Gonadal rejuvenation of mice by GDF11

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Shousheng Ni ◽  
Congjun Li ◽  
Lili Song ◽  
Shicui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Oral Delivery ◽  
Marker Enzymes ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Testicular Cells ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Aging Properties ◽  
Potential Improvement ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP11), has been shown to have rejuvenation and anti-aging properties, but little information is available regarding the role of GDF11 in reproductive system to date. In this study, we first confirmed the bioavailability of recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) by oral delivery in mice. We also showed that dietary intake of rGDF11 had little influence on body and gonadal (ovary/testis) weights of recipient mice, indicating their general condition and physiology were not affected. Based on these findings, we started to test the function of rGDF11 in ovary and testis of mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. It was found that to some extent, rGDF11 could attenuate the senescence of ovarian and testicular cells, and contribute to the recovery of ovarian and testicular endocrine functions. Moreover, rGDF11 could rescue the diminished ovarian reserve in female mice and enhance the activities of marker enzymes of testicular function (SDH and G6PD) in male mice, suggesting a potential improvement of fertility. Notably, rGDF11 markedly promoted the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the ovary and testis, and remarkably reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and ROS in the ovary and testis. Collectively, these results suggest that GDF11 can protect ovarian and testicular functions of aged mice via slowing down the generation of ROS through enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes.

scholarly journals Acetyl-L-Carnitine in Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders: A Critical Update

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Pennisi ◽  
Giuseppe Lanza ◽  
Mariagiovanna Cantone ◽  
Emanuele D’Amico ◽  
Francesco Fisicaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Longitudinal Assessment ◽  
Cholinergic Activity ◽  
Homogeneous Sample ◽  
Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism ◽  
Clinical Scales ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Several studies explored the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in dementia, suggesting a role in slowing down cognitive decline. Nevertheless, in 2003 a systematic review concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend a clinical use, although a meta-analysis in the same year showed a significant advantage for ALC for clinical scales and psychometric tests. Since then, other studies have been published; however, a critical review is still lacking. We provide an update of the studies on ALC in primary and secondary dementia, highlighting the current limitations and translational implications. Overall, the role of ALC in dementia is still under debate. The underlying mechanisms may include restoring of cell membranes and synaptic functioning, enhancing cholinergic activity, promoting mitochondrial energy metabolism, protecting against toxins, and exerting neurotrophic effects. The effects of ALC on the gut–liver–brain axis seem to identify the category of patients in which the new insights contribute most to the mechanisms of action of ALC, likely being the liver metabolism and the improvement of hepatic detoxifying mechanisms the primary targets. In this framework, our research group has dealt with this topic, focusing on the ALC-related cross-talk mechanisms. Further studies with homogeneous sample and longitudinal assessment are needed before a systematic clinical application.

scholarly journals Schisantherin A Attenuates Neuroinflammation in Activated Microglia: Role of Nrf2 Activation Through ERK Phosphorylation

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1769-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuwen Li ◽  
Tongkai Chen ◽  
Hefeng Zhou ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
Yu Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Erk Phosphorylation ◽  
Nrf2 Activation ◽  
Antioxidative Effects ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Oxidative Effects ◽  
Anti Inflammation ◽  
Schisantherin A

Background/Aims: In the present study, we investigated whether schisantherin A (StA) had anti-inflammatory effects under neuroinflammatory conditions. Methods: The effects of StA and its underlying mechanisms were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cells by ELISA, qPCR, EMSA, Western blot, and IHC. Results: Firstly, we found that StA inhibited the inflammatory response in LPS-activated BV-2 microglia. Secondly, we found that StA suppressed LPS-induced activation of NF-κB via interfering with degradation of IκB and phosphorylation of IκB, IKK, PI3K/Akt, JNK, and p38 MAPK. Thirdly, StA conferred indirect antioxidative effects via quenching ROS and promoted expression of antioxidant enzymes, including HO-1 and NQO-1, via stimulating activation of Nrf2 pathways. Finally, we demonstrated that anti-neuroinflammatory actions of StA were dependent on ERK phosphorylation-mediated Nrf2 activation. Conclusion: StA induced ERK phosphorylation-mediated Nrf2 activation, which contributed to its anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. The anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of StA may show preventive therapeutic potential for various neuroinflammatory disorders.

scholarly journals The Clostridioides difficile Cysteine-Rich Exosporium Morphogenetic Protein, CdeC, Exhibits Self-Assembly Properties That Lead to Organized Inclusion Bodies in Escherichia coli

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Romero-Rodríguez ◽  
S. Troncoso-Cotal ◽  
E. Guerrero-Araya ◽  
D. Paredes-Sabja
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Nosocomial Diarrhea ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile is an obligately anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive pathogenic bacterium that is considered the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea worldwide. Recent studies have attempted to understand the biology of the outermost layer of C. difficile spores, the exosporium, which is believed to contribute to early interactions with the host. The fundamental role of the cysteine-rich proteins CdeC and CdeM has been described. However, the molecular details behind the mechanism of exosporium assembly are missing. The underlying mechanisms that govern exosporium assembly in C. difficile remain poorly studied, in part due to difficulties in obtaining pure soluble recombinant proteins of the C. difficile exosporium. In this work, we observed that CdeC was able to form organized inclusion bodies (IBs) in Escherichia coli filled with lamella-like structures separated by an interspace of 5 to 15 nm; however, CdeC expression in an E. coli strain with a more oxidative environment led to the loss of the lamella-like organization of CdeC IBs. Additionally, dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment of CdeC inclusion bodies released monomeric soluble forms of CdeC. Deletions in different portions of CdeC did not affect CdeC’s ability to aggregate and form oligomers stable under denaturation conditions but affected CdeC’s self-assembly properties. Overall, these observations have important implications in further studies elucidating the role of CdeC in the exosporium assembly of C. difficile spores. IMPORTANCE The endospore of Clostridioides difficile is the vehicle for transmission and persistence of the pathogen, and, specifically, the exosporium is the first contact between the host and the spore. The underlying mechanisms that govern exosporium assembly in C. difficile remain understudied, in part due to difficulties in obtaining pure soluble recombinant proteins of the C. difficile exosporium. Understanding the exosporium assembly’s molecular bases may be essential to developing new therapies against C. difficile infection.

scholarly journals The cysteine-rich exosporium morphogenetic protein, CdeC, exhibits self-assembly properties that lead to organized inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Romero-Rodríguez ◽  
S. Troncoso-Cotal ◽  
E. Guerrero-Araya ◽  
D. Paredes-Sabja
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Obligate Anaerobe ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Nosocomial Diarrhea ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractClostridioides difficile is an obligate anaerobe spore-forming, Gram-positive, pathogenic bacterium, considered the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea worldwide. Recent studies have attempted to understand the biology of the outer-most layer of C. difficile spores, the exosporium, which is believed to contribute to early interactions with the host. The fundamental role of the cysteine-rich proteins CdeC and CdeM has been described. However, the molecular details behind the mechanism of exosporium assembly are missing. The underlying mechanisms that govern exosporium assembly in C. difficile remain poorly studied, in part due to difficulties in obtaining pure soluble recombinant proteins of the C. difficile exosporium. In this work, we observed that CdeC was able to form organized inclusion bodies in the E. coli BL21 (DE3) pRIL strain filled with lamellae-like structures separated by an interspace of 5-15 nm; however, this lamellae-like organization is lost upon overexpression in E. coli SHuffle T7 strain with an oxidative environment. Additionally, DTT treatment of CdeC inclusion bodies released monomeric soluble forms of CdeC. Three truncated versions of the CdeC protein were constructed. While all the variants were able to aggregate forming oligomers that are resistant to denaturation conditions, TEM micrographs suggest that the self-organization properties of CdeC may be attributed to the C-terminal domain. Overall, these observations have important implications in further studies implicated in elucidating the role of CdeC in the exosporium assembly of C. difficile spores.

Response Interference as a Mechanism Underlying Implicit Measures

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertram Gawronski ◽  
Roland Deutsch ◽  
Etienne P. LeBel ◽  
Kurt R. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Implicit Measures ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Response Interference ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Stimulus Features ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Over the last decade, implicit measures of mental associations (e.g., Implicit Association Test, sequential priming) have become increasingly popular in many areas of psychological research. Even though successful applications provide preliminary support for the validity of these measures, their underlying mechanisms are still controversial. The present article addresses the role of a particular mechanism that is hypothesized to mediate the influence of activated associations on task performance in many implicit measures: response interference (RI). Based on a review of relevant evidence, we argue that RI effects in implicit measures depend on participants’ attention to association-relevant stimulus features, which in turn can influence the reliability and the construct validity of these measures. Drawing on a moderated-mediation model (MMM) of task performance in RI paradigms, we provide several suggestions on how to address these problems in research using implicit measures.

The More You Say, the Less They Hear

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsbeth D. Asbeek Brusse ◽  
Marieke L. Fransen ◽  
Edith G. Smit
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Entertainment Education ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Attitude Measures ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract. This study examined the effects of disclosure messages in entertainment-education (E-E) on attitudes toward hearing protection and attitude toward the source. In addition, the (mediating) role of the underlying mechanisms (i.e., transportation, identification, and counterarguing) was studied. In an experiment (N = 336), three different disclosure messages were compared with a no-disclosure condition. The results show that more explicit disclosure messages negatively affect transportation and identification and stimulate the generation of counterarguments. In addition, the more explicit disclosure messages affect both attitude measures via two of these processes (i.e., transportation and counterarguing). Less explicit disclosure messages do not have this effect. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Association of genetic polymorphism of cytokines and antioxidant enzymes with the development of asbestosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 898-903
Author(s):  
Lyudmila P. Kuzmina ◽  
Anastasiya G. Khotuleva ◽  
Evgeniy V. Kovalevsky ◽  
Nikolay N. Anokhin ◽  
Iraklij M. Tskhomariya
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Genetic Polymorphism ◽  
Genetic Predisposition ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Dust Exposure ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Gstp1 Gene ◽  
Polymorphic Variants

Introduction. Various industries widely use chrysotile asbestos, which determines the relevance of research aimed at the prevention of asbestos-related diseases. It is promising to assess the role of specific genes, which products are potentially involved in the development and regulation of certain links in the pathogenesis of asbestosis, forming a genetic predisposition to the disease. The study aims to analyze the presence of associations of genetic polymorphism of cytokines and antioxidant enzymes with asbestosis development. Materials and methods. Groups were formed for examination among employees of OJSC "Uralasbest" with an established diagnosis of asbestosis and without lung diseases. For each person included in the study, dust exposure doses were calculated considering the percentage of time spent at the workplace during the shift for the entire work time. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytokines IL1b (rs16944), IL4 (rs2243250), IL6 (rs1800795), TNFα (rs1800629) and antioxidant enzymes SOD2 (rs4880), GSTP1 (rs1610011), CAT (rs1001179) was carried out. Results. The authors revealed the associations of polymorphic variants A511G IL1b gene (OR=2.457, 95% CI=1.232-4.899) and C47T SOD2 gene (OR=1.705, 95% CI=1.055-2.756) with the development of asbestosis. There was an increase in the T allele IL4 gene (C589T) frequency in persons with asbestosis at lower values of dust exposure doses (OR=2.185, 95% CI=1.057-4.514). The study showed the associations of polymorphism C589T IL4 gene and C174G IL6 gene with more severe asbestosis, polymorphism A313G GSTP1 gene with pleural lesions in asbestosis. Conclusion. Polymorphic variants of the genes of cytokines and antioxidant enzymes, the protein products directly involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the formation of asbestosis, contribute to forming a genetic predisposition to the development and severe course of asbestosis. Using the identified genetic markers to identify risk groups for the development and intense period of asbestos-related pathology will optimize treatment and preventive measures, considering the organism's characteristics.

Autophagy Modulators and Neuroinflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 955-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Sang Cho ◽  
Jang Ho Lee ◽  
Jeiwon Cho ◽  
Guang-Ho Cha ◽  
Gyun Jee Song
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Therapeutic Tools ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders. Therefore, various studies have focused on the development of neuroinflammation inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools. Recently, the involvement of autophagy in the regulation of neuroinflammation has drawn substantial scientific interest, and a growing number of studies support the role of impaired autophagy in the pathogenesis of common neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review recent research on the role of autophagy in controlling neuroinflammation. We focus on studies employing both mammalian cells and animal models to evaluate the ability of different autophagic modulators to regulate neuroinflammation. Methods: We have mostly reviewed recent studies reporting anti-neuroinflammatory properties of autophagy. We also briefly discussed a few studies showing that autophagy modulators activate neuroinflammation in certain conditions. Results: Recent studies report neuroprotective as well as anti-neuroinflammatory effects of autophagic modulators. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of action of these drugs and their potential limitations as therapeutic agents against neurological disorders. Conclusion: Autophagy activators are promising compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders involving neuroinflammation.

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Atrial Fibrillation

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Effimia Zacharia ◽  
Nikolaos Papageorgiou ◽  
Adam Ioannou ◽  
Gerasimos Siasos ◽  
Spyridon Papaioannou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Inflammatory Biomarkers ◽  
Inflammatory Pathways ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

During the last few years, a significant number of studies have attempted to clarify the underlying mechanisms that lead to the presentation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Inflammation is a key component of the pathophysiological processes that lead to the development of AF; the amplification of inflammatory pathways triggers AF, and, in tandem, AF increases the inflammatory state. Indeed, the plasma levels of several inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in patients with AF. In addition, the levels of specific inflammatory biomarkers may provide information regarding to the AF duration. Several small studies have assessed the role of anti-inflammatory treatment in atrial fibrillation but the results have been contradictory. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the role of inflammation in AF and whether anti-inflammatory medications should be routinely administered to patients with AF.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document