Serum IL-38 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Interleukin 38 (IL-38) is a new member of the IL-1 family, and it has anti-inflammatory activity. However, its role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been reported. Material and methods: The study included 40 T2DM patients and 42 healthy control subjects. The anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed using an automatic biochemical analyser, high-performance liquid chromatography, and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Circulating IL-38 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum IL-38 levels in T2DM patients were significantly lower than those in controls. Correlation analysis showed that serum IL-38 was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure and interleukin 17 (IL-17). Conclusions: The results suggest that IL-38 may be a new biomarker of T2DM

Preventive Effects of Kaempferol on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Complications in C57BL/6 Mice

Kaempferol is a dietary flavanol that regulates cellular lipid and glucose metabolism. Its mechanism of action in preventing hepatic steatosis and obesity-related disorders has yet to be clarified. The purpose of this research was to examine kaempferol’s antiobesity effects in high-fat diet- (HFD-) fed mice and to investigate its impact on their gut microbiota. Using a completely randomized design, 30 mice were equally assigned to a control group, receiving a low-fat diet, an HFD group, receiving a high-fat diet, and an HFD+kaempferol group, receiving a high-fat diet and kaempferol doses of 200 mg/kg in the diet. After eight weeks, the HFD mice displayed substantial body and liver weight gain and high blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels. However, treatment with kaempferol moderated body and liver weight gain and elevation of blood glucose and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Examination of 16S ribosomal RNA showed that HFD mice exhibited decreased microbial diversity, but kaempferol treatment maintained it to nearly the same levels as those in the control group. In conclusion, kaempferol can protect against obesity and insulin resistance in mice on a high-fat diet, partly through regulating their gut microbiota and moderating the decrease in insulin resistance

The Preliminary Study on the Mechanism about Piperine Regulating the Knee Osteoarthritis Based on Network Pharmacological Methods

Abstract:Objective: To explore the target of anti-knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in the effective chemical compounds of piper longum L based on network pharmacological methods.Methods: The active chemical compounds of piper longum L were collected employing database retrieval on TCMSP, TCM-PTD, and literature mining. The Swiss Target Prediction service predicts the targets of active chemical compounds, and at the same time, the targets of the drugs treating knee osteoarthritis were collected by retrieving the OMIM and CTD databases. The targets were subjected to an alignment analysis to screen out piperine and we simulated the binding sites in vivo of compounds and proteins via AutoDock. After that, the rat models of knee osteoarthritis were established. The rats in model groups were given piperine treatment. The verification of the anti-KOA target PPARG and MAPK1 was done by Western blot and co-immunoprecipitation.Results: Nine active ingredients were predicted. According to Lipinski\u27s rule, piperine was speculated as a possible active ingredient. According to the possible targets of piperine and the KOA\u27s possible targets, three co-targets of them were confirmed, PPARG and MAPK1 were related to knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Molecular docking results show that piperine can hinder the binding of PPARG protein ARG-212 and GLN-420 amino-acid residues to each other. After 20 weeks of piperine treating, Western blot found that piperine can significantly increase the expression level of PPARG and reduce the expression level of MAPK1 in model rats. The endogenous interaction between PPARG and MAPK1 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation.Conclusion: Piper longum L can regulate the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by its active ingredient piperine，can affect the expression of PPARG and MAPK1 proteins, and PPARG and MAPK1 proteins have endogenous interactions.</p