Transcriptomic characterization of interactions between sodium selenite and coenzyme Q10 on preventing cadmium-induced testicular defects

The effect of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) on testicular function is recognized. However, the mechanism involved is not well-established. In the present study, we analyzed the testicular transcriptomic changes induced by acute Cd exposure of adult rats with and without supplementation of antioxidants selenium (Se) and/or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ). Cd significantly decreased serum testosterone and two steroidogenic proteins SCARB1 and STAR. RNA-Seq analyses of testicular RNAs revealed specific activation of oxidative stress-, inflammation-, MAPK- and NF-κB-related signaling molecules. In addition, Cd treatment down-regulated gene for I, III and IV complexes of mitochondrial electron transport chain and up-regulated genes for NADPH-oxidase, major cascade in ROS production. The decrease in steroidogenesis and increase in inflammation may result from oxidative stress since supplementation of Se and CoQ, but not with either alone, almost completely prevented these changes, including overall alterations in transcriptome. Cd exposure induced total of 1192 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which was reduced to 29 without considering confounding factors associated with Se/CoQ, a 97.6% protection rate. In conclusion, Cd exposure inhibited Leydig cell steroidogenesis by down-regulating SCARB1 and STAR through increasing oxidative stress and inflammation, but Se plus CoQ synergistically prevented all the changes induced by the Cd exposure.

Hederacoside C ameliorates colitis via restoring impaired intestinal barrier through moderating S100A9/MAPK and neutrophil recruitment inactivation

Hederacoside C (HSC) has attracted much attention as a novel modulator of inflammation, but its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated how HSC attenuated intestinal inflammation in vivo and in vitro. HSC injection significantly alleviated TNBS-induced colitis by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production and colonic epithelial cell apoptosis, and partially restored colonic epithelial cell proliferation. The therapeutic effect of HSC injection was comparable to that of oral administration of mesalazine (200 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, i.g.). In LPS-stimulated human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells, pretreatment with HSC (0.1, 1, 10 μM) significantly inhibited activation of MAPK/NF-κB and its downstream signaling pathways. Pretreatment with HSC prevented LPS-induced TLR4 dimerization and MyD88 recruitment in vitro. Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that HSC injection regulated 18 proteins in the colon samples, mainly clustered in neutrophil degranulation. Among them, S100A9 involved in the degranulation of neutrophils was one of the most significantly down-regulated proteins. HSC suppressed the expression of S100A9 and its downstream genes including TLR4, MAPK, and NF-κB axes in colon. In Caco-2 cells, recombinant S100A9 protein activated the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and induced inflammation, which were ameliorated by pretreatment with HSC. Notably, HSC attenuated neutrophil recruitment and degranulation as well as S100A9 release in vitro and in vivo. In addition, HSC promoted the expression of tight junction proteins and repaired the epithelial barrier via inhibiting S100A9. Our results verify that HSC ameliorates colitis via restoring impaired intestinal barrier through moderating S100A9/MAPK and neutrophil recruitment inactivation, suggesting that HSC is a promising therapeutic candidate for colitis.

Inhibition of CCR8 attenuates Ang Ⅱ-induced vascular smooth muscle cell injury by suppressing the MAPK/NF-κB pathway

OBJECTIVES

Hyperinsulinemia, secondary to insulin resistance, may lead to vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction. In the present research, we aimed to investigate the effect of Chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of CCR8 was analyzed in diabetics and normal people by RT-PCR and ELISA. CCK-8 assay and transwell were used to explore cell proliferation and migration, and ELISA was used to measure the content of IL-6 and TNF-α. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) kit was employed to measure ROS generation.

RESULTS

The results revealed that CCR8 was highly expressed in diabetics and Ang Ⅱ-induced VSMCs. Further studies found that interfering with the expression of CCR8 significantly reduced the production of ROS and the levels of inflammatory factors in AngⅡ-induced VSMCs. Interfering with CCR8 increased the glucose uptake induced by AngⅡ+IR. More importantly, inhibition of CCR8 alleviated Ang II-induced dysfunction of VSMCs. Inhibition of CCR8 inactivated the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of CCR8 attenuates Ang II-induced VSMCs injury by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. CCR8 may be a new biomarker related to hypertension and insulin resistance and is a new target for the treatment of human cardiovascular diseases.

Inhibition of CCR8 attenuates Ang Ⅱ-induced vascular smooth muscle cell injury by suppressing the MAPK/NF-κB pathway

Objective(s):

To enhance the efficiency of radiotherapy (RT), implementation of individual-based treatment is essential. In this way, determining individual intrinsic radiosensitivity (IRS) can be useful to achieve minimal adverse effects of RT. The present study aimed to identify IRS of breast cancer (BC) patients through determination of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), repair kinetics, and acute normal tissue complications induced by RT.

Materials and Methods:

DSBs induction and its repair kinetics in 50 BC patients’ lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis of H2AX Ser-139 phosphorylation at 30 min, 3 and 24 hr after in vitro irradiation. In vivo skin dosimetry was done by GAFChromic films and acute skin toxicity was scored by radiation oncologists according to the criteria of Radiation Therapy and Oncology Group (RTOG) in all patients with similar prescribed treatment.

Results:

The average surface dose for patients ranged from 0.92 to 1.9 Gy and correlation analysis showed no significant relationship with weekly acute skin reactions. Formation of γH2AX after 30 min, slope of dose-response curve and repair kinetics of DSBs after 3 and 24 hr (intrinsic radiosensitivity) were significantly correlated with the RTOG scores following irradiation (clinical radiosensitivity) (r=0.48 and P-value<0.0001, r=0.72 and P-value<0.0001, r=0.48 and P-value<0.001, and finally r=0.53 and P-value<0.001, respectively; (using Pearson’s correlation test).

Conclusion:

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA DSBs by γH2AX measurement has the potential to be developed into a clinical predictor for identifying the overreactor patients prior to RT. Our result suggests that the slope-related quantity based on the linear pattern of the dose-response curve has the merit to predict overreactor patients with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 94%.

Hepatoprotective Effect of the Penthorum Chinense Pursh Extract against the CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury via NF-κB and p38-MAPK PATHWAYS in Dogs

Acute liver injury (ALI), manifested by acute hepatocellular damages and necrosis, is a life-threatening clinical syndrome and Penthorum Chinense Pursh (PCP) is a well-known folk medicine practiced for liver-related diseases. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of PCP extract (PCPE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced ALI in dogs via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Healthy dogs were induced by CCl4 and treated with different dosage regimes of PCPE for 7 days. CCl4 produced acute liver injury and induced both oxidative stress and an inflammatory response in dogs. The PCPE significantly ameliorated and improved vacuolar inflammatory lesions in liver tissues during ALI, enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase, and restored glutathione peroxidase, further significantly reducing the indices of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in serum. Inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were declined and anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10) were increased by the application of PCPE. PCPE treatment, down-regulated the MEKK4, MKK3, p38MAPK, MSK1, and NF-κB, and upregulated the IkB mRNA levels (p < 0.01) in ALI affected dogs. In conclusion, PCPE repaired acute liver injury by improving antioxidant enzymes and by reducing oxidation products. Furthermore, the PCPE inhibited the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, which resulted in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on ALI-induced dogs. In the future, PCPE could be a useful ethnomedicine in veterinary clinical practices for the treatment of liver injuries or failures.

Nanocurcumin Potently Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Cytokine Storm by Deactivation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling in Epithelial Cells

Interleukin-mediated deep cytokine storm, an aggressive inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in COVID-19 patients, is correlated directly with lung injury, multi-organ failure, and poor prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients. Curcumin (CUR), a phenolic antioxidant compound obtained from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is well-known for its strong anti-inflammatory activity. However, its in vivo efficacy is constrained due to poor bioavailability. Herein, we report that CUR-encapsulated polysaccharide nanoparticles (CUR-PS-NPs) potently inhibit the release of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors associated with damage of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (CoV2-SP)-stimulated liver Huh7.5 and lung A549 epithelial cells. Treatment with CUR-PS-NPs effectively attenuated the interaction of ACE2 and CoV2-SP. The effects of CUR-PS-NPs were linked to reduced NF-κB/MAPK signaling which in turn decreased CoV2-SP-mediated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, p42/44 MAPK, and p65/NF-κB as well as nuclear p65/NF-κB expression. The findings of the study strongly indicate that organic NPs of CUR can be used to control hyper-inflammatory responses and prevent lung and liver injuries associated with CoV2-SP-mediated cytokine storm.