Wogonin suppresses osteopontin expression in adipocytes by activating PPARα.

AIM: Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), a major bioactive compound of the flavonoid family, is commonly extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and is assumed to have anti-diabetes function. Indeed, a current study has shown that it can possibly treat metabolic disorders such as those found in db/db mice. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of wogonin on osteopontin (OPN) expression in adipose tissue from type 1 diabetic mice and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: Type 1 diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were converted to 3T3-L1 adipocytes through treatment with insulin, dexamethasone, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Western blot analysis and RT-PCR were performed to detect protein expression and mRNA levels, respectively. RESULTS: Wogonin treatment suppressed the increase in serum OPN levels and reduced OPN expression in adipose tissue from STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Administration of wogonin enhanced PPARα expression and activity. Silencing of PPARα diminished the inhibitory effects of wogonin on OPN expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, the levels of c-Fos and phosphorylated c-Jun were reduced in wogonin-treated adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, wogonin treatment dramatically mitigated p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK by its specific inhibitor SB203580 increased PPARα activity and decreased OPN expression. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that wogonin downregulated OPN expression in adipocytes through the inhibition of p38 MAPK and the sequential activation of the PPARα pathway. Given the adverse effects of high OPN levels on metabolism, our results provide evidence for the potential administration of wogonin as a treatment for diabetes.

Astragalus polysaccharide stimulates glucose uptake in L6 myotubes through AMPK activation and AS160/TBC1D4 phosphorylation.

AIM: To establish the mechanism responsible for the stimulation of glucose uptake by Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), extracted from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, in L6 myotubes in vitro. METHODS: APS-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes was measured using the 2-deoxy-[(3)H]-D-glucose method. The adenine nucleotide contents in the cells were measured by HPLC. The phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) was examined using Western blot analysis. The cells transfected with 4P mutant AS160 (AS160-4P) were constructed using gene transfer approach. RESULTS: Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS (100-1600 µg/mL) significantly increased glucose uptake in time- and concentration-dependent manners. The maximal glucose uptake was reached in the cells treated with APS (400 µg/mL) for 36 h. The APS-stimulated glucose uptake was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with Compound C, a selective AMPK inhibitor or in the cells overexpressing AS160-4P. Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS strongly promoted the activation of AMPK. We further demonstrated that either Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase ß (CaMKKß) or liver kinase B1 (LKB1) mediated APS-induced activation of AMPK in L6 myotubes, and the increased cellular AMP: ATP ratio was also involved. Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS robustly enhanced the phosphorylation of AS160, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with Compound C. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that APS stimulates glucose uptake in L6 myotubes through the AMP-AMPK-AS160 pathway, which may contribute to its hypoglycemic effect.

Functional role of frontal electroencephalogram alpha asymmetry in the resting state in patients with depression: A review.

Depression is a psychological disorder that affects the general public worldwide. It is particularly important to make an objective and accurate diagnosis of depression, and the measurement methods of brain activity have gradually received increasing attention. Resting electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry in patients with depression shows changes in activation of the alpha frequency band of the left and right frontal cortices. In this paper, we review the findings of the relationship between frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state and depression. Based on worldwide studies, we found the following: (1) Compared with individuals without depression, those with depression showed greater right frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state. However, the pattern of frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state in depressive individuals seemed to disappear with age; (2) Compared with individuals without maternal depression, those with maternal depression showed greater right frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state, which indicated that genetic or experience-based influences have an impact on frontal EEG alpha asymmetry at rest; and (3) Frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state was stable, and little or no change occurred after antidepressant treatment. Finally, we concluded that the contrasting results may be due to differences in methodology, clinical characteristics, and participant characteristics.

Library of Antifouling Surfaces Derived From Natural Amino Acids by Click Reaction.

Biofouling is of great concern in numerous applications ranging from ophthalmological implants to catheters, and from bioseparation to biosensors. In this report, a general and facile strategy to combat surface fouling is developed by grafting of amino acids onto polymer substrates to form zwitterionic structure through amino groups induced epoxy ring opening click reaction. First of all, a library of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) hydrogels with zwitterionic surfaces were prepared, resulting in the formation of pairs of carboxyl anions and protonated secondary amino cations. The analysis of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful immobilization of amino acids on the hydrogel surfaces. After that, the contact angle and equilibrium water content of the modified hydrogels showed that the hydrogels exhibited improved hydrophilicity compared with the parent hydrogel. Furthermore, the protein deposition was evaluated by bicinchoninic acid assay using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme as models. The results indicated that the performance of the hydrogels was determined by the nature of incorporated amino acid: the hydrogels incorporated with neutral amino acids had nonspecific antiadsorption capability to both BSA and lysozyme; the hydrogels incorporated with charged amino acids showed antiadsorption behaviors against protein with same charge and enhanced adsorption to the protein with opposite charge; the optimal antiadsorption performance was observed on the hydrogels incorporated with polar amino acids with a hydroxyl residual. The improvement of antiprotein fouling of the neutral amino acids grafted hydrogels can be ascribed to the formation of zwitterionic surfaces. Finally, a couple of soft contact lenses grafted with amino acids were fabricated having improved antifouling property and hydrophilicity. The result demonstrated the success of amino acids based zwitterionic antifouling strategy in ophthalmology. This strategy is also applicable to substrates including filtration membranes, microspheres and nanofibers as well. It is a versatile method for amino acids grafting onto polymer substrates to construct zwitterionic surfaces and achieve antifouling properties.

Mechanical properties evolution of a PLGA-PLCL composite scaffold for ligament tissue engineering under static and cyclic traction-torsion in vitro culture conditions.

This study aims to investigate the in vitro degradation of a poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(L-lactic-co-ϵ-caprolactone) (PLGA-PLCL) composite scaffold's mechanical properties under static culture condition and 2 h period per day of traction-torsion cyclic culture conditions of simultaneous 10% uniaxial strain and 90° of torsion cycles at 0.33 Hz. Scaffolds were cultured in static conditions, during 28 days, with or without cell seeded or under dynamic conditions during 14 days in a bioreactor. Scaffolds' biocompatibility and proliferation were investigated with Alamar Blue tests and cell nuclei staining. Scaffolds' mechanical properties were tested during degradation by uniaxial traction test. The PLGA-PLCL composite scaffold showed a good cytocompatibility and a high degree of colonization in static conditions. Mechanical tests showed a competition between two process of degradation which have been associated to hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation for the reinforce yarn in poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The enzymatic degradation led to a decrease effect on mechanical properties of cell-seeded scaffolds during the 21st days, but the hydrolytic degradation was preponderant at day 28. In conclusion, the structure of this scaffold is adapted to culture in terms of biocompatibility and cell orientation (microfiber) but must be improved by delaying the degradation of it reinforce structure in PLGA.

Importance of spondin 1 and cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 in the clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is often delayed because of subtle symptoms and a lack of a specific, sensitive test useful for the general population. The majority of cases are diagnosed at late stages, after the tumor has metastasized and implanted on many other abdominal organs and cavity surfaces. A paucity of prognostic markers makes it difficult to define which tumors will act aggressively and shorten survival. Hence, it is imperative to have new screening tests for diagnosis of ovarian cancer at earlier stages, prior to metastatic progression. Diagnosis at these early stages will dramatically increase the overall survival of women with ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on previously published literature on proposed molecular cell markers in ovarian carcinoma, we sought to validate the overexpression of two genes (cellular retinoic acid Binding Protein, CRABP-1, and spondin 1) through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We verified the overexpression of spondin 1 in ovarian cancer. Expression of cellular retinoic acid Binding Protein, CRABP-1 in whole ovarian cancer tissue sections was higher than in the TMA tissue cores. CONCLUSION: Our results thus demonstrate that spondin 1 is a useful marker for ovarian cancer; additionally, the high percentages of tumors that are positive for spondin 1 make it an ideal target for therapy. CRABP-1 was not expressed at high levels in any subtype of ovarian cancer, making it a poor marker.