Melatonin attenuates monocrotaline-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in rats via activation of Sirtuin-3

Melatonin possesses potent hepatoprotective properties, but it remains to be elucidated whether melatonin has a therapeutic effect on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). In this study, male Sprague Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with melatonin or the same volume of vehicle at 0 and 24 h after MCT intragastric administration. Next, hematoxylin–eosin staining and electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the hepatic sinusoidal injury of rats. Endothelial cell marker RECA-1 was observed by immunohistochemistry. Hepatic oxidative stress was analyzed by detecting malondialdehyde, glutathione S-transferase, and reactive oxygen species. Assessment of liver function was carried out by analysis of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and albumin levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to identify liver Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) and active matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) expression. Besides, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were used for the in vitro functional verification experiment. Specifically, liver histology of the melatonin-treated groups showed that the pathological damages caused by MCT were significantly attenuated, total HSOS scores were decreased, and the elevation of serum hyaluronic acid observed in the model group was also reduced. Moreover, melatonin treatment also improved the survival of rats after partial hepatectomy. Administration of melatonin ameliorated MCT-induced LSECs injury, hepatic oxidative stress, and hepatic dysfunction. Furthermore, melatonin treatment increased SIRT3 expression while attenuating MMP-9 activity in liver tissues. Cell experiment also demonstrated that SIRT3 might mediate the protective effect of melatonin on LSECs. Collectively, our study provided the potential rationale for the application of melatonin for the prevention of MCT-induced HSOS.     

The Application of Fertilizer and AMF Promotes Growth and Reduces the Cadmium and Lead Contents of Ryegrass (<i>Lolium multiflorum</i> L.) in a Copper Mining Area

Heavy metal-polluted soil was collected from the Pulang copper mine in Shangri-La City, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The effects of fertilizer (organic and inorganic) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) growth, root morphology, mineral nutrition and cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contents were investigated by pot experiments. The results showed that both fertilizer and AMF significantly ameliorated the root morphology and mineral nutrition, reduced the Cd and Pb contents, and promoted the growth of ryegrass. Among all treatments, the combined application of organic–inorganic compound fertilizer with AMF had the highest effect, resulting in increases in root length, surface area and branch number by 2.3, 1.1, and 3.9 times, respectively; an 88% increase in plant biomass; a nitrogen content increase of 2.3 and 1.2 times, and phosphorus content increase of 62% and 68% in shoots and roots, respectively was also recorded as well as decreases in Cd content by 34% and 62% and Pb content by 47% and 34% in shoots and roots, respectively. Two-factor analysis showed that both fertilizer and AMF significantly promoted ryegrass growth (plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, root length, nitrogen and phosphorus content) and reduced the Cd and Pb contents in roots, and there was a synergistic effect between them. Moreover, the nitrogen and phosphorus contents were very significantly positively correlated with the shoot and root biomasses but very significantly negatively correlated with the Cd and Pb contents of ryegrass. Thus, the application of fertilizer and AMF synergistically improved ryegrass growth on polluted soils in the copper mining area.     

Design,Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Quercetin-Linker-H2S Donor Conjugates for the Treatment of Diabetes and Wound Healing**

Based on the use of quercetin for treating diabetes and H₂S for promoting wound healing, a series of three quercetin-linker-H₂S donor conjugates was designed, synthesized and characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and MS. Meanwhile, in vitro evaluation of these compounds was also researched by IR-HepG2 treatment experiment, MTT assay, scratch test and tubule formation experiment. The three compounds could be used to treat insulin resistance induced by high glucose and promote the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, wound healing, and the formation of tubules in vitro under a high-glucose environment. Our results illustrate that these compounds could be used to treat diabetes and promote wound healing at the same time. Furthermore, molecular docking study results of the compounds were consistent with the evaluated biological activity. In vivo research of compounds is underway.     

Structurally Diverse Sesquiterpenoids from the Genus of Ainsliaea

The genus of Ainsliaea embraces approximately 70 recognized species, many of which have been used to treat various diseases in folklore medicines. As the main metabolites of Ainsliaea plants, Ainsliaea sesquiterpenoids have drawn considerable attention in related scientific communities due to their intriguing structures and a variety of bioactivities. In this review, we intend to provide a full-aspect coverage of sesquiterpenoids reported from the genus of Ainsliaea, including 145 monomeric sesquiterpenoids and 30 oligomeric ones. Multiple aspects will be summarized, including their classification, distributions, structures, bioactivities, and biomimetic syntheses. In addition, their possible biosynthetic pathway will be discussed in detail.     

Fe（Ⅱ）离子所引发的羟自由基对人红细胞膜的作用

Ｆｅ（Ⅱ）离子所引发的羟自由基对人红细胞膜的作用薄云红,徐轶,王夔（北京医科大学药学院,北京１０００８３））在人体内由铁催化产生的·ＯＨ会引发脂质过氧化链式反应,而且在维生素Ｃ（Ｖｃ）存在下其过氧化程度加剧,导致红细胞膜构象改变［１］。血红素是一种富...     

小麦不同细胞质雄性不育系及其保持系萌动胚及幼芽可溶性蛋白等电聚焦电泳分析

用等电聚焦电泳分析的方法,测定了小麦（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ ａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ ）３ 种细胞质雄性不育类型（Ａ 型、Ｅ型、Ｔ型）及其相应同核保持系萌动胚及幼芽可溶性蛋白． 发现雄性可育系等电点（ｐＩ）为４．９０ 的蛋白质合成数量高于相应的不育系;ｐＩ为６．８５ 的蛋白质可能是Ｔ 型细胞质基因表达的结果;ｐＩ为７．６ 的蛋白质可能为津丰Ａ 不育系特有的区带．表明细胞质来源不同的不育类型,其萌动胚及幼芽可溶性蛋白等电聚焦电泳图谱差异明显,有可能作为鉴别它们的依据     

杨树花药培养筛选耐盐变异体的研究

以杨树花药为外植体诱导单倍体愈伤组织,进行耐氯化钠和碱性盐（模仿天然盐碱土成份配成的几种盐的混合物）变异体的筛选。结果表明,不同的杨树品种对这两种选择剂的耐性是不同的,分化态愈伤组织比脱分化态愈伤组织显示更强的抗性,不同的花氏愈伤组织无性系间在抗盐能力上也存在差异,对再生植株的叶子和愈伤组织进行过氧化物同工酶分析,发现耐盐变异体与对照的酶谱是有差异的,前者比后者在相同带区常常多出一条谱带。     

WA型,BT型和D型水稻雄性不育系细胞质基因组翻译产物分析和研究

通过对ＷＡ型、ＢＴ型和Ｄ型水稻雄性不育系细胞质基因即线粒体基因组和叶绿体基因组翻译产物的分析,初步寻找出与雄性不育和育性恢复有关的调控基因产物。根据实验结果,讨论了水稻细胞质雄性不育及育性恢复机制,并提出了两种育性恢复假说。     

Dynamics of the intestinal bacterial community in black soldier fly larval guts and its influence on insect growth and development

Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is a prominent insect for the bioconversion of various organic wastes. As a saprotrophic insect, the BSF inhabits microbe-rich environments. However, the influences of the intestinal microorganisms on BSF growth and development are not very clear. In this study, the dynamics of the intestinal bacterial community of BSF larvae (BSFL) were analyzed using pyrosequencing. Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most prevalent bacterial phyla in the intestines of all larval instars. The dynamic changes in bacterial community compositions among different larval instars were striking at the genus level. Klebsiella, Clostridium, Providencia, and Dysgonomonas were the relatively most abundant bacteria in the 1st- to 4th-instar BSFL, respectively. Dysgonomonas and Providencia also dominated the 5th- and 6th-instar larvae, at ratios of 31.1% and 47.2%, respectively. In total, 148 bacterial strains affiliated with 20 genera were isolated on different media under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Among them, 6 bacteria, BSF1–BSF6, were selected for further study. The inoculation of the 6 isolates independently into germ-free BSFL feeding on an artificial diet showed that all the bacteria, except BSF4, significantly promoted BSF growth and development compared with the germ-free control. Citrobacter, Dysgonomonas, Klebsiella, Ochrobactrum, and Providencia promoted BSF development significantly by increasing the weight gains of larvae and pupae, as well as increasing the prepupae and eclosion rates. In addition, Citrobacter, Klebsiella and Providencia shortened the BSF life cycle significantly. The results illustrate the promotive effects of intestinal bacteria on BSF growth and development.