Protective Effects of Astaxanthin on ConA-Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis by the JNK/p-JNK Pathway-Mediated Inhibition of Autophagy and Apoptosis

Objective

Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant, exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, atherosclerosis and antitumor activities. However, its effect on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced autoimmune hepatitis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of astaxanthin on ConA-induced hepatitis in mice, and to elucidate the mechanisms of regulation.

Materials and Methods

Autoimmune hepatitis was induced in in Balb/C mice using ConA (25 mg/kg), and astaxanthin was orally administered daily at two doses (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) for 14 days before ConA injection. Levels of serum liver enzymes and the histopathology of inflammatory cytokines and other maker proteins were determined at three time points (2, 8 and 24 h). Primary hepatocytes were pretreated with astaxanthin (80 μM) in vitro 24 h before stimulation with TNF-α (10 ng/ml). The apoptosis rate and related protein expression were determined 24 h after the administration of TNF-α.

Results

Astaxanthin attenuated serum liver enzymes and pathological damage by reducing the release of inflammatory factors. It performed anti-apoptotic effects via the descending phosphorylation of Bcl-2 through the down-regulation of the JNK/p-JNK pathway.

Conclusion

This research firstly expounded that astaxanthin reduced immune liver injury in ConA-induced autoimmune hepatitis. The mode of action appears to be downregulation of JNK/p-JNK-mediated apoptosis and autophagy.     

罗勒籽脂肪酸及其对蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶1B(PTP1B)抑制作用的研究

利用索氏提取法提取罗勒籽油,向罗勒籽油加入氢氧化钾甲醇溶液后并用水浴加热,加入正已烷和蒸馏水萃取,上清液即为罗勒籽油中脂肪酸,用气相色谱质谱法(CC/MS)对脂肪酸进行鉴定.共鉴定出了4种脂肪酸,其中α-亚麻酸为62.88％、亚油酸为20.66％、棕榈酸为10.67％、硬脂酸为5.79％.对罗勒籽脂肪酸进行PTP1B的抑制作用研究,结果表明脂肪酸对PTP1B有较强的抑制作用,其IC50为11.12 μg/mL.该研究为深入研究罗勒籽的药理作用提供了科学依据.     

有机营养液灌溉频次和灌水量对设施甜瓜产量、品质及肥水利用效率的影响

为研究高产优质甜瓜的有机管理模式,以甜瓜为试材,采用基质盆栽方式,设3种有机营养液灌溉频次(施用8次,每次每株750 mL, F₁; 施用12次,每次每株500 mL, F₂; 施用16次,每次每株375 mL, F₃)与2种单株灌水量(果实膨大前按120%日蒸腾蒸发量(ET)灌溉,之后按140%ET灌溉, W₁; 果实膨大前按140%ET灌溉,之后按160%ET灌溉, W₂),共6个试验处理,随机区组试验设计,研究了不同处理对设施甜瓜光合特性、产量、品质及肥水利用效率的影响.结果表明: 少量多次施用有机营养液可以显著提高甜瓜叶片光合速率,低灌水量显著提高果实产量和水分利用效率;高灌水量和中等有机营养液灌溉频次可使肥料利用率达到最高;少量多次有机营养液施用且相对适宜的水分供给提高了果实品质.回归分析发现,甜瓜果实维生素C含量与有机营养液灌溉频次呈指数函数y=0.214e^0.18x (R²=0.851)相关.综合考虑产量、品质、水分利用效率等因素,F₃W₁处理可在保证产量的前提下,提高果实品质,且水分利用效率最大,可以实现设施有机甜瓜肥水高效管理.