Enhancement of Lipid Metabolism and Hepatic Stability in Fat-Induced Obese Mice by Fermented Cucurbita moschata Extract

Fermented Foods in the Management of Obesity: Mechanisms of Action and Future Challenges

Fermented foods are part of the staple diet in many different countries and populations and contain various probiotic microorganisms and non-digestible prebiotics. Fermentation is the process of breaking down sugars by bacteria and yeast species; it not only enhances food preservation but can also increase the number of beneficial gut bacteria. Regular consumption of fermented foods has been associated with a variety of health benefits (although some health risks also exist), including improved digestion, enhanced immunity, and greater weight loss, suggesting that fermented foods have the potential to help in the design of effective nutritional therapeutic approaches for obesity. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the health effects of fermented foods and the corresponding mechanisms of action in obesity and obesity-related metabolic abnormalities.

Targeting super enhancers for liver disease: a review

Background

Super enhancers (SEs) refer to the ultralong regions of a gene accompanied by multiple transcription factors and cofactors and strongly drive the expression of cell-type-related genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that SEs play crucial roles in regulating gene expression related to cell cycle progression and transcription. Aberrant activation of SEs is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver disease. Liver disease, especially liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), constitutes a major class of diseases that seriously endanger human health. Currently, therapeutic strategies targeting SEs can dramatically prevent disease progression and improve the prognosis of animal models. The associated new approaches to the treatment of related liver disease are relatively new and need systematic elaboration.

Objectives

In this review, we elaborate on the features of SEs and discuss their function in liver disease. Additionally, we review their application prospects in clinical practice in the future. The article would be of interest to hepatologists, molecular biologists, clinicians, and all those concerned with targeted therapy and prognosis of liver disease.

Methodology

We searched three bibliographic databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, PubMed) from 01/1981 to 06/2022 for peer-reviewed scientific publications focused on (1) gene treatment of liver disease; (2) current status of SE research; and (3) targeting SEs for liver disease. We included English language original studies only.

Results

The number of published studies considering the role of enhancers in liver disease is considerable. Since SEs were just defined in 2013, the corresponding data on SEs are scarce: approximately 50 papers found in bibliographic databases on the correlation between enhancers (or SEs) and liver disease. Remarkably, half of these papers were published in the past three years, indicating the growing interest of the scientific community in this issue. Studies have shown that treatments targeting components of SEs can improve outcomes in liver disease in animal and clinical trials.

Conclusions

The treatment of liver disease is facing a bottleneck, and new treatments are needed. Therapeutic regimens targeting SEs have an important role in the treatment of liver disease. However, given the off-target effect of gene therapy and the lack of clinical trials, the available experimental data are still fragmented and controversial.

Korean traditional foods as antiviral and respiratory disease prevention and treatments: A detailed review

BACKGROUND

Korean traditional food (KTF), originated from ancestral agriculture and the nomadic traditions of the Korean peninsula and southern Manchuria, is based on healthy food that balances disease prevention and treatment. Fermented foods that include grains, herbs, fruits, and mushrooms are also an important practice in KTF, providing high levels of Lactobacilli, which confer relevant health benefits, including antiviral properties. Some of these probiotics may also protect against the Influenza virus through the modulation of innate immunity.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

The emerging of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other diseases of viral origin, and the problems associated with other respiratory disorders, highlight how essential is a healthy eating pattern to strengthen our immune system.Key Findings and Conclusions: The present review covers the information available on edible plants, herbs, mushrooms, and preparations used in KTF to outline their multiple medicinal effects (e.g., antidiabetic, chemopreventive, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial), emphasizing their role and effects on the immune system with an emphasis on modulating properties of the gut microbiota that further support strong respiratory immunity. Potential functional foods commonly used in Korean cuisine such as Kimchi (a mixture of fermented vegetables), Meju, Doenjang, Jeotgal, and Mekgeolli and fermented sauces, among others, are highlighted for their great potential to improve gut-lung immunity. The traditional Korean diet and dietary mechanisms that may target viruses ACE-2 receptors or affect any step of a virus infection pathway that can determine a patient's prognosis are also highlighted. The regular oral intake of bioactive ingredients used in Korean foods can offer protection for some viral diseases, through protective and immunomodulatory effects, as evidenced in pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Fermented Feed Supplement Relieves Caecal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Kidney Injury Caused by High-Protein Diet in the Development of Gosling Gout

Firstly, forty-eight 1-day-old goslings were randomly allocated to four groups and were fed diets containing crude protein (CP) at different concentrations: 160, 180, 200, and 220 g/kg in Experiment One. We found a dose-dependent relationship between the dietary protein levels and morbidity of gosling gout. The concentration of serum uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), and urea nitrogen (UN), and the activity of xanthine oxidase in the 220CP groups were significantly higher than those in the low-protein diet groups. Beneficial microbes, including Akkermansia, Lactococcus, and Butyricicoccus were enriched in the ceca of healthy goslings, while the microbes Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroides were enriched in those with gout. Then, we explored the effects of fermented feed on gosling gout caused by high-protein diets in Experiment Two. A total of 720 1-day-old goslings were randomly allotted to four experimental groups: CN (162.9 g/kg CP), CNF (167.5 g/kg CP, replacing 50 g/kg of the basal diet with fermented feed), HP (229.7 g/kg CP, a high-protein diet), and HPF (230.7 g/kg CP, replacing 50 g/kg of the high-protein diet with fermented feed). We found that the cumulative incidence of gout increased in the HP group compared with that in the control, but decreased in the HPF group compared to that in the HP group. Similarly, the concentration of serum UA in the HP group was higher than that in the CN group, but decreased in the HPF group. Meanwhile, compared with the HP group, using fermented feed in diets decreased the abundance of Enterococcus in the ceca of goslings, while increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus. These results suggest that appropriate dietary protein levels and the fermented feed supplement might relieve the kidney injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by high-protein diets in the development of gosling gout.

Physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties of Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata is widely planted in most parts of the world, and is rich in carotenoids, vitamins, dietary fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds. It also has important medicinal value. Some related research has proven that Cucurbita moschata has the potential ability to induce anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, and anticancer effects. At the same time, it has attracted more attention in the medical field. These nutrients and bioactive compounds in Cucurbita moschata have important effects on human health. In order to make better use of this crop, it still needs further study. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to summarize the physicochemical properties and nutritional components of Cucurbita moschata, and to provide a reference for further research on the benefits of on human health.

Analysis of piRNA expression spectra in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model induced by a methionine- and choline-deficient diet

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a common health issue worldwide, and P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been shown to be differentially expressed in a variety of diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between piRNA and NAFLD. A NAFLD mouse model was established using a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet and methionine- and choline-sufficient (MCS) diet. Following this, mouse liver tissues were removed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured. Moreover, the liver tissues of the control and model groups were selected for piRNA gene chip analysis to identify piRNAs with differential expression in NAFLD. In addition, the differentially expressed piRNAs screened from the microarray were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). piRNAs with potential research value were also selected for further analysis of target genes, using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. The present study identified a total of 1,285 piRNAs with differential expression levels. The results indicated that in the model group, 641 piRNAs were upregulated, while 644 piRNAs were downregulated. Furthermore, piRNAs were enriched in ‘cancer’, ‘Hippo signaling’, ‘Wnt signaling’ and ‘Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling’ pathways. The RT-qPCR results demonstrated that piRNA DQ566704 and piRNA DQ723301 were significantly upregulated in the model group, which was largely consistent with the analysis results of the piRNA arrays. Therefore, the results of the piRNA arrays and the further analyses in the present study were considered reliable. Collectively, the present results suggest that differentially expressed piRNAs exist in NAFLD and may affect the development of NAFLD via related pathways.

Water extract of tendril of Cucurbita Moschata Duch. suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by down-regulating p38 and ERK signaling

Background: Pumpkin (Curcubita sp.) is a natural product that is commonly used in folk medicine. However, the inhibitory effect and molecular mechanisms of tendril of Cucurbita Moschata Duch. (TCMD) on osteoclast differentiation have yet to be clearly elucidated. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of water extract of TCMD on osteoclast differentiation. Methods: Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), osteoclast precursors, were cultured with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) 30 ng/ml and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) 100 ng/ml for four days. We investigated the effect of TCMD on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, F-actin ring formation, and bone resorption assay. RANKL signaling pathways were determined through Western blotting, and osteoclast differentiation marker genes were confirmed by Real-time PCR. Results: TCMD inhibited the RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Further, F-actin ring formation and bone resorption were reduced by TCMD in RANKL-treated BMDMs. In addition, TCMD decreased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK as well as the expression of osteoclast-related genes in BMDMs treated with RANKL. Conclusion: These findings suggest that TCMD may have preventive and therapeutic effects for destructive bone diseases.

Analysis of non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease microRNA expression spectra in rat liver tissues

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing in recent years. Previous studies have suggested that micro (mi)RNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. To investigate the role of miRNAs in rat NAFLD, a total of 16 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group. Rats in the control group were fed a normal diet for 12 weeks, whereas the rats in the model group were fed a high‑fat and high‑sugar diet for 12 weeks. Following this, the animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were rapidly removed to investigate the severity of NAFLD. Blood samples were collected to investigate liver function, in addition to total cholesterol, total triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose levels. Total RNA from three fresh liver samples per experimental group was extracted for subsequent miRNA gene chip analysis using GeneChip miRNA 4.0 to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs, and miRNA expression was further verified via reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). Compared with the control group, the results revealed that there were 10 differentially expressed miRNAs in the model group, five of which were overexpressed and five of which were underexpressed compared with the control group. The results of the RT‑qPCR analysis revealed that miR‑182, miR‑29b‑3p and miR‑741‑3p were significantly overexpressed in the model group compared with the control group, which was largely consistent with the results of the microarray analysis. The results suggested that the differentially expressed microRNAs demonstrated in the present study may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD; however, the mechanism underlying the differential expression of miRNAs in NAFLD requires further investigation.