Proline rich-39 (PR-39) antimicrobial protein alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in piglets by altering intestinal flora associated bile acid metabolism and in turn regulating TGR-5/NF-κB/MLCK/MLC pathway.

Proline rich-39 (PR-39) is a natural antimicrobial protein with good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The miniature Wuzhishan pig (WZSP) has important similarities to humans in anatomical structure, physiological characteristics, and nutrient metabolism that make it an important model animal for biomedical research. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and therapeutic mechanism of PR-39 on intestinal barrier function using the LPS-induced enteritis model in WZSPs.

Potential effects and mechanism of flavonoids extract of Callicarpa nudiflora Hook on DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Callicarpa nudiflora Hook (C. nudiflora) is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hemostatic ethnomedicine. To date, little has been reported regarding the activity of C.

3-Acyl-4-Pyranone as a Lysine Residue-Selective Bioconjugation Reagent for Peptide and Protein Modification.

Chemoselective protein modification plays extremely important roles in various biological, medical, and pharmaceutical investigations. Mimicking the mechanism of the chemoselective reaction between natural azaphilones and primary amines, this work successfully simplified the azaphilone scaffold into much simpler 3-acyl-4-pyranones. Examinations confirmed that these slim-size mimics perfectly kept the unique reactivity for selective conjugation with the primary amines including lysine residues of peptides and proteins.

Effect of the Pseudopleuronectes americanus-derived Pleurocidin on DSS-induced Ulcerative colitis in mice and its preliminary molecular mechanisms.

Pleurocidin is an antimicrobial peptide derived from the mucous membranes of the skin or intestinal secretions of Pseudopleuronectes americanus that has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Ulcerative colitis is recognized as a widespread human disease that may be influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Evidence emphasizes the critical role of the gut microbiota in UC.

Oral administration of LfcinB alleviates DSS-induced colitis by improving the intestinal barrier and microbiota.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that often recurs and is difficult to cure, and no drugs with few side effects are available to treat this disease. LfcinB is a small molecular peptide obtained by the hydrolysis of bovine lactoferrin in the digestive tract of animals. It has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.

The antimicrobial peptide Abaecin alleviates colitis in mice by regulating inflammatory signaling pathways and intestinal microbial composition.

Abaecin is a natural antimicrobial peptide (AMP) rich in proline from bees. It is an important part of the innate humoral immunity of bees and has broad-spectrum antibacterial ability. This study aimed to determine the effect of Abaecin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) -induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice and to explore its related mechanisms.

Regulation of the intestinal flora using polysaccharides from Callicarpa nudiflora Hook to alleviate ulcerative colitis and the molecular mechanisms involved.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that cannot be completely cured by current treatments. C. nudiflora Hook has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic biological functions; however, the therapeutic role of C.

Porcine-derived antimicrobial peptide PR39 alleviates DSS-induced colitis via the NF-κB/MAPK pathway.

PR39 is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with a variety of biological functions, including antimicrobial, wound healing, leukocyte chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation; however, its therapeutic efficacy in colitis (IBD) has rarely been reported. For this reason, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of PR39 on IBD and its underlying mechanisms. In this experiment, a mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced with 3 % dextran sulfate (DSS) and administered by rectal injection of PR39.

Effect of purple sweet potato-derived anthocyanins on heat stress response in Wenchang chickens and preliminary mechanism study.

This study was conducted to investigate the beneficial effect of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPA) on growth performance, oxidative status, immune response, intestinal morphology, and intestinal flora homeostasis in heat-stressed Wenchang chickens. A total of 100 Wenchang chickens (50-day-old) were randomly assigned to 5 groups, including the thermoneutral environment (TN) group (26°C); high-temperature stressed (HS) group (33°C ± 1°C); low-dose PSPA treatment (L_HS) group (8 mg/kg body weight, 33°C ± 1°C); medium-dose PSPA treatment (M_HS) group and high-dose PSPA treatment (H_HS) group (16 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg body weight, respectively, 33°C ± 1°C). The results showed that PSPA reversed the adverse effects of heat stress on growth performance, meat quality, and carcass characteristics.

Effects of the Vitamin D3 on Alleviating the Oxidative Stress Induced by Diquat in Wenchang Chickens.

Vitamin D (VD) is an indispensable micronutrient in livestock and poultry feed. Its function in antioxidant stress has been reported. We investigate whether the addition of different concentrations of VD to the diet affects the production performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, organ index, and gut injury on the diquat (DQ)-induced model of oxidative stress in Wenchang chickens.

Discovery of Novel -Hydroxy-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-formamides as ASM Direct Inhibitors for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis.

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), which regulates sphingolipid metabolism and lipid signaling, has been considered as a new potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis. In this study, a series of benzene-heterocyclic-based ASM inhibitors were rationally designed, synthesized, and screened for the first time. As a result, some compounds showed favorable inhibitory activity against recombinant human ASM.

Human cathelicidin LL-37 exerts amelioration effects against EHEC O157:H7 infection regarding inflammation, enteric dysbacteriosis, and impairment of gut barrier function.

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 infection impairs intestinal barrier function, causing intestinal inflammation and enteric dysbacteriosis. The human cathelicidin LL-37 can regulate excessive inflammatory responses, barrier function, and balance the intestinal microbial community; however, little is known about its effects on inflammation, intestinal barrier function, and microbiota disorders in EHEC O157:H7-infected mice. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of LL-37 against EHEC O157:H7 infection and elucidated the underlying mechanism using a mouse model.

Advances in Research on the Toxicological Effects of Selenium.

Selenium is a trace element necessary for the growth of organisms. Moreover, selenium supplementation can improve the immunity and fertility of the body, as well as its ability to resist oxidation, tumors, heavy metals, and pathogenic microorganisms. However, owing to the duality of selenium, excessive selenium supplementation can cause certain toxic effects on the growth and development of the body and may even result in death in severe cases.

Discovery of Potent, Selective, and Direct Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibitors with Antidepressant Activity.

Recent studies on sphingolipids suggest that acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), which plays a central role in the pathogenesis of major depression, is emerging to be a novel target for developing antidepressants. Herein we first described the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of hydroxamic acid-based direct inhibitors of ASM with the effort of validating their antidepressant effects . As a result, a series of novel ASM inhibitors were developed using a structure-based approach.

Discovery of N-hydroxy-3-alkoxybenzamides as direct acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors using a ligand-based pharmacophore model.

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) has been shown to be involved in many physiological processes, emerging to be a promising drug target. In this study, we constructed a ligand-based pharmacophore model of ASM inhibitors and applied this model to optimize the lead compound α-mangostin, a known inhibitor of ASM. 23 compounds were designed and evaluated in vitro for ASM inhibition, of these, 10 compounds were found to be more potent than α-mangostin.