MicroARN: la biología molecular como herramienta de predicción en preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a disease with a significant incidence worldwide that is directly associated with 15% of maternal deaths. This is usually characterized by the presence of hypertension and proteinuria, which manifests itself from the middle of pregnancy. MicroRNAs are single-stranded RNA molecules that act primarily by degrading transcribed messenger RNA or inhibiting microRNA translation. Placental microRNAs play a role in the growth and function of the placenta, their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers is considered feasible due to the ability to enter the maternal circulation and be detectable in maternal plasma.     

基于18SrRNA序列的云南大叶千斤拔与细叶千斤拔根内丛枝菌根真菌鉴定

目的:调查云南省大叶千斤拔(Flemingia macrophylla)与细叶千斤拔(Flemingia lineata)根内丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi,AMF)群落结构多样性。方法:使用巢式-PCR、克隆、限制性片段长度多态性(Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism,RFLP)分析及测序技术。结果:共获得558个含有丛枝菌根真菌18S rRNA片段的克隆子,经RFLP分析后得到83个RFLP类型,DNA序列分析可将其划分为23个可操作分类单元(Operational Taxonomic Units,OTUs),分属于5个科,Glomeraceae为优势类群。在MaarjAM数据库中进行比对后,23个OTUs可鉴定为18个虚拟分类分子种,分布于13种不同的生境。经统计分析大叶千斤拔与细叶千斤拔根内丛枝菌根真菌群落组成比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论:比较大叶千斤拔与细叶千斤拔根内丛枝菌根真菌群落差异,结合丛枝菌根真菌在生态系统中的分布特点,为种植千斤拔属植物的选址提供有力地环境指标数据,并为筛选促生菌株提供依据。     

常见植物药对结肠癌的防治作用及其作用机制

植物药对结肠癌具有良好的防治作用。姜黄素、多糖(苹果多糖、香菇多糖)、皂苷(重楼皂苷、人参皂苷)、白藜芦醇、槲皮素等植物药可通过不同信号通路抑制结肠癌细胞的增殖,促进细胞凋亡。此外,植物药还具有抗炎、抗氧化、抗血管生成、减轻化疗药物不良反应、逆转肿瘤细胞耐药等作用。了解植物药对结肠癌的防治作用及其可能的作用机制,能为结肠癌的临床防治提供更多的理论依据及治疗思路。     

Computational and experimental studies on the interaction between butyrylcholinesterase and fluoxetine: implications in health and disease

1. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a serine esterase that plays a role in the detoxification of natural as well as synthetic ester-bond-containing compounds. Alterations in BChE activity are associated with a number of diseases. Cholinergic system abnormalities in particular are correlated with the formation of senile plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and administration of cholinesterase inhibitors is a common therapeutic approach used to treat AD.

2. Here, our aim was to study the interaction between BChE and fluoxetine.

3. Molecular docking simulations revealed that fluoxetine penetrated deep into the active-site gorge of BChE and that it was engaged in stabilizing noncovalent interactions with multiple subsites. In substrate kinetic studies, the V_m, K_m, k_cat and k_cat/K_m values were found to be 20.59?±?0.36?U mg^?1 protein, 194?±?14?µM, 1.3?×?10⁸?s^?1 and 6.7?×?10⁵?µM^?1s^?1, respectively. Based on inhibitory studies, fluoxetine appeared to inhibit BChE competitively, with an IC₅₀ value of 104?µM and a K_i value of 36.3?±?4.7?µM.

4. Overall, both the low K_i value and the high number of BChE–fluoxetine interactions suggest that fluoxetine is a potent inhibitor of BChE, although in vivo mechanisms for the direct effects of BChE inhibition on various pathologies remain to be further investigated.

     

Synthesis,in vivo and in silico evaluation of novel 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives as potential anticonvulsant agents

In light of the pharmacophoric structural requirements for achieving anticonvulsant activity, a series of N-(1-methyl-4-oxo-2-un/substituted-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-3[4H]-yl)benzamide (4a-g) and N-(1-methyl-4-oxo-2-un/substituted-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-3[4H]-yl)-2-phenylacetamide (4h-n) derivatives were synthesized in two steps starting from the reaction of N-methyl isatoic anhydride with the appropriate hydrazide and followed by condensation with the appropriate aldehyde. The anticonvulsant activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated according to the anticonvulsant drug development (ADD) programme protocol. Among the synthesized compounds, 4n showed promising activity in both the maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) tests with median effective dose (ED₅₀) values of 40.7 and 6 mg/kg, respectively. The six most promising derivatives, 4b , 4a , 4c , 4f , 4j , and 4i , showed very low ED₅₀ values in the PTZ test (3.1, 4.96, 8.68, 9.89, 12, and 13.53 mg/kg, respectively). All the tested compounds showed no to low neurotoxicity in the rotarod test with a wide therapeutic index. Docking studies of compound 4n suggested that GABA_A binding could be the mechanism of action of these derivatives. The in silico drug likeliness parameters indicated that none of the designed compounds violate Lipinski's rule of five and that they are able to cross the blood–brain barrier.

Correlation of Molecular Markers in High Grade Gliomas with Response to Chemo-Radiation

Background: The standard of care in high grade glioma (HGG) is maximal safe surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) with/without chemotherapy. For anaplastic gliomas, studies have shown use of procarbazine, lomustine, vincristine (PCV) improves overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Currently, there is substantial evidence that molecular markers strongly predict prognosis and response to treatment. Methods: Between January 2016 to January 2018, 42 patients were accrued and followed up till April 2019. The primary end points were to correlate molecular markers with response to therapy in terms of OS and PFS in HGG. The secondary end point was to evaluate frequency of 1p/19q codeletion, IDH 1 mutation, ATRX deletion and p53 in HGG patients. Results: The median age was 46 years (range 18-67) with M:F ratio 30:12. The frequency of IDH1 mutation,1p/19q codeletion, p53 mutation and ATRX mutation were 42.8%, 16.6%, 42.8% and 14.2% respectively. All the seven patients with 1p/19q codeletion had IDH1 mutation. Median follow up was 22 months. The 20-months PFS for different mutations were as follows; IDH1-mutated vs wild type: 53.6% vs 29.8%; p-0.035, 1p/19q codeleted vs non-codeleted: 85.7% vs 62.3%; p-0.011, p53 wild type vs mutated 32.1% vs 35.6%; p-0.035 and ATRX lost vs retained: 55.6% vs 53.3%; p- 0.369. The 20-months OS for IDH1 mutated vs wild type: 82.4% vs 30.6%; p-0.014, 1p/19q codeleted vs non-codeleted: 85.7% vs 65.8%; p-0.104, p53 wild-type vs mutated 45.5% vs 73.9%; p-0.036 and ATRX lost vs retained: 100% vs 60.3%; p-0.087. Conclusion: Codeletion of 1p/19q with IDH1 mutation in HGG is associated with a significantly favourable PFS. However, larger studies with longer follow up are required to evaluate OS and PFS in all the molecular subgroups.     

Molecular study of hypersensitivity to spores in adults and children from Castile & Leon

Introduction and objectivesBiological aerosols play a vital role in the interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, climate and public health and fungal spores are a component with allergic importance.We constructed a database in Castile & Leon (Spain) and carry out molecular-level component-resolved diagnosis to complete the air quality study carried out since 2006 by our aerobiological network (RACYL) to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment.MethodsWe reviewed a database of 19,774 patients (adults and children) with allergic respiratory disease treated in our unit during the last 12 years. We also made a component-resolved diagnosis of the molecules involved in the pathology in a randomly selected population of 150 patients.ResultsThe dimeric glycoprotein Alt a1 from Alternaria is the most prevalent and most useful allergen in the diagnosis of patients with allergy to fungi in our area (94.4%), followed by enolase Alt a 6 (Alternaria), ribonuclease Asp f 1 of Aspergillus and mannitol dehydrogenase from Cla h 8 (Cladosporium).ConclusionsOur results have helped determine which spore molecules are most-closely associated with allergies. Molecular analysis will be useful to determine more accurate and useful immunotherapy in these patients.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术的款冬花在清肺排毒汤治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）中的作用分析

目的采用网络药理学和分子对接法分析款冬花在清肺排毒汤治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)中发挥的作用。方法基于课题组前期研究,确定款冬花中的主要成分。采用SwissTargetPrediction和BATMAN-TCM数据库对款冬花主要化学成分的潜在靶点进行整理;在GenCLiP 3和GeneCard数据库搜索COVID-19相关靶点,运用Cytoscape 3.7.1软件绘制款冬花成分-靶点-疾病网络图;使用String数据库构建靶点PPI网络;通过DAVID数据库进行GO富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析;将各成分与新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)3CL水解酶和血管紧张素转化酶II(ACE2)进行分子对接。结果款冬花治疗COVID-19的化合物-靶点-疾病网络包含化合物14个、靶点104个、疾病4个。GO功能富集分析得到GO条目444个(P0.05),其中包括生物过程(BP)条目325个、细胞组成(CC)条目44个、分子功能(MF)条目75个。KEGG通路富集筛选得到94条信号通路(P0.05)。分子对接结果显示异绿原酸B(3,4-dicaffeoylquinicacid)和异绿原酸C(4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid)与蛋白的亲和力要优于瑞德西韦。结论款冬花中主要化合物能通过与SARS-Co V-2 3CL水解酶和ACE2结合,作用于多靶点调节多条信号通路,从而发挥对COVID-19的防治作用。     

黄芩中四种主要黄酮成分与环氧酶-2的分子对接研究

目的:黄芩中四种主要黄酮与COX-2进行分子对接。方法:采用软件Molegro Virtual Docker(MVD),以选择性COX-2抑制剂SC-558和6COX共结晶复合物作为受体模板,建立COX-2的活性位点,并对黄芩苷等四种黄酮进行分子对接。结果:黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素与6COX发生分子对接的MVD分值分别为-121.64KJ/moL、-124.76KJ/moL、-96.11KJ/moL和-96.68KJ/moL。黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷以及SC-558均能作用于以Leu352,Phe518,Gly526,Val523,Ala527和Ser353等氨基酸残基组成的活性位点。结论:黄芩苷等四种黄酮与COX-2能够成功进行分子对接,其对接位点信息有助于该类化合物抑制COX-2的活性机制的阐释。