The formation of wormlike micelles in aqueous solutions of an amino acid‐based surfactant, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (LS) and a zwitterionic surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) has been investigated. Holding the total concentration of LS and CAPB constant at 12 wt%, the synergistic effects of mass ratio of CAPB and LS and pH of the micelle solution on rheological behaviors of CAPB/LS micelles were studied. The viscosity of CAPB/LS micelle systems with a mass ratio from 4:8 to 9:3 increases to maximum values and then decreases as pH increases from 4.0 to 5.6. The maximum viscosity of the transparent CAPB/LS micelle solution is nearly 5500 mPa·s with a mass ratio of CAPB/LS = 8:4 at pH 5.10. It is suggested that the proper pH for CAPB and LS to form wormlike micelles should be close to the isoelectric point of the CAPB/LS solution. The results of thixotropy measurements show that the appropriate mass ratio of CAPB/LS can improve the stability of the network structure of wormlike micelles. In addition, viscosity curves of CAPB/LS wormlike micelles follow a nonlinear co‐rotational Jeffreys model, and the linear viscoelasticity of CAPB/LS wormlike micelles can be described by a linear viscoelastic Jeffreys model. The network of wormlike micelles is confirmed by Cryo‐TEM images.
Hepcidin (HAMP) synthesis is suppressed by erythropoiesis to increase iron availability for red blood cell production. This effect is thought to result from factors secreted by erythroid precursors. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) expression was recently shown to increase in erythroid cells of b-thalassaemia, and decrease with improvement in anaemia. Whether GDF11 regulates hepatic HAMP production has never been experimentally studied. Here, we explore GDF11 function during erythropoiesistriggered HAMP suppression. Our results confirm that exogenous erythropoietin significantly increases Gdf11 as well as Erfe (erythroferrone) expression, and Gdf11 is also increased, albeit at a lower degree than Erfe, in phlebotomized wild type and b-thalassaemic mice. GDF11 is expressed predominantly in erythroid burst forming unit-and erythroid colony-forming unit-cells during erythropoiesis. Exogeneous GDF11 administration results in HAMP suppression in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, exogenous GDF11 decreases BMP-SMAD signalling, enhances SMAD ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (SMURF1) expression and induces ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1) signalling. ERK1/2 signalling activation is required for GDF11 or SMURF1mediated suppression in BMP-SMAD signalling and HAMP expression. This research newly characterizes GDF11 in erythropoiesis-mediated HAMP suppression, in addition to ERFE.
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