Journal: Frontiers in Nutrition

Article Title: Zhaqu compound improves glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM with MASLD by modulating gut microbiota and PPARγ

doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1775686

Figure Lengend Snippet: ZQC modulates glucose and lipid metabolism in HG/PA-induced HepG2 cells. (A) Volcano plots of differential hepatic RNAs (Mol vs. ZQC). (B) GO enrichment of differential RNAs in ZQC group. (C,D) KEGG enrichment of differential RNAs in ZQC group. (E) CCK8 assay showing cell viability at different serum concentrations. (F) 2-NBDG fluorescence and Oil Red O staining in Control, HG/PA, HG/PA + 5% ZQC-S, and HG/PA + 7.5% ZQC-S groups. (G) Quantification of 2-NBDG fluorescence intensity. (H–J) WB analysis of key gluconeogenic proteins (e.g., PEPCK, G6Pase, GLUT2). (K) Representative WB bands of selected glucose- and lipid-related proteins. (L) Quantification of lipid droplet content from Oil Red O staining. ( # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001 vs. CON; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. HG/PA).

Article Snippet: The reagents and antibodies used were the Total Protein (TP) Assay Kit (1,000 tests, P0006, Biyuntian Biotechnology, China), Glucose Assay Kit (96 T, A154-1-1, Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China), Total Cholesterol (T-CHO) Assay Kit (96 T, A111-1-1, Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China), Triglyceride (TG) Assay Kit (96 T, A110-1-1, Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China), Sequencing Reagent Kit (NovaSeq 6,000 SP Reagent Kit V1.5, Illumina, USA), RNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany), DMEM High Glucose Medium (PM150210, Procell, China), Trypsin (S310JV, Shanghai Yuanpei, China), Fetal Bovine Serum (C04001-500, Vivacell, China), Double Antibody (S110JV, Shanghai Yuanpei, China), PPARγ agonist (HY-146480, MCE, USA), Palmitic acid (H8780, Solarbio, China), Oil Red O staining kit (G1262, Solarbio, China), 2-NBDG fluorescent probe (HY-116215, MCE, USA), BCA protein concentration assay kit (BL521C, Biosharp, China), SDS-PAGE Protein Loading Buffer (5×) (BL502A, Biosharp, China), ECL Chemiluminescent Substrate (BL520B, Biosharp, China), Western Blot & IP Cell Lysis Buffer (P0013, Beyotime, China), PBS Buffer ( PB180327 , Procell, China), and the primary antibodies β -Microtubulin (AC026, Abclonal, China), PEPCK (ET7107-29, Huabio, China), G6Pase (A21168, Abclonal, China), GLUT2 (A12307, Abclonal, China), SREBP-1C (ER1917-19, Huabio, China), ACC1 (ET1609-77, Huabio, China), FASN (R1706-8, Huabio, China), PPARγ (A19676, Abclonal, China), CD36 (ET1701-24, Huabio, China), and FABP4 (ET1703-98, Huabio, China).

Techniques: CCK-8 Assay, Fluorescence, Staining, Control

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Flipping the Switch: MeCP2‐Mediated Lactylation Rewires Microglial Metabolism and Inflammation via the HK2/mTOR Axis in Poststroke Neuroinflammation

doi: 10.1002/advs.202513400

Figure Lengend Snippet: MeCP2 K210 lactylation drives microglial metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory activation, suppressed by K210R mutation. A) Flow cytometry of intracellular calcium levels (Fluo‐4) in murine BV2 cells expressing vector, wild‐type (WT), or K210R‐mutant MeCP2. B) MitoTracker Deep Red staining and quantification of mitochondrial membrane depolarization. C) MitoSOX‐based measurement of mitochondrial ROS. D) Glucose uptake assessed via 2‐NBDG fluorescence. E,F) Enzymatic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH, E) and pyruvate kinase (PK, F) in microglial lysates. G) 3D confocal imaging of TOM20⁺ mitochondria and LysoTracker⁺ lysosomes showing mitochondrial‐lysosomal interactions. H) Western blot and quantification of iNOS, COX‐2, and TNF‐α in BV2 cells. I) Flow cytometry plots and quantification of EdU⁺ proliferating BV2 cells. J) Western blot analysis of MeCP2 K210 lactylation in BV2 cells. K) Extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) tracing in BV2 cells following Rot/AA (inhibit mitochondrial respiration) and 2‐DG (inhibit glycolysis) treatment. L,M) Quantification of basal glycolysis L) and glycolytic reserve (post‐2‐DG acidification, M) from ECAR assays. n = 3 or 4 per group. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using one‐way A–F,H,I,L,M) or two‐way ANOVA K) with Tukey's post hoc test. ns = not significant, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: Glucose uptake was measured using 2‐NBDG (Elabscience, E‐CK‐A441), a fluorescent glucose analog ( E x / E m = 475/550 nm).

Techniques: Activation Assay, Mutagenesis, Flow Cytometry, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation, Staining, Membrane, Fluorescence, Activity Assay, Imaging, Western Blot

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Flipping the Switch: MeCP2‐Mediated Lactylation Rewires Microglial Metabolism and Inflammation via the HK2/mTOR Axis in Poststroke Neuroinflammation

doi: 10.1002/advs.202513400

Figure Lengend Snippet: MeCP2–HK2 axis mediates mitochondrial dysregulation and proinflammatory metabolism in microglia under inflammatory stress. A,B) Representative whole‐brain A) and cortical B) immunofluorescence images showing elevated HK2 expression in Iba1⁺ microglia at 3 days post‐tMCAO; quantification of HK2 intensity in Iba1⁺ microglia (B, right). n ≥ 20 cells per group. C) Western blot showing increased HK2 protein levels in murine BV2 cells following LPS+IFN‐γ treatment. n = 3 per group. D) Primary microglia exhibit increased HK2 expression upon LPS+IFN‐γ stimulation; quantification of HK2 intensity in Iba1⁺ primary microglia (D, right). n ≥ 20 cells per group. E,F) HK2 overexpression (OE‐HK2) increases mitochondrial depolarization (MitoTracker), calcium influx (Fluo‐4), mitochondrial ROS (MitoSOX), and glucose uptake (2‐NBDG). G) OE‐HK2 decreases ATP content and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity while increasing pyruvate kinase (PK) activity. n = 3 per group. H) Western blot shows that HK2 promotes iNOS, COX‐2, and TNF‐α expression. n = 3 per group. I,J) HK2 knockdown (si‐HK2) reverses mitochondrial depolarization, Ca 2 ⁺ overload, ROS generation, and glucose uptake. K) si‐HK2 increases ATP and PDH activity while suppressing PK activity. n = 3 per group. L) si‐HK2 significantly reduces iNOS, COX‐2, and TNF‐α levels in murine BV2 cells. n = 3 per group. Data from animal experiments are means ± SEM; those from cell line experiments are means ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using t ‐test B–D,G,H,K,L). ns = not significant, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: Glucose uptake was measured using 2‐NBDG (Elabscience, E‐CK‐A441), a fluorescent glucose analog ( E x / E m = 475/550 nm).

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Expressing, Western Blot, Over Expression, Activity Assay, Knockdown