Inhibition of Ultraviolet B-Induced Expression of the Proinflammatory Cytokines TNF-α and VEGF in the Cornea by Fucoxanthin Treatment in a Rat Model

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is the most common cause of radiation damage to the eyeball and is a risk factor for human corneal damage. We determined the protective effect of fucoxanthin, which is a carotenoid found in common edible seaweed, on ocular tissues against oxidative UVB-induced corneal injury. The experimental rats were intravenously injected with fucoxanthin at doses of 0.5, 5 mg/kg body weight/day or with a vehicle before UVB irradiation. Lissamine green for corneal surface staining showed that UVB irradiation caused serious damage on the corneal surface, including severe epithelial exfoliation and deteriorated epithelial smoothness. Histopathological lesion examination revealed that levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), significantly increased. However, pretreatment with fucoxanthin inhibited UVB radiation-induced corneal disorders including evident preservation of corneal surface smoothness, downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine expression, and decrease of infiltrated polymorphonuclear leukocytes from UVB-induced damage. Moreover, significant preservation of the epithelial integrity and inhibition of stromal swelling were also observed after UVB irradiation in fucoxanthin-treated groups. Pretreatment with fucoxanthin may protect against UVB radiation-induced corneal disorders by inhibiting expression of proinflammatory factors, TNF-α, and VEGF and by blocking polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration.     

Cover Image,Volume 74, Issue 6

The cover image, by Kimberly L Kanapeckas et al., is based on the Research Article Contrasting patterns of variation in weedy traits and unique crop features in divergent populations of US weedy rice (Oryza sativa sp.) in Arkansas and California, DOI: 10.1002/ps.4820 . Photo Credit: Amy Lawton‐Rauh.

     

Effects of alcohol-induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) pretreated whey protein concentrate (WPC) on oxidative damage

Excessive alcohol consumption can induce apoptosis in a variety of tissues and influence the antioxidant status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This paper investigates the effects of whey protein concentrate (WPC) pretreated in PBMC on the apoptosis and antioxidant status after the treatment of alcohol. The results show that the percentages of apoptotic cells in the alcohol-treated group were higher than those in the group without alcohol treatment. Additionally, there was higher glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GPx) activity when the PBMC were treated with 300 mg/dL of alcohol. With regard to the activity of GSH reductase (GRx), there was higher activity in the group pretreated with WPC than in the group with the treatment of alcohol only. On the contrary, the levels of GSH were reduced after the treatment of alcohol, but there was a higher level of GSH in the group pretreated with WPC. In this study, it was found that the increased level of GSH in PBMC might not be attributed to the effect of GRx because there was still a higher level of GSH in the group with the treatment of WPC and BCNU (a GRx inhibitor) in this study. The results indicated that PBMC pretreated with WPC might ameliorate alcohol-induced effects such as imbalance of the antioxidant status.     

Nylon textiles grafted with chitosan by open air plasma and their antimicrobial effect

Chitosan is a natural non-toxic biopolymer and is widely used in various fields because of the antimicrobial activities. In this study, the properties of nylon textiles grafted with chitosan oligomer or chitosan polymer after being activated by open air plasma were evaluated. Results showed that nylon textiles grafted with chitosan polymer had better antibacterial performances than those grafted with chitosan oligomer. Air plasma activation at a higher speed (26 m/min) for a few times facilitated the grafting of chitosan and critically determined the antibacterial activities. Further treatment with air plasma after grafting improved the antibacterial effect. Overall, chitosan-grafted nylon textiles showed good antibacterial potential as well as biocompatibility.     

Heritability of spotted wilt resistance in a Florida‐EP™ “113”‐derived peanut (Arachis hypogaea) population

Spotted wilt, caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), is a major disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea ) in the south‐eastern United States. Cultivar resistance is the most important factor in disease control. However, spotted wilt resistance in current cultivars still carries risk in the absence of other practices when disease is severe. In contrast, a newly developed cultivar, Florida‐EP? “113,” has demonstrated excellent resistance even when spotted wilt is severe. Information on heritability of this resistance can help breeders better utilize it in breeding. F₂‐derived populations from the cross Florida‐EP? “113”/Georgia Valencia were developed and tested in field experiments in Florida from 2012 to 2014. Disease symptoms were evaluated visually, and the frequency of TSWV infection was measured by ImmunoStrip^®. Heritability estimated from ImmunoStrip^® was higher (0.66) compared to visual ratings (0.48). Genetic correlations among evaluation methods (r _A = 0.92–0.99) and environments (r _B = 0.86–0.99) were high. These results indicate that resistance in Florida‐EP? “113” is highly heritable and that selection in a high disease risk environment is feasible without significant erosion of genetic gain.     

Genome-wide InDel marker system for application in rice breeding and mapping studies

In order to widen the genetic basis for local rice breeding programs, a set of 506 PCR-based novel insertion/deletion (InDel) markers were designed. The markers have size differences larger than 30 base-pairs and were generated by published genome sequences of rice (Oryza sativa L.) indica and japonica subspecies. Among the 506 InDel markers, 133 markers are polymorphic between the selected parents Taiken 2 and Taichung Sen 10, which are elite Taiwanese japonica and indica varieties, respectively. The InDel to amplicon size ratios, based on the japonica template, were in the range of 8.8–45.6 %, with an average of 21.6 %. As a result, the PCR product can be efficiently separated and easily scored by running 30 min of non-submerging electrophoresis on 2–3 % agarose gels. Commonly observed non-parental bands originated from heteroduplex are considered beneficial in distinguishing homo- and hetero-zygotes. A linkage map constructed solely on these markers arranged in 12 linkage groups and extended over 1,413.9 cM with an average distance of 9.8 cM between markers, based on a segregating population of 286 F₂ individuals derived from a cross between Taiken 2 and Taichung Sen 10. The result indicated that InDel markers with moderate size differences were abundant and uniformly distributed across the whole genome of rice. Due to their simplicity in design and robustness in genotyping, these InDel markers have been routinely used in our quantitative trait loci mapping studies and marker-assisted selection programs for rice. We suggest that InDel markers with moderate size differences could be a valuable alternative in addition to the widely used SSR and SNP markers for rice breeding, and particularly suitable for field laboratories at breeding stations and/or laboratories with limited resources.