Lycopene (Lyc) as a natural antioxidant has attracted widespread attention. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) can cause serious spleen injury in animals via the environment and food chain. For ...investigation of whether Lyc could alleviate DEHP-exerted pyroptosis in spleen through inhibiting the Caspase-1/NLRP3 pathway activation, 140 male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups: control group, vehicle control group, Lyc group (5 mg/kg BW/day), DEHP-exposed group (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day, respectively), and DEHP + Lyc groups by daily administration for 28 days. Pathological results showed that the supplementation of Lyc alleviated DEHP-induced inflammatory infiltration. Moreover, the addition of Lyc inhibited DEHP-induced Caspase-1, NLRP3, ASC, NF-κB, IL-1β, and IL-18 overexpression and GSDMD down-expression. These results indicate that Lyc could inhibit DEHP-induced Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis and the inflammatory response. Taken together, the study provided new evidence that Lyc may be a strategy to mitigate spleen injury induced by DEHP.
Neuropathic pain affects the physical and mental health status of patients. Due to its complex pathogenesis and the adverse reactions to medicines, its treatment remains challenging. Among all the ...etiologies, increasing evidence has pointed to mitochondrial dysfunction. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)–mediated mitochondrial fragmentation leads to excess ROS generation, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. Studies aiming to clarify the possible pathway and relationship between Drp1, mitochondria, ROS, and neuropathic pain may identify a good treatment for neuropathic pain in the clinic. As shown in this review, dysfunction of Drp1 and ROS homeostasis plays essential roles in neuropathic pain. We summarized a Drp1-mitochondrial fission-ROS cycle that potentially functions in neuropathic pain and is regulated by posttranslational modifications and Ca
2+
. Additionally, we further enumerated six Drp1 inhibitors, including Mdivi-1, P110, Drp1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, hyperbaric oxygen, melatonin, and β-hydroxybutyrate, as potential treatments, with the aim of providing guidance for novel molecules to be used in the clinic.
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an omnipresent environmental pollutant. It has been determined that DEHP is involved in multiple health disorders. Lycopene (Lyc) is a natural carotenoid pigment, ...with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is not clear whether Lyc can protect the spleen from DEHP-induced oxidative damage. A total of 140 mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 20) and continuously gavaged with corn oil, distilled water, DEHP (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day) and/or Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/day) for 28 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural results showed a DEHP-induced inflammatory response and mitochondrial injuries. Moreover, DEHP exposure induced redox imbalance, which resulted in the up-regulation of ROS activity and MDA content, and the down-regulation of T-AOC, T-SOD and CAT in the DEHP groups. Simultaneously, our results also demonstrated that DEHP-induced kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) expression was downregulated, and the expression levels of P62, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2) and their downstream target genes were up-regulated. However, the supplementary Lyc reverted these changes to normal levels. Together, Lyc prevented DEHP-induced splenic injuries by regulating the P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling pathway. Hence, the protective effects of Lyc might be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate DEHP-induced splenic damage.
Exposure to persistent environmental pollutants such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been involved in multiple health disorders, including splenic diseases. In this study, we clarified the potential protective effect of lycopene on DEHP-induced splenic injury. The results showed that Lyc inhibited DEHP induced oxidative damage by regulating the P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling pathway, indicating that Lyc could alleviate the toxic effects of DEHP and may be helpful in reducing spleen injury. Display omitted
•Lyc alleviated DEHP exposure-induced splenic injury.•Lyc alleviated the DEHP exposure-induced redox imbalance.•Lyc mitigated the inhibition of P62-Keap1-NRF2 pathway induced by DEHP exposure.•Lyc alleviated the splenic cell mitochondrial injuries induced by DEHP exposure.
Lycopene (Lyc) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological functions. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is an extremely harmful and persistent environmental pollutant and is a threat to animal ...health. The toll-like receptor (TLR)/MyD88 pathway is an important pathway in the inflammatory response. To illustrate the potential antagonistic action of Lyc against DEHP by the TLR/MyD88 pathway, 140 ICR mice were randomly assigned groups and continuously gavaged with corn oil, distilled water, different DEHP concentrations (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day), and/or Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/day) for 28 days. The data show that Lyc effectively attenuates the DEHP-induced activation of the TLR/MyD88 pathway, the upregulation of JNK expression, the content of IL-6 and TNF-α, and the downregulation of the IL-10 content, which eventually inhibit the inflammatory response and mitochondrial injuries. These findings underline the TLR/MyD88 pathway as a potential therapeutic target in DEHP and Lyc as a new therapeutic method to inhibit DEHP toxicity.
The gymnosperm Welwitschia mirabilis belongs to the ancient, enigmatic gnetophyte lineage. It is a unique desert plant with extreme longevity and two ever-elongating leaves. We present a ...chromosome-level assembly of its genome (6.8 Gb/1 C) together with methylome and transcriptome data to explore its astonishing biology. We also present a refined, high-quality assembly of Gnetum montanum to enhance our understanding of gnetophyte genome evolution. The Welwitschia genome has been shaped by a lineage-specific ancient, whole genome duplication (~86 million years ago) and more recently (1-2 million years) by bursts of retrotransposon activity. High levels of cytosine methylation (particularly at CHH motifs) are associated with retrotransposons, whilst long-term deamination has resulted in an exceptionally GC-poor genome. Changes in copy number and/or expression of gene families and transcription factors (e.g. R2R3MYB, SAUR) controlling cell growth, differentiation and metabolism underpin the plant's longevity and tolerance to temperature, nutrient and water stress.
Lycopene (Lyc) has been discussed as a potential effector in the prevention and therapy of various diseases. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is regarded as a universal environmental pollutant. To ...clarify the potential protective effect of Lyc on DEHP-induced splenic injury, 140 male mice were randomized into seven groups: control (distilled water), vehicle control (corn oil per day), Lyc (5 mg per kg BW per day), DEHP (500 or 1000 mg per kg BW per day), and DEHP combined Lyc group, respectively. All experimental animals were treated by oral gavage for 28 days. The results that showed DEHP exposure significantly up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of the sirtuin family (except SIRT4-5), PGC-1α, OPA1, Drp1, MFN1/2, NRF1, TFAM, Parkin and PINK in DEHP-treated alone groups and the SOD2 and LC3-II protein expression were also in accordance with the above changes. These were accompanied with an increase of the number of inflammatory cells and rate of mitochondrial damage, and autophagosome formation in the spleen. Notably, Lyc supplementation facilitated all these changes to effectively return to the normal level, indicating that Lyc exerts protective effects against DEHP-induced splenic toxicity. Altogether, the protective effects of Lyc may be a strategy to ameliorate DEHP-induced spleen damage.
In this study, it was shown that lycopene supplementation can effectively ameliorate the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced mitochondrial homeostasis balance and mitophagy
via
activation of the SIRT3 and Parkin/PINK pathways.
Selenoprotein N (SEPN1) is critical to the normal muscular physiology. Mutation of SEPN1 can raise congenital muscular disorder in human. It is also central to maturation and structure of skeletal ...muscle in chicken. However, human SEPN1 contained an EF-hand motif, which was not found in chicken. And the biochemical and molecular characterization of chicken SEPN1 remains unclear. Hence, protein domains, transcription factors, and interactions of Ca2+ in SEPN1 were analyzed in silico to provide the divergence and homology between chicken and human in this work. The results showed that vertebrates' SEPN1 evolved from a common ancestor. Human and chicken's SEPN1 shared a conserved CUGS-helix domain with function in antioxidant protection. SEPN1 might be a downstream target of JNK pathway, and it could respond to multiple stresses. Human's SEPN1 might not combine with Ca2+ with a single EF-hand motif in calcium homeostasis, and chicken SEPN1 did not have the EF-hand motif in the prediction, indicating the EF-hand motif malfunctioned in chicken SEPN1.
The development of electrode materials with a high specific capacitance, power density, and long-term stability is essential and remains a challenge for developing supercapacitors. Cobalt sulfides ...(CoS2) are considered one of the most promising and widely studied electrode materials for supercapacitors. Herein, CoS2 and hierarchical porous carbon derived from Pien Tze Huang waste are assembled into a cobalt sulfide/carbon (CoS2/PZH) matrix composite using a one-step hydrothermal method to resolve the challenges of supercapacitors. The resulting CoS2/PZH composite material exhibits a hierarchical porous structure with hollow CoS2 embedded in a PZH framework. The uniform dispersion of the hierarchical porous structure CoS2/PZH is achieved due to the PZH framework, while the uniform decoration of the porous PZH with the hollow CoS2 prevents the PZH from stacking easily. Moreover, the excellent synergistic effect of the hierarchical porous and hollow structure of CoS2/PZH can shorten the electron/ion diffusion channels, expose additional active sites, and provide stable structures for subsequent reactions. As a result, the CoS2/PZH composite material displays a high initial specific capacity of 447.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, a high energy density of 22.38 W h kg−1, and long-term cycling stability (a retention rate of 92.3% over 10 000 cycles at 5 A g−1).
Research shows that redox complementarity and synergism among the ingredients of heterogeneous catalysts can enhance the performance of the catalyst. In this research, a porous CuMoO4@Co3O4 nanosheet ...electrocatalyst is prepared, which is uniformly decorated on nickel foam (NF) by hydrothermal reactions and the impregnation method. The CuMoO4@Co3O4 is an efficient bifunctional catalyst with prominent electrocatalytic activity and durability. It requires overpotentials of only 54 and 251 mV to obtain current densities of 10 and 50 mA cm−2 for the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 1.0 mol L−1 KOH, corresponding to Tafel slope values of 98.8 and 87.4 mV dec−1, respectively. Furthermore, the CuMoO4@Co3O4 shows excellent stability of 120 h chronopotentiometry at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 for the HER/OER. Notably, an alkaline electrolyzer (with CuMoO4@Co3O4 as the HER and OER electrodes) can deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.51 V. The catalytic activity of CuMoO4@Co3O4 can be attributed to the structure of the porous nanosheets and the synergistic effect between CuMoO4 and Co3O4.
Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) are favorable as electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) because of their high theoretical capacity, low cost, fascinating redox reversibility, electronic ...conductivity, and reduced charge transfer resistance. However, TMS electrodes suffer from weak compatibility and combination at heterogeneous interfaces, resulting in TMS stripping and electrode capacity degradation during long-term charging/discharging processes. Herein, we used a convenient, feasible, cheap, and environmentally friendly hydrothermal method to grow S/CoS2/NiS2in situ on Pien Tze Huang-based porous carbon (PZH) to promote the poor electric conductivity and unsatisfactory cycling stability of TMSs. Furthermore, TMSs can be tightly embedded on the surface of PZH to prevent falling off or collapse during long-term processes and usage. The prepared S/CoS2/NiS2/PZH electrode possessed an excellent specific capacitance of 1159.2 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and after 10 000 cycles at 5 A g−1, the capacitance retention was maintained over 84.6%. This in situ method is promising for the development of stable TMS-based electrodes for supercapacitors.
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