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.     

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of adenoviral and subunit RSV vaccines based on stabilized prefusion F protein in pre-clinical models

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of severe respiratory disease for which no licensed vaccine is available. We have previously described the derivation of an RSV Fusion protein (F) stabilized in its prefusion conformation (preF) as vaccine immunogen and demonstrated superior immunogenicity in naive mice of preF versus wild type RSV F protein, both as protein and when expressed from an Ad26 vaccine vector. Here we address the question if there are qualitative differences between the two vaccine platforms for induction of protective immunity. In naïve mice, both Ad26.RSV.preF and preF protein induced humoral responses, whereas cellular responses were only elicited by Ad26.RSV.preF. In RSV pre-exposed mice, a single dose of either vaccine induced cellular responses and strong humoral responses. Ad26-induced RSV-specific cellular immune responses were detected systemically and locally in the lungs. Both vaccines showed protective efficacy in the cotton rat model, but Ad26.RSV.preF conferred protection at lower virus neutralizing titers in comparison to RSV preF protein. Factors that may contribute to the protective capacity of Ad26.RSV.preF elicited immunity are the induced IgG2a antibodies that are able to engage Fcγ receptors mediating Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC), and the induction of systemic and lung resident RSV specific CD8 + T cells. These data demonstrate qualitative improvement of immune responses elicited by an adenoviral vector based vaccine encoding the RSV preF antigen compared to the subunit vaccine in small animal models which may inform RSV vaccine development.     

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.     

Oxidative stress markers in seminal plasma of idiopathic infertile men may be associated with glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes

This study aimed to investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and T1 null genotypes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in male infertility. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from fertile and infertile subjects, and then they were genotyped for GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes using multiplex-PCR. The TBARS, TAC and NO levels in seminal plasma were then measured via the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). A significant association was observed between GSTT1 null genotype and oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. But, the GSTM1 null genotype was merely associated with teratozoospermia. Moreover, the GSTT1−/GSTM1+ combined genotype was associated with all subgroups of male infertility. Besides, an association was observed between GSTT1−/GSTM1− genotype and asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Further analysis showed that the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased NO in asthenozoospermia. Also, the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased TBARS in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. As well, GSTM1 null genotype was associated with decreased TAC and increased NO in asthenozoospermia respectively. As a preliminary conclusion, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes could be considered as genetic risk factors for male infertility, interfering with some oxidative stress markers in infertile men.     

宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP和DDP+5-FU的体外药敏检测及与耐药蛋白表达的关系研究

目的通过对宫颈鳞状细胞癌进行顺铂(DDP)和DDP+5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)体外药敏检测,比较两种化疗方案的体外有效率。同时检测其耐药蛋白P糖蛋白(P-gp)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶-π(GST-π)、DNA拓扑异构酶Ⅱ(TopoⅡ)、胸苷酸合成酶(TS)的表达,探讨DDP和DDP+5-FU体外药敏与耐药蛋白表达的关系。方法收集35例宫颈鳞状细胞癌患者的新鲜肿瘤组织,采用三磷酸腺苷生物荧光法(ATP-TCA)对DDP和DDP+5-FU进行体外药敏检测,同时采用EnVision二步法检测宫颈鳞状细胞癌组织中耐药蛋白P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS的表达,并分析DDP和DDP+5-FU的体外药敏与耐药蛋白P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS表达的关系。结果 35例标本均进行药敏试验,DDP的体外有效率为37.14%,与DDP+5-FU的51.43%比较,差异无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。经多因素分析发现,患者年龄、临床分期、分化程度均不为DDP、DDP+5-FU药物敏感性的影响因素(P> 0.05)。P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS蛋白阳性表达率分别为57.14%(20/35)、51.43%(18/35)、71.43%(25/35)、57.14%(20/35)。GST-π蛋白阳性表达是宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP耐药的影响因素(P=0.002);TS蛋白阳性表达是宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP+5-FU耐药的影响因素(P=0.001)。结论 宫颈鳞状细胞癌ATP-TCA法检测DDP+5-FU与单药DDP相比,体外有效率无显著差异。GST-π、TS蛋白阳性表达可用于临床宫颈癌患者对DDP、5-FU化疗耐药的预测指标。     

基于血热证小鼠模型紫草素清热凉血与血液氧化还原稳态调控的研究

目的 探究紫草素（SK）对活性酵母诱导的血热证小鼠模型的清热凉血作用与血液氧化还原稳态调控的关系。方法 小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、SK（10 mg/kg）组、阿司匹林（Asp，200 mg/kg）组、L-丁硫氨酸亚砜亚胺（BSO，600 mg/kg）组、N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸（NAC，400 mg/kg）组、BSO联合SK组、NAC联合SK组。小鼠颈背部sc 0.2 g/mL活性酵母提取物（10 mL/kg），造模0.5 h后ip SK，造模8 h后ig Asp，于实验开始前ip BSO、NAC，2次/d，连续1周。考察小鼠肛温（t_R）、基本活动、代谢、凝血、血细胞计数等指标，采用OPA荧光法测定小鼠血清中还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）、氧化型谷胱甘肽（GSSG）水平。结果 与对照组相比，模型组小鼠造模4 h后t_R显著升高（P<0.05），10 h达到（38.07±0.11）℃；小鼠出现烦躁、口唇色红、喜饮、碳末推进率降低、粪便含水量降低、凝血时间延长现象（P<0.05）；肺组织红细胞、炎性细胞浸润；血清LPO、MDA水平显著升高、SOD活性降低、GSH/GSSG比率减小（P<0.05）。与模型组相比，SK组小鼠t_R显著降低，10 h达到（37.51±0.12）℃；各指标均得到显著改善；血清LPO、MDA水平降低、SOD活性升高、GSH/GSSG比率增大（P<0.05）。BSO组可降低血清GSH/GSSG比率（P<0.05），减弱SK对血热证小鼠的治疗作用；NAC组可增加血清GSH水平，增加GSH/GSSG比率（P<0.05），增强SK对血热证小鼠的治疗效果。结论 SK通过调控血液氧化还原稳态，缓解血热证小鼠高热、出血瘀血、血液氧化损伤，从而发挥清热凉血作用。     

Differential involvement of glutathione S‐transferase mu 1 and multidrug resistance protein 1 in melanoma acquired resistance to vinca alkaloids

On account of its extreme intrinsic resistance to apoptosis and of its strong ability to become chemoresistant after a primary response to drugs, malignant melanoma (MM) is still a therapeutic challenge. We previously showed that glutathione S‐transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) acts in synergy with multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) to protect GSTM1‐transfected human CAL1 melanoma cells from toxic effects of vincristine (VCR). Herein, we investigated the role of these proteins in the acquired resistance of CAL1 cells to vinca alkaloids (VAs). Resistant lines were established by continuous exposure (>1 year) of parental CAL1‐wt cells to VCR, vindesine (VDS), or vinorelbine (VRB): CAL1R‐VCR, CAL1R‐VDS, CAL1R‐VRB, respectively. All resistant lines displayed more than 10‐fold increase in resistance to their selection VA, and specifically expressed GSTM1. Suggesting a direct interaction between this protein and VAs, each VA specifically decreased the GSTM1‐mediated glutathione conjugation activity in cell lysates. Curcumin (GSTM1 inhibitor), BSO (glutathione synthesis inhibitor), and MK571 (MRP1 inhibitor) considerably reversed the acquired resistance to VCR and VDS, but not to VRB. Microarray data analysis revealed similar gene expression patterns of CAL1R‐VCR and CAL1R‐VDS, and a distinct one for CAL1R‐VRB. These data suggest a differential involvement of GSTM1 and MRP1 in acquired resistance to VAs. A coordinated expression and activity of GSTM1 and MRP1 is required to protect CAL1 cells from VCR and VDS, while the simple expression of GSTM1 is sufficient, possibly by a direct drug/protein interaction, to confer resistance against VRB.