Effect of beraprost sodium on renal function and p38MAPK signaling pathway in rats with diabetic nephropathy

Purpose: To investigate the effect of beraprost sodium (BPS) on renal function and P38MAPK pathway in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats.Methods: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30) were randomly divided into three groups, viz, normal control (NC), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and beraprost sodium (BPS). Creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and fasting blood glucose (FBG), were determined by Hitachi 7020 automatic biochemical analyzer, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured by Olympus 400 automatic biochemical analyzer. Western blot analysis was performed to examine protein expression. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), hs-CRP, and TNF-α levels were evaluated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: After 8 weeks of treatment, renal function indices (urine output, KW/BW, UAlb/24 h, Cr and BUN), blood lipid indices (FBG, LDL-C, TG and TC) and inflammatory factors levels (IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α) in DN group were higher than NC group (p < 0.05). In BPS group, renal function and blood lipid indices and inflammatory factor levels decreased when compared to DN group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, BPS inhibited the protein expression of p-P38MAPK, TGF-β1 and COX-2.Conclusion: Beraprost sodium improves renal function in DN rats by inhibiting P38MAPK signalingpathway

Characterization of New Gambierones Produced by <i>Gambierdiscus balechii</i> 1123M1M10

The benthic dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus is the primary producer of toxins responsible for ciguatera poisoning (CP), a food intoxication endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. We used high-performance liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) to investigate the toxin profile of Gambierdiscus balechii 1123M1M10, which was obtained from Marakei Island (2°01′N, 173°15′E), Republic of Kiribati, located in the central Pacific Ocean. Four new gambierone analogues including 12,13-dihydro-44-methylgambierone, 38-dehydroxy-12,13-dihydro-44-methylgambierone, 38-dehydroxy-44-methylgambierone, and desulfo-hydroxyl gambierone, and two known compounds, gambierone and 44-methylgambierone, were proposed by analyzing their fragmentation behaviors and pathways. Our findings provide new insights into the toxin profile of Gambierdiscus balechii 1123M1M10, which can be used as a biomarker for species identification, and lay the foundation for further toxin isolation and bioactivity studies of gambierones

Characterizing the Influence of a Heterotrophic Bicosoecid Flagellate <i>Pseudobodo</i> sp. on the Dinoflagellate <i>Gambierdiscus balechii</i>

Microbial interactions including competition, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and predation, which can be triggered by nutrient acquisition and chemical communication, are universal phenomena in the marine ecosystem. The interactions may influence the microbial population density, metabolism, and even their environmental functions. Herein, we investigated the interaction between a heterotrophic bicosoecid flagellate, Pseudobodo sp. (Bicoecea), and a dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus balechii (Dinophyceae), which is a well-known ciguatera food poisoning (CFP) culprit. The presence of Pseudobodo sp. inhibited the algal proliferation and decreased the cardiotoxicity of zebrafish in the algal extract exposure experiment. Moreover, a significant difference in microbiome abundance was observed in algal cultures with and without Pseudobodo sp. Chemical analysis targeting toxins was performed by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with molecular networking (MN), showing a significant alteration in the cellular production of gambierone analogs and some super-carbon chain compounds. Taken together, our results demonstrated the impact of heterotrophic flagellate on the photosynthetic dinoflagellates, revealing the complex dynamics of algal toxin production and the ecological relationships related to dinoflagellates in the marine environment