Arsenic exposure induces small intestinal toxicity in mice by barrier damage and inflammation response via activating RhoA/ROCK and TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Numerous studies have shown that arsenic (As) is an important hazardous metalloid that is commonly considered to have systemic toxicity. The main pathway of arsenic exposure is oral; however, many of the events that occur during its passage through the gastrointestinal tract are unclear, and there are few reports on the effect of arsenic on small intestinal mucosal barrier. This study aimed to investigate arsenic-induced mucosal barrier damage in the small intestine of mice induced by oral exposure and its potential mechanisms.

Arsenic interferes with spermatogenesis involving Rictor/mTORC2-mediated blood-testis barrier disruption in mice.

Ingestion of arsenic interferes with spermatogenesis and increases the risk of male infertility, but the underlying mechanism remines unclear. In this study, we investigated spermatogenic injury with a focus on blood-testis barrier (BTB) disruption by administrating 5 mg/L and 15 mg/L arsenic orally to adult male mice for 60 d. Our results showed that arsenic exposure reduced sperm quality, altered testicular architecture, and impaired Sertoli cell junctions at the BTB.

Enhancement of drought tolerance in Arabidopsis plants induced by sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is a common air pollutant that has multiple effects on plants. In the present study, the improvement of drought tolerance in Arabidopsis plants by SO fumigation was investigated. The results showed that pre-exposure to 30 mg/m SO for 72 h could reduce water loss, stomatal conductance (Gs) and the transpiration rate (Tr) but increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), water use efficiency (iWUE) and photosynthetic pigment contents under drought conditions.

Arsenic intake-induced gastric toxicity is blocked by grape skin extract by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress in a mouse model.

Arsenic (As) is known to induce toxic responses in many organs of human beings and animals. However, research concerning toxicity in the stomach is limited. In this study, arsenic-induced gastric toxicity was investigated in a mouse model, and grape skin extract (GSE) was confirmed to have protective effects against arsenic toxicity.

Potential antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis isolated from a housefly.

Bacillus subtilis, a probiotic, has been applied in the medical, food, and feed industries among others. However, the mechanisms of its benefits to hosts are not yet fully understood. Here the characterization and bioactivities of an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis were investigated to reveal its partial mechanisms and provide the theoretical basics for further development and utilization of Bacillus subtilis.

An exopolysaccharide from Bacillus subtilis alleviates airway inflammatory responses via the NF-κB and STAT6 pathways in asthmatic mice.

Bacillus subtilis is an intestinal probiotic for immune homeostasis and its exopolysaccharide (EPS) is known to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the EPS (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

Sulfur dioxide-induced exacerbation of airway inflammation via reactive oxygen species production and the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway in asthmatic mice.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is a common air pollutant that can exacerbate asthmatic airway inflammation. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of SO exposure (10 mg/m) on asthmatic airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice.

Sulfur dioxide enhance drought tolerance of wheat seedlings through HS signaling.

Drought is one of the most common factors that limit plant growth and productivity. Sulfur dioxide (SO) has recently been found to play a benefical role in protection of plants against environmental stress. In this study, we investigated the effect of SO on the physiological and molecular response of wheat seedlings to drought stress.

Photosynthetic responses of Arabidopsis to SO were related to photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis gene expression and redox regulation.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is one of the most common and harmful air pollutants. High concentrations of SO can induce a series of defensive responses in Arabidopsis plants. However, the role of photosynthesis in the plant response to SO stress is not clear.

SO derivatives and As co-exposure promote liver cancer metastasis through integrin αvβ3 activation.

Arsenic (As) and sulfur dioxide (SO) are two environmental pollutants that have been shown to promote the development of human cancer. In recent years, due to increased pollution, humans are often exposed to SO, in addition to As. Despite the development and implementation of standards for environment and air quality, cases of disease caused by As or SO continue to rise alarmingly.

Enhanced drought tolerance of foxtail millet seedlings by sulfur dioxide fumigation.

Recently, sulfur dioxide (SO) has been considered to be a beneficial bio-regulator in animals. However, the positive roles of SO in plant adaptation to drought stress are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological and molecular changes that are induced by SO fumigation to improve the drought tolerance of foxtail millet seedlings.

Arsenic and sulfur dioxide co-exposure induce renal injury via activation of the NF-κB and caspase signaling pathway.

Although emerging evidence suggests positive association of arsenic (As) or sulfur dioxide (SO) exposure with human diseases, reports concerning the effects of co-exposure of As and SO are lacking. Moreover, there is insufficient information in the literature about As and SO co-exposure to renal injury. In this study, we focus on the environmental problems of excessive As and SO that co-exist in many coal consumption areas.

Long-term arsenite exposure induces testicular toxicity by redox imbalance, G2/M cell arrest and apoptosis in mice.

Inorganic arsenic (iAs), a ubiquitous element and a natural drinking water contaminant, has been found to impair male reproductive function. However, the effect of long-term exposure to arsenic on testis damage and its underlying mechanisms still require further evaluation. In the study, male C57BL/6 mice (4 weeks) were treated with sodium arsenite at the doses of 5 or 50 ppm arsenic via drinking water for 180 days.

Sulphur dioxide and arsenic affect male reproduction via interfering with spermatogenesis in mice.

As two potential environmental hazards, sulphur dioxide (SO) and arsenic have adverse effects on male reproduction, but the mechanism of which and their combined toxicity are not clear. In this study, we investigate male reproductive toxicity with a focus on spermatogenesis by treating mice with 5 mg/m SO and/or 5 mg/L arsenic. Our results showed that arsenic exposure caused significant decreases in water and food consumption and body weight in mice, whereas these changes were not observed in the SO-only group.

Reduced testosterone and Ddx3y expression caused by long-term exposure to arsenic and its effect on spermatogenesis in mice.

Arsenic (As) has been recognized as a cause of male reproductive toxicity. However, effects of long-term arsenic exposure (puberty-adult) on spermatogenesis, testosterone synthesis, and the expression of androgen binding protein (ABP) and Ddx3y remain unclear. The objective of this investigation was to explore these effects and the underlying mechanisms.

Aggravated gut inflammation in mice lacking the taste signaling protein α-gustducin.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating immune-related condition that affects over 1.4 million Americans. Recent studies indicate that taste receptor signaling is involved in much more than sensing food flavor, and taste receptors have been localized in a variety of extra-oral tissues.

Sulfur dioxide derivatives alleviate cadmium toxicity by enhancing antioxidant defence and reducing Cd uptake and translocation in foxtail millet seedlings.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) was recently proposed as a novel bio-regulator in mammals. However, the possible advantageous effects of SO in plant adaptation to heavy metal-contaminated environments are largely unknown. In the present study, using NaSO/NaHSO derivatives as SO donors, we investigated the possible roles and regulation mechanisms of SO in alleviating Cd toxicity in foxtail millet seedlings.

Sulfur dioxide exposure enhances Th2 inflammatory responses via activating STAT6 pathway in asthmatic mice.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is one of potential risk factors for induction and/or exacerbation of asthma, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the role of SO in asthma using a classical asthmatic model with allergic airway inflammation by treating C57BL/6 mice with ovalbumin (OVA) and/or 10 mg/m SO. Our results showed that SO exposure alone induced slight pathological changes but did not significantly increase inflammatory cell counts, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and mucus production in the airway of mice, whereas SO exposure in OVA-induced asthmatic mice caused marked pulmonary pathological changes and significantly increased the counts of eosinophil-rich leukocytes compared with OVA alone asthmatic mice.

Manure and mineral fertilization change enzyme activity and bacterial community in millet rhizosphere soils.

Fertilization is a key agricultural practice for increasing millet yields and influencing soil properties, enzyme activities and rhizosphere bacterial communities. High throughput Illumina sequencing of the 16S rDNA was applied to compare the bacterial community structures and diversities among six different soil samples. The experiments involved the following: no fertilizer (CK), phosphate (P) and potassium (K) plus organic manure (M) (PKM), nitrogen (N) and K plus M (NKM), NPM, NPK and NPKM fertilization.

[Research progress of ellagitannin intestinal metabolite urolithins].

Ellagitannins is a kind of phenolic compounds with many biological activities. Recent studies have found that the effective ingredients of these compounds have close relationship with their colon-derived bacteria metabolites, that is urolithins. The objective of this study was to review the structure characteristics, types and distribution of urolithins, improvement in diseases related to prostate, breast and colon, as well as anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and other biological activities.

Enhanced Arabidopsis disease resistance against Botrytis cinerea induced by sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is a common air pollutant that has complex impacts on plants. The effect of prior exposure to 30mgm SO on defence against Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) in Arabidopsis thaliana and the possible mechanisms of action were investigated.

miR398 and miR395 are involved in response to SO stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is a common air pollutant that has adverse effects on plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA that play critical roles in plant development and stress response. In this study, we found that two miRNAs, miR398 and miR395, were differentially expressed in Arabidopsis shoots under SO stress.

NO and HO contribute to SO toxicity via Ca signaling in Vicia faba guard cells.

NO and HO have been implicated as important signals in biotic and abiotic stress responses of plants to the environment. Previously, we have shown that SO exposure increased the levels of NO and HO in plant cells. We hypothesize that, as signaling molecules, NO and HO mediate SO-caused toxicity.

Reactive oxygen species and Ca are involved in cadmium-induced cell killing in yeast cells.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals. It is of great environmental concern and its toxicity has been investigated in a variety of cells. In this study, we elucidated the toxic effects of Cd in cells of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).