Berberine Regulation of Cellular Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Autophagy by Modulation of m6A mRNA Methylation through Targeting the Camk1db/ERK Pathway in Zebrafish-Hepatocytes

Resveratrol Enhances Antioxidant and Anti-Apoptotic Capacities in Chicken Primordial Germ Cells through m6A Methylation: A Preliminary Investigation

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) are essential in avian transgenic research, germplasm conservation, and disease resistance breeding. However, cultured PGCs are prone to fragmentation and apoptosis, regulated at transcriptional and translational levels, with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) being the most common mRNA modification. Resveratrol (RSV) is known for its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, but its effects on PGCs and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study shows that RSV supplementation in cultured PGCs improves cell morphology, significantly enhances total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.01), reduces malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.05), increases anti-apoptotic BCL2 expression, and decreases Caspase-9 expression (p < 0.05). Additionally, RSV upregulates the expression of m6A reader proteins YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 (p < 0.05). m6A methylation sequencing revealed changes in mRNA m6A levels after RSV treatment, identifying 6245 methylation sites, with 1223 unique to the control group and 798 unique to the RSV group. Combined analysis of m6A peaks and mRNA expression identified 65 mRNAs with significantly altered methylation and expression levels. Sixteen candidate genes were selected, and four were randomly chosen for RT-qPCR validation, showing results consistent with the transcriptome data. Notably, FAM129A and SFRP1 are closely related to apoptosis, indicating potential research value. Overall, our study reveals the protective effects and potential mechanisms of RSV on chicken PGCs, providing new insight into its use as a supplement in reproductive stem cell culture.

m6A RNA Methylation and Implications for Hepatic Lipid Metabolism

This review presents a summary of recent progress in research on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and regulatory roles in hepatic lipid metabolism. As the most abundant internal modification of eukaryotic RNA, the m6A modification is a dynamic and reversible process of the m6A enzyme system, which includes writers, erasers, and readers. m6A methylation depressed lipid synthesis and facilitated lipolysis in liver. The depletion of m6A methyltransferase Mettl14/Mettl3 raised fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6 (ELOVL6) in rodent liver, causing increases in liver weight, triglyceride (TG) production, and content in hepatocytes. FTO catalyzed m6A demethylation and the suppression m6A reader YTHDC2 promoted hepatocellular TG generation and hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice through sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) signaling pathway, which upregulated the lipogenic genes FAS, SCD1, ACC, recombinant acetyl coenzyme a carboxylase alpha, and cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector C (CIDEC). Furthermore, FTO overexpression did not only enhance mitochondrial fusion to impair mitochondrial function and lipid oxidation but also promoted lipid peroxidation, accompanied by excessive TG in hepatocytes and rodent liver. Elevated m6A modification potently suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation, while the shrinkage of m6A modification arose hepatic lipid deposition. These findings have highlighted the beneficial role of m6A RNA methylation in hepatic lipid metabolism, potentially protecting liver from lipid metabolic disorders.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of Berberis vulgaris and its constituent berberine, experimental and clinical, a review

Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris or barberry) is a medicinal plant that has been used for various purposes in traditional medicine. Berberine is one of the main alkaloids isolated from B. vulgaris and other plants. Both B. vulgaris and berberine have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects in different experimental models and clinical trials. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the mechanisms and applications of B. vulgaris and berberine in modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses. The literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases until August 2023. The results indicated that B. vulgaris and berberine could inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17 (IL-17), and enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), in various cell types and tissues. B. vulgaris and berberine can also scavenge free radicals, increase antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduce lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. B. vulgaris and berberine have been reported to exert beneficial effects in several inflammatory, oxidative, and immune-related diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases, and infections. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the optimal doses, safety profiles, and potential interactions of B. vulgaris and berberine with other drugs or natural compounds.

Therapeutic Effects of Berberine against Urological Cancers: Biological Potentials Based on Cellular Mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Urological cancers, encompassing prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, pose significant global health challenges. Current treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, individually or in combination, have limitations in efficacy and are associated with notable morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

This review explores alternative therapeutic avenues, emphasizing the exploration of natural compounds, with a specific focus on berberine. Berberine's potential as a treatment for urological cancers is investigated through an extensive examination of cellular and molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

The comprehensive analysis reveals promising anticancer properties associated with berberine, substantiated by a wealth of experimental studies. The agent's impact on urological cancers is discussed, highlighting notable findings related to its efficacy and safety profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the high mortality rates and potential side effects associated with current standard treatments for urological cancers, the exploration of alternative, effective, and safer options is imperative. This review underscores berberine's therapeutic potential, shedding light on its anticancer effects and encouraging further research in the pursuit of enhanced treatment strategies.

Oxidative Stress in Aquatic Organisms

Oxidative stress mainly refers to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defense systems in organisms [...].