Metformin treatment alleviates polycystic ovary syndrome by decreasing the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via H19/miR-29b-3p and AKT/mTOR/autophagy signaling pathways

In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular pathway(s) underlying the effect of metformin (MET) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and gelatin zymography were used to assay the effects of MET on MMP and AMPK signaling pathways. In addition, HTOG cells were treated with miR-29b-3p/a scramble control, H19/a negative control, or MET/PBS to explore possible signaling pathway(s) underlying the inhibitory effect of MET on MMP-2/MMP-9. A rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was also established to validate the molecular mechanism(s) of MET in vivo. The administration of MET suppressed the expression of MMP-9/MMP-2 and mTOR while increasing the expression of Akt and AMPK, indicating that MET reduced the expression of MMPs via the AMPK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, the H19/miR-29b-3p/MMP-9 and H19/miR-29b-3p/MMP-2 signaling pathways were implicated in PCOS, in which the interactions between H19/miR-29b-3p and MMP-9/MMP-2/miR-29b-3p were confirmed. Furthermore, the administration of MET suppressed the expression of H19 while elevating the expression of miR-29b-3p. And the role of MET in PCOS was also confirmed in vivo via examining the activity of H19 and AMPK signaling pathways in cell or serum samples collected from PCOS rats. MET exhibits a therapeutic effect in the treatment of PCOS by reducing the expression of MMPs.     

大麦醇溶蛋白中高赖氨酸组分的溶解特性研究

脱脂的大麦粉经2次 NaCl 溶液和一次重蒸馏水提取盐溶和水溶蛋白后,用55％异丙醇提取醇溶蛋白。经 Sephadex G-100柱层析,用0.2％SDS 洗脱,得到的分子量为14000-20000道尔顿的峰2蛋白,称为大麦醇溶蛋白 A,其赖氨酸含量达2.6mol/100mol,溶解性试验结果表明这组含赖氨酸较高的蛋白确是一组醇溶性蛋白。     

Red Light Combined with Blue Light Irradiation Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis in Skin Keratinocytes in Combination with Low Concentrations of Curcumin

Curcumin is a widely known natural phytochemical from plant Curcuma longa. In recent years, curcumin has received increasing attention because of its capability to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation as well as its anti-inflammatory properties in different cancer cells. However, the therapeutic benefits of curcumin are severely hampered due to its particularly low absorption via trans-dermal or oral bioavailability. Phototherapy with visible light is gaining more and more support in dermatological therapy. Red light is part of the visible light spectrum, which is able to deeply penetrate the skin to about 6 mm, and directly affect the fibroblast of the skin dermis. Blue light is UV-free irradiation which is fit for treating chronic inflammation diseases. In this study, we show that curcumin at low concentrations (1.25–3.12 μM) has a strong anti-proliferative effect on TNF-α-induced psoriasis-like inflammation when applied in combination with light-emitting-diode devices. The treatment was especially effective when LED blue light at 405 nm was combined with red light at 630 or 660 nm, which markedly amplified the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of curcumin. The experimental results demonstrated that this treatment reduced the viability of human skin keratinocytes, decreased cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, inhibited NF-κB activity and activated caspase-8 and caspase-9 while preserving the cell membrane integrity. Moreover, the combined treatment also down-regulated the phosphorylation level of Akt and ERK. Taken together, our results indicated that the combination of curcumin with LED blue light united red light irradiation can attain a higher efficiency of regulating proliferation and apoptosis in skin keratinocytes.     

Tanshinone II-A inhibits low density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro

Tanshinone II-A (TSII-A) is a major component of Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge which has long been used for preventing and ameliorating anginal pain in China. However the effect of TSII-A on low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation has not been studied. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of TSII-A on LDL oxidation using four oxidizing systems, including copper-, peroxyl radical- and peroxynitriteinitiated and macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation. LDL oxidation was measured in terms of formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) on agarose gel and lag time. In all four systems, TSII-A has apparent antioxidative effects against LDL oxidation, as evidenced by its dose-dependent inhibition of TBARS formation, prolongation of lag time and suppression of increased REM.

Regarding the mechanism underlying its antioxidative effect, TSII-A neither scavenged superoxide nor peroxynitrite. It also did not chelate copper. But it has mild peroxyl radical scavenging activity. The direct binding to LDL particles and conformational change of LDL structure by TSII-A were suggested, because it increased negative charge of LDL which was shown by increased REM on agarose gel. In conclusion, TSII-A is an effective antioxidant against LDL oxidation in vitro. The underlying mechanism appears to be related to its peroxyl radical scavenging and LDL binding activity.     

Defective epidermal growth factor gene expression in mice with polycystic kidney disease

The C57BL/6J-cpk mouse has an inheritable form of polycystic kidney disease similar to the autosomal recessive disorder seen in humans. Between approximately 1 and 3 weeks of age, affected cpk mice develop numerous large cysts in the collecting tubule segment of kidney nephrons. The present study examined the ontogeny of renal and submandibular gland prepro-epidermal growth factor (preproEGF) gene expression in the cpk mouse using Northern blot hybridization and immunohistochemistry. There was a virtual absence of renal preproEGF gene expression in cystic kidneys over the 3-week postnatal period, during which time renal preproEGF mRNA and proEGF/EGF protein normally reach significant levels. PreproEGF mRNA was expressed in salivary glands of cystic mice; however, this mRNA could not be further elevated with testosterone suggesting that there are abnormalities in the regulation of the preproEGF gene in the submandibular gland, as well as in the kidney. Since renal preproEGF expression during the early postnatal period occurs when collecting duct cysts form, it is possible that a deficiency in renal proEGF or EGF contributes to the rapid development of collecting duct cysts and the concomitant renal failure in the C57BL/6J-cpk cystic mouse.     

Characterization of the Factors that Influence Sinapine Concentration in Rapeseed Meal during Fermentation

We analyzed and compared the difference in sinapine concentration in rapeseed meal between the filamentous fungus, Trametes sp 48424, and the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in both liquid and solid-state fermentation. During liquid and solid-state fermentation by Trametes sp 48424, the sinapine concentration decreased significantly. In contrast, the liquid and solid-state fermentation process by Saccharomyces cerevisiae just slightly decreased the sinapine concentration (P ≤ 0.05). After the solid-state fermented samples were dried, the concentration of sinapine in rapeseed meal decreased significantly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the measurement of laccase activity, we observed that laccase induced the decrease in the concentration of sinapine during fermentation with Trametes sp 48424. In order to eliminate the influence of microorganisms and the metabolites produced during fermentation, high moisture rapeseed meal and the original rapeseed meal were dried at 90°C and 105°C, respectively. During drying, the concentration of sinapine in high moisture rapeseed meal decreased rapidly and we obtained a high correlation coefficient between the concentration of sinapine and loss of moisture. Our results suggest that drying and enzymes, especially laccase that is produced during the solid-state fermentation process, may be the main factors that affect the concentration of sinapine in rapeseed meal.     

Isolation and Genomic Characterization of a Duck-Origin GPV-Related Parvovirus from Cherry Valley Ducklings in China

A newly emerged duck parvovirus, which causes beak atrophy and dwarfism syndrome (BADS) in Cherry Valley ducks, has appeared in Northern China since March 2015. To explore the genetic diversity among waterfowl parvovirus isolates, the complete genome of an identified isolate designated SDLC01 was sequenced and analyzed in the present study. Genomic sequence analysis showed that SDLC01 shared 90.8%–94.6% of nucleotide identity with goose parvovirus (GPV) isolates and 78.6%–81.6% of nucleotide identity with classical Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of 443 nucleotides (nt) of the fragment A showed that SDLC01 was highly similar to a mule duck isolate (strain D146/02) and close to European GPV isolates but separate from Asian GPV isolates. Analysis of the left inverted terminal repeat regions revealed that SDLC01 had two major segments deleted between positions 160–176 and 306–322 nt compared with field GPV and MDPV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of Rep and VP1 encoded by two major open reading frames of parvoviruses revealed that SDLC01 was distinct from all GPV and MDPV isolates. The viral pathogenicity and genome characterization of SDLC01 suggest that the novel GPV (N-GPV) is the causative agent of BADS and belongs to a distinct GPV-related subgroup. Furthermore, N-GPV sequences were detected in diseased ducks by polymerase chain reaction and viral proliferation was demonstrated in duck embryos and duck embryo fibroblast cells.     

Staple Foods Consumption and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Carbohydrates can cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to incomplete absorption in the small bowel. Thus, high-carbohydrate diets may induce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Objective

This observational and cross-sectional study assessed the association between consumption of several carbohydrate-enriched staple foods, such as rice, Japanese wheat noodles, Chinese noodles, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles, and the prevalence of IBS in Japanese adults.

Subjects and Methods

One thousand and eighty-two (837 men) Japanese adult employees aged 19-85 were included in this cross-sectional study conducted in 2011. IBS diagnosis was based on the Rome III criteria. Consumption of staple foods was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire, and divided into three categories (low, middle, high) depending on their distribution.

Results

In the multivariate analysis, daily consumption of rice (odds ratios [ORs] and [95% confidence interval (CI)]: middle, 1.36 [0.93–1.99]; high, 1.67 [1.12–2.49]; P for trend = 0.01), bread (middle, 1.88 [1.28–2.75]; high, 1.63 [1.10–2.41]; P for trend = 0.01), pasta (middle, 1.47 [1.01–2.15]; high, 1.68 [1.12–2.52]; P for trend = 0.01), and buckwheat noodles (middle, 1.76 [1.18–2.61]; high, 1.98 [1.31–3.00]; P for trend = 0.001) were associated with higher prevalence of IBS after adjustment for socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle-related factors. Buckwheat noodles, but not other staple foods, retained an association with the prevalence of IBS even after adjustment for daily intake of carbohydrates or plant proteins.

Conclusions

This cross-sectional study demonstrated that the consumption of staple foods, such as rice, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles is associated with the prevalence of IBS. Of these, the consumption of buckwheat noodles, but not other staple foods, is associated with IBS independent of carbohydrate or plant protein contents.