The present study established a chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model in C57BL/6 mice induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptides and complete Freund's adjuvant. Onset latency was 12 day...The present study established a chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model in C57BL/6 mice induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptides and complete Freund's adjuvant. Onset latency was 12 days, with an incidence rate of 100%. Neuropathological characteristics included perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration, demyelination, neuronal degeneration, and axonal damage within cerebral and myelic white matter. Electron microscopy revealed swollen mitochondria, complete organ disappearance, and fused or broken myelin sheath structure, which were accompanied by myelin sheath reconstruction. Moreover, axonal damage was not consistent with demyelination distribution, and severity of axonal damage did not correlate with demyelination. Results suggested that axonal damage in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model is not secondary to inflammatory demyelination.展开更多
AIM: To characterize high-mobility group protein 1-toll-like receptor 4(HMGB1-TLR4) and downstream signaling pathways in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: Forty specific-pathogen-free male C57BL/6 m...AIM: To characterize high-mobility group protein 1-toll-like receptor 4(HMGB1-TLR4) and downstream signaling pathways in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: Forty specific-pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups(n = 8 per group): sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-myeloid differentiation gene 88(My D88), and anti-translocatingchain-associating membrane protein(TRIF) antibody groups. Vehicle with the control Ig G antibody, antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies(all 1 mg/kg, 0.025%) were injected via the caudal vein 30 min prior to ischemia. After anesthetization, the abdominal wall was opened and the superior mesenteric artery was exposed, followed by 60 min mesenteric ischemia and then 60 min reperfusion. For the sham group, the abdominal wall was opened for 120 min without I/R. Levels of serum nuclear factor(NF)-κB p65, interleukin(IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were measured, along with myeloperoxidase activity in the lung and liver. Inaddition,morphologic changes that occurred in the lung and intestinal tissues were evaluated. Levels of m RNA transcripts encoding HMGB1 and NF-κB were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, and levels of HMGB1 and NF-κB protein were measured by Western blot. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.RESULTS: Blocking HMGB 1, MyD 8 8, and TRIF expression by injecting anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies prior to ischemia reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum; NF-κB p65: 104.64 ± 11.89, 228.53 ± 24.85, 145.00 ± 33.63, 191.12 ± 13.22, and 183.73 ± 10.81(P < 0.05); IL-6: 50.02 ± 6.33, 104.91 ± 31.18, 62.28 ± 6.73, 85.90 ± 17.37, and 78.14 ± 7.38(P < 0.05); TNF-α, 43.79 ± 4.18, 70.81 ± 6.97, 52.76 ± 5.71, 63.19 ± 5.47, and 59.70 ± 4.63(P < 0.05) for the sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF groups, respectively(all in pg/m L).Antibodies also alleviated tissue injury in the lung and small intestine compared with the control group in the mouse intestinal I/R model. The administration of antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF antibodies markedly reduced damage caused by I/R, for which anti-HMGB1 antibody had the most obvious effect.CONCLUSION: HMGB1 and its downstream signaling pathway play important roles in the mouse intestinal I/R injury, and the effect of the TRIF-dependent pathway is slightly greater.展开更多
K^(+)cycling in the cochlea is critical to maintain hearing.Many sodium-potassium pumps are proved to participate in K^(+)cycling,such as Na/K-ATPase.Theα2-Na/K-ATPase is an important isoform of Na/K-ATPase.The expre...K^(+)cycling in the cochlea is critical to maintain hearing.Many sodium-potassium pumps are proved to participate in K^(+)cycling,such as Na/K-ATPase.Theα2-Na/K-ATPase is an important isoform of Na/K-ATPase.The expression ofα2-Na/K-ATPase in the cochlea is not clear.In this study,we used C57BL/6 mice as a model of presbycusis and implemented immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real time-PCR,and theα2-Na/K-ATPase expression pattern was confirmed in the inner ear.It was foundα2-Na/K-ATPase was expressed widely in cochlea and its mRNA and protein expression was gradually reduced with aging(4-,14-,26-and 48-weeks old mice).We suspected that,the down-regulation ofα2-Na/K-ATPase expression might be associated with the remodeling of K^(+)cycling,degeneration of morphological structure and decrease of hearing function in aging C57 mice.In conclusion,we speculated that the reduction ofα2-Na/K-ATPase might play an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related hearing loss.展开更多
Maternal drinking during pregnancy can result in a wide spectrum of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The heterogeneity observed in FASD-related phenotypes can be a...Maternal drinking during pregnancy can result in a wide spectrum of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The heterogeneity observed in FASD-related phenotypes can be attributed to a number of environmental and genetic factors;however, ethanol dose and timing of exposure may have significant influences. Here, we report the behavioral effects of acute, binge-like ethanol exposure at three neurodevelopmental times corresponding to the first, second, and third trimester of human development in C57BL/6J mice. Results show that developmental ethanol exposure consistently delays the development of basic motor skill reflexes and coordination as well as impairs spatial learning and memory. Observed changes in activity and anxiety-related behaviors, however, appear to be dependent on timing of alcohol exposure. The variability in behaviors between different treatment models suggests that these may be useful in evaluating the mechanisms disrupted by ethanol at specific neurodevelopmental times. The results provide further evidence that, regardless of developmental stage, the developing brain is acutely sensitive to alcohol exposure.展开更多
Dengue is a significant public health concern across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide,principally causing disease in children.Very young children are at increased risk of severe manifestations of dengue infe...Dengue is a significant public health concern across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide,principally causing disease in children.Very young children are at increased risk of severe manifestations of dengue infection.The mechanism of dengue disease in this population is not fully understood.In this study,we present a murine model of dengue virus primary infection in suckling C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice in order to investigate disease pathogenesis.Three-day-old C57BL/6 mice intraperitoneally infected with DENV-2 NGC were more susceptible to infection than BALB/c mice,showing increased liver enzymes,extended viremia,dissemination to organs and histological alterations in liver and small intestine.Furthermore,the immune response in DENV-infected C57BL/6 mice exhibited a marked Th1 bias compared to BALB/c mice.These findings highlight the possibility of establishing an immunocompetent mouse model of DENV-2 infection in suckling mice that reproduces certain signs of disease observed in humans and that could be used to further study agerelated mechanisms of dengue pathogenesis.展开更多
Solid phase microextraction(SPME)in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of metabolomic profile of mouse melanoma growth within in vitro 2D,in vitro 3D,and in vivo mode...Solid phase microextraction(SPME)in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of metabolomic profile of mouse melanoma growth within in vitro 2D,in vitro 3D,and in vivo models.Such multi-model approach had never been investigated before.Due to the low-invasiveness of SPME,it was possible to perform time-course analysis,which allowed building time profile of biochemical reactions in the studied material.Such approach does not require the multiplication of samples as subsequent analyses are performed from the very same cell culture or from the same individual.SPME already reduces the number of animals required for experiment;therefore,it is with good concordance with the 3Rs rule(replacement,reduction,and refinement).Among tested models,the largest number of compounds was found within the in vitro 2D cell culture model,while in vivo and in vitro 3D models had the lowest number of detected compounds.These results may be connected with a higher metabolic rate,as well as lower integrity of the in vitro 2D model compared to the in vitro 3D model resulting in a lower number of compounds released into medium in the latter model.In terms of in vitro-in vivo extrapolation,the in vitro 2D model performed more similar to in vivo model compared to in vitro 3D model;however,it might have been due to the fact that only compounds secreted to medium were investigated.Thus,in further experiments to obtain full metabolome information,the intraspheroidal assessment or spheroid dissociation would be necessary.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effect of IκB kinase-beta inhibitor (IKK2 inhibitor IMD0354) in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Twenty male C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups. Five high-fat fed mice were inject...AIM: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effect of IκB kinase-beta inhibitor (IKK2 inhibitor IMD0354) in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Twenty male C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups. Five high-fat fed mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and five high-fat fed mice were without LPS injection to build models of liver injury, and the intervention group (five mice) was injected intraperitoneally with IKK2 inhibitor (IMD 30 mg/kg for 14 d), while the remaining five mice received a normal diet as controls. Hepatic function, pathological evaluation and liver interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression were examined. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), tumor growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), typeⅠand type Ⅲ collagen proteins and mRNA. RESULTS: A mouse model of liver injury was successfully established, and IMD decreased nuclear transloca-tion of NF-κB p65 in liver cells. In the IMD-treated group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (103 ± 9.77 μ/L vs 62.4 ± 7.90 μ/L, P < 0.05) and aminotransferase (295.8 ± 38.56 μ/L vs 212 ± 25.10 μ/L, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased when compared with the model groups. The histological changes were significantly ameliorated. After treatment, the expressions of IL-6 (681 ± 45.96 vs 77 ± 7.79, P < 0.05), TGF-β1 (Western blotting 5.65% ± 0.017% vs 2.73% ± 0.005%, P < 0.05), TNF-α (11.58% ± 0.0063% vs 8.86% ± 0.0050%, P < 0.05), typeⅠcollagen (4.49% ± 0.014% vs 1.90% ± 0.0006%, P < 0.05) and type Ⅲ collagen (3.46% ± 0.008% vs 2.29% ± 0.0035%, P < 0.05) as well as α-SMA (6.19 ± 0.0036 μ/L vs 2.16 ± 0.0023 μ/L, P < 0.05) protein and mRNA were downregulated in the IMD group compared to the fibrosis control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IKK2 inhibitor IMD markedly improved non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by lowering NF-κB activation, which could become a remedial target for liver fibrosis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Obesity has been associated with hepatic overexpression of the renin-angiotensin system(RAS).AIM To evaluate the action of two angiotensin II(ANGII) receptor blockers(losartan or telmisartan) on the modulat...BACKGROUND Obesity has been associated with hepatic overexpression of the renin-angiotensin system(RAS).AIM To evaluate the action of two angiotensin II(ANGII) receptor blockers(losartan or telmisartan) on the modulation of local hepatic RAS and the resulting metabolic effects in a diet-induced obesity murine model.METHODS Twenty C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two nutritional groups for 10 wk: control group(C, n = 5, 10% of energy as fat) or high-fat group(HF, n = 15,50% of energy as fat). After treatment started, the HF group was randomly divided into three groups: untreated HF group(n = 5), HF treated with losartan(HFL, n = 5) and HF treated with telmisartan(HFT, n = 5). The treatments lasted for 5 wk, and the dose was 10 mg/kg body mass.RESULTS HF diet induced body mass gain(+28%, P < 0.0001), insulin resistance(+69%, P =0.0079), high hepatic triacylglycerol(+127%, P = 0.0004), and overexpression of intrahepatic angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) 1/ANGII type 1 receptor(AT1 r)(+569.02% and +141.40%, respectively, P < 0.0001). The HFL and HFT groups showed higher ACE2/rMAS gene expression compared to the HF group(ACE2: +465.57%, P = 0.0002 for HFL and +345.17%, P = 0.0049 for HFT; rMAS:+711.39%, P < 0.0001 for HFL and +539.75%, P < 0.0001 for HFT), followed by reduced insulin/glucose ratio(-30% for HFL and-33% for HFT, P = 0.0181),hepatic triacylglycerol levels(-28%, P = 0.0381 for HFL; and-45%, P = 0.0010 for HFT, and Plin2 expression.CONCLUSION Modulation of the intrahepatic RAS, with favored involvement of the ACE2/rMAS axis over the ACE1/AT1 r axis after losartan or telmisartan treatments, caused hepatic and metabolic beneficial effects as demonstrated by reduced hepatic triacylglycerol levels coupled with reduced PLIN 2 expression and improved glycemic control.展开更多
Objective Age-related hearing loss(AHL),characterized by degeneration of cochlea structures,is the most common sensory disorder among the elderly worldwide.The calcium channel is considered to contribute to normal hea...Objective Age-related hearing loss(AHL),characterized by degeneration of cochlea structures,is the most common sensory disorder among the elderly worldwide.The calcium channel is considered to contribute to normal hearing.However,the role of the T-type voltage-activated calcium channel,Cav3.1,remains unclear in AHL.Here,we investigate the age-related change of Cav3.1 expression in the cochlea and D-gal-induced senescent HEI-OC1 cells.Methods Cochleae from C57BL/6 mice at 2 months and 12 months of age were assessed.Senescence in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1(HEI-OC1)cells was induced by D-gal treatment.The immunofluorescence technique was employed to investigate the distribution of Cav3.1 in vivo and in vitro.Quantitative assessment was achieved by Western blotting and real-time PCR.Results In comparison with 2-month-old animals,12-month old C57BL/6 mice exhibited great loss of hair cells and elevated auditory brainstem threshold.The Cav3.1 was located in hair cells,spiral ganglion cells,lateral walls,and the expression of Cav3.1 protein and mRNA decreased in the aged cochleae.D-gal-induced senescence assay confirmed the down-regulation of Cav3.1 expression in senescent HEI-OC1 cells.Conclusion Our results show that age-related down-regulated expression of Cav3.1 in the cochleae is associated with AHL and may contribute to the pathogenesis of AHL.展开更多
Background:Non-alcoholic liver disease is of increased concern and contributing to economic burdens not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well.Identifying the biomarker of early diagnosis and ...Background:Non-alcoholic liver disease is of increased concern and contributing to economic burdens not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well.Identifying the biomarker of early diagnosis and early intervention approaches for non-alcoholic liver disease is unmet and required further investigation.Although the alpha-ketoglutarate(a-KG)is recently proposed to be a potential biomarker in differentiating patients with obesity from those with non-alcoholic liver disease,how a-ketoglutatate is involved in the fatty liver progression is not clear.Methods:A high-fat diet(HFD)feeding animal model,liver functional assays,and molecular approaches were adopted to clarify the impact of a-KG in fatty liver progression.Results:In the current study,it was found that dietary a-KG would inhibit weight gain in male and female mice fed with a normal chew or HFD.HFD feeding caused fatty liver in male mice,but a-KG treatment could substantially inhibit hepatic steatosis progression.Biochemical studies revealed the possible linkage of a-KG protective functions to lipid metabolism.Further analysis identified the important role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in beneficial a-KG-mediated effects on fatty liver progression.Conclusions:The current study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of a-KG and how it may be used,via dietary supplementation,as a preventive intervention for non-alcoholic liver disease in obese patients.展开更多
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Ministry of Science and Technology of China,No.30230140a grant from Merck Serono (China)
文摘The present study established a chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model in C57BL/6 mice induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptides and complete Freund's adjuvant. Onset latency was 12 days, with an incidence rate of 100%. Neuropathological characteristics included perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration, demyelination, neuronal degeneration, and axonal damage within cerebral and myelic white matter. Electron microscopy revealed swollen mitochondria, complete organ disappearance, and fused or broken myelin sheath structure, which were accompanied by myelin sheath reconstruction. Moreover, axonal damage was not consistent with demyelination distribution, and severity of axonal damage did not correlate with demyelination. Results suggested that axonal damage in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model is not secondary to inflammatory demyelination.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30940069the Natural Sciences Foundation of Beijing,No.7102127
文摘AIM: To characterize high-mobility group protein 1-toll-like receptor 4(HMGB1-TLR4) and downstream signaling pathways in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: Forty specific-pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups(n = 8 per group): sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-myeloid differentiation gene 88(My D88), and anti-translocatingchain-associating membrane protein(TRIF) antibody groups. Vehicle with the control Ig G antibody, antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies(all 1 mg/kg, 0.025%) were injected via the caudal vein 30 min prior to ischemia. After anesthetization, the abdominal wall was opened and the superior mesenteric artery was exposed, followed by 60 min mesenteric ischemia and then 60 min reperfusion. For the sham group, the abdominal wall was opened for 120 min without I/R. Levels of serum nuclear factor(NF)-κB p65, interleukin(IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were measured, along with myeloperoxidase activity in the lung and liver. Inaddition,morphologic changes that occurred in the lung and intestinal tissues were evaluated. Levels of m RNA transcripts encoding HMGB1 and NF-κB were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, and levels of HMGB1 and NF-κB protein were measured by Western blot. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.RESULTS: Blocking HMGB 1, MyD 8 8, and TRIF expression by injecting anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies prior to ischemia reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum; NF-κB p65: 104.64 ± 11.89, 228.53 ± 24.85, 145.00 ± 33.63, 191.12 ± 13.22, and 183.73 ± 10.81(P < 0.05); IL-6: 50.02 ± 6.33, 104.91 ± 31.18, 62.28 ± 6.73, 85.90 ± 17.37, and 78.14 ± 7.38(P < 0.05); TNF-α, 43.79 ± 4.18, 70.81 ± 6.97, 52.76 ± 5.71, 63.19 ± 5.47, and 59.70 ± 4.63(P < 0.05) for the sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF groups, respectively(all in pg/m L).Antibodies also alleviated tissue injury in the lung and small intestine compared with the control group in the mouse intestinal I/R model. The administration of antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF antibodies markedly reduced damage caused by I/R, for which anti-HMGB1 antibody had the most obvious effect.CONCLUSION: HMGB1 and its downstream signaling pathway play important roles in the mouse intestinal I/R injury, and the effect of the TRIF-dependent pathway is slightly greater.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81771004,81271078,81500791,81500794 and 81300827).
文摘K^(+)cycling in the cochlea is critical to maintain hearing.Many sodium-potassium pumps are proved to participate in K^(+)cycling,such as Na/K-ATPase.Theα2-Na/K-ATPase is an important isoform of Na/K-ATPase.The expression ofα2-Na/K-ATPase in the cochlea is not clear.In this study,we used C57BL/6 mice as a model of presbycusis and implemented immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real time-PCR,and theα2-Na/K-ATPase expression pattern was confirmed in the inner ear.It was foundα2-Na/K-ATPase was expressed widely in cochlea and its mRNA and protein expression was gradually reduced with aging(4-,14-,26-and 48-weeks old mice).We suspected that,the down-regulation ofα2-Na/K-ATPase expression might be associated with the remodeling of K^(+)cycling,degeneration of morphological structure and decrease of hearing function in aging C57 mice.In conclusion,we speculated that the reduction ofα2-Na/K-ATPase might play an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related hearing loss.
文摘Maternal drinking during pregnancy can result in a wide spectrum of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The heterogeneity observed in FASD-related phenotypes can be attributed to a number of environmental and genetic factors;however, ethanol dose and timing of exposure may have significant influences. Here, we report the behavioral effects of acute, binge-like ethanol exposure at three neurodevelopmental times corresponding to the first, second, and third trimester of human development in C57BL/6J mice. Results show that developmental ethanol exposure consistently delays the development of basic motor skill reflexes and coordination as well as impairs spatial learning and memory. Observed changes in activity and anxiety-related behaviors, however, appear to be dependent on timing of alcohol exposure. The variability in behaviors between different treatment models suggests that these may be useful in evaluating the mechanisms disrupted by ethanol at specific neurodevelopmental times. The results provide further evidence that, regardless of developmental stage, the developing brain is acutely sensitive to alcohol exposure.
基金Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas,Grant/Award Number:PIP0118UBS Optimus Foundation,Grant/Award Number:ID 2007-00206+1 种基金Fundación Bunge y BornFondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica,Grant/Award Number:PICT2008-1073。
文摘Dengue is a significant public health concern across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide,principally causing disease in children.Very young children are at increased risk of severe manifestations of dengue infection.The mechanism of dengue disease in this population is not fully understood.In this study,we present a murine model of dengue virus primary infection in suckling C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice in order to investigate disease pathogenesis.Three-day-old C57BL/6 mice intraperitoneally infected with DENV-2 NGC were more susceptible to infection than BALB/c mice,showing increased liver enzymes,extended viremia,dissemination to organs and histological alterations in liver and small intestine.Furthermore,the immune response in DENV-infected C57BL/6 mice exhibited a marked Th1 bias compared to BALB/c mice.These findings highlight the possibility of establishing an immunocompetent mouse model of DENV-2 infection in suckling mice that reproduces certain signs of disease observed in humans and that could be used to further study agerelated mechanisms of dengue pathogenesis.
基金This work has been funded by the statutory grant from Nicolaus Copernicus University(Grant No.:451).
文摘Solid phase microextraction(SPME)in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of metabolomic profile of mouse melanoma growth within in vitro 2D,in vitro 3D,and in vivo models.Such multi-model approach had never been investigated before.Due to the low-invasiveness of SPME,it was possible to perform time-course analysis,which allowed building time profile of biochemical reactions in the studied material.Such approach does not require the multiplication of samples as subsequent analyses are performed from the very same cell culture or from the same individual.SPME already reduces the number of animals required for experiment;therefore,it is with good concordance with the 3Rs rule(replacement,reduction,and refinement).Among tested models,the largest number of compounds was found within the in vitro 2D cell culture model,while in vivo and in vitro 3D models had the lowest number of detected compounds.These results may be connected with a higher metabolic rate,as well as lower integrity of the in vitro 2D model compared to the in vitro 3D model resulting in a lower number of compounds released into medium in the latter model.In terms of in vitro-in vivo extrapolation,the in vitro 2D model performed more similar to in vivo model compared to in vitro 3D model;however,it might have been due to the fact that only compounds secreted to medium were investigated.Thus,in further experiments to obtain full metabolome information,the intraspheroidal assessment or spheroid dissociation would be necessary.
基金Supported by Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Youth Grant, No. 2008Y032
文摘AIM: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effect of IκB kinase-beta inhibitor (IKK2 inhibitor IMD0354) in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Twenty male C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups. Five high-fat fed mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and five high-fat fed mice were without LPS injection to build models of liver injury, and the intervention group (five mice) was injected intraperitoneally with IKK2 inhibitor (IMD 30 mg/kg for 14 d), while the remaining five mice received a normal diet as controls. Hepatic function, pathological evaluation and liver interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression were examined. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), tumor growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), typeⅠand type Ⅲ collagen proteins and mRNA. RESULTS: A mouse model of liver injury was successfully established, and IMD decreased nuclear transloca-tion of NF-κB p65 in liver cells. In the IMD-treated group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (103 ± 9.77 μ/L vs 62.4 ± 7.90 μ/L, P < 0.05) and aminotransferase (295.8 ± 38.56 μ/L vs 212 ± 25.10 μ/L, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased when compared with the model groups. The histological changes were significantly ameliorated. After treatment, the expressions of IL-6 (681 ± 45.96 vs 77 ± 7.79, P < 0.05), TGF-β1 (Western blotting 5.65% ± 0.017% vs 2.73% ± 0.005%, P < 0.05), TNF-α (11.58% ± 0.0063% vs 8.86% ± 0.0050%, P < 0.05), typeⅠcollagen (4.49% ± 0.014% vs 1.90% ± 0.0006%, P < 0.05) and type Ⅲ collagen (3.46% ± 0.008% vs 2.29% ± 0.0035%, P < 0.05) as well as α-SMA (6.19 ± 0.0036 μ/L vs 2.16 ± 0.0023 μ/L, P < 0.05) protein and mRNA were downregulated in the IMD group compared to the fibrosis control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IKK2 inhibitor IMD markedly improved non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by lowering NF-κB activation, which could become a remedial target for liver fibrosis.
基金Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Apoio aPesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro,No.E-26/202.888/2015 for V.S-M
文摘BACKGROUND Obesity has been associated with hepatic overexpression of the renin-angiotensin system(RAS).AIM To evaluate the action of two angiotensin II(ANGII) receptor blockers(losartan or telmisartan) on the modulation of local hepatic RAS and the resulting metabolic effects in a diet-induced obesity murine model.METHODS Twenty C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two nutritional groups for 10 wk: control group(C, n = 5, 10% of energy as fat) or high-fat group(HF, n = 15,50% of energy as fat). After treatment started, the HF group was randomly divided into three groups: untreated HF group(n = 5), HF treated with losartan(HFL, n = 5) and HF treated with telmisartan(HFT, n = 5). The treatments lasted for 5 wk, and the dose was 10 mg/kg body mass.RESULTS HF diet induced body mass gain(+28%, P < 0.0001), insulin resistance(+69%, P =0.0079), high hepatic triacylglycerol(+127%, P = 0.0004), and overexpression of intrahepatic angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) 1/ANGII type 1 receptor(AT1 r)(+569.02% and +141.40%, respectively, P < 0.0001). The HFL and HFT groups showed higher ACE2/rMAS gene expression compared to the HF group(ACE2: +465.57%, P = 0.0002 for HFL and +345.17%, P = 0.0049 for HFT; rMAS:+711.39%, P < 0.0001 for HFL and +539.75%, P < 0.0001 for HFT), followed by reduced insulin/glucose ratio(-30% for HFL and-33% for HFT, P = 0.0181),hepatic triacylglycerol levels(-28%, P = 0.0381 for HFL; and-45%, P = 0.0010 for HFT, and Plin2 expression.CONCLUSION Modulation of the intrahepatic RAS, with favored involvement of the ACE2/rMAS axis over the ACE1/AT1 r axis after losartan or telmisartan treatments, caused hepatic and metabolic beneficial effects as demonstrated by reduced hepatic triacylglycerol levels coupled with reduced PLIN 2 expression and improved glycemic control.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(No.81800911 and No.81771004)the Anhui Natural Science Foundation(No.1808085QH248)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.WK9110000053).
文摘Objective Age-related hearing loss(AHL),characterized by degeneration of cochlea structures,is the most common sensory disorder among the elderly worldwide.The calcium channel is considered to contribute to normal hearing.However,the role of the T-type voltage-activated calcium channel,Cav3.1,remains unclear in AHL.Here,we investigate the age-related change of Cav3.1 expression in the cochlea and D-gal-induced senescent HEI-OC1 cells.Methods Cochleae from C57BL/6 mice at 2 months and 12 months of age were assessed.Senescence in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1(HEI-OC1)cells was induced by D-gal treatment.The immunofluorescence technique was employed to investigate the distribution of Cav3.1 in vivo and in vitro.Quantitative assessment was achieved by Western blotting and real-time PCR.Results In comparison with 2-month-old animals,12-month old C57BL/6 mice exhibited great loss of hair cells and elevated auditory brainstem threshold.The Cav3.1 was located in hair cells,spiral ganglion cells,lateral walls,and the expression of Cav3.1 protein and mRNA decreased in the aged cochleae.D-gal-induced senescence assay confirmed the down-regulation of Cav3.1 expression in senescent HEI-OC1 cells.Conclusion Our results show that age-related down-regulated expression of Cav3.1 in the cochleae is associated with AHL and may contribute to the pathogenesis of AHL.
基金Funding for this work was provided by 2017 AASLDF Pinnacle Research Development Award and Rhode Island Foundation#134279.
文摘Background:Non-alcoholic liver disease is of increased concern and contributing to economic burdens not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well.Identifying the biomarker of early diagnosis and early intervention approaches for non-alcoholic liver disease is unmet and required further investigation.Although the alpha-ketoglutarate(a-KG)is recently proposed to be a potential biomarker in differentiating patients with obesity from those with non-alcoholic liver disease,how a-ketoglutatate is involved in the fatty liver progression is not clear.Methods:A high-fat diet(HFD)feeding animal model,liver functional assays,and molecular approaches were adopted to clarify the impact of a-KG in fatty liver progression.Results:In the current study,it was found that dietary a-KG would inhibit weight gain in male and female mice fed with a normal chew or HFD.HFD feeding caused fatty liver in male mice,but a-KG treatment could substantially inhibit hepatic steatosis progression.Biochemical studies revealed the possible linkage of a-KG protective functions to lipid metabolism.Further analysis identified the important role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in beneficial a-KG-mediated effects on fatty liver progression.Conclusions:The current study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of a-KG and how it may be used,via dietary supplementation,as a preventive intervention for non-alcoholic liver disease in obese patients.