Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Exert a Radioprotective Effect on the Testes and Intestines Through Antioxidant Effects and Inhibition of MAPK Signal Pathways

Passivated hydrogel interface: Armor against foreign body response and inflammation in small-diameter vascular grafts

The development of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) still faces significant challenges, particularly in overcoming blockages within vessels. A key issue is the foreign-body response (FBR) triggered by the implants, which impairs the integration between grafts and native vessels. In this study, we applied an interfacial infiltration strategy to create a stable, hydrophilic, and passivated hydrogel coating on SDVGs. This coating effectively resisted FBR and improved integration between the grafts and host tissue. We also incorporated anthocyanins, an antioxidant, into the hydrogel network to mitigate oxidative stress and promote endothelialization. The hydrogel coating exhibited excellent stability, retaining its integrity during continuous flushing over 15 days. Anthocyanins were released in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing inflammation and enhancing vascularization in a mouse subcutaneous implantation model. In a rabbit carotid artery replacement model, the SDVGs exhibited rapid endothelialization, guided vascular remodeling, and inhibited calcification, showing strong potential for clinical application. This study presents a straightforward and effective approach to improve the patency rate, endothelialization, and anti-calcification properties of SDVGs by equipping them with a protective anti-FBR and anti-inflammation hydrogel layer.

The potential of pomegranate peel supplementation in Yellow-feathered broilers: effects on growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, intestinal health, intestinal microbiota, and duodenal mucosal metabolites

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with pomegranate peel powder (PP) on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, intestinal microbiota, and duodenal mucosal metabolites of yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 360 yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into three groups, with their diets supplemented with different levels of PP (0, 1, and 4 g/kg) for 42 days. Dietary supplementation with PP significantly increased the average body weight and average daily gain of yellow-feathered broilers during the periods of 1-21 and 22-42 days, while reducing the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). It also decreased the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid, increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, and reduced malondialdehyde content in the serum, liver, and intestinal mucosa (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PP supplementation promoted the mRNA expression of farnesoid X receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, fatty acid-binding protein 4, epidermal growth factor/epidermal growth factor receptor, and B-cell lymphoma 2, while decreasing the mRNA expression of caspase-1 and interleukin-1 beta (p < 0.05). Regarding mucosal metabolites, PP supplementation increased the contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (cis-11-eicosenoic acid, cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid, and cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid), prostaglandin E2/G2, and secondary bile acids (apocholic, hyodeoxycholic, 7-ketodeoxycholic, and omega-muricholic acids) in the mucosa (p < 0.05). In terms of cecal microbiota, PP supplementation increased the β-diversity index (p < 0.05), elevated the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Alistipes, Bacilli, and Actinobacteriota, and reduced the relative abundances of Clostridia and Gammaproteobacteria (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of PP can improve intestinal health and growth performance of yellow-feathered broilers by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota.

Injectable Self-Assembling Procyanidin Nanospheres for Effective Osteoarthritis Treatment

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent joint disease, causes immense suffering to thousands of patients, impairing their mobility and diminishing their quality of life. Current treatment methods primarily rely on analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate symptoms but fail to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome.

Methods

To better realize therapeutic effects of OA, procyanidins (PAs), as a type of plant flavonoids with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, were designed to self-assembly with well-dispersible Pluronic F127 (PF127) through the hydrogen-bond interaction to present an injectable, biocompatibility PA nanospheres.

Results

These nanospheres significantly increased the cell viability in mouse L929 fibroblasts and ADTC5 chondrocytes compared with unassembled PAs. In addition, the self-assembling PAs/PF127 nanospheres enhanced the protein expression of collagen (COL1A1 and COL3A1) in fibroblasts, and the expression of glycosaminoglycan and COL2A1 was also higher than unassembled PAs in chondrocytes, this heralded the potential to achieve OA repair strategies at the cellular level. In an enzymolysis model of rat OA, PAs/PF127 nanospheres significantly reduce joint space swelling in the early stages of cartilage destruction and accelerate the formation of subchondral bone and cartilaginous surface.

Implication

This study offers valuable insights into the preparation of novel PA nanospheres for effective repair of OA.

Salubrious effects of proanthocyanidins on behavioral phenotypes and DNA repair deficiency in the BTBR mouse model of autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder distinguished by impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Global estimates indicate that autism affects approximately 1.6% of children, with the condition progressively becoming more prevalent over time. Despite noteworthy progress in autism research, the condition remains untreatable. This serves as a driving force for scientists to explore new approaches to disease management. Autism is linked to elevated levels of oxidative stress and disturbances in the DNA repair mechanism, which may potentially play a role in its comorbidities development. The current investigation aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of the naturally occurring flavonoid proanthocyanidins on the behavioral characteristics and repair efficacy of autistic BTBR mice. Moreover, the mechanisms responsible for these effects were clarified. The present findings indicate that repeated administration of proanthocyanidins effectively reduces altered behavior in BTBR animals without altering motor function. Proanthocyanidins decreased oxidative DNA strand breaks and accelerated the rate of DNA repair in autistic animals, as evaluated by the modified comet test. In addition, proanthocyanidins reduced the elevated oxidative stress and recovered the disrupted DNA repair mechanism in the autistic animals by decreasing the expressions of Gadd45a and Parp1 levels and enhancing the expressions of Ogg1, P53, and Xrcc1 genes. This indicates that proanthocyanidins have significant potential as a new therapeutic strategy for alleviating autistic features.

Protective Role of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate During Radiation-Induced Testicular Injury

The impact of ionizing radiation on the male reproductive system is gaining increasing attention, particularly when it comes to testicular damage, which may result in decreased sperm quality and hormonal imbalances. Finding effective protective measures to mitigate testicular damage caused by radiation has become a focal point in the biomedical field. S1P, an essential biological signaling molecule, has garnered significant interest due to its multiple roles in regulating cellular functions and its protective effects against radiation-induced testicular injury. S1P not only effectively reduces the generation of ROS induced by radiation but also alleviates oxidative stress by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, S1P inhibits radiation-induced cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, S1P alleviates radiation-induced inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors, thereby further protecting testicular tissue. In summary, S1P effectively reduces radiation-induced testicular damage through multiple mechanisms, offering a promising therapeutic approach to safeguard male reproductive health. Future research should explore the specific mechanisms of action and clinical application potential of S1P, aiming to contribute significantly to the prevention and treatment of radiation damage.

Radiation and male reproductive system: Damage and protection

Male fertility has been declining in recent decades, and a growing body of research points to environmental and lifestyle factors as the cause. The widespread use of radiation technology may result in more people affected by male infertility, as it is well established that radiation can cause reproductive impairment in men. This article provides a review of radiation-induced damage to male reproduction, and the effects of damage mechanisms and pharmacotherapy. It is hoped that this review will contribute to the understanding of the effects of radiation on male reproduction, and provide information for research into drugs that can protect the reproductive health of males.

Tissue fibrosis induced by radiotherapy: current understanding of the molecular mechanisms, diagnosis and therapeutic advances

Cancer remains the leading cause of death around the world. In cancer treatment, over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy alone or in multimodal combinations with other therapies. One of the adverse consequences after radiation exposure is the occurrence of radiation-induced tissue fibrosis (RIF), which is characterized by the abnormal activation of myofibroblasts and the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. This phenotype can manifest in multiple organs, such as lung, skin, liver and kidney. In-depth studies on the mechanisms of radiation-induced fibrosis have shown that a variety of extracellular signals such as immune cells and abnormal release of cytokines, and intracellular signals such as cGAS/STING, oxidative stress response, metabolic reprogramming and proteasome pathway activation are involved in the activation of myofibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is extremely harmful to patients' health and requires early diagnosis. In addition to traditional serum markers, histologic and imaging tests, the diagnostic potential of nuclear medicine techniques is emerging. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies are the traditional treatments for radiation-induced fibrosis. Recently, some promising therapeutic strategies have emerged, such as stem cell therapy and targeted therapies. However, incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms hinders the treatment of this disease. Here, we also highlight the potential mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic directions of radiation-induced fibrosis.

Effects of grape seed procyanidins on antioxidant function, barrier function, microbial community, and metabolites of cecum in geese

The gut is the first line of defense for body health and is essential to the overall health of geese. Grape seed procyanidins (GSPs) are proverbial for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microflora-regulating capabilities. This study aimed to inquire into the influences of dietary GSPs on the intestinal antioxidant function, barrier function, microflora, and metabolites of geese based on 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics. In total, 240 twenty-one-day-old Sichuan white geese were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which was supplied with 1 of 4 diets: basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg GSPs. Diets supplemented with GSPs at different concentrations significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity in cecal mucosa (P < 0.001). Dietary supplementation with 50 or 100 mg/kg GSPs significantly increased catalase activity (P < 0.001). The serum diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, and endotoxin concentrations were decreased by GSP supplementation in the goose diet. Dietary GSP supplementation increased microbial richness and diversity, enhanced the relative abundance of Firmicutes, and decreased that of Bacteroidetes in the cecum. Diets supplemented with 50 or 100 mg/kg GSPs enriched Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and Faecalibacterium. Dietary GSPs substantially raised the acetic and propionic acid concentrations in the cecum. The butyric acid concentration increased when the GSP dosage was 50 or 100 mg/kg. Additionally, dietary GSPs increased the levels of metabolites that belong to lipids and lipid-like molecules or organic acids and derivatives. Dietary GSP supplementation at 100 or 150 mg/kg reduced the levels of spermine (a source of cytotoxic metabolites) and N-acetylputrescine, which promotes in-vivo inflammation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with GSPs was beneficial to gut health in geese. Dietary GSPs improved antioxidant activity; protected intestinal barrier integrity; increased the abundance and diversity of cecal microflora; promoted the proliferation of some beneficial bacteria; increased the production of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in the cecum; and downregulated metabolites associated with cytotoxicity and inflammation. These results offer a strategy for promoting intestinal health in farmed geese.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Improve the Quality of Fresh and Cryopreserved Semen in Bulls

Oxidative stress leads to a decrease in semen quality during semen cryopreservation and fresh semen production. Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) are endowed with well-recognized antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-aging activities. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to explore the effects of GSPs on the quality of fresh and cryopreserved semen to provide a basis for GSPs as a new dietary additive and semen diluent additive for males' reproduction. Fresh semen from three healthy bulls aged 3 to 5 years old were gathered and mixed with semen diluents dissolved with 0 µg/mL, 30 µg/mL, 40 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 60 µg/mL GSPs respectively. The motility, physiological structures (acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity), and antioxidant capacity of frozen-thawed sperm were measured after storage in liquid nitrogen for 7 days (d). Bulls were fed with 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) GSPs in their diet for 60 days; the weight of the bull is about 600 kg. Then, the reproductive performance and antioxidant indexes of bulls were measured before and after feeding. The results demonstrated that GSPs supplementation significantly increased sperm motility, physiological structures, GSH-Px, and CAT enzyme activities and significantly decreased MDA content in sperm during semen cryopreservation. The optimal concentration of GSPs was 40 µg/mL (p < 0.05). After 20 mg/kg (body weight) GSP supplementation, sperm motility was significantly heightened (p < 0.05), the sperm deformity rate was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and antioxidant enzyme activities (such as SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05), and the production of MDA was significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) in serum compared with that before feeding. In conclusion, these results reveal that a certain concentration of GSPs has a good protective effect on sperm damage caused by semen cryopreservation and the reproductive performance reduction caused by stress in bulls, which may be attributed to the antioxidant function of GSPs. In summary, GSPs are a useful cryoprotective adjuvant and dietary additive for bull sperm quality.

A Review on Berry Seeds—A Special Emphasis on Their Chemical Content and Health-Promoting Properties

Berries are important components of the human diet, valued for their high content of nutrients and active compounds. Berry seeds are also important objects of scientific investigation as, in some cases, they can have a higher concentration of certain phytochemicals than other parts of the fruit. Moreover, they are often byproducts of the food industry that can be reused to make oil, extracts, or flour. We have reviewed available literature related to the chemical content and biological activity of seeds from five different berry species—red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. and Rubus coreanus Miq.), strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.). We have searched various databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. Last search was conducted on 16.01.2023. Various preparations from berry seeds are valuable sources of bioactive phytochemicals and could be used as functional foods or to make pharmaceuticals or cosmetics. Some products, like oil, flour, or extracts, are already available on the market. However, many preparations and compounds still lack appropriate evidence for their effectiveness in vivo, so their activity should first be assessed in animal studies and clinical trials.