Androgenetic alopecia is a common disease that occurs in both men and women. Several approved medications have been used to treat this condition, but they are associated with certain side effects. Therefore, use of extracts derived from natural products, such as Siberian sturgeon (<i>Acipenser baerii</i>), and the regulation of the gut microbiota have become important topics of research. Sturgeon is known for its high nutritional value and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on androgenetic alopecia and gut microbiota remain uncharacterized. Here, we aimed to investigate whether solubilized sturgeon oil (SSO) promotes hair growth and regulates the gut microbiome. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups. Three groups received topical applications of distilled water, SSO, or minoxidil, and one group was orally administered SSO. Each treatment was administered over 4 weeks. Histopathological analysis revealed a significant increase in follicle number (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and follicle diameter (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed upregulation of β-catenin and ERK-1, markers involved in hair growth-promoting pathways. Furthermore, microbiome analysis revealed that the reduced gut microbiota was negatively correlated with these markers. Our findings indicate that oral administration of SSO promotes hair growth and regulates the abundance of hair growth-promoting gut microbiota.

Gut microbes are closely associated with disease onset and improvement. However, the effects of gut microbes on the occurrence, prevention, and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are still unclear. We investigated the alteration of gut microbiota with implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH and identified correlations among various indicators, including hormone indicators, apoptosis markers in BPH, and finasteride treatment models. BPH induction altered the abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Flavonifractor</i>, <i>Acetatifactor</i>, <i>Oscillibacter</i>, <i>Pseudoflavonifractor</i>, <i>Intestinimonas</i>, and <i>Butyricimonas</i> genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, the altered abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> was associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. Finasteride treatment altered the abundance of <i>Barnesiella</i>, <i>Acetatifactor</i>, <i>Butyricimonas</i>, <i>Desulfovibrio</i>, <i>Anaerobacterium</i>, and <i>Robinsoniella</i> genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, altered abundances of <i>Desulfovibrio</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> were associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. In addition, the abundances of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> were normalized after finasteride treatment. In conclusion, the association between apoptosis and altered abundances of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i>, among other gut microbes, suggests their potential utility in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH.

Androgenetic alopecia is a common disease that occurs in both men and women. Several approved medications have been used to treat this condition, but they are associated with certain side effects. Therefore, use of extracts derived from natural products, such as Siberian sturgeon (<i>Acipenser baerii</i>), and the regulation of the gut microbiota have become important topics of research. Sturgeon is known for its high nutritional value and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on androgenetic alopecia and gut microbiota remain uncharacterized. Here, we aimed to investigate whether solubilized sturgeon oil (SSO) promotes hair growth and regulates the gut microbiome. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups. Three groups received topical applications of distilled water, SSO, or minoxidil, and one group was orally administered SSO. Each treatment was administered over 4 weeks. Histopathological analysis revealed a significant increase in follicle number (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and follicle diameter (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed upregulation of β-catenin and ERK-1, markers involved in hair growth-promoting pathways. Furthermore, microbiome analysis revealed that the reduced gut microbiota was negatively correlated with these markers. Our findings indicate that oral administration of SSO promotes hair growth and regulates the abundance of hair growth-promoting gut microbiota.

Gut microbes are closely associated with disease onset and improvement. However, the effects of gut microbes on the occurrence, prevention, and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are still unclear. We investigated the alteration of gut microbiota with implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH and identified correlations among various indicators, including hormone indicators, apoptosis markers in BPH, and finasteride treatment models. BPH induction altered the abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Flavonifractor</i>, <i>Acetatifactor</i>, <i>Oscillibacter</i>, <i>Pseudoflavonifractor</i>, <i>Intestinimonas</i>, and <i>Butyricimonas</i> genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, the altered abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> was associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. Finasteride treatment altered the abundance of <i>Barnesiella</i>, <i>Acetatifactor</i>, <i>Butyricimonas</i>, <i>Desulfovibrio</i>, <i>Anaerobacterium</i>, and <i>Robinsoniella</i> genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, altered abundances of <i>Desulfovibrio</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> were associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. In addition, the abundances of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i> were normalized after finasteride treatment. In conclusion, the association between apoptosis and altered abundances of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Acetatifactor</i>, among other gut microbes, suggests their potential utility in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH.

Knowledge of the impact of the gut microbiota on human health has increased, and modulation of the bacterial community is now considered a therapeutic target for various diseases. Certain novel bacterial species have probiotic properties associated with improvement in obesity and related metabolic disorders. The relative abundance of <i>Butyricimonas</i> spp. is correlated with metabolic parameters; however, the physiological role of <i>Butyricimonas</i> in metabolic improvement is unclear. In this study, live and heat-killed <i>Butyricimonas virosa</i> were administered to mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Both live and heat-killed <i>B. virosa</i> ameliorated HFD-impaired body weight, serum glucose level, insulin resistance, and liver steatosis. Moreover, activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was observed in the liver, and the expression levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, IRS-2, Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were upregulated in the ileum. Finally, we demonstrated that the effect of <i>B. virosa</i> treatment on glucose regulation may be linked to the upregulation of GLP-1R in the liver and is not a result of colonization of the gut by <i>B. virosa</i> or <i>B. virosa</i>-produced butyrate. Our results provide a rationale for the development of <i>Butyricimonas</i> spp.-based therapeutics and prophylactics for hyperglycemia.

Fish oil supplementation exerts therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis (AD). The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of solubilized sturgeon oil (SSO) prepared from sturgeon oil in AD were examined. NC/Nga mice were topically treated with house dust mite (HDM) extract to induce AD and were then treated with SSO, which exerted potent therapeutic effects on AD symptoms. SSO reduced epidermal hyperplasia and suppressed mast cell infiltration in the dorsal skin. It significantly reduced total and HDM-specific serum IgE levels in AD mice. SSO significantly downregulated interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, and cyclooxygenase-2, while upregulating IL-10 and tight junction-related proteins filaggrin, claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 in AD skin tissues. These results show that SSO exerts therapeutic effects in AD mice by alleviating lesions, downregulating IgE, inflammatory mediators, and Th2 cytokines, and upregulating IL-10 and tight junction-related proteins. Thus, SSO may be a promising natural product for AD treatment.

Aloe vera, a medicinal herb with a lengthy history in traditional and folk medicine, is widely used today as a common ingredient in various healthcare and beauty products.Extensive research has been conducted to verify its therapeutic effectiveness, understand its mechanisms, and identify the active components responsible for its properties.The plant has been found to possess numerous biological properties, including immune system regulation, anti-inflammatory effects, promotion of wound healing, potential anticancer activity, antiviral properties, management of diabetes, and protection against radiation.While the polysaccharides present in the inner gel, particularly acemannan, have been credited for many of therapeutic effects of A. vera, other constituents such as lectins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, anthrones, chromones, coumarins, and polyphenols also contribute to its diverse and numerous benefits.In this review, we focus on acemannan, a well-studied polysaccharide extracted from A. vera gel, while highlighting the recently discovered effects and applications of this remarkable plant.

Vaccination with tumor peptide epitopes associated with MHC class I molecules is an attractive approach directed at inducing tumor-specific CTLs. However, challenges remain in improving the therapeutic efficacy of peptide epitope vaccines, including the low immunogenicity of peptide epitopes and insufficient stimulation of innate immune components <i>in vivo</i>. To overcome this, we aimed to develop and test an innovative strategy that elicits potent CTL responses against tumor epitopes. The essential feature of this strategy is vaccination using tumor epitope-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-IC) and anti-PD1 mAb. Carboxylated NPs were prepared using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene/maleic anhydride), covalently conjugated with anti-H-2K^b mAbs, and then attached to H-2K^b molecules isolated from the tumor mass (H-2^b). Native peptides associated with the H-2K^b molecules of H-2K^b-attached NPs were exchanged with tumor peptide epitopes. Tumor peptide epitope-loaded NPs efficiently induced tumor-specific CTLs when used to immunize tumor-bearing mice as well as normal mice. This activity of the NPs significantly was increased when co-administered with poly-IC. Accordingly, the NPs exerted significant anti-tumor effects in mice implanted with EG7-OVA thymoma or B16-F10 melanoma, and the anti-tumor activity of the NPs was significantly increased when applied in combination with poly-IC. The most potent anti-tumor activity was observed when the NPs were co-administered with both poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb. Immunization with tumor epitope-loaded NPs in combination with poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb in tumor-bearing mice can be a powerful means to induce tumor-specific CTLs with therapeutic anti-tumor activity.

Abstract Background Vaccination with tumor peptide epitopes associated with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules is an attractive approach directed at inducing tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). However, challenges remain in improving the therapeutic efficacy of peptide epitope vaccines, including the low immunogenicity of peptide epitopes and insufficient stimulation of innate immune components in vivo . To overcome this, we aimed to develop and test an innovative strategy that elicits potent CTL responses against tumor epitopes. The essential feature of this strategy is vaccination using tumor epitope-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-IC) and anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Methods Carboxylated NPs were prepared using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene/maleic anhydride), covalently conjugated with anti-H-2KbmAbs, and then attached to H-2Kb molecules isolated from the tumor mass (H-2b). Native peptides associated with the H-2Kbmolecules of H-2Kb-attached NPs were exchanged with tumor peptide epitopes. The tumor-specific CTL-inducing and anti-tumor activities of the tumor epitope-loaded NPs were examined in mice bearing EG7-OVA thymoma or B16-F10 melanoma. In addition, the anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy of the NPs was examined in combination with poly-IC, anti-PD1 mAb, or both. Results Tumor peptide epitope-loaded NPs efficiently induced tumor-specific CTLs when used to immunize tumor-bearing mice as well as normal mice. This activity of the NPs significantly was increased when co-administered with poly-IC. Accordingly, the NPs exerted significant anti-tumor effects in mice implanted with EG7-OVA thymoma or B16-F10 melanoma, and the anti-tumor activity of the NPs was significantly increased when applied in combination with poly-IC. The most potent anti-tumor activity was observed when the NPs were co-administered with both poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb. Conclusions Immunization with tumor epitope-loaded NPs in combination with poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb in tumor-bearing mice can be a powerful means to induce tumor-specific CTLs with therapeutic anti-tumor activity.

Abnormal inflammatory responses are closely associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Oral administration of Qmatrix-diabetes-mellitus complex (QDMC), an Aloe gel-based formula, has been reported to improve inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice; however, the role of the gut microbiota in ameliorating efficacy of QDMC remains unclear. We investigated the effect of QDMC on the gut microbiota in a type 2 diabetic aged mouse model that was administered a high-fat diet. Proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels in the fat were normalized via oral administration of QDMC, and relative abundances of <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Butyricimonas</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>, and <i>Mucispirillum</i> were simultaneously significantly increased. The abundance of these bacteria was correlated to the expression levels of cytokines. Our findings suggest that the immunomodulatory activity of QDMC is partly mediated by the altered gut microbiota composition.