Metabolism of inhaled methylethylketone in rats

Methylethylketone (MEK) is widely used in industry, often in combination with other compounds. Although nontoxic, it can make other chemicals harmful. This study investigates the fate of MEK in rat blood, brain and urine as well as its hepatic metabolism following inhalation over 1 month (at 20, 200 or 1400?ppm). MEK did not significantly accumulate in the organism: blood concentrations were similar after six-hour or 1-month inhalation periods, and brain concentrations only increased slightly after 1 month’s exposure. Urinary excretion, based on the major metabolites, 2,3-butanediols (± and meso forms), accounted for less than 2.4% of the amount inhaled. 2-Butanol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and MEK itself were only detectable in urine in the highest concentration conditions investigated, when metabolic saturation occurred. Although MEK exposure did not alter the total cytochrome P450 concentration, it induced activation of both CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 enzymes. In addition, the liver glutathione concentration (reduced and oxidized forms) decreased, as did glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (at exposure levels over 200?ppm). These metabolic data could be useful for pharmacokinetic model development and/or verification and suggest the ability of MEK to influence the metabolism (and potentiate the toxicity) of other substances.     

Can we increase the speed and efficacy of antidepressant treatments? Part II. Glutamatergic and RNA interference strategies

In the second part we focus on two treatment strategies that may overcome the main limitations of current antidepressant drugs. First, we review the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the use of glutamatergic drugs as fast-acting antidepressants. Secondly, we review the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the use of small RNAs (e.g.., small interfering RNAs or siRNAs) to knockdown genes in monoaminergic and non-monoaminergic neurons and induce antidepressant-like responses in experimental animals.The development of glutamatergic agents is a promising venue for antidepressant drug development, given the antidepressant properties of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine. Its unique properties appear to result from the activation of AMPA receptors by a metabolite [(2 S,6 S;2 R,6 R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK)] and mTOR signaling. These effects increase synaptogenesis in prefrontal cortical pyramidal neurons and enhance serotonergic neurotransmission via descending inputs to the raphe nuclei. This view is supported by the cancellation of ketamine's antidepressant-like effects by inhibition of serotonin synthesis.We also review existing evidence supporting the involvement of miRNAs in MDD and the preclinical use of RNA interference (RNAi) strategies to target genes involved in antidepressant response. Many miRNAs have been associated to MDD, some of which e.g., miR-135 targets genes involved in antidepressant actions. Likewise, SSRI-conjugated siRNA evokes faster and/or more effective antidepressant-like responses. Intranasal application of sertraline-conjugated siRNAs directed to 5-HT_1A receptors and SERT evoked much faster changes of pre- and postsynaptic antidepressant markers than those produced by fluoxetine.     

槲皮素通过影响吲哚胺-2,3-双加氧酶活性抑制HeLa细胞增殖的研究

目的研究槲皮素抑制人宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖的机制。方法采用CCK-8法检测细胞增殖;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的变化;运用紫外可见分光光度计测定OD₄₈₀值,反映色氨酸代谢及犬尿氨酸的生成情况;qPCR法检测IDO1的mRNA表达;表达、纯化IDO1蛋白并进行体外酶活性反应,用高效液相色谱法检测色氨酸和犬尿氨酸的含量变化。结果槲皮素抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,引起G0/G1细胞周期阻滞;槲皮素抑制色氨酸的代谢;槲皮素能够明显抑制IDO1的体外酶催化活性,但不影响IDO1的表达;外源性添加色氨酸的代谢产物犬尿氨酸可以逆转槲皮素引起的细胞增殖抑制。结论槲皮素可能通过抑制IDO1的酶催化活性,影响细胞色氨酸的代谢,这可能是槲皮素发挥其抗宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖作用的机制之一。     

Amino acid metabolism as drug target in autoimmune diseases

In mammals, amino acid metabolism has evolved to control immune responses. Autoimmune diseases are heterogeneous conditions that involve the breakdown of tolerogenic circuitries and consequent activation of autoreactive immune cells. Therefore, critical enzymes along amino acid degradative pathways may be hijacked to keep in check autoimmunity. We examined here current knowledge of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and arginase 1 (ARG1), the main enzymes catabolizing tryptophan and arginine, respectively, in organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases as well as in the development of autoantibodies to therapeutic proteins. At variance with neoplastic contexts, in which it is known to act as a pure immunosuppressive molecule, ARG1 exhibited a protective or pathogenetic profile, depending on the disease. In contrast, in several autoimmune conditions, the bulk of data indicated that drugs capable of potentiating IDO1 expression and activity may represent valuable therapeutic tools and that IDO1-based immunotherapeutic protocols could be more effective if tailored to the genetic profile of individual patients.     

Immune checkpoints and the regulation of tolerogenicity in dendritic cells: Implications for autoimmunity and immunotherapy

The immune system is responsible for defending the host from a large variety of potential pathogens, while simultaneously avoiding immune reactivity towards self-components. Self-tolerance has to be tightly maintained throughout several central and peripheral processes; immune checkpoints are imperative for regulating the immunity/tolerance balance. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized cells that capture antigens, and either activate or inhibit antigen-specific T cells. Therefore, they play a key role at inducing and maintaining immune tolerance. DCs that suppress the immune response have been called tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs). Given their potential as a therapy to prevent transplant rejection and autoimmune damage, several strategies are under development to generate tolDCs, in order to avoid activation and expansion of self-reactive T cells. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge relative to the main features of tolDCs, their mechanisms of action and their therapeutic use for autoimmune diseases. Based on the literature reviewed, autologous antigen-specific tolDCs might constitute a promising strategy to suppress autoreactive T cells and reduce detrimental inflammatory processes.     

Stimulator of interferon genes agonists attenuate type I diabetes progression in NOD mice

Reagents that activate the signaling adaptor stimulator of interferon genes (STING) suppress experimentally induced autoimmunity in murine models of multiple sclerosis and arthritis. In this study, we evaluated STING agonists as potential reagents to inhibit spontaneous autoimmune type I diabetes (T1D) onset in non-obese diabetic (NOD) female mice. Treatments with DNA nanoparticles (DNPs), which activate STING when cargo DNA is sensed, delayed T1D onset and reduced T1D incidence when administered before T1D onset. DNP treatment elevated indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) activity, which regulates T-cell immunity, in spleen, pancreatic lymph nodes and pancreas of NOD mice. Therapeutic responses to DNPs were partially reversed by inhibiting IDO and DNP treatment synergized with insulin therapy to further delay T1D onset and reduce T1D incidence. Treating pre-diabetic NOD mice with cyclic guanyl-adenyl dinucleotide (cGAMP) to activate STING directly delayed T1D onset and stimulated interferon-αβ (IFN-αβ), while treatment with cyclic diguanyl nucleotide (cdiGMP) did not delay T1D onset or induce IFN-αβ in NOD mice. DNA sequence analyses revealed that NOD mice possess a STING polymorphism that may explain differential responses to cGAMP and cdiGMP. In summary, STING agonists attenuate T1D progression and DNPs enhance therapeutic responses to insulin therapy.     

A New Associative Diblock Copolymer of Poly(ethylene glycol) and Dense 1,2,3‐Triazole Blocks: Self‐Association Behavior and Thermoresponsiveness in Water

In this work, new diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dense 1,2,3‐triazole blocks (EGm‐b‐APn and EGm‐b‐ABn, where m and n denote the degrees of polymerization), are synthesized by copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition polymerization of 3‐azido‐1‐propyne (AP) and 3‐azido‐1‐butyne (AB), respectively, in the presence of PEG possessing a propargyl group. Their self‐association behavior and thermoresponsive property in water are investigated. The characterization data indicate that EG45‐b‐AP6 and EG45‐b‐AP14 form dominantly spherical micelles, EG18‐b‐AP4 and EG18‐b‐AP10 form vesicles, and EG18‐b‐AB7 forms rodlike micelles. Aqueous solutions of EG18‐b‐AP10, EG45‐b‐AP14, and EG18‐b‐AB7 undergo lower critical solution temperature (LCST)‐type phase separation. The thermoresponsive association behavior can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of block lengths and by attaching methyl substituents.