Matrine Mediated Immune Protection in MS by Regulating Gut Microbiota and Production of SCFAs.

There is clearly an unmet need for more effective and safer treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our previous studies showed a significant therapeutic effect of matrine, a monomer of traditional herbal medicine, on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice. To explore the mechanism of matrine action, we used 16S rRNA sequencing technology to determine the gut microbes in matrine-treated EAE mice and controls. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were then tested by metabonomics. Finally, we established pseudo-sterile mice and transplanted into them fecal microbiota, which had been obtained from the high-dose matrine-treated EAE mice to test the effects of matrine. The results showed that matrine could restore the diversity of gut microbiota and promote the production of SCFAs in EAE mice. Transplantation of fecal microbiota from matrine-treated mice significantly alleviated EAE severity, reduced CNS inflammatory infiltration and demyelination, and decreased the level of IL-17 but increased IL-10 in sera of mice. In conclusion, matrine treatment can regulate gut microbiota and metabolites and halt the progression of MS.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting Total Alkaloids ameliorate diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by regulating hepatic PI3K/Akt and TLR4/NF-κB pathways in mice.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting (Yanhuanglian), distributed in Southwest China, is mainly used for treatment of hepatitis, oral mucosal erosion, conjunctivitis, dysentery, acute abdominal pain and hemorrhoids in the folk. Corydalis saxicola Bunting Total Alkaloids (CSBTA) are the active ingredients extracted from the root of C. saxicola bunting. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the hinge between steatosis and cirrhosis in the spectrum of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. CSBTA can reduce tumors and brain diseases through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. Our study was designed to clarify the effects of CSBTA on the HFHC (High fat and high carbohydrate drinking) diet induced mice. In our research, A HFHC diet induced NASH mice model was applied to investigate the effects of CSBTA in vivo and obeticholic acid (OA) was set as positive control. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms were explored by palmitic acid (PA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated HepG2 cells in vitro. The in vivo study illustrated that CSBTA could alleviate mice away from the onset of NASH, and reduce intrahepatocellular lipid accumulation and hepatocyte inflammation under high fat condition. Further in vitro analysis confirmed that CSBTA attenuated inflammation and hepatic lipid accumulation by improving hepatic PI3K/Akt and suppressing hepatic TLR4/NF-κB pathways. In summary, this study demonstrated that CSBTA might be a promising compound for the treatment of NAFLD.

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plant Kochia scoparia Using ITS2 Barcoding.

Kochia scoparia has high medicinal and economic value. However, with similar morphological features, adulterants and some closely related species of K. scoparia are increasingly sold in the medicinal markets, leading to potential safety risks. In this study, 128 internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences were collected to distinguish K. scoparia from its closely related species and adulterants. Then, sequence alignment, sequence characteristics analysis, and genetic distance calculations were performed using MEGA 6.06 software, and the phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using both MEGA 6.06 and IQ-Tree software. Finally, the secondary structure of ITS2 was modeled using the prediction tool in the ITS2 database. The results showed that ITS2 sequences of K. scoparia ranged in length from 226 to 227 bp, with a mean GC content of 55.3%. The maximum intraspecific distance was zero, while the minimum interspecific distance from closely related species and adulterants was 0.009 and 0.242, respectively. Kochia scoparia formed an independent clade in the phylogenetic trees, and its secondary structure exhibited enough variation to be separated from that of other species. In summary, ITS2 can be used as a mini-barcode for distinguishing K. scoparia from closely related species and adulterants. Its phylogenetic trees could illustrate the evolutionary process of K. scoparia in the Camphorosmeae. The phylogenetic results using ITS2 barcode further supported the internationally recognized revised classifications of Kochia and Bassia genera as a combined Bassia genus, together with the establishment of new genera Grubovia and Sedobassia, which we suggest is accepted by the Flora of China. Graphical abstract .

Genome-wide survey of potato MADS-box genes reveals that StMADS1 and StMADS13 are putative downstream targets of tuberigen StSP6A.

BACKGROUND: MADS-box genes encode transcription factors that are known to be involved in several aspects of plant growth and development, especially in floral organ specification. To date, the comprehensive analysis of potato MADS-box gene family is still lacking after the completion of potato genome sequencing. A genome-wide characterization, classification, and expression analysis of MADS-box transcription factor gene family was performed in this study. RESULTS: A total of 153 MADS-box genes were identified and categorized into MIKC subfamily (MIKCC and MIKC*) and M-type subfamily (Mα, Mß, and Mγ) based on their phylogenetic relationships to the Arabidopsis and rice MADS-box genes. The potato M-type subfamily had 114 members, which is almost three times of the MIKC members (39), indicating that M-type MADS-box genes have a higher duplication rate and/or a lower loss rate during potato genome evolution. Potato MADS-box genes were present on all 12 potato chromosomes with substantial clustering that mainly contributed by the M-type members. Chromosomal localization of potato MADS-box genes revealed that MADS-box genes, mostly MIKC, were located on the duplicated segments of the potato genome whereas tandem duplications mainly contributed to the M-type gene expansion. The potato MIKC subfamily could be further classified into 11 subgroups and the TT16-like, AGL17-like, and FLC-like subgroups found in Arabidopsis were absent in potato. Moreover, the expressions of potato MADS-box genes in various tissues were analyzed by using RNA-seq data and verified by quantitative real-time PCR, revealing that the MIKCC genes were mainly expressed in flower organs and several of them were highly expressed in stolon and tubers. StMADS1 and StMADS13 were up-regulated in the StSP6A-overexpression plants and down-regulated in the StSP6A-RNAi plant, and their expression in leaves and/or young tubers were associated with high level expression of StSP6A. CONCLUSION: Our study identifies the family members of potato MADS-box genes and investigate the evolution history and functional divergence of MADS-box gene family. Moreover, we analyze the MIKCC expression patterns and screen for genes involved in tuberization. Finally, the StMADS1 and StMADS13 are most likely to be downstream target of StSP6A and involved in tuber development.

Genome-wide survey and expression analysis of the amino acid transporter superfamily in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

Amino acid transporters (AATs) are integral membrane proteins responsible for the transmembrane transport of amino acids and play important roles in various physiological processes of plants. However, there has not yet been a genome-wide overview of the StAAT gene family to date and only StAAP1 has been previously studied in potato. In this paper, a total of 72 StAATs were identified using a series of bioinformatics searches and classified into 12 subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationship with known Arabidopsis and rice AATs. Chromosomal localization revealed their distribution on all 12 chromosomes. Nearly one-third of StAAT genes (23 of 72) were derived from gene duplication, among which tandem duplication made the greatest contribution to the expansion of the StAAT family. Motif analysis showed that the same subfamily had similar conserved motifs in both numbers and varieties. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing data was used to analyze the expression patterns of StAAT genes and was verified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The expression of StAAT genes exhibited both abundant and tissue-specific expression patterns, which might be connected to their functional roles in long- and short-distance transport. This study provided a comprehensive survey of the StAAT gene family, and could serve as a theoretical foundation for the further functional identification and utilization of family members.