Lactobacillus salivarius CPU-01 Ameliorates Temozolomide-Induced Intestinal Mucositis by Modulating Gut Microbiota, Maintaining Intestinal Barrier, and Blocking Pro-inflammatory Cytokines

Chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis is one of the major toxic side effects in the treatment of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to screen lactic acid bacteria which could alleviate intestinal inflammation and damage induced by chemotherapeutic agents and explore the possible underlying mechanisms. Lactobacillus salivarius CPU-01 was selected from traditional Chinese fermented foods due to its protective effects on the toxicity of temozolomide in Caenorhabditis elegans. Eighteen ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups including control group, temozolomide-induced intestinal mucositis group, and temozolomide + L. salivarius CPU-01 group, and were used to investigate the effect of L. salivarius CPU-01 on chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis. It has been demonstrated that the administration of L. salivarius CPU-01 can prevent colon shortening and alleviate colon tissue damage caused by temozolomide-induced intestinal mucositis in mice. L. salivarius CPU-01 relieved the intestinal microbiota disorders caused by temozolomide and contributed to the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Clostridia UCG - 014_norank, and Akkermansia. In vivo experiments also indicated that L. salivarius CPU-01 can suppress the level of temozolomide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and mRNA expression in the small intestine tissues. It was also found that L. salivarius CPU-01 significantly increased the expressions of intestinal tight junction (TJ) proteins, ZO-1, and Occludin proteins in mice treated with temozolomide. These findings suggest that L. salivarius CPU-01 can ameliorate temozolomide-induced intestinal mucositis by modulating gut microbiota, blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines, and repairing the intestinal barrier. These findings suggest probiotics may serve as a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis in the future.

Gypenoside XLIX Ameliorate High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis via Regulating Intestinal Microbiota, Alleviating Inflammatory Response and Restraining Oxidative Stress in ApoE−/− Mice

A high-fat choline diet (HFCD)-induced atherosclerosis model in ApoE−/− mice was established to explore the anti-atherosclerotic effects of gypenoside XLIX (GPE). It was found that HFCD-induced atherosclerotic index such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic plaque, inflammation, and gut microbiota dysfunction could be reduced by GPE treatment. GPE treatment could decrease Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria abundance, and increase Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes population. Moreover, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio increased significantly after treatment with GPE. After treatment with GPE, the relative abundance of trimethylamine-producing intestinal bacteria Clostridioides and Desulfovibrionaceae decreased while butyrate-producing bacteria such as Eubacterium, Roseburia, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella increased significantly. The GPE group demonstrated higher SCFAs concentrations in the fecal sample, such as Acetic Acid, Propionic Acid, and Butyric Acid. Further pathway analysis showed that 29 metabolic pathways were appreciably disturbed during GPE treatment, including citrate cycle (TCA cycle); galactose and glycero-lipid-metabolism biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid biosynthesis. This study suggests that the anti-atherosclerotic effect of GPE is related to the substantial changes in intestinal microbiota and anti-inflammatory activity.

Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish

The toxicity of polystyrene nano/microplastics with diameter sizes of 50um and 100 nm and concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg/mL on gut microbiota, antioxidant activity and innate immune response in zebrafish was investigated. After exposure to polystyrene plastics particle, the pathological morphological changes of intestine and gills were observed, and the injury severity was related to the concentration and particle size of plastics. Significant changes in the richness and diversity of gut microbiota were observed after polystyrene plastics-exposed in zebrafish. The plastics-treated groups exhibited more substantial oxidative stress than the control group. In addition, the mRNA expression level of most pro- and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-8, NF-κb, and IL-10, increased while the mRNA expression of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory factor, decreased. Our results suggest that polystyrene nano/microplastics may represent a potential threat to the gut microbiota, oxidative status, and innate immunity. These results indicated that polystyrene nano/microplastics exerted size and concentration-dependent toxicity on zebrafish. The findings provide new evidence for the toxicity of polystyrene plastics on zebrafish.

SCFAs improve disease resistance via modulate gut microbiota, enhance immune response and increase antioxidative capacity in the host

To evaluate the effects of dietary short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on the intestinal health and innate immunity in crucian carp, a six-week feeding trial was carried out with following treatments: basal diet (BD), basal diet supplementation with 1% sodium acetate (BDSA), basal diet supplementation with 1% sodium propionate (BDSP) and basal diet supplementation with 1% sodium butyrate (BDSB). The results showed dietary BDSA, BDSP and BDSB could protect the host against oxidative stress by improving the activity of certain antioxidative enzymes (T-SOD, GSH-Px and CAT). Additionally, dietary SCFAs could enhance mucosal and humoral immune responses by improving certain innate immune parameters in serum and skin mucus productions (IgM, ACH50 and T-SOD). Furthermore, dietary BDSA and BDSP could up-regulate the expression of immune related genes (TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-8) and tight junction protein genes (occludin and ZO-1). Dietary BDSB could also elevate the expression of IL-8, TGF-β, ZO-1 and Occludin in the midgut. Although dietary differences of SCFAs didn't alter the α-diversity of the intestinal flora, they altered the core microbiota. Finally, the challenge trial showed that dietary basal diet supplementation with SCFAs could protect zebrafish against Aeromonas hydrophila. These results suggest that dietary SCFAs could improve innate immunity, modulate gut microbiota and increase disease resistance in the host, which indicated the potential of SCFAs as immunostimulants in aquaculture.

Weissella confusa CGMCC 19,308 Strain Protects Against Oxidative Stress, Increases Lifespan, and Bacterial Disease Resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Weissella confusa CGMCC 19,308 and its influence on longevity and host defense against Salmonella Typhimurium of Caenorhabditis elegans. The CFCS (cell-free culture supernatant) of W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 possessed DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion scavenging activity. The lifespan of the C. elegans fed W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 was significantly (p < 0.001) longer than that of worms fed Escherichia coli OP50. Moreover, worms fed W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 were more resistant to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and S. Typhimurium infection. RNA-seq analysis showed that the most significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C. elegans fed with W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 were mainly col genes (col-43, col-2, col-40, col-155, col-37), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-related genes (gst-44, gst-9, gst-17, gst-18, gstk-2), cnc-9 (immune-related gene), and sod-5 (superoxide dismutase). These results indicated that cuticle collagen synthesis, immunity, and antioxidant defense (AOD) system of C. elegans were affected after being fed with W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 instead of E. coli OP50. Our study suggested W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 had the antioxidant activity and could prolong lifespan and enhance the host defense against S. Typhimurium of C. elegans. This study provided new evidences for the W. confusa CGMCC 19,308 as a potential probiotic candidate for anti-aging and anti-bacterial infection.

Identification of choline-degrading bacteria from healthy human feces and used for screening of trimethylamine (TMA)-lyase inhibitors

Gut microbiota-based choline metabolism produces trimethylamine (TMA), which is then further converted to the atherosclerosis-promoting metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) by hepatic flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) and TMAO plays an essential role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many Chinese herbal medicines had been used for the treatment of CVD. This study aimed to screen choline-degrading bacteria from healthy human feces and establish a platform in silico and in vitro approaches for screening TMA-lyase inhibitors from Chinese herbal medicines. Choline-degrading bacteria were screened from healthy human feces in basic salt medium using culture method. The isolated strains were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae based on 16S rRNA and the presence of CutC gene. Structure of CutC choline lyase was obtained from the RCSB Protein Data Bank database, and the modeled structure was docked with natural compounds of Chinese herbal medicines origin using MOE. Further, we investigated the inhibitory effects of selected compounds by picric acid-toluene method using K. pneumoniae as bioassay indicator. We found that TMA level was significantly decreased when treated with β-sitosterol and resveratrol. This study initially demonstrates the inhibitory effect of β-sitosterol and resveratrol on the gut microbiota responsible for choline metabolism to TMA and sets up an inhibitor-screening platform for further experiments. It can be used as a model to evaluate herbal drug sources and their effects on the gut microbiota for cardiovascular disease.

Expression and clinical significance of miR-181a and miR-203 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

OBJECTIVE

MiR-181a plays a critical role in modulating T cell and B cell differentiation, as well as immune response. Its abnormal expression probably participates in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). MiR-203 is involved in regulating Toll-like receptor and inducing immune tolerance. Abnormal expression or function of miR-203 is related to multiple auto-immune diseases but its role in SLE remains unclear. This study, thus, investigated the serum level of miR-181a and miR-203, to analyze their roles in diagnosing and evaluating SLE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SLE patients were recruited from our hospital, and divided into non-active and active SLE based on disease activity index, along with healthy individuals. qRT-PCR was used to quantify the serum miR-181a and miR-203 expression, and their correlation with clinical features. ROC was used to evaluate the diagnostic value on SLE, while survival curves were compared to show progression-free survival (PFS) between populations with high and low expression.

RESULTS

SLE patients had significantly higher serum levels of miR-181a and lower miR-203, both of which were correlated with SLE activity. Expression levels of miR-181a and miR-203 were correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, anti-dsDNA antibody, complements, and SLEDAI score. Their expression levels had certain values in the differential diagnosis for active SLE (AUC=0.885 and 0.843). PFS in miR-181a high-expression individuals was lower than that in the low-miR-181 group (χ2=7.474, p=0.029). Whilst, miR-203 high-expression SLE patients had higher PFS than low-expression group (χ2=4.367, p=0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

SLE patients had higher miR-181a and lower miR-203 expression, which thus may have critical implications in disease diagnosis and evaluation.

The basal translation rate of authentic HIV-1 RNA is regulated by 5'UTR nt-pairings at junction of R and U5

The paradigm protein synthesis rate is regulated by structural complexity of the 5′untranslated region (UTR) derives from bacterial and other riboswitches. In-solution, HIV-1 5′UTR forms two interchangeable long-range nucleotide (nt) -pairings, one sequesters the gag start codon promoting dimerization while the other sequesters the dimer initiation signal preventing dimerization. While the effect of these nt-pairings on dimerization and packaging has been documented their effect on authentic HIV translation in cellulo has remained elusive until now. HIV^NL4-3 5′UTR substitutions were designed to individually stabilize the dimer-prone or monomer-prone conformations, validated in-solution, and introduced to molecular clones. The effect of 5′UTR conformation on ribosome loading to HIV unspliced RNA and rate of Gag polypeptide synthesis was quantified in cellulo. Monomer- and dimer-prone 5′UTRs displayed equivalent, basal rate of translation. Gain-of-function substitution U103, in conjunction with previously defined nt-pairings that reorient AUG to flexible nt-pairing, significantly activated the translation rate, indicating the basal translation rate is under positive selection. The observed translation up-mutation focuses attention to nt-pairings at the junction of R and U5, a poorly characterized structure upstream of the characterized HIV riboswitch and demonstrates the basal translation rate of authentic HIV RNA is regulated independently of monomer:dimer equilibrium of the 5′UTR.

Comparison of two skin imaging analysis instruments: The VISIA® from Canfield vs the ANTERA 3D® CS from Miravex

BACKGROUND

The skin imaging analysis instruments are widely used to record and measure the surface and subsurface skin conditions. The main aim of this study is to reveal the differences and correlations in measuring wrinkle, skin texture, coloration/evenness, vascular features, and pore between two commercially available instruments.

METHODS

Twenty-eight subjects were enrolled in the study. A 2*2 cm cardboard was used to make sure the two instruments analyze the same area. Pictures were taken and analyzed by the VISIA^® from Canfield and the ANTERA 3D^® CS from Miravex, in sequence.

RESULTS

The spot, ultraviolet spot, brown spot, red area, texture values measured with VISIA^® were positively correlated with age, while the pore and wrinkle values showed no significance. The wrinkle, texture, melanin, hemoglobin, pore index, pore volume values measured with ANTERA 3D^® had a significantly positive correlation with age. The spot, brown spot values from VISIA^® were positively correlated with the melanin value from ANTERA 3D^® . Texture value measured with the two instruments revealed positive linear correlation. Strong correlation was found between the red area value from VISIA^® and the hemoglobin value from ANTERA 3D^® . Ultraviolet spot from VISIA^® showed no linear correlation with the melanin value from ANTERA 3D^® . Neither of the wrinkle and pore measured with the two instruments showed linear correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

ANTERA 3D^® relies on multidirectional illumination obtained by LEDs of different wavelengths from different directions which make it advanced at the qualitative evaluation of various dermatologic conditions. Compared with VISIA^® , ANTERA 3D^® is more sensitive in the assessment of wrinkle and it may also be available to evaluate the aging-related enlarged pore.