Transcriptomic analysis reveals the inhibitory effect of beta-sitosterol on proliferation of bovine preadipocytes.

Fat deposition affects beef quantity and quality via preadipocyte proliferation. Beta-sitosterol, a natural small molecular compound, has various functions, such as anti-inflammation, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. The mechanism of action of Beta-sitosterol on bovine preadipocytes remains unclear. This study, based on RNA-seq, reveals the impact of Beta -sitosterol on the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes. Compared to the control group, Beta-sitosterol demonstrated a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cell proliferation after 48 hours of treatment than after 24 hours, as evidenced by the results of EdU staining and flow cytometry. RNA-seq and Western Blot analyses further substantiated these findings. Our results suggest that the impact of Beta-sitosterol on the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes is not significant after a 24-hour treatment. It is only after extending the treatment time to 48 hours that Beta-sitosterol may induce cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase by suppressing the expression of CCNB1, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes.

A terpenoids database with the chemical content as a novel agronomic trait.

Natural products play a pivotal role in drug discovery, and the richness of natural products, albeit significantly influenced by various environmental factors, is predominantly determined by intrinsic genetics of a series of enzymatic reactions and produced as secondary metabolites of organisms. Heretofore, few natural product-related databases take the chemical content into consideration as a prominent property. To gain unique insights into the quantitative diversity of natural products, we have developed the first TerPenoids database embedded with Content information (TPCN) with features such as compound browsing, structural search, scaffold analysis, similarity analysis and data download. This database can be accessed through a web-based computational toolkit available at http://www.tpcn.pro/. By conducting meticulous manual searches and analyzing over 10 000 reference papers, the TPCN database has successfully integrated 6383 terpenoids obtained from 1254 distinct plant species. The database encompasses exhaustive details including isolation parts, comprehensive molecule structures, chemical abstracts service registry number (CAS number) and 7508 content descriptions. The TPCN database accentuates both the qualitative and quantitative dimensions as invaluable phenotypic characteristics of natural products that have undergone genetic evolution. By acting as an indispensable criterion, the TPCN database facilitates the discovery of drug alternatives with high content and the selection of high-yield medicinal plant species or phylogenetic alternatives, thereby fostering sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly drug discovery in pharmaceutical farming. Database URL: http://www.tpcn.pro/.

Synergistic Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin and 1% Alendronate in Periodontal Bone Regeneration: A Meta-Analysis.

Periodontal bone regeneration relies on coupled and cooperative bone formation and resorption. Accordingly a novel strategy on concurrent use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) (anabolic agent) and 1% alendronate (ALN) (anticatabolic agent) was proposed recently in regenerative periodontal treatment. It was supposed to enhance bone formation and reduce bone resorption simultaneously. However, there is a lack of evidence-based studies to answer whether this concurrent application was superior to single application until now. Besides, concerns on ALN lead to some reservation on this synergistic way. ALN may impair new bone formation and necrotize jaws. Thus, in order to compare the clinical efficacy between PRF plus 1%ALN and PRF alone on periodontal bone regeneration, we performed present systematic review and meta-analysis. Because it is the prerequisite for measuring the combined efficacy of PRF plus 1%ALN, firstly we evaluated the effectiveness of 1%ALN. Our data indicated that adjunctive 1%ALN was effective in promoting periodontal bone repair. Further, PRF plus 1%ALN showed a greater capacity for periodontal regeneration than PRF alone with statistical significance. The findings of this study revealed the promising prospects on synergistic application of bone anabolic agents (PRF) and antiresorption medications (1%ALN) in regenerative periodontal treatment.

Dental Follicle Cells: Roles in Development and Beyond.

Dental follicle cells (DFCs) are a group of mesenchymal progenitor cells surrounding the tooth germ, responsible for cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone formation in tooth development. Cascades of signaling pathways and transcriptional factors in DFCs are involved in directing tooth eruption and tooth root morphogenesis. Substantial researches have been made to decipher multiple aspects of DFCs, including multilineage differentiation, senescence, and immunomodulatory ability. DFCs were proved to be multipotent progenitors with decent amplification, immunosuppressed and acquisition ability. They are able to differentiate into osteoblasts/cementoblasts, adipocytes, neuron-like cells, and so forth. The excellent properties of DFCs facilitated clinical application, as exemplified by bone tissue engineering, tooth root regeneration, and periodontium regeneration. Except for the oral and maxillofacial regeneration, DFCs were also expected to be applied in other tissues such as spinal cord defects (SCD), cardiomyocyte destruction. This article reviewed roles of DFCs in tooth development, their properties, and clinical application potentials, thus providing a novel guidance for tissue engineering.