Role of PERK pathway in morphine-induced myocardial protection of H9c2 cells

AIM: To explore whether morphine protects oxidative stress-damaged myocardial cells by inhibiting the PERK pathway to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress and prevent mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. METHODS: Rat myocardial H9c2 cells were cultured to establish an oxidative stress model, and then randomly divided into control group, H₂O₂ group, H₂O₂+morphine group, H₂O₂+morphine+PERK pathway inhibitor GSK2656157 group, morphine group and GSK2656157 group. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the effects of morphine on expression of glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 and GRP94 induced by oxidative stress. The protein levels of PERK signaling pathway-related molecules were determined by Western blot. Confocal microscopy was used to observe the effects of morphine on mPTP opening and endoplasmic reticulum induced by oxidative stress. Cellular toxicity was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: Compared with control group, GRP78 and GRP94 proteins in H₂O₂ group were strongly expressed, and the brown-yellow particles were significantly increased, but morphine significantly inhibited this process. Compared with control group, the phosphorylation of PERK was significantly reduced with GSK2656157 treatment at different concentrations, among which 2 μmol/L had the most significant effect (P < 0.05). Oxidative stress significantly increased the protein levels of GRP78, GRP94, p-PERK and CHOP, but significantly decreased p-GSK-3β level. These changes were inhibited by morphine, and the effects of morphine were further enhanced by GSK2656157 (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, oxidative stress significantly reduced the fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial TMRE and ER-Tracker Red. Morphine significantly inhibited this effect even when mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced, mPTP was open, and endoplasmic reticulum was damaged, while GSK2656157 further enhanced the effect of morphine (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, H₂O₂ significantly increased cellular toxicity and decreased the cell viability. Morphine inhibited this effect and GSK2656157 significantly enhanced the effect of morphine (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Morphine protects cardiac H9c2 cells under oxidative condition by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress through PERK pathway and preventing the mPTP opening via GSK-3β inactivation.     

Effects of apelin-13 on oxidative stress induced by high uric acid in adipocytes

AIM: To study the effects of apelin-13 on oxidative stress induced by high uric acid in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: 3T3-L1 adipocytes were stimulated with uric acid at 10 mg/dL for 48 h. Some of the adipocytes were administered with 1 μmol/L apelin-13 in the presence of uric acid at 10 mg/dL. The adipocytes stimulated with 100 μmol/L H₂O₂ were served as positive controls. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations were detected by flow cytometry. The biochemical kits were used to measure the activities of superotide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cell lysate and the supernatant. The mRNA levels of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components, including angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin-converting enzyrne1 (ACE1), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and AT2R, as well as angiotensin II receptor -like 1 (APJ) were measured by real-time PCR. The concentrations of angiotensin II (AngⅡ) in the cell lysate and the supernatant were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Adipocytes stimulated with uric acid at 10 mg/dL had lower activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-PX and CAT) and higher levels of NOX activity and MDA content (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the intracellular ROS levels were found to be dramatically increased. However, apelin-13 administration attenuated uric acid-induced oxidative stress in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Uric acid at 10 mg/dL upregulated the mRNA expression of local RAS, enhanced AngⅡ concentrations both in the cell lysate and the supernatant, and down-regulated the mRNA level of APJ in the adipocytes (P < 0.05). Conversely, apelin-13 partially reversed these parameters. CONCLUSION: Apelin-13 attenuates oxidative stress induced by uric acid, may be via down-regulation of local RAS expression in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

小冠开心形和细型主干形‘玉露香’梨光能截获与光合作用差异

小冠开心形和细型主干形是黄土高原梨树生产中的主要树形模式。为阐述这两种树形对冠层光能截获和叶片光合功能的影响，以山西芮城县4年生的‘玉露香’梨为试材，2017年和2018年连续两年测定了冠层截获的光合有效辐射PAR、叶片光合的光响应特性、荧光淬灭动力学特性以及光午休期间叶片的热耗散特性和光呼吸。结果表明：小冠开心形冠层不同方位和不同时刻截获的PAR均高于细型主干形，平均提高47.6%；与细型主干形相比，小冠开心形叶片光响应的最大净光合速率Pnmax,p与光饱和点LSP显著升高；光合碳同化过程的3个限制因子中，磷酸丙糖利用速率Vtpu对冠层光环境变化最敏感。正午强光胁迫下，小冠开心形叶片光呼吸速率Pr与总光合速率Pg的比例（Pr/Pg）比细型主干形叶片提高58.5%，NPQ中可恢复组分r(qE)提高了8.9%，而不可恢复组分r(qI)降低了75.0%。两种树形相比，小冠开心形梨树冠层可截获更多的光能，叶片的光合能力更强，强光胁迫时能够通过更高效的热耗散和光呼吸进行自我保护，可作为黄土高原产区梨树适宜树形。     

黄瓜耐盐性与耐盐相关基因的研究进展

黄瓜是重要的设施蔬菜之一,由于其根系具有脆弱、好气、分布较浅的特点,对盐渍环境适应性较差,土壤盐渍化已成为影响其产量和品质的主要限制因素。本文主要从光合作用、离子毒害、细胞膜和抗氧化酶等角度阐述了黄瓜对盐胁迫的反应及其基本的耐盐机理,介绍了黄瓜耐盐(包括与Na~+/K~+、植物激素和活性氧的调节)相关基因的研究进展,并指出了黄瓜耐盐性研究中存在的问题,旨在为揭示黄瓜的耐盐机理与耐盐育种提供理论参考。     

低盐胁迫下松江鲈HSPB1、HSPB7和HSPB11基因的表达变化规律

为了探究小分子热休克蛋白基因HSPB1、HSPB7和HSPB11在松江鲈(Trachidermus fasciatus)应对低盐胁迫过程中的调节作用,本研究基于前期转录组数据,获取3个目标基因的序列信息并进行了系统进化分析,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了3个基因在两种低盐胁迫处理下不同时间点(0 h、12 h、24 h和48 h)在鳃、肠、肾和肝组织中的表达水平。系统进化分析结果表明, HSPB1、HSPB7和HSPB11基因分别聚类形成独立分支;在各基因分支中,松江鲈与已报道的鲈形目、鲤形目和鳉形目等鱼种共同聚为硬骨鱼类分支。在两种低盐胁迫处理下, 3个基因在鳃组织中的表达量均在12h显著升高,而在肠、肾和肝组织中的表达量则呈现不同的变化趋势。肠组织中,HSPB7和HSPB11在盐度渐变低盐胁迫(盐度变化速率1.1/h)下表达量均显著升高, HSPB1表达量在48 h显著降低;盐度骤变低盐胁迫(盐度变化速率27/h)下HSPB1和HSPB7表达量在24 h显著升高, HSPB11表达量显著降低。肾组织中,HSPB1、HSPB7和HSPB11表达量均仅在盐度渐变低盐胁迫24h显著升高;盐度骤变低盐胁迫下HSPB1表达量显著降低, HSPB7和HSPB11表达量则显著升高。肝组织中, HSPB7无表达; HSPB1表达量在盐度渐变低盐胁迫下无显著变化,但在盐度骤变低盐胁迫下则显著升高;HSPB11表达量在两种处理下均显著升高。本研究比较分析了HSPB1、HSPB7和HSPB11基因在松江鲈应对不同低盐胁迫时表达变化规律的异同,相关结果为探讨小分子热休克蛋白在鱼类应激调节过程中的作用及洄游性鱼类适应盐度变化的分子调控机制提供了理论依据。     

Changes in blood biomarkers in Arabian horses with Clostridium difficile-induced enterocolitis

Clostridium difficile (CD) is considered a major health care problem both in developing and developed countries; frequently reported to be associated with enterocolitis and diarrhea in horses and other animals. In this study, we examined acute phase response (APR), cytokines response, neopterin (NP) procalcitonin (PCT) production and oxidative stress condition in horses and foals with C. difficile-induced enterocolitis (CDIE) and evaluated the effectiveness of these parameters as biomarkers for the disease. A total of 407 Arabian horses in 35 stables were examined between January 2017 to December 2018. Only 24 out of 407 horses showed two or more signs of CDIE. The blood level of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (HP), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL1-β), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), PCT and NPT in horses with CDIE were higher than in healthy horses. Nevertheless, the levels of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant concentration (TAC) were considerably lower in diseased horses compared to those that were healthy. The ROC curves for eleven selected blood parameters, both in healthy horses and horses with CDIE demonstrated that all examined blood markers had significant levels of differentiation between CDIE cases and healthy controls (AUC > 87.5). The data in this study suggest that the evaluation of acute-phase proteins, cytokines, PCT, NPT, and oxidative stress biomarkers may well be used as a tool for diagnosis and assessment of CDIE and in disease pathogenesis in Arabian horses.     

Gastrointestinal motility modulation by stress is associated with reduced smooth muscle contraction through specific transient receptor potential channel

Excessive stress response causes disability in social life. There are many diseases caused by stress, such as gastrointestinal motility disorders, depression, eating disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels underlie non-selective cation currents and are downstream effectors of G protein-coupled receptors. Ca²⁺ influx is important for smooth muscle contraction, which is responsible for gastrointestinal motility. Little is known about the possible involvement of TRP channels in the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress. The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in gastrointestinal motility caused by stress and to elucidate the mechanism of these changes. The stress model used the water immersion restraint stress. Gastrointestinal motility, especially the ileum, was recorded responses to electric field stimulation (EFS) by isometric transducer. EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Even under the conditions treated with atropine, EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. In addition, carbachol-induced, neurokinin A-induced, and substance P-induced contractions were all significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Furthermore, the expression of TRPC3 was decreased in the ileum of stressed mouse. These results suggest that the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress is associated with specific non-selective cation channel.     

Captopril exerts myocardial protective effect in coronary microembolization rats by inhibiting oxidative stress injury and alleviating inflammatory response

AIM: To investigate the effects of captopril (CAP) on oxidative stress injury and inflammatory response induced by coronary microembolization (CME) and its related molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The rat model of CME was established by clamping the rat artery and injecting blood microemboli. The rats were divided into control group, CME group and CME+CAP group, with 6 rats in each group. The myocardial tissues of each group were collected. The changes of myocardial structure and the degree of inflammatory response were analyzed by HE staining. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. The fluorescence intensity of cleaved caspase-3 was detected by immunofluorescence obervation. The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were determined by Western blot. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase was measured by ELISA. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by DHE fluorescence staining. RESULTS: CAP significantly reduced the myocardial structural changes (P<0.05), inflammatory cell infiltration (P<0.01), number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes (P<0.01), the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax (P<0.01), and ROS production levels (P<0.01), but promoted the activity of antioxidant markers SOD and catalase (P<0.01) in the CME rats.CONCLUSION: CAP attenuates CME-induced myocardial injury by resisting oxidative stress and alleviating inflammatory response.     

Role of chlorogenic acid in endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice

AIM: To explore the effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Male db/db mice (n=12) were divided into control group and CGA group, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in CGA group were treated with diet containing 0.02% CGA, while the mice in control group were given normal diet only. The observation period was 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose level, tail blood pressure and the body weight were analyzed each week. At the end of the 12th week, the mice were anesthetized and blood was taken from carotid artery. The plasma levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), catalase (CAT), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) were measured by ELISA. The mouse aortas were isolated, and the superoxide anion and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by DHE and DAF-2 DA staining, respectively. Wire Myograph System was used to detect the vasorelaxation of db/db mouse aorta. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylated endothelial NO synthase (p-eNOS), P22^phox and P47^phox were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Dietary CGA decreased fasting blood glucose and body weight in db/db mice as compared with control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The plasma levels of HO-1, CAT, NQO1 and GPx-1 in CGA group were higher than those in control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Administration of CGA for 12 weeks attenuated superoxide anion level, increased NO level in the mouse endothelium and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation of the db/db mouse aorta. CGA also increased the protein levels of PPARα, Nrf2, p-AMPK and p-eNOS, and decreased P22^phox and P47^phox levels (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Dietary CGA improves db/db mouse endothelium-dependent relaxation. This effect may be related to the increases in the levels of antioxidant molecules PPARα, Nrf2 and p-AMPK, and the up-regulation of antioxidant capacity, thus decreasing the oxidative stress, promoting eNOS phosphorylation, and increasing NO level.