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Long-term hepatic damage is associated with human morbidity and mortality owing to numerous pathogenic factors. A variety of studies have focused on improving liver health using natural products and herbal medicines. We aimed to investigate the effect of enzyme-treated Zizania latifolia ethanol extract (ETZL), which increases the content of tricin via enzymatic hydrolysis, for 8 weeks on liver-related outcomes, lipid metabolism, antioxidant activity, and fatigue compared to a placebo. Healthy Korean adult males aged 19–60 years were randomized into ETZL treatment and placebo groups, and alcohol consumption was 24.96 and 28.64 units/week, respectively. Alanine transaminase, a blood marker associated with liver cell injury, significantly decreased after 8 weeks compared to the baseline in the ETZL treatment group (p = 0.004). After 8 weeks, the treatment group showed significant changes in the levels of high-density lipoprotein and hepatic steatosis index compared to the baseline (p = 0.028 and p = 0.004, respectively). ETZL treatment tended to reduce antioxidant-activity-related factors, total antioxidant status, and malondialdehyde, but there was no significant difference. In the multidimensional fatigue scale, ETZL treatment showed a significant reduction in general fatigue and total-fatigue-related values after 8 weeks compared to the baseline (p = 0.012 and p = 0.032, respectively). Taken together, the 8-week treatment of enzyme-treated Zizania latifolia ethanol extract demonstrated positive effects on liver-related outcomes, lipid metabolism, and mental fatigue without adverse effects on safety-related parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling pathway in physiological and biochemical aspects is very important in the environment, including food. The physiological action of estrogen is mediated by ER alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ), whose physiological action on estrogenic substances is complex because of the relatively low ligand-binding domain (LBD) similarity of the two ERs. In this study, the comprehensive activity of representative ER ligands was evaluated by using BRET-based ERα and ERβ dimerization and ER transactivation assays to differentiate the specific binding and function of ERα and ERβ from 12 representative natural and synthetic estrogenic substances. Results revealed that 11 chemicals mediated receptor ERα and ERβ dimerization, 7 out of 12 chemicals were confirmed to be estrogen agonists, and 5 chemicals were antagonistic. Overall, this study demonstrated consistency between BRET dimerization and transactivation responses, supporting potential supplementary application of mechanism-based BRET assays as high-throughput screening methods for evaluation of potential endocrine-disrupting activity of environmental agents. This study also provided information about receptor specificity of ligand-mediated estrogenic activity via dimerization assays and elucidated cellular estrogen signaling pathways. • A comprehensive study into the estrogen signaling pathway of ER ligand was performed. • ERα and ERβ dimerization activity and transactivation activity was evaluated. • Results could further clarify the estrogen signaling pathway at the cellular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of skeletal muscle mass and function with age represents an important source of frailty and functional decline in the elderly. Antioxidants from botanical extracts have been shown to enhance the development, mass, and strength of skeletal muscle by influencing age-related cellular and molecular processes. Tannase-treated green tea extract contains high levels of the antioxidants (−)-epicatechin (EC) and gallic acid that may have therapeutic benefits for age-related muscle decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tannase-treated green tea extract on various muscle-related parameters, without concomitant exercise, in a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Administration of tannase-treated green tea extract (600 mg/day) for 12 weeks significantly increased isokinetic flexor muscle and handgrip strength in the treatment group compared with those in the placebo (control) group. In addition, the control group showed a significant decrease in arm muscle mass after 12 weeks, whereas no significant change was observed in the treatment group. Blood serum levels of follistatin, myostatin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and cortisol were analyzed, and the decrease in myostatin resulting from the administration of tannase-treated green tea extract was found to be related to the change in muscle mass and strength. In summary, oral administration of tannase-treated green tea extract containing antioxidants without concomitant exercise can improve muscle mass and strength and may have therapeutic benefits in age-related muscle function decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormones (THs) are one of the most important hormones, playing key roles in the regulation of various physiological functions. Although THs have important function in human, in vitro test methods based on human cells are currently insufficient to effectively screen and test TH-related endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). We established a TH agonist TA assay using the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line A549 to test and screen potential TH agonists. To establish the TH agonist TA assay, a TRE-secNluc-IRES-EGFP reporter cassette was constructed and transfected into the A549 cell line using a retrovirus. We evaluated the TH agonistic properties of several chemicals which were tested by existing thyroid agonists testing method (OECD GD 207). Comparing the results of the TH agonist TA assay with the OECD GD 207, T3, T4, tiratricol, and tetrac (natural TH and 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodothyroacetic acid derivatives), which are TH agonists according to the OECD GD 207, also tested positive in the TH agonist TA assay using the A549 cell line. These results suggested that the TH agonist TA assay developed in this study using a human cell line can provide the information, such as accuracy and specificity to TH agonistic properties of chemicals. • The thyroid hormone agonist transactivation assay with the human cell line. • Establishment of a stably transfected A549 cell with a thyroid hormone-responsive reporter system. • The advanced assay showed high accuracy and specificity for screening of thyroid hormone agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a novel cell-based assay to evaluate the androgenic endocrine-disrupting properties of chemical substances, we established a method to detect ligand-mediated androgen receptor (AR) dimerization in stably transfected human cell lines using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) system. Using stably transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells, the BRET-based AR dimerization assay was optimized as a novel test method and was validated using test chemicals recommended by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). The BRET-based AR dimerization assay showed high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the detection of androgenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and the assay protocol is adequate for practical use. This dimerization assay is based on ligand-mediated hormone receptor dimerization and can provide accurate information about androgenic endocrine-disrupting properties at the cellular level, complementing conventional binding and transactivation assays. [Display omitted] • The androgen receptor (AR) binding assay using the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). • The human cell based in vitro binding assay to detect androgenic endocrine disrupting chemicals. • Establishment of stably transfected HEK 293 cell line for BRET-based AR binding assay. • The novel binding assay that can complement or replace conventional binding assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) is a chemical compound that is unintentionally produced during food processing such as acid hydrolysis. There has been reports regarding the role of this chemical compound in reproductive toxicity, as well as genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and kidney toxicity. In this study, the in vitro muscle toxicity of 3-MCPD was assessed using C2C12 myoblast cells. The reduction in muscle regulatory factors (MRFs), which is related to muscle differentiation, was identified as significant with the increase concentration of 3-MCPD. Also, significantly decreased protein expression in mTOR and p70S6 kinase, which are the downstream targets of the pathway associated with muscle synthesis, was also confirmed. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of 3-MCPD on muscle differentiation is considered to be the cause of suppressing mTOR and p70S6 kinase expression. In conclusion, it was confirmed that 3-MCPD inhibits muscle differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts through suppressing the expression of several genetic factors involving muscle differentiation. Image 1 • The in vitro muscle toxicity of 3-MCPD was assessed using C2C12 myoblast cells. • The muscle regulatory factors were reduced by exposure of 3-MCPD. • 3-MCPD suppressed the expression of muscle synthesis factors, mTOR and p70S6 kinase. • We confirmed 3-MCPD inhibits myogenic differentiation in murine skeletal myoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]