Salt stress is an important constraint to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) production in many parts of the world. Seeds of 3 lucerne varieties, cvv. Victoria, Golden Empress, and Victor, were used to investigate the effects of seed priming with 5 µm/L brassinolide on germination and seedling growth under a high level of salt stress (13.6 dS/m NaCl solution). The results showed that germination percentage, germination index, and vigour index of lucerne seeds primed with brassinolide were significantly higher than those of the non-primed seeds under salinity stress in each variety. Seed priming with brassinolide significantly increased the shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight in 2 varieties, and significantly increased the root length and root vigour in each variety. It also significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), in Victoria and Victor seedlings. During seedling growth, the primed seeds significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. This suggests that priming lucerne seed with brassinolide at a suitable concentration can improve germination and seedling growth under high-saline soils.

Liver endothelial cell (LEC) damage is essential in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in transplant recipients. We analyzed the mechanism of LEC resistance against IRI by using a novel recombinant soluble form of PSGL-1 (Tandem P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-Immunoglobulin; TSGL-Ig) in a mouse model of hepatic cold preservation (4°C in UW for 20h) and syngeneic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Unlike in controls, TSGL-Ig protected OLT against IR-stress, evidenced by depressed sALT levels, well-preserved hepatic architecture, and improved survival (42% vs. 92%). TSGL-Ig suppressed neutrophil/macrophage sequestration and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine programs in OLT. Treatment with TSGL-Ig mitigated LEC activation (P-/E-selectin, VCAM-1/ICAM-1 expression). In parallel in vitro studies, TSGL-Ig diminished cellular damage in H2O2-stressed LEC cultures (LDH/ALT levels). Increased Trx, GCL, NQO1, and HIF-1α expression, along with transcription factor Nrf2, implied TSGL-Ig exerts anti-oxidant functions in IR-stressed OLT and H2O2-stressed LECs. Indeed, Nrf2-deficient livers suffered fulminant IRI, compared with WT despite concomitant TSGL-Ig therapy. Thus, TSGL-Ig is not only acting as competitive antagonist blocking leukocyte migration into IR-stressed liver, but it may also act directly as an agonist stimulating Nrf2-mediated cytoprotection in LECs. This study supports the role of P-selectin signaling in hepatic homeostasis in OLT, with broad implications for tissue damage conditions.

Adding a spice mix to hamburger meat prior to cooking resulted in a reduction in urinary malondialdehyde, an increase in urinary nitrate/nitrite and improvement of postprandial endothelial dysfunction in men with Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, cooking a hamburger with a polyphenol-rich spice mixture may lead to potential cardiovascular benefits in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of tea saponins on oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide in chickens. One hundred twenty chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups. Groups 3 to 4 received intramuscular injection of cyclophosphamide to induce oxidative stress and immunosuppression. After that, groups 2 and 4 were orally administered tea saponins in drinking water for 7 d. Then, groups 1 to 4 were immunized with a live, bivalent vaccine of Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. Blood samples were collected for analysis of oxidative parameters and specific antibody titers, and splenocytes were prepared for lymphocyte proliferative assay. The results showed that administration of tea saponins significantly increased total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol, and decreased malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl. Enhanced immune responses, such as lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharides, and serum Newcastle disease virus- and infectious bronchitis virus-specific antibodies were also observed in chickens injected with or without cyclophosphamide. In addition, no side effects were found in chickens throughout the study. Therefore, tea saponins may be a potential agent to improve imunosuppression induced by oxidative stress in chickens.

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