Irma Marín, José P Abad
{"title":"Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) from <i>Lysinibacillus</i> sp. Culture Broths: Antibacterial Activity, Mechanism Insights, and Synergy with Classical Antibiotics.","authors":"Carlos Pernas-Pleite, Amparo M Conejo-Martínez, Irma Marín, José P Abad","doi":"10.3390/biom15050731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose problems for infection prevention and treatment, so developing new procedures or substances against infection is mandatory. Silver nanomaterials are among the more promising antibacterial agents. Herein, we describe the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using culture broths from an undescribed species of <i>Lysinibacillus</i>. Culture broths with or without NaCl and from the exponential and stationary growth phases produced four AgNP types. Nanoparticles' shapes were quasi-spherical, with core sizes of 7.5-14.7 nm and hydrodynamic diameters of 48.5-80.2 nm. All the AgNPs contained Ag<sup>0</sup> crystals and some AgCl ones. Moreover, their coronas presented different proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and aliphatic compounds. The AgNPs were good antibacterial agents against six bacterial species, three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative, with MICs of 0.3-9.0 µg/mL. Their activity was higher against the Gram-negative bacteria and particularly against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. These AgNPs acted synergistically with several of the fifteen tested antibiotics. Interestingly, AgNP combinations with some of these inhibited the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as in the case of <i>S. epidermidis</i> for streptomycin and <i>S. aureus</i> for colistin. The ROS production by <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i> when treated with most AgNPs suggested different mechanisms for bacterial killing depending on the AgNP.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recovery of Lysosomal Acidification and Autophagy Flux by Attapulgite Nanorods: Therapeutic Potential for Lysosomal Disorders.","authors":"Yuanjing Hao, Xinru Fan, Xiaodan Huang, Zhaoying Li, Zhiyuan Jing, Guilong Zhang, Yuxue Xu, Na Zhang, Pengfei Wei","doi":"10.3390/biom15050728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dysfunction of the lysosome and autophagy-lysosome pathway is closely associated with various diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), etc. Additionally, chloroquine is a clinically widely used drug for treating malaria and autoimmune diseases, but long-term or high-dose administration may lead to significant toxic side effects. Attapulgite (ATT), a natural nanomaterial with excellent adsorption capacity and biocompatibility, herein demonstrated a novel biological function in regulating the lysosomal and autophagy-lysosome pathway. ATT could be effectively internalized into lysosome-related acidic compartments. Further study revealed that ATT could restore lysosomal pH, activate cathepsin D, alleviate autophagy blockage in chloroquine-treated cells, and reduce chloroquine-elicited cell death. In a cell model related to Huntington's disease, treatment with ATT reinforced the degradation of the mutant huntingtin proteins by increasing cathepsin D maturation and autophagy flux. ATT could also promote lipid droplet clearance in hepatocytes with palmitic acid-induced steatosis, reduce hepatic lipid accumulation, and improve fasting blood glucose in high-fat-diet-induced NAFLD mice. These findings establish ATT as a lysosomal modulator, providing a foundation for its therapeutic potential in mitigating the adverse effects associated with long-term chloroquine use, especially improving neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.3390/biom15050726
Anthony O Boateng, Vinood B Patel, S W Annie Bligh
{"title":"The Hepatoprotective Properties of Gentiopicroside, Sweroside, and Swertiamarin Against Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).","authors":"Anthony O Boateng, Vinood B Patel, S W Annie Bligh","doi":"10.3390/biom15050726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a metabolic disease characterised by the accumulation of fat in the liver. It is estimated that 30-38% of the world's adult population have MASLD, making it the most prevalent global chronic liver disease. Due to a lack of a therapy for MASLD, treatment has been mainly focussed on managing the conditions associated with the disease such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidaemia. This study aimed to investigate the role played by <i>Gentiana</i> phytochemicals including the following: gentiopicroside, sweroside, and swertiamarin, in promoting hepatocyte protection against the cytotoxic effects of fatty acids. <i>Gentiana</i> species such as lutea, macrophylla, rigescens, and scabra are known to protect and enhance hepatocyte viability via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bitter components including the following: amarogentin gentianine, iso-orientin, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, and sweroside. In this study, HepG2 cells pre-treated with phytochemicals gentiopicroside, sweroside, swertiamarin, and silymarin followed by an exposure to arachidonic acid (10, 30, 50 and 80 µM) were assessed for cell viability via MTT, mitochondrial function via seahorse assay, ROS levels via DCF assay, and annexin V-FITC for apoptosis. THLE-2 cells were also assayed for validation. The phytochemicals tested improved ATP production notably gentiopicroside, which improved ATP production by over 60% compared to untreated hepatocytes. Significant hepatocyte protection against lipotoxicity leading to apoptosis was also observed in gentiopicroside in the presence of 30 µM arachidonic acid with apoptosis reduced by over 50%. ROS production was reduced up to 60% by the pre-treatment of HepG2 cells with 20 µM, gentiopicroside, sweroside, swertiamarin, and silymarin, with the highest reduction observed in swertiamarin. It was concluded that phytochemicals gentiopicroside, sweroside, and swertiamarin play key roles in the hepatocyte protection against the cytotoxic effects of fatty acids. This protection is conferred by enhancing mitochondrial function in terms of increasing the maximal respiratory capacity in response to a high influx of fatty acids, promoting ATP production as well as scavenging ROS produced as a result of high fatty acid influx and increased mitochondrial respiration. Highlights: Gentiopicroside may minimise lipotoxicity leading to apoptosis and necrosis in hepatocytes in the presence of arachidonic acid. A pre-treatment of hepatocytes with phytochemicals, namely gentiopicroside, sweroside, and silymarin provides a degree of protection which may be attributed to the enhancement of mitochondrial function. Sweroside, silymarin, and swertiamarin may protect HepG2 and THLE-2 cells by scavenging ROS produced by arachidonic acid and the mitochondrial electron transport chain.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.3390/biom15050732
Wolfgang Weihs, Alexandra-Maria Stommel, Andrea Müllebner, Alexander Franz Szinovatz, Matthias Müller, Ingrid Magnet, Michael Holzer, Andrey V Kozlov, Sandra Högler, J Catharina Duvigneau
{"title":"Neurologic Deficit Score at 4-5 Days Post-eCPR Predicts Long-Term Brain Dysfunction in Rats Following Cardiac Arrest.","authors":"Wolfgang Weihs, Alexandra-Maria Stommel, Andrea Müllebner, Alexander Franz Szinovatz, Matthias Müller, Ingrid Magnet, Michael Holzer, Andrey V Kozlov, Sandra Högler, J Catharina Duvigneau","doi":"10.3390/biom15050732","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiac arrest (CA) survivors often develop long-term neurological deficits, but its long-term impact on vulnerable brain regions and neurological outcomes remains unclear. In a previous CA model with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, we found reduced heme oxygenase (HO) activity in the hippocampus and cortex 14 days post-CA, suggesting its potential as a functional outcome marker. Here, we used a rat model with 6 or 8 min of CA followed by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While in the 6 min-CA group, 67% survived to day 14, increased mortality within 4 days resulted in only 33% survival in the 8 min group post-ROSC. All animals displayed neurological impairment assessed by daily neurologic deficit scoring (NDS). While deficits declined within the first 3-4 days in the 6 min-CA animals, the 8 min-CA group showed significantly worse neurological outcomes until day 14. Two weeks post-CA, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative markers (HO-1, TNF-R1, Iba1, and GFAP) were elevated in the hippocampus, while HO and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex activities were reduced in all rats, indicating a decrease in anti-oxidative capacity and mitochondrial capacity for metabolizing glutamate. NDS at day 4-5 strongly correlated with the delayed CA-mediated enzymatic dysfunction determined in the hippocampus. This finding highlights this time point for identifying at-risk individuals and suggests a prolonged therapeutic intervention lasting at least until 4 days post-CA.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.3390/biom15050729
Jastrzębska-Miazga Irmina, Machna Bartosz, Wyględowska-Promieńska Dorota, Smędowski Adrian
{"title":"The Role of <i>Substance P</i> in Corneal Homeostasis.","authors":"Jastrzębska-Miazga Irmina, Machna Bartosz, Wyględowska-Promieńska Dorota, Smędowski Adrian","doi":"10.3390/biom15050729","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050729","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cornea, a highly innervated and avascular ocular tissue, relies on intricate neuro-immune interactions to maintain homeostasis. Among key neuromediators, substance P (SP)-a neuropeptide belonging to the tachykinin family-plays a dual role in corneal physiology and pathology. This review synthesizes current knowledge on SP's involvement in corneal innervation, epithelial homeostasis, immune regulation, neovascularization, and wound healing, while highlighting its dichotomous effects in both promoting tissue repair and exacerbating inflammation. SP, primarily signaling through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), influences corneal epithelial proliferation, barrier function, and wound healing by modulating cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. However, its overexpression is linked to pain sensitization, inflammatory keratitis, and corneal neovascularization, driven by interactions with immune cells (e.g., mast cells, neutrophils) and pro-angiogenic factors (e.g., VEGF). Clinical studies demonstrate altered SP levels in dry eye disease, neurotrophic keratitis, and post-refractive surgery, correlating with nerve damage and ocular surface dysfunction. Emerging therapies targeting SP pathways- such as NK1R antagonists (e.g., fosaprepitant) and SP-IGF-1 combinations-show promise for treating neurotrophic ulcers but face challenges due to SP's context-dependent actions. Future research should clarify the roles of NK2R/NK3R receptors and optimize SP-based interventions to balance its reparative and inflammatory effects. Understanding SP's multifaceted mechanisms could advance the development of therapies for corneal diseases, particularly those involving sensory neuropathy and immune dysregulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8943,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules","volume":"15 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}