Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) Alkaloids Ameliorate Obesity-Linked Adipose Tissue Metabolism and Inflammation in Mice.

Obesity has become a global epidemic disease as it is closely associated with a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that results in metabolic dysfunction. Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) derived from Morus alba L. were licensed to treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in 2020. In this study, we explored the effect of SZ-A on adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation using an obesity model induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6J mice were fed high fat for 14 weeks and followed by SZ-A 400 mg/kg treatment via gavage for another six weeks, during which they were still given the high-fat diet. The results showed that SZ-A notably reduced body weight and serum levels of lipid metabolism-related factors, such as triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC); and inflammation-related factors, namely tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), fibrinogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and leptin (LEP), in the HFD-induced mice. SZ-A increased the protein and mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related factors, including phosphorylated acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (p-ACC), phosphorylated hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase (p-HSL), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), in adipose tissue. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that SZ-A significantly reduced the infiltration of pro-inflammatory M1-type macrophages in epididymal fat. The data also suggested that SZ-A down-regulates the transcriptional levels of inflammatory factors Il6, Tnfα, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (Mcp1), and F4/80, and up-regulates interleukin 4 (Il4), interleukin 10 (Il10), and interleukin 13 (Il13) in adipose tissue. Overall, the results indicate that SZ-A exhibits potential in regulating lipid metabolism and ameliorating obesity-linked adipose inflammation.

Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) Alkaloids Alleviate High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have highly related mechanisms. Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) from Morus alba L. were approved in 2020 for the treatment of T2DM. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects and mechanism of SZ-A on obesity and NAFLD in mice. Mice (C57BL/6J) fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks were treated with SZ-A for another 6 weeks. HFD-induced weight gain was reduced by SZ-A in a dose-dependent manner. SZ-A treatment significantly stimulated adiponectin expression and secretion in adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, SZ-A markedly reduced hepatic steatosis (triglyceride, total cholesterol) and expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes. SZ-A regulated lipid metabolism and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH)) in the liver. Palmitic acid-induced insulin resistance and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells were also repressed by SZ-A. Collectively, SZ-A protected mice from HFD-induced NAFLD through an indirect effect of improved systemic metabolism reducing bodyweight, and a direct effect by enhancing the lipid metabolism of HepG2 cells. The weight-loss effect of SZ-A in mice was partly due to improved fatty oxidation instead of influencing food consumption.

[Micro-Raman Spectral Characteristics and Implication of FeS2 from Metamorphic Belt between Coal and Intrusion in Wolonghu Coal Mine of Anhui Province, China].

Some FeS2 samples among metamorphic belt between coal and intrusion from Wolonghu mine in the north of Anhui Province were retrieved to characterize the signature of Raman Spectral. The results show that, all Raman data of different samples can be divided into 3 types as Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ according to distinct differences of in Raman mode (M), Raman shift (Δν) and scattering intensity (Ⅰ). There are five strong scattering modes including high value Eg (1.16~1.59×103), high value Ag (2.33~2.53×103) and low value Tg (0.20~0.27×103) in typeⅠand only former three modes in type Ⅱ although the value of Eg, Ag and Tg are similar between them. While there are only two modes of high value Eg about 327.6~328.8 cm-1 and low value Ag 389.0~390.1 cm-1. Our analyses indicate that type Ⅰ samples must be mixed crystal of pyrite and natural coke for the former three peaks are same to deformation and stretching vibration of Fe-[S2]2- and stretching vibration of S­S in pyrite, while the latter two are similar to the vibration of Tiny graphite crystals and stretching vibration of C­C among graphite crystal from Raman data. And typeⅡsample may be pyrite for typical pyrite Scattering peak and Type Ⅲ sample possibility are low-temperature crystalloblastic of pyrite for Marcasite spectrum features in Raman. Further analysis also showed that the formation pressure of typeⅠ and Ⅱ are the same while type Ⅲ samples formed in low pressure for Raman scattered intensity of typeⅠand Ⅱ are similar, and type Ⅲ samples is obviously lower than the former two. And the formation temperature of typeⅠ, typeⅡ and type Ⅲ significantly decreased in turn for Ag peak of them are turn to high frequency about 4.4~6.7, 4.5~8.4cm-1 respectively compared with the former. Thus，The authors' studies suggest that pyrite samples from Metamorphic coal and metamorphic zone in Wolonghu coal mine are products in high temperature, but samples from Magmatic rocks are Marcasite formed at low temperature.

Rice SUVH histone methyltransferase genes display specific functions in chromatin modification and retrotransposon repression.

Histone lysine methylation plays an important role in heterochromatin formation and reprogramming of gene expression. SET-domain-containing proteins are shown to have histone lysine methyltransferase activities. A large number of SET-domain genes are identified in plant genomes. The function of most SET-domain genes is not known. In this work, we studied the 12 rice (Oryza sativa) homologs of Su(var)3-9, the histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase identified in Drosophila. Several rice SUVHs (i.e. SDG714, SDG727, and SDG710) were found to have an antagonistic function to the histone H3K9 demethylase JMJ706, as down-regulation of these genes could partially complement the jmj706 phenotype and reduced histone H3K9 methylation. Down-regulation of a rice Su(var)3-9 homolog (SUVH), namely SDG728, decreased H3K9 methylation and altered seed morphology. Overexpression of the gene increased H3K9 methylation. SDG728 and other SUVH genes were found to be involved in the repression of retrotransposons such as Tos17 and a Ty1-copia element. Analysis of histone methylation suggested that SDG728-mediated H3K9 methylation may play an important role in retrotransposon repression.