Wuzi Yanzong Pill improves Parkinson's disease via miR-146a-5p/USP3/NF-κB axis

Neuroinflammation, characterized by dysregulated activation of microglia, is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Nevertheless, therapeutic strategies aimed at the mechanism of inflammation resolution remain limited.

This study integrated PD clinical cohorts, MPTP-induced and miR-146a-induced mouse models, as well as LPS-stimulated and miR-146a-activated cell models. Combined with omics analysis, behavioral detection and molecular biology experiments, we systematically evaluated the anti-inflammatory protective effects of Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WYP). The active plant metabolites of WYP were identified using a combination of UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS, AP-SMALDI Orbitrap MSI, and pharmacokinetic analysis.

In PD patients, WYP significantly improved motor dysfunction, inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines, and elevated neurotransmitter levels. Exosomal miRNA sequencing analysis indicated that miR-146a-5p may serve as a biomarker for PD and is positively correlated with disease severity. Animal experiments further showed that WYP improved motor symptoms and neuroinflammation in MPTP- and miR-146a-induced PD mice models. A dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed ubiquitin specific peptidase 3 (USP3) as a direct target gene of miR-146a-5p. In an LPS-activated BV2 microglial cell model, WYP intervention reduced the content of miR-146a-5p in cell-derived exosomes and mitigated their pro-inflammatory damaging effects on neuronal cells. Component analysis revealed that 16 plant metabolites in WYP can enter the bloodstream, among which 11 can cross into the brain. Notably, geniposidic acid, hyperoside, kaempferol, protocatechuic acid, and schisandrol A significantly suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in BV2 cells, suggesting that they may be the main active components underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of WYP.

WYP improves PD by regulating the miR-146a-5p/USP3/NF-κB pathway. Meanwhile, the active plant metabolites of WYP have been identified. These findings provide experimental evidence for WYP as a potential therapeutic agent for PD.