二氢槲皮素与二氢杨梅素抗炎活性对比研究

构建巨噬细胞验证模型,比较研究二氢槲皮素(Dihydroquercetin,taxifolin,TF)和二氢杨梅素(Dihydromyricetin,DMY)体外抗炎活性。以1 mg/L的脂多糖(LPS)诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞建立了体外炎症模型;通过细胞毒性试验(MTT)法检测细胞存活率;Griess试剂法测定细胞上清液中NO(一氧化氮)释放量;ELISA法检测上清液中细胞因子IL-1β(白细胞介素-1β)、IL-6(白细胞介素-6)、TNF-α(肿瘤坏死因子α)和PGE2(前列腺素E2)的含量变化;通过RT-PCR法检测IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α基因表达情况。MTT试验结果表明,二氢槲皮素和二氢杨梅素各剂量组没有表现出对巨噬细胞RAW264.7的细胞毒性。同时,二氢槲皮素高中低剂量组和二氢杨梅素高中低剂量组均能显著抑制脂多糖诱导细胞对NO、PGE2的释放(P0.01),且均表现出剂量依赖性;二氢槲皮素高中低剂量组和二氢杨梅素高中低剂量组均能有效降低IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α基因的表达,同时能够降低脂多糖诱导细胞产生细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的含量。二氢槲皮素和二氢杨梅素均具有良好的体外抗炎作用,且二氢槲皮素的抗炎作用较好。     

Effects of fenugreek seed extract supplementation on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,diarrhoea scores,blood profiles,faecal microflora and faecal noxious gas emission in weanling piglets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary fenugreek seed extract (FSE) on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), diarrhoea scores, blood profiles, faecal microflora and faecal gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 135 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace)  × Duroc] with an average BW of (7.96 ± 1.03 kg; 28 days of age) were used in a 42‐day study. Piglets were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with nine replicate pens and five pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; FSE1, basal diet + 0.1% FSE; FSE2, basal diet + 0.2% FSE. Pigs were fed with phase 1 (0–14 days) and phase 2 (14–42 days) diets in the form of mash. Average daily gain (ADG) was linearly increased (p = 0.031) by FSE supplementation compared with CON diet during days 0–14. From days 14–42, FSE2 diet had increased ADG and growth efficiency (G/F) compared with the CON diet (p = 0.014 and 0.026 respectively). Moreover, ADG and G/F were increased by FSE supplementation during days 0–42 (linear, p = 0.037 and 0.014 respectively). Energy digestibility was higher (linear, p = 0.030) by FSE supplementation at 6 weeks. On day 42, dietary supplementation of FSE linearly increased red blood cells (RBC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration (p = 0.042 and 0.038 respectively). Piglets fed FSE2 diet had higher (linear, p = 0.025) serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) concentration compared with those fed CON diet. However, piglets fed FSE2 diet had linearly reduced faecal ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) gas emission compared with those fed the CON diet (p = 0.018 and 0.010 respectively). In conclusion, FSE supplementation increased the performance and reduced faecal gas emission in weanling pigs.     

胚胎期大鼠性腺生长与分化的研究

本试验旨在研究胚胎期大鼠性腺生长与分化的情况。选取12.5~15.5 dpc SD大鼠胚胎为研究对象,运用PCR技术进行大鼠胚胎性别鉴定,采用H-E技术对大鼠性腺分化形态进行观察。结果表明:12.5 d的鼠胚肾管已经开始形成,生殖嵴已经建立,此时仍无明显的性别分化形态;13.5 d的鼠胚开始出现性别分化的迹象,雄性的原始性索开始形成,雌性性腺分化比雄性稍晚,此期仍不易辨别出典型的卵巢特征结构;14.5 d的鼠胚性腺形态初步成型,此期性别明显分化,雄性的原始性索开始分化为实心原始生精小管,雌性胚胎中性腺分为两层,初步形成卵巢特征;15.5 d的鼠胚,雄性胚胎性腺中已经具有明显的曲精小管的雏形,雌性胚胎卵巢特征也开始明显。大鼠胚胎性腺从13.5 d胚龄时开始分化,15.5 d胚龄性腺特征明显。     

Differential regulation of senescence and in vitro differentiation by 17β-estradiol between mesenchymal stem cells derived from male and female mini-pigs

The characterization and potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are gender dependent and estrogen influences these properties. This study demonstrated that supplementation with 17β-estradiol (E2) increases the proliferation of bone marrow-MSCs derived from male and female mini-pigs (Mp- and Fp-BMSCs) in a concentration-dependent manner, with 10^-12 M E2 suggested as the optimal dose of E2 that led to the greatest improvement in BMSCs proliferation. Supplementation of 10^-12 M E2 resulted in down-regulation of β-galactosidase activity and pro-apoptotic activity in both BMSCs, while anti-apoptotic activity was up-regulated in only Fp-BMSCs. Further, E2 increased the osteogenic ability of Fp-BMSCs. Based on these findings, optimal utilization of E2 can improve cellular senescence and apoptosis, as well as in vitro osteogenesis of BMSCs, and could therefore be useful in stem cell therapy, particularly in bone regeneration for adult females.     

Effect of short‐chain fatty acids on triacylglycerol accumulation,lipid droplet formation and lipogenic gene expression in goat mammary epithelial cells

Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the major energy sources for ruminants and are known to regulate various physiological functions in other species. However, their roles in ruminant milk fat metabolism are still unclear. In this study, goat mammary gland epithelial cells (GMECs) were treated with 3 mmol/L acetate, propionate or butyrate for 24 h to assess their effects on lipogenesis. Data revealed that the content of triacylglycerol (TAG) and lipid droplet formation were significantly stimulated by propionate and butyrate. The expression of FABP3, SCD1, PPARG, SREBP1, DGAT1, AGPAT6 and ADRP were upregulated by propionate and butyrate treatment. In contrast, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of FASN and LXRα was not affected by propionate, but reduced by butyrate. Acetate had no obvious effect on the content of TAG and lipid droplets but increased the mRNA expression of SCD1 and FABP3 in GMECs. Additionally, it was observed that propionate significantly increased the relative content of mono‐unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1 and C16:1) at the expense of decreased saturated fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:0). Butyrate and acetate had no significant effect on fatty acid composition. Overall, the results from this work help enhance our understanding of the regulatory role of SCFAs on goat mammary cell lipid metabolism.     

Predicting clinical outcome in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: tumour initiating cells,telomeres and telomerase

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has very poor prognosis. Here, a retrospective pilot study was conducted on 20 feline oral SCC patients who underwent stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), to evaluate: (1) the value of putative tumour initiating cell (TIC) markers of human head and neck SCC (CD44, Bmi‐1); (2) telomere length (TL) specifically in putative TICs; and (3) tumour relative telomerase activity (TA). Significant inverse correlations were found between treatment outcomes and Bmi‐1 expression, supporting the predictive value of Bmi‐1 as a negative prognostic indicator. While TL exhibited a wide range of variability, particularly in very short fractions, many tumours possessed high levels of TA, which correlated with high levels of Bmi‐1, Ki67 and EGFR. Taken together, our results imply that Bmi‐1 and telomerase may represent novel therapeutic targets in feline oral SCC, as their inhibition – in combination with SRT – would be expected to have beneficial treatment outcome.     

Protective effect of procyanidin single active ingredient B2 on human endothelial progenitor cells under high glucose stimulation

AIM: To study the protective effect of procyanidin single active ingredient B2(PC-B2) on human endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) stimulated with high glucose. METHODS: The human EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy people and identified. The EPCs were divided into control group(PBS treatment), hypertonic control group(25 mmol/L mannitol treatment), high glucose(30 mmol/L) group, and different concentrations(2, 10 and 50 mg/L) of PC-B2+30 mmol/L glucose groups. The viability of EPCs was detected by CCK-8 assay. The levels of LDH, MDA, SOD and GSH in the EPCs were detected. The changes of NO, ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the EPCs cultured medium were measured by ELISA. The cell apoptotic rate and reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the EPCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in the EPCs were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the viability of human EPCs was decreased significantly in 30 mmol/L glucose group(P<0.05). The LDH leakage, MDA content and the releases of ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were induced significantly(P<0.05), but SOD and GSH activity and NO production were decreased significantly(P<0.05). The ROS and cell apoptotic rate were increased significantly(P<0.05). The expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in the EPCs were decreased(P<0.05). When human EPCs were treated with different concentrations of PC-B2 and 30 mmol/L glucose, the viability was obviously rebounded(P<0.05), the LDH leakage, MDA content and the releases of ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were decreased gradually(P<0.05), the SOD, GSH activity and NO production were increased significantly(P<0.05), the ROS and cell apoptotic rate were decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in the EPCs was increased gradually(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: PC-B2 enhances the viability of human EPCs under high glucose condition, reduces high glucose-induced oxidative damage, restores the EPCs normal function, and reduces the releases of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis, thus playing a protective effect on human EPCs through inducing the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2.     

N-acetylcysteine protects H9c2 cells against injuries induced by methyl-glyoxal

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) on H9c2 cells from injuries induced by methylglyoxal(MG) and the potential mechanism. METHODS: H9c2 cells were divided into control group, MG treatment group, NAC + MG treatment group, SP600125 pretreatment + MG group, NAC group and SP600125 group. The viability of the H9c2 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The protein levels of p-JNK and t-JNK were tested by Western blot. The changes of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) were evaluated by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA) staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) was measured by rhodamine 123(Rh123) staining. The morphological changes in apoptotic cardiomyocytes were detected by Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: Du-ring 100~800μmol/L concentration range, MG caused significantly reduced viability of the H9c2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. NAC had a protective effect on H9c2 cells against the injuries induced by MG during 500~1500μmol/L concentration range through raising cell viability, inhibiting cellular oxidative stress and improving MMP(P<0.01). SP600125, an inhibitor of JNK, showed the protective effect similar to NAC on H9c2 cells against MG-induced injuries, including attenuating oxidative stress, improving MMP and suppressing apoptosis.CONCLUSION: N-acetylcysteine offers obvious protective effect on H9c2 cells against the injuries induced by methylglyoxal. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with decreasing the production of ROS, ameliorating MMP, inhibiting the activation of JNK and suppressing apoptosis.     

Docosahexaenoic acid protects human retinal pigment epithelial cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

AIM: To observe the effect of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) on H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelium cells and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelium cell line ARPE-19 was cultured in vitro, and 12.5 mmol/L H₂O₂ was used to mimic the oxidative stress condition. The cells were treated with 30~100μmol/L DHA for 4~24 h. The expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) at mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The enzymic activity of HO-1 was measured by colorimetry. Production of reactive oxygen species(ROS) was determined by fluorescent probe. Activation of NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2) was examined by immunofluorescence method. Apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression and the enzymic activity of HO-1 were significantly increased in the ARPE-19 cells after DHA treatment. Meanwhile, nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was also observed. Apoptosis appeared and ROS was produced upon H₂O₂ incubation. In contrast, DHA at 100μmol/L significantly abrogated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and ROS production. Furthermore, silencing of HO-1 by specific siRNA, or treatment with ZnPP, an inhibitor of HO-1, partly counteracted the protective effect against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and ROS production. CONCLUSION: DHA protects retinal pigment epithelial cells against oxidative stress via induction of heme oxygenase-1 expression after Nrf2 activation.