Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides Prevent Palmitic Acid-Evoked Apoptosis and Autophagy in Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cell Line via Restoration of Mitochondrial Function and Regulation of MAPK and AMPK/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, biological activity, mechanism of action and application of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum: A review

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional tonic medicine in China, known as the "fairy grass" and "spiritual grass". It contains various chemical components, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, alkaloids, nucleosides, sterols, and acid compounds, which have the effects of tonifying qi and calming the mind, stopping cough and asthma, and are used to treat restlessness, lung deficiency cough and asthma, fatigue and shortness of breath, and lack of appetite. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) are one of the main bioactive ingredients and are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional medicine fields. They have shown good medicinal value in enhancing immunity, inhibiting tumor cell growth, delaying aging, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, protecting the heart, anti-radiation, anti-fatigue, and other aspects. This article reviews the research progress on the extraction and purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activity, and mechanisms of GLPs, as well as their applications in industries such as medicine, food, and daily chemical products. The aim is to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine compound preparations and lay the foundation for the potential value development of Ganoderma lucidum products.

lncRNA OIP5-AS1 promotes mitophagy to alleviate osteoarthritis by upregulating PPAR-γ to activate the AMPK/Akt/mTOR pathway

OBJECTIVES

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint degenerative disease. Herein, we investigated long non-coding RNA Opa-interacting protein 5-antisense transcript 1's (OIP5-AS1) in regulating mitophagy during OA.

METHODS

RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down verified the relationship between molecules. Cell counting kit-8 detected cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay evaluated inflammatory cytokines secretion. Flow cytometry measured the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium. Immunofluorescence staining analysed TOMM20 and LC3B levels. JC-1 staining was adopted to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. The changes of mitophagy were analysed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment contributed to the decrease of chondrocyte viability, and calcium level and inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential, while elevating the secretion of inflammatory factors, ROS, and TOMM20 expression. OIP5-AS1 overexpression inhibited LPS-induced chondrocyte injury and activated mitophagy. OIP5-AS1 upregulated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) mRNA level to regulate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling by interacting with FUS. PPAR-γ overexpression alleviated LPS-induced chondrocyte injury by activating AMPK/Akt/mTOR signalling. PPAR-γ knockdown reversed the promotion of OIP5-AS1 upregulation on mitophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

OIP5-AS1 promotes PPAR-γ expression to activate the AMPK/Akt/mTOR signalling, thereby enhancing mitophagy and alleviating OA progression.

Melatonin alleviates palmitic acid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing autophagy in bovine endometrial epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Negative energy balance (NEB) typically occurs in dairy cows after delivery. Cows with a high yield are more likely to experience significant NEB. This type of metabolic imbalance could cause ketosis, which is often accompanied by a decline in reproductive performance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying NEB have yet to be fully elucidated. During excessive NEB, the body fat is extensively broken down, resulting in the abnormal accumulation of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), represented by palmitic acid (PA), within the uterus. Such an abnormal accumulation has the potential to damage bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs), while the molecular mechanisms underlying its involvement in the PA-induced injury of BEECs remains poorly understood. Melatonin (MT) is recognized for its regulatory role in maintaining the homeostasis of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS). However, little is known as to whether MT could ameliorate the damage incurred by BEECs in response to PA and the molecular mechanism involved.

RESULTS

Analysis showed that 0.2 mmol/L PA stress increased the level of cellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress, as indicated by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. In addition, we observed mitochondrial dysfunction, including abnormal mitochondrial structure and respiratory function, along with a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial copy number, and the induction of apoptosis. Notably, we also observed the upregulation of autophagy proteins (PINK, Parkin, LC3B and Ubiquitin), however, the P62 protein was also increased. As we expected, 100 μmol/L of MT pre-treatment attenuated PA-induced mitochondrial ROS and restored mitochondrial respiratory function. Meanwhile, MT pretreatment reversed the upregulation of P62 induced by PA and activated the AMPK-mTOR-Beclin-1 pathway, contributing to an increase of autophagy and decline apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that PA can induce mitochondrial dysfunction and enhance autophagy in BEECs. In addition, MT is proved to not only reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress but also facilitate the clearance of damaged mitochondria by upregulating autophagy pathways, thereby safeguarding the mitochondrial pool and promoting cellular viability. Our study provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of an excess of NEB on the fertility outcomes of high yielding dairy cows.

EGCG alleviates heat-stress-induced fat deposition by targeting HSP70 through activation of AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes

Obesity has emerged as a prominent global health concern, with heat stress posing a significant challenge to both human health and animal well-being. Despite a growing interest in environmental determinants of obesity, very few studies have examined the associations between heat stress-related environmental factors and adiposity. Consequently, there exists a clear need to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the obesogenic effects of heat stress and to formulate preventive strategies. This study focused on culturing porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes at 41.5 ℃ to induce heat stress, revealing that this stressor triggered apoptosis and fat deposition. Analysis demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of HSP70, BAX, adipogenesis-related genes (PPARγ, AP2, CEBPα and FAS), the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio and SIRT1, PGC-1α in the heat stress group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the expression of lipid lysis-related genes (ATGL, HSL and LPL) and Bcl-2 decreased in the heat stress group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, subsequent activator and/or inhibitor experiments validated that heat stress modulated HSP70 and AMPK signalling pathways to enhance lipogenesis and inhibit lipolysis in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes. Importantly, this study reveals, for the first time, that EGCG mitigates heat-stress-induced fat deposition by targeting HSP70 through the activation of AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms contributing to heat stress-induced obesity and provide a foundation for the potential clinical utilisation of EGCG as a preventive measure against both heat stress and obesity.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 alleviated intestinal damage induced by inflammatory via modulating intestinal microbiota and intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation

The aim of our research was to investigate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 on growth performance, immune status, intestinal stem cells (ISC) proliferation and differentiation, and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. Twelve piglets (male, 21 days old, 6.11 ± 0.12 kg) were randomly allocated to CON and SC06 (1 × 108 cfu/kg to diet) groups. This experiment lasted three weeks. Our results showed that SC06 increased (P < 0.05) growth performance and reduced the diarrhea rate in weaned piglets. In addition, SC06 increased intestinal morphology and interleukin (IL)-10 levels, and decreased (P < 0.01) necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels in jejunum and serum. Moreover, weaning piglets fed SC06 had a better balance of colonic microbiota, with an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus. Furthermore, SC06 enhanced ISCs proliferation and induced its differentiation to goblet cells via activating wnt/β-catenin pathway in weaned piglets and intestinal organoid. Taken together, SC06 supplementation improved the growth performance and decreased inflammatory response of piglets by modulating intestinal microbiota, thereby accelerating ISC proliferation and differentiation and promoting epithelial barrier healing.

Agrocybe cylindracea fucoglucogalactan induced lysosome-mediated apoptosis of colorectal cancer cell through H3K27ac-regulated cathepsin D

Inducing lysosomal dysfunction is emerging as a promising means for cancer therapy. Agrocybe cylindracea fucoglucogalactan (ACP) is a bioactive ingredient with anti-tumor activity, while its mechanism remains obscure. Herein, we found that ACP visibly inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells, and the IC50 value on HCT-116 cells (HT29 cells) was 490 μg/mL (786.4 μg/mL) at 24 h. RNA-seq showed that ACP regulated mitochondria, lysosome and apoptosis-related pathways. Further experiments proved that ACP indeed promoted apoptosis and lysosomal dysfunction of HCT-116 cells. Moreover, ChIP-seq revealed that ACP increased histone-H3-lysine-27 acetylation (H3K27ac) on CTSD (cathepsin D) promoter in HCT-116 cells, thus facilitating the binding of transcription factor EB (TFEB), and resulted in ascension of CTSD expression. Additionally, ACP triggered mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing pro-apoptotic protein levels. Notably, Pepstatin A (CTSD inhibitor) availably alleviated ACP-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicated that ACP induced lysosome-mitochondria mediated apoptosis via H3K27ac-regulated CTSD in HCT-116 cells. This study indicates that ACP has anti-cancer potential in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Effects of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharides on growth performance, intestinal barrier function and cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered broilers under heat stress

BACKGROUND

Global warming leading to heat stress (HS) is becoming a major challenge for broiler production. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed (Enteromorpha prolifera) polysaccharides (EPS) on the intestinal barrier function, microbial ecology, and performance of broilers under HS. A total of 144 yellow-feathered broilers (male, 56 days old) with 682.59 ± 7.38 g were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) TN (thermal neutral zone, 23.6 ± 1.8 °C), 2) HS (heat stress, 33.2 ± 1.5 °C for 10 h/d), and 3) HSE (HS + 0.1% EPS). Each group contained 6 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate. The study was conducted for 4 weeks; feed intake and body weights were measured at the end of weeks 2 and 4. At the end of the feeding trial, small intestine samples were collected for histomorphology, antioxidant, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content, apoptosis, gene and protein expression analysis; cecal contents were also collected for microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Dietary EPS promoted the average daily gain (ADG) of broilers during 3-4 weeks of HS (P < 0.05). At the end of HS on broilers, the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the content of sIgA in jejunum were improved by EPS supplementation (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary EPS reduced the epithelial cell apoptosis of jejunum and ileum in heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). Addition of EPS in HS group broilers' diet upregulated the relative mRNA expression of Occludin, ZO-1, γ-GCLc and IL-10 of the jejunum (P < 0.05), whereas downregulated the relative mRNA expression of NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1β of the jejunum (P < 0.05). Dietary EPS increased the protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1, whereas it reduced the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and MLCK (P < 0.01) and tended to decrease the protein expression of TNF-α (P = 0.094) in heat-stressed broilers. Furthermore, the proportions of Bacteroides and Oscillospira among the three groups were positively associated with jejunal apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with jejunal Occludin level (P < 0.05). However, the proportions of Lactobacillus, Barnesiella, Subdoligranulum, Megasphaera, Collinsella, and Blautia among the three groups were positively related to ADG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

EPS can be used as a feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers. It effectively improves growth performance and alleviates HS-induced intestinal injury by relieving inflammatory damage and improving the tight junction proteins expression. These beneficial effects may be related to inhibiting NF-κB/MLCK signaling pathway activation and regulation of cecal microbiota.

The Effect of G. applanatum Crude Polysaccharide Extract on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Proapoptotic Caspases in HeLa Cell Line: An In Vitro Study

Polysaccharide extracts exhibit promise as potential anticancer agents. Among the fungi rich in polysaccharide content, G. applanatum stands out; however, its anticancer activity necessitates further investigation. This study aims to explore the impact of G. applanatum crude polysaccharide (GACP) extract by assessing its effects on cell viability, levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12, and levels of proapoptotic markers including caspase-3 and caspase-9, as well as the percentages of necrosis and apoptosis in the HeLa cell line. Employing the HeLa cell line as a research model, four groups were studied: KN (media and DMSO), K+ (doxorubicin 10 μg/mL), P1 (G. applanatum extract 200 μg/mL), and P2 (G. applanatum extract 400 μg/mL). The G. applanatum extract was obtained via boiling distilled water. Anticancer activity was evaluated through the MTT test (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) conducted over three treatment durations (24, 48, and 72 hours). Cytokine levels and caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels were assessed using the ELISA test. Cell apoptosis was determined using the Annexin V-PI biomarker and analyzed through flow cytometry. The MTT test exhibited optimal results at the 48-hour treatment mark. Cytokine level analysis revealed significant reductions in TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12 levels (p < 0.005). Concurrently, caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels exhibited substantial increases (p < 0.005). Flow cytometry highlighted the highest percentage of apoptosis in HeLa cells. In conclusion, G. applanatum's polysaccharide extract demonstrates potential as an anticancer and therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

A review of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: Health benefit, structure-activity relationship, modification, and nanoparticle encapsulation

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides possess unique functional properties. Various processing technologies have been used to produce and modify G. lucidum polysaccharides to improve their yield and utilization. In this review, the structure and health benefits were summarized, and the factors that may affect the quality of G. lucidum polysaccharides were discussed, including the use of chemical modifications such as sulfation, carboxymethylation, and selenization. Those modifications improve the physicochemical characteristics and utilization of G. lucidum polysaccharides, and make them more stable that could be used as functional biomaterials to encapsulate active substances. Ultimate, G. lucidum polysaccharide-based nanoparticles were designed to deliver various functional ingredients to achieve better health-promoting effects. Overall, this review presents an in-depth summary of current modification strategies and offers new insights into the effective processing techniques to develop G. lucidum polysaccharide-rich functional foods or nutraceuticals.

Comparative analysis of intestinal microbiota composition and transcriptome in diploid and triploid Carassius auratus

Polyploidy and the microbiome are crucial factors in how a host organism responds to disease. However, little is known about how triploidization and microbiome affect the immune response and disease resistance in the fish host. Therefore, this study aims to identify the relationship between intestinal microbiota composition, transcriptome changes, and disease resistance in triploid Carassius auratus (3nCC). In China's central Dongting lake water system, diploid (2nCC) and triploid Carassius auratus were collected, then 16S rRNA and mRNA sequencing were used to examine the microbes and gene expression in the intestines. 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that triploidization altered intestinal richness, as well as the diversity of commensal bacteria in 3nCC. In addition, the abundance of the genus Vibrio in 3nCC was increased compared to 2nCC (P < 0.05). Furthermore, differential expression analysis of 3nCC revealed profound up-regulation of 293 transcripts, while 324 were down-regulated. Several differentially expressed transcripts were related to the immune response pathway in 3nCC, including NLRP3, LY9, PNMA1, MR1, PELI1, NOTCH2, NFIL3, and NLRC4. Taken together, triploidization can alter bacteria composition and abundance, which can in turn result in changes in expression of genes. This study offers an opportunity for deciphering the molecular mechanism underlying disease resistance after triploidization.

Non-Apoptotic Programmed Cell Death in Thyroid Diseases

Thyroid disorders are among the most common endocrinological conditions. As the prevalence of thyroid diseases increases annually, the exploration of thyroid disease mechanisms and the development of treatments are also gradually improving. With the gradual advancement of therapies, non-apoptotic programmed cell death (NAPCD) has immense potential in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and immunogenic cell death are all classical NAPCD. In this paper, we have compiled the recent mechanistic investigations of thyroid diseases and established the considerable progress by NAPCD in thyroid diseases. Furthermore, we have elucidated the role of various types of NAPCD in different thyroid disorders. This will help us to better understand the pathophysiology of thyroid-related disorders and identify new targets and mechanisms of drug resistance, which may facilitate the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with thyroid diseases. Here, we have reviewed the advances in the role of NAPCD in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of thyroid diseases, and highlighted future research prospects in this area.

New Mechanistic Insight into the Protective Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides Against Palmitic Acid-Induced Cell Damage in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cell Line IPEC-J2

Ganoderma lucidum ( G. lucidum) is one of the well-known mushrooms in China, which has G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) that have been widely studied for various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antidiabetes, and immunomodulatory activities. A signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. The relationship between STAT and intestinal protection of GLP is still unknown. We studied the inhibitors AG490 in the STAT pathway and its downstream molecules to analyze the unique effects in the protection of GLP against palmitic acid (PA)-induced porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) injury. Compared to PA treatment, GLP + PA obviously decreased Ca2+ concentration, H2O2 production, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, STAT1 and STAT2 protein levels, and increased nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) nuclear translocation and p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in IPEC-J2 cells. After inhibition of STAT3 signaling, p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio, NF-κB nuclear translocation obviously decreased and Nrf2 nuclear translocation significantly increased in the GLP + PA group. The protection of GLP on proliferation and apoptosis of PA-induced IPEC-J2 cells was suppressed by inhibiting STAT3. The STAT3 pathway regulated the enterocyte-protective effects of GLP by modulating the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and NF-κB. We provide new insights into the mechanism of STAT signaling for the protection of GLP on PA-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury.

The role of some lipids and their metabolites in programmed cell death (lipoapoptosis)

In recent years, the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of lipoapoptosis signaling pathways has expanded considerably. However, many mechanisms of apoptosis induction by lipids as well as molecules mediating intracellular and systemic signals belonging to AOS/enzyme-dependent phospholipid metabolites are not completely clear.

This review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms of apoptotic cell death induction by some lipid molecules. Literature search was performed in the database “PubMed”, “eLIBRARY” using key words: “apoptosis”, “lipids”, “fatty acids”, “eicosanoids”, “reactive oxygen species”.

A brief characterization of the signaling pathways of apoptosis is given. The role of reactive oxygen species and their dependent products of lipid peroxidation in the regulation of the main signaling pathways of apoptosis are shown. Particular attention is paid to the product of phospholipid metabolism – 4-hydroxynonenal.

Pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of some prostaglandins are demonstrated. Arguments are presented that prostaglandins of series J and D are pro-apoptotic in most cells, and this effect depends on activation of the prostanoid receptor DP2 and on reduction of AKT kinase activity. In contrast, the E-series prostaglandins and hydroxyecosatetraenoic acid act opposite to the J-series and D-series prostaglandins, reducing apoptosis by activating AKT and increasing Bcl-2 protein expression.

The role of individual fatty acids involved in the initiation and transduction of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signals is assessed. It was shown that saturated fatty acids have the maximum damaging potential than their unsaturated counterparts. An in-depth understanding and deciphering of the mechanisms by which lipids and their metabolites modulate the activation of signaling pathways of programmed cell death can help to develop therapeutic strategies to prevent a number of diseases associated with impaired regulation of apoptosis.

Exploring the Muscle Metabolomics in the Mouse Model of Sepsis-Induced Acquired Weakness

Background/Aim

We aimed to identify the differentially expressing metabolites (DEMs) in the muscles of the mouse model of sepsis-induced acquired weakness (sepsis-AW) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Materials and Methods

Sepsis by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) with lower limb immobilization was used to produce a sepsis-AW model. After this, the grip strength of the C57BL/6 male mice was investigated. The transmission electron microscopy was utilized to determine the pathological model. LC-MS was used to detect the metabolic profiles within the mouse muscles. Additionally, a statistically diversified analysis was carried out.

Results

Compared to the sepsis group, 30 DEMs, including 17 upregulated and 13 down-regulated metabolites, were found in the sepsis-AW group. The enriched metabolic pathways including purine metabolism, valine/leucine/isoleucine biosynthesis, cGMP-PKG pathway, mTOR pathway, FoxO pathway, and PI3K-Akt pathway were found to differ between the two groups. The targeted metabolomics analysis explored significant differences between four amino acid metabolites (leucine, cysteine, tyrosine, and serine) and two energy metabolites (AMP and cAMP) in the muscles of the sepsis-AW experimental model group, which was comparable to the sepsis group.

Conclusion

The present work identified DEMs and metabolism-related pathways within the muscles of the sepsis-AW mice, which offered valuable experimental data for diagnosis and identification of the pathogenic mechanism underlying sepsis-AW.

Antiaging Effects of Dietary Polysaccharides: Advance and Mechanisms

Aging is a process in which the various physiological functions of the body gradually deteriorate and eventually lead to death. During this process, the body’s resistance to external stresses gradually decreases and the aging-related diseases gradually are increased. Polysaccharides are a group of active substances extracted from living organisms and are widely found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. In the last decade, a variety of natural polysaccharides from functional and medicinal foods have attracted considerable interest for their beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, these polysaccharides have also been found to delay aging by reducing oxidative damage, inhibiting telomere shortening, and being anti-inflammatory in different animal models of aging. These reviews summarized the progresses in effects of polysaccharides on antiaging and the potential mechanisms and especially focused on the signaling pathways involved in the antiaging functions. Finally, the applications and prospects of the antiaging effects of polysaccharides are discussed.

Schisandrin A alleviates mycophenolic acid-induced intestinal toxicity by regulating cell apoptosis and oxidative damage

The gastrointestinal side effects of mycophenolic acid affect its efficacy in kidney transplant patients, which may be due to its toxicity to the intestinal epithelial mechanical barrier, including intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis and destruction of tight junctions. The toxicity mechanism of mycophenolic acid is related to oxidative stress-mediated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Schisandrin A (Sch A), one of the main active components of the Schisandra chinensis, can protects intestinal epithelial cells from deoxynivalenol-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage by antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of Sch A on mycophenolic acid-induced damage in intestinal epithelial cell. The results showed that Sch A significantly reversed the mycophenolic acid-induced cell viability reduction, restored the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1, occludin and reduced cell apoptosis. In addition, Sch A inhibited mycophenolic acid-mediated MAPK activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase. Collectively, our study showed that Sch A protected intestinal epithelial cells from mycophenolic acid intestinal toxicity, at least in part, by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway.

Mushrooms on the plate: Trends towards NAFLD treatment, health improvement and sustainable diets

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a most important cause of liver disease. Similar to other non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as obesity and type II diabetes mellitus, NAFLD can strongly affected by diet. Diet-related NCD and malnutrition are rising in all regions being a major cause of the global health, economic and environmental burdens. Mushrooms, important dietary components since the hunter-gathering communities, have increasingly gained momentum in biomedical research and therapeutics due to their interplay in metabolism traits. We emphasize here the beneficial effects of mushroom-enriched diets on the homeostasis of lipid and sugar metabolism, including their modulation, but also interfering with insulin metabolism, gut microbiota, inflammation, oxidative stress and autophagy. In this review, we describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms at the gut-liver axis and the liver-white adipose tissue (WAT) axis, that plausibly cause such positive modulation, and discuss the potential of mushroom-enriched diets to prevent or ameliorate NAFLD and related NCD, also within the shift needed towards healthy sustainable diets.

Lysosome-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis induced by tea polysaccharides promotes colon cancer cell death

The release of lysosomal hydrolase into the cytoplasm is accompanied by several systems of apoptosis signal transduction, and the imbalance between cell viability and apoptosis induces tumorigenesis. Tea polysaccharides (TPs) are the main bioactive components in green tea with hopeful anti-tumor efficacy, while their mechanism is still unclear. Here, TPs significantly promoted the death of colon cancer cell line CT26. RNA-seq results showed that the signal pathways up-regulated by TPs included lysosome pathways, apoptosis, the release of mitochondrial pigment c and programmed cell death. Among them, the results of AO-EB and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining indicated that TPs significantly up-regulated apoptosis. In addition, TPs significantly disrupted the function of lysosomes, which would cause mitochondrial damage. Intriguingly, TPs treatment increased the expression of Bak1, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3, but decreased the level of Bcl-2 and mitochondrial membrane potential, which indicated that TPs induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, TPs ameliorated the reduced lysosomal numbers by Baf A1 (lysosomal inhibitor). Therefore, our data indicated that TPs targeted lysosomes and induced apoptosis by a lysosomal-mitochondrial pathway mediated caspase cascade, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of CT26 cells. In short, the data would help the development of TPs as potential cancer drug therapeutics.

Interactions between Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Autophagy: Implications for Apoptosis and Neuroplasticity-Related Proteins in Palmitic Acid-Treated Prefrontal Cells

Lipotoxicity of palmitic acid (PA) or high-fat diets has been reported to increase endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy in peripheral tissue as well as apoptotic cell death. It also can lead to an AD-like pathological pattern. However, it has been unknown that PA-induced ER stress and autophagy are involved in the regulation of neuroplastic abnormalities. Here, we investigated the roles of ER stress and autophagy in apoptosis and neuroplasticity-related protein expression in PA-treated prefrontal cells. Prefrontal cells dissected from newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with PA compound with ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or PA alone. PA promoted ER stress and autophagy and also cause apoptosis as well as a decline in the expression of neuroplasticity-related proteins. Inhibition of ER stress decreased the expressions of neuroplasticity-related proteins and reduced autophagy activation and apoptosis in PA-treated prefrontal cells. Inhibition of autophagy exacerbated apoptosis and enhanced ER stress in PA-treated prefrontal cells. The present study illustrated that both ER stress and autophagy could be involved in apoptosis and decreased neuroplasticity-related proteins, and the interaction between ER stress and autophagy may play a critical role in apoptosis in PA-treated prefrontal cells. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms in vitro of lipotoxicity in obesity-related cognitive dysfunction.

Maternal Nutritional Status and Development of Atopic Dermatitis in Their Offspring

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the leading chronic skin inflammatory disease and the initial manifestation of atopic march. Available evidence supports the notion that primary prevention early in life leads to a decreased incidence of AD, thus possibly decreasing the subsequent occurrence of atopic march. Nutritional status is essential to a proper functioning immune system and is valued for its important role in AD. Essential nutrients, which include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, are transferred from the mother to the fetus through the placenta during gestation. Various nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D, were studied in relation to maternal status and offspring allergy. However, no strong evidence indicates that a single nutrient or food in mothers' diet significantly affects the risk of childhood AD. In the light of current evidence, mothers should not either increase nor avoid consuming these nutrients to prevent or ameliorate allergic diseases in their offspring. Each essential nutrient has an important role in fetal development, and current government recommendations suggest specific intake amounts for pregnant women. This review discusses evidence on how various nutrients, including lipids (monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs, saturated fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids), carbohydrates (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides), proteins, vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E), and trace minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and strontium) in maternal status are associated with the development of AD and their possible mechanisms.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 Induced AKT-FOXO Signaling Pathway-Mediated Autophagy to Alleviate Oxidative Stress in IPEC-J2 Cells

Autophagy is a conserved proteolytic mechanism, which degrades and recycles damaged organs and proteins in cells to resist external stress. Probiotics could induce autophagy; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Our previous study has found that BaSC06 could alleviate oxidative stress by inducing autophagy in rats. This research aimed to verify whether Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 can induce autophagy to alleviate oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells, as well as explore its mechanisms. IPEC-J2 cells were first pretreated with 10⁸ CFU/mL BaSC06, and then were induced to oxidative stress by the optimal dose of diquat. The results showed that BaSC06 significantly triggered autophagy, indicated by the up-regulation of LC3 and Beclin1 along with downregulation of p62 in IPEC-J2 cells. Further analysis revealed that BaSC06 inhibited the AKT-FOXO signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of p-AKT and p-FOXO and inducing the expression of SIRT1, resulting in increasing the transcriptional activity of FOXO3 and gene expression of the ATG5-ATG12 complex to induce autophagy, which alleviated oxidative stress and apoptosis. Taken together, BaSC06 can induce AKT-FOXO-mediated autophagy to alleviate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and cell damage, thus providing novel theoretical support for probiotics in the prevention and treatment of oxidative damage.

Health-Promoting of Polysaccharides Extracted from Ganoderma lucidum

Medicinal mushrooms are rich sources of pharmacologically active compounds. One of the mushrooms commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine is Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. Ex Fr.) Karst. In Asian countries it is treated as a nutraceutical, whose regular consumption provides vitality and improves health. Ganoderma lucidum is an important source of biologically active compounds. The pharmacologically active fraction of polysaccharides has antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antineurodegenerative and antidiabetic activities. In this review, we summarize the activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP).

SQSTM1/p62 Promotes Cell Growth and Triggers Autophagy in Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Regulating the AKT/AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Background

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common endocrine malignancies worldwide, and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common pathologic type of thyroid cancer. SQSTM1/p62 activity mediates different biological functions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SQSTM1/p62, a multifunctional receptor, on biological function and autophagy characteristics in the human PTC cell line TPC-1.

Methods

A total of 105 primary PTC samples and matched adjacent normal thyroid tissue samples were obtained to evaluate the expression of p62 in clinical patients. A similar p62 expression pattern was found in PTC cell lines and normal human thyroid follicular epithelial cells. To evaluate the effect of SQSTM1/p62 on TPC-1 cells, we constructed the p62 knockout cell line p62-KO-TPC-1. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were analyzed by colony formation tests, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry in vitro. TPC-1 and p62-KO-TPC-1 human PTC cell lines in the logarithmic growth phase were subcutaneously implanted into BALB/c nude mice to verify their proliferation effect in vivo. Furthermore, western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect the expression of AKT/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins.

Results

Overall, p62 expression was higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues in 73 of 105 PTC patients (69.5%). The expression level of p62 in the PTC cell line was higher than that in the normal thyroid cell line. Our data indicated that in vitro, p62 deficiency could decrease the number of colonies, inhibit cell growth and the cell cycle, and induce apoptosis. Tumor xenograft experiments in BALB/c nude mice corroborated these findings. Moreover, the molecular mechanism was explored by western blotting, and we found that the AMPK/AKT/mTOR pathway was involved.

Conclusions

The results indicate that p62 might mediate cell autophagy and apoptosis in TPC-1 cells via the AMPK/AKT/mTOR pathway and could be used as a potential therapeutic approach for PTC.

Estrogen cholestasis induces gut and liver injury in rats involving in activating PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways

BACKGROUNDS

Estrogen and its metabolites often lead to intrahepatic cholestasis in susceptible women with pregnancy, administration of oral contraceptives and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Recently, dysfunction of the gut-liver axis has been suggested to play a pivotal role in the progression of cholestasis, but details about estrogen cholestasis (EC)-induced gut and liver injury are still largely unknown. This study aims to gain insight into EC-induced gut and liver injury and cell signaling implicated.

METHODS

Male rats were exposed to 5 and 10 mg/kg of 17α-ethinylestradiol via subcutaneous injection for 5 successive days to simulate human EC.

RESULTS

By detection of these estrogen cholestatic rats, we found that EC induced inflammation in the liver but not in the intestine through activating NF-κB signaling pathway. EC strongly induced oxidative stress in both the liver and intestine, and activated the hepatic Nrf2/Gclm/Gclc pathway and the intestinal Nrf2/Ho-1 pathway, respectively, for adaptively regulating oxidative stress. EC increased cell apoptosis in both the liver and intestine. Additionally, EC elevated phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 in the liver and increased phosphorylation of p38 in the intestine.

CONCLUSIONS

EC induces liver inflammation, both gut and liver oxidative stress and apoptosis, involving in activating PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Investigation of EC-induced gut and liver injury contributes to the development of new potential therapeutic strategies.

Use of Zebrafish Embryo Assay to Evaluate Toxicity and Safety of Bioreactor-Grown Exopolysaccharides and Endopolysaccharides from European Ganoderma applanatum Mycelium for Future Aquaculture Applications

Natural mycelial exopolysaccharide (EPS) and endopolysaccharide (ENS) extracted from bioreactor-cultivated European Ganoderma applanatum mushrooms are of potential high commercial value for both food and adjacent biopharmaceutical industries. In order to evaluate their potential toxicity for aquaculture application, both EPS (0.01-10 mg/mL) and ENS (0.01-10 mg/mL) extracts were tested for Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity (ZFET); early development effects on Zebrafish Embryos (ZE) were also analyzed between 24 and 120 h post-fertilization (HPF). Both EPS and ENS are considered non-toxic with LC50 of 1.41 mg/mL and 0.87 mg/mL respectively. Both EPS and ENS did not delay hatching and teratogenic defect towards ZE with <1.0 mg/mL, respectively. No significant changes in the ZE heart rate were detected following treatment with the two compounds tested (EPS: 0.01-10 mg/mL: 176.44 ± 0.77 beats/min and ENS: 0.01-10 mg/mL: 148.44 ± 17.75 beats/min) compared to normal ZE (120-180 beats/min). These initial findings support future pre-clinical trials in adult fish models with view to safely using EPS and ENS as potential feed supplements for supplements for development of the aquaculture industry.

COL1A1 as a potential new biomarker and therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a public health problem with a rising incidence worldwide. In this study, a potential new biomarker for T2D and mechanisms underlying the hypoglycemic effects of Enteromorpha prolifera oligosaccharide were investigated. Tandem mass tag labeling with LC-MS/MS was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the jejunum of diabetic rats and control rats. Correlations between glycometabolic parameters and DEPs were revealed by a network analysis. The expression levels of target genes in key metabolic pathways were further evaluated to identify candidate biomarkers. Among 6810 total proteins, approximately 88 % were quantified, of which 148 DEPs with a fold change of <0.83 or>1.2 and a corrected p-value of <0.05 were identified. A KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the hypoglycaemic effects of E. prolifera oligosaccharide involved the PI3K/AKT and extracellular matrix receptor interaction signaling pathways. More importantly, Col1a1 was the most significant gene in the extracellular matrix receptor interaction pathway and was linked to hypoglycaemic activity for the first time. Thus, Col1a1 is a novel potential therapeutic target for alleviating T2D.

Biogenic selenium nanoparticles by Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 alleviate the intestinal permeability, mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy induced by oxidative stress

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element. Nano-selenium has attracted great attention due to its various biological properties, especially strong antioxidant activity, high bioavailability, and low toxicity. Our previous studies demonstrated that the selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized by Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 (L. casei ATCC 393) alleviate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction via the mitochondrial pathway. However, the mechanism of SeNPs exerting antioxidant activity through the mitochondrial pathway remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the role of mitophagy in the protective effects of SeNPs on H2O2-induced porcine intestinal epithelial cells against oxidative damage. The results showed that the SeNPs synthesized by L. casei ATCC 393 had no cytotoxicity on IPEC-J2 cells and effectively antagonized the cytotoxicity of 500 μM H2O2 on IPEC-J2 cells. Moreover, SeNPs attenuated the H2O2-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction and ROS overproduction, as well as alleviated the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decrease. In addition, compared to the oxidative stress model group, pretreatment with biogenic SeNPs significantly up-regulated the expression levels of occludin and claudin-1. Moreover, when compared to the oxidative stress model group, SeNPs inhibited the phosphorylation level of the mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR), as well as the expression levels of Unc-51-like kinase 1(ULK1), light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin proteins. The fluorescence colocalization images of mitochondria and lysosomes demonstrated that SeNPs significantly reduced the fusion of mitochondria and lysosomes when compared to the oxidative stress model group. These results demonstrate that the SeNPs synthesized by L. casei ATCC 393 can effectively alleviate the H2O2-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction through regulating mTOR/PINK1-mediated mitophagy.

Polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo Leaves Protect Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury via the AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Vitro and vivo

Ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Polysaccharides separated from herbs have been shown to be effective for ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury, but whether the polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo leaves (LDOP-1) protected mucosa from ethanol-induced injury remains unknown. Thus, the present study carried out gastric mucosal protection and the mechanism of LDOP-1 in vivo and vitro. The chemical composition of LDOP-1 was a heteropolysaccharide comprising mannose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose at a molar ratio of 2.0:1.1:0.7:0.5:0.4. Pharmacological results showed that LDOP-1 significantly reduced gastric mucosal injury score and pathological injury, improved antioxidant capacity, reduced the level of reactive oxygen species, and reversed the apoptosis of GES-1 in vivo and vitro. Research showed that LDOP-1 pretreatment upregulated the expression level of p-AMPK, LC3β, HO-1, and Beclin-1; downregulated the expression level of p-mTOR and p62; and reversed the expression level of caspase3, Bax, and Bcl-2. This study was the first to demonstrate that LDOP-1 could protect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in vitro and vivo.

Amelioration of the Lipogenesis, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Hepatocytes by a Novel Proteoglycan from Ganoderma lucidum

The steatosis and resultant oxidative stress and apoptosis play the important roles in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), therefore, searching for the effective drugs against NAFLD has been a hot topic. In this work, we investigated a hyperbranched proteoglycan, namely FYGL extracted from Ganoderma lucidum, inhibiting the palmitic acid (PA)-induced steatosis in HepG2 hepatocytes. FYGL compose of hydrophilic polysaccharide and lipophilic protein. Both moieties conclude the reductive residues, such as glucose and cystine, making FYGL capable of anti-oxidation. Herein, we demonstrated that FYGL can significantly inhibit the steatosis, i.e., decrease the contents of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in hepatic cells on the mechanism of increasing the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), therefore inhibiting the expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN), furthermore leading to the carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) expression increased against steatosis induced by fatty acids oxidation. Meanwhile, FYGL can alleviate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), promote superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Moreover, FYGL can prevent the cells from apoptosis by regulating the apoptosis-related protein expressions and alleviating oxidative stress. Notably, FYGL could significantly recover the cells activity and inhibit lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release which were negatively induced by high concentration PA. These results demonstrated that FYGL has the potential functions to prevent the hepatocytes from lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, therefore against NAFLD.

Suppression of Cisplatin-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats Through Alarmin High-Mobility Group Box-1 Pathway by Ganoderma lucidum: Theoretical and Experimental Study

PURPOSE

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of acute liver failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Ganoderma lucidum mushroom (GLM) may ameliorate cisplatin (CP)-induced hepatotoxicity theoretically and experimentally.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into six groups, two of them are normal and Ganoderma lucidum control groups. Liver injury was induced by a single dose of CP (12 mg/kg i.p) in four groups, one of them is CP control group. Besides cisplatin injection in day 1, rats in groups (4-6) were subjected to GLM (500 mg/kg/day) either every other day or daily oral dose or via i.p injection for 10 consecutive days.

RESULTS

In this study, GLM supplementation caused significant reduction of elevated high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) with a concurrent decline in TNF-α and upregulation of IL-10 compared to the CP group (P<0.05). The histopathological and fibrosis evaluation significantly confirmed the improvement upon simultaneous treatment with GLM. Moreover, immunohistochemical examination also confirmed the recovery following GLM treatment indicated by downregulation of NF-κB, p53 and caspase-3 along with upsurge of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression (P<0.05). GLM treatment significantly decreased serum levels of hepatic injury markers; ALT, AST, T. bilirubin as well as oxidative stress markers; MDA and H2O2 with a concomitant increase in hepatic GSH and SOD. Also, the performed docking simulation of ganoderic acid exhibited good fitting and binding with HMGB-1 through hydrogen bond formation with conservative amino acids which gives a strong evidence for its hepatoprotective effect and may interpret the effect of Ganoderma lucidum.

CONCLUSION

GLM attenuated hepatic injury through downregulation of HMGB-1/NF-kB and caspase-3 resulted in modulation of the induced oxidative stress and the subsequent cross-talk between the inflammatory and apoptotic cascade indicating its promising role in DILI.

In Vitro Evaluation of Chemically Analyzed Hypericum Triquetrifolium Extract Efficacy in Apoptosis Induction and Cell Cycle Arrest of the HCT-116 Colon Cancer Cell Line

Naturally derived drugs and plant-based products are attractive commodities that are being explored for cancer treatment. This in vitro study aimed to investigate the role of Hypericum triquetrifolium (50% ethanol: 50% water) extract (HTE) treatment on apoptosis, cell cycle modulation, and cell cycle arrest in human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116). HTE induced cell death via an apoptotic process, as assayed by an Annexin V-Cy3 assay. Exposing HCT-116 cells to 0.064, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/mL of HTE for 24 h led to 50 ± 9%, 71.6 ± 8%, 85 ± 5%, and 96 ± 1.5% apoptotic cells, respectively. HCT-116 cells treated with 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL HTE for 3 h resulted in 38.9 ± 1.5% and 57.2 ± 3% cleavage of caspase-3-specific substrate, respectively. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the HTE extract had no effect on mRNA levels of Apaf-1 and NOXA. Moreover, the addition of 0.125 mg/mL and 0.25 mg/mL HTE for 24 h was clearly shown to attenuate the cell cycle progression machinery in HCT-116 cells. GC/MS analysis of the extract identified 21 phytochemicals that are known as apoptosis inducers and cell cycle arrest agents. All the compounds detected are novel in H. triquetrifolium. These results suggest that HTE-induced apoptosis of human colon cells is mediated primarily through the caspase-dependent pathway. Thus, HTE appears to be a potent therapeutic agent for colon cancer treatment.

Nanoparticles Containing Hyaluronan Acid and Astragalus Polysaccharides for Treating Osteoarthritis

The pathogeny of osteoarthritis (OA) is very complicated and still is one of the difficulties in a treating procedure. Here, we constructed nanoparticles using hyaluronan acid (HA) and astragalus polysaccharides (APS) for OA therapy. We assessed OA biomarkers and IL-1β-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expressions. Nanoparticles of 100 nm showed high drug loading of 28.6% (w/w) and extended drug release of 59% over 1 month. Our results demonstrated that nano treatment significantly improved IL-1β-induced cell viability of chondrocytes. Induction of MMP-9, MMP-13, and TNF-α was alleviated by nanoparticles. Furthermore, nano elevated the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and attenuated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Our data indicated the protective role of HA and APS-capsuled nanoparticles in OA treatment.