Ginsenoside F2 enhances glucose metabolism by modulating insulin signal transduction in human hepatocarcinoma cells

Shengqiang Han,Long You,Yeye Hu,Tingwu Liu,Jae Youl Cho,Weicheng Hu,Shuai Wei The Korean Society of Ginseng 2023 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.47 No.3

Background: Ginsenoside F2 (GF2), a minor component of Panax ginseng, has been reported to possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities. However, its effects on glucose metabolism have not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the underlying signaling pathways involved in its effects on hepatic glucose. Methods: HepG2 cells were used to establish insulin-resistant (IR) model and treated with GF2. Cell viability and glucose uptake-related genes were also examined by real-time PCR and immunoblots. Results: Cell viability assays showed that GF2 up to 50 μM did not affect normal and IR-HepG2 cell viability. GF2 reduced oxidative stress by inhibiting phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling components such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 MAPK, and reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, GF2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, upregulated the levels of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) and GLUT-4 in IR-HepG2 cells, and promoted glucose absorption. At the same time, GF2 reduced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase expression as well as inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: Overall, GF2 improved glucose metabolism disorders by reducing cellular oxidative stress in IR-HepG2 cells via MAPK signaling, participating in the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway, promoting glycogen synthesis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis.

A Novel Self-Healing Polyurethane with High Transparency and Strength: Effects of Multiple Supermolecular Forces

Yuan Liu,Yanmei Liao,Yintao Long,Yuxiang Qian,Shengqiang Nie,Yi Wang,Jia Zeng,Chunmei Zhang,Linbo Tian,Jun Luo 한국고분자학회 2022 폴리머 Vol.46 No.3

It is a considerable challenge for expanding the applications of self-healing polyurethane because of the dilemma in balancing its mechanical and self-healing properties. Herein, a series of self-healing polyurethane systems (PUT-x) with short-range ordered rigid aromatic structures were synthesized by simply adjusting two kinds of diisocyanates, and by ingenious addition of aromatic chain extender. We hope to regulate the π-π interactions and further to manipulate the properties of obtained polyurethanes via adjusting the amount of the benzene rings in the molecular chains of the PUT-x systems. The PUT-5 with decent self-healing ability, optimal mechanical properties, acceptable thermal stability and favorable transparency was selected to incorporate liquid metal and fluorescent powder to fabricate conductive wire and anti-counterfeiting film. Significantly, the liquid metal could be recycled from the conductive wire conveniently without using strong acids or strong bases. Moreover, PUT-5 exemplarily withstood long-term soaking in normal saline, and no deformation could be identified.

BIFURCATIONS OF A PREDATOR-PREY SYSTEM WITH WEAK ALLEE EFFECTS

Lin, Rongzhen,Liu, Shengqiang,Lai, Xiaohong Korean Mathematical Society 2013 대한수학회지 Vol.50 No.4

We formulate and study a predator-prey model with non-monotonic functional response type and weak Allee effects on the prey, which extends the system studied by Ruan and Xiao in [Global analysis in a predator-prey system with nonmonotonic functional response, SIAM J. Appl. Math. 61 (2001), no. 4, 1445-1472] but containing an extra term describing weak Allee effects on the prey. We obtain the global dynamics of the model by combining the global qualitative and bifurcation analysis. Our bifurcation analysis of the model indicates that it exhibits numerous kinds of bifurcation phenomena, including the saddle-node bifurcation, the supercritical and the subcritical Hopf bifurcations, and the homoclinic bifurcation, as the values of parameters vary. In the generic case, the model has the bifurcation of cusp type of codimension 2 (i.e., Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation).

Bifurcations of a predator-prey system with weak Allee effects

Rongzhen Lin,Shengqiang Liu,Xiaohong Lai 대한수학회 2013 대한수학회지 Vol.50 No.4

We formulate and study a predator-prey model with non-monotonic functional response type and weak Allee effects on the prey,which extends the system studied by Ruan and Xiao in [Global analysisin a predator-prey system with nonmonotonic functional response, SIAMJ. Appl. Math. 61 (2001), no. 4, 1445–1472] but containing an extraterm describing weak Allee effects on the prey. We obtain the global dy-namics of the model by combining the global qualitative and bifurcationanalysis. Our bifurcation analysis of the model indicates that it exhibitsnumerous kinds of bifurcation phenomena, including the saddle-node bi-furcation, the supercritical and the subcritical Hopf bifurcations, and thehomoclinic bifurcation, as the values of parameters vary. In the genericcase, the model has the bifurcation of cusp type of codimension 2 (i.e.,Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation).

Transcriptome reveals genes involving in black skin color formation of ducks

Lei Wang,Hehe Liu,Bo Hu,Jiwei Hu,Hengyong Xu,Hua He,Chunchun Han,Bo Kang,Lili Bai,Rongping Zhang,Jiwen Wang,Shengqiang Hu,Liang Li 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.2

Background Skin color is colorful for birds, which has been reported to be associated with multi-biological functions, such as crypsis, camoufage, social signaling and mate choice, but little is known about its underlying molecular mechanism. Objective Studies on the major genes afecting the black skin color of ducks. Methods For this purpose, Silver ammonia staining and RNA-seq analysis were carried out to identify the diferences in tissue morphology and gene expressions between black and yellow skin ducks. Results The silver ammonia dyes slice results showed that in the development of black duck, the content of melanin in black skin gradually increased and then decreased, and the content of melanin in yellow and black skin was signifcantly diferent. Through transcriptome, a total of 102 and 84 diferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identifed in beak skin and web skin, respectively. These DEGs were enriched in melanin biosynthesis and play a critical role in melanogenesis pathway. Co-expression analysis showed that EDNRB2 was the only gene associated with black skin color in DEGs, which was also consistent with qRT-PCR. Conclusions The melanin synthesis pathway dominated by EDNRB2 up-regulated the amount of melanin synthesis, leading to the formation of black skin in ducks.

Preparation and characterization of flaky FeSiAl composite magnetic powder core coated with MnZn ferrite

Zhen Wang,Xiansong Liu,Xucai Kan,Ruiwei Zhu,Wei Yang,Qiuyue Wu,Shengqiang Zhou 한국물리학회 2019 Current Applied Physics Vol.19 No.8

The flattening of FeSiAl soft magnetic powder was achieved by ball milling process, and MnZn/FeSiAl composite magnetic powder core was prepared by press molding. The effect of different coating amount of MnZn ferrite on the soft magnetic properties of FeSiAl was studied. At the same time, the optimal stress-relieving annealing temperature of the composite magnetic powder core is revealed. The results showed that the addition of MnZn ferrite affected the magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization (Ms), initial permeability (μi) and power loss (Pcm) of FeSiAl soft magnetic. With the increase of MnZn ferrite addition content, the saturation magnetization of composites decreased gradually, and the magnetic permeability increased first and then decreased, and the loss decreased first and then increased. When the addition content of MnZn ferrite was 5%, the permeability reached the maximum, which was 28.1% higher than that of the pure FeSiAl magnetic powder core under the same conditions. At the same time, the loss was the lowest, which was 13.3% lower than the pure FeSiAl powder core under the same conditions. When the annealing temperature is around 650 °C, the magnetic powder core has the largest magnetic permeability and the lowest loss.