Guidelines on antibody use in physiology research.

Antibodies are one of the most used reagents in scientific laboratories and are critical components for a multitude of experiments in physiology research. Over the past decade, concerns about many biological methods, including those that use antibodies, have arisen as several laboratories were unable to reproduce the scientific data obtained in other laboratories. The lack of reproducibility could be largely attributed to inadequate reporting of detailed methods, no or limited verification by authors, and the production and use of unvalidated antibodies. The goal of this guideline article is to review best practices concerning commonly used techniques involving antibodies, including immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Awareness and integration of best practices will increase the rigor and reproducibility of these techniques and elevate the quality of physiology research.

A comprehensive guide to western blotting for tendon research.

Tendons are classified as dense fibrous connective tissue. This fibrous composition poses challenges in protein extraction, particularly hindering the application of Western blotting techniques. Because of these challenges, it becomes necessary to implement additional steps and specific solutions to attain success in this methodology with the tissue in question. The objective of this article is to provide a detailed protocol, elucidating each step, and making it easily replicable for researchers. The study focused on the Achilles tendons of Sprague-Dawley rats, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach in working with this tissue. By addressing the nuances of protein extraction from the dense and fibrous tendons, our protocol aims to facilitate the reproducibility of Western blotting experiments, contributing to a better understanding of this tissue.

Evaluation of androgen receptor and androgen receptor splice-variant 7 in bladder cancer; a novel approach into an ancient topic.

PURPOSE: The contribution of androgen receptors (AR) on bladder cancer has been demonstrated in pre-clinical studies, however in clinical studies, only the canonical AR (AR-FL) protein was measured by immunohistochemistry and conflicting results were obtained. To get better insight into the alterations of AR signalling, we used western blotting (WB) method and simultaneously measured both mRNA and protein levels of AR-FL and AR-V7. METHODS: 23 naive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients and 12 healthy individuals were included. AR-FL protein, AR-FL mRNA, AR-V7 protein and AR-V7 mRNA levels were quantitatively measured by WB and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: While AR-FL protein and AR-V7 mRNA were significantly higher in bladder cancer, AR-FL mRNA and AR-V7 protein were lower. AR-V7 mRNA level was higher in patients with tumour size over 3 cm and AR-FL protein was higher in single tumours (p < 0,005). The small sampling size and the inclusion of only male participants were the main limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of AR-FL protein in bladder cancer supports the contribution of the AR pathway in bladder cancer. The presence of high AR-FL protein despite low mRNA levels may be due to a disruption in post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. AR-V7 was demonstrated for the first time in bladder tissue and found significantly different in bladder cancer tissues. Our study reached new and valuable findings and will shed light on the studies that aim to clarify the role of the AR pathway in bladder cancer.

Amino acid sequence homology of monoclonal serum free light chain dimers and tissue deposited light chains in AL amyloidosis: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of light chain amyloidosis (AL) requires demonstration of amyloid deposits in a tissue biopsy followed by appropriate typing. Previous studies demonstrated increased dimerization of monoclonal serum free light chains (FLCs) as a pathological feature of AL. To further examine the pathogenicity of FLC, we aimed at testing amino acid sequence homology between circulating and deposited light chains (LCs). METHODS: Matched tissue biopsy and serum of 10 AL patients were subjected to tissue proteomic amyloid typing and nephelometric FLC assay, respectively. Serum FLC monomers (M) and dimers (D) were analyzed by Western blotting (WB) and mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS: WB of serum FLCs showed predominance of either κ or λ type, in agreement with the nephelometric assay data. Abnormal FLC M-D patterns typical of AL amyloidosis were demonstrated in 8 AL-λ patients and in one of two AL-κ patients: increased levels of monoclonal FLC dimers, high D/M ratio values of involved FLCs, and high ratios of involved to uninvolved dimeric FLCs. MS of serum FLC dimers showed predominant constant domain sequences, in concordance with the tissue proteomic amyloid typing. Most importantly, variable domain sequence homology between circulating and deposited LC species was demonstrated, mainly in AL-λ cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate homology between circulating FLCs and tissue-deposited LCs in AL-λ amyloidosis. The applied methodology can facilitate studying the pathogenicity of circulating FLC dimers in AL amyloidosis. The study also highlights the potential of FLC monomer and dimer analysis as a non-invasive screening tool for this disease.

An autopsy case of type A FTLD-TDP with a GRN mutation presenting with the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia at onset and with corticobasal syndrome subsequently.

A 68-year-old woman presented with difficulty finding words and writing characters. Neurological examination led to clinical diagnosis at onset of the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia accompanied with ideomotor apraxia, visuospatial agnosia on the right, and Gerstmann syndrome. Bradykinesia and rigidity on the right with shuffling gait developed after one year. Treatment with L-dopa had no effect. The patient was diagnosed with corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse cortical atrophy dominantly on the left, especially in the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. Positron emission tomography did not reveal any significant accumulation of amyloid ß or tau protein. She died five years later. Neuropathological examination revealed diffuse cortical atrophy with severe neuronal loss and fibrous gliosis in the cortex. Neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, short dystrophic neurites, and, most notably, neuronal intranuclear inclusions, all immunoreactive for phosphorylated TDP-43, were observed. Western blotting revealed a full length and fragments of phosphorylated TDP-43 at 45 and 23 kDa, respectively, confirming the pathological diagnosis of type A FTLD-TDP. Whole exome sequencing revealed a pathogenic mutation in GRN (c.87dupC). FTLD-TDP should be included in the differential diagnosis of CBS.

Recovery of motor function is associated with rescue of glutamate biomarkers in the striatum and motor cortex following treatment with Mucuna pruriens in a murine model of Parkinsons disease.

There is growing interest in the use of natural products for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mucuna pruriens has been used in the treatment of humans with PD. The goal of this study was to determine if daily oral treatment with an extract of Mucuna pruriens, starting after the MPTP-induced loss of nigrostriatal dopamine in male mice, would result in recovery/restoration of motor function, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein expression in the nigrostriatal pathway, or glutamate biomarkers in both the striatum and motor cortex. Following MPTP administration, resulting in an 80 % loss of striatal TH, treatment with Mucuna pruriens failed to rescue either striatal TH or the dopamine transporter back to the control levels, but there was restoration of gait/motor function. There was an MPTP-induced loss of TH-labeled neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and in the number of striatal dendritic spines, both of which failed to be recovered following treatment with Mucuna pruriens. This Mucuna pruriens-induced locomotor recovery following MPTP was associated with restoration of two striatal glutamate transporter proteins, GLAST (EAAT1) and EAAC1 (EAAT3), and the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2) within the motor cortex. Post-MPTP treatment with Mucuna pruriens, results in locomotor improvement that is associated with recovery of striatal and motor cortex glutamate transporters but is independent of nigrostriatal TH restoration.

Periploca forrestii Schltr. ameliorate liver injury caused by fluorosis in rat.

To investigate the impact of the ethanoic fractions of Periploca forrestii Schltr. (P. forrestii) in ameliorating the liver injury caused by fluoride ingestion and to explore the potential mechanisms. Initially, an in vitro fluorosis cell model was constructed using the human normal liver cell line (L-02) induced by fluoride. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay kit. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kit was utilized to measure LDH content in the cell supernatant, while the malonic dialdehyde (MDA) assay kit was employed to determine MDA levels within the cells. Subsequently, a fluorosis rat model was established, and LDH content in the cell supernatant was measured using the LDH assay kit. Various parameters, including MDA, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content within the cells, were detected using appropriate assay kits. Additionally, cell apoptosis rate was determined using the Annexin V-FITC/PI cell apoptosis assay kit. The protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and Cleaved Caspase-9 were analyzed through Western blotting. Compared to the model group, the ethanolic fraction D of P.forrestii (Fr.D) increased cell viability (P < 0.01) and decreased LDH and MDA levels (P < 0.01). In the high-dose Fr.D treatment group of fluoride-poisoned rats, serum ALT, AST, LDH and MDA levels significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Results from rat primary cells exhibited that the Fr.D administration group exhibited significantly higher cell survival rates than the fluoride group (P < 0.01). Similarly, primary rat cells treated with Fr.D showed enhanced cell viability (P < 0.05) and reduced apoptosis rate, LDH, MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and ROS levels (P < 0.05) compared to the model group. Western blot analysis indicated that the Fr.D treatment group elevated the Bcl-2/Bax protein expression ratio and reduced Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 activation levels (P < 0.01) compared to the model group. The results suggest that components within the Fr.D from Periploca forrestii may alleviate fluoride-induced liver injury by potentially counteracting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.

Simple analysis of gel images with IOCBIO Gel.

BACKGROUND: Current solutions for the analysis of Western Blot images lack either transparency and reproducibility or can be tedious to use if one has to ensure the reproducibility of the analysis. RESULTS: Here, we present an open-source gel image analysis program, IOCBIO Gel. It is designed to simplify image analysis and link the analysis results with the metadata describing the measurements. The software runs on all major desktop operating systems. It allows one to use it in either a single-researcher environment with local storage of the data or in a multiple-researcher environment using a central database to facilitate data sharing within the research team and beyond. By recording the original image and all operations performed on it, such as image cropping, subtraction of background, sample lane selection, and integration boundaries, the software ensures the reproducibility of the analysis and simplifies making corrections at any stage of the research. The analysis results are available either through direct access to the database used to store it or through the export of the relevant data. CONCLUSIONS: The software is not only limited to Western Blot image analysis and can be used to analyze images obtained as a part of many other widely used biochemical techniques such as isoelectric focusing. By recording the original data and all the analysis steps, the program improves reproducibility in the analysis and contributes to the implementation of FAIR principles in the related fields.

GFAP as Astrocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Cargo in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients-A Pilot Study.

The utility of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been extensively studied in recent years. Here, we aimed to assess its potential role as a cargo protein of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by astrocytes (ADEVs) in response to brain ischemia. Plasma samples from eighteen AIS patients at 24 h (D1), 7 days (D7), and one month (M1) post-symptoms onset, and nine age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factor-matched healthy controls were obtained to isolate EVs using the Exoquick ULTRA EV kit. Subsets of presumed ADEVs were identified further by the expression of the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) as a specific marker of astrocytes with the Basic Exo-Flow Capture kit. Western blotting has tested the presence of GFAP in ADEV cargo. Post-stroke ADEV GFAP levels were elevated at D1 and D7 but not M1 compared to controls (p = 0.007, p = 0.019, and p = 0.344, respectively). Significant differences were highlighted in ADEV GFAP content at the three time points studied (n = 12, p = 0.027) and between D1 and M1 (z = 2.65, p = 0.023). A positive correlation was observed between the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at D7 and ADEV GFAP at D1 (r = 0.58, p = 0.010) and D7 (r = 0.57, p = 0.013), respectively. ADEV GFAP may dynamically reflect changes during the first month post-ischemia. Profiling ADEVs from peripheral blood could provide a new way to assess the central nervous system pathology.

α-Tocotrienol Protects Neurons by Preventing Tau Hyperphosphorylation via Inhibiting Microtubule Affinity-Regulating Kinase Activation.

In the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease, neuronal cell death is closely related to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Our previous studies have found that oxidative stress can activate microtubule affinity-regulating kinases, resulting in elevated phosphorylation levels of tau protein specifically at the Ser262 residue in N1E-115 cells that have been subjected to exposure to hydrogen peroxide. This process may be one of the pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble, naturally occurring antioxidant that plays a crucial role in biological systems. This study aimed to examine the probable processes that contribute to the inhibiting effect on the abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein and the neuroprotective activity of a particular type of vitamin E, α-tocotrienol. The experimental analysis revealed that α-tocotrienol showed significant neuroprotective effects in the N1E-115 cell line. Our data further suggest that one of the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of α-tocotrienol may be through the inhibition of microtubule affinity-regulated kinase activation, which significantly reduces the oxidative stress-induced aberrant elevation of p-Tau (Ser262) levels. These results indicate that α-tocotrienol may represent an intriguing strategy for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Development of a novel two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protocol with agarose native gel electrophoresis.

A new protocol for conducting two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis was developed by combining the recently developed agarose native gel electrophoresis with either vertical sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or flat SDS agarose gel electrophoresis. Our innovative technique utilizes His/MES buffer (pH 6.1) during the first-dimensional (1D) agarose native gel electrophoresis, which allows for the simultaneous and clear visualization of basic and acidic proteins in their native states or complex structures. Our agarose gel electrophoresis is a true native electrophoresis, unlike blue native-PAGE, which relies on the intrinsic charged states of the proteins and their complexes without the need for dye binding. In the 2D, the gel strip from the 1D agarose gel electrophoresis is soaked in SDS and placed on top of the vertical SDS-PAGE gels or the edge of the flat SDS-MetaPhor high-resolution agarose gels. This allows for customized operation using a single electrophoresis device at a low cost. This technique has been successfully applied to analyze various proteins, including five model proteins (BSA, factor Xa, ovotransferrin, IgG, and lysozyme), monoclonal antibodies with slightly different isoelectric points, polyclonal antibodies, and antigen-antibody complexes, as well as complex proteins such as IgM pentamer and ß-galactosidase tetramer. Our protocol can be completed within a day, taking approximately 5-6 h, and can be expanded further into Western blot analysis, mass spectrometry analysis, and other analytical methods.

Transforming growth factor beta-3 localization in the corneal response to epithelial-stromal injury and effects on corneal fibroblast transition to myofibroblasts.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the localization of TGF beta-3 in situ in unwounded rabbit corneas and corneas that had epithelial-stromal injuries produced by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbits and to evaluate the in vitro effects of TGF beta-3 compared to TGF beta-1 on alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression and myofibroblast development in corneal fibroblasts. Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits underwent either -3 diopter (D) or -9D PRK and were studied from one to eight weeks (four corneas in each group at each time point) after surgery with immunohistochemistry for TGF beta-3, laminin alpha-5, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Rabbit corneal fibroblasts were treated with activated TGF beta-1 and/or TGF beta-3 at different concentrations and duration of exposure and studied with immunocytochemistry for myofibroblast development and the expression of α-SMA using Jess automated Western blotting. TGF beta-3 was detected at high levels in the stroma of unwounded corneas and corneas at one to eight weeks after -3D or -9D PRK, as well as in the epithelium and epithelial basement membrane (EBM). No difference was noted between corneas that healed with and without myofibroblast-mediated fibrosis, although TGF beta-3 was commonly associated with myofibroblasts. TGF beta-3 effects on corneal fibroblasts in vitro were similar to TGF beta-1 in stimulating transition to α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts and promoting α-SMA protein expression. The corneal stromal localization pattern of TGF beta-3 protein in unwounded corneas and corneas after epithelial-stromal injury was found to be higher and different from TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2 reported in previous studies. TGF beta-3 had similar effects to TGF beta-1 in driving myofibroblast development and α-SMA expression in corneal fibroblasts cultured in medium with 1% fetal bovine serum.

Alpha/Beta Gliadin MM1 Is a Novel Antigen for Wheat-Dependent Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: Screening for ω-5 gliadin specific IgE antibody (sIgE) has high diagnostic utility in cases of suspected wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA); however, negative cases may require confirmatory tests, such as the oral challenge test. Thus, newly identified allergens that can be used for the serological diagnosis of WDEIA are needed. This study aimed to identify additional sIgE biomarkers of WDEIA. METHODS: Forty-two patients with WDEIA (5 negative/37 positive for ω-5 gliadin sIgE) were enrolled. For comparison, 8 patients with immediate-type wheat allergy without WDEIA and 20 healthy controls without wheat allergy were also enrolled. Extracted wheat proteins were separated by 2D-PAGE. Proteins that reacted with serum IgE antibody in 2D Western blotting (2D-WB) were identified using mass spectrometry. Recombinant proteins were synthesized in Escherichia coli, and the antigenicity was tested using ELISA and the basophil activation test. RESULTS: In 2D-WB, nine proteins reacted with the serum IgE antibody from at least 60% of patients with WDEIA (n ≥ 25/42). ELISA revealed that alpha/beta gliadin MM1 exhibited the highest positive immunoreactivity in 23 of 26 patients who were positive for ω-5 gliadin sIgE (88%) and in 5 of 5 patients who were negative for ω-5 gliadin sIgE (100%). Alpha/beta gliadin MM1 exhibited significantly higher basophil activation in 14 patients with WDEIA when compared to 5 individuals without a wheat allergy. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha/beta gliadin MM1 sIgE exhibited the highest seropositivity, even among patients who were negative for ω-5 gliadin sIgE. The inclusion of alpha/beta gliadin MM1 in allergen-sIgE tests may improve the sensitivity for diagnosing WDEIA.

Inactivation of horseradish peroxidase with crotonic acid for reprobing of western blotting.

Inactivation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) treatment is a conventional preference to stripping for sequential detections of different proteins of chemiluminescent western blotting (WB). However, little evidence exists on whether other chemical substances treatment can affects the biological activity of HRP during stripping and re-probing of WB blots. Here, we successfully develop 20% crotonic acid (CA) as an alternative to stripping to inhibit HRP used for sequential chemiluminescent WB on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and Nitrocellulose (NC) membrane. Moreover, NC blots incubation in CA (40 °C, 30min) allow us to perform three round HRP inhibition in sequential detections without losing transferred proteins and damaging membrane. Hence, the method will help us save time and valuable samples without the need to rerun gels.

Real-time bio-layer interferometry ubiquitination assays as alternatives to western blotting.

Ubiquitination is a crucial cellular pathway enabling normal cellular functions. Abnormalities in the ubiquitination process can lead to cellular dysfunction and cause a range of diseases. Efforts to screen and develop small molecule inhibitors targeting portions of the ubiquitination cascade require rapid and robust methods for detecting ubiquitination. Enormous efforts have been made in the field to detect ubiquitination using various techniques including fluorescence, spectrophotometry, chemiluminescence, NMR, and radioactive tracers. The most common method to detect ubiquitination is western blotting. However, western blotting is time-consuming and difficult to use when seeking fine-grained time course experiments. Here we present the use of bio-layer interferometry to rapidly assay ubiquitination in real-time. An E3 ligase auto-ubiquitination system and a substrate ubiquitination assay have been applied as tests for the newly developed assay. The developed BLI ubiquitination assay provides one-second time resolution and detects the formation of polyubiquitin chains directly on a biosensor-bound target. Results are returned instantaneously, and reagent concentrations are identical to those used by traditional western blot-based ubiquitination assays. The developed BLI ubiquitination assay is a viable alternative to traditional western blot assays to detect ubiquitination in a rapid real-time manner.

Heat-induced antigen retrieval utilizing modified Tris-EDTA buffer for reprobing of Western blots on nitrocellulose paper.

The development of heat-induced antigen retrieval technologies with Tris-EDTA buffer has dramatically improved immunostaining of specific antigens for routine immunohistochemical detection (Krenacs et al., 2010) [1]. However, little evidence exists on whether heat-Induced antigen retrieval utilizing Tris-EDTA buffer can strip western blot (WB) membranes and allow sequential reprobing. Here, we serendipitously discover that ∼95 °C Tris-EDTA buffer with 0.01% Tween 20 could repeatedly strip the Nitrocellulose membranes (NC). After electroblotting, NC blots were soaked into Tris-EDTA stripping buffer (∼95 °C, 10-25min) and we could perform at least five rounds (the following antibodies used: Vinculin, Atg7, Caspase-3, UBA5, JNK and ERK1/2) stripping in sequential chemiluminescent detections. The NC membranes also show clear western signals and background without losing transferred proteins during the reprobing process of WB. Hence, this study report additional new roles of the heat-Induced antigen retrieval Tris-EDTA buffer with 0.01% Tween 20. The method is simpler, more affordable and harmless for the nitrocellulose paper, which will be helpful for effective reprobing in western blotting applications.

Effect of sample fractionation and normalization when immunoblotting for human muscle Na+/K+-ATPase subunits and glycogen synthase.

Immunoblotting is widely used in muscle physiology to determine protein regulation and abundance. However, research groups use different protocols, which may result in differential outcomes. Herein, we investigated the effect of various homogenization procedures on determination of protein abundance in human m. vastus lateralis biopsies. Furthermore, we investigated differences in abundance between young healthy males (n = 12) and type-2 diabetics (n = 4), and the effect of data normalization. Fractionated lysates had the lowest variation in total protein determination as compared to non-fractionated homogenates. Abundance of NKAα2, NKAß1, FXYD1, and glycogen synthase was higher (P < 0.05) in young healthy than in type-2 diabetics determined in both fractionated and non-fractionated samples for which normalization to the stain-free signal and/or standard curve did not affect outcomes. Precision and reliability of protein abundance determination between sample types showed a moderate to good reliability for these proteins, whereas the commonly used house-keeping protein, actin, showed poor reliability. In conclusion, fractionated and non-fractionated immunoblotting samples yield similar data for several sarcolemmal and cytosolic proteins, except for actin, which, therefore appears inappropriate for data normalization in immunoblotting of human skeletal muscle. Thus, fractionation does not seem to be a major source of bias when immunoblotting for NKA subunits and GS.

Optimizing reduction of western blotting analytical variations: Use of replicate test samples, multiple normalization methods, and sample loading positions.

Western blot (WB) analysis is widely used, but obtaining consistent results can be problematic, especially when using multiple gels. This study examines WB performance by explicitly applying a method commonly used to test analytical instrumentation. Test samples were lysates from RAW 264.7 murine macrophages treated with LPS to activate MAPK and NF-kB signaling targets. Samples from the pooled cell lysates placed in every lane on multiple gels were analyzed by WBs for levels of p-ERK, ERK, IkBß and non-target protein. Different normalization methods and sample groupings were applied to the density values and the resulting coefficients of variation (CV) and ratios of maximal to minimal values (Max/Min) were compared. Ideally with identical sample replicates the CVs would be 0 and the Max/Min 1; deviation indicating introduction of variability by the WB process. Common normalizations to reduce analytical variance, total lane protein, % Control, and p-ERK/ERK ratios, did not have the lowest CVs or Max/Min values. Normalization using the sum of target protein values combined with analytical replication most effectively reduced variability, resulting CV and Max/Min values as low as 5-10% and 1.1. These methods should allow reliable interpretation of complex experiments that require samples to be placed on multiple gels.

Protective role of thymoquinone in hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury in LDL-R-/-mice.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia, a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by elevated plasma lipids in the blood, causes severe health problems, leading to fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Thymoquinone, the major active chemical component of Nigella sativa, reportedly exerts a vast array of biological effects. Various studies have reported that Thymoquinone protects against liver injury. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of Thymoquinone against liver injury in hyperlipidemia-induced LDL-R-/- mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old male LDL-R-/- mice were randomly divided into three groups: a control group fed a normal diet and two groups fed a high-cholesterol diet or high-cholesterol diet mixed with Thymoquinone. All groups were fed different diets for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava and collected in serum tubes. The samples were then stored at - 80 °C until used. Longitudinal sections of liver tissues were fixed in 10% formalin and then embedded in paraffin for histological evaluation. The remainder of the liver tissues were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or western blotting. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that Thymoquinone administration significantly reduced liver histological alterations by hyperlipidemia. Thymoquinone mitigated hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury as indicated by the suppression of metabolic characteristics, liver biochemical parameters, pyroptosis indicators, a macrophage marker, and the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Thymoquinone is a potential therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury.

α-NETA down-regulates CMKLR1 mRNA expression in ileum and prevents body weight gains collaborating with ERK inhibitor PD98059 in turn to alleviate hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced obese mice but no impact on ileal mucosal integrity and steatohepatitis progression.

BACKGROUND: Studies on chemerin/chemokine-like receptor-1 have mainly focused on adipose and liver with the intestinal tissues largely overlooked. In this study conducted on obese mice, we have explored: 1) CMKLR1 expression in the ileums; 2) CMKLR1 inhibitor α-NETA on body weight and intestinal mucosa integrity hence the impact on hepatic steatosis and pathway involved. METHODS: Nineteen male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal diet group (ND), high-fat diet group (HFD), HFD + α-NETA group (NETA), HFD + PD98059 group (PD) and HFD + α-NETA + PD98059 group (NETA + PD). Mice were fed either with a chow diet or HFD for 12 weeks. At 12th week, mice of ND were put on the diet as before; mice of NETA received daily treatments of α-NETA (30 mg/kg) via gavage; mice of PD received daily treatment of PD98059 via tail vein injection; mice of NETA + PD received daily treatment of α-NETA + PD98059, all for another 4 weeks. At the time intervention ended, mice were sacrificed. The body weight, the liver pathologies were assessed. Ileal CMKLR1 mRNA was evaluated by rtPCR; ZO-1, ERK1/2 protein expression of ileal tissues by western blotting; liver TNF-α and serum endotoxin by Elisa. RESULTS: More weight gains in mice of HFD than ND (37.90 ± 3.00 g) vs (24.47 ± 0.50 g), P = 0.002; α-NETA reduced the body weight (33.22 ± 1.90 g) vs (37.90 ± 3.00 g), P = 0.033; and further reduced by NETA + PD98059: (31.20 ± 1.74 g) vs (37.30 ± 4.05 g), P = 0.032. CMKLR1 mRNA expression was up-regulated in ileum in group HFD compared with ND and down-regulated by α-NETA. Steatosis was only alleviated in group PD + NETA with less weight gain. No impact of α-NETA on ileal ZO-1 or pERK with western blotting, and no endotoxin level changes were detected. TNF-α was higher in group HFD than in group ND, while no significant difference between other groups. CONCLUSIONS: CMKLR1 mRNA was up-regulated in the ileum of obese mice and down-regulated by α-NETA along with a body weight control collaborating with ERK inhibitor PD98059. Steatosis was alleviated in a weight dependent way. α-NETA has no influence on intestinal mucosal integrity and no impact on steatohepatitis progression.