Differential Expression of CD3, TNF-α, and VEGF Induced by Olanzapine on the Spleen of Adult Male Albino Rats and the Possible Protective Role of Vitamin C

Differential expression of HIF-1α and its hypoxia-related inducers in the spleens of plateau yaks and plain yellow cattle

The present study aims to investigate the distribution and expression characteristics of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 in the spleen of plateau yaks and plain yellow cattle and to speculate the possible regulatory role of HIF-1α and its related hypoxia-inducible factors in the adaptation of the yak spleen to the plateau hypoxic environment. Histological features were observed using H&E and PAS stains. Immunohistochemical staining and optical density analysis were applied to investigate the distribution and differences in the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 in the spleen of yaks and cattle. The results showed that the area of splenic trabeculae and splenic nodules was significantly larger in the yak than in yellow cattle (P<0.05). Glycogen was mainly distributed in splenic arterial endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, splenic blood sinusoidal endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, and the distribution was significantly higher in the spleen of yaks than in cattle (P<0.05). HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 were mainly expressed in lymphocytes, arterial endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, splenic blood sinusoidal endothelial cells, and fibroblast cytoplasm, with higher expression in yak spleen (P<0.05). In conclusion, combining the differences in spleen tissue structure, glycogen distribution, and expression distribution of several hypoxia-related factors between yaks and cattle, we suggest that HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 may be important factors in the adaptation of yak spleen to the plateau environment, which provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the adaptation mechanism of plateau hypoxia in yaks.

Association between total vitamin C intake and hypothyroidism among Hashimoto thyroiditis: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2012

Oxidative stress may be involved in the progression of hypothyroidism in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Vitamin C is a well-known powerful antioxidant. To our knowledge, whether vitamin C intake relates to hypothyroidism in patients with HT remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2012, we aimed to explore the relationship between total vitamin C intake and hypothyroidism in patients with HT, using multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analyses. Our results showed a significant negative linear association between total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed data) and hypothyroidism in HT. Compared with those with the lowest quartile of total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed), participants with the highest quartile were at lower odds of having hypothyroidism (adjusted OR 0·40, 95 % CI: 0·18, 0·88, Ptrend = 0·027). This association was consistent in subgroups stratified by sex (Pfor interaction = 0·084) and age (≥ 60 years and < 60 years, Pfor interaction = 0·330). This study revealed that total vitamin C intake was inversely associated with hypothyroidism among individuals with HT, indicating that higher vitamin C intakes (4·57-1258·9 mg/d) may be associated with a lower likelihood of hypothyroidism among HT participants.

Longitudinal Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Underlies Olanzapine-Induced Weight Gain

Olanzapine is one of the most effective medicines available for stabilizing schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, it has been reported to show the greatest propensity for inducing body weight gain and producing metabolic side effects, which cause a great burden in patients with psychiatric disorders. Since the gut microbiota has a profound impact on the initiation and development of metabolic diseases, we conducted a longitudinal study to explore its role in olanzapine-induced obesity and metabolic abnormalities. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with different doses of olanzapine, and metabolic and inflammatory markers were measured. Olanzapine significantly induced body weight gain (up to a 2.1-fold change), which was accompanied by hepatic inflammation and increased plasma triglyceride levels (up to a 2.9-fold change), as well as gut microbiota dysbiosis. Subsequently, fuzzy c-means clustering was used to characterize three clusters of longitudinal trajectories for microbial fluctuations: (i) genera continuing to increase, (ii) genera continuing to decrease, and (iii) genera temporarily changing. Among them, Enterorhabdus (r = 0.38), Parasutterella (r = 0.43), and Prevotellaceae UCG-001 (r = 0.52) positively correlated with body weight gain. In addition, two MetaCyc metabolic pathways were identified as associated with olanzapine-induced body weight gain, including the superpathway of glucose and xylose degradation and the superpathway of l-threonine biosynthesis. In conclusion, we demonstrate that olanzapine can directly alter the gut microbiota and rapidly induce dysbiosis, which is significantly associated with body weight gain. This may suggest gut microbiota targets in future studies on metabolic abnormalities caused by olanzapine. IMPORTANCE Olanzapine is one of the most effective second-generation antipsychotics for stabilizing schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, olanzapine has multiple drug-induced metabolic side effects, including weight gain. This study provides insight to the gut microbiota target in olanzapine-induced obesity. Specifically, we explored the longitudinal gut microbiota trajectories of female Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing olanzapine treatment. We showed that olanzapine treatment causes a dynamic alteration of gut microbiota diversity. Additionally, we identified three genera, Parasutterella, Enterorhabdus, and Prevotellaceae UCG-001, that may play an important role in olanzapine-induced obesity. In this case, the supply or removal of specific elements of the gut microbiota may represent a promising avenue for treatment of olanzapine-related metabolic side effects.

Vitamin C protects the spleen against PFOA-induced immunotoxicity

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is widely used in industrial and consumer products of our daily life. It is well-documented that PFOA is closely associated with fatty liver disease. Recently, cumulating studies demonstrated the immunotoxicity of PFOA, but its harmful effect on the largest immune organ, spleen is still largely unknown. In the present study, we used PFOA-exposed mouse model together with comparative transcriptomic analysis to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the immunotoxicity of PFOA. Furthermore, we investigated the possible use of vitamin C to reverse the PFOA-induced immunotoxicity in spleen. Our result showed that the PFOA exposure could reduce the spleen weight and plasma lymphocytes, and the splenic comparative transcriptomic analysis highlighted the alteration of cell proliferation, metabolism and immune response through the regulation of gene clusters including nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenases (NNT) and lymphocyte antigen 6 family member D and K (LY6D and LY6K). More importantly, the supplementation of vitamin C would relieve the PFOA-reduced spleen index and white blood cells. The bioinformatic analysis of transcriptome suggested its involvement in the spleen cell proliferation and immune response. For the first time, our study delineated the molecular mechanisms underlying the PFOA-induced immunotoxicity in the spleen. Furthermore, our results suggested that the supplementation of vitamin C had beneficial effect on the PFOA-altered spleen functions.

Oral administration of Bacillus subtilis promotes homing of CD3+ T cells and IgA-secreting cells to the respiratory tract in piglets

Oral probiotics are used to induce immune responses in the intestines to protect against infection. However, oral probiotics may also affect immune responses in other mucosal tissues such as in the respiratory tract. To examine this possibility, we explored the potential of immunocytes to home to the respiratory system after oral administration of Bacillus subtilis. The results showed that B. subtilis could promote intestinal development and not cause pathological changes in the respiratory tract. Following the oral administration with B. subtilis, the number of IgA-secreting cells and CD3⁺ T cells not only significantly increased in the intestinal tracts but also in respiratory tracts (P < 0.01). Moreover, the levels of secretory IgA were significantly higher in the trachea, lungs, ileum, and jejunum after oral B. subtilis administration than in the control groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-5, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, B cell activating factor, and IgA-inducing protein increased following B. subtilis administration (P < 0.01) in the trachea, lungs, ileum, and jejunum. These data suggest that B. subtilis administration regulates the immune response not only in the intestine but also in the respiratory tract of piglets. Our work highlights a potentially new strategy for promoting respiratory mucosal immunity and may contribute to the design of vaccines with B. subtilis as a mucosal adjuvant.

Ellagic acid prevents kidney injury and oxidative damage via regulation of Nrf-2/NF-κB signaling in carbon tetrachloride induced rats

Phytochemicals, bioactive food compounds, found in plants have been described as protective agents against renal injury. This work was planned to evaluate the effects of EA on anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation pathways in kidney damage induced with carbon tetrachloride. In this study, experimental animals (n = 36, 8 weeks old rats) were divided into 4 groups as follows: 1) Control group 2) EA group (10 mg/kg body weight) 3) CCl₄ group (1.5 ml/kg, body weight) 4) EA + CCl₄ group. The potentially protective effect of EA on kidney damage exposed by CCl₄ in rats were evaluated. EA administration protects CCl₄ induced kidney damage against oxidative stress through its antioxidant protection. Treatment of EA significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and improved glutathione and catalase enzyme activity. Recently studies showed that EA activated caspase-3 and nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2 related factor driven antioxidant signal pathway and protected the kidney against damage induced by oxidative stress. Furthermore, EA also markedly decreased the level of cyclooxygenase-2, the vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and suppressed the protein synthesis of nuclear factor-kappa-B. This study reveals that EA has kidney protective effect against CCl₄ induced oxidative damage and inflammation.

Comparison of oral and nasal immunization with inactivated porcine epidemic diarrhea virus on intestinal immunity in piglets

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has proven to be a major problem for the porcine industry worldwide. Conventional injectable vaccines induce effective systemic immune responses but are less effective in preventing PEDV at mucosal invasion sites, including the nasal or oral mucosa. Additionally, antigens delivered orally are easily degraded. Nasal immunization induces intestinal mucosal immune responses, which can aid in blocking viral invasion, and requires fewer antigen inoculation doses. Therefore, nasal immunizations are considered to be a potential approach to overcome viral infections. In the present study, nasal immunization of piglets was performed using inactivated PEDV combined with Bacillus subtilis as an immunopotentiator and the efficacy of nasal immunization was assessed. The results demonstrated that compared with oral immunization, piglets from the nasal immunization group exhibited higher levels of neutralizing antibodies (P<0.01) in the intestine, PEDV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G (P<0.01) in serum and PEDV-specific secretory IgA (SIgA) in saliva (P<0.01) and nasal secretions (P<0.01). An increased number of intestinal CD3⁺ T cells, IgA-secreting cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes (P<0.05) were also observed. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-γ, relative to the control PEDV infection, were also significantly elevated (P<0.05). The results of the present study indicate that nasal immunization is more effective at inducing the intestinal mucosal immune response, and provide new insights into a novel vaccination strategy that may be used to decrease the incidence of PEDV infections.