Soymilk Improves Muscle Weakness in Young Ovariectomized Female Mice

Estrogens play a key role in an extensive range of physiological functions in various types of tissues throughout the body in females. We previously showed that estrogen insufficiency caused muscle weakness that could be rescued by estrogen administration in a young female ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. However, long-term estrogen replacement therapy increases risks of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Soymilk contains plant-based protein and isoflavones that exert estrogen-like activity. Here we examined the effects of prolonged soymilk intake on muscle and its resident stem cells, called satellite cells, in the estrogen-insufficient model. Six-week-old C57BL/6 OVX female mice were fed with a dried soymilk-containing diet. We found that prolonged soymilk intake upregulated grip strength in OVX mice. Correspondingly, cross-sectional area of tibialis anterior muscle was significantly increased in OVX mice fed with soymilk. Furthermore, soymilk diet mitigated dysfunction of satellite cells isolated from OVX mice. Thus, these results indicated that prolonged soymilk intake is beneficial for improving muscle weakness in an estrogen-insufficient state in females

〔研究ノート〕慢性腎臓病発症閉経モデルラットにおける 酸化障害，抗酸化能に対する 食餌アーモンドペースト投与の影響

　　The present study was carried out to find out the protective effects on oxidation disorders in menopausal model rats with chronic kidney disease （CKD） of a diet supplemented with almond paste. Nine-week-old female rats were divided into 3 groups: Control, AL, and Intact groups. The rats in the Control group and the rats in the AL group received 360 mg/kg BW of adenine intragastrically for 4 consecutive days so that they would develop CKD. After 7 days of recovery, the 3 groups of rats received ovariectomies （OVX） under anesthesia.　　Beginning three days after the OVX, for 8 weeks, the rats were given 13g per day of 20％ casein protein diet supplemented with 0％ almond paste （for the Control group and the Intact group） or 0.5％ almond paste （for AL group）. All the rats were killed under anesthesia and their TBARS in liver and kidney, BAP and dROM in serum, and some biochemical parameters in serum and urine were measured and the values of the AL group and the Control group were compared.　　Both groups showed 1） no significant differences in body weight changes, organ weights and blood analyses. The AL group showed 2） 22％ lower value in serum creatinine concentration, 3） 28.5％ higher value in creatinine clearance, 4） significantly higher value of TBARS in the liver. And the two groups showed 5） no significant differences in BAP and d-ROM values.　　From the above results, the authors conclude that the almond paste supplemented diet did not have significant influence on the degrees of the lipid peroxidation, the oxidation stress and the anti-oxidation ability of the menopausal model rats with CKD used in this study. On the other hand, it may be possible to improve renal function in menopausal model rats with CKD using a diet supplemented with almond paste

Immunobiotic feed developed with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and the soymilk by-product okara improves health and growth performance in pigs

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L is able to differentially modulate the innate immune response of porcine intestinal epithelial cells triggered by TLR4 activation. This strain also has a remarkable ability to grow on plant substrates. These two immunological and biotechnological characteristics prompted us to evaluate whether the soymilk by-product okara fermented with the TUA4408L strain can serve as an immunobiotic feed with the ability to beneficially modulate the intestinal immunity of piglets after weaning to improve their productivity. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that the administration of immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed significantly increased piglet growth performance and meat quality. These positive effects were associated with the ability of the TUA4408L-fermented okara feed to beneficially modulate both intestinal microbiota and immunity in pigs. The immunobiotic feed improved the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Lactococcus in the gut of pigs, reduced blood markers of inflammation, and differentially regulated the expression of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in the intestinal mucosa. These findings indicate that the immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed could be an economical and environmentally friendly option to improve the growth performance and immune health of pigs.Fil: Suda, Yoshihito. Miyagi University; JapónFil: Sasaki, Nana. Miyagi University; JapónFil: Kagawa, Kyoma. Miyagi University; JapónFil: Elean, Mariano Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Zhou, Binghui. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Tomokiyo, Mikado. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Islam, Md Aminul. Tohoku University; Japón. Bangladesh Agricultural University; BangladeshFil: Shahid Riaz Rajoka, Muhammad. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Humayun Kober, A.K.M.. Tohoku University; Japón. Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University; BangladeshFil: Shimazu, Tomoyuki. Miyagi University; JapónFil: Egusa, Shintaro. No especifíca;Fil: Terashima, Yuji. No especifíca;Fil: Aso, Hisashi. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Ikeda Ohtsubo, Wakako. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; Japó

Genomic Characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii TUA4408L and Evaluation of the Antiviral Activities of its Extracellular Polysaccharides in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells

In lactic acid bacteria, the synthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) has been associated with some favorable technological properties as well as health-promoting benefits. Research works have shown the potential of EPS produced by lactobacilli to differentially modulate immune responses. However, most studies were performed in immune cells and few works have concentrated in the immunomodulatory activities of EPS in non-immune cells such as intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the immunoregulatory effects of EPS have not been studied in detail. In this work, we have performed a genomic characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and evaluated the immunomodulatory and antiviral properties of its acidic (APS) and neutral (NPS) EPS in porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells. Whole genome sequencing allowed the analysis of the general features of L. delbrueckii TUA4408L genome as well as the characterization of its EPS genes. A typical EPS gene cluster was found in the TUA4408L genome consisting in five highly conserved genes epsA-E, and a variable region, which includes the genes for the polymerase wzy, the flippase wzx, and seven glycosyltransferases. In addition, we demonstrated here for the first time that L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are able to improve the resistance of PIE cells against rotavirus infection by reducing viral replication and regulating inflammatory response. Moreover, studies in PIE cells demonstrated that the TUA4408L strain and its EPS differentially modulate the antiviral innate immune response triggered by the activation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are capable of increasing the activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways leading to an improved expression of the antiviral factors interferon (IFN)-β, Myxovirus resistance gene A (MxA) and RNaseL

Characterization of a Cellular Immunostimulating Peptide from a Soybean Protein Fraction Digested with Peptidase R

An immunostimulating glutamine-rich peptide was purified from a soybean protein fraction digested with Peptidase R produced by Rhizopus oryzae (Ro-digest) by a combination of SP-Sepharose column chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified peptide was supposed to be located at or near the glutamine-rich region 202 to 222 of the glycinin G4 subunit. The peptide significantly increased the number of CD8(+), CD11b(+), and CD49b(+) cells in C3H/HeN mouse spleen cell cultures, while 2 chemically synthesized glutamine-rich peptides corresponding to residues 202 to 213 (QQQQQQKSHGGR) and residues 214 to 225 (KQGQHQQEEEEE) of the glycinin G4 subunit increased the number of interleukin (IL)-12(+)CD11b(+) cells. The peptide 202-213 also significantly increased the number of CD49b(+), IL-2(+)CD4(+), and interferon-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells and stimulated the cytotoxic activity of spleen cells toward the human erythroleukemia cell line K562. These results indicate that the glutamine-rich region of the soybean glycinin G4 subunit stimulates the cellular immune system in mouse spleen cell cultures.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGYjournal articl

Isoflavone and Protein Constituents of Lactic Acid-Fermented Soy Milk Combine to Prevent Dyslipidemia in Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

A high cholesterol diet induces dyslipidemia. This study investigated whether isoflavone aglycones in lactic acid-fermented soy milk (LFS) improve lipid metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged seven weeks were fed an AIN-93G diet, a 1% cholesterol diet (a high cholesterol diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 4% isoflavone extract of LFS (LFS extract diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 19.4% ethanol-washed LFS (ethanol-washed LFS diet, isoflavone-poor diet), or a high cholesterol diet containing 23.2% intact LFS (intact LFS diet) for five weeks. The plasma total cholesterol (TC) level was increased in the rats fed the LFS extract diet compared with those fed the high cholesterol diet. The TC level was decreased by the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. The cholesterol-lowering effect was stronger in the rats fed the intact LFS diet than those fed the ethanol-washed LFS diet. The plasma triglyceride (TG) level was unchanged in the rats fed the LFS extract diet, but it decreased in rats fed the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. Although, compared with the high cholesterol diet, the LFS extract and ethanol-washed LFS diets did not reduce hepatic cholesterol and TG, both levels were remarkably lowered by the intact LFS diet. These results suggest that the improvement in lipid metabolism of rats fed a high-cholesterol diet containing LFS isoflavone aglycones is not due to an independent effect but due to a cooperative effect with soy protein

Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Lactic Acid-Fermented Soymilk on Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

The effect of fermented soymilk on rats fed a high cholesterol diet was investigated to clarify the cholesterol-lowering function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7 weeks were fed a control diet (1% cholesterol, high cholesterol diet), high cholesterol diet containing 11.7% fermented soymilk diet (5% soy protein as final concentration, F-5), or high cholesterol diet containing 23.4% fermented soymilk diet (10% soy protein as final concentration, F-10) for 5 weeks. The liver weight and fat mass were decreased by the ingestion of fermented soymilk. The hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the F-5 and F-10 groups were significantly lowered compared to those in the control group. The plasma total cholesterol level of the F-10 group was significantly decreased. The expression of SREBP-2, a cholesterol synthesis-related gene, was significantly decreased in liver of the F-5 group, but the expression of CYP7a1, a cholesterol catabolism-related gene, was significantly increased. These results suggest that fermented soymilk can modulate the cholesterol metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet

Genomic characterization of lactobacillus delbrueckii TUA4408L and evaluation of the antiviral activities of its extracellular polysaccharides in porcine intestinal epithelial cells

In lactic acid bacteria, the synthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) has been associated with some favorable technological properties as well as health-promoting benefits. Research works have shown the potential of EPS produced by lactobacilli to differentially modulate immune responses. However, most studies were performed in immune cells and few works have concentrated in the immunomodulatory activities of EPS in non-immune cells such as intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the immunoregulatory effects of EPS have not been studied in detail. In this work, we have performed a genomic characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and evaluated the immunomodulatory and antiviral properties of its acidic (APS) and neutral (NPS) EPS in porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells. Whole genome sequencing allowed the analysis of the general features of L. delbrueckii TUA4408L genome as well as the characterization of its EPS genes. A typical EPS gene cluster was found in the TUA4408L genome consisting in five highly conserved genes epsA-E, and a variable region, which includes the genes for the polymerase wzy, the flippase wzx, and seven glycosyltransferases. In addition, we demonstrated here for the first time that L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are able to improve the resistance of PIE cells against rotavirus infection by reducing viral replication and regulating inflammatory response. Moreover, studies in PIE cells demonstrated that the TUA4408L strain and its EPS differentially modulate the antiviral innate immune response triggered by the activation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are capable of increasing the activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways leading to an improved expression of the antiviral factors interferon (IFN)-β, Myxovirus resistance gene A (MxA) and RNaseL.Fil: Kanmani, Paulraj. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; JapónFil: Albarracín, Leonardo Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; JapónFil: Kobayashi, Hisakazu. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; JapónFil: Hebert, Elvira Maria. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; Japón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Saavedra, Maria Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Komatsu, Ryoya. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; JapónFil: Gatica, Brian. University of Concepcion. Departmento de Farmacología; ChileFil: Miyazaki, Ayako. National Institute of Animal Health. Viral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Division; JapónFil: Ikeda-Ohtsubo, Wakako. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; JapónFil: Suda, Yoshihito. Miyagi University. Department of Food, Agriculture, and Environment; JapónFil: Aso, Hisashi. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Cell Biology Laboratory; JapónFil: Egusa, Shintaro. Marusan-Ai Co. Research & Development Division; JapónFil: Mishima, Takashi. Mie University. Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies; JapónFil: Salas-Burgos, Alexis. University of Concepcion. Departmento de Farmacología; ChileFil: Takahashi, Hideki. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Laboratory of Plant Pathology; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; Japón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University. Graduate School of Agricultural Science. Food and Feed Immunology Group, Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry; Japó