A Novel Herbal Extract Blend Product Prevents Particulate Matters-Induced Inflammation by Improving Gut Microbiota and Maintaining the Integrity of the Intestinal Barrier

Air pollutants of PM2.5 can alter the composition of gut microbiota and lead to inflammation in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a novel herbal extract blend, FC, composed of Lonicera japonica extract, Momordica grosvenori extract, and broccoli seed extract, on PM2.5-induced inflammation in the respiratory and intestinal tract. A549 cells and THP-1 cells, as well as C57BL/6 mice, were stimulated with PM2.5 to establish in vitro and in vivo exposure models. The models were treated with or without FC. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins were studied. Proteomic analysis was performed to elucidate mechanisms. Mouse feces were collected for gut microbiota analysis. FC was shown to modulate the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in A549 and THP-1 cells and downregulated tight junction proteins mRNA expression in A549 cells due to PM2.5 stimulation. In animal models, the decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor il-10, tight junction protein ZO-1, and the elevated expression of COX-2 induced by PM2.5 were improved by FC intervention, which may be associated with zo-1 and cox-2 signaling pathways. In addition, FC was shown to improve the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria.     

Molecular Analysis of Caprine Enterovirus Circulating in China during 2016–2021: Evolutionary Significance

Here, we report the characterization of 13 novel caprine/ovine enterovirus strains isolated from different regions in China during 2016–2021. Immunoperoxidase monolayer assay showed that these viral strains shared strong cross-reaction with the previously reported caprine enterovirus CEV-JL14. Alignment analysis of the complete nucleotide sequences revealed 79.2%–87.8% and 75.0%–76.7% sequence identity of these novel caprine enterovirus strains to CEV-JL14 and TB4-OEV, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses clustered these novel strains to EV-G based on the amino acid sequences of P1 and 2C+3CD. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis of these caprine enterovirus strains identified three new EV-G types using VP1 sequences. These results demonstrate the genetic variations and the evolution of caprine enterovirus.     

Lipopolysaccharide mouse models for Parkinson’s disease research: a critical appraisal

Parkinson’s disease, the most common movement disorder, has a strong neuroinflammatory aspect. This is evident by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum, and the presence of activated microglial cells, and inflammatory cytokines in the substantia nigra of post-mortem brains as well as cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson’s disease patients. The central and peripheral neuroinflammatory aspects of Parkinson’s disease can be investigated in vivo via administration of the inflammagen lipopolysaccharide, a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. In this mini-review, we will critically evaluate different routes of lipopolysaccharide administration (including intranasal systemic and stereotasic), their relevance to clinical Parkinson’s disease as well as the recent findings in lipopolysaccharide mouse models. We will also share our own experiences with systemic and intrastriatal lipopolysaccharide models in C57BL/6 mice and will discuss the usefulness of lipopolysaccharide mouse models for future research in the field.Key Words: C57BL/6 mice, intranasal models, lipopolysaccharide models, neuroinflammation, Parkinson’s disease, stereotaxic models, substantia nigra, systemic models     

黄芪沙参煎剂对博莱霉素诱导的大鼠肺纤维化模型的干预作用

目的：观察中药黄芪沙参煎剂对肺纤维化大鼠病理、肺泡灌洗液中细胞因子（TGF-β1）表达的影响,探讨黄芪沙参煎剂作用机制,为其临床治疗肺纤维化提供实验依据。方法：取体重190-210g的健康雌性SD大鼠90只,采用随机数字表随机分为6组,每组15只。博莱霉素（B组）、黄芪沙参煎剂高剂量组（H组）、中剂量组（M组）、低剂量组（L组）、强的松组（P组）、生理盐水组（N组）,各组大鼠于造模后第7、14和28天分别随机处死5只。行HE染色、Masson三色染色;右肺支气管肺泡灌洗,收集灌洗液（BALF）,用ELISA法测BALF上清液细胞因子TGF-β1的表达。结果：H组、M组、P组与B组早期肺泡炎和晚期肺纤维化程度比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;第7、14、28天P组、H组、M组的BALF中TGF-β1水平与Β组相比差异有显著统计学意义（Ρ〈0.01）。结论：黄芪沙参煎剂具有与强的松相似的疗效,但副反应小、服用方便,可以明显减少肺泡炎症及肺纤维化形成。黄芪沙参煎剂治疗肺纤维化机制可能与早期抑制炎症细胞浸润,减少炎症细胞分泌释放细胞因子TGF-β1,从而抑制成纤维细胞产生胶原和ECM积聚,起到对肺纤维化的治疗作用。     

活血解毒方对缺氧/复氧所致心肌细胞凋亡的影响＊

目的 研究活血解毒方对缺氧/复氧（H/R）所致的心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法 体外培养H9C2心肌细胞并分成正常对照组（Control组）、缺氧复氧组（H/R组）、H/R + 活血解毒中药组、LY294002组和活血解毒中药 + LY294002组，其中正常对照组给予DMEM培养基培养，缺氧复氧组给予缺氧4 h、复氧6 h处理，缺氧复氧 + 活血解毒中药组、LY294002组和活血解毒中药 + LY294002组分别给予活血解毒中药、LY294002、活血解毒中药配合LY294002预处理24 h，然后均给予缺氧4 h、复氧6 h处理。采用CCK8检测各组心肌细胞的存活率，流式细胞术检测各组细胞凋亡水平，电镜观察各组心肌细胞中线粒体、自噬体的变化，Western Blot检测各组细胞凋亡蛋白半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3（Caspase3）、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶3（Cleaved caspase3）、β-连环蛋白（β-Catenin）、p-p65、B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2，Bcl-2）蛋白的表达。结果 活血解毒方预处理显著增加H/R诱导的H9C2心肌细胞凋亡，降低凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved caspase3、β-Catenin、p-p65表达，增加Bcl-2表达。结论 活血解毒方可通过抑制细胞凋亡，降低缺氧/复氧所致的心肌细胞损伤，其作用机制可能与PI3K信号通路相关。     

驻景丸加减方对形觉剥夺性近视小鼠视网膜自噬的影响

目的:探讨驻景丸加减方对形觉剥夺性近视小鼠视网膜自噬的影响。方法:C57BL/6小鼠30只随机分为阴性对照组、近视模型组以及中药干预组,每组10只。除了阴性对照组外,近视模型组、中药干预组小鼠均使用半透明EP管遮盖右眼制成形觉剥夺性近视(FDM)模型;中药干预组灌胃驻景丸加减方混悬液0.546g/(kg·d)(0.15mL/d),阴性对照组、近视模型组灌胃等量生理盐水(0.15mL/d),共4wk。分别于实验开始、实验结束,使用带状检影镜测量小鼠右眼屈光度,A超测量小鼠右眼眼轴长度。实验结束时,取所有小鼠右眼进行检测,免疫荧光法定位和检测视网膜小胶质细胞标志物(Iba1)活性与迁移;透射电镜观察视网膜色素上皮细胞中自噬小体形成情况;Western Blot、实时荧光定量PCR(q-PCR)检测视网膜组织自噬标志物LC3Ⅱ和p62蛋白定量及基因表达情况。结果:实验结束时小鼠右眼屈光度示,近视模型组、中药干预组形成相对近视,近视模型组、中药干预组较阴性对照组显著降低(均P<0.01)。实验结束时,近视模型组、中药干预组眼轴长度较阴性对照组眼轴长度显著增加(P<0.01)。免疫荧...