Fetuin-A Promotes 3-Dimensional Growth in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells by Sequestering Extracellular Vesicles to Their Surfaces to Act as Signaling Platforms

The present studies were conducted to evaluate key serum proteins and other components that mediate anchorage-independent growth (3-D growth) of LNCaP prostate cancer cells as spheroids. The cells were cultured on ultra-low attachment plates in the absence and presence of fetuin-A and with or without extracellular vesicles. The data show that fetuin-A (alpha 2HS glycoprotein) is the serum protein that mediates 3-D growth in these cells. It does so by sequestering extracellular vesicles of various sizes on the surfaces of rounded cells that grow as spheroids. These vesicles in turn transmit growth signals such as the activation of AKT and MAP kinases in a pattern that differs from the activation of these key growth signaling pathways in adherent and spread cells growing in 2-D. In the process of orchestrating the movement and disposition of extracellular vesicles on these cells, fetuin-A is readily internalized in adhered and spread cells but remains on the surfaces of non-adherent cells. Taken together, our studies suggest the presence of distinct signaling domains or scaffolding platforms on the surfaces of prostate tumor cells growing in 3-D compared to 2-D.     

甘草查尔酮B及其衍生物的制备及抗宫颈癌活性

目的 提取新疆胀果甘草中的总黄酮, 分离纯化甘草查耳酮B, 合成三甲氧查耳酮B, 对比研究其体外抗宫颈癌活性。方法 采用超声辅助乙醇提取法提取总黄酮; 结合聚酰胺与大孔吸附树脂法纯化总黄酮; 通过薄层法从总黄酮中分离纯化单体查耳酮B(化合物I); 同时, 以取代苯乙酮和取代苯甲醛为原料, Claisen-Schmidt碱催化方法合成三甲氧查尔酮B(化合物II); 以人宫颈癌SiHa和HeLa细胞为体外药理实验模型, 以顺铂为阳性对照, 用噻唑蓝比色法对比测定2个单体化合物对宫颈癌细胞增殖的抑制活性。结果 在浓度为1~100 μg/mL时, 化合物I对SiHa和HeLa细胞作用24、48、72 h时的抑制率为2.99%~75.39%; 而化合物II在此浓度范围内的抑制率为0.76%~86.14%。结论 超声辅助乙醇回流提取法联用聚酰胺和大孔树脂柱层析法是制备含量较高的胀果甘草总黄酮的可行方法; 甘草查尔酮B的甲氧基化修饰可显著提高其抗宫颈癌活性。     

应用固定化细胞改善酱油风味的探讨

为了改善酱油风味,首先阐明了传统发酵和固定化细胞发酵的各自特点。说明传统酱油酿造是多茵种混合发酵,酱油风味好。介绍了固定化细胞发酵酱油：采用固定化细胞发酵提高发酵率,缩短发酵周期,固定化细胞可长期使用,降低了成本,避免污染,产品质量高。介绍了国内外对固定化细胞发酵法的研究情况。提出采用固定化细胞和传统多茵种混合发酵相结合,从而改进固定化细胞发酵法,可进一步提高酱油风味。     

The effect of bovine milk lactoferrin on human breast cancer cell lines

The evidence that biologically active food components are key environmental factors affecting the incidence of many chronic diseases is overwhelming. However, the full extent of such components in our diet is unknown, as is our understanding of their mechanisms of action. Beyond the interaction of these food components with the gut and intestinal immune functions, whey proteins such as lactoferrin are being tested as anticancer agents. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been reported to inhibit several types of cancer. In the present work, the effects of bovine milk lactoferrin on human breast cancer HS578T and T47D cells were studied. The cells were either untreated or treated with lactoferrin concentrations ranging from 0.125 to 125 μM. Lactoferrin decreased the cell viability of HS578T and T47D by 47 and 54%, respectively, and increased apoptosis about 2-fold for both cell lines. Proliferation rates decreased by 40.3 and 63.9% for HS578T and T47D, respectively. For the T47D line, cell migration decreased in the presence of the protein. Although the mechanisms of action are not fully known, the results gathered in this work suggest that lactoferrin interferes with some of the most important steps involved in cancer development.     

Issues Related to the Use of Blood in Food and Animal Feed

Blood has traditionally been used as a high protein ingredient in both human food and animal feed, with resulting economic, environmental and nutritional benefits. However, potentially serious health and safety issues related to blood consumption, particularly the risk of pathogenic or harmful metabolic materials, the infectivity of prion diseases, and the presence of identified allergens such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), are causing many consumers to shy away from any product containing either animal blood or ingredients derived from animal blood. Thus, despite the significant volumes of blood produced by slaughterhouses, blood is currently underutilized as a food ingredient. This article reviews the use of animal blood as an ingredient in food intended for human consumption or for animal feed and discusses the related consumer concerns.     

Grape Phytochemicals and Associated Health Benefits

The phytochemicals present in fruits and vegetables may play an important role in deceasing chronic disease risk. Grapes, one of the most popular and widely cultivated and consumed fruits in the world, are rich in phytochemicals. Epidemiological evidence has linked the consumption of grapes with reduced risk of chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that grapes have strong antioxidant activity, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and suppressing platelet aggregation, while also lowering cholesterol. Grapes contain a variety of phytochemicals, like phenolic acids, stilbenes, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins, all of which are strong antioxidants. The phytochemical composition of grapes, however, varies greatly among different varieties. While extensive research exists, a literature review of the health benefits of grapes and their phytochemicals has not been compiled to summarize this work. The aim of this paper is to critically review the most recent literature regarding the concentrations, biological activities, and mechanisms of grape phytochemicals.     

Purification of novel anti-inflammatory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of the edible microalgal Spirulina maxima

Natural bioactive peptides have been known as ingredients in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. In this study, the potential anti-inflammatory peptides were purified from enzymatic hydrolysate of the edible microalgae Spirulina maxima using gastrointestinal endopeptidases (trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and pepsin). Purification of the hydrolysate resulted in two peptides with amino acid sequences of LDAVNR (P1, 686 Da) and MMLDF (P2, 655 Da). It was found that peptides P1 and P2 exhibited significant inhibition on the release and production of histamine from antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Moreover, the suppressive effect of P1 and P2 on production as well as expression of interleukin-8 in histamine-stimulated EA.hy926 endothelial cells was determined. Notably, the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species from mast cells and endothelial cells was decreased in the presence of P1 or P2. Collectively, the peptides P1 and P2 from S. maxima could be used as functional ingredients with potent anti-inflammatory benefits.     

基于网络药理学与分子对接技术探究逍遥丸治疗乳腺增生的作用机制（网络首发、推荐阅读）

用网络药理学方法进行逍遥丸治疗乳腺增生过程的机制研究.通过中药系统药理学数据库和分析平台(TCMSP)进行逍遥丸活性成分的搜集和筛选,将纳入的化合物成分通过TCMSP数据库进行成分的靶点预测;在GeneCards数据库,NCBI基因数据库以及OMIM数据库进行乳腺增生疾病靶点筛选;取药物靶点和疾病靶点作韦恩图,并利用共有靶点在String数据库中作PPI网络图,利用拓扑分析和MCODE聚类分析筛选核心靶点和核心基因;在cytoscape 3.8.0软件中进行关键活性成分的筛选;关键靶点使用String数据库进行GO分析和KEGG分析,将相关结果导入Cytoscape3.8.0绘制成分—疾病—通路—靶点网络图.结果表明,筛选得到逍遥丸各药活性成分及靶点,其中与乳腺增生相关的有169个靶点.STAT3、AKT1、MAPK1、JUN、MAPK3等20个靶点为该药治疗乳腺增生的关键靶点,HTR2A、IL2、TOP2A、PCNA、MMP1为该药治疗乳腺增生的核心基因.槲皮素(quercetin)、山奈酚(kaempferol)、叶黄素(luteolin)、柚皮素(naringenin)、甘草酮a(licochalcone a)、7-甲氧基-2-甲基异黄酮(7-Methoxy-2-methyl isoflavone)、芒柄花素(formononetin)、醋栗素(acacetin)等可能是逍遥丸治疗乳腺增生发挥作用的主要活性成分.GO富集分析总共富集到2328条生物过程,160项分子功能相关,47项细胞组成相关.通路富集分析显示与166条通路相关,涉及AGE-RAGE信号通路、TNF信号通路、IL-17信号通路、TH17细胞分化、流体剪切应力与动脉粥样硬化等信号通路.分子对接验证结果说明关键活性成分与核心靶点均对接良好.     

Advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness

ABSTRACT

Biofortification aims to improve the micronutrient concentration of staple food crops through the best practices of breeding and modern biotechnology. However, increased zinc and iron concentrations in food crops may not always translate into proportional increases in absorbed zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Therefore, assessing iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified crops is imperative to evaluate the efficacy of breeding programs. This review aimed to investigate the advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness. In vitro, animal and isotopic human studies have shown high iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified staple food crops. Human studies provide direct knowledge regarding the effectiveness of biofortification, however, human studies are time consuming and are more expensive than in vitro and animal studies. Moreover, in vitro studies may be a useful preliminary screening method to identify promising plant cultivars, however, these studies cannot provide data that are directly applicable to humans. None of these methods provides complete information regarding mineral bioavailability, thus, a combination of these methods should be the most appropriate strategy to investigate the effectiveness of zinc and iron biofortification programs.