CXCR2 antagonist SB332235 mitigates deficits in social behavior and dysregulation of Th1/Th22 and T regulatory cell-related transcription factor signaling in male BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mouse model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorders is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal social interaction, defective communication, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors or interests. The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) inbred mice are generally used as a model for ASD, display a range of autistic phenotypes. Recent studies suggest that the CXCR2 antagonist is crucial for targets in the treatment of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of the CXCR2 antagonist SB332235 on sociability behaviors, marble burying, and self-grooming, we also explored the treatment of SB332235 on Th1 (IFN-γ, Stat1, and T-bet), Th22 (IL-22, TNF-α, and AhR), and T regulatory (Treg, IL-10, Helios and Foxp3) production in CD4+ T cells in male BTBR and C57BL/6 (C57) mice in spleen. We also investigated the effects of SB332235 on IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-22, T-bet, AhR, and Foxp3 mRNA expression levels in the brain tissues. The SB332235-treated mice significantly improve behavioral abnormalities in BTBR mice. In addition, SB332235 administration causes a significantly decreases in IFN-γ, Stat1, T-bet, IL-22, TNF-α, and AhR, and increases in IL-10, Foxp3 and Helios production CD4+ T cells in BTBR mice. We further observed that SB332235 downregulated IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-22, T-bet, and AhR, and upregulated IL-10 and Foxp3 mRNA expression in the brain tissues. Our findings demonstrated that SB332235 treatment attenuated behavior deficits, through inhibiting Th1/Th22 and upregulating Treg cell-related transcription factors signaling pathway. Therefore, CXCR2 antagonist administration may be a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate behavior deficits via its anti-inflammatory effect.

Albekairi NA ，Nadeem A ，Ansari MA ，Attia SM ，Bakheet SA ，Alanazi MM ，Alhamed AS ，Albekairi TH ，Al-Mazroua HA ，Ibrahim KE ，Ahmad SF ... -  《-》

A potent and selective CXCR2 antagonist improves neuroimmune dysregulation through the inhibition of NF-κB and notch inflammatory signaling in the BTBR mouse model of autism.

Autism comprises a broad range of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Chemokine receptor CXCR2 is expressed on neurons and is upregulated in neurological disorders. BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model for autism that shows the core features of ASD. Here, we studied the anti-inflammatory effect of a potent and selective CXCR2 antagonist SB332235 in the BTBR mice. The CXCR2 antagonist represents a promising therapeutic agent for several neuroinflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of SB332235 administration on NF-κB-, Notch-1-, Notch-3-, GM-CSF-, MCP-1-, IL-6-, and IL-2- and TGF-β1-expressing CD40+ cells in BTBR and C57BL/6 (C57) mice in the spleen cells by flow cytometry. We further assessed the effect of SB332235 treatment on NF-κB, Notch-1, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-2 mRNA expression levels in the brain tissue by RT-PCR. We also explored the effect of SB332235 administration on NF-κB, GM-CSF, IL-6, and TGF-β1 protein expression levels in the brain tissue by western blotting. The SB332235-treated BTBR mice significantly decreases in CD40 + NF-κB+, CD40 + Notch-1+, CD40 + Notch-3+, CD40 + GM-CSF+, CD40 + MCP-1+, CD40 + IL-6+, and CD40 + IL-2+, and increases in CD40 + TGF-β1+ in the spleen cells. Our results further demonstrated that BTBR mice treated with SB332235 effectively decreased NF-κB, Notch-1, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-2, increasing TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression levels in the brain tissue. In conclusion, these results indicate that SB332235 elicits an anti-inflammatory response by downregulating the inflammatory mediators and NF-κB/Notch inflammatory signaling in BTBR mice. This could represent a promising novel therapeutic target for autism treatment.

Alomar HA ，Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Attia SM ，Bakheet SA ，Al-Mazroua HA ，Hussein MH ，Alqarni SA ，Ahmad SF ... -  《-》

S3I-201, a selective Stat3 inhibitor, restores neuroimmune function through upregulation of Treg signaling in autistic BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose symptoms include communication deficits, a lack of social skills, and stereotyped repetitive behaviors. We used BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model that demonstrates most of the core behavioral features of ASD, such as decreased sociability and high levels of repetitive behaviors. Currently, there is no treatment available that is able to improve most of the ASD disorder symptoms; thus, finding novel therapies is immediately required. Stat3 inhibitors are potential targets in the treatment of several immune disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of S3I-201, a selective Stat3 inhibitor, to determine its potential mechanism in BTBR mice. In this study, we first examined the effects of S3I-201 on repetitive behavior and marble burying. We also examined the treatment of S3I-201 on Th1 (IFN-γ and T-bet), Th17 (IL-17A, RORγt, Stat3, IL-21, and IL-22), and T regulatory (Treg, Foxp3 and Helios) production in spleen CD4+ T cells. We further assessed Th1, Th17, and Treg mRNA and protein expression levels in brain tissues. S3I-201 treatment in BTBR mice significantly prevents marble burying and repetitive behavior. Furthermore, S3I-201 administration causes a considerable decrease in IFN-γ, T-bet, IL-17A, RORγt, Stat3, IL-21, and IL-22 levels, and increases in Foxp3 and Helios production CD4+ T cells in BTBR mice. Additionally, S3I-201 treatment also significantly decreases Th1 and Th17 levels, and increases Treg mRNA and protein expression levels. Therefore, these results suggest that S3I-201 could be considered as a therapeutic option for ASD.

Ahmad SF ，Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Bakheet SA ，Alshammari MA ，Khan MR ，Alsaad AMS ，Attia SM ... -  《-》

Aflatoxin B(1) Exposure Aggravates Neurobehavioral Deficits and Immune Dysfunctions of Th1, Th9, Th17, Th22, and T Regulatory Cell-Related Transcription Factor Signaling in the BTBR T(+)Itpr3(tf)/J Mouse Model of Autism.

Alwetaid MY ，Almanaa TN ，Bakheet SA ，Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Attia SM ，Hussein MH ，Ahmad SF ... -  《-》

The potent immunomodulatory compound VGX-1027 regulates inflammatory mediators in CD4(+) T cells, which are concomitant with the prevention of neuroimmune dysregulation in BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by symptoms that include social communication impairments, interaction deficits, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Recent studies have suggested that imbalanced cytokine levels are associated with impaired behavioral outcomes in individuals with ASD. VGX-1027 is a potent immunomodulatory compound that has shown promise for the treatment of several neuroinflammatory disorders. Here, we studied the effects of VGX-1027 on BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, an animal model of autism. BTBR mice exhibit most of the core behavioral features of ASD, such as reduced sociability and increased repetitive behaviors. In this study, we investigated the effects of VGX-1027 on self-grooming, marble burying and sociability tests using BTBR mice. We further examined its effect on IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and NF-κB p65 production in splenic CD4+ cells and on IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2, and iNOS (NOS2) protein and mRNA expression in brain tissues. The administration of VGX-1027 was found to attenuate self-grooming and marble burying behaviors, and enhance social interactions in BTBR mice. Additionally, VGX-1027 treatment resulted in a substantial decrease in IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and NF-κB p65 production, but increased IL-10 production in CD4+ T cells. Moreover, this agent was also found to significantly decrease IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2, and NOS2 levels and increase IL-10 expression at the protein and mRNA level in brain tissues. Based on results using BTBR mice, our data provide the first evidence that VGX-1027 could potentially be used for the amelioration of autism-like symptoms.

Ahmad SF ，Nadeem A ，Ansari MA ，Bakheet SA ，Alasmari F ，Alasmari AF ，Al-Kharashi LA ，Al-Qahtani QH ，Attia SM ... -  《-》