Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate From Sea Cucumber Improves Glucose Metabolism and Activates Insulin Signaling in the Liver of Insulin-Resistant Mice

Shiwei Hu,Ying-Ying Tian,Yao-Guang Chang,Zhao-Jie Li,Chang-Hu Xue,Yu-Ming Wang 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.7

This study investigated the effects of fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (CHS) isolated from sea cucumber on glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in the liver of insulin-resistant C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFSD). Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into six groups: control; HFSD; 1mg RSG/kg$body weight (RSG); 80 mg CHS/kg$body weight (CHS); 20 mg CHS + 1mg RSG/kg$body weight (20 CHS + RSG); and 80 mg CHS + 1mg RSG/kg$body weight (80 CHS + RSG). Blood glucose, insulin parameters, glucose metabolism-related enzymes activities and insulin-signaling transducers in the liver were analyzed at 19 weeks. Results showed that CHS significantly decreased body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels in insulin-resistant mice. Rosiglitazone (RSG) is an effective thiazolidinedione hypoglycemic agent, and CHS synergistically enhanced the effect of RSG. CHS feeding normalized the activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and increased glycogen reserves in the liver. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that CHS promoted the mRNA expression of insulin receptors (IR), insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB), and glycogen synthase (GS) in the liver of insulin resistant mice, and inhibited glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3b) mRNA expression. The results suggested that CHS treatment improved glucose metabolism by modulating metabolic enzymes and promoting the PI3K/PKB/GSK-3b signaling pathway mediated by insulin at the transcriptional level. These results provided strong justification for the development of CHS as a functional food.

Deficiency of optineurin enhances osteoclast differentiation by attenuating the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response

Xue Peng,Hu Xiangxiang,Chang Emily,Wang Lufei,Chen Minghui,Wu Tai-Hsien,Lee Dong-Joon,Foster Brian L.,Tseng Henry C.,Ko Ching-Chang 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Abnormally increased resorption contributes to bone degenerative diseases such as Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) through unclear mechanisms. Recently, the optineurin (OPTN) gene has been implicated in PDB, and global OPTN knockout mice ( Optn −/− ) were shown to exhibit increased formation of osteoclasts (osteoclastogenesis). Growing evidence, including our own, has demonstrated that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulated by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) can act as signaling molecules to promote osteoclastogenesis. Here, we report that OPTN interacts with nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), the master regulator of the antioxidant response, defining a pathway through which RANKL-induced ROS could be regulated for osteoclastogenesis. In this study, monocytes from Optn −/− and wild-type ( Optn +/+ ) mice were utilized to differentiate into osteoclasts, and both qRT-PCR and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining showed that the Optn −/− monocytes exhibited enhanced osteoclastogenesis compared to the Optn +/+ cells. CellROX ® staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting indicated that OPTN deficiency reduced the basal expression of Nrf2 , inhibited the expression of NRF2-responsive antioxidants, and increased basal and RANKL-induced intracellular ROS levels, leading to enhanced osteoclastogenesis. Coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) showed direct interaction, and immunofluorescence staining showed perinuclear colocalization of the OPTN-NRF2 granular structures during differentiation. Finally, curcumin and the other NRF2 activators attenuated the hyperactive osteoclastogenesis induced by OPTN deficiency. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel OPTN-mediated mechanism for regulating the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response in osteoclasts and extend the therapeutic potential of OPTN in the aging process resulting from ROS-triggered oxidative stress, which is associated with PDB and many other degenerative diseases.

Experimental Investigation on the Flow and Drying Characteristics of a Vertical Impinging Stream Dryer

Xue Gong Hu,Deng Ying Liu,Chang Mei Zhang 대한기계학회 1998 Heat transter conference Vol.5 No.1

Compaction techniques and construction parameters of loess as filling material

Hu, Chang-Ming,Wang, Xue-Yan,Mei, Yuan,Yuan, Yi-Li,Zhang, Shan-Shan Techno-Press 2018 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.15 No.6

Loess often causes problems when used as a filling material in the construction of foundations. Therefore, the compaction technique, shear behavior, and bearing capacity of a filled foundation should be carefully considered. A series of tests was performed in this study to obtain effective compaction techniques and construction parameters. The results indicated that loess is strongly sensitive to water. Thus, the soil moisture content should be kept within 12%-14% when it is used as a filling material. The vibrating-dynamic combination compaction technique is effective and has fewer limitations than other methods. In addition, the shear strength of the compacted loess was found to increase linearly with the degree of compaction, and the soil's compressibility decreased rapidly with an increase in the degree of compaction when the degree of compaction was less than 95%. Finally, the characteristic value of the bearing capacity increased with an increase in the degree of compaction in a ladder-type way when the degree of compaction was within 92%-95%. Based on the test data, this paper could be used as a reference in the selection of construction designs in similar engineering projects.

Experimental study on deformation and strength property of compacted loess

Mei, Yuan,Hu, Chang-Ming,Yuan, Yi-Li,Wang, Xue-Yan,Zhao, Nan Techno-Press 2016 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.11 No.1

A series of experimental studies are conducted on the deformation and shear strength property of compacted loess. The results reveal that the relationships of both the initial moisture content (w) and the initial degree of compaction (K) of compacted loess with cohesion (w) and the angle of internal friction (${\varphi}$) are linear. The relationship between the secant modulus ($E_{soi}$) and K is also linear. The relationship between $E_{soi}$ and w can be fitted well by a second-order polynomial. Further, when the influences of w and K are ignored, the relationship between the confined compression strain (${\varepsilon}$) and vertical pressure (p) can be expressed by a formula. A correction formula for the deformation of compacted loess caused by a change in w and K is derived on the basis of the study results.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals B cell–related molecular biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease

Xiong Liu-Lin,Xue Lu-Lu,Du Ruo-Lan,Niu Rui-Ze,Chen Li,Chen Jie,Hu Qiao,Tan Ya-Xin,Shang Hui-Fang,Liu Jia,Yu Chang-Yin,Wang Ting-Hua 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

In recent years, biomarkers have been integrated into the diagnostic process and have become increasingly indispensable for obtaining knowledge of the neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in human blood have been reported to participate in a variety of neurodegenerative activities. Here, a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of PBMCs from 4 AD patients (2 in the early stage, 2 in the late stage) and 2 normal controls was performed to explore the differential cell subpopulations in PBMCs of AD patients. A significant decrease in B cells was detected in the blood of AD patients. Furthermore, we further examined PBMCs from 43 AD patients and 41 normal subjects by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and combined with correlation analysis, we found that the reduction in B cells was closely correlated with the patients’ Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores. To confirm the role of B cells in AD progression, functional experiments were performed in early-stage AD mice in which fibrous plaques were beginning to appear; the results demonstrated that B cell depletion in the early stage of AD markedly accelerated and aggravated cognitive dysfunction and augmented the Aβ burden in AD mice. Importantly, the experiments revealed 18 genes that were specifically upregulated and 7 genes that were specifically downregulated in B cells as the disease progressed, and several of these genes exhibited close correlation with AD. These findings identified possible B cell-based AD severity, which are anticipated to be conducive to the clinical identification of AD progression.

Nano La2O3 as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis by transesterification of Jatropha curcas L. oil

Quan Zhou,Song Yang,Heng Zhang,Fei Chang,Hu Li,Hu Pan,Wei Xue,De-Yu Hu 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.31 No.-

A comparative study on the activity of La2O3 and two kinds of nano La2O3 catalysts prepared usingsonochemical (nano La2O3-S) and hydrothermal methods in the transesterification to produce biodieselwas conducted. The relatively high activity of nano La2O3 catalysts may be ascribed to their high basestrength, large base amount, small particle size and large BET surface areas. Nano La2O3-S was selectedfor further optimisation due to its simple preparation procedure and short preparation time. The FAMEcontent and yield obtained were successively 97.6% and 90.3% under optimal conditions. Moreover, nanoLa2O3-S showed a remarkable tolerance to FFA.

Knocking Down Nucleolin Expression Enhances the Radiosensitivity of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Influencing DNA-PKcs Activity

Xu, Jian-Yu,Lu, Shan,Xu, Xiang-Ying,Hu, Song-Liu,Li, Bin,Qi, Rui-Xue,Chen, Lin,Chang, Joe Y. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Nucleolin (C23) is an important anti-apoptotic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in exponentially growing eukaryotic cells. In order to understand the impact of C23 in radiation therapy, we attempted to investigate the relationship of C23 expression with the radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. We investigated the role of C23 in activating the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs), which is a critical protein for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair. As a result, we found that the expression of C23 was negatively correlated with the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines. In vitro clonogenic survival assays revealed that C23 knockdown increased the radiosensitivity of a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, potentially through the promotion of radiation-induced apoptosis and adjusting the cell cycle to a more radiosensitive stage. Immunofluorescence data revealed an increasing quantity of ${gamma}$-H2AX foci and decreasing radiation-induced DNA damage repair following knockdown of C23. To further clarify the mechanism of C23 in DNA DSBs repair, we detected the expression of DNA-PKcs and C23 proteins in NSCLC cell lines. C23 might participate in DNA DSBs repair for the reason that the expression of DNA-PKcs decreased at 30, 60, 120 and 360 minutes after irradiation in C23 knockdown cells. Especially, the activity of DNA-PKcs phosphorylation sites at the S2056 and T2609 was significantly suppressed. Therefore we concluded that C23 knockdown can inhibit DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 sites, thus reducing the radiation damage repair and increasing the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. Taken together, the inhibition of C23 expression was shown to increase the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells, as implied by the relevance to the notably decreased DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 clusters. Further research on targeted C23 treatment may promote effectiveness of radiotherapy and provide new targets for NSCLC patients.

Effects of the Hippo Signaling Pathway in Human Gastric Cancer

Zhou, Guang-Xi,Li, Xiao-Yu,Zhang, Qi,Zhao, Kun,Zhang, Cui-Ping,Xue, Chang-Hu,Yang, Kun,Tian, Zi-Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Background/Aim: The Hippo signaling pathway is a newly discovered and conserved signaling cascade, which regulates organ size control by governing cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate its effects in human gastric cancer. Methods: Tumor tissues (n=60), adjacent non-tumor tissues (n=60) and normal tissues (n=60) were obtained from the same patients with primary gastric cancer (GC). In addition, 70 samples of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) tissues were obtained from patients with intestinal metaplasia (IM) by endoscopic biopsy. Hippo signaling molecules, including Mst1, Lats1, YAP1, TAZ, TEAD1, Oct4 and CDX2, were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Protein expression of Mst1, Lats1, YAP1, TEAD1 and CDX2 was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: Mst1, Lats1 and Oct4 mRNA expression showed an increasing tendency from GC tissues to normal gastric tissues, while the mRNA expression of YAP1, TAZ and TEAD1 was up-regulated (all P<0.01). Mst1 and Lats1 protein expression presented a similar trend with their mRNA expression. In addition, YAP1 and TEAD1 protein expression in GC was significantly higher than in the other groups (all P<0.01). CDX2 mRNA and protein expression in the CAG group were higher than in the other groups (all P<0.01). In GC, mRNA expression of Mst1, Lats1, Oct4, YAP1, TAZ, TEAD1 and CDX2 had a close correlation with lymphatic metastasis and tumor TNM stage (all P<0.01). Furthermore, protein expression of Mst1, Lats1, YAP1, TAZ, TEAD1 and CDX2 had a close correlation between each other (P<0.05). Conclusion: The Hippo signaling pathway is involved in the development, progression and metastasis of human gastric cancer. Therefore, manipulation of Hippo signaling molecules may be a potential therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.