Efficacy of Kushen decoction on high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats

Bailing capsule alleviates autoimmune thyroiditis regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway: a multi-omics analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and potential mechanism of Bailing capsule (, BL) anti-autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).

METHODS

Based on the AIT rat model, the effect of BL in alleviating AIT was evaluated by detecting serum thyroid index free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and inflammatory factors Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin-4, -10, and -12 (IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12) as well as thyroid tissue Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and ultrastructure observation. The mechanism of BL was explored by combining transcriptome and proteome analysis, and further verified by Western blot (WB).

RESULTS

BL effectively reduced serum FT3, FT4, TGAb, and TPOAb levels in AIT rats, restored TSH balance, inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12, promoted the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, and significantly reduced IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-12/IL-10, improved thyroid follicular structure, and protected thyroid tissue from injury. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and protein interaction network analysis showed that BL affected the expression of fatty acid-binding protein 4, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain to regulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the fatty acid metabolism and the inflammatory state of AIT rats.

CONCLUSIONS

BL could effectively reduce thyroid inflammation in AIT model rats. The possible BL mechanism was to regulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway and inhibit fatty acid metabolism. This study suggested that BL has the potential to be used in clinical treatment of AIT.

Increased RBP4 and Asprosin Are Novel Contributors in Inflammation Process of Periodontitis in Obese Rats

There is a significant comorbidity between obesity and periodontitis, while adipokines are pivotal in the immunoinflammatory process, which may play a role in this special relationship. We aimed to assess the effect of adipokines as mediators in the progression of periodontitis in obese Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were divided into four groups: normal body weight with and without periodontitis and obesity with and without periodontitis. Experimental obesity and periodontitis were induced by a high-fat diet or ligaturing, and the effect was measured using metabolic and micro-computed tomography analysis and histological staining. Compared with the other three groups, the group of periodontitis with obesity (OP) had the heaviest alveolar bone absorption, the largest increase in osteoclasts, the utmost inflammatory cell infiltration and the highest expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL); meanwhile, its expression of the osteogenesis-related gene was the lowest among the four groups. The expressions of leptin, visfatin, resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and asprosin were upregulated, while adiponectin was decreased significantly in OP. The strong positive associations between the periodontal or circulating levels of RBP4 (or asprosin) and the degree of alveolar resorption in experimental periodontitis and obese rats were revealed. The upregulated expression of inflammation biomarkers, the corresponding degradation in connective tissue and the generation of osteoclasts in periodontitis were activated and exacerbated in obesity. The elevated level of RBP4/asprosin may contribute to a more severe periodontal inflammatory state in obese rats.

A novel biocompatible Eu-based coordination polymers of cytarabine anticancer drug: Preparation, luminescence properties and in vitro anticancer activity studies

In this study, we use cytarabine anticancer drug to synthesize a new rare earth complex with Europium ion. The study work is an attempt to investigate luminescence and biological properties of the Eu-based coordination polymers of cytarabine (Eu-CP-Ara) anticancer drug which have been prepared by us. Eu-CP-Ara has luminescence properties with emission centering at about 619 nm excited with 394 nm. We study cytarabine and Eu-CP-Ara in vitro cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity of Eu-CP-Ara against lung cancer cells (A549) could even be comparable to the inhibitory effect of cytarabine ligands, showing the advantage of antitumor activity. In addition, Eu-CP-Ara showed lower cytotoxicity to normal liver cells (L02). At the same, from the CLSM images, Eu-CP-Ara has successfully entered the A549 cell. Hence, Eu-CP-Ara can be used as a potential anticancer drug. Eu-CP-Ara may be an effective strategy for the tracking cytarabine against tumours and might impart better accurate treatment effect and therapeutic efficiency.