黄芩苷通过增强抗氧化和抑制细胞凋亡减轻哮喘小鼠雄性生殖损伤

生殖健康是人口与健康领域的重要议题。作为全球最常见的呼吸道疾病哮喘会影响男性生殖功能,但相关机制鲜有报道。本文研究了黄酮类化合物黄芩苷(baicalin, BA)对哮喘小鼠睾丸损伤的干预作用及相关机制。选择雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组(CK组)、卵清蛋白(ovalbumin, OVA)致敏的哮喘组(OVA组)和黄芩苷干预哮喘组(OVA+BA组)。结果发现,3组小鼠体重无明显差异。OVA组小鼠睾丸系数和精子数量显著降低(P<0.05),精子畸形率显著增加(P<0.05);黄芩苷干预组小鼠睾丸系数显著增加(P<0.05),精子畸形率显著降低(P<0.05)。HE染色观察到OVA组小鼠睾丸组织生精小管结构损伤,精子发生异常,生精细胞减少,Johnson得分显著降低;BA干预组生精小管直径及生精上皮细胞高度显著增加,生精小管基膜结构较完整,Johnson得分显著提高(P<0.05);试剂盒法检测氧化还原指标发现,OVA组睾丸组织过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增加(P<0.05),总超氧化物歧化...     

呼吸道苦味信号转导抑制与小鼠哮喘相关

鉴于哮喘病患病人数众多,约有一半的病人病情得不到较好的控制,急需新的治疗方法和药物.最近研究发现,苦味受体(bitter taste receptors,T2 Rs)在多个组织中表达,且苦味剂对哮喘有治疗潜力,T2Rs有可能成为哮喘治疗的新靶点.本文选C57BL/6小鼠随机分为对照组、二氧化硫(sulfur dioxi...     

黄芩苷对结肠癌细胞凋亡的影响及作用机制

黄芩苷在多种肿瘤中具有较高的抗肿瘤活性,然而,其在结肠癌中的抗肿瘤作用尚不清楚。本研究考察了黄芩苷对人结肠癌细胞系RKO的增殖和凋亡的影响,并探讨了其相关作用机制。研究发现,黄芩苷可按照剂量依赖性方式和时间依赖性方式抑制结肠癌细胞增殖及集落形成能力。流式细胞术显示,与对照细胞相比,黄芩苷处理后的RKO细胞的凋亡率显著增加(5.6%vs 33.6%)。RT-PCR和Western blotting检测显示,黄芩苷处理可显著增加结肠癌RKO细胞中DKK1 (Wnt信号通路的关键负调节因子) mRNA和蛋白表达水平。相反,黄芩苷处理则显著抑制结肠癌RKO细胞中c-Myc和β-catenin (DKK1的下游靶基因)的m RNA和蛋白表达。敲低DKK1后明显阻断了黄芩苷诱导的结肠癌细胞中DKK1蛋白的上调。此外,敲低DKK1逆转了黄芩苷对其下游基因c-Myc和β-catenin的抑制作用。黄芩苷处理后,结肠癌细胞中miR-217的表达显著下调。RT-PCR和Western blotting结果显示,下调miR-217显著促进DKK1的mRNA和蛋白表达。综上所述,本研究表明黄芩苷可通过抑制结肠癌细胞增殖并诱导细胞凋亡来发挥其抗肿瘤作用,黄芩苷通过激活结肠癌细胞中DKK1来抑制Wnt信号通路。此外,黄芩苷通过下调结肠癌细胞中miR-217的表达来上调DKK1的表达,从而起到抗癌作用。     

黄芩苷干预甲型H1N1流感病毒感染诱导的A549细胞周期分布及凋亡

以甲型H1N1流感病毒作为刺激因素,在人肺腺癌A549细胞培养内采用MTT比色法和细胞病变(CPE)法观察黄芩苷不同作用时间的抗病毒效率;以碘化丙啶(Propidium iodide,PI)单染流式细胞仪分析细胞周期中各时期的细胞百分数和对细胞增殖的影响,以Hoechst33258染色荧光显微镜观察细胞凋亡的形态学变化,并采用免疫荧光实验测定膜受体通路Caspase 8和线粒体通路Caspase 9及作为细胞凋亡标志的Caspase 3的活性。结果显示:流感病毒感染36h后宿主细胞周期阻滞于S期(P<0.05),并在G0期细胞峰前出现一个亚二倍体细胞峰(凋亡细胞峰)。A549细胞中Caspase 8/3活性明显升高,但标记Caspase 9活性的荧光亮度增强不明显。黄芩苷对甲型流感病毒感染诱导的细胞损伤有较好的保护作用,最大剂量的黄芩苷100μg/mL无毒,可抑制病毒细胞病变的产生,50~100μg/mL治疗组可明显调节流感病毒感染诱导的细胞周期分布(P<0.05),细胞凋亡现象明显减少,100μg/mL黄芩苷治疗组Caspase 8/3活性显著降低,接近正常对照组细胞水平,有剂量依赖性。实验说明:黄芩苷可拮抗甲型流感病毒H1N1细胞病变,调控细胞周期分布,并通过抑制Caspase 8的激活,进一步抑制Caspase 3活性,从而发挥抗病毒作用。     

黄芩苷通过降低活性氧生成抑制血管平滑肌细胞伪足形成和迁移

已知黄芩苷（baicalin）通过削弱肌动蛋白相关蛋白（actin-related protein, Arp）2/3复合物的活性抑制血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC）伪足形成和迁移,然而,其抑制该信号途径的机制尚不明确。本研究证明,黄芩苷通过抑制VSMC活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）生成降低Arp2/3活性,发挥阻止细胞伪足形成和迁移的功能。分别利用TRITC 鬼笔环肽和ROS荧光探针标记VSMCs,结果显示,黄芩苷能显著抑制血小板源性生长因子（platelet derived growth factor, PDGF）-BB诱导的VSMC伪足形成和迁移,伴有ROS生成减少。用超氧物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）清除胞内过氧化物后,PDGF-BB引发的VSMC伪足形成被逆转,且该过程与降低皮层肌动蛋白微丝（F-actin）成核蛋白Arp2/3活性有关。免疫沉淀分析结果进一步表明,黄芩苷降低p47phox磷酸化水平,与ROS生成减少相一致。体内的实验也表明,黄芩苷（70 mg/kg/d）能有效抑制球囊损伤诱导的大鼠颈总动脉ROS生成。以上结果表明,黄芩苷通过抑制NADPH氧化酶介导的ROS生成,降低细胞皮质区F-actin成核活性,阻止细胞伪足形成、迁移,进而发挥血管保护作用。     

基于Hedgehog信号通路的黄芩苷抗炎性结直肠癌的机制研究CSCD

本文旨在研究黄芩苷调控Hedgehog信号通路抗炎性结直肠癌的机制。不同剂量黄芩苷给予结直肠癌SW620细胞和结直肠癌AOM/DSS小鼠,采用MTT法、Hoechst33342/PI双染法、ELISA、RT-qPCR以及Western blot等多种技术进行检测。结果显示,黄芩苷能够明显抑制SW620细胞增殖且在高剂量和长时间培养情况下对NCM460细胞具有一定抑制作用,同时伴随Caspase-9和Caspase-3活性的增加。此外,黄芩苷抑制细胞IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α的表达,降低Hedgehog信号通路SHH、SMO以及Gli1相关mRNA和蛋白的表达水平,同时提高SUFU mRNA和蛋白的表达水平。在AOM/DSS结直肠癌小鼠中,黄芩苷降低组织IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α的表达,同时抑制Hedgehog信号通路SHH、SMO以及Gli1相关蛋白的表达水平,提高SUFU蛋白的表达水平。上述结果提示,黄芩苷能够抑制SW620细胞的增殖、克隆以及诱导细胞凋亡,同时降低细胞和组织中炎症因子的表达水平,其机制可能涉及对于Hedgehog信号通路的抑制。     

黄芩苷通过降低活性氧生成抑制血管平滑肌细胞伪足形成和迁移北大核心CSCD

已知黄芩苷(baicalin)通过削弱肌动蛋白相关蛋白(actin-related protein,Arp)2/3复合物的活性抑制血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC)伪足形成和迁移,然而,其抑制该信号途径的机制尚不明确。本研究证明,黄芩苷通过抑制VSMC活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)生成降低Arp2/3活性,发挥阻止细胞伪足形成和迁移的功能。分别利用TRITC-鬼笔环肽和ROS荧光探针标记VSMCs,结果显示,黄芩苷能显著抑制血小板源性生长因子(platelet-derived growth factor,PDGF)-BB诱导的VSMC伪足形成和迁移,伴有ROS生成减少。用超氧物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)清除胞内过氧化物后,PDGF-BB引发的VSMC伪足形成被逆转,且该过程与降低皮层肌动蛋白微丝(F-actin)成核蛋白Arp2/3活性有关。免疫沉淀分析结果进一步表明,黄芩苷降低p47phox磷酸化水平,与ROS生成减少相一致。体内的实验也表明,黄芩苷(70 mg/kg/d)能有效抑制球囊损伤诱导的大鼠颈总动脉ROS生成。以上结果表明,黄芩苷通过抑制NADPH氧化酶介导的ROS生成,降低细胞皮质区F-actin成核活性,阻止细胞伪足形成、迁移,进而发挥血管保护作用。     

黄芩苷对巨细胞病毒神经系统感染小鼠学习记忆功能及海马中细胞凋亡的调节作用

新生儿感染巨细胞病毒(Cytomegalovirus,CMV)能够引起中枢神经系统不可逆损害,遗留神经功能缺损,危害较大,但缺乏有效的防治手段。黄芩苷是中药材黄芩中的黄酮类活性物质,具有抗凋亡、抗氧化、抗炎等功能,对新生大鼠缺血缺氧性脑损伤具有保护作用。基于此,本研究将黄芩苷用于小鼠巨细胞病毒(Mouse cytomegalovirus,MCMV)感染新生KM小鼠的干预,并探究黄芩苷对MCMV感染后中枢神经损害的保护作用。为研究黄芩苷对MCMV神经系统感染小鼠学习记忆功能及海马中细胞凋亡的调节作用,本研究将新生KM小鼠随机分为对照组、MCMV组、黄芩苷组、黄芩苷+U0126组,后三组腹腔注射MCMV病毒悬液以获得MCMV神经系统感染模型,MCMV组给予生理盐水灌胃,黄芩苷组给予黄芩苷灌胃,黄芩苷+U0126组则给予黄芩苷灌胃及U0126腹腔注射。比较四组学习记忆功能指标及海马组织中MCMV载量、细胞凋亡率、凋亡基因表达量、信号通路基因表达量。结果显示:与对照组比较,MCMV组小鼠的逃避潜伏期明显延长(P<0.05),穿平台次数明显减少(P<0.05),海马组织中MCMV-D...     

NO和茉莉酸甲酯对黄芩悬浮细胞生长及黄芩苷合成的影响

以硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside, SNP)为一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)的供体, 向黄芩(Scutellaria baicalensis)悬浮培养细胞系中添加SNP和茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate, MJ), 考察这两种诱导子在不同的添加时间、添加浓度及混合配比使用对黄芩悬浮细胞系生长和黄芩苷含量的影响。研究结果表明：低浓度的外源NO有利于细胞的生长, 但对黄芩苷积累无作用, 而MJ有利于黄芩苷的合成, 但抑制细胞生长,且两者的适用浓度范围和添加时间存在差异。在细胞培养初期(0天)添加0.05 mmol.L-1 SNP, 而在细胞生长对数中期(8天)添加10 μmol.L-1的MJ, 细胞鲜重可达到对照的1.2倍, 黄芩苷总量达到对照的2.96倍。     

NO和茉莉酸甲酯对黄芩悬浮细胞生长及黄芩苷合成的影响

以硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)为一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)的供体,向黄芩(Scutellaria baicalensis)悬浮培养细胞系中添加SNP和茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,MJ),考察这两种诱导子在不同的添加时间、添加浓度及混合配比使用对黄芩悬浮细胞系生长和黄芩苷含量的影响。研究结果表明：低浓度的外源NO有利于细胞的生长,但对黄芩苷积累无作用,而MJ有利于黄芩苷的合成,但抑制细胞生长,且两者的适用浓度范围和添加时间存在差异。在细胞培养初期(0天)添加0.05 mmol·L~(-1)SNP,而在细胞生长对数中期(8天)添加10μmol·L~(-1)的MJ,细胞鲜重可达到对照的1.2倍,黄芩苷总量达到对照的2.96倍。     

Computational Studies of Ligand-Receptor Interactions in Bitter Taste Receptors

Phenylthiocarbamide tastes intensely bitter to some individuals, but others find it completely tasteless. Recently, it was suggested that phenylthiocarbamide elicits bitter taste by interacting with a human G protein-coupled receptor (hTAS2R38) encoded by the PTC gene. The phenylthiocarbamide nontaster trait was linked to three single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring in the PTC gene. Using the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin as template, we generated the 3D structure of hTAS2R38 bitter taste receptor. We were able to map on the receptor structure the amino acids affected by the genetic polymorphisms and to propose molecular functions for two of them that explained the emergence of the nontaster trait. We used molecular docking simulations to find that phenylthiocarbamide exhibited a higher affinity for the target receptor than the structurally similar molecule 6-n-propylthiouracil, in line with recent experimental studies. A 3D model was constructed for the hTAS2R16 bitter taste receptor as well, by applying the same protocol. We found that the recently published experimental ligand binding affinity data for this receptor correlated well with the binding scores obtained from our molecular docking calculations.     

Local Adaptation of Bitter Taste and Ecological Speciation in a Wild Mammal

Sensory systems are attractive evolutionary models to address how organisms adapt to local environments that can cause ecological speciation. However, tests of these evolutionary models have focused on visual, auditory, and olfactory senses. Here, we show local adaptation of bitter taste receptor genes in two neighboring populations of a wild mammal—the blind mole rat Spalax galili—that show ecological speciation in divergent soil environments. We found that basalt-type bitter receptors showed higher response intensity and sensitivity compared with chalk-type ones using both genetic and cell-based functional analyses. Such functional changes could help animals adapted to basalt soil select plants with less bitterness from diverse local foods, whereas a weaker reception to bitter taste may allow consumption of a greater range of plants for animals inhabiting chalk soil with a scarcity of food supply. Our study shows divergent selection on food resources through local adaptation of bitter receptors, and suggests that taste plays an important yet underappreciated role in speciation.     

Top-Down Control of Sweet and Bitter Taste in the Mammalian Brain

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A New World Monkey Resembles Human in Bitter Taste Receptor Evolution and Function via a Single Parallel Amino Acid Substitution

Bitter taste receptors serve as a vital component in the defense system against toxin intake by animals, and the family of genes encoding these receptors has been demonstrated, usually by family size variance, to correlate with dietary preference. However, few systematic studies of specific Tas2R to unveil their functional evolution have been conducted. Here, we surveyed Tas2R16 across all major clades of primates and reported a rare case of a convergent change to increase sensitivity to β-glucopyranosides in human and a New World monkey, the white-faced saki. Combining analyses at multiple levels, we demonstrate that a parallel amino acid substitution (K172N) shared by these two species is responsible for this functional convergence of Tas2R16. Considering the specialized feeding preference of the white-faced saki, the K172N change likely played an important adaptive role in its early evolution to avoid potentially toxic cyanogenic glycosides, as suggested for the human TAS2R16 gene.     

Bitter taste receptors in the reproductive system: Function and therapeutic implications

Type 2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs), traditionally known for their role in bitter taste perception, are present in diverse reproductive tissues of both sexes. This review explores our current understanding of TAS2R functions with a particular focus on reproductive health. In males, TAS2Rs are believed to play potential roles in processes such as sperm chemotaxis and male fertility. Genetic insights from mouse models and human polymorphism studies provide some evidence for their contribution to male infertility. In female reproduction, it is speculated that TAS2Rs influence the ovarian milieu, shaping the functions of granulosa and cumulus cells and their interactions with oocytes. In the uterus, TAS2Rs contribute to uterine relaxation and hold potential as therapeutic targets for preventing preterm birth. In the placenta, they are proposed to function as vigilant sentinels, responding to infection and potentially modulating mechanisms of fetal protection. In the cervix and vagina, their analogous functions to those in other extraoral tissues suggest a potential role in infection defense. In addition, TAS2Rs exhibit altered expression patterns that profoundly affect cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis in reproductive cancers. Notably, TAS2R agonists show promise in inducing apoptosis and overcoming chemoresistance in these malignancies. Despite these advances, challenges remain, including a lack of genetic and functional studies. The application of techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated endonuclease 9 gene editing could provide deeper insights into TAS2Rs in reproduction, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies for reproductive disorders.     

长链非编码RNA KCNQ1OT1影响脂多糖诱导的血管内皮细胞凋亡及其炎性因子表达的机制

该研究探讨了长链非编码RNA KCNQ1OT1对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的血管内皮细胞(VEC)凋亡和炎性因子表达的影响以及其可能机制.通过体外培养VEC,分别转染KCNQ1OT1过表达载体、miR-223抑制剂或共转染KCNQ1OT1过表达载体与miR-223模拟物后,用1.0mg/mLLPS干预24h,然后采用RT-q...