Effect of supplementing lysins and methionine to low-protein diets on growth performance, hepatic antioxidant capacity, immune status, and glycolytic activity of tibetan sheep.

Reducing the levels of dietary protein is an effective nutritional approach in lowering feed cost and nitrogen emissions in ruminants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Lys/Met ratio in a low protein diet (10%, dry matter basis) on the growth performance and hepatic function (antioxidant capacity, immune status, and glycolytic activity) in Tibetan lambs. Ninety two-month-old rams with an average weight of 15.37 ± 0.92 kg were randomly assigned to LP-L (dietary Lys/Met = 1:1), LP-M (dietary Lys/Met = 2:1) and LP-H (dietary Lys/Met = 3:1) treatments. The trial was conducted over 100 d, including 10 d of adaption to the diets. Hepatic phenotypes, antioxidant capacity, immune status, glycolytic activity and gene expression profiling was detected after the conclusion of the feeding trials. The results showed that the body weight was higher in the LP-L group when compared to those on the LP-M group (P < 0.05). In addition, the activities of the catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the LP-L group were significantly increased compared with the LP-M group (P < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in LP-H group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with LP-H group, both hepatic glycogen (P < 0.01) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P < 0.05) were significantly elevated in LP-L group. For the LP-L group, the hepatocytes were arranged radially with the central vein in the center, and hepatic plates exhibited tight arrangement. Transcriptome analysis identified 29, 179, and 129 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the LP-M vs. LP-L, LP-H vs. LP-M, and LP-H vs. LP-L groups, respectively (Q-values < 0.05 and |log2Fold Change| > 1). Gene Ontology (GO) and correlation analyses showed that in the LP-L group, core genes (C1QA and JUNB) enriched in oxidoreductase activity were positively correlated with antioxidant indicators, while the MYO9A core gene enriched in the immune response was positively associated with immune indicators, and core genes enriched in molecular function (PDK3 and PDP2) were positively correlated with glycolysis indicators. In summary, low-protein diet with a low Lys/Met ratio (1:1) could reduce the hepatic oxidative stress and improve the glycolytic activity by regulating the expression of related genes of Tibetan sheep.

Effect of thermal pretreatment and gastrointestinal digestion on the bioactivity of dry-cured ham bone enzymatic hydrolyzates.

This study reports the effect of thermal pretreatment and the use of different commercial proteolytic enzymes (Protamex, Flavourzyme, Protana prime, and Alcalase) on the free amino acid content (FAA), peptide profile, and antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory potential (DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assay, DPP-IV, ACE-I, and NEP inhibitory activities) of dry-cured ham bone hydrolyzates. The effect of in vitro digestion was also determined. Thermal pretreatment significantly increased the degree of hydrolysis, the FAA, and the DPP-IV and ACE-I inhibitory activities. The type of peptidase used was the most significant factor influencing antioxidant activity and neprilysin inhibitory activity. Protana prime hydrolyzates failed to inhibit DPP-IV and neprilysin enzymes and had low values of ACE-I inhibitory activity. After in vitro digestion, bioactivities kept constant in most cases or even increased in ACE-I inhibitory activity. Therefore, hydrolyzates from dry-cured ham bones could serve as a potential source of functional food ingredients for health benefits.

Exploring the biocompatibility and healing activity of actinobacterial-enhanced reduced nano-graphene oxide in in vitro and in vivo model and induce bone regeneration through modulation of OPG/RANKL/RUNX2/ALP pathways.

BACKGROUND: The development of cost-effective, simple, environment-friendly biographene is an area of interest. To accomplish environmentally safe, benign culturing that has advantages over other methods to reduce the graphene oxide (GO), extracellular metabolites from actinobacteria associated with mushrooms were used for the first time. METHODS: Bactericidal effect of GO against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antioxidant activity, and hydroxyapatite-like bone layer formation, gene expression analysis and appropriate biodegradation of the microbe-mediated synthesis of graphene was studied. RESULTS: Isolated extracellular contents Streptomyces achromogenes sub sp rubradiris reduced nano-GO to graphene (rGO), which was further examined by spectrometry and suggested an efficient conversion and significant reduction in the intensity of all oxygen-containing moieties and shifted crystalline peaks. Electron microscopic results also suggested the reduction of GO layer. In addition, absence of significant toxicity in MG-63 cell line, intentional free radical scavenging prowess, liver and kidney histopathology, and Wistar rat bone regeneration through modulation of OPG/RANKL/RUNX2/ALP pathways show the feasibility of the prepared nano GO. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the successful synthesis of biographene from actinobacterial extracellular metabolites, its potential biomedical applications, and its promising role in addressing health and environmental concerns.

Rhizophagus irregularis and biochar can synergistically improve the physiological characteristics of saline-alkali resistance of switchgrass.

Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or biochar (BC) application can improve photosynthesis and promote plant growth under saline-alkali stress. However, little is known about the effects of the two combined on growth and physiological characteristics of switchgrass under saline-alkali stress. This study examined the effects of four treatments: (1) no AMF inoculation and no biochar addition (control), (2) biochar (BC) alone, (3) AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis, Ri) alone, and (4) the combination of both (BC+Ri) on the plant biomass, antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll, and photosynthetic parameters of switchgrass under saline-alkali stress. The results showed that the above-ground, belowground and total biomass of switchgrass in the BC+Ri treatment group was significantly higher (+136.7%, 120.2% and 132.4%, respectively) than in other treatments compared with Control. BC+Ri treatment significantly increased plant leaves' relative chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and photosynthesis parameters. It is worth noting that the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, PSII efficiency and other photosynthetic-related indexes of the BC+Ri treatment group were the highest (38% to 54% higher than other treatments). The fitting results of light response and CO2 response curves showed that the light saturation point, light compensation point, maximum carboxylation rate and maximum electron transfer rate of switchgrass in the Ri+BC treatment group were the highest. In conclusion, biochar combined with Ri has potential beneficial effects on promoting switchgrass growth under saline-alkali stress and improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic characteristics of plants.

Study of the effects of pasteurization and selected microbial starters on functional traits of fermented table olives.

Table olives are one of the most known fruit consumed as fermented food, being a fundamental component of the Mediterranean diet. Their production and consumption continue to increase globally and represent an important economic source for the producing countries. One of the most stimulating challenges for the future is the modernization of olive fermentation process. Besides the demand for more reproducible and safer production methods that could be able to reduce product losses and potential risks, producers and consumers are increasingly attracted by the final product characteristics and properties on human health. In this study, the contribution of microbial starters to table olives was fully described in terms of specific enzymatic and microbiological profiles, nutrient components, fermentation-derived compounds, and content of bioactive compounds. The use of microbial starters from different sources was tested considering their technological features and potential ability to improve the functional traits of fermented black table olives. For each fermentation assay, the effects of controlled temperature (kept at 20 °C constantly) versus not controlled environmental conditions (oscillating between 7 and 17 °C), as well as the consequences of the pasteurization treatment were tested on the final products. Starter-driven fermentation strategies seemed to increase both total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity. Herein, among all the tested microbial starters, we provide data indicating that two bacterial strains (Leuconostoc mesenteroides KT 5-1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BC T3-35), and two yeast strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10A and Debaryomyces hansenii A15-44) were the better ones related to enzyme activities, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. We also demonstrated that the fermentation of black table olives under not controlled environmental temperature conditions was more promising than the controlled level of 20 °C constantly in terms of technological and functional properties considered in this study. Moreover, we confirmed that the pasteurization process had a role in enhancing the levels of antioxidant compounds.

Effects of Antrodia cinnamomea solid culture mycelium by-products on growth performance and immune response in weaning black piglets.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementation with Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium by-product (ACBP) on growth performance and immune response in weaning piglets. Total available content and antioxidant capacity of ACBP were determined. Ninety-six black pigs were randomly distributed to 24 pens. Study compared four groups which were supplemented with ACBP at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10% for 6 weeks after weaning at 4 weeks. Results showed that ACBP on total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total triterpenoids contents were 13.68 mg GAE/g DW, 1.67 µg QE/g DW, and 15.6 mg/g, respectively. Weaning piglets fed 2.5% ACBP showed a significant decreased body weight gain compared with those supplemented with 5% ACBP, 10% ACBP, and control groups. Results showed that all ACBP groups increased the villi height of jejunum significantly. Incidence of diarrhea in 11 weeks with supplementation with 5% and 10% ACBP diets were lower than in control group. The 10% ACBP group showed significantly lower expression of immune response genes (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) than the 2.5% and 5% ACBP groups. Based on results, dietary supplementation with 10% ACBP did not significantly affect body weight but could decrease piglet diarrhea condition and expression of IL-1ß and IL-6 genes.

Thymoquinone attenuates diabetes-induced hepatic damage in rat via regulation of oxidative/nitrosative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cascade with molecular docking approach.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic condition that causes organ dysfunction. The current experiment sought to determine the effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in diabetic rats prompted by streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg body weight i/p). The animals were allocated into control, TQ (50 mg/kg B.W. orally administered for 4 succeeding weeks), Diabetic, and Diabetic + TQ groups. This study confirmed that TQ preserves the levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, HOMA ß-cell indices, HbA1c %, body weight, and lipid profile substantially relative to the DC group. Furthermore, hepatic antioxidant (CAT, GSH, and T-SOD) values were reduced. Conversely, the enzymatic activity of liver functions (AST, ALT, ALP, cytochrome P450, and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase), lipid peroxidation (MDA), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6), nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory marker (CRP) enhanced with STZ administration, which is substantially restored after TQ treatment. Relative to the diabetic rats, TQ reestablished the hepatic architectural changes and collagen fibers. Additionally, TQ downregulated the intensity of the immunohistochemical staining of pro-apoptotic marker (caspase-3), p53, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) proteins in hepatic tissues. Furthermore, TQ displayed abilities to interact and inhibit the binding site of caspase-3, interleukin-6 receptor, interleukin-1 receptor type 1, TNF receptor superfamily member 1A, and TNF receptor superfamily member 1B in rats following the molecular docking modeling. All these data re-establish the liver functions, antioxidant enzymes, anti-inflammatory markers, and anti-apoptotic proteins impacts of TQ in STZ-induced DM rats. Founded on these outcomes, the experiment proposes that TQ is a novel natural supplement with various clinical applications, including managing DM, which in turn is recommended to play a pivotal role in preventing the progression of diabetes mellitus.

Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles effectively prevent T4-induced oxidative stress in rat heart.

In this study, we report the cardioprotective effect of the glycerol monooleate (GMO) based nanocurcumin in both in vitro and in vivo conditions under a hyperthyroid state. The heart is one of the primary target organs sensitive to the action of thyroid hormone, and slight variations in the thyroid hormone serum concentrations result in measurable changes in cardiac performance. Hyperthyroidism-induced hypermetabolism is associated with oxidative stress and is an important mechanism responsible for the progression of heart failure. Curcumin has been known to play a protective role against oxidative stress-related diseases like Alzheimer's, asthma, and aging due to its antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, its potent biological activity has been hindered due to its poor bioavailability. To overcome this drawback, a GMO-based biodegradable nanoparticle (NP) formulation loaded with curcumin has been developed, and the protective effect of curcumin-loaded NPs was compared against the native drug. Oxidative stress parameters like reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, change in mitochondrial membrane permeability, lipid peroxidation (LPx), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and the activity and protein expression of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated. The results from in vitro showed that curcumin-loaded NPs showed better DPPH and NO radical scavenging activity than native curcumin in a concentrations range of 2.5-20 µM. It was also observed that the nanoparticulate curcumin was comparatively more effective than native curcumin in protecting against ROS-induced membrane damage by reducing LPx and LDH leakage at low concentrations of 5-10 µM. Further, curcumin NPs performed better in facilitating the activities of antioxidant enzymes under in vitro and in vivo conditions with respect to time and concentrations, resulting in reduced cellular ROS levels. In this scenario, we anticipate that curcumin-loaded NPs can serve as a better antioxidant than its native counterpart in protecting the heart from oxidative stress-related diseases.

Zinc and nitrogen mediate the regulation of growth, leading to the upregulation of antioxidant aptitude, physio-biochemical traits, and yield in wheat plants.

An ample amount of water and soil nutrients is required for economic wheat production to meet the current food demands. Nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) fertigation in soils can produce a substantial wheat yield for a rapidly increasing population and bring a limelight to researchers. The present study was designed to ascertain N and Zn's synergistic role in wheat growth, yield, and physio-biochemical traits. A pot experiment was laid out under a complete randomized design with four N levels (N1-0, N2-60, N3- 120, and N4-180 kg ha-1), Zn (T1-0, T2-5, T3-10, and T4-15 kg ha-1) with four replications. After the emergence of the plants, N and Zn fertigation was applied in the soil. The growth traits were considerably increased by combined applications as compared to the sole applications of the N and Zn. The photosynthetic pigments were found maximum due to combined applications of N and Zn, which were positively associated with biomass, growth, yield, and wheat grain quality. The combined application also substantially enhances the antioxidant enzyme activities to scavenge the ROS as H2O2 and reduce lipid peroxidation to protect the permeability of the biologic membranes. The combined higher applications of N and Zn were more responsive to ionic balance in a shoot by maintaining the Na+ for osmotic adjustments, accumulating more Ca2+ for cellular signaling; but, combined applications resulted in K+ reduction. Our present results suggest that appropriate sole or combined applications of N and Zn improve wheat's growth, yield, and antioxidant mechanisms. Previous studies lack sufficient information on N and Zn combined fertigation. We intend to investigate both the sole and combined roles of N and Zn to exploit their potential synergistic effects on wheat.

Multivariate investigation of Moringa oleifera morpho-physiological and biochemical traits under various water regimes.

BACKGROUND: The climatic changes crossing the world menace the green life through limitation of water availability. The goal of this study was to determine whether Moringa oleifera Lam. trees cultivated under Tunisian arid climate, retain their tolerance ability to tolerate accentuated environmental stress factors such as drought and salinity. For this reason, the seeds of M. oleifera tree planted in Bouhedma Park (Tunisian arid area), were collected, germinated, and grown in the research area at the National Institute of Research in Rural Engineering, Waters and Forests (INRGREF) of Tunis (Tunisia). The three years aged trees were exposed to four water-holding capacities (25, 50, 75, and 100%) for 60 days to realise this work. RESULTS: Growth change was traduced by the reduction of several biometric parameters and fluorescence (Fv/Fm) under severe water restriction (25 and 50%). Whereas roots presented miraculous development in length face to the decrease of water availability (25 and 50%) in their rhizospheres. The sensitivity to drought-induced membrane damage (Malondialdehyde (MDA) content) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content) was highly correlated with ROS antiradical scavenging (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and (2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyle (DPPH)), phenolic components and osmolytes accumulation. The drought stress tolerance of M. oleifera trees was associated with a dramatic stimulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. CONCLUSION: Based on the several strategies adopted, integrated M. oleifera can grow under drought stress as accentuated adverse environmental condition imposed by climate change.

Aspartame, as an artificial sweetener, does not affect renal function and antioxidative states in mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aspartame (L-aspartyl L-phenylalanine methyl ester) is an artificial sweetener widely used as a sugar substitute. There are concerns regarding the effects of high aspartame doses on the kidney owing to oxidative stress; however, whether the maximum allowed dose of aspartame in humans affects the kidneys remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the maximum allowed dose of aspartame in humans affects the kidneys. METHODS: In this study, animals were fed a folate-deficient diet to mimic human aspartame metabolism. Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided into control (CTL), 40 mg/kg/day of aspartame-administered (ASP), folate-deficient diet (FD), and 40 mg/kg/day of aspartame-administered with a folate-deficient diet (FD + ASP) groups. Aspartame was administered orally for eight weeks. Thereafter, we evaluated aspartame's effect on kidneys via histological analysis. RESULTS: There were no differences in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels between the CTL and ASP groups or between the FD and FD + ASP groups. There was no histological change in the kidneys in any group. The expression of superoxide dismutase and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in the kidney did not differ between the CTL and ASP groups or the FD and FD + ASP groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the allowed doses of aspartame in humans may not affect kidney function or oxidative states.

Biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using Solenostemma argel and their effect on enhancing salt tolerance in barley plants.

The distinctive characteristics of nanoparticles and their potential applications have been given considerable attention by scientists across different fields, particularly agriculture. However, there has been limited effort to assess the impact of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in modulating physiological and biochemical processes in response to salt-induced stress. This study aimed to synthesize CuNPs biologically using Solenostemma argel extract and determine their effects on morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant defense system of barley (Hordeum vulgare) under salt stress. The biosynthesized CuNPs were characterized by (UV-vis spectroscopy with Surface Plasmon Resonance at 320 nm, the crystalline nature of the formed NPs was verified via XRD, the FTIR recorded the presence of the functional groups, while TEM was confirmed the shape (spherical) and the sizes (9 to 18 nm) of biosynthesized CuNPs. Seeds of barley plants were grown in plastic pots and exposed to different levels of salt (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl). Our findings revealed that the supplementation of CuNPs (0, 25 and 50 mg/L) to salinized barley significantly mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress and enhanced the plant growth-related parameters. High salinity level enhanced the oxidative damage by raising the concentrations of osmolytes (soluble protein, soluble sugar, and proline), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, increasing the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, total phenol, and flavonoids. Interestingly, exposing CuNPs on salt-stressed plants enhanced the plant-growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange parameters. Furthermore, CuNPs counteracted oxidative damage by lowering the accumulation of osmolytes, H2O2, MDA, total phenol, and flavonoids, while simultaneously enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, the application of biosynthesized CuNPs presents a promising approach and sustainable strategy to enhance plant resistance to salinity stress, surpassing conventional methods in terms of environmental balance.

Association between oxidative balance score and kidney stones: data from the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES).

PURPOSE: Some studies have found that the pathological formation of kidney stones is closely related to injury and inflammatory response. Behaviors such as dietary composition, physical activity, obesity and smoking can all affect the body's oxidative stress levels. In order to evaluate the effects of various diets and lifestyles on the body's oxidative and antioxidant systems, an oxidative balance score was developed. To investigate whether the OBS is associated with the development of kidney stones. METHODS: Data were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007-2018, followed by retrospective observational studies. The association between kidney stones and OBS was analyzed using survey-weighted logistic regression by adjusting for demographics, laboratory tests, and medical comorbidity covariates. The oxidative balance score is calculated by screening 16 nutrients and 4 lifestyle factors, including 5 prooxidants and 15 antioxidants, based on prior information about the relationship between oxidation levels in the body and nutrients or lifestyle factors. RESULTS: A total of 26,786 adult participants were included in the study, of which 2,578, or 9.62%, had a history of nephrolithiasis. Weighted logistic regression analysis found an association between OBS and kidney stones. In the fully tuned model, i.e., model 3, the highest quartile array of OBS was associated with the lowest quartile array of OBS (OR = 0.73 (0.57, 0.92)) with the risk of kidney stone (p = 0.01), and was statistically significant and remained relatively stable in each model. At the same time, the trend test in the model is also statistically significant. With the increase of OBS, the OR value of kidney stones generally tends to decrease. CONCLUSIONS: There is an inverse correlation between OBS and kidney stone disease. At the same time, higher OBS suggests that antioxidant exposure is greater than pro-oxidative exposure in diet and lifestyle, and is associated with a lower risk of kidney stones.

Relationship between jejunum ATPase activity and antioxidant function on the growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and jejunum microbiota in Hu sheep (Ovis aries).

BACKGROUND: ATPase activity and the antioxidant function of intestinal tissue can reflect intestinal cell metabolic activity and oxidative damage, which might be related to intestinal function. However, the specific influence of intestinal ATPase activity and antioxidant function on growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and the intestinal microbiota in sheep remains unclear. RESULTS: This study analyzed the correlation between ATPase activity and antioxidant function in the jejunum of 92 Hu sheep and their growth performance and feed conversion efficiency. Additionally, individuals with the highest (H group) and lowest (L group) jejunum MDA content and Na+ K+-ATPase activity were further screened, and the effects of jejunum ATPase activity and MDA content on the morphology and microbial community of sheep intestines were analyzed. There was a significant correlation between jejunum ATPase and SOD activity and the initial weight of Hu sheep (P < 0.01). The H-MDA group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) from 0 to 80 days old and higher body weight (BW) after 80 days. ATPase and SOD activities, and MDA levels correlated significantly and positively with heart weight. The jejunum crypt depth and circular muscle thickness in the H-ATP group were significantly higher than in the L-ATP group, and the villus length, crypt depth, and longitudinal muscle thickness in the H-MDA group were significantly higher than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.01). High ATPase activity and MDA content significantly reduced the jejunum microbial diversity, as indicated by the Chao1 index and observed species, and affected the relative abundance of specific taxa. Among species, the relative abundance of Olsenella umbonata was significantly higher in the H-MDA group than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.05), while Methanobrevibacter ruminantium abundance was significantly lower than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.05). In vitro culture experiments confirmed that MDA promoted the proliferation of Olsenella umbonata. Thus, ATPase and SOD activities in the jejunum tissues of Hu sheep are predominantly influenced by congenital factors, and lambs with higher birth weights exhibit lower Na+ K+-ATPase, Ca2+ Mg2+-ATPase, and SOD activities. CONCLUSIONS: The ATPase activity and antioxidant performance of intestinal tissue are closely related to growth performance, heart development, and intestinal tissue morphology. High ATPase activity and MDA content reduced the microbial diversity of intestinal tissue and affect the relative abundance of specific taxa, representing a potential interaction between the host and its intestinal microbiota.

Nrf2 pathway activation promotes the expression of genes related to glutathione metabolism in alcohol-exposed astrocytes.

Introduction: Oxidative and antioxidant pathways play essential roles in the development of alcohol-induced brain injury. The Nrf2 pathway is an endogenous antioxidant response pathway, but there has been little research on the role of Nrf2 in alcohol-related diseases. Thus, we examined the effects of alcohol and an Nrf2 agonist (TBHQ) on astrocyte function, mRNA expression, and metabolite content to further explore the protective mechanisms of Nrf2 agonists in astrocytes following alcohol exposure. Methods: CTX TNA2 astrocytes were cultured with alcohol and TBHQ and then subjected to transcriptome sequencing, LC-MS/MS analysis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assays. Results: Alcohol exposure significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in astrocytes. Treatment with TBHQ effectively reversed these effects, demonstrating its protective role against oxidative stress induced by alcohol. Transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that TBHQ specifically upregulates genes involved in glutathione metabolism, including a notable increase in the expression of the glutathione S-transferase A5 (GSTA5) gene, which was suppressed by alcohol exposure. Additionally, metabolomic analysis showed that TBHQ regulates key components of ether lipid metabolism in alcohol-exposed astrocytes, with significant reductions in the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (18:0) (LysoPC (18:0)) and 2-acetyl-1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, both of which are critical markers in the ether lipid metabolic pathway. Discussion: The findings underscore the role of TBHQ as an Nrf2 agonist in mitigating alcohol-induced oxidative damage in astrocytes by modulating glutathione metabolism and ether lipid metabolism. The regulation of GSTA5 gene expression emerges as a key mechanism through which Nrf2 agonists confer neuroprotection against oxidative stress and lipid oxidation. These insights pave the way for potential therapeutic strategies targeting the Nrf2 pathway to protect astrocytes from alcohol-induced damage.

Transcriptome analysis reveals that trehalose alleviates chilling injury of peach fruit by regulating ROS signaling pathway and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

Peach fruit is prone to chilling injury (CI) during low-temperature storage, resulting in quality deterioration and economic losses. Our previous studies have found that exogenous trehalose treatment can alleviate the CI symptoms of peach by increasing sucrose accumulation. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential molecular mechanism of trehalose treatment in alleviating CI in postharvest peach fruit. Transcriptome analysis showed that trehalose induced gene expression in pathways of plant MAPK signaling, calcium signaling, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis indicated that PpCDPK24 may activate the ROS signaling pathway by phosphorylating PpRBOHE. Besides, PpWRKY40 mediates the activation of PpMAPKKK2-induced ROS signaling pathway by interacting with the PpRBOHE promoter. Accordingly, trehalose treatment significantly enhanced the activities of antioxidant-related enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and gluathione reductase (GR), as well as the transcription levels AsA-GSH cycle related gene, which led to the reduction of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in peach during cold storage. In summary, our results suggest that the potential molecular mechanism of trehalose treatment is to enhance antioxidant capacity by activating CDPK-mediated Ca2 + -ROS signaling pathway and WRKY-mediated MAPK-WRKY-ROS signaling pathway, thereby reducing the CI in peach fruit.

Temperature effects on plasmalogen profile and quality characteristics in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) during depuration.

The quality of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) can be affected by many factors during depuration, in which temperature is the major element. In this study, we aim to determine the quality and plasmalogen changes in C. gigas depurated at different temperatures. The quality was significantly affected by temperature, represented by varying survival rate, glycogen content, total antioxidant capacity, alkaline phosphatase activity between control and stressed groups. Targeted MS analysis demonstrated that plasmalogen profile was significantly changed during depuration with PUFA-containing plasmalogen species being most affected by temperature. Proteomics analysis and gene expression assay further verified that plasmalogen metabolism is regulated by temperature, specifically, the plasmalogen synthesis enzyme EPT1 was significantly downregulated by high temperature and four plasmalogen-related genes (GPDH, PEDS, Pex11, and PLD1) were transcriptionally regulated. The positive correlations between the plasmalogen level and quality characteristics suggested plasmalogen could be regarded as a quality indicator of oysters during depuration.

Chlorella vulgaris algae ameliorates chlorpyrifos toxicity in Nile tilapia with special reference to antioxidant enzymes and Streptococcus agalactiae infection.

BACKGROUND: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used pesticide in the production of plant crops. Despite rapid CPF biodegradation, fish were exposed to wastewater containing detectable residues. Recently, medicinal plants and algae were intensively used in aquaculture to replace antibiotics and ameliorate stress impacts. METHODS AND RESULTS: An indoor experiment was conducted to evaluate the deleterious impacts of CPF pollution on Nile tilapia health and the potential mitigation role of Chlorella vulgaris algae. Firstly, the median lethal concentration LC50 - 72 h of CPF was determined to be 85.8 µg /L in Nile tilapia (35.6 ± 0.5 g body weight) at a water temperature of 27.5 °C. Secondly, fish were exposed to 10% of LC50 - 72 h for six weeks, and tissue samples were collected and examined every two weeks. Also, Nile tilapia were experimentally infected with Streptococcus agalactiae. Exposed fish were immunosuppressed expressed with a decrease in gene expressions of interleukin (IL) 1ß, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Also, a decline was recorded in glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) gene expression in the head kidney tissue. A high mortality rate (MR) of 100% was recorded in fish exposed to CPF for six weeks and challenged with S. agalactiae. Fish that received dietary C. vulgaris could restore gene expression cytokines and antioxidants compared to the control. After six weeks of CPF exposure, fish suffered from anemia as red blood cell count (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) significantly declined along with downregulation of serum total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), and albumin (ALB). Liver enzymes were significantly upregulated in fish exposed to CPF pollution, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (42.5, 53.3, and 61.7 IU/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (30.1, 31.2, and 22.8) after 2, 4, and 6 weeks, respectively. On S. agalactiae challenge, high MR was recorded in Nile tilapia exposed to CPF (G3) 60%, 60%, and 100% in week 2, week 4, and week 6, and C. vulgaris provided a relative protection level (RPL) of 0, 14.29, and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that CPF pollution induces immunosuppressed status, oxidative stress, and anemic signs in Nile tilapia. In contrast, C. vulgaris at a 50 g/kg fish feed dose could partially ameliorate such withdrawals, restoring normal physiological parameters.

Effect of methyl jasmonate and GA3 on canola (Brassica napus L.) growth, antioxidants activity, and nutrient concentration cultivated in salt-affected soils.

Salinity stress is a significant challenge in agricultural production. When soil contains high salts, it can adversely affect plant growth and productivity due to the high concentration of soluble salts in the soil water. To overcome this issue, foliar applications of methyl jasmonate (MJ) and gibberellic acid (GA3) can be productive amendments. Both can potentially improve the plant's growth attributes and flowering, which are imperative in improving growth and yield. However, limited literature is available on their combined use in canola to mitigate salinity stress. That's why the current study investigates the impact of different levels of MJ (at concentrations of 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mM MJ) and GA3 (0GA3 and 5 mg/L GA3) on canola cultivated in salt-affected soils. Applying all the treatments in four replicates. Results indicate that the application of 0.8 mM MJ with 5 mg/L GA3 significantly enhances shoot length (23.29%), shoot dry weight (24.77%), number of leaves per plant (24.93%), number of flowering branches (26.11%), chlorophyll a (31.44%), chlorophyll b (20.28%) and total chlorophyll (27.66%) and shoot total soluble carbohydrates (22.53%) over control. Treatment with 0.8 mM MJ and 5 mg/L GA3 resulted in a decrease in shoot proline (48.17%), MDA (81.41%), SOD (50.59%), POD (14.81%) while increase in N (10.38%), P (15.22%), and K (8.05%) compared to control in canola under salinity stress. In conclusion, 0.8 mM MJ + 5 mg/L GA3 can improve canola growth under salinity stress. More investigations are recommended at the field level to declare 0.8 mM MJ + 5 mg/L GA3 as the best amendment for alleviating salinity stress in different crops.

Postovulatory Aging of Mouse Oocytes Impairs Offspring Behavior by Causing Oxidative Stress and Damaging Mitochondria.

Information on long-term effects of postovulatory oocyte aging (POA) on offspring is limited. Whether POA affects offspring by causing oxidative stress (OS) and mitochondrial damage is unknown. Here, in vivo-aged (IVA) mouse oocytes were collected 9 h after ovulation, while in vitro-aged (ITA) oocytes were obtained by culturing freshly ovulated oocytes for 9 h in media with low, moderate, or high antioxidant potential. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro and blastocysts transferred to produce F1 offspring. F1 mice were mated with naturally bred mice to generate F2 offspring. Both IVA and the ITA groups in low antioxidant medium showed significantly increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial and fear learning/memory and hippocampal expression of anxiolytic and learning/memory-beneficial genes in both male and female F1 offspring. Furthermore, the aging in both groups increased OS and impaired mitochondrial function in oocytes, blastocysts, and hippocampus of F1 offspring; however, it did not affect the behavior of F2 offspring. It is concluded that POA caused OS and damaged mitochondria in aged oocytes, leading to defects in anxiety-like behavior and learning/memory of F1 offspring. Thus, POA is a crucial factor that causes psychological problems in offspring, and antioxidant measures may be taken to ameliorate the detrimental effects of POA on offspring.