生理学报最新文献

Given the increasing trend of aging population in the world, neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), a common type of diseases that mostly occur in the elderly, have attracted much more attention. It has been shown that tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is involved in the regulation of neuroinflammation, an important pathological feature of NDDs, and affects the occurrence and development of NDDs. Most importantly, the regulatory effect of TRAF6 is related to its ubiquitination. Therefore, in the present paper, the molecular structure, biological function, and ubiquitination mechanism of TRAF6, and its relationship with some common NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, were analyzed and summarized. The possible molecular mechanisms by which TRAF6 regulates the occurrence of NDDs were also elucidated, providing a theoretical basis for exploring the etiology and treatment of NDDs.

In recent decades, there has been a consistent decline in semen quality across the globe, with environmental pollution emerging as the predominant factor. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their potent biological toxicity and resistance to natural degradation. Within this class of pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) have been identified as detrimental agents that can disrupt cellular physiological functions by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). However, the precise role of AhR in the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on male mammalian fertility remains incompletely understood. This article provides a comprehensive review of the impact of various environmental pollutants, specifically PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and 7,12-dimethylbenzo[a]anthracene, HAHs including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and the pollutant complex PM2.5, as well as cigarette smoke condensates, on male mammalian reproductive function. Additionally, this review focuses on the role of the AhR in mediating these effects. The objective of this review is to elucidate the involvement of AhR in the regulation of male mammalian fertility, thereby offering insights for prospective investigations into the interplay between AhR and male reproductive function, as well as the etiology of idiopathic male infertility in clinic.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the mechanism of TFEB activator 1 (TA1) improving the autophagic degradation of oligomeric amyloid-β (oAβ) in microglia, and to explore the therapeutic effect of TA1 on an in vitro model of microglia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Primary microglia were exposed to 1 μmol/L oAβ for 0, 3, 12, and 24 h respectively to construct the in vitro model of microglia in AD. In order to explore the therapeutic effect of TA1, primary microglia were co-treated with 1 μmol/L oAβ and 1 μmol/L TA1 for 12 h. To determine the autophagy flux, the above cells were further treated with 100 nmol/L Bafilomycin A1 for 1 h before fixation. Fluorescent probes were used to detect the endocytosis or degradation of oAβ_1-42 by microglia. The autophagic flux was determined by infection of lentivirus mCherry-EGFP-LC3. The nuclear TFEB intensity, the autophagosomes number, and the colocalization ratio of oAβ_1-42 with lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) or microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Expressions of autophagy-related-genes, including Lamp1, Atg5, and Map1lc3b, were detected by qRT-PCR. Results showed that prolonged oAβ exposure inhibited the endocytosis and degradation of oAβ by microglia. Meanwhile, the number of autophagosomes and autophagy flux in microglia decreased after 12 h of oAβ treatment. We further found that the nuclear expression of autophagy regulator TFEB decreased after 12 h of oAβ exposure, resulting in the decrease of autophagy genes, thus leading to the damage of autophagic degradation of oAβ. Therefore, long-term oAβ exposure was considered to construct the in vitro model of microglia in AD. After TA1 treatment, the nuclear expression of TFEB in cells was obviously upregulated. TA1 treatment upregulated the expressions of autophagy-related genes, leading to the recovery of autophagy flux. TA1 also recovered the endocytosis and degradation of oAβ by microglia. In conclusion, TA1 could improve oAβ clearance by microglia in AD by upregulating microglial TFEB-mediated autophagy, suggesting TA1 as a potential therapeutic drug for AD.

Noise, as an unavoidable stress (pressure) source in the modern life, affects animals in many ways, both behaviorally and physiologically. Behavioral changes may be driven by changes in hormone secretion in animals. When animals face with noise stress, the neuroendocrine systems, mainly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are activated, which promotes the secretion and release of stress hormones, and then leads to a series of behavioral changes. The behavioral changes can be easily observed, but the changes in physiological indicators such as hormone levels need to be accurately measured. Currently, many studies have measured the variations of stress hormone levels in animals under different noise conditions. Taking glucocorticoid as an example, this paper summarizes the different measurement methods of stress hormones, especially the non-invasive measurement methods, and compares the advantages and shortcomings of them. It provides a variety of measurement choices for the study of related issues, and also helps us to further understand the sources of animal stress, in order to provide a better habitat for animals.

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing, and the sleep quality of patients with diabetes mellitus is often affected. Baduanjin may act on biological rhythm of the body, skeletal muscle glucose metabolism, skeletal muscle fibers and suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) by regulating the expression of Bmal1 gene, thus regulating the blood glucose level and circadian rhythm of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and improving their physiological functions. This article reviews the regulatory effect and mechanism of Baduanjin on Bmal1 gene expression in diabetes patients, and discusses the possibility of Baduanjin to improve the sleep quality of T2DM patients by regulating Bmal1 gene expression. This review can provide a new field for the clinical application of traditional Chinese Qigong Baduanjin, and provide a new scientific basis for exercise therapy of diabetes.

The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in regulating oxidative stress and immune responses has been increasingly recognized. However, its involvement in depression and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), an endogenous AhR ligand, on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression model and the underlying mechanism. After being treated with FICZ (50 mg/kg), male C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injection of LPS and underwent behavioral tests 24 h later. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, were measured in the hippocampus and serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of CYP1A1, AhR and NLRP3 were analyzed using qPCR and Western blot. The results showed that, compared with control group, LPS alone significantly down-regulated the expression levels of CYP1A1 mRNA and AhR protein in the hippocampus of mice, reduced glucose preference, prolonged immobility time in forced swimming test, increased IL-6 and IL-1β levels in the hippocampus, increased serum IL-1β level, and up-regulated NLRP3 mRNA and protein expression levels in mouse hippocampus, while FICZ significantly reversed the aforementioned effects of LPS. These findings suggest that AhR activation attenuates the inflammatory response associated with depression and modulates the expression of NLRP3. The present study provides novel insights into the role of AhR in the development of depression, and presents AhR as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of depression.

As a multifunctional adipokine, chemerin plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes through endocrine and paracrine manner. It can bind to three known receptors (ChemR23, GPR1 and CCRL2) and participate in energy metabolism, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation, especially in metabolic diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases, which seriously affects the normal life of women of childbearing age. Patients with PCOS have significantly increased serum levels of chemerin and high expression of chemerin in their ovaries. More and more studies have shown that chemerin is involved in the occurrence and development of PCOS by affecting obesity, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, oxidative stress and inflammatory response. This article mainly reviews the production, subtypes, function and receptors of chemerin protein, summarizes and discusses the research status of chemerin protein in PCOS from the perspectives of metabolism, reproduction and inflammation, and provides theoretical basis and reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCOS.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious central nervous system disease with high disability and mortality rates and complex pathophysiologic mechanisms. MicroRNA (miRNA), as a kind of non-coding RNA, plays an important role in SCI. miRNA is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response, oxidative stress, axonal regeneration, and apoptosis after SCI, and interacts with long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) to regulate the pathophysiological process of SCI. This paper summarizes the changes in miRNA expression after SCI, and reviews the targeting mechanism of miRNA in SCI and the current research status of miRNA-targeted drugs to provide new targets and new horizons for basic and clinical research on SCI.

Aging refers to a progressive decline in biological functions, leading to age-related diseases and mortality. The transition metals, including iron, copper, and manganese, play important roles in human physiological and pathological processes. Substantial research has demonstrated that senescent cells accumulate higher levels of transition metals, which in turn accelerates the process of cellular senescence and related diseases through mechanisms such as production of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), induction of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the causes of transition metal accumulation in senescent cells, as well as the mechanisms by which it further promotes cellular senescence and related diseases. The aim is to provide insights into anti-aging and treatment of aging-related diseases caused by transition metal accumulation.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disease that remains undetected until it acutely ruptures. Due to lack of effective pharmaceutic therapies, it is urgent to explore new prevention and treatment strategies. Metabolic reprogramming is a cellular process through which cells change their metabolic patterns to meet material and energy requirements, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Recently, the regulatory role of metabolic reprogramming in cardiovascular diseases, especially AAA, has attracted significant attention. This review article focuses on the research progress regarding the effects of metabolic reprogramming of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and macrophages on the occurrence and development of AAA, especially their roles in major pathological processes such as VSMCs apoptosis and phenotype transformation, extracellular matrix remodeling, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. The aim is to provide new clues for the mechanism research and clinical treatment of AAA from the perspective of metabolism.