Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular complications. Although chitosan is widely used as an oral lipid-regulating adsorbent, the influence of tablet disintegration and dispersion properties on systemic biological responses remains unclear. In this study, rapidly dispersible granulated chitosan tablets (GCT) and poorly dispersible non-granulated chitosan tablets (NCT) were evaluated in a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet-fed SHRSP5/Dmcr rat model of NASH, with metformin as a reference drug. A corn oil loading test identified 40 mg/day GCT as the effective dose, significantly suppressing postprandial triglyceride elevation. In NASH rats, both chitosan formulations and metformin reduced serum total cholesterol, whereas only chitosan decreased serum total bile acids. In hepatic tissue, chitosan and metformin selectively attenuated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, while other fibrosis-related and inflammatory markers were unchanged. Notably, coordinated suppression of fibrosis-related genes in cardiac tissue occurred exclusively in the GCT-treated group. Tablet disintegration and dispersion were associated with reduced circulating bile acids and formulation-dependent lipid handling, along with selective extrahepatic molecular signatures in NASH. Cardiac changes were limited to transcript-level modulation, without evidence of structural remodeling or causality. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanisms.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide found abundantly in brown algae such as mozuku seaweeds, is classified as a water-soluble dietary fiber. Fucoidan reportedly exerts antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, whitening, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. Owing to these properties, fucoidan has been widely used as an active ingredient for skin care purposes, including quasi-drug serums and hair growth products. However, fucoidan effects differ depending on the algal species, molecular weight, and other factors. Thus, it is crucial to thoroughly test fucoidan preparations and determine their suitability for individual applications. In this study, we probed the effects of mozuku-derived ultra-high-molecular-weight fucoidan (1700 kDa, normally ~300 kDa) preparations on indigenous skin bacteria and general bacteria. We observed that fucoidan preparations derived from Tongan mozuku Cladosiphon novae-caledoniae and Amami mozuku Cladosiphon okamuranus inhibited the growth of skin bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. However, no growth inhibition was observed for the skin bacterium Cutibacterium acnes or general bacteria, such as Lactobacillus casei, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. Given its ability to hinder the growth of skin disease-causing bacteria, mozuku-derived ultra-high-molecular-weight fucoidan holds promise for future applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Claudin proteins are intercellular adhesion molecules. Increased claudin domain-containing 1 (CLDND1) expression is associated with the malignant transformation of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells with low sensitivity to hormone therapy. Abnormal CLDND1 expression is also implicated in vascular diseases. Previously, we investigated the regulatory mechanism underlying CLDND1 expression and identified a strong enhancer region near the promoter. In silico analysis of the sequence showed high homology to the ETS domain-containing protein-1 (ELK1)-binding sequence which is involved in cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, and cancer. Transcriptional ELK1 activation is associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade originating from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Here, we evaluated the effect of gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the suppression of CLDND1 expression using ELK1 overexpression in luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. ELK1 was found to be an activator of the enhancer region, and its transient expression increased that of CLDND1 at the mRNA and protein levels. CLDND1 expression was increased following EGF-induced ELK1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, this increase in CLDND1 was significantly suppressed by gefitinib. Therefore, EGF-dependent activation of ELK1 contributes to the induction of CLDND1 expression. These findings open avenues for the development of new anticancer agents targeting CLDND1.

The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of sacran, a sulfated polysaccharide, on renal damage and intestinal microflora, in 5/6 nephrectomy rats as a model for chronic kidney disease (CKD). 5/6 Nephrectomy rats were divided into sacran treated and non-treated groups and examined for lethality after 4 weeks. The 5/6 nephrectomy rats were also divided into three groups: sacran treated, non-treated and AST-120 treated groups, and treated orally in a concentration-dependent manner for 4 weeks. Renal function was estimated by biochemical and histopathological analyses. Metagenomic analysis of feces from each group after 4 weeks was also performed and changes in intestinal microflora were compared. The administration of sacran to CKD rats at ≥19 mg/d increased their survival. In addition, the sacran-treated group improved CKD-related parameters in a concentration-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effect of 40 mg/d of sacran was comparable to that of AST-120. The changes in the intestinal microflora of the sacran treated group were positively correlated with an increase in the number of Lactobacillus species, which are known to be rich in beneficial bacteria, and the increment of this beneficial bacteria was negatively correlated with the concentration of indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, in plasma. These results strongly suggest that the oral administration of sacran could contribute to the stabilization of intestinal microflora in CKD rats and to the reduction of oxidative stress as well as the inhibition of progression of CKD.

AimsThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of administering sacran, a sulfated polysaccharide, on liver biology, gut microbiota, oxidative stress, and inflammation on stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP5/Dmcr) rats that develop fibrotic steatohepatitis with histological similarities to that of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).Main methodsFour groups of 8-week-old SHRSP5/Dmcr rats were fed a high fat-cholesterol (HFC) diet for 4 and 8 weeks and administered either sacran (80 mg/kg/day) or a non-treatment, respectively. Liver function was evaluated by biochemical and histopathological analyses. Hepatic inflammatory markers were measured using mRNA expression. Fecal microbial profiles were determined via 16S rRNA sequencing. A triglyceride (TG) absorption test was administered to the 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.Key findingSacran administration was observed to decrease the extent of oxidative stress and hepatic biochemical parameters in serum and hepatic injury with the levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), being increased compared to those of the non-treatment group. At the genus level, sacran administration caused a significant decrease in the harmful Prevotella genus, and a significant increase in the useful Blautia genus was observed. Sacran administration also decreased the serum TG increase that was induced by administering corn oil to the SD rats.SignificanceWe conclude that sacran administration has the potential to reduce the absorption of lipids into blood and to improve several gut microbiotas, in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby inhibiting the subsequent development of oxidative stress and hepatic markers in the systematic circulation on NASH.

The retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα) is involved in the regulation of several physiological processes, including development, metabolism, and circadian rhythm. RORα-deficient mice display profound atherosclerosis, in which hypoalphalipoproteinemia is reportedly associated with decreased plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein, increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, and ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage. The recent characterization of endogenous ligands (including cholesterol, oxysterols, provitamin D3, and their derivatives), mediators, and initiation complexes associated with the transcriptional regulation of these orphan nuclear receptors has facilitated the development of synthetic ligands. These findings have also highlighted the potential of application of RORα as a therapeutic target for several diseases, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis. In this review, the current literature related to the structure and function of RORα, its genetic inter-individual differences, and its potential as a therapeutic target in atherosclerosis is discussed.

Claudin family proteins play an important role in the formation of tight junctions in several tissues. Individual claudins display organ- and tissue-specific expression. Claudin domain containing 1 (CLDND1), also known as claudin 25 (CLDN25), is a homolog of the claudin family, and its expression was reported to be downregulated in a mouse model of cerebellar hemorrhage. We have also reported that the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα) is involved in the transcriptional activation of CLDND1 by binding to the RORα responsive element (RORE) in the CLDND1 promoter region. Cholesterol and its derivative oxysterol reportedly serve as ligands for the nuclear receptor RORα. However, the effect of cholesterols on CLDND1 expression is unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of inhibiting steroid synthesis via lovastatin on RORα-mediated CLDND1 transcriptional regulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays revealed that RORα-mediated transcriptional regulation of CLDND1 was suppressed upon lovastatin treatment of HepG2 cells; however, this inhibitory effect was attenuated by supplementation with cholesterol. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and immunoblotting analyses revealed the downregulated expression of CLDND1 mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells upon lovastatin treatment with no parallel changes in RORα mRNA and protein levels. These results confirm that cholesterol serve as ligands for RORα and are, therefore, involved in the activation of CLDND1 transcriptional regulation by RORα.

Satellite glial cells (SGCs) related to primary sensory neurons are altered structurally and functionally under neuroinflammatory conditions. In neuroinflammation expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in peri-sensory neurons results in the production of prostanoids, which affects sensory neuronal activity and responsiveness and causes hyperalgesia. we have shown the facilitated expression of COX-2 by proinflammatory mediators in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. To evaluate the regulatory system of COX-2 expression in the specific cells we investigated the mechanisms using cultured satellite glial cells (cSGCs).

Increased permeability of endothelial cells lining the blood vessels in the brain leads to vascular oedema and, potentially, to stroke. The tight junctions (TJs), primarily responsible for the regulation of vascular permeability, are multi-protein complexes comprising the claudin family of proteins and occludin. Several studies have reported that downregulation of the claudin domain containing 1 (CLDND1) gene enhances vascular permeability, which consequently increases the risk of stroke. However, the transcriptional regulation of CLDND1 has not been studied extensively. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the transcription factors (TFs) regulating CLDND1 expression. A luciferase reporter assay identified a silencer within the first intron of CLDND1, which was identified as a potential binding site of the myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) through in silico and TFBIND software analyses, and confirmed through a reporter assay using the MZF1 expression vector and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Moreover, the transient overexpression of MZF1 significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of CLDND1, conversely, which were suppressed through the siRNA-mediated MZF1 knockdown. Furthermore, the permeability of FITC-dextran was observed to be increased on MZF1 knockdown as compared to that of the siGFP control. Our data revealed the underlying mechanism of the transcriptional regulation of CLDND1 by the MZF1. The findings suggest a potential role of MZF1 in TJ formation, which could be studied further and applied to prevent cerebral haemorrhage.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is associated with increased cardiovascular and liver-related mortality. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP5/Dmcr) that are fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet develop hepatic lesions that are similar to those observed in human NASH pathology. We investigated the hepatic protective and antioxidant effects of surface-deacetylated chitin nanofibers (SDACNFs) that were administered to SHRSP5/Dmcr rats for 8 weeks. The administration of SDACNFs (80 mg/kg/day) resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic injury, oxidative stress, compared with the non-treatment. The SDACNFs also caused a reduction in the population of harmful members of the Morganella and Prevotella genus, and increased the abundance of the Blautia genus, a useful bacterium in gut microbiota. We therefore conclude that SDACNF exerts anti-hepatic and antioxidative effects not only by adsorbing lipid substances but also by reforming the community of intestinal microflora in the intestinal tract.

Oxysterols, important regulators of cholesterol homeostasis in the brain, are affected by neurodegenerative diseases. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is associated with higher levels of circulating brain-derived 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24S-OHC). Conversion of cholesterol to 24S-OHC is mediated by cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase in the brain, which is the major pathway for oxysterol elimination, followed by oxidation through hepatic first-pass metabolism by CYP39A1. Abnormal CYP39A1 expression results in accumulation of 24S-OHC, influencing neurodegenerative disease-related deterioration; thus, it is important to understand the normal elimination of 24S-OHC and the system regulating CYP39A1, a selective hepatic metabolic enzyme of 24S-OHC. We examined the role of transcriptional regulation by retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα), a nuclear receptor that responds to oxysterol ligands. In humans, the promoter and first intronic regions of CYP39A1 contain two putative RORα response elements (ROREs). RORα binding and responses of these ROREs were assessed using electrophoretic mobility shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays. CYP39A1 was upregulated by RORα overexpression in HEK293 cells, while RORα knockdown by siRNA significantly downregulated CYP39A1 expression in human hepatoma cells. Additionally, CYP39A1 was induced by RORα agonist treatment, suggesting that CYP39A1 expression is activated by RORα nuclear receptors. This may provide a way to increase CYP39A1 activity using RORα agonists, and help halt 24S-OHC accumulation in neurodegenerative illnesses.

Cholesterol deficiency is believed to result in fragile plasma membranes. It remains unclear whether a reduction in the amounts of both mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (MPD), which is involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, and cholesterol content occurs in the cerebrum and brain stem (diencephalon and midbrain) in or near the sites of strokes in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). In this study, we investigated whether a reduction in both the amounts of MPD and cholesterol content corresponded to the sites of strokes in the SHRSP brain. The results obtained suggested that a reduction in the amount of MPD was involved in the decrease observed in cholesterol content, and was also important as a risk factor for stroke in SHRSP because the reductions in cholesterol content and MPD protein levels were associated with the sites of strokes. The mechanism responsible for reducing MPD protein levels in the brains of SHRSP differed with each region.

Increased permeability of vascular endothelial cells in the brain is an underlying cause of stroke, which is associated with high mortality rates worldwide. Vascular permeability is regulated by tight junctions (TJs) formed by claudin family and occludin proteins. In particular, increased vascular permeability is associated with decreased claudin domain-containing 1 (CLDND1) expression, which belongs to the TJs family. We previously reported that myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) acts as an activator of CLDND1 expression by binding to its first intron. Several transcription factors regulate transcription by acting on the promoter regions of target genes. However, transcription factors acting on the promoter of CLDND1 are not completely elucidated. Thus, we focused on the promoter region of human CLDND1 to identify factors that could regulate its transcription. Reporter analysis of CLDND1 promoter region revealed an enhancer in the -742/-734 region with MZF1 and specificity protein 1 (SP1) binding sites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that both MZF1 and SP1 could bind to CLDND1 enhancer region. MZF1 overexpression significantly increased CLDND1 expression, whereas overexpression of SP1 had no effect. Moreover, the identified enhancer region exhibited stronger transcriptional and binding capacity than the first intron. Thus, CLDND1 expression is more strongly regulated by competitive action of MZF1 and SP1 binding to the promoter-enhancer region than the first intron silencer region. These results provide novel insights for the development of potential therapies and preventive strategies for stroke in the future.

Background: Neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1 (NCEH1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of cholesterol ester (CE) in macrophages. Genetic ablation of NCEH1 promotes CE-laden macrophages and the development of atherosclerosis in mice. Dysregulation of NCEH1 levels is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple disorders including metabolic diseases and atherosclerosis; however, relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms regulating NCEH1. Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα)-deficient mice exhibit several phenotypes indicative of aberrant lipid metabolism, including dyslipidemia and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Results: In this study, inhibition of lipid droplet formation by RORα positively regulated NCEH1 expression in macrophages. In mammals, the NCEH1 promoter region was found to harbor putative RORα response elements (ROREs). Electrophoretic mobility shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays showed that RORα binds and responds to ROREs in human NCEH1. Moreover, NCEH1 was upregulated through RORα via a phorbol myristate acetate-dependent mechanism during macrophage differentiation from THP1 cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RORα significantly downregulated NCEH1 expression and accumulated lipid droplets in human hepatoma cells. In contrast, NCEH1 expression and removal of lipid droplets were induced by RORα agonist treatments and RORα overexpression in macrophages. Conclusion: These data strongly suggested that NCEH1 is a direct RORα target, defining potential new roles for RORα in the inhibition of lipid droplet formation through NCEH1.