Search Results (5)

Bombyx batryticatus (BB) is one of the most commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) in the treatment of convulsions and epilepsy. The antiepileptic effects of total proteins from BB (BBPs) have been proven in our previous research. In this study, BBPs were further purified, the neuroprotective effects were evaluated in Glu-stimulated PC12 cells, and the structure was identified by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Six subfractions (PF-1 to PF-6) were obtained by DEAE-52 Sepharose FF ion-exchange chromatography. It was found that PF-1, PF-2, and PF-3, with similar protein compositions, possessed neuroprotective effects in Glu-stimulated PC12 cells by significantly increasing the GABA level, and decreasing the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. The most active fraction (PF-2) was further separated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography, and an effective protein component named PF-2-2 was obtained. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled PF-2-2 (FITC-PF-2-2) was prepared, and the binding of FITC-F-2-2 to the PC12 cells was directly observed with a confocal microscope. PF-2-2 was found to first bind to the surface of PC12 cells and then internalize into the cells. The main band of PF-2-2 was then analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and searched in the MASCOT database; finally a protein named Low molecular mass 30 kDa lipoprotein 21G1 was identified. In conclusion, PF-2-2 and purified proteins isolated from BBPs have potential application prospects in the treatment of epilepsy. Full article

Bombyx batryticatus, a protein-rich edible insect, is widely used as a traditional medicine in China. Several pharmacological studies have reported the anticancer activity of B. batryticatus extracts; however, the capacity of B. batryticatus extracts as immune potentiators for increasing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy is still unverified. In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulatory role of B. batryticatus protein-rich extract (BBPE) in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and DC vaccine-immunized mice. BBPE-treated BMDCs displayed characteristics of mature immune status, including high expression of surface molecules (CD80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I, and MHC-II), increased production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-12p70), enhanced antigen-presenting ability, and reduced endocytosis. BBPE-treated BMDCs promoted naive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation and activation. Furthermore, BBPE/ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsed DC-immunized mice showed a stronger OVA-specific multifunctional T-cell response in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and a stronger Th1 antibody response than mice receiving differently treated DCs, which showed the enhanced protective effect against tumor growth in E.G7 tumor-bearing mice. Our data demonstrate that BBPE can be a novel immune potentiator for a DC-based vaccine in anticancer therapy. Full article

Bombyx Batryticatus (BB) is a known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) utilized to treat convulsions, epilepsy, cough, asthma, headaches, etc. in China for thousands of years. This study is aimed at investigating optimum extraction of protein-rich extracts from BB (BBPs) using response surface methodology (RSM) and exploring the protective effects of BBPs against nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced PC12 cells injured by glutamate (Glu) and their underlying mechanisms. The results indicated optimum process of extraction was as follows: extraction time 1.00 h, ratio of liquid to the raw material 3.80 mL/g and ultrasonic power 230.0 W. The cell viability of PC12 cells stimulated by Glu was determined by CCK-8 assay. The levels of γ-aminobutyric (GABA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR) in PC12 cells were assayed by ELISA. Furthermore, the Ca²⁺ levels in PC12 cells were determined by flow cytometry analysis. Protein and mRNA expressions of GABAA-Rα1, NMDAR1, GAD 65, GAD 67, GAT 1 and GAT 3 in PC12 cells were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting assays. Results revealed that BBPs decreased toxic effects due to Glu treatment and decreased Ca²⁺ levels in PC12 cells. After BBPs treatments, levels of GABA and 5-HT were increased and contents of TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-1β were decreased in NGF-induced PC12 cells injured by Glu. Moreover, BBPs up-regulated the expressions of GABAA-Rα1, GAD 65 and GAD 67, whereas down-regulated that of NMDAR1 GAT 1 and GAT 3. These findings suggested that BBPs possessed protective effects on NGF-induced PC12 cells injured by Glu via γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) signaling pathways, which demonstrated that BBPs has potential anti-epileptic effect in vitro. These findings may be useful in the development of novel medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. Full article

The traditional Chinese drug Bombyx Batryticatus (BB), which is also named the white stiff silkworm, has been widely used in Chinese clinics for thousands of years. It is famous for its antispasmodic and blood circulation-promoting effects. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial cell hyperplasia, and myocardial fibrosis are closely related to the N-glycosylation of key proteins. To examine the alterations of N-glycosylation that occur in diabetic myocardium during the early stage of the disease, and to clarify the therapeutic effect of 1-Deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) extracted from BB, we used the db/db (diabetic) mouse model and an approach based on hydrophilic chromatography solid-phase extraction integrated with an liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS) identification strategy to perform a site-specific N-glycosylation analysis of left ventricular cardiomyocyte proteins. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), hydroxyproline, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and other serum biochemical indicators were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In addition, the α-1,6-fucosylation of N-glycans was profiled with lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) lectin blots and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectin affinity histochemistry. The results indicated that 1-DNJ administration obviously downregulated myocardium protein N-glycosylation in db/db mice. The expression levels of serum indicators and fibrosis-related cytokines were reduced significantly by 1-DNJ in a dose-dependent manner. The glycan α-1,6-fucosylation level of the db/db mouse myocardium was elevated, and the intervention effect of 1-DNJ administration on N-glycan α-1,6-fucosylation was significant. To verify this result, the well-known transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad2/3 pathway was selected, and core α-1,6-fucosylated TGF-β receptor II (TGFR-βII) was analysed semi-quantitatively with western blotting. The result supported the conclusions obtained from LCA lectin affinity histochemistry and lectin blot analysis. The expression level of α-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) mRNA was also detected, and the results showed that 1-DNJ administration did not cause obvious inhibitory effects on FUT8 expression. Therefore, the mechanism of 1-DNJ for relieving diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM)-associated fibrosis can be concluded as the inhibition of N-acetylglucosamine (N-GlcNAc) formation and the reduction of substrate concentration. Full article

Bombyx batryticatus (B. batryticatus), a well-known traditional animal Chinese medicine, has been commonly used in China for thousands of years. The present paper reviewed advances in traditional uses, origin, chemical constituents, pharmacology and toxicity studies of B. batryticatus. The aim of the paper is to provide more comprehensive references for modern B. batryticatus study and application. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture, drugs containing B. batryticatus have been used to treat convulsions, headaches, skin prurigo, scrofula, tonsillitis and fever. Many studies indicate B. batryticatus contains various compounds, including protein and peptides, fatty acids, flavonoids, nucleosides, steroids, coumarin, polysaccharide and others. Numerous investigations also have shown that extracts and compounds from B. batryticatus exert a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects both in vivo and in vitro, including effects on the nervous system, anticoagulant effects, antitumor effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, antioxidant effects, hypoglycemic effects, as well as other effects. However, further studies should be undertaken to investigate bioactive compounds (especially proteins and peptides), toxic constituents, using forms and the quality evaluation and control of B. batryticatus. Furthermore, it will be interesting to study the mechanism of biological activities and structure-function relationships of bioactive constituents in B. batryticatus. Full article