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Decidual protein induced by progesterone (DEPP) was originally identified as a modulator in the process of decidualization in the endometrium. Here, we define that DEPP is involved in adipose tissue thermogenesis, which contributes to metabolic regulation. Knockdown of DEPP suppressed adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, induced expression of brown adipose tissue (BAT) markers in primary brown adipocyte and induced mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) differentiation to brown adipocytes. Moreover, DEPP deficiency in mice induced white adipocyte browning and enhanced BAT activity. Cold exposure stimulated more browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) and maintained higher body temperature in DEPP knockout mice compared to that in wild-type control mice. DEPP deficiency also protected mice against high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that DEPP competitively binds SIRT1, inhibiting the interaction between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Collectively, these findings suggest that DEPP plays a crucial role in orchestrating thermogenesis through regulating adipocyte programs and thus might be a potential target for the treatment of metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control the roof during gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting in inclined coal seams, the retained gob-side roadway is zoned based on the mechanical principle and technological process of no-pillar mining with gob-entry retention. A simplified mechanical model for surrounding rocks in different subzones was established by using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation to attain the demand for the support resistance and deformation of the roof in different subzones. According to load and deformation characteristics of the roof and mechanical characteristics of NPR cables, single props, and a sliding-type gangue-retaining structure formed by U-shaped steel inserts, the supporting systems for roadways in different subzones and the constitutive model thereof were established. On this basis, the action of the supporting system was analysed and a field test was performed. The results show that the supporting system undergoes three stages of behaviour, i.e., pressure growth, yielding under constant pressure, and stabilisation during whole entry retention. It can guarantee the collaborative deformation of the supporting systems with the roof on the premise of constant support resistance, thus satisfying the requirement for roadway protection. The roadway 150 m back from the working face is stable, and the final convergence between the roof and floor of the retained entry is 257 mm, showing a favourable entry-retention effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella conica is a species of rare edible mushroom whose multiple medicinal functions have been proven. However, reports barely mention the mechanisms of these functions. In this study, the effects of two polysaccharides from M. conica (PMCs) on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages were investigated. The results showed that 50-200 μg/ml of the extracellular polysaccharide (EPMC) and 25-200 μg/ml of the intracellular polysaccharide (IPMC) significantly inhibited NO production. Accordingly, the signal mechanisms were also explored. It was found that 100 μg/ml of EPMC and 25 μg/ml of IPMC could efficiently down-regulate the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity and up-regulate heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. Moreover, by using a HO-1 inhibitor NaPP to treat the cells, the PMC-inhibited NO production and iNOS expression, rather than NF-κB activation, were released partially, indicating that HO-1 probably medicates the inhibition of PMCs on iNOS and NO. Besides, EPMC also significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38), c-jun N-terminal kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4, and expression of NF-κB inducing kinase, while IPMC seemed to show no regular effect on p38. In conclusion, PMCs inhibited NO production in LPS-induced macrophages through regulating a series of signal pathways, suggesting that PMCs play a potential role on immunomodulation and treating related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]