polysaccharides suppress excessive melanogenesis via JNK-mediated pathway: Investigation in 8- methoxypsoralen induced B16-F10 melanoma cells and clinical study.

Skin hyperpigmentation is a worldwide condition associated with augmented melanogenesis. However, conventional therapies often entail various adverse effects. Here, we explore the safety range and depigmentary effects of polysaccharides extract of (PETM) in an model and further evaluated its efficacy at the clinical level.

Rhizoma Paridis saponins attenuate Gram-negative bacteria-induced inflammatory acne by binding to KEAP1 and modulating Nrf2 and MAPK pathways.

Acne vulgaris represents a chronic inflammatory condition, the pathogenesis of which is closely associated with the altered skin microbiome. Recent studies have implicated a profound role of Gram-negative bacteria in acne development, but there is a lack of antiacne agents targeting these bacteria. Polyphyllins are major components of Rhizoma Paridis with great anti-inflammatory potential.

Analyzing the cellular and molecular atlas of ovarian mesenchymal cells provides a strategy against female reproductive aging.

Ovarian mesenchymal cells (oMCs) constitute a distinct microenvironment that supports folliculogenesis under physiological conditions. Supplementation of exogenous non-ovarian mesenchymal-related cells has been reported to be an efficient approach to improve ovarian functions. However, the development and cellular and molecular characteristics of endogenous oMCs remain largely unexplored.

SRSF2 in Sertoli cells is essential for testicular development and spermatogenesis in mice.

Sertoli cells are essential for testis development and normal spermatogenesis by providing support and nutrients. Pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) processing is the basic mechanism required for gene expression, and members of the serine/arginine-rich protein (SR) family are key components of the machines that perform these basic processing events. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) is an important member of the SR family; however, the physiological functions of SRSF2 in Sertoli cells are still unclear.

SRSF1 regulates primordial follicle formation and number determination during meiotic prophase I.

Background: Ovarian folliculogenesis is a tightly regulated process leading to the formation of functional oocytes and involving successive quality control mechanisms that monitor chromosomal DNA integrity and meiotic recombination. A number of factors and mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in folliculogenesis and associated with premature ovarian insufficiency, including abnormal alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1; previously SF2/ASF) is a pivotal posttranscriptional regulator of gene expression in various biological processes.

Quantification of pharmacokinetic profiles of a recombinant canine PD-1 fusion protein by validated sandwich ELISA method.

Tumors are becoming a serious threat to the quality of life of human and dogs. Studies have shown that tumors have caused more than half of the deaths in older dogs. Similar to human, dogs will develop various and highly heterogeneous tumors, but there are currently no viable therapies for them.

Intracellular CircRNA imaging and signal amplification strategy based on the graphene oxide-DNA system.

CircRNA is a type of covalently closed circular RNA molecule that serves as a potential biomarker for the disease early diagnosis and clinical researches. To achieve living cell imaging of specific circRNA, we developed a novel graphene oxide (GO)-based catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) signal dual amplification system (GO-CHA-HCR, abbreviated GO-AR) for circ-Foxo3 imaging in living cells. The developed system consists of four types of designed hairpin DNA HP1, HP2, H1, and fluorophore-labeled H2, which are absorbed on the GO nanosheets surface leading to fluorescence quenching.

Adipose tissues of MPC1 mice display altered lipid metabolism-related enzyme expression levels.

Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) is a component of the MPC1/MPC2 heterodimer that facilitates the transport of pyruvate into mitochondria. Pyruvate plays a central role in carbohydrate, fatty, and amino acid catabolism. The present study examined epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and intrascapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) from MPC1 mice following 24 weeks of feeding, which indicated low energy accumulation as evidenced by low body and eWAT weight and adipocyte volume.

Mitigation of cell apoptosis induced by ochratoxin A (OTA) is possibly through organic cation transport 2 (OCT2) knockout.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite of fungi such as Aspergillus ochraceus, A. niger and A. carbonarius, Penicillium verrucosum, and various other Penicillium, Petromyces, and Neopetromyces species.

Amitriptyline plays important roles in modifying the ovarian morphology and improving its functions in rats with estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovary.

Previous studies demonstrated that depression is more prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, we aimed to determine whether amitriptyline (AMT), an antidepressant drug, plays a role in preventing PCOS. The results showed that AMT modified ovarian morphology improved the ovarian functions and estrus cycle in estradiol valerate (EV)-induced polycystic ovary (PCO).

Myricetin-induced brown adipose tissue activation prevents obesity and insulin resistance in db/db mice.

Purpose: Myricetin, a dietary flavonoid, is effective in the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance by increasing glucose transport and lipogenesis in adipocyte and diminishing systemic inflammation in obesity. However, it has not been revealed yet whether myricetin is associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation that tightly mediates systemic energy metabolism. Therefore, this study assessed whether myricetin activated brown adipose tissue in db/db mouse.

Limited Link between Oxidative Stress and Ochratoxin A-Induced Renal Injury in an Acute Toxicity Rat Model.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) displays nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. However, in the acute toxicity rat model, there is no evidence on the relationship between OTA and nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Based on this, the integrated analysis of physiological status, damage biomarkers, oxidative stress, and DNA damage were performed.

MiR-122 partly mediates the ochratoxin A-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin which has been shown to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and immunotoxic to animals, and mainly exists in the mildew grain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. However, the toxic effects of OTA on the germ cell and whether miRNAs mediate the effects of OTA-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis are still not clear.

plays an important role in ochratoxin A-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and .

OTA can induce hepatotoxicity. Our previous research has shown that miRNAs play important roles in the OTA-induced hepatotoxicity. And is the most abundant miRNA in the liver and is involved in diverse biological processes.

Mitochondrial proteomic analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive toxicity of zearalenone in MLTC-1 cells.

Zearalenone (ZEA), a Fusarium mycotoxin that contaminates cereal crops worldwide, has been shown to affect the male reproductive system and trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the mechanisms of its toxicity have not been fully understood. Because mitochondrion is a key organelle involved in producing ROS and generating metabolic intermediates for biosynthesis, an iTRAQ-based mitoproteomics approach was employed to identify the molecular mechanism of zearalenone toxicity using mitochondria of mouse Leydig tumor cells (MLTC-1).

Analysis of individual and combined effects of ochratoxin A and zearalenone on HepG2 and KK-1 cells with mathematical models.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Zearalenone (ZEA) are widespread mycotoxins that contaminate foodstuffs simultaneously, but sufficient data regarding their mixed toxicities are lacking. This study aims to analyze the style of combined effects of OTA and ZEA on cells of their target organs. For this purpose, cytotoxicity was determined in HepG2 and KK-1 cells treated with single and combined forms of OTA and ZEA.

Prostaglandin F2α upregulates Slit/Robo expression in mouse corpus luteum during luteolysis.

Prostaglandin F2 α (PGF2 α) is a key factor in the triggering of the regression of the corpus luteum (CL). Furthermore, it has been reported that Slit/Robo signaling is involved in the regulation of luteolysis. However, the interactions between PGF2 α and Slit/Robo in the progression of luteolysis remain to be established.

LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Isl-1 mediates the effect of leptin on insulin secretion in mice.

In addition to the well known regulating effects of leptin on energy balance and glucose homeostasis through the central nervous system, circulating leptin has a direct effect on pancreatic islet and insulin secretion through its receptor (OBRb). The LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Isl-1 is expressed in all classes of pancreatic endocrine cells and is involved in regulating both islet development and insulin secretion. Both OBRb and Isl-1 mutations result in obesity-related diabetes.

MicroRNA 375 mediates the signaling pathway of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) regulating pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) expression by targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase 8.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a common precursor of melanocortin-related peptides in the pituitary and primarily regulated by corticotropin- releasing factor (CRF). Our results show that miR-375 is highly expressed in the mouse pituitary gland and located specifically in the intermediate lobe of pituitary. The functional studies show that the forced inhibition of endogenous miR-375 in AtT-20 mouse pituitary tumor cells and in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland significantly increases POMC expression, whereas miR-375 overexpression down-regulates POMC expression and ACTH secretion stimulated by CRF.

miR-143 is critical for the formation of primordial follicles in mice.

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in fine-tuning gene networks, the roles of mmu-mir-143 (miR-143) in mammalian ovary development have not been studied in vitro. We investigated the expression and function of miR-143 in the mouse ovary during primordial follicle formation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that miR-143 expression increased during primordial follicle formation from 15.

MicroRNA-34c enhances murine male germ cell apoptosis through targeting ATF1.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in many cellular processes. The expression of miRNA (miR)-34c is highly enriched in adult mouse testis, but its roles and underlying mechanisms of action are not well understood.

Methodology/principal Findings: In the present study, we show that miR-34c is detected in mouse pachytene spermatocytes and continues to be highly expressed in spermatids.

Cell-specific distributions of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) in anterior pituitary glands from adult cockerels as revealed by immunohistochemistry.

Estrogens and androgens play important roles in regulating the hormone-secreting functions of the pituitary gland by binding to their corresponding receptors. However, the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and the androgen receptor (AR) and the cell types containing ERs and AR in the anterior pituitary gland of adult chickens have not been well-studied. In this study, the distribution of ERα, AR and their corresponding cell types in the anterior pituitary gland of adult cockerels was detected by immunohistochemistry.

LIM homeodomain transcription factor Isl-1 enhances follicle stimulating hormone-beta and luteinizing hormone-beta gene expression and mediates the activation of leptin on gonadotropin synthesis.

The Lin-11, Isl-1, and Mec-3 (LIM) homeodomain transcription factor Isl-1 has been reported to be involved in pituitary development in the early stages of mouse embryogenesis. Our recent studies have shown that Isl-1 is mainly located in the pituitary gonadotropes throughout pituitary development and persists to adulthood. We still do not know the physiological functions of Isl-1 expression and its related mechanisms in the pituitary gland.