Expression of fluorescent tagged recombinant erythroferrone protein

Microorganisms-An Effective Tool to Intensify the Utilization of Sulforaphane

Sulforaphane (SFN) was generated by the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin under the action of myrosinase. However, due to the instability of SFN, the bioavailability of SFN was limited. Meanwhile, the gut flora obtained the ability to synthesize myrosinase and glucoraphanin, which could be converted into SFN in the intestine. However, the ability of microorganisms to synthesize myrosinase in the gut was limited. Therefore, microorganisms with myrosinase synthesis ability need to be supplemented. With the development of research, microorganisms with high levels of myrosinase synthesis could be obtained by artificial selection and gene modification. Researchers found the SFN production rate of the transformed microorganisms could be significantly improved. However, despite applying transformation technology and regulating nutrients to microorganisms, it still could not provide the best efficiency during generating SFN and could not accomplish colonization in the intestine. Due to the great effect of microencapsulation on improving the colonization ability of microorganisms, microencapsulation is currently an important way to deliver microorganisms into the gut. This article mainly analyzed the possibility of obtaining SFN-producing microorganisms through gene modification and delivering them to the gut via microencapsulation to improve the utilization rate of SFN. It could provide a theoretical basis for expanding the application scope of SFN.

Effect of Recombinant Human Erythroferrone Protein on Hepcidin Gene (Hamp1) Expression in HepG2 and HuH7 Cells

Iron is essential for all living organisms. It is strictly controlled by iron transporters, transferrin receptors, ferroportin and hepcidin. Erythroferrone (ERFE) is an iron-regulatory hormone which is highly expressed in erythroblasts by erythropoietin (EPO) stimulation and osteoblasts independently of EPO by sequestering bone morphogenetic proteins and inhibiting hepatic hepcidin expression. Although the hepcidin suppressive function of ERFE is known, its receptors still require investigation. Here, we aim to identify ERFE receptors on the HepG2 and Huh7 cells responsible for ERFE. Recombinant ERFE (rERFE) was first produced in HEK293 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1 + ERFE, then purified and detected by Western blot. The liver cells were treated with an rERFE-rich medium of transfected HEK293 cells and a purified rERFE-supplemented medium at various time points, and hepcidin gene (Hamp1) expression was determined using qRT-PCR. The results show that 37-kD rERFE was expressed in HEK293 cells. Hamp1 was suppressed at 3 h and 6 h in Huh7 cells after rERFE treatments (p < 0.05), then restored to the original levels. Hamp1 was activated after treatment with purified rERFE for 24 h and 48 h. Together, these results reveal that ERFE suppressed Hamp1 expression in liver cells, possibly acting on membrane ERFE receptor, which in Huh7 cells was more sensitive to the ERFE concentrate.