ZO1

The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is constituted by tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells (SC) that create a specialized adluminal microenvironment to foster the development of spermatocytes and spermatids. The BTB is a well-studied target of numerous environmental toxicants, including di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a compound widely used in various consumer products. MEHP is the active toxic metabolite of DEHP that has long been recognized in postnatal rodents to disrupt SC function. This study evaluates the impact of MEHP on the integrity of the BTB in both pubertal and adult rats and the signal transduction pathways known to be involved in the disruption of the BTB...

In the antibiotics-free era, stimbiotic (STB) has been suggested as a new alternative of antibiotic growth promoters to modulate intestinal health via stimulating dietary fiber utilization in poultry production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of STB supplementation in corn- or wheat-basal diet on growth performance, intestinal development, and function of broilers. A total of 512 one-day-old Arbor Acres(AA)broilers were randomly allocated 4 treatments, including corn group (CG), corn + 100 g/t STB (CG + STB), wheat group (WG), wheat + 100 g/t STB (WG + STB)...

Brain tumor patients are commonly treated with radiotherapy, but the efficacy of the treatment is limited by its toxicity, particularly the risk of radionecrosis. We used human cerebral organoids to investigate the mechanisms and nature of postirradiation brain image changes commonly linked to necrosis. Irradiation of cerebral organoids lead to increased formation of ZO1 + /AQP1 + /CLN3 + -choroid plexus (CP) structures. Increased CP formation was triggered by radiation via the NOTCH/WNT signaling pathways and associated with delayed growth and neural stem cell differentiation, but not necrosis...

Aeromonas spp. are emerging human pathogens causing intestinal and extra-intestinal infections. Since their relevance in Western Europe as gastrointestinal pathogens is not well established, we investigated Aeromonas spp. prevalence in diarrheal fecal samples in an Italian University Hospital and characterized the virulence mechanisms of the isolates. Aeromonas spp. isolated from diarrheic stools using standard culture methods were identified by molecular techniques. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed by the micro broth dilution...

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) can differentiate into multiple cell lineages, but few methods have been developed to generate kidney lineage cells. Due to their human origin, pluripotent nature and immunomodulatory properties, these stem cells are attractive candidates for clinical applications such as the repair or regeneration of damaged organs. This study evaluated the renal differentiation potential of hucMSCs, when exposed for 10 days to optimised concentrations of retinoic acid, activin-A and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) in various combinations, with and without the priming of the cells with a Wnt signalling pathway activator (CHIR99021)...

The compound ganoderma lucidum spore powder (GLSP) has emerged as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative regulator. In this study, we explored the roles of GLSP against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis that can mimic human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). GLSP was administered by oral gavage at a dosage of 150 mg/kg/day to the acute colitis mice induced by DSS. The DSS-induced mouse weight loss, colonic shortening, diarrhea and bloody stool were observably alleviated after GLSP treatment...

Hearing loss is one of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide. No drug therapies are currently available to protect or restore hearing. Inner ear auditory hair cells and the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB) are critical for normal hearing, and the BLB between the systemic circulation and stria vascularis is crucial for maintaining cochlear and vestibular homeostasis. BLB defects are associated with inner ear diseases that lead to hearing loss, including vascular malformations, inflammation, and Meniere's disease (MD)...

BACKGROUND: The importance of the gut microbiota for physiological processes in mammals is well established, but the knowledge of their functional roles in fish is still limited. The aims of this study were to investigate associations between variation in taxonomical composition of the gut microbiota and gut health status in Atlantic salmon and to explore possible modulatory effects of dietary prebiotics in one net-pen farm in open water. The fish with initial mean body weight of around 240 g were fed diets based on the same basal composition, either without (Ref diet) or with (Test diet) yeast cell wall based-prebiotics, during the marine production phase from December to September the following year...

Microalgae are becoming potential sustainable feed ingredients, whereas terrestrial feedstuffs are becoming scarce and costly. They are rich in nutritional and functional values but have lower digestibility. This study evaluated the effects of microalgae with or without xylanase supplementation on growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 162-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were raised for 35 d. Birds were fed with either 1 of the 3 dietary treatments: 1) corn-soybean meal-based diet (CON), 2) CON + 3% microalgae (MAG), and 3) MAG + xylanase (MAG+XYN) in 2 phases (starter: d 0-21 and finisher: d 22-35) in mash form...

Soy saponins are generally known to have negative effects on growth and the intestines of aquatic animals, and appropriate levels of sodium butyrate (NaB) may provide some mitigating effects. We investigated the effects of low and high levels of soy saponin and the protective effects of NaB (based on high level of soy saponin) on growth, serum cytokines, distal intestinal histopathology, and inflammation in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂). The experiment included four groups: fishmeal group (FM, 0...

Initially identified as an actin-binding protein containing a PSD95-DLG-ZO1 Domain (PZD domain), Synaptopodin 2 (SYNPO2) has long been considered a structural protein ubiquitously expressed in muscular tissues. However, emerging evidence suggests that SYNPO2 performs diverse functions in cancers in addition to its role in microfilament assembly. In most cancers, high SYNPO2 expression is positively correlated with a good prognosis, suggesting its role as a novel tumor suppressor. Abnormal SYNPO2 expression affects autophagy generation, particularly mitophagy induced by low oxidation or viral infection, as well as chaperone-mediated autophagy triggered by microfilament damage...

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) is a common pathological injury in clinic, and the systemic inflammatory response it causes will lead to multiple organ damage and functional failure. miR-185-5p has been reported to be a regulator of inflammatory response and autophagy, but whether it participates in the regulation of autophagy in II/R is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the mechanism of miR-185-5p regulating intestinal barrier injury in (II/R). METHODS: Caco-2 cells was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to establish II/R model...

OBJECTIVE: Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction, and the need to find functional alternative seed cells of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) is urgent. Here, we determined the feasibility of using the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as an equivalent substitute for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: RPE cells and CECs in situ were obtained from healthy New Zealand male rabbits, and the similarities and differences between them were analyzed by electron microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)...

INTRODUCTION: Temozolomide (TMZ) induces intestinal mucosa injury that cannot be fully counteracted by supportive treatment. Probiotics regulate gut microbial composition and the host immune system and may alleviate this side effect. We aimed to investigate the potential and mechanism of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in relieving intestinal mucosal injury induced by TMZ. METHODS: Glioblastoma mice were divided into four groups: CON (control), LGG (109 CFU/mL, treated for 7 days), TMZ (50 mg/kg·d, treated for 5 days), LGG+TMZ (LGG for 7 days and TMZ subsequently for 5 days)...

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease which in long run can lead to colorectal cancer (CRC). Chronic inflammation can be a key factor for the occurrence of CRC thus mitigating an inflammation can be a preventive strategy for the occurrence of CRC. In this study we have explored the anti-inflammatory potential of phloretin, in in vitro gut inflammation model, developed by co-culture of Caco2 (intestinal epithelial) cells and RAW264.7 macrophages (immune cells). Phloretin is a dihydrochalcone present in apple, pear and strawberries...

During diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression, the retina undergoes various metabolic changes, including hypoxia-signalling cascade induction in the cells of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). The overexpression of hypoxic inducible factors causes transcription of many target genes including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The RPE cells form the outer blood retinal barrier (oBRB), a specialized structure that regulates ions and metabolites flux into the retina to maintain a suitable quality of its extracellular microenvironment...

Several reports have revealed the vital role that probiotics play in fish growth and health. However, few works are available for host gut-derived probiotics on the growth, immunity, and gut microbiota of fish, especially in hybrid grouper (♀ Epinephelus fuscoguttatus  × ♂ Epinephelus lanceolatus ) due to their isolation difficulty and functional verification. This study aimed at assessing 3 host gut-derived Bacillus species' effects on the growth, immune and antioxidant-biochemical responses, haematological parameters, intestinal morphology, immune-related gene expression, gut microbiota, and disease resistance against Vibrio harveyi in hybrid grouper...

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of yeast polysaccharides (YPS) on growth performance, intestinal health, and aflatoxin metabolism in livers of broilers fed diets naturally contaminated with mixed mycotoxins (MYCO). A total of 480 one-day-old Arbor Acre male broilers were randomly allocated into a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (8 replicates with 10 birds per replicate) for 6 wk to assess the effects of 3 levels of YPS (0, 1, or 2 g/kg) on the broilers fed diets contaminated with or without MYCO (95 μg/kg aflatoxin B1 , 1...

Defective autophagy in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is involved in retinal degeneration, mostly in the course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is an increasingly prevalent retinal disorder, eventually leading to blindness. However, most autophagy activators own serious adverse effects when administered systemically. Curcumin is a phytochemical, which induces autophagy with a wide dose-response curve, which brings minimal side effects. Recent studies indicating defective autophagy in AMD were analyzed...

During the transition from incubation to hatch, the chicks shift from obtaining nutrients from the yolk sac to the intestine. The yolk sac tissue (YST) and small intestine serve as biological barriers between the yolk or gut contents and the blood circulation. These barriers must maintain structural integrity for optimal nutrient uptake as well as protection from pathogens. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high incubation temperature on mRNA abundance of the tight junction (TJ) proteins zona occludens 1 (ZO1), occludin (OCLN), claudin 1 (CLDN1), and junctional adhesion molecules A and 2 (JAMA, JAM2) and the heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90) in the YST and small intestine of embryonic broilers...