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Li D, Yao H, Cao X, Han X, Song T, Zeng X. Testosterone regulates thymic remodeling by activating glucocorticoid receptor signaling pathway to accelerate thymocyte apoptosis in male rats. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 164:104288. [PMID: 38924811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Thymic atrophy affects T cell generation and migration to the periphery, thereby affecting T cell pool diversity. However, the mechanisms underlying thymic atrophy have not been fully elucidated. Here, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunization and surgical castration did not affect thymocyte proliferation, but significantly reduced the apoptosis and increased the survival rate of CD4-CD8-, CD4+CD8+, CD4+CD8-, and CD4-CD8+ thymocytes. Following testosterone supplementation in rats subjected to GnRH immunization and surgical castration, thymocyte proliferation remained unchange, but the apoptosis of CD4-CD8-, CD4+CD8+, CD4+CD8-, and CD4-CD8+ thymocytes significantly increased. Transcriptome analyses of the thymus after GnRH immunization and surgical castration showed a significant reduction in the thymus's response to corticosterone. Cholesterol metabolism and the synthesis and secretion of corticosterone were significantly reduced. Analysis of the enzyme levels involved in the corticosterone synthesis pathway revealed that corticosterone synthesis in thymocytes was significantly reduced after GnRH immunization and surgical castration, whereas exogenous testosterone supplementation relieved this process. Testosterone promoted thymocyte apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, and induced corticosterone secretion in vitro. Blocking the intracellular androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway did not significantly affect thymocyte apoptosis, but blocking the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling pathway significantly reduced it. Our findings indicate that testosterone regulates thymus remodeling by affecting corticosterone synthesis in thymocytes, which activates GR signal transduction and promotes thymocyte apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, PR China
| | - Huan Yao
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, PR China
| | - Xiaohan Cao
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, PR China
| | - Xingfa Han
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, PR China
| | - Tianzeng Song
- Institute of animal science, Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Science, Lhasa, Xizang 850009, PR China.
| | - Xianyin Zeng
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, PR China.
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Ren J, Wu H, Lu Z, Qin Q, Jiao X, Meng G, Liu W, Li G. pH-driven preparation of pea protein isolate-curcumin nanoparticles effectively enhances antitumor activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 256:128383. [PMID: 38000617 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Soluble pea protein isolate-curcumin nanoparticles were successfully prepared at a novel pH combination, with encapsulation efficiency and drug loading amount of 95.69 ± 1.63 % and 32.73 ± 0.56 μg/mg, respectively, resulting in >4000-fold increase in the water solubility of curcumin. The encapsulation propensity and interaction mechanism of pea protein isolates with curcumin and colchicine were comparatively evaluated by structural characterization, molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking. The results showed that the nanoparticles formed by curcumin and colchicine with pea protein isolates were mainly driven by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, and the binding process did not alter the secondary structure of pea protein. In contrast, pea protein isolate-curcumin nanoparticles exhibited smaller particle size, lower RMSD value, lower binding Gibbs free energy and greater structural stability. Therefore, pea protein isolate is a suitable encapsulation material for hydrophobic compounds. Furthermore, the pea protein isolate-curcumin nanoparticles showed remarkably enhanced antitumor activity, as evidenced by a significant reduction in IC50, and the anti-tumor mechanism of it involved the ROS-induced mitochondria-mediated caspase cascade apoptosis pathway. These findings provide insights into the development of pea protein-based delivery systems and the possibility of a broader application of curcumin in antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ren
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Hanshuo Wu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Zhihao Lu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Qingyu Qin
- Engineering Laboratory for Agro Biomass Recycling & Valorizing, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xinru Jiao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Ganlu Meng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Wenying Liu
- Engineering Laboratory for Agro Biomass Recycling & Valorizing, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Guoming Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein & Functional Peptides, China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, Beijing 100015, China.
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Adorisio S, Muscari I, Fierabracci A, Thi Thuy T, Marchetti MC, Ayroldi E, Delfino DV. Biological effects of bergamot and its potential therapeutic use as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2023; 61:639-646. [PMID: 37067190 PMCID: PMC10114982 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2197010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Context: Bergamot, mainly produced in the Ionian coastal areas of Southern Italy (Calabria), has been used since 1700 for its balsamic and medicinal properties. Phytochemical profiling has confirmed that bergamot juices are rich in flavonoids, including flavone and flavanone glycosides which are responsible for its beneficial effects.Objective: Recently, it was shown that the combination of natural compounds with conventional treatments improves the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Natural compounds with anticancer properties attack cancerous cells without being toxic to healthy cells. Bergamot can induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effects and prevent cell proliferation in various cancer cells.Methods: In this review, the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of bergamot are described. Information was compiled from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the key words 'bergamot' accompanied by 'inflammation' and, 'cancer' for data published from 2015-2021.Results: In vitro and in vivo studies provided evidence that different forms of bergamot (extract, juice, essential oil, and polyphenolic fraction) can affect several mechanisms that lead to anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects that decrease cell growth, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Conclusions: Considering the effects of bergamot and its new formulations, we affirm the importance of its rational use in humans and illustrate how bergamot can be utilized in clinical applications. Numerous studies evaluated the effect of new bergamot formulations that can affect the absorption and, therefore, the final effects by altering the therapeutic profile of bergamot and enhancing the scientific knowledge of bergamot.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabella Muscari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Trinh Thi Thuy
- Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Cau Giay, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Maria Cristina Marchetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Emira Ayroldi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Qian Y, Shi C, Cheng C, Liao D, Liu J, Chen GT. Ginger polysaccharide UGP1 suppressed human colon cancer growth via p53, Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3 pathways and immunomodulation. FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMAN WELLNESS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fshw.2022.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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The Role of GILZ in Lipid Metabolism and Adipocyte Biology. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2022; 163:106668. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2022.106668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Muscari I, Fierabracci A, Adorisio S, Moretti M, Cannarile L, Thi Minh Hong V, Ayroldi E, Delfino DV. Glucocorticoids and natural killer cells: A suppressive relationship. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 198:114930. [PMID: 35149054 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids exert their pharmacological actions by mimicking and amplifying the function of the endogenous glucocorticoid system's canonical physiological stress response. They affect the immune system at the levels of inflammation and adaptive and innate immunity. These effects are the basis for therapeutic use of glucocorticoids. Innate immunity is the body's first line of defense against disease conditions. It is relatively nonspecific and, among its mediators, natural killer(NK) cells link innate and acquired immunity. NK cell numbers are altered in patients with auto immune diseases, and research suggests that interactions between glucocorticoids and natural killer cells arecritical for successful glucocorticoid therapy. The aim of this review is to summarize these interactions while highlighting the latest and most important developments in this field. Production and release in theblood of endogenous glucocorticoids are strictly regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Aself-regulatory mechanism prevents excessive plasma levels of these hormones. However, exogenousstimuli such as stress, inflammation, infections, cancer, and autoimmune disease can trigger thehypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response and lead to excessive systemic release of glucocorticoids.Thus, stress stimuli, such as sleep deprivation, intense exercise, depression, viral infections, andcancer, can result in release of glucocorticoids and associated immunosuppressant effects. Among theseeffects are decreases in the numbers and activities of NK cells in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases(e.g., giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and familial hypogammaglobulinemia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Muscari
- Section of Onco-hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fierabracci
- Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Research Area Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Adorisio
- Foligno Nursing School, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Foligno, PG, Italy
| | - Marina Moretti
- Section of Onco-hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenza Cannarile
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Emira Ayroldi
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Domenico V Delfino
- Foligno Nursing School, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Foligno, PG, Italy; Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
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Ricci E, Roselletti E, Gentili M, Sabbatini S, Perito S, Riccardi C, Migliorati G, Monari C, Ronchetti S. Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper-Mediated TLR2 Downregulation Accounts for Reduced Neutrophil Activity Following Acute DEX Treatment. Cells 2021; 10:2228. [PMID: 34571877 PMCID: PMC8472062 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are the most powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive pharmacological drugs available, despite their adverse effects. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is a glucocorticoid-induced gene that shares several anti-inflammatory properties with glucocorticoids. Although immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids on neutrophils remain poorly understood, we previously demonstrated that GILZ suppresses neutrophil activation under glucocorticoid treatment. Here, we sought to explore the regulation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) on neutrophils and the associated GILZ involvement. Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated from wild type and GILZ-knock-out (KO) mice. TLR2 was found to be downregulated by the in vivo administration of glucocorticoids in wild type but not in GILZ-KO neutrophils, suggesting the involvement of GILZ in TLR2 downregulation. Accordingly, the TLR2-associated anti-fungal activity of neutrophils was reduced by DEX treatment in wild type but not GILZ-KO neutrophils. Furthermore, GILZ did not interact with NF-κB but was found to bind with STAT5, a pivotal factor in the regulation of TLR2 expression. A similar modulation of TLR2 expression, impaired phagocytosis, and killing activity was observed in circulating human neutrophils treated in vitro with DEX. These results demonstrate that glucocorticoids reduce the ability of neutrophils to respond to infections by downregulating TLR2 via GILZ, thereby reducing critical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Ricci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (M.G.); (C.R.); (G.M.)
| | - Elena Roselletti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (S.S.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Marco Gentili
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (M.G.); (C.R.); (G.M.)
| | - Samuele Sabbatini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (S.S.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Stefano Perito
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (S.S.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Carlo Riccardi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (M.G.); (C.R.); (G.M.)
| | - Graziella Migliorati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (M.G.); (C.R.); (G.M.)
| | - Claudia Monari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (S.S.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Simona Ronchetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (M.G.); (C.R.); (G.M.)
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Effects of FOXO1 on the proliferation and cell cycle-, apoptosis- and steroidogenesis-related genes expression in sheep granulosa cells. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 221:106604. [PMID: 32980650 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Forkhead boxO (FOXO) transcription factors regulate diverse biological processes, including cellular metabolism, cell apoptosis, and the cell cycle. Results from several studies indicate FOXO1 regulates different granulosa cell (GC) pathways involved in proliferation, survival and differentiation. Functions and mechanisms of FOXO1 regulation of sheep GCs remain unclear. This study was conducted to analyze the function of FOXO1 in regulation of sheep GCs. In this study, the 1827 bp sheep FOXO1 coding sequence was cloned from sheep GCs. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the FOXO1 protein sequence is highly homologous to FOXO1 protein sequences from other species. The results obtained from using CCK-8 assays indicated sheep GC proliferation increased when there was suppression of FOXO1 gene expression. When there was induced expression of the FOXO1 gene in sheep GCs, there was a resulting increased abundance of P21 and P27 mRNA transcript, whereas suppression of the FOXO1 gene expression had the opposite effect. Furthermore, the relative abundance in vitro of apoptosis-related protein mRNA transcripts (caspase3, caspase8, caspase9, Bax/Bcl-2) was markedly increased or decreased when there was induction or suppression of FOXO1 gene expression, respectively,(P < 0.05). Induction of FOXO1 gene expression resulted in an increase in abundance of steroidogenic protein mRNA transcripts (CYP11A1, 3β-HSD), while suppression of FOXO1 gene expresion resulted in a decrease abundance of the CYP11A1, STAR mRNA transcripts. Results from the present study indicated that FOXO1 inhibited the proliferation of sheep GCs and affected mRNA transcript abundance for proteins involved in regulation of apoptosis, the cell cycle and steroidogenesis.
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