Evaluation of antioxidant activities of ampelopsin and its protective effect in lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress piglets

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside protects the brain and improves cognitive function in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice model

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a natural anthocyanin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, as the effects of C3G on the amyloidogenic pathway, autophagy, tau phosphorylation, neuronal cell death, and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease models have not been reported, we attempted to investigate the same in the brains of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were analyzed. After oral administration of C3G (30 mg/kg/day) for 16 weeks, the cortical and hippocampal regions in the brains of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were analyzed. C3G treatment reduced the levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ (Aβ40 and Aβ42) peptides and reduced the protein expression of the amyloid precursor protein, presenilin-1, and β-secretase in the cortical and hippocampal regions. And C3G treatment upregulated the expression of autophagy-related markers, LC3B-II, LAMP-1, TFEB, and PPAR-α and downregulated that of SQSTM1/p62, improving the autophagy of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, C3G increased the protein expression of phosphorylated-AMPK/AMPK and Sirtuin 1 and decreased that of mitogen-activated protein kinases, such as phosphorylated-Akt/Akt and phosphorylated-ERK/ERK, thus demonstrating its neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, C3G regulated the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling by upregulating phosphorylated-Akt/Akt and phosphorylated-GSK3β/GSK3β expression. C3G administration mitigated tau phosphorylation and improved synaptic function and plasticity by upregulating the expression of synapse-associated proteins synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95. Although the potential of C3G in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse models has not yet been reported, oral administration of the C3G is shown to protect the brain and improve cognitive behavior.

Protective Effects of Mulberry (Morus atropurpurea Roxb.) Leaf Protein Hydrolysates and Their In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digests on AAPH-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Erythrocytes

Mulberry leaf protein hydrolysates (HMP), and their in vitro gastrointestinal digests (GHMP), have shown favorable chemical antioxidant activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential protective effects of HMP and GHMP against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes. The inhibition rate of hemolysis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSH), and the enzymatic activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and cellular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were evaluated as the biomarkers of oxidative status in human erythrocytes. The results showed that HMP and GHMP effectively inhibit the occurrence of erythrocyte hemolysis in the range of 0.025-1.0 mg/mL, and the inhibition rates of HMP and GHMP reached 92% and 90% at concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. HMP and GHMP reduced the AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis damage via suppressing the generation of ROS by inhibiting the formation of MDA, maintaining the balance of GSH/GSSG, and preserving the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT. Our findings revealed that both HMP and GHMP could be used as natural antioxidants, and have the potential for further application in the development of functional foods.

N-Acetylcysteine Administration Improves the Redox and Functional Gene Expression Levels in Spleen, Mesenteric Lymph Node and Gastrocnemius Muscle in Piglets Infected with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Our previous study reported that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration improved the function of intestinal absorption in piglets infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). However, the effects of NAC administration on the functions of other tissues and organs in PEDV-infected piglets have not been reported. In this study, the effects of NAC on the liver, spleen, lung, lymph node, and gastrocnemius muscle in PEDV-infected piglets were investigated. Thirty-two 7-day-old piglets with similar body weights were randomly divided into one of four groups: Control group, NAC group, PEDV group, and PEDV+NAC group (eight replicates per group and one pig per replicate). The trial had a 2 × 2 factorial design consisting of oral administration of 0 or 25 mg/kg body weight NAC and oral administration of 0 or 1.0 × 10^4.5 TCID₅₀ PEDV. The trial lasted 12 days. All piglets were fed a milk replacer. On days 5-9 of the trial, piglets in the NAC and PEDV + NAC groups were orally administered NAC once a day; piglets in the control and PEDV groups were orally administered the same volume of saline. On day 9 of trial, piglets in the PEDV and PEDV+NAC groups were orally administrated 1.0 × 10^4.5 TCID₅₀ PEDV, and the piglets in the control and NAC groups were orally administrated the same volume of saline. On day 12 of trial, samples, including of the liver, spleen, lung, lymph node, and gastrocnemius muscle, were collected. PEDV infection significantly increased catalase activity but significantly decreased the mRNA levels of Keap1, Nrf2, HMOX2, IFN-α, MX1, IL-10, TNF-α, S100A12, MMP3, MMP13, TGF-β, and GJA1 in the spleens of piglets. NAC administration ameliorated abnormal changes in measured variables in the spleens of PEDV-infected piglets. In addition, NAC administration also enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the mesenteric lymph nodes and gastrocnemius muscles in PEDV-infected piglets. Collectively, these novel results revealed that NAC administration improved the redox and functional gene expression levels in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and gastrocnemius muscle in PEDV-infected piglets.

Quercetin alleviates intestinal inflammation and improves intestinal functions via modulating gut microbiota composition in LPS-challenged laying hens

Quercetin, a well-known flavonoid, has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects on intestinal functions and gut microbiota in birds. In this study, we investigated the effects of quercetin supplementation on inflammatory responses, intestinal barrier functions and gut microbial community in LPS-challenged laying hens. A total of two hundred eighty-eight 32-wk-old Jingfen No.6 laying hens were randomly assigned to 3 groups, the CON group, the LC group and the LQ group. LQ group was fed with 0.4 mg/kg quercetin and at the end of 12 wk, LC and LQ groups were challenged intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After LPS challenge, 8 birds of each group were randomly selected and sampled. LPS challenge induced an obvious intestinal mucosal injury, necrosis and shedding, while quercetin intervention maintained its structure. Quercetin significantly decreased the elevated malondialdehyde contents (P < 0.05), and increased the activity of total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) in intestinal mucosa of LPS-challenged laying hens. Quercetin rescued the LPS-induced decreases in goblet cell density and mucin2 expression levels (P < 0.05). There was a significant decline (P < 0.05) in the mRNA expression of Claudin1 and Occludin in intestinal mucosa of LPS-challenged layers, which could be alleviated (P < 0.05) by dietary quercetin. LPS challenge induced the increased expression levels (P < 0.05) of IL-1β and TLR-4 in intestinal mucosa, while these rises could be reversed (P < 0.05) following dietary quercetin supplementation. LPS challenge induced a shift in gut microenvironment, and quercetin addition could elevate the relative abundance of some short chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing or health-promoting bacteria such as Phascolarctobacterium, Negativicutes, Selenomonadales, Megamonas, Prevotellaceae, and Bacteroides_salanitronis. In conclusion, dietary quercetin addition ameliorated the LPS challenge-induced intestinal inflammation and improved intestinal functions, possibly associated with its modulation on gut microbiota, particularly the increased population of SCFA-producing bacteria.

Effects of dietary dihydromyricetin supplementation on intestinal barrier and humoral immunity in growing-finishing pigs

In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary dihydromyricetin (DHM) supplementation on intestinal barrier and humoral immunity in growing-finishing pigs. The data showed that dietary DHM supplementation improved jejunal barrier function by upregulating the protein expressions of Occludin and Claudin-1 and the mRNA levels of MUC1 and MUC2. Dietary DHM supplementation increased the amylase, lipase, sucrase and maltase activities and the mRNA expression of nutrient transporter (SGLT1, GLUT2, PepT1) in the jejunum mucosa. Dietary DHM supplementation significantly reduced the E. coli population in the cecum and colon and increased the Lactobacillus population in the cecum. In addition, dietary DHM supplementation increased the contents of butyric acid and valeric acid in cecum and colon. In serum, dietary DHM supplementation reduced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) content and increased interleukin-10 (IL-10), Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) contents (p < 0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, dietary DHM supplementation improved secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) contents and down-regulated TNF-α protein expression in jejunum mucosa (p < 0.05). Together, this study demonstrated that dietary DHM supplementation improved intestinal barrier function, digestion and absorption capacity and immune function in growing-finishing pigs.

The beneficial effects of traditional Chinese medicine on antioxidative status and inflammatory cytokines expression in the liver of piglets

Oxidative stress and inflammation seriously affected the growth and development of piglets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions has been used to prevent various diseases of piglets, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Here, we identified the effects of Xiao-Jian-Zhong-Tang (XJZT) and Jingsananli-sepsis (JJS) on the oxidative stress and inflammatory in the liver of piglets. The piglets were fed with the basal diet (Control group), basal diet affixed with 10 g/kg XJZT (TCM I group), and basal diet affixed with 3 g/kg JJS (TCM II group), respectively. The serum was gathered on days 30 and 60 and the liver samples were also collected on day 60. Results showed that the TCM I and TCM II markedly increased the activities of the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduced the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in serum. In addition, compared to the control group, Nrf2, SOD-1, NQO-1, and HO-1 mRNA expression levels and the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased while NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA expression levels and the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and IκB-α were decreased in TCM I and TCM II groups. Collectively, these findings suggested that TCM I and TCM II could enhance anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities in the liver of piglets via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway, providing a basis for the functional exploration of TCM prescriptions.

Dihydromyricetin alters myosin heavy chain expression via AMPK signaling pathway in porcine myotubes

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) has attracted wide concern for its excellent biological function and pharmacological activities and was reported to have a positive effect on skeletal muscle insulin resistance, slow-twitch fibers expression and AMPK signaling. Thus, we took porcine myotubes derived from skeletal muscle satellite cells as the object to investigate the effects of DHM on myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression and its mechanism in this study. Data showed that DHM up-regulated protein expression of MyHC I and down-regulated the protein expression of MyHC IIb, accompanied by an increase of MyHC I mRNA level and a decrease of MyHC IIb mRNA level. Besides, DHM increased the activities of malate dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was phosphorylated and AMPKα1 mRNA level was increased by DHM. The AMPK signaling-related factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), sirtuin1 (Sirt1), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and phospho-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β (p-CaMKKβ) were increased by DHM. Inhibition of the AMPK signaling by compound C and AMPKα1 siRNA significantly attenuated the effects of DHM on expressions of MyHC I, MyHC IIb, PGC-1α and Sirt1. As a whole, DHM increased MyHC I expression and decreased MyHC IIb expression by the AMPK signaling.

Changes in Biomarkers of Redox Status in Saliva of Pigs after an Experimental Sepsis Induction

Saliva from pigs is gaining attention as an easy sample to obtain, being a source of biomarkers that can provide information on animal health and welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the changes that can occur in salivary biomarkers of the redox status of pigs with an experimentally induced sepsis. For that, the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing ability of saliva (FRAS), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX), peroxide activity (POX-Act), and reactive oxygen-derived compounds (d-ROMs) were measured in the saliva of pigs with experimentally induced sepsis by endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), non-septic inflammation induced by turpentine, and in healthy individuals before and after 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h. AOPP, POX-Act, and d-ROMs in the sepsis group were higher than in the control from 3 h to 24 h after the inoculation. CUPRAC, FRAS, and TEAC were higher in sepsis than the control group at 24 h. These changes were of higher magnitude than those that occurred in the turpentine group. In conclusion, our findings reveal that sepsis produces changes in salivary biomarkers of redox status, which opens the possibility of using them as potential biomarkers in this species.

Polyphenols Sourced from Ilex latifolia Thunb. Relieve Intestinal Injury via Modulating Ferroptosis in Weanling Piglets under Oxidative Stress

Polyphenols sourced from Ilex latifolia Thunb. (PIT) contain high levels of phenolic acids, tannic acids, triterpenoids and so on, which play important roles in antioxidant function. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of PIT against intestinal injury in piglets under oxidative stress. Thirty-two weanling piglets were arranged by a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with diets (basal diet vs. PIT diet) and oxidative stress (saline vs. diquat). All piglets were injected with saline or diquat on d 21, respectively. After 7 days, all pigs were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. PIT enhanced jejunal villus heights and crypt depth in the piglets under oxidative stress. PIT increased the activities of intestinal mucosal lactase, sucrase and maltase in the challenged piglets. PIT also increased the jejunal ratio of protein to DNA and ileal protein content. PIT increased the jejunal activities of GSH-PX and GSH content and reduced the ileal MDA amounts. Furthermore, PIT regulated the expression of ferroptosis mediators, such as TFR1, HSPB1, SLC7A11 and GPX4. These results indicate that dietary PIT supplementation enhances the histological structure and function of the intestinal mucosa, which is involved in modulating antioxidant capacity and ferroptosis.

Dihydromyricetin improves meat quality and promotes skeletal muscle fiber type transformations via AMPK signaling in growing-finishing pigs

As the demand of consumers for good meat quality is increasing, there is more interest in improving pork quality by nutritional regulation. Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a group of bioactive flavonoids, exhibits excellent biological functions and pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate whether dietary DHM supplementation in growing-finishing pigs could provide high-quality pork. A total of 24 healthy castrated Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs with an average body weight of 26.95 ± 0.26 kg were randomly divided into four groups (basal diet and a basal diet supplemented with 100, 300 and 500 mg kg^-1 DHM) with 6 duplicates and one pig per replicate. The growth performance, carcass traits and pork quality of growing-finishing pigs were detected. Then, tandem mass tag (TMT) based quantitative proteomics, western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to explore the regulatory mechanism of DHM on pork quality. The results showed that DHM decreased the feed to gain ratio (F/G) and improved the sensory quality (shear force and meat color) and nutritional value (crude protein content and amino acid composition) of pork in growing-finishing pigs. Totally 22 differentially expressed proteins were identified, among which the down-regulated heat shock protein-β1 (HSPB1) and up-regulated Troponin C-slow (TNNC1) contributed towards explaining the positive effect of DHM on the tenderness and meat color of pork. GO enrichment analysis revealed that better meat color was also linked to higher levels of oxidative metabolism and hemoglobin complexes in pork. Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis showed that DHM induced a muscle fiber type transformation from fast-switch to slow-switch by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal, thereby improving the pork quality. Taken together, our findings provide effective evidence for the application of DHM in high-quality pork production.

A 5-Year Prospective Study on Incidence and Clinico-pathological Changes Associated with Naturally Occurring Trypanosomosis in Dogs of Mizoram, India

PURPOSE

The present research was taken to study the hospital-based incidence and clinico-pathological changes associated with naturally occurring trypanosomosis in dogs of Mizoram.

METHODS

A 5-year prospective study on hospital-based incidence and clinico-pathological changes associated with naturally occurring trypanosomosis in dogs of Mizoram was carried out during the study period from April, 2015 to March, 2020. Trypanosoma evansi infection was confirmed by microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Non-infected clinically healthy dogs (n = 6) served as control. Blood samples were collected to study the haemogram and serum samples were used for the evaluation of serum biochemical parameters and oxidant-antioxidant parameters.

RESULTS

During the study period, an overall incidence of 0.25% was recorded for trypanosomosis in dogs. The most consistent clinical findings noticed were anorexia/inappetence, pyrexia, depression/lethargy, pale mucous membrane, dehydration and lymphadenomegaly. Anaemia, granulocytopenia, lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia were the major findings noticed in trypanosomosis affected dogs. The profile of vital organ function revealed that the mean values of total protein, albumin and random blood glucose were significantly (P < 0.05) lower, whereas the mean values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in dogs affected with trypanosomosis. The mean value of lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher, whereas the mean values of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant activity (TAOA) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in trypanosomosis affected dogs. When total erythrocyte count (TEC) was correlated with LPO (r = - 0.631, P < 0.05), a negative correlation was found, while in case of GSH (r = 0.757, P < 0.05), SOD (r = 0.767, P < 0.05) and TAOA (r = 0.713, P < 0.05), it was positively correlated.

CONCLUSION

A negative correlation of TEC count with LPO, while a positive correlation with GSH, SOD and TAOA signify the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of anaemia induced by T. evansi infection in dogs. The present study findings might be helpful to clinicians when treating clinical cases of this kind. Incorporation of organ protective drugs and antioxidants in the treatment schedule may result in better prognosis.

Increased Ingestion of Hydroxy-Methionine by Both Sows and Piglets Improves the Ability of the Progeny to Counteract LPS-Induced Hepatic and Splenic Injury with Potential Regulation of TLR4 and NOD Signaling

Methionine, as an essential amino acid, play roles in antioxidant defense and the regulation of immune responses. This study was designed to determine the effects and mechanisms of increased consumption of methionine by sows and piglets on the capacity of the progeny to counteract lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge-induced injury in the liver and spleen of piglets. Primiparous sows (n = 10/diet) and their progeny were fed a diet that was adequate in sulfur amino acids (CON) or CON + 25% total sulfur amino acids as methionine from gestation day 85 to postnatal day 35. A total of ten male piglets were selected from each treatment and divided into 2 groups (n = 5/treatment) for a 2 × 2 factorial design [diets (CON, Methionine) and challenge (saline or LPS)] at 35 d old. After 24 h challenge, the piglets were euthanized to collect the liver and spleen for the histopathology, redox status, and gene expression analysis. The histopathological results showed that LPS challenge induced liver and spleen injury, while dietary methionine supplementation alleviated these damages that were induced by the LPS challenge. Furthermore, the LPS challenge also decreased the activities of GPX, SOD, and CAT and upregulated the mRNA and(or) protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, NOD1, NOD2, NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-8, p53, BCL2, and COX2 in the liver and (or) spleen. The alterations of GPX and SOD activities and the former nine genes were prevented or alleviated by the methionine supplementation. In conclusion, the maternal and neonatal dietary supplementation of methionine improved the ability of piglets to resist LPS challenge-induced liver and spleen injury, potentially through the increased antioxidant capacity and inhibition of TLR4 and NOD signaling pathway.

Apple polyphenols improve intestinal barrier function by enhancing antioxidant capacity and suppressing inflammation in weaning piglets

This study aimed to examine the effects of apple polyphenols (APPs) on antioxidant capacity, immune and inflammatory response, and barrier function in weaning piglets. Results showed that APPs improved jejunal barrier function by increasing the villus height, villus height/crypt depth, the mRNA levels of occludin, mucin-1, and mucin-4 and up-regulating the protein expression of occluding (P < 0.05). As for antioxidant capacity, APPs increased the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity level in jejunum (P < 0.05). Besides, APPs up-regulated the protein expressions of NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear-related factor 2 (NRF2) and down-regulated the protein expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). As regard to immune and inflammatory response, APPs increased the immunoglobulin A content in serum and decreased the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and IL-8 in jejunum (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary APPs supplementation improves the jejunal barrier function by enhancing antioxidant capacity and suppressing the mRNA expression related to inflammation, which may be related to the NRF2 signal and TLR4/NF-κB signal.

Effect of dietary dihydromyricetin supplementation on lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity and skeletal muscle fiber type transformation in mice

This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary dihydromyricetin (DHM) supplementation on lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity and muscle fiber type transformation. Twenty-four male Kunming mice were randomly allotted to either control (basal diet) or DHM diets (supplemented with 300 mg/kg DHM). Our data showed that DHM administration decreased the triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contents, and increased the catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in serum. In the liver, DHM decreased the TG and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the T-SOD and GSH-Px activities. For the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, DHM increased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level and T-SOD activities. Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that DHM increased the protein and mRNA levels of MyHC I and MyHC IIa and decreased the protein and mRNA levels of MyHC IIb in TA muscle, which may be achieved by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal. The mRNA levels of several regulatory factors related to mitochondrial function were up-regulated by DHM. In conclusion, dietary 300 mg/kg DHM supplementation improved lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity and promoted the transformation of muscle fiber type from glycolysis to oxidation in mice.

Recent advances in research on vine tea, a potential and functional herbal tea with dihydromyricetin and myricetin as major bioactive compounds

Vine tea has been used as an herbal tea by several ethnic minorities for hundreds of years in China. Flavonoids, a kind of indispensable component in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, are identified to be the major metabolites and bioactive ingredients in vine tea. Interestingly, vine tea exhibits a wide range of significant bioactivities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antidiabetic, neuroprotective and other activities, but no toxicity. These bioactivities, to some extent, enrich the understanding about the role of vine tea in disease prevention and therapy. The health benefits of vine tea, particularly dihydromyricetin and myricetin, are widely investigated. However, there is currently no comprehensive review available on vine tea. Therefore, this report summarizes the most recent studies investigating bioactive constituents, pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of vine tea, which will provide a better understanding about the health benefits and preclinical assessment of novel application of vine tea.

Galacto-oligosaccharides improve barrier function and relieve colonic inflammation via modulating mucosa-associated microbiota composition in lipopolysaccharides-challenged piglets

BACKGROUND

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) have been shown to modulate the intestinal microbiota of suckling piglets to exert beneficial effects on intestinal function. However, the modulation of intestinal microbiota and intestinal function by GOS in intestinal inflammation injury models has rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects of GOS on the colonic mucosal microbiota composition, barrier function and inflammatory response of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged suckling piglets.

METHODS

A total of 18 newborn suckling piglets were divided into three groups, the CON group, the LPS-CON group and the LPS-GOS group. Piglets in the LPS-GOS group were orally fed with 1 g/kg body weight of GOS solution every day. On the d 14, piglets in the LPS-CON and LPS-GOS group were challenged intraperitoneally with LPS solution. All piglets were slaughtered 2 h after intraperitoneal injection and sampled.

RESULTS

We found that the colonic mucosa of LPS-challenged piglets was significantly injured and shedding, while the colonic mucosa of the LPS-GOS group piglets maintained its structure. Moreover, GOS significantly reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the LPS-challenged suckling piglets, and significantly increased the activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). GOS significantly increased the relative abundance of norank_f__Muribaculaceae and Romboutsia, and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Alloprevotella, Campylobacter and Helicobacter in the colonic mucosa of LPS-challenged suckling piglets. In addition, GOS increased the concentrations of acetate, butyrate and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic digesta of LPS-challenged suckling piglets. GOS significantly reduced the concentrations of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), and the relative mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) in the LPS-challenged suckling piglets. In addition, GOS significantly reduced the relative mRNA expression of mucin2 (MUC2), and significantly increased the protein expression of Claudin-1 and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) in LPS-challenged suckling piglets.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that GOS can modulate the colonic mucosa-associated microbiota composition and improve the intestinal function of LPS-challenged suckling piglets.

Physicochemical properties of dihydromyricetin and the effects of ascorbic acid on its stability and bioavailability

BACKGROUND

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural dihydroflavonol with many bioactive effects. However, the physicochemical properties of DMY related to its bioavailability, especially its stability, are unclear.

RESULTS

The effects of pH, temperature, metal ions and ascorbic acid (AA) on the stability of DMY were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The bioavailability of DMY in the presence and absence of AA was compared. Dihydromyricetin was unstable in weak alkaline solutions, and the degradation was significantly accelerated in the presence of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ . The degradation process followed the first-order kinetic model. The degradation rate constant (k) increased with increasing pH and temperature. The remaining DMY was only 49% of its initial concnentration after 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) at 37 °C. However, by supplementing with AA, the degradation of DMY was rarely occured within 6 h. The solubility of DMY at pH 3-5 was about 750 μg mL^-1 , slightly increasing to 853 μg mL^-1 at pH 6. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that the bioavailability of DMY increased from 0.122% to 0.341% by supplementing with AA (10% of DMY).

CONCLUSION

The degradation of DMY is one reason for its poor bioavailability. The presence of AA could significantly improve the stability of DMY, and further improve its bioavailability in rats. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ampelopsin Improves Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease and Effects of Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress in the Hippocampus

BACKGROUND

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress have significant effects on cognitive deficiency in the pathophysiological development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we studied the influences of Ampelopsin (AMP) on proinflammatory cytokines (PICs, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), and products of oxidative stress 8-isoprostaglandin F2α (8-iso PGF2α, a product of oxidative stress); and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a key biomarker of protein oxidation) in the hippocampus using a rat model of AD.

METHODS

ELISA was used to examine PICs and oxidative stress production; and western blotting to examine NADPH oxidase (NOXs). The Spatial working memory tests and Morris water maze were utilized to assess cognitive functions.

RESULTS

We observed amplification of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as 8-iso PGF2α and 8-OHdG in the hippocampus of AD rats. AMP attenuated upregulation of PICs and oxidative stress production. AMP also inhibited NOX4 in the AD rat hippocampus. Notably, AMP mostly improved learning performance in AD rat and this was linked to signal pathways of PIC and oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION

AMP plays a significant role in improving the memory deficiency in AD rats via inhibition of signal pathways of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting that AMP is likely to prospect in preventing and relieving development of the cognitive dysfunctions in AD as a complementary alternative intervention.

The effect of epidermal growth factor on performance and oxidative stress in piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88

This study evaluated the efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). A total of 28 piglets were assigned to the following dietary treatments for 14 d: negative control (NC) (basal diet containing supernatant without EGF), PC (NC + 2.5 g antibiotic·kg−1 feed), EGF120 [basal diet + supernatant with 120 μg EGF·kg−1 body weight (BW)·d−1], and EGF180 (basal diet + supernatant with 180 μg EGF·kg−1 BW·d−1). After a 6 d acclimation period, each pig was gavaged with 6 mL (2.4 × 1013 cfu·mL−1) of ETEC on the morning of day 7. Overall, piglets fed the EGF and PC diets tended to have higher gain to feed ratio than those fed the NC diet (P = 0.063). Pigs fed EGF diets had lower rectal temperature than those fed the NC diet at 6 h after challenge (P < 0.05). Serum and ileal malondialdehyde concentrations were higher in piglets fed the NC diet compared with those fed EGF and PC diets on days 6 and 7 after challenge, respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, EGF has the potential to reduce oxidative stress and body temperature elevation in piglets exposed to ETEC while supporting better feed efficiency.

Central Administration of Ampelopsin A Isolated from Vitis vinifera Ameliorates Cognitive and Memory Function in a Scopolamine-Induced Dementia Model

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive degeneration of the function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system and the decline of cognition and memory abilities. The dysfunctions of the cognitive and memory battery are closely related to inhibitions of neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and brain-derived cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) to associate with the cholinergic system and long-term potentiation. Vitis vinifera, the common grapevine, is viewed as the important dietary source of stilbenoids, particularly the widely-studied monomeric resveratrol to be used as a natural compound with wide-ranging therapeutic benefits on neurodegenerative diseases. Here we found that ampelopsin A is a major compound in V. vinifera and it has neuroprotective effects on experimental animals. Bath application of ampelopsin A (10 ng/µL) restores the long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment induced by scopolamine (100 μM) in hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. Based on these results, we administered the ampelopsin A (10 ng/µL, three times a week) into the third ventricle of the brain in C57BL/6 mice for a month. Chronic administration of ampelopsin A into the brain ameliorated cognitive memory-behaviors in mice given scopolamine (0.8 mg/kg, i.p.). Studies of mice’s hippocampi showed that the response of ampelopsin A was responsible for the restoration of the cholinergic deficits and molecular signal cascades via BDNF/CREB pathways. In conclusion, the central administration of ampelopsin A contributes to increasing neurocognitive and neuroprotective effects on intrinsic neuronal excitability and behaviors, partly through elevated BDNF/CREB-related signaling.

Ampelopsin Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in HL60 and K562 Leukemia Cells by Downregulating AKT and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer caused by the rapid proliferation of abnormal white blood cells. Currently, several treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplantation, are used to treat leukemia, but the morbidity and mortality rates of patients with leukemia are still high. Therefore, there is still a need to develop more selective and less toxic drugs for the effective treatment of leukemia. Ampelopsin, also known as dihydromyricetin, is a plant-derived flavonoid that possesses multiple pharmacological functions, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiangiogenic, and anticancer activities. However, the anticancer effect and mechanism of action of ampelopsin in leukemia remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antileukemic effect of ampelopsin against acute promyelocytic HL60 and chronic myelogenous K562 leukemia cells. Ampelopsin significantly inhibited the proliferation of both leukemia cell lines at concentrations that did not affect normal cell viability. Ampelopsin induced cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase in HL60 cells but the S phase in K562 cells. In addition, ampelopsin regulated the expression of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and CDK inhibitors differently in each leukemia cell. Ampelopsin also induced apoptosis in both leukemia cell lines through nuclear condensation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and regulation of Bcl-2 family members. Furthermore, the antileukemic effect of ampelopsin was associated with the downregulation of AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. Moreover, ampelopsin suppressed the expression levels of leukemia stemness markers, such as Oct4, Sox2, CD44, and CD133. Taken together, our findings suggest that ampelopsin may be an attractive chemotherapeutic agent against leukemia.

Dihydromyricetin Acts as a Potential Redox Balance Mediator in Cancer Chemoprevention

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid extracted from the leaves and stems of the edible plant Ampelopsis grossedentata that has been used for Chinese Traditional Medicine. It has attracted considerable attention from consumers due to its beneficial properties including anticancer, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Continuous oxidative stress caused by intracellular redox imbalance can lead to chronic inflammation, which is intimately associated with the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer. DHM is considered a potential redox regulator for chronic disease prevention, and its biological activities are abundantly evaluated by using diverse cell and animal models. However, clinical investigations are still scanty. This review summarizes the current potential chemopreventive effects of DHM, including its properties such as anticancer, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities, and further discusses the underlying molecular mechanisms of DHM in cancer chemoprevention by targeting redox balance and influencing the gut microbiota.

Method to Improve Azo-Compound (AAPH)-Induced Hemolysis of Erythrocytes for Assessing Antioxidant Activity of Lipophilic Compounds

We examined the method of oxidative hemolysis for assessment of antioxidant activity of various compounds, especially lipophilic compounds. 2,2'-Azobis(amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) was used as the source of free radicals for the oxidative hemolysis of horse erythrocytes. We found that absorbance at 540 nm is not appropriate for monitoring AAPH-induced hemolysis. Instead, we should use absorbance at 523 nm (an isosbestic point), because AAPH oxidizes the oxygenated hemoglobin to methemoglobin and absorbance at 540 nm does not correctly reflect the amount of released hemoglobin by AAPH-induced hemolysis. The corrected method of AAPH-induced hemolysis was applicable to assess the antioxidant activity of various hydrophilic compounds such as ascorbic acid, (-)-epicatechin, and edaravone. For the assessment of antioxidant activity of lipophilic compounds, we need appropriate dispersing agents for these lipophilic compounds. Among several agents tested, 1,2-dimiristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) liposome at a concentration of 0.34 mM was found to be useful. Exogenous α-tocopherol incorporated using DMPC liposome as a dispersing agent was shown to protect erythrocytes from AAPH-induced hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner.

Dietary dihydromyricetin supplementation enhances antioxidant capacity and improves lipid metabolism in finishing pigs

Nowadays, chronic diseases have become a potential danger to human health and are highly concerning. Given that pigs are a suitable animal model for human nutrition and metabolism for its similar anatomical and physiological properties to those of humans, this study has used 24 castrated male Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs as experimental subjects to explore the effects of dietary dihydromyricetin (DHM) supplementation on the antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism. Results showed that dietary 300 and 500 mg DHM kg-1 diet supplementation increased the serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) level, serum and liver reduced glutathione (GSH), muscle catalase (CAT) level and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, and reduced the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level and muscle triglyceride (TG) level in finishing pigs. Western blot analysis showed that dietary DHM supplementation activated the nuclear-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) signals. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that dietary DHM supplementation upregulated the mRNA levels of lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation-related genes, and down-regulated the mRNA expression of lipogenesis-related genes in finishing pigs. Together, we provide evidence that dietary DHM supplementation improved the antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Extracts Comparative Analysis Regarding Their Phytonutrient Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity along with the In Vivo Rescue Effects Tested on a Drosophila melanogaster High-Sugar Diet Model

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) have been reported to hold a plentitude of health-promoting properties beyond basic nutrition, mainly attributed to their anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity. In this article, we built the phytochemical profile of three wild bilberry fruit extract formulations (aqueous, methanolic, and hydro-methanolic) using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS putative analysis, identifying 88 individual phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids (total content 8.41 ± 0.11 mg QE/g dw), free amino acids, polyphenols (total content 21.68 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g dw), carboxylic acids, and vitamins. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed, reaching 78.03 ± 0.16% DPPH free radical scavenging activity, comparable to literature values determined for bilberry extracts of other origin. Due to the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and based on the reviewed benefits of bilberries, we tested the most potent formulation of our bilberry extracts in this biological context. The in vivo rescue effect of a bilberry extract supplemented diet on Drosophila melanogaster was assessed by monitoring biochemical and genomic markers. Hemolymph trehalose levels were halved upon addition of 3% hydro-methanolic bilberry extract to a high-sugar (1.5 M sucrose) diet, as compared to the non-supplemented high-sugar diet. Noteworthy, the rescue seen for flies kept on the bilberry extract supplemented high-sugar diet appeared to parallel the trehalose levels observed in the case of the control diet (50 mM sucrose) flies. Moreover, next to the trehalose-lowering type of in vivo effects, other gene expression related rescues were also detected for genes such as InR, Akh, AstA, AstC, Irk, Npc2g, and CCHa2 upon supplementation of the high-sugar diet with our hydro-methanolic bilberry fruit extract. Our findings suggest that such a bilberry fruit extract could generate physiological and genomic type of compensatory mechanisms so that further translational approaches would advance the understanding of some human specific pathological conditions.

Dihydromyricetin attenuates Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced ileum injury in chickens by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a major component of Escherichia coli cell wall can cause inflammation and cell death. Dihydromyricetin (ampelopsin, DHM) is a natural flavonoid compound with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial effects. The preventive effects of DHM against ileum injury remain unclear. Here, we explored the protective role of DHM against LPS-induced ileum injury in chickens. In this study, DHM significantly attenuated LPS-induced alteration in diamine oxidase, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels in chicken plasma and ileum. Histology evaluation showed that the structure of blood vessels in ileum was seriously fragmented and presence of necrotic tissue in the lumen in the LPS group. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that the surface of the villi was rough and uneven, the structure was chaotic, and the normal finger shape was lost in the LPS group. In contrast, 0.05% and 0.1% DHM treatment partially alleviated the abnormal morphology. Additionally, DHM maintained the barrier function by restoring the protein expression of occludin, claudin-1 and zonula occludens protein-1. DHM inhibited apoptosis through the reduction of the expression of bax and caspase-3 and restored the expression of bcl-2. Importantly, DHM could reduce ileum NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 expression to protect tissues from pyroptosis and inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling pathway. In summary, DHM attenuated the ileum mucosal damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis, maintained barrier function, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway activation triggered by Escherichia coli LPS.

Protective effect of dihydromyricetin on hyperthermia-induced apoptosis in human myelomonocytic lymphoma cells

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a traditional herbal medicine, with a wide range of biological activities. Extreme hyperthermia (HT) can suppress the immune system; thus, protection of the immune system is beneficial in heat-related diseases, including heatstroke. In our study, we revealed the protective effect of DMY against HT-induced apoptosis and analysed the underlying molecular mechanisms. We incubated human myelomonocytic lymphoma U937 cells at 44 °C for 30 min with or without DMY and followed by further incubation for 6 h at 37 °C. Cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay. DMY did not cause any cytotoxic effects in U937 cells even at high doses. HT treatment alone induced significant apoptosis, which was detected by DNA fragmentation and Annexin V/PI double staining. Mitochondrial dysfunction was identified by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) during heat stimulation. Apoptotic related proteins were involved, truncated Bid and caspase-3 were upregulated, and Mcl-1 and XIAP were downregulated. We also identified the related signalling pathways, such as the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. However, changes in HT were dramatically reversed when the cells were pretreated with DMY before exposure to HT. Overall, MAPKs and PI3K/AKT signalling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-mediated pathways were involved in the protective effect of DMY against HT-induced apoptosis in U937 cells, which was totally reversed by DMY pretreatment. These findings indicate a new clinical therapeutic strategy for the protection of immune cells during heatstroke.

Effects of Hot-Water Extract from Vine Tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) on Acrylamide Formation, Quality and Consumer Acceptability of Bread

Acrylamide is a harmful substance that could be inhibited by natural products. Vine tea is an edible herb belonging to the Vitaceae family and has been approved by Chinese authorities as a new food ingredient in 2013. However, the effects of vine tea extract on acrylamide formation and bread quality are rarely investigated. In this study, the polyphenol composition of hot-water extract from vine tea was characterized by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS), and its effects on acrylamide formation, quality, and consumer acceptability of bread were investigated. Vine tea extract and its main polyphenol, dihydromyricetin, significantly inhibited the acrylamide formation in bread, especially the low dose of vine tea extract (1.25 g/kg), which decreased the acrylamide formation by 58.23%. The color and texture of bread were significantly affected by vine tea extract or dihydromyricetin, whereas the moisture content was not changed remarkably. Triangle and paired preference tests indicated that, although the aroma, appearance, and taste of the bread with vine tea extract significantly differ from those of the control bread, vine tea extract did not significantly affect the consumer acceptability. In conclusion, the addition of vine tea extract could be used to develop a new and healthy bread product with low acrylamide content.

MicroRNA-183 regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress of hippocampal neurons by targeting the fibronectin 1 gene

Oxidative stress is implicated in the initiation and progression of human and animal diseases. MicroRNA (MiR) has been reported to be involved in the body's regulation to oxidative stress. We investigated if miR-183 regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus of weaned piglets. LPS-treated piglets had lower expression of miR-183 and higher expression of the fibronectin(FN)1 gene in their hippocampus than control piglets. The expression profiles of miR-183 and the FN1 gene in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons exposed to LPS were consistent with those in the hippocampus of LPS-treated piglets. The LPS-induced expression of FN1 was reversed in hippocampal neurons by transfection with an miR-183 mimic. A luciferase reporter assay further demonstrated that the FN1 gene is a direct target of miR-183. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-183 regulates LPS-induced oxidative stress at least in part by targeting FN1.

Haemato-biochemical alterations and oxidative stress associated with naturally occurring porcine circovirus2 infection in pigs

Porcine circovirus2 (PCV2) infection in pigs is one of the major causes of economic loss to the farmers in terms of low production, slow growth and increase post-weaning mortality rate. The effect of PCV2 infection on haemogram, serum biochemical profile and oxidant/anti-oxidant status is not well established in pigs. In the present study, haemogram, serum biochemical profile and oxidant/anti-oxidant status were assessed in pigs confirmed positive for PCV2 infections as evidenced by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (n = 151) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 42) among a total of 306 number of pigs included in the study. Non-infected healthy pigs (n = 6) served as healthy control. The total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count (DLC) and thrombocyte count were measured. The levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and glucose and enzymes viz. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. Oxidative stress indicators such as plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and total anti-oxidant activity (TAOA) were measured using commercially available kits. The mean values of TLC, lymphocytes and thrombocyte count were significantly (P < 0.05) low in PCV2-infected pigs. The levels of globulin, AST, GGT, BUN and creatinine were significantly increased (P < 0.05) whereas levels of albumin and glucose significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in PCV2-infected pigs. The significant increase (P < 0.05) in MDA level and significant decrease (P < 0.05) in TAOA level were noticed in PCV2-infected animals as compared with healthy control. The present study supports immunosuppression, possible multiple organ damage and oxidative stress associated with naturally occurring PCV2 infection in pigs. Timely vaccination and managemental practices can reduce PCV2 infection in farms. In spite of many research studies, there is still paucity of detailed systemic study on haemato-biochemical alteration and oxidative stress associated with PCV2 infection.

Holly polyphenols alleviate intestinal inflammation and alter microbiota composition in lipopolysaccharide-challenged pigs

The effect of holly polyphenols (HP) on intestinal inflammation and microbiota composition was evaluated in a piglet model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury. A total of twenty-four piglets were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design including diet type and LPS challenge. After 16 d of feeding with a basal diet supplemented with or without 250 mg/kg HP, pigs were challenged with LPS (100 μg/kg body weight) or an equal volume of saline for 4 h, followed by analysis of disaccharidase activities, gene expression levels of several representative tight junction proteins and inflammatory mediators, the SCFA concentrations and microbiota composition in intestinal contents as well as proinflammatory cytokine levels in plasma. Our results indicated that HP enhanced intestinal disaccharidase activities and reduced plasma proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-challenged piglets. Moreover, HP up-regulated mRNA expression of intestinal tight junction proteins such as claudin-1 and occludin. In addition, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that HP altered hindgut microbiota composition by enriching Prevotella and enhancing SCFA production following LPS challenge. These results collectively suggest that HP is capable of alleviating LPS-triggered intestinal injury by improving intestinal disaccharidase activities, barrier function and SCFA production, while reducing intestinal inflammation.

Ampelopsin alleviates sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction by mediating NF-κB pathway in aged rats

BACKGROUND

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is the pain caused by bone metastasis from malignant tumors, and the largest source of pain for cancer patients. miR-300 is an important miRNA in cancer. It has been shown that miR-300 regulates tumorigenesis of various tumors.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the role of miR-300 in CIBP and its underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

We constructed CIBP model in rats and investigated the mechanism through which miR-300 affects CIBP. We first examined expression level of miR-300 in CIBP rats and then tested the effect of its overexpression. Next, we identified the target of miR-300 using TargetScan analysis and double luciferase assay. Finally, we studied genetic interactions between miR-300 and its target and their roles in CIBP.

RESULTS

We found that miR-300 was downregulated in CIBP rats. Overexpression of miR-300 significantly attenuated cancer-induced neuropathic pain (p < 0.01). Furthermore, TargetScan analysis and double luciferase assay show High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a target of miR-300. Notably, HMGB1 is overexpressed in CIBP rats, while up-regulation of miR-300 significantly suppresses expression of HMGB1 (p < 0.01). Moreover, knockdown of HMGB1 by siRNA significantly relieves cancer-induced neuropathic pain in rats (p < 0.01). On the other hand, HMGB1 overexpression partially blocked the effect of miR-300 on cancer-induced nerve pain.

CONCLUSION

miR-300 relieves cancer-induced neuropathic pain by inhibiting HMGB1 expression. These results may be beneficial for the treatment of CIBP in clinical practice.

Dietary Supplementation with Chitosan Oligosaccharides Alleviates Oxidative Stress in Rats Challenged with Hydrogen Peroxide

Simple Summary

Oxidative stress adversely affects animal health and performance. Feed additives with antioxidant abilities supplementation can alleviate oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with COS alleviates the damage caused by oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results shown that COS exhibited better radical scavenging capacity of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O₂⁻), H₂O₂, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) than butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), increasing activity of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH, and T-AOC, as well as decreasing MDA level in serum, liver, spleen, and kidney. Our results indicated that COS can protect Sprague Dawley rats from H₂O₂ challenge by reducing lipid peroxidation and restoring antioxidant capacity.

Abstract

Oxidative stress is induced by excessive oxidative radicals, which directly react with biomolecules, and damage lipids, proteins and DNA, leading to cell or organ injury. Supplementation of antioxidants to animals can be an effective way to modulate the antioxidant system. Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) are the degraded products of chitosan or chitin, which has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing competency. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with COS alleviates the damage caused by oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The rats were randomly divided into three groups: CON, control group, in which rats were fed a basal diet with normal drinking water; AS, H₂O₂ group, in which rats were fed the basal diet and 0.1% H₂O₂ in the drinking water; ASC, AS + COS group, in which rats were fed the basal diet with 200 mg/kg COS, and with 0.1% H₂O₂ in the drinking water. In vitro, COS exhibited better radical scavenging capacity of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O₂⁻), H₂O₂, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) than butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA). In vivo, dietary supplementation with COS alleviated the H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage, evidenced by comparatively increasing activity of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH, and T-AOC, and comparatively decreasing level of MDA in serum, liver, spleen, and kidney. COS also comparatively alleviated the H₂O₂-induced inflammation. In conclusion, COS supplementation reduced lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant capacity in Sprague Dawley rats, which were challenged with H₂O₂.

Increased Consumption of Sulfur Amino Acids by Both Sows and Piglets Enhances the Ability of the Progeny to Adverse Effects Induced by Lipopolysaccharide

Simple Summary

Our results suggest that maternal consumption of total sulfur amino acids exceeding the NRC 2012 recommendations by 25% during late gestation and lactation benefits sow productivity and piglet neonatal performance. Moreover, increased consumption of sulfur amino acids by both sows and post-weaned piglets improved their ability to counteract the adverse effects by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. In addition, OH-Met showed a better response than DL-Met in both neonatal and weaned piglets. Taken together, our findings indicate that it might be necessary to update the recommendations for sulfur amino acids for gestating and lactating sows. Attention should also be given to sulfur amino acids supply during an inflammatory challenge as often encountered by piglets early in life.

Abstract

This study determined the effects of increased consumption of sulfur amino acids (SAA), as either DL-Met or Hydroxy-Met (OH-Met), by sows and piglets on their performance and the ability of the progeny to resist a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Thirty primiparous sows were fed a diet adequate in SAA (CON) or CON + 25% SAA, either as DL-Met or OH-Met from gestation day 85 to postnatal day 21. At 35 d old, 20 male piglets from each treatment were selected and divided into 2 groups (n = 10/treatment) for a 3 × 2 factorial design [diets (CON, DL-Met or OH-Met) and challenge (saline or LPS)]. OH-Met and/or DL-Met supplementation increased (p ≤ 0.05) piglets’ body weight gain during day 0–7 and day 7–14. Sow’s milk quality was improved in the supplemented treatments compared to the CON. The LPS challenge decreased (p ≤ 0.05) piglets’ performance from 35 to 63 d and increased (p ≤ 0.05) the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-a, and malondialdehyde. Plasma albumin, total protein, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase decreased post-challenge. The results were better with OH-Met than DL-Met. The increase of Met consumption, particularly as OH-Met increased piglets’ growth performance during the lactation phase and the challenging period.

Assessment of the efficacy of a grape seed waste in counteracting the changes induced by aflatoxin B1 contaminated diet on performance, plasma, liver and intestinal tissues of pigs after weaning

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a grape seed byproduct to mitigate the harmful damage produced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) at systemic level in plasma and liver as well as at local level in the gastrointestinal tract in weaned piglets. Twenty four crossbred pigs (TOPIG) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets: 1)- control diet (normal compound feed for starter piglets without mycotoxin), 2)- AFB1 diet (compound feed contaminated with 320 ppb pure AFB1), 3)- GS diet (compound feed including 8% of grape seed meal), 4)- AFB1+GS diet (compound feed containing 8% of grape seed meal contaminated with 320 ppb AFB1) for 30 days. The results showed that pigs fed AFB1 diet had altered performance (-25.1%), increased the thiobarbituric substances (TBARS) concentration wile reduced total antioxidant capacity and activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) in plasma and organs. AFB1 produced a dual effect on inflammatory response by increasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in liver and colon and decreasing these cytokines in duodenum. The inclusion of grape seed in the diet of AFB1 intoxicated pigs enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activity, decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines and TBARS level and ameliorated the growth performance of AFB1-treated animals. These findings suggest that grape waste is a promising feed source in counteracting the harmful effect of aflatoxin B1.

An integrated approach to uncover quality marker underlying the effects of Alisma orientale on lipid metabolism, using chemical analysis and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Quality control of traditional Chinese medicines is currently a great concern, due to the correlation between the quality control indicators and clinic effect is often questionable. According to the "multi-components and multi-targets" property of TCMs, a new special quality and bioactivity evaluation system is urgently needed.

PURPOSE

Present study adopted an integrated approach to provide new insights relating to uncover quality marker underlying the effects of Alisma orientale (AO) on lipid metabolism.

METHODS

In this paper, guided by the concept of the quality marker (Q-marker), an integrated strategies "effect-compound-target-fingerprint" was established to discovery and screen the potential quality marker of AO based on network pharmacology and chemical analysis. Firstly, a bioactivity evaluation was performed to screen the main active fractions. Then the chemical compositions were rapidly identified by chemical analysis. Next, networks were constructed to illuminate the interactions between these component and their targets for lipid metabolism, and the potential Q-marker of AO was initially screened. Finally, the activity of the Q-markers was validated in vitro.

RESULTS

50% ethanol extract fraction was found to have the strongest lipid-lowering activity. Then, the network pharmacology was used to clarify the unique relationship between the Q-markers and their integral pharmacological action.

CONCLUSION

Combined with the results obtained, five active ingredients in the 50% ethanol extract fraction were given special considerations to be representative Q-markers: Alisol A, Alisol B, Alisol A 23-acetate, Alisol B 23-acetate and Alisol A 24-acetate, respectively. The chromatographic fingerprints based Q-marker was establishment. The integrated Q-marker screen may offer an alternative quality assessment of herbal medicines.

Time course study of the response to LPS targeting the pig immune gene networks

Background

Stress is a generic term used to describe non-specific responses of the body to all kinds of challenges. A very large variability in the response can be observed across individuals, depending on numerous conditioning factors like genetics, early influences and life history. As a result, there is a wide range of individual vulnerability and resilience to stress, also called robustness. The importance of robustness-related traits in breeding strategies is increasing progressively towards the production of animals with a high level of production under a wide range of climatic conditions and management systems, together with a lower environmental impact and a high level of animal welfare. The present study aims at describing blood transcriptomic, hormonal, and metabolic responses of pigs to a systemic challenge using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The objective is to analyze the individual variation of the biological responses in relation to the activity of the HPA axis measured by the levels of plasma cortisol after LPS and ACTH in 120 juvenile Large White (LW) pigs. The kinetics of the response was measured with biological variables and whole blood gene expression at 4 time points. A multilevel statistical analysis was used to take into account the longitudinal aspect of the data.

Results

Cortisol level reaches its peak 4 h after LPS injection. The characteristic changes of white blood cell count to LPS were observed, with a decrease of total count, maximal at t=+4 h, and the mirror changes in the respective proportions of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The lymphocytes / granulocytes ratio was maximal at t=+1 h. An integrative statistical approach was used and provided a set of candidate genes for kinetic studies and ongoing complementary studies focused on the LPS-stimulated inflammatory response.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates the specific biomarkers indicative of an inflammation in swine. Furthermore, these stress responses persist for prolonged periods of time and at significant expression levels, making them good candidate markers for evaluating the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4363-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Potential of plant polyphenols to combat oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in farm animals

Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites which have been shown to exert antioxidative and antiinflamma tory effects in cell culture, rodent and human studies. Based on the fact that conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation are highly relevant in farm animals, polyphenols are considered as promising feed additives in the nutrition of farm animals. However, in contrast to many studies existing with model animals and humans, potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects of polyphenols have been less investigated in farm animals so far. This review aims to give an overview about potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in farm animals. The first part of the review highlights the occurrence and the consequences of oxidative stress and inflammation on animal health and performance. The second part of the review deals with bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols in farm animals. The third and main part of the review presents an overview of the findings from studies which investigated the effects of polyphenols of various plant sources in pigs, poultry and cattle, with particular consideration of effects on the antioxidant system and inflammation.

Assessment of the effect of grape seed cake inclusion in the diet of healthy fattening-finishing pigs

Modulatory capacity of bioactive compounds from different wastes has been scarcely investigated in pigs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of grape seed cakes (GS diet) on performance and plasma biochemistry parameters as health indicators, as well as on several markers related to inflammation and antioxidant defence in the liver of fattening-finishing pigs. Twelve cross-bred pigs (TOPIG) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental diets: control and 5% grape seed cake diet during finishing period (24 days). No effect of GS diet on pig performance and blood biochemistry was observed. However, GS diet decreased significantly (-9.05%, p < .05) the cholesterol concentration (85.71 ± 0.94 mg/dl vs 94.24 ± 2.16 mg/dl) and increased IgA level (+49.90%, p < .05) in plasma (5.04 ± 0.5 mg/ml vs 3.36 ± 0.7 mg/ml). GS cakes decreased the inflammatory response in the liver of pigs fed with GS diet by lowering the Gene expression and protein concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and IFN-γ) as well as the mRNA abundances of NF-κB signalling molecules. The antioxidant status was not increased by GS diet. The gene expression and activity of catalase decreased significantly. The gene expression of Nrf2, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and heat-shock protein decreased, and no effect on their activity was observed with the exception of catalase activity which decreased. However, TBARS was reduced significantly. GS diet showed a modulatory effect on antioxidative status as well as anti-inflammatory and hypocholesterolic properties without effect on pig performance.

At-line hyphenation of high-speed countercurrent chromatography with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography for bioassay-guided separation of antioxidants from vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata)

Vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata), a widely used healthy tea, beverage and herbal medicine, exhibited strong antioxidant activity. However, systematic purification of antioxidants, especially for those with similar structures or polarities, is a challenging work. Here, we present a novel at-line hyphenation of high-speed countercurrent chromatography with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography (HSCCC-Sephadex LH-20 CC) for rapid and efficient separation of antioxidants from vine tea target-guided by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical-high performance liquid chromatography (DPPH-HPLC) experiment. A makeup pump, a six-port switching valve and a trapping column were served as interface. The configuration had no operational time and mobile phase limitations between two dimensional chromatography and showed great flexibility without tedious sample-handling procedure. Seven targeted antioxidants were firstly separated by stepwise HSCCC using petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (4:9:4:9, v/v/v/v) and (4:9:5:8, v/v/v/v) as solvent systems, and then co-eluted antioxidants were on-line trapped, concentrated and desorbed to Sephadex LH-20 column for further off-line purification by methanol. It is noted that six elucidated antioxidants with purity over 95% exhibited stronger activity than ascorbic acid (VC). More importantly, this at-line hyphenated strategy could sever as a rapid and efficient pathway for systematic purification of bioactive components from complex matrix.

Effects of polyphenol-rich plant products from grape or hop as feed supplements on the expression of inflammatory, antioxidative, cytoprotective and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes and the antioxidative status in the liver of piglets

Recent studies have shown that supplementation of plant products rich in polyphenols exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the small intestine and improves feed conversion in piglets. This study aimed to investigate whether dietary polyphenols have also anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in the liver of piglets. For this end, relative mRNA concentrations of eight genes involved in proinflammatory pathways, eight genes involved in the antioxidative and cytoprotective system, six genes of phase I and phase II metabolism and 15 genes of the unfolded protein response (triggered by stress of the endoplasmic reticulum) in the liver of pigs fed diets supplemented with either 1% of grape seed and grape marc meal extract (GME) or 1% spent hops (SH) as sources of polyphenols were determined. Relative mRNA concentrations of almost all these genes, with few exceptions, in the liver of pigs supplemented with GME or SH did not differ from those in the liver of control piglets. Gene expression data were validated by consideration of concentrations of some selected proteins of these pathways which also did not differ between piglets supplemented with GME or SH and control piglets. Moreover, concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and tocopherols as well as the total antioxidant capacity in liver and plasma did not differ between pigs supplemented with either GME or SH and control piglets. Overall, this study shows that supplementation of GME or SH as sources of polyphenols does not influence hepatic pathways linked to inflammation, the antioxidant and cytoprotective system, stress of the endoplasmic reticulum and the xenobiotic system in healthy piglets.

Anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant activity of dihydroasparagusic acid in lipopolysaccharide-activated microglial cells

The activation of microglia and subsequent release of toxic pro-inflammatory factors are crucially associated with neurodegenerative disease, characterized by increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, including Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases and multiple sclerosis. Dihydroasparagusic acid is the reduced form of asparagusic acid, a sulfur-containing flavor component produced by Asparagus plants. It has two thiolic functions able to coordinate the metal ions, and a carboxylic moiety, a polar function, which may enhance excretion of the complexes. Thiol functions are also present in several biomolecules with important physiological antioxidant role as glutathione. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential effect of dihydroasparagusic acid on microglial activation in an in vitro model of neuroinflammation. We have used lipopolysaccharide to induce an inflammatory response in primary rat microglial cultures. Our results suggest that dihydroasparagusic acid significantly prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced production of pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic mediators such as nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, prostaglandin E2, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression and lipoxygenase activity in microglia cells. Moreover it effectively suppressed the level of reactive oxygen species and affected lipopolysaccharide-stimulated activation of mitogen activated protein kinase, including p38, and nuclear factor-kB pathway. These results suggest that dihydroasparagusic acid's neuroprotective properties may be due to its ability to dampen induction of microglial activation. It is a compound that can effectively inhibit inflammatory and oxidative processes that are important factors of the etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Animal Nutrition and Health: The Role of Protein Oxidation

This review examines the role that oxidative stress (OS), and protein oxidation in particular, plays in nutrition, metabolism, and health of farm animals. The route by which redox homeostasis is involved in some important physiological functions and the implications of the impairment of oxidative status on animal health and diseases is also examined. Proteins have various and, at the same time, unique biological functions and their oxidation can result in structural changes and various functional modifications. Protein oxidation seems to be involved in pathological conditions, such as respiratory diseases and parasitic infection; however, some studies also suggest that protein oxidation plays a crucial role in the regulation of important physiological functions, such as reproduction, nutrition, metabolism, lactation, gut health, and neonatal physiology. As the characterization of the mechanisms by which OS may influence metabolism and health is attracting considerable scientific interest, the aim of this review is to present veterinary scientists and clinicians with various aspects of oxidative damage to proteins.

Lipopolysaccharide challenge significantly influences lipid metabolism and proteome of white adipose tissue in growing pigs

Background

White adipose tissue is recognized as a highly active organ, which is closely related to a large number of physiological and metabolic processes besides storing triglycerides. However, little is known regarding the response of adipose tissue to acute inflammation. Therefore, in this study we employed growing pigs to investigate the changes of lipid metabolism and proteome in white adipose tissue after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation as a model for bacterial infection.

Methods

The expression of lipid metabolism and inflammation related genes was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Label-free proteomics analysis was used to investigate changes of the protein profile in white adipose tissue and western blot was used to verify changes of selected adipokines.

Results

The results indicated that LPS significantly increased the expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4 pathway-related genes and pro-inflammatory factors. Lipid metabolism related genes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACACA), fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), were down-regulated and the lipolytic enzyme activity was decreased after LPS injection. Proteome analysis revealed 47 distinct proteins with > 2-fold changes. The down-regulation of two proteins (cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II-alpha regulatory subunit and β-tubulin) has been verified by western blot analysis. In addition, the abundance of two adipokines (adiponectin and zinc-α2-glycoprotein) was significantly increased after LPS injection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, LPS challenge can cause acute inflammation in white adipose tissue. Concurrently, lipid metabolism was significantly suppressed and the abundance of several proteins changed in white adipose tissue. The results provide new clues to understand the adipose dysfunction during inflammation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12944-015-0067-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.