Vitamin D attenuates monosodium glutamate-induced behavioural anomalies, metabolic dysregulation, cholinergic impairment, oxidative stress, and astrogliosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used flavor enhancer that has raised concerns due to its potential adverse effects on various organs. This study explored the neuroprotective potential of Vitamin D, a beneficial micronutrient, in mitigating MSG-induced neurotoxicity. MATERIALS & METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups: control (2ml/kg PBS orally for 30 days), MSG (40mg/kg orally for 30 days), VIT-D (oral cholecalciferol; 500 IU/kg for 30 days), MSG+VIT-D (MSG for 30 days followed by VIT-D for another 30 days), and VIT-D/MSG (concurrent VIT-D and MSG for 30 days). The rats underwent neurobehavioral, histochemical, and biochemical analyses following the treatments. RESULTS: MSG treatment caused a decline in both long and short-term memory, along with reduced exploratory and anxiogenic behavior, mitigated by vitamin D treatment. MSG exposure also induced impaired behavior, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, altered cholinergic transmission, and increased chromatolysis and neuroinflammation in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS: VIT-D demonstrated a mitigating effect on MSG-induced adverse outcomes, highlighting its potential to attenuate neurodegenerative cascades. This investigation contributes to understanding MSG-associated neurotoxicity and suggests vitamin D as a valuable and potential intervention for neuroprotection.

Long-term Supplementation of Deep-fried Oil Consumption Impairs Oxidative Stress, Colon Histology and Increases Neurodegeneration.

BACKGROUND: Sesame oil and sunflower oil are popular cooking oils in southern India. Deep-frying is a frequent method of food preparation. Deep-frying at high temperatures has been linked with several disorders, including cancer, diabetes, and unknown metabolic problems. There have been no long-term investigations on the influence of deep-fried oils on PUFA metabolism and pathogenesis. As a result, the current study aimed to explore the effect of deep-fried frying oil on Wistar rats by continuous treatment. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of MSG-induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats was investigated. METHODS: Wistar rats weighing 200-260 g were used in this study. Female rats were divided into five groups fed with (1) standard chow (control group), (2) unheated sesame oil (UHSO) along with standard chow, and (3) reheated sesame oil (RHSO) along with standard chow, (4) unheated sunflower oil (UHSFO) along with standard chow, and (5) reheated sunflower oil (RHSFO) along with standard chow and continued up to F1 generation. Furthermore, F1 male rats were treated with MSG of 2 g/kg body weight for 10 alternative days and were sacrificed for major tissues. RESULTS: We found that rats treated with RHSO and RHSFO showed increased body weight. Deep-fried oil-fed rats (RHSO and RHSFO) showed a significant increase in total cholesterol- 100 mg/dl, LDL- 23 mg/dl, & TAG-100 mg/dl, when compared to unheated oil rats. Liver function tests revealed that AST and ALT levels were significantly elevated in RHSO and RHSFO when compared to unheated oils and the control group. Inflammatory markers revealed that Hs-CRP (0.35 mg/dl) and LDH levels (6000 U/L) were significantly elevated in RHSO and RHSFO when compared to the unheated oils and control group. RT-PCR results showed significant elevation in the antioxidant genes SOD (twofold) and GPX (3-fold) when compared to UHSO and UHSFO groups. Liver and colon histology showed significant damage in the cell structure of RHSO and RHSFO-treated rats. Further, rats treated with unheated oils and MSG showed statistically significantly higher mRNA expression of neuroplasticity genes CREB, BDNF and reduced NMDA levels (UHSO, UHSFO) when compared to reheated oil groups (RHSO & RHSFO). Proinflammatory marker TNF-α expression was significantly elevated in RHSFO-treated rats when compared to control. Brain histology showed focal damage in glial cell degeneration in rats treated with RHSO and RHSFO when compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: The results from the present study proved that continuous supplementation deep-fried reheated oil consumption increased serum TGL and oxidative stress markers. Impaired liver metabolism and the involvement of the gut-liver-brain axis increased the risk of neurodegeneration.

Turbo spin-echo-based enhanced acceleration-selective arterial spin labeling without electrocardiography or peripheral pulse unit triggering and contrast enhancement for lower extremity MRA.

PURPOSE: Lower extremity magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) without electrocardiography (ECG) or peripheral pulse unit (PPU) triggering and contrast enhancement is beneficial for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD) while avoiding synchronization failure and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of turbo spin-echo-based enhanced acceleration-selective arterial spin labeling (eAccASL) (TSE-Acc) of the lower extremities with that of turbo field-echo-based eAccASL (TFE-Acc) and triggered angiography non-contrast enhanced (TRANCE). METHODS: Nine healthy volunteers and a patient with PAD were examined on a 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The artery-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (SIR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The arterial visibility (1: poor, 4: excellent) and artifact contamination (1: severe, 4: no) were independently assessed by two radiologists. Phase-contrast MRI and digital subtraction angiography were referenced in a patient with PAD. Friedman's test and a post-hoc test according to the Bonferroni-adjusted Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for the SIR, CNR, and visual assessment. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant differences in nearly all the SIRs were observed among the three MRA methods. Higher CNRs were observed with TSE-Acc than those with TFE-Acc (anterior tibial artery, p = 0.014; peroneal artery, p = 0.029; and posterior tibial artery, p = 0.014) in distal arterial segments; however, no significant differences were observed upon comparison with TRANCE (all p > 0.05). The arterial visibility scores exhibited similar trends as the CNRs. The artifact contamination scores with TSE-Acc were significantly lower (but within an acceptable level) compared to those with TFE-Acc. In the patient with PAD, the sluggish peripheral arteries were better visualized using TSE-Acc than those using TFE-Acc, and the collateral and stenosis arteries were better visualized using TSE-Acc than those using TRANCE. CONCLUSION: Peripheral arterial visualization was better with TSE-Acc than that with TFE-Acc in lower extremity MRA without ECG or PPU triggering and contrast enhancement, which was comparable with TRANCE as the reference standard. Furthermore, TSE-Acc may propose satisfactory diagnostic performance for diagnosing PAD in patients with arrhythmia and chronic kidney disease.

Unraveling the MSG-Headache Controversy: an Updated Literature Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the evidence and role of monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a headache and migraine trigger. RECENT FINDINGS: MSG is a common food additive, has widely been linked as a trigger of headache, as well as other symptoms. However, the evidence for MSG as a causative agent for headache is debated. Various clinical trials over the past several decades have reported conflicting results, with studies suggesting that MSG does and does not increase the incidence of headache. However, the dosages of MSG exposure are often inconsistent across studies, with many studies administering a dose significantly higher than the average consumption.. Additionally, there are misconceptions about which foods and cuisines have MSG in them. MSG could be a potential trigger for migraine and headaches. It is unclear exactly how MSG plays into the migraine pathophysiology. It's crucial to accurately determine if MSG is present in one's diet to evaluate its potential impact on headaches.

Adsorption performance of ammonium molybdate modified Salix wood flour biochar for the treatment of monosodium glutamate wastewater.

ABSTRACTThe problem of wastewater pollution in the production of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is becoming more and more serious. A novel type of chemically modified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPCAM) was synthesized to address the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in MSG wastewater. SPPCAM was prepared by carbonization method, in which inorganic ammonium molybdate (AM) was used as modifier and Salix psammophila powder (SPP) was used as raw material. Under optimal treatment conditions, maximum removal rates (removal capacities) of 45.9% (3313.2 mg·L-1) for COD and 29.4% (23.2 mg·L-1) for NH3-N in MSG wastewater were achieved. The treatment results significantly outperforming the unmodified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPC), which only achieved removal rates (removal capacities) of 10.6% (763.9 mg·L-1) for COD and 12.9% (10 mg·L-1) for NH3-N. SPPC and SPPCAM before and after preparation were analysed by FT-IR and XRD, and Mo ions in the form of Mo2C within SPPCAM were successfully loaded. SEM, EDS-Mapping, BET, and other methods were used to analyse SPPCAM before and after MSG wastewater treatment, demonstrating that SPPCAM effectively treated organic pollutants in monosodium glutamate wastewater. The NH3-N in the treated MSG wastewater has reached the standard of safe discharge.

Investigating the Chemical Composition of Lepidium sativum Seeds and Their Ability to Safeguard against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Hepatic Dysfunction.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most frequently used food additives that endanger public health. The antioxidant, hyperlipidemic, and cytoprotective properties of Lepidium sativum seeds (LSS) as a natural remedy can minimize the harmful effects of MSG. This study investigated the potential protective effect of LSS against MSG-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male albino Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were equally divided into four groups for 30 days: the control group (G1) received a basal diet without supplement, group (G2) was fed a basal diet + MSG (30 g/kg b.w.) as a model group, group (G3) was fed a basal diet + MSG (30 g/kg b.w.) + LSS (30 g/kg b.w.), and group (G4) was fed a basal diet + MSG (30 g/kg b.w.) + LSS (60 g/kg b.w.). LSS enhanced serum alkaline phosphatase activity as well as total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels. It can decrease peroxide content in serum lipids and inhibit glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase in hepatic cells. The dietary supplementation with LSS provided cytoprotection by enhancing the histoarchitecture of the liver and decreasing the number of apoptotic cells. Due to their antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, LSS effectively protect against the hepatotoxicity of MSG. These findings are of the highest significance for drawing attention to incorporating LSS in our food industry and as a health treatment in traditional medicine to combat MSG-induced hepatic abnormalities.

Immunoreactivity of glutamine synthetase in satellite glia around various subpopulations of lumbar dorsal root ganglia neurons in adult rats treated with monosodium glutamate.

Satellite glial cells (SGCs), involved inter alia in glutamate (Glu) metabolism, form a glial sheath around sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). SGCs show a presence of glutamine synthetase (GS) which transform uptaken Glu into glutamine (Gln). In DRGs, this aminoacid is used mainly by small neurons which are able to synthetize substance P (SP) that play a crucial role in nociception. The aim of the study was to define the influence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on GS immunoreactivity in satellite glia around various subpopulations of neurons including SP immunopositive cells in DRGs of adult rats. The studies were carried out on lumbar DRGs slides in rats which received subcutaneous injection of saline solution (control group) or 4 g/kg b. w. of MSG (MSG group). Immunofluorescence reactions were conducted with use of anti-GS and anti-SP antibodies. Administration of MSG to adult rats increased the GS immunoexpression in SGCs. In rats receiving MSG, a number of small neurons with GS-immunopositive glial sheath was not altered when compared to control individuals, whereas there was a statistically significant increase of GS immunoexpression in SGCs around large and medium neurons. Moreover, in these animals, a statistically significant increase in the number of small SP-positive neurons with GS-positive glial sheath was observed. SP is responsible for transmission of pain, thus the obtained results may be useful for further research concerning the roles of glia in nociceptive pathway regulation.

Application of Graphs in a One Health Framework.

The One Health framework, which advocates the crucial interconnection between environmental, animal, and human health and well-being, is becoming of increasing importance and acceptance in health sciences over the last years. The hottest public health topics of the latest years, like zoonotic diseases (e.g., the recent pandemic) or the increasing antibiotic resistance, characterized by many as "pandemic of the future," make the more holistic and combinatorial approach of One Health a necessity to combat such complex problems. Multiple graphs and graph theory have found applications in health sciences for many years, and they can now extend to usage across all levels of a One Health approach to health, ranging from genome, one disease level, to epidemiology and ecosystem graphs. For that last ecosystem layer, a proposed approach is the utilization of process graphs from the chemical engineering field, in order to understand a whole system and what constitute the most crucial aspects of a One Health issue in ecosystem level. Here P-graphs are focused alongside their combinatorial algorithms, implemented in R, and their application researched in an effort to extract information and plan interventions.

Involvement of Substance P (SP) and Its Related NK1 Receptor in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) Pathogenesis.

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily attacks the lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in impaired secretory function characterized by xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Patients with pSS have been shown to have impaired salivary gland innervation and altered circulating levels of neuropeptides thought to be a cause of decreased salivation, including substance P (SP). Using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence studies, we examined the expression levels of SP and its preferred G protein-coupled TK Receptor 1 (NK1R) and apoptosis markers in biopsies of the minor salivary gland (MSG) from pSS patients compared with patients with idiopathic sicca syndrome. We confirmed a quantitative decrease in the amount of SP in the MSG of pSS patients and demonstrated a significant increase in NK1R levels compared with sicca subjects, indicating the involvement of SP fibers and NK1R in the impaired salivary secretion observed in pSS patients. Moreover, the increase in apoptosis (PARP-1 cleavage) in pSS patients was shown to be related to JNK phosphorylation. Since there is no satisfactory therapy for the treatment of secretory hypofunction in pSS patients, the SP pathway may be a new potential diagnostic tool or therapeutic target.

The Role of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in Epilepsy and other Neurodegenerative Diseases: Phytochemical-based Therapeutic Approaches and Mechanisms.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting 50 million individuals worldwide, and some forms of epilepsy do not respond to available treatments. Overactivation of the glutamate pathway and excessive entrance of calcium ions into neurons are proposed as the biochemical mechanisms behind epileptic seizures. However, the overactivation of neurons has also been associated with other neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and multiple sclerosis. The most widely used food ingredient, monosodium glutamate (MSG), increases the level of free glutamate in the brain, putting humans at risk for NDDs and epilepsy. Glutamate is a key neurotransmitter that activates nerve cells. MSG acts on glutamate receptors, specifically NMDA and AMPA receptors, leading to an imbalance between excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA neurotransmission. This imbalance can cause hyperexcitability of neurons and lead to epileptic seizures. Overuse of MSG causes neuronal cells to become overexcited, which in turn leads to an increase in the flow of Ca2+ and Na+ ions, mutations, and upregulation in the enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and TDP43, all of which contribute to the development of NDDs. While TDP43 and SOD-1 protect cells from damage, a mutation in their genes makes the proteins unprotective and cause neurodegeneration. Yet to what extent mutant SOD1 and TDP43 aggregates contribute to neurotoxicity is generally unknown. This study is focused on neuroprotective herbal medications that can pass the blood-brain barrier and cure MSG-induced NDDs and the factors that influence MSG-induced glutaminergic, astrocyte, and GABAergic neuron abnormalities causing neurodegeneration.

Monosodium Glutamate Intake and Risk Assessment in China Nationwide, and a Comparative Analysis Worldwide.

The sixth Total Diet Study (TDS) of China included a countrywide study to assess the health effects of MSG (monosodium glutamate). MSG detection, consumption analysis, and risk assessment were conducted on 168 samples from seven food categories of the most typical Chinese daily diet. The highest value of MSG in the daily diet of the Chinese population was 8.63 g/kg. An MSG intake of 17.63 mg/kg bw/d for the general population of China was obtained from content measurements combined with food consumption, while the data from the apparent consumption survey alone gave 40.20 mg/kg bw/d. The apparent consumption did not consider the loss of MSG during food cooking, resulting in an overestimate. To offer a global perspective, MSG content, food category contributions, and ingestion levels across nations were summarized and thoroughly investigated. A realistic, logical, and precise risk assessment protocol for MSG daily intake was developed in this article.

A Comparison of Diagnostic Criteria for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a common infection in intensive care units (ICUs). There are no consensus criteria for defining IPA in the ICU. We aimed to compare the diagnosis and prognosis performances of three criteria (the 2020 EORTC/MSG criteria, the 2021 EORTC/MSG ICU criteria, the modified AspICU criteria (M-AspICU)) for IPA in the ICU. METHODS: In this retrospective study from our single center, we applied the three different criteria for IPA in patients with suspected pneumonia and undergoing at least one mycological test between November 10, 2016 and November 10, 2021. We compared the diagnosis agreement and prognosis performances of these three criteria in the ICU. RESULTS: Overall, 2403 patients were included. The rates of IPA according to the 2020 EORTC/MSG, 2021 EORTC/MSG ICU, and M-AspICU were 3.37%, 6.53%, and 23.10%, respectively. Diagnostic agreement among these criteria was poor (Cohen's kappa 0.208-0.666). IPA diagnosed by either the 2020 EORTC/MSG (odds ratio = 2.709, P < 0.001) or the 2021 EORTC/MSG ICU (odds ratio = 2.086, P = 0.001) criteria was independently associated with 28-day mortality. IPA diagnosed by M-AspICU is an independent risk factor of 28-day mortality (odds ratio = 1.431, P = 0.031) when excluding patients who fulfilled neither host criteria nor radiological factors of 2021 EORTC/MSG ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Although M-AspICU criteria have the highest "sensitivity", IPA diagnosed by M-AspICU was not an independent risk factor of 28-day mortality. Caution is required when using the M-AspICU criteria in ICU, especially in patients with non-specific infiltration and non-classical host factors.

Minor salivary gland stem cells: a comparative study of the biological properties under clinical-grade culture conditions.

Development of clinical-grade, cell preparations is central to cGMP (good manufacturing practice compliant) conditions. This study aimed to investigate the potential of two serum/xeno-free, cGMP (StemPro, StemMacs) culture media to maintain "stemness" of human minor salivary gland stem cell (mSG-SC) cultures compared to a complete culture medium (CCM). Overall, StemMacs resulted in higher proliferation rates after p.6 compared to the conventional serum-based medium, while StemPro showed substantial delays in cell proliferation after p.9. The mSG-SCs cultures exhibited two distinct cell populations at early passages a mesenchymal subpopulation and an epithelial-like subpopulation. Expression of several markers (CD146, STRO-1, SSEA-4, CD105, CD106, CD34, K 7/8, K14, K18) variably decreased with prolonged passaging (all three media). The percentage of SA-ß-gal positive cells was initially higher for StemMacs compared to StemPro/CCM and increased with prolonged passaging in all cases. The telomere fragment length decreased with prolonged passaging in all three media but more pronouncedly for the CCM. Expansion under serum-free conditions caused pronounced upregulation of ALP and BMP-2, with parallel complete elimination of the baseline expressions of LPL (all three media) and ACAN (serum-free media), therefore, showing a preferential shift of the mSG-SCs towards osteogenic phenotypes. Finally, several markers (Nanog, SOX-2, PDX-1, OTX2, GSC, HCG) decreased with prolonged culture, indicating successive loss of "stemness". Based on the findings, it seems that StemPro preserve stemness of the mSG-SCs after prolonged culture. Nevertheless, there is still a vacant role for the ideal development of clinical-grade culture conditions.

Development of an Enzymatic Biosensor Using Glutamate Oxidase on Organic-Inorganic-Structured, Electrospun Nanofiber-Modified Electrodes for Monosodium Glutamate Detection.

Herein, dendrimer-modified montmorillonite (Mt)-decorated poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CHIT)-based nanofibers were prepared. Mt was modified with a poly(amidoamine) generation 1 (PAMAMG1) dendrimer, and the obtained PAMAMG1-Mt was incorporated into the PCL-CHIT nanofiber's structure. The PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt nanofibers were conjugated with glutamate oxidase (GluOx) to design a bio-based detection system for monosodium glutamate (MSG). PAMAMG1-Mt was added to the PCL-CHIT backbone to provide a multipoint binding side to immobilize GluOx via covalent bonds. After the characterization of PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt/GluOx, it was calibrated for MSG. The linear ranges were determined from 0.025 to 0.25 mM MSG using PCL-CHIT/Mt/GluOx and from 0.0025 to 0.175 mM MSG using PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt/GluOx (with a detection limit of 7.019 µM for PCL-CHIT/Mt/GluOx and 1.045 µM for PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt/GluOx). Finally, PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt/GluOx was applied to analyze MSG content in tomato soup without interfering with the sample matrix, giving a recovery percentage of 103.125%. Hence, the nanofiber modification with dendrimer-intercalated Mt and GluOx conjugation onto the formed nanocomposite structures was performed, and the PCL-CHIT/PAMAMG1-Mt/GluOx system was successfully developed for MSG detection.

The methanol extract of Ceiba pentandra reverses monosodium glutamate-induced cardiometabolic syndrome in rats via the regulation of dyslipidemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin sensitization.

The antidiabetic effects of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra (Cp) have been demonstrated in various experimental models. Besides, this extract is rich in 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone, 2,4,6-Trimethoxyphenol and vavain. However, it remains unknown whether Cp can mitigate cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). The present study assessed the curative properties of Cp against Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)-induced CMS in rats. Male neonate Wistar rats were intraperitoneally administered with MSG (4 mg/g/day) during the first 5 days of life (postnatal days 2-6). They were kept under standard breeding conditions up to 5 months of age for the development of CMS. Diseased animals were then orally treated with atorvastatin (80 mg/kg/d) or Cp (75 and 150 mg/kg/day) for 28 days during which food intake, body mass, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose, and insulin tolerance were monitored. Plasma and tissues were collected on day 29th to assess the lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammatory parameters. The histomorphology of the adipose tissue was also evaluated. Cp significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the obesogenic and lipid profiles, adipocyte size, blood pressure, and oxidative and inflammatory status in MSG-treated rats. Cp also ameliorated glucose (p < 0.05) and insulin sensitivities (p < 0.001) hence, reducing animals' cardiometabolic risk score (p < 0.001). The curative effect of Cp on cardiometabolic syndrome is related to its capacity to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and increase insulin sensitivity. These results demonstrate the potential of Cp as a good candidate for alternative treatment of CMS.

Cryo-EM reveals the structure and dynamics of a 723-residue malate synthase G.

Determination of sub-100 kDa (kDa) structures by cryo-electron microscopy (EM) is a longstanding but not straightforward goal. Here, we present a 2.9-Å cryo-EM structure of a 723-amino acid apo-form malate synthase G (MSG) from Escherichia coli. The cryo-EM structure of the 82-kDa MSG exhibits the same global folding as structures resolved by crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and the crystal and cryo-EM structures are indistinguishable. Analyses of MSG dynamics reveal consistent conformational flexibilities among the three experimental approaches, most notably that the α/ß domain exhibits structural heterogeneity. We observed that sidechains of F453, L454, M629, and E630 residues involved in hosting the cofactor acetyl-CoA and substrate rotate differently between the cryo-EM apo-form and complex crystal structures. Our work demonstrates that the cryo-EM technique can be used to determine structures and conformational heterogeneity of sub-100 kDa biomolecules to a quality as high as that obtained from X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.

Effect of monosodium glutamate on fetal development and progesterone level in pregnant Wistar Albino rats.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widespread flavor enhancer and stabilizer in manufactured or packaged foods that possess myriad adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MSG on placental progesterone receptors and fetal development. Thirty pregnant Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups (ten/each). The control group (G1) gavaged distilled water only, low-dose treated group (G2) gavaged 3 g/kg MSG, and high-dose treated group (G3) gavaged 6 g/kg MSG from 1st to 18th days of gestation, and all pregnant rats were sacrificed on the 19th day of gestation. The effect of MSG on fetal weights, crown vertebral length (CVL), placental weight, placental ghrelin expression, and fetal skeleton examination were estimated. MSG induced a significant decrease in fetal weights, CVL lengths, placental weight, and ghrelin expression in both treatment groups compared to the control group. Several parts of the fetal skeleton showed incomplete ossification and delayed chondrification in which high-dose maternally treated fetuses were more affected. Many degenerative changes were detected in both maternal and fetal liver and kidney tissues in MSG-treated groups. Moreover, MSG caused a significant increase in serum ALT, ALP, and creatinine levels in pregnant rats' blood. Serum progesterone was only elevated in G3 on the 19th day of gestation. This study showed that the administration of MSG during pregnancy adversely influences fetal growth and skeletal development and caused several biochemical and histological changes in the maternal and fetal liver and kidney tissues which assure the toxic and teratogenic effects of MSG.

"Force-From-Lipids" Dependence of the MscCG Mechanosensitive Channel Gating on Anionic Membranes.

Mechanosensory transduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum plays a major role in glutamate efflux for industrial MSG, whose production depends on the activation of MscCG-type mechanosensitive channels. Dependence of the MscCG channel activation by membrane tension on the membrane lipid content has to date not been functionally characterized. Here, we report the MscCG channel patch clamp recording from liposomes fused with C. glutamicum membrane vesicles as well as from proteoliposomes containing the purified MscCG protein. Our recordings demonstrate that mechanosensitivity of MscCG channels depends significantly on the presence of negatively charged lipids in the proteoliposomes. MscCG channels in liposome preparations fused with native membrane vesicles exhibited the activation threshold similar to the channels recorded from C. glutamicum giant spheroplasts. In comparison, the activation threshold of the MscCG channels reconstituted into azolectin liposomes was higher than the activation threshold of E. coli MscL, which is gated by membrane tension close to the bilayer lytic tension. The spheroplast-like activation threshold was restored when the MscCG channels were reconstituted into liposomes made of E. coli polar lipid extract. In liposomes made of polar lipids mixed with synthetic phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin, the activation threshold of MscCG was significantly reduced compared to the activation threshold recorded in azolectin liposomes, which suggests the importance of anionic lipids for the channel mechanosensitivity. Moreover, the micropipette aspiration technique combined with patch fluorometry demonstrated that membranes containing anionic phosphatidylglycerol are softer than membranes containing only polar non-anionic phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The difference in mechanosensitivity between C. glutamicum MscCG and canonical MscS of E. coli observed in proteoliposomes explains the evolutionary tuning of the force from lipids sensing in various bacterial membrane environments.

Structural insight on the liquid silk from the middle silk gland of non-mulberry silkworm Antheraea assamensis.

This study highlights the preliminary characterization of liquid silk from the middle silk gland (MSG) along with the in-silico analysis of the sericin protein of a less explored non mulberry silkworm Antheraea assamensis which is endemic to the North Eastern region of India. Various biophysical methods have been applied to elucidate the conformational patterns of the liquid silk present inside the MSG without removing the sericin layer. This will help us to know the actual features of the in vivo transitional status of the silk in the MSG which travel towards the anterior silk gland (ASG) prior to spinning. The SDS PAGE analysis represented the existence of the both fibroin and sericin bands in the sample. The structural pattern of the MSG liquid silk as revealed by various methods denoted the occurrence of ß-sheet component along with some random coil and ß-turn components which in turn suggests the transitional state of the liquid silk attributed to the existence of both the crystalline and amorphous contents. The thermo gravimetric study and the aggregation behavior analysis results proposed the occurrence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the sericin and fibroin in the MSG. This study will sensitize the better understanding of the behavior of the liquid silk in the MSG of non-mulberry silkworm A. assamensis and will open avenues for various application-based studies of this silk.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Alterations in APC, BECN1, and TP53 gene expression levels in colon cancer cells caused by monosodium glutamate

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with high incidence worldwide. As of 2018, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of this disease has been increasing in the younger population. Both genetic and lifestyle factors may have contributed to its increased incidence and pathogenesis. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food flavor enhancer that can be found in many commercial foods, and it can sometimes be used as a substitute to table salt. MSG has been investigated for its possible genotoxicity, yielding controversial results. In the present study, the effect of MSG on cell viability and its effect on expression of APC, BECN1, and TP53 genes in SW620 and SW480 colon cancer cell lines were studied. TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that functions in modifying DNA errors and/or inducing apoptosis of damaged cells, and both APC and BECN1 genes are involved in CRC and are of importance in cellular growth and metastasis. Cancer cell viability was analyzed using MTT assay, and the results showed a significant increase in the number of viable cells after 24 h of treatment with MSG with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 10, 50, and 100mM). Moreover, gene expression results showed a significant increase in the expression levels of APC and BECN1 under specified conditions in both cell lines; conversely, TP53 showed a significant decrease in expression in SW620 cells. Thus, it can be concluded that MSG possibly confers a pro-proliferative effect on CRC cells.

Resumo O câncer colorretal (CCR) é uma doença com alta incidência mundial. Desde 2018, é a segunda principal causa de mortes por câncer no mundo. Na Arábia Saudita, a incidência dessa doença vem aumentando na população mais jovem. Tanto fatores genéticos quanto de estilo de vida podem ter contribuído para o aumento da sua incidência e patogênese. O glutamato monossódico (MSG) é um intensificador de sabor de alimentos que pode ser encontrado em muitos alimentos comerciais e às vezes pode ser usado como um substituto do sal de cozinha. O MSG tem sido investigado por sua possível genotoxicidade, produzindo resultados controversos. Neste estudo, foram estudados o efeito do MSG na viabilidade celular e seu efeito na expressão dos genes APC, BECN1 e TP53 em linhas de células de câncer de cólon SW620 e SW480. TP53 é um gene supressor de tumor que atua modificando erros de DNA e/ou induzindo apoptose de células danificadas, estando os genes APC e BECN1 envolvidos no CRC e sendo importantes no crescimento celular e metástase. A viabilidade das células cancerosas foi analisada por meio do ensaio MTT, e os resultados mostraram um aumento significativo no número de células viáveis após 24 h de tratamento com MSG em diferentes concentrações (0,5; 1,0; 10; 50 e 100mM). Além disso, os resultados da expressão gênica mostraram um aumento significativo nos níveis de expressão de APC e BECN1 sob condições especificadas em ambas as linhagens celulares. Por outro lado, TP53 mostrou uma diminuição significativa na expressão em células SW620. Assim, pode-se concluir que, possivelmente, o MSG confere um efeito pró-proliferativo às células CRC.