Local icariin application enhanced periodontal tissue regeneration and relieved local inflammation in a minipig model of periodontitis

Periodontitis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Treatment should alleviate inflammation, regulate the immune reaction and promote periodontal tissue regeneration. Icariin is the main active ingredient of Epimedii Folium, and it is a promising compound for the enhancement of mesenchymal stem cell function, promotion of bone formation, inhibition of bone resorption, alleviation of inflammation and regulation of immunity. The study investigated the effect of icariin on periodontal tissue regeneration in a minipig model of periodontitis. The minipig model of periodontitis was established. Icariin was injected locally. The periodontal clinical assessment index, a computed tomography(CT) scan, histopathology and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay(ELISA)were used to evaluate the effects of icariin. Quantitative analysis results 12 weeks post-injection demonstrated that probing depth,gingival recession, attachment loss and alveolar bone regeneration values were(3.72 ± 1.18) mm vs.(6.56 ± 1.47) mm,(1.67 ± 0.59)mm vs.(2.38 ± 0.61) mm,(5.56 ± 1.29) mm vs.(8.61 ± 1.72) mm, and(25.65 ± 5.13) mm3 vs.(9.48 ± 1.78) mm3 in the icariin group and0.9% NaCl group, respectively. The clinical assessment, CT scan, and histopathology results demonstrated significant enhancement of periodontal tissue regeneration in the icariin group compared to the 0.9% NaCl group. The ELISA results suggested that the concentration of interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β) in the icariin group was downregulated compared to the 0.9% NaCl group, which indicates that local injection of icariin relieved local inflammation in a minipig model of periodontitis. Local injection of icariin promoted periodontal tissue regeneration and exerted anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory function. These results support the application of icariin for the clinical treatment of periodontitis.

Dietary sophorolipid accelerates growth by modulation of gut microbiota population and intestinal environments in broiler chickens

Background:Gut is a crucial organ for the host’s defense system due to its filtering action of the intestinal membrane from hazardous foreign substances.One strategy to strengthen the gut epithelial barrier function is to upregulate beneficial microflora populations and their metabolites.Sophorolipid(SPL),which is a glycolipid biosurfactant,could increase beneficial microflora and decrease pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.Therefore,herein,we conducted an experiment with broiler chickens to investigate the fortifying effects of SPL on the host’s gut defense system by modulating the microbiota population.Methods:A total of 5401-day-old chicks(Ross 308)were used,and they were immediately allotted into three treatment groups(6 replications with 30 chicks/pen)according to their initial body weight.The dietary treatments consisted of CON(basal diet),BAM(10 mg/kg bambermycin),and SPL(10 mg/kg SPL).During the experiment,birds freely accessed feed and water,and body weight and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase.On d 35,birds(one bird/pen)were sacrificed to collect jejunum and cecum samples.Results:Dietary SPL and BAM supplementation significantly accelerated birds’growth and also significantly improved feed efficiency compared to CON.Intestinal microbial community was significantly separated by dietary SPL supplementation from that of CON,and dietary SPL supplementation significantly increased Lactobacillus spp.and Akkermansia muciniphila.Moreover,birds fed with dietary SPL also showed the highest concentration of cecal butyrate among all treatment groups.Gut morphological analysis showed that dietary SPL significantly increased villus height,ratio of villus height to crypt depth,goblet cell numbers,and the gene expression levels of claudin-1 and mucin 2.Additionally,dietary SPL significantly decreased the mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-6,and increased that of anti-inflammatory cytokine,interleukin-10,compared to other treatments.Conclusions:Dietary SPL increases the beneficial bacterial population and butyrate concentration,which leads to a strengthened gut barrier function.In addition,the intestinal inflammation was also downregulated by dietary SPL supplementation.

Human bronchial epithelial cell injuries induced by fine particulate matter from sandstorm and non-sandstorm periods：Association with particle constituents

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the exacerbation of respiratory diseases following sandstorm-derived particulate matter（PM） exposure.The presence of anthropogenic and biological agents on the sandstorm PM and the escalation of PM 〈 2.5 μm（PM2.5）pollution in China have led to serious concerns regarding the health effects of PM2.5during Asian sandstorms.We investigated how changes in PM2.5composition,as the weather transitioned towards a sandstorm,affected human airway epithelial cells.Six PM2.5samples covering two sandstorm events and their respective background and transition periods were collected in Baotou,an industrial city near the Gobi Desert in China.PM samples from all three periods had mild cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B,which was positively correlated with the contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several metals.All PM samples potently increased the release of interleukin-6（IL-6） and interleukin-8（IL-8）.Endotoxin in all samples contributed significantly to the IL-6 response,with only a minor effect on IL-8.Cr was positively correlated with both IL-6 and IL-8 release,while Si was only associated with the increase of IL-6.Our study suggests that local agricultural and industrial surroundings in addition to the sandstorm play important roles in the respiratory effects of sandstorm-derived PM.