scholarly journals Porcine Colostrum Protects the IPEC-J2 Cells and Piglet Colon Epithelium against Clostridioides (syn. Clostridium) difficile Toxin-Induced Effects

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Grześkowiak ◽  
Robert Pieper ◽  
Susan Kröger ◽  
Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín ◽  
Anja E. Hauser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Ussing Chamber ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Immune Markers ◽  
Colon Tissue ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Porcine Milk

Clostridioides difficile toxins are one of the main causative agents for the clinical symptoms observed during C. difficile infection in piglets. Porcine milk has been shown to strengthen the epithelial barrier function in the piglet’s intestine and may have the potential to neutralise clostridial toxins. We hypothesised that porcine colostrum exerts protective effects against those toxins in the IPEC-J2 cells and in the colon epithelium of healthy piglets. The IPEC-J2 cells were treated with either the toxins or porcine colostrum or their combination. Analyses included measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), cell viability using propidium iodide by flow cytometry, gene expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and immune markers, immunofluorescence (IF) histology of the cytoskeleton and a TJ protein assessment. Colon tissue explants from one- and two-week-old suckling piglets and from five-week-old weaned piglets were treated with C. difficile toxins in Ussing chamber assays to assess the permeability to macromolecules (FITC-dextran, HRP), followed by analysis of gene expression of TJ proteins and immune markers. Toxins decreased viability and integrity of IPEC-J2 cells in a time-dependent manner. Porcine colostrum exerted a protective effect against toxins as indicated by TEER and IF in IPEC-J2 cells. Toxins tended to increase paracellular permeability to macromolecules in colon tissues of two-week-old piglets and downregulated gene expression of occludin in colon tissues of five-week-old piglets (p = 0.05). Porcine milk including colostrum, besides other maternal factors, may be one of the important determinants of early immune programming towards protection from C. difficile infections in the offspring.

scholarly journals Brusatol-Enriched Brucea javanica Oil Ameliorated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice: Involvement of NF-κB and RhoA/ROCK Signaling Pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xinghan Zheng ◽  
Liting Mai ◽  
Tongtong Wang ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Zireng Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Colon Tissue ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Brucea Javanica ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Brucea Javanica Oil

Brucea javanica oil (BJO) is beneficial for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), and that quassinoids in particular brusatol are bioactive components. However, it is still uncertain whether or not other components in BJO, such as oleic acid and fatty acids, have an anti-UC effect. The present study is aimed at comparing the anti-UC effects between brusatol-enriched BJO (BE-BJO) and brusatol-free BJO (BF-BJO) and at exploring the effects and mechanisms of BE-BJO on colon inflammation and intestinal epithelial barrier function. Balb/C mice received 3% (wt/vol) DSS for one week to establish the UC model. Different doses of BE-BJO, BF-BJO, or BJO were treated. The result illustrated that BE-BJO alleviated DSS-induced loss of body weight, an increase of disease activity index (DAI), and a shortening of colon, whereas BF-BJO did not have these protective effects. BE-BJO treatment improved the morphology of colon tissue, inhibited the production and release of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon tissue, and reversed the decreased expressions of ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1, and E-cadherin induced by DSS but augmented claudin-2 expression. Mechanistically, BE-BJO repressed phosphorylation of NF-κB subunit p65, suppressed RhoA activation, downregulated ROCK, and prevented phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) in DSS-treated mice, indicating that the protective effect of BE-BJO is attributed to suppression of NF-κB and RhoA/ROCK signaling pathways. These findings confirm that brusatol is an active component from BJO in the treatment of UC.

scholarly journals Blood Serum Stimulates p38-Mediated Proliferation and Changes in Global Gene Expression of Adult Human Cardiac Stem Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna L. Höving ◽  
Kazuko E. Schmidt ◽  
Madlen Merten ◽  
Jassin Hamidi ◽  
Ann-Katrin Rott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Human Blood Plasma ◽  
Cardiac Stem Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Adult Human ◽  
Age And Sex

During aging, senescent cells accumulate in various tissues accompanied by decreased regenerative capacities of quiescent stem cells, resulting in deteriorated organ function and overall degeneration. In this regard, the adult human heart with a generally low regenerative potential is of extreme interest as a target for rejuvenating strategies with blood borne factors that might be able to activate endogenous stem cell populations. Here, we investigated for the first time the effects of human blood plasma and serum on adult human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) and showed significantly increased proliferation capacities and metabolism accompanied by a significant decrease of senescent cells, demonstrating a beneficial serum-mediated effect that seemed to be independent of age and sex. However, RNA-seq analysis of serum-treated hCSCs revealed profound effects on gene expression depending on the age and sex of the plasma donor. We further successfully identified key pathways that are affected by serum treatment with p38-MAPK playing a regulatory role in protection from senescence and in the promotion of proliferation in a serum-dependent manner. Inhibition of p38-MAPK resulted in a decline of these serum-mediated beneficial effects on hCSCs in terms of decreased proliferation and accelerated senescence. In summary, we provide new insights in the regulatory networks behind serum-mediated protective effects on adult human cardiac stem cells.

scholarly journals Unravelling the Phytochemical Composition and the Pharmacological Properties of an Optimized Extract from the Fruit from Prunus mahaleb L.: From Traditional Liqueur Market to the Pharmacy Shelf

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4422
Author(s):  
Giustino Orlando ◽  
Annalisa Chiavaroli ◽  
Sabrina Adorisio ◽  
Domenico V. Delfino ◽  
Luigi Brunetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Water Extract ◽  
Dopamine Turnover ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Prunus Mahaleb

Prunus mahaleb L. fruit has long been used in the production of traditional liqueurs. The fruit also displayed scavenging and reducing activity, in vitro. The present study focused on unravelling peripheral and central protective effects, antimicrobial but also anti-COVID-19 properties exerted by the water extract of P. mahaleb. Anti-inflammatory effects were studied in isolated mouse colons exposed to lipopolysaccharide. Neuroprotection, measured as a blunting effect on hydrogen-peroxide-induced dopamine turnover, was investigated in hypothalamic HypoE22 cells. Antimicrobial effects were tested against different Gram+ and Gram- bacterial strains. Whereas anti-COVID-19 activity was studied in lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cells, where the gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was measured after extract treatment. The bacteriostatic effects induced on Gram+ and Gram- strains, together with the inhibition of COX-2, TNFα, HIF1α, and VEGFA in the colon, suggest the potential of P. mahaleb water extract in contrasting the clinical symptoms related to ulcerative colitis. The inhibition of the hydrogen peroxide-induced DOPAC/DA ratio indicates promising neuroprotective effects. Finally, the downregulation of the gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in H1299 cells, suggests the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus entry in the human host. Overall, the results support the valorization of the local cultivation of P. mahaleb.

scholarly journals Clostridium butyricum enhances colonization resistance against Clostridioides difficile by metabolic and immune modulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao Hagihara ◽  
Tadashi Ariyoshi ◽  
Yasutoshi Kuroki ◽  
Shuhei Eguchi ◽  
Seiya Higashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Immunoglobulin A ◽  
Clostridium Butyricum ◽  
Intestinal Damage ◽  
Colonization Resistance ◽  
Colon Tissue ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Epithelial Damage ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Gut Colonization

AbstractClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) represents the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea worldwide and is associated with gut dysbiosis and intestinal damage. Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM 588) contributes significantly to reduce epithelial damage. However, the impacts of CBM 588 on antibacterial therapy for CDI are not clear. Here we show that CBM 588 enhanced the antibacterial activity of fidaxomicin against C. difficile and negatively modulated gut succinate levels to prevent C. difficile proliferation and downregulate tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) producing macrophages in the colon lumina propria (cLP), resulting in a significant decrease in colon epithelial damage. Additionally, CBM 588 upregulated T cell-dependent pathogen specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) via interleukin (IL)-17A producing CD4+ cells and plasma B cells in the cLP, and Th17 cells in the cLP enhanced the gut epithelial barrier function. IL-17A and succinic acid modulations with CBM 588 enhance gut colonization resistance to C. difficile and protect the colon tissue from CDI.

The Protective Effect of Metformin against Oxandrolone-Induced Infertility in Male Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulqader Fadhil Abed ◽  
Yazun Bashir Jarrar ◽  
Hamzeh J Al-Ameer ◽  
Wajdy Al-Awaida ◽  
Su-Jun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Male Infertility ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Histological Examination ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
P Value ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Rt Pcr

Background: Oxandrolone is a synthetic testosterone analogue that is widely used among bodybuilders and athletes. However, oxandrolone causes male infertility. Recently, it was found that metformin reduces the risk of infertility associated with diabetes mellitus. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of metformin against oxandrolone-induced infertility in male rats. Methods: Rats continuously received one of four treatments (n=7) over 14 days: control DMSO administration, oxandrolone administration, metformin administration, or co-administration of oxandrolone and metformin. Doses were equivalent to those used for human treatment. Subsequently, testicular and blood samples were collected for morphological, biochemical, and histological examination. In addition, gene expression of the testosterone synthesizing enzyme CYP11A1 was analyzed in the testes using RT-PCR. Results: Oxandrolone administration induced male infertility by significantly reducing relative weights of testes by 48%, sperm count by 82%, and serum testosterone levels by 96% (ANOVA, P value < 0.05). In addition, histological examination determined that oxandrolone caused spermatogenic arrest which was associated with 2-fold downregulation of testicular CYP11A1 gene expression. However, co-administration of metformin with oxandrolone significantly ameliorated toxicological alterations induced by oxandrolone exposure (ANOVA, P value < 0.05). Conclusion: Metformin administration protected against oxandrolone-induced infertility in male rats. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the protective effect of metformin against oxandrolone-induced infertility among athletes.

scholarly journals Flow-dependent regulation of endothelial Tie2 by GATA3 in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Temitayo O. Idowu ◽  
Valerie Etzrodt ◽  
Thorben Pape ◽  
Joerg Heineke ◽  
Klaus Stahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Pulmonary Endothelium ◽  
Delivery Platform ◽  
Transient Overexpression ◽  
Plasmid Delivery

Abstract Background Reduced endothelial Tie2 expression occurs in diverse experimental models of critical illness, and experimental Tie2 suppression is sufficient to increase spontaneous vascular permeability. Looking for a common denominator among different critical illnesses that could drive the same Tie2 suppressive (thereby leak inducing) phenotype, we identified “circulatory shock” as a shared feature and postulated a flow-dependency of Tie2 gene expression in a GATA3 dependent manner. Here, we analyzed if this mechanism of flow-regulation of gene expression exists in vivo in the absence of inflammation. Results To experimentally mimic a shock-like situation, we developed a murine model of clonidine-induced hypotension by targeting a reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) of approximately 50% over 4 h. We found that hypotension-induced reduction of flow in the absence of confounding disease factors (i.e., inflammation, injury, among others) is sufficient to suppress GATA3 and Tie2 transcription. Conditional endothelial-specific GATA3 knockdown (B6-Gata3tm1-Jfz VE-Cadherin(PAC)-cerERT2) led to baseline Tie2 suppression inducing spontaneous vascular leak. On the contrary, the transient overexpression of GATA3 in the pulmonary endothelium (jet-PEI plasmid delivery platform) was sufficient to increase Tie2 at baseline and completely block its hypotension-induced acute drop. On the functional level, the Tie2 protection by GATA3 overexpression abrogated the development of pulmonary capillary leakage. Conclusions The data suggest that the GATA3–Tie2 signaling pathway might play a pivotal role in controlling vascular barrier function and that it is affected in diverse critical illnesses with shock as a consequence of a flow-regulated gene response. Targeting this novel mechanism might offer therapeutic opportunities to treat vascular leakage of diverse etiologies.

scholarly journals Necroptosis protects against exacerbation of acute pancreatitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michittra Boonchan ◽  
Hideki Arimochi ◽  
Kunihiro Otsuka ◽  
Tomoko Kobayashi ◽  
Hisanori Uehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Necrotizing Pancreatitis ◽  
Neutrophil Infiltration ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
Edematous Pancreatitis ◽  
Genetic Deletion ◽  
Dose Dependent

AbstractThe sensing of various extrinsic stimuli triggers the receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3)-mediated signaling pathway, which leads to mixed-lineage kinase-like (MLKL) phosphorylation followed by necroptosis. Although necroptosis is a form of cell death and is involved in inflammatory conditions, the roles of necroptosis in acute pancreatitis (AP) remain unclear. In the current study, we administered caerulein to Ripk3- or Mlkl-deficient mice (Ripk3−/− or Mlkl−/− mice, respectively) and assessed the roles of necroptosis in AP. We found that Ripk3−/− mice had significantly more severe pancreatic edema and inflammation associated with macrophage and neutrophil infiltration than control mice. Consistently, Mlkl−/− mice were more susceptible to caerulein-induced AP, which occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner, than control mice. Mlkl−/− mice exhibit weight loss, edematous pancreatitis, necrotizing pancreatitis, and acinar cell dedifferentiation in response to tissue damage. Genetic deletion of Mlkl resulted in downregulation of the antiapoptotic genes Bclxl and Cflar in association with increases in the numbers of apoptotic cells, as detected by TUNEL assay. These findings suggest that RIPK3 and MLKL-mediated necroptosis exerts protective effects in AP and caution against the use of necroptosis inhibitors for AP treatment.

scholarly journals Moxifloxacin Activates the SOS Response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a Dose- and Time-Dependent Manner

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Angelo Iacobino ◽  
Giovanni Piccaro ◽  
Manuela Pardini ◽  
Lanfranco Fattorini ◽  
Federico Giannoni
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Sos Response ◽  
Resistant Mutant ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Gyra Gene ◽  
Drug Concentrations

Previous studies on Escherichia coli demonstrated that sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluoroquinolones induced the SOS response, increasing drug tolerance. We characterized the transcriptional response to moxifloxacin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Reference strain H37Rv was treated with moxifloxacin and gene expression studied by qRT-PCR. Five SOS regulon genes, recA, lexA, dnaE2, Rv3074 and Rv3776, were induced in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A range of moxifloxacin concentrations induced recA, with a peak observed at 2 × MIC (0.25 μg/mL) after 16 h. Another seven SOS responses and three DNA repair genes were significantly induced by moxifloxacin. Induction of recA by moxifloxacin was higher in log-phase than in early- and stationary-phase cells, and absent in dormant bacilli. Furthermore, in an H37Rv fluoroquinolone-resistant mutant carrying the D94G mutation in the gyrA gene, the SOS response was induced at drug concentrations higher than the mutant MIC value. The 2 × MIC of moxifloxacin determined no significant changes in gene expression in a panel of 32 genes, except for up-regulation of the relK toxin and of Rv3290c and Rv2517c, two persistence-related genes. Overall, our data show that activation of the SOS response by moxifloxacin, a likely link to increased mutation rate and persister formation, is time, dose, physiological state and, possibly, MIC dependent.

scholarly journals Protective Effect of Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. Extract against Ethanol-Induced Gastritis in Rats

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Naila Boby ◽  
Muhammad Aleem Abbas ◽  
Eon-Bee Lee ◽  
Zi-Eum Im ◽  
Walter H. Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Ethanol Ingestion ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Gastric Mucosal Lesions ◽  
Cellular Degeneration ◽  
Mucosal Lesions ◽  
Pyrus Ussuriensis Maxim

Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim (Korean pear) has been used for hundreds of years as a traditional herbal medicine for asthma, cough, and atopic dermatitis in Korea and China. Although it was originally shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiatopic properties, its gastroprotective effects have not been investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim extract (PUE) against ethanol-induced gastritis in rats. The bioactive compound profile of PUE was determined by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The gastroprotection of PUE at different doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) prior to ethanol ingestion was evaluated using an in vivo gastritis rat model. Several endpoints were evaluated, including gastric mucosal lesions, cellular degeneration, intracellular damage, and immunohistochemical localization of leucocyte common antigen. The gastric mucosal injury and ulcer score were determined by evaluating the inflamed gastric mucosa and by histological examination. To identify the mechanisms of gastroprotection by PUE, antisecretory action and plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), gastric mucosal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and histamine levels were measured. PUE exhibited significant antioxidant effects with IC50 values of 56.18 and 22.49 µg/mL for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′- azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) inhibition (%), respectively. In addition, GC/MS and HPLC analyses revealed several bioactive compounds of PUE. Pretreatment with PUE significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the ulcer index by preventing gastric mucosal lesions, erosion, and cellular degeneration. An immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PUE markedly attenuated leucocyte infiltration in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancement of PGE2 levels and attenuation of cAMP levels along with the inhibition of histamine release following PUE pretreatment was associated with the cytoprotective and healing effects of PUE. In contrast, the downregulation of the H+/K+ ATPase pathway as well as muscarinic receptor (M3R) and histamine receptor (H2R) inhibition was also involved in the gastroprotective effects of PUE; however, the expression of cholecystokinin-2 receptors (CCK2R) was unchanged. Finally, no signs of toxicity were observed following PUE treatment. Based on our results, we conclude that PUE represents an effective therapeutic option to reduce the risk of gastritis and warrants further study.

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