Zinc Deficiency Induces Inflammation and Apoptosis via Oxidative Stress in the Kidneys of Mice

Association Between Dietary Zinc Intake and Increased Renal Function in US Adults

We aimed to investigate the association between the dietary zinc intake and the risk of albuminuria, low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the US general population. This study was a cross-sectional study utilizing the data from the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) > 30 mg/g. Low eGFR was defined as an eGFR of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. CKD is characterized by albuminuria or low eGFR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, subgroup analyses, interaction tests, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were performed in this study. For 37,195 enrolled participants in this study, the mean dietary zinc intake was 11.85 ± 0.07 mg/day, and the rate of albuminuria, low eGFR, and CKD was 9.37%, 6.68%, and 14.10%, respectively. Participants with a higher dietary zinc intake showed a lower risk of albuminuria, low eGFR, and CKD. In the fully adjusted model, we found that participants in the highest dietary zinc intake quartile had 26% lower odds of the rate of CKD than those in quartile 1. Subgroup analyses showed that dietary zinc intake was positively associated with the risk of low eGFR in participants who were now smokers. The potential nonlinear relationship between dietary zinc intake and the risk of CKD and albuminuria was also revealed. Higher dietary zinc intake was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of CKD, which might be helpful in kidney function protection among the general population.

Zinc Supplementation Reduces the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps by Decreasing the Expression of Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase 4

SCOPE

Neutrophils play a decisive role during the immediate defense against infections. However, as observed during rheumatoid arthritis, activated neutrophils can also cause tissue damage. Previous studies indicate that zinc supplementation may alter certain neutrophil functions. However, precise underlying mechanisms and possible effects of zinc deficiency remain incompletely understood. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of changes in zinc status on formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and other fundamental neutrophil functions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Interleukin (IL)-17 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α are used to simulate the inflammatory environment observed in autoimmune diseases. The study analyzes the impact of the zinc status on NETs release, using a fluorescence plate reader, and on the expression of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), S100A8/A9, and certain cytokines by PCR and western blot. These results show that zinc supplementation significantly reduces NETs formation and downregulates PAD4 protein expression. Zinc supplementation results in increased protein expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and IL-8 in stimulated cells.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that changes in extracellular zinc availability may influence the functions of neutrophils. Therefore, maintaining an appropriate zinc level is advisable for preserving innate immunity and to prevent hyper-activation of neutrophils.

Selection, identification and evaluation of optimal reference genes in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) under polypropylene microplastics stress

Polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants that have the potential to cause adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Reverse transcriptase quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a valuable tool for assessing the gene expression profiles under PP-MPs stress. To obtain an accurate gene expression profile of tissue inflammation and apoptosis that reflects the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of PP-MPs on Chinese sturgeon, identifying reliable reference genes is crucial for RT-qPCR analysis. In this study, we constructed an experiment model of Chinese sturgeon exposed to PP-MPs, assessed the pathological injury, metabolic profile responses and oxidative stress in liver, evaluated the reliability of 8 reliable reference genes by 4 commonly used algorithms including GeNorm, NormFinder, BeatKeeper, Delta Ct, and then analyzed the performance of inflammatory response genes in liver, spleen and kidney with the best reference gene. HE staining revealed that the cytoplasm full small vacuoles and nucleus diameter increased were occurred in the liver cell of PP-MPs in treatment groups. Additionally, oxidative and biochemical parameters were significantly changes in the liver of treatment groups. For the reference genes in PP-MPs exposure experiments, this study screening the optimal reference genes including: EF1α and GAPDH for liver and spleen, and GAPDH and RPS18 for kidney. Besides, 2 inflammatory response genes (NLRP3, TNF-α) were chosen to assess the optimal reference genes using the least stable reference gene (TUB) as a control, verified the practicality of the select reference genes in different tissues. We also found that the low concentration of PP-MPs could induce the liver tissue damage and inflammatory response in Chinese sturgeon. Our study initially evaluated the impact of short-time exposure with PP-MPs in Chinese sturgeon and provided 3 sets of validated optimal reference genes in Chinese sturgeon exposure to PP-MPs.

High-fat diet disrupts the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation, damage to tight junctions, and apoptosis and necrosis in Nyctereutes procyonoides intestines

Given the burgeoning Nyctereutes procyonoides breeding industry and its growing scale, it is imperative to investigate the impact of high-fat diets on the health of these animals. This study involved 30 male Nyctereutes procyonoides of comparable weights (3 kg ±0.5), randomly assigned to either a control group or a high-fat diet group (n = 15 each). The latter group was fed a mixture of lard and basal diet in a 2:5 ratio, establishing a high-fat diet model in Nyctereutes procyonoides. This diet induced diarrhea and histopathological changes in the Nyctereutes procyonoides. Analysis of the small intestine contents using 16S rRNA sequencing revealed a high-fat diet-induced disruption in the gut microbiota. Specifically, Escherichia-Shigella emerged as the biomarker in the high-fat diet group (P = 0.049), while Vagococcus was prevalent in the control group (P = 0.049), indicating a significant increase in harmful bacteria in the high-fat diet group. Furthermore, this disrupted gut flora correlated with inflammation and oxidative stress, as evidenced by marked increases in TNF-α (P < 0.01), IL-1β (P < 0.05), and IL-6 (P < 0.05) levels, measured via q-PCR, Western blot, and oxidative stress assays. In addition, q-PCR analysis revealed significant upregulation of apoptosis and necrosis markers, including Bax, Caspase3, Caspase9, Caspase12, RIPK3, and RIPK1 (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001), and a concurrent downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 (P < 0.01) in the high-fat diet group, consistent with protein expression trends. These findings suggest that a high-fat diet alters the gut microbiome toward a more harmful bacterial composition, escalating inflammatory responses and intestinal tissue permeability, culminating in intestinal cell apoptosis and necrosis.IMPORTANCEThis study examines the impact of high-fat diets on Nyctereutes procyonoides. Our research established a Nyctereutes procyonoides model on a high-fat diet, revealing significant health impacts, such as diarrhea, histological anomalies, and alterations in the gut microbiota. These findings emphasize the importance of preventing health issues and promoting sustainable industry growth. They highlight the significant impact of diet on gut microbiota and overall animal health.

Microplastics induced endoplasmic reticulum stress to format an inflammation and cell death in hepatocytes of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Microplastics (MPs) are a serious threat to the living environment of aquatic organisms. However, there are fewer studies on the toxicity of microplastics to freshwater organisms. This study aimed to establish a polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) model by feeding carp (Cyprinus carpio) PS-MP (1000 ng/L) particles 8 μm in size. HE staining revealed a mass of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the carp hepatopancreas. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were strengthened considerably, suggesting that PS-MPs cause injury to the hepatopancreas of carp. Real-Time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting results indicated increased levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), eukaryotic translation initiation Factor 2α (EIF2α) and activating transcription Factor 4 (ATF4) genes and increased levels of inflammatory factors downstream of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERs) thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and caspase 1. Increased expression of microtubule-associated protein-2 (LC3II), autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) and autophagy-related 12 (ATG12) genes revealed that PS-MPs promoted autophagy in carp hepatocytes. The enhanced expression of the Caspase 12, Caspase 3, and Bax genes suggested that PS-MPs led to the apoptosis of carp hepatocytes. These results suggest that PS-MPs result in serious injury to the hepatopancreas of carp. The present study of PS-MPs in freshwater fish from the aspect of endoplasmic reticulum stress was conducted to provide references and suggestions for toxicological studies of PS-MPs in freshwater environments.

Zinc Supplementation Reduces Testicular Cell Apoptosis in Mice and Improves Spermatogenic Dysfunction Caused by Marginal Zinc Deficiency

Zinc (Zn) is an important trace element in the human body and plays an important role in growth, development, and male reproductive functions. Marginal zinc deficiency (MZD) is common in the human population and can cause spermatogenic dysfunction in males. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate methods to improve spermatogenic dysfunction caused by MZD and to further explore its mechanism of action. A total of 75 4-week-old male SPF ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups (control, MZD, MZD + ZnY2, MZD + ZnY4, and MZD + ZnY8, 15 mice per group). The dietary Zn content was 30 mg/kg in the control group and 10 mg/kg in the other groups. From low to high, the Zn supplementation doses administered to the three groups were 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg·bw. After 35 days, the zinc content, sperm quality, activity of spermatogenic enzymes, oxidative stress level, and apoptosis level of the testes in mice were determined. The results showed that MZD decreased the level of Zn in the serum, sperm quality, and activity of spermatogenic enzymes in mice. After Zn supplementation, the Zn level in the serum increased, sperm quality was significantly improved, and spermatogenic enzyme activity was restored. In addition, MZD reduced the content of antioxidants (copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), metallothionein (MT), and glutathione (GSH) and promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) production. The apoptosis index of the testis also increased significantly in the MZD group. After Zn supplementation, the level of oxidative stress decreased, and the apoptosis index in the testis was reduced. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) mRNA and Bcl-2/BCL2-associated X (Bax) in the control group decreased in testicular cells, and their expression was restored after Zn supplementation. The results of this study indicated that Zn supplementation can reduce the level of oxidative stress and increase the ability of testicular cells to resist apoptosis, thereby improving spermatogenic dysfunction caused by MZD in mice.

Tea polyphenols alleviate TBBPA-induced inflammation, ferroptosis and apoptosis via TLR4/NF-κB pathway in carp gills

The extensive application of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) leads to the pollution of part of the water environment and brings great safety risks to aquatic animals. As a natural extract, tea polyphenols (TPs) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Gills are one of the immune organs of fish and constitute the first line of defense of the immune system. However, it was unclear whether TPs could mitigate TBBPA-induced gills injury. Therefore, an animal model was established to investigate the effect of TPs on TBBPA-induced gills. The results indicated that TBBPA changed the coefficient and tissue morphology of carp gills. In addition, TBBPA induced oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to ferroptosis and apoptosis in carp gills. Dietary addition of TPs significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of carp, effectively inhibited the overexpression of TLR4/NF-κB and its mediated inflammatory response. Moreover, TPs restored iron metabolism, reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic factors thereby alleviating ferroptosis and apoptosis in carp gills. This study enriched the protective effect of TPs and provided a new way to improve the innate immunity of carp.

TAN (tannic acid) inhibits BPA-induced pyroptosis of L8824 (grass carp hepatocytes) by regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues are still one of the most important substances that pollute aquatic systems and pose a threat to aquatic organisms. Tannic acid (TAN) is a kind of glycosyl compound, which has the functions of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis. However, it is unknown if BPA can regulate PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway to induce pyroptosis of grass carp hepatocytes (L8824) and the antagonistic effect of tannic acid (TAN) through oxidative stress. Therefore, we established the grass carp hepatocytes (L8824) cell model treated with BPA. The oxidative stress indexes (SOD, CAT, GSH, H2O2 and T-AOC) were detected by oxidative stress kit, mRNA and protein expression of associated genes were examined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. The results showed that BPA treatment increased the content of hydrogen peroxide and decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH, and T-AOC) in L8824 cells. We also found that PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway was activated dramatically and the expression of pyroptosis-related genes (GSDMD, NLRP3, Caspase1, ASC and IL-1β) was increased significantly. In addition, TAN could significantly reduce the toxicity of BPA on L8824 cells. After the addition of PTEN specific inhibitor SF1670, the activation of PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway decreased by BPA was inhibited and the expression of scorch related genes was decreased. On the whole, TAN inhibits BPA-induced pyroptosis of L8824 by modulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. The present study provides a novel perspective for toxicological mechanism of BPA, and new insights into the detoxification mechanism of TAN.

Selenium Deficiency Causes Iron Death and Inflammatory Injury Through Oxidative Stress in the Mice Gastric Mucosa

Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for the maintenance of normal physiological functions in living organisms. Oxidative stress is a state in which there is an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant effects in the body. A deficiency of Se can make the body more inclined to oxidation, which can induce related diseases. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the mechanisms by which Se deficiency affects the digestive system through oxidation. The results showed that Se deficiency treatment led to a decrease in the levels of GPX4 and antioxidant enzymes and an increase in the levels of ROS, MDA, and lipid peroxide (LPO) in the gastric mucosa. Oxidative stress was activated. Triple stimulation of ROS, Fe2+, and LPO induced iron death. The TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was activated, inducing an inflammatory response. The expression of the BCL family and caspase family genes was increased, leading to apoptotic cell death. Meanwhile, the RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway was activated, leading to cell necrosis. Taken together, Se deficiency can induce iron death through oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the production of large amounts of ROS activated the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to apoptosis and necrosis of the gastric mucosa.

Selenium yeast improve growth, serum biochemical indices, metabolic ability, antioxidant capacity and immunity in black carp Mylopharyngodnpiceus

This experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of dietary selenium yeast (SeY) on the growth performance, fish body composition, metabolic ability, antioxidant capability, immunity and inflammatory responses in juvenile black carp (Mylopharyngodn piceus). The base diet was supplemented with 0.00, 0.30 and 0.60 g/kg SeY (0.04, 0.59 and 1.15 mg/kg of selenium) to form three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets for juvenile black carp with a 60-day. Adequate dietary SeY (0.30 and 0.60 g/kg) could significantly increase the weight gain (WG), special growth rate (SGR) compared to the SeY deficient groups (0.00 g/kg) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, 0.30 and 0.60 g/kg SeY elevated the mRNA levels of selenoprotein T2 (SEPT2), selenoprotein H (SEPH), selenoprotein S (SEPS) and selenoprotein M (SEPM) in the liver and intestine compared with the SeY deficient groups (P < 0.05). Adequate dietary SeY could promote glucose catabolism and utilization through activating glucose transport (GLUT2), glycolysis (GCK, HK, PFK, PK, PDH), tricarboxylic acid cycle (ICDH and MDH), glycogen synthesis (LG, GCS and GBE) and IRS/PI3K/AKT signal pathway molecules (IRS2b, PI3Kc and AKT1) compared with the SeY deficient groups (P < 0.05). Similarly, adequate dietary SeY could improve lipid transport and triglycerides (TG) synthesis through increasing transcription amounts of CD36, GK, DGAT, ACC and FAS in the fish liver compared with the SeY deficient groups (P < 0.05). In addition, adequate SeY could markedly elevate activities of antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD, CAT, GR, GPX) and contents of T-AOC and GSH, while increased transcription amounts of Nrf2, Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, and GPX in fish liver and intestine (P < 0.05). However, adequate SeY notably decreased contents of MDA, and the mRNA transcription levels of Keap1 in the intestine compared with the SeY deficient groups (P < 0.05). Adequate SeY markedly increased amounts or levels of the immune factors (ALP, ACP, LZM, C3, C4 and IgM) and the transcription levels of innate immune-related functional genes in the liver and intestine (LZM, C3 and C9) compared to the SeY deficient groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, adequate SeY could notably reduce levels of IL-8, IL-1β, and IFN-γ and elevate TGF-1β levels in fish intestine (P < 0.05). The transcription levels of MAPK13, MAPK14 and NF-κB p65 were notably reduced in fish intestine treated with 0.30 and 0.60 g/kg SeY (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggested that 0.30 and 0.60 g/kg SeY could not only improve growth performance, increase Se, glucose and lipid metabolic abilities, enhance antioxidant capabilities and immune responses, but also alleviate inflammation, thereby supplying useful reference for producing artificial feeds in black carp.

Astilbin antagonizes developmental cardiotoxicity after cadmium exposure in chicken embryos by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and maintaining calcium homeostasis

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal with high toxicity that is known to impair development. Astilbin (ASB) is a protective flavonoid compound. We aimed to explore whether ASB can antagonize the myocardial developmental toxicity of Cd exposure. Cd (2 µg) and/or ASB (0.002 µg) were injected into embryonized eggs that were 1 day old. Histological examinations revealed Cd-induced ventricular dilation, reduced wall thickness, and disrupted myocardial fiber connections, while co-administration of ASB mitigated these effects. Electron microscopy confirmed ASB's ability to counteract Cd-induced myocardial cell myofibril damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) molecular investigations revealed that Cd increased endoplasmic reticulum stress in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes, as shown by raised expression of stress-related genes (GRP78, XBP1, GRP94, ATF4, ATF6, IRE1, and CHOP). Moreover, Cd disrupted calcium homeostasis, affecting important genes linked to Ca2+ channels and causing an excess of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm. In addition, we detected genes related to development and differentiation-related genes in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes. The results showed that the downregulation of transcription factors in the IrxA cluster, Mefs, and Tbxs families after Cd exposure indicated that cardiac transcription was hindered and cardiac markers (TnnT2, TnnC1, Gata4, Gata6, and Nkx2-5) were abnormally expressed. ASB successfully mitigated these disturbances. During the cell cycle, primary cardiomyocytes undergo growth arrest in flow cytometry. These results suggest that the maturation and differentiation of cardiomyocytes are inhibited after Cd exposure, and ASB has an antagonistic effect on Cd. The present study indicated that Cd could trigger developmental cardiotoxicity in chicken embryos and primary cardiomyocytes by endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ca2+ overload, respectively, while ASB has an antagonistic effect.

A new insight into fluoride induces cardiotoxicity in chickens: Involving the regulation of PERK/IRE1/ATF6 pathway and heat shock proteins

Fluorosis poses a significant threat to human and animal health and is an urgent public safety concern in various countries. Subchronic exposure to fluoride has the potential to result in pathological damage to the heart, but its potential mechanism requires further investigation. This study investigated the effects of long-term exposure to sodium fluoride (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) on the hearts of chickens were investigated. The results showed that an elevated exposure dose of sodium fluoride led to congested cardiac tissue and disrupted myofiber organisation. Sodium fluoride exposure activated the ERS pathways of PERK, IRE1, and ATF6, increasing HSP60 and HSP70 and decreasing HSP90. The NF-κB pathway and the activation of TNF-α and iNOS elicited an inflammatory response. BAX, cytc, and cleaved-caspase3 were increased, triggering apoptosis and leading to cardiac injury. The abnormal expression of HSP90 and HSP70 affected the stability and function of RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, which are crucial necroptosis markers. HSPs inhibited TNF-α-mediated necroptosis and apoptosis of the death receptor pathway. Sodium fluoride resulted in heart injury in chickens because of the ERS and variations in HSPs, inducing inflammation and apoptosis. Cardiac-adapted HSPs impeded the activation of necroptosis. This paper may provide a reference for examining the potential cardiotoxic effects of sodium fluoride.

Porcine β-defensin-2 alleviates aflatoxin B1 induced intestinal mucosal damage via ROS-Erk1/2 signaling pathway

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic fungal toxin that causes severe damage to animal intestines. Porcine beta-defensin-2 (pBD-2) is a well-studied antimicrobial peptide in pigs that can protect animal intestines and improve productivity. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of pBD-2 in alleviating AFB1-induced oxidative stress and intestinal mucosal damage using porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2 cells) and Kunming (KM) mice. The maximum destructive concentration of AFB1 for IPEC-J2 cells and the optimal therapeutic concentration of pBD-2 were determined by CCK-8 and RT-qPCR. We then investigated the oxidative stress and intestinal damage induced by AFB1 and the alleviating effect of pBD-2 by detecting changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins (TJPs) and mucin. Finally, the molecular mechanism of pBD-2 mitigates AFB1-induced oxidative stress and intestinal mucosal damage were explored by adding ROS and Erk1/2 pathway inhibitors to comparative analysis. In vivo, the therapeutic effect of pBD-2 on AFB1-induced intestinal damage was analyzed from aspects such as average daily gain (ADG), pathological damage, inflammation, and mucosal barrier in KM mice. The study found that low doses of pBD-2 promoted cell proliferation and prevented AFB1-induced cell death, and pBD-2 significantly restored the feed conversion rate and ADG of KM mice reduced by long-term exposed AFB1. Increasing the intracellular ROS and the expression and phosphorylation of Erk1/2, AFB1 promoted inflammation by altering inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, and disrupted the mucosal barrier by interfering with Claudin-3, Occludin, and MUC2, while pBD-2 significantly reduced ROS and decreased the expression and phosphorylation of Erk1/2 to restored their expression to alleviate AFB1-induced oxidative stress and intestinal mucosal damage in IPEC-J2 cells and the small intestine of mice.

Polyethylene microplastics cause apoptosis via the MiR-132/CAPN axis and inflammation in carp ovarian

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed pollutants in the environment and accumulate in the aquatic environment due to human activities. Carp, a common edible aquatic organism, has been found to accumulate MPs in body. MicroRNA (miRNAs) is a non-coding short RNA that regulates protein expression by binding to target genes in various physiological processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The ovary is a crucial role in carp reproduction. In this study, we established a model of carp exposed to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the aquatic environment to investigate the specific mechanism of PE-MPs causing ovarian injury and the involvement of miR-132/calpain (CAPN) axis. H&E stained sections revealed that PE-PMs induced inflammation in ovarian tissues and impaired oocyte development. TUNEL analysis showed an increased rate of apoptosis in ovarian cells treated with PE-PMs. RT-PCR and Western Blot assays confirmed that exposure to PE-MPs significantly decreased miR-132 expression while increasing CAPN expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The concentration of calcium ions was significantly increased in tissues, leading to CAPN enzyme activity increase. The expression of mitochondrial damage-related genes (bax, AIF, cyt-c, caspase-7, caspase-9, and caspase-3) was higher while the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (bcl-2 and bcl-xl) was lower. Protein levels of bax, AIF, caspase-3, bcl-2 and bcl-xl changed accordingly with the genetic alterations. Additionally, we discovered that PE-MPs can activate the p65 factor through the TRAF6/NF-kB pathway resulting in elevated production of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-a which contribute to ovarian inflammation development. This study investigates the impact of PE-MPs on carp ovarian function and provides insights into miRNAs' role and their target genes.

Trimethyltin chloride exposure induces apoptosis and necrosis and impairs islet function through autophagic interference

Trimethyltin chloride (TMT) is a highly toxic organotin compound often used in plastic heat stabilizers, chemical pesticides, and wood preservatives. TMT accumulates mainly through the environment and food chain. Exposure to organotin compounds is associated with disorders of glucolipid metabolism and obesity. The mechanism by which TMT damages pancreatic tissue is unclear. For this purpose, a subacute exposure model of TMT was designed for this experiment to study the mechanism of damage by TMT on islet. The fasting blood glucose and blood lipid content of mice exposed to TMT were significantly increased. Histopathological and ultrastructural observation and analysis showed that the TMT-exposed group had inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis. Then, mouse pancreatic islet tumour cells (MIN-6) were treated with TMT. Autophagy levels were detected by fluorescence microscopy. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used for verification. A large amount of autophagy occurred at a low concentration of TMT but stagnated at a high concentration. Excessive autophagy activates apoptosis when exposed to low levels of TMT. With the increase in TMT concentration, the expression of necrosis-related genes increased. Taken together, different concentrations of TMT induced apoptosis and necrosis through autophagy disturbance. TMT impairs pancreatic (islet β cell) function.

New insights into Microalgal astaxanthin's effect on Lambda-cyhalothrin-induced lymphocytes immunotoxicity in Cyprinus carpio: Involving miRNA-194-5p-FoxO1-mediated-mitophagy and pyroptosis

Lambda-cyhalothrin (LC), a pyrethroid insecticide widely used in agriculture, causes immunotoxicity to aquatic organisms in the aquatic environment. Microalgal astaxanthin (MA) is a natural carotenoid that enhances viability of a variety of fish. To investigate the immunotoxicity of LC and the improvement effect of MA in lymphocytes (Cyprinus carpio), lymphocytes were treated with LC (80 M) and/or MA (50 M) for 24 h. Firstly, CCK8 combined with PI staining results showed that MA significantly attenuated the LC-induced lymphocyte death rate. Secondly, LC exposure resulted in excessively damaged mitochondrial and mtROS, diminished mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content, which could be improved by MA. Thirdly, MA upregulated the levels of mitophagy-related regulatory factors (Beclin1, LC3, ATG5, Tom20 and Lamp2) induced by LC. Importantly, MA decreased the levels of pyroptosis-related genes treated with LC, including NLRP3, Cas-4, GSDMD and active Cas-1. Further study indicated that LC treatment caused excessive miRNA-194-5p and reduced levels of FoxO1, PINK1 and Parkin, which was inhibited by MA treatment. Overall, we concluded that MA could enhance damaged mitochondrial elimination by promoting the miRNA-194-5p-FoxO1-PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy in lymphocytes, which reduced mtROS accumulation and alleviated pyroptosis. It offers insights into the importance of MA application in aquaculture as well as the defense of farmed fish against agrobiological hazards in fish under LC.

Microplastics induced inflammation and apoptosis via ferroptosis and the NF-κB pathway in carp

Microplastics (MPs), a new class of pollutant that threatens aquatic biodiversity, are becoming increasingly prevalent around the world. Fish growth may be severely inhibited by microplastics, resulting in severe mortality. Exposure to microplastics increases the likelihood of intestinal injuries, but the underlying mechanisms remain equivocal. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential toxic mechanisms underlying microplastic-induced intestinal injury in fish and to assist researchers in identifying novel therapeutic targets. In this study, a model of carp exposed to microplastics was established successfully. Histological observation showed that exposure to polyethylene microplastics caused damage to the intestinal mucosal surface and a significant increase in goblet cells, which aggregated on the surface of the mucosa. The mucosal layer was observed to fall off. Lymphocytes in the intestinal wall proliferated and aggregated. TUNEL staining showed that apoptosis occurred in the group exposed to microplastics. The qPCR results showed that the expression of Ferroptosis apoptotic factors COX-2 and ACSL4 was upregulated, while the expression of TFRC, FIH1, SLC7A11, and GPX4 was downregulated. The NF-κB pathway (p-p65, IκBα), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6) and apoptosis genes (Bax, Caspase3) were upregulated. Semi-quantitative detection of related proteins by Western blotting was consistent with the gene expression results. In addition, the ELISA assay showed that lipid peroxidation and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) were increased in the microplastic exposed group. To conclude, lipid peroxidation induced by microplastics activates the NF-κB pathway and causes ferroptosis, ultimately resulting in intestinal damage and cellular apoptosis.

Rosmarinic acid alleviates intestinal inflammatory damage and inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress and smooth muscle contraction abnormalities in intestinal tissues by regulating gut microbiota

The host-bacterial interactions play the key role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora can lead to pathological changes in the intestine. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural phenolic acid compound with antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-bacterial activities that has a palliative effect on acute IBD. We have established an in vivo model for mice. Histological staining was performed to directly observe RA alterations in the intestinal tract. The alteration of RA on mouse intestinal flora was observed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and the effect of RA on intestinal mechanism of action was detected by qPCR and western blot. The results showed that RA had a significant protective effect on the intestine. RA upregulated the abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii and Candidatus Arthromitus sp SFB-mouse-NL and downregulated the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Escherichia coli, and Romboutsia ilealis. RA downregulated the expressions of ROCK, RhoA, CaM, MLC, MLCK, ZEB1, ZO-1, ZO-2, occludin, E-cadherin, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, GRP78, PERK, IRE1, ATF6, CHOP, Caspase12, Caspase9, Caspase3, Bax, Cytc, RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, and upregulated the expression of IL-10 and Bcl-2. These results displayed that RA inhibited the inflammation, which is caused by tight junction damage, by repairing intestinal flora dysbiosis, relieved endoplasmic reticulum stress, inhibited cell death, and corrected smooth muscle contractile dysregulation. The results of this study revealed RA could have a protective effect on the small intestine of mice by regulating intestinal flora. IMPORTANCE Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, remitting disorder of the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of rosmarinic acid on the intestinal tract. The results showed that RA was effective in reducing inflammatory damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, smooth muscle contraction abnormalities, and regulating intestinal flora disorders.

TBBPA causes inflammation and cell death via the ROS/NF-κB pathway in the gastric mucosa

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a common brominated flame retardant that has a wide range of toxic effects on organisms. However, the mechanism of the toxic effects of TBBPA on the digestive system has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of TBBPA toxicity on the gastric mucosa. In this study, TBBPA (mixed with corn oil) was administered by gavage at doses of 0 mg/kg (CG), 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. The results showed that the levels of ROS, MDA and LPO were increased, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were decreased. Large amounts of ROS activated the NF-κB pathway, leading to the development of an inflammatory response. The expression of BCL family and Caspase (Cas) family genes was increased, inducing apoptosis. The RIP3/MLKL pathway was activated, leading to cell necrosis. In summary, TBBPA can cause damage to the gastric mucosa through oxidative stress, leading to increased ROS activation of the NF-κB pathway. Treatment with the antioxidant NAC alleviated the damage to the gastric mucosa caused by TBBPA.

Case report: Birk-Landau-Perez syndrome linked to the gene-identification of additional cases and expansion of the phenotypic spectrum

Birk-Landau-Perez syndrome (BILAPES) is an autosomal recessive cerebro-renal syndrome associated with genetic defects in the SLC30A9 gene, initially reported in 2017 in six individuals belonging to a large Bedouin kindred. The SLC30A9 gene encodes a putative mitochondrial zinc transporter with ubiquitous expression, the highest found in the brain, kidney, and skeletal muscle. Since the first report, only one additional affected patient has been described, but there were some inconsistencies, such as hearing loss, failure to thrive, and neuroimaging findings between the clinical presentation of the disease in the Bedouin family and the second patient. Here, we present two more patients from a consanguineous Middle Eastern family with features of chronic kidney disease, neurodevelopmental regression, ataxia, hearing loss, and eye abnormalities, which were largely consistent with BILAPES. Whole-exome sequencing detected a homozygous in-frame deletion c.1049_1051delCAG (p.Ala350del) in the SLC30A9 gene, which was the same variant detected in the patients from the primary literature report and the variant segregated with disease in the family. However, in the patients described here, brain MRI showed cerebellar atrophy, which was not a cardinal feature of the syndrome from the primary report. Our findings provide further evidence for SLC30A9-associated BILAPES and contribute to defining the clinical spectrum.

Zinc depletion induces JNK/p38 phosphorylation and suppresses Akt/mTOR expression in acute promyelocytic NB4 cells

BACKGROUND

Myeloid leukemia is associated with reduced serum zinc and increased intracellular zinc. Our previous studies found that zinc depletion by TPEN induced apoptosis with PML-RARα oncoprotein degradation in acute promyelocytic NB4 cells. The effect of zinc homeostasis on intracellular signaling pathways in myeloid leukemia cells remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined how zinc homeostasis affected MAPK and Akt/mTOR pathways in NB4 cells.

METHODS

We used western blotting to detect the activation of p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2, and Akt/mTOR pathways in NB4 cells stimulated with the zinc chelator TPEN. Whether the effects of TPEN on these pathways could be reversed by zinc or the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was further explored by western blotting. We used Zinpyr-1 staining to assess the role of SNP on labile zinc levels in NB4 cells treated with TPEN. In additional, we evaluated expressional correlations between the zinc-binding protein Metallothionein-2A (MT2A) and genes related to MAPKs and Akt/mTOR pathways in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on the TCGA database.

RESULTS

Zinc depletion by TPEN activated p38 and JNK phosphorylation in NB4 cells, whereas ERK1/2 phosphorylation was increased first and then decreased. The protein expression levels of Akt and mTOR were downregulated by TPEN. The nitric oxide donor SNP promotes zinc release in NB4 cells under zinc depletion conditions. We further found that the effects of zinc depletion on MAPK and Akt/mTOR pathways in NB4 cells can be reversed by exogenous zinc supplementation or treatment with the nitric oxide donor SNP. By bioinformatics analyses based on the TCGA database, we demonstrated that MT2A expression was negatively correlated with the expression of JNK, and was positively correlated with the expression of ERK1 and Akt in AML.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that zinc plays a critical role in leukemia cells and help understanding how zinc depletion induces apoptosis.

Zinc deficiency causes oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and inflammation in hepatocytes in grass carp

A lack of the trace element zinc (Zn) in freshwater environments causes slow growth and malnutrition and affects the normal biological functions of organisms. In this study, a Zn deficiency model of grass carp hepatocytes was established with TPEN. Acetylcysteine (NAC) was used as an inhibitor. TPEN was added to L8824 cell culture medium, and LDH, AST, ALT, and AKP activities were enhanced in a Zn-deficient environment, leading to abnormal hepatopancreas function. Fluorescence microscopy showed an increase in ROS levels, and antioxidant enzyme activity assays revealed that SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, and T-AOC activities were decreased, indicating oxidative stress caused by Zn deficiency. The RT‒PCR results showed that the mRNA expression of GRP78, PERK, EIF2α, ATF4, and Chop was increased due to the addition of TPEN. Calcium kits showed increased Ca²⁺ levels. The RT‒PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-12, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and PARP apoptotic were increased due to the addition of TPEN. RT‒PCR and ELISA showed that the expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased. This led to the conclusion that Zn deficiency in the freshwater environment caused inflammation and apoptosis in hepatocytes in grass carp. For the first time, apoptosis caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress in grass carp hepatocytes due to Zn deficiency was studied in the context of Ca²⁺. The present study provided some insight into the adverse effects of Zn deficiency in freshwater environments on fish.

Selenium deficiency induced inflammation and apoptosis via NF-κB and MAPKs pathways in muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Selenium (Se), one of the essential trace elements of fish, regulates immune system function and maintains immune homeostasis. Muscle is the important tissue that generate movement and maintain posture. At present, there are few studies on the effects of Se deficiency on carp muscle. In this experiment, carps were fed with dietary with different Se content to successfully establish a Se deficiency model. Low-Se dietary led to the decrease of Se content in muscle. Histological analysis showed that Se deficiency resulted in muscle fiber fragmentation, dissolution, disarrangement and increased myocyte apoptosis. Transcriptome revealed a total of 367 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, including 213 up-regulated DEGs and 154 down-regulated DEGs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DEGs were concentrated in oxidation-reduction process, inflammation and apoptosis, and were related to NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. Further exploration of the mechanism showed that Se deficiency led to excessive accumulation of ROS, decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and also resulted in increased expression of the NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. In addition, Se deficiency significantly increased the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the pro-apoptotic factors BAX, p53, caspase-7 and caspase-3, while decreased the expressions of anti-apoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. In conclusion, Se deficiency reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and led to excessive accumulation of ROS, which caused oxidative stress and affected the immune function of carp, leading to muscle inflammation and apoptosis.

Selenium Deficiency Promotes the Expression of LncRNA-MORC3, Activating NLRP3-Caspase-1/IL-1β Signaling to Induce Inflammatory Damage and Disrupt Tight Junctions in Piglets

Selenium (Se), as a trace element, is widely found in animals in the form of selenomethionine, which can provide nutrition to the body and has anti-inflammatory effects to prevent inflammatory damage in animals. In the past decade, there have been many studies on piglet diseases caused by selenium deficiency; however, under Se deficiency, the relationship between LncRNA-MORC3, inflammatory injury, and tight junctions in piglets has not yet been studied. We established piglet selenium deficiency models divided into three groups and obtained small intestinal tissues after 35 days of feeding. Small intestinal epithelial IPEC-J2 cells were divided into three groups, and samples were collected after 24 h of culture for qPCR and Western blot experiments. First, we found that Se deficiency led to an increase in LncRNA-MORC3 expression in piglets in vivo and in vitro. We found that the binding site of NLRP3 on LncRNA-MORC3 and the expression trends of both were the same: Se deficiency increased the secretion of NLRP3 and the expression levels of the inflammatory factors Caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, which are related to the NLRP3-Caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway. At the same time, Se deficiency decreased the expression levels of the tight junction factors ZO-1, Z0-2, Occludin, E-cadherin, and ZEB-1. This result showed that the tight junctions were disrupted. Herein, we demonstrated that Se deficiency promotes the expression of both LncRNA-MORC3 and inflammatory factors in piglets to activate the NLRP3-Caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway and disrupt tight junctions. Ultimately, these factors lead to inflammatory damage in piglet small intestinal tissues.

Selenium Deficiency Leads to Reduced Skeletal Muscle Cell Differentiation by Oxidative Stress in Mice

Selenium (Se) is one of the essential trace elements in animal organisms with good antioxidant and immune-enhancing abilities. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of Se deficiency on skeletal muscle cell differentiation. A selenium-deficient skeletal muscle model was established. The skeletal muscle tissue and blood Se content were significantly reduced in the Se deficiency group. HE staining showed that the skeletal muscle tissue had a reduced myofiber area and nuclei and an increased myofascicular membrane with Se deficiency. The TUNEL test showed massive apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells in Se deficiency. With Se deficiency, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were inhibited. In in vitro experiments, microscopic observations showed that the low-Se group had reduced C2C12 cell fusion and a reduced number of differentiated myotubes. In addition, qPCR results showed that differentiation genes (Myog, Myod, Myh2, Myh3, and Myf5) were significantly reduced in the low Se group. Meanwhile, Western blot analysis showed that the levels of differentiation proteins (Myog, Myod, and Myhc) were significantly reduced in the low-Se group. This finding indicates that Se deficiency reduces the expression of skeletal muscle cell differentiation factors. All the above data suggest that Se deficiency can lead to oxidative stress in skeletal muscle, resulting in a reduction in the differentiation capacity of muscle cells.

Polystyrene microplastics induce myocardial inflammation and cell death via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in carp

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention as an emerging environmental pollutant. Especially in aquatic ecosystems, the harm of MPs to aquatic animals has increasingly become a severe environmental problem. In this study, we constructed a carp polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) exposure model to explore the damage and mechanism of PS-MPs exposure to carp myocardial tissue. The results of H&E, TUNEL, and AO/EB staining showed that PS-MPs exposure could induce inflammation, apoptosis, and necrosis in carp myocardial tissue and cardiomyocytes. In addition, our study explored the targeting relationship between PS-MPs and TLR4 and found that PS-MPs exposure could significantly increase the expression of TLR4 pathway-related factors. As the concentration of PS-MPs increased, the NF-κB pathway and inflammation-related factors increased dose-dependent. In addition, myocardial injury induced by exposure to PS-MPs was predominantly apoptotic, accompanied by necrosis. In short, our data suggest that PS-MPs cause damage to myocardial tissue via the TLR4\NF-κB pathway. The above findings enrich the theory of toxicological studies on PS-MPs and provide an essential reference for aquaculture.

Selenium Deficiency Caused Fibrosis as an Oxidative Stress-induced Inflammatory Injury in the Lungs of Mice

Selenium (Se) is a vital trace element in the regulation of inflammation and antioxidant reactions in both animals and humans. Se deficiency is rapidly affecting lung function. The present study investigated the molecular mechanism of Se deficiency aggravates reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced inflammation, leading to fibrosis in lung. Mice fed with different concentrations of Se to establish the model. In the Se-deficient group, the ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and catalase (CAT) reduced. The histopathological observation showed that Se deficiency lead to lung texture damage with varying degrees of degeneration, necrosis, shedding of some alveolar epithelial cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) increased. The fibrosis index was verified with Sirius red staining. The ELISA and qPCR results showed that the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and ECM (collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, and laminin) were increased with ROS increasing, which was induced by Se deficiency. The results displayed that oxidative stress with Se deficiency led to an increase in tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), but a decrease in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). All the results indicated that Se deficiency induced excessive ROS accumulation to generate inflammation, which disrupted ECM homeostasis and aggravated fibrosis in the lung.

The role of selenoprotein M in nickel-induced pyroptosis in mice spleen tissue via oxidative stress

Nickel (Ni) is a heavy metal element and a pollutant that threatens the organism's health. Melatonin (Mel) is an antioxidant substance that can be secreted by the organism and has a protective effect against heavy metals. Selenoprotein M (SelM) is a selenoprotein widely distributed of the body, and its role is to protect these tissues from oxidative damage. To study the mechanism of Ni, Mel, and SelM in mouse spleen, 80 SelM^+/+ wild-type and 80 SelM^-/- homozygous mice were divided into 8 groups with 20 mice in each group. The Ni group was intragastric at a concentration of 10 mg/kg, while the Mel group was intragastric at 2 mg/kg. Mice were injected with 0.1 mL/10 g body weight for 21 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural observations showed the changes in Ni, such as the destruction of white and red pulp and the appearance of pyroptosomes. SelM knockout showed more severe injury, while Mel could effectively interfere with Ni-induced spleen toxicity. The results of antioxidant capacity determination showed that Ni could cause oxidative stress in the spleen, and Mel could also effectively reduce oxidative stress. Finally, Ni exposure increased the expression levels of the pyroptotic genes, including apoptosis-associated speck protein (ASC), absent in melanoma-2 (AIM2), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, interleukin- (IL-) 18, and IL-1β (p < 0.05). Loss of SelM significantly increased these (p < 0.05), while Mel decreased the alleviated impact of Ni. In conclusion, the loss of SelM aggravated Ni-induced pyroptosis of the spleen via activating oxidative stress, which was alleviated by Mel, but the effect of Mel was not obvious in the absence of SelM, which reflected the important role of SelM in Ni-induced pyroptosis.

Polyethylene microplastics trigger cell apoptosis and inflammation via inducing oxidative stress and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in carp gills

Microplastics cause varying degrees of damage to aquatic organisms. Exposure to microplastics contaminated water, the gills are among the first tissues, after the skin, to be affected by microplastics. As an essential immune organ, prolonged stimulation by microplastics disrupts immune function not only in the gills but throughout the body, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. A model of gill injury from exposure to polyethylene (PE) microplastics was developed in this study. H&E staining revealed that polyethylene microplastics caused gill inflammation, vascular remodeling, and mucous cell proliferation. An increase in collagen indicates severe tissue damage. Additional analysis showed that polyethylene microplastics profoundly exacerbated oxidative stress in the gills. TUNEL assay demonstrated cell apoptosis induced by polyethylene microplastic. The mRNA levels were subsequently quantified using RT-PCR. The results showed that polyethylene microplastics increased the expression of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway (NF-κB p65, IKKα, IKKβ) and apoptosis biomarkers (p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax). Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, which is an influential component of innate immunity, were overactive. What's more, the pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β) that induce immune disorder also increased significantly, while the anti-inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-10) decreased significantly. These results suggested that oxidative stress acted as an activation signal of apoptosis triggered by the NF-κB pathway and activating the NLRP3 inflammasome to promote inflammatory immune responses. The present study provided a different target for the prevention of toxin-induced gill injury under polyethylene microplastics.

Berberine Depresses Inflammation and Adjusts Smooth Muscle to Ameliorate Ulcerative Colitis of Cats by Regulating Gut Microbiota

Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is a well established characteristic of ulcerative colitis (UC). Regulating the gut microbiota is an effective UC treatment strategy. Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid extracted from several Chinese herbs, is a common traditional Chinese medicine. To establish the efficacy and mechanism of action of BBR, we constructed a UC model using healthy adult shorthair cats to conduct a systematic study of colonic tissue pathology, inflammatory factor expression, and gut microbiota structure. We investigated the therapeutic capacity of BBR for regulating the gut microbiota and thus work against UC in cats using 16S rRNA genes amplicon sequencing technology. Our results revealed that dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced cat models of UC showed weight loss, diarrhea accompanied by mucous and blood, histological abnormalities, and shortening of the colon, all of which were significantly alleviated by supplementation with BBR. A 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis demonstrated that BBR could significantly benefit gut microbiota. Western blot, quantitative PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) showed that in DSS-induced cat models, the expression of the inflammatory factors was increased, activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, and treatment with BBR reversed this effect. The myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in the smooth muscle of the intestines is associated with motility of inflammation-related diarrhea in cats. This study used gut flora analyses to demonstrate the anti-UC effects of BBR and its potential therapeutic mechanisms and offers novel insights into the prevention of inflammatory diseases using natural products. IMPORTANCE Ulcerative colitis (UC) is common in clinics. Intestinal microbiota disorder is correlated with ulcerative colitis. Although there are many studies on ulcerative colitis in rats, there are few studies on colitis in cats. Therefore, this study explored the possibility of the use of BBR as a safe and efficient treatment for colitis in cats. The results demonstrated the therapeutic effects of BBR on UC based on the state of the intestinal flora. The study found BBR supplementation to be effective against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, smooth muscle damage, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Trimethyltin induces apoptosis and necroptosis of mouse liver by oxidative stress through YAP phosphorylation

Trimethyltin (TMT) is widely used as a major component of plastic stabilizers in agriculture and industry, and can accumulate in large quantities in the liver. To investigate the relationship between liver tissue damage induced by TMT exposure and YAP phosphorylation in mice, we gave the mice drinking water containing 0.01 mg/mL TMT for 14 days to establish an in vivo experimental model, and continuously treated AML12 cells with 20 μM TMT for 24 h to establish an in vitro experimental model. Transcriptomics revealed that TMT exposure altered 62,466 apparently diversely expressed genes, including 1197 upregulated and 899 downregulated genes, and that enrichment of the Hippo pathway occurred. Moreover, western blotting (WB) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRTPCR) results showed that TMT exposure triggered an increase in the expression of P-YAP, apoptosis and necroptosis-interrelated genes, and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression in mouse livers tissues and AML12 cells. The expression of P-YAP was significantly suppressed in the TRULI-treated TMT-exposed AML12 cells, while oxidative stress levels and damage were also significantly attenuated. In conclusion, TMT triggers YAP phosphorylation to induce oxidative stress inducing apoptosis and necroptosis in mouse livers tissues. Our results confirm the liver toxic effect and specific mechanism of TMT.

Tea Polyphenols Protect the Mammary Gland of Dairy Cows by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Regulating the TGF-β1/p38/JNK Pathway

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are the main active substances in tea and they have many beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-cancer and metabolic regulation effects. The quality of milk is affected by mammary gland diseases and there are substantial economic losses resulting from reduced milk production as a consequence of inflammatory injury of the mammary gland. In this study, transcriptome analysis and molecular biology techniques were used to study the effects of TPs on inflammatory injury of the mammary gland. After intervention with TPs, a total of 2085 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 1189 up-regulated genes and 896 down-regulated genes. GO analysis showed that differentially expressed genes played an important role in proton transmembrane transport, oxidation-reduction reactions and inflammatory response. KEGG enrichment suggested that differential genes were concentrated in the TGF-β pathway and active oxygen metabolism process. Experiments were performed to confirm that TPs increased SOD, CAT, T-AOC and GSH-Px content along with a reduction in MDA. Meanwhile, TPs inhibited the expression of TGF-β1 and reduced the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. The expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased after intervention with TPs. In summary, all the data indicated that TPs protected the mammary gland by enhancing the antioxidant capacity and down-regulating the TGF-β1/p38/JNK pathway.

Supplementation With Zinc Proteinate Increases the Growth Performance by Reducing the Incidence of Diarrhea and Improving the Immune Function of Dairy Calves During the First Month of Life

Two experiments were conducted to identify the optimal dose of zinc proteinate (ZP) in the diet for dairy calves and then to compare early supplementation with the ZP or zinc methionine (ZM) on the growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, antioxidant status, and immune function of dairy calves during their first month of life. In Experiment 1, forty newborn female Holstein dairy calves were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): a control group (without ZP supplementation, ZP0) or groups that received ZP supplementation at 40, 80, and 120 mg zinc/day, respectively (ZP40, ZP80, and ZP120). The experiment lasted 14 days, and the growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, and serum zinc concentration were analyzed. In Experiment 2, thirty-six newborn female Holstein dairy calves were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 12): a negative control group (without zinc supplementation, CON), a positive control group (supplemented with 80 mg zinc/day in the form of zinc methionine, ZM), and a ZP group (supplemented with 80 mg zinc/day in the form of ZP). The experiment lasted 28 days, and the growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, serum zinc concentration, serum antioxidant indicators, and concentrations of plasma immunoglobulins and cytokines were determined on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results showed that in Experiment 1, supplementation with ZP to yield 80 mg zinc/day increased the ADG (P &lt; 0.01) and serum zinc concentration (P &lt; 0.01), and decreased the F/G (P &lt; 0.01) and the incidence of diarrhea (P &lt; 0.05) during days 1–14. In Experiment 2, compared with the CON group, ZP increased the ADG (P &lt; 0.01), serum zinc concentration (P &lt; 0.01), and plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG; P &lt; 0.01) and IgM (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations, but reduced the incidence of diarrhea (P &lt; 0.01), serum malondialdehyde (P &lt; 0.01), and plasma interleukin-1β (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations during days 1–28. Overall, ZP supplementation to yield 80 mg zinc/day improves the growth performance and immune function, and decrease the incidence of diarrhea of dairy calves, which was comparable to the same dose of zinc in the form of ZM.