Enzymes CAT Research Articles

Effect of Adding Different Concentrations of Mix-Oil Solution to Drinking Water of Broiler Chickens Ross 308 and Breeders at Elevated Temperatures on Blood Biochemical Characteristics and Oxidative Enzymes at the Age of 14 Days

This study was conducted at Al-Anwar Poultry Station located in Babil Governorate for a period of 35 days, from 10/7/2022 to 14/8/2022, to demonstrate the effect of the mix-oil solution added to the drinking water of broiler chickens on some blood biochemical characteristics and oxidation enzymes at the age of 14. day and under conditions of heat stress, where 300 Ross308 broiler chicks were used, one day old, unsexed, and the average weight of the chicks was 40 gm. The mix-oil was added to the drinking water from the first day, as follows: T1: control treatment without addition, T2: adding 0.25 ml of mix-oil / liter of water, T3: adding 0.50 ml of mix-oil / liter of water, T4: adding 0.75 ml of mix-oil / liter of water, T5: Add 1 ml of mix-oil / liter of water. The experimental birds were exposed to periodic temperatures (28-35-28). The most important results we obtained are summarized as follows: A highly significant (p≤0.01) increase in the blood serum glucose concentration of the T5-treated birds compared to the control treatment. A significant increase was also observed (p≤0.01) in the concentration of total protein, albumin and globulin in the T4 treatment compared to the control treatment, while serum cholesterol was observed. The results of our experiment witnessed a "significant" rise and within the normal limits in the concentration of cholesterol for T4-treated birds on T5, T3, and T2 treatments, but it was "significantly similar" in its concentration with the T1 control treatment. The results showed that there was a highly significant increase (p≤0.01) in the rate of triglycerides for the T4 treatment compared to "with all treatments, while high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) witnessed a significant decrease (p≤0.01) in all addition treatments compared to" control treatment. There was a "significant" decrease (P≤ 0.01) for all addition treatments in the concentration of ALT enzyme compared to the "control treatment", while the T3 treatment had a significant (P≤ 0.01) superiority in the concentration of AST and GSH-PX enzyme compared with the control treatment, while the concentration of the enzyme CAT value decreased in all addition treatments compared to the control treatment, and the rate of MDA increased in the blood serum of T2 treatment birds compared to the control, which recorded the lowest measured rates, but it did not differ significantly with the T5 treatment in its concentration.

The role of FAM171A2-GRN-NF-κB pathway in TBBPA induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response in mouse-derived hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is one of the brominated flame retardants (BFRs) widely used in industry, which has a broad toxic effect on organisms. However, there is still limited research on the neurotoxic mechanism of TBBPA. Using mouse hippocampal neurons (HT22) cells, the toxicity of TBBPA was evaluated, especially focusing on its alteration on the key molecules in FAM171A2-GRN-NF-κB signaling pathway. The results showed that TBBPA exposure could lead to an increase in the production of inflammation-related genes IL-6, iNOS, TGF-β1, COX2, and TNF-α in both HT22 cells and HT22-AD-model, intensifying the inflammatory response; it inhibits the mRNA expression of antioxidative enzymes genes Sod1, Cat, Gpx1, and Gsta1, resulting in reduced antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px/GPX. Mechanistically, TBBPA caused the upregulation of FAM171A2 expression level, alongside increased GRN, IκBα and p65 levels; whereas the expression of GRN, IκBα and p65 was decreased after FAM171A2 knockdown, demonstrating TBBPA-induced upregulation of FAM171A2 should be responsible for the increased GRN, IκBα and p65 expression. Therefore, for the first time, our data indicate that TBBPA-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response is closely related to the FAM171A2-GRN-NF-κB pathway.

Decoding the role of durum wheat ascorbate peroxidase TdAPX7B-2 in abiotic stress response.

APX proteins are H2O2-scavenging enzymes induced during oxidative stress. In the first part of this study, we provided an extensive knowledge on the APX family of Triticum durum, TdAPX and their related TdAPX-R, via the genome wide analysis. The outcomes showed that these proteins are clustered into four major subgroups. Furthermore, the exon-intron structure and the synteny analyses revealed that during evolution the genes TdAPX and TdAPX-R are relatively conserved. Besides, during their evolution, these genes underwent purifying selection pressure and were duplicated in segmental. In parallel, the analysis of the conserved motifs and the multiple sequence alignment demonstrated that the residues involved in the active sites, heme- and cations-binding are conserved only in TdAPX proteins. Following the RNA-seq data and the regulatory elements analyses, we focused in the second part of this study on the functional characterization of TdAPX7B-2. The qRT-PCR data showed the upregulation of TdAPX7B-2 essentially in leaves of durum wheat exposed to salt, cold, drought, metals and ABA treatments. The tolerance phenotype of the TdAPX7B-2-expressing Arabidopsis lines to salt, direct-induced oxidative stress and heavy metals was manifested by the development of root system, proline accumulation and induction of the antioxidant CAT, SOD and POD enzymes to maintain the non-toxic H2O2 levels. Likewise, the response to salt stress and direct-oxidative stress of the transgenic lines was accompanied mainly by the induction of AtNCED3, AtRD29A/B and AtERD1.

The Ameliorative Effect of Betulinic Acid on Oxidative Stress in Mice of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Liver Damage.

As a conventional immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide (CYP) exhibits strong hepatotoxicity in clinical applications. Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural triterpenoid that protects against liver damage. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of BA on CYP-induced hepatotoxicity and further clarify the underlying mechanism. BA pretreatment mitigated CYP-induced liver oxidative damage by alleviating histopathological lesions, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and restoring the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (Cu-Sod, Mn-Sod, Cat, and Gsh-Px). BA treatment also suppressed CYP-induced oxidative stress by activating the NRF2 pathway and inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, BA attenuated CYP-triggered hepatic apoptosis by suppressing excessive mitochondrial fission, boosting mitochondrial fusion, and ameliorating pro-apoptotic protein expression (CASP9 and the ratio of BCL-2/BAX) by blocking the oxidative stress-activated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK) and/or BA abated CYP-provoked hepatotoxicity by inhibiting the ERK-MAPK and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, implying that deactivation of the ERK-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway contributed to the hepatoprotective efficacy of BA against CYP-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, BA could be used as a complementary medicine in patients undergoing CYP treatment owing to its hepatoprotective effects.

Polymorphic variants of the genes for enzymes of the antioxidant system, apoptosis and inflammation as potential predictors of myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a multifactorial polygenic disease that develops as a result of a complex interaction of numerous genetic factors and the external environment. Accordingly, the contribution of each of them separately is usually not large and may significantly depend on the state of other accompanying factors. The purpose of the study was to search for informative predictors of MI risk based on polygenic analysis of polymorphic variants of (1) the antioxidant defense enzyme genes PON1 (rs662), PON2 (rs7493), CAT (rs1001179), MSRA (rs10098474) and GSTP1 (rs1695); (2) the apoptosis genes CASP8 (rs3834129), TP53 (rs1042522) and BCL2 (rs12454712); and (3) the inflammation genes CRP (rs1205), CX3CR1 (rs3732378), IL6 (rs1800795) and CCL2 (rs1024611). 591 DNA samples were used in the study (280 patients with the onset at 30 to 60 years, with an average age of 46.02 ± 6.17, and 311 control subjects aged 30 to 62, with an average age of 44.65 ± 7.07). All the participants were male and Tatars by ethnicity. The logistic regression analysis with various models demonstrated associations with MI of polymorphic variants of the genes CX3CR1 (rs3732378) (overdominant model – G/G + A/A vs A/G P = 0.0002, OR = 1.9), MSRA (rs10098474) (dominant model – T/T vs T/C + C/C P = 0.015, OR = 1.51), CCL2 (rs1024611) (recessive model – P = 0.0007 – A/A + A/G vs G/G OR = 2.63), BCL2 (rs12454712) (log-additive model – *C allele, P = 0.005, OR = 1.38). Using the Monte Carlo method and Markov chains (APSampler), combinations of alleles/ genotypes of the studied polymorphic loci associated with a high risk of MI were obtained, which, in addition to those identified during single-locus analysis, contained polymorphic variants of the genes CASP8, TP53, CAT, PON2, CRP, IL6, GSTP1. Among the combinations obtained, a pairwise analysis of possible non-linear interactions between the identified combinations of alleles/genotypes was carried out, which showed synergistic interactions of the polymorphic variants CX3CR1*A/G and CASP8*I/I, MSRA*C and CRP*C, CAT*C/T and MSRA*C, CAT*C/T and CX3CR1*A contributing to the development of MI. Based on the results obtained using multivariate logistic regression analysis, a predictive model was built to assess the risk of developing MI, the predictive ability of which reached the value AUC = 0.71 (AUC – area under the curve in ROC analysis).

The Effects of Chilling on Antioxidant Enzyme System and Related Gene Expression Levels in Sweet Corn Seeds with Different Germination Characteristics

Sweet corn is a vegetable and grain dual-use crop with high economic value and industrial advantages. Low temperature stress significantly reduces the germination rate of sweet corn seeds, which has a negative impact on both quality and yield. This study used the chilling sensitive sweet corn inbred line 20hi111 and the chilling tolerant sweet corn inbred line T135 as experimental materials to measure the MDA (malondialdehyde) and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2 </sub>content, CAT, POD, and SOD enzyme activities, and enzyme gene expression patterns during seed germination under low temperature (10°C) and normal temperature (25°C) treatments. The research results indicated that during low-temperature germination, the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content and CAT activity of 20hi111 were generally higher than those of T135, while the POD and SOD activities and MDA content were generally lower than those of T135. There was no strict consistency between gene expression and enzyme activity. At low temperature, the expression of <i>ZmCAT1</i> and <i>ZmCAT3</i> in 20hi111 was significantly higher than T135, while there was no significant difference in <i>ZmPOD1</i>. In 20hi111, <i>ZmPOD3</i> was first lower and then higher than T135, and <i>ZmSOD3</i> and <i>ZmSOD9</i> were lower than T135 under low temperature treatment. In this study, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the expression of antioxidant enzyme-related genes in sweet corn inbred lines with different germination characteristics under low temperature were analyzed, which provided some theoretical basis for cultivating sweet corn varieties with low temperature tolerance.

Genotoxic impact of agricultural insecticides as contaminants of river Teesta on the resident fish Pethia Conchonius.

Fish, being highly sensitive to changes in the physico-chemical parameters of water, are good indicators of contamination. Teesta, a prominent northern West Bengal River system, is increasingly contaminated due to anthropogenic activities. This study aims to determine agricultural pesticide contamination and its genotoxic impact on the resident fish, Pethia conchonius, as an experimental organism. Sample water analysis from three riverine sites I, II & III, showed the presence of the insecticides imidacloprid (IMI), chlorpyrifos (CPF), bifenethrin (BF), cypermethrin (CP), difenthiuron, acetamiprid (AC) in the sites II and III only with adjoining agricultural lands. Comet assay revealed a significantly lower % Head DNA (~ 1.2 times), higher %Tail DNA (~ 16 times), and %Tail length (~ 3.1 times) in the gills of Pethia conchonius from sites II and III. About 4 and 10 times increase of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities were also noted in the erythrocytes of the fish from sites II and III than I, which was not contaminated. The antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GST activity and MDA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the liver samples from sites II and III, while AChE activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in the brain tissues. Moreover, the sod, cat, and gpx expression in the hepatic cells were significantly upregulated compared to the β actin mRNA indicating increased oxidative stress. Increased genomic damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, higher MDA levels, decreased AChE activity in the brain, and the upregulation of hepatic genes strongly suggested the genotoxic effects of the detected insecticides in combination with other contaminants.

E'jiao and Cubilose Formula Induced Antioxidant Activity and Improved Collagen Expression of Human Skin Fibroblasts During Oxidation Damage.

As traditional Chinese medicinal materials, E'jiao and cubilose are rich in various bioactive substances with good antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulating effects. To obtain the optimal ratio of synergistic effect between E'jiao and cubilose. The antioxidant capacity of E'jiao and cubilose digestive fluid was evaluated invitro, as well as the intracellular oxidation balance between HSF cells and 3D whole-skin model induced by H2O2. E'jiao, cubilose, and their different ratios of composites had better scavenging ability against free radicals such as DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). Using HSF cells induced by H2O2 as an oxidative damage model, it was found that the combination of E'jiao and cubilose in a ratio of 2:3 significantly enhanced the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT enzymes compared to the separate treatments of E'jiao and cubilose, as well as other combination ratios. It effectively reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species caused by H2O2 in HSF (Human Skin Fibroblast)cells and protected the integrity of the cells. Further analysis using flow cytometry and a 3D full-thickness skin model revealed that the combination ratio of 2:3 increased the proportion of H2O2-treated cells in the S%+G2% phase from 19.1% + 7.4%-22.1% + 28.8%, helping oxidatively damaged cells partially recover their proliferative capacity. It also promoted the expression of collagen I and collagen IV in the 3D full-thickness skin model, with improvement rates reaching 168.00% and 123.68%, respectively. These findings indicate that the combination of E'jiao and cubilose in a ratio of 2:3 exhibits good synergistic effects, enhancing the ability of cells to resist oxidative damage, promoting cellular renewal and metabolism, and improving skin antiwrinkle capacity.

Combined Analysis of Metabolomics and Transcriptome Revealed the Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis on the 5th Instar Larvae of Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura.

Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura (D. kikuchii) is a serious pest of coniferous trees. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been widely studied and applied as a biological control agent for a variety of pests. Here, we found that the mortality rate of D. kikuchii larvae after being fed Bt reached 95.33% at 24 h; the midgut membrane tissue was ulcerated and liquefied, the MDA content in the midgut tissue decreased and the SOD, CAT and GPx enzyme activities increased, indicating that Bt has toxic effects on D. kikuchii larvae. In addition, transmission electron microscopy showed that Bt infection caused severe deformation of the nucleus of the midgut tissue of D. kikuchii larvae, vacuoles in the nucleolus, swelling and shedding of microvilli, severe degradation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum and decreased number. Surprisingly, metabolomics and transcriptome association analysis revealed that four metabolic-related signaling pathways, Nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, Longevity regulating pathway-worm, Vitamin digestion and absorption and Lysine degradation, were co-annotated in larvae. More surprisingly, Niacinamide was a common differential metabolite in the first three signaling pathways, and both Niacinamide and L-2-Aminoadipic acid were reduced. The differentially expressed genes involved in the four signaling pathways, including NNT, ALDH, PNLIP, SETMAR, GST and RNASEK, were significantly down-regulated, but only SLC23A1 gene expression was up-regulated. Our results illustrate the effects of Bt on the 5th instar larvae of D. kikuchii at the tissue, cell and molecular levels, and provide theoretical support for the study of Bt as a new biological control agent for D. kikuchii.

Nematicidal Potentiality of Four Marine Molluscans' Defensive Secretions From the Red Sea Against Syphacia obvelata (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) In Vitro.

The continuous requirement to substitute safe and affordable alternatives for helminth medications, as well as address the resistance of some used drug classes, introduced bioactive products derived from marine animals into the field of competition; however, almost all the previous research only focused on their impact on bacterial and protozoal infection. In the present work, we investigated the potential in vitro nematocidal effect of the aqueous extract of defense secretions for four species of marine mollusks: two cephalopods, namely the cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis and the common Octopus Octopus vulagris and two gastropods, the sea hare Aplysia argus and the sea slug Berthillina citrina, against the adult murine pinworm Syphacia obvelata. Data showed dose and time efficacy in all examined extracts. The sea slug's skin acid secretion has the highest impact, causing death in the cultivated worms, followed by the ink of the sea hare, the common octopus and the cuttlefish, where LC90 after 10 h of exposure were 250, 290, 316, and 391 µg/mL, respectively. Comparatively with the control and albendazole-treated groups, the skin acid secretion of the sea slug caused the highest levels of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, Cat and GSH-PX; however, albendazole prompted the highest level of GSH-PX enzyme in all experimental groups.

Neurotoxic and developmental effects of scented incense stick smoke: Network toxicology and zebrafish model study

Burning incense sticks is a traditional practice in many cultures, especially in Southeast Asia. While it is often regarded as sacred and beneficial, modern incense sticks contain various chemicals that can pose health risks. A GCMS analysis of the ICS revealed potential compounds. Network toxicology revealed that ICS contains compounds violating Lipinski's rule of five, leading to potential neurotoxic effects. Key pathways affected include neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and calcium signaling, associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Significant genes involved are STAT3, BCL2, and MTOR, emphasizing the chemical hazards of ICS exposure. We investigated the toxicity of ICS using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos as a mode. ICS exposure resulted in a dose-dependent increase in toxicity. High concentrations (7 and 14 µg/ml) led to immediate mortality, while lower concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 µg/ml) caused developmental defects such as yolk sac edema, skeletal malformations, and pericardial edema. Mortality rates increased with higher concentrations, confirming dose-dependent ICS exposure caused hypoactive locomotion, with reduced distance traveled and velocity toxicity. Higher concentrations of ICS led to increased ROS levels and cellular damage, as evidenced by enhanced staining levels. A dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation (DPPP assay) and lipid accumulation (Nile red assay) was observed. Higher ICS concentrations led to significant oxidative damage to lipids and increased lipid deposition. Enzymatic assays showed that ICS exposure significantly decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT, indicating impaired antioxidant defense, while increasing LDH activity, signaling tissue damage and cytotoxicity. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of SOD1 and CAT genes, upregulation of inflammatory genes TNF-α and IL-1β, and increased expression of the apoptotic gene p53 with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and BDNF. These findings highlight ICS's potential to cause oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and neurodevelopmental impairments.

Protective effect of magnetic water against AlCl3-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

This study aimed to examine whether or not aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced hepatotoxicity might be mitigated using magnetic water (MW) in rats. This study involved 28 adult male rats randomly assigned into the following 4 groups (7 rats/group): normal control (Cnt), MW, AlCl3, and Al Cl3 + MW. The Cnt group orally received normal saline, the MW group drank MW ad libitum for 2 months, and the AlCl3 and AlCl3 + MW groups were orally administered AlCl3 (40 mg/kg b.w.) alone or in combination with MW for 2 months, respectively. MW reduced AlCl3 toxicity as proved at functional, molecular, and structural levels. Functionally, MW reduced serum levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), while increased total proteins, and albumin. MW also restored redox balance in the liver (lower MDA levels, higher activities of CAT and SOD enzymes, and upregulated expression of NrF2, HO-1, and GST genes. Molecularly, MW downregulated hepatic expression of the epigenetic (HDAC3), inflammatory (IL1β, TNFα, NFκβ), and endoplasmic reticulum stress (XBP1, BIP, CHOP) genes. Structurally, MW enhanced liver histology. With these results, we could conclude that MW has the potential to ameliorate the hepatotoxic effects of AlCl3 through targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, epigenesis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Establishment of genetic transformation system in Lilium pumilum and functional analysis of LpNAC6 on abiotic stress

Lilium pumilum is widely distributed in northeast Asia. It exhibits strong resistance and possesses high ornamental value. However, it currently lacks an efficient and stable transformation system. Therefore, we aimed to establish an effective genetic transformation system using the Agrobacterium-mediated method for L. pumilum, enabling gene transfer into the plant for gene function research and genetic engineering breeding. Our genetic transformation system achieved a transformation efficiency of 7.25 % under specific conditions: a kanamycin (Kana) concentration of 120 mg/L, 3 days of pre-cultivation, an A. tumefaciens concentration of 0.7 OD600, an acetosyringone (AS) concentration of 20 mg/L, and a 15-minute infection period. We investigated the function of the LpNAC6 from L. pumilum by observing phenotypic and physiological changes under stresses induced by salt, alkali, and drought. Furthermore, overexpression of LpNAC6 resulted in enhanced stress tolerance as evidenced by increased levels of SOD, POD, CAT enzymes, improved photosynthetic indices, and elevated chlorophyll contents; as well as reduced levels of MDA and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings demonstrate that we have successfully established a transgenic transformation method for L. pumilum while also providing essential information for cultivating stress-tolerant Lilium species and advancing our understanding of the functions of LpNAC6 in plants.

Functional properties and safety traits of L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri postbiotic extracts

Postbiotics are the non-viable bacterial products or the low molecular weight metabolites produced by probiotics that have received considerable attention owing to their health promoting effects. The present study aimed to investigate the safety and antibacterial properties of postbiotic components of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Lra) and Limosilactobacillus reuteri (Lre) for their potential applications in food products. The freeze dried postbiotic metabolites (FD-P) from Lra and Lre were extensively analyzed for their physico-chemical properties and antibacterial actions against common food borne pathogens. Higher levels of total flavonoids (1971.79 ± 20 mg Qu/ g), total short-chain fatty acid (23 µg/g), sugar contents, CAT, and SOD anti-oxidative enzymes were detected in the Lra postbiotic, while GSH-px levels and riboflavin were higher in Lre postbiotics (P < 0.01). No significant differences were recorded in the total phenolic (2501 and 2518 mg GAE/ L) and crude protein contents (305. 58 and 296.23 µg/g) of the postbiotics (p ≥ 0.05), respectively. Both FD-P samples showed enhanced activities against Gram-Positive pathogens compared to Gram-Negative pathogens (p < 0.05), while combining the two postbiotics further potentiated the antibacterial actions. Both FD-P samples were non-hemolytic to human erythrocyte cells, and exhibited low cytotoxicity in MRC 5 and IPEC-J2 cell lines at the highest used concentrations (150 mg/ml). In summary, the postbiotics derived from Lra and Lre are safe bioactive ingredients with enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, having potential applications as a natural preservatives in food system, potentially enhancing safety and extending the shelf life of food products.

Investigating the analgesic effects of Adalimumab in chronic constriction injury (CCI) experimental pain model in rats

Background: Neuropathic pain is one of the most important chronic and pathological problems that can cause disruptions in human life. Some studies indicated that the release of inflammatory cytokines and increased oxidative activity can increase nerve damage. Adalimumab is a human anti-monoclonal drug that can cause therapeutic effects in different diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the analgesic effects of adalimumab in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) experimental pain model in rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were utilized in this study and were randomly assigned to four groups: the first group served as the control, the second group underwent CCI, the third group received CCI in conjunction with adalimumab (5 mg/kg), and the fourth group received CCI with adalimumab (10 mg/kg). Behavioral assessments were conducted 4, 7, and 14 days post-CCI induction. The spinal cords were extracted after these assessments, and the supernatants were analyzed for inflammatory and oxidative enzymes. Data analysis was performed using Prism GraphPad statistical software. Results: The analysis of the obtained data indicated that the injection of adalimumab in the third and fourth groups decreased the activity of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP. In addition, it decreased the activity of MDA and increased the SOD and CAT enzymes. Moreover, adalimumab significantly improved the outcomes of thermal allodynia, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia in the CCI rats treated with this medication. Conclusion: The administration of adalimumab can be used to treat or reduce neuropathic pain with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, along with neuroprotective effects.

Expression of a novel NaD1 recombinant antimicrobial peptide enhances antifungal and insecticidal activities

This study aimed to increase the antifungal and insecticidal activities of NaD1, as an antimicrobial peptides (AMP), by improving its interaction with the fungal cell wall and chitin monomeric units in insect midguts. Hence, the chitin-binding domains (CBDs) of wheat germ agglutinin protein (WGA) were fused to either N- or C-terminus of NaD1 generating transgenic Nicotiana tabacum hairy roots (HRs). Molecular assessments confirmed the integration of NaD1 transgenes, their transcription and production of recombinant peptides in the HR lines. Total protein of (CBD)4-NaD1 and NaD1-(CBD)4 transgenic lines inhibited the growth of Pyricularia oryzae mycelium, suggesting that fusion of CBD to NaD1 can increase NaD1 half-life, leading to higher affinity toward cell wall chitin. Furthermore, feeding the third-instar larvae of Chilo suppressalis with both (CBD)4-NaD1 and NaD1-(CBD)4 extracts exhibited a higher mortality rate. Both NaD1-CBDs caused a significant decrease in trypsin (TRY) and chymotrypsin (CTR) activities in the larvae, while enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes CAT, POD, APX, and SOD. Therefore, feeding the larvae by total extract of NaD1-(CBD)4 and (CBD)4-NaD1 HR lines probably increased affinity to midgut chitin in C. suppressalis, enhancing insecticidal activities. Overall, the results indicate that recombinant peptides are effective in enhancing fungal and insect resistance.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and action mechanisms of exopolysaccharides from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Z-1

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) derived from lactic acid bacteria have received considerable attention because of their diverse bioactivities and high safety. In our previous work, a crude EPS produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Z-1 under H2O2 stress and its three purified fractions were prepared and characterized. In the present work, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of these EPSs were investigated. The four EPSs were found to possess considerable free radical scavenging activity, and be able to decrease the ROS and MDA levels in H2O2-induced oxidative stress RAW 264.7 macrophages, and increase the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. It is likely that activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway is one of their important antioxidant mechanisms. These EPSs were also found to effectively reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators, such as pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL6) and NO, and increase the release of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. The anti-inflammatory effect of EPSs could be due to their ability to inhibit the activation of NF-κB/TLR4 signaling pathway and intracellular COX-2 signaling cascade. Therefore, these EPS fractions have good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, providing useful enlightenment for the application of these EPSs in functional foods and medicines.

Adaptive strategies in architecture and allocation for the asymmetric growth of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.)

The stability-related asymmetry in roots, trunk, and crown is always found as a typical effect of biomechanical design under heterogeneous stimulus environment. However, it appears to be a conflict between the biomechanical principle and the source-sink distance of nutrient allocation strategies when the orientational asymmetry occurs. Adaptive growth strategies associated with biomass and nutrient allocation remain to be explored. This study used both the minirhizotron and harvest methods to test the effect of trunk inclination of camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora) and found that the asymmetry coefficient of root biomass was − 0.29, showing more root biomass distributed on the other side of trunk inclination. This side had larger surface area and volume of fine roots, the smaller in diameter and the larger in length of the first level roots, higher leaf total nitrogen (TN) and slightly higher root TN content, higher activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, and CAT in leaves, and lower soluble sugar and protein. The biomass, morphological and physiological characteristics suggest that trees may follow both the biomechanical design and source-sink distance of nutrient allocation strategies. The research results expand the connotation of root-shoot balance in the orientational allocation of biomass and physiological responses.

Modulation of Immune Response by Gold Nanoparticles Oral Administration to Rats

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are a new chemical compound and have recently been used in many pharmacological applications. This study aims to understand enhanced immune response by the oral administration of gold nanoparticles to rats. Gold nanoparticles are administration once oral at different doses to rats, at 14th day collected sample from all administrated rats. The results were shown no effect on the rats’ weight. Gold nanoparticles were caused elevated significant in the antioxidant enzyme CAT and SOD, while decreased in MAD in the administrated groups at dose dependent manner compared with non-administrated control group. Also, GNPs have immune response through modulation in the enhanced immune cell activation by elevated the level of CD8 and CD4 in the administrated groups at dose dependent manner compared with non-administrated control group with the keep the level of TNF-α no differ within all study groups.

Artemisia Argyi essential oil ameliorates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity via CYP2E1 and γ-glutamyl cycle reprogramming

BackgroundThe hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen (APAP), a commonly used antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug in clinical practice, has received accumulated attention. Artemisia argyi essential oil (AAEO), a volatile oil component extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot, has great hepatoprotective effects. However, the potential role of AAEO in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity has not been characterized. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of AAEO on hepatic metabolic changes in mice exposed to APAP. MethodsIn this study, 300.00 mg/kg acetaminophen was used to establish liver injury model in C57BL/6 J mice. Hepatoprotective effect of AAEO on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice was investigated by detecting liver function enzymes and histopathological examination. Secondly, UPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze the to analyze the small molecule metabolites and metabolic pathways induced by AAEO treatment; In addition, the effect of AAEO on APAP-induced oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated by detecting the levels of glutathione peroxidase 4, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors. Finally, the active components of AAEO were preliminarily screened by cellular assays. The hepatoprotective effect of AAEO against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was examined through the Western blotting, after the CYP2E1 gene was knocked down in AML12 cells by siRNA transfection. ResultsCompared with the APAP group, AAEO could reduce the abnormal increase in the levels of liver function enzymes caused by APAP. AAEO could enhance the antioxidant capacity by down-regulating the biosynthesis pathway of unsaturated fatty acids and promoting the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in liver tissue induced by APAP. Our study revealed that AAEO promoted GSH synthesis and covalently combined to form APAP-GSH conjugates to reduce the accumulation of APAP in liver tissue. In addition, the chemical constituents in AAEO were analyzed by GC–MS/MS, and it was determined to identify that dihydro-beta-ionone and (-)-verbenone in AAEO might have a significant protective effect on hepatocyte survival after APAP exposure. Further studies on the hepatoprotective mechanism of AAEO indicated that it might reduce the production of toxic metabolites by regulating CYP2E1 levels. ConclusionAAEO exerted hepatoprotective effects on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice via regulating the activity of CYP2E1 and regulating the γ-glutamyl cycle pathway.