摘要: Objectives Nodakenin (NK) is a coumarin glucoside that is found in the roots of Angelicae gigas. A limited number of studies have been conducted on the pharmacological activities of NK. Although NK is an important natural resource having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, no investigation has been conducted to examine the effects of NK on obesity and obesity-induced inflammation. Materials and Methods The present study investigated the therapeutic effects of NK treatment on obesity and its complications, and its mechanism of action using differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Oil red O staining, western blot assay, qRT-PCR assay, siRNA transfection, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, molecular docking and immunofluorescence staining were utilized. Results Treatment with NK demonstrated anti-adipogenesis effects via the regulation of adipogenic transcription factors and genes associated with triglyceride synthesis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compared with the control group, the group administered NK showed a suppression in weight gain, dyslipidaemia and the development of fatty liver in HFD-induced obese mice. In addition, NK administration inhibited adipogenic differentiation and obesity-induced inflammation and oxidative stress via the suppression of the VLDLR and MEK/ERK1/2 pathways. This is the first study that has documented the interaction between NK and VLDLR structure. Conclusion These results demonstrate the potential of NK as a natural product-based therapeutic candidate for the treatment of obesity and its complications by targeting adipogenesis and adipose tissue inflammation-associated markers.

摘要: Objectives Large bone defects are a common, debilitating clinical condition that have substantial global health and economic burden. Bone tissue engineering technology has become one of the most promising approaches for regenerating defective bones. In this study, we fabricated a naringin-inlaid composite silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite (NG/SF/HAp) scaffold to repair bone defects. Materials and Methods The salt-leaching technology was used to fabricate the NG/SF/HAp scaffold. The cytocompatibility of the NG/SF/HAp scaffold was assessed using scanning electron microscopy, live/dead cell staining and phalloidin staining. The osteogenic and angiogenic properties were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Results The porous NG/SF/HAp scaffold had a well-designed biomimetic porous structure with osteoinductive and angiogenic activities. A gene microarray identified 854 differentially expressed genes between human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) cultured on SF-nHAp scaffolds and cells cultured on NG/SF/HAp scaffolds. The underlying osteoblastic mechanism was investigated using hUCMSCs in vitro. Naringin facilitated hUCMSC ingrowth into the SF/HAp scaffold and promoted osteogenic differentiation. The osteogenic and angiogenic capabilities of cells cultured in the NG/SF/HAp scaffold were superior to those of cells cultured in the SF/HAp scaffold. Conclusions The data indicate the potential of the SF/HAp composite scaffold incorporating naringin for bone regeneration.

摘要: Objectives Vitronectin (VTN) has been widely used for the maintenance and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) as feeder-free conditions. However, the effect of VTN on hPSC differentiation remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of VTN in early haematopoietic development of hPSCs. Materials and Methods A chemically defined monolayer system was applied to study the role of different matrix or basement membrane proteins in haematopoietic development of hPSCs. The role of integrin signalling in VTN-mediated haematopoietic differentiation was investigated by integrin antagonists. Finally, small interfering RNA was used to knock down integrin gene expression in differentiated cells. Results We found that the haematopoietic differentiation of hPSCs on VTN was far more efficient than that on Matrigel that is also often used for hPSC culture. VTN promoted the fate determination of endothelial-haematopoietic lineage during mesoderm development to generate haemogenic endothelium (HE). Moreover, we demonstrated that the signals through alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrins were required for VTN-promoted haematopoietic differentiation. Blocking alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrins by the integrin antagonists impaired the development of HE, but not endothelial-to-haematopoietic transition (EHT). Finally, both alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 were confirmed acting synergistically for early haematopoietic differentiation by knockdown the expression of alpha v, beta 3 or beta 5. Conclusion The established VTN-based monolayer system of haematopoietic differentiation of hPSCs presents a valuable platform for further investigating niche signals involved in human haematopoietic development.

摘要: Objectives: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) actively directs endogenous cell homing. Exendin-4 (EX-4) promotes stem cell osteogenic differentiation. Studies revealed that EX-4 strengthened SDF-1-mediated stem cell migration. However, the effects of SDF-1 and EX-4 on periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and bone regeneration have not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy on PDLSCs in vitro and periodontal bone regeneration in vivo. Methods: Cell-counting kit-8 (CCK8), transwell assay, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to determine the effects and mechanism of SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy on PDLSCs in vitro. A rat periodontal bone defect model was developed to evaluate the effects of topical application of SDF-1 and systemic injection of EX-4 on endogenous cell recruitment, osteoclastogenesis and bone regeneration in vivo. Results: SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy had additive effects on PDLSC proliferation, migration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineral deposition and osteogenesis-related gene expression compared to SDF-1 or EX-4 in vitro. Pretreatment with ERK inhibitor U0126 blocked SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy induced ERK signal activation and PDLSC proliferation. SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy significantly promoted new bone formation, recruited more CXCR4(+) cells and CD90(+)/CD34(-) stromal cells to the defects, enhanced early-stage osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis-related markers expression in regenerated bone compared to control, SDF-1 or EX-4 in vivo. Conclusions: SDF-1/EX-4 cotherapy synergistically regulated PDLSC activities, promoted periodontal bone formation, thereby providing a new strategy for periodontal bone regeneration.

摘要: Background In mammals, early pregnancy is a critical vulnerable period during which complications may arise, including pregnancy failure. Establishment of a maternal endometrial acceptance phenotype is a prerequisite for semiheterogeneous embryo implantation, comprising the rate-limiting step of early pregnancy. Methods Confocal fluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blot for nuclear and cytoplasmic protein were used to examine the activation of yes-associated protein (YAP) in uterine tissue and primary endometrial cells. The target binding between miR16a and YAP was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The mouse pregnancy model and pseudopregnancy model were used to investigate the role of YAP in the maternal uterus during early pregnancy in vivo. Results We showed that YAP translocates into the nucleus in the endometrium of cattle and mice during early pregnancy. Mechanistically, YAP acts as a mediator of ECM rigidity and cell density, which requires the actomyosin cytoskeleton and is partially dependent on the Hippo pathway. Furthermore, we found that the soluble factor IFN tau, which is a ruminant pregnancy recognition factor, also induced activation of YAP by reducing the expression of miR-16a. Conclusions This study revealed that activation of YAP is necessary for early pregnancy in bovines because it induced cell proliferation and established an immunosuppressive local environment that allowed conceptus implantation into the uterine epithelium.