Response to comment on 'A conserved strategy for inducing appendage regeneration in moon jellyfish, Drosophila, and mice'.

Previously we reported evidence that a regenerative response in the appendages of moon jellyfish, fruit flies, and mice can be promoted by nutrient modulation (Abrams et al., 2021). Sustar and Tuthill subsequently reported that they had not been able to reproduce the induced regenerative response in flies (Sustar and Tuthill, 2023). Here we discuss that differences in the amputation method, treatment concentrations, age of the animals, and stress management explain why they did not observe a regenerative response in flies. Typically, 30-50% of treated flies showed response in our assay.

A conserved strategy for inducing appendage regeneration in moon jellyfish, Drosophila, and mice.

Can limb regeneration be induced? Few have pursued this question, and an evolutionarily conserved strategy has yet to emerge. This study reports a strategy for inducing regenerative response in appendages, which works across three species that span the animal phylogeny. In Cnidaria, the frequency of appendage regeneration in the moon jellyfish Aurelia was increased by feeding with the amino acid L-leucine and the growth hormone insulin. In insects, the same strategy induced tibia regeneration in adult Drosophila. Finally, in mammals, L-leucine and sucrose administration induced digit regeneration in adult mice, including dramatically from mid-phalangeal amputation. The conserved effect of L-leucine and insulin/sugar suggests a key role for energetic parameters in regeneration induction. The simplicity by which nutrient supplementation can induce appendage regeneration provides a testable hypothesis across animals.

The ability of animals to replace damaged or lost tissue (or 'regenerate') is a sliding scale, with some animals able to regenerate whole limbs, while others can only scar. But why some animals can regenerate while others have more limited capabilities has puzzled the scientific community for many years. The likes of Charles Darwin and August Weismann suggested regeneration only evolves in a particular organ. In contrast, Thomas Morgan suggested that all animals are equipped with the tools to regenerate but differ in whether they are able to activate these processes. If the latter were true, it could be possible to 'switch on' regeneration. Animals that keep growing throughout their life and do not regulate their body temperatures are more likely to be able to regenerate. But what do growth and temperature regulation have in common? Both are highly energy-intensive, with temperature regulation potentially diverting energy from other processes. A question therefore presents itself: could limb regeneration be switched on by supplying animals with more energy, either in the form of nutrients like sugars or amino acids, or by giving them growth hormones such as insulin? Abrams, Tan, Li et al. tested this hypothesis by amputating the limbs of jellyfish, flies and mice, and then supplementing their diet with sucrose (a sugar), leucine (an amino acid) and/or insulin for eight weeks while they healed. Typically, jellyfish rearrange their remaining arms when one is lost, while fruit flies are not known to regenerate limbs. House mice are usually only able to regenerate the very tip of an amputated digit. But in Abrams, Tan, Li et al.'s experiments, leucine and insulin supplements stimulated limb regeneration in jellyfish and adult fruit flies, and leucine and sucrose supplements allowed mice to regenerate digits from below the second knuckle. Although regeneration was not observed in all animals, these results demonstrate that regeneration can be induced, and that it can be done relatively easily, by feeding animals extra sugar and amino acids. These findings highlight increasing the energy supplies of different animals by manipulating their diets while they are healing from an amputated limb can aid in regeneration. This could in the future pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to tissue and organ regeneration.

The ameliorative effect of the Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) H. L. Li extract on intestinal barrier dysfunction through modulating glycolipid digestion and gut microbiota in high fat diet-fed rats.

Pyracantha fortuneana fruits are consumed as a dietary supplement in China and attenuate obesity and metabolic disorders. Obesity is known to be associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction driven by hyperglycemia and gut dysbiosis. However, whether the health benefits of P. fortuneana fruits are linked with the intestinal barrier function (IBF) remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the restorative effects of P. fortuneana fruit extract (PFE) on the IBF. Sprague Dawley rats were fed with a chow, a high-fat diet (HFD), or a PFE-supplemented diet for 8 weeks. Results showed that PFE intervention ameliorated HFD-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by attenuating impaired structural integrity, reducing the elevated lactulose/mannitol ratio, and improving the mRNA and protein expression levels of tight junction proteins in HFD-fed rats. The ameliorations were associated with a beneficial effect on glycolipid homeostasis, as evidenced from the PFE decreasing intestinal absorptive capacity based on the d-xylose excretory rate, lowering the expression of GLUT2 and inhibiting digestive enzyme activities. The proanthocyanidins in the PFE showed greater in vitro inhibition on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase compared with triterpenoid saponins. Furthermore, the ameliorations on the IBF were also associated with effects on the microbial composition based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Several bacterial groups, which were linked with gut barrier integrity, were modulated after PFE administration, that is, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and S24-7 were elevated and the HFD-induced increase in Clostridia, Ruminococcaceae, Oscillospira, and Flexispira was restored. These data provide evidence for the ameliorative effect of the PFE on diet-induced intestinal barrier functional alternations in association with its capacity to modulate glycolipid digestion and gut microbiota in HFD-fed obese rats.

[Content comparison of main chemical compositions in Gardenia jasminoids roasted with ginger juice].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the contents of the main chemical compositions in Gardenia jasminoids before and after being roasted with ginger juice. METHOD: Four diterpenoid pigments constituents (C-1, C-2, C-3, crocetin) were determined simultaneously by UPLC on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column at 35 degrees C with the methanol-0.5% formic acid anhydrous in gradient elution as the mobile phrase. The detection wavelength was set at 440 nm and the flow rate was 0.4 mL x min(-1). Two iridoids constituents (G-1, G-2) were determined simultaneously by HPLC on an Agilent TC-C18(2) column at 35 degrees C with acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid anhydrous (18:82) as the mobile phrase. The detection wavelength was set at 238 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). RESULT: After being processed with ginger juice, the contents of the diterpenoid pigments constituents decreased slightly and the contents of the iridoids constituents increased slightly. CONCLUSION: The contents of the main chemical compositions in G. jasminoids roasted with ginger juice increased slightly with some regularity, but there were no significant differences.

[Analysis of volatile oil in Gardenia jasminoids roasted with ginger juice by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the components and contents of volatile oil in Gardenia jasminoids, Zingiber officinale, G. jasminoids roasted with ginger juice and to provide scientific basis for intrinsic material of G. jasminoids roasted with ginger juice. METHOD: The volatile oil in the three herbal medicines was extracted by steam distillation, the components were analyzed by GC-MS and the contents of the components were calculated by area normalization method. RESULT: The contents of volatile oil in G. jasminoids, Z. officinale, G. jasminoids roasted with ginger juice were 1.0, 2.0, 1.5 microL x g(-1), respectively. A total of 89 components were identified by GC-MS. Although 42, 75 and 77 peaks were separated, only 30, 58 and 67 components were identified accordingly, which accounted 94.1%, 90.52% and 94.38% of the whole volatile oil. CONCLUSION: After being processed with ginger juice, the components and contents of volatile oil in G. jasminoids has been changed obviously.

Two new anthraquinone glycosides from the roots of Rheum palmatum.

Two new anthraquinone glycosides, named 1-methyl-8-hydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-ß-D-(6'-O-cinnamoyl)glucopyranoside (1) and rhein-8-O-ß-D-[6'-O-(3''-methoxyl malonyl)]glucopyranoside (2), have been isolated from the roots of Rheum palmatum, together with seven known compounds, rhein-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), physcion-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), chrysophanol-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), aleo-emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6), emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (7), aleo-emodin-ω-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (8), and emodin-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis.

[Effect of fuzheng yiliu granule on nuclear transcriptional factor-kappa B and cell cycle in patients with breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and clinical significance of Fuzheng Yiliu Granule (FYG) on nuclear transcriptional factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and cell cycle in breast tumor. METHODS: Fifty-five patients of breast carcinoma were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group, both were treated with conventional chemotherapy, but to the treated group, FYG was given additionally by oral taking. Operation was performed one month later to take out the tumor tissue for detecting NF-kappa B expression and ration of cells in different phases of cell cycle. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, NF-kappa B expression was significantly increased in the treated group, accompanied with increased G0/1 phase cell proportion and decreased S phase cell proportion as well as significantly reduced cell proliferation index (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: FYG could enhance the expression of NF-kappa B in breast tumor tissue, raise the proportion of G0/1 phase cells, decrease proportion S phase cells and reduce the cell proliferation index, showing an active action on the patients prognosis.