Medial arterial calcification (MAC), a systemic vascular disease different from atherosclerosis, is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Several studies have demonstrated ...that ambient temperature is one of the most important factors affecting cardiovascular events. However, there has been limited research on the effect of different ambient temperatures on MAC. In the present study, we showed that cold temperature exposure (CT) in mice slowed down the formation of vitamin D (VD)-induced vascular calcification compared with room temperature exposure (RT). To investigate the mechanism involved, we isolated plasma-derived exosomes from mice subjected to CT or RT for 30 days (CT-Exo or RT-Exo, respectively). Compared with RT-Exo, CT-Exo remarkably alleviated the calcification/senescence formation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and promoted autophagy by activating the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and inhibiting phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). At the same time, CT-Exo promoted autophagy in β-glycerophosphate (β-GP)-induced VSMCs. The number of autophagosomes and the expression of autophagy-related proteins ATG5 and LC3B increased, while the expression of p62 decreased. Based on a microRNA chip microarray assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, miR-320a-3p was highly enriched in CT-Exo as well as thoracic aortic vessels in CT mice. miR-320a-3p downregulation in CT-Exo using AntagomiR-320a-3p inhibited autophagy and blunted its anti-calcification protective effect on VSMCs. Moreover, we identified that programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a target of miR-320a-3p, and silencing PDCD4 increased autophagy and decreased calcification in VSMCs. Treatment with CT-Exo alleviated the formation of MAC in VD-treated mice, while these effects were partially reversed by GW4869. Furthermore, the anti-arterial calcification protective effects of CT-Exo were largely abolished by AntagomiR-320a-3p in VD-induced mice. In summary, we have highlighted that prolonged cold may be a good way to reduce the incidence of MAC. Specifically, miR-320a-3p from CT-Exo could protect against the initiation and progression of MAC via the AMPK/mTOR autophagy pathway.
The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. However, tons of aerial parts of this plant are usually discarded in the production of roots ...preparation. To make better use of these plant resources, the polysaccharide isolated from the aerial part of S. miltiorrhiza was investigated for its potential protection against intestinal diseases. A pectic polysaccharide (SMAP-1) was isolated and characterized being composed of homogalacturonan as the main chain and rhamnogalacturonan type I as ramified region, with side chains including arabinans and possible arabinogalactan type I and II. SMAP-1 exhibited robust protective effects against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and restored colitis symptoms, colonic inflammation, and barrier functions. Anti-oxidative effects were also observed by up-regulating Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway. Additionally, the level of serum 5-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde (5-MC) was restored by SMAP-1 identified in metabolomic analysis, being correlated with the aforementioned effects. Protection against oxidative stress on intestinal porcine enterocyte cells (IPEC-J2) by 5-MC was observed through the activation of Nrf2/Keap1 system, as also shown by SMAP-1. In conclusion, SMAP-1 could be a promising candidate for colitis prevention, and 5-MC could be the signal metabolite of SMAP-1 in protecting against oxidative stress in the intestine.
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Codonopsis pilosula possesses properties related to nourishing the spleen and stomach, and tonifying qi of stomach and mind in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides, which are the primary ...active components of C. pilosula, are thought to be in charge of their extensive use. Now, a systematic summary structural and bioactivities diversity of polysaccharide from C. pilosula (CPs) are necessary to address their future aspects and application.
In this review, the extraction and purification methods, structural features and bioactivities diversity of CPs are summarized and discussed. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) is also analyzed and discussed.
Boiling water extraction, ultrasonic extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis and microwave methods, subcritical water extraction and accelerated solvent extraction are used for extracting CPs. Among them, water extraction and alcohol precipitation method is the most frequently used one. Around 15 neutral fractions and 25 acidic fractions were purified from different species of C. pilosula, while only few of them were well characterized. CPs exhibited various biological activities, including immunomodulation, antitumor, prebiotics, antifatigue, antiviral, antioxidation activity. However, most of bioactivities reported were based on crude CPs; in vivo studies of purified CPs and the potential mechanisms need to be extensively investigated. SAR illustrates that chemical and enzymatic modification of CPs could significantly increase the bioactivity of CPs, but other impact factors on SAR such as water solubility, molecular weight and chain information are still unknown.
•Methods for Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides extraction were discussed.•Around 40 CPs were purified from C. pilosula, and showed structural diversity.•CPs exhibited a wide range of bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo.•Chemical and enzymatic modification affects the bioactivities of CPs.•Mechanisms of activities of purified CPs in vivo are required to be explored.
Herbal tea, which refers to “cooling tea”, “cool beverage”, or “liáng chá” in China, includes a range of drinks with heat-clearing and detoxification qualities. Herbal tea plants are great ...contributive to the health and prosperity of Chaoshan people. The aim of the study was to document herbal tea plant species used and commercialized as “liáng chá” in Chaoshan area, to facilitate the use and development of herbal tea enterprises, and to promote the further development of national herbal tea.
Information and data were obtained from all 83 stall holders in 12 traditional markets, semi-structured informant interviews were carried out individually with the stall holders, 10 questions were asked.
In this study, 186 species of herbal tea plants belonging to 65 families and 156 genera were indicated by 83 stall holders, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent family with 22 species. Herbs are main sources of herbal tea plants in Chaoshan area, with whole plants (97 species) being the most used parts. Herbal drinks are mostly consumed for heat-clearing and detoxification, and a large number of plant species were reported to treat coughs, colds, dysentery, dampness and sore throats. The most cited species were Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (47 times mentioned), Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (46), Plantago asiatica L. (43), Houttuynia cordata Thunb (42), Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (36), Desmodium styracifolium (Osbeck) Merr. (35) and Morus alba L. (31), and 5 protected species were recorded in the list of the nationally protected species of China: Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Anoectochilus formosanus Hayata, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (J. E. Smith) Lindl. and Pholidota chinensis Lindl. The selling price of most fresh herbal tea plants in the market varied from￥10–16/kg, with the profit margin of sales ranging from 12.5% to 20%. The consumption of herbal tea for one family costs about ￥3–5/day.
Chaoshan herbal teas, prepared by diverse plant species, are regarded as a long tradition inseparable part in daily life of local people. Although they can effectively prevent and treat different kinds of diseases, they are not suitable for everyone (e.g. the elderly, children, and pregnant or breastfeeding women), even in healthy people, improper use of herbal tea can lead to physical discomfort. Furthermore, in order to appropriately understand the function, efficacy, and safety of herbal tea plants, additional research of traditional practices and phytochemistry, nutrient, physiological and toxicity properties should be analyzed.
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In this study, the catalyzed hydrolysis of castor oil by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) immobilized on glutaraldehyde‐activated magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan is investigated. Magnetic Fe3O4 is prepared by ...hydrothermal method and coated with chitosan (CS). Next, CRL is immobilized on Fe3O4@chitosan using glutaraldehyde as a cross‐linking reagent. The prepared Fe3O4@CS@CRL is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design is used to evaluate and optimize the hydrolysis reaction variables. The optimum reaction conditions for the hydrolysis of castor oil by the Fe3O4@CS@CRL heterogeneous catalyst are found to be a water/oil ratio of 1.60:1, pH of 7.05, reaction temperature of 34 °C, and lipase concentration of 3.27%; under these conditions, the hydrolysis conversion of castor oil reached 46.81%. Moreover, the immobilized lipase showed high stability with no appreciable loss in its activity after three consecutive cycles.
Practical Applications: RSM is found to be a useful technique for optimizing hydrolysis of castor oil. The high conversion of the hydrolysis of castor oil indicates that the Fe3O4@CS@CRL have potential to be used in preparing ricinoleic acid from castor oil. Ricinoleic acid have the potential to be used in printing ink as a pigment and dye disperser, plasticizers, surfactants, lubricants, and other valuable products.
Ricinoleic acid can be used in pigment and dye disperser in printing ink, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, heptaldehyde, plasticizers, surfactants, lubricants, and other valuable products. Hydrolysis of castor oil catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) immobilized on glutaraldehyde‐activated magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan is investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design is used to evaluate and optimize the hydrolysis reaction variables. Fe3O4@CS@CRL can be easily separated from the suspension using an external strong magnet. Fe3O4@CS@CRL have potential to be used in preparing ricinoleic acid from castor oil.
Ricinoleic acid can be used in pigment and dye disperser in printing ink, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, heptaldehyde, plasticizers, surfactants, lubricants, and other valuable products. Hydrolysis of castor oil catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) immobilized on glutaraldehyde‐activated magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan is investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design is used to evaluate and optimize the hydrolysis reaction variables. Fe3O4@CS@CRL can be easily separated from the suspension using an external strong magnet. Fe3O4@CS@CRL have potential to be used in preparing ricinoleic acid from castor oil.
MicroRNAs (miRs) dysregulation is a general feature of colorectal cancer (CRC) and other solid tumors, and is associated cancer progression. In the current study, we demonstrate that microRNA-101 ...(miR-101) inhibits CRC cells probably through down-regulating sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1). Our results showed that exogenously expressing miR-101 inhibited CRC cell (HT-29 and HCT-116 lines) growth in vitro. At the molecular level, miR-101 dramatically down-regulated SphK1 mRNA and protein expression, causing pro-apoptotic ceramide production in above CRC cells. On the other hand, inhibition of miR-101 through expressing antagomiR-101 increased SphK1 expression to down-regulate ceramide level in HT-29 cells. miR-101 expression increased the in vitro anti-CRC activity of conventional chemo-agents: paclitaxel and doxorubicin. CRC cells with SphK1-shRNA knockdown showed similar phenotypes as the miR-101-expressed CRC cells, presenting with elevated level of ceramide and high sensitivity to paclitaxel or doxorubicin. In vivo, HCT-116 xenograft growth in severe combined immuno-deficient (SCID) mice was dramatically inhibited by over-expressing miR-101. Further, miR-101 enhanced paclitaxel-induced anti-HCT-116 activity in vivo. Together, these results indicate that miR-101 exerts its anti-CRC activities probably through down-regulating SphK1.
•Overexpressing miR-101 significantly inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth.•MiR-101 down-regulates SphK1 to increase ceramide level in CRC cells.•MiR-101 increases paclitaxel/doxorubicin-mediated anti-CRC activity in vitro.•MiR-101 inhibits HCT-116 growth and increases paclitaxel chemo-sensitivity in vivo.
The Mesozoic geology in SE China is characterized by widespread Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatism. There appears, however, an episode of “magmatic quiescence” at ca. 130–110Ma in terms of increasing ...high-precision isotopic age data. The causes and regional tectonic significance of this magmatic quiescence are unclear. In this paper, we report integrated in situ U–Pb, Hf and O isotope analyses of zircons from four mica schist samples along Changle–Nan'ao Metamorphic Belt in SE China coast, and use these data to discuss the provenances of these metasedimentary rocks, the timing of the regional metamorphism and their implications for the regional tectonic evolution. The majority of zircons from the mica schists are euhedral to anhedral crystals showing clear concentric zoning under cathodoluminescence (CL) images. Metamorphic zircon rims with bright luminescence are overgrown on the some of the euhedral to anhedral zoned zircons. The zoned zircons from all mica schist samples are homogeneous in U–Pb age zircon ages (between 131 and 148Ma, peaking at 141Ma), O isotopes (δ18O=5.6±0.8‰, 2SD, n=106), and, to the less extent, Hf isotopes (εHf(T)=−4.7 to −1.4 for the Dongshan mica schists, and −1.4 to 2.2 for the Putian mica schists). They are most likely detrital zircons sourced from the regional Early Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks (the Nanyuan Formation) and/or coeval intrusions in Fujian Province. The sedimentary protoliths of these mica schists were likely deposited in fore-arc basins. The metamorphic zircon overgrowths have relatively low Th/U ratios; they are dated at ~130–100Ma, with two peaks at ~125Ma and ~108Ma. The first metamorphic age of ~125Ma is coincident with the timing of regional Early Cretaceous magmatic quiescence, while the second metamorphic age of ~108Ma is consistent with the timing of reinitiation of regional Cretaceous magmatism. We use a model of collision between the West Philippines and SE China blocks to interpret our new results. According to this model, the intensive Early Cretaceous (ca. 140–130Ma) magmatism along the coastal region of SE China was attributed to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath SE China. Collision between the West Philippines and SE China blocks at ~130–120Ma resulted in the regional “magmatic quiescence” and formation of the Changle–Nan'ao Metamorphic Belt. Post-collisional extension triggered the reinitiation of magmatism associated with amphibolite-facies metamorphism at ~110Ma.
•We report four mica schists in Changle–Nan'ao Metamorphic Belt, SE China Coast.•All the mica schist samples were deposited between 141 and 130Ma.•Mica schists experienced two episodes of metamorphism at ~125Ma and ~108Ma.•Collision between West Philippines and SE China blocks induced the ~125Ma metamorphism and deformation.•The ~108Ma metamorphism is likely related to post-collisional extension.
Bone metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and currently has no effective treatment. Disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow often obtain new characteristics ...to cause therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Thus, understanding the status of disseminated prostate cancer cells in bone marrow is crucial for developing a new treatment.
We analyzed the transcriptome of disseminated tumor cells from a single cell RNA-sequencing data of PCa bone metastases. We built a bone metastasis model through caudal artery injection of tumor cells, and sorted the tumor hybrid cells by flow cytometry. We performed multi-omics analysis, including transcriptomic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis, to compare the difference between the tumor hybrid cells and parental cells. In vivo experiments were performed to analyze the tumor growth rate, metastatic and tumorigenic potential, drug and radiation sensitivity in hybrid cells. Single cell RNA-sequencing and CyTOF were performed to analyze the impact of hybrid cells on tumor microenvironment.
Here, we identified a unique cluster of cancer cells in PCa bone metastases, which expressed myeloid cell markers and showed a significant change in pathways related to immune regulation and tumor progression. We found that cell fusion between disseminated tumor cells and bone marrow cells can be source of these myeloid-like tumor cells. Multi-omics showed the pathways related to cell adhesion and proliferation, such as focal adhesion, tight junction, DNA replication, and cell cycle, were most significantly changed in these hybrid cells. In vivo experiment showed hybrid cells had a significantly increased proliferative rate, and metastatic potential. Single cell RNA-sequencing and CyTOF showed tumor-associated neutrophils/monocytes/macrophages were highly enriched in hybrid cells-induced tumor microenvironment with a higher immunosuppressive capacity. Otherwise, the hybrid cells showed an enhanced EMT phenotype with higher tumorigenicity, and were resistant to docetaxel and ferroptosis, but sensitive to radiotherapy.
Taken together, our data demonstrate that spontaneous cell fusion in bone marrow can generate myeloid-like tumor hybrid cells that promote the progression of bone metastasis, and these unique population of disseminated tumor cells can provide a potential therapeutic target for PCa bone metastasis.
Trace elements play a crucial role in the growth and bioactive substance content of medicinal plants, but their utilization efficiency in soil is often low. In this study, soil and
Aconitum ...carmichaelii
samples were collected and measured from 22 different locations, followed by an analysis of the relationship between trace elements and the yield and alkaloid content of the plants. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between zinc, trace elements in the soil, and the yield and alkaloid content of
A. carmichaelii
. Subsequent treatment of
A. carmichaelii
with both bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrated that the use of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced plant growth and monoester-type alkaloid content. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects, metabolomic analysis was performed, resulting in the identification of 38 differentially expressed metabolites in eight metabolic pathways between the two treatments. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the rhizosphere bacterial communities, with
Bacteroidota
and
Actinobacteriota
identified as valuable biomarkers for ZnO NP treatment. Covariation analysis further revealed significant correlations between specific microbial communities and metabolite expression levels. These findings provide compelling evidence that nanoscale zinc exhibits much higher utilization efficiency compared to traditional zinc fertilizer.
•Two polysaccharide fractions were purified from roots of Gentiana crassicaulis.•These two fractions were pectic polysaccharides.•These two polysaccharides could be used as a potential natural ...immunomodulator.
Two polysaccharides, GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, were obtained from 100°C water extracts of Gentiana crassicaulis roots by DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The results from methanolysis, methylation, FT-IR and NMR, indicated that these two fractions are typical pectic polysaccharides, with HG and RG-I regions and AG-I/AG-II side chains, and some of the galacturonic acid units of fraction GCP-I-I were methyl esterified. Fractions GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, both exhibited potent complement fixation, and fraction GCP-I-I was more potent than positive control BPII. The higher complement fixation activity obtained in fraction GCP-I-I may be due to the higher Mw and/or higher amount of AG-II present in fraction GCP-I-I than fraction GCP-II-I. The polysaccharides from G. crassicaulis could be used as a potential natural immunomodulator.
