Biology subjects

fu, x.

Publications and source records attributed to fu, x..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

3,4-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum prevents alcoholic liver injury in mice

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major health burden linked to oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, and disrupted hepatic metabolism. While Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has shown potential in alleviating ALD, the specific mechanisms and bioactive components remain unclear. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of L. plantarum fermentation liquid (PFL) and its key metabolite, 3,4-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid (HPLA), against alcohol-induced liver injury. Using acute and chronic alcohol intoxication mouse models, we demonstrated that PFL significantly reduced mortality, attenuated hepatocyte damage, and restored alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities. UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis identified HPLA as the primary active component in PFL, exhibiting potent antioxidant properties. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that HPLA mitigated oxidative stress by enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and suppressing lipid accumulation. Mechanistically, network pharmacology and molecular validation highlighted that HPLA alleviated hepatic injury by modulating the EGFR/PPAR- signaling axis, thereby counteracting alcohol-induced oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorders. These findings elucidate a novel "gut-liver" axis mechanism mediated by HPLA, offering a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of L. plantarum and its metabolites in ALD management. ImportanceNumerous animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics in treating alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we primarily created a mouse model for both acute and chronic alcoholism and discovered that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation solution significantly decreased the inflammatory response and oxidative stress caused by alcohol. Its key metabolite, 3,4-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid (HPLA), exhibited strong antioxidant properties, helping to reduce oxidative stress by preventing lipid accumulation. This research offers insights into how probiotic interventions can mitigate alcoholic liver damage, enhancing our understanding of the protective effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and emphasizing the potential of its metabolite, HPLA, as a targeted treatment for alcoholic liver disease.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Force sensing GPR133 is essential for normal balance and modulates vestibular hair cell membrane excitability via Gi signaling and CNGA3 coupling

The maintenance of normal balance sensing is a fundamental prerequisite for virtually every activity of daily life. As one set most important balance information collectors, vestibular hair cells convert mechanical stimuli from head movement into electrical signals through a mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) process. The molecular mechanism underlying equilibrioception and MET in vestibular hair cells is not well understood but is generally believed to be mediated by ion channels. However, whether these procedures are also mediated by other receptors, such as GPCRs, which are known to govern light, odorant and taste sensing, is not known. Here, by screening the expression of force-sensitive adhesion GPCRs in vestibular hair cells and phenotype profiling in animal models, we identified that a seven-transmembrane receptor, GPR133, was able to sense force in utricle hair cells and was required for maintenance of normal equilibrioception. Notably, GPR133 converted mechanical stimuli into changes in intracellular cAMP levels through Gi engagement and then modulated plasma membrane excitability and mediated MET by coupling to CNGA3 activity changes in approximately 30% of GPR133-expressing utricle hair cells. GPR133-mediated MET and its coupling with CNGA3 were recapitulated by an in vitro reconstitution system. Further chemical labeling, mass spectrometry and cryo-EM analysis provided potential structural information on force-induced GPR133 activation and Gi3 engagement. Collectively, our findings reveal the essential role of GPR133 in the maintenance of normal equilibrioception and suggest that GPCR family members can participate in the MET process in utricle hair cells through modulation of intracellular second messenger levels and ion channel coupling.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Establishment of a hypoxia ischemia reperfusion brain damagemodel in neonatal rats

ObjectiveRice-Vannucci model has been widely used as HIE (Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) animal model in the past forty years, but it does not mimic reperfusion injury that occurs during HIE. The aim of the present study was to establish a new neonatal rat model by simulating hypoxia ischemia reperfusion brain damage (HIRBD) through "common carotid artery (CCA) muscle bridge". MethodsSixty 7-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to group A (HIRBD groups, n=36), group B (Rice-Vannucci group, n=12), and group C (sham-operated group, n=12). Rats in group A were assigned to 3 subgroups (A1-A3, 12 animals/subgroup). Dynamic changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) were evaluated by the laser speckle imaging system. The status of the CCA was observed under a stereomicroscope. Changes in body weight, gross morphology as well as pathological sections of brain tissue were examined to evaluate the feasibility of the model. ResultsThe results indicated that CCA muscle bridge successfully blocked the CBF. CBF was restored after removal of the CCA muscle bridge in HIRBD groups. The CCA was in good condition after removing the muscle bridge, and blood supply was not affected. Changes in body weight, gross morphology and pathological sections of brain tissue indicated that ischemia reperfusion induced by the CCA muscle bridge method caused varying degrees of brain damage. ConclusionCCA muscle bridge method is effective for establishing a reliable, stable, and reproducible neonatal rat model for study of HIRBD.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Migration of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from the plastic film into the air and vegetables in the greenhouses

The aim of this study was to investigate di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from plastic film of the greenhouse to the air and the vegetables grown in the greenhouse. This paper presents the migration of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) by determining the di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) concentration in air and vegetables in greenhouses with the change of temperature in a day and a half year. The determination of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content in the air and the vegetables was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content in the greenhouse air increased with increasing temperature during one day, but di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content changes in vegetable were different from those in air, and which depends on the exposure time. For the monthly content changes, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content in air first increased to a maximum and then decreased with increasing time and temperature. The di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content changes of six vegetables not only were related with di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content in air and temperature, but also with varieties of vegetables.

ecology↗