Objective:To investigate the effect of pectic polysaccharides isolated from Rauvolfia verticillata on ulcerative colitis and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:Pectic polysaccharides were characterized using high-perfo...Objective:To investigate the effect of pectic polysaccharides isolated from Rauvolfia verticillata on ulcerative colitis and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:Pectic polysaccharides were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone pre-column derivatization,phenol-sulfuric acid assay,and gel permeation chromatography.HT-29 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and then treated with pectic polysaccharides;conditioned medium was applied to THP-1-derived macrophages to assess cell viability and polarization,while tight junction protein expression was analyzed in HT-29 cells.Furthermore,a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis was treated with oral pectic polysaccharides or NOS2 overexpression.Body weight,disease activity index,colon length,histopathology,and the protein expression related to the JAK2/STAT3-NOS2 signaling were evaluated.Results:The pectic polysaccharide was characterized as an acidic pectic polysaccharide,primarily composed of galacturonic acid and various neutral sugars,with a narrow molecular weight distribution and high purity.Pectic polysaccharides significantly enhanced THP-1 macrophage viability,promoted M1 to M2 polarization,and upregulated the expression of epithelial tight junction proteins.In addition,pectic polysaccharide treatment attenuated body weight loss,lowered disease activity index scores and improved colon histology in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.It also reduced JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation and NOS2 expression,and increased the expression of tight junction proteins(ZO-1,occludin,and claudin-1).Conclusions:Pectic polysaccharides attenuate ulcerative colitis by increasing M2-related macrophage markers,inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3-NOS2 signaling,and enhancing epithelial barrier-related protein expression.These findings support pectic polysaccharides as a natural candidate for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.展开更多
Engineering the pore structure of biomass-derived activated carbons is critical for optimizing their performance in adsorptionbased applications.This study demonstrates for the first time that washing hydrochars in so...Engineering the pore structure of biomass-derived activated carbons is critical for optimizing their performance in adsorptionbased applications.This study demonstrates for the first time that washing hydrochars in solvents of different polarity before activation is a simple yet powerful strategy to tailor pore size distribution.Hydrochar is produced from spent coffee grounds via hydrothermal carbonization,followed by washing in various solvents and activation in KOH.This results in carbons with a very large surface area(~2700 m^(2)/g),and washing is demonstrated to significantly increase product yield.Furthermore,washing in non-polar or mixed-polarity solvents removes long-chain carboxylic acids and esters from the hydrochar,promoting the development of narrow micropores while suppressing mesopore formation.To illustrate the impact of this structural control of porous carbons,post-combustion CO_(2)capture is investigated as a case study.Narrower pore size distribution enhances CO_(2)uptake,significantly improving capacity from 2.8 mmol/g for unwashed samples to 3.8 mmol/g for acetone-washed samples.Interestingly,moderate pore size(9-12Å)is shown to be optimal for CO_(2):N2 selectivity,while smaller pores result in lower selectivity due to stronger interactions between N2 and the pore walls.These findings highlight the potential role of solvent washing in directing pore architecture of hydrochars for adsorption-based carbon capture technologies and beyond.展开更多
Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is the main greenhouse gas(GHG)released by human activities.The substitution of fossil resources by biomass as a bio-renewable resource,has significant potential to reduce GHG emissions.The appro...Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is the main greenhouse gas(GHG)released by human activities.The substitution of fossil resources by biomass as a bio-renewable resource,has significant potential to reduce GHG emissions.The approach to biomass,as the only true full-scale alternative to fossil resources,is progressing rapidly.Converting biomass into furanic compounds,as versatile platform chemicals for synthesizing a wide range of bio-based products is the cornerstone of sustainable technologies.The extensive body of this review combines the biomass valorization to furanic compounds by CO_(2)utilization and furanic compounds conversion by CO_(2)fixation.These processes can be strategically applied through both‘thermochemical’and‘electrochemical’pathways,by utilizing CO_(2)from the atmosphere or industrial emission point and returning it to the natural carbon cycle.In the thermochemical pathway CO_(2)acts as a carbon source(carboxylation and polymerization)or active reaction assistant in the biomass conversion(CO_(2)-assisted conversion),without altering its oxidation state,facilitating the synthesis of valuable products and polymers.Conversely,in the electrochemical pathway,CO_(2)can be used as a carbon source(electrocarboxylation)to give the corresponding carboxylic acid,or it can undergo reduction,yielding methanol,carbon monoxide(CO),formic acid,and analogous compounds,while on the other side,furanic compounds undergo oxidation yielding high-value-added chemicals.Finally,potential future research directions are suggested to promote CO_(2)utilization and fixation in the valorization of biomass-derived furanic compounds,and challenges facing further research are highlighted.展开更多
Neuronal degeneration and inflammation are hallmark features of spinal cord injury that severely hinder functional recovery.As key regulators of the post-injury microenvironment,macrophages can promote either tissue r...Neuronal degeneration and inflammation are hallmark features of spinal cord injury that severely hinder functional recovery.As key regulators of the post-injury microenvironment,macrophages can promote either tissue repair or exacerbate damage.Among macrophage secreted factors,transforming growth factor-beta 1 has emerged as a critical mediator of pathological changes.In this study,we show the pivotal role of macrophage-derived transforming growth factor-beta 1 in driving neuronal senescence and impairing functional recovery after spinal cord injury.In a mouse spinal cord injury model,transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels were significantly increased at the injury site,accompanied by increased mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2(SMAD2)phosphorylation and upregulation of neuronal senescence markers such as p16INK4a andβ-galactosidase activity.Treatment with LY-364947,a SMAD2 phosphorylation inhibitor,markedly reduced the number of senescent neurons,mitigated tissue degeneration,and improved motor function recovery.Additionally,macrophage depletion using clodronate liposomes lowered transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels at the injury site and attenuated neuronal senescence.These findings highlight the transforming growth factor-beta 1-SMAD2 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target to reduce neuronal senescence and enhance functional recovery following spinal cord injury.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Hainan Province(ZDYF2022SHFZ099)the Academic Enhancement Support Program of Hainan Medical University(XSTS2025040 and XSTS2025063).
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of pectic polysaccharides isolated from Rauvolfia verticillata on ulcerative colitis and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:Pectic polysaccharides were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone pre-column derivatization,phenol-sulfuric acid assay,and gel permeation chromatography.HT-29 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and then treated with pectic polysaccharides;conditioned medium was applied to THP-1-derived macrophages to assess cell viability and polarization,while tight junction protein expression was analyzed in HT-29 cells.Furthermore,a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis was treated with oral pectic polysaccharides or NOS2 overexpression.Body weight,disease activity index,colon length,histopathology,and the protein expression related to the JAK2/STAT3-NOS2 signaling were evaluated.Results:The pectic polysaccharide was characterized as an acidic pectic polysaccharide,primarily composed of galacturonic acid and various neutral sugars,with a narrow molecular weight distribution and high purity.Pectic polysaccharides significantly enhanced THP-1 macrophage viability,promoted M1 to M2 polarization,and upregulated the expression of epithelial tight junction proteins.In addition,pectic polysaccharide treatment attenuated body weight loss,lowered disease activity index scores and improved colon histology in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.It also reduced JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation and NOS2 expression,and increased the expression of tight junction proteins(ZO-1,occludin,and claudin-1).Conclusions:Pectic polysaccharides attenuate ulcerative colitis by increasing M2-related macrophage markers,inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3-NOS2 signaling,and enhancing epithelial barrier-related protein expression.These findings support pectic polysaccharides as a natural candidate for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
基金supported by JST,grant number JPMJFS2132JST SPRING,grant number JPMJSP2136by an external research grant from Mitsubishi Fuso Truck&Bus Corporation。
文摘Engineering the pore structure of biomass-derived activated carbons is critical for optimizing their performance in adsorptionbased applications.This study demonstrates for the first time that washing hydrochars in solvents of different polarity before activation is a simple yet powerful strategy to tailor pore size distribution.Hydrochar is produced from spent coffee grounds via hydrothermal carbonization,followed by washing in various solvents and activation in KOH.This results in carbons with a very large surface area(~2700 m^(2)/g),and washing is demonstrated to significantly increase product yield.Furthermore,washing in non-polar or mixed-polarity solvents removes long-chain carboxylic acids and esters from the hydrochar,promoting the development of narrow micropores while suppressing mesopore formation.To illustrate the impact of this structural control of porous carbons,post-combustion CO_(2)capture is investigated as a case study.Narrower pore size distribution enhances CO_(2)uptake,significantly improving capacity from 2.8 mmol/g for unwashed samples to 3.8 mmol/g for acetone-washed samples.Interestingly,moderate pore size(9-12Å)is shown to be optimal for CO_(2):N2 selectivity,while smaller pores result in lower selectivity due to stronger interactions between N2 and the pore walls.These findings highlight the potential role of solvent washing in directing pore architecture of hydrochars for adsorption-based carbon capture technologies and beyond.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFC2101604)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U23A20123,22278339)+1 种基金Fujian Provincial Key Science and Technology Program of China(No.2022YZ037013)Xiamen University for the financial support.
文摘Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is the main greenhouse gas(GHG)released by human activities.The substitution of fossil resources by biomass as a bio-renewable resource,has significant potential to reduce GHG emissions.The approach to biomass,as the only true full-scale alternative to fossil resources,is progressing rapidly.Converting biomass into furanic compounds,as versatile platform chemicals for synthesizing a wide range of bio-based products is the cornerstone of sustainable technologies.The extensive body of this review combines the biomass valorization to furanic compounds by CO_(2)utilization and furanic compounds conversion by CO_(2)fixation.These processes can be strategically applied through both‘thermochemical’and‘electrochemical’pathways,by utilizing CO_(2)from the atmosphere or industrial emission point and returning it to the natural carbon cycle.In the thermochemical pathway CO_(2)acts as a carbon source(carboxylation and polymerization)or active reaction assistant in the biomass conversion(CO_(2)-assisted conversion),without altering its oxidation state,facilitating the synthesis of valuable products and polymers.Conversely,in the electrochemical pathway,CO_(2)can be used as a carbon source(electrocarboxylation)to give the corresponding carboxylic acid,or it can undergo reduction,yielding methanol,carbon monoxide(CO),formic acid,and analogous compounds,while on the other side,furanic compounds undergo oxidation yielding high-value-added chemicals.Finally,potential future research directions are suggested to promote CO_(2)utilization and fixation in the valorization of biomass-derived furanic compounds,and challenges facing further research are highlighted.
基金supported by grants from Tianjin Key Medical Discipline(Specialty)Construct Project,No.TJYXZDXK-027A(to SF)National Key Research and Development Project of Stem Cell and Transformation Research,No.2019YFA0112100(to SF)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81930070(to SF),82402825(to XS)Tianjin Health Science and Technology Project Key Discipline Special Project,No.hUCMSC preferred subgroup,No.TJWJ2022XK002(to SF)2022 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Basic Research Cooperation Project,No.22JCZXJC00050(to SF)Youth Research Incubation Fund of School of Basic Medical Sciences,Tianjin Medical University,No.023FY05(to XS).
文摘Neuronal degeneration and inflammation are hallmark features of spinal cord injury that severely hinder functional recovery.As key regulators of the post-injury microenvironment,macrophages can promote either tissue repair or exacerbate damage.Among macrophage secreted factors,transforming growth factor-beta 1 has emerged as a critical mediator of pathological changes.In this study,we show the pivotal role of macrophage-derived transforming growth factor-beta 1 in driving neuronal senescence and impairing functional recovery after spinal cord injury.In a mouse spinal cord injury model,transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels were significantly increased at the injury site,accompanied by increased mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2(SMAD2)phosphorylation and upregulation of neuronal senescence markers such as p16INK4a andβ-galactosidase activity.Treatment with LY-364947,a SMAD2 phosphorylation inhibitor,markedly reduced the number of senescent neurons,mitigated tissue degeneration,and improved motor function recovery.Additionally,macrophage depletion using clodronate liposomes lowered transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels at the injury site and attenuated neuronal senescence.These findings highlight the transforming growth factor-beta 1-SMAD2 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target to reduce neuronal senescence and enhance functional recovery following spinal cord injury.
