We are going to analyze the whole Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasar spectra by visually identifying Mg II absorption line systems one by one. In this paper, we limit our analysis to quasars with
...$ z_{\rm em}$
$ \leq$
0.8, which leaves 8006 quasars in total. Based on this, we are able to present the first catalog of these redshifts (in the interval of 0.36
$ <$
$ z_{\rm abs}$
$ <$
0.81) in our series work (an analysis of higher redshift quasars will be performed later). Our work is based on spectral data previously analyzed by Quider et al. (2011, AJ, 141, 137). These authors identified Mg II absorption-line systems mainly based on search by machine; they found only 394 Mg II absorption lines from these 8006 quasars. However, for the same sample, we identified 4158 Mg II quasar absorption line systems. In our catalog, about 81% (3353/4158) of the absorbers have
$ W_{\rm r}\lambda$
2796
$ \ge$
0.3 Å, and about 71% (2957/4158) of the absorbers have
$ W_{\rm r}\lambda$
2803
$ \ge$
0.3 Å, showing that the main portion of our catalog is likely to be occupied by strong absorbers.
Resveratrol have been known to possess many pharmacological properties including antioxidant, cardioprotective and anticancer effects. Although current studies indicate that resveratrol produces ...neuroprotection against neurological disorders, the precise mechanisms for its beneficial effects are still not fully understood. We investigate the effect of anti-inflammatory and mechamisms of resveratrol by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine microglial BV-2 cells.
BV-2 cells were treated with resveratrol (25, 50, and 100 µM) and/or LPS (1 µg/ml). Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by Griess reagent and ELISA. The mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory proteins and cytokines were analysed by RT-PCR and double immunofluorescence labeling, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades, inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α) and cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) were measured by western blot. Resveratrol significantly attenuated the LPS-induced expression of NO, PGE2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in BV-2 cells. Resveratrol increased PTEN, Akt and mTOR phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner or a time-dependent manner. Rapamycin (10 nM), a specific mTOR inhibitor, blocked the effects of resveratrol on LPS-induced microglial activation. In addition, mTOR inhibition partially abolished the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the phosphorylation of IκB-α, CREB, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK).
This study indicates that resveratrol inhibited LPS-induced proinflammatory enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines via down-regulation phosphorylation of NF-κB, CREB and MAPKs family in a mTOR-dependent manner. These findings reveal, in part, the molecular basis underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol.
Microglial activation plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases by producing several proinflammatory enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines. The phenolic glucoside gastrodin, a main ...constituent of a Chinese herbal medicine, has been known to display anti-inflammatory properties. The current study investigates the potential mechanisms whereby gastrodin affects the expression of potentially pro-inflammatory proteins by cultured murine microglial BV-2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
BV-2 cells were pretreated with gastrodin (30, 40, and 60 µM) for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS (1 µg/ml) for another 4 h. The effects on proinflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), are analysed by double-immunofluorescence labeling and RT-PCR assay. To reveal the mechanisms of action of gastrodin we investigated the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades and their downstream transcription factors, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB). Gastrodin significantly reduced the LPS-induced protein and mRNA expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB. LPS (1 µg/ml, 30 min)-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and this was inhibited by pretreatment of BV-2 cells with different concentrations of gastrodin (30, 40, and 60 µM). In addition, gastrodin blocked LPS-induced phosphorylation of inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α) (and hence the activation of NF-κB) and of CREB, respectively.
This study indicates that gastrodin significantly attenuate levels of neurotoxic proinflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines by inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and phosphorylation of MAPKs in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. Arising from the above, we suggest that gastrodin has a potential as an anti-inflammatory drug candidate in neurodegenerative diseases.
Three‐spot seahorse (Hippocampus trimaculatus) has been consumed as traditional Chinese medicine in Asian society. This study was designed to analyze the bioactive compounds of the solvent extracts ...from cultured three‐spot seahorse by high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI/MS/MS). Subsequently, their biological activities were evaluated and confirmed by cell modes and Western blot analysis. Experimental results indicated that taurine and arginine were the primary bioactive compounds identified and quantified without pre‐ or post‐column derivatization within 20 min retention time. The analytical method was established and validated with intraday/interday RSD from 0.25% to 3.34% and with recovery from 87.8% to 91.2%. As compared to other extracts, water layer extract (WLE) contained the most taurine and arginine contents of 6.807 and 0.437 mg/g (dry basis), respectively. In the meanwhile, WLE also showed anti‐inflammatory activity on LPS‐induced NO production and inhibited the protein expression of TNF‐α and COX‐2 by Western blot analysis with better cell viability.
The HPLC‐ESI/MS/MS was used to analyze the bioactive components of various solvent extracts from cultured hippocampus trimaculatus. Taurine and arginine were found in the extracts. The cell test and inflammatory analysis supported that the WLE was the better extract that can inhibit LPS‐induced cell production of nitric oxide, and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors such as COX‐2 and TNF‐α.
•LPS promote microglial proliferation and neuroinflammation both in vitro and in vivo.•GAS suppresses proliferation and proinflammatory cytokines in LPS activated microglia.•GAS plays an ...neuroprotective role in activated microglia via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Microglia contribute to the regulation of neuroinflammation and play an important role in the pathogenesis of brain disorders. Thus, regulation of neuroinflammation triggered by activation of microglia has become a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of Gastrodin in activated microglia and analyzed the underlying molecular mechanisms. Microglia activation was regulated by Gastrodin not only in terms of microglia population size but also production of inflammatory mediators. Gastrodin inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclin-D1 and Ki67 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 or primary microglia. Gastrodin also suppressed the expression of iNOS and Ki67 in activated microglia in three-day-old LPS-injected postnatal rats. In addition, the present results have shown that Gastrodin inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) at Ser 9 and β-catenin activity. We further extended our investigation to determine whether Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation function of Gastrodin. β-Catenin antagonist (XAV939) was used to block LPS-mediated upregulation of iNOS, TNF-α, cyclin-D1, nitric oxide (NO) and the number of cells in the G2/M+S phase of cell cycle. Moreover, treatment with LiCl, a special Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist significantly blocked Gastrodin-mediated down-regulation of iNOS, TNF-α, cyclin-D1, NO and the number of cells in the G2/M+S phase of cell cycle in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Taken together, the present results suggested that Gastrodin mediated anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation effects in activated microglia by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Coral-associated microbial communities play a vital role in underpinning the health and resilience of reef ecosystems. Previous studies have demonstrated that the microbial communities of corals are ...affected by multiple factors, mainly focusing on host species and geolocation. However, up-to-date, insight into how the coral microbiota is structured by vast geographic distance with rich taxa is deficient. In the present study, the coral microbiota in six stony coral species collected from the coastal area of three countries, including United States of America (USA), Australia and Fiji, was used for analysis. It was found that the geographic influence on the coral microbiota was stronger than the coral host influence, even though both were significant. Interestingly, the contribution of the deterministic process to bacterial community composition increased as geographical distance grew. A total of 65 differentially abundant features of functions in coral microbial communities were identified to be associated with three geolocations. While in the same coastal area of USA, the similar relationship of coral microbiota was consistent with the phylogenetic relationship of coral hosts. In contrast to the phylum Proteobacteria, which was most abundant in other coral species in USA, Cyanobacteria was the most abundant phylum in
. The above findings may help to better understand the multiple natural driving forces shaping the coral microbial community to contribute to defining the healthy baseline of the coral microbiome.
The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri is the principal vector of huanglongbing, which transmits Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Trehalase is a key enzyme involved in trehalose hydrolysis and ...plays an important role in insect growth and development. The specific functions of this enzyme in D. citri have not been determined. In this study, three trehalase genes (DcTre1‐1, DcTre1‐2, and DcTre2) were identified based on the D. citri genome database. Bioinformatic analysis showed that DcTre1‐1 and DcTre1‐2 are related to soluble trehalase, whereas DcTre2 is associated with membrane‐bound trehalase. Spatiotemporal expression analysis indicated that DcTre1‐1 and DcTre1‐2 had the highest expression levels in the head and wing, respectively, and DcTre2 had high expression levels in the fat body. Furthermore, DcTre1‐1 and DcTre1‐2 expression levels were induced by 20‐hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone Ⅲ, but DcTre2 was unaffected. The expression levels of DcTre1‐1, DcTre1‐2, and DcTre2 were significantly upregulated, which resulted in high mortality after treatment with validamycin. Trehalase activities and glucose contents were downregulated, but the trehalose content increased after treatment with validamycin. In addition, the expression levels of chitin metabolism‐related genes significantly decreased at 24 and 48 h after treatment with validamycin. Furthermore, silencing of DcTre1‐1, DcTre1‐2, and DcTre2 reduced the expression levels of chitin metabolism‐related genes and led to a malformed phenotype of D. citri. These results indicate that D. citri trehalase plays an essential role in regulating chitin metabolism and provides a new target for control of D. citri.
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of different neurological diseases. Gastrodin, a phenolic glucoside, has been reported to exert ...anti-inflammatory effects in activated microglia challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); however, the underlying mechanism has remained obscure. The present study aimed to ascertain if Gastrodin would regulate the Notch signaling pathway involved in microglia activation. We show here that LPS increased the expression of various members of the Notch-1 pathway, including intracellular Notch receptor domain (NICD), recombining binding protein suppressor of hairless (RBP-Jκ) and transcription factor hairy and enhancer of split-1 (Hes-1) in microglia in postnatal rat brain and in BV-2 microglia. Remarkably, Gastrodin was found to markedly attenuate the expression of the above various biomarkers both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, increased phosphorylation level of ERK, JNK and P38 induced by LPS was attenuated with pretreatment of Notch-1 signaling inhibitor,
N
-
N
-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-1-alany1-Sphenyglycinet-butylester (DAPT) as well as Gastrodin. Gastrodin mimicked the effects of DAPT by inhibiting the LPS-induced expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, TNF-α and NO. Moreover, lentivirus transfection mediated NICD overexpression inhibited the anti-inflammatory effects of Gastrodin. Furthermore, the activation of Notch-1 signaling promoted microglia migration and Gastrodin could inhibit the migration of activated BV-2 microglia by regulating the Notch-1 signaling pathway. In light of the above, our results indicate that Notch-1 signaling pathway is involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of Gastrodin against LPS-induced microglia activation. These findings provide a new biological target of Gastrodin for the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders.
Lactococcus lactis is a food-grade lactic acid bacterial species that is widely used in food and medical industries. Due to its relatively small genome and simple metabolism, L. lactis is commonly ...engineered to produce large quantities of recombinant proteins. The most common single-gene knockout strategy in L. lactis involves RecA-dependent homologous double-crossover recombination, which is relatively time-consuming and laborious. In this study, a precise and efficient genome-editing plasmid for L. lactis NZ9000 genome engineering, pLL, was established based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology. By studying the effects of different single guide RNA (sgRNA) promoters, the efficiency of gene deletion was optimized. For LLNZ_02045 (ldh), gene deletion efficiency of up to 50% was achieved. Effective sequential gene deletion of LLNZ_11240 (upp) and LLNZ_04580 (upp1) was also demonstrated using this tool. Additionally, the gene that encodes for uracil phosphoribosyltransferase was identified using this system. Similar robust gene deletion efficiencies of sgRNA that targeted different regions of a single gene suggested that gene deletion was not affected by the location of sgRNA binding. Thus, our study established a new gene-editing tool that may allow further investigation and understanding of the L. lactis NZ9000 genome.
Organic chromium is of great interest and has become an important chromium supplement resource in recent years because of its low toxicity and easy absorption. In our previous study, we synthesized a ...novel organic chromium GLP-Cr through the chelation of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide and chromium (III). The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of GLP-Cr on the improvement of metabolic syndromes (MetS) in mice fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHFD) and its mechanism of action. The results indicated that oral administration of GLP-Cr inhibited the excessive exaltation of body weight, glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose and lipid levels, hepatic total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) levels caused by HFHFD. Besides, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that GLP-Cr intervention evidently ameliorated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis by changing the proportions of some intestinal microbial phylotypes. In addition, correlation network-based analysis indicated that the key intestinal microbial phylotypes were closely related to biochemical parameters associated with MetS under GLP-Cr intervention. Liver metabolomics analysis suggested that GLP-Cr intervention significantly regulated the levels of some biomarkers involved in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and so on. Moreover, GLP-Cr intervention regulated liver mRNA levels of key genes associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. The mRNA level of glucose transporter type 4 (Glut4) was markedly increased by GLP-Cr intervention, and the mRNA levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in the liver were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, GLP-Cr intervention significantly decreased hepatic mRNA levels of cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (Acc1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c), indicating that GLP-Cr intervention inhibited the excessive accumulation of free fatty acids in the liver. These findings suggest that the prevention of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia by GLP-Cr may be closely related to the regulation of gut microbial composition and hepatic metabolic pathways, thus GLP-Cr can be serving as a functional component in the prevention of MetS.
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•Cr(III) modification enhanced the ameliorative effects GLP on glucose and lipid metabolism.•GLP-Cr altered the proportion of some functionally relevant intestinal microbial phylotypes.•Liver metabolomics was used to explore the hepatoprotective effects of GLP-Cr.•GLP-Cr alleviated glucose and lipid metabolism partly through “gut-liver-metabolite” axis.•Liver gene transcriptions were significantly affected by GLP-Cr intervention.
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