OBJECTIVE: CRISPR-Cas protects bacteria from exogenous DNA invasion and is associated with bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenicity. METHODS: We analyzed the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system of Legionella pneumophila WX48, including Cas1, Cas2-Cas3, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, and Cas6f, along with downstream CRISPR arrays. We explored the effects of the CRISPR-Cas system on the in vitro growth, biofilm-forming ability, and pathogenicity of L. pneumophila through constructing gene deletion mutants. RESULTS: The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system did not affect the in vitro growth of wild-type or mutant strains. The biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation of the mutant strains were weaker than those of the wild type owing to the regulation of type IV pili and Dot/Icm type IV secretion systems. In particular, Cas6f deletion strongly inhibited these processes. CONCLUSION The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system may reduce biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation in L. pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila/pathogenicity* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Biofilms/growth & development* ; Phenotype ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Deletion

This study aims to investigate the antipyretic effects and mechanisms of ethanol extracts from Arisaematis Rhizoma fermented with bile from different sources on a rat model of fever induced by a dry-yeast suspension. The rat model of fever was established by subcutaneous injection of 20% dry-yeast suspension into the rat back. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6) in the serum, as well as prostaglandin E_2(PGE_2) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) in the hypothalamus, were determined by ELISA. Metabolomics analysis was then performed on serum and hypothalamus samples based on UPLC-Q-TOF MS to explore the potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways. The results showed that the body temperatures of rats significantly rose 4 h after modeling. After oral administration of high-dose ethanol extracts of Arisaematis Rhizoma fermented with bovine bile(NCH) and porcine bile(ZCH), the body temperatures of rats declined(P<0.05), and the NCH group showed better antipyretic effect than the ZCH group. Additionally, compared with the model group, the NCH and ZCH groups showed lowered levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, PGE_2, and cAMP(P<0.01). The results of serum and hypothalamus metabolomics analysis indicated that both NCH and ZCH exerted antipyretic effects by regulating phenylalanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Collectively, both NCH and ZCH can play an obvious antipyretic role in the rat model of dry yeast-induced fever, and the underlying mechanism might be closely associated with inhibiting inflammation and regulating metabolic disorders. Moreover, NCH demonstrates better antipyretic effect.
Animals ; Rats ; Male ; Fermentation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Bile/chemistry* ; Antipyretics/chemistry* ; Fever/metabolism* ; Cattle ; Swine ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Ethanol/chemistry* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interleukin-1beta/blood*

Based on the high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, this study aimed to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of Arisaema Cum Bile and explore its mechanisms, providing experimental evidence for its clinical application. Biochemical analysis was used to detect serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), triglycerides(TG), and total cholesterol(TC) to assess the lipid-lowering activity of Arisaema Cum Bile. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics techniques were employed to jointly elucidate the lipid-lowering mechanisms of Arisaema Cum Bile. The experimental results showed that high-dose Arisaema Cum Bile(PBA-H) significantly reduced serum ALT, AST, LDL-C, TG, and TC levels(P<0.01), and significantly increased HDL-C levels(P<0.01). The effect was similar to that of fenofibrate, with no significant difference. Furthermore, Arisaema Cum Bile significantly alleviated hepatocyte ballooning and mitigated fatty degeneration in liver tissues. As indicated by 16S rDNA sequencing results, PBA-H significantly enhanced both alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota in the model rats, notably increasing the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Subdoligranulum species(P<0.01). Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that PBA-H primarily regulated pathways involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, vitamin B_6 metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis. In summary, Arisaema Cum Bile significantly improved abnormal blood lipid levels and liver pathology induced by a high-fat diet, regulated hepatic metabolic disorders, and improved the abundance and structural composition of gut microbiota, thereby exerting its lipid-lowering effect. The findings of this study provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Arisaema Cum Bile and the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Hyperlipidemias/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Humans ; Alanine Transaminase/metabolism* ; Triglycerides/metabolism* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of transoral transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(TG-NOTES)cholecystectomy in miniature pigs.Methods A total of 11 miniature pigs were selected as the experimental subjects and underwent TG-NOTES cholecystectomy.These pigs were divided into the Group A and Group B according to the surgical procedures.Among them,7 miniature pigs in the Group A underwent endoscopic cholecystectomy without dissecting the gallbladder triangle,while 4 miniature pigs in the Group B underwent endoscopic cholecystectomy after dissecting the gallbladder triangle.The success rate of surgery,the time of each stage of surgery,the incidence of complications,the success rate of cholecystectomy and the survival rate of miniature pigs in the two groups were counted.One miniature pig in the Group A and 4 miniature pigs in the Group B were selected for survival experiments.After surviving for 1 week,they were killed and dissected to observe the healing of incision and incidence of complications.Results The surgical survival rate of experimental animals was 100%,and the success rate of cholecystectomy was 100%.There was no significant difference in the surgical time,time of cut the stomach into the abdomen,time of gallbladder exploration or time of gallbladder removal of miniature pigs between the two groups(P>0.05).The time of ligating gallbladder artery of miniature pigs in the Group B was longer than that in the Group A,and the time of isdating gallbladder was shorter than that in the Group A,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the average number of complications of miniature pigs between the two groups(P>0.05).The dissection of animals after survival experiments revealed that the incisions healed well without serious complications.Conclusion This study successfully establishes the surgical model of TG-NOTES cholecystectomy,and confirms the safety and feasibility of TG-NOTES cholecystectomy.

AIM To investigate effects of petroleum ether fraction from Derris eriocarpa How on glucose and lipid metabolism in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome(MS).METHODS KM mice were fed a high-fat diet and administered streptozotocin intraperitoneally to establish MS models.The MS mice were then randomly assigned to the model group,the metformin hydrochloride group,the lovastatin group,the ursolic acid group,and the high-,medium-and low-dose D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction groups,with 10 mice in each group.Ten additional mice maitained on a normal diet served as the normal control group.After 4 weeks of intragastric administration,glucose and lipid metabolism indicators were measured.Hepatic pathological changes were assessed using HE staining and oil red O staining.Liver tissue mRNA expressions of ATF3,PEPCK,FXR,CYP7A1,HNF4ɑ,CYP8B1 and SRB1 were quantified by RT-qPCR.Hepatic protein expressions of ATF3,HNF4ɑ,PEPCK,FXR and CYP7A1 was analyzed by Western blot in MS mice.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the high-dose D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction group exhibited significant glucose tolerance improvement(reduced OGTT-AUC,P＜0.01);favorable serum lipid modulation in terms of increased HDL-C levels(P＜0.01)and decreased TG,TC,LDL-C(P＜0.01);reduced renal biomarkers(BUN,SCR)and hepatotoxic indicators of TBA,AST and ALT activities(P＜0.01);alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and histopathological damage;downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of ATF3,HNF4ɑ and PEPCK,as well as CYP8B1 mRNA expression(P＜0.01);and upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of FXR and CYP7A1,along with SRB1 mRNA expression(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism dysregulation in MS mice by modulating the ATF3/HNF4ɑ/CYP7A1 signaling pathway,consequently eliciting hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic,hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects.

Objective To observe the effect of Huaiqihuang granules(HQH)containing serum on the proliferation in rat glomerular mesangial cells(HBZY-1)cultured with high glucose,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods HQH and physiological saline were administered orally to SPF grade male SD rats for preparing HQH containing serum and normal serum.HBZY-1 cells were divided into normal glucose group,high glucose group,high glucose+low,medium,and high concentration HQH drug containing serum group(HQH drug containing serum concentration was 5%,10%,and 15%,respectively).The cell proliferation rate of each group was measured by CCK-8 method,and effective HQH drug containing serum was screened for subsequent experiments;Observe the morphology of HBZY-1 cells in each group using an inverted optical microscope and take photos;Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate;The assay kit was used to detect the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)in each group of cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway related proteins in each group of cells.Results Compared with the high glucose group,the 5%medicated serum group showed no significant change in cell proliferation rate,while the 10%medicated serum group and 15%medicated serum group showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation rate(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Therefore,10%and 15%concentrations of HQH medicated serum were selected as the subsequent experimental drug treatment groups.After intervention with 10%medicated serum and 15%medicated serum on HBZY-1 cells in a high glucose environment,compared with the high glucose group,the 10%medicated serum group and 15%medicated serum group showed a decrease in cell proliferation,a gradual increase in cell apoptosis,an increase in cell SOD,CAT,GSH-Px activity(P<0.05 or P<0.01),a decrease in MDA levels(P<0.01),the protein expression of TLR4,NLRP3,p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Huaiqihuang granules containing serum can inhibit high glucose induced proliferation and induce apoptosis of HBZY-1 cells,which may be related to the inhibition of cellular oxidative stress and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 mediated inflammatory signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of transoral transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(TG-NOTES)cholecystectomy in miniature pigs.Methods A total of 11 miniature pigs were selected as the experimental subjects and underwent TG-NOTES cholecystectomy.These pigs were divided into the Group A and Group B according to the surgical procedures.Among them,7 miniature pigs in the Group A underwent endoscopic cholecystectomy without dissecting the gallbladder triangle,while 4 miniature pigs in the Group B underwent endoscopic cholecystectomy after dissecting the gallbladder triangle.The success rate of surgery,the time of each stage of surgery,the incidence of complications,the success rate of cholecystectomy and the survival rate of miniature pigs in the two groups were counted.One miniature pig in the Group A and 4 miniature pigs in the Group B were selected for survival experiments.After surviving for 1 week,they were killed and dissected to observe the healing of incision and incidence of complications.Results The surgical survival rate of experimental animals was 100%,and the success rate of cholecystectomy was 100%.There was no significant difference in the surgical time,time of cut the stomach into the abdomen,time of gallbladder exploration or time of gallbladder removal of miniature pigs between the two groups(P>0.05).The time of ligating gallbladder artery of miniature pigs in the Group B was longer than that in the Group A,and the time of isdating gallbladder was shorter than that in the Group A,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the average number of complications of miniature pigs between the two groups(P>0.05).The dissection of animals after survival experiments revealed that the incisions healed well without serious complications.Conclusion This study successfully establishes the surgical model of TG-NOTES cholecystectomy,and confirms the safety and feasibility of TG-NOTES cholecystectomy.

AIM To investigate effects of petroleum ether fraction from Derris eriocarpa How on glucose and lipid metabolism in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome(MS).METHODS KM mice were fed a high-fat diet and administered streptozotocin intraperitoneally to establish MS models.The MS mice were then randomly assigned to the model group,the metformin hydrochloride group,the lovastatin group,the ursolic acid group,and the high-,medium-and low-dose D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction groups,with 10 mice in each group.Ten additional mice maitained on a normal diet served as the normal control group.After 4 weeks of intragastric administration,glucose and lipid metabolism indicators were measured.Hepatic pathological changes were assessed using HE staining and oil red O staining.Liver tissue mRNA expressions of ATF3,PEPCK,FXR,CYP7A1,HNF4ɑ,CYP8B1 and SRB1 were quantified by RT-qPCR.Hepatic protein expressions of ATF3,HNF4ɑ,PEPCK,FXR and CYP7A1 was analyzed by Western blot in MS mice.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the high-dose D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction group exhibited significant glucose tolerance improvement(reduced OGTT-AUC,P＜0.01);favorable serum lipid modulation in terms of increased HDL-C levels(P＜0.01)and decreased TG,TC,LDL-C(P＜0.01);reduced renal biomarkers(BUN,SCR)and hepatotoxic indicators of TBA,AST and ALT activities(P＜0.01);alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and histopathological damage;downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of ATF3,HNF4ɑ and PEPCK,as well as CYP8B1 mRNA expression(P＜0.01);and upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of FXR and CYP7A1,along with SRB1 mRNA expression(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION D.eriocarpa petroleum ether fraction ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism dysregulation in MS mice by modulating the ATF3/HNF4ɑ/CYP7A1 signaling pathway,consequently eliciting hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic,hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects.

Objective To observe the effect of Huaiqihuang granules(HQH)containing serum on the proliferation in rat glomerular mesangial cells(HBZY-1)cultured with high glucose,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods HQH and physiological saline were administered orally to SPF grade male SD rats for preparing HQH containing serum and normal serum.HBZY-1 cells were divided into normal glucose group,high glucose group,high glucose+low,medium,and high concentration HQH drug containing serum group(HQH drug containing serum concentration was 5%,10%,and 15%,respectively).The cell proliferation rate of each group was measured by CCK-8 method,and effective HQH drug containing serum was screened for subsequent experiments;Observe the morphology of HBZY-1 cells in each group using an inverted optical microscope and take photos;Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate;The assay kit was used to detect the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)in each group of cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway related proteins in each group of cells.Results Compared with the high glucose group,the 5%medicated serum group showed no significant change in cell proliferation rate,while the 10%medicated serum group and 15%medicated serum group showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation rate(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Therefore,10%and 15%concentrations of HQH medicated serum were selected as the subsequent experimental drug treatment groups.After intervention with 10%medicated serum and 15%medicated serum on HBZY-1 cells in a high glucose environment,compared with the high glucose group,the 10%medicated serum group and 15%medicated serum group showed a decrease in cell proliferation,a gradual increase in cell apoptosis,an increase in cell SOD,CAT,GSH-Px activity(P<0.05 or P<0.01),a decrease in MDA levels(P<0.01),the protein expression of TLR4,NLRP3,p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Huaiqihuang granules containing serum can inhibit high glucose induced proliferation and induce apoptosis of HBZY-1 cells,which may be related to the inhibition of cellular oxidative stress and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 mediated inflammatory signaling pathway.

Objective This study explored the potentially modifiable factors for depression and major depressive disorder (MDD) from the MR-Base database and further evaluated the associations between drug targets with MDD.Methods We analyzed two-sample of Mendelian randomization (2SMR) using genetic variant depression (n = 113,154) and MDD (n = 208,811) from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Separate calculations were performed with modifiable risk factors from MR-Base for 1,001 genomes. The MR analysis was performed by screening drug targets with MDD in the DrugBank database to explore the therapeutic targets for MDD. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), fixed-effect inverse variance weighted (FE-IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode were used for complementary calculation.Results The potential causal relationship between modifiable risk factors and depression contained 459 results for depression and 424 for MDD. Also, the associations between drug targets and MDD showed that SLC6A4, GRIN2A, GRIN2C, SCN10A, and IL1B expression are associated with an increased risk of depression. In contrast, ADRB1, CHRNA3, HTR3A, GSTP1, and GABRG2 genes are candidate protective factors against depression.Conclusion This study identified the risk factors causally associated with depression and MDD, and estimated 10 drug targets with significant impact on MDD, providing essential information for formulating strategies to prevent and treat depression.