The Arabidopsis heterotrimeric G protein α subunit binds to and inhibits the inward rectifying potassium channel KAT1.

In animal cells, Gα subunit of the heterotrimeric G proteins can bind to both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K channels (GIRKs) to inhibit their activities. In Arabidopsis guard cells, the Gα subunit GPA1 mediates multiple stimuli-regulated stomatal movements via inhibiting guard cell inward-rectifying K (K) current, but it remains unclear whether GPA1 directly interacts with and inhibits the activities of K channels. Here, we found that GPA1 interacted with the transmembrane domain rather than the intracellular domain of the Shaker family K channel KAT1.

Gβγ dimers mediate low K stress-inhibited root growth via modulating auxin redistribution in Arabidopsis.

In the investigation of heterotrimeric G protein-mediated signal transduction in planta, their roles in the transmittance of low K stimuli remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that the primary root growth of wild-type Arabidopsis was gradually inhibited with the decrease of external K concentrations, while the primary root of the mutants for G protein β subunit AGB1 and γ subunits AGG1, AGG2 and AGG3 could still grow under low K conditions (LK). Exogenous NAA application attenuated primary root elongation in agb1 and agg1/2/3 but promoted the growth in wild-type seedlings under LK stress.

Microglia through MFG-E8 signaling decrease the density of degenerating neurons and protect the brain from the development of cortical infarction after stroke.

Neuronal loss is a hallmark of stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases, and as such, neuronal loss caused by microglia has been thought to be a contributing factor to disease progression. Here, we show that microglia indeed contribute significantly to neuronal loss in a mouse model of stroke, but this microglial-dependent process of neuronal clearance specifically targets stressed and degenerating neurons in the ischemic cortical region and not healthy non-ischemic neurons. Nonspecific stimulation of microglia decreased the density of neurons in the ischemic cortical region, whereas specific inhibition of MFG-E8 signaling, which is required for microglial phagocytosis of neurons, had the opposite effect.

Chronic Visual Stimulation with LED Light Flickering at 24, 40, or 80 Hz Failed to Reduce Amyloid β Load in the 5XFAD Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model.

A single 1-h session (or 7 d of daily 1-h sessions) of noninvasive visual stimulation with LED light flickering at 40 Hz, but not at 20 or 80 Hz, was reported to increase microglial size and decrease amyloid β (Aβ) load in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. To achieve better therapeutic benefits, we explored the effects of daily 1-h sessions of visual stimulation with continuous light or LED light flickering at 24, 40, or 80 Hz for a period of five weeks in 5xFAD mice. As expected, 33-week-old 5xFAD mice but not control wild-type mice of the same age exhibited an abundance of swollen microglia and Aβ plaques in the visual cortex and hippocampus.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Improves Parkinson's Disease by Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis via the SIRT-1/PGC-1α Pathway.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been suggested as a potential adjunctive therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The aim of this study was to investigate the protective mechanisms of HBOT on neurons and motor function in a 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP)-mediated neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells on the potential protective capability.

Association between metabolic parameters and risks of anemia and electrolyte disturbances among stages 3-5 chronic kidney disease patients in Taiwan.

Background: Anemia and electrolyte disturbances are adverse outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study explored the association between metabolic parameters with anemia and electrolyte and mineral disorders among CKD patients in Taiwan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study with a total of 2176 CKD stages 3-5 patients were collected from the Department of Nephrology at Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University through the "Chronic Kidney Disease Common Care Network" database from December 2008 to April 2019.

Citric Acid in Drug Formulations Causes Pain by Potentiating Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1.

Pain at the injection site is a common complaint of patients receiving therapeutic formulations containing citric acid. Despite the widely acknowledged role of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in acid-related perception, the specific ASIC subtype mediating pain caused by subcutaneous acid injection and the mechanism by which citrate affects this process are less clear. Here, male mice subjected to intraplantar acid injection responded by executing a withdrawal reflex, and this response was abolished by ASIC1 but not ASIC2 knockout.

Association of Nutrition Education and Its Interaction with Lifestyle Factors on Kidney Function Parameters and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Taiwan.

We evaluated the interactive effects of nutrition education (NE) and lifestyle factors on kidney function parameters and cardiovascular risk factors among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This cross-sectional cohort study recruited 2176 CKD stages 3-5 patients aged > 20 years from Integrated Chronic Kidney Disease Care Network, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taiwan between December 2008 and April 2019. The multivariable regression analysis was performed to investigate the interactive effects of NE with lifestyle factors on kidney function parameters and cardiovascular risk factors.

Intraocular pressure-lowering effect of mycelia extract in a glaucoma rat model.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. This study evaluates the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by mycelia extract in a steroid-induced rat model of glaucoma. mycelia is a well-known and valued traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

MiR-743a-5p regulates differentiation of myoblast by targeting in skeletal muscle development and regeneration.

The microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating myogenesis by targeting mRNA. However, the understanding of miRNAs in skeletal muscle development and diseases is unclear. In this study, we firstly performed the transcriptome profiling in differentiating C2C12 myoblast cells.

Native expression of ASIC1a and ASIC1b human homologues in the HEK 293 cell line allows pharmacological evaluation of analgesics targeting acid sensation in humans.

Nociceptors arising from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) express acid-sensing ion channel-1 (ASIC1) subtypes to mediate the perception of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and as such, these receptors are attractive targets for the development of analgesics for these painful conditions. Nevertheless, given that the human and rodent DRG differ considerably in subtype proportions of ASIC1 and that the pharmacological properties of rodent ASIC1 subtypes and their human homologues are distinct, ASIC1 inhibitors that demonstrate analgesic properties in rodents may not necessarily be effective in preventing pain in humans. In this study, we show that human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, which are routinely used as a cellular vehicle for the heterologous expression and pharmacological characterization of receptors and ion channels, natively transcribe the human homologues of ASIC1a and ASIC1b at similar proportions to those found in the human DRG.

The cytotoxic mechanism of epigallocatechin gallate on proliferative HaCaT keratinocytes.

Background: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the major ingredient of sinecatechins ointment, approved for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts. However, the molecular mechanism for EGCG's effect on warts resulting from the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of keratinocytes is not well understood. HPV may survive in proliferative keratinocytes and may be involved in cell cycle regulation and progression.

Adenosine receptor agonist NECA increases cerebral extravasation of fluorescein and low molecular weight dextran independent of blood-brain barrier modulation.

Conventional methods for therapeutic blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption facilitate drug delivery but are cumbersome to perform. A previous study demonstrated that adenosine receptor (AR) stimulation by 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) increased the extravasation of intravascular tracers into the brain and proposed that AR agonism may be an effective method for therapeutic BBB disruption. We attempted to confirm the extravasation of tracers into the brain and also investigated tracer extravasation into peripheral organs and tracer retention in the blood.

Association of estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms with human precocious puberty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aims to estimate the association between ESR1 polymorphisms (PvuII and XbaI) and ESR2 polymorphisms (RsaI and AluI) with precocious puberty. Relevant studies published before March 2014 were retrieved by a electronic search among nine databases. Meta-analysis of the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated.

School lunch, policy, and environment are determinants for preventing childhood obesity: Evidence from a two-year nationwide prospective study.

To explore the effects of the school lunches related factors on student obesity rates. In this 2-year prospective census, we collected data on the obesity rate in 2007 and 2008 and school lunch data for 2007 from the Student Health Examination and School Health Profile Database. We used geographic information system software to collect spatial environmental data.