Laurolitsine ameliorates type 2 diabetes by regulating the hepatic LKB1-AMPK pathway and gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease. Effective antidiabetic drugs are needed to improve and expand the available treatments. Using the ob/ob diabetic mouse model, we previously demonstrated that the alkaloid-rich extract from Litsea glutinosa bark (CG) has potent antidiabetic effects and that laurolitsine (LL) is the richest alkaloid in CG. PURPOSE: We conducted a systematic investigation of the antidiabetic effects and potential mechanisms of LL in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The antidiabetic effects of LL and its mechanisms of action were explored in HL-7702 hepatocytes in vitro and in db/db mice in vivo by a series of experiments, including cellular toxicity analysis, glucose consumption analysis, serum/liver biochemical analysis, pathological examinations, Western blots, RNA-seq analysis, and gut microbiota analysis. RESULTS: LL stimulated glucose consumption and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) without inducing lactic acid production or cytotoxicity in vitro. LL had potent antidiabetic effects with hypoglycemic activity in vivo. It improved insulin resistance, glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism; protected liver, renal and pancreatic functions; and promoted weight loss in db/db mice. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the antidiabetic effects of LL involved the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. We further demonstrated that LL effectively activated the hepatic liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/AMPK pathway by regulating the ADP/ATP ratio. Simultaneously, LL significantly modulated the gut microbial community, specifically decreasing the abundances of Mucispirillum schaedleri and Anaerotruncus_sp_G3_2012, which might also contribute to its antidiabetic effects. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LL is a promising antidiabetic drug candidate that may improve glucolipid metabolism via modulation of the hepatic LKB1/AMPK pathway and the gut microbiota.

Nootkatone, a Sesquiterpene Ketone From Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus, Ameliorates Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver by Regulating AMPK and MAPK Signaling.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is becoming more common due to lifestyle changes. A long-term high-fat and high-glucose diet induces glycolipid metabolism disorders in the liver, which results in the development of MAFLD. To date, there is no specific clinically useful therapeutics for this disease. Natural products or synthetic compounds were screened and investigated to find effective agents for treating MAFLD. In this study, nootkatone (Nok), a natural sesquiterpene ketone isolated from Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus, was explored for its potential to treat MAFLD, and underlying mechanisms were studied. Our results show that Nok dramatically ameliorated the disordered lipid and glucose metabolism in MAFLD mice, decreased fat accumulation in hepatic tissue, and improved liver injury. Inflammation, metabolic disorder, and oxidative stress were ameliorated in liver tissue based on RNA-seq transcriptome comparison between a Nok-treated group and an MAFLD model group. Furthermore, Nok significantly activated AMPK activity and inhibited MAPK activity, especially the p38 and JNK signaling pathways, in vivo based on western blot analysis. The pharmaceutical effects and potential signaling pathways impacted by Nok were also investigated in L02 cells. Nok significantly promoted the consumption of glucose and decreased the deposition of triglycerides in vitro. The p-AMPKα level was notably upregulated by Nok, indicating dramatic AMPK activation. In addition, Nok decreased the levels of p-ERK1/2, p-p38, and p-JNK. Nok also inhibited the activation of MAPK signaling and, thus, alleviated MAFLD development. Our results suggest that Nok may be useful in treating MAFLD. Nok may ameliorate MAFLD by regulating glycolipid metabolism disorders by activating AMPK and inhibiting MAPK activity. Collectively, this study suggests that Nok is an effective compound for the treatment of MAFLD.

Mangiferin Ameliorates HFD-Induced NAFLD through Regulation of the AMPK and NLRP3 Inflammasome Signal Pathways.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to glycolipid metabolism and liver inflammation. And there is no effective drug approved for its clinical therapy. In this study, we focused on mangiferin (Man) and explored its effects and mechanisms on NAFLD treatment based on the regulation of glycolipid metabolism and anti-inflammatory in vivo and in vitro. The results exhibited that Man can significantly attenuate liver injury, insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance in high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced NAFLD mice and significantly reduce fat accumulation and inflammation in hepatic tissue of NAFLD mice. The transcriptome level RNA-seq analysis showed that the significantly different expression genes between the Man treatment group and the HFD-induced NAFLD model group were mainly related to regulation of energy, metabolism, and inflammation in liver tissue. Furthermore, western blots, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry experiments confirmed that Man significantly activated the AMPK signal pathway and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in NAFLD mice. In in vitro cell experiments, we further confirmed that Man can promote glucose consumption and reduce intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation induced by free fatty acids in HepG2 cells and further that it can be blocked by AMPK-specific inhibitors. Western blot results showed that Man upregulated p-AMPKα levels and exhibited a significant AMPK activation effect, which was blocked by compound C. At the same time, Man downregulated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, alleviating cell pyroptosis and inflammation effects. These results indicate that Man anti-NAFLD activity is mediated through its regulation of glucolipid metabolism by AMPK activation and its anti-inflammatory effects by NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition. Our study indicates that Man is a promising prodrug for the therapy of NAFLD patients.

Influence of total progressively motile sperm count after treatment on outcomes of intrauterine insemination with husband′s sperm / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the influence of total progressively motile sperm count(TPMSC) after treatment on clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination(IUI) with the husband′s sperm in ovulation-promoting cycles.Methods The clinical data in 4179 cases undergoing IUI with the husband′s sperm in ovulation-promoting cycles were retrospectively analyzed.The correlation between clinical pregnancy rate and TPMSC was analyzed.Results Among all the clinical data,TPMSC was to 100×106 in occasional live sperm.TPMSC60×106 had no pregnancy.A total of 4 154 cases of TPMSC (0.15-60.00)×106 were analyzed.The female age,duration of infertility,number of follicles and endometrial thickness(EDM) had no statistical differences among various groups.The clinical pregnancy rate was 13.5%(576/4 154),the group with the highest clinical pregnancy rate was (5.00-<10.00)×106.But there was no statistically significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate among groups(P=0.133).Conclusion Performing IUI in PMSC (0.15-60.00)×106 after processing can get preferable pregnancy rates.

Effects of high glucose on expression of OPG and RANKL in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells

Objective:To explore effect of high glucose on expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-毷B ligand (RANKL) in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Methods: SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin, OPG and RANKL expression in rat thoracic aortas were detected by immunohistochemical staining. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) (A7r5), qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels of OPG and RANKL.Results: Our results demonstrated that OPG expression was increased in hyperglycemic rat aortic VSMCs, while RANKL expression was decreased. Besides,in vitroexperiments high glucose induced OPG expression, but depressed RANKL expression by dose- and time-dependent manner in cultured A7r5.Conclusions: Our findings suggested that high glucose could promote the expression of OPG, and inhibit the expression of RANKL in VSMCs, which may be partly be the molecular mechanism of diabetic vascular calcification.

Growth of human embryonic stem cells in three different feeder layers / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Key point for subculture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is to inhibit spontaneous differentiation and make sure totipotency of cells. Although mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) or human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) used as the feeder layer can maintain undifferentiated state of embryonic stem cells, cell clone is still imperfect and parallel arranged. OBJECTIVE: To establish mixed feeder layer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts plus human foreskin fibroblasts and to observe the hESCs growth.DESIGN: Multi-sample observation and comparison.SETTING: Medical Center of Reproduction, the Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College. MATERIALS: This study was performed at the Medical Center of Reproduction, the Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from April 2006 to July 2007. Foreskin was derived from the children who underwent circumcision and came from Urinary Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Haihan Medical College. The children's family members provided the informed consent, and the experiment received confirmed consent from the local ethic committee. hESCs line HN-1 was separated from human blastula. Eleven 12.5-14.5-day-old fetal mice of clean grade were selected in this study. The experimental animals were disposed according to ethical criteria. METHODS: Heads, four extremities, and viscera were removed from fetal mice under anesthesia. Subsequently, cell suspension was prepared using routine trypsinase digestion and inoculated. When cells were cultured in confluent monolayer, some primary cells were frozen, processed with mitocin-C for 2.0-3.0 hours, and inoculated based on the density of 1×108 L-1 in gelatin-coated dish, I.e., MEF feeder layer. The HFF separation and culture and the preparation of HFF feeder layer were the same as above-mentioned processing. In addition, the two fibroblasts were respectively counted and mixed together according to the ratios of 1∶0, 3∶1, 1∶1, 1∶3, and 0:1. And then, the mixture was inoculated based on the density of 1×108 L-1 in gelatin-coated dish, I.e., mixed feeder layer. The growth of subcultured hESCs in vitro was observed in three different feeder layers, and hESCs in the mixed feeder layer underwent alkaline phosphatase test, OCT-4 expression immunohistochemical measurement, and OCT-4 and telomerase mRNA expression RT-PCR detection. Finally, differentiation in vitro of hESCs was observed after removing the feeder layer.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Growth of hESCs in the three different feeder layers; ② Growth of hESCs in the mixed feeder layer based on different mixed ratios; ③ undifferentiated state of hESCs in the mixed feeder layer; ④ differentiation in vitro.RESULTS: ① hESCs clone in the MEF and HFF feeder layers was thin and flat and imperfect, but hESCs clone in the mixed feeder layer was perfect and thick and solid. Apparently, the clone form in the mixed feeder layer was superior to MEF and HFF feeder layers. ② When MEF and HFF was mixed together according to the ratio of 1∶1, hESCs grew in apparent accumulation; clone border was clear; eminentia was apparent and perfect. However, there were no changes according to the ratio of 1∶3. The ratio of 1∶1 was superior to the ratios of 1∶0, 3∶1, and 0∶1. ③ Alkaline phosphatase staining and OCT-4 antigen expression were strongly positive. Specific straps of OCT-4 and telomerase mRNA expression were observed at 200-300 bp and 300-400 bp, respectively. ④ Embryoid bodies were formed. hESCs could differentiate into multi-morphological cells after attachment.CONCLUSION: ① The mixed feeder layer may well support in vitro subculture of hESCs to acquire excellent clone form compared to MEF or HFF feeder layer. ② The mixture of MEF and HFF has excellent effect according to the ratio of 1∶1.

An Ethical Reflection on Informed Consent in the Research and Application of Assisted Reproduction Technique / 中国医学伦理学

With the transformation of marketization of economy and legislation of society in recent 20 years in China,the traditional mechanism in which medical therapy is decided by patients' relatives and doctors has not been able to offer sufficient protection for the legal rights of patients.So the rights of informed consent and decision making have been transferred passively to the patients' side.But in the field of assisted reproduction technique(ART),informed consent has to face some specific and unique problems.Firstly,being fully informed is sharply against the privacy of his(her) spouse as reproduction involved both the couple and their families.Secondly,it is a question that whether a wife can make her freewill choice when she accepts an ART program,because of the pressures coming from her family,the society,and her low social status well.And thirdly,The ART has the characteristics of both clinical therapy and scientific research as it is imperfect and its protocols still need to be improved.Ethicists should focus on thiese challenges.In the aspect of ethics,the regulations established by government and occupational association are the safeguard of the commonweal of society and general rights and benefits,and the ethics review and informed consent offered the final protection for the patients.