Effect of nori, a combination of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) on blood pressure, modulation of ACE, eNOS and iNOS gene expression in hypertensive rats

Hypertension is a major risk factor for causing life-threatening cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke. Its cases continue to increase worldwide and it is estimated that 1.56 billion adults would live with the condition in 2025. Therefore, this study aims to examine the antihypertensive effect of nori supplement prepared with a combination of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) on L-NAME-induced and non-induced rats. It was conducted for 28 days on 25 wistar rats that were randomly assigned to the negative, positive, comparison, supplement, and test control groups. CODA was then used in measuring the blood pressure of the rats, while ECG and PPG sensors were utilized for arterial stiffness assessment, as well as for spatial QRS-T and heart rate analysis. Additionally, serum NO levels were measured using griess reagents by spectrophotometric λ540 nm. At the same time, the gel-based PCR semi-quantitative method was used in assessing the activity of ACE, including eNOS and iNOS gene expression. The results showed that nori preparations which contained a combination of 5% turmeric and gotu kola in a feed mixture, had an antihypertensive effect. The effect was characterized by a decrease in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, as well as heart rate, arterial stiffness, and spatial QRS-T. Additionally, it occurred due to increased NO availability, which resulted from eNOS expression as well as a decrease in iNOS and ACE expression.

Nitric oxide as an indicator for assessing the resistance and susceptibility of cattle to leukemia

The role of allelic variability of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is significant in the study of the resistance and susceptibility of animals to leukemia infection. After analyzing the literature data, it can be stated that in the iNOS gene, allele A (with genotype AA) is responsible for resistance to the leukemia virus, and allele B (with genotype BB) is responsible for susceptibility. This is due to the frequency of occurrence of alleles and their genotypes of the polymorphic marker AN13-1 of the inducibeal nitric oxide synthase gene. The iNOS gene is capable of producing a large amount of nitric oxide, compared to other isoforms. In turn, nitric oxide causes death or can stop the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses. The purpose of this work is to further study nitric oxide as an indicator for determining the resistance and susceptibility of animals to leukemia, as well as the selection of specific primers for PCR-PDRF used in genotyping. Methods. The iNOS gene sequence was analyzed and a pair of specific primers were selected and synthesized using the Vector NTI program. Scientific novelty of this work lies in the fact that we have selected specific primers that are important for the analysis of cattle genotyping by allelic variants of the polymorphic marker AH13-1 of the iNOS gene. Results. Based on this work, a pair of primers iNOSF_new and iNOSR_new, with a calculated annealing temperature of 52 °C, were selected and synthesized, giving an amplicon with a length of 186 bp. The amplicon contains a polymorphic site that distinguishes the A and B alleles. During PCR-RFLP, the following genotype-specific fragments are formed: AA-47/139 bp; AB -186/139/47 bp; BB-186 bp.

Impacts of garlic extract on testicular oxidative stress and sperm characteristics in type 1 and 2 diabetic rats: An experimental study

Background: Hyperglycemia damages various tissues such as the testes through oxidative stress and inflammation, which can eventually lead to infertility. Objective: Garlic extract effects on the testicular tissue of diabetic rats were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (8-wk old, weighing 230-300 gr) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each) including; C: control rats, G: received 0.4 gr of garlic extract/100 gr body weight, D1: Streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats or type 1, D1+G: D1 rats that were treated with garlic, D2: Streptozotocin + nicotinamide-induced-diabetic rats or type 2, D2+G: D2 rats treated with garlic. At the end of the study, serum testosterone was assayed by ELISA. Also, sperm quality and quantity were evaluated. For determination of oxidative stress status, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, and thiol groups were assayed in the testis tissues of the rats by colorimetric methods. Also, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and the protein level of interleukin-1-1β (IL-1β) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: In diabetic rats, glucose, total oxidative status and lipid peroxidation, iNOS gene expression, and IL-1β were higher than in non-diabetic rats, whereas testosterone, total antioxidant capacity and thiol groups, and sperm quality were significantly lower compared with control rats. These alterations were normalized by garlic intervention. Conclusion: In diabetic rats, garlic was associated with reduced glucose, oxidative stress, IL-1β, and iNOS gene expression and increased testosterone and sperm quality. So, the results suggest that garlic can reduce the severity of damage in testicular tissues of diabetic rats through its hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Garlic, Oxidative stress, Inflammation, Testis.

Regulated inositol synthesis is critical for balanced metabolism and development in Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT Myo-inositol is a precursor of the membrane phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (PI). It is involved in many essential cellular processes including signal transduction, energy metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and osmoregulation. Inositol is synthesized from glucose-6-phosphate by myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (MIPSp). The Drosophila melanogaster Inos gene encodes MIPSp. Abnormalities in myo-inositol metabolism have been implicated in type 2 diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Obesity and high blood (hemolymph) glucose are two hallmarks of diabetes, which can be induced in Drosophila melanogaster third-instar larvae by high-sucrose diets. This study shows that dietary inositol reduces the obese-like and high-hemolymph glucose phenotypes of third-instar larvae fed high-sucrose diets. Furthermore, this study demonstrates Inos mRNA regulation by dietary inositol; when more inositol is provided there is less Inos mRNA. Third-instar larvae with dysregulated high levels of Inos mRNA and MIPSp show dramatic reductions of the obese-like and high-hemolymph glucose phenotypes. These strains, however, also display developmental defects and pupal lethality. The few individuals that eclose die within two days with striking defects: structural alterations of the wings and legs, and heads lacking proboscises. This study is an exciting extension of the use of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for exploring the junction of development and metabolism.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Cultivar Okhwang 1) Callus through Inhibition of PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages

One of the Korean endemic plants, Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Oleaceae), contains acteoside, which is a glycoside exhibiting neuroprotective, anti-inflammation effects and antibacterial capacities. We conducted an investigation on the effects of the callus of A. distichum (cultivar Okhwang 1, CAO) on pro-inflammatory mediators released following nuclear factor-кB (NF-кB), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K-Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Immunoblotting was employed to find out the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), and activation of MAPK molecules, NF-κB and Akt. Cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS gene expression were assessed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS gene expression were assessed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that CAO was rich in acteoside and isoacteoside. As a result, CAO inhibited the generation of NO, cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS expression. Further, translocation to the nuclear of NF-κB p65 and degradation of the inhibitor of NF-кB (IкB) were alleviated by suppressing phosphorylation. Additionally, CAO significantly impacted MAPK pathway activation by potentially reducing phosphorylation of MAPKs. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of CAO is mediated via the inhibition of MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways, probably via glycosides, phenolics, and flavonoids bioactivity derived from plants. CAO can serve as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, which alleviates inflammation factors and act through specific cell signaling pathways.

A novel long non-coding RNA, Nostrill, regulates iNOS gene transcription and neurotoxicity in microglia.

Background Microglia are resident immunocompetent and phagocytic cells in the CNS. Pro-inflammatory microglia, stimulated by environmental microbial signals such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), viral RNAs, or inflammatory cytokines, are neurotoxic and associated with pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are emerging as important tissue-specific regulators directing cell differentiation and functional states and may help direct proinflammatory responses of microglia. Methods Microglial gene expression array analyses and qRT-PCR was used to identify a novel intergenic long-noncoding RNA that was upregulated in LPS-stimulated microglial cell lines, LPS-stimulated primary microglia, and LPS-injected mouse cortical tissue. Silencing and overexpression studies, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, chromatin RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and qRT-PCR were used to study the function of this long-noncoding RNA in microglia. In vitro cytotoxicity assays were used to examine the effects of silencing the novel long-noncoding RNA in LPS-stimulated microglia on neurotoxicity. Results We report here that the previously uncharacterized intergenic lncRNA we termed Nostrill is induced by LPS stimulation in both BV2 cells and primary murine microglia, as well as in cortical tissue of LPS-injected mice. Induction of Nostrill is NF-κB dependent and silencing of Nostrill decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide production in BV2 and primary microglial cells. Overexpression of Nostrill increased iNOS expression and nitric oxide production. RNA immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Nostrill is physically associated with NF-κB subunit p65 following LPS stimulation. Silencing of Nostrill significantly reduced NF-κB p65 and RNA polymerase II recruitment to the iNOS promoter and decreased H3K4me3 activating histone modifications at iNOS gene loci. In vitro studies demonstrate that silencing of Nostrill in microglia reduced LPS-stimulated microglia neurotoxicity. Conclusions Our data indicate a new regulatory role of NF-κB-induced Nostrill and suggest that Nostrill acts as a co-activator of transcription of iNOS resulting in the production of nitric oxide in microglia through modulation of epigenetic chromatin remodeling. Nostrill may be a target for reducing the neurotoxicity associated with iNOS-mediated inflammatory processes in microglia during neurodegeneration.