Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone on fat metabolism and cognitive impairment in women during menopause

Lipid metabolism disorder is a common pathological manifestation of menopausal women, and is also an important risk factor for many diseases at this stage of life. Epidemiological studies have shown that high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in menopausal women are closely associated with changes in body composition, central obesity, and cognitive decline. Exogenous FSH causes growth and proliferation of adipose, whereas blockage of the FSH signaling pathway leads to decline in adipose. Mechanistically, FSH, FSH receptor (FSHR), G protein coupling, gene mutation and other pathways are involved in adipogenesis and cognitive impairment. Here, we review the critical role and potential interactions of FSH in adipogenesis and cognitive impairment in menopausal women. Further understanding of the exact mechanisms of FSH aggravating obesity and cognitive impairment may provide a new perspective for promoting healthy aging in menopausal women

Dual-color immunofluorescent labeling with quantum dots of the diabetes-associated proteins aldose reductase and Toll-like receptor 4 in the kidneys of diabetic rats

Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases diagnosed worldwide with a common complication of diabetic nephropathy (DN). There are multiple possible mechanisms associated with DN. Aldose reductase (AR) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) may be involved in the occurrence and development of DN. Here, we describe the distribution of AR and TLR4 in cells and renal tissues of diabetic rats through a quantum dot (QD)-based immunofluorescence technique and conventional immunohistochemistry. As a new type of nanosized fluorophore, QDs have been recognized in imaging applications and have broad prospects in biomedical research. The results of the reported study demonstrate that both the AR and the TLR4 proteins were upregulated in the renal tissues of diabetic rats. Further, to explore the relationship between AR and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of DN, a dual-color immunofluorescent labeling technique based on QDs was applied, where the expressions of AR and TLR4 in the renal tissues of diabetic rats were simultaneously observed – for the first time, as far as we are aware. The optimized QD-based immunofluorescence technique has not only shown a satisfying sensitivity and specificity for the detection of biomarkers in cells and tissues, but also is a valuable supplement of immunohistochemistry. The QD-based multiplexed imaging technology provides a new insight into the mechanistic study of the correlation among biological factors as well as having potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.Published versio

Metabolomics analysis of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 adhesion activity under initial acid and alkali stress

<div><p>The adhesion ability of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> affects retention time in the human gastro-intestinal tract, as well as influencing the interaction with their host. In this study, the relationship between the adhesion activity of, and metabolic changes in, <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 under initial acid and alkali stress was evaluated by analyzing auto-aggregation, protein adhesion and cell adhesion <i>in vitro</i>. Based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, the morphology of the bacteria became thickset and the thickness of their cell walls decreased under initial alkali stress. The fold changes of auto-aggregation, adhere to mucin and HT-29 cell lines of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 in the acid group were increased by 1.141, 1.125 and 1.156, respectively. But decreased significantly in the alkali group (fold changes with 0.842, 0.728 and 0.667). Adhesion—related protein increased in the acid group but declined in the alkali group at the mRNA expression level according to real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The changes in the metabolite profiles of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 were characterized using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray ionization-Quadrupole-Time of Flight-mass spectrometry (UPLS-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). In the alkali group, the content of a lot of substances involved in the energy and amino acid metabolism decreased, but the content of some substances involved in the energy metabolism was slightly increased in the acid group. These findings demonstrate that energy metabolism is positively correlated with the adhesion ability of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917. The amino-acids metabolism, especially the amino acids related to pH-homeostasis mechanisms (lysine, aspartic acid, arginine, proline and glutamic acid), showed an obvious effect on the adhesion ability of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917. This investigation provides a better understanding of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i>’s adhesion mechanisms under initial pH stress.</p></div

Cell membrane fatty acid composition analysis.

<p>Cell membrane fatty acid composition analysis.</p

SEM images of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 in acid, control and alkali groups.

<p>SEM images of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 in acid, control and alkali groups.</p

Clustering and metabolic pathways related to the different metabolites of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i>.

<p>A, heatmap and metabolic pathway of acid and control groups; B, heatmap and metabolic pathways of alkali and control groups.</p

Metabolomics analysis of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 adhesion activity under initial acid and alkali stress - Fig 1

<p>pH changes (A) and growth (B) of <i>L</i>. <i>plantarum</i> ATCC 14917 in acid, control and alkali groups.</p