Osteoporosis, characterized by compromised bone density and microarchitecture, represents a significant global health challenge, particularly in aging populations. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate signaling pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, providing valuable insights into the pivotal role of signal transduction in maintaining bone homeostasis. The exploration encompasses cellular signaling pathways such as Wnt, Notch, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, and TGF-β, all of which play crucial roles in bone remodeling. The dysregulation of these pathways is a contributing factor to osteoporosis, necessitating a profound understanding of their complexities to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying bone loss. The review highlights the pathological significance of disrupted signaling in osteoporosis, emphasizing how these deviations impact the functionality of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately resulting in heightened bone resorption and compromised bone formation. A nuanced analysis of the intricate crosstalk between these pathways is provided to underscore their relevance in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Furthermore, the study addresses some of the most crucial long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with osteoporosis, adding an additional layer of academic depth to the exploration of immune system involvement in various types of osteoporosis. Finally, we propose that SKP1 can serve as a potential biomarker in osteoporosis.

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii was a highly salt-tolerant yeast, playing an important role in soy sauce fermentation. Previous studies reported that Z. rouxii under salt treatment produces better fermented food. However, the detailed change of main flavor substance was not clear. In this study, the physiological and transcriptomic analyses of Z. rouxii under salt treatment was investigated. The results revealed the high salt tolerance of Z. rouxii. Analysis of physiological data showed that the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was significantly increased with the increment of salt concentrations. The analysis of organic acids showed that the content of succinic acid was significantly higher in the salt-treated Z. rouxii while oxalic acid was only identified at the 18% salt concentration-treated group. Results of volatile substances analysis showed that concentrations of 3-methyl-1-butanol and phenylethyl alcohol were significantly increased with the increment of salt concentrations. A comparison of transcriptome data showed that the genes involved in the TCA cycle and the linoleic acid synthesis process exhibited different expressions, which is consistent with the results of physiological data. This study helps to understand the change of main flavor substance of Z. rouxii under salt treatment and guide their applications in the high salt liquid state fermentation of the soy sauce.

Background: The theory of free radical oxidative stress (ROS) is one of the leading theories of ageing, and antioxidants play an important role in antiaging. Dendrobium has always been popular as a natural antioxidant. Methods: This study investigated the effects of various polarity fractions of ethanol extracts from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (D. nobile) on D-galactose-induced aging mice. D. nobile stems were extracted by ethanol to form the crude extract (EA), which was sequentially extracted by trichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol to yield the secondary extracts, named TCM, EAC, and NBA, respectively. EA, TCM, EAC and NBA were intragastrically administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. to the aging mice induced by D-galactose for 8 weeks. Results: Compared with the aging control group (AC), D. nobile extracts reduced body weight and lipid accumulation and enhanced endurance and immunity by increasing the index of the spleens and thymus. Meanwhile, D. nobile extracts showed antioxidant properties by lowering Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the skin, blood, liver, and brain. Furthermore, D. nobile extracts had a good protective effect on the cell structure and function against lesions of the skin, liver, brain, kidney, and ovary of aging mice. In particular, EA and EAC had better antioxidant and antiaging effects, suggesting that the most effective components were flavonoids and polyphenols that existed in EAC. Both EA and EAC downregulated the expression of aging-related genes such as Il1a, Il1b, Il1rn, Ccl3, Ccl4, Fos and Gck in the brain at the transcriptome level. Both EA and EAC reversed the increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in aging mice, increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus and Muribaculum, and decreased the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium. Conclusions: The EA and EAC extracts of D. nobile have better effects on immunity improvement, antioxidation and antiaging by remodelling the intestinal microecosystem and downregulating the expression of age-promoting genes in the brain. D. nobile, especially EA and EAC extracts, could be used as an antiaging drug or functional food.

Dendrobium nobile is a traditional Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. However, its antiaging effects are unclear. Herein, we studied the aging-related functions and the mechanism of action of the alcohol extract of Dendrobium nobile (DnAE) in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The results indicated that 1 mg/mL DnAE slowed lipofuscin accumulation, decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species, elevated superoxide dismutase activity, enhanced oxidative and heat stress resistance, extended the lifespan of nematodes, protected their dopamine neurons from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurodegeneration, and reduced Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. DnAE upregulated the mRNA expression of the transcription factors DAF-16 and HSF-1, promoted the nuclear localization of DAF-16, and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of HSP-16.2. However, it had no effect on the lifespan of DAF-16 mutants. Thus, DnAE can significantly extend lifespan, enhance heat stress tolerance, and delay age-related diseases through a DAF-16-dependent pathway.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it is often less protective and does not significantly increase antibody levels, especially in individuals with impaired immune systems. Nevertheless, the immunocompetence can be enhanced using a natural immunomodulator, such as Dendrobium officinale aqueous extract (DoAE). To determine whether DoAE promotes antibody production, we treated healthy volunteers with DoAE during COVID-19 vaccination. Meanwhile, the control volunteers were given a placebo (cornstarch) during the vaccination. Antibody levels were measured at three-week intervals in the DoAE and control groups. DoAE enhanced immunity and preserved immune cell homeostasis. However, the neutralizing antibody (nAb) levels in the DoAE group were lower than those in the control group. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the abundance of anti-inflammatory flora was increased, while the pro-inflammatory flora was reduced in the DoAE group. DoAE has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, DoAE has the potential for COVID-19 prophylaxis, treatment, and recovery from the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, its anti-inflammatory activity affects the production of nAbs. Thus, DoAE may not be recommended for consumption during COVID-19 vaccination.

Plant secondary metabolites play fundamental roles in plant defense and environmental adaptation, and possess extensive high-value applications in medicine, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. The cytochrome P450 (CYPs) family occupies a central position in metabolic networks by catalyzing key reactions in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Although the role of CYPs in these pathways is well documented, their precise catalytic mechanisms and regulatory networks remain poorly characterized. In this review, we summarize recent advances in CYP classification, structural features, and catalytic diversity across plant species. We also analyze the transcriptional regulation and environmental signals that control CYP gene expression. Based on this synthesis, we propose an integrated strategy combining CYP enzyme engineering with metabolic pathway optimization to enhance the sustainable production of valuable secondary metabolites. Furthermore, we outline how CYP-centered approaches can improve the quality of medicinal plants and enable scalable bioreactor-based production. Interdisciplinary collaboration, supported by emerging technologies such as synthetic biology and machine learning, will be essential to overcome current limitations in CYP functional characterization, providing both mechanistic insights and practical solutions for the large-scale production of plant-derived natural products.