Florfenicol-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Autophagy in Fibroblasts

Biotransformation and oxidative stress markers in yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus): Interactive impacts of microplastics and florfenicol

This study investigates the combined toxicity of microplastics (MPs) and florfenicol (FLO) on biotransformation enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver and kidney of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus). Fish were fed 15 mg kg-1 of FLO and 100 or 500 mg kg-1 of MPs for 10 days. Biomarkers, including ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonylation (PC), were measured in both organs at 1, 7, and 14 days post-exposure. FLO levels peaked on day 1 and declined after that. Liver biomarkers were more responsive to pollutants, with the combined exposure of FLO and MPs leading to more pronounced toxicity. By day 14, only the FLO group showed a return to baseline biomarker levels, while MDA and PC levels remained elevated in MPs and co-exposed groups. These findings highlight the importance of considering the interactive effects of multiple pollutants in addressing marine environmental stressors.

Syringin protects high glucose-induced BMSC injury, cell senescence, and osteoporosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling

BACKGROUND

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Syringin is a major ingredient of phenolic glycoside in Acanthopanax senticosus.

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to investigate whether Syringin could protect high glucose-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) injury, cell senescence, and osteoporosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

METHODS

BMSCs isolated from both the tibia and femur of mice were induced for osteogenesis. The cell senescence was induced using the high glucose medium. The cells were treated with 10 and 100 μmol/l Syringin. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to determine the β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) levels in differentially treated BMSCs. MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis were also performed to assess cell viability and cell cycle. The level of ROS in cells with different treatment was measured by using flow cytometry with DCF-DA staining. Calcium deposition and mineralized matrices were detected with alizarin red and ALP staining, respectively. Osteogenesis related genes OCN, ALP, Runx2, and BMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR. Levels of senescence-related proteins including p53 and p21, as well as JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Syringin treatment reversed the phenotypes of senescence caused by high glucose in BMSCs, including the arrest of G0/G1 cell cycle, enhanced SA-β-gal activity, and impaired cell growth. Syringin also decreased the elevated ROS production and the levels of p53, p21, and JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. In addition, Syringin also enhanced the osteogenic potential determined by ARS and ALP staining, as well as increasing OCN, ALP, Runx2, and BMP-2 expressions.

CONCLUSION

Syringin protects high glucose-induced BMSC injury, cell senescence, and osteoporosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Development and in vitro evaluation of a lignin-PLGA nanocarrier for florfenicol delivery

Florfenicol (FF) is a widely used antimicrobial in veterinary medicine because of its broad antimicrobial activity, although it has certain limitations and raises concerns about the development of antimicrobial resistance genes. These limitations highlight the need to explore novel drug with controlled release systems to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of FF, while minimizing the potential for resistance development. This study introduces an innovative approach for the design, synthesis, and evaluation of lignin-poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)-FF nanoparticles. By leveraging the properties of PLGA and lignin, this study aimed to augment the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of FF, thereby enabling dosage reduction and consequently diminishing the likelihood of resistance emergence and other limitations. Lignin-PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating FF were synthesized and characterized to assess their physicochemical properties, such as particle size, zeta potential, and drug loading efficiency. The release profile, antimicrobial efficacy, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Comparative analyses with standard FF formulations were performed to ascertain the superior performance and potential benefits of the nanoparticle-based antimicrobials. Our findings indicate that the synthesized lignin-PLGA nanoparticles exhibited favorable drug delivery attributes, including a controlled and sustained release mechanism, significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity at reduced concentrations relative to free FF, with minimal cytotoxic effects. Importantly, the nanoparticle system inhibited bacterial biofilm formation, which is a key factor in the onset and spread of antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the potential of integrating biodegradable polymers with natural compounds to forge innovative pathways in drug delivery, addressing critical challenges in veterinary medicine.

Delivery of florfenicol in veterinary medicine through a PLGA-based nanodelivery system: improving its performance and overcoming some of its limitations

As is the case with other veterinary antibiotics, florfenicol (FFC) faces certain limitations, such as low solubility in water, or the fact that it is reported to interfere with the immune response after some immunoprofilactic actions in livestock. Aiming to improve its efficacy and overall performance, FFC was loaded into a polymeric nanobased delivery system by succesfully using the emulsion-evaporation technique. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with FFC were characterized in terms of size (101 ± 0.52 nm), zeta potential (26.80 ± 1.30 mV) and poly-dispersity index (0.061 ± 0.019). The achieved loading was 2.24 μg FFC/mg of NPs, with an entrapment efficiency of 7.9%. The antimicrobial effect, the anti-biofilm formation and the cytotoxicity properties of the NPs were evaluated. The results indicated a MIC decreased by ~97.13% for S. aureus, 99.33% for E.coli and 64.1% for P. aeruginosa when compared to free FFC. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) obtained indicated the potential for using a significantly lower dose of florfenicol. The delivery system produced biofilm inhibition while showing no cytotoxic effects when tested on porcine primary fibroblasts and horse mesenchymal stem cells. These findings suggest that florfenicol can be improved and formulations optimized for use in veterinary medicine through its incorporation into a nanobased delivery system designed to release in a controlled manner over time.

Proteomic Analysis of the Mitochondrial Responses in P19 Embryonic Stem Cells Exposed to Florfenicol

Florfenicol (FLO) has been shown to elicit diverse toxic effects in plants, insects, and mammals. Previously, our investigations revealed that FLO induced abnormal cardiac development and early embryonic mortality in chicken embryos. However, the effect of FLO on mitochondrial responses in stem cells remains unclear. In this study, we show that FLO significantly diminishes proliferation viability and obstructs the directed differentiation of P19 stem cells (P19SCs) into cardiomyocytes. Proteomic analysis revealed 148 differentially expressed proteins in response to FLO. Functional analysis has pinpointed FLO interference with biological processes associated with oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria. In alignment with the results of proteomic analysis, we confirmed that FLO inhibits the expression of both nuclear DNA-encoded and mitochondrial DNA-encoded subunits of the electron transport chain. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that FLO disrupts mitochondrial dynamics and induces the mitochondrial unfolded protein response to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. These findings collectively highlight the significance of mitochondrial dynamics and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response to mediate the decreased proliferation viability and directed differentiation potential in P19SCs treated with FLO. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive overview of mitochondrial responses to FLO-induced cytotoxicity and enhances our understandings of the molecular mechanisms underlying FLO-induced embryonic toxicity.

Maternal transfer of florfenicol impacts development and disrupts metabolic pathways in F1 offspring zebrafish by destroying mitochondria

Maternal exposure to antibiotics existing in the environment is a predisposing factor for developmental malformation with metabolic disorders in offspring. In this study, female zebrafish (3 months) were exposed to 0.05 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L florfenicol (FF) for 28 days. After pairing and spawning with healthy male fish, F1 embryos were collected and developed to 5 d post-fertilization (dpf) in clear water. And the adverse effects on the F1 generation were examined thoroughly. The fecundity of F0 female fish and the hatchability, mortality, and body length of F1 larvae significantly decreased in the treatment group. Meanwhile, multi-malformation types were found in the exposure group, including delayed yolk sac absorption, lack of swim bladder, and spinal curvature. Metabolomic and transcriptomic results revealed alterations in metabolism with dysregulation in tricarboxylase acid cycle, amino acid metabolism, and disordered lipid metabolism with elevated levels of glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid. Accompanying these metabolic derangements, decreased levels of ATP and disordered oxidative-redox state were observed. These results were consistent with the damaged mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory chain function, suggesting that the developmental toxicity and perturbed metabolic signaling in the F1 generation were related to the mitochondrial injury after exposing F0 female zebrafish to FF. Our findings highlighted the potential toxicity of FF to offspring generations even though they were not directly exposed to environmental contaminants.

Amlexanox-modified platinum(IV) complex triggers apoptotic and autophagic bimodal death of cancer cells

Platinum(IV) prodrugs c,c,t-[PtCl₂(NH₃)₂(OH)(amlexanox)] (MAP) and c,c,t-[PtCl₂(NH₃)₂(amlexanox)₂] (DAP) were synthesized by reacting amlexanox with oxoplatin and characterized by NMR, HR-MS, HPLC, and elemental analysis. The complexes could be reduced to platinum(II) species and amlexanox to exert antitumor activity. Generally, MAP was more potent than DAP and cisplatin towards various human cancer cell lines; particularly, it was active in cisplatin-resistant Caov-3 ovarian cancer and A549/DDP lung cancer cells. MAP induced serious damage to DNA, remarkable change in mitochondrial morphology, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in Caov-3 cells, thereby leading to evident apoptosis. Meanwhile, MAP markedly promoted the autophagic flux, including affecting the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and autophagy adaptor protein p62 in Caov-3 cells, with an increase in the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I and a decrease in p62, thus trigging the occurrence of autophagy. The MAP-induced bimodal cell death mode is uncommon for platinum complexes, which presents a new possibility to invent anticancer drugs with unique mechanism of action.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Inhibition of Proliferation and Differentiation by Florfenicol in P19 Stem Cells: Transcriptome Analysis

Florfenicol (FLO), which is widely used in veterinary clinics and aquaculture, can disrupt the protein synthesis of bacteria and mitochondria and, thus, lead to antibacterial and toxic effects in plants, insects, and mammals. FLO was found to repress chicken embryonic development and induce early embryonic death previously, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Clarifying the mechanism of FLO-induced embryonic toxicity is important to the research and development of new drugs and the rational use of FLO to ensure human and animal health and ecological safety. In this study, the effects of FLO on pluripotency, proliferation, and differentiation were investigated in P19 stem cells (P19SCs). We also identified differentially expressed genes and performed bioinformatics analysis to obtain hub genes and conducted some functional analysis. FLO inhibited the proliferation and pluripotency of P19SCs and repressed the formation of embryoid bodies derived from P19SCs. A total of 2,396 DEGs were identified using RNA-Seq in FLO-treated P19SCs, and these genes were significantly enriched in biological processes, such as angiogenesis, embryonic organ development, and morphogenesis of organs. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome-based pathway analysis also showed that five relevant pathways, especially the canonical Wnt pathway, were engaged in FLO-induced toxicity of pluripotent stem cells. We further analyzed modules and hub genes and found the involvement of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, DNA replication, and cell cycle machinery in regulating the pluripotency and proliferation of FLO-treated P19SCs. In summary, our data suggest that FLO disrupts the signaling transduction of pathways, especially the canonical Wnt pathway, and further inhibits the expression of target genes involved in regulating DNA replication, cell cycle, and pluripotency. This phenomenon leads to the inhibition of proliferation and differentiation in FLO-treated P19SCs. However, further experiments are required to validate our findings and elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying FLO-induced embryonic toxicity.

Comparative Study on Synergistic Toxicity of Enrofloxacin Combined with Three Antibiotics on Proliferation of THLE-2 Cell

Little attention has been paid to the problem of the combined toxicity of accumulated antibiotics on humans from food and clinical treatments. Therefore, we used human hepatocytes to study the joint toxicity of four common antibiotics. The cytotoxicity of enrofloxacin (ENR), combined with ciprofloxacin (CFX), florfenicol (FFC), or sulfadimidine (SMD) on THLE-2 cells was determined by CCK-8 assays; then their joint toxicity was evaluated using CalcuSyn 2.0. Dose–effect curves and median-effect plots established on large amounts of data and CI values were calculated to judge the nature of the combination’s interaction. ED50, ED75, and ED90 were predicted to elucidate the changing trend of the concentration on the toxicity of each drug pair. The ENR-CFX and ENR-FFC pairs exhibited synergistic toxicity only at special concentration rates, while ENR and SMD synergistically induced cytotoxicity at almost all the concentration rates studied. The mixed ratio was a significant factor for synergistic toxicity and should be evaluated in all combined effect studies. These results suggested that the combined toxicity of these four drugs should be taken into account in their risk assessment.

Study on the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides in relieving liver injury of broilers induced by florfenicol

In order to explore the transcriptomics and proteomics targets and pathways of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides (SMPs) alleviating florfenicol (FFC)-induced liver injury in broilers, 60 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group ( GP1) was fed tap water, FFC model (GP2) was given tap water containing FFC 0.15 g/L, and SMPs treatment group (GP3) was given tap water containing FFC 0.15 g/L and SMPs 5 g/L. Starting from 1 day of age, the drug was administered continuously for 5 days. On the 6th day, blood was collected from the heart and the liver was taken. Then 3 chickens were randomly taken from each group, and their liver tissues were aseptically removed and placed in an enzyme-free tube. Using high-throughput mRNA sequencing and TMT-labeled quantitative proteomics technology, the transcriptome and proteome of the three groups of broiler liver were analyzed, respectively. The results of the study showed that the liver tissue morphology of the chicks in the GP1 and GP3 groups was complete and there were no obvious necrotic cells in the liver cells. The liver tissue cells in the GP2 group showed obvious damage, the intercellular space increased, and the liver cells showed extensive vacuolation and steatosis. Compared with the GP1 group, the daily gain of chicks in the GP2 group was significantly reduced (P < 0.0 5 or P < 0.01). Compared with the GP2 group, the GP3 group significantly increased the daily gain of chicks (P <0.0 5 or P <0.01). Compared with the GP1 group, the serum levels of ALT, AST, liver LPO, ROS, and IL-6 in the GP2 group were significantly increased (P < 0.0 5 or P < 0.01), and the contents of T-AOC, GSH-PX, IL-4, and IL-10 in the liver were significantly decreased (P < 0.0 5 or P < 0.01). After SMPs treatment, the serum levels of ALT, AST, liver LPO, ROS, and IL-6 were significantly reduced (P < 0.0 5 or P < 0.01), and the contents of T-AOC, GSH-PX, IL-4, and IL-10 in the liver were significantly increased (P < 0.0 5 or P < 0.01). There were 380 mRNA and 178 protein differentially expressed between GP2 group and GP3 group. Part of DEGs was randomly selected for QPCR verification, and the expression results of randomly selected FABP1, SLC16A1, GPT2, AACS, and other genes were verified by QPCR to be consistent with the sequencing results, which demonstrated the accuracy of transcriptation-associated proteomics sequencing. The results showed that SMPs could alleviate the oxidative stress and inflammatory damage caused by FFC in the liver of chicken and restore the normal function of the liver. SMPs may alleviate the liver damage caused by FFC by regulating the drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, PPAR signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, glutathione metabolism, and other pathways.

PFP@PLGA/Cu12Sb4S13-mediated PTT ablates hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the RAS/MAPK/MT-CO1 signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumors in the world, and patients with HCC face a poor prognosis. The conventional therapeutic strategies for HCC have undergone a challenge-riddled evolution owing to side effects and unsatisfactory efficacy. Here, aiming to provide a new method of HCC elimination, we formulated a novel multifunctional nanocapsule (PFP@PLGA/Cu12Sb4S13, PPCu) with applications in contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUS) and photothermal therapy (PTT). These PPCu were successfully constructed with an average diameter of 346 nm (polydispersity index, PDI = 0.276). The reinforced contrast ratio of these PPCu was determined by CEUS, revealing their promising applications in image-guided monitoring of HCC treatment. Furthermore, the excellent photoabsorption and biocompatibility indicated by organ H&E staining indicated that PPCu meet quality expectations for use as photothermal transduction agent (PTA). PPCu treatment at 50 °C and higher temperatures efficiently repressed the proliferation, induced the apoptosis and decreased the motility of HCC cells. These effects might have been results of RAS/MAPK/MT-CO1 signaling pathway inhibition. In summary, PPCu were constructed to integrate CEUS and PTT successfully into therapy, which can lead to HCC elimination through RAS/MAPK/MT-CO1 signaling pathway repression.

Effective therapeutic strategies in a pre-clinical mouse model of Charcot-Marie-tooth disease

Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease is a neuropathy that lacks effective therapy. CMT patients show degeneration of peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and loss of proprioception. Loss of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation proteins and enzymes of the antioxidant response accompany degeneration of nerves in skin biopsies of CMT patients. Herein, we followed a drug-repurposing approach to find drugs in a Food and Drug Administration-approved library that could prevent development of CMT disease in the Gdap1-null mouse model. We found that the antibiotic florfenicol is a mitochondrial uncoupler that prevents the production of reactive oxygen species and activates respiration in human GDAP1-knockdown neuroblastoma cells and in dorsal root ganglion neurons of Gdap1-null mice. Treatment of CMT-affected Gdap1-null mice with florfenicol has no beneficial effect in the course of the disease. However, administration of florfenicol, or the antioxidant MitoQ, to pre-symptomatic GDAP1-null mice prevented weight gain and ameliorated the motor coordination deficiencies that developed in the Gdap1-null mice. Interestingly, both florfenicol and MitoQ halted the decay in mitochondrial and redox proteins in sciatic nerves of Gdap1-null mice, supporting that oxidative damage is implicated in the etiology of the neuropathy. These findings support the development of clinical trials for translation of these drugs for treatment of CMT patients.

Enhanced Pharmaceutically Active Compounds Productivity from Streptomyces SUK 25: Optimization, Characterization, Mechanism and Techno-Economic Analysis

The present research aimed to enhance the pharmaceutically active compounds’ (PhACs’) productivity from Streptomyces SUK 25 in submerged fermentation using response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool for optimization. Besides, the characteristics and mechanism of PhACs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were determined. Further, the techno-economic analysis of PhACs production was estimated. The independent factors include the following: incubation time, pH, temperature, shaker rotation speed, the concentration of glucose, mannitol, and asparagine, although the responses were the dry weight of crude extracts, minimum inhibitory concentration, and inhibition zone and were determined by RSM. The PhACs were characterized using GC-MS and FTIR, while the mechanism of action was determined using gene ontology extracted from DNA microarray data. The results revealed that the best operating parameters for the dry mass crude extracts production were 8.20 mg/L, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value was 8.00 µg/mL, and an inhibition zone of 17.60 mm was determined after 12 days, pH 7, temperature 28 °C, shaker rotation speed 120 rpm, 1 g glucose /L, 3 g mannitol/L, and 0.5 g asparagine/L with R² coefficient value of 0.70. The GC-MS and FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of 21 PhACs, and several functional groups were detected. The gene ontology revealed that 485 genes were upregulated and nine genes were downregulated. The specific and annual operation cost of the production of PhACs was U.S. Dollar (U.S.D) 48.61 per 100 mg compared to U.S.D 164.3/100 mg of the market price, indicating that it is economically cheaper than that at the market price.

Florfenicol induces renal toxicity in chicks by promoting oxidative stress and apoptosis

To explore the mechanism of renal toxicity induced by florfenicol (FFC), 120 chicks were randomly divided into 6 groups, 20 in each group. Except for the control group, different doses of FFC (0.15 g/L, 0.3 g/L, 0.6 g/L, 1.2 g/L, and 1.8 g/L) were added to drinking water in the other 5 groups. Five days later, blood was collected from the vein under the wing, and the complete kidneys were obtained as soon as possible, then tested the experimental indicators. The results showed that compared with control group, all doses of FFC significantly reduced the average weight gain of chicks (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Except for the 0.15 g/L FFC group, kidney index of chicks in the other doses of FFC groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The kidney tissues in all FFC groups showed obvious damage, deformities, cell atrophy, and cell gap enlargement. In addition, all doses of FFC significantly increased the contents of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE) in serum, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in renal tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but significantly reduced the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in renal tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). FFC significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of p53, Caspase-3, and Caspase-6 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The apoptotic rate of renal cells in all doses of FFC groups increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). It was concluded that FFC had a certain degree of nephrotoxicity, and with the increase of FFC concentration, the kidney injury of chicks became more and more serious. FFC promoted oxidative stress response in kidney of chicks by inhibiting the expression of related factors in Nrf2-ARE pathway. Moreover, the expression of pro-apoptotic factors was upregulated to improve the apoptosis rate of renal cells, which resulted in excessive apoptosis of renal cells and seriously affected the kidney function of chicks.

Low and high concentrations of butyrate regulate fat accumulation in chicken adipocytes via different mechanisms

The present study investigated the effects of varying concentrations of sodium butyrate (SB) on fat accumulation and cell proliferation in chicken adipocytes. High and low serial concentrations of SB used significantly reduced adipocytic fat accumulation. However, they were observed to exhibit differences in cell morphology and distinctions in lipogenic genes expression profiles. At lower concentration (0.01 mM), fat accumulation was decreased with an associated downregulation in the expression of lipogenic genes, which was mediated by free fatty acid receptors (FFARs). Contarily, at higher concentration (1 mM), the fat droplets laden in adipocytes were enlarged, and this was accompanied with activation of lipogenic genes expression. However, the total accumulated fat was also decreased largely due to reduction in cell numbers, which was partially attributable to the reduction in histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Animal experiments further indicated that dietary supplementation of lower dose coated SB (0.1% wt/wt) inhibited fat deposition in livers and abdominal fat tissues of broilers, suggesting the potential application of sodium butyrate as feed additive in the regulation of fat deposition.

Isoliquiritigenin inhibits TGF-β1-induced fibrogenesis through activating autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in MRC-5 cells

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural flavonoid derived from the root of liquorice, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Previous studies have found that ISL plays a crucial role in anti-fibrosis of adipose tissue and renal tissue; however, its effect on pulmonary fibrogenesis has not been demonstrated. In this study, we aimed to explore the roles and the underlying mechanisms of ISL in TGF-β1-induced fibrogenesis using human lung fibroblast-derived MRC-5 cells. Cell proliferation and migration were determined by MTT and wound healing assay, respectively. The expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I alpha 1 (COLIA1) and fibronectin (FN), microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and related signaling molecules were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence assay, correspondingly. EGFP-LC3 transfection was used for autophagy analysis. The results showed that ISL inhibited the TGF-β1-induced proliferation and migration, and down-regulated the expressions of α-SMA, COLIA1 and FN. ISL treatment led to up-regulation of LC3 in TGF-β1-treated MRC-5 cells, accompanied by significant decrease in the phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In addition, the inhibitory effects of ISL on TGF-β1-induced fibrogenic features in MRC-5 cells were enhanced by pretreatment with autophagy activator Rapmycin and PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 and reversed by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine and PI3K/AKT activator IGF-1. Taken together, our results demonstrated that ISL could attenuate the fibrogenesis of TGF-β1-treated MRC-5 cells by activating autophagy via suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Therefore, ISL holds a great potential to be developed as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Growth and cardiovascular development are repressed by florfenicol exposure in early chicken embryos

Florfenicol (FLO) is one of the most popular antibacterial drugs used in veterinary clinics and aquaculture. The drug was found to decrease the hatchability of eggs laid by treated hens in veterinary clinics and research work. However, the pathological changes in developing embryos and their cardiovascular system and the mechanism underlying FLO-induced embryonic death remain unclear. In the present study, fertilized eggs laid by hens treated with a therapeutic dose of FLO were collected and incubated. Results showed that FLO exposure repressed embryonic development and induced early embryonic death. As a result, FLO decreased the hatchability and increased the proportion of weak chicks. Moreover, FLO exposure led to embryonic lethality and inhibited the development of chick embryos as characterized by decreased weights, lagging distribution of Hamburger–Hamilton stages, and dysplastic eyes. Pathological examination indicated that FLO exposure affected the normal development of the heart in 4.5-day-old chick embryos, as characterized by shorter transverse cardiac diameter, disordered arrangement of trabecular muscles in ventricles, and reduced thickness of ventricular walls. Furthermore, FLO decreased blood vascular densities and downregulated the expression levels of key angiogenesis-related genes, including the vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor, in the yolk sac membrane. These findings indicated that FLO exposure restricted vascular development during early embryonic development. In summary, our data suggest that the restricted growth and abnormal cardiovascular development may be responsible for FLO-induced early embryonic death. Thus, these findings can be useful for guiding the proper use of FLO and in laying a foundation for further studies on the mechanism of FLO-induced embryonic toxicity.

Stereoisomer-specific ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 reverses replicative senescence of human diploid fibroblasts via Akt-mTOR-Sirtuin signaling

BACKGROUND

The replicative senescence of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) is accompanied by growth arrest. In our previous study, the treatment of senescent HDFs with Rg3(S) lowered the intrinsic reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and reversed cellular senescence by inducing peroxiredoxin-3, an antioxidant enzyme. However, the signaling pathways involved in Rg3(S)-induced senescence reversal in HDFs and the relatedness of the stereoisomer Rg3(R) in corresponding signaling pathways are not known yet.

METHODS

We performed senescence-associated β-galactosidase and cell cycle assays in Rg3(S)-treated senescent HDFs. The levels of ROS, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) as well as the mitochondrial DNA copy number, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+/1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) ratio, and NAD-dependent sirtuins expression were measured and compared among young, old, and Rg3(S)-pretreated old HDFs. Major signaling pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and sirtuin 1/3, including cell cycle regulatory proteins, were examined by immunoblot analysis.

RESULTS

Ginsenoside Rg3(S) reversed the replicative senescence of HDFs by restoring the ATP level and NAD+/NADH ratio in downregulated senescent HDFs. Rg3(S) recovered directly the cellular levels of ROS and the NAD+/NADH ratio in young HDFs inactivated by rotenone. Rg3(S) mainly downregulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt through the inhibition of mTOR by cell cycle regulators like p53/p21 in senescent HDFs, whereas Rg3(R) did not alter the corresponding signaling pathways. Rg3(S)-activated sirtuin 3/PGC1α to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Cellular molecular analysis suggests that Rg3(S) specifically reverses the replicative senescence of HDFs by modulating Akt-mTOR-sirtuin signaling to promote the biogenesis of mitochondria.

The Delicate Equilibrium between Oxidants and Antioxidants in Brain Glioma

Gliomas are the most frequent brain tumors in the adult population and unfortunately the adjuvant therapies are not effective. Brain tumorigenesis has been related both to the increased levels of free radicals as inductors of severe damages in healthy cells, but also with the reduced response of endogenous enzyme and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses. In turn, both processes induce the change to malignant cells. In this review, we analyzed the role of the imbalance between free radicals production and antioxidant mechanism in the development and progression of gliomas but also the influence of redox status on the two major distinctive forms of programmed cell death related to cancer: apoptosis and autophagy. These data may be the reference to the development of new pharmacological options based on redox microenvironment for glioma treatment.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Chinese propolis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells by suppressing autophagy and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway

This study aimed to investigate the possible benefits of Chinese poplar propolis (CP) in inhibiting inflammation using vascular endothelial cells (VECs) cultured in a nutrient-rich condition exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell proliferation was detected by sulforhodamine B assay and EdU kit. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and level of mitochondrial membrane potential were determined with fluorescent probe DCHF and JC-1, respectively. Protein expression was examined by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. The results showed that CP (6.25, 12.5, and 25 μg/mL) significantly reduced LPS-induced cytotoxicity, and when challenged with CP substantially suppressed ROS overproduction and protected mitochondrial membrane potential. CP treatment significantly inhibited autophagy by inhibiting LC3B distribution and accumulation, and elevating the p62 level in an mTOR-independent manner but mainly by suppressing the translocation of p53 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Furthermore, CP treatment markedly reduced protein levels of TLR4 at 12 and 24 h and significantly suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 from cytoplasm to nucleus. In addition, CP treatment significantly reduced the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK. Our findings demonstrated that CP protects VECs from LPS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, which might be associated with depressing autophagy and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The results provided novel insights for the potential use of nutrient-rich propolis against inflammation.

Hydrogen alleviates cellular senescence via regulation of ROS/p53/p21 pathway in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vivo

Senescence has become a hot point issue in recent decades and requires urgent attention. As a novel and effective antioxidant, hydrogen has been proved to alleviate cellular senescence in endothelial cells in vitro. However, the effects and mechanisms of hydrogen on senescence in vivo are still unclear. In the present study, 12-month-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneal administration of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS, 10 ml/kg). Subsequently, bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) were harvested for the detection of hydrogen antisenescence effects and mechanisms. The results showed that the number of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) positive cells was reduced in BMSCs from rats treated with HRS. BMSCs in rats treated with HRS possessed a better proliferation ability, showed more effectively tri-lineage differentiation potential, and had less percentage of cells in G1 cell cycle arrest than the control cells. Additionally, HRS administration inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the expression of senescence-related proteins p53 and p21. Our results revealed that hydrogen could alleviate cellular senescence in vivo. And the underlying mechanism of antisenescence effects of hydrogen in BMSCs was via the ROS/p53/p21 signaling pathway. Thus, hydrogen could be a new and convenient strategy for alleviating senescence and for therapy of age-related diseases.

Teaching the basics of reactive oxygen species and their relevance to cancer biology: Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species detection, redox signaling, and targeted therapies

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in tumorigenesis (tumor initiation, tumor progression, and metastasis). Of the many cellular sources of ROS generation, the mitochondria and the NADPH oxidase family of enzymes are possibly the most prevalent intracellular sources. In this article, we discuss the methodologies to detect mitochondria-derived superoxide and hydrogen peroxide using conventional probes as well as newly developed assays and probes, and the necessity of characterizing the diagnostic marker products with HPLC and LC-MS in order to rigorously identify the oxidizing species. The redox signaling roles of mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial thiol peroxidases, and transcription factors in response to mitochondria-targeted drugs are highlighted. ROS generation and ROS detoxification in drug-resistant cancer cells and the relationship to metabolic reprogramming are discussed. Understanding the subtle role of ROS in redox signaling and in tumor proliferation, progression, and metastasis as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms (e.g., autophagy) could help in the development of combination therapies. The paradoxical aspects of antioxidants in cancer treatment are highlighted in relation to the ROS mechanisms in normal and cancer cells. Finally, the potential uses of newly synthesized exomarker probes for in vivo superoxide and hydrogen peroxide detection and the low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance technique for monitoring oxidant production in tumor tissues are discussed.