Project description:<p>Zhuyu pill (ZYP) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription composed of two drugs, <em>Coptis chinensis</em> Franch. and <em>Tetradium ruticarpum</em> (A. Jussieu) T. G. Hartley, and is commonly used in the clinical treatment of diseases of the digestive system. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of ZYP on colitis remains unclear. In this study, a colitis rat model was induced with 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS, 100 mg/kg) and treated with ZYP (low dose: 0.6 g/kg, high dose: 1.2 g/kg). Disease activity index, colonic weight index and weight change ratio were used to evaluate the model and efficacy. LC-MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to measure differences in fecal metabolism and microorganism population among the control, model, low-dose ZYP and high-dose ZYP groups. To elucidate the mechanism of interventional effect of ZYP, Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between fecal metabolism and fecal microbial number. High-dose and low-dose ZYP both exhibited significant interventional effects on colitis rat models, and high-dose ZYP produced a better interventional effect compared with low-dose ZYP. Based on a metabolomics test of fecal samples, significantly altered metabolites in the model and high-dose ZYP treatment groups were identified. In total, 492 metabolites were differentially expressed. Additionally, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples revealed that the high-dose ZYP could improve TNBS-induced fecal microbiota dysbiosis. Ultimately, changes in tryptophan metabolism and <em>Firmicutes</em> and <em>Gammaproteobacteria</em> populations were detected after ZYP treatment in both colitis and cholestasis. Therefore, we conclude that tryptophan metabolism and <em>Firmicutes</em> and <em>Gammaproteobacteria</em> populations are the core targets of the anti-inflammatory effect of ZYP. These findings provide a scientific basis for further investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ZYP in the future.</p>
Project description:PL8177 is a potent and selective agonist of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). PL8177 has shown efficacy in reversing intestinal inflammation in a cannulated rat ulcerative colitis model. To facilitate oral delivery, a novel, polymer-encapsulated formulation of PL8177 was developed and tested in dextran sulfate sodium induced rat ulcerative colitis model. Rats treated with 50 µg oral PL8177 demonstrated significantly lower macroscopic colon damage scores and improvement in colon weight, stool consistency, and fecal occult blood vs the vehicle without active drug. We used single nuclei RNA sequencing of colon tissues to characterize the mechanism of action and identify relative cell population and key gene expression changes between treated, healthy and vehicle.
Project description:The goals and objectives: To study Type 2 diabetes progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Background: Diabetes is a systemic metabolic imbalance involving multiple tissues/organs, and an early hallmark feature of this disease state is insulin resistance. Multifactorial interactions of genetics, prenatal environmental factors (fetal programming) and postnatal environmental factors (nutrition and activity) likely contribute to the diabetic phenotype.Animal models can serve as a valuable tool for studying diabetes disease progression and for identifying useful biomarkers of type 2 diabetes. Several inbred rodent models are available for diabetes related studies. The GK rat is an obvious choice among available inbred models as the genetic basis for this inheritable form of diabetes is polygenic (5), unlike most other inbred rodent models that exhibit single gene defects. Many of the characteristics of the GK rat mirror human diabetes (hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance), although hyperlipidemia does not appear to be prominent in the GK rat. Due to its polygenic mode of inheritance and 100% penetrance, the GK rat may be a useful model for human diabetes. Induced animal models can also be useful in diabetes studies. One such model is metabolic syndrome resulting from experimentally induced fetal programming (produced by maternal malnutrition or by exposure to corticosteroids in the third trimester). Both in humans and animals, accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in the human fetal environment can result in permanent physiologic changes that manifest as increased incidence of adult onset pathology. Numerous epidemiological studies have forged a strong link between low birth weight and the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. From such observations has arisen the concept of “fetal programming” whereby exposure to some factor(s) during crucial stages in development can permanently alter or “reset” physiologic/metabolic functions. In the rat, exposure to corticosteroids during a “window” in third trimester gestation (CS programming) results in fetal growth retardation and insulin resistance in adult offspring. Genetic factors play a primarily role in the etiology of diabetes in the GK rat, whereas fetal environmental factors are causative in CS programming. (It should be noted that although altered fetal environmental effects, most likely stemming from maternal hyperglycemia, have been implicated to play some role in the decreased pancreatic B cell mass in GK rats, these effects occur earlier in gestation and therefore differ from programming by CS in late gestation.) A comparison of the development of insulin resistance in the GK rat with development in the CS programmed rat will provide insight into genetic and fetal environmental factors in disease development. Superimposing dietary alterations (i.e., high fat feeding) (11) on both animal models may aid in the dissection of multiple interacting factors (genetic, fetal environmental factors, postnatal environmental factors) on the development and progression of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Such studies may also aid in the identification of useful biomarkers for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in humans. Proposed research: Experiments are designed to study disease progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models: the GK rat and the CS programmed rat, with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Animals will be maintained in our facility from weaning (GK rats) or birth (CS programmed - WKY), and body weights taken weekly. Appropriate diets (normal or high fat) will be introduced at weaning. Groups of animals (N=6) will be sacrificed at 5 different ages: 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks. Plasma samples will be analyzed for markers of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidimia, and for selected other hormonal factors which may contribute to disease etiology (adiponectin, leptin, corticosterone). At sacrifice, muscle is harvested, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and warehoused in our tissue collection maintained at - 80 degrees C for this and possible future work. Study will initially focus on examination of selected molecular markers of insulin resistance at the mRNA level in rat liver (PEPCK, PDK4). Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, biomarker, rat, liver, time series
Project description:The goals and objectives: To study Type 2 diabetes progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Background: Diabetes is a systemic metabolic imbalance involving multiple tissues/organs, and an early hallmark feature of this disease state is insulin resistance. Multifactorial interactions of genetics, prenatal environmental factors (fetal programming) and postnatal environmental factors (nutrition and activity) likely contribute to the diabetic phenotype.Animal models can serve as a valuable tool for studying diabetes disease progression and for identifying useful biomarkers of type 2 diabetes. Several inbred rodent models are available for diabetes related studies. The GK rat is an obvious choice among available inbred models as the genetic basis for this inheritable form of diabetes is polygenic (5), unlike most other inbred rodent models that exhibit single gene defects. Many of the characteristics of the GK rat mirror human diabetes (hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance), although hyperlipidemia does not appear to be prominent in the GK rat. Due to its polygenic mode of inheritance and 100% penetrance, the GK rat may be a useful model for human diabetes. Induced animal models can also be useful in diabetes studies. One such model is metabolic syndrome resulting from experimentally induced fetal programming (produced by maternal malnutrition or by exposure to corticosteroids in the third trimester). Both in humans and animals, accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in the human fetal environment can result in permanent physiologic changes that manifest as increased incidence of adult onset pathology. Numerous epidemiological studies have forged a strong link between low birth weight and the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. From such observations has arisen the concept of “fetal programming” whereby exposure to some factor(s) during crucial stages in development can permanently alter or “reset” physiologic/metabolic functions. In the rat, exposure to corticosteroids during a “window” in third trimester gestation (CS programming) results in fetal growth retardation and insulin resistance in adult offspring. Genetic factors play a primarily role in the etiology of diabetes in the GK rat, whereas fetal environmental factors are causative in CS programming. (It should be noted that although altered fetal environmental effects, most likely stemming from maternal hyperglycemia, have been implicated to play some role in the decreased pancreatic B cell mass in GK rats, these effects occur earlier in gestation and therefore differ from programming by CS in late gestation.) A comparison of the development of insulin resistance in the GK rat with development in the CS programmed rat will provide insight into genetic and fetal environmental factors in disease development. Superimposing dietary alterations (i.e., high fat feeding) (11) on both animal models may aid in the dissection of multiple interacting factors (genetic, fetal environmental factors, postnatal environmental factors) on the development and progression of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Such studies may also aid in the identification of useful biomarkers for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in humans. Proposed research: Experiments are designed to study disease progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models: the GK rat and the CS programmed rat, with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Animals will be maintained in our facility from weaning (GK rats) or birth (CS programmed - WKY), and body weights taken weekly. Appropriate diets (normal or high fat) will be introduced at weaning. Groups of animals (N=6) will be sacrificed at 5 different ages: 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks. Plasma samples will be analyzed for markers of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidimia, and for selected other hormonal factors which may contribute to disease etiology (adiponectin, leptin, corticosterone). At sacrifice, muscle is harvested, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and warehoused in our tissue collection maintained at - 80 degrees C for this and possible future work. Study will initially focus on examination of selected molecular markers of insulin resistance at the mRNA level in rat abdominal fat (PEPCK, IRS-1). Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, biomarker, adipose tissue, rat, time series
Project description:The goals and objectives: To study Type 2 diabetes progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Background: Diabetes is a systemic metabolic imbalance involving multiple tissues/organs, and an early hallmark feature of this disease state is insulin resistance. Multifactorial interactions of genetics, prenatal environmental factors (fetal programming) and postnatal environmental factors (nutrition and activity) likely contribute to the diabetic phenotype.Animal models can serve as a valuable tool for studying diabetes disease progression and for identifying useful biomarkers of type 2 diabetes. Several inbred rodent models are available for diabetes related studies. The GK rat is an obvious choice among available inbred models as the genetic basis for this inheritable form of diabetes is polygenic (5), unlike most other inbred rodent models that exhibit single gene defects. Many of the characteristics of the GK rat mirror human diabetes (hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance), although hyperlipidemia does not appear to be prominent in the GK rat. Due to its polygenic mode of inheritance and 100% penetrance, the GK rat may be a useful model for human diabetes. Induced animal models can also be useful in diabetes studies. One such model is metabolic syndrome resulting from experimentally induced fetal programming (produced by maternal malnutrition or by exposure to corticosteroids in the third trimester). Both in humans and animals, accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in the human fetal environment can result in permanent physiologic changes that manifest as increased incidence of adult onset pathology. Numerous epidemiological studies have forged a strong link between low birth weight and the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. From such observations has arisen the concept of “fetal programming” whereby exposure to some factor(s) during crucial stages in development can permanently alter or “reset” physiologic/metabolic functions. In the rat, exposure to corticosteroids during a “window” in third trimester gestation (CS programming) results in fetal growth retardation and insulin resistance in adult offspring. Genetic factors play a primarily role in the etiology of diabetes in the GK rat, whereas fetal environmental factors are causative in CS programming. (It should be noted that although altered fetal environmental effects, most likely stemming from maternal hyperglycemia, have been implicated to play some role in the decreased pancreatic B cell mass in GK rats, these effects occur earlier in gestation and therefore differ from programming by CS in late gestation.) A comparison of the development of insulin resistance in the GK rat with development in the CS programmed rat will provide insight into genetic and fetal environmental factors in disease development. Superimposing dietary alterations (i.e., high fat feeding) (11) on both animal models may aid in the dissection of multiple interacting factors (genetic, fetal environmental factors, postnatal environmental factors) on the development and progression of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Such studies may also aid in the identification of useful biomarkers for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in humans. Proposed research: Experiments are designed to study disease progression and the development of insulin resistance in two animal models: the GK rat and the CS programmed rat, with and without a high fat diet superimposed on these models. Animals will be maintained in our facility from weaning (GK rats) or birth (CS programmed - WKY), and body weights taken weekly. Appropriate diets (normal or high fat) will be introduced at weaning. Groups of animals (N=6) will be sacrificed at 5 different ages: 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks. Plasma samples will be analyzed for markers of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidimia, and for selected other hormonal factors which may contribute to disease etiology (adiponectin, leptin, corticosterone). At sacrifice, muscle is harvested, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and warehoused in our tissue collection maintained at - 80 degrees C for this and possible future work. Study will initially focus on examination of selected molecular markers of insulin resistance at the mRNA level in rat gastrocnemius muscles (IRS-1, PDK4). Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, biomarker, rat, muscle, time series
Project description:Antral gastrin, secreted by G-cells, is a key regulator of gastric acid secretion. We developed a pure G-cell system to identify the mechanistic basis of gastrin regulation. Rat G-cells were prepared by Nycodenz gradient centrifugation and FACS-sorting. G-cells secretion was assessed utilizing neural, hormonal and luminal agents and ERK phosphorylation and cAMP activation/inhibition measured. Mechanical shaking was used to examine strain effects.
Project description:The intestinal ecosystem is balanced by dynamic interactions between resident and incoming microbes, the gastrointestinal barrier, and the mucosal immune system. However, in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) where the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier is compromised, resident microbes contribute to the development and perpetuation of inflammation and disease. In this context, probiotic bacteria exert beneficial effects enhancing epithelial barrier integrity. However, the mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects are only poorly understood. Here, we comparatively investigated the effects of four probiotic lactobacilli, namely L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, L. gasseri, and L. rhamnosus in a T84 cell epithelial barrier model. Results of DNA-microarray experiments indicating that lactobacilli modulate the regulation of genes encoding in particular adherence junction proteins such as E-cadherin and b-catenin were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we show that epithelial barrier function is modulated by Gram-positive probiotic lactobacilli via their effect on adherence junction protein expression and complex formation. In addition, incubation with lactobacilli differentially influences the phosphorylation of adherence junction proteins and of PKC isoforms such as PKCd which thereby positively modulates epithelial barrier function. Further insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms triggered by these probiotics might also foster the development of novel strategies for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. IBD).
Project description:Rats underwent surgery for LAD ligation for 30 min followed by reperfusion. Heart ventricles were collected 2d or 7d after reperfusion. Keywords: rat heart ventricles, LAD - left anterior descending coronary artery, IR - ischemia-reperfusion
Project description:To visualize glycosylation in the context of the integrin structure, the quantitative site-specific glycosylation profiles of a5b1 integrin were determined and the main representative glycans were mapped onto a homology model of rat a5b1 integrin in its bent-closed inactive conformation.