Ginsenoside-Rg1 attenuates sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction by modulating mitochondrial damage via the P2X7 receptor-mediated Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1), a saponin that is a primary component of ginseng, is effective against inflammatory diseases. The P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7) receptor is an ATP-gated ion channel that is predominantly expressed in immune cells and plays a key role in inflammatory processes. We investigated the role of G-Rg1 in sepsis-related cardiac dysfunction and the underlying mechanism involving the regulation of the P2X7 receptor. We detected cell viability, cytotoxicity, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with or without G-Rg1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced H9c2 cell models of ischemia/reperfusion injury. We applied cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce a mouse model of sepsis and measured the survival duration and cardiac function of CLP mice. Next, we quantified the ROS level, MMP, respiratory chain complex I-IV enzymatic activity, and mitochondrial fusion in CLP mouse heart tissues. We then investigated the role of G-Rg1 in repairing LPS-induced cell mitochondrial damage, including mitochondrial superoxidation products. The results showed that G-Rg1 inhibited LPS- or H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cytotoxicity, ROS levels, and mitochondrial damage. In addition, G-Rg1 prolonged the survival time of CLP mice. G-Rg1 attenuated LPS-induced superoxide production in the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes and the excessive release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Most importantly, G-Rg1 suppressed LPS-mediated induction of proapoptotic Bax, activated Akt, induced GSK-3ß phosphorylation, and balanced mitochondrial calcium levels. Overall, G-Rg1 activates the Akt/GSK-3ß pathway through P2X7 receptors to inhibit sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Proteomics and ultrastructural analysis of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larval peritrophic matrix.

BACKGROUND: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has significant economic potential. The larvae can be used in financially viable waste management systems, as they are voracious feeders able to efficiently convert low-quality waste into valuable biomass. However, most studies on H. illucens in recent decades have focused on optimizing their breeding and bioconversion conditions, while information on their biology is limited. METHODS: About 200 fifth instar well-fed larvae were sacrificed in this work. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy were employed in this study to perform a proteomic and ultrastructural analysis of the peritrophic matrix (PM) of H. illucens larvae. RESULTS: A total of 565 proteins were identified in the PM samples of H. illucen, of which 177 proteins were predicted to contain signal peptides, bioinformatics analysis and manual curation determined 88 proteins may be associated with the PM, with functions in digestion, immunity, PM modulation, and others. The ultrastructure of the H. illucens larval PM observed by scanning electron microscopy shows a unique diamond-shaped chitin grid texture. CONCLUSIONS: It is the first and most comprehensive proteomics research about the PM of H. illucens larvae to date. All the proteins identified in this work has been discussed in details, except several unnamed or uncharacterized proteins, which should not be ignored and need further study. A comparison of the ultrastructure between H. illucens larval PM and those of other insects as observed by SEM indicates that the PM displays diverse textures on an ultra-micro scale and we suscept a unique diamond-shaped chitin grid texture may help H. illucens larval to hold more food. This work deepens our understanding of the molecular architecture and ultrastructure of the H. illucens larval PM.

Resveratrol inhibits necroptosis by mediating the TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway in myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.

Resveratrol (RES) protects myocardial cells from hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-caused injury. However, the mechanism of this effect has not been clarified. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine whether RES attenuates H/R-induced cell necroptosis by inhibiting the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1)/RIP3/mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) signaling pathway. Rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) models and H/R-injured cell models were constructed. Our study showed that myocardial H/R injury significantly increased the levels of TNF-α, RIP1, RIP3, and p-MLKL/MLKL by western blot analysis. Cell viability assay and 4,6-dianmidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-propidium iodide staining showed that the cell viability was decreased, and necroptosis was increased after myocardial H/R injury. The expressions of TNF-α, RIP1, RIP3, and p-MLKL/MLKL in H/R myocardial cells treated with different concentrations of RES were significantly downregulated. In addition, we also found that the cell viability was increased and necroptosis was decreased in dose-dependent manners when H/R-injured cells were treated with RES. In addition, the enhanced effect of TNF-α on necroptosis in myocardial H/R-injured cells was improved by RES, and the effect of RES was confirmed in vivo in I/R rats. This study also showed that RES suppresses necroptosis in H9c2 cells, which may occur through the inhibition of the TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway. Our data suggest that necroptosis is a promising therapeutic target and may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.

Emerging protective roles of shengmai injection in septic cardiomyopathy in mice by inducing myocardial mitochondrial autophagy via caspase-3/Beclin-1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis, a life-threatening systemic syndrome related to inflammatory response, usually accompanied by major organ dysfunctions. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role by which Shengmai injection (SMI) acts to septic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Initially, the induced mice with septic cardiomyopathy were treated with SMI or normal saline (NS) with oe-caspase-3, and HL-1 cells were treated with oe-Beclin-1 and oe-caspase-3 and then cultured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Subsequently, we measured the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level, and expression of mitochondrial autophagy protein (parkin and pink1) and myocardial cell autophagy-related proteins (LC3-II and LC3-I). Additionally, we identified the cleavage of Beclin-1 by caspase-3 and detected the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential, level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis of myocardial cells in myocardial tissues of mice. RESULTS: It has been demonstrated that SMI contributed to the increase of myocardial mitochondrial autophagy, reduction of cTnI level, and elevation of mitochondrial membrane potential in septic cardiomyopathy mice. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that caspase-3 promoted cleavage of Beclin-1 and release of ROS, whereas repressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitochondrial autophagy. Furthermore, the facilitation of myocardial mitochondrial autophagy and protection of myocardial mitochondria by SMI through inhibition of cleavage Beclin-1 by caspase-3 in septic cardiomyopathy mice were also proved by in vivo experiments. CONCLUSION: Taken together, SMI could protect myocardial mitochondria by promoting myocardial mitochondrial autophagy in septic cardiomyopathy via inhibition of cleavage of Beclin-1 by caspase-3. Our study demonstrates that SMI could represent a novel target for treatment of septic cardiomyopathy.

Downregulated microRNA-330 suppresses left ventricular remodeling via the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway by targeting SRY in mice with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

microRNAs (miRs) are essential in the development of heart failure. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of microRNA-330 (miR-330) on left ventricular remodeling via the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway by targeting the sex-determining region Y (SRY) in mice with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Differentially expressed gene (DEG) in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) was screened out and the miR that targeted the DEG was also predicted and verified. A model of MIRI was established to detect the expression of miR-330, SRY, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), and Sekelsky mothers against dpp3 (Smad3). To further investigate the role of miR-330 in MIRI with the involvement of SRY and TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway, the modeled mice were treated with different mimic, inhibitor, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) to observe the changes of the related gene expression, as well as the myocardial infarction size and volume of myocardial collagen. SRY was screened out and verified as a target gene of miR-330. The MIRI mice showed enlarged myocardial infarction size, increased volume of myocardial collagen, increased expression of miR-330, TGF-ß1 and Smad3, while decreased the expression of SRY. The MIRI mice treated with miR-330 inhibitor showed decreased myocardial infarction size, the volume of myocardial collagen, and expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad3 but promoted expression of SRY. Our findings demonstrated that downregulated miR-330 could suppress left ventricular remodeling to inhibit the activation of the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway via negatively targeting of SRY in mice with MIRI. This can be a potential target in the strategy to attenuate patient suffering.

Gold(i)-promoted α-selective sialylation of glycosyl ortho-hexynylbenzoates for the latent-active synthesis of oligosialic acids.

A gold(i)-promoted α-selective sialylation approach with 5-N,4-O-oxazolidinone-protected sialyl ortho-hexynylbenzoates as donors is described for the stereoselective synthesis of α-sialosides. Iterative couplings of the 'active' sialyl ortho-hexynylbenzoates and the 'latent' sialyl ortho-iodobenzoates provide a new approach for the 'latent-active' synthesis of α-(2 → 9)-linked oligosialic acids that are relevant to N. meningitidis serogroup C capsular polysaccharide.

Single probiotic supplement suppresses colitis-associated colorectal tumorigenesis by modulating inflammatory development and microbial homeostasis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to the initiation and progression of cancers. Lactobacillus helveticus NS8, which was originally separated from fermented koumiss, exhibited anti-inflammatory functions in our prior studies. In this study, NS8 was investigated for its potential to prevent colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). METHODS: The protective effects of NS8 against CAC was explored by employing the azoxymethane plus dextran sodium sulfate-induced carcinogenesis mouse model. The prevalences of T cells expressing specific inflammatory cytokines were measured by flow cytometry at the early stage of CAC. Inflammatory modulation by NS8 was also tested in the Caco2-Raw264.7 cell co-culture system. The alternations in the intestinal microbiota following the health-inflammation-cancer sequence were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: Oral intake of NS8 lactobacilli clearly reduced tumor number and the degree of hyperplasia. The increased proliferation of enterocytes at the early stage of CAC was significantly suppressed by NS8, while the level of apoptosis was elevated. The anticancer effects of NS8 were associated with its anti-colitis outcomes before tumor formation. NS8 significantly suppressed the activation of NF-κB and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Further analysis revealed the marked downregulation of IL-17-producing T cells by NS8. Furthermore, NS8 modulated intestinal dysbiosis by promoting beneficial commensal microbes while suppressing cancer-associated microbes. Notably, Bacteroides acidifaciens was the most sensitive commensal bacteria to NS8 intervention. CONCLUSION: These results provide insight into the protective effects of L. helveticus NS8 against colorectal cancer.

Oral Intake of Lactobacillus helveticus NS8 Alleviates Ovalbumin-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in SKH-1 Hairless Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease and is driven by strong type 2 immune responses. Lactobacillus helveticus NS8 (NS8), a probiotic strain isolated from Mongolian koumiss, has anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of NS8 on AD-like skin lesions by using SKH-1 hairless mice that underwent three cycles of epicutaneous sensitization (EC) with ovalbumin (OVA). NS8 (5 × 108 CFU/day) was orally administered to mice from 2 weeks before the first sensitization until the end of the study. NS8 attenuated the symptoms and pathological changes in the skin of AD mice. For example, NS8 reduced epidermal and dermal thickening and significantly restrained the infiltration of mast cells, eosinophils, and CD4+ T cells into the dermis. By analysing the Th1/Th2 cytokines produced in skin lesions, we found that NS8 significantly suppressed the expression of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 (P < 0.05), while it had no discernible effect on the expression of IFN-γ. Systemically, NS-8 reduced the total IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels in serum (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that oral administration of L. helveticus NS8 effectively alleviates AD severity in mice by suppressing the Th2 immune response. NS8 may be a promising candidate for prophylactic and therapeutic treatments of allergic diseases, such as AD.

Probiotic and anti-inflammatory attributes of an isolate Lactobacillus helveticus NS8 from Mongolian fermented koumiss.

BACKGROUND: Koumiss is a traditionally fermented mare's milk described with health-promoting potentials for decades. However, only a few studies focused on the probiotic strains isolated from koumiss. In this study, we collected koumiss samples from Inner Mongolian pasturing area of China and selected a promising strain of Lactobacillus helveticus, isolate NS8, based on the survival abilities in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and adhesion to intestinal endothelial cells in vitro. As the ability to positively modulate host immune response is a feature of increasing importance in measuring the probiotic potential of a bacterial strain, our study mainly focus on the immunomodulatory properties of L. helveticus NS8 by using in vivo and ex vivo analyses. RESULTS: L. helveticus NS8 was identified by molecular-typing methods, both at genus and species levels. As a typical food niche-specific bacteria, NS8 showed a moderate survival ability in GIT environment in vitro. However, an excellent binding capacity to the human intestinal epithelial cells, along with significant autoaggregation and cell-surface hydrophobicity was observed. Additionally, the presence of S-layer protein was responsible for the cell surface properties of this strain. NS8 was found to be rather protective against TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid)-induced murine colitis. In the meantime, co-culture with NS8 induced an increased level of secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, NS8 was also able to diminish the proinflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 by inducing higher levels of IL-10. Specially, adding of the purified S-layer protein didn't influence the production of IL-10. The specific ligand-host receptor interactions on the NS8 specific immune responses need to be learned further. CONCLUSION: In summary, L. helveticus NS8 exhibited good probiotic and particularly immunomodulatory properties, with a potential for development of functional food commercially or therapeutic adjuvant for inflammatory diseases.

Factors influencing shoulder stiffness after open reduction and internal fixation of proximal humeral fractures.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the factors associated with shoulder stiffness following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humeral fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The retrospective study included a total of 151 patients who underwent ORIF of proximal humeral fractures between January 2016 and May 2021. Based on their shoulder joint motion at the latest follow-up, the patients were divided into two groups. The stiffness group (n=32; 8 males, 24 females; mean age: 62.4±9.3 years; range, 31 to 79 years), exhibited restricted shoulder forward flexion (<120°), limited arm lateral external rotation (<30°), and reduced back internal rotation below the L3 level. The remaining patients were included in the non-stiffness group (n=119; 52 males, 67 females; mean age: 56.4±13.4 years; range, 18 to 90 years). Various factors were examined to evaluate the association with shoulder stiffness following ORIF of proximal humeral fractures by multivariate unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 31.8±12.6 (range, 12 to 68) months. Based on the results of the multivariate regression analysis, it was found that high-energy injuries [compared to low-energy injuries; adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=7.706, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.564-15.579, p<0.001], a time from injury to surgery longer than one week (compared to a time from injury to surgery equal to or less than one week; aOR=5.275, 95% CI: 1.7321-9.472, p=0.031), and a body mass index (BMI) >24.0 kg/m2 (compared to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.0 kg/m2 ; aOR=4.427, 95% CI: 1.671-11.722, p=0.023) were identified as risk factors for shoulder stiffness following ORIF of proximal humeral fractures. CONCLUSION: High-energy injury, time from injury to surgery longer than one week, and BMI >24.0 kg/m2 were identified as independent risk factors for shoulder stiffness after proximal humeral fracture surgery, which should be treated with caution in clinical treatment.

Platelet-derived growth factor subunit-B mediating the effect of dickkopf-1 on acute myocardial infarction risk: a two-step Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have indicated a potential connection between plasma levels of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and platelet-derived growth factor subunit-B (PDGF-B) with the development of atherosclerosis. However, the causal relationship between DKK1, PDGF-B, and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is yet to be established. To address this research gap, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) and mediation analyses to investigate the potential mediating role of PDGF-B in the association between DKK1 and AMI risk. Summary statistics for DKK1 (n = 3,301) and PDGF-B (n = 21,758) were obtained from the GWAS meta-analyses conducted by Sun et al. and Folkersen et al., respectively. Data on AMI cases (n = 3,927) and controls (n = 333,272) were retrieved from the UK Biobank study. Our findings revealed that genetic predisposition to DKK1 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.00208; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00056-1.00361; P = 0.0072) and PDGF-B (OR: 1.00358; 95% CI: 1.00136-1.00581; P = 0.0015) was associated with an increased risk of AMI. Additionally, genetic predisposition to DKK1 (OR: 1.38389; 95% CI: 1.07066-1.78875; P = 0.0131) was linked to higher PDGF-B levels. Furthermore, our MR mediation analysis revealed that PDGF-B partially mediated the association between DKK1 and AMI risk, with 55.8% of the effect of genetically predicted DKK1 being mediated through genetically predicted PDGF-B. These findings suggest that genetic predisposition to DKK1 is positively correlated with the risk of AMI, and that PDGF-B partially mediates this association. Therefore, DKK1 and PDGF-B may serve as promising targets for the prevention and treatment of AMI.

Porous sodium alginate/cellulose nanofiber composite hydrogel microspheres for heavy metal removal in wastewater.

High adsorption capacity, high adsorption rate and reusable adsorbents are urgent needed for removing heavy metals from wastewater. In this study, porous sodium alginate/cellulose nanofiber (SA/CNF) composite hydrogel microspheres were prepared by combining sodium alginate with cellulose nanofibers by microfluidics technology and adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) as pore making agent. The SA/CNF composite hydrogel microspheres could efficiently adsorb heavy metals (Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+) in wastewater. The influencing factors of adsorption process, including pH, temperature, initial concentration, coexisting ions and aquatic environments, were systematically discussed. The adsorption process was more consistent with Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order model in batch system, indicating the adsorption process was mainly chemical adsorption. The adsorption capacity to Pb2+ obtained by Langmuir model was as high as 544.66 mg/g at 20 °C. Fixed-bed column adsorption experiments demonstrated the excellent performance of the as-prepared SA/CNF microspheres for treatment of the flowing wastewater in a column system. Overall, a highly practical adsorption process based on hydrogel adsorbents was developed for the removal of heavy metals from actual wastewater.

Investigating the causal effect of Dickkopf-1 on coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke: a Mendelian randomization study.

Epidemiological investigations have indicated a correlation between elevated plasma levels of Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) and the presence of atherosclerosis. However, the exact causal relationship of DKK1 with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS) remains unclear. To address this gap, our study aimed to explore their causal association using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. We obtained summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analyses conducted by Folkersen et al. and Nikpay et al., which included data from 21,758 individuals for DKK1 and 42,096 cases of CAD. Additionally, we obtained data from the FinnGen biobank analysis round 5, which included 10,551 cases of IS. Eight MR methods were employed to estimate causal effects and detect directional pleiotropy. Our findings demonstrated that genetic liability to DKK1 was associated with increased risks of CAD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.087; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.024-1.154; P = 0.006) and IS (OR: 1.096; 95% CI: 1.004-1.195; P = 0.039). These results establish a causal link between genetic liability to DKK1 and elevated risks of CAD and IS. Consequently, DKK1 may represent a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of CAD and IS.

Gambogic acid-induced degradation of mutant p53 is mediated by proteasome and related to CHIP.

As an oncoprotein, mutant p53 is a potential tumor-specific target for cancer therapy. Most mutated forms of the protein are largely accumulated in cancer cells due to their increased stability. In the present study, we demonstrate that mutant p53 protein stability is regulated by gambogic acid (GA). Following GA exposure, protein levels of mutant p53 decreased while the mRNA levels were not affected in MDA-MB-435 cells, which indicate that GA down-regulates mutant p53 at post-transcription level. Co-treatment with GA and cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, induced a decrease of half-life of mutant p53 protein. These findings indicated that the reduction of mutant p53 by GA was due to the destabilization and degradation of the protein. Furthermore, inhibition of proteasome activity by MG132 blocked GA-induced down-regulation of mutant p53, causing mutant p53 accumulation in detergent-insoluble cellular fractions. Further studies revealed that mutant p53 was ubiquitinated and it was chaperones related ubiquitin ligase carboxy terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP) rather than MDM2 involved in the degradation of mutant p53. In addition, GA prevented Hsp90/mutant p53 complex formation and enhanced interaction of mutant p53 with Hsp70. Depletion of CHIP stabilized mutant p53 in GA treated cells. In conclusion, mutant p53 may be down-regulated by GA through chaperones-assisted ubiquitin/proteasome degradation pathway in cancer cells.

LYG-202 inhibits the proliferation of human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells through induction of G1/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53 and p21(WAF1/Cip1) expression.

We recently established that LYG-202, a new flavonoid with a piperazine substitution, exerts an anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we demonstrate that LYG-202 induces G1/S phase arrest and apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells. Data showed that the blockade of the cell cycle was associated with increased p21(WAF1/Cip1) and Rb levels and reduced expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK4. Moreover, PARP cleavage, activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, and an increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were detected in LYG-202-induced apoptosis. Additionally, activation of p53 resulted in the up-regulation of its downstream targets PUMA and p21(WAF1/Cip1), as well as the down-regulation of its negative regulator MDM2, suggesting that the p53 pathway may play a crucial role in LYG-202-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, siRNA knockdown of p53 attenuated the G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by LYG-202, as the effects of LYG-202 on up-regulation of p21(WAF1/Cip1) and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and pro-caspase-3 were partly inhibited in p53 siRNA transfected cells compared with control siRNA transfected cells. Collectively, these data indicate that LYG-202 exerts its anti-tumor potency by activating the p53-p21 pathway for G1/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.

MiR-200a-3p Aggravates DOX-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Targeting PEG3 Through SIRT1/NF-κB Signal Pathway.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used cytotoxic drug whose application is limited by its severe side effects. Little was known regarding how to offset its side effects. Therefore this study aims to explore the role of miR-200a-3p in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and its possible mechanism. DOX-induced myocardial injury rat models were established, which were then injected with miR-200a-3p inhibitor (miR-200a-3p suppression) to observe the effects of miR-200a-3p on cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Heart function and weights of rat models were also measured. Cardiomyocytes were induced by DOX, in which PEG3 knockdown or corresponding plasmids were transfected to assess the possible effect of PEG3 on cell activity. Dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to verify the binding of PEG3 with miR-200a-3p. Elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), as well as suppressed left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and ± dp/dt max were showed in myocardial injury rat models. DOX induced myocardial injury and increased miR-200a-3p expression levels. miR-200a-3p inhibitor could partially attenuate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rat models, while PEG3 could regulate myocardial injury in DOX-treated cell models. miR-200a-3p, by targeting PEG3 through SIRT1/NF-κB signal pathway, regulated cell proliferation, inflammation and apoptosis of myocardiocytes. The results in current study demonstrated that miR-200a-3p regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by targeting PEG3 through SIRT1/NF-κB signal pathway. This result may provide a potential clue for the treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

CXCR4 protects bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells against hypoxia through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway under hypoxic conditions. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow (BM) of young Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs) were characterized by using Dil-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Dil-ac-LDL) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled UEA (FITC-UEA-1). Phenotype identification of BM-EPCs was based on red cytoplasm and green cytomembrane. Flow cytometry was employed to examine the markers CD14, CD34, and KDR. Expression level of the EPC-specific surface marker CD14 was found to be negative, while the expression level of CD34 and KDR was positive. In addition, CXCR4 was stably overexpressed in BM-EPCs after transfection with adenovirus-CXCR4. Cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis abilities were measured through the application of CCK-8, followed by Transwell and flow cytometry assays. The expression level of CXCR4, PI3K and Akt was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting assays. Functional experiments demonstrated that hypoxia inhibited BM-EPC proliferation and migration, while accelerating BM-EPC apoptosis. Additionally, CXCR4 was found to promote proliferation and migration, and suppress apoptosis in BM-EPCs with or without hypoxia treatment. Evidence also demonstrated that CXCR4 markedly upregulated the expression levels of PI3K and Akt. Furthermore, PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and CXCR4 inhibitor (AMD3100) effectively inhibited the proliferation, migration and resistance to apoptosis of CXCR4-mediated BM-EPCs under hypoxic conditions.

Different apoptotic effects of wogonin via induction of H(2)O(2) generation and Ca(2+) overload in malignant hepatoma and normal hepatic cells.

Wogonin, a major active constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses potent anticancer activities both in vivo and in vitro. This paper describes the different apoptotic effects of wogonin in HepG2 and L02 cells and the possible mechanism for the differences. Through DAPI staining, Annexin-V/PI double-staining assay, JC-1 detection and the expressions of the key apoptotic proteins, we find that wogonin prefers to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the mitochondrial pathway, while has much less effects on L02 cells. Moreover, overexpression of Bcl-2 can block wogonin-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. To illustrate the specific selective mechanism of wogonin in apoptosis induction, H(2)O(2), (·)O(2)(-) and Ca(2+) are measured by 2',7'-dichlorfluorescein-diacetate, dihydroethidium and Flou-3 AM assay, respectively. The results show that the different apoptotic effects of wogonin in HepG2 and L02 cells are due to the different regulations to the redox balance of reactive oxygen species and the Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum. IP(3)R-sensitive Ca(2+) channels are the key targets of the wogonin-increased H(2)O(2). Besides, the activation of PLCγ1 plays as a bridge between H(2)O(2) signal molecules and Ca(2+) release. Taken together, wogonin preferentially kills hepatoma cells by H(2)O(2)-dependent apoptosis triggered by Ca(2+) overload. The results reveal that wogonin is a competitive anticancer drug candidate for the malignant hepatoma therapy.

Synthesis of l-glycero- and d-glycero-d-manno-Heptose Building Blocks for Stereoselective Assembly of the Lipopolysaccharide Core Trisaccharide of Vibrio parahemolyticus O2.

Synthesis of bacterial cell surface l-glycero-d-manno-heptose (l,d-Hep)- and d-glycero-d-manno-heptose (d,d-Hep)-containing higher carbon sugars is a challenging task. Here, we report a convenient and efficient approach for the synthesis of the l,d-Hep and d,d-Hep building blocks. Using l-lyxose and d-ribose as starting materials, this approach features diastereoselective Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions as the key steps. On the basis of the synthetic l,d-Hep and d,d-Hep building blocks, we achieved the first stereoselective synthesis of the unique α-l,d-Hep-(1→3)-α-d,d-Hep-(1→5)-α-Kdo core trisaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio parahemolyticus O2.