Alginate oligosaccharide alleviates senile osteoporosis via the RANKL-RANK pathway in D-galactose-induced C57BL/6J mice.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality and increased bone porosity, which increase the risk of bone fracture. Inflammation, one of the important mechanisms related to aging, is associated with osteoporosis. Treatment with anti-inflammatory agents is effective for alleviating senile osteoporosis. Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) can prevent and treat diseases related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and immunity. This study evaluates the effect of AOS on osteoporosis and investigates the underlying mechanism. Osteoporosis model was induced by D-galactose (D-gal) (200 mg kg-1  day-1 ) for eight weeks. Three groups were administered via AOS (50, 100, and 150 mg kg-1  day-1 ) for four weeks, while a control group received sterile water (5 ml kg-1  day-1 ) for 8 weeks. The results showed that AOS improved bone density and bone microstructure in D-gal-induced osteoporosis mice. AOS inhibited osteoclast proliferation, probably through the suppression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-associated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and c-Fos signaling pathway. AOS also increased osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression and competitively inhibited the binding between RANK and RANKL in senile osteoporosis. Further, AOS decreased the secretion of serum osteocalcin and reduced bone conversion. Together, these results demonstrate the anti-osteoporosis activity of AOS in mice with osteoporosis.

Alginate Oligosaccharide Prevents against D-galactose-mediated Cataract in C57BL/6J Mice via Regulating Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant System.

PURPOSE: Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), obtained from depolymerizing alginate, has multiple pharmacological benefits. Cataract is a common disease caused by turbidity of the lens protein due to lens metabolism disorders. This study aimed to test the effects and the underlying mechanisms of AOS on D-galactose (D-gal)-mediated cataract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 8-week-old C57BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. After eight weeks' intervention, the score of cataract was calculated depending on the turbidity of the lens. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images were observed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured by corresponding detection kits, respectively. SOD1, SOD2, catalase (CAT) and p53 protein expressions were examined by Western blot. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA expressions were examined by Quantitative Real Time-PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: The score of the turbidity of the lens showed that AOS significantly delayed the cataractogenesis. HE staining and TEM imaging showed that AOS decreased the damage and senescence of lenses in D-gal-induced C57BL/6 J mice. We further detected aging marker p53 expression in crystalline lenses, and our result showed that AOS significantly inhibited p53 protein expression in D-gal-induced mice. In addition, SOD activity and MDA level detection results showed that AOS significantly increased the activity of SOD, and decreased the level of MDA in crystalline lenses homogenates of D-gal-induced aging mice. Western blot results showed that AOS attenuated the damage of D-gal in the protein expressions of antioxidative enzymes SOD1, SOD2 and CAT. RT-qPCR results showed that AOS suppressed the down-regulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expressions induced by D-gal. CONCLUSIONS: AOS prevents against D-gal-mediated cataract in C57BL/6 J mice via inhibiting oxidative stress and up-regulating antioxidant system. Consequently, our results suggest that AOS may be an effective therapeutic strategy against cataract.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Tetraclita squamosa squamosa (Sessilia: Tetraclitidae) from China and phylogeny within Cirripedia.

Here we present the complete mitochondrial genome of Tetraclita squamosa squamosa, which is 15,191 bp in length with 67.20% AT content. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal-RNA genes and 22 transfer-RNA genes. All PCGs except nad4l in T. squamosa squamosa start with ATN, and terminated with a complete stop codon, except nad3. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial PCGs shows that T. squamosa squamosa is clustered with T. serrata into a branch (BP = 100). Our result is consistent with previous reports that genus Tetraclita and family Tetraclitidae are not monophyletic. This study contributes to further phylogenetic analysis within Cirripedia.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Lophosquillia costata (Malacostraca: Stomatopoda) from China and phylogeny of stomatopods.

Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genome of Lophosquillia costata. The genome is 15,771 bp in length with a 68.07% AT content. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNAs genes, and 22 tRNAs. Both rRNAs are encoded on the light strand. Besides seven tRNAs are encoded on the light strand (trnY, trnQ, trnV, trnL1, trnP, trnH, and trnF), and four PCG (nad1, nad4l, nad4, and nad5) are encoded on the light strand, whereas the other nine PCGs are located on the heavy strand. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial PCGs shows two distinct groups for Stomatopoda and Decapoda. Lophosquillia costata is found clustered with Oratosquilla oratoria into a branch (BP = 100), and they grouped with other species with high support (BP = 99) in the family Squillidae. Our results shall provide a better understanding in the evolutionary histories of the stomatopods.

The first mitochondrial genome of Megabalanus tintinnabulum (Sessilia: Balanidae) from China: phylogeny within Cirripedia based on mitochondrial genes.

Here we present the complete mitochondrial genome of Megabalanus tintinnabulum. The genome is 15,107 bp in length with a 67.35% AT content. It contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNAs genes, and 22 tRNAs. Both rRNAs are encoded on the light strand, as in the other crustacean and barnacle mitochondrial genomes. Besides five tRNAs are encoded on the light strand (nad1, trnV, trnL1, trnC, trnQ, and trnK). Only one PCG is encoded on the light strand (nad1), whereas the other 12 PCGs are located on the heavy strand, which is consistent with M. ajax. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial PCGs shows that M. tintinnabulum is clustered with M. ajax into a branch (BP = 100), and the group with M. volcano with high support. This study contributes to further phylogenetic analysis within Cirripedia.

Dataset of long term variation in species occurrence and abundance of tintinnid assemblages in Jiaozhou Bay, China.

This article contains supportive data related to a research article entitled "Annual variation of species richness and lorica oral diameter characteristics of tintinnids in a semi-enclosed bay of western Pacific" (Feng et al., 2018) [1]. This article describes long term data of tintinnid assemblages in Jiaozhou Bay, Yellow sea, a semi-enclosed basin ecosystem of western Pacific, from May 2003 to December 2012. We sum up the whole dataset for each year showing tintinnid species occurrence and abundance at each site by date, as well as the photographic documentation of each tintinnid species. Further interpretation and discussion can be found in recently published by Feng et al. in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science at Science.

Can tintinnids be used for discriminating water quality status in marine ecosystems?

Ciliated protozoa have many advantages in bioassessment of water quality. The ability of tintinnids for assessing water quality status was studied during a 7-yearcycle in Jiaozhou Bay of the Yellow Sea, northern China. The samples were collected monthly at four sites with a spatial gradient of environmental pollution. Environmental variables, e.g., temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a (Chl a), dissolved inorganic nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphate (SRP), and soluble active silicate (SRSi), were measured synchronously for comparison with biotic parameters. Results showed that: (1) tintinnid community structures represented significant differences among the four sampling sites; (2) spatial patterns of the tintinnid communities were significantly correlated with environmental variables, especially SRSi and nutrients; and (3) the community structural parameters and the five dominant species were significantly correlated with SRSi and nutrients. We suggested that tintinnids may be used as a potential bioindicator for discriminating water quality status in marine ecosystems.

[Abundance and biomass of planktonic ciliates in the shelf of East China Sea in spring and autumn].

An investigation was made on the abundance and biomass of planktonic ciliates in the shelf of East China Sea in May (spring) and November (autumn), 2011. The abundance of the ciliates in spring and autumn was averagely (614 +/- 861) and (934 +/- 809) ind x L(-1), and the biomass was averagely (1.70 +/- 3.91) and (0.93 +/- 0.99) microg C x L(-1), respectively. The high abundance and biomass in spring were found in coastal and offshore areas, and those in autumn were in offshore only. In the two seasons, the ciliates tended to accumulate in the waters upper layer, and sometimes flocked in the bottom. In the spring, aloricate ciliate species were larger than those in the autumn. Tintinnids occupied (26.9% +/- 34.3)% and (44.9% +/- 25.2)% of the total ciliates abundance in spring and autumn, respectively. In taxonomy, 52 tintinnid species of 27 genera were identified. The most dominant species were Tintinnidium primitivum, Stenosemella oliva, and Tintinnopsis tubulosoides in spring, and Tintinnidium primitivum, Stenosemella parvicollis, and Tintinnopsis nana in autumn. The ciliates abundance showed significant positive correlations with water temperature and Chl a concentration, the tintinnids abundance showed significant negative correlation with water salinity, and the tintinnids community was significantly related to water temperature.