Attenuation of Palmitic Acid-Induced Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by 6-Shogaol in Caco-2 Cells: The Role of MiR-216a-5p/TLR4/NF-κB Axis

An overview of 6-shogaol: new insights into its pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic activities

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has traditionally been used as a cooking spice and herbal medicine for treating nausea and vomiting. More recently, ginger was found to effectively reduce the risk of diseases such as gastroenteritis, migraine, gonarthritis, etc., due to its various bioactive compounds. 6-Shogaol, the pungent phenolic substance in ginger, is the most pharmacologically active among such compounds. The aim of the present study was to review the pharmacological characteristic of 6-shogaol, including the properties of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumour, and its corresponding molecular mechanism. With its multiple mechanisms, 6-shogaol is considered a beneficial natural compound, and therefore, this review will shed some light on the therapeutic role of 6-shogaol and provide a theoretical basis for the development and clinical application of 6-shogaol.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell exosomes-derived microRNA-216a-5p on locomotor performance, neuronal injury, and microglia inflammation in spinal cord injury

Background: MicroRNA-216a-5p (miR-216a-5p) mediates inflammatory responses and neuronal injury to participate in the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI). This study intended to explore the engagement of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (BMSC-Exo)-derived miR-216a-5p in locomotor performance, neuronal injury, and microglia-mediated inflammation in SCI rats. Methods: Rat BMSC or BMSC-Exo was injected into SCI rats. GW4869 treatment was adopted to suppress the exosome secretion from BMSC. Subsequently, miR-216a-5p-overexpressed BMSC-Exo (BMSC-miR-Exo) or negative-control-overexpressed BMSC-Exo (BMSC-NC-Exo) were injected into SCI rats. Results: The injection of BMSC or BMSC-Exo enhanced locomotor performance reflected by Basso, Beattie & Bresnahan score (p < 0.001), and neuronal viability reflected by NeuN+ cells (p < 0.01), but attenuated neuronal apoptosis reflected by TUNEL positive rate, cleaved-caspase-3 expression, and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 expression (p < 0.05). Additionally, the injection of BMSC or BMSC-Exo suppressed microglia M1 polarization-mediated inflammation reflected by IBA1+iNOS+ cells, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.01). Notably, the effect of BMSC on the above functions was retarded by the GW4869 treatment (most p < 0.05). Subsequently, the injection of BMSC-miR-Exo further improved locomotor performance (p < 0.05), while inhibiting neuronal apoptosis (p < 0.05) and microglia M1 polarization-mediated inflammation (p < 0.05) compared to BMSC-NC-Exo. Interestingly, the injection of BMSC-miR-Exo reduced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) (p < 0.01), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (p < 0.05), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (p < 0.05) expressions versus BMSC-NC-Exo. Conclusion: BMSC-Exo-derived miR-216a-5p enhances functional recovery by attenuating neuronal injury and microglia-mediated inflammation in SCI, which may be attributable to its inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Is the Novel Slot Blot a Useful Method for Quantification of Intracellular Advanced Glycation End-Products?

Various types of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have been identified and studied. I have reported a novel slot blot analysis to quantify two types of AGEs, glyceraldehyde-derived AGEs, also called toxic AGEs (TAGE), and 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose AGEs. The traditional slot blot method has been used for the detection and quantification of RNA, DNA, and proteins since around 1980 and is one of the more commonly used analog technologies to date. However, the novel slot blot analysis has been used to quantify AGEs from 2017 to 2022. Its characteristics include (i) use of a lysis buffer containing tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, urea, thiourea, and 3-[3-(cholamidopropyl)-dimetyl-ammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (a lysis buffer with a composition similar to that used in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomics analysis); (ii) probing of AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (e.g., standard AGE aliquots); and (iii) use of polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. In this review, the previously used quantification methods of slot blot, western blot, immunostaining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS), matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization-MS, and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-MS are described. Lastly, the advantages and disadvantages of the novel slot blot compared to the above methods are discussed.

Phytochemicals and Regulation of NF-kB in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: An Overview of In Vitro and In Vivo Effects

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing idiopathic inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. They are mainly represented by two forms, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). IBD can be associated with the activation of nuclear factors, such as nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), leading to increased transcription of pro-inflammatory mediators that result in diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and many extra-intestinal manifestations. Phytochemicals can interfere with many inflammation targets, including NF-kB pathways. Thus, this review aimed to investigate the effects of different phytochemicals in the NF-kB pathways in vitro and in vivo models of IBD. Fifty-six phytochemicals were included in this study, such as curcumin, resveratrol, kaempferol, sesamol, pinocembrin, astragalin, oxyberberine, berberine hydrochloride, botulin, taxifolin, naringin, thymol, isobavachalcone, lancemaside A, aesculin, tetrandrine, Ginsenoside Rk3, mangiferin, diosgenin, theanine, tryptanthrin, lycopene, gyngerol, alantolactone, mangostin, ophiopogonin D, fisetin, sinomenine, piperine, oxymatrine, euphol, artesunate, galangin, and nobiletin. The main observed effects related to NF-kB pathways were reductions in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and augmented occludin, claudin-1, zonula occludens-1, and IL-10 expression levels. Moreover, phytochemicals can improve weight loss, stool consistency, and rectal bleeding in IBD. Therefore, phytochemicals can constitute a powerful treatment option for IBD in humans.