Inhibition of SPARC signal by aerobic exercise to ameliorate atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammation and atherosclerosis (AS) are closely associated to Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) and its related factors. This study attempted to define the role and the potential mechanism of SPARC and its related factors in ameliorating hyperlipidemia and AS by aerobic exercise intervention. METHODS: The AS rat model was established with a high-fat diet plus vitamin D3 intraperitoneal injection. Treadmill exercises training (5 days/week at 14 m/min for 60 min/day) for 6 weeks was carried out for AS rat intervention method. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of SPARC and its related factors, respectively. H&E staining was applied to evaluate the morphological changes and inflammation damage. Von Kossa staining was used to measure the degree of vascular calcification. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expression and distribution of SPARC signal molecules. RESULTS: SPARC was highly expressed and co-localization with the smooth muscle marker α-SMC in the AS rat. And its downstream factors, NF-κB, Caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 were upregulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), FNDC5 expression was downregulated in AS rat model. However, slight declined body weight, delayed AS progression, decreased hyperlipidemia and favorable morphology of skeletal muscle and blood vessels have been detected in AS rat with aerobic exercise intervention. Moreover, the expression of SPARC and its downstream factors were decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while elevated the expression of FNDC5 (P < 0.01) was observed after aerobic exercise intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that aerobic exercise ameliorated hyperlipidemia and AS by effectively inhibiting SPARC signal, and vascular smooth muscle cells may contribute greatly to the protection of AS.

Aerobic exercise alleviates pyroptosis-related diseases by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome.

Pyroptosis plays a crucial role in a variety of human diseases, including atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer's disease, which usually release pyroptosis-related cytokines due to inflammation. Many studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise is a good option for decreasing the release of pyroptosis-related cytokines. However, the molecular mechanisms of aerobic exercise on pyroptosis-related diseases remain unknown. In this review, the effects of aerobic exercise on pyroptosis in endothelial cells, adipocytes and hippocampal cells, and their potential mechanisms are summarized. In endothelial cells, aerobic exercise could inhibit NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis by improving the endothelial function, while reducing vascular inflammation and oxidative stress. In adipocytes, aerobic exercise has been shown to inhibit pyroptosis by ameliorating inflammation and insulin resistance. Moreover, aerobic exercise could restrict pyroptosis by attenuating microglial activation, neuroinflammation, and amyloid-beta deposition in hippocampal cells. In summary, aerobic exercise alleviates the pyroptosis-related diseases by regulating the NLRP3 inflammation si0067naling.

The effect of tai chi intervention on NLRP3 and its related antiviral inflammatory factors in the serum of patients with pre-diabetes.

Background: NLRP3 inflammasome and its related antiviral inflammatory factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance, but its contribution to pre-diabetes remains poorly understood. Objective: To investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of Tai Chi intervention on NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors in the serum of middle-aged and older people with pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM). Methods: 40 pre-diabetic subjects were divided into a pre-diabetic control group (PDM-C group, N=20) and a Tai Chi group (PDM-TC group, N=20) by random number table. 10 normoglycemic subjects (NG) were selected as controls. We measured clinical metabolic parameters and collected blood samples before and after the 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention. Antiviral inflammatory factors in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The blood glucose, insulin resistance, and inflammation in PDM groups were higher than those in the NG group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The results also suggested that 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention could reduce body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin resistance, blood lipid, and the expressions of serum inflammatory factors in the pre-diabetic population. Conclusion: Tai Chi intervention may improve blood glucose, lipid levels, and insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly pre-diabetic patients by reducing the level of NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors.

Genetic diversity and distribution of rhizobia associated with soybean in red soil in Hunan Province.

To explore the genetic diversity and distribution of rhizobia in the rhizosphere of soybean grown in red soil, we have collected 21 soil samples from soybean fields across seven counties in Hunan province, China. MiSeq sequencing of rpoB gene was used to determine the intra-species diversity of rhizobia existing in soybean rhizospheres. Soil chemical properties were determined by routine methods. The Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) plot indicated a clear biogeographical pattern characterizing the soybean rhizosphere across different sites. The Mantel test demonstrated that biogeographical pattern was significantly correlated with the geographical distance (Mantel statistic R 0.385, p < 0.001). There were obvious differences in the rhizobial communities among northeastern eco-region, southeastern eco-region and western eco-region. In general, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens was the most abundant rhizobial species in the soybean rhizosphere. At an intermediate (10-400 km) spatial scale, the biogeographical pattern of rhizobial communities in soybean rhizosphere is associated with both soil properties and geographical distance. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), soil organic carbon (SOC), and available nitrogen (AN) were the main factors that influenced the α-diversity of rhizobial communities. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg had the greatest influence on the ß-diversity of the rhizobial communities in the soybean rhizosphere. These findings characterize the distribution pattern and its influencing factors of soybean rhizobia in rhizosphere in Hunan province, which may be helpful in selecting suitable strains or species as inoculants for soybeans in red soil regions.

Identification of CD38 as a potential biomarker in skin cutaneous melanoma using bioinformatics analysis.

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is the most aggressive type of skin cancer, with a high rate of metastasis and mortality; however, identification of biomarkers for the treatment of SKCM is required. Cluster of differentiation (CD)38 has emerged as an effective target for therapeutic drugs in several types of cancer, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. In the present study, to determine the contribution of CD38 to the diagnosis of SKCM, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 and University of Alabama Cancer Database online tools were used to analyze The Cancer Genome Atlas-SKCM dataset. Moreover, Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins and GeneMANIA databases were used to determine protein-protein interaction networks and potential functions. To the best of our knowledge, the results of the present study indicated for the first time that high expression levels of CD38 were a favorable diagnostic factor for SKCM. Moreover, a correlation between CD38 expression levels and the survival probability of patients with SKCM was identified. Integrative analysis predicted that nine genes were correlated with CD38 in SKCM, and the similarity of these genes in SKCM expression and a survival heatmap was verified. Gene ontology enrichment analysis using the Metascape tool revealed that CD38 and its correlated genes were significantly enriched in lymphocyte activation and T cell differentiation regulation. Collectively, the bioinformatics analysis revealed that CD38 might serve as a potential diagnostic predictor for SKCM.

Porous Alumina Ceramics Obtained by Particles Self-Assembly Combing Freeze Drying Method.

An innovative approach for fabricating porous alumina ceramics is demonstrated in this paper. The distinguished feature is that the construction of the porous structure stems from the interaction between ceramic particles, which is a poorly explored area. By tailoring the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction energy to the second minimum, the dilute ceramic slurry would be gelled by the weakly assembled particle network, and the assembled structure is conserved via a freeze drying strategy. The DLVO theoretical analyses revealed that the second minimum of interaction energy could be obtained when the counter-ion concentration in colloidal suspension is 1.5 × 10-2 mol/L. The properties of the as-assembled samples were compared with one produced by the conventional freeze drying method. Results showed that the self-assembly of alumina particles has a positive influence on micro structures. Unlike the laminar pores generated by the traditional freeze drying procedure, the assembled samples show homogeneously interconnected and hierarchical open pores which were stable even after a 24 h dwell time at 950 °C (open porosity is 79.19% for the slurry of vol 20% solid loading). Particularly, after sintering at 1550 °C for 2 h, open porosity (67.01%) of the assembled samples was significantly greater than that of their un-assembled counterparts (39.97%). Besides, the assembled sample shows a narrower pore size distribution and a relatively higher cumulative pore volume.

Phosphorylation and acetylation modifications of FOXO3a: Independently or synergistically?

Forkhead box class O 3a (FOXO3a) is a transcription factor that has emerged as being a tumor suppressor and longevity factor. The precise regulation of FOXO3a transactivation of target genes is achieved via post-translational modifications (PTMs) and specific protein-protein interactions. The multiple types of PTMs that FOXO3a undergoes, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation and ubiquitination, serve important roles in directing its subcellular localization and transcription activity, which are central to the integration of insulin/growth factor signaling and oxidative/nutrient stress signaling. The present review summarizes the modifications of FOXO3a that occur via phosphorylation and acetylation. In addition, the synergistic effect of multiple phosphorylations on FOXO3a and the crosstalk between phosphorylation and acetylation in the regulation of FOXO3a are discussed. These discussions may highlight potential strategies for the prevention of cancer and aging.

Short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension in Chinese early middle-aged females.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and hypertension in a middle-aged Chinese population. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of 20,505 individuals aged 35-64 years from Taizhou longitudinal study was used. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension in association with sleep duration. RESULTS: Short sleep duration was associated with high systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison with sleep duration of 7-8 h in females. Short sleep duration was also associated with an increased risk of hypertension in females. Age-stratified analysis showed that as compared with sleep duration of 7-8 h, sleep duration <6 h increased risk of hypertension after controlling for multiple covariates with an OR of 1.766 (1.024-2.775) in early middle-aged females of 35-44 years. More importantly, sleeping less than 6 h is associated with increased risk of pre-hypertension in females of this age category, after controlling for multiple covariates with an OR of 1.769 (1.058-2.958). CONCLUSIONS: Sleeping less than 6 h a day is associated with increased risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension in Chinese early middle-aged females. The high-risk populations require sufficient sleep, which could probably prevent the increased risk of pre-hypertension as well as hypertension.

Involvement of Bim in Photofrin-mediated photodynamically induced apoptosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive technique, which has been successfully applied to the treatment of human cancers. Studies have shown that the Bcl-2 family proteins play important roles in PDT-induced apoptosis. However, whether Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) is involved in photodynamic treatment remains unknown. In this study, we attempt to determine the effect of Bim on Photofrin photodynamic treatment (PPT)-induced apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma ASTC-a-1 cells. METHODS: The translocation of Bim/Bax of the cells were monitored by laser confocal scanning microscope. The levels of Bim protein and activated caspase-3 in cells were detected by western blot assay. Caspase-3 activities were measured by Caspase-3 Fluorogenic Substrate (Ac-DEVD-AFC) analysis. The induction of apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 and PI staining as well as flow cytometry analysis. The effect of Bim on PPT-induced apoptosis was determined by RNAi. RESULTS: BimL translocated to mitochondria in response to PPT, similar to the downstream pro-apoptotic protein Bax activation. PPT increased the level of Bim and activated caspase-3 in cells and that knockdown of Bim by RNAi significantly protected against caspase-3 activity. PPT-induced apoptosis were suppressed in cells transfected with shRNA-Bim. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the involvement of Bim in PPT-induced apoptosis in human ASTC-a-1 lung adenocarcinoma cells and suggested that enhancing Bim activity might be a potential strategy for treating human cancers.