Lipidomics Reveals Multiple Pathway Effects of a Multi-Components Preparation on Lipid Biochemistry in ApoE*3Leiden.CETP Mice

Background: Causes and consequences of the complex changes in lipids occurring in the metabolic syndrome are only partly understood. Several interconnected processes are deteriorating, which implies that multi-target approaches might be more successful than strategies based on a limited number of surrogate markers. Preparations from Chinese Medicine (CM) systems have been handed down with documented clinical features similar as metabolic syndrome, which might help developing new intervention for metabolic syndrome. The progress in systems biology and specific animal models created possibilities to assess the effects of such preparations. Here we report the plasma and liver lipidomics results of the intervention effects of a preparation SUB885C in apolipoprotein E3 Leiden cholesteryl ester transfer protein (ApoE*3Leiden.CETP) mice. SUB885C was developed according to the principles of CM for treatment of metabolic syndrome. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 blocker rimonabant was included as a general control for the evaluation of weight and metabolic responses. Methodology/Principal Findings: ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice with mild hypercholesterolemia were divided into SUB885C-, rimonabant- and non-treated control groups. SUB885C caused no weight loss, but significantly reduced plasma cholesterol (-49%, p <0.001), CETP levels (-31%,

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) as anti-corrosive additives for coatings

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are a class of renewable polymers that show interesting anti-corrosive properties and could potentially be used as an alternative for zinc phosphates. When combined with a waterborne styrene-acrylic polymer dispersion (SA-1), exopolysaccharides were shown to give an improvement in the anti-corrosive performance. Electrochemical studies show higher charge transfer resistance (R ct) values for the SA-1/EPS combinations as compared to the SA-1 itself suggesting that in the presence of EPS less corrosion took place. Outdoor exposure test shows that the presence of EPS188 gave good corrosion protection for up to a year when exposed under marine conditions. The distribution of EPS modification throughout the coating was made visible using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and indicated that EPS was distributed rather homogeneously. A working mechanism was proposed in which the carboxylic acid groups on the oxidised EPS form a complex with iron ions formed by the anodic reaction and this insoluble complex forms a protective layer between the coating and metal. The results in this paper show that by using renewable polysaccharide additives the anti-corrosive coating performance can be improved

Inactivation of a MAPK-like protein kinase and activation of a MBP kinase in germinating barley embryos

AbstractWe provide evidence for involvement of two different 45 kDa protein kinases in rehydration and germination of barley embryos. In dry embryos, a myelin basic protein (MBP) phosphorylating kinase was detected, which could be immunoprecipitated with an anti-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) antibody. Rehydration of the embryo induced a decrease in activity of this 45 kDa MAPK-like protein kinase. In addition, activity of a MBP kinase of the same molecular weight was subsequently found to be induced. This second MBP kinase activity could not be immunoprecipitated with the anti-MAPK antibody and was induced only in germinating embryos, not in dormant embryos

Plasma lipid, CETP and lipoprotein.

<p>Plasma concentrations are shown for TC, TG, HDL-C, CETP level and activity (A) of the SUB885C-, rimonabant- and non-treated mice at week 4 (concentrations in the control group are set to be 100% and relative changes of treated groups were illustrated in % compared with the control, *<i>p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001</i>). Alterations of Cho (B), TG (C) and phospholipids (D) in the pooled lipoprotein profiles of the SUB885C- and non-treated mice at week 4. Fractions 4–7 as VLDL; 8–9 as IDL; 10–15 as LDL and 16–23 as HDL.</p

Significantly changed lipids in each lipid class.

<p>Significantly changed lipids in each lipid class.</p

Effects on some lipid parameters of SUB885C and existing drugs in the ApoE^*3Leiden.CETP female mice model.

<p>Basic diet for ApoE*3Leiden.CETP female mice during run-in and study period: Western type diet with 15% w/w fat plus different content of cholesterol.</p><p>NS: no significance.</p><p>*Dependent on different doses of Niacin.</p

Lipidomics of plasma and liver reveals differences between non-treated and SUB885C-treated mice.

<p>Principle component analyses (PCA) of plasma and liver lipidomics datasets were applied to differentiate the non-treated controls (n = 7) and the SUB885C treated mice (n = 8). PCA biplots for (A) plasma samples and (B) liver samples.</p