l-valine supplementation disturbs vital molecular pathways and induces apoptosis in mouse testes.

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine and valine) are essential for animal growth and metabolic health. However, the effect of valine on male reproduction and its underlying molecular mechanism remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that l-valine supplementation (0.30% or 0.45%, water drinking for 3 weeks) did not change body and testis weights, but significantly altered morphology of sertoli cells and germ cells within seminiferous tubule, and enlarged the space between seminiferous tubules within mouse testis. l-valine treatment (0.45%) increased significantly the Caspase3/9 mRNA levels and CASPASE9 protein levels, therefore induced apoptosis of mouse testis. Moreover, gene expression levels related to autophagy (Atg5 and Lamb3), DNA 5 mC methylation (Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, Tet2 and Tet3), RNA m6A methylation (Mettl14, Alkbh5 and Fto), and m6A methylation binding proteins (Ythdf1/2/3 and Igf2bp1/2) were significantly reduced. Protein abundances of ALKBH5, FTO and YTHDF3 were also significantly reduced, but not for ATG5 and TET2. Testis transcriptome sequencing detected 537 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 26 up-regulated and 511 down-regulated), involved in multiple important signaling pathways. RT-qPCR validated 8 of 9 DEGs (Cd36, Scd1, Insl3, Anxa5, Lcn2, Hsd17b3, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1 and Agt) to be decreased significantly, consistent with RNA-seq results. Taken together, l-valine treatment could disturb multiple signaling pathways (autophagy and RNA methylation etc.), and induce apoptosis to destroy the tissue structure of mouse testis.

Cordyceps proteins alleviate lupus nephritis through modulation of the STAT3/mTOR/NF-кB signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cordyceps is a parasitic edible fungus, which is a unique Chinese medicinal material. It has been reported to have immunomodulatory effects and use in kidney disease. Especially, Cordyceps has been used in the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN). AIM OF STUDY: Cordyceps proteins (CP) have a favorable bidirectional immunomodulatory functions and may have therapeutic potential for LN. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. So this study aimed to examine the activities of CP in LN and possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: So proteomics was performed to detect proteins components of Cordyceps, and analysis it. In addition, MRL/lpr mice were used to study the progression of LN. The MRL/lpr mice were fed either CP (i.g, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 g/kg/d), prednisolone acetate (PA, i.g, 6 mg/kg/d), or Bailing capsule (BC, i.g, 0.75 g/kg/d) for 8 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Periodic Acid Schif (PAS) and Masson's stainings, Immunofluorescence, and Immunohistochemistry were performed to verify the therapeutic effect of CP on MRL/lpr mice. The mechanism by CP alimerated LN was uncovered by Western blotting (WB) and Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. RESULTS: Our results revealed that CP blocked proteinuria production and renal inflammatory infiltratation in MRL/lpr mice to reduce the renal fibrosis. In addition, CP worked better than BC which is artificial Cordyceps fungus powder in regulating proteinuria to urine creatinine ratio and interleukin-4(IL-4) protein amount. Especially, CP modulated the STAT3/mTOR/NF-кB signaling pathway in LN mice and brought a more pronounced lowering effect on the contents of IL-6 and IL-1ß than the PA. CONCLUSION: CP could be a potential anti-inflammatory immune product with strong regulatory effects and potency than BC and PA in nephritis therapeutics.

Performance-enhanced regenerated cellulose film by adding grape seed extract.

Eco-friendly packaging material with intelligent colorimetric performance has been a requirement for food safety and quality. This work focused on a food packaging material from regenerated cellulose films that added the grape seed extract (GSE) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG). FTIR and SEM techniques were employed to prove the compatibility of GSE with cellulose matrix. The composite film showed an enhanced elongation at break (16.61 %) and tensile strength (33.09 MPa). The addition of PEG and GSE also improved the water contact angle of regenerated-cellulose film from 53.8° to 83.8°. Moreover, the composite films exhibited UV-blocking properties while maintaining adequate transparency. The GSE induced the regenerated films with a macroscopic change in color under different pH conditions. Furthermore, the loading of GSE slowed down the decomposition of strawberries and delayed the self-biodegradation compared with the control for more than 3 days and 18 days. The present study showed a regenerated cellulose film with acceptable mechanical and hydrophilia properties, pH-responsiveness, anti-decomposition, and delayed biodegradation performances, indicating a potential color sensor in food packaging.

Melatonin mitigates Chloroquine-induced defects in porcine immature Sertoli cells.

Chloroquine (CQ) could function as a lysosomotropic agent to inhibit the endolysosomal trafficking in the autophagy pathway, and is widely used on malarial, tumor and recently COVID-19. However, the effect of CQ treatment on porcine immature Sertoli cells (iSCs) remains unclear. Here we showed that CQ could reduce iSC viability in a dose-dependent manner. CQ treatment (20 µM) on iSCs for 36h could elevate oxidative stress, damage mitochondrial function and promote apoptosis, which could be partially rescued by melatonin (MT) (10 nM). Transcriptome profiling identified 1611 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (776 up- and 835 down-regulated) (20 µM CQ vs. DMSO), mainly involved in MAPK cascade, cell proliferation/apoptosis, HIF-1, PI3K-Akt and lysosome signaling pathways. In contrast, only 467 (224 up- and 243 down-regulated) DEGs (CQ + MT vs. DMSO) could be found after MT (10 nM) addition, enriched in cell cycle, regulation of apoptotic process, lysosome and reproduction pathways. Therefore, the partial rescue effects of MT on CQ treatment were confirmed by multiple assays (cell viability, ROS level, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and mRNA levels of selected genes). Collectively, CQ treatment could impair porcine iSC viability by deranging the signaling pathways related to apoptosis and autophagy, which could be partially rescued by MT supplementation.

CoQ10 improves meiotic maturation of pig oocytes through enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing oxidative stress.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential to many fundamental biological processes. However, the effect of CoQ10 on meiotic maturation of pig oocytes still remains elusive. In the present study we aimed to understand the effects of CoQ10 on porcine oocyte maturation, by supplementing different concentrations of CoQ10 (25, 50 and 100 µM) into the maturation medium. We showed that CoQ10 at 50 µM had better capacity to promote the nuclear maturation of pig oocytes derived from both small and large antral follicles. Though the cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes stayed stable, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment could accelerate the development of parthenotes to blastocyst stage, and increase the average cell number of blastocyst. For cumulus-oocyte complexes from large antral follicles categorized by the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment could specifically promote the nuclear maturation of poor-quality oocytes in the BCB-negative group. Mitochondrial function of oocytes treated by 50 µM CoQ10 could be boosted, through increasing the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP production and CoQ6, and changing the pattern of mitochondrial distribution as well. Moreover, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment suppressed the level of reactive oxygen species and reduced the percentage of oocytes with early apoptosis signal. Taken together, CoQ10 could improve the meiotic maturation of pig oocytes, especially for poor-quality oocytes, mainly through enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing oxidative stress to reduce apoptosis.

Ascorbic acid promotes the reproductive function of porcine immature Sertoli cells through transcriptome reprogramming.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA) can regulate antioxidation and affect many cellular processes. However, the effect of AA on the reproduction of male animals remains less explored. Here, we showed that by supplementing exogenous AA to porcine immature Sertoli cells (iSCs), AA could promote the proliferation, suppress apoptosis, and decrease the global nucleic acid methylation (5 mC and m6A) levels of iSCs. After we profiled mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression by transcriptome sequencing on iSCs (treated by 250 µM AA for 36 h), 1232 mRNAs and 937 lncRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed (DE). Gene enrichment analysis found multiple significantly enriched biological pathways, including oxidoreductase activity, cell proliferation and apoptosis, regulation of hormone level, regulation of catalytic activity, developmental process, ATP metabolism and reproductive process. Specifically, for the reproductive process, 49 up- and 36 down-regulated DE mRNAs (including highly expressed genes, such as Tfcp2l1, Hmgcs1, Mmp7, Fndc3a, and Zfp36l1) are involved. Moreover, AA supplementation could promote the secretion of anti-müllerian hormone, inhibin B and lactate, and enhance the activity of lactate dehydrogenase as well. Taken together, AA could promote the reproductive function of pig iSCs, potentially through reprogramming the global transcriptome, and elevating hormone secretion and metabolite production.

Single cell RNA-seq reveals molecular pathways altered by 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene treatment on pig oocytes.

Oocytes of better quality and developmental competence are highly demanded, which is affected by many intrinsic and external factors, including environmental pollutants. We have previously demonstrated that 7, 12-dimethylbenz [a]anthracene (DMBA) reduces the developmental competence of porcine oocytes, by desynchronizing nuclear and ooplasmic maturation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains obscure. Here we performed single cell RNA-seq to study the transcriptome changes in DMBA-treated porcine MII oocytes, and identified 19 protein-coding genes and 156 novel long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with abundance to be significantly different (P < 0.05), which enriched in signaling pathways such as glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, nicotine addiction, basal transcription factors and nucleotide excision repair. RT-qPCR on oocyte pools confirmed ornithine aminotransferase (Oat) and serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 4 (Srsf4) to be significantly up- and down-regulated, respectively (P < 0.05). Treating porcine COCs with MAPK and PLC pathway inhibitors suppressed DMBA's effects on increasing PB1 extrusion rate. In addition, DMBA co-incubation with 250 µM vitamin C derivative (l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate sesquimagnesium salt hydrate, AA2P) and 100 µM co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) could significantly reduce the DMBA-induced high ROS level, and partially alleviate the DMBA-induced high PB1 rate, whereas the cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes derived from treated mature oocytes remained to be low. Collectively, our findings indicate that single cell RNA-seq can help reveal the dynamics of molecular signaling pathways for porcine oocytes treated by DMBA, and supplement of anti-oxidative reagents could not sufficiently rescue DMBA-induced defects of porcine oocytes.

Kupffer Cells Regulate Natural Killer Cells Via the NK group 2, Member D (NKG2D)/Retinoic Acid Early Inducible-1 (RAE-1) Interaction and Cytokines in a Primary Biliary Cholangitis Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND Kupffer cells and natural killer (NK) cells has been identified as contributing factors in the pathogenesis of hepatitis, but the detailed mechanism of these cell types in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is poorly understood. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I: C), 2-octynoic acid-bovine serum albumin (2OA-BSA) and Freund's adjuvant (FA) were injected to establish a murine PBC model, from which NK cells and Kupffer cells were extracted and isolated. The cells were then co-cultivated in a designed culture system, and then NK group 2, member D (NKG2D), retinoic acid early inducible-1 (RAE-1), F4/80, and cytokine expression levels were detected. RESULTS The results showed close crosstalk between Kupffer cells and NK cells. PBC mice showed increased surface RAE-1 protein expression and Kupffer cell cytokine secretion, which subsequently activated NK cell-mediated target cell killing via NKG2D/RAE-1 recognition, and increased inflammation. NK cell-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Kupffer cell-derived tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were found to synergistically regulate inflammation. Moreover, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 improved the crosstalk between NK cells and Kupffer cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings in mice are the first to suggest the involvement of the NKG2D/RAE-1 interaction and cytokines in the synergistic effects of NK and Kupffer cells in PBC.

Ascorbic acid induces global epigenetic reprogramming to promote meiotic maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can enhance the meiotic maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains obscure. Here we show the role of ascorbic acid in regulating epigenetic status of both nucleic acids and chromatin to promote oocyte maturation and development in pigs. Supplementation of 250 µM L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate sesquimagnesium salt hydrate (AA2P) during in vitro maturation significantly enhanced the nuclear maturation (as indicated by higher rate of first polar body extrusion and increased Bmp15 mRNA level), reduced level of reactive oxygen species, and promoted developmental potency (higher cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes, and decreased Bax and Caspase3 mRNA levels in blastocysts) of pig oocytes. AA2P treatment caused methylation erasure in mature oocytes on nucleic acids (5-methylcytosine (5 mC) and N 6 -methyladenosine (m6A)) and histones (Histone H3 trimethylations at lysines 27, H3K27me3), but establishment of histone H3 trimethylations at lysines 4 (H3K4me3) and 36 (H3K36me3). During the global methylation reprogramming process, levels of TET2 (mRNA and protein) and Dnmt3b (mRNA) were significantly elevated, but simultaneously DNMT3A (mRNA and protein), and also Hif-1α, Hif-2α, Tet3, Mettl14, Kdm5b and Eed (mRNA) were significantly inhibited. Our findings support that ascorbic acid can reprogram the methylation status of not only DNA and histone, but also RNA, to improve pig oocyte maturation and developmental competence.

[Triterpenoids and steroids of root of Rubus biflorus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of root of Rubus biflorus. METHODS: Isolation and purification were carried out by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization and so on. Structural determination of the pure compounds was based on physico-chemical properties and various spectral data analysis (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, EI-MS). RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as follows: lupeol acetate (I), corosolic acid (II), oleanic acid (III), 2alpha-hydroxyoleanolic acid (IV), sitosterol (V). CONCLUSION: All these compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Nor-lignans and steroidal saponins from Asparagus gobicus.

From the roots of Asparagus gobicus, four new nor-lignans, 3'-methoxynyasin, iso-agatharesinol, gobicusins A, B and one new steroidal saponin, 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5beta-spirostan-3beta-ol (11) were isolated, together with twelve known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques (1H-1H COSY, HMBC, HMQC) and chemical transformations. Nyasol (5) and 11 exhibited remarkable in vitro cytotoxic activity against cultured HO-8910 (human ovarian carcinoma) and Bel-7402 (human hepatoma) cells with IC50 vales of 30.6 and 29.4 microM, 5.2 and 5.2 microM, respectively.