The cGAS-STING-interferon regulatory factor 7 pathway regulates neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease

Interferon regulatory factor 7 plays a crucial role in the innate immune response.However,whether interferon regulatory factor 7-mediated signaling contributes to Parkinson's disease remains unknown.Here we report that interferon regulatory factor 7 is markedly up-regulated in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease and co-localizes with microglial cells.Both the selective cyclic guanosine monophosphate adenosine monophosphate synthase inhibitor RU.521 and the stimulator of interferon genes inhibitor H151 effectively suppressed interferon regulatory factor 7 activation in BV2 microglia exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and inhibited transformation of mouse BV2 microglia into the neurotoxic M1 phenotype.In addition,si RNA-mediated knockdown of interferon regulatory factor 7 expression in BV2 microglia reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase,tumor necrosis factorα,CD16,CD32,and CD86 and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory markers ARG1 and YM1.Taken together,our findings indicate that the cyclic guanosine monophosphate adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes-interferon regulatory factor 7 pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Fermentation-enabled wellness foods:A fresh perspective

Fermented foods represent an important segment of current food markets,especially traditional or ethnic food markets.The demand for efficient utilization of agrowastes,together with advancements in fermentation technologies(microbial-and enzyme-based processing),are stimulating rapid growth and innovation in the fermented food sector.In addition,the health-promoting benefits of fermented foods are attracting increasingly attention.The microorganisms contained in many common fermented foods can serve as“microfactories”to generate nutrients and bioactives with specific nutritional and health functionalities.Herein,recent research relating to the manufacture of fermented foods are critically reviewed,placing emphasis on the potential health benefits of fermentation-enabled wellness foods.The importance of the correct selection of microorganisms and raw materials and the need for precise control of fermentation processes are explored.Major knowledge gaps and obstacles to fermented food production and market penetration are discussed.The importance of integrating multidisciplinary knowledge,communicating with consumers,establishing regulatory frameworks specifically for fermentation-enabled wellness foods and functional fermented foods,are highlighted.

Hypoglycemic polysaccharides from Auricularia auricula and Auricularia polytricha inhibit oxidative stress,NF-κB signaling and proinflammatory cytokine production in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Auricularia auricula(AA)and Auricularia polytricha(AP)are popular edible fungi.This study successfully produced hypoglycemic polysaccharides from un-smashed or smashing and sieving(through a 10-mesh sieve)AA and AP(termed as AAP/AAP-10 and APP/APP-10)via scalable processes(water extraction,ethanolic precipitation and deproteinization).This is the first report to compare the effectiveness of AAP and APP in combating streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress and diabetes-related changes in mice(body weight,fasting blood glucose,serum insulin,proinflammatory mediator and cytokines,oxidative stress-related products,antioxidant enzymes).APP and AAP with different molecular weights and monosaccharide molar ratios could be therapeutic options for diabetes with a low dose(100 mg/kg/day)likely working better.At the same dose,APP generally performed more effective than AAP,and AAP-10/APP-10 seemed slightly more beneficial than AAP/APP.One mechanism underlying these antidiabetic functions might involve the NF-κB and associated signalling pathways.AP is cheaper than AA,thereby representing a favorable source of functional polysaccharides.

Comparing the difference in enhancement of kokumi-tastingγ-glutamyl peptides on basic taste via molecular modeling approaches and sensory evaluation

γ-Glutamyl peptides can enhance basic taste sensations such as saltiness,sweetness,and umaminess,while the molecular mechanism and the difference in taste enhancement remain elusive.Thus,two complex conformations:taste type 1 receptor 1(T1 R1)-MSG and taste type 1 receptor 2(T1 R2)-sucrose were constructed to form binding receptors.These peptides showed affinity for the two receptors,but a higher affi nity scores and more binding amino acid residues for the T1 R1-MSG receptor,implying that they may exhibit a higher umami-enhancing effect.Thereinto,γ-glutamyl alanine(γ-EA)displayed the highest affi nity for the two receptors through mobilizing multiple amino acid residues to form hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds,indicating it had the highest enhancement for umaminess and sweetness among these peptides.Sensory evaluation demonstrated the enhancement ofγ-EA on umaminess was superior to that of sweetness.Generally,γ-glutamyl peptides could enhance basic taste sensation via activating taste receptor,and exhibited a highest umami-enhancing effect.

Deep eutectic solvents and alkaline extraction of protein from seabuckthorn seed meal: a comparison study

Seabuckthorn seed meal(SSM) is a waste of oil extraction industry that rich in protein. In order to seek suitable protein extraction method, three different deep eutectic solvents(DESs)(including choline chlorideglycerol, choline chloride-oxalic acid and choline chloride-urea) were developed for extracting protein from SSM and compared with alkaline. Result indicated that alkaline could effectively extract 56.9% protein from SSM and its protein content was 73.1%, higher than DES at 31.0%-41.4% and 64.3%-67.5%, respectively. However, compared to alkali, DES led to a product with less β-sheet, more β-turn, more essential amino acids, higher total amino acid content, especially choline chloride-urea which extracted protein showing an integrated and similar protein weight distribution compared to SSM. Also, this protein extracted chloride-urea showed a highest digestibility in vitro(by pepsin)(54.2%). These results indicated that choline chloride-urea extraction is better than alkaline extraction for SSM.

A red pomegranate fruit extract-based formula ameliorates anxiety/depression-like behaviors via enhancing serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in C57BL/6 male mice

This study investigated the anti-anxiety/anti-depression potential of a formula containing red pomegranate fruit extract(RPFE;40%,m/m),Lactobacillus rhamnosus(JB-1)(34%,m/m),magnesium gluconate(25%,m/m)and vanillin(1%,m/m).The RPFE formula(dose:2.0,1.5 or 1.0 mg/g·day)reversed behavioral dysfunctions and body weight gain induced by chronic restraint stress combined with corticosterone injection in C57BL/6 male mice.The RPFE formula exhibited the abilities to normalize the levels of serum infl ammatory cytokines(NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γ)and malondialdehyde(MDA),and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS),as well as relieve the injury of hippocampal neurons.The serotonin(5-HT)levels in hippocampus were increasingly enhanced,which might be mediated by reducing the activity of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)and increasing the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH).Thus,the neuroprotective and ameliorating effects on anxiety/depression-like behaviors resulting from the RPFE formula ingestion were possibly related to serotonergic activation,which might be mediated via anti-infl ammatory and anti-oxidant actions.

Derivation and characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines from the Chinese population

Human embryonic stem cells （hESCs） can self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into all cell types in the human body. Therefore, they are valuable in regenerative medicine, human developmental biology and drug discovery. A number of hESC lines have been derived from the Chinese population, but limited of them are available for research purposes. Here we report the derivation and characterization of two hESC lines derived from human blastocysts of Chinese origin. These hESCs express alkaline phosphatase and hESC-specific markers, including Oct4, Nanog, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA- 1-60 and TRA-1-81. They also have high levels of telomerase activity and normal karyotypes. These ceils can form embryoid body in vitro and can be differentiated into all three germ layers in vivo by teratoma formation. The newly established hESCs will be distributed for research purposes. The availability of hESC lines from the Chinese population will facilitate studies on the differences in hESCs from different ethnic groups.

Effect of succinic acid deamidation-induced modification on wheat gluten

The effect of succinic acid deamidationinduced modification on wheat gluten was investigated in the present study.The changes of surface hydrophobicity,functional properties,secondary structure,and sensibility of proteolysis of modified samples were determined.The solubility of deamidated proteins increased in the isoelectric region of untreated wheat gluten.The isoelectric point of succinic acid deamidated wheat gluten was shifted to a basic pH and existed in the broad pH regions.Foaming property and molecular flexibility of wheat gluten were improved after the modification.The hydrolysis degree of the hydrolysates in proteolysis with flavorzyme and pancreatin increased after succinic acid deamidation.Moreover,succinic acid deamidation-induced modification resulted in little change in molecular weight and secondary structure of the protein.Thus,succinic acid could facilitate unfolding protein conformation.In addition,it could improve protein-water interactions,surface properties,and sensibility of the proteolysis of the deamidated wheat gluten.

Self-etching adhesives:possible new pulp capping agents to vital pulp therapy

Pulp capping is one of the solving for keeping vital pulp in the case of dentin caries,reversible pulpitis or traumatic pulp exposure.The presence of bacteria on the cavity walls or in the pulp was the major factor that leads to the failure of pulp capping.Traditional pulp capping agent,calcium hydroxide,may not prevent microleakage.Selfetching system is a newly developed adhesive system,which could provide less microleakage and would not break down or dissolve,preventing the oral fluids and bacteria from the pulp along the cavity wall.This may reduce such clinical problems as postoperative sensitivity,secondary caries and marginal discoloration.Researches showed that some kinds of self-etching adhesives induced the mild to moderate inflammatory pulp response,with negative bacterial staining.Inclusion of antibacterial components into self-etching system,such as 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide(MDPB)may inhibit bacteria and provide better clinical effects.It is speculated that using the self-etching adhesive system containing the antibacterial agent,such as MDPB,to the dental pulp directly or indirectly,may inhibit bacteria after the placement of restoration as well as residual bacteria in the cavity.

Sulfation of the extracellular polysaccharide from the edible fungus Stropharia rugosoannulata with its antioxidant activity

An acidic extracellular polysaccharide(EPS)was gained from Stropharia rugosoannulata fermentation broth by the alcohol precipitate method.Sulfated derivative of EPS(S-EPS)was gained by chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method and the conditions were as follows:pyridine as the reaction solvent,temperature 80°C,and reaction time 90 min.The chemical structure and chain conformation of EPS and S-EPS were characterized by FT-IR,NMR and size exclusion chromatography(SEC)coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering(MALLS)detection.FT-IR spectra indicated the sulfated group was linked to the polymer.The EPS mainly consists of mannose,glucose and glucuronic acid,and the glycosidic bond type is mainly(1→4)-linked and(1→6)-linked.C6 and C2 were substituted by sulfate groups.The EPS was degraded into smaller molecular weight(Mw)polysaccharides with the larger molecular size(Rg)after sulfation and S-EPS has better hydrophilicity.Moreover,the sulfated derivative S-EPS was found to have a better scavenging ability on hydroxyl radicals than EPS.It proved that the chemical modification of S.rugosoannulata polysaccharides by sulfation effectively enhanced their antioxidant activity.