嗜酸乳杆菌胞外蛋白调控MAPK和PI3K-AKT信号途径关键蛋白活化水平

探讨并揭示嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)CICC6005分泌的相关蛋白质促进肠道健康及分子机制具有重要研究价值。本实验在确定了L.acidophilus CICC6005分泌的胞外蛋白抑制HT-29结肠癌细胞增殖的基础上,进一步探讨67 ku和37 ku的胞外蛋白通过何种途径发挥抑制结肠癌细胞增殖。研究以HT-29细胞作为靶细胞,用丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK)和磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶-丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶(phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B,PI3K-AKT)信号通路为考察对象,以Western Blotting为手段,分析两个通路中关键的靶点蛋白p38、c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK)、胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK)、磷酸化p38(phosphorylated p38,p-p38)、磷酸化c-Jun氨基末端激酶(phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase,p-JNK)、磷酸化的细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase,p-ERK)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B(phosphorylated AKT,p-AKT)、PI3K的表达水平,以探讨并阐述源于L.acidophilus CICC6005胞外蛋白调控结肠癌细胞增殖状况的分子机制。结果表明,不同质量浓度的67 ku和37 ku胞外蛋白分别作用HT-29细胞一定时间后,两种胞外蛋白均具有下调两个信号通路途径中p-ERK1/2、p-p38、p-AKT、PI3K蛋白的表达,且存在浓度依赖关系;但对p-JNK、ERK1/2、p38、JNK蛋白的表达没有影响。因此,源于L.acidophilus CICC6005分泌的37 ku和67 ku胞外蛋白表现出显著的抑制HT-29细胞增殖的功能,其机制可能与调控MAPK和PI3K-AKT两个信号通路中几个关键的靶点蛋白的活化水平相关。该研究结果提示,食用嗜酸乳杆菌其分泌的胞外蛋白质将达到维护肠道健康的目标。     

MAPK信号通路调节卷烟烟气诱导的炎症因子的释放

为评估卷烟烟气对人支气管上皮细胞(BEAS-2B)的毒性效应,使用细胞计数试剂盒(CCK-8)对BEAS-2B细胞进行检测,使用光学显微镜对细胞形态进行观察,采用Western Blot实验检测丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)家族的细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)、c-Jun氨基末端激酶1/2(JNK1/2)和p38的磷酸化水平的变化,采用酶联免疫吸附实验检测炎症因子白介素-1β(IL-1β)、IL-6和IL-8的释放水平。结果表明:①卷烟烟气染毒会显著降低BEAS-2B细胞的存活率。②卷烟烟气染毒会激活磷酸化的ERK1/2、JNK1/2和p38信号通路,并且会诱导炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6和IL-8释放水平升高。③特异性抑制剂分别抑制ERK1/2、JNK1/2和p38信号通路后,炎症因子释放水平显著下降。卷烟烟气诱导的炎症受MAPK信号通路的调节,该结果可为卷烟烟气诱导的肺部炎症相关疾病的机制研究提供参考。     

草苁蓉提取物对HepG2细胞氧化应激损伤的保护作用

目的：研究草苁蓉乙醇提取物（Boschniakia rossica ethanol extract,BREE）对H2O2诱导的HepG2细胞氧化应激损伤的保护作用。方法：用H2O2诱导HepG2细胞氧化应激损伤,采用噻唑蓝（methylthiazolyldiphenyltetrazoliumbromide,MTT）比色法检测BREE对HepG2细胞氧化损伤的保护作用;比色法测定培养液中乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase,LDH）、谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）、谷草转氨酶（aspartateaminotransferase,AST）的释放率,以及细胞中超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、还原型谷胱甘肽（reduced glutathione,GSH）及丙二醛（malondialdelyde,MDA）水平;蛋白印迹法测定细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK）、c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）、p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,p38 MAPK）总蛋白及其磷酸化形式的表达水平以及核转录因子-κB（nuclear factor-κB,NF-κB）的核内转移。结果：BREE单独处理时,在所测质量浓度范围内对HepG2细胞增殖无显著影响。与模型组相比,BREE能显著提高氧化损伤细胞的存活率;降低氧化损伤细胞培养液中LDH、ALT和AST的释放;降低细胞MDA水平,增高细胞SOD活性和GSH含量。氧化损伤发生的不同时期,ERK、JNK、p38 MAPK和NF-κB蛋白均有激活,而BREE在氧化损伤发生1 h时减少ERK激活和NF-κB核转移,氧化损伤发生12 h时减少JNK蛋白激活。结论：BREE对H2O2所致HepG2细胞氧化应激损伤具有保护作用,此作用可能与其抑制ERK、JNK的活化和NF-κB的核内转移有关。     

虾青素保护PC-3细胞免受H2O2氧化应激的作用机制

目的：研究虾青素对过氧化氢诱导PC-3细胞氧化应激的保护作用,探索其信号通路机制。方法：建立H2O2 氧化应激模型,采用不同浓度虾青素预处理PC-3细胞,检测细胞存活率、细胞凋亡、活性氧（reactive oxygen species, ROS）水平、B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2）、Bcl-2相关X蛋白（Bcl-2-associated X protein,Bax）、 活化半胱天冬酶-3表达及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶-核因子E2相关基因2-血红素氧合酶1（mitogen-activated protein kinases nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase 1,MAPK-Nrf2-HO-1）通路的变化。结果：20 μmol/L虾青 素预处理显著提高H2O2所降低的细胞存活率、降低ROS水平（P＜0.05）,同时通过抑制Bcl-2/Bax比率下降及半胱 天冬酶-3的激活,从而使细胞凋亡率从51.4%降低至14.8%,进一步研究发现虾青素能够促进Nrf2磷酸化,并促进 HO-1的表达,呈现浓度依赖性。通过细胞外调节蛋白激酶（extracellular regulated protein kinases,ERK）抑制剂 （U0126）和Akt抑制剂（LY294002）预处理,发现当ERK和磷脂酰肌醇激酶/蛋白激酶B（phosphoinositide 3-kinase/ protein kinase B,PI3K/Akt）通路被抑制后,Nrf2表达降低,表明HO-1上调受上游ERK和胞内PI3K/Akt通路的调 控。在对MAPK途径对细胞毒性影响的研究中,ERK通路被抑制后细胞存活率显著下降,而c-Jun氨基末端激酶 （c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）和p38 MAPK通路被抑制后并不影响其保护作用,表明虾青素抑制细胞存活率下降 是通过MAPK途径中的ERK通路,而不是JNK和p38通路。结论：虾青素预处理PC-3细胞可以减轻H2O2诱导的氧化 应激,维持细胞生理活性。     

植物黄酮调控JNK通路干预氧化应激相关疾病的研究进展

c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase，JNK）是丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase，MAPK)家族的成员。JNK信号传导途径由一系列激酶调节，参与细胞增殖、分化、凋亡、神经元功能和应激反应等生理功能的调控，介导多种疾病的发生。植物膳食中的黄酮类化合物具有抗氧化、抗炎、调节血管渗透等能力，可以通过调控氧化应激反应对JNK相关的疾病产生显著的干预效果。本文介绍了植物黄酮通过调控JNK通路干预氧化应激相关疾病的研究进展，为今后的研究和应用提供借鉴。     

红汁乳菇中愈创木烷型倍半萜化合物的抗炎活性

以新鲜红汁乳菇子实体为原料,采用有机溶剂浸提提取、乙酸乙酯萃取、硅胶柱层析得到单体化合物,通过紫外-可见光谱、高效液相色谱、质谱和核磁共振波谱分析鉴定单体化合物的结构,利用脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症模型,通过聚合酶链式反应和免疫印迹法分析单体化合物对炎症因子mRNA和蛋白相对表达水平的影响,以及对丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）炎症信号通路的作用。结果：从红汁乳菇中提取出具有较强抗炎活性的单体化合物,经鉴定为愈创木烷型倍半萜类化合物;与模型组相比,该倍半萜能极显著降低脂多糖刺激巨噬细胞中白细胞介素-6（interleukin,IL）-6、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α）和一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）的mRNA相对表达水平（P＜0.01）;该倍半萜能降低LPS刺激的巨噬细胞中炎症因子环氧化酶-2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）、IL-1β、IL-6、iNOS和TNF-α蛋白相对表达水平,且呈现一定的浓度依赖性;该倍半萜能降低磷酸化的细胞外信号激酶（p44/42）、p38 MAPK（简称p38蛋白）和c-Jun氨基端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）3 种蛋白激酶的磷酸化水平,从而抑制MAPK炎症通路的活性。     

N-乙酰-半胱氨酸干预壬基酚对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞的损伤作用

目的：研究N-乙酰-半胱氨酸（N-acetyl-cysteine,NAC）对壬基酚（nonylphenol,NP）诱导的小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞氧化损伤及凋亡的干预作用。方法：以Sertoli TM4细胞为对象,实验分为对照组、NP组（20 μmol/L NP处理）、NP＋NAC组（5 mmol/L NAC预处理4 h后20 μmol/L NP处理24 h）、NAC组（5 mmol/L NAC处理4 h后换正常培养基培养）,采用噻唑蓝法检测细胞存活率;流式细胞术检测活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）含量和细胞凋亡情况;试剂盒法检测超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活力、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）活力、丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）含量及Caspase-3相对活力;Western blot法检测细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK）和c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）磷酸化情况。结果：与对照组相比,20 μmol/L NP处理24 h能显著降低细胞存活率（P＜0.05）,同时诱导细胞内ROS生成,下调SOD和CAT活力,增加MDA含量,诱导Sertoli TM4细胞凋亡,增加Caspase-3相对活力,促进ERK、JNK蛋白磷酸化激活;与NP组相比,NAC预处理能够明显削弱NP引起的细胞内ROS生成,使SOD、CAT活力下调,MDA含量增加,Sertoli TM4细胞凋亡,Caspase-3相对活力增强,激活ERK、JNK信号通路。结论：NAC具有干预NP对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞损伤的作用,这可能与NAC抑制NP诱导的细胞氧化应激和凋亡以及阻断ERK、JNK信号通路的激活相关。     

草苁蓉多糖对氧化损伤致血管内皮细胞凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响

该研究探讨草苁蓉多糖（Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides,BRPS）对氧化损伤致人脐静脉血管内皮细胞（human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVEC）凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。以叔丁基过氧化氢（tert-butyl hydroperoxide,t-BHP）损伤HUVEC建立体外凋亡模型,分为正常组、t-BHP组（损伤组）、BRPS组,分别应用细胞增殖毒性检测试剂盒（cell counting kit-8,CCK-8）法和流式细胞术检测细胞存活率和细胞凋亡率,用Western blotting技术检测凋亡相关蛋白胱天蛋白酶原（pro-cysteine aspastic acid-specific protease,Procaspase）、聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶[poly（ADP-ribose）polymerase,PARP]、Survivin、p53、核转录因子-кB（nuclear factor-кB,NF-кB）信号通路蛋白以及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK）信号通路蛋白活化水平。结果显示,与正常组比较,损伤组HUVEC细胞活力降低50.6%,细胞凋亡率升高41.0%;与损伤组比较,BRPS组HUVEC细胞活力升高16.4%,细胞凋亡率降低了22.2%。此外,t-BHP降低HUVEC细胞的Procaspase-3、Procaspase-8、Procaspase-9、PARP和Survivin蛋白水平,升高Cleaved-PARP、p53、NF-κB、磷酸化细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶（phosphorylated extracellular signalregulated kinase,p-ERK）、磷酸化 c-Jun N 末端激酶（phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase,p-JNK）、磷酸化 p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,p-p38）蛋白水平。而BRPS升高Procaspase-3、Procaspase-8、Procaspase-9、PARP 和 Survivin 蛋白水平,降低 Cleaved-PARP、p53、NF-кB、p-JNK、p-p38 蛋白水平。研究结果表明,BRPS对t-BHP引起HUVEC凋亡具有抑制作用,其机制可能与JNK、p38及NF-κB调控有关。     

琼胶寡糖对脂多糖诱导的巨噬细胞RAW264.7炎症反应的抑制作用

目的:研究琼胶寡糖对脂多糖(LPS)诱导巨噬细胞RAW264.7炎症反应的抑制作用。方法:采用傅里叶红外光谱法、核磁共振和高效液相色谱法解析琼胶寡糖的分子结构;采用LPS诱导巨噬细胞RAW264.7建立炎症反应模型,测定琼胶寡糖对RAW264.7细胞活力、细胞内一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)和活性氧簇(ROS)水平的影响;采用Western blot分析丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路中c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)、细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)和蛋白激酶p38的表达和磷酸化水平。结果:分子结构鉴定结果显示琼胶寡糖具有β构型半乳糖糖环结构,分子质量范围为1 065.5~1 308.2 u。琼胶寡糖可以提高LPS诱导巨噬细胞系RAW264.7炎症反应后的细胞活力,在0~250 μg/mL剂量下呈浓度依赖性地降低细胞内NO、TNF-α和ROS水平,对LPS诱导MAPK家族激酶JNK、ERK、p38磷酸化水平的升高具有抑制作用。结论:琼胶寡糖能够抑制LPS诱导的巨噬细胞RAW264.7炎症反应,可能与阻碍MAPK信号转导有关。     

磷脂型二十二碳六烯酸和二十碳五烯酸对脂多糖所致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及机制

目的：探讨磷脂型二十二碳六烯酸（docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids,DHA-PL）和磷脂型二十碳五烯酸（eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids,EPA-PL）对脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）所致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法：以南海鸢乌贼（Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis）卵和冰岛刺参（Cucumaria frondosa）体壁为原料,分离提取DHA-PL和EPA-PL。将C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为Control组、模型组、LPS＋DHA-PL组和LPS＋EPA-PL组,Control组和模型组小鼠每天灌胃20 mL/kg mb生理盐水,其他组以400 mg/kg mb剂量分别每天灌胃受试物,灌胃体积为10 mL/kg mb,连续干预28 d;第29天Control组腹腔注射无菌生理盐水,其他组注射LPS（10 mg/kg mb）,注射体积为10 mL/kg mb,建立急性肝损伤模型;称量小鼠体质量和肝质量,计算肝指数;测定血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）和天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AST）活力;苏木精-伊红染色观察肝组织病理改变情况;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应和酶联免疫吸附试剂盒测定肝脏中肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor,TNF）-α、白细胞介素（interleukin,IL）-1β和IL-6的mRNA相对表达量和含量;采用蛋白免疫印迹法考察肝脏中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）如细胞外调节蛋白激酶（extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2,ERK1/2）、c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）、p38以及核因子（nuclear factor,NF）-κB p65蛋白磷酸化水平。结果：DHA-PL和EPA-PL预防性干预能有效保护LPS所致小鼠急性肝损伤,降低肝指数以及血清ALT和AST活力,下调肝脏中TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6含量,降低MAPK和NF-κB p65蛋白磷酸化水平。结论：DHA-PL和EPA-PL预防性干预可保护LPS所致小鼠急性肝损伤,其作用机制可能依赖于其对MAPK和NF-κB信号通路的调控。     

白术多糖对树突状细胞表型及功能成熟的影响

目的：研究白术多糖对人外周血来源的树突状细胞（dendritic cells,DC）表型和功能的影响。方法：应用流式细胞术检测DC表面标志分子HLA-DR、CD86、CD83和CD80的表达及吞噬FITC-dextran的情况,酶联免疫吸附实验检测DC分泌白细胞介素-12（interleukin-12,IL-12）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α）情况,Western blotting检测DC表面Toll样受体4（Toll-like receptor 4,TLR4）。结果：白术多糖能够促进TLR4的表达,促进DC表面分子HLA-DR、CD86、CD83和CD80的表达,并且呈剂量依赖性,同时还使DC吞噬能力下降;白术多糖能够促进DC分泌IL-12和TNF-α。此外,TLR4抗体可以减少IL-12和TNF-α的产生。结论：白术多糖可以促进人外周血来源的DC表型及功能的成熟。     

Immunostimulatory effect of Antrodia camphorata extract on functional maturation of dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are now recognised as the most potent professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) involved in initiating primary immune responses. The medicinal mushroom Antrodia camphorata (AC) is one of the most popular chemopreventive mushrooms in Taiwan. Polysaccharides of mushroom products are among emerging new agents that activate maturation and functions of DCs. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunomodulating activity of A. camphorata extract (ACW) on functional maturation of DCs. Compared with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), ACW effectively promoted the functional maturation of DCs in the expression of phenotypic characteristics and IL-12 production and chemotaxic activity. Moreover, ACW increased the phosphorylation of Akt, p38, and JNK/MAPKs in DCs. Specific inhibitors, SB203580 and LY94002, significantly blocked the ACW-induced up-regulation of costimulatory factor expression, IL-12 production. These findings suggest that ACW is a potent adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy and promotes Th1 immune responses.     

Acanthoic acid induces cell apoptosis through activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia

The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the action of acanthoic acid (ACAN) from Acanthopanax koreanum (Araliaceae) against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia cells. ACAN reduced the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner accompanied by the induction of apoptosis. Possible mechanisms of ACAN-induced apoptosis were also examined. The results showed that ACAN-induced the phosphorylation of members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPK (p38), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). A specific p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) significantly blocked ACAN-induced apoptosis and cell viability, whereas an ERK inhibitor (PD98059) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) had no effect. Moreover, ACAN induced the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and decreased the level of Bcl-xL, but these effects were inhibited by SB203580 pre-treatment. These results strongly suggest that ACAN may have cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic potential, due to its ability to activate the p38 MAPK-mediated signalling pathways.     

卵转铁蛋白体外免疫活性研究

研究卵转铁蛋白(OVT)的体外免疫活性。分别采用中性红吞噬法测定卵转铁蛋白对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能的影响;MTT法测定卵转铁蛋白对小鼠腹腔巨噬和脾淋巴细胞增殖作用的影响;双抗体夹心ELISA法测定卵转铁蛋白对脾淋巴细胞IL-2分泌水平的影响。结果表明,OVT能显著增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对中性红吞噬能力(P<0.01),协同LPS促进腹腔巨噬细胞的增殖(P<0.05),并显著改善由CsA引起的对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞增殖活性的抑制作用(P<0.05);OVT能显著促进脾淋巴细胞的增殖(P<0.01),协同LPS和ConA促进小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增值(P<0.05),并能显著促进小鼠正常脾淋巴细胞IL-2的分泌(P<0.01)。在体外培养的条件下,卵转铁蛋白对正常小鼠免疫细胞的免疫能力有促进作用。     

Chinese quince (Chaenomeles sinensis) extract inhibits cell migration and cytokine release in HMC-1 cells

Chinese quince (Chaenomeles sinensis; CS) is known as a traditional oriental medicine for treating anaphylaxis and viral infection. Mast cells play an important role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The inhibitory effects of CS extract on the inflammatory response of human mast cells were examined. CS extract inhibited HMC-1 cell migration in response to stem cell factor (SCF). Its mechanism is involved in the inhibition of a surface expression of c-kit binding to SCF. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression is induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore (CaI). CS extract inhibited the TNF-α expression by blocking the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HMC-1 cells. CS extract suppressed the expression of interlukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in human monocytic THP-1 cells, as well as the secretion of IL-6 in human keratinocytic HaCaT cells.     

Nisin Z attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis by inhibiting the ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways

Nisin Z is a possible alternative for treating bovine mastitis by inhibiting mastitis-causing pathogens and having anti-inflammatory activity. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of nisin Z on mastitis is unknown. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of nisin Z on mastitis. Our results showed that nisin Z inhibited the activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MCF10A cells. After intraperitoneal injection, nisin Z significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the mammary gland, as well as decreased myeloperoxidase and pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and mammary gland. Western blot analysis revealed that nisin Z also dramatically suppressed the activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in LPS-induced mastitis mice. We also found that nisin Z treatment could enhance the blood-milk barrier. In summary, our study demonstrated that nisin Z exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway and promoting the blood-milk barrier on LPS-induced mastitis.     

Docosahexaenoic acid downregulates phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P450 2B1 gene expression in rat primary hepatocytes via the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways play central roles in the transduction of extracellular stimuli into cells and the regulation of expression of numerous genes. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was shown to be involved in the regulation of expression of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) in rat primary hepatocytes in response to xenobiotics. Cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP 2B1) is a DME that is dramatically induced by phenobarbital-type inducers. The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) plays a critical role in regulating the expression of DMEs, and the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of CAR is an important event in CYP 2B1 expression. In the present study, we determined the effect of DHA on MAPK transactivation and its role in CYP 2B1 expression induced by phenobarbital. c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 were activated by phenobarbital in a dose-dependent manner. DHA (100 muM) inhibited JNK1/2 and ERK2 activation induced by phenobarbital in a time-dependent manner. Both SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) inhibited CYP 2B1 protein and mRNA expression induced by phenobarbital. SB203580 significantly increased the intracellular 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration compared with a control group (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that inhibition of JNK activation by DHA is at least part of the mechanisms of DHA's downregulation of CYP 2B1 expression induced by phenobarbital.     

A Porphyra columbina hydrolysate upregulates IL-10 production in rat macrophages and lymphocytes through an NF-κB,and p38 and JNK dependent mechanism

The marine environment represents a relatively untapped source of functional ingredients. Here we characterise a hydrolysate obtained from Phorphyra columbina (PcRH) and its effects on primary splenocytes, macrophages and T lymphocytes in vitro. Our product had a high degree of hydrolysis, due to the use of a mixture of endo-peptidase and exo-peptidase, and was enriched in Asp, Ala and Glu. PcRH had mitogenic effects on rat splenic lymphocytes. IL-10 secretion was enhanced by PcRH in splenocytes (235%), macrophages (150%) and in lymphocytes (472%), while the production of TNFα and other proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages was inhibited (15–75%), especially under lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The effect of the hydrolysate on IL-10 was evoked by JNK, p38 MAPK and NF-κB dependent pathways in T lymphocytes. We conclude that PcRH has immunomodulatory effects on macrophages and lymphocytes, activating NF-κB and MAPK dependent pathways, and predominantly inducing IL-10 production.