Lutein Prevents Liver Injury and Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Rats Subjected to Chronic Alcohol Intake.

Chronic alcohol intake can affect both liver and intestinal barrier function. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the function and mechanism of lutein administration on the chronic ethanol-induced liver and intestinal barrier damage in rats. During the 14-week experimental cycle, seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups, with 10 rats in each group: a normal control group (Co), a control group of lutein interventions (24 mg/kg/day), an ethanol model group (Et, 8-12 mL/kg/day of 56% (v/v) ethanol), three intervention groups with lutein (12, 24 and 48 mg/kg/day) and a positive control group (DG). The results showed that liver index, ALT, AST and TG levels were increased, and SOD and GSH-Px levels were reduced in the Et group. Furthermore, alcohol intake over a long time increased the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß, disrupted the intestinal barrier, and stimulated the release of LPS, causing further liver injury. In contrast, lutein interventions prevented alcohol-induced alterations in liver tissue, oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, the protein expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in ileal tissues was upregulated by lutein intervention. In conclusion, lutein can improve chronic alcoholic liver injury and intestinal barrier dysfunction in rats.

Effects of the polypeptide from peanut meal mixed fermentation on lipid metabolism and intestinal flora of hyperlipidemic mice.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is one of the metabolic disorders posing great threat to human health. Our previous studies have shown that the nutritional properties of peanut meal after fermentation are markedly improved, and can effectively improve hyperlipidemia caused by high-fat diet in mice. In this study, in order to facilitate the further utilization of peanut meal, the effect of peanut polypeptide (PP) from peanut meal mixed fermentation on lipid metabolism in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and its possible mechanism were investigated. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (N), high-fat model group (M), PP low-dose group (PL), PP high-dose group (PH), and atorvastatin positive control group (Y). RESULTS: The results show that PP supplementation can effectively reduce the body weight of mice, decrease the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leptin levels (P < 0.05), increase the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P < 0.05), up-regulate the expression levels of ileal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin (P < 0.05), reduce the hepatocyte injury and lipid accumulation caused by high-fat diet and increase the species richness of intestinal flora. CONCLUSION: PP can significantly improve hyperlipidemia and regulate intestinal flora disorders caused by hyperlipidemia. The possible mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum leptin levels and up-regulating the expression levels of the ileal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. This study provides evidence for its regulatory role in lipid metabolism and intestinal function, and provides a research basis for the potential nutritional benefits of underutilized food by-products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lutein Can Alleviate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis Induced by Excessive Alcohol to Ameliorate Reproductive Damage in Male Rats.

Chronic excessive alcohol intake may lead to male reproductive damage. Lutein is a carotenoid compound with antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of lutein supplementation on male reproductive damage caused by excessive alcohol intake. In this study, an animal model of excessive drinking (12 mL/(kg.bw.d)) for 12 weeks was established and supplemented with different doses of lutein (12, 24, 48 mg/(kg.bw.d)). The results showed that the body weight, sperm quality, sex hormones (FSH, testosterone), and antioxidant markers (GSH-Px) decreased significantly, while MDA and inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α) increased significantly in the alcohol model group when compared to the normal control group. After 12 weeks of high-dose lutein supplementation with 48mg/(kg.bw.d), the spermatogenic ability, testosterone level, and the activity of marker enzymes reflecting testicular injury were improved. In addition, high-dose lutein supplementation downregulated the NF-κB and the pro-apoptosis biomarkers (Bax, Cytc and caspase-3), whereas it upregulated the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2. These findings were fully supported by analyzing the testicular histopathology and by measuring germ cell apoptosis. In conclusion, lutein protects against reproductive injury induced by excessive alcohol through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Peanut meal extract fermented with Bacillus natto attenuates physiological and behavioral deficits in a D-galactose-induced aging rat model.

Our previous studies have shown that the nutritional properties of peanut meal after fermentation are markedly improved. In this study, in order to facilitate the further utilization of peanut meal, we investigated the effects of its fermentation extract by Bacillus natto (FE) on cognitive ability, antioxidant activity of brain, and protein expression of hippocampus of aging rats induced by D-galactose. Seventy-two female SD rats aged 4-5 months were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group (N), aging model group (M), FE low-dose group (FL), FE medium-dose group (FM), FE high-dose group (FH) and vitamin E positive control group (Y). Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate their effects on learning and memory ability in aging rats. SOD activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of brain, HE staining and the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor 1 (GABABR1) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid 2B receptor (NMDAR2B) in the hippocampus of rats were measured. The results show that FE supplementation can effectively alleviate the decrease of thymus index induced by aging, decrease the escape latency of MWM by 66.06%, brain MDA by 28.04%, hippocampus GABABR1 expression by 7.98%, and increase brain SOD by 63.54% in aging model rats. This study provides evidence for its anti-aging effects and is a research basis for potential nutritional benefits of underutilized food by-products.

Effects of the extract from peanut meal fermented with Bacillus natto and Monascus on lipid metabolism and intestinal barrier function of hyperlipidemic mice.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is one of the metabolic disorders that poses a great threat to human health. This study is aimed at investigating the potential hypolipidemic properties of extract from peanut meal fermented with Bacillus natto and Monascus in mice fed with a high-fat diet. Herein, 60 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups: four control groups, comprised of a normal group, a model (M) group, a positive control group (atorvastatin 10 mg kg-1 ), and a nonfermented peanut meal extract group (150 mg kg-1 ), and two experimental groups, comprised of a fermented peanut meal extract low-dose group (50 mg kg-1 ) and a fermented peanut meal extract high-dose group (FH, 150 mg kg-1 ). RESULTS: Body weight (P = 0.001) and levels of serum total cholesterol (P = 0.007), triacylglycerol (P = 0.040), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001), and leptin (P < 0.001) were remarkably decreased in the FH group, whereas the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased (P < 0.001) by 78.3% compared with the M group. Ileum tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed that the ileal villus detachments in mice were improved, and the villus height was increased by supplementation with extract from fermented peanut meal. Moreover, the expressions of intestinal ZO-1 (P = 0.003) and occludin (P = 0.013) were elevated in the FH group, compared with the M group. CONCLUSION: Extract of peanut meal fermented by B. natto and Monascus can effectively improve hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet in mice, via regulating leptin and blood lipid levels, and protect the intestinal mucosal barrier, which provides evidence for its anti-hyperlipidemia effects and is a research basis for potential industrial development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of peanut meal extracts fermented by Bacillus natto on the growth performance, learning and memory skills and gut microbiota modulation in mice.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the nutritional properties of peanut meal (PM) can be improved after being fermented. The assessment of fermented PM has been reported to be limited to various physical and chemical evaluations in vitro. In the present study, PM was fermented by Bacillus natto to explore the effects of fermented PM extract (FE) on growth performance, learning and memory ability and intestinal microflora in mice. Ninety newly weaned male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into seven groups: normal group (n 20), low-dose FE group (n 10), middle-dose FE group (MFE) (n 10), high-dose FE group (HFE) (n 20), unfermented extraction group (n 10), model group (10) and natural recovery group (10). Learning and memory skills were performed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and the variation in gut microbiota (GM) composition was assessed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results show that HFE remarkably improved the growth performance in mice. In the MWM test, escape latency was shortened in both MFE and HFE groups, while the percentage of time, distance in target quadrant and the number crossing over the platform were significantly increased in the HFE group. Moreover, the FE played a preventive role in the dysbacteriosis of mice induced by antibiotic and increased the richness and species evenness of GM in mice.

Increased LGALS3BP promotes proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma via PI3K/AKT pathway.

Previous studies showed that lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) is an important participant in tumor progression. However, its prognostic value and functional mechanism in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed LGALS3BP expression in OSCC tissues via Oncomine databases and immunohistochemical staining. LGALS3BP was significantly up-regulated in OSCC tumor tissues. IHC analysis showed that LGALS3BP was predominantly expressed in tumor cells and correlated with poor clinical characteristics. In addition, high LGALS3BP expression predicted poor clinical outcomes and multivariate analysis revealed that LGALS3BP expression was as an independent prognostic factor for OS, DFS and RFS (p < .0001, p = .002, p = .002). Mechanically, LGALS3BP regulated OSCC proliferation and migration via PI3K/AKT pathways, which was abrogated by PI3K inhibitor LY294002 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggested that LGALS3BP could be served as a novel independent prognostic factor as well as a potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

Tumor cell-derived TGF-ß at tumor center independently predicts recurrence and poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) exerts its versatile function (oncogenic or tumor suppressive role) during the carcinogenesis in tumor microenvironment-dependent manner. Considering the tumor heterogeneity, spatial and temporal distribution of TGF-ß in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remained to be elucidated. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections derived from 73 patients with OSCC were immunostained, revealing expression patterns of TGF-ß, both at the regions of tumor center (TC) and invasive tumor front (ITF). RESULTS: The TGF-ß levels on tumor cells, fibroblast-like cells (FLCs), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were comparable and showed to be cell-type-independent manner. Although TC regions harbored less positive staining of TGF-ß than ITF in tumor cells (TGF-ßTumor cell ) (89.0% vs 98.3%; P = 0.037), FLCs (TGF-ßFLC ) (86.3% vs 96.6%; P = 0.043), and TILs (TGF-ßTIL ) (83.6% vs 94.8%; P = 0.044), respectively, TGF-ß at TC regions, not at ITF, correlated to poor clinical outcomes. At TC regions, patients with high TGF-ßTumor cell had high recurrence rate, and patients with high TGF-ßTIL showed inferior worst pattern of invasion. Of note, high TGF-ßTumor cell at TC predicted shorter overall survival time, recurrence-free survival, and disease-free survival in patients with OSCC, whereas high TGF-ßTIL had no association with survival time. Cox regression analyses indicated that tumor cell-derived TGF-ß at TC was an independent risk factor for survival outcome in patients with OSCC. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor cell-derived TGF-ß at TC regions, but not at ITF, could be a promising predictor for disease recurrence and poor prognosis of patients with OSCC.