Hepatocyte DAX1 Deletion Exacerbates Inflammatory Liver Injury by Inducing the Recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells through NF-κB p65 Signaling Pathway in Mice.

Fulminant hepatitis is characterized by rapid and massive immune-mediated liver injury. Dosage-sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1 (DAX1; NR0B1) represses the transcription of various genes. Here, we determine whether DAX1 serves as a regulator of inflammatory liver injury induced by concanavalin A (ConA). C57BL/6J (WT), myeloid cell-specific Dax1 knockout (MKO), and hepatocyte-specific Dax1 knockout (LKO) mice received single intravenous administration of ConA. Histopathological changes in liver and plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in Dax1 MKO mice were comparable with those in WT mice following ConA administration. Unlike Dax1 MKO mice, Dax1 LKO mice were greatly susceptible to ConA-induced liver injury, which was accompanied by enhanced infiltration of immune cells, particularly CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in the liver. Factors related to T-cell recruitment, including chemokines and adhesion molecules, significantly increased following enhanced and prolonged phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the liver of ConA-administered Dax1 LKO mice. This is the first study to demonstrate that hepatocyte-specific DAX1 deficiency exacerbates inflammatory liver injury via NF-κB p65 activation, thereby causing T-cell infiltration by modulating inflammatory chemokines and adhesion molecules. Our results suggest DAX1 as a therapeutic target for fulminant hepatitis treatment.

Hepatocyte-Specific Deficiency of DAX-1 Protects Mice from Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Activating NRF2 Signaling.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug, but its overdose can cause acute liver failure. The dosage-sensitive sex reversal adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1 (DAX-1, NR0B1), is an orphan nuclear receptor that acts as a transcriptional co-repressor of various genes. In this study, we identified the role of DAX-1 in APAP-induced liver injury using hepatocyte-specific Dax-1 knockout (Dax-1 LKO) mice. Mouse primary hepatocytes were used as a comparative in vitro study. APAP overdose led to decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in Dax-1 LKO mice compared to C57BL/6J (WT) controls, accompanied by reduced liver necrosis. The expression of the genes encoding the enzymes catalyzing glutathione (GSH) synthesis and metabolism and antioxidant enzymes was increased in the livers of APAP-treated Dax-1 LKO mice. The rapid recovery of GSH levels in the mitochondrial fraction of APAP-treated Dax-1 LKO mice led to reduced reactive oxygen species levels, resulting in the inhibition of the prolonged JNK activation. The hepatocyte-specific DAX-1 deficiency increased the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) compared with WT controls after APAP administration. These results indicate that DAX-1 deficiency in hepatocytes protects against APAP-induced liver injury by Nrf2-regulated antioxidant defense.

Sicyos angulatus Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice.

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to a serious extent. It is a chronic disease that can lead to dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects of Sicyos angulatus (SA) extract on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6J obese mice. The mice were divided into vehicle and three SA groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight). The mice were fed a HFD with or without SA for 12 weeks. The oral administration of SA reduced body and adipose tissue weight in HFD-fed mice compared to those in the vehicle group (p<0.05). Adipocyte size and inflammation significantly decreased in the SA-administered groups in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, adipocytes larger than 5000 µm2 were remarkably reduced by around 50% in the SA-treated groups (p<0.05). In addition, SA contributes towards reducing insulin resistance (measured as the HOMA-IR index) and glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese mice (p<0.05; Vehicle 21.5±3.1 vs. SA100 4.7±0.4). These beneficial effects of SA on obesity may be linked to the suppression of lipogenesis and stimulating energy metabolism in white adipose tissue and muscle. In white adipose tissue and muscle, the administration of SA activated AMPK pathway, leading to the inhibition of the development of pathophysiological conditions associated with obesity, including lipogenesis and inflammation. These findings suggest that SA may prevent obesity through inhibiting fat accumulation in HFD-induced obese mice. Therefore, SA is able to exert metabolic benefits in the prevention of obesity and insulin resistance.

Hepatocyte CREBH deficiency aggravates inflammatory liver injury following chemokine-dependent neutrophil infiltration through upregulation of NF-κB p65 in mice.

Fulminant hepatitis is a serious inflammatory condition of the liver characterized by massive necrosis of liver parenchyma following excessive immune cell infiltration into the liver, and possibly causing sudden hepatic failure and medical emergency. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein, hepatocyte specific (CREBH) in concanavalin A (ConA)-driven hepatitis-evoked liver injury. C57BL/6J (WT) and Crebh knockout (KO) mice injected with ConA (7.5 or 25 mg/kg) and bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice, generated by injection of BM cells into sub-lethally irradiated recipients followed by ConA injection (22.5 or 27.5 mg/kg) 8 weeks later, were used for in vivo study. Primary mouse hepatocytes and HEK293T cells were used for a comparative in vitro study. Crebh KO mice are highly susceptible to ConA-induced liver injury and prone to death due to increased neutrophil infiltration driven by enhanced hepatic expression of neutrophil-attracting chemokines. Notably, BM chimera experiment demonstrated that Crebh-deficient hepatocytes have an enhanced ability of recruiting neutrophils to the liver, thereby promoting hepatotoxicity by ConA. Intriguingly, in vitro assays showed that p65, a subunit of NF-κB and common transcription factor for various chemokines, dependent transactivation was inhibited by CREBH. Furthermore, p65 expression was inversely correlated with CREBH level in ConA-treated mice liver and TNFα-stimulated primary mouse hepatocytes. This is the first demonstration that CREBH deficiency aggravates inflammatory liver injury following chemokine-dependent neutrophil infiltration via NF-κB p65 upregulation. CREBH is suggested to be a novel therapeutic target for treatment of fulminant hepatitis.

Constituents of the Edible Leaves of Melicope pteleifolia with Potential Analgesic Activity.

Melicope pteleifolia has long been consumed as a popular vegetable and tea in Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and southern mainland China, and is effective in the treatment of colds and inflammation. In the search for active metabolites that can explain its traditional use as an antipyretic, six new phloroacetophenone derivatives (3-8) along with seven known compounds (1, 2, and 9-13) were isolated from the leaves of M. pteleifolia. Their chemical structures were confirmed by extensive spectroscopic analysis including NMR, IR, ECD, and HRMS. All compounds isolated from the leaves of M. pteleifolia (1-13) have a phloroacetophenone skeleton. Notably, the new compound 8 contains an additional cyclobutane moiety in its structure. The bioactivities of the isolated compounds were evaluated, and compounds 1, 6, and 7 inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α-induced prostaglandin E2. Moreover, the major constituent, 3,5-di-C-ß-d-glucopyranosyl phloroacetophenone (1), was found to be responsible for the antipyretic activity of M. pteleifolia based on in vivo experiments.

GADD45ß plays a protective role in acute lung injury by regulating apoptosis in experimental sepsis in vivo.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to microbial infection. Growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible 45 beta (GADD45ß) are induced by genotoxic stress and inflammatory cytokines. However, the role of GADD45ß during bacterial infection remains unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the role of GADD45ß in sepsis. We used GADD45ß-knockout (KO) mice and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice. Experimental sepsis was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration or cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Sepsis-induced mortality was higher in GADD45ß-KO mice than in WT mice. Histopathological data demonstrated LPS treatment markedly increased lung injury in GADD45ß-KO mice as compared to that in WT mice; however, no significant difference was observed in the liver and kidney. Further, mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as Il-1ß, Il-6, Il-10, and Tnf-α, were higher in the lungs of LPS-treated GADD45ß-KO mice than in WT mice. Interestingly, plasma levels of these inflammatory cytokines were decreased in LPS-administered GADD45ß-KO mice. A significant increase in lung cell apoptosis was observed at early time points in GADD45ß-KO mice after administration of LPS as compared to that in WT mice. In line with LPS-induced apoptosis, JNK, and p38 activity was higher in the lung of GADD45ß-KO mice at 3 hr after LPS treatment than that in WT mice. In summary, this study is the first to demonstrate the protective role of GADD45ß in sepsis and the results suggest that GADD45ß could be used as a novel therapeutic target to cure sepsis.

Effects of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors on L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in a murine model of Parkinson's disease.

Histone acetylation is a key regulatory factor for gene expression in cells. Modulation of histone acetylation by targeting of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) effectively alters many gene expression profiles and synaptic plasticity in the brain. However, the role of HATs on L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia of Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been reported. Our aim was to determine whether HAT inhibitors such as anacardic acid, garcinol, and curcumin from natural plants reduce severity of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia using a unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned PD mouse model. Anacardic acid 2 mg/kg, garcinol 5 mg/kg, or curcumin 100 mg/kg co-treatment with L-DOPA significantly reduced the axial, limb, and orofacial (ALO) score indicating less dyskinesia with administration of HAT inhibitors in 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Additionally, L-DOPA's efficacy was not altered by the compounds in the early stage of treatment. The expression levels of c-Fos, Fra-2, and Arc were effectively decreased by administration of HAT inhibitors in the ipsilateral striatum. Our findings indicate that HAT inhibitor co-treatment with L-DOPA may have therapeutic potential for management of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in patients with PD.

Hepatocyte SHP deficiency protects mice from acetaminophen-evoked liver injury in a JNK-signaling regulation and GADD45ß-dependent manner.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. Prolonged c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation plays a central role in APAP-induced liver injury; however, growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 beta (GADD45ß) is known to inhibit JNK phosphorylation. The orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2) acts as a transcriptional co-repressor of various genes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of SHP in APAP-evoked hepatotoxicity. We used lethal (750 mg/kg) or sublethal (300 mg/kg) doses of APAP-treated wild-type (WT), Shp knockout (Shp-/-), hepatocyte-specific Shp knockout (Shphep-/-), and Shp and Gadd45ß double knockout (Shp-/-Gadd45ß-/-) mice for in vivo studies. Primary mouse hepatocytes were used for a comparative in vitro study. SHP deficiency protected against APAP toxicity with an increased survival rate, decreased liver damage, and inhibition of prolonged hepatic JNK phosphorylation in mice, which was independent of APAP metabolism regulation. Furthermore, Shphep-/- mice showed diminished APAP hepatotoxicity compared with WT mice. SHP-deficient primary mouse hepatocytes also showed decreased cell death and inhibition of sustained JNK phosphorylation following toxic APAP treatment. While SHP expression declined, GADD45ß expression increased after APAP treatment in WT mice. In Shp-/- mice, APAP-evoked GADD45ß induction was significantly enhanced. Notably, the ameliorative effects of SHP deficiency on APAP-induced liver injury were abolished in Shp-/-Gadd45ß-/- mice. The current study is the first to demonstrate that hepatocyte-specific SHP deficiency protects against APAP overdose-evoked hepatotoxicity in a JNK signaling regulation and GADD45ß dependent manner. SHP is suggested to be a novel therapeutic target for APAP overdose treatment.

Metformin ameliorates acetaminophen hepatotoxicity via Gadd45ß-dependent regulation of JNK signaling in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. Prolonged c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation plays a central role in APAP-induced liver injury and growth arrest, and DNA damage-inducible 45 beta (Gadd45ß) is known to inhibit JNK phosphorylation. Metformin has recently been shown to have hepatoprotective effects. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether metformin mitigates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and to ascertain the molecular basis of this effect. METHODS: We used APAP- and/or metformin-treated Gadd45ß knockout (KO) mice and wild type (WT) C57BL/6J control mice. Primary mouse hepatocytes were isolated from WT and Gadd45ß KO mice were used for in vitro study. RESULTS: Metformin pretreatment protected against APAP toxicity with decreased liver damage, and inhibited APAP-induced prolonged hepatic JNK phosphorylation in WT mice. Gadd45ß expression was increased after APAP treatment, and the expression of Gadd45ß was further enhanced by metformin. The effects of metformin on APAP-induced liver injury and JNK phosphorylation were abolished in Gadd45ß KO mice. Notably, subtoxic doses of APAP caused cell death and sustained JNK phosphorylation in Gadd45ß-deficient primary hepatocytes. In parallel, APAP increased mortality, severe liver injury, and JNK activation in Gadd45ß KO mice. Interestingly, metformin administered after APAP treatment protected against APAP-evoked hepatotoxicity in WT mice, but not in Gadd45ß KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate that metformin shows protective and therapeutic effects against APAP overdose-evoked hepatotoxicity via Gadd45ß-dependent JNK regulation. Metformin would be a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of APAP overdose.

The protective role of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 on acetaminophen-induced liver injury is associated with prevention of adenosine triphosphate depletion and improvement of mitochondrial dysfunction.

An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) causes hepatotoxicity due to its metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is an important enzyme for detoxification, because it catabolizes endogenous/exogenous quinone to hydroquinone. Although various studies have suggested the possible involvement of NQO1 in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, its precise role in this remains unclear. We investigated the role of NQO1 against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity using a genetically modified rodent model. NQO1 wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice were treated with different doses of APAP, and we evaluated the mortality and toxicity markers for cell death caused by APAP. NQO1 KO mice showed high sensitivity to APAP-mediated hepatotoxicity (as indicated by a large necrotic region) as well as increased levels of nitrotyrosine adducts and reactive oxygen species. APAP-induced cell death in the livers and primary hepatocytes of NQO1 KO mice, which was accompanied by an extensive reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. In accordance with this ATP depletion, cytosolic increases in mitochondrial proteins such as apoptosis-inducing factor, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/DIABLO, endonuclease G, and cytochrome c, which indicate severe mitochondrial dysfunction, were observed in NQO1 KO mice but not in WT mice after APAP exposure. Severe mitochondrial depolarization was also greater in hepatocytes isolated from NQO1 KO mice. Collectively, our data suggest that NQO1 plays a critical role in protection against energy depletion caused by APAP, and NQO1 may be useful in the development of therapeutic approaches to effectively diminish the hepatotoxicity caused by an APAP overdose.

Oleanane-type triterpenoids of Aceriphyllum rossii and their diacylglycerol acyltransferase-inhibitory activity.

Six known triterpenoid compounds, 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid (1), gypsogenic acid (2), 3α-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (3), 3ß-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (4), aceriphyllic acid A (5), and oleanolic acid (6), were isolated from the roots of Aceriphyllum rossii. Their chemical structures were determined by comparison with available (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR data on known compounds. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against human diacylglycerol acyltransferases 1 and 2. Most of the isolates exhibited a better inhibitory activity against diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (IC50: 11.6-44.2 µM) than against diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (IC50: 22.7-119.5 µM). In particular, compounds 1 and 5 showed strong inhibition efficacy towards diacylglycerol acyltransferases 1 and 2, and appeared to act competitively against oleoyl-CoA in vitro. The results also indicated that both compounds reduced newly synthesized triacylglycerol in HuTu80 and HepG2 cells. Oral administration of compound 1 significantly reduced postprandial triacylglycerol in mice following an oral lipid challenge. In conclusion, the current study indicates that compound 1 suppresses both de novo triacylglycerol biosynthesis and resynthesis through the inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity, and therefore may be a useful agent for treating diseases associated with a high triacylglycerol level.

In vivo imaging of islet transplantation using PLGA nanoparticles containing iron oxide and indocyanine green.

PURPOSE: We determined whether poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles would be a useful reagent for the successful monitoring of isolated islets by magnetic resonance imaging and optical imaging systems, without clinically relevant toxicity in vitro or in vivo. METHODS: We used iron oxide for MR imaging and a cyanide dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration (indocyanine green) for optical imaging and estimated the in vivo detection of transplanted pancreatic islets. RESULTS: The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were associated with the islets in vitro and were successfully detected by 4.7 T (MR) and optical imaging, without other toxic effects. When labeled islets were transplanted under the mouse kidney capsule, in vivo T2/ T2*-weighted scans with 4.7 T MR detected as few as 300 labeled islets by 4 weeks. Optical in vivo imaging revealed indocyanine green fluorescence by 2 and 4 days after transplantation of islets containing 250 and 500 µg/mL poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, respectively. These results were further supported by the immunohistochemical results for insulin and iron in the recipient mouse kidney and pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data indicate that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles may be used to label transplanted islets and may be imaged with in vivo MR and optical imaging systems.

The Gastroprotective Effect of Sicyos angulatus Against Hydrochloric Acid/Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastritis and Gastric Ulcer in Mice.

Gastritis and gastric ulcers are common gastric diseases that are caused by infection, drugs, alcohol consumption, or stress. These conditions lead to increased inflammatory cytokines and recruitment of leukocytes, which damage the stomach mucosa and exacerbate disease severity. Sicyos angulatus (SA), an annual vine in the Cucurbitaceae family, is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect, but its efficacy for preventing gastritis and gastric ulcers has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we investigated the gastroprotective effect of SA using a hydrochloric acid/ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury mouse model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated KATO III cells. Macroscopic analysis revealed a reduction in gastric ulcer area. Similarly, histopathological analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in gastric mucosal injury, with significant improvement at 750 mg/kg of SA treatment. Gene expressions of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecule were reduced in the SA-administered group. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that SA significantly decreased neutrophil infiltration in the lamina propria and epithelium of the stomach. Kaempferol, a major bioactive flavonoid of SA, also improved gastric injury by reducing macroscopic and microscopic lesions, inflammatory mediator gene expression, and neutrophil infiltration. Furthermore, both SA and kaempferol downregulated LPS-mediated increases in inflammatory cytokines and chemokines following inhibition of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in KATO III cells. These results suggest that SA can ameliorate gastric mucosal injury by inhibiting the recruitment of inflammatory cells, particularly neutrophils, and by suppressing p38 and JNK phosphorylation.

ERRγ-inducible FGF23 promotes alcoholic liver injury through enhancing CYP2E1 mediated hepatic oxidative stress.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a member of endocrine FGF family, along with FGF15/19 and FGF21. Recent reports showed that under pathological conditions, liver produces FGF23, although the role of hepatic FGF23 remains nebulous. Here, we investigated the role of hepatic FGF23 in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and delineated the underlying molecular mechanism. FGF23 expression was compared in livers from alcoholic hepatitis patients and healthy controls. The role of FGF23 was examined in hepatocyte-specific knock-out (LKO) mice of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), estrogen related receptor γ (ERRγ), or FGF23. Animals were fed with an alcohol-containing liquid diet alone or in combination with ERRγ inverse agonist. FGF23 is mainly expressed in hepatocytes in the human liver, and it is upregulated in ALD patients. In mice, chronic alcohol feeding leads to liver damage and induced FGF23 in liver, but not in other organs. FGF23 is transcriptionally regulated by ERRγ in response to alcohol-mediated activation of the CB1R. Alcohol induced upregulation of hepatic FGF23 and plasma FGF23 levels is lost in ERRγ-LKO mice, and an inverse agonist mediated inhibition of ERRγ transactivation significantly improved alcoholic liver damage. Moreover, hepatic CYP2E1 induction in response to alcohol is FGF23 dependent. In line, FGF23-LKO mice display decreased hepatic CYP2E1 expression and improved ALD through reduced hepatocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress. We recognized CBIR-ERRγ-FGF23 axis in facilitating ALD pathology through hepatic CYP2E1 induction. Thus, we propose FGF23 as a potential therapeutic target to treat ALD.

Agathobaculum butyriciproducens improves ageing-associated cognitive impairment in mice.

AIMS: The gut microbiota is increasingly recognised as a pivotal regulator of immune system homeostasis and brain health. Recent research has implicated the gut microbiota in age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. Agathobaculum butyriciproducens SR79 T (SR79), which was identified in the human gut, has been reported to be beneficial in addressing cognitive deficits and pathophysiologies in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unknown whether SR79 affects age-dependent cognitive impairment. MAIN METHOD: To explore the effects of SR79 on cognitive function during ageing, we administered SR79 to aged mice. Ageing-associated behavioural alterations were examined using the open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), novel object recognition test (NORT), Y-maze alternation test (Y-maze), and Morris water maze test (MWM). We investigated the mechanisms of action in the gut and brain using molecular and histological analyses. KEY FINDINGS: Administration of SR79 improved age-related cognitive impairment without altering general locomotor activity or depressive behaviour in aged mice. Furthermore, SR79 increased mature dendritic spines in the pyramidal cells of layer III and phosphorylation of CaMKIIα in the cortex of aged mice. Age-related activation of astrocytes in the cortex of layers III-V of the aged brain was reduced following SR79 administration. Additionally, SR79 markedly increased IL-10 production and Foxp3 and Muc2 mRNA expression in the colons of aged mice. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that treatment with SR79 may be a beneficial microbial-based approach for enhancing cognitive function during ageing.

The secreted protein Amuc_1409 from Akkermansia muciniphila improves gut health through intestinal stem cell regulation.

Akkermansia muciniphila has received great attention because of its beneficial roles in gut health by regulating gut immunity, promoting intestinal epithelial development, and improving barrier integrity. However, A. muciniphila-derived functional molecules regulating gut health are not well understood. Microbiome-secreted proteins act as key arbitrators of host-microbiome crosstalk through interactions with host cells in the gut and are important for understanding host-microbiome relationships. Herein, we report the biological function of Amuc_1409, a previously uncharacterised A. muciniphila-secreted protein. Amuc_1409 increased intestinal stem cell (ISC) proliferation and regeneration in ex vivo intestinal organoids and in vivo models of radiation- or chemotherapeutic drug-induced intestinal injury and natural aging with male mice. Mechanistically, Amuc_1409 promoted E-cadherin/ß-catenin complex dissociation via interaction with E-cadherin, resulting in the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Our results demonstrate that Amuc_1409 plays a crucial role in intestinal homeostasis by regulating ISC activity in an E-cadherin-dependent manner and is a promising biomolecule for improving and maintaining gut health.

Humulus japonicus ameliorates irritant contact dermatitis by suppressing NF­κB p65­dependent inflammatory responses in mice.

As a type of contact dermatitis (CD), irritant CD (ICD) is an acute skin inflammation caused by external irritants, such as soap, water and chemicals. Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a herbal medicine widely distributed in Asian countries and has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The current study aimed to investigate the anti-dermatitis effect of HJ on ICD and determine the molecular basis of this effect using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced dermatitis mice models and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Mice were orally administered HJ and luteolin, the major compound in HJ, and topically administered TPA on the right ear to induce dermatitis. Topical application of TPA induced ear redness, oedema and increased infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, which ameliorated following HJ and luteolin administration. The gene expression levels of inflammatory cell migrating chemokines, chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2), and pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1ß, were reduced in the ears of HJ- and luteolin-treated mice. HJ and luteolin also inhibited the gene expression of chemokines, CCL3 and CXCL2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, HJ and luteolin decreased the expression levels of two key inflammatory enzymes, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and total and active phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. These results suggest that HJ could have a protective effect against ICD by suppressing inflammatory responses; therefore, HJ is a promising therapeutic strategy for ICD treatment.

SREBP1c-PARP1 axis tunes anti-senescence activity of adipocytes and ameliorates metabolic imbalance in obesity.

Emerging evidence indicates that the accretion of senescent cells is linked to metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms and metabolic consequences of cellular senescence in obesity remain obscure. In this study, we found that obese adipocytes are senescence-susceptible cells accompanied with genome instability. Additionally, we discovered that SREBP1c may play a key role in genome stability and senescence in adipocytes by modulating DNA-damage responses. Unexpectedly, SREBP1c interacted with PARP1 and potentiated PARP1 activity during DNA repair, independent of its canonical lipogenic function. The genetic depletion of SREBP1c accelerated adipocyte senescence, leading to immune cell recruitment into obese adipose tissue. These deleterious effects provoked unhealthy adipose tissue remodeling and insulin resistance in obesity. In contrast, the elimination of senescent adipocytes alleviated adipose tissue inflammation and improved insulin resistance. These findings revealed distinctive roles of SREBP1c-PARP1 axis in the regulation of adipocyte senescence and will help decipher the metabolic significance of senescence in obesity.

Comprehensive 16S rRNA and metagenomic data from the gut microbiome of aging and rejuvenation mouse models.

The gut microbiota is associated with the health and longevity of the host. A few methods, such as fecal microbiota transplantation and oral administration of probiotics, have been applied to alter the gut microbiome and promote healthy aging. The changes in host microbiomes still remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized both the changes in gut microbial communities and their functional potential derived from colon samples in mouse models during aging. We achieved this through four procedures including co-housing, serum injection, parabiosis, and oral administration of Akkermansia muciniphila as probiotics using bacterial 16 S rRNA sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The dataset comprised 16 S rRNA sequencing (36,249,200 paired-end reads, 107 sequencing data) and metagenomic sequencing data (307,194,369 paired-end reads, 109 sequencing data), characterizing the taxonomy of bacterial communities and their functional potential during aging and rejuvenation. The generated data expand the resources of the gut microbiome related to aging and rejuvenation and provide a useful dataset for research on developing therapeutic strategies to achieve healthy active aging.

Targeted erasure of DNA methylation by TET3 drives adipogenic reprogramming and differentiation.

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification in the establishment of cell-type-specific characteristics. However, how DNA methylation is selectively reprogrammed at adipocyte-specific loci during adipogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that the transcription factor, C/EBPδ, and the DNA methylation eraser, TET3, cooperatively control adipocyte differentiation. We perform whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to explore the dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation in adipocyte differentiation. During adipogenesis, DNA methylation selectively decreases at adipocyte-specific loci carrying the C/EBP binding motif, which correlates with the activity of adipogenic promoters and enhancers. Mechanistically, we find that C/EBPδ recruits a DNA methylation eraser, TET3, to catalyse DNA demethylation at the C/EBP binding motif and stimulate the expression of key adipogenic genes. Ectopic expression of TET3 potentiates in vitro and in vivo adipocyte differentiation and recovers downregulated adipogenic potential, which is observed in aged mice and humans. Taken together, our study highlights how targeted reprogramming of DNA methylation through cooperative action of the transcription factor C/EBPδ, and the DNA methylation eraser TET3, controls adipocyte differentiation.