Acacetin inhibits Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence by targeting pneumolysin.

Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is an important commensal and pathogenic bacterium responsible for pneumonia, meningitis and other invasive diseases. Pneumolysin (PLY) is the major virulence factor that contributes significantly to the interaction between S.

Quercetin, a pneumolysin inhibitor, protects mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Pneumolysin (PLY), a pore-forming cytotoxin and a major virulence determinant, is a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family and essential for promoting Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) infection. Due to the action characteristics of hemolysin itself, the pneumolysin released after killing bacteria with conventional antibiotics still has the ability to damage host cells; therefore, drug treatments directly inhibiting hemolysin activity are the most effective.

Licochalcone A Protects the Blood-Milk Barrier Integrity and Relieves the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced Mastitis.

Mastitis is an acute clinical inflammatory response. The occurrence and development of mastitis seriously disturb women's physical and mental health. Licochalcone A, a phenolic compound in , has anti-inflammatory properties.

Hmgb3 Induces the Differentiation of Uterine Stromal Cells Through Targeting Ptn.

Uterine decidualization is crucial for placenta formation and pregnancy maintenance. Although previous studies have reported that high mobility group box 3 (Hmgb3) is involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation, little is known regarding its physiological role in uterine decidualization. Here, in situ hybridization result exhibited a dynamic expression pattern of Hmgb3 messenger RNA (mRNA) during early gestation, and it was mainly localized to the decidua on days 6 to 8 of gestation.

Valproic acid exposure decreases the mRNA stability of Bcl-2 via up-regulating miR-34a in the cerebellum of rat.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, limited verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Previous studies have shown that the level of Bcl-2 in the brain tissues of ASD patients is significantly decreased. However, the mechanisms underlie the down-regulation of Bcl-2 in ASD is still unknown.

Valproic acid exposure sequentially activates Wnt and mTOR pathways in rats.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, limited verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Recent studies have demonstrated that Wnt signaling and mTOR signaling play important roles in the pathogenesis of ASD. However, the relationship of these two signaling pathways in ASD remains unclear.

Influence of Dietary Copper on Serum Growth-Related Hormone Levels and Growth Performance of Weanling Pigs.

To investigate the effect of dietary copper on serum growth-related hormones levels and growth performance, a total of 60 weanling pigs were randomly assigned to six groups each containing 10 pigs, fed on basal diets supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mg/kg copper sulfate for 80 days, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG), feed to gain ratio (F/G), feed intake and serum growth hormone (GH), insulin (INS), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels were detected at interval of 20 days. The results revealed that ADG, and serum GH, INS, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 concentrations were increased significantly in the pigs fed on diets added with 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mg/kg copper sulfate.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) in the hypothalamus of Huoyan goose during different stages of the egg-laying cycle.

Neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) is one of the most active members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family, which bind to the ErbB tyrosine kinase receptor and play many roles in modulation of synaptic activity, synaptogenesis, GABAergic neurotransmission, neurotransmitter receptor expression and the hormonal control of neuroendocrine reproductive development. In this study, we cloned and characterized the cDNA of goose Nrg1 originating from hypothalamus tissues of Huoyan goose using RACE method, investigated the mRNA expression profiles during different stages of the egg-laying cycle by real-time PCR. Multiple alignments and phylogenetic analyses of the deduced amino acid sequence were conducted using bioinformatics tools.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) in the hypothalamus of the Huoyan goose during different stages of the egg-laying cycle.

Background: Adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) are novel endocrine systems that act at various levels to regulate metabolic homeostasis and reproductive processes. We cloned and characterized the cDNA of adiponectin and its receptors from the hypothalamus of the Huoyan goose to reveal the influence of these factors on the process of goose egg-laying. We also determined the mRNA and protein expression profiles during different stages of the egg-laying cycle.

GLP-2 suppresses LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages by inhibiting ERK phosphorylation and NF-κB activation.

Background/aims: GLP-2 has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remained undefined. As macrophages are important in the development and maintenance of inflammation, we investigated whether exogenous GLP-2 modulates the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins in LPS stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages.

Methods: Macrophages were pretreated with various concentrations of GLP-2 for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS.