Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide modified nano-selenium effectively alleviated DSS-induced colitis through enhancing intestinal mucosal barrier function and antioxidant capacity.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is currently the most common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Due to its diverse and complex causes, there is no cure at present, and researchers are constantly exploring new therapies. In recent years, nano-selenium particle(SeNP) has attracted wide attention due to excellent biological activities. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, we used a natural polysaccharide, Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide (EUP), modified SeNP to get EUP-SeNP with a size of about 170 nm, and its effect on 3% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced colitis was explored. Our results showed that colon intestinal histology, intestinal mucosal barrier, inflammatory cytokines and intestinal microbiome composition were changed after EUP-SeNP treatment in colitis mice. Specifically, it was also shown that oral treatment of EUP-SeNP could relieve the degree of DSS-induced colitis in mice by restoring weight loss, reducing disease activity index (DAI), enhancing colon antioxidant capacity and regulating intestinal microbiome composition. In addition, we verified the mechanism in intestinal epithelial cell lines, showing that EUP-SeNP inhibited LPS-induced activation of the TRL-4/NF-κB signaling pathway in intestinal epithelial cell lines. To some extend, our study provides therapeutic reference for the treatment of IBD.

The Role and Mechanism of Essential Selenoproteins for Homeostasis.

Selenium (Se) is one of the essential trace elements that plays a biological role in the body, mainly in the form of selenoproteins. Selenoproteins can be involved in the regulation of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, antioxidant defense, immune and inflammatory responses and other biological processes, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, the regulation of immune response and other functions. Over-loading or lack of Se causes certain damage to the body. Se deficiency can reduce the expression and activity of selenoproteins, disrupt the normal physiological function of cells and affect the body in antioxidant, immunity, toxin antagonism, signaling pathways and other aspects, thus causing different degrees of damage to the body. Se intake is mainly in the form of dietary supplements. Due to the important role of Se, people pay increasingly more attention to Se-enriched foods, which also lays a foundation for better research on the mechanism of selenoproteins in the future. In this paper, the synthesis and mechanism of selenoproteins, as well as the role and mechanism of selenoproteins in the regulation of diseases, are reviewed. Meanwhile, the future development of Se-enriched products is prospected, which is of great significance to further understand the role of Se.

Trace Element Selenium Effectively Alleviates Intestinal Diseases.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in the body. It is mainly used in the body in the form of selenoproteins and has a variety of biological functions. Intestinal diseases caused by chronic inflammation are among the most important threats to human health, and there is no complete cure at present. Due to its excellent antioxidant function, Se has been proven to be effective in alleviating intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Therefore, this paper introduces the role of Se and selenoproteins in the intestinal tract and the mechanism of their involvement in the mediation of intestinal diseases. In addition, it introduces the advantages and disadvantages of nano-Se as a new Se preparation and traditional Se supplement in the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases, so as to provide a reference for the further exploration of the interaction between selenium and intestinal health.

Transcriptome Profiles Reveal the Crucial Roles of Auxin and Cytokinin in the "Shoot Branching" of Cremastra appendiculata.

Cremastra appendiculata has become endangered due to reproductive difficulties. Specifically, vegetative reproduction is almost its only way to reproduce, and, under natural conditions, it cannot grow branches, resulting in an extremely low reproductive coefficient (reproductive percentage). Here, we performed RNA-Seq and a differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis of the three stages of lateral bud development in C. appendiculata after decapitation-dormancy (D2), transition (TD2), and emergence (TG2)-and the annual axillary bud natural break (G1) to gain insight into the molecular regulatory network of shoot branching in this plant. Additionally, we applied the auxin transport inhibitors N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and 2,3,5-triiodibenzoic acid (TIBA) to a treated pseudobulb string of C. appendiculata to verify the conclusions obtained by the transcriptome. RNA-Seq provided a wealth of valuable information. Successive pairwise comparative transcriptome analyses revealed 5988 genes as DEGs. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) analyses of DEGs showed significant enrichments in phytohormone biosynthesis and metabolism, regulation of hormone levels, and a hormone-mediated signaling pathway. qRT-PCR validation showed a highly significant correlation (p < 0.01) with the RNA-Seq generated data. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and qRT-PCR results showed that, after decapitation, the NPA- and TIBA-induced lateral buds germinated due to rapidly decreasing auxin levels, caused by upregulation of the dioxygenase for auxin oxidation gene (DAO). Decreased auxin levels promoted the expression of isopentenyl transferase (IPT) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, family 735, subfamily A (CYP735A) genes and inhibited two carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCD7 and CCD8). Zeatin levels significantly increased after the treatments. The increased cytokinin levels promoted the expression of WUSCHEL (WUS) and inhibited expression of BRANCHED1 (BRC1) in the cytokinin signal transduction pathway and initiated lateral bud outgrowth. Our data suggest that our theories concerning the regulation of shoot branching and apical dominance is really similar to those observed in annual plants. Auxin inhibits bud outgrowth and tends to inhibit cytokinin levels. The pseudobulb in the plant behaves in a similar manner to that of a shoot above the ground.

Both fractional exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophil were associated with uncontrolled asthma.

BACKGROUND: Sputum eosinophil and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), noninvasive biomarkers of local eosinophilic airway inflammation, can be used to assess asthma outcome. Nevertheless, the clinical application of the association between FeNO and sputum eosinophil is controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the predictive relationship between FeNO and sputum eosinophil in uncontrolled asthmatic patients and the correlation between sputum eosinophil and FeNO in bronchial reversibility and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). METHODS: A total of 69 uncontrolled asthmatic patients were included in the study. All patients underwent a clinical assessment on the same day as follows: FeNO, spirometry with BHR or bronchodilator reversibility test and induced sputum in turn. Eosinophilic airway inflammation was defined as sputum eosinophil percentage (≥2.5%)/FeNO level (≥32 parts per billion [ppb]). RESULTS: FeNO level and sputum neutrophilic percentage were higher in the sputum eosinophilia group compared to those without (49 versus 27, p=0.011; 71.12 versus 87.67, p=0.012, respectively). Sputum eosinophil percentage was higher with raised FeNO level compared to those without (10.3% versus 2.75%, p=0.03). A significant correlation was observed between sputum eosinophil percentage and FeNO level (r=0.4016; p=0.0006). There were no significant relationships between sputum eosinophilic percentage and provocative dose (PD20)/ΔFEV1 (improvement in a forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] after 400µg of salbutamol), FeNO levels and PD20/ΔFEV1. The FeNO level of 35.5 ppb was effective in assessing sputum eosinophilia, with a receiver operating characteristic area under curve (AUC) of 0.707 (p=0.011; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.573-0.841), and 4.36% was the best diagnostic cutoff value of sputum eosinophil percentage for the FeNO level of 32 ppb (AUC 0.721; 95% CI 0.59-0.852). CONCLUSION: FeNO level can accurately detect eosinophilic asthma but has limited value to assess noneosinophilic asthma in uncontrolled stage. Further studies are required to validate the use of FeNO level to determine an optimal cutoff for sputum eosinophilia that could be used in clinical practice.