Astroglia support neuron by providing substrates for neuronal metabolism, glutamate clearance, and antioxidative protection. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) participates in the ...antioxidative defense response. Also, Nrf2 signaling is recognized to activate the neurotrophic pathway to replace/protect damaged organelles. Ellagic acid (EA), an extraction component of fruits and nuts, presents many pharmacological activities such as anti‐inflammation, antioxidation, and neuroprotection. However, few studies have been focused on the neurotrophic properties of EA. Our study investigated whether EA could increase neuronal survival and the target cells. Thus, primary neuron‐enriched cultures and primary astroglia‐enriched cultures were applied to detect whether EA‐elicited neurotrophic effects were mediated by astroglia Nrf2. This study indicated that EA promoted neuronal survival. Further, astroglia Nrf2 participate in EA‐elicited neuronal survival with the following scenarios. First, EA elicited astroglia proliferation, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) release, and Nrf2 activation. Second, after silencing astroglia Nrf2, EA‐induced astrogliosis, GDNF release, and neuronal survival disappeared. Thus, EA‐mediated astroglia Nrf2 activation is important to enhance neurotrophic effects on neurons, which might provide new insights for neurodegenerative disease.
Three new 2p-4f complexes of Ln(acac)(3)(NIT-2Py)·0.5NIT-2Py Ln(III) = Gd(1), Dy(2) and Dy(tfa)(3)(NIT-2Py)·0.5C(7)H(16) (3) (NIT-2Py = 2-(2'-pyridyl)- 4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide; ...acac = acetylacetonate and tfa = trifluoroacetylacetonate) have been synthesized, and structurally and magnetically characterized. The X-ray structural analysis exhibits that the three complexes show similar mononuclear structures, in which NIT-2Py radical chelates the Ln(III) ion through the oxygen atom of the NO group and the nitrogen atom from the pyridine ring. The static magnetic measurements on the three complexes exhibit ferromagnetic coupling between the lanthanide ion and the radical. Compared to the silence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility of complex 3, the magnetic relaxation behavior of complex 2 is observed, suggesting single-molecule magnet behavior. The different magnetic relaxation behaviours of 2 and 3 are due to their slightly different crystal structure around the Dy(III) ions. It was demonstrated that the spin dynamic can be modified by the careful adjustment of the ligand field around the metal center.
The presence of a quasispecies in hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been documented, however, the implications of a quasispecies in HEV‐host interaction are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed ...the whole genome sequences of a HEV 4d from the feces and liver biopsy of a patient during the icteric and convalescent phases in an acute hepatitis E infection. Viral RNAs were extracted, reversely transcribed and seven fragments encompassing the entire viral genome were amplified and cloned. By sequencing multiple colonies of each cloned viral genome amplicon with Sanger sequencing, we verified the existence of the HEV quasispecies or intra‐host genetic variations within the fecal and liver biopsy samples. There were broader genetic variations in the HEV ORF1 region including the PCP, HPX, and RdRp regions during the convalescent phase whereas more genetic variations in the ORF2 P domain during the icteric phase. The quasispecies dynamics might reflect host immune pressure during viral clearance.
Highlights
Verify the presence of viral quasispecies in an acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection.
Different pattern of quasispecies during the icteric phase and convalescent phase.
Identification of hot spot genetic variations in the P domain of ORF2.
The contaminant removal and microorganism response in activated sludge exposed to sulfamethazine (SMT) for 66 days was investigated. The average removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ...total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total phosphorus (TP) and SMT were 93%, 71%, 98%, 69% and 84%, respectively. The content of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) increased significantly from day 0 to day 66 (p < 0.05). Microorganisms secreted more PN to protect cells from SMT damage under the stimulation of SMT. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) results showed that fluorescence intensity of tyrosine like aromatic protein in EPS increased significantly from day 0 to day 66. The total reads of Pseudomonas (denitrifying bacteria, DNB) and Acinetobacter (phosphorus-accumulating bacteria, PAO) increased significantly from day 0 to day 66 (p < 0.05), which indicated that the above-cited bacteria could resist the SMT stress.
Display omitted
•Efficient removal of COD, TN, NH4+-N, TP and Sulfamethazine (SMT).•SMT significantly promoted the secretion of EPS (p < 0.05).•SMT had a negative effect on microbial richness and diversity.•Long-term exposure in SMT stimulated the growth of Aeromonas.
The quality control of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a scientific problem and an industrial issue, which hampers the development of evidence based TCM. The concept of quality markers ...(Q-markers) is proposed and has been applied to the quality evaluation of TCM based on its clinical efficacy. However, more specific methods are needed to put this idea into practice. The standard decoction is a representative of decoction used in clinical practice and it can be used for the discovery of Q-markers related to the clinical efficacy of TCM.
In this study, a systemic strategy was established to discover Q-markers related to the clinical efficacy of TCM Ephedrae Herba (EH), dried stem of Ephedra sinica Stapf. The different processed materials of EH have different clinical applications, though originating from the same medicinal herb.
The standard decoction of each of the processed materials was prepared and a 1HNMR metabolomics approach and total polysaccharide analysis were used to identify potential Q-markers related to the different clinical applications of EH. Correlation analysis was made of the measured biological activity and the holistic chemical profile.
The results showed that total polysaccharides and alkaloids were Q-markers for EH preparations.
This study demonstrates that the standard decoction is a reasonable research objective to explore chemical markers that correlate with the clinical efficacy of TCM.
Display omitted
Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) has attracted interest as one of the most economically important industrial crops widely cultivated in China, whose dried leaves are popularly consumed medicinally and ...recreationally by human societies. In this study, five undescribed alkaloids derivatives, isoaspergillines A–E, together with eight known alkaloids, notoamide D, (1R,4S)-4-benzyl-1-isopropyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazino-2,1-bquinazoline-3,6-dione, protuboxepin K, notoamide C, notoamide M, deoxybrevianamide E, cyclo (D-Pro-L-Trp), and versicolamide B, were obtained from the culture of the Nicotiana tabacum-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Their structures were mainly elucidated through comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data. Bioactivity evaluation of all isolated compounds revealed that isoaspergilline A and notoamide M exhibited anti-TMV activities with IC50 values of 20.0 and 22.8 μM, respectively. Molecular docking suggested that isoaspergilline A and notoamide M were well located into the active site of anti-TMV by interacting with SER138, SER143, and ASN73 residues. This study enlightens the therapeutic potential of the endophytic fungus A. versicolor and it is helpful to find undescribed anti-TMV activity inhibitors, as well as searching for new anti-TMV candidates from natural sources.
Display omitted
•Isoaspergilline A was an unusual tetrasubstituted indole core, and two isoprenyl groups.•Bioactivity evaluation of all compounds revealed that isoaspergilline A and notoamide M possess anti-TMV activities with IC50 values 20.0, 22.8 μM, respectively, positive control (IC50 = 36.1 μM).•Molecular docking suggested that isoaspergilline A and notoamide M were well located into the active site of anti-TMV by interacting with SER138, SER143, and ASN73 residues.
Although growing evidences have showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (
) plays a critical role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ...there are still many unsolved mysteries remains to be deeply elucidated. This study aimed to find a new underlying mechanism of
in regulating the tumorigenesis and development of NSCLC.
In this experimental study, Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) was used to profile the expression of
in NSCLC tissues and cells. The effects of
on cell growth, migration and invasion were detected by colony formation assay, Matrigel-free transwell and Matrigel transwell assays, respectively. Changes of the key protein expression in Hippo and NOTCH signaling pathways, as well as epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, were analyzed using western blot. Interaction of
with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) was verified by RNA pull-down, and their binding to the downstream targets was detected by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays.
These results showed that
was up-regulated in NSCLC tissue and cell lines, promoting NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Knockdown of
inhibited the expression of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and NOTCH1 signaling activation. Further, we have confirmed that
regulated expression of YAP1 through EZH2-mediated
promoter methylation resulting in the inhibition of
transcription and its target YAP1 upregulation, and finally NOTCH signaling pathway was activated, which promoted EMT and invasion and metastasis.
These results suggested that lncRNA
promotes NSCLC metastasis through EZH2-mediated activation of Hippo/NOTCH1 signaling pathways. This study provides a new opportunity to advance our understanding in the potential mechanism of NSCLC development.
Poly(R-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-R-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx), a family member of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), is a biodegradable and biocompatible material with some hydrophobicity and ...reasonable strength for packaging and tissue engineering applications. In this study, superhydrophobic PHBHHx is fabricated via a simple nonsolvent-assisted process. The material can absorb all tested hydrophobic solvents and oil up to 6-fold of the material weights from water, permitting applications for cleaning environmental oil or solvent pollutions with convenience of disposal after the usage due to its biodegradability. With an excellent combination of biodegradability and biocompatibility, superhydrophobic PHBHHx films are evaluated for antibioadhesion properities to exploit possible implant usages. Up to 100% reductions for platelet adhesions on the superhydrophobic PHBHHx surfaces are observed compared with that on the control material surfaces. Superhydrophobic biodegradable and biocompatible PHBHHx films demonstrate promising low value and high volume or high value and low volume applications.
Three new isochromenes, (5-methoxy-7-prenyl-1H-isochromen-3-yl)methanol (1), 3-(3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxy-1H-isochromen-7-yl)propan-1-ol (2), and (5-methoxy-7-methyl-1H-isochromen-3-yl)methanol ...(3), along with three known analogues (4-6) were isolated from the fermentation products of a Nicotiana tabacum-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1 D and 2 D NMR techniques. Compounds 1-3 and 6 were evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activities. The results showed that compound 2 exhibited high anti-TMV activity with inhibition rate of 46.4%, and this rate is higher than that of positive control. Compounds 1, 3, and 6 also showed potential anti-TMV activity with inhibition rates of 28.6, 30.5, and 26.2%, respectively. The IC
50
of compounds 1-3 and 6 were also tested, and showed IC
50
values of 49.3, 22.4, 42.2, and 54.1 µM, respectively.
PDF
