Functional roles and mechanisms of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng in atherosclerosis

Qianqian Xue,Ningning He,Zhibin Wang,Xiuxiu Fu,Lynn Htet Htet Aung,Yan Liu,Min Li,Jae Youl Cho,Yanyan Yang,Tao Yu 고려인삼학회 2021 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.45 No.1

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

Protective effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg2 on atherosclerosis

Qianqian Xue,Tao Yu,Zhibin Wang,Xiuxiu Fu,Xiaoxin Li,Lu Zou,Min Li,Jae Youl Cho,Yanyan Yang The Korean Society of Ginseng 2023 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.47 No.2

Background: Ginsenoside Rg2 (Rg2) has a variety of pharmacological activities and provides benefits during inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. However, there are no reports about the relationship between Rg2 and atherosclerosis. Methods: We used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to detect the cell viability of Rg2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression of inflammatory factors in HUVECs and the expression of phenotypic transformation-related marker in VSMCs were detected at mRNA levels. Western blot method was used to detect the expression of inflammation pathways and the expression of phenotypic transformation at the protein levels. The rat carotid balloon injury model was performed to explore the effect of Rg2 on inflammation and phenotypic transformation in vivo. Results: Rg2 decreased the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide in HUVECs-without affecting cell viability. These events depend on the blocking regulation of NF-κB and p-ERK signaling pathway. In VSMCs, Rg2 can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs induced by platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-which may contribute to its anti-atherosclerotic role. In rats with carotid balloon injury, Rg2 can reduce intimal proliferation after injury, regulate the inflammatory pathway to reduce inflammatory response, and also suppress the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. Conclusion: These results suggest that Rg2 can exert its anti-atherosclerotic effect at the cellular level and animal level, which provides a more sufficient basis for ginseng as a functional dietary regulator.

The deubiquitinating enzyme STAMBP is a newly discovered driver of triple-negative breast cancer progression that maintains RAI14 protein stability

Yang Qianqian,Yan Ding,Zou Chaoying,Xue Qian,Lin Shuhui,Huang Qingtian,Li Xiaofen,Tang Daolin,Chen Xin,Liu Jinbao 생화학분자생물학회 2022 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.54 No.-

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous malignancy in women. It is associated with poor prognosis, aggressive malignant behavior, and limited treatment options. In the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), deubiquitinases (DUBs) are potential therapeutic targets for various tumors. In this study, by performing unbiased siRNA screening, we identified STAMBP, a JAMM metalloprotease in the DUB family, as a driver of human TNBC tumor growth. Functionally, the knockdown of STAMBP inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of multiple TNBC cell lines. Immunoprecipitation–mass spectrometry combined with functional and morphological analysis verified the interaction between STAMBP and the actin-binding protein RAI14. Mechanistically, STAMBP stabilized the RAI14 protein by suppressing the K48-linked ubiquitination of RAI14 and thus prevented its proteasomal degradation. Therefore, knocking down STAMBP resulted in the reduction in RAI14 protein levels and suppression of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, high levels of STAMBP were correlated with poor prognosis in TNBC patients. In summary, we reveal a previously unrecognized DUB pathway that promotes TNBC progression and provides a rationale for potential therapeutic interventions for the treatment of TNBC.

Economic Production of Probiotics from Kitchen Waste

Chunhua Yin,Xue Dong,Le Lv,Zhi-Guo Wang,Qianqian Xu,Xiaolu Liu,Hai Yan 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.suppl1

In the present work, a novel treatment method of kitchen waste for economic production of probiotics was investigated. This required the selection of suitable probiotic microorganisms. Based on the pure cultures of probiotic strains for the fermentation kitchen waste, 5 strains of microorganisms including 1 strain of Lactobacillus, 2strains of Bacillus, and 2 strains of yeast were selected,respectively. These probiotic microorganisms were mixed at the same ratio and cultured using the kitchen waste as culture medium at pH of 7.2 and temperature of 37oC. After 24 h, the total count of the viable cells reached 2.24×1010 CFU/g, which was higher than that obtained in any single probiotic strain pure culture. It was found that the presence of yeasts and Bacillus species enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus strain. Bench scale experiments were also done in a self-designed rotating drum type bioreactor. The experimental results indicate that there is a good possibility of utilizing kitchen waste for the economic production of probiotics.

Cloning and Biochemical Characterization of a Hyaluronate Lyase from Bacillus sp. CQMU-D

Wang Lu,Liu Qianqian,Gong Xue,Jian Wenwen,Cui Yihong,Jia Qianying,Zhang Jibei,Zhang Yi,Guo Yanan,Lu He,Tu Zeng 한국미생물·생명공학회 2023 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.33 No.2

Hyaluronidase (HAase) can enhance drug diffusion and dissipate edema by degrading hyaluronic acid (HA) in the extracellular matrix into unsaturated HA oligosaccharides in mammalian tissues. Microorganisms are recognized as valuable sources of HAase. In this study, a new hyaluronate lyase (HAaseD) from Bacillus sp. CQMU-D was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, purified, and characterized. The results showed that HAaseD belonged to the polysaccharide lyase (PL) 8 family and had a molecular weight of 123 kDa. HAaseD could degrade chondroitin sulfate (CS) -A, CS-B, CSC, and HA, with the highest activity toward HA. The optimum temperature and pH value of HAaseD were 40°C and 7.0, respectively. In addition, HAaseD retained stability in an alkaline environment and displayed higher activity with appropriate concentrations of metal ions. Moreover, HAaseD was an endolytic hyaluronate lyase that could degrade HA to produce unsaturated HA oligosaccharides. Together, our findings indicate that HAaseD from Bacillus sp. CQMU-D is a new hyaluronate lyase and with excellent potential for application in industrial production.

Molecular Dynamics Study of Polyisoprene-polystyrene Composites: Spatial Complementary Behaviour

Xu Liu,Shuai Leng,Qianqian Zhang,Yongbing Xue 한국고분자학회 2020 폴리머 Vol.44 No.6

Various additives have been applied to adjust the properties of rubber in the tire industry. As an important environmental waste, plastic is a potential additive to be added to rubber to blend aiming at forming abrasive and deformation resistance elastomers. However, the molecular details remain unclear, especially for their assembly structure. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we have studied the assembly structures and processes of polyisoprene and polystyrene complex, focusing on the spatial complementary behavior. The simulation results indicate that polyisoprene and polystyrene can form tight entangled structure. The polyisoprene can adjust their conformations to fill up the cavity generated from polystyrene self-aggregation. The formed cross-linked and spatial polystyrene complementary structures can improve the plasticity and abrasive resistance, which is superiority in tire design. Our results provide an important understanding of the rubber application and tire industry and give a possible idea to deal with abandoned plastics.