Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chunhong Yang, Qi Zhao, Shiling Li, Lili Pu, Liqiong Yu, Yaqin Liu, Xianrong Lai
Summary: Vascular retinopathy is a serious condition that can cause blurred vision and blindness, and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) extracted from L. barbarum fruit have shown potential in improving vision. This review highlights the structural characterization, extraction methods, and pharmacokinetics of LBPs, emphasizing their role in regulating various signaling pathways and providing potential therapeutic benefits for vascular retinopathy. Future clinical applications and innovative dosage forms are also discussed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiao Meng, Zhenyu Lv, Miaomiao Guo, Chuanxin Sun, Xiaopeng Li, Zhenguo Jiang, Wanchang Zhang, Chang Chen
Summary: This study investigated the role and molecular mechanism of Lycium barbarum extract (LBE) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. The study found that LBE has high antioxidant potential and can inhibit the generation of Aβ and mitochondrial damage. It also reduces Aβ levels through FSHR-1-mediated mtUPR activation.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Miaomiao Liu, Zihan Sun, Chenshan Shi, Jiayue Wang, Tao Wang, Piotr Dziugan, Bolin Zhang, Hongfei Zhao, Guoliang Jia
Summary: Adhesion is important for host-bacterial interactions and can provide health benefits to the host. Exopolysaccharides increase the survival of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract and promote adhesion to epithelial cells. In this study, it was found that LBP (blueberry polysaccharide) supported the adhesion of Lactobacillus strains and the similarity of polysaccharide components played a crucial role in promoting adhesion. Antibiotics affected the adhesion of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP-39, but the addition of LBP restored adhesion. These findings suggest that LBP has potential as a prebiotic and can enhance the adhesion of Lactobacillus to Caco-2 cells.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiao Meng, Zhenyu Lv, Xia Chen, Chuanxin Sun, Can Jin, Kan Ding, Chang Chen
Summary: In this study, it was found that Lycium barbarum extract can improve muscle stem cell number, enhance muscle regeneration, and promote their function by activation and self-renewal. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, the main component of the extract, also has a similar role. LBPI-2, a polysaccharide isolated from Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, was identified as an active component in regulating stem cell function.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Chuanxin Sun, Xia Chen, Shangpo Yang, Can Jin, Kan Ding, Chang Chen
Summary: This study demonstrates that Lycium barbarum extract can increase bone mass and strength, promote osteoblast activity, and potentially serve as a natural and safe treatment for age-related bone loss.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jingming Zheng, Zhenhuan Luo, Kin Chiu, Yimin Li, Jing Yang, Qinghua Zhou, Kwok-Fai So, Qin-Li Wan
Summary: Our study found that Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGp) extracted from traditional Chinese medicine can prolong the lifespan and health span of Caenorhabditis elegans and improve age-related diseases by activating transcription factors and mitochondrial function. This suggests that LbGp may be a viable candidate for the treatment and prevention of aging and age-related diseases.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sara Badesso, Paz Cartas-Cejudo, Maria Espelosin, Enrique Santamaria, Mar Cuadrado-Tejedor, Ana Garcia-Osta
Summary: DHA, as the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain, is essential for successful aging and may lower the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. DHA enhances memory function through promoting synapse formation and has potential for dietary supplement for AD dementia prevention.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rui-jing Liu, Yong-jian He, Huan Liu, Dong-dong Zheng, Shao-wen Huang, Chun-hong Liu
Summary: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) showed protective effects against DEHP-induced liver toxicity in rats by attenuating oxidative stress and down-regulating detoxification enzymes expression. This suggests that LBP could be a potential natural ingredient for auxiliary therapeutic use in health food.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jiangbo Song, Lian Liu, Zhiquan Li, Ting Mao, Jianfei Zhang, Lei Zhou, Xin Chen, Yunzhu Shang, Tao Sun, Yuxin Luo, Yu Jiang, Duan Tan, Xiaoling Tong, Fangyin Dai
Summary: This study presents a promising animal model for investigating the pathogenesis of PD and conducting drug screening. Treatment with L-dopa and carbidopa, as well as administration of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, showed positive effects on motor ability, dopamine level, and oxidative damage in the silkworm PD model.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusaku Chukai, Takeshi Iwamoto, Ken Itoh, Hiroshi Tomita, Taku Ozaki
Summary: The study revealed that mitochondrial calpain-5 is activated under low Ca2+ concentrations and in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress, indicating its therapeutic potential in diseases associated with ER stress.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikita Zernov, Alexander V. Veselovsky, Vladimir V. Poroikov, Daria Melentieva, Anastasia Bolshakova, Elena Popugaeva
Summary: A new selective TRPC6 agonist, C20, has been identified, which can recover cognitive deficits caused by synaptic loss in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tingting Yang, Wangting Zhou, Weiqi Xu, Linwu Ran, Yamei Yan, Lu Lu, Jia Mi, Xiaoxiong Zeng, Youlong Cao
Summary: Lycium barbarum fruit flavonoids (LBFs) have significant anti-diabetic activity by improving glucose and lipid metabolism, blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines, and regulating gut microbiota in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mice.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Qingyu Ma, Ruohan Zhai, Xiaoqing Xie, Tao Chen, Ziqi Zhang, Huicui Liu, Chenxi Nie, Xiaojin Yuan, Aobai Tu, Baoming Tian, Min Zhang, Zhifei Chen, Juxiu Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) effectively alleviates the symptoms of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in type 2 diabetic mice by modulating intestinal flora. LBP improves the activities of antioxidative enzymes, reduces inflammation, and enhances the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Moreover, LBP reverses the dysregulation of certain hormones and the insulin signaling pathway, further improving glucose metabolism in diabetic mice.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Danyi Qin, Yingping Deng, Lixiang Wang, Hongbo Yin
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) eye drops in a murine model of dry eye disease (DED). The results showed that topical application of LBP improved the symptoms of dry eye and did not cause any ocular irritation.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cui Cao, Linlin Wang, Chunqing Ai, Guiping Gong, Zhongfu Wang, Linjuan Huang, Shuang Song, Beiwei Zhu
Summary: This study reveals that arabinogalactan from Lycium barbarum (LBP-3) can reverse the altered gut microbiota and metabolic profiles in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). The supplementation of LBP-3 significantly attenuated the symptoms of chronic UC and modulated the levels of amino acids and organic acids affected by DSS induction. Pathway analysis also showed the influence of LBP-3 on several metabolic pathways. The identified changes in amino acids, organic acids, and metabolic pathways were associated with the abundance of specific gut microbiota.
Article
Cell Biology
Zhong-Qing Sun, Jin-Feng Liu, Wei Luo, Ching-Hin Wong, Kwok-Fai So, Yong Hu, Kin Chiu
Summary: Lycium barbarum extract can inhibit the inflammatory response in microglial cells induced by oligomeric Aβ and promote anti-inflammatory response.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Yi-Man Mu, Xiao-Dan Huang, Sui Zhu, Zheng-Fang Hu, Kwok-Fai So, Chao-Ran Ren, Qian Tao
Summary: This meta-analysis demonstrates that light intervention has a positive effect on alertness, with cold light being more effective than warm light. Moreover, both daytime and night-time light exposure can improve subjective alertness.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhengfan Hu, Yima Mu, Lu Huang, Yuqing Hu, Zhiqing Chen, Yan Yang, Xiaodan Huang, Yunwei Fu, Yue Xi, Song Lin, Qian Tao, Fuqiang Xu, Kwok-Fai So, Chaoran Ren
Summary: Research has found that bright light treatment can suppress nocifensive behaviors in mice through a visual circuit related to the l/vlPAG. The mechanism involves a subset of retinal ganglion cells innervating GABAergic neurons in the vLGN/IGL, which in turn inhibit GABAergic neurons in the l/vlPAG. Activation of this inhibitory circuit can be achieved through bright light treatment.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zhaodi Che, Yali Song, Chengfang Xu, Wei Li, Zhiyong Dong, Cunchuan Wang, Yixing Ren, Kwok-Fai So, George L. Tipoe, Fei Wang, Jia Xiao
Summary: Chronic alcohol consumption causes liver steatosis, cell death, and inflammation. Melatonin (MLT) has been found to alleviate alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-induced injury, and its direct regulating targets in hepatocytes are the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the downstream BRG1-TERT axis. MLT can effectively and safely protect the liver from alcohol-induced damage. It may serve as a complementary agent for individuals with alcoholism.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Lingtai Yu, Mengfan Liu, Fuxiang Li, Qianghua Wang, Meizhi Wang, Kwok-Fai So, Yibo Qu, Libing Zhou
Summary: Celsr2 knockout improves the survival and axon regeneration of injured motoneurons by alleviating inhibitory synaptic stripping.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Ming Yang, Kwok-Fai So, Wai-Ching Lam, Amy Cheuk Yin Lo
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Runhua Wang, Yuanyuan Cai, Weicong Lu, Ruoxi Zhang, Robin Shao, Suk-Yu Yau, Brendon Stubbs, Roger S. McIntyre, Kuan-Pin Su, Guiyun Xu, Liangwen Qi, Kwok-Fai So, Kangguang Lin
Summary: This 3-month randomized psychoeducation-controlled trial examined the effects of exercise on gut microbiota in young adolescents with subthreshold depression. The exercise intervention group showed an increase in the relative abundance of certain genera and species of gut bacteria compared to the psychoeducation-controlled group. These changes were associated with improvements in depressive symptoms and enrichment of defense and signal transduction mechanisms.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Lan Yan, Mei Wang, Fengzhen Yang, Yajie Wang, Siqi Wang, Kwok-Fai So, Li Zhang
Summary: Aerobic exercise relieves anxiety disorders by modulating neurogenesis and neural activity. The molecular mechanism of exercise-mediated anxiolysis is not fully understood. In a chronic restrain stress model in adolescent mice, 14-day treadmill exercise maintained normal neural activity and axonal myelination in the medial prefrontal cortex, preventing anxiety-like behaviors. Further investigation revealed activation of the mTOR pathway within the prefrontal cortex, mediated by exercise-induced brain RNA methylation inhibiting the expression of FMRP. Overall, treadmill exercise modulates the FMRP-mTOR pathway to maintain cortical neural activity and axonal myelination, improving stress resilience.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Ophthalmology
Ling-Ping Cen, Kevin K. Park, Kowk-Fai So
Summary: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are crucial for transmitting visual information to the brain, and their loss or damage can result in partial or total vision loss. Accurate diagnosis is essential for timely treatment and prevention of irreversible RGC loss. Promoting RGC axon regeneration is vital for restoring vision, but several factors inhibit this process. Understanding the mechanisms of RGC survival and regeneration, as well as exploring potential therapies, is important for treating optic neuropathies.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Runwei Li, Shuang Qu, Meng Qin, Lu Huang, Yichun Huang, Yi Du, Zhexiong Yu, Fu Fan, Jing Sun, Qiushuang Li, Kwok-Fai So
Summary: Influenza, caused by a respiratory virus, has a significant global impact on human health. Influenza A viruses, in particular, are highly pathogenic and have caused multiple pandemics. An effective treatment strategy for viral pneumonia caused by influenza infection should focus on reducing direct damage from the virus and relieving excessive inflammation. Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGp), derived from the fruit of Lycium barbarum, has strong pro-immune activity and potential antiviral effects. This study evaluated the antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of LbGp and its therapeutic effect on H1N1-induced viral pneumonia.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuchu Liu, Ji-an Wei, Zhihua Luo, Jing Cui, Yifan Luo, Sarah Oi Kwan Mak, Siqi Wang, Fengwei Zhang, Yan Yang, Kwok-Fai So, Lingling Shi, Li Zhang, Billy Kwok Chong Chow
Summary: Salt homeostasis is regulated by neural circuits and peripheral endocrine factors. The colon, a primary site for electrolyte absorption, might play a role in modulating sodium intake. This study discovered that the gastrointestinal hormone secretin, released from colon endocrine cells during sodium deficiency, is crucial for inducing salt appetite. Circulating secretin activates specific receptors in the nucleus of the solitary tracts, which in turn activates the downstream para-ventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, resulting in increased sodium intake. These findings reveal a previously unknown gut-brain pathway for the timely regulation of sodium homeostasis.
Article
Biology
Zhihua Luo, Junlin Chen, Yelin Dai, Kwok-Fai So, Li Zhang
Summary: Aerobic exercise effectively improves mental disorders by promoting adult neurogenesis. This study reveals that chronic restraint stress leads to overexcitation of the mPFC-BLA pathway, and 14-day treadmill exercise reverses these abnormalities. Chemogenetic studies demonstrate that the mPFC-BLA circuit is necessary for preventing anxiety-like behaviors in stressed mice. These findings suggest a neural circuitry mechanism by which exercise enhances resilience against environmental stress.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiao Liu, Fei Hao, Peng Hao, Jingxue Zhang, Liqiang Wang, Si-Wei You, Ningli Wang, Zhaoyang Yang, Kwok-Fai So, Xiaoguang Li
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
