Protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 on acrylamide-induced oxidative damage in rats

Zhao Sijia,Zhao Xiaoduo,Liu Qingbo,Jiang Yujun,Li Yanhua,Feng Wenxiao,Xu Honghua,Shao Meili 한국응용생명화학회 2020 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.63 No.4

Acrylamide (AA), which is mainly found in fried foods, causes neurotoxicity, genetic toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and DNA damage. This study confirms that a strain of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014) could alleviate the toxicity of rats by inhibiting the AA-induced oxidative damage. Forty-eight adult male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control group, AA group (40 mg/kg), three different doses (1 × 107 CFU/ml, 1 × 108 CFU/ ml, 1 × 109 CFU/ml of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014) of prevention groups and therapeutic groups, respectively. At the end of three-week experiment, AA treatment produced a significant reduction in the rate of weight gain along with the symptoms of hind limb splay and ataxia. Histological examinations revealed various degrees of injury in five tissues. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in group AA rats were significantly decreased, but the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Both prevention and therapeutic groups with 1 × 109 CFU/ml of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 could effectively reduce the injury of AA to the body. However, reductions in both groups were not statistically significant.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the aquaporin gene family reveals the role in the salinity adaptability in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Ni Ping,Zhao Xiang,Liang Yujun 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.12

Background: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), an important economic freshwater fish being cultured globally, is highly adaptable to a wide range of salinities. However, little information is currently available on the mechanism of salinity adaptation. Objective: For a better understanding of this intriguing adaptability, we identified and analyzed aquaporins (AQPs), which are channel proteins with a basic function of intracellular and intercellular transportation for water and certain solutes. Methods: In the present study, we performed genome-wide identification and comprehensive analysis of the duplicated AQP genes in Nile tilapia by bioinformatics methods. Tissue-specific analyses were then combined with transcriptome data under different salinity treatments. Results: It was revealed that Nile tilapia has a total of twenty-eight AQPs, which are distributed unevenly on twelve chromosomes and belong to four subfamilies according to phylogenetic analysis. These AQPs share conserved AQP characteristic structural domains and motifs, although they differ in molecular weight from 23 to 36 kDa and contain distinct sequences. GO analysis revealed that most AQPs have transporter protein activity and are involved in biological processes such as substance transport, stress response, development and metabolism. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that AQPs were significantly enriched in two pathways, anti-diuretic hormone-regulated reabsorption and bile secretion. Conclusion: These results suggested that Nile tilapia has a highly developed, albeit complex, osmotic pressure regulation system, which provided a molecular basis for exploring how these AQP members coordinate to help Nile tilapia cope with different salinities.

Phase II Trial of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in Acute Radiation-Induced Esophagitis for Esophagus Cancer

Xiaoling Li,Ligang Xing,Yujun Zhang,Peng Xie,Wanqi Zhu,Xiangjiao Meng,Yinxia Wang,Lingling Kong,Hanxi Zhao,Jinming Yu 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Journal of medicinal food Vol.23 No.1

Acute radiation-induced esophagitis (ARIE) is among the most serious form of toxicities associated with definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy used for treatment of patients with esophageal cancer. Our preliminary phase I and II trials of lung cancer patients who received radiotherapy indicated epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a promising therapeutic option against ARIE. Therefore, we conducted a prospective phase II study to validate the efficacy and safety of EGCG in the treatment of ARIE. The patients who received chemoradiotherapy or definitive radiotherapy for treatment of esophageal cancer in the Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute in China were enrolled for the present study. EGCG (440 μM) was administered with first onset of ARIE and then at weeks after final radiotherapy. The patients were monitored every week for dysphagia, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) score, and esophagitis-related pain. Moreover, tumor response and the effect on survival following the treatment were also evaluated. Comparison of the RTOG score in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and even sixth week after EGCG prescription and the first and second week after radiotherapy with baseline indicates a significant reduction. The tumor response rate was 86.3%. The overall survival rate in 1, 2, and 3 years was found to be 74.5%, 58%, and 40.5%. Oral administration of EGCG solution seems to be feasible for treating ARIE in patients with esophageal cancer who receive radiation therapy. EGCG might be an ARIE-reliever without compromising the efficacy of radiation therapy. A randomized study with a control group is needed for further evaluation.

Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA to Predict Neoadjuvant Therapy Effectiveness and Breast Cancer Recurrence

Shuai Hao,Wuguo Tian,Jianjie Zhao,Yi Chen,Xiaohua Zhang,Bo Gao,Yujun He,Donglin Luo 한국유방암학회 2020 Journal of breast cancer Vol.23 No.4

Purpose: Real-time detection and intervention can be used as potential measures to markedly decrease breast cancer mortality. Assessment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may offer great benefits for the management of breast cancer over time. However, the use of ctDNA to predict the effectiveness of neoadjuvant treatment and recurrence of breast cancer has rarely been studied. Methods: We prospectively recruited 31 breast cancer patients with 4 subtypes. Three time points were set in this study, including before any therapy (C1), during surgery (T), and six months after surgery (C2). We collected peripheral blood samples from all 31 patients at C1, tumor tissue from all 31 patients at T, and peripheral blood samples from 25 patients at C2. Targeted 727-gene panel sequencing was performed on ctDNA from all blood samples and tissue DNA from all tissue samples. Somatic mutations were detected and analyzed using a reference standard pipeline. Statistical analysis was performed to identify possible associations between ctDNA profiles and clinical outcomes. Results: In total, we detected 159, 271, and 70 somatic mutations in 30 C1 samples, 31 T samples, and 12 C2 samples, respectively. We identified specific genes, such as PIK3CA, TP53, and KMT2C, which were highly mutated in the tissue samples. Furthermore, mutated KMT2C observed in ctDNA of the C2 samples may be an indicator of breast cancer recurrence. Conclusion: Our study highlights the potential of ctDNA analysis at different timepoints for assessing tumor progression and treatment effectiveness, as well as prediction of breast cancer recurrence.

Long noncoding RNA NEAT1 suppresses hepatocyte proliferation in fulminant hepatic failure through increased recruitment of EZH2 to the LATS2 promoter region and promotion of H3K27me3 methylation

Qiang Wang,Lian Liu,Sheng Zhang,Yingzi Ming,Shu Liu,Ke Cheng,Yujun Zhao 생화학분자생물학회 2020 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.52 No.-

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) refers to the rapid development of severe acute liver injury with impaired synthetic function and encephalopathy in people with normal liver or well-compensated liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the function of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocytes in FHF. Our results revealed that lncRNA NEAT1 was upregulated in cell and animal models of FHF induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Overexpression of lncRNA NEAT1 resulted in elevated hepatocyte apoptosis and impaired large tumor-suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) expression and proliferation. Functional analysis revealed that knockdown of lncRNA NEAT1 inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis and induced proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that lncRNA NEAT1 recruited enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) to the LATS2 promoter and repressed LATS2 expression. Furthermore, ectopic expression of LATS2 increased proliferation and inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis by regulating the Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings indicate that lncRNA NEAT1 might serve as a novel target for FHF therapy due to its regulation of H3K27me3 methylation-dependent promotion of LATS2.

Cascade hydrogenation of n-C16 to produce jet fuel over tandem catalysts of modified ZSM-22

Yi Li,Junhao Sun,Jie Wei,Chao Mu,Yujun Zhao,Shengping Wang,Xinbin Ma 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.111 No.-

ZSM-22 with one-dimensional straight channels and suitable acid properties is widely applied in theselective hydrocracking of long-chain alkanes to produce middle distillate. In this work, the tandem catalystswith two kinds of modified ZSM-22 were employed in series to optimize the distribution of theproduct in the hydrotreatment of n-C16 to produce jet fuel. The yield of linear alkanes with high carbonnumbers was enhanced over the upstream catalyst bed of Pt/L-HZSM-22 with shielded external acid siteswhile the isomerization with less further cracking occurred over the downstream catalyst bed of Pt/Me-HZSM-22 with introduced mesopores. The tandem catalysts can combine the ability of Pt/L-HZSM-22 toproduce heavy n-alkanes and the stronger isomerization performance of Pt/Me-HZSM-22. The highestyield of jet fuel (23 wt.%) can be obtained over the tandem catalysts instead of any individual catalyst. The strategy of the tandem zeolite has been initially verified and proposed to broaden the investigationperspectives of the oil refinery.

Protection of chickens against infectious bronchitis virus with a multivalent DNA vaccine and boosting with an inactivated vaccine

Fang Yan,Zhong Li,Yongting Hu,Jianyang Qiu,Wenxin Lei,Wenhui Ji,Xuying Li,Qian Wu,Xiumin shi,Yujun Zhao 대한수의학회 2013 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.14 No.1

The protective efficacy of DNA plasmids encoding avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1, N, or M protein was investigated in chickens. Chickens were inoculated monovalently (with plasmid pVAX1-16S1, pVAX1-16M, or pVAX1-16N alone) or multivalently (combination of the three different plasmids, pVAX1-16S1/M/N). A prime-boost immunization protocol against IBV was developed. Chickens were immunized with the multivalent DNA vaccine twice and then boosted with an inactivated vaccine once. Antibody titers of the chickens immunized with pVAX1-16S1/M/N were much higher than those of the monovalent groups (p < 0.01). A protective rate up to 90% was observed in the pVAX1-16S1/M/N group. The serum antibody titers in the prime-boost birds were significantly higher than those of the multivalent DNA vaccine group (p < 0.01) but not significantly different compared to the inactivated vaccine group at 49 days of age. Additionally, the prime-boost group also showed the highest level of IBV-specific cellular proliferation compared to the monovalent groups (p < 0.01)but no significant difference was found compared to the multivalent DNA vaccine group, and the prime-boost group completely protected from followed viral challenge.