Project description:For additional details see Ebert et al, Identification and Small Molecule Inhibition of an ATF4-dependent Pathway to Age-related Skeletal Muscle Weakness and Atrophy. Weight-matched cohorts of 22-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were provided ad libitum access to standard chow (control) or standard chow supplemented with 0.27% ursolic acid (UA) or 0.05% tomatidine (TM) for 2 months. After the 2 month treatment period, quadriceps femoris muscles were harvested. mRNA levels in muscles harvested from ursolic acid or tomatidine fed mice were normalized to levels in muscles fed control diet.
Project description:This investigation scrutinizes the implications and mechanistic underpinnings of ursolic acid's effect on busulfan-induced oligospermia in mouse models. A single intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 30mg/kg of busulfan induced oligospermia, and two weeks later, the mice were treated with varied dosages of ursolic acid (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg w.t., respectively) daily for four consecutive weeks. Following this, a meticulous analysis of epididymal sperm parameters encompassing concentration and motility were undertaken using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. The histopathology of the mice testes was performed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the cytoskeleton regeneration of the testicular tissues was analyzed via immunofluorescent staining. Serum hormone levels (including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone) and reactive oxygen species levels (inclusive of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde) were gauged employing corresponding specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Differentially expressed genes of testicular mRNA between oligospermia and ursolic acid treatments were identified by RNA sequencing analysis. The results revealed that a dosage of 50 mg/kg ursolic acid treatment could increase the concentration of epididymal sperm in oligospermia mice, promote the recovery of testicular morphology, regulate hormone levels and ameliorate oxidative damage. The mechanism research results indicated that ursolic acid increased the expression level of genes related to motor proteins in oligospermia mice.
Project description:In this study, we repoort the protective effect of ursolic acid (UA) on vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-vascular calcification effect of UA, we performed RNA-seq to identify the gene expresion under UA treatmment.
Project description:Chronic Inflammation has a key role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Previously, we demonstrated that OBE100, a natural extract from the leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis, has anti-inflammatory properties. Three pentacyclic triterpenoids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid lactone are the major compounds present in OBE100. These molecules have shown multiple biological activities. In this study we analyzed how the compounds of OBE100 modify adipocyte gene expression using RNA sequencing. Triterpenoids regulate the inflammatory program in differentiated adipocytes, inhibiting the expression of many cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators. However, the OBE100 extract has a more powerful immunomodulatory effect than the triterpene mixture increasing the number of genes regulated, both in mouse and human models. Our study shows that OBE100 is a promising extract for the treatment of diabetes that can break the link between inflammation and insulin resistance.
Project description:Chronic Inflammation has a key role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Previously, we demonstrated that OBE100, a natural extract from the leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis, has anti-inflammatory properties. Three pentacyclic triterpenoids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid lactone are the major compounds present in OBE100. These molecules have shown multiple biological activities. In this study we analyzed how the compounds of OBE100 modify macrophage gene expression using RNA sequencing. Triterpenoids regulate the inflammatory program in activated macrophages inhibiting the expression of many cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators. However, the OBE100 extract has a more powerful immunomodulatory effect than the triterpene mixture increasing the number of genes regulated, both in mouse and human models. Our study shows that OBE100 is a promising extract for the treatment of diabetes that can break the link between inflammation and insulin resistance.
Project description:Total RNA was isolated from 3 colonic tissues of each treatment group using the Qiagen RNeasy kit following the manufacturers' protocol. RNA samples with good quality control (RIN values>8) were sequenced using Hiseq-2500 by Novogene. Ursolic acid (UA), Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)."Con" group stands for normal group, "DSS" group stands for DSS induced group, "UA_DSS" group stands for UA Preventive DSS induced group, "DSS_UA" group stands for UA Treatment DSS induced group.