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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive intracellular lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Cinnamyl alcohol (CA), one of the cinnamon extracts, has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. We proposed that CA was beneficial to NAFLD. Serum cytokines and components of the lipid metabolism were determined in children with NAFLD against age-matched comparisons. A NAFLD mouse model was established by high fat and high carbohydrate (HFHC) diet in male C57BL/6 mouse pups, followed by administration of CA. The effects of CA on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in hepatic tissues were assessed. Abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses were observed in the children with NAFLD as compared with the controls. CA reduced the weight of obese mice without affecting food intake as well as alleviating liver injury caused by HFHC feeding. CA was found to mitigate dyslipidemia and reduce hepatic steatosis in HFHC-fed mice by down-regulating genes related to lipogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1). Additionally, CA treatment reversed HFHC-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, evidenced by the decreased liver reactive oxygen species (ROS), hepatic inflammatory cytokine levels, and F4/80-positive macrophage infiltration in HFHC diet mice. CA reduced the protein levels of pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and caspase-1 in the liver tissues significantly. CA alleviates HFHC-induced NAFLD in mice, which is associated with the amelioration in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of mitoxantrone in regulating gastric cancer cell phenotypes and the underlying mechanism. To reveal mitoxantrone-induced effects on gastric cancer cell malignancy, AGS cells were divided into different groups according to various study purposes, including negative control, 5 µmol/l mitoxantrone, 10 µmol/l mitoxantrone, 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone, anti-microRNA-negative control, anti-microRNA-211-5p, 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone+microRNA-negative control, and 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone+microRNA-211-5p groups. AGS cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, while apoptotic rate was quantified via flow cytometry. Bcl-2 associated X-protein, activated caspase-3, phosphorylated-p65 and phosphorylated-IκBα was detected by Western blot for protein expression. Malondialdehyde was detected via colorimetry, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity was detected by chemiluminescence, superoxide dismutase activity was measured via colorimetry, and microRNA-211-5p was quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. AGS cell proliferation, superoxide dismutase activity, as well as microRNA-211-5p expression in mitoxantrone groups (5, 10 and 20 µmol/l) were decreased compared with the negative control group, while the apoptotic rate, Bcl-2-associated X-protein and activated caspase-3 protein expression, malondialdehyde content, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity were increased. Protein expression of phosphorylated-p65 and phosphorylated-IκBα (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B) was decreased in the 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone group. The microRNA-211-5p expression, cell proliferation, superoxide dismutase activity, and phosphorylated-p65 and phosphorylated-IκBα protein expression in anti-microRNA-211-5p group were significantly decreased in relative to anti-microRNA-negative control group, while cell apoptosis, Bcl-2-associated X-protein and activated caspase-3 protein expression, malondialdehyde content, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity were increased. The microRNA-211-5p expression, cell proliferation, superoxide dismutase activity, and phosphorylated-p65 and phosphorylated-IκBα protein expression in the 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone+microRNA-211-5p group were higher than in 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone+microRNA-negative control group, while apoptotic, Bcl-2-associated X-protein and activated caspase-3 protein expression, malondialdehyde content, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity were lower than those in the 20 µmol/l mitoxantrone+microRNA-negative control group. Mitoxantrone repressed gastric cancer cell tumor property by downregulating the microRNA-211-5p/nuclear factor kappa B pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, artery calcification, myocardial remodeling, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Kielin/chordin-like protein (KCP) is a secreted protein that regulates the expression and function of BMPs. However, the role of KCP in cardiac aging remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of KCP in cardiac aging and its possible mechanisms. Echocardiogram showed that heart function was impaired in aged mice (24 months). In addition, analysis of heart structure showed that KCP knockout (KO) aggravated cardiac remodeling in aged mice. Moreover, KCP KO increased p-smad2/3 and TGF-β expression, while decreased BMP-2 expression in aged mice. Furthermore, KCP KO increased the expression of cardiac senescence-related proteins in aged mice. KCP KO aggravated the imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants and increased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in aged mice. Our study demonstrated that KCP KO aggravated cardiac aging in mice by increasing the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Key message: KCP KO aggravated aging-related cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in male mice. KCP KO aggravated cardiac aging by increasing the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in sepsis is a vital and dangerous organ failure caused by an infection-induced dysregulation of the host reaction. Malvidin possesses significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactivities. This study explored the critical roles of malvidin in sepsis AKI and the crosstalk among mitochondrial function, nucleotide-binding oligomerization-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. First, C57BL/6 mice were administered lipopolysaccharide intraperitoneally for 6 h to create an AKI model of sepsis. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and serum biomarker assays showed that malvidin protected from AKI in sepsis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that malvidin was able to inhibit inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Western blot assays indicated that malvidin suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation and enhanced antioxidant properties. Additionally, human renal tubular epithelial cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide/adenosine triphosphate to establish an NLRP3 inflammasome activation model in vitro , and in line with findings in vivo , malvidin significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, our data indicate that malvidin restored mitochondrial quality and function, reduced reactive oxygen species production, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced mitochondrial DNA copy number, and promoted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) nuclear translocation. Moreover, inhibitor blockade assays indicated that both PGC-1α and Nrf2 affected the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome by malvidin. Finally, immunoprecipitation assays showed that malvidin promoted PGC-1α and Nrf2 interactions. Overall, malvidin alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis AKI, improved mitochondrial function and mitochondrial biogenesis, and inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome through the PGC-1α/Nrf2 signaling pathway, suggesting that malvidin might translate into clinical applications for sepsis AKI therapy. • Mv inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome and oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. • Mv reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis. • Mv's inhibitory impact on NLRP3 inflammasome activation was regulated by the PGC-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. • Mv can facilitate the interaction between PGC-1α and Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Several interleukins (ILs) have been demonstrated to participate in cardiac injury. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-27p28 plays a regulatory role in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac injury by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. Dox was used to establish a mouse cardiac injury model, and IL-27p28 was knocked out to observe its role in cardiac injury. In addition, monocytes were adoptively transferred to clarify whether monocyte-macrophages mediate the regulatory role of IL-27p28 in DOX-induced cardiac injury. IL-27p28 knockout significantly aggravated DOX-induced cardiac injury and cardiac dysfunction. IL-27p28 knockout also upregulated the phosphorylation levels of p65 and STAT1 and promoted M1 macrophage polarization in DOX-treated mice, which increased cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, IL-27p28-knockout mice that were adoptively transferred WT monocytes exhibited worse cardiac injury and cardiac dysfunction and higher cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. IL-27p28 knockdown aggravates DOX-induced cardiac injury by worsening the M1 macrophage/M2 macrophage imbalance and its associated inflammatory response and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]