The expression of PD-L1 on tumor-derived exosomes enhances infiltration and anti-tumor activity of αCD3 × αPD-L1 bispecific antibody-armed T cells.

Anti-cluster of differentiation (CD) 3 × α programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) bispecific T-cell engager (BsTE)-bound T-cells (BsTE:T) are a promising new cancer treatment agent. However, the mechanisms of action of bispecific antibody-armed activated T-cells are poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor mechanism and efficacy of BsTE:T. The BsTE:T migration was assessed in vivo and in vitro using syngeneic and xenogeneic tumor models, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, transwell migration assays, microfluidic chips, Exo View R100, western blotting, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 technology. In murine B16 melanoma, MC38 colon cancer, and human multiple myeloma cells, BsTE:T exhibited superior tumor elimination relative to that of T-cells or BsTE alone. Moreover, BsTE:T migration into tumors was significantly enhanced owing to the presence of PD-L1 in tumor cells and secretion of PD-L1-containing exosomes. Furthermore, increased infiltration of CD44highCD62Llow effector memory CD8+ T-cells into tumors was closely associated with the anti-tumor effect of BsTE:T. Therefore, BsTE:T is an innovative potential anti-tumor therapy, and exosomal PD-L1 plays a crucial role both in vitro and in vivo in the anti-tumor activity of BsTE:T.

Loganin Ameliorates Acute Kidney Injury and Restores Tofacitinib Metabolism in Rats: Implications for Renal Protection and Drug Interaction.

Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is metabolized through hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP), specifically CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11. Prolonged administration of rheumatoid arthritis medications is generally associated with an increased risk of renal toxicity. Loganin (LGN), an iridoid glycoside, has hepatorenal regenerative properties. This study investigates the potential of LGN to mitigate acute kidney injury (AKI) and its effects on the pharmacokinetics of tofacitinib in rats with cisplatin-induced AKI. Both intravenous and oral administration of tofacitinib to AKI rats significantly increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC) compared with control (CON) rats, an increase attributed to the decelerated non-renal clearance (CLNR) and renal clearance (CLR) of tofacitinib. Administration of LGN to AKI rats, however, protected kidneys from severe impairment, restoring the pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC, CLNR, and CLR) of tofacitinib to those observed in untreated CON rats, with partial recovery of kidney function, as evidenced by an increase in creatinine clearance (CLCR). Possible interactions between drugs and natural components should be considered, especially when co-administering both a drug and a natural extract containing LGN or iridoid glycosides to patients with kidney injury.

Potential of a bivalent vaccine for broad protection against enterovirus 71 and coxsackie virus 16 infections causing hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that is mainly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus 16 (CVA16). As there are no specific therapeutics for HFMD, the development of a bivalent vaccine is required to cover a broad range of infections. In this study, the effectiveness of novel monovalent and bivalent vaccines targeting EV71 C4a and CVA16 was investigated for their ability to prevent viral infections in neonatal human scavenger receptor class B member 2 (hSCARB2) transgenic mice. As hSCARB2 serves as a key viral receptor for EV71, these transgenic mice are susceptible to EV71 strains and facilitate viral binding, internalization, and uncoating processes. Antisera prepared by vaccine immunization were transferred to 2-day-old hSCARB2 transgenic mice, which were then infected with EV71 C4a or CVA16 virus. The antisera generated by each monovalent or bivalent vaccine effectively protected against EV71 C4a and CVA16 infections. The examination of tissue damage and viral contents in various organs indicated that both monovalent and bivalent antisera reduced EV71 C4a viral load in the brainstem, and no significant tissue damage was observed. During CVA16 infection, the monovalent and bivalent antisera significantly reduced viral contents in both the brainstem and muscles. These results suggest that passive immunity by monovalent and bivalent antisera can effectively protect against EV71 C4a and CVA16 infections. Thus, the development of a bivalent vaccine that can provide broad protection against both CV and EV infections may be a promising strategy in preventing HFMD.

A Bivalent Inactivated Vaccine Prevents Enterovirus 71 and Coxsackievirus A16 Infections in the Mongolian Gerbil.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infectious disease that occurs in children under 5 years of age. Its main causes are coxsackievirus (CV) and enterovirus (EV). Since there are no efficient therapeutics for HFMD, vaccines are effective in preventing the disease. To develop broad coverage against CV and EV, the development of a bivalent vaccine form is needed. The Mongolian gerbil is an efficient and suitable animal model of EV71 C4a and CVA16 infection used to investigate vaccine efficacy following direct immunization. In this study, Mongolian gerbils were immunized with a bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a and inactivated CVA16 vaccine to test their effectiveness against viral infection. Bivalent vaccine immunization resulted in increased Ag-specific IgG antibody production; specifically, EV71 C4a-specific IgG was increased with medium and high doses and CVA16-specific IgG was increased with all doses of immunization. When gene expression of T cell-biased cytokines was analysed, Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses were found to be highly activated in the high-dose immunization group. Moreover, bivalent vaccine immunization mitigated paralytic signs and increased the survival rate following lethal viral challenges. When the viral RNA content was determined from various organs, all three doses of bivalent vaccine immunization were found to significantly decrease viral amplification. Upon histologic examination, EV71 C4a and CVA16 induced tissue damage to the heart and muscle. However, bivalent vaccine immunization alleviated this in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a/CVA16 vaccine could be a safe and effective candidate HFMD vaccine.

Intranasal immunization with curdlan induce Th17 responses and enhance protection against enterovirus 71.

Mucosal surfaces are in contact with the external environment and protect the body from infection by various microbes. To prevent infectious diseases at the first line of defense, the establishment of pathogen-specific mucosal immunity by mucosal vaccine delivery is needed. Curdlan, a 1,3-ß-glucan has a strong immunostimulatory effect when delivered as a vaccine adjuvant. Here, we investigated whether intranasal administration of curdlan and antigen (Ag) could induce sufficient mucosal immune responses and protect against viral infections. Intranasal co-administration of curdlan and OVA increased OVA-specific IgG and IgA Abs in both serum and mucosal secretions. In addition, intranasal co-administration of curdlan and OVA induced the differentiation of OVA-specific Th1/Th17 cells in the draining lymph nodes. To investigate the protective immunity of curdlan against viral infection, intranasal co-administration of curdlan with recombinant VP1 of EV71 C4a was administered and showed enhanced protection against enterovirus 71 in a passive serum transfer model using neonatal hSCARB2 mice, although intranasal administration of VP1 plus curdlan increased VP1-specific helper T cells responses but not mucosal IgA. Next, Mongolian gerbils were intranasally immunized with curdlan plus VP1, and they had effective protection against EV71 C4a infection, while decreasing viral infection and tissue damage by inducing Th17 responses. These results indicated that intranasal curdlan with Ag improved Ag-specific protective immunity by enhancing mucosal IgA and Th17 against viral infection. Our results suggest that curdlan is an advantageous candidate as a mucosal adjuvant and delivery vehicle for the development of mucosal vaccines.

ERdj5 protects goblet cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis under inflammatory conditions.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is closely associated with the onset and progression of inflammatory bowel disease. ERdj5 is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein disulfide reductase that mediates the cleavage and degradation of misfolded proteins. Although ERdj5 expression is significantly higher in the colonic tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease than in healthy controls, its role in inflammatory bowel disease has not yet been reported. In the current study, we used ERdj5-knockout mice to investigate the potential roles of ERdj5 in inflammatory bowel disease. ERdj5 deficiency causes severe inflammation in mouse colitis models and weakens gut barrier function by increasing NF-κB-mediated inflammation. ERdj5 may not be indispensable for goblet cell function under steady-state conditions, but its deficiency induces goblet cell apoptosis under inflammatory conditions. Treatment of ERdj5-knockout mice with the chemical chaperone ursodeoxycholic acid ameliorated severe colitis by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress. These findings highlight the important role of ERdj5 in preserving goblet cell viability and function by resolving endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Effects of Isosakuranetin on Pharmacokinetic Changes of Tofacitinib in Rats with N-Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Cirrhosis.

Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase 1 and 3 inhibitor, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is mainly metabolized by the cytochromes p450 (CYP) 3A1/2 and CYP2C11 in the liver. Chronic inflammation eventually leads to cirrhosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Isosakuranetin (ISN), a component of Citrus aurantium L., has hepatoprotective effects in rats. This study was performed to determine the effects of ISN on the pharmacokinetics of tofacitinib in rats with N-dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis (LC). After intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg tofacitinib to control (CON), LC, and LC treated with ISN (LC-ISN) rats, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) from time zero to infinity increased by 158% in LC rats compared to those in CON rats; however, the AUC of LC-ISN rats decreased by 35.1% compared to that of LC rat. Similar patterns of AUC changes were observed in the LC and LC-ISN rats after oral administration of 20 mg/kg tofacitinib. These results can be attributed to decreased non-renal clearance (CLNR) and intestinal intrinsic clearance (CLint) in the LC rats and increased intestinal and hepatic CLint in the LC-ISN rats. Our findings imply that ISN treatment in LC rats restored the decrease in either CLNR or CLint, or both, through increased hepatic and intestinal expression of CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11, which is regulated by the induction of pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR).

Effects of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis on the Disposition of Tofacitinib in Rats.

Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase 1 and 3 inhibitor, is mainly metabolized by CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11 in the liver. The drug has been approved for the chronic treatment of severe ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of tofacitinib in rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. After 1-min of intravenous infusion of tofacitinib (10 mg/kg), the area under the plasma concentration-time curves from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of tofacitinib significantly increased by 92.3%. The time-averaged total body clearance decreased significantly by 47.7% in DSS rats compared with control rats. After the oral administration of tofacitinib (20 mg/kg), the AUC increased by 85.5% in DSS rats. These results could be due to decreased intrinsic clearance of the drug caused by the reduction of CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11 in the liver and intestine of DSS rats. In conclusion, ulcerative colitis inhibited CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11 in the liver and intestines of DSS rats and slowed the metabolism of tofacitinib, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of tofacitinib in DSS rats.

Obesity Exacerbates Coxsackievirus Infection via Lipid-Induced Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Generation.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection causes acute pancreatitis and myocarditis. However, its pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated how lipid metabolism is associated with exacerbation of CVB3 pathology using high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 1×106 pfu/mouse of CVB3 after being fed a control or HFD to induce obesity. Mice were treated with mitoquinone (MitoQ) to reduce the level of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS). In obese mice, lipotoxicity of white adipose tissue-induced inflammation caused increased replication of CVB3 and mortality. The coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor increased under obese conditions, facilitating CVB3 replication in vitro. However, lipid-treated cells with receptor-specific inhibitors did not reduce CVB3 replication. In addition, lipid treatment increased mitochondria-derived vesicle formation and the number of multivesicular bodies. Alternatively, we found that inhibition of lipid-induced mtROS decreased viral replication. Notably, HFD-fed mice were more susceptible to CVB3-induced mortality in association with increased levels of CVB3 replication in adipose tissue, which was ameliorated by administration of the mtROS inhibitor, MitoQ. These results suggest that mtROS inhibitors can be used as potential treatments for CVB3 infection.

Bispecific Antibody-Bound T Cells as a Novel Anticancer Immunotherapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is one of the promising anticancer treatments. It shows a high overall response rate with complete response to blood cancer. However, there is a limitation to solid tumor treatment. Additionally, this currently approved therapy exhibits side effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Alternatively, bispecific antibody is an innovative therapeutic tool that simultaneously engages specific immune cells to disease-related target cells. Since programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule highly expressed in some cancer cells, in the current study, we generated αCD3xαPD-L1 bispecific antibody (BiTE) which can engage T cells to PD-L1+ cancer cells. We observed that the BiTE-bound OT-1 T cells effectively killed cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. They substantially increased the recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T cells having CD8+CD44+CD62Llow phenotype in tumor. Interestingly, we also observed that BiTE-bound polyclonal T cells showed highly efficacious tumor killing activity in vivo in comparison with the direct intravenous treatment of bispecific antibody, suggesting that PD-L1-directed migration and engagement of activated T cells might increase cancer cell killing. Additionally, BiTE-bound CAR-T cells which targets human Her-2/neu exhibited enhanced killing effect on Her-2-expressing cancer cells in vivo, suggesting that this could be a novel therapeutic regimen. Collectively, our results suggested that engaging activated T cells with cancer cells using αCD3xαPD-L1 BiTE could be an innovative next generation anticancer therapy which exerts simultaneous inhibitory functions on PD-L1 as well as increasing the infiltration of activated T cells having effector memory phenotype in tumor site.

Regulation of Butyrate-Induced Resistance through AMPK Signaling Pathway in Human Colon Cancer Cells.

Butyrates inhibit cell growth in colon cancer cells by inhibiting histone deacetylases. However, chronic exposure to butyrates induces butyrate resistance in colon cancer cells. The mechanism underlying the acquisition of resistance is not yet fully understood. Here, butyrate-resistant (BR) colon cancer cells were developed in HCT116, HT29, and SW480 human colon cancer cells and were confirmed by the increase in the inhibitory concentrations of cell growth by 50% (IC50) compared to their respective parental (PT) cells. Chronic exposure to butyrate induced autophagy via higher expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B-II. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was downregulated along with the activation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and decrease in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in BR colon cancer cells compared to those in their respective PT cells. Activation of AMPK by AICAR treatment in BR colon cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation by inhibiting Akt and mTOR and activating ACC. Taken together, chronic exposure to butyrate increased butyrate resistance in human colon cancer by inducing protective autophagy through the downregulation of AMPK/ACC and activation of Akt/mTOR signaling. Activation of AMPK restored sensitivity to butyrate by the inhibition of Akt/mTOR, suggesting that AMPK could be a therapeutic target for BR colon cancers.

Gut-Brain Connection: Microbiome, Gut Barrier, and Environmental Sensors.

The gut is an important organ with digestive and immune regulatory function which consistently harbors microbiome ecosystem. The gut microbiome cooperates with the host to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic, and nervous systems. It can influence disease processes in the gut as well as extra-intestinal organs, including the brain. The gut closely connects with the central nervous system through dynamic bidirectional communication along the gut-brain axis. The connection between gut environment and brain may affect host mood and behaviors. Disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in several neurological disorders. A link between the gut microbiota and the brain has long been described, but recent studies have started to reveal the underlying mechanism of the impact of the gut microbiota and gut barrier integrity on the brain and behavior. Here, we summarized the gut barrier environment and the 4 main gut-brain axis pathways. We focused on the important function of gut barrier on neurological diseases such as stress responses and ischemic stroke. Finally, we described the impact of representative environmental sensors generated by gut bacteria on acute neurological disease via the gut-brain axis.

The role of mucosal barriers in human gut health.

The intestinal mucosa is continuously exposed to a large number of commensal or pathogenic microbiota and foreign food antigens. The intestinal epithelium forms a dynamic physicochemical barrier to maintain immune homeostasis. To efficiently absorb nutrients from food, the epithelium in the small intestine has thin, permeable layers spread over a vast surface area. Epithelial cells are renewed from the crypt toward the villi, accompanying epithelial cell death and shedding, to control bacterial colonization. Tight junction and adherens junction proteins provide epithelial cell-cell integrity. Microbial signals are recognized by epithelial cells via toll-like receptors. Environmental signals from short-chain fatty acids derived from commensal microbiota metabolites, aryl hydrocarbon receptors, and hypoxia-induced factors fortify gut barrier function. Here we summarize recent findings regarding various environmental factors for gut barrier function. Further, we discuss the role of gut barriers in the pathogenesis of human intestinal disease and the challenges of therapeutic strategies targeting gut barrier restoration.

CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes ameliorate acute skin inflammation in an ear edema model via effective CO delivery.

The short release half-life of carbon monoxide (CO) is a major obstacle to the effective therapeutic use of carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2). The potential of CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes (CORM-2-UDLs) to enhance the release half-life of CO and alleviate skin inflammation was investigated in the present study. CORM-2-UDLs were prepared by using soy phosphatidylcholine to form lipid bilayers and Tween 80 as an edge activator. The deformability of CORM-2-UDLs was measured and compared with that of conventional liposomes by passing formulations through a filter device at a constant pressure. The release profile of CO from CORM-2-UDLs was evaluated by myoglobin assay. In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of CORM-2-UDLs were assessed in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages and TPA-induced ear edema model, respectively. The deformability of the optimized CORM-2-UDLs was 2.3 times higher than conventional liposomes. CORM-2-UDLs significantly prolonged the release half-life of CO from 30 s in a CORM-2 solution to 21.6 min. CORM-2-UDLs demonstrated in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing nitrite production and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Furthermore, CORM-2-UDLs successfully ameliorated skin inflammation by reducing ear edema, pathological scores, neutrophil accumulation, and inflammatory cytokines expression. The results demonstrate that CORM-2-UDLs could be used as promising therapeutics against acute skin inflammation.

Self-Assembled Multi-Epitope Peptide Amphiphiles Enhance the Immune Response against Enterovirus 71.

Subunit vaccines consist of non-genetic material, such as peptides or proteins. They are considered safe because they have fewer side effects; however, they have low immunogenicity when used alone. We aimed to enhance the immune response of peptide-based vaccines by using self-assembled multimeric peptide amphiphiles (PAs). We designed two epitope PAs by conjugating epitope peptides from Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus particle (VP) 1 and VP3 capsid proteins with different fatty acid chain lengths (VP1PA and VP3PA). These PAs self-assembled into supramolecular structures at a physiological pH, and the resulting structures were characterized using atomic force microscopy. Multi-epitope PAs (m-PAs) consisted of a 1:1 mixture of VP1PA and VP3PA solutions. To evaluate immunogenicity, m-PA constructs were injected with adjuvant subcutaneously into female Balb/c mice. Levels of antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG1 in m-PA-injected mice serum samples were analyzed using ELISA and Western blotting. Additionally, cytokine production stimulated by each antigen was measured in splenocytes cultured from immunized mice groups. We found that m-PA showed improved humoral and cellular immune responses compared to the control and peptide groups. The sera from m-PA immunized mice group could neutralize EV71 infection and protect host cells. Thus, self-assembled m-PAs can promote a protective immune response and can be developed as a potential platform technology to produce peptide vaccines against infectious viral diseases.

Morin Hydrate Inhibits Influenza Virus entry into Host Cells and Has Anti-inflammatory Effect in Influenza-infected Mice.

Influenza virus is the major cause of seasonal and pandemic flu. Currently, oseltamivir, a potent and selective inhibitor of neuraminidase of influenza A and B viruses, is the drug of choice for treating patients with influenza virus infection. However, recent emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses has limited its efficacy. Morin hydrate (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid isolated from Morus alba L. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects partly by the inhibition of the NF-кB signaling pathway. However, its effects on influenza virus have not been studied. We evaluated the antiviral activity of morin hydrate against influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (A/PR/8; H1N1) and oseltamivir-resistant A/PR/8 influenza viruses in vitro. To determine its mode of action, we carried out time course experiments, and time of addition, hemolysis inhibition, and hemagglutination assays. The effects of the co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir were assessed using the murine model of A/PR/8 infection. We found that morin hydrate reduced hemagglutination by A/PR/8 in vitro. It alleviated the symptoms of A/PR/8-infection, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α and CCL2, in infected mice. Co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir phosphate reduced the virus titers and attenuated pulmonary inflammation. Our results suggest that morin hydrate exhibits antiviral activity by inhibiting the entry of the virus.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells regulate colitis-associated tumorigenesis by controlling myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration.

Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and TLR7 are important for stimulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which secrete type I interferon. Mice deficient for TLR3 and TLR7 (TLR3-/-TLR7-/-) reportedly exhibit deteriorated colitis because of impaired pDCs. However, the role of pDCs in tumorigenesis-associated inflammation progression has not been studied. We treated wild-type or TLR3-/-TLR7-/- mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and/or azoxymethane (AOM) and examined colon mucosa, measured body weight and colon length of mice, and examined pDC and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) accumulation. Further, we depleted pDCs in AOM/DSS-treated wild-type mice by treating them with anti-PDCA-1 antibodies. We found that MDSCs significantly increased, while pDCs decreased in TLR3-/-TLR7-/- mice. Moreover, TLR3-/-TLR7-/- mice developed colitis-associated colon cancer following AOM/DSS treatment. Additionally, we showed that a defect in TLR7 of pDCs is responsible for the aggravation of colitis-associated colon cancer. Further, we showed that TLR7 ligand mitigates colitis-associated colon cancer. Collectively, our results demonstrate that gut pDCs play a crucial role in reducing colorectal cancer development via the regulation of infiltrating MDSCs.

Slower Elimination of Tofacitinib in Acute Renal Failure Rat Models: Contribution of Hepatic Metabolism and Renal Excretion.

Tofacitinib is a Jak inhibitor developed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Tofacitinib is metabolized mainly through hepatic CYP3A1/2, followed by CYP2C11. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to increase renal toxicity due to drugs used for long-term treatment. In this study, pharmacokinetic changes of tofacitinib were evaluated in rats with gentamicin (G-ARF) and cisplatin-induced acute renal failure (C-ARF). The time-averaged total body clearance (CL) of tofacitinib in G-ARF and C-ARF rats after 1-min intravenous infusion of 10 mg/kg was significantly decreased by 37.7 and 62.3%, respectively, compared to in control rats. This seems to be because the time-averaged renal clearance (CLR) was significantly lower by 69.5 and 98.6%, respectively, due to decreased creatinine clearance (CLCR). In addition, the time-averaged nonrenal clearance (CLNR) was also significantly lower by 33.2 and 57.4%, respectively, due to reduction in the hepatic CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C11 subfamily in G-ARF and C-ARF rats. After oral administration of tofacitinib (20 mg/kg) to G-ARF and C-ARF rats, both CLR and CLNR were also significantly decreased. In conclusion, an increase in area under plasma concentration-time curves from time zero to time infinity (AUC) of tofacitinib in G-ARF and C-ARF rats was due to the significantly slower elimination of tofacitinib contributed by slower hepatic metabolism and urinary excretion of the drug.

Local Stabilization of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Controls Intestinal Inflammation via Enhanced Gut Barrier Function and Immune Regulation.

Intestinal epithelial cells are adapted in mucosal hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors in these cells can fortify barrier integrity to support mucosal tissue healing. Here we investigated whether hypoxia-related pathways could be proposed as potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease. We developed a novel hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, CG-598 which stabilized HIF-1α in the gut tissue. Treatment of CG-598 did not affect extra-intestinal organs or cause any significant adverse effects such as erythropoiesis. In the experimental murine colitis model, CG-598 ameliorated intestinal inflammation with reduction of inflammatory lesions and pro-inflammatory cytokines. CG-598 treatment fortified barrier function by increasing the expression of intestinal trefoil factor, CD73, E-cadherin and mucin. Also, IL-10 and IL-22 were induced from lamina propria CD4+ T-cells. The effectiveness of CG-598 was comparable to other immunosuppressive therapeutics such as TNF-blockers or JAK inhibitors. These results suggest that CG-598 could be a promising therapeutic candidate to treat inflammatory bowel disease.