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Sinomenine alleviates neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by promoting M2 microglial polarization and inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis via exosomal miRNA-223-3p
Qu Yang, Qi Chen, Kai-Bing Zhang, Yu Liu, Jia-Cheng Zheng, Dong-Xia Hu, Jun Luo. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 2025-03-05
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a major contributor to vascular dementia, with neuroinflammation playing a central role in its pathogenesis. Sinomenine (SINO), a natural alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has shown significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, its efficacy and mechanism of action in CCH remain unclear. In this study, we established a CCH rat model through bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and administered 10 mg/kg of SINO daily. Behavioral tests demonstrated that SINO significantly improved cognitive and memory functions in CCH rats. Histological analysis revealed that SINO effectively reduced neuroinflammation and damage in the hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG regions. Mechanistically, SINO promoted microglial polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype, markedly inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Further exploration of its neuroprotective mechanism showed that exosomes from SINO-treated microglia were enriched with miRNA-223-3p, which suppressed NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in neurons. While our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of SINO, further studies are needed to validate its safety and efficacy in diverse populations and chronic settings. In summary, this study not only demonstrates SINO's regulatory effect on microglial polarization in CCH but also unveils a novel neuroprotective mechanism through exosomal miRNA-223-3p delivery, providing a solid theoretical foundation for SINO's potential as a treatment for CCH.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Yang, Q., Chen, Q., Zhang, K.-B., Liu, Y., Zheng, J.-C., Hu, D.-X., et al. (2025). Sinomenine alleviates neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by promoting M2 microglial polarization and inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis via exosomal miRNA-223-3p. Acta Neuropathologica Communications. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-025-01950-z
Vancouver
Yang Q, Chen Q, Zhang K.-B, Liu Y, Zheng J.-C, Hu D.-X, et al. Sinomenine alleviates neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by promoting M2 microglial polarization and inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis via exosomal miRNA-223-3p. Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 2025. doi:10.1186/s40478-025-01950-z. PMID: 40045356.
BibTeX
@article{yang2025-40045356,
author = {Yang, Qu and Chen, Qi and Zhang, Kai-Bing and Liu, Yu and Zheng, Jia-Cheng and Hu, Dong-Xia and Luo, Jun},
title = {{Sinomenine alleviates neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by promoting M2 microglial polarization and inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis via exosomal miRNA-223-3p}},
journal = {Acta Neuropathologica Communications},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s40478-025-01950-z},
pmid = {40045356},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-025-01950-z}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Sinomenine (SINO), a natural alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has shown significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
- Behavioral tests demonstrated that SINO significantly improved cognitive and memory functions in CCH rats.
- Histological analysis revealed that SINO effectively reduced neuroinflammation and damage in the hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG regions.
- Further exploration of its neuroprotective mechanism showed that exosomes from SINO-treated microglia were enriched with miRNA-223-3p, which suppressed NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in neurons.
- While our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of SINO, further studies are needed to validate its safety and efficacy in diverse populations and chronic settings.
Why it matters
In rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, sinomenine improved cognitive and memory function and reduced neuroinflammation, apparently by shifting microglia to an anti-inflammatory state and suppressing neuronal pyroptosis via exosomal miRNA-223-3p. The authors state that further studies are needed to validate its safety and efficacy, so it is not yet a treatment for people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Acta Neuropathologica Communications) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Acta Neuropathologica Communications: journal h-index 129 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 25 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 25 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jun Luo: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nanchang University: institution h-index 361 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40045356) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-01950-z
- PubMed: 40045356
- Original source →
- Free full text: Acta Neuropathologica Communications →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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