Early-Life Nutrition Interventions Improved Growth Performance and Intestinal Health via the Gut Microbiota in Piglets

Intestinal infections in piglets are the main causes of morbidity before and after weaning. Studies have not explored approaches for combining pre-weaning and post-weaning nutritional strategies to sustain optimal gut health. The current study thus sought to explore the effects of early-life nutrition interventions through administration of synthetic milk on growth performance and gut health in piglets from 3 to 30 days of age. Twelve sows were randomly allocated to control group (CON) and early-life nutrition interventions group (ENI). Piglets were fed with the same creep diet from 7 days of age ad libitum. Piglets in the ENI group were provided with additional synthetic milk from Day 3 to Day 30. The results showed that early-life nutrition interventions improved growth performance, liver weight, spleen weight, and reduced diarrhea rate of piglets after weaning (P < 0.05). Early-life nutrition interventions significantly upregulated expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin4, GALNT1, B3GNT6, and MUC2 in colonic mucosa at mRNA level (P < 0.05). Early-life nutrition interventions reduced activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in serum and the content of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in plasma (P < 0.05). The number of goblet cells and crypt depth of colon of piglets was significantly higher in piglets in the ENI group relative to that of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression levels of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, and the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in colonic mucosa of piglets in the ENI group were lower compared with those of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). Relative abundance of Lactobacillus in colonic chyme and mucosa of piglets in the ENI group was significantly higher relative to that of piglets in the CON group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that abundance of Lactobacillus was positively correlated with the relative mRNA expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin4, and GALNT1, and it was negatively correlated with the level of MCP-1 in colonic chyme and mucosa. In summary, the findings of this study showed that early-life nutrition interventions improved growth performance, colonic barrier, and reduced inflammation in the colon by modulating composition of gut microbiota in piglets. Early-life nutrition intervention through supplemental synthetic milk is a feasible measure to improve the health and reduce the number of deaths of piglets.

Rapamycin as a potent and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor in breast carcinoma

Angiogenesis is the process of new vascular formation, which is derived from various factors. For suppressing cancer cell growth, targeting angiogenesis is one of the therapeutic approaches. Vascular endothelial growth factor family receptors, including Flt-1, Flk-1 and Flt-4, have been found to play an essential role in regulating angiogenesis. Rapamycin is a macrolide compound with anti-proliferative properties, while platelet factor-4 (PF-4) is an antiangiogenic ELR-negative chemokine. Rapamycin inhibits mTOR ligands activation, thus suppressing cell proliferation, while PF-4 inhibits cell proliferation through several mechanisms. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of rapamycin and platelet factor-4 toward breast carcinoma at the proteomic and genomic levels. A total of 60 N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea-induced rat breast carcinomas were treated with rapamycin, platelet factor-4 and rapamycin+platelet factor-4. The tumours were subsequently subjected to immunohistochemical protein analysis and polymerase chain reaction gene analysis. Protein analysis was performed using a semiquantitative scoring method, while the mRNA expression levels were analysed based on the relative expression ratio. There was a significant difference in the protein and mRNA expression levels for the selected markers. In the rapamycin+platelet factor-4-treated group, the Flt-4 marker was downregulated, whereas there were no differences in the expression levels of other markers, such as Flt-1 and Flk-1. On the other hand, platelet factor-4 did not exhibit a superior angiogenic inhibiting ability in this study. Rapamycin is a potent antiangiogenic drug; however, platelet factor-4 proved to be a less effective drug of anti-angiogenesis on rat breast carcinoma model.

Multi-Omics Profiling in Marfan Syndrome: Further Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Aortic Disease

Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a potentially life-threatening disease with a strong genetic contribution. Despite identification of multiple genes involved in aneurysm formation, little is known about the specific underlying mechanisms that drive the pathological changes in the aortic wall. The aim of our study was to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying aneurysm formation in Marfan syndrome (MFS). We collected aortic wall samples from FBN1 variant-positive MFS patients (n = 6) and healthy donor hearts (n = 5). Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were measured by RNA sequencing and compared between MFS patients and controls, and between haploinsufficient (HI) and dominant negative (DN) FBN1 variants. Immunohistochemical staining, proteomics and cellular respiration experiments were used to confirm our findings. FBN1 mRNA expression levels were highly variable in MFS patients and did not significantly differ from controls. Moreover, we did not identify a distinctive TGF-β gene expression signature in MFS patients. On the contrary, differential gene and protein expression analysis, as well as vascular smooth muscle cell respiration measurements, pointed toward inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings confirm that inflammatory and mitochondrial pathways play important roles in the pathophysiological processes underlying MFS-related aortic disease, providing new therapeutic options.

Expression of SCO1 and SCO2 after form-deprivation myopia in Guinea pigs

Purpose The retina is a highly energy-consuming tissue associated with visual development, and the reduced quality of retinal imaging can be related to myopia. Synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase 1 ( SCO1) and synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase 2 ( SCO2) are involved in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) synthesis and energy metabolism. This study aimed to observe the morphologic changes and investigate the expression of SCO1 and SCO2 induced by form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in the retina and sclera of guinea pigs. Methods Thirty-six 3-week-old male guinea pigs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) the model group (n = 18), in which the right eyes were covered by a thin opaque balloon as FDM group, and the left eyes were uncovered and served as the contralateral control group; (2) the blank control group (n = 18), in which bilateral eye received no manipulation. Eyeballs were enucleated for histological analysis. The retina and sclera of the guinea pigs were separated to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of SCO1 and SCO2, respectively. Results After four weeks of form deprivation (FD), the refractive degree and axial length increased significantly ( P < 0.001). The retinal and scleral tissues were moderately thinner, and the ganglion cells and the cells of inner and outer nuclear layers in the retina became fewer. Compared with the contralateral control group ( P < 0.001) and the blank control group ( P < 0.001), the collagen content of the sclera became less in the FDM group. The protein and mRNA expression levels of SCO1 and SCO2 in the FDM group were significantly lower than those in the contralateral control group and the blank control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions The morphologies of the retina and sclera were changed, and the expression of SCO1 and SCO2 at the protein and transcription levels was significantly reduced in the FDM group. Given these changes, SCO1 and SCO2 genes may be involved in myopic progression.

Human intrinsic choroidal neurons do not alter the expression of intrinsic markers in response to pressure

BackgroundThe choroid is densely innervated by all parts of the autonomic nervous system and further harbours a network of local nerve cells, the intrinsic choroidal neurons (ICN). Their function in ocular control is currently unknown. While morphological data assume a role in intraocular pressure regulation, we here test if increased pressure on isolated choroids may activate ICN.MethodsDonor tissue was transferred into a pressurisable tissue culture chamber, and nasal and temporal choroid halves incubated for 1 or 4 hours, with pressures set to 15 or 50 mm Hg, followed by qRT-PCR expression analysis of the ICN-specific markers VIP, UCN, NOS1, UCH-L1. POL2-normalised data in the different pressure settings, incubation times and localisations were statistically analysed.ResultsThe presence of the ICN-specific markers VIP, UCN, NOS1, UCH-L1 was confirmed using immunohistochemistry, and mRNA of all markers was detected in all experimental conditions. Marker analysis revealed no significant changes of mRNA expression levels between 15 and 50 mm Hg in the different incubation times. When comparing all samples over all experimental conditions, a significant increase of VIP and NOS1 mRNA was detected in temporal versus nasal choroids.ConclusionIn this functional analysis of human ICN in vitro, higher amounts of VIP and NOS1 mRNA were detected in the temporal choroid, that is, the choroidal site with ICN accumulation. Further, our data indicate that elevated pressure is apparently not able to trigger ICN responses via the investigated markers. Alternative markers and stimuli need to be investigated in upcoming studies in order to unravel ICN function.

Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve Prevents Memory Impairment Through the Reduction of Both Amyloid-β Production and Microglia Activation in APP Knock-In Mouse

Background: Probiotic supplementation reestablishes microbiome diversity and improves brain function in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); their molecular mechanisms, however, have not yet been fully illustrated. Objective: We investigated the effects of orally supplemented Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 on cognitive function and AD-like pathologies in AppNL-G-F mice. Methods: Three-month-old AppNL-G-F mice were orally supplemented with B. breve MCC1274 for four months. The short-term memory function was evaluated using a novel object recognition test. Amyloid plaques, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels, Aβ fibril, amyloid-β protein precursor and its processing enzymes, its metabolic products, glial activity, and cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Aβ ELISA, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined by qRT-PCR analysis. Results: We found that the oral B. breve MCC1 274 supplementation prevented memory impairment in AppNL-G-F mice and decreased hippocampal Aβ levels through the enhancement of the a-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) level. Moreover, administration of the probiotic activated the ERK/HIF-1α signaling pathway responsible for increasing the ADAM10 level and also attenuated microglial activation, which in turn led to reduction in the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. In addition, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation increased the level of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Our findings support the possibility that oral B. breve MCC1274 supplementation might be used as a potential preventive therapy for AD progression.

Comprehensive Analysis of Myoferlin in Human Pancreatic Cancer via Bioinformatics

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death and urgently needs biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis. It has been reported that myoferlin (MYOF) is implicated in the regulation of proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cells in many cancers including pancreatic cancer. To confirm the prognostic value of MYOF in pancreatic cancer, a comprehensive cancer versus healthy people analysis was conducted using public data. MYOF mRNA expression levels were compared in many kinds of cancers including pancreatic cancer via the Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. The results have shown that MYOF mRNA expression levels were upregulated in most types of cancers, especially in pancreatic cancer, compared with healthy people’s tissues. Data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EML) database also revealed that MYOF mRNA is highly expressed in most cancer cells, particularly in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the prognostic value of MYOF was evaluated using GEPIA and Long-term Outcome and Gene Expression Profiling Database of pan-cancers (LOGpc) database. Higher expression of MYOF was associated with poorer overall survival, especially in the lower stage and lower grade. Coexpressed genes, possible regulators, and the correlation between MYOF expressions were analyzed via the GEPIA and LinkedOmics database. Nineteen coexpressed genes were identified, and most of these genes were related to cancer. The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database was used to analyze the correlation between MYOF and immune response. Notably, we found that MYOF might have a potential novel immune regulatory role in tumor immunity. These results support that MYOF is a candidate prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer, which calls for further genomics research of pancreatic cancer and deeply functional studies on MYOF.

Effect of Regorafenib on P2X7 Receptor Expression and Different Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line: A Potential of New Insight of the Antitumor Effects of Regorafenib

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. P2X7 is a transmembrane receptor expressed in breast cancer and activated by the ATP tumor microenvironment, driving cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis via different signaling pathways. The role of the P2X7 receptor, hypoxia, and autophagy in regulating tumor progression is controversial. The multikinase inhibitor regorafenib prevents the activation of numerous kinases involved in angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. The present study aimed to evaluate the modulatory effect of regorafenib on the hypoxia/angiogenesis/P2X7R/autophagy axis on the MCF7 breast cancer cell line and its impact on different signaling pathways involved in breast cancer pathogenesis. Methods: The levels of VEGF, VEGFR, PI3K, NF-κB, HIF-1α, and LC3-II were analyzed using ELISA, and caspase-3 activity was also assessed colorimetrically. Phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK and purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7) receptor protein expression levels were analyzed via Western blotting. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of Beclin 1 (BECN1), LC3-II, and sequestosome 1 (p62). Results: Regorafenib reduced MCF7 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, regorafenib significantly reduced levels of PI3K, NF-κB, VEGF, VEGFR, P2X7 receptor, and p-p38 MAPK protein expression, and markedly reduced p62 mRNA expression levels. However, regorafenib significantly increased caspase-3 activity, as well as BECN1 and LC3-II mRNA expression levels. Conclusions: Regorafenib was demonstrated to possibly exhibit antitumor activity on the breast cancer cell line via modulation of the P2X7/HIF-1α/VEGF, P2X7/P38, P2X7/ERK/NF-κB, and P2X7/beclin 1 pathways.

Effect of Betaine Diet on Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Fat Deposition in Finishing Ningxiang Pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of diet with betaine supplementation on the growth performance, carcass quality and fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs. A total of 24 Ningxiang pigs (43.6 ± 5.34 kg of average body weight) was randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates per treatment and 2 pigs per replicate. The treatments included a control group (basal diet) and a test group (basal diet + 0.2% betaine). The whole trial lasted 81 days. At the end of the experiment, one pig (close to the average body weight of all experimental pigs) per replicate was slaughtered to determine the carcass traits, meat quality and the mRNA expression levels of genes relate to fat deposition (one pig per replicate was randomly selected and fasted for 12 h, n = 6). Results indicated that growth performance was not changed with betaine supplementation. However, dietary with betaine supplementation decreased back fat thickness and fat percentage, and increased the lean meat percentage as well (p < 0.05). In addition, diet with betaine supplementation reduced drip loss, water loss, cooking loss, shear force and b×24 h value of meat (p < 0.05). There was no difference in total moisture, ether extract and crude protein of longissimus thoracis between the control and test group. Dietary with betaine supplementation decreased ether extract and total cholesterol (p < 0.05) in liver. Dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), while downregulated the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in subcutaneous fat of back (p < 0.05). Besides, dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) mRNA expression of longissimus thoracis in finishing Ningxiang pigs (p < 0.05). These results showed that diet supplemented with betaine could improve the slaughtering performance and meat quality, and regulate the genes expression to affect the fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs.