Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor) enhances intestinal immunity in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) via the NFκB/survivin signaling pathway.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor, YM) in intestinal immunity and health. Largemouth bass, as an enteritis modeling animal, were fed 3 diets containing YM at 0% (YM0), 24% (YM24) and 48% (YM48). The YM24 group had reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, while the YM48 group experienced a negative impact on intestinal health. Next, the Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) challenge test consisted of 4 YM diets, 0% (EYM0), 12% (EYM12), 24% (EYM24), and 36% (EYM36). The EYM0 and EYM12 groups exhibited intestinal damage and immunosuppression by the pathogenic bacteria. However, the above adverse phenotypes were attenuated in the EYM24 and EYM36 groups. Mechanistically, the EYM24 and EYM36 groups enhanced intestinal immunity in largemouth bass via activating NFκBp65 and further upregulating survivin expression to inhibit apoptosis. The results identify a protective mechanism of YM as a novel food or feed source by improving intestinal health.

The Effect of Epimedium Isopentenyl Flavonoids on the Broiler Gut Health Using Microbiomic and Metabolomic Analyses.

Epimedium (EM), also known as barrenwort, is a traditional medicinal plant rich in isopentenyl flavonols, which have beneficial biological activities and can improve human and animal health, but its mechanism is still unclear. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) were used to analyse the main components of EM, and isopentenyl flavonols such as Epimedin A, B, and C as well as Icariin were the major components of EM. Meanwhile, broilers were selected as model animals to illuminate the mechanism of Epimedium isopentenyl flavonols (EMIE) on gut health. The results showed that supplementation with 200 mg/kg EM improved the immune response, increased cecum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate concentrations, and improved nutrient digestibility in broilers. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that EMIE altered the composition of cecal microbiome, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Candidatus Soleaferrea and Lachbospiraceae NC2004 group and Butyricioccus) and reducing that of harmful bacteria (UBA1819, Negativibacillus, and Eisenbergiella). Metabolomic analysis identified 48 differential metabolites, of which Erosnin and Tyrosyl-Tryptophan were identified as core biomarkers. Erosnin and tyrosyl-tryptophan are potential biomarkers to evaluate the effects of EMIE. This shows that EMIE may regulate the cecum microbiota through Butyricicoccus, with changes in the relative abundance of the genera Eisenbergiella and Un. Peptostreptococcaceae affecting the serum metabolite levels of the host. EMIE is an excellent health product, and dietary isopentenyl flavonols, as bioactive components, can improve health by altering the microbiota structure and the plasma metabolite profiles. This study provides the scientific basis for the future application of EM in diets.

Multi-Omics Profiling Reveals Se Deficiency-Induced Redox Imbalance, Metabolic Reprogramming, and Inflammation in Pig Muscle.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional muscle dystrophy is associated with selenium (Se) deficiency; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to understand the crosstalk among redox status, energy metabolism, and inflammation in nutritional muscle dystrophy induced by dietary Se deficiency. METHODS: Eighteen castrated male pigs (Yorkshire, 45 d old) were fed Se-deficient (Se-D; 0.007 mg Se/kg) or Se-adequate (Se-A; in the form of selenomethionine, 0.3 mg Se/kg) diets for 16 wk. The muscle Se concentrations; antioxidant capacity; and gene expression, transcriptome, global proteome, metabolome, and lipidome profiles were analyzed. The transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome profiles were analyzed with biostatistics, bioinformatics, and pathway enrichment analysis; other data were analyzed with Student's 2-sided t tests. RESULTS: The muscle Se content in the Se-D group was 96% lower than that in the Se-A group (P < 0.05). The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) in the Se-D group was 42%-69% lower than that in the Se-A group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of 10 selenoprotein genes were 25%-84% lower than those in the Se-A group (P < 0.05). Multi-omics analyses indicated that the levels of 1378 transcripts, 83 proteins, 22 metabolites, and 55 lipid molecules were significantly altered in response to Se deficiency. Se deficiency-induced redox imbalance led to muscle central carbon and lipid metabolism reprogramming, which enhanced the glycolysis pathway and decreased phospholipid synthesis. Inflammation and apoptosis were observed in response to Se deficiency-induced muscle oxidative stress, which may have been associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, suppressed focal adhesion and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling, and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results contributed to understanding the crosstalk among redox, energy metabolism, and inflammation in Se deficiency-induced muscle dystrophy in pigs, and may provide intervention targets for muscle disease treatment.

Simultaneous determination of pinoxaden, cloquintocet-mexyl, clodinafop-propargyl ester and its major metabolite in barley products and soil using QuEChERS modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes coupled with LC-MS/MS.

Herein, a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as a dispersive solid-phase extraction was developed for simultaneous determination of pinoxaden (PXD), cloquintocet-mexyl (CLM), clodinafop-propargyl ester (CPE) and its major metabolite (clodinafop, CP) in barley grass powder, barley grain, and soil using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We found that MWCNT as an absorbent could improve the recoveries of the tested analytes, particularly CP, in complex matrices. Under the optimum conditions, the established MWCNT-modified QuEChERS coupled with LC-MS/MS method exhibited excellent linearity (R2 ) of ≥0.9912, low limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) of 0.02-0.07 and 0.29-1.26 µg kg-1 , and acceptable recoveries of 80-130% with intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) < 10.5%. No strong matrix effect (ME) has been observed on the respective samples. The method was successfully applied to monitor the tested analytes in the representative field incurred samples. Conclusively, the proposed method is sensitive and reliable and could be used to monitor the residues of PDX, CLM, CPE, and CP in complicated agro-products and soil matrices.

Fluorescent probes based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions for reactive sulfur and selenium species: Recent progress, applications, and design strategies.

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) and reactive selenium species (RSeS) are important substances for the maintenance of physiological balance. Imbalance of RSS and RSeS is closely related to a series of human diseases, so it is considered to be an important biomarker in early diagnosis, treatment, and stage monitoring. Fast and accurate quantitative analysis of different RSS and RSeS in complex biological systems may promote the development of personalized diagnosis and treatment in the future. One way to explore the physiological function of various types of RSS and RSeS in vivo is to detect them at the molecular level, and one of the most effective methods for this is to use fluorescent probes. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reactions are commonly exploited as a detection mechanism for RSS and RSeS in fluorescent probes. In this review, we cover recent progress in fluorescent probes for RSS and RSeS based on SNAr reactions, and discuss their response mechanisms, properties, and applications. Benzenesulfonate, phenyl-O ether, phenyl-S ether, phenyl-Se ether, 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD), benzoate, and selenium-nitrogen bonds are all good detection groups. Moreover, based on an integration of different reports, we propose the design and synthesis of RSS- and RSeS-selective probes based on SNAr reactions, current challenges, and future research directions, considering the selection of active sites, the effect of substituents on the benzene ring, and the introduction of other functional groups.

Over-expression of a γ-tocopherol methyltransferase gene in vitamin E pathway confers PEG-simulated drought tolerance in alfalfa.

BACKGROUND: α-Tocopherol is one of the most important vitamin E components present in plant. α-Tocopherol is a potent antioxidant, which can deactivate photoproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevent lipids from oxidation when plants suffer drought stress. γ-Tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) catalyzes the formation of α-tocopherol in the tocopherol biosynthetic pathway. Our previous studies showed that over-expression of γ-TMT gene can increase the accumulation of α-tocopherol in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). However, whether these transgenic plants confer increased drought tolerance and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. RESULTS: In the present study, we further evaluate transgenic alfalfa lines, and found that over-expression of MsTMT led to an increase in α-tocopherol and total tocopherol level in the transgenic lines compared with the control plant. It was revealed that drought tolerance of the transgenic alfalfa was remarkably increased, with alleviated oxidative damage and accumulation of more osmolytic substances. The stomatal development in transgenic plants was significantly inhibited on both sides of leaves, which may be resulted from the repression of MsSPCHLESS (MsSPCH) gene. The reduced stomatal density of transgenic plants contributes to a lower stomatal conductance and higher water use efficiency (WUE). Moreover, both RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses indicate that regulatory mechanism of MsTMT in drought involved in both ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MsTMT gene plays a positive role in regulating alfalfa response to PEG-simulated drought stress, which might involve complex mechanisms, including ROS scavenging system, stomatal development and multiple phytohormone signaling pathways. This study will broaden our view on the function of γ-TMT gene and provide new strategy for genetic engineering in alfalfa breeding.

Targeted Metabolomics Analysis Reveals that Dietary Supranutritional Selenium Regulates Sugar and Acylcarnitine Metabolism Homeostasis in Pig Liver.

BACKGROUND: The association between high selenium (Se) intake and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes has raised great concern, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: Through targeted metabolomics analysis, we examined the liver sugar and acylcarnitine metabolism responses to supranutritional selenomethionine (SeMet) supplementation in pigs. METHODS: Thirty-six castrated male pigs (Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire, 62.0 ± 3.3 kg) were fed SeMet adequate (Se-A, 0.25 mg Se/kg) or SeMet supranutritional (Se-S, 2.5 mg Se/kg) diets for 60 d. The Se concentration, biochemical, gene expression, enzyme activity, and energy-targeted metabolite profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: The Se-S group had greater fasting serum concentrations of glucose (1.9-fold), insulin (1.4-fold), and free fatty acids (FFAs,1.3-fold) relative to the Se-A group (P < 0.05). The liver total Se concentration was 4.2-fold that of the Se-A group in the Se-S group (P < 0.05), but expression of most selenoprotein genes and selenoenzyme activity did not differ between the 2 groups. Seven of 27 targeted sugar metabolites and 4 of 21 acylcarnitine metabolites significantly changed in response to high SeMet (P < 0.05). High SeMet supplementation significantly upregulated phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) activity by 64.4% and decreased hexokinase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity by 46.5-56.7% (P < 0.05). The relative contents of glucose, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, α-ketoglutarate, fumarate, malate, erythrose-4-phosphate, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate in the Se-S group were 21.1-360% greater than those in the Se-A group (P < 0.05). The expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and the relative contents of carnitine, hexanoyl-carnitine, decanoyl-carnitine, and tetradecanoyl-carnitine in the Se-S group were 35-97% higher than those in the Se-A group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary high SeMet-induced hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were associated with suppression of sugar metabolism and elevation of lipid synthesis in pig livers. Our research provides novel insights into high SeMet intake-induced type 2 diabetes.

Toxicity of parental co-exposure of microplastic and bisphenol compounds on adult zebrafish: Multi-omics investigations on offspring.

In recent years, the widespread use of bisphenol compounds and microplastics (MP) have attracted attention due to their harmful effects. Here, individual and combined effects of MP and bisphenol compounds, were assessed on adult zebrafish after co-exposure of bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS) and 25 µm polyethylene MP. Impacts on their offspring (the F1 generation) were also investigated. The reproductive toxicity in adult zebrafish impacted exerted by bisphenol compounds were aggravated by the co-presence of MP. Transcriptomics and metabolomics further showed single or co-exposure of bisphenol compounds and MP could together regulate apoptosis, calcium signaling pathway and glycerophospholipid signaling pathways. Our results also showed the different toxicity mechanisms on transcriptional and metabolic profiles in the combination effects of bisphenol compounds and MP. The co-exposure of BPA and MP predominantly influenced neurotoxicity via the MAPK signaling pathway and voltage-dependent calcium channels, whereas the co-exposure of BPS and MP principally affected visual development through phototransduction and retinol metabolism. The co-exposure of BPA and MP, as well as BPS and MP, specifically regulate lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism in zebrafish offspring, respectively. Overall, this study provided a deep understanding of the toxicity differences between co-exposure and single exposure of bisphenol compound and MP in zebrafish, as well as the transgenerational effects and potential molecular mechanisms of bisphenol compounds and MP in zebrafish offspring.

Development of an electrochemical sensor modified with gold nanoparticles for detecting fumonisin B1 in packaged foods.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is naturally present in the environment and can easily contaminate packaged foods during processing, storage and transportation, thus posing a threat to human health. We have developed an enzyme-free FB1 detector for the detection of packaged foods, which provides rapid and sensitive detection of FB1 in food. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; 5-10 nm) were uniformly dispersed on screen-printed electrodes, which acted as an excellent catalytic oxidizer. The surface structure of the modified electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Differential pulse voltammetry demonstrated a good linear electrochemical response towards FB1 at concentrations ranging from 1 ng L-1 to 1 mg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.08 ng L-1. We employed the AuNPs-SPE sensor to detect FB1-spiked packaged meat products achieving recovery rates ranging from 89.7% to 113.3%.

Determination of Bisphenol Compounds and the Bioaccumulation after Co-Exposure with Polyethylene Microplastics in Zebrafish.

Knowledge regarding the combined toxicity mechanism of bisphenol compounds and microplastics (MPs) on organisms remains limited. In this study, we first developed an accurate and sensitive method to simultaneously quantify two bisphenol compounds and evaluate their accumulation and tissue distribution after co-exposure with MPs in zebrafish. Then, we determined the bioaccumulation potential of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) in adult zebrafish in the absence and presence of MPs. Bisphenol compounds were found to accumulate in different tissues of zebrafish, with BPS showing lower accumulation levels compared to BPA. Importantly, we discovered that the presence of MPs could exacerbate the accumulation of bisphenol compounds in biological tissues. These findings highlight the enhanced bioavailability and risk posed by the co-exposure of bisphenol compounds and MPs, underscoring the need for further investigation into their combined environmental and biological health impacts.

Deposition and enrichment of carotenoids in livestock products: An overview.

A wide range of research has illustrated that carotenoids play a key role in human health through their versatile beneficial biological functions. Traditionally, the majority dietary sources of carotenoids for humans are obtained from vegetables and fruits, however, the contribution of animal-derived foods has attracted more interest in recent years. Livestock products such as eggs, meat, and milk have been considered as the appropriate and unique carriers for the deposition of carotenoids. In addition, with the enrichment of carotenoids, the nutritional quality of these animal-origin foods would be improved as well as the economic value. Here, we offer an overview covering aspects including the physicochemical properties of carotenoids, the situation of carotenoids fortified in livestock products, and the pathways that lead to the deposition of carotenoids in livestock products. The summary of these important nutrients in livestock products will provide references for animal husbandry and human health.

Ultrasensitive analyses of zearalenone in grain samples with a catalytic oxidation platform involving gold nanomaterials.

Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination in cereals poses a serious threat to human and animal health, yet existing rapid test methods still suffer from poor stability and low sensitivity. The studied sensor reduces inspection time while enabling applications for on-site grain inspection. Specifically, a ZEN detector that can sensitively detect ZEN content in grains was developed. Ion implantation is an effective method for modifying screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; 5-10 nm) were uniformly implanted using screen-printed electrodes as a catalytic oxidation medium to generate an electrochemical sensor. The surface structure of the modified electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that differential pulse voltammetry had good linear electrochemical response to ZEN at 10 ng/kg to 10 mg/kg, with a detection limit of 1.1 ng/kg. We used AuNP-SPE sensors to detect ZEN in grain samples such as maize and oats.

Identification of Characteristic Bioactive Compounds in Silkie Chickens, Their Effects on Meat Quality, and Their Gene Regulatory Network.

Silkie chicken, an important chicken breed with high medicinal and nutritional value, has a long history of being used as a dietary supplement in China. However, the compounds with health-promoting effects in Silkie chickens remain unclear. In the present study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of metabolic and lipidomic profiles to identify the characteristic bioactive compounds in Silkie chickens, using a common chicken breed as control. The results showed that the levels of 13 metabolites including estradiol, four lipid subclasses including cardiolipin (CL), eight lipid molecules, and three fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) were significantly increased in Silkie chickens, which have physiological activities such as resisting chronic diseases and improving cognition. These characteristic bioactive compounds have effects on meat quality characteristics, including improving its water-holding capacity and umami taste and increasing the content of aromatic compounds and phenols. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two chicken breeds revealed the regulatory network for these characteristic bioactive compounds. Fifteen DEGs, including HSD17B1, are involved in the synthesis of characteristic metabolites. Eleven DEGs, including ELOVL2, were involved in the synthesis and transport of characteristic lipids and fatty acids. In summary, we identified characteristic bioactive compounds in Silkie chickens, and analyzed their effects on meat quality characteristics. This study provided important insight into Silkie chicken meat as a functional food.

Selenomethionine protects the liver from dietary deoxynivalenol exposure via Nrf2/PPARγ-GPX4-ferroptosis pathway in mice.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a significant Fusarium toxin that has gained global attention due to its high frequency of contamination in food and feed. It was reported to have hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and reproduction toxicity in organs. On the other hand, Selenomethionine (SeMet) was proven to have anti-oxidation, tissue repairing, immunity improvement, and antifungal mycotoxin infection functions. However, the molecular mechanism by which SeMet alleviates DON damage is not yet clear. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups, Se-A and Se-A+DON were fed with a diet containing 0.2 mg/kg Se whereas Se-S+DON were fed with a diet of 1.0 mg/kg Se. After feeding for four weeks, the mice were gavaged for 21 days with DON (2.0 mg/kg BW) or ultrapure water once per day. In the present study, we showed that SeMet significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity after DON exposure. In addition, our investigation revealed that SeMet regulated pathways related to lipid synthesis and metabolisms, and effectively mitigated DON-induced liver damage. Moreover, we have discovered that SeMet downregulation of N-acylethanolamine and HexCer accumulation induced hepatic lipotoxicity. Further study showed that SeMet supplementation increased protein levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and upregulated target proteins, indicating suppression of oxidative stress in the liver. Meanwhile, we found that SeMet significantly reduced the DON-induced protein abundances of Bcl2, Beclin1, LC3B and proteins related to ferroptosis (Lpcat3, and Slc3a2), and downregulation of Slc7a11. In conclusion, SeMet protected the liver from damage by enhancing the Nrf2/PPARγ-GPX4-ferroptosis pathway, inhibiting lipid accumulation and hepatic lipotoxicity. The findings of this study indicated that SeMet has a positive impact on liver health by improving antioxidant capacity and relieving lipotoxicity in toxin pollution.

Delivery of Cu(II) and Mn(II) by polydopamine-modified nanoparticles for combined photothermal and chemotherapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been recognized as an emerging therapeutic strategy. It has attracted considerable attention in recent years as it can generate the most harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS)-hydroxyl radicals (•OH) through the Fenton reaction or a Fenton-like reaction under the catalysis of versatile metal cations, such as, Fe(II), Fe(III), Cu(I), Mn(II), and Mn(III). However, a large number of reducing species (e.g., GSH) in tumors inhibit the therapeutic effects of CDT. This study proposes a nanocarrier strategy that can release versatile metal cations in the initial stage to consume the reducing substances, which can be convenient for subsequent CDT treatment. A novel nano-delivery system based on H-MnO2@PDA/Cu-CD@Ad-TK-Ad@Ploy-CD (abbreviated as MNZ) was proposed to resolve the above problems. Herein, hollow mesoporous manganese dioxide nanoparticles (H-MnO2) were coated with PDA and modified with copper ions on the surface of PDA. The PDA was then functionalized with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) substitutions that were further assembled with N-((1S,3R,5S)-adamantan-1-yl)-3-((2-((3-(((3s,5s,7s)-adamantan-1-yl)amino)-3-oxopropyl)thio)propan-2-yl)thio)propenamide (Ad-TK-Ad). Poly-CD was assembled with CD to improve the stability of the reactor. The MNZ nanotheranostic platform can release Cu(II) and Mn(II), which could react with intracellular GSH to consume the reducing substances in tumors. Subsequently, H2O2 can be converted into •OH, and the effect is improved with increasing temperatures. Cytotoxicity of MNZ (200 µg mL-1) was studied by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay using HeLa cells as the models. Results indicated that cell viability was clearly reduced to 22% by the nanoparticles alone, to 18% by the nanoparticles with H2O2, and to 9% by the nanoparticles with H2O2 and NIR, under weak acidic condition (pH 6.8). This work provides a beneficial exploration for the application of nano-delivery strategies for combined photothermal and chemodynamic therapy agents.

Selenium maintains intestinal epithelial cells to activate M2 macrophages against deoxynivalenol injury.

Selenium (Se) is indispensable in alleviating various types of intestinal injuries. Here, we thoroughly investigated the protective effect of Se on the regulation of the epithelial cell-M2 macrophages pathway in deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced intestinal damage. In the present study, Se has positive impacts on gut health by improving gut barrier function and reducing the levels of serum DON in vivo. Furthermore, our study revealed that Se supplementation increased the abundances of GPX4, p-PI3K, and AKT, decreased the levels of 4-HNE and inhibited ferroptosis. Moreover, when mice were treated with DON and Fer-1(ferroptosis inhibitor), ferroptosis was suppressed and PI3K/AKT pathway was activated. These results indicated that GPX4-PI3K/AKT-ferroptosis was a predominant pathway in DON-induced intestinal inflammation. Interestingly, we discovered that both the number of M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages and the levels of CSF-1 decreased while the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 increased in the intestine and MODE-K cells supernatant. Therefore, Se supplementation activated the CSF-1-M2 macrophages axis, resulting in a decrease in IL-6 expression and an enhancement of the intestinal anti-inflammatory capacity. This study provides novel insights into how intestinal epithelial cells regulate the CSF-1-M2 macrophage pathway, which is essential in maintaining intestinal homeostasis confer to environmental hazardous stimuli.

18Beta-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Attenuates H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis in Intestinal Epithelial Cells via Activating the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Oxidative stress causes gut dysfunction and is a contributing factor in several intestinal disorders. Intestinal epithelial cell survival is essential for maintaining human and animal health under oxidative stress. 18beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is known to have multiple beneficial effects, including antioxidant activity; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well established. Thus, the present study evaluated the therapeutic effects of GA on H2O2-induced oxidative stress in intestinal porcine epithelial cells. The results showed that pretreatment with GA (100 nM for 16 h) significantly increased the levels of several antioxidant enzymes and reduced corresponding intracellular levels of reactive oxidative species and malondialdehyde. GA inhibited cell apoptosis via activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, as confirmed by RNA sequencing. Further analyses demonstrated that GA upregulated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt and the protein level of B cell lymphoma 2, whereas it downregulated Cytochrome c and tumor suppressor protein p53 levels. Moreover, molecular docking analysis predicted the binding of GA to Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1, a primary membrane receptor, to activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Collectively, these results revealed that GA protected against H2O2-induced oxidative damage and cell apoptosis via activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting the potential therapeutic use of GA to alleviate oxidative stress in humans/animals.

Reactive oxygen species-responsive nano gel as a carrier, combined with photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy for the treatment of brucellosis.

Brucellosis is an intracellular infectious disease that is primarily treated with antibacterial therapy. However, most antibacterial drugs struggle to penetrate the cell membrane and may be excluded or inactivated within the cell. In a recent study, researchers developed a nanogel coated with polydopamine (PDA) that responds to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and has enhanced adhesion properties. This nanogel encapsulates photosensitized zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and an antibacterial drug, and is further modified with folic acid (FA) for active targeting. The resulting ROS-responsive nanogel, termed PDA@PMAA@ZnPc@DH-FA, can reach temperatures up to 50°C under near-infrared light, leading to a 72.1% improvement in drug release through increased ROS production. Cell staining confirmed a cell survival rate above 75%, with a low hemolysis rate of only 4.633%, indicating excellent biocompatibility. Furthermore, the study's results showed that the nanogel exhibited stronger killing effects against Brucella compared to administering the drug alone. Under near-infrared irradiation, the nanogel achieved a bacteriostatic rate of 99.8%. The combined approach of photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy offers valuable insights for treating Brucella.

Enrichment efficiency of lutein in eggs and its function in improving fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in aged laying hens.

In this study, we evaluated the enrichment efficiency of lutein in eggs and its function in preventing fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in aged laying hens. Five groups of laying hens (65 wk old) were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90, or 120 mg/kg of lutein. The supplementation period lasted 12 wk followed by 2 wk of lutein depletion in feed. The results revealed that lutein efficiently enriched the egg yolks and improved their color with a significant increase in relative redness (P < 0.001). Lutein accumulation increased in the egg yolk until day 10, then depletion reached a minimum level after 14 d. Overall, zeaxanthin content in all the groups was similar throughout the experimental period. However, triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly decreased in the liver (P < 0.05) but not significantly different in the serum (P > 0.05). In the serum, the lipid metabolism enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), whereas dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 was not significantly different (P > 0.05), and there was no statistical difference of either enzyme in the liver (P > 0.05). Regarding oxidation and inflammation-related indexes, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factors alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 beta were decreased, whereas superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity increased in the liver (P < 0.001). The function of lutein for the same indexes in serum was limited. It was concluded that lutein efficiently enriched the egg yolk of old laying hens to improve their color and reached the highest level on day 10 without being subject to a significant conversion into zeaxanthin. At the same time, lutein prevented liver steatosis in aged laying hens by exerting strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, but also through the modulation of lipid metabolism, which may contribute to reducing the incidence of FLHS in poultry.

Dietary Epimedium extract supplementation improves intestinal functions and alters gut microbiota in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Growth-promoting antibiotics have been banned by law in the livestock and poultry breeding industry in many countries. Various alternatives to antibiotics have been investigated for using in livestock. Epimedium (EM) is an herb rich in flavonoids that has many beneficial effects on animals. Therefore, this study was planned to explore the potential of EM as a new alternative antibiotic product in animal feed. METHODS: A total of 720 1-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres Plus) were randomly divided into six groups and fed basal diet (normal control; NC), basal diet supplemented with antibiotic (75 mg/kg chlortetracycline; CTC), and basal diet supplemented with 100, 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg EM extract for 6 weeks (EM100, EM200, EM400 and EM800 groups). The growth performance at weeks 3 and 6 was measured. Serum, intestinal tissue and feces were collected to assay for antioxidant indexes, intestinal permeability, lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles, microbial composition, and expression of intestinal barrier genes. RESULTS: The average daily feed intake in CTC group at 1-21 d was significantly higher than that in the NC group, and had no statistical difference with EM groups. Compared with NC group, average daily gain in CTC and EM200 groups increased significantly at 1-21 and 1-42 d. Compared with NC group, EM200 and EM400 groups had significantly decreased levels of lipopolysaccharide and D-lactic acid in serum throughout the study. The concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and SCFAs in feces of birds fed 200 mg/kg EM diet were significantly higher than those fed chlortetracycline. The dietary supplementation of chlortetracycline and 200 mg/kg EM significantly increased ileal expression of SOD1, Claudin-1 and ZO-1 genes. Dietary supplemented with 200 mg/kg EM increased the relative abundances of g_NK4A214_group and Lactobacillus in the jejunal, while the relative abundances of Microbacterium, Kitasatospora, Bacteroides in the jejunal and Gallibacterium in the ileum decreased. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with 200 mg/kg EM extract improved the composition of intestinal microbiota by regulating the core bacterial genus Lactobacillus, and increased the concentration of beneficial metabolites lactic acid and SCFAs in the flora, thereby improving the antioxidant capacity and intestinal permeability, enhancing the function of tight junction proteins. These beneficial effects improved the growth performance of broilers.