Search Results (182)

Excavating new salt tolerance genes and utilizing them to improve salt-tolerant wheat varieties is an effective way to utilize salinized soil. The NAC gene family plays an important role in plant response to salt stress. In this study, 446 NAC sequences were isolated from the whole genome of common wheat and classified into 118 members based on subgenome homology, named TaNAC1 to TaNAC118. Transcriptome analysis of salt-tolerant wheat breeding line CH7034 roots revealed that 144 of the 446 TaNAC genes showed significant changes in expression levels at least two time points after NaCl treatment. These differentially expressed TaNACs were divided into four groups, and Group 4, containing the largest number of 78 genes, exhibited a successive upregulation trend after salt treatment. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TaNAC gene family in 114 wheat germplasms were retrieved from the public database and were subjected to further association analysis with the relative salt-injury rates (RSIRs) of six root phenotypes, and then 20 SNPs distributed on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 2D, 3B, 3D, 5B, 5D, and 7A were correlated with phenotypes involving salt tolerance (p < 0.0001). Combining the results of RT-qPCR and association analysis, we further selected three NAC genes from Group 4 as candidate genes that related to salt tolerance, including TaNAC26-D3.2, TaNAC33-B, and TaNAC40-B. Compared with the wild type, the roots of the tanac26-d3.2 mutant showed shorter length, less volume, and reduced biomass after being subjected to salt stress. Four SNPs of TaNAC26-D3.2 formed two haplotypes, Hap1 and Hap2, and germplasms with Hap2 exhibited better salt tolerance. Snp3, in exon 3 of TaNAC26-D3.2, causing a synonymous mutation, was developed into a Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR marker, K3, to distinguish the two haplotypes, which can be further used for wheat germplasm screening or marker-assisted breeding. This study provides new genes and molecular markers for improvement of salt tolerance in wheat. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is increasingly recognized as a global health concern due to its association with metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis. While probiotics offer promise in regulating gut microbiota and improving host metabolism, strain-specific effects remain underexplored, particularly for canine-derived probiotics. This study aimed to isolate and characterize a novel probiotic strain, Ligilactobacillus animalis LA-1, and evaluate its anti-obesity effects and underlying mechanisms using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Methods: LA-1 was isolated from the feces of a healthy dog and assessed for probiotic potential in vitro, including gastrointestinal tolerance, bile salt hydrolase activity, cholesterol-lowering capacity, and fatty acid absorption. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a standard chow diet or an HFD for 16 weeks, with HFD mice receiving oral LA-1 supplementation (2 × 10⁹ CFU/day). Multi-omics analyses, including 16S rRNA gene sequencing, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) quantification, and untargeted liver metabolomics, were employed to investigate the effects of LA-1 on gut microbiota composition, metabolic pathways, and obesity-related phenotypes. Results: LA-1 supplementation significantly alleviated HFD-induced weight gain, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose tissue hypertrophy, without affecting food intake. It improved serum lipid profiles, reduced liver injury markers, and partially restored gut microbiota composition, decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enriching SCFA-producing genera. Total SCFA levels, particularly acetate, propionate, and butyrate, increased following LA-1 treatment. Liver metabolomics revealed that LA-1 modulated pathways involved in lipid and amino acid metabolism, resulting in decreased levels of acetyl-CoA, triglycerides, and bile acids. Conclusions: L. animalis LA-1 exerts anti-obesity effects via gut microbiota modulation, enhanced SCFA production, and hepatic metabolic reprogramming. These findings highlight its potential as a targeted probiotic intervention for obesity and metabolic disorders. Full article

Stroke poses a serious threat to human health, while there are very few drugs that can directly alleviate ischemia/reperfusion injury and improve the prognosis. Studies have shown that small-molecule activators of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) have the potential to become novel therapeutic drugs for ischemic stroke. In this study, through the systematic structural optimization of novel N-benzylaniline-based ALDH2 activators obtained from our previous virtual screening, ALDH2 activators with improved water solubility and activity were obtained. Among them, compound D10 exhibits the best activity, with a maximum activation fold reaching 114% relative to Alda-1. And the water solubility of its hydrochloride salt D27 was increased by more than 200-fold. The intravenous injection of this compound can significantly reduce the infarct area in the rat model of cerebral infarction compared with the model group. This study lays a good foundation for the future research on ALDH2 activators used in the treatment of stroke. Full article

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a multifunctional protease inhibitor that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in various diseases. AAT has been reported to protect against renal injury via anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its role in mitigating renal inflammation and reducing high blood pressure induced by salt-loading has never been studied. Methods: In this study, we salt-loaded 129Sv mice to induce hypertension and then administered purified human AAT (hAAT) or the vehicle to investigate whether renal inflammation and associated inflammatory/signaling pathways are mitigated. Results: Western blotting and densitometric analysis showed administration of hAAT attenuated protein expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM1), CD93, CD36, and the toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR-2/4) in kidney lysates. Similarly, protein expression of two key inflammatory transcription factors, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and NF-Kappa B were shown to be attenuated in the kidneys of 129Sv mice that received hAAT. Conversely, hAAT treatment upregulated the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and immunohistochemistry confirmed these findings. Conclusions: Purified hAAT administration may be efficacious in mitigating renal inflammation associated with the development of hypertension from salt-loading, potentially through a mechanism involving the reduction of pro-inflammatory and injury-associated proteins. Full article

Reclaimed water provides a sustainable and economical alternative for landscape irrigation, but its elevated salinity can negatively impact sensitive plant species. This study evaluated the salinity tolerance of two widely used ornamental grasses, Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) and Pennisetum alopecuroides (fountain grass), under three electrical conductivity (EC) levels: 1.2 (control), 5.0, and 10.0 dS·m⁻¹. Visual assessments over 62 days showed that both species maintained an acceptable appearance under saline conditions. C. citratus exhibited no foliar damage, with visual scores above 4.6 even at 10.0 dS·m⁻¹, whereas P. alopecuroides showed slight leaf injury but retained a score of 3.9 or higher. Growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry weight, decreased significantly in C. citratus with increasing salinity, particularly at 10.0 dS·m⁻¹, where reductions reached up to 51.1%. In contrast, P. alopecuroides maintained stable growth indices under salt stress, although leaf area and tiller number were notably affected at high EC levels. Both species accumulated substantial amounts of sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻); C. citratus showed more pronounced ion accumulation than P. alopecuroides. These findings suggest that both grasses are suitable for landscaping in saline environments, although they employ different physiological strategies to cope with salt stress. Full article

Against the background of increasing global soil salinity, exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and melatonin (MT) have attracted much attention for their potential in regulating plant stress tolerance and have become an important research direction for the development of green and sustainable agriculture. In this study, the alleviating effects of different concentrations of SA (100–900 μM) and MT (100–900 μM) on salt stress (50 mM NaCl) and their physiological mechanisms were systematically investigated using the Tianjin specialty rice, Xiaozhan rice, as the research object. The results showed that salt stress significantly inhibited the germination and seedling growth of the two varieties, in which the salt-sensitive variety Jinchuan No. 1 showed significantly higher decreases in root length, plant height, and biomass (54.7–69.1%) than the salt-tolerant variety Jindao 919 (4.0–28.9%). Exogenous SA and MT were effective in mitigating salt stress injury, but there were genotypic differences in their pathways of action. For the first time in japonica rice, the genotype specificity of the SA/MT response was clearly revealed: SA dominated the response of salt-tolerant varieties by enhancing antioxidant defences, whereas MT optimized the overall performance of the salt-sensitive varieties through scavenging of reactive oxygen species, and in addition, it was further determined that SA and MT exhibited optimal mitigating effects on both varieties in the 300–700 μM concentration range, showing the best mitigation effect for both varieties. This finding provides an important theoretical basis and technological paradigm for precision stress tolerance cultivation of saline rice, and the application of appropriate concentrations of SA/MT according to genotype specificity to reduce the dependence on agrochemicals is of practical value in promoting green and sustainable production in saline agriculture. Full article

The present research was designed to assess the potential effect of SNP to alleviate salinity stress injury in fig transplants cv. Conadria. One-year-old transplants irrigated with saline water (6.25 ds/m) were treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at four concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 µM); untreated transplants exposed to salt stress represent the positive control, while the non-stressed transplants represent the negative control. Salt stress showed a considerable increase in lipid peroxidation, proline, sodium, chloride content and antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced vegetative growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, phenolic content and K/Na ratio. SNP reduced salt stress injury in fig transplants through maintaining higher values of growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content, reducing sodium accumulation and maintaining the integrity of cell membrane lipids. SNP-treated transplants accumulated higher amounts of potassium ions and a higher K/Na ratio. SNP at 100 µM was the most efficient treatment in enhancing the response to salt stress. Overall, the results show that SNP application is a promising practice for alleviating salt stress on fig transplants. Full article

Background/Objectives: Indigo naturalis (IN) is a traditional Chinese medicine concocted from medicinal plants such as Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. IN has multifaceted pharmacological activities. Recent research highlights the remarkable efficacy of IN in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). This study investigates the efficacy of Indigo Naturalis prepared using a novel method (NIN) in ameliorating UC. Methods: We have developed a new IN processing technology without the use of lime. Correspondingly, the content of active ingredients has relatively increased in NIN. In this study, dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced UC models among male KM mice, and the protective effects of NIN on UC were verified. Results: NIN could significantly improve weight loss, diarrhea and prolapse, bloody stools, elevated Disease Activity Index (DAI) and alleviate the colitis symptoms of mice; it could also improve the shortening of colon, disappearance of intestinal crypts, epithelial cell destruction and inflammatory infiltration caused by UC; and it could also significantly reduce the Histological Index (HI). In addition, NIN relieved the inflammatory response by decreasing the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and elevating the content of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-22. It also restored the intestinal mucosal barrier by increasing the level of MUC2 protein expression at the site of colonic injury. Conclusions: The significant effects of NIN on UC were verified for the first time, suggesting that NIN was worth further developing into a novel therapeutic drug and, necessarily, further safety evaluations and comparisons with traditional IN will help in the application of NIN. Full article

Secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine (SPARC), one of the extracellular matrix proteins, is highly induced during inflammation. We investigated the pathophysiological regulation and role of SPARC in vascular inflammation in a rat model of hypertension created using deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA, 40 mg/kg/week, s.c.) and salt (1% in drinking water). DOCA–salt administration time-dependently increased systolic blood pressure during the 3-week treatment period, blunted endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression in the aorta. SPARC expression transiently increased until week 2 in the DOCA–salt rat aorta. Interestingly, aortic SPARC levels correlated with blood pressure and the levels of MCP-1 and LOX-1 during 0–2 weeks. The AT₁ receptor blocker, losartan, suppressed the overexpression of SPARC, and in vitro treatment with angiotensin II enhanced the production of SPARC in rat aortic endothelial cells. Exposure to recombinant SPARC protein induced overexpression of MCP-1 and LOX-1 mRNA in endothelial cells. Bioactive forms of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif (ADAMTS1), excessive activation of which contributes to pathological states and overexpression of which is reported to be induced by SPARC, were increased in the DOCA–salt rat aorta. These results suggest that SPARC is induced by the vascular renin–angiotensin system and causes inflammation in the early stages of hypertensive vascular injury, and that activation of ADAMTS1 might be related to the proinflammatory effects of SPARC. Full article

Background: Most of the grasslands in China are experiencing varying degrees of degradation, desertification, and salinization (collectively referred to as the “three degradations”), posing a serious threat to the country’s ecological security. Agropyron desertorum, known for its wide distribution, strong adaptability, and resistance, is an excellent grass species for the ecological restoration of grasslands affected by the “three degradations”. This study focused on two currently popular varieties of A. desertorum, exploring their salt tolerance mechanisms and identifying candidate genes for salt and alkali tolerance. Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was performed on two varieties of A. desertorum during the seed germination and seedling stages under varying degrees of saline–alkali stress. At the seed stage, we measured the germination rate, relative germination rate, germination index, and salt injury rate under different NaCl concentrations. During the seedling stage, physiological indicators, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline (PRO), soluble protein (SP), and catalase (CAT), were analyzed after exposure to 30, 60, 120, and 180 mM NaCl for 12 days. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 6 and 24 h post-treatment with 120 mM NaCl revealed significant differences in the salt stress responses between the two cultivars. Results: Our study indicates that during the seed stage, A. desertorum (Schult.) exhibits a higher relative germination potential, relative germination rate, and relative germination index, along with a lower relative salt injury rate compared to A. desertorum cv. Nordan. Compared with A. desertorum cv. Nordan, A. desertorum (Schult.) has higher salt tolerance, which is related to its stronger antioxidant activity and different antioxidant-related pathways. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to identify the key biological processes and pathways involved in salt tolerance, including plant hormone signal transduction, antioxidant defense, and cell membrane stability. Conclusions: A. desertorum (Schult.) exhibits stronger salt tolerance than A. desertorum cv. Nordan. Salt stress at a concentration of 30–60 mM promotes the germination of the seeds of both Agropyron cultivars. The two Agropyron plants mainly overcome the damage caused by salt stress through the AsA-GSH pathway. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in Agropyron species and lays the groundwork for future breeding programs aimed at improving salt tolerance in desert grasses. Full article

As a probiotic strain isolated from Hongqu rice wine (a traditional Chinese fermented food), Limosilactobacillus fermentum FZU501 (designated as Lf) demonstrates exceptional gastric acid and bile salt tolerance, showing potential application as a functional food. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of dietary Lf intervention on alcohol-induced liver injury (ALI) in mice. The results demonstrated that oral administration of Lf effectively ameliorated alcohol-induced lipid metabolism disorders by reducing the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C and increasing the serum levels of HDL-C. In addition, oral administration of Lf effectively prevented alcohol-induced liver damage by increasing the hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH-Px) and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH and ALDH). Interestingly, 16S amplicon sequencing showed that oral administration of Lf increased the number of Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Lactobacillus, but decreased the proportion of Faecalibaculum, Adlercreutzia and Alistipes in the intestines of mice that consumed excessive alcohol, which was highly associated with improved liver function. As revealed by liver untargeted metabolomics studies, oral Lf clearly changed liver metabolic profiles, with the signature biomarkers mainly involving purine metabolism, taurine metabolism, tryptophan, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamate metabolism, etc. Additionally, Lf intervention regulated liver gene transcription in over-drinking mice for cholesterol metabolism, bile acid metabolism, fatty acid β-oxidation, alcohol metabolism and oxidative stress. Taken together, the above research results provide solid scientific support for the biological activity of Lf in ameliorating alcohol-induced liver metabolism disorder and intestinal microbiota imbalance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental avulsion involves the complete displacement of the tooth from its socket and falls into the most severe categories of the various types of traumatic dental injuries. Successful replantation of the tooth depends on various factors such as the time between the event and replantation, as well as the extra-alveolar storage medium and duration. The adoption of the correct handling measures and use of an appropriate storage medium are key factors that affect the long-term prognosis of the avulsed tooth following replantation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine if Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) is the most effective storage medium to preserve periodontal (PDL) cell viability following avulsion. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature available was conducted on the 18 November 2024 across three databases, namely EBSCO (including PubMed-Medline), Scopus, and Web of Science. The review was written according to and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement created in 2009 and updated in 2020. The following PICO question was constructed for the systematic review: “In patients with avulsed permanent teeth, is Hank’s balanced salt solution more effective in preserving periodontal cell viability to increase the likelihood of a more successful replantation than any other storage media technique available?” A meta-analysis was also conducted with the selected studies, and the software used for this was R 4.3.1 (R Core Team (2018)). Results: A total number of 443 articles were found in the initial search. Of these 443, 9 articles were included in the final systematic review and meta-analysis. 6 out of the 9 articles conclude HBSS to be the most superior storage medium for the preservation of the PDL cells, whilst the other three concluded PDL cell preservation was higher in Morinda citrifolia juice, propolis, and coconut water, suggesting a suitable alternative to HBSS. Nonetheless, the meta-analysis indicated that PDL cell viability was significantly higher using HBSS compared to all other storage media. Conclusions: The systematic review and meta-analysis have provided adequate data in favor of the alternative hypothesis, indicating that Hank’s balanced salt solution is the most effective storage medium in the preservation of periodontal cell viability following the avulsion of permanent teeth. Full article

The tomato is among the crops with the most extensive cultivated area and greatest consumption in our nation; nonetheless, secondary salinization of facility soil significantly hinders the sustainable growth of facility agriculture. Melatonin (MT), as an innovative plant growth regulator, is essential in stress responses. This research used a hydroponic setup to replicate saline stress conditions. Different endogenous levels of melatonin (MT) were established by foliar spraying of 100 μmol·L⁻¹ MT, the MT synthesis inhibitor p-CPA (100 μmol·L⁻¹), and a combination of p-CPA and MT, to investigate the mechanism by which MT mitigates the effects of salt stress on the photosynthetic efficiency of tomato seedlings. Results indicated that after six days of salt stress, the endogenous MT content in tomato seedlings drastically decreased, with declines in the net photosynthetic rate and photosystem performance indices (PI_total and PI_abs). The OJIP fluorescence curve exhibited distortion, characterized by anomalous K-band and L-band manifestations. Exogenous MT dramatically enhanced the gene (TrpDC, T5H, SNAcT, and AcSNMT) expression of critical enzymes in MT synthesis, therefore boosting the level of endogenous MT. The application of MT enhanced the photosynthetic parameters. MT treatment decreased the fluorescence intensities of the J-phase and I-phase in the OJIP curve under salt stress, attenuated the irregularities in the K-band and L-band performance, and concurrently enhanced quantum yield and energy partitioning ratios. It specifically elevated φP_o, φE_o, and ψ_o, while decreasing φD_o. The therapy enhanced parameters of both the membrane model (ABS/RC, DI_o/RC, ET_o/RC, and TR_o/RC) and leaf model (ABS/CS_m, TR_o/CS_m, ET_o/CS_m, and DI_o/CS_m). Conversely, the injection of exogenous p-CPA exacerbated salt stress-related damage to the photosystem of tomato seedlings and diminished the beneficial effects of MT. The findings suggest that exogenous MT mitigates salt stress-induced photoinhibition by (1) modulating endogenous MT concentrations, (2) augmenting PSII reaction center functionality, (3) safeguarding the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), (4) reinstating PSI redox potential, (5) facilitating photosynthetic electron transport, and (6) optimizing energy absorption and dissipation. As a result, MT markedly enhanced photochemical performance and facilitated development and salt stress resilience in tomato seedlings. Full article

Liver fibrosis, caused by chronic hepatic injury, is a major threat to human health worldwide, as there are no specific drugs available for its treatment. Natural compounds, such as berberine (BBR) and quercetin (QR), have shown the ability to regulate energy metabolism and protect the liver without significant adverse effects. Additionally, combination therapy (the cocktail therapy approach), using multiple drugs, has shown promise in treating complicated conditions, including liver injury. In this study, we prepared a salt formulation of BBR and QR (BQS) to enhance their combined effect on liver fibrosis. The formation of BQS was confirmed using various analytical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that the dissolution efficiency and bioavailability of QR significantly increased in the BQS form, aligning with that of BBR, compared to the physically mixed (BQP) form. Moreover, BQS exhibited a superior inhibitory effect on fibrosis compared to BQP in the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 by modulating lipid accumulation, inflammation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle. Furthermore, in a mouse model of hepatic fibrosis induced by methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diets, BQS demonstrated enhanced anti-fibrotic activities compared to BQP. These findings suggest that BQS holds promise as a potential alternative treatment for liver fibrosis. Importantly, this study provides novel insights into achieving a cocktail effect through the salt formation of two or more drugs. The results highlight the potential of salt formulations in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and consistent biological processes of drug combinations. Full article

Currently, developing cotton cultivation in saline–alkali soils is a vital focus for restructuring the cotton industry in China. The seedling stage, specifically the three-leaf stage, is a crucial period for assessing the salt tolerance of cotton. This research examined 430 natural populations of upland cotton, including 45 semi-wild germlines of Gossypium purpurascens. We measured the phenotypic responses of salt stress injury on seedlings as well as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in the roots, stems, and leaves following a 72 h exposure. The comprehensive salt tolerance index (CSTI) was determined using a membership function, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis based on 48 phenotypic traits related to salt tolerance. The results revealed significant variations in the phenotypic traits of the ion group under salt stress. Salt stress greatly affected the relative contents of Mg, K, and Ca ions in the aboveground parts of cotton, and correlations were observed among the 48 indices. The CSTI was calculated using seven principal component indexes, identifying 30 salt-tolerant, 114 weakly salt-tolerant, 39 salt-sensitive, and 4 highly sensitive materials based on cluster analysis. Among the 45 G. purpurascens cotton resources, 28 were weakly salt-tolerant, while 17 were salt-sensitive. Through TMT (Tandem Mass Tag)-based quantitative analysis, we identified 3107 unique peptides among 28,642 detected peptides, resulting in 203,869 secondary mass spectra, with 50,039 spectra successfully matched to peptides. Additionally, we identified several salt tolerance-related pathways (carbon metabolism; glutathione metabolism; the biosynthesis of amino acids, etc.) and proteins classified within the CAZy (Carbohydrate-Active EnZYme) family and expansin proteins. The results of this study concerning salt-tolerant materials provide a crucial theoretical foundation for the identification and evaluation of salt-tolerant breeding parents in cultivated cotton. Full article