High-Energy Supplemental Feeding Shifts Gut Microbiota Composition and Function in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).

Winter supplemental feeding (SF) is commonly used to improve the survival of captive wildlife. To investigate the impact of winter supplementation on the gut microbiota of wildlife, we assessed changes in the gut microbiota of red deer (Cervus elaphus) during the supplementary and non-supplementary feeding (NSF) groups using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. We found no significant differences in the diversity of the gut microbiota between SF and NSF except for the Simpson's index. However, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Lentisphaerae, and Proteobacteria in the gut microbiota was significantly higher during SF. Further, genera such as Intestinimonas, Rikenella, Lawsonibacter, Muribaculum, and Papillibacter were more abundant during SF. Beta diversity analysis showed significant differences between SF and NSF. The microbes detected during SF were primarily associated with lipid metabolism, whereas those detected during NSF were linked to fiber catabolism. High-energy feed affects the gut microbial composition and function in red deer. During SF, the gut microbes in red deer were enriched in microorganisms associated with butyrate and lipid metabolism, such as R. microfusus, M. intestinale, and Papillibacter cinnamivorans. These gut microbes may be involved in ameliorating obesity associated with high-energy diets. In summary, SF is a reasonable and effective management strategy.

Paired­related homeobox 1 overexpression promotes multidrug resistance via PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling in MCF­7 breast cancer cells.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of disease relapse and mortality in breast cancer. Paired­related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is associated with the epithelial­mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is involved in tumor development, including cell invasion and MDR. However, the effect of PRRX1 on MDR had not clearly established. The present study investigated the influence of PRRX1 on MDR and the underlying molecular mechanisms in MCF­7 breast cancer cells. MCF­7 cells were divided into PRRX1+ group (cells transfected with a recombinant plasmid carrying the PRRX1 gene), negative control group (cells transfected with a blank vector) and blank group (untreated cells). It was found that the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of PRRX1, N­cadherin, vimentin and P­glycoprotein were significantly higher in PRRX1­overexpressing MCF­7 cells compared with those in control cells. The half­maximal inhibitory concentration of three groups after treatment with docetaxel and cis­platinum complexes were significantly higher in PRRX1­overexpressing MCF­7 cells compared with those in control cells. Furthermore, relative PTEN expression decreased significantly and levels of phosphorylated PI3K and AKT increased substantially in PRRX1­overexpressing MCF­7 cells. These results indicated that PRRX1 overexpression may induce MDR via PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling in breast cancer. It is highly recommended that PRRX1 gene expression detection should be performed in patients with breast cancer to aid the selection of more appropriate treatments, which will lead to an improved prognosis in clinical practice.

Isatin inhibits SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell invasion and metastasis through PTEN signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Isatin has gained attention in recent years owing to its anticancer properties and is thought to offer medical benefits. Isatin is an endogenous oxidized indole with various behavioral and metabolic properties and is commonly found in mammalian tissues and fluids. It has several plausible applications in biomedical research and has also been investigated as a potential anticancer agent. However, its effects on neuroblastoma (NB) cells are unclear. Here, we evaluate the effects of isatin on neuroblastoma cell metastasis and invasion and reveal the underlying mechanism. METHODS: NB cell viability was evaluated with the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay. NB cell invasion and migration abilities were tested with transwell and wound healing experiments. The relative mRNA expression of associated molecules was detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR. The expression level of related proteins was detected with western blotting. RESULTS: Isatin inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of neuroblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Isatin increased the expression level of H3K4m1 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and decreased the phosphorylation level of PTEN downstream proteins phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase B, mammalian target of rapamycin, focal adhesion kinase, and SHC. Together, these results support the potential anti-metastatic effects of isatin on NB cells.