Evaluation of velvet antler total protein effect on bone marrow‑derived endothelial progenitor cells

Methionine Supplementation Affects Fecal Bacterial Community and Production Performance in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

Amino acid balance is central to improving the efficiency of feed protein utilization and for reducing environmental pollution caused by intensive farming. In previous studies, supplementation with limiting amino acids has been shown to be an effective means of improving animal nutrient utilization and performance. In this experiment, the effects of methionine on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, antler nutrient composition, rumen fluid amino acid composition, fecal volatile fatty acids and intestinal bacteria in antler-growing sika deer were investigated by randomly adding different levels of methionine to the diets of three groups of four deer at 0 g/day (CON), 4 g/day (LMet) and 6 g/day (HMet). Methionine supplementation significantly increased the apparent digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the LMet group (p < 0.05). The crude protein and collagen protein of antlers were significantly higher in the LMet and HMet groups compared to the CON group and also significantly higher in the HMet group compared to the LMet group, while the calcium content of antlers was significantly lower in the HMet group (p < 0.05). Ruminal fluid free amino acid composition was altered in the three groups of sika deer, with significant changes in aspartic acid, citrulline, valine, cysteine, methionine, histidine and proline. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were highest in the rectal microflora. Unidentified bacterial abundance was significantly decreased in the HMet group compared to the CON group. Based on the results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and Adonis analysis, there was a significant difference in the composition of the intestinal flora between the CON and HMet groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, compared with the CON group, the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010 in the LMet group increased significantly (p < 0.05), the abundance of dgA-11_gut_group in the HMet group decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010, Saccharofermentans and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group increased significantly. Taken together, the results showed that methionine supplementation was beneficial in increasing the feed utilization efficiency and improving antler quality in sika deer, while affecting the composition of fecal bacteria.

Velvet antler water extract protects porcine oocytes from lipopolysaccharide-induced meiotic defects

Previous studies have demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as a central toxic factor of gram-negative bacteria, can induce oxidative stress and cellular inflammation to result in the impairment of female fertility in different organisms. Particularly, it has harmful effects on the oocyte quality and subsequent embryonic development. However, the approach concerning how to prevent oocytes from LPS-induced deterioration still remains largely unexplored. We assessed the effective influences of velvet antler water extract (VAWE) by immunostaining and fluorescence intensity quantification on the meiotic maturation, mitochondrial function and sperm binding ability of oocytes under oxidative stress. Here, we report that VAWE treatment restores the quality of porcine oocytes exposed to LPS. Specifically, LPS exposure contributed to the failed oocyte maturation, reduced sperm binding ability and fertilization capability by disturbing the dynamics and arrangement of meiotic apparatuses and organelles, including spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, actin polymerization, mitochondrial dynamics and cortical granule distribution, the indicators of oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Notably, VAWE treatment recovered these meiotic defects by removing the LPS-induced excessive ROS and thus inhibiting the apoptosis. Collectively, our study illustrates that VAWE treatment is a feasible strategy to improve the oocyte quality deteriorated by the LPS-induced oxidative stress.

Peptide Biomarkers Discovery for Seven Species of Deer Antler Using LC-MS/MS and Label-Free Approach

Deer antler is a globally widely used precious natural medicine and the material of deer horn gelatin. However, identification of deer antler species based on traditional approaches are problematic because of their similarity in appearance and physical-chemical properties. In this study, we performed a comprehensive antler peptidome analysis using a label-free approach: nano LC-Orbitrap MS was applied to discover peptide biomarkers in deer adult beta-globin (HBB_A), and HPLC-Triple Quadrupole MS was used to verify their specificity. Nineteen peptide biomarkers were found, on which foundation a strategy for antlers and a strategy for antler mixtures such as flakes or powder are provided to identify seven species of deer antler including Eurasian elk (Alces alces), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus viginianus), white-lipped deer (Przewalskium albirostris), fallow deer (Dama dama), sika deer (Cervus nippon), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) simultaneously. It is worth noting that our search found that the HBB_A gene of sika deer, red deer, and North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis) in China may have undergone severe genetic drifts.

Bioactive Molecular Discovery Using Deer Antlers as a Model of Mammalian Regeneration

The ability to activate and regulate stem cells during wound healing and tissue regeneration is a promising field that is resulting in innovative approaches in the field of regenerative medicine. The regenerative capacity of invertebrates has been well documented; however, in mammals, stem cells that drive organ regeneration are rare. Deer antlers are the only known mammalian structure that can annually regenerate to produce a tissue containing dermis, blood vessels, nerves, cartilage, and bone. The neural crest derived stem cells that drive this process result in antlers growing at up to 2 cm/day. Deer antlers thus provide superior attributes compared to lower-order animal models, when investigating the regulation of stem cell-based regeneration. Antler stem cells can therefore be used as a model to investigate the bioactive molecules, biological processes, and pathways involved in the maintenance of a stem cell niche, and their activation and differentiation during organ formation. This review examines stem cell-based regeneration with a focus on deer antlers, a neural crest stem cell-based mammalian regenerative structure. It then discusses the omics technical platforms highlighting the proteomics approaches used for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell regulation in antler tissues.

Application for proteomics analysis technology in studying animal-derived traditional Chinese medicine: A review

Different therapeutically active ingredients, from plants, animals, and mineral sources, are prescribed as traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). TCMs, from animal sources, are rich in proteins and peptides. Different advanced proteomics technologies, such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), multi-dimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ), have been applied to analyze TCMs, from animal sources. This paper reviews the common proteomic techniques for analyzing animal - derived TCMs. Various scientific studies have reported the application of proteomics for locating drug targets, identifying active components, and elucidating the mechanisms of action of animal - derived TCMs. However, these researches are still at the preliminary stage. This review has also discussed the existing challenges and future directions in this field of research.

Velvet Antler Mobilizes Endothelial Progenitor Cells to Promote Angiogenesis and Repair Vascular Endothelial Injury in Rats Following Myocardial Infarction

Objective: This investigation examined the effect of velvet antler (VA) on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the associated effects to promote angiogenesis and repair vascular endothelial injury in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: VA was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, MI, VA, and VA + DAPT (gamma-secretase inhibitor IX, a specific blocker of the Notch signaling pathway) group. The rats underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for the establishment of MI. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Blood was taken from the orbital plexus on the first and third days after the operation, and all rats were euthanized on the 7th day after surgery. The blood samples were used to detect the contents of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Echocardiography was used to test the cardiac function. Cardiac tissue was used for immunohistochemistry and electron microscope, and the marginal zone of the MI tissue was used for western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The number of basically qualitative metabolites is 445. Among them, there are 74 substances with relative content greater than 0.05%. VA increased the concentration of CEPCs and VEGF in serum, CD133 content and microvessel density (MVD), and protected the morphology of microvascular endothelial cells in the marginal area of MI at 7 days post-MI surgery. CEPCs and MVD in the VA +DAPT group were lower than those of VA group. VA increased the protein expressions of Jagged-1, Notch1, NICD and HES1, and the mRNA expressions of Hes1 and Hey2, while some of the effects could be suppressed by DAPT. Conclusion: These results suggest that VA promotes the mobilization of EPCs to promote angiogenesis and repair vascular endothelial cell damage in post-MI rats, and these effects may be due to activation of the Notch signal pathway.

The Effect of Velvet Antler Proteins on Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells Challenged with Ischemia-Hypoxia

Velvet antler (VA) is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that is capable of repeated regeneration. Based on the Chinese medicine theory of coordination the heart and kidneys, VA has been employed to treat heart diseases, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. We examined the effects of VA proteins on primary cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) that were subjected to ischemia-hypoxia (IH) to investigate their effects on and mechanism of action in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Velvet antler proteins (VA-pro) were extracted with water as the solvent, the ultrasonic wave method, and freeze-drying technology; then it was analyzed by Nano LC-MS/MS. In addition, the role of VA-pro in cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were evaluated by the MTS assay, the EdU assay, the Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining assay, and the JC-1 assay, respectively. Cell migration were evaluated by the scratch assay and the Transwell assay. The expression of apoptosis-associate proteins, Akt and p-Akt, and tube formation in Matrigel of CMECs were also detected. In total, 386 VA-pro were identified. Our results showed that IH significantly reduced the viability of the CMECs (P < 0.001) and suppressed copies of DNA to hold back CMEC proliferation (P < 0.001). The OD of control group was 1.81 ± 0.08 and IH group OD was 1.25 ± 0.03. After suffering with IH for 46 h, CMECs were 75% less likely to migrate (P < 0.001), and its tubule formation ability and MMP were also decreased (P < 0.001). VA-pro treatment resulted in an improvement in CMECs' viability and proliferation (P < 0.001). Such as, the OD of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml rose to 1.56 ± 0.5, 1.74 ± 0.1 and 1.65 ± 0.1, respectively. Similarly, CMECs' migration (for the scratch assay P < 0.001, for the Transwell assay P < 0.05) and tubule formation (P < 0.05) ability were better after treated with VA-pro. At the same time, the stability of MMP was retained preferably (P < 0.001). 50% apoptosis was induced after CMECs were cultured in IH conditions (P < 0.001), while VA-pro decreased the number of apoptotic cells (P < 0.001). All above results showed that 1 mg/ml VA-pro produced maximum results. Furthermore, the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins was higher, but the expression of anti-apoptosis proteins was lower in the IH group (P < 0.05); VA-pro reversed these changes (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that VA-pro ameliorate CMEC injuries induced by IH via regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.