[Aerobic exercise reduces the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors in hippocampus of mice with insulin resistance].

The aim of the present study was to observe the expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related proteins in the hippocampus of mice with insulin resistance (IR) after aerobic exercise, and to explore the possible mechanism of exercise to improve IR. C57BL/6J male mice of 6 weeks old were randomly fed with normal diet (n = 12) and high-fat diet (HFD) (n = 26) for 12 weeks respectively. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed to determine whether IR occurred in HFD mice. Then the mice were randomly divided into control group (n = 12), IR group (n = 10) and IR + aerobic exercise group (AE, n = 10). Mice in AE group performed a 12-week progressive speed treadmill training after being adapted to the treadmill for one week. After the intervention, the expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related proteins in hippocampus was detected by Western blot. The results showed that compared with control group, NFκB, Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), pyroptosis-related proteins like pro-Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), GSDMD-N, and inflammatory factors IL-1ß, IL-18 were significantly increased. The inflammasome-related protein NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) and pyroptosis-related protein Caspase-1 showed an increasing trend, but there was no significant difference. Compared with the IR group, progressive speed treadmill training significantly reduced the expression of NFκB, NLRP3, NEK7, ASC, pro-Caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1ß, and IL-18 in the hippocampus of mice with IR. These results suggested 12-week progressive speed treadmill training can significantly reduce the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of mice with IR, and inhibit pyroptosis.

[Study on screening antitumor active fractions and chemical components in active fractions from root of Anaycclus pyrethrum].

Components that systematic separated from the root of Anaycclus pyrethrum were identified, in order to lay a foundation for future study of the root of A. pyrethrum. The CCK-8 assay showed that dichloromethane fraction exhibited the highest degree of cytotoxicity than others. Ten monomeric components were obtained from dichloromethane fraction and ethyl acetate fraction extracted from the root of A. pyrethrum, including 7 N-alkylamides, one coumarin and two flavonoid glycosides. They were identified as tetradeca-2E,4E,8E-trienoic acid 4-hydroxyphenylethylamide(1), deca-2E,4E-dienoicacid isobutylamide(2), undeca-2E,4E-diene-8,10-diynoic acid phenylethylamide(3), tetradeca-2E,4E-dienoic acid 4-hydroxyphenylethylamide(4), tetradeca-2E,4E-diene-8,10-diynoic acid isobutylamide(5), deca-2E,4E- dienoic acid 4-hydroxyphenylethylamide(6), dodeca-2E,4E-dienoic acid 4-hydroxy -phenyl-ethylamide(7), isoscopoletin(8), quercetin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(9), isorhamnetin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(10). Among them, compound 1 was identified as a new compound, Compounds 2-4, 8-10 were isolated from this herb for the first time.

Sugar Composition Analysis of Fuzi Polysaccharides by HPLC-MSn and Their Protective Effects on Schwann Cells Exposed to High Glucose.

Fuzi has been used to treat diabetic complications for many years in china. In a previous study, we have shown that Fuzi aqueous extract can attenuate Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in rats and protect Schwann cells from injury. Thus, the protective effect of Fuzi polysaccharides (FPS) on high glucose-induced SCs and the preliminary mechanism were investigated. Firstly, the FPS were obtained and their monose composition was analyzed by the combination of pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multi-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MSn). The results witnessed the efficiency of this method and seven monosaccharides were tentatively identified, among which fucose was first reported. Simultaneously, m/z 215 can be considered as diagnostic ions to confirm the number of monosaccharides. Next, high glucose-induced SC model was applied and divided into model group, treated group of FPS, normal and osmotic control group. After treatment for 48 h, the data showed FPS could significantly decrease the intracellular ROS and apoptosis, which were determined by the corresponding fluorescent probes. Then, the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins in SCs were measured by Western blot. Furthermore, the protein tests found that FPS markedly up-regulated superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) protein level, but down-regulated NADPH oxidase-1 (Nox1) protein level. Moreover, FPS could also increase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation significantly. Hence, we preliminary deduced that AMPK-PGC-1α pathway may play an important role in the protective effect of FPS against high glucose-induced cell damage.

[Effects of resistance exercise on pyroptosis-related proteins in hippocampus of insulin resistant mice].

Objective: To investigate the changes of pyroptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus of insulin-resistant mice and the regulation of resistance training on pyroptosis-related proteins. Methods: Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group (C, n=12) and high-fat diet group (HFD, n=26) for normal or high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Subsequently, according to the results of glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), the rats fed with high-fat diet were divided into insulin resistance group (IR, n=10) and resistance exercise group (RT, n=10) as well as to maintain high-fat diet. At the same time, mice in the RT group were subjected to resistance training. After 12 weeks, all mice were sacrificed after anesthesia, brain was removed and hippocampus was exfoliated, and the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the C group, NF-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome proteins, their downstream pyroptosis-related proteins GSDMD-N and GSDMD as well as inflammation factors IL-1ß and IL-18 in hippocampus of IR group were significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the expression levels of SIRT1 and p-AMPK protein were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with the IR group, NF-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome proteins, their downstream pyroptosis-related proteins GSDMD-N and GSDMD as well as inflammation factors IL-1ß and IL-18 in hippocampus of RT group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05), and the expression levels of SIRT1 and p-AMPK protein were significantly increased (P＜0.01). Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus of insulin-resistant mice is activated, which mediates pyroptosis in the hippocampus. Twelve weeks of resistance training can effectively inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and decrease pyroptosis and improve inflammation in the hippocampus.