Physiological and Transcriptome Analysis Illuminates the Molecular Mechanisms of the Drought Resistance Improved by Alginate Oligosaccharides in Triticum aestivum L.

Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS)enhance drought resistance in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.),but the definite mechanisms remain largely unknown.The physiological and transcriptome responses of wheat seedlings treated with AOS were analyzed under drought stress simulated with polyethylene glycol-6000.The results showed that AOS promoted the growth of wheat seedlings and reduced oxidative damage by improving peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities under drought stress.A total of 10,064 and 15,208 differentially expressed unigenes(DEGs)obtained from the AOS treatment and control samples at 24 and 72 h after dehydration,respectively,were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites(phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,flavonoid biosynthesis),carbohydrate metabolism(starch and sucrose metabolism,carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms),lipid metabolism(fatty acid elongation,biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids,alpha-linolenic acid metabolism,cutin,suberine and wax biosynthesis),and signaling transduction pathways.The up-regulated genes were related to,for example,chlorophyll a-b binding protein,amylosynthease,phosphotransferase,peroxidase,phenylalanine ammonia lyase,flavone synthase,glutathione synthetase.Signaling molecules(including MAPK,plant hormones,H_(2)O_(2) and calcium)and transcription factors(mainly including NAC,MYB,MYB-related,WRKY,bZIP family members)were involved in the AOS-induced wheat drought resistance.The results obtained in this study help underpin the mechanisms of wheat drought resistance improved by AOS,and provides a theoretical basis for the application of AOS as an environmentally sustainable biological method to improve drought resistance in agriculture.

In situ visualization of the cellular uptake and sub-cellular distribution of mussel oligosaccharides

Unlike chemosynthetic drugs designed for specific molecular and disease targets,active small-molecule natural products typically have a wide range of bioactivities and multiple targets,necessitating extensive screening and development.To address this issue,we propose a strategy for the direct in situ microdynamic examination of potential drug candidates to rapidly identify their effects and mechanisms of action.As a proof-of-concept,we investigated the behavior of mussel oligosaccharide(MOS-1)by tracking the subcellular dynamics of fluorescently labeled MOS-1 in cultured cells.We recorded the entire dynamic process of the localization of fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-MOS-1 to the lysosomes and visualized the distribution of the drug within the cell.Remarkably,lysosomes containing FITC-MOS-1 actively recruited lipid droplets,leading to fusion events and increased cellular lipid consumption.These drug behaviors confirmed MOS-1 is a candidate for the treatment of lipid-related diseases.Furthermore,in a high-fat HepG2 cell model and in high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E(ApoE)^(-/-)mice,MOS-1 significantly promoted triglyceride degradation,reduced lipid droplet accumulation,lowered serum triglyceride levels,and mitigated liver damage and steatosis.Overall,our work supports the prioritization of in situ visual monitoring of drug location and distribution in subcellular compartments during the drug development phase,as this methodology contributes to the rapid identification of drug indications.Collectively,this methodology is significant for the screening and development of selective small-molecule drugs,and is expected to expedite the identification of candidate molecules with medicinal effects.

Therapeutic potential and mechanism of functional oligosaccharides in inflammatory bowel disease: a review

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is characterized by recurrent attacks and long courses,and the number of patients has expanded rapidly year by year.Additionally,current conventional strategies exist serious adverse effects.In this case,it is an urgent issue to find out an effective and safe treatment.Functional oligosaccharides possess safe and excellent physiological activities,and have attracted enormous attention due to their great therapeutic potential for IBD.This review emphasizes the attenuating effects of distinct functional oligosaccharides on IBD and their structure,and summarizes the main mechanisms from the aspects of regulating intestinal fl ora structure,repairing intestinal barrier,modulating immune function and mediating related signaling pathways in order to reveal the relationship between functional oligosaccharides,immune regulation,intestinal epithelial cells,gut fl ora and IBD treatment.Oligosaccharides possess excellent protective effects on IBD,and can be considered as safe and functional ingredients in the health food and pharmaceutical industry.

Enzymatically prepared alginate oligosaccharides improve broiler chicken growth performance by modulating the gut microbiota and growth hormone signals

Background Alginate oligosaccharide(AOS)holds great potential as a novel feed supplement in farm animals.However,the effects of AOS on chicken health and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.This study aimed to optimize the enzymatic preparation of AOS by using bacterial alginate lyases expressed in yeast,investigate the effects of the prepared AOS on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens,and reveal the underlying mechanisms.Results Five alginate lyases from bacteria were cloned into Pichia pastoris GS115 and the alginate lyase PDE9 was expressed at relatively high yield,activity and stability in P.pastoris.Animal trials were carried out using 3201-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers(four groups;8 replicates/group×10 chicks/replicate)receiving either a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 100,200 and 400 mg/kg PDE9-prepared AOS for 42 d.The results showed that dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg AOS displayed the highest activity in promoting the birds’ADG and ADFI(P<0.05).AOS ameliorated the intestinal morphology,absorption function and barrier function,as indicated by the enhanced(P<0.05)intestinal villus height,maltase activity,and the expression of PEPT,SGLT1,ZNT1,and occludin.AOS also increased serum insulin-like growth factor-1,ghrelin(P<0.05),and growth hormone(P<0.1).Moreover,the concentrations of acetate,isobutyrate,isovalerate,valerate,and total SCFAs in cecum of birds fed AOS were significantly higher than the control birds(P<0.05).Metagenomic analysis indicated that AOS modulated the chicken gut microbiota structure,function,and microbial interactions and promoted the growth of SCFAs-producing bacteria,for example,Dorea sp.002160985;SCFAs,especially acetate,were found positively correlated with the chicken growth performance and growth-related hormone signals(P<0.05).We further verified that AOS can be utilized by Dorea sp.to grow and to produce acetate in vitro.Conclusions We demonstrated that the enzymatically produced AOS effectively promoted broiler chicken growth performance by modulating the chicken gut microbiota structure and function.For the first time,we established the connections among AOS,chicken gut microbiota/SCFAs,growth hormone signals and chicken growth performance.

Mannan oligosaccharides alleviate oxidative injury in the head kidney and spleen in grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella)via the Nrf2 signaling pathway after Aeromonas hydrophila infection

Background Mannan oligosaccharides(MOS)are recommended as aquaculture additives owing to their excellent antioxidant properties.In the present study,we examined the effects of dietary MOS on the head kidney and spleen of grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella)with Aeromonas hydrophila infection.Methods A total of 540 grass carp were used for the study.They were administered six gradient dosages of the MOS diet(0,200,400,600,800,and 1,000 mg/kg)for 60 d.Subsequently,we performed a 14-day Aeromonas hydrophila challenge experiment.The antioxidant capacity of the head kidney and spleen were examined using spectrophotometry,DNA fragmentation,qRT-PCR,and Western blotting.Results After infection with Aeromonas hydrophila,400-600 mg/kg MOS supplementation decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species,protein carbonyl,and malonaldehyde and increased the levels of anti-superoxide anion,antihydroxyl radical,and glutathione in the head kidney and spleen of grass carp.The activities of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase,manganese superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione S-transferase,glutathione reductase,and glutathione peroxidase were also enhanced by supplementation with 400-600 mg/kg MOS.Furthermore,the expression of most antioxidant enzymes and their corresponding genes increased significantly with supplementation of 200-800 mg/kg MOS.mRNA and protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 also increased following supplementation with 400-600 mg/kg MOS.In addition,supplementation with 400-600 mg/kg MOS reduced excessive apoptosis by inhibiting the death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway processes.Conclusions Based on the quadratic regression analysis of the above biomarkers(reactive oxygen species,malondialdehyde,and protein carbonyl)of oxidative damage in the head kidney and spleen of on-growing grass carp,the recommended MOS supplementation is 575.21,557.58,531.86,597.35,570.16,and 553.80 mg/kg,respectively.Collectively,MOS supplementation could alleviate oxidative injury in the head kidney and spleen of grass carp infected with Aeromonas hydrophila.

Multiplex genome editing targeting soybean with ultra-low anti-nutritive oligosaccharides

Soybean is the primary source of plant protein for humans.Owing to the indigestibility of the raffinose family of oligosaccharides(RFO),raffinose and stachyose are considered anti-nutritive factors in soybean seeds.Low-RFO soybean cultivars are generated by mutagenesis of RFO biosynthesis genes,but the carbohydrate profiles invite further modification to lower RFOs.This study employed a pooled multiplex genome editing approach to target four seed-specifically expressed genes mediating RFO biosynthesis,encoding three raffinose synthases(RS2,RS3,and RS4)and one stachyose synthase.In T1progeny,rs2/rs3 and rs4/sts homozygous double mutants and a rs2/rs3/rs4/sts quadruple mutant(rfo-4m)were characterized.The rs2/rs3 mutant showed reduced raffinose and stachyose contents,but the rs4/sts mutant showed only reduced stachyose in seeds.The RFO contents in the rfo-4m mutant were almost eliminated.Metabolomic analysis showed that the mutation of four RFO biosynthesis genes led to a shift of metabolic profile in the seeds,including the accumulation of several oligosaccharides-related metabolites.These mutants could contribute to precision breeding of soybean cultivars for soy food production.

Combinatorial Enzyme Approach to Convert Wheat Insoluble Arabinoxylan to Bioactive Oligosaccharides

Combinatorial enzyme technology was applied for the conversion of wheat insoluble arabinoxylan to oligosaccharide structural variants. The digestive products were fractionated by Bio-Gel P4 column and screened for bioactivity. One fraction pool was observed to exhibit antimicrobial property resulting in the suppression of cell growth of the test organism ATCC 8739 E. coli. It has a MIC value of 1.5% (w/v, 35°C, 20 hr) and could be useful as a new source of prebiotics or preservatives. The present results further confirm the science and useful application of combinatorial enzyme approach.

Effects of in ovo delivered xylo-and mannan-oligosaccharides on growth performance,intestinal immunity,cecal short-chain fatty acids,and cecal microbiota of broilers

Background:This study investigated a novel in ovo feeding strategy to determine the prebiotic effects of xylo-and mannan-oligosaccharides(XOS and MOS)differing in the degree of polymerization.A total of 192 fertilized eggs were divided into 6 treatment groups:i)normal saline control(NSC),ii)xylotriose(XOS3),iii)xylotetraose(XOS4),iv)mannotriose(MOS3),v)mannotetraose(MOS4),and vi)no injection control(NIC),each containing 4 replicate trays with 8 eggs per replicate.On d 17 of incubation,3 mg of oligosaccharides(except for controls)dissolved in 0.5 mL of 0.85%normal saline were injected into the amnion of Cobb 500 broilers eggs.After hatch,the chicks were raised for 28 d under standard husbandry practices and were fed a commercial broilers diet ad libitum,and samples were collected periodically.Results:The hatchability,growth performance,and relative weights of breast,drumstick,liver,and proventriculus were not different among the treatments(P>0.05).The XOS3 injection increased the total short-chain fatty acid production at d 28 compared with both control groups(P<0.05).The villus height to crypt depth ratio was significantly higher in the XOS4 group than both controls on the hatch day(P<0.01)but were not different among any treatments on d 7 and 28(P>0.05).On the hatch day,the expression level of the CD3 gene(a T cell marker)was increased by XOS3,while the IL-10 gene(a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokine)was reduced by MOS4(P<0.05)compared with both controls.Compared with both controls,XOS3 exhibited a trend of reduction for IL-10(P=0.074).No cytokines or lymphocyte markers were affected by the treatments on d 7(P>0.05),except XOS4 increased IL-4 compared with NSC(P<0.05).The broilers in the MOS4 group had higher operational taxonomic units(OTUs)and had more differentially abundant taxa,including order Lactobacillales and family Leuconostocaceae(P<0.05)than both controls on d 28.The predictive functional profiling indicated that the linoleic acid metabolism pathway was enriched in the cecal microbiota of the XOS3 group compared with both controls(P<0.05).Conclusion:The effects of these XOS and MOS on ileal mucosa and immunity are transient,but the effects on fermentation and cecal microbiota are prolonged,and further research is warranted to determine their use as a gut health promoter in poultry.

Alginate oligosaccharides preparation, biological activities and their application in livestock and poultry

Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS), belonging to the class of functional marine oligosaccharides, are low-molecular polymers linked by β-1,4-mannuronic acid(M) and α-1,4-guluronic acid(G), which could be classically obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of alginate. With low viscosity and good water solubility, as well as anti-oxidant, immune regulation, anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory activities, AOS have been widely used in medical science and functional food, green agriculture and other fields. As new bio-feed additives, AOS have broad potential applications in animal husbandry. In this review, the sources of alginate, chemical structure and preparation methods of AOS, and their biological activities and application in livestock and poultry are summarized. We expect this review could contribute to lay a foundation of application and further research for AOS in livestock and poultry.

Effect of Specific Structure of Lotus Seed Oligosaccharides on the Production of Short-chain Fatty Acids by Bifidobacterium adolescentis

In order to study the structure of lotus （Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn） seed oligosaccharides and their effect on the proliferation ofBifidobacterium adolescentis, we extracted the oligosaccharides from seeds collected from Jianning County, China. We preliminarily characterized the groups, molecular weights, molecular formulae, component monosaccharides and glycosidic bonds using mass spectrometry （MS） and nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） after isolation and purification. The lotus seed oligosaccharides contained glycosidic bonds Manp-（1→）, Galp-（1→）, α（1→6）-Glup and α（1→6）-Manp; and mannose was the chief component monosaccharide. NMR analyses showed that ~t-glycosidic bonds and pyranoid rings were predominant in the oligosaccharides. The MS analyses showed that lotus seed oligosaccharides consisted of three oligosaccharides of different polymerization degree, with relative molecular weights of 342, 504 and 666 Da, and corresponding molecular formulae C12H22O11, C18H32O16 and C24H42O21. Research on the effect of lotus seed oligosaccharides on the proliferation orB. adolescentis showed that they effectively promoted the production of acetic, propionic and butyric acids by B. adolescentis through fermentation, and their effect was stronger than that of fructo-, xylo- and isomalto-oligosaccharides. Lotus seed oligosaccharides have potential as a new functional probiotic and lotus seeds should be further explored and utilized as a source of oligosaccharides.

The Antioxidant Effects of Complexes of Tilapia Fish Skin Collagen and Different Marine Oligosaccharides

An excess of reactive oxygen species（ROS）leads to a variety of chronic health problems.As potent antioxidants,marine bioactive extracts containing oligosaccharides and peptides have been extensively studied.Recently,there is a growing interest in protein-polysaccharide complexes because of their potential uses in pharmaceutical and food industries.However,only few studies are available on the antioxidant activities of such complexes,in terms of their ROS scavenging capability.In this study,we combined and superoxide radicals,and to evaluate the influences on the activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione peroxidase（GSH-Px）and the level of malondialdehyde（MDA）in UV-induced photoaging models.The results indicated that the antioxidant activities of all the complexes were stronger than those of their individual components.Among the 11 complexes tested,two complexes,namely MA1000＋CP and κ-ca3000＋CP,turned out to be highly effective antioxidants.Although the detailed mechanisms of this improved scavenging ability are not fully understood,this work provides insights into the design of highly efficient peptide-oligosaccharide complexes for potential applications in pharmaceutical,cosmetics and food industries.

Laminarin and Laminarin Oligosaccharides Originating from Brown Algae:Preparation,Biological Activities,and Potential Applications

Brown algae is one of the three major types of marine algae and includes approximately 2000 species.It is widely dis-tributed in various seas around the world.Brown algae contain a plethora of active substances,such as polysaccharides,polyphe-nols,omega-3 fatty acids,and carotenoids.Laminarin,a type of storage carbohydrate found abundantly in brown algae,is mainly formed by glucose monomers linked byβ-1,3-glucosidic bonds and partialβ-1,6-glucosidic bonds.Laminarin and laminarin oligo-saccharides,which contain 2-10 saccharide units,have extensive biological activities,such as antitumor,antioxidant,anti-inflam-matory,and prebiotic properties.Moreover,both laminarin and laminarin oligosaccharides can be considered as ideal substrates for bioethanol production because they are composed of abundant glucose residues.Therefore,brown algae-derived laminarin and lami-narin oligosaccharides have various potential applications in the food,medicine,cosmetics,and bioenergy fields.This paper reviews the preparation methods of laminarin and laminarin oligosaccharides,as well as their biological activities and potential applications.

Preparation of κ-carra-Oligosaccharides with Microwave Assisted Acid Hydrolysis Method

A rapid method of microwave assisted acid hydrolysis was established to prepare κ-carra-oligosaccharides. The optimal hydrolysis condition was determined by an orthogonal test. The degree of polymerization （DP） of oligosaccharides was detected by high performance thin layer chromatography （HPTLC） and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （PAGE）. Considering the results of HPTLC and PAGE, the optimum condition of microwave assisted acid hydrolysis was determined. The concentration of κ-carrageenan was 5 mgmL-1; the reaction solution was adjusted to pH 3 with diluted hydrochloric acid; the solution was hydrolyzed under microwave irradiation at 100 ℃ for 15 min. Oligosaccharides were separated by a Superdex 30 column （2.6 cm × 90 em） using AKTA Purifier UPC100 and detected with an online refractive index detector. Each fraction was characterized by electrospray ioni- zation mass spectrometry （ESI-MS）. The data showed that odd-numbered κ-carra-oligosaccharides with DP ranging from 3 to 21 could be obtained with this method, and the structures of the oligosaccharides were consistent with those obtained by traditional mild acid hydrolysis. The new method was more convenient, efficient and environment-friendly than traditional mild acid hydrolysis. Our results provided a useful reference for the preparation of oligosaceharides from other polysaccharides.

Polyguluronate Sulfate and Its Oligosaccharides but not Heparin Promotes FGF19/FGFR1c Signaling

Fibroblast growth factor 19(FGF19) functions as a hormone by affecting glucose metabolism. FGF19 improves glucose tolerance when overexpressed in mice with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. A functional cellular FGF19 receptor consists of FGF receptor(FGFR) and glycosaminoglycan complexed with either α Klotho or β Klotho. Interestingly, in mice with diet-induced diabetes, a single injection of FGF1 is enough to restore blood sugar levels to a healthy range. FGF1 binds heparin with high affinity whereas FGF19 does not, indicating that polysaccharides other than heparin might enhance FGF19/FGFR signaling. Using a FGFs/FGFR1 c signaling-dependent Ba F3 cell proliferation assay, we discovered that polyguluronate sulfate(PGS) and its oligosaccharides, PGS12 and PGS25, but not polyguluronate(PG), a natural marine polysaccharide, enhanced FGF19/FGFR1 c signaling better than that of heparin based on ~3H-thymidine incorporation. Interestingly, PGS6, PGS8, PGS10, PGS12, PGS25, and PGS, but not PG, had comparable FGF1/FGFR1 c signal-stimulating activity compared to that of heparin. These results indicated that PGS and its oligosaccharides were excellent FGF1/FGFR1 c and FGF19/FGFR1 c signaling enhancers at cellular level. Since the inexpensive PGS and PGS oligosaccharides can be absorbed through oral route, these seaweed-derived compounds merit further investigation as novel agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes through enhancing FGF1/FGFR1 c and FGF19/FGFR1 c signaling in future.

Effects of Different Oligosaccharides on Performance and Availability of Nutrients in Broilers

One hundred and forty-four Avin broilers (1 d of age) were randomly divided into six groups, with three replicates of eight birds each to study on the effects of different oligosaccharides on performance and availability of nutrients in broilers. The control group(Group I)was fed with corn-soybean meal as basal diet, and the trial groups (Group II, III, IV,V and VI) were fed with basal diet plus 0.1% Manoligosaccharides(MOS), 0.3% Soybean-Oligosaccharides(SBOS), 0.3% Fructo-oligosaccharides(FOS), 0.3% α-Glucooligosaccharides(α-GOS) and 50 mg·L-1 Chlortetracycline(CTC), respectively. The results showed that the supplementation of oligosaccharides slightly improved daily gain and feed intake. SBOS supplementation improved, but MOS and α-GOS significantly decreased availability of energy. Oligosaccharides supplementation improved availability of energy, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and iron, and significantly increased cholesterol content of fecal, and did not affect on availability of protein and cholesterol contents in serum and muscle. Availability of phosphorus of broilers fed with FOS was much higher than that with α-GOS. SBOS supplementation remarkably increased availability of iron.

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Enhance Innate Immunity to Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza <i>in Vitro</i>

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) contribute to innate immunity by enhancing growth of beneficial bacteria, epithelial cell maturation and mucosal barrier integrity. They have immunomodulatory effects and can block pathogen binding to host cell surface glycans or receptors. We investigated the effects of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’FL), 6’-sialyllactose (6’SL), 3’-sialyllactose (3’SL) and lacto-N-neoTetraose (LNnT) on human respiratory epithelial cell lines or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following respiratory viral infectionin vitro. Expression of cytokines and viral load were monitored in infected cells. These biomarkers of innate immunity were selected since viral load and cytokine levels (IP-10, MIP-1α, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) have been correlated with disease severity in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (IAV) virus infectionin vivo. 2’FL significantly decreased RSV viral load and cytokines associated with disease severity (IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1α) and inflammation (TNF-α, MCP-1) in airway epithelial cells. LNnT and 6’SL significantly decreased IAV viral load in airway epithelial cells. 6’SL dose-dependently down-regulated IP-10 and TNF-α in RSV infected PBMCs. HMO at or below levels found in breast milk enhance innate immunity to respiratory viruses in vitro and may interact directly with cells to modulate biomarkers of innate immunity.

Individual and Combined Effects of Nucleotides and Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Proliferation, Apoptosis and Necrosis in a Human Fetal Intestinal Cell Line

Nucleotides (NT) and human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) individually affect epithelial cell growth, but their combined effects had not been studied. Herein, the impact of NT and HMO on cell proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis and cell cycle in the fetal epithelial cell line (FHs-74 Int) was determined. Cells were incubated with media containing 2.5% FBS and no epidermal growth factor (Control);fucosyllactose (FL) mix [85% 2’FL/15% 3’FL], sialyllactose (SL) mix [40% 6’SL/10% 3’SL/50% sialic acid (SA)] or LNnT at 125, 250, 500 or 1000 μg/mL with and without 250 μg/mL NT (43% CMP, 18.5% UMP, 16.4% AMP, and 22.0% GMP) for 24 or 72 h. NT alone significantly increased proliferation, but did not affect cell cycle or apoptosis/necrosis. All HMO treatments at 1000 μg/mL significantly decreased proliferation and some were also inhibitory at 250 or 500 μg/mL. When NT and HMO were simultaneously added, NT ameliorated the anti-proliferative effect of HMO. FL significantly increased cells in S phase and SL and LNnT treatments significantly increased cells in G2/M and S phases, which concomitantly decreased cells in G0/G1. HMO with NT significantly decreased the percent of cells in the G2/M phase compared to HMO alone. Higher HMO doses significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells compared to control. In conclusion, HMO reduced cell proliferation and this effect is partially ameliorated by NT. It appears that HMO initially induced apoptosis/necrosis, which was later evidenced by G2/M cell cycle arrest and decreased proliferation.

Chitin oligosaccharides alleviate atherosclerosis progress in ApoE;mice by regulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting inflammation

Atherosclerosis is driven both by hyperlipidemia and inflammation. Chitin oligosaccharides(NACOS) have shown pharmacological effects on multiple diseases via hypolipidemic and/or anti-inflammatory activities. The present study aims to evaluate whether NACOS treatment can prevent atherosclerosis induced by a highfat-diet(HFD) in Apolipoprotein E-knockout(Apo E;) mice. Results showed that 300 and 900 mg/kg b.w./day NACOS supplementation for 14 weeks significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesions up to 45% and 67% in compared with the HFD(P < 0.05), as measured in the valve area of the aortic root. Further, NACOS supplementation significantly reduced the serum hyperlipidemia and circulating proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α. NACOS decreased the hepatic Hmgcr to reduce cholesterol synthesis, activated the genes involved in reverse cholesterol transport to enhance cholesterol efflux and excretion, and reduced the intestinal Npc1L1 to lower cholesterol absorption. Additionally, NACOS enhanced cecum short chain fatty acids production and intestinal integrity. Thus, NACOS supplementation ameliorated atherosclerosis via altering lipid metabolism and reducing inflammation. These findings indicate that NACOS may be a potential functional food material for attenuating atherosclerosis development.

Sucrose-free hawthorn leathers formulated with fructooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides ameliorate high-fat diet induced inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism in liver of mice

High sucrose content in traditional hawthorn leathers limits the potential consumption, particularly for elders and diabetics. In this study, sucrose-free hawthorn leathers were formulated with 75% fructooligosaccharides(FOS) and 25% xylooligosaccharides(XOS)(HLF75), which exhibited comparable morphology and sensory properties to the traditional ones. Then, the anti-obesity activity of HLF75 was investigated using high-fat diet(HFD) fed C57BL/6J mice. Comparing with traditional hawthorn leathers, HLF75 supplementation in HFD significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose and serum lipid. The histomorphologies of liver and subcutaneous fat tissues were ameliorated by HLF75, as well as the down-regulated m RNA expression levels of IL-1β, Nos2 and Cox-2 in the liver. M oreover, the protein levels of M y D88 and NF-κB in the liver were suppressed by HLF75 treatment with decreased F4/80-positive macrophage number. Ho wever, the expression levels of PI3K, phosphorylated-AKT(Thr308), and phosphorylated-m TOR(Ser2448) proteins related to glucose metabolism were increased in the liver. Moreover, fat synthesis-related gene expression in HLF75-fed mice was suppressed while expressions of lipolysis genes were improved. Thus, HLF75 supplementation alleviated HFD-induced obesity through the alleviation of inflammation and restoration of the disturbed glucose and lipid metabolism. Functional oligosaccharides could be effective sucrose substitutes in hawthorn leathers and enable their potential utilization as functional foods.

Effect of Different Oligosaccharides on Immunity and Production Performance of Piglets

[ Objective] To study the effects of different oligosaccharides on immunity and production performance of piglets.[ Method] A total of 75 Yorkshire x Rongchang piglets were assigned into five groups, 15 in each group. Isomalto-oligosaccharide （ IMO）, fructo-oligosaccharide （ FOS）, mannan-oligosacchadde （MOS）, and mixed oligosacchadde were supplemented to basal diet （7.5 g/kg）, respectively. The control group was also set. The experimental period lasted for 53 d. The clinic symptoms and diarrhea were observed. All piglets were weighed once a week. Feed intake was also recorded. Blood was collected via precaval vein for determination of immunology indexes at the age of 30 and 60 d, respectively. [ Result] The IMO and FOS enhanced cellular immunity of 30-day-old piglets significantly （P 〈 0.05）, and the IMO also enhanced their humoral immunity. The MOS enhanced cellular immunity and humoral immunity of 60-day-old piglets significantly （P 〈 0.05）. It also improved production performance largest, and its diarrhea rate was the lowest. [ Conclusion] Different oligosaccharides have various effects on immunity and production performance of oiolets.