Cardioprotective effects of sinomenine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (I/R) play an imperative role in the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Sinomenine (SM) has been exhibited to possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the study was scrutinized the cardioprotective effect of SM against I/R injury in rat.MethodsRat were randomly divided into normal control (NC), I/R control and I/R + SM (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. Ventricular arrhythmias, body weight and heart weight were estimated. Antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and plasmin system indicator were accessed.ResultsPre-treated SM group rats exhibited the reduction in the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) and ventricular tachycardia along with suppression of arrhythmia score during the ischemia (30 and 120 min). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters. SM treatment significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the level of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and troponin I (Tnl). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the tissue factor (TF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators.ConclusionOur result clearly indicated that SM plays anti-arrhythmia effect in I/R injury in the rats via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction.     

异牡荆素对非小细胞性肺癌细胞自我更新和凋亡的影响

目的研究异牡荆素(ISO)对非小细胞性肺癌(NSCLC)细胞的影响和潜在的机制。方法将A549和H1650细胞分别分为空白组、低剂量实验组(4μmol·L^-1 ISO)和高剂量实验组(16μmol·L^-1 ISO)。用噻唑蓝法检测NSCLC细胞活性,用肿瘤球形成实验检测NSCLC细胞的细胞球形成率,用Western blot法检测NSCLC细胞凋亡、自我更新、无翅型MMTV整合位点家族/β-连环蛋白(Wnt/β-catenin)信号通路相关蛋白的表达水平。结果与空白组比较,低、高剂量实验组中A549和H1650细胞在24,48和72 h的细胞活性均显著降低。低、高剂量实验组和空白组中A549细胞的细胞球形成率分别为(4.18±0.45)%,(2.01±0.67)%和(6.02±0.57)%,切割的半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3相对表达量分别为0.24±0.08,1.25±0.13和0.06±0.07,SRY相关高迁移率族盒蛋白-2相对表达量分别为0.49±0.04,0.25±0.03和1.00±0.09,Kruppel样因子4相对表达量分别为0.68±0.04,0.44±0.03和1.01±0.06,Wnt1相对表达量分别为0.63±0.06,0.28±0.04和1.00±0.06,β-catenin相对表达量分别为0.41±0.05,0.22±0.03和1.01±0.09;与空白组比较,低、高剂量实验组中A549细胞的上述指标的差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。上述3组中H1650细胞的上述指标也呈现一致的现象。结论ISO可能通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路来抑制NSCLC细胞活性和自我更新,并促进其凋亡。     

半夏泻心汤对DSS诱导的溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道微生态及Th17/Treg细胞平衡的影响＊

目的 观察半夏泻心汤对饮用葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导建立的溃疡性结肠炎（UC）模型小鼠Th17/Treg细胞平衡及肠道微生态的影响，从免疫失衡及菌群紊乱角度分析半夏泻心汤治疗UC的作用机制。方法 将40只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、阳性药（美沙拉嗪）组及半夏泻心汤组，除空白组外的各小鼠采用2.5% DSS水溶液自由饮用7天诱导建立UC小鼠模型。自实验第8日起，分别采用灭菌水、美沙拉嗪水溶液、半夏泻心汤水溶液给上述各组别小鼠灌胃。采用HE染色观察结肠组织病理学变化，ELISA方法检测组织炎症因子含量，流式细胞术检测Th17及Treg细胞的相对数量，16S rRNA测序技术进一步检测模型小鼠粪便中菌群的变化。结果 与空白组比较，模型组小鼠结肠损伤严重，血清炎症因子含量显著升高（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，中药干预组小鼠结肠损伤减轻，血清TNF-α、IFN-γ含量显著下降（P<0.05）。较空白组小鼠相比，模型组小鼠Th17细胞百分比显著升高（P<0.01），而Treg细胞百分比显著降低（P<0.01）。经半夏泻心汤干预后，其小鼠Th17细胞数量均显著降低（P<0.05），Treg细胞数量则显著升高（P<0.05）。同时，半夏泻心汤可升高门水平上Firmicutes、属水平上Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、Alistipes；降低门水平上Actinobacteriota，科水平上Bifidobacteriaceae、Atopobiaceae、Clostridiaceae，属水平上Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002、Bifidobacterium的相对丰度。结论 半夏泻心汤可使Treg细胞相对数量升高、Th17细胞相对数量降低，以维持Th17/Treg细胞动态平衡；同时可降低有害菌Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002的相对丰度，升高产短链脂肪酸类菌Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae等菌属的相对丰度，调控肠道微生物结构及动态平衡，从而发挥治疗UC的作用。     

Redox active or thiol reactive? Optimization of rapid screens to identify less evident nuisance compounds

Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity are routinely encountered in assays at various stages of drug discovery. We observed that assays for the investigation of thiol-reactive and redox-active compounds have not been collected in a comprehensive review. Here, we review these assays and subject them to experimental optimization to improve their reliability. We demonstrate the usefulness of our assay cascade by assaying a library of bioactive compounds, chemical probes, and a set of approved drugs. These high-throughput assays should complement the array of wet-lab and in silico assays during the initial stages of hit discovery campaigns to pursue only hit compounds with tractable mechanisms of action.     

ArgD of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a functional N-acetylornithine aminotransferase with moonlighting function as an effective immune modulator

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) encodes an essential enzyme acetyl ornithine aminotransferase ArgD (Rv1655) of arginine biosynthetic pathway which plays crucial role in M. tuberculosis growth and survival. ArgD catalyzes the reversible conversion of N-acetylornithine and 2 oxoglutarate into glutamate-5-semialdehyde and L-glutamate. It also possesses succinyl diaminopimelate aminotransferase activity and can thus carry out the corresponding step in lysine biosynthesis. These essential roles played by ArgD in amino acid biosynthetic pathways highlight it as an important metabolic chokepoint thus an important drug target. We showed that M. tuberculosis ArgD rescues the growth of ΔargD E. coli grown in minimal media validating its functional importance. Phylogenetic analysis of M. tuberculosis ArgD showed homology with proteins in gram positive bacteria, pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria suggesting the essentiality of this protein. ArgD is a secretory protein that could be utilized by M. tuberculosis to modulate host innate immunity as its moonlighting function. In-silico analysis predicted it to be a highly antigenic protein. The recombinant ArgD protein when exposed to macrophage cells induced enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL6 and IL12 in a dose dependent manner. ArgD also induced the increased production of innate immune effector molecule NOS2 and NO in macrophages. We also demonstrated ArgD mediated activation of the canonical NFkB pathway. Notably, we also show that ArgD is a specific TLR4 agonist involved in the activation of pro-inflammatory signaling for sustained production of effector cytokines. Intriguingly, ArgD protein treatment activated macrophages to acquire the M1 phenotype through the increased surface expression of MHCII and costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. ArgD induced robust B-cell response in immunized mice, validating its antigenicity potential as predicted by the in-silico analysis. These properties of M. tuberculosis ArgD signify its functional plasticity that could be exploited as a possible drug target to combat tuberculosis.     

ECFS standards of care on CFTR-related disorders: Updated diagnostic criteria

This paper is the first in a series providing updated guidance on the definition, evaluation and management of people with a Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR)-Related Disorder (CFTR-RD). The need for this update relates to more precise characterisation of CFTR gene variants and improved assessment of CFTR protein dysfunction. The exercise is co-ordinated by the European CF Society Standards of Care Committee and Diagnostic Network Working Group and involves stakeholder engagement. This first paper was produced by a core group using an extensive literature review and papers graded for their quality. Subsequent wider stakeholder agreement was achieved.The definition of a CFTR-RD remains “a clinical condition with evidence of CFTR protein dysfunction that does not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for CF”. Clearer guidance on CFTR dysfunction and relevant CFTR variants will be provided. Thresholds for clinical presentations are presented and the paradigm that pathobiological processes may be evident in more than one organ is agreed. In this paper we reflect on the early patient journey, highlighting that CF specialists as well as other relevant specialists should be involved in the care of people with a CFTR-RD.     

低氧刺激鼻息肉黏膜上皮细胞炎性因子变化的初探

目的研究低氧刺激慢性鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉(CRSwNP)与正常鼻黏膜上皮细胞炎性因子的变化与异同,探讨其在CRSwNP发病机制中的作用。方法选择2015年6月至2018年1月在吉林大学中日联谊医院就诊的68例CRSwNP患者,其中男性36例,女性32例,年龄(45.2±12.5)岁(xˉ±s,下同),患者的鼻息肉黏膜纳入慢性鼻窦炎鼻息肉组(CRS-NP组),下鼻甲黏膜纳入慢性鼻窦炎下鼻甲组(CRS-IT组),并根据组织病理学结果进一步分成嗜酸粒细胞浸润及非浸润两种类型,即嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉组(Eos-NP组,n=34)、非嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉组(Non-Eos-NP组,n=34)、嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉患者的下鼻甲组(Eos-IT组,n=20)和非嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉患者的下鼻甲组(Non-Eos-IT组,n=20);同期25例鼻窦囊肿或鼻中隔偏曲患者的下鼻甲黏膜作为对照组(n=25),其中男性14例,女性11例,年龄(42.8±10.2)岁。免疫组织化学染色分析各组黏膜上皮组织中白细胞介素(IL)17A、干扰素γ(IFN-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)与乏氧诱导因子(hypoxia-inducible factor 1α,HIF-1α)的表达情况。酶联免疫吸附试验检测低氧刺激0、24和48 h后各组原代鼻黏膜上皮细胞分泌IL-17A、IFN-γ和TNF-α的差异;免疫荧光、固态光源高内涵与免疫印记实验检测原代鼻黏膜上皮细胞HIF-1α的表达情况。应用SPSS 17.0软件对数据进行统计学分析,采用双向方差分析作为主要统计学方法。结果免疫组织化学染色结果显示,IL-17A和TNF-α在对照组中表达最高(光密度值分别为0.37±0.03、0.53±0.02),IFN-γ和HIF-1α在Eos-IT组中表达最高(光密度值分别为0.47±0.03、0.39±0.02)。未接受低氧刺激时,IL-17A与TNF-α在对照组中水平较低;低氧刺激48 h后,对照组的IL-17A与TNF-α分泌量明显高于其他各组。未接受低氧刺激时,Eos-NP组分泌的IFN-γ明显高于对照组[(13.7±1.3)pg/ml比(11.1±1.6)pg/ml,P<0.05];低氧刺激48 h后,IFN-γ在对照组和Eos-NP组中的分泌量没有显著区别。对照组与CRS-IT组表达的HIF-1α随低氧时间延长而增加,Eos-NP组与Non-Eos-NP组表达的HIF-1α随低氧时间延长而减少。对照组与CRS-IT组HIF-1α主要表达于鼻黏膜上皮细胞的细胞质内,CRS-NP组HIF-1α主要表达于鼻黏膜上皮细胞的细胞核内。结论低氧刺激下,CRSwNP患者的鼻息肉、下鼻甲与正常鼻黏膜上皮细胞中IL-17A、TNF-α、IFN-γ的分泌以及HIF-1α的表达水平存在差异,且呈现不同的亚细胞定位,提示其可能参与了CRSwNP发病相关基因的转录与调控。     

Angiotensin (1−7) peptide replacement therapy with plasma transfusion in COVID-19

AimTo determine whether convalescent angiotensin (1?7) peptide replacement therapy with plasma (peptide plasma) transfusion can be beneficial in the treatment of critically ill patients with severe coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.Study designCase series of 9 critically ill patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who met the following criteria: severe pneumonia with rapid progression and continuously high viral load despite antiviral treatment.Peptide plasma: Plasma with angiotensin (1?7) content 8–10 times higher than healthy plasma donors was obtained from suitable donors. Peptide plasma transfusion was applied to 9 patients whose clinical status and/or laboratory profile deteriorated and who needed intensive care for 2 days.ResultsIn our COVID-19 cases, favipiravir, low molecular weight heparin treatment, which is included in the treatment protocol of the ministry of health, was started. Nine patients with oxygen saturation of 93% and below despite nasal oxygen support, whose clinical and/or laboratory deteriorated, were identified. The youngest of the cases was 36 years old, and the oldest patient was 85 years old. 6 of the 9 cases had male gender. 3 cases had been smoking for more than 10 years. 4 cases had at least one chronic disease.In all of our cases, SARS CoV2 lung involvement was bilateral and peptide plasma therapy was administered in cases when oxygen saturation was 93% and below despite nasal oxygen support of 5 liters/minute and above, and intensive care was required. Although it was not reflected in the laboratory parameters in the early period, 8 patients whose saturations improved with treatment were discharged without the need for intensive care. However, a similar response was not obtained in one case. Oxygen requirement increased gradually and, he died in intensive care process. An increase of the platelet count was observed in all cases following the peptide plasma treatment.ConclusionIn this preliminary case series of 9 critically ill patients with COVID-19, administration of plasma containing angiotensin (1?7) was followed by improvement in their clinical status. The limited sample size and study design preclude a definitive statement about the potential effectiveness of this treatment, and these observations require evaluation in clinical trials.     

Chronic acidosis rewires cancer cell metabolism through PPARα signaling

The mechanisms linking tumor microenvironment acidosis to disease progression are not understood. Here, we used mammary, pancreatic, and colon cancer cells to show that adaptation to growth at an extracellular pH (pH_e) mimicking acidic tumor niches is associated with upregulated net acid extrusion capacity and elevated intracellular pH at physiological pH_e, but not at acidic pH_e. Using metabolic profiling, shotgun lipidomics, imaging and biochemical analyses, we show that the acid adaptation-induced phenotype is characterized by a shift toward oxidative metabolism, increased lipid droplet-, triacylglycerol-, peroxisome content and mitochondrial hyperfusion. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARA, PPARα) expression and activity are upregulated, at least in part by increased fatty acid uptake. PPARα upregulates genes driving increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal mass and β-oxidation capacity, including mitochondrial lipid import proteins CPT1A, CPT2 and SLC25A20, electron transport chain components, peroxisomal proteins PEX11A and ACOX1, and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a negative regulator of glycolysis. This endows acid-adapted cancer cells with increased capacity for utilizing fatty acids for metabolic needs, while limiting glycolysis. As a consequence, the acid-adapted cells exhibit increased sensitivity to PPARα inhibition. We conclude that PPARα is a key upstream regulator of metabolic changes favoring cancer cell survival in acidic tumor niches.