Resveratrol Improves Recovery and Survival of Diet-Induced Obese Mice Undergoing Extended Major (80%) Hepatectomy

Cannabidiol promotes intestinal cholesterol uptake mediated by Pregnane X receptor

Background

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid of cannabis, is therapeutically used as an analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-psychotic drug. There is a growing concern about the adverse side effects posed by CBD usage. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor activated by a variety of dietary steroids, pharmaceutical agents, and environmental chemicals. In addition to the role in xenobiotic metabolism, the atherogenic and dyslipidemic effects of PXR have been revealed in animal models. CBD has a low affinity for cannabinoid receptors, thus it is important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CBD activates cellular signaling and to assess the possible adverse impacts of CBD on pro-atherosclerotic events in cardiovascular system, such as dyslipidemia.

Objective

Our study aims to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which exposure to CBD activates human PXR and increases the risk of dyslipidemia.

Methods

Both human hepatic and intestinal cells were used to test if CBD was a PXR agonist via cell-based transfection assay. The key residues within PXR's ligand-binding pocket that CBD interacted with were investigated using computational docking study together with site-directed mutagenesis assay. The C57BL/6 wildtype mice were orally fed CBD in the presence of PXR antagonist resveratrol (RES) to determine how CBD exposure could change the plasma lipid profiles in a PXR-dependent manner. Human intestinal cells were treated with CBD and/or RES to estimate the functions of CBD in cholesterol uptake.

Results

CBD was a selective agonist of PXR with higher activities on human PXR than rodents PXRs and promoted the dissociation of human PXR from nuclear co-repressors. The key amino acid residues Met246, Ser247, Phe251, Phe288, Trp299, and Tyr306 within PXR's ligand binding pocket were identified to be necessary for the agonistic effects of CBD. Exposure to CBD increased the circulating total cholesterol levels in mice which was partially caused by the induced expression levels of the key intestinal PXR-regulated lipogenic genes. Mechanistically, CBD induced the gene expression of key intestinal cholesterol transporters, which led to the increased cholesterol uptake by intestinal cells.

Conclusion

CBD was identified as a selective PXR agonist. Exposure to CBD activated PXR signaling and increased the atherogenic cholesterol levels in plasma, which partially resulted from the ascended cholesterol uptake by intestinal cells. Our study provides potential evidence for the future risk assessment of CBD on cardiovascular disease, such as dyslipidemia.

Preoperative Management of Surgical Patients Using Dietary Supplements: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement

The widespread use of complementary products poses a challenge to clinicians in the perioperative period and may increase perioperative risk. Because dietary supplements are regulated differently from traditional pharmaceuticals and guidance is often lacking, the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement convened a group of experts to review available literature and create a set of consensus recommendations for the perioperative management of these supplements. Using a modified Delphi method, the authors developed recommendations for perioperative management of 83 dietary supplements. We have made our recommendations to discontinue or continue a dietary supplement based on the principle that without a demonstrated benefit, or with a demonstrated lack of harm, there is little downside in temporarily discontinuing an herbal supplement before surgery. Discussion with patients in the preoperative visit is a crucial time to educate patients as well as gather vital information. Patients should be specifically asked about use of dietary supplements and cannabinoids, as many will not volunteer this information. The preoperative clinic visit provides the best opportunity to educate patients about the perioperative management of various supplements as this visit is typically scheduled at least 2 weeks before the planned procedure.

Transcriptome analysis of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) livers by dietary resveratrol supplementation

Here we used RNA-Seq to explore the transcriptomic response and specific involvement of hepatic mRNA of juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT) as a result of dietary resveratrol supplementation (0.05 g/kg RES). More than 24,513,018 clean reads were reference genome guided assembly into 23,417 unigenes. 12,596 unigenes (29.64%) were annotated to GO database. There were 5, 179 and 1526 genes significantly differentially expressed genes at 15, 30 and 45 d respectively, and 8 KEGG pathways were enriched associated with this immune response. Hyperemia and compressed hepatic sinusoid, fibrosis of liver cell and abnormal hepatic epidermal cell revealed by H&E and SEM analysis respectively. Genes related with cytokine production (il12rb2, scfr), immune system (ig8l, hlfl, cd226, prf1l), autophagy regulation (atg4b), foxo signaling (ccnb2), steroid hormone biosynthesis (cyp3a40), fatty acid metabolism (scd1), metabolism (cacna1b) have been significantly decreased, while genes associated with such pathways above (leap-2, prdx4, mb, homer1, mif, sat1, cytbc1_8) and the pathway of protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (cne1, tram1) have been significantly increased. These findings suggested RES activated some immune and biological process-related genes to enhance GIFT's innate immunity. It also suggested high concentration addition or long-time administration may bring negative effect in tilapia liver.