Anticonvulsant effect of melatonin through ATP-sensitive channels in mice

Melatonin is a neurohormone secreted principally by the pineal gland. This molecule has various pharmacological properties including improving immune system, prevent cancer, anti-aging, and anti-oxidant effects. The anticonvulsant effects of melatonin have been proved by previous studies. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels are considered as an important target in the seizure modulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticonvulsant effect of melatonin in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice, focusing on its ability to regulate K_ATP channels. Acute intraperitoneal administration of melatonin (40 and 80 mg/kg) increased clonic seizure threshold induced by intravenous administration of PTZ. Melatonin (40 and 80 mg/kg) increased the latency of clonic seizure and reduced its frequency in mice receiving an intraperitoneal injection of PTZ. Administration of glibenclamide, a K_ATP channels blocker, before intravenous injection of PTZ reduced melatonin anticonvulsant effect. Diazoxide and cromakalim, as K_ATP channels openers, increased antiseizure effect of melatonin in PTZ model of seizures. These findings suggest that the antiseizure effect of melatonin probably is gained through increasing the opening of K_ATP channels.     

枳实薤白桂枝汤HPLC指纹图谱及10种指标成分含量测定研究

目的建立枳实薤白桂枝汤HPLC指纹图谱分析方法和复方中10种指标成分(辛弗林、槲皮素、桂皮酸、厚朴酚、柚皮苷、腺苷、香豆素、橙皮苷、和厚朴酚、新橙皮苷)含量测定方法,开展相关评价分析。方法采用HPLC法建立枳实薤白桂枝汤指纹图谱,开展相似度评价研究;测定复方中10个指标成分,分析复方中药材不同配伍对其量的变化影响;采用聚类分析等化学计量学方法,对获取相关数据进行分析,评价枳实薤白桂枝汤的质量控制相关指标的影响和价值。结果 10批样品的相似度在0.376～0.990,部分批次相似度大于0.9(5批),说明10批样品相似度差异较大。10批样品中S1～S3、S5、S6、S8、S10为一组,S4、S9为一组,S7单独为一组。共标定了30个特征峰,经主成分分析,主成分1～6是影响药材样品质量评价的主要因子;30个特征峰中对样品分组起关键作用的成分为21(新橙皮苷)、26、29(和厚朴酚)、3、23、17、30(厚朴酚)、5、24(香豆素)、28和7。含量测定结果显示,除槲皮素外,其余9种成分在测定的质量浓度范围内线性关系、精密度、稳定性和重复性良好;不同配伍会对药材中相关成分产生增加或抑制溶出的作用。结论所建立的HPLC方法可用于同时测定枳实薤白桂枝汤中10种化学成分的含量,该方法高效、准确、重复性好,可用于枳实薤白桂枝汤的质量控制和评价。     

13C-caffeine breath test identifies single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with caffeine metabolism

We performed a caffeine (N-3-methyl-¹³C) breath test (CafeBT) to determine whether it can be employed to identify caffeine metabolism-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. The study included 130 healthy adults (mean age: 21.9 years). Saliva was collected using an Oragene®•DNA saliva collection kit. Breath samples were collected from the subjects. The subjects orally ingested 100 mg ¹³C-caffeine dissolved in distilled water. Subsequently, breath samples were collected in bags every 10 min for a total of 90 min. An analysis of ¹³CO₂ in the expired breath was performed by infrared spectroscopy, and the sum of Δ¹³CO₂ over 90 min (S^90m) was calculated. DNA from saliva samples was genotyped using TaqMan® SNP Genotyping for the following genes: cytochrome P4501A2: rs762551, rs2472297, aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (rs4410790), and adenosine A_2A receptor (rs5751876). All subjects had the genotype CC in rs2472297 alleles. No significant difference was observed in S^90m among the genotypes of rs762551 and rs5751876; however, a significant difference was found in S^90m among the genotypes of rs4410790 (C > T). Our findings suggest that the N-3 demethylation of caffeine is dependent on the rs4410790 allele and that CafeBT may be used to determine rs4410790 genotypes.     

金水宝胶囊生产过程中质量控制方法的建立

目的:完善金水宝胶囊生产过程中的质量控制体系,为该制剂的后续研究与应用提供实验依据。方法:采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC),Ultimate AQ-C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×150 mm,5μm),腺苷、鸟苷、尿苷含量测定的色谱条件为流动相甲醇(A)-0.1%甲酸水溶液(B)梯度洗脱(0~14 min,100%~99%B;14~19 min,99%~89%B;19~39 min,89%~85%B),流速0.4 m L·min^-1,柱温30℃,进样量10μL,检测波长260 nm。麦角甾醇含量测定的色谱条件为流动相甲醇-水(98∶2),流速1 m L·min^-1,柱温25℃,进样量10μL,检测波长283 nm。结果:发酵虫草菌粉不同生产阶段样品的指纹图谱中主要色谱峰差异性较小。腺苷、鸟苷、尿苷的线性关系良好(R2均>0.999);三者的加样回收率分别为106.06%,101.25%,105.88%,RSD均<3.0%。于2016-2018年各抽取的20批样品中腺苷、麦角甾醇的含量均符合2015年版《中国药典》的要求,鸟苷、尿苷的质量分别为0.97~1.36,0.67~1.38 mg/粒。结论:市面所售金水宝胶囊质量较为稳定。建立的方法可用于检测金水宝胶囊的质量,且操作简便、稳定可靠,可为发酵虫草菌粉类产品的检测提供参考。     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of new mycophenolic acid conjugates with adenosine derivatives

New conjugates of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and adenosine derivatives were synthesized and assessed as potential immunosuppressants on Jurkat cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors. As compared to MPA, all compounds were found to be more active against Jurkat cell line. The antiproliferative activities were compared with MPA and adenosine, in both 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene protected and free hydroxyl groups possessing forms. The obtained results were also discussed in terms of selectivity index, defined as SI = IC₅₀/EC₅₀.     

The STING activator c-di-AMP exerts superior adjuvant properties than the formulation poly(I:C)/CpG after subcutaneous vaccination with soluble protein antigen or DEC-205-mediated antigen targeting to dendritic cells

Vaccination is the most efficient strategy to protect from infectious diseases and the induction of a protective immune response not only depends on the nature of the antigen, but is also influenced by the vaccination strategy and the co-administration of adjuvants. Therefore, the precise monitoring of adjuvant candidates and their immune modulatory properties is a crucial step in vaccine development. Here, one central aspect is the induction of appropriate humoral and cellular effector mechanisms.In our study we performed a direct comparison of two promising candidates in adjuvant development, the STING activator bis-(3,5)-cyclic dimeric adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) and the Toll-like receptor ligand formulation poly(I:C)/CpG. These were evaluated in C57BL/6 mice using the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) in subcutaneous vaccination with soluble protein as well as in a dendritic cell (DC) targeting approach (αDEC-OVA). Strikingly, c-di-AMP as compared to poly(I:C)/CpG resulted in significantly higher antigen-specific IgG antibody levels when used in immunization with soluble OVA as well as in antigen targeting to DC. In vaccination with soluble OVA, c-di-AMP induced a significantly stronger CTL, Th1 and IFNγ-producing CD8⁺ memory T cell response than poly(I:C)/CpG. The response was CTL and Th1 cell dominated, a profile shared by both adjuvants. In the context of targeting OVA to DC, c-di-AMP induced significantly increased Th1 and Th2 cell responses as compared to poly(I:C)/CpG. Interestingly, the Th1 response dominated the overall T cell response only when c-di-AMP was used, indicating a distinct modulatory property of c-di-AMP when the DC targeting immunization approach was exploited.Taken together, we describe superior properties of c-di-AMP as compared to poly(I:C)/CpG in subcutaneous vaccination with soluble antigen as well as antigen targeting to DC. This indicates exceptionally effective adjuvant properties for c-di-AMP and provides compelling evidence of its potential for further adjuvant development, especially also when using DC targeting approaches.     

Using ATP‐driven bioluminescence assay to monitor microbial safety in a contemporary human cadaver laboratory

Introduction: The objective of this study was to utilize a cost‐effective method for assessing the levels of bacterial, yeast, and mold activity during a human dissection laboratory course. Nowadays, compliance with safety regulations is policed by institutions at higher standards than ever before. Fear of acquiring an unknown infection is one of the top concerns of professional healthcare students, and it provokes anti‐laboratory anxiety. Human cadavers are not routinely tested for bacteria and viruses prior to embalming. Human anatomy dissecting rooms that house embalmed cadavers are normally cleaned after the dissected cadavers have been removed. There is no evidence that investigators have ever assessed bacterial and fungal activities using adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐driven bioluminescence assays. Methods: A literature search was conducted on texts, journals, and websites regarding bacterial, yeast, and mold activities in an active cadaver laboratory. Midway into a clinical anatomy course, ATP bioluminescence assays were used to swab various sites within the dissection room, including entrance and exiting door handles, water taps, cadaver tables, counter tops, imaging material, X‐ray box switches, and the cadaver surfaces. Results: The results demonstrated very low activities on cadaver tables, washing up areas, and exiting door handles. There was low activity on counter tops and X‐ray boxes. There was medium activity on the entrance door handles. Conclusion: These findings suggest an inexpensive and accurate method for monitoring safety compliance and microbial activity. Students can feel confident and safe in the environment in which they work. Clin. Anat. 28:164–167, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Rociletinib (CO-1686) enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Overexpression of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in cancer cells is known to cause multidrug resistance (MDR), which severely limits the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. Currently, there is no FDA-approved MDR modulator for clinical use. In this study, rociletinib (CO-1686), a mutant-selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), was found to significantly improve the efficacy of ABCG2 substrate chemotherapeutic agents in the transporter-overexpressing cancer cells in vitro and in MDR tumor xenografts in nude mice, without incurring additional toxicity. Mechanistic studies revealed that in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells, rociletinib inhibited ABCG2-mediated drug efflux and increased intracellular accumulation of ABCG2 probe substrates. Moreover, rociletinib, inhibited the ATPase activity, and competed with [¹²⁵I] iodoarylazidoprazosin (IAAP) photolabeling of ABCG2. However, ABCG2 expression at mRNA and protein levels was not altered in the ABCG2-overexpressing cells after treatment with rociletinib. In addition, rociletinib did not inhibit EGFR downstream signaling and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Our results collectively showed that rociletinib reversed ABCG2-mediated MDR by inhibiting ABCG2 efflux function, thus increasing the cellular accumulation of the transporter substrate anticancer drugs. The findings advocated the combination use of rociletinib and other chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer patients with ABCG2-overexpressing MDR tumors.