Mechanistic Insights into the Effects of Exercise on Inflammatory Responses

Despite the importance of the inflammatory response in fighting infections, prolonged or unwanted inflammation is the root cause for serious human diseases including atherosclerosis and cancer. Therefore, understanding how inflammation is regulated is crucial for preventing these diseases. The objectives of this study include gaining an in-depth understanding of the molecular pathways and the regulatory elements of the inflammatory response that are altered following long-term exercise in mice. C57/Bl6 mice were randomly assigned into a control group and an exercise group. Various modes of exercise training programs were performed by the exercise group. BMDMs were isolated and were then stimulated with several inflammatory inducers. Our data from qPCR and Western Blotting demonstrate that NF-B mediated genes have been downregulated following moderate exercise and up-regulated following high intensity exercise. In addition, IRF3 mediated genes are differentially regulated following both modes of exercise. This indicates that moderate exercise reduces inflammation and high intensity exercise ug-regulates it, which might lead to improved immune responses to certain infections or faster resolving of inflammation in prolonged inflammatory conditions

Dicer regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome

Inflammation plays a critical role in initiation of adaptive immunity, pathogen clearance and tissue repair. Interleukin (IL)-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine and therefore its production is tightly regulated: its secretion requires the assembly of a macromolecular protein complex, termed the inflammasome. Aberrant activation of the inflammasome has been linked to debilitating human diseases including chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, there is a great interest in understanding how inflammasomes are regulated. Here we show that Dicer, an enzyme necessary for the production of mature micro-RNAs (miRNAs), is required for optimal activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in bone marrow macrophages. Our data indicate that miRNAs may play an important role in promoting inflammasome activation

Varying the vegetative and morphological traits of Thymus kotschyanus L. affected potassium silicate nanoparticles, superabsorbent hydrogel, effective microorganisms, and animal manure

To study the effects of some new facilitators on the vegetative and morphological traits of Thymus kotschyanus, nine treatments were tested in the experimental rangeland field at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Treatments included control, potassium silicate nanoparticles (PSN) with two levels of 500 and 1000 mg/lit, superabsorbent hydrogel (SH) with two levels of 10 and 30 g/kg, animal manure (AM) with two levels of 100, 200 g/kg, and effective microorganisms (EM) with two levels of 1 and 2%. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results of mean comparisons of treatments for Thymus kotschyanus characteristics showed that the highest amount of studied traits were observed in the treated SH 30 g/kg. These traits include plant height (19.44 cm), basal area (4.66 cm), canopy cover (99.11%), number of secondary branches (9.44) and depth of rooting (16.49 cm), aerial parts volume (26.77 cm3), root volume (17.66 cm3), aerial parts fresh weight (14.40 g), aerial parts dry weight (7.18 g), root fresh weight (3.98 g), and root dry weight (2.07 g). In general, the impact of treatments on Thymus growth traits were ranked as follows: SH 30 g/kg, PSN 1000 mg/lit, AM 200 g/kg, SH 10 g/kg, PSN 500 mg/lit, AM 100 g/kg, EM 2%, and EM 1%. In addition, the lowest plant traits were found in control. Overall, it is recommended extending the cultivation of this native medicinal plant by considering ecological conditions in each region. In addition, to promote the establishment and facilitate the growth of planted species, it is recommended using the facilitators utilized in the present work

Dicer regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Inflammation plays a critical role in initiation of adaptive immunity, pathogen clearance and tissue repair. Interleukin (IL)-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine and therefore its production is tightly regulated: its secretion requires the assembly of a macromolecular protein complex, termed the inflammasome. Aberrant activation of the inflammasome has been linked to debilitating human diseases including chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, there is a great interest in understanding how inflammasomes are regulated. Here we show that Dicer, an enzyme necessary for the production of mature micro-RNAs (miRNAs), is required for optimal activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in bone marrow macrophages. Our data indicate that miRNAs may play an important role in promoting inflammasome activation

Dicer regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Inflammation plays a critical role in initiation of adaptive immunity, pathogen clearance and tissue repair. Interleukin (IL)-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine and therefore its production is tightly regulated: its secretion requires the assembly of a macromolecular protein complex, termed the inflammasome. Aberrant activation of the inflammasome has been linked to debilitating human diseases including chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, there is a great interest in understanding how inflammasomes are regulated. Here we show that Dicer, an enzyme necessary for the production of mature micro-RNAs (miRNAs), is required for optimal activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in bone marrow macrophages. Our data indicate that miRNAs may play an important role in promoting inflammasome activation

Leaf Area Index Variations in Ecoregions of Ardabil Province, Iran

The leaf area index (LAI) is an important vegetation biophysical index that provides broad information on the dynamic behavior of an ecosystem’s productivity and related climate, topography, and edaphic impacts. The spatiotemporal changes of LAI were assessed throughout Ardabil Province—a host of relevant plant communities within the critical ecoregion of a semi-arid climate. In a comparative study, novel data from Google Earth Engine (GEE) was tested against traditional ENVI measures to provide LAI estimations. Moreover, it is of important practical significance for institutional networks to quantitatively and accurately estimate LAI, at large areas in a short time, and using appropriate baseline vegetation indices. Therefore, LAI was characterized for ecoregions of Ardabil Province using remote sensing indices extracted from Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), including the Enhanced Vegetation Index calculated in GEE (EVIG) and ENVI5.3 software (EVIE), as well as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index estimated in ENVI5.3 software (NDVIE). Moreover, a new field measurement method, i.e., the LaiPen LP 100 portable device (LP 100), was used to evaluate the accuracy of the derived indices. Accordingly, the LAI was measured in June and July 2020, in 822 ground points distributed in 16 different ecoregions-sub ecoregions having various plant functional types (PFTs) of the shrub, bush, and tree. The analyses revealed heterogeneous spatial and temporal variability in vegetation indices and LAIs within and between ecoregions. The mean (standard deviation) value of EVIG, EVIE, and NDVIE at a province scale yielded 1.1 (0.41), 2.20 (0.78), and 3.00 (1.01), respectively in June, and 0.67 (0.37), 0.80 (0.63), and 1.88 (1.23), respectively, in July. The highest mean values of EVIG-LAI, EVIE-LAI, and NDVIE-LAI in June are found in Meshginshahr (1.40), Meshginshahr (2.80), and Hir (4.33) ecoregions and in July are found in Andabil ecoregion respectively with values of 1.23, 1.5, and 3.64. The lowest mean values of EVIG-LAI, EVIE-LAI, and NDVIE-LAI in June were observed for Kowsar (0.67), Meshginshahr (1.8), and Neur (2.70) ecoregions, and in July, the Bilesavar ecoregion, respectively, with values of 0.31, 0.31, and 0.81. High correlation and determination coefficients (r > 0.83 and R2 > 0.68) between LP 100 and remote sensing derived LAI were observed in all three PFTs (except for NDVIE-LAI in June with r = 0.56 and R2 = 0.31). On average, all three examined LAI measures tended to underestimate compared to LP 100-LAI (r > 0.42). The findings of the present study could be promising for effective monitoring and proper management of vegetation and land use in the Ardabil Province and other similar areas

Multisensor assessment of leaf area index across ecoregions of Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran

Leaf area index (LAI), one of the most crucial vegetation biophysical variables, is required to evaluate the structural characteristic of plant communities. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the LAI of ecoregions in Iran obtained using Sentinel-2B, Landsat 8 (OLI), MODIS, and AVHRR data in June and July 2020. A field survey was performed in different ecoregions throughout Ardabil Province during June and July 2020 under the satellite image dates. A Laipen LP 100 (LP 100) field-portable device was used to measure the LAI in 822 samples with different plant functional types (PFTs) of shrubs, bushes, and trees. The LAI was estimated using the SNAPv7.0.4 (Sentinel Application Platform) software for Sentinel-2B data and Google Earth Engine (GEE) system–based EVI for Landsat 8. At the same time, for MODIS and AVHRR, the LAI products of GEE were considered. The results of all satellite-based methods verified the LAI variations in space and time for every PFT. Based on Sentinel-2B, Landsat 8, MODIS, and AVHRR application, the minimum and maximum LAIs were respectively obtained at 0.14–1.78, 0.09–3.74, 0.82–4.69, and 0.35–2.73 for shrubs; 0.17–5.17, 0.3–2.3, 0.59–3.84, and 0.63–3.47 for bushes; and 0.3–4.4, 0.3–4.5, 0.7–4.3, and 0.5–3.3 for trees. These estimated values were lower than the LAI values of LP 100 (i.e., 0.4–4.10 for shrubs, 1.6–7.7 for bushes, and 3.1–6.8 for trees). A significant correlation (p 0.63 and R2 > 0.89), Landsat 8 (|r| > 0.50 and R2 > 0.72), MODIS (|r| > 0.65 and R2 > 0.88), and AVHRR (|r| > 0.59 and R2 > 0.68). Due to its high spatial resolution and relatively significant correlation with terrestrial data, Sentinel-2B was more suitable for calculating the LAI. The results obtained from this study can be used in future studies on sustainable rangeland management and conservation

Anthropogenic Decline of Ecosystem Services Threatens the Integrity of the Unique Hyrcanian (Caspian) Forests in Northern Iran

The unique Hyrcanian (Caspian) forests of northern Iran provide vital ecosystem services for local and global communities. We assess the status and trends of key ecosystem services in this region where native forest conversion has accelerated to make way for housing and farm development. This is a mountainous forested area that is valuable for both conservation and multiple human uses including recreation and farming. It contains globally significant natural habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity. A rapid, qualitative, and participatory approach was used including interviews with local households and experts in combination with assessment of land use/cover remote sensing data to identify and map priority ecosystem services in the Geographic Information System (GIS). Based on the interests of the beneficiaries, eight priority services (food production, water supply, raw materials, soil conservation, water regulation, climate regulation, biodiversity, and recreation) were identified and mapped. The results indicate the current typical spatial distribution of the provided services based on structural characteristics of the study landscape and their changing trends through a comparison of past, present and future land use, and land cover. Although food production and recreation have greatly increased in recent decades, the other services, in particular timber production, biodiversity, and water purification and supply are being gradually lost. The results of this study and of others elsewhere should raise awareness of ecosystem service status and trends and the value of examining these since they provide much of the information to inform natural resources policy and decision making. The declines in supply of key ecosystem services both within and outside the protected area are creating conflicts within communities as well as impacting on the integrity of the area and careful planning and conservation is required to provide win-win opportunities