Therapeutic Potential of Phlorotannin-Rich Ecklonia cava Extract on Methylglyoxal-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in In Vitro Model

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Methylglyoxal (MGO), one of the major precursors of AGEs, is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phlorotannin-rich Ecklonia cava extract (ECE) on MGO-induced diabetic nephropathy in in vitro models using mouse glomerular mesangial cells. ECE showed anti-glycation activity via breaking of AGEs-collagen cross-links and inhibition of AGEs formation and AGE-collagen cross-linking formation. The renoprotective effects were determined by assessing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MGO accumulation, cell apoptosis, and the Nrf-2/ARE signaling pathway. MGO-induced renal damage, intracellular ROS production level, and MGO-protein adduct accumulation were significantly decreased by pretreating ECE. Moreover, ECE pretreatment exhibited preventive properties against MGO-induced dicarbonyl stress via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and reduction of RAGE protein expression in mouse glomerular mesangial cells. Collectively, these results indicated potential anti-glycation properties and prominent preventive effects of ECE against MGO-induced renal damage. Additionally, ECE may be utilized for the management of AGE-related diabetic nephropathy.     

禽致病性大肠杆菌Hcp2b对雏鸡气管黏膜细胞因子-细胞因子受体相互作用通路的影响

T6SS(type Ⅵ secretion system)是革兰阴性菌中常见的一种分泌系统,其效应蛋白Hcp2b作用机制迄今仍未明晰.本研究以禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)Hcp2b蛋白为研究主体,旨在探究Hcp2b蛋白在APEC感染鸡气管黏膜过程中发挥...     

Knockdown of HMGA2 gene inhibits TGF-β1-induced human embryonic lung fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis

AIM: To investigate the effects of high mobility group A2(HMGA2) gene knockdown on the cell viability, apoptosis, collagen synthesis and oxidative stress of human embryonic lung fibroblast (HELF) induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). METHODS: The HELF were divided into blank group, TGF-β1 group,negative control (NC) group and HMGA2 siRNA(si-HMGA2) group. The protein levels of HMGA2, AKT and p-AKT were determined by Western blot. The cell viability and apoptotic rate was analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry,respectively. The mRNA expression of collagen I (COL-Ⅰ) and COL-Ⅲ was detected by RT-qPCR. DCFH-DA was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS: Compared with blank group, the protein levels of HMGA2 and p-AKT, the cell viability, the mRNA expression of COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲ in TGF-β1 group were significantly increased, but the apoptotic rate and ROS level were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with TGF-β1 group, the protein levels of HMGA2 and p-AKT, the cell viability, the mRNA expression of COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲ in si-HMGA2 group were significantly decreased, but the apoptotic rate and ROS level were significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Knockdown of HMGA2 gene expression decreases the viability and collagen synthesis, and promotes apoptosis and ROS production of human embryonic lung fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.     

显微注射胚胎干细胞对长爪沙鼠胚胎发育的影响

将不同数量的成系的小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES细胞)显微注射注入长爪沙鼠(Merionesunguiculatus)的不同胚期的胚胎中,研究其对胚胎发育的影响,以期初步探索嵌合胚胎制作的条件。试验结果表明,显微注射2～5、6～10和11～15个ES细胞数量之间对早囊/囊胚期胚胎的成活率和孵化率的影响均不显著,但显微注射11～15个ES细胞的成活率和孵化率较低,分别为82.14%和64.29%;显微注射2～5个ES细胞的成活率和孵化率均较高,分别为90.90%和78.79%。显微注射11～15个ES细胞和未经显微注射的胚胎成活率分别为95.12%和82.14%,差异极显著(P<0.01);孵化率分别为90.48%和64.29%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。不经显微注射的桑椹/囊胚、经显微注射的8～16-细胞期胚胎和早囊/囊胚,其成活率分别为94.92%、91.53%和87.50%,差异均不显著(P>0.05);从孵化率来看,未经显微注射的桑椹/囊胚和经显微注射的8～16-细胞期胚胎其孵化率分别为89.83%和61.02%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。     

林芝松口蘑抗肿瘤组分的筛选

为筛选林芝松口蘑(Tricholoma matsutake)子实体中具抗肿瘤作用的组分,采用MTT法测定林芝松口蘑乙醇提取物的不同有机溶剂萃取分部对乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7)、胃癌细胞(SGC-7901)和肺癌细胞(A549)的体外抑制率。结果表明:林芝松口蘑乙醇提取物的抑癌活性物质主要集中在氯仿分部,100μg/mL作用48h,对MCF-7和SGC-7901的抑制率分别达到了64%和55%;乙醇提取物的各萃取分部对A549抑制效果较差,在实验浓度范围内抑制率均未超过25%。     

Role of type II innate lymphoid cells in browning of white adipose tissue

Type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are widely distributed in the blood, intestines, trachea, lung, spleen, liver, animal fat and skin, and involved in the innate immune responses. ILC2s have attracted much attention for its important roles in the conversion of white adipose to beige adipose. Studies have shown that ILC2s are essential for the proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells, and they also play a vital role in anti-parasitic infection and allergic inflammation. This review discusses the discovery, differentiation, development, distribution and function of ILC2s, and their relationships with the browning of white adipose tissue for providing valuable references on understanding the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of obesity and fat metabolism disorders.     

Ecosystem services from turfgrass landscapes

Turf is an important component of the urban and rural landscape. The natural plant formations/biomes that it mimics are the tropical savanna, the temperate grasslands (steppe and the prairies) and the tundra. Turf in a higher or lower degree provides all the ecosystem services of the other types of vegetation. Vegetation ecosystem services that have been previously emphasized include functional, aesthetical, recreational, social, and economic services as well as services related to people psychological or physical health. The purpose of this review is to gather updated information on turf ecosystem services, mainly on how they compare to other types of vegetation, or substitutes, and to suggest some future trends/areas of research.Turf has a unique role in aesthetics and, definitely, provides an irreplaceable surface for recreational sports/activities. From the available information, turf seems to have a higher potential than other types of vegetation for reducing runoff, increasing infiltration, purifying water from sediments and pollutants, controlling erosion, improving soil quality and reducing fire hazards. For the lawn owners the main turf benefits are: first the enhanced property aesthetics, second the increment in property value and third the provision of a recreation area. Turf, as all vegetation, uses water. Without the water its benefits may be reduced or annihilated. Mimicking nature may offer some solutions for saving water: summer brown lawns that green up in the fall, although losing some of the turf benefits, may be an appropriate choice where irrigation is not feasible and are worth some research. Research, should also be done on lawns using a mix of grasses and legumes: the presence of legumes may avoid N fertilization and, possibly allows for clippings removal and usage as biofuel, while keeping the soil accumulation of carbon, preventing N leaching and turning turf’s carbon footprint even more positive.     

瑞香狼毒化学成分抑制PC-12细胞神经突起生长活性研究

对瑞香狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme L.)的化学成分进行研究,采用硅胶色谱、凝胶色谱、高效液相色谱等多种色谱手段对瑞香狼毒的乙酸乙酯提取物进行分离纯化,利用NMR、MS波谱分析鉴定3个木质素、1个二萜原酸酯、3个双黄酮、2个黄酮。枇杷素(5)、异落叶松树脂醇(7)和(-)-落叶松树脂醇(8)为首次从该植物中分离得到。PC-12细胞活性试验表明,双黄酮类化合物(狼毒色原酮(2),新狼毒素B(3),异新狼毒素A(4))对NGF依赖的PC-12细胞突起生长有较强的抑制活性(P<0.05)。     

褪黑素的添加减轻猪精原干细胞的氧化损伤

旨在研究褪黑素(melatonin,MT)对体外培养猪精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)的作用机制.本研究采集3头7日龄健康大白公猪睾丸,利用差速贴壁法获得SSCs.后经形态学观察、碱性磷酸酶染色、标记基因检测及免疫荧光染色鉴定后以SSCs作为试验材料,设置MT浓度梯度(0、50...