Development of a BDDE-crosslinked hyaluronic acid based microneedles patch as a dermal filler for anti-ageing treatment

Jia Nan Zhang,Bo Zhi Chen,Mohammad Ashfaq,Xiao Peng Zhang,Xin Dong Guo 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.65 No.-

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has many applications in human medicine and cosmetic industry. This study describes the fabrication and evaluation of cross-linked HA (cHA) based microneedles (HA-cHA-MNs) for anti-ageing treatment. The results suggested that the increasing content of cHA gel particles decrease the mechanical properties of MNs. The in-vitro degradation profile and in-vivo epidermal expansion in mice were also carried out. The data suggested that the proportion of cHA particles decreased the rate of MNs degradation. The prepared HA-cHA-MNs have prolonged effectiveness with high swelling retention time or epidermal expansion time in mice up to 6 days or more.

Staurosporine Induced Apoptosis Rapidly Downregulates TDP-43 in Glioma Cells

Nan, Yi-Nan,Zhu, Jing-Yan,Tan, Yan,Zhang, Qi,Jia, William,Hua, Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.8

TDP-43 is a ubiquitously expressed DNA/RNA binding protein that has recently attracted attention for its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 has been found to participate in various important cellular activities including stress and apoptosis, little is known about its role in cancer cells. Here we report that staurosporine (STS) induced apoptosis in U87 glioma cells is associated with rapid downregulation of TDP-43 at both mRNA and protein levels. The latter is dependent on activation of caspase 3. More importantly, we have shown that knockdown of TDP-43 by specific siRNA dramatically enhanced cytotoxicity of STS. These results suggest that normal level of TDP-43 may be protective for cancer cells under apoptotic insult.

Structural Basis of Emi2 Recognition by Polo-Box Domain of Polo-like Kinase 1 and Effects of Structure-Derived Antagonist in Oocyte Maturation and Fertillization

Jia-Jia Lin,Young-Hyun Han,Jung-Woo Kwon,Yong-Nan Xu,Yi-Bo Luo,Yu-Jin Jo,Chang-Eun Park,Jung-Kyu Baang,Suk Namgoong,Nam-Hyung Kim 한국동물생명공학회(구 한국동물번식학회) 2014 Reproductive & Developmental Biology(Supplement) Vol.38 No.2s

In meiosis, Emi2 plays important role as CSF (Cytostatic Factor) to make the oocyte arrested in mII stage by the inhibition of APC/C (anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome). Once the oocyte fertilized, Emi2 was destabilized and degraded. For the degradation of Emi2, calcium signaling activate calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) and phosphorylate emi2. Phosphorylated emi2 is recognized by polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) and further degradated by ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. But recognition of Plk1 and emi2 is unknown. In this works, we determined the high-resolution crystal structure of polo-box domain of Plk1 and phosphorylated emi2 peptide at 1.90Å. Determined structure revealed that several unique features, including binding of Phe169 in the tyrosin-rich hydrophobic pocket. This is the first report of crystallization that Plk1-emi2 complex. Based on the complex structure, we designed the peptide analogs which pontentially inhibits recognition of Emi2 by Plk1 and assessed its biological activity in oocyte maturation and pathernogenetic activation. Injection of AB103-8, the inhibitor of Plk1 Polo-box domain, in mouse oocytes, induced the maturation arrest in GV stage and the delay in mII parthenogenetic activation. Further investigations of the mechanism that Plk1 involved into the Emi2 mII arrest are underway.

A heat shock protein 70 protects the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) against high-temperature stress

Chen Nan,Tan Jia-Yu,Wang Ying,Qi Ming-Hui,Peng Jiang-Nan,Chen De-Xin,Liu Su,Li Mao-Ye 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are encoded by Hsp genes and are important in insect tolerance to heat stress. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is an important agricultural pest. The functions of Hsp genes in the thermal tolerance of M. persicae are unknown. This study identified an Hsp70 gene (MpHsp70a) and analyzed its role in protection against high-temperature stress. MpHsp70a encoded a protein consisting of 659 amino acid residues. The protein had three signature motifs of the HSP70 family and was predicted to be localized in the cytoplasm. The highest expression level of MpHsp70a was in adults, and differences in the mRNA levels between apterous and alate adults were not significant. Exposure to high temperatures (30, 35 and 40 ◦ C) for one hour and treatment with 40 ◦ C for different times (0.5, 1 and 2 h) all resulted in a greatly elevated expression level of MpHsp70a, suggesting that the gene is heat-inducible. The transcriptional level of MpHsp70a was suppressed by injection with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), and knockdown of MpHsp70a significantly increased the suscep tibility of apterous adults to 40 ◦ C. These results indicate that MpHsp70a is required for tolerance to hightemperature stress in M. persicae. Our findings highlight the molecular mechanism underlying Hsp70-mediated thermal adaptation in M. persicae.

Ginsenoside Rh2 reduces depression in offspring of mice with maternal toxoplasma infection during pregnancy by inhibiting microglial activation via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway

Xiang Xu,Yu-Nan Lu,Jia-Hui Cheng,Hui-Wen Lan,Jing-Mei Lu,Guang-Nan Jin,Guang-Hua Xu,Cheng-Hua Jin,Juan Ma,Hu-Nan Piao,Xuejun Jin,Lian-Xun Piao 고려인삼학회 2022 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.46 No.1

Background: Maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during pregnancy has been associated with various mental illnesses in the offspring. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a major bioactive compound obtained from ginseng that has an anti-T. gondii effect and attenuates microglial activation through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway. GRh2 also alleviated tumor-associated or lipopolysaccharide-induced depression. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of GRh2 on depression-like behavior in mouse offspring caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy have not been investigated. Methods: We examined GRh2 effects on the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring, caused by maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy, by measuring depression-like behaviors and assaying parameters at the neuronal and molecular level. Results: We showed that GRh2 significantly improved behavioral measures: sucrose consumption, forced swim time and tail suspended immobility time of their offspring. These corresponded with increased tissue concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine, and attenuated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase or enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the prefrontal cortex. GRh2 ameliorated neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex. Molecular docking results revealed that GRh2 binds strongly to both TLR4 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GRh2 ameliorated the depression-like behavior in mouse offspring of maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy by attenuating the excessive activation of microglia and neuroinflammation through the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway. It suggests that GRh2 could be considered a potential therapy in preventing and treating psychiatric disorders in the offspring mice of mothers with prenatal exposure to T. gondii infection.

Effect of Light with Different Wavelengths on Nostoc flagelliforme Cells in Liquid Culture

( Yu Jie Dai ),( Jing Li ),( Shu Mei Wei ),( Nan Chen ),( Yu Peng Xiao ),( Zhi Lei Tan ),( Shi Ru Jia ),( Nan Nan Yuan ),( Ning Tan ),( Yi Jie Song ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.4

The effects of lights with different wavelengths on the growth and the yield of extracellular polysaccharides of Nostoc flagelliforme cells were investigated in a liquid cultivation. N. flagelliforme cells were cultured for 16 days in 500 ml conical flasks containing BG11 culture medium under 27 μmol·m-2·s-1 of light intensity and 25oC on a rotary shaker (140 rpm). The chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycoerythrin contents in N. flagelliforme cells under the lights of different wavelengths were also measured. It was found that the cell biomass and the yield of polysaccharide changed with different wavelengths of light. The biomass and the yield of extracellular polysaccharides under the red or violet light were higher than those under other light colors. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin are the main pigments in N. flagelliforme cells. The results showed that N. flagelliforme, like other cyanobacteria, has the ability of adjusting the contents and relative ratio of its pigments with the light quality. As a conclusion, N. flagelliforme cells favor red and violet lights and perform the complementary chromatic adaptation ability to acclimate to the changes of the light quality in the environment.

Experimental study on aerodynamic characteristics of conductors covered with crescent-shaped ice

Jia-xiang Li,Xing Fu,Hong-nan Li 한국풍공학회 2019 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.29 No.4

Conductor galloping is a common disaster for the transmission lines. Among the existing analytical methods, the wind tunnel test is highlighted as the most effective approach to obtain the aerodynamic coefficients. In this paper, the aerodynamic coefficients of 12 conductor models covered with the crescent-shaped ice, which were fabricated considering the surface roughness of the iced conductor, were obtained based on the wind tunnel test. The influence of the Reynolds number and the shape parameter β, defined as the ratio of ice thickness to the diameter, were investigated. In addition, the effect of surface roughness of the iced conductor was discussed. Subsequently, unsteady areas of conductor galloping were calculated according to the Den Hartog criterion and the Nigol criterion. The results indicate that the aerodynamic coefficients of iced conductors change sharply at the attack angles of 20° and 170° with the increase of β. The surface roughness of iced conductors changed the range of attack angle, which was influenced by the increase of the Reynolds number. The experimental results can provide insights for preventing and controlling galloping.

2-Hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone from Hedyotis diffusa Willd induces apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells through modulation of MAPK pathways

Nan Wang,Dong-Yang Li,Hui-Yan Niu,Yi Zhang,Ping He,Jia-He Wang 대한약학회 2013 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.36 No.6

The herb of Hedyotis diffusa Willd (H. diffusaWilld), an annual herb distributed in northeastern Asia, hasbeen known as a traditional orientalmedicine for the treatmentof cancer. Recently, Chinese researchers have discovered thattwo anthraquinones isolated from a water extract of H. diffusaWilld showed apoptosis-inducing effects against cancer cells. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsiblefor this phenomenon are poorly understood. The current studydetermines the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) in human leukemic U937 cells apoptosis inducedby 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone from H. diffusa. Ourresults showed that 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone decreasedphosphorylation-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), and increasedp-p38MAPK, but did not affect expressions of p-JNK1/2 inU937 cells. Moreover, treatment of U937 cells with2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone resulted in activation ofcaspase-3. Furthermore, PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor)significantly enhanced 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinoneinducedapoptosis in U937 cells, whereas caspase-3 inhibitoror SB203580 (p-p38MAPK inhibitor), decreased apoptosis inU937 cells. Taken together, our study for the first time suggeststhat 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone is able toenhance apoptosis of U937 cells, at least in part, throughactivation of p-p38MAPK and downregulation of p-ERK1/2. Moreover, the triggering of caspase-3 activation mediatedapoptotic induction.

Involvement of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Pathway in β1 Integrin-Mediated Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Jia-He Wang,Ke Zhang,Nan Wang,Xiao-Min Qiu,Yi-Bing Wang,Ping He 한국미생물학회 2013 The journal of microbiology Vol.51 No.5

The invasion of Staphylococcus aureus into alveolar epithelial cells is regarded as the key step for S. aureus lung infection. However, the mechanism of internalization of S. aureus by alveolar epithelial cells is not clear, and was the aim of this investigation Human lung adenocarcinomic epithelial cells and A549 cells were used. Human β1 integrin and rat β1 integrin were detected by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. The expressions of β1 integrin, Akt and p-Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. To further investigate the role of β1 integrin in S. aureus internalization by alveolar epithelial cells, we next performed siRNA-mediated knockdown of β1 integrin expression. In this study, we found that S. aureus invades human alveolar epithelial cells and rat primary alveolar epithelial cells. The β1 integrin ligand competitive inhibitor, GRGDS-peptide, blocked the internalization of S. aureus by A549 cells. Knockdown of β1integrin also inhibited the internalization of S. aureus. In addition, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in alveolar epithelial cells was activated by the infection with S. aureus. Furthermore, Akt phosphorylation was abolished by transient transfection with β1 integrin siRNA in A549 cells challenged with S. aureus. Our results suggest that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in β1 integrin-mediated internalization of S. aureus by alveolar epithelial cells.

New neo-lignan from Acanthopanax senticosus with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity

Jia Lin Li,Na Li,Shan-Shan Xing,Nan Zhang,BanBan Li,JianGuang Chen,안종석,Long Cui 대한약학회 2017 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.40 No.11

New neo-lignan, (7S, 8R)-3-hydroxyl-4-methoxyl-balanophonin (1), together with seven known compounds(2–8)were isolated fromthe EtOAc-soluble extract ofAcanthopanax senticosus. The structure of the newneo-lignanwas elucidated with spectroscopic and physico-chemicalanalyses. All the isolates were evaluated for in vitro inhibitoryactivity against PTP1B, VHR and PP1. Among them, the newcompound (1) was found to exhibit selective inhibitoryactivity on PTP1B with IC50 value 15.2 ± 1.4 lM.