Periostracum Cicadae exhibits immunosuppressive effects on dendritic cells and contact hypersensitivity responses.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Periostracum Cicadae (PC), the molted exoskeleton of the cicada Cryptotympana pustulata Fabricius, is frequently employed in Chinese herbal medicine. Based on traditional therapies and pharmacological studies, PC appears to have immunomodulatory activity. However, the specific impact of PC on immunomodulation, particularly its effect on dendritic cells (DCs), remains unknown.

Immunotoxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Characterizations of Prenylated Flavonoids-The Lipophilic 7--Terpenylated Wogonin.

Wogonin, one of the exceptional bioactive flavonoids found abundant in the roots of Huang-Qin ( Georgi), is a popular health-preserving Chinese medicine. The therapeutic applications can be expanded by improving its bioavailability. The 7--terpenylated wogonin consisting one to three prenyl units are chemically synthesized for increasing lipophilic nature for efficient uptake, and also an attempt in mimicry of naturally scarce terpenylated flavonoids found in limited plant families and bee propolis.

Renoprotective Effect of GKA4 on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Mitigating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Regulating the MAPK, AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT Pathways.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) describes a sudden loss of kidney function and is associated with a high mortality. is a potent producer of bacteriocin and inhibits the growth of pathogens during fermentation and food storage; it has been used in the food industry for many years. In this study, the potential of GKA4 (GKA4) to ameliorate AKI was investigated using a cisplatin-induced animal model.

GKM3 Promotes Longevity, Memory Retention, and Reduces Brain Oxidation Stress in SAMP8 Mice.

(1) Background: An age-related cognitive decline is commonly affecting the life of elderly with symptoms involved in progressive impairments to memory and learning. It has been proposed that probiotics could modulate age-related neurological disorders via the gut-brain axis. (2) Methods: To investigate the anti-aging effect of probiotic GKM3, both survival tests and cognitive experiments were conducted in the SAMP8 mice model.

An Examination of GKS6 and GKK2 Isolated from Infant Feces in an Aged Mouse Model.

Supplementary which could maintain normal physiological mechanisms and functions while aging has drawn our attention due to the population aging in recent years. Probiotics have been believed with desirable properties such as antioxidation and anti-inflammatory for delaying the aging process. However, the age-related experiments conducted in the mammalian models with probiotics were few.

plantarum GKM3 and Lactobacillus paracasei GKS6 Supplementation Ameliorates Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Mice by Promoting Osteoblast Differentiation and Inhibiting Osteoclast Formation.

Osteoporosis, an imbalance in the bone-forming process mediated by osteoblasts and the bone-resorbing function mediated by osteoclasts, is a bone degenerative disease prevalent among the aged population. Due to deleterious side effects of currently available medications, probiotics as a potential treatment of osteoporosis is an appealing approach. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the beneficial effects of two novel Lacobacilli strain probiotics on bone health in ovariectomized (OVX) induced osteoporotic mice model and its underlying mechanisms.

Author Correction: Jdp2-deficient granule cell progenitors in the cerebellum are resistant to ROS-mediated apoptosis through xCT/Slc7a11 activation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Jdp2-deficient granule cell progenitors in the cerebellum are resistant to ROS-mediated apoptosis through xCT/Slc7a11 activation.

The Jun dimerization protein 2 (Jdp2) is expressed predominantly in granule cell progenitors (GCPs) in the cerebellum, as was shown in Jdp2-promoter-Cre transgenic mice. Cerebellum of Jdp2-knockout (KO) mice contains lower number of Atoh-1 positive GCPs than WT. Primary cultures of GCPs from Jdp2-KO mice at postnatal day 5 were more resistant to apoptosis than GCPs from wild-type mice.

Progerin in muscle leads to thermogenic and metabolic defects via impaired calcium homeostasis.

Mutations in lamin A (LMNA) are responsible for a variety of human dystrophic and metabolic diseases. Here, we created a mouse model in which progerin, the lamin A mutant protein that causes Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), can be inducibly overexpressed. Muscle-specific overexpression of progerin was sufficient to induce muscular dystrophy and alter whole-body energy expenditure, leading to premature death.

Prognostic Value of in Localised Prostate Cancer.

Cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens are cell surface markers used to differentiate haematopoietic cell types. These antigens are present in various malignancies and are reportedly linked to patient prognosis; however, they have not been implemented as prostate cancer progression markers. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of genetic variation in haematopoietic cell CD markers on clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer.

Protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum against chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in the murine model.

Long-term alcohol consumption causes liver injuries such as alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, and endotoxemia. Some probiotics were demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract. The present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995 against alcohol-induced liver injury.

Cordyceps cicadae mycelia and its active compound HEA exert beneficial effects on blood glucose in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

Background: This is the first study to investigate the therapeutic effects of Cordyceps cicadae (C. cicadae) mycelia and its active compound N -(2-hydroxyethyl)adenosine (HEA) on blood glucose in genetically diabetic mice.

Results: Forty mice, 9 weeks of age, were divided into normal control, diabetic control, and three C.

Design and synthesis of BPR1K653 derivatives targeting the back pocket of Aurora kinases for selective isoform inhibition.

Twenty five novel chemical analogs of the previously reported Aurora kinase inhibitor BPR1K653 (1-(4-(2-((5-chloro-6-phenylfuro[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)ethyl)phenyl)-3-(2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)urea) have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated by Aurora-A and Aurora-B enzymatic kinase activity assays. Similar to BPR1K653, analogs 3b-3h bear alkyl or tertiary amino group at the ortho position of the phenylurea, and showed equal or better inhibition activity for Aurora-B over Aurora-A. Conversely, preferential Aurora-A inhibition activity was observed when the same functional group was moved to the meta position of the phenylurea.

Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelium Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects through Modulating BDNF/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling in Mice.

Antidepressant-like effects of ethanolic extract of (HE) mycelium enriched in erinacine A on depressive mice challenged by repeated restraint stress (RS) were examined. HE at 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg body weight/day was orally given to mice for four weeks. After two weeks of HE administration, all mice except the control group went through with 14 days of RS protocol.

Reprogramming Antagonizes the Oncogenicity of HOXA13-Long Noncoding RNA HOTTIP Axis in Gastric Cancer Cells.

Reprogramming of cancer cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a compelling idea for inhibiting oncogenesis, especially through modulation of homeobox proteins in this reprogramming process. We examined the role of various long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)-homeobox protein HOXA13 axis on the switching of the oncogenic function of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), which is significantly lost in the gastric cancer cell derived iPS-like cells (iPSLCs). BMP7 promoter activation occurred through the corecruitment of HOXA13, mixed-lineage leukemia 1 lysine N-methyltransferase, WD repeat-containing protein 5, and lncRNA HoxA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) to commit the epigenetic changes to the trimethylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 in cancer cells.

Activation of transforming growth factor-β1 by thrombin via integrins αvβ1, αvβ3, and αvβ5 in buccal fibroblasts: Suppression by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Thrombin is a key player in tissue repair, inflammation, and fibrosis after injury.

Methods: Effects of thrombin on activated-TGF-β1 levels, Smad3 phosphorylation, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) synthesis in primary human buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or Western blot analysis.

Dysregulated interactions between lamin A and SUN1 induce abnormalities in the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum in progeric laminopathies.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a human progeroid disease caused by a point mutation on the LMNA gene. We reported previously that the accumulation of the nuclear envelope protein SUN1 contributes to HGPS nuclear aberrancies. However, the mechanism by which interactions between mutant lamin A (also known as progerin or LAΔ50) and SUN1 produce HGPS cellular phenotypes requires further elucidation.

NSC746364, a G-quadruplex-stabilizing agent, suppresses cell growth of A549 human lung cancer cells through activation of the ATR/Chk1-dependent pathway.

The telomere is considered to be a potential target for cancer therapy. NSC746364, a novel G-quadruplex-stabilizing agent, has been found to have cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. To date, its pharmacological mechanisms are still unknown.

Elucidating the inhibitory mechanisms of the ethanolic extract of the fruiting body of the mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea on the proliferation and migration of murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells and their tumorigenicity in a BALB/c allograft tumor model.

The aim of this study was to explore whether the ethanolic extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (EEAC), a medical mushroom form Taiwan, could affect the proliferation and migration of WEHI-3 cells in vitro and to explore the antitumor effects of EEAC in BALB/c mice engrafted with WEHI-3 cells. The results showed that EEAC inhibited the proliferation of WEHI-3 cells, resulting in the accumulation of cell in G0/G1 and G2/M phases, as determined by flow cytometry. Moreover, EEAC markedly reduced the migration of WEHI-3 cells, as determined by a transwell assay.