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Introduction In recent years, a growing number of clinical and biological studies have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). Prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia results in abnormal glucose metabolism, which in turn causes pathological changes similar to PD, leading to selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the compact part of the substantia nigra. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a naturally occurring flavonoid with various biological activities including antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. In this study, the effect of DHM on high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage was investigated. Methods The potential modulatory effects of DHM on high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage and its mechanism were studied. Results DHM ameliorated high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage and autophagy injury. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine abrogated the beneficial effects of DHM on high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage. In addition, DHM increased levels of p-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylated UNC51-like kinase 1. The AMPK inhibitor compound C eliminated DHM-induced autophagy and subsequently inhibited the ameliorative effects of DHM on high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage. Discussion DHM ameliorates high glucose-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage by activating the AMPK-autophagy pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are involved in the antiviral immune response in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, whether Treg cells are involved in the neutralizing antibody (nAb) response remains unclear. Here, we found that individuals who recovered from mild but not severe COVID-19 had significantly greater frequencies of Treg cells and lower frequencies of CXCR3+ circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells than healthy controls. Furthermore, the frequencies of Treg and CXCR3+ cTfh cells were negatively and positively correlated with the nAb responses, respectively, and Treg cells was inversely associated with CXCR3+ cTfh cells in individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19 but not in those with severe disease. Mechanistically, Treg cells inhibited memory B-cell differentiation and antibody production by limiting the activation and proliferation of cTfh cells, especially CXCR3+ cTfh cells, and functional molecule expression. This study provides novel insight showing that mild COVID-19 elicits concerted nAb responses, which are shaped by both Treg and Tfh cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citrus fruits are an important source of dietary fiber. However, on the one hand, traditional preparation methods of citrus fiber rely on chemical hydrolysis, resulting in unavoidable environmental contamination and nutrients loss. On the other hand, citrus fiber usually requires modification due to its low soluble dietary fiber content. Therefore, we explored green preparation methods of citrus fiber, and evaluated the impact of high-speed homogenization alone or combined with cellulase hydrolysis, Trichoderma viride or Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation on the physicochemical, structural and functional properties of dietary fiber derived from navel orange peel., Results: Cellulase-hydrolyzed navel orange peel dietary fiber (NOPDF) had better water solubility and oil holding capacity but lower thermal stability. In contrast, T. viride-fermented NOPDF demonstrated the best thermal stability and glucose adsorption (4.62 ± 0.06 mmol g -1 dried weight), along with the highest soluble dietary fiber yield (2.27 g kg -1 dried weight), the best soluble dietary fiber/total dietary fiber ratio (29.64 ± 0.17%), water holding capacity (12.48 ± 0.44 g g -1 dried weight), swelling capacity (12.10 ± 0.24 g g -1 dried weight) and the darkest color. Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented NOPDF exhibited the best fillibility (tap density, 0.68 ± 0.01 g mL -1 dried weight) and strongest in vitro prebiotic activity and antioxidant properties (total phenolic content, 5.81 ± 0.26 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g -1 dried weight; DPPH • scavenging capacity, 2.21 ± 0.01 mg Trolox equivalents g -1 dried weight)., Conclusion: Both modification methods of T. viride or L. plantarum fermentation could significantly improve the physicochemical, structural and functional properties of NOPDF, and offer a valuable approach for utilizing navel orange peel in the functional food industry. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Pyroptosis is a novel mode for programmed cell death discovered and confirmed in recent years. The Gasdermins (GSDMs) family is a key effector molecule mediating pyroptosis. As an important cause of extensive inflammatory damage and side effects of conventional chemotherapy drugs, anomalous pyroptosis has also been associated with hearing loss, tumor, and disorders of the immune system. The GSDME protein, encoded by the GSDME (DFNA5) gene, belongs to the GSDMs family and is a key factor mediating pyroptosis. Gain-of-function variants of the GSDME gene can lead to GSDME-related hearing loss, which shows an autosomal dominant inheritance. This article has reviewed the role of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of GSDME-related hearing loss, with an aim to provide insights into the treatment of GSDME-related hearing loss.