Versatile Polymerization-Induced Emission Polymers from Barbier Polymerization of Cinnamic Esters with Tunable Emission.

Cinnamic ester is a common and abundant chemical substance, which can be extracted from natural plants. Compared with traditional esters, cinnamic ester contains α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl structure with multiple reactive sites, resulting in more abundant reactivities and chemical structures. Here, a versatile polymerization-induced emission (PIE) is successfully demonstrated through Barbier polymerization of cinnamic ester. Attributed to its abundant reactivities of α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl structure, Barbier polymerization of cinnamic esters with different organodihalides gives polyalcohol and polyketone via 1,2-addition and 1,4-addition, respectively, which is also confirmed by small molecular model reactions. Meanwhile, these organodihalides dependant polyalcohol and polyketone exhibit different non-traditional intrinsic luminescence (NTIL) from aggregation-induced emission (AIE) type to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) type, where novel PIE luminogens (PIEgens) are revealed. Further potential applications in explosive detection are carried out, where it achieves TNT detection sensitivity at ppm level in solution and ng level on the test paper. This work therefore expands the structure and functionality libraries of monomer, polymer and NTIL, which might cause inspirations to different fields including polymer chemistry, NTIL, AIE and PIE.

Clickable Polymerization-Induced Emission Luminogens Toward Color-Tunable Modification of Non-Traditional Intrinsic Luminescent Polymers.

Non-traditional intrinsic luminescent (NTIL) polymer is an emerging field, and its color-tunable modification is highly desirable but still rarely investigated. Here, a click chemistry approach for the color-tunable modifications of NTIL polymers by introducing clickable polymerization-induced emission luminogen (PIEgen), is demonstrated. Through Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry, a series of PIEgens is successful prepared, which is further polymerized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Interestingly, after clickable modification, these monomers are nonemissive in both solution and aggregation states; while, the corresponding polymers exhibit intriguing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, confirming their PIEgen characteristics. By varying alkynyl substitutions, color-tunable NTIL polymers are achieved with emission wavelength varying from 448 to 498 nm, revealing a series of PIEgens and verifying the importance of modification of NTIL polymers. Further luminescence energy transfer application is carried out as well. This work therefore designs a series of clickable PIEgens and opens a new avenue for the modification of NTIL polymers via click chemistry, which may cause inspirations to the research fields including luminescent polymer, NTIL, click chemistry, AIE and modification.

Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Donafenib with or without Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors as the First-Line Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus donafenib with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) (T+D+I) versus TACE plus donafenib (T+D) as the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: This retrospective study included patients with unresectable HCC who received T+D+I or T+D between June 2021 and February 2023. The tumor response was analyzed according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in the two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Cox's proportional-hazards regression model was used to analyze factors affecting PFS and OS. Results: This study included 69 patients: 41 patients in the T+D group and 28 patients in the T+D+I group. After PSM, 26 patients in each group were analyzed. Patients in the T+D+I group had a higher DCR (96.2% vs 73.1%, P = 0.021), longer median PFS (13.1 vs 7.2 months, P = 0.017), and longer median OS (23.1 vs 14.7 months, P = 0.021) than those in the T+D group. The ORR in the two groups was similar (53.8% vs 50.0%, P = 0.781). Multivariate analyses revealed that T+D+I treatment and total bilirubin levels of <20 µmol/L were independent prognostic factors for long PFS. T+D+I treatment, Child-Pugh class A, and single-lobe tumor distribution were independent prognostic factors for long OS. The incidence of TRAEs in the two groups was similar (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In comparison with TACE plus donafenib, TACE plus donafenib with ICIs could significantly improve DCR, PFS, and OS as a potential first-line treatment for unresectable HCC with an acceptable safety profile.

Cannabidiol ameliorates inflammatory response partly by AGE-RAGE pathway in diabetic mice.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the most abundant nonpsychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa plant, is a promising potential pharmacotherapy for the treatment of diabetes and associated comorbidities. Previous studies have shown the potential of CBD to prevent diabetes in mice, the precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of CBD alleviating hyperglycemia. The results demonstrated that CBD reduced blood glucose of STZ-induced diabetic mice without causing hypoglycemia. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of CBD effect, RNA-seq analysis was performed on high glucose-induced human mesangial cells (HMCs). By cluster analysis of differential genes, the results showed that advanced glycation end products-receptor of advanced glycation endproducts (AGE-RAGE) pathway-related genes CCL2 and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) play an important role in the biological of CBD. The expression of CCL2 and IL-1ß were significantly increased in HMCs. Whereas, treatment with CBD decreased the expression of CCL2 and IL-1ß. In addition, CBD significantly reduced AGE-RAGE levels in high glucose-induced HMCs. Similar results were confirmed in diabetic mice. In conclusion, we discovered for the first time that CBD ameliorates hyperglycemia partly through AGE-RAGE mediated CCL2/IL-1ß pathway.

Research on the influence mechanism of green finance on the quality of green innovation of private enterprises: evidence from China.

In the context of the "peak carbon dioxide emissions" and "carbon neutrality" strategic goals, how green finance can prompt private enterprises to achieve green upgrading has become an important issue to be solved. This paper empirically examines the effect mechanism of green credit policy on private enterprises' green innovation by using the difference-in-differences model based on the manually collected green patent data and matching financial data of Chinese listed private enterprises from 2009 to 2019. It is found that the implementation of green credit policy has a significant negative impact on the quality of green innovation of heavy-polluting private firms relative to non-heavy-polluting private firms, and this conclusion is still valid after replacing the explanatory variables, expanding the sample range, changing the model setting, and excluding the interference of other policies during the sample period. The results of the mechanism suggest that green credit policy negatively affects the quality of green innovation of heavy-polluting private firms by limiting their access to financing for loans and the capital market. Further study finds that commercial banks can reduce their non-performing loan ratio and increase their revenue growth rate by extending green credit funds to improve their business performance. It provides insights for better implementation of green credit policy and promotion of green economy development.

Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus expressing the co-stimulator OX40L as immunopotentiator for colorectal cancer therapy.

NDV as an attractive candidate for oncolytic immunotherapy selectively lyses tumor cells but shows limited anti-tumor immunity. Immune co-stimulator OX40 ligand (OX40L) boosts anti-tumor immunity response by delivering a potent costimulatory signal to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. To improve the anti-tumor immunity of NDV, the recombinant NDV expressing the murine OX40L (rNDV-mOX40L) was engineered. The viral growth kinetics was examined in CT26 cell lines. The ability of rNDV-mOX40L to express mOX40L was detected in the infected tumor cells and tumor tissues. The anti-tumor activity of rNDV-mOX40L was studied in the CT26 animal model. Tumor-specific CD4+, CD8+ and OX40+ T cells were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The virus growth curve showed that the insertion of the mOX40L gene did not affect the growth kinetics of NDV. rNDV-mOX40L expresses mOX40L and effectively inhibits the growth of CT26 colorectal cancer in vivo. The tumor inhibition rate of the rNDV-mOX40L-treated group was increased by 15.8% compared to that of  NDV-treated group in the CT26 model. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry staining of tumor tissues removed from the CT26 model revealed that intense infiltration of tumor-specific CD4+, CD8+ T cells, especially OX40+ T cells were found in the rNDV-mOX40L-treated group. FACS showed that rNDV-mOX40L significantly enhanced the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in spleen. Moreover, compared to the NDV-treated group, the level of mouse IFN-γ protein in the tumor site increased significantly in the rNDV-mOX40L-treated group. Taken together, rNDV-mOX40L exhibited superior anti-tumor immunity by stimulating tumor-specific T cells and may be a promising agent for cancer immunotherapy.

Barbier polymerization induced emission of cinnamaldehyde: a one-pot Grignard reaction?

The Barbier reaction is generally regarded as a one-pot Grignard reaction. Here, the Grignard reaction of cinnamaldehyde is demonstrated to give a 1,2-addition product, while the Barbier reaction of cinnamaldehyde yields a macromolecule with interesting aggregation-induced emission type non-conjugated luminescence properties, which indicates that the Barbier reaction cannot be regarded as a one-pot Grignard reaction.

Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization combining sorafenib with or without immune checkpoint inhibitors in previously treated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib and immune checkpoint inhibitors (T+S+ICIs) and TACE plus sorafenib (T+S) when treating patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have previously received locoregional treatment. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C HCC from May 2019 to December 2020. These patients were treated with locoregional therapy and showed radiographic progression after the treatment. Patients received either T+S+ICIs or T+S. The outcomes, including disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety, were compared. The propensity score matching (PSM) methodology was used to reduce the influence of confounding factors on the outcomes. Results: Forty-three patients were included in the T+S group and 33 in the T+S+ICI group. After PSM (n = 29 in each group), patients who received T+S+ICIs had a higher DCR (82.8% vs. 58.6%, p = 0.043), longer median PFS (6.9 vs. 3.8 months, p = 0.003), and longer median OS (12.3 vs. 6.3 months, p = 0.008) than those who underwent T+S. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was an independent predictor of PFS, and age was an independent predictor of OS. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in T+S+ICIs was well controlled. Conclusions: Compared with TACE combined with sorafenib, TACE combined with sorafenib plus ICIs is a potentially safe and effective treatment regimen for patients with advanced HCC who previously received locoregional treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization Combining Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Unresectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (DEB-TACE+ICIs) versus chemotherapy (gemcitabine+cisplatin) for patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included unresectable iCCA patients treated with DEB-TACE+ICIs or chemotherapy between May, 2019 and August, 2021. The differences in tumor responses, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were compared between the 2 groups. Patient baseline characteristics, PFS, and OS were compared among 2 groups before and after propensity score-matching (PSM). Factors affecting PFS and OS were analyzed by Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results: The study included 49 patients with unresectable iCCA patients, 20 in the DEB-TACE+ICIs group and 29 in the chemotherapy group. PSM analysis created 20 pairs of patients in 2 groups. The patients in the DEB-TACE+ICIs group had a higher objective response rate (55.0% vs. 20.0%, P=0.022), higher PFS (median, 7.2 vs. 5.7 months, P=0.036), and higher OS (median, 13.2 vs. 7.6 months, P=0.015) than those in the chemotherapy group. Multivariate analyses suggested that chemotherapy, tumor size >5cm, and multiple tumors were the independent risk factors for PFS and OS. The incidence of TRAEs was similar between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Compared to chemotherapy, DEB-TACE plus ICIs improved survival and was well-tolerated in patients with unresectable iCCA.

Newcastle disease virus expressing an angiogenic inhibitor exerts an enhanced therapeutic efficacy in colon cancer model.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-mediated gene therapy is a promising new approach for treatment of cancer but shows limited anti-angiogenesis. VEGF-Trap plays a vital role in anti-angiogenesis. To enhance the anti-tumor effect of NDV, VEGF-Trap gene was incorporated into the genome of rNDV in this study (named rNDV-VEGF-Trap). Results showed that rNDV-VEGF-Trap reduced cell growth ratio by 85.37% and migration ratio by 87.9% in EA.hy926 cells. In vivo studies, rNDV-VEGF-Trap reduced tumor volume and weight of CT26-bearing mice by more than 3 folds. Immunohistochemistry analysis of CD34 showed rNDV-VEGF-Trap significantly decreased the number of vascular endothelial cells in the tumor tissues. Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with rNDV-VEGF-Trap significantly decreased the phosphorylation levels of AKT, ERK1/2 and STAT3 and increased the expression levels of P53, BAX and cleaved caspase-3 in the tumor tissue. In addition, to evaluate the toxicity of rNDV-VEGF-Trap, serum chemistries were analyzed. The results showed that rNDV-VEGF-Trap caused insignificant changes of creatinine levels, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase. Furthermore, administration of rNDV-VEGF-Trap did not cause the diarrhoea, decreased appetite, weight decrease and haemorrhage of the experimental mice. These data suggest that rNDV-VEGF-Trap exhibits an enhanced inhibition of CT26-bearing mice by enhancing anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis and may be a potential candidate for carcinoma therapy especially for colon cancer.

Fibroblast growth factor-21 as a novel metabolic factor for regulating thrombotic homeostasis.

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) performs a wide range of biological functions in organisms. Here, we report for the first time that FGF-21 suppresses thrombus formation with no notable risk of bleeding. Prophylactic and therapeutic administration of FGF-21 significantly improved the degree of vascular stenosis and reduced the thrombus area, volume and burden. We determined the antithrombotic mechanism of FGF-21, demonstrating that FGF-21 exhibits an anticoagulant effect by inhibiting the expression and activity of factor VII (FVII). FGF-21 exerts an antiplatelet effect by inhibiting platelet activation. FGF-21 enhances fibrinolysis by promoting tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) expression and activation, while inhibiting plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) expression and activation. We further found that FGF-21 mediated the expression and activation of tPA and PAI-1 by regulating the ERK1/2 and TGF-ß/Smad2 pathways, respectively. In addition, we found that FGF-21 inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors in thrombosis by regulating the NF-κB pathway.

Therapeutic effect and mechanism of combined use of FGF21 and insulin on diabetic nephropathy.

Although FGF21 ameliorates diabetic nephropathy (DN), the efficacy is not satisfactory. Studies demonstrate that FGF21 combined with Insulin exhibits reciprocal sensitization on glucose and lipid metabolism in mice with type 2 diabetes. However, therapeutic effect of combined use of FGF21 and Insulin on DN has not been reported. Therefore, this study explored therapeutic effect and mechanism of combined use of FGF21 and Insulin on DN. Our results showed that compared with Insulin or FGF21 alone, FGF21 combined with Insulin further ameliorated blood glucose, HbAlc, OGTT, renal function, liver function, blood lipid, histopathological changes, oxidative stress and AGEs in the mice of DN (BKS-Leprem2Cd479/Gpt). Moreover, FGF21 combined with Insulin further reduced expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α via promoting M1 type macrophage into M2 type macrophage. Results of real-time PCR and Western blot showed that FGF21 combined with Insulin upregulated the expressions of autophagy related genes LC3-Ⅱ and BCL-1. Mesangial cells play an important role in the pathological changes of DN mice. However, the effect of FGF21 on mesangial cells has not been reported. In this study, d-glucose was used in high glucose (HG) model in mesangial cells. The results showed that FGF21 significantly reduced the levels of OS, AGEs and cell overproliferation. Meanwhile, FGF21 significantly ameliorated autophagy level via upregulating the phosphorylation of AMPK and downregulating phosphorylation of mTOR. These effects were reversed in siRNA-ß-klotho transfected mesangial cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that combination FGF21 with Insulin exhibits a better therapeutic effect on DN compared with FGF21 or Insulin alone. This study provides a theoretical basis for combined used of FGF21 and Insulin as a new treatment for DN and further provides theoretical support for application of FGF21 in treatment of DN.

FGF21 ameliorates hepatic fibrosis by multiple mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Previous study reports that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) could ameliorate hepatic fibrosis, but its mechanisms have not been fully investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, three models were used to investigate the mechanism by which FGF21 alleviates liver fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis animal models were respectively induced by CCL4 and dimethylnitrosamine. Our results demonstrated that liver index and liver function were deteriorated in both models. Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's staining showed that the damaged tissue architectonics were observed in the mice of both models. Treatment with FGF21 significantly ameliorated these changes. ELISA analysis showed that the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly elevated in both models. However, administration of FGF21 significantly reduced these inflammatory cytokines. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis showed that treatment with FGF21 significantly decreased mRNA and protein expressions of collagenI, α-SMA and TGF-ß. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) stimulant was used to establish the experimental cell model in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of collagenI and α-SMA were significantly upregulated by this stimulant in model group. Interestingly, our results showed that mRNA and protein expressions of leptin were also significantly induced in PDGF-BB treated HSCs. Administration of FGF21 significantly reduced leptin expression in a dose dependent manner and these effects were reversed in siRNA (against ß-klotho) transfected HSCs. Furthermore, the leptin signaling pathways related protein p-ERK/t-ERK, p-STAT3/STAT3 and TGF-ß were significantly downregulated by FGF21 treatment in a dose dependent manner. The expressions of SOCS3 and Nrf-2 were enhanced by treatment with FGF21. The underlying mechanism may be that FGF21 regulates leptin-STAT3 axis via Nrf-2 and SOCS3 pathway in activated HSCs. CONCLUSIONS: FGF21 ameliorates hepatic fibrosis by multiple mechanisms.

FGF21 alleviates chronic inflammatory injury in the aging process through modulating polarization of macrophages.

Previous studies reported that FGF21 prolongs life span and delays the body senescence, but the mechanism is not clear. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of FGF21 on hepatic senescence in aging mice and further research the mechanism. The 14-month-old male mice were administered with PBS, FGF21 or metformin once daily for 6 months. Results showed that FGF21 alleviated liver injury and inhibited accumulation of senescence markers SASP, P53 and P16 in the livers of aging mice. Subsequently we found that the aging mice treated by FGF21 showed transition of type 1 macrophages (M1) to type 2 macrophages (M2) in the livers. Next, we used THP-1 macrophages triggered by LPS to study effects of FGF21 on macrophages. Macrophages triggered by LPS exhibited features of M1, but the addition of FGF21 decreased the expression of M1 markers, and promoted the macrophages to exhibit features of M2. Results showed that the effects of FGF21 on macrophages were associated with the AMPK pathway. After adding AMPK inhibitor, the effects of FGF21 were inhibited, which was associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway. Finally, co-culturing differentiated macrophages and hepatocytes, we found that the large amount of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-6 promoted hepatocyte senescence, which exhibited enhanced P53, P16 and ß-galactosidase. This was contrary to hepatocytes co-cultured with macrophages treated by FGF21. These results indicate that FGF21 alleviates hepatic senescence injury by modulating the polarization of macrophages through the AMPK /NF-κB signaling pathway.

An immuno-blocking agent targeting IL-1ß and IL-17A reduces the lesion of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice.

In recent decades when biological agents have flourished, a part of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have received the treatment of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or IL-1 antibodies. This study aims to investigate the anti-colitis effects of bispecific antibody (FL-BsAb1/17) targeting IL-1ß and IL-17A comparing with TNF-α soluble receptor medicine etanercept. IBD model in mice was established by drinking 3% DSS (dextran sulfate sodium salt). On the first day of drinking DSS, treatments with etanercept (5 mg/kg) or different doses of FL-BsAb1/17 (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg) were started by intraperitoneal injection every other day. The results demonstrated that FL-BsAb1/17 treatment was more effective than etanercept at the same dose (5 mg/kg) in relieving the typical symptom of ulcerative colitis induced by DSS (such as the severity score and intestinal shortening), and down-regulating the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-17A, IL-6, IL-12, IL-22, IL-1ß, IL-23, TNF-α) in the serum and colon. FL-BsAb1/17 could also reduce the degree of intestinal fibrosis. The same dose of FL-BsAb1/17 (5 mg/kg) performed better than etanercept in down-regulating MDA and up-regulating SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), and T-AOC (total antioxidant capacity) in serum. Both FL-BsAb1/17 and etanercept could reduce the transcription of Bax and increase the transcription of Bcl-2 and slow down apoptosis in colitis colon tissue. We conclude that the blocking of IL-1ß and IL-17A can inhibit DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and FL-BsAb1/17 may have potential to become a new dual-target candidate for colitis treatment.

The recombinant Newcastle disease virus Anhinga strain expressing human TRAIL exhibit antitumor effects on a glioma nude mice model.

Oncolytic virus therapy is perhaps the next major breakthrough in cancer treatment following the success in immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the potential oncolytic ability of the recombinant newcastle disease virus (NDV) Anhinga strain carried with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) has not been fully explored at present. In the present study, the recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL that secretes soluble TRAIL was constructed and the experiment results suggested NDV/Anh-TRAIL as a promising candidate for glioma therapy. Growth kinetic and TRAIL secreted quantity of recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL virus were measured. Cytotoxic and cell apoptosis were analyzed for its anti-glioma therapy in vitro. Nude mice were used for the in vivo evaluation. Both tumor volume and mice behavior after injection were observed. The recombinant virus replicated with the same kinetics as the parental virus and the highest expression of TRAIL (77.8 ng/L) was found at 48 hours. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole and flow cytometry data revealed that the recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL (56.1 ± 8.2%) virus could induce a more severe apoptosis rate, when compared with the NDV wild type (37.2 ± 7.0%) and mock (7.0 ± 1.8%) groups (P < .01), in U251 cells. Furthermore, in the present animal study, the average tumor volume was smaller in the NDV/Anh-TRAIL group (97.21 mm3 ), when compared with the NDV wild type (205.03 mm3 , P < .05) and PBS (310.30 mm3 , P < .01) groups.

Optimization of oncolytic effect of Newcastle disease virus Clone30 by selecting sensitive tumor host and constructing more oncolytic viruses.

The direct oncolytic effect of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) depends on the following two aspects: the susceptibility of cancer cells to virus infection and the ability of virus itself to lyse cancer cells. First, we investigate the susceptibility of cancer cells to NDV infection, HepG2, MDA-MB-231, and SH-SY5Y cells were susceptible, A549, MCF7, and LoVo cells were less susceptible. To investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for cancer cell susceptibility, transcriptome sequencing was carried out. We found that the levels of alpha-sialic acid acyltransferase were upregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells compared with MCF7 cells, and the interferon was downregulated. Second, to optimize the oncolytic capacity of the wild-type rClone30, a series of chimeric viruses rClone30-Anh(HN), rClone30-Anh(F), and rClone30-Anh(HN-F) were constructed by exchanging the HN gene, F gene or both of non-lytic rClone30 strain with lytic strain Anhinga. rClone30-Anh(F) and rClone30-Anh(HN-F) enhanced the oncolytic effect of the rClone30, and this enhancement is more obvious in the susceptible cells. The oncolytic mechanism of rClone30-Anh(F) was analyzed by transcriptome analyses, in comparison with rClone30, rClone30-Anh(F) upregulated the expression of ATG5, Beclin 1, and MAP1LC3B, thus activating autophagy and promoting the production of syncytia. In conclusion, our study provides a strategy to enhance the oncolytic effect of rClone30.

Fibroblast growth factor 21: a novel long-acting hypoglycemic drug for canine diabetes.

Currently, insulin is commonly used in the clinical management of canine diabetes. However, it must be injected preprandially causing much inconvenience to the owners. Therefore, the development of long-acting hypoglycemic agents has attracted much attention in the scientific community. This study aimed to investigate the long-acting hypoglycemic effect of canine fibroblast growth factor 21 (cFGF-21) in diabetic dogs. Diabetic dogs were administered with cFGF-21, polyethylene glycol-modified cFGF-21 (PEG-cFGF-21), or insulin once a day, once every 2, 3, or 4 days subcutaneously. The results showed that cFGF-21 and PEG-cFGF-21 maintained blood glucose comparable to normal levels for 2 and 3 days respectively while insulin maintained the blood glucose for only 2 h after a single injection. After treatment with cFGF-21, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was significantly improved with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) close to the normal levels. In addition, cFGF-21 significantly repaired islet ß cells, increased insulin content, and protected the pancreas from streptozotocin-induced injury. Furthermore, cFGF-21 exhibited both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the pancreas. We conclude, therefore, that cFGF-21 and PEG-cFGF-21 can maintain blood glucose comparable to normal levels for 2 and 3 days respectively after a single dose. The long-acting efficacy of cFGF-21 can be attributed to improvement in oxidative stress and the reduction of inflammation in the pancreas.

FGF21 Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy and Reduces Side Effects of Dexamethasone in Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In order to investigate efficacy of FGF21 combine dexamethasone (Dex) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) meanwhile reduce side effects of dexamethasone. We used combination therapy (Dex 15 mg/kg + FGF21 0.25 mg/kg, Dex 15 mg/kg + FGF21 0.5 mg/kg or Dex 15 mg/kg + FGF21 1 mg/kg) and monotherapy (Dex 15 mg/kg or FGF21 1 mg/kg) to treat CIA mice induced by chicken type II collagen, respectively. The effects of treatment were determined by arthritis severity score, histological damage, and cytokine production. The levels of oxidative stress parameters, liver functions, and other blood biochemical indexes were detected to determine FGF21 efficiency to side effects of dexamethasone. Oil red O was performed to detect the effects of FGF21 and dexamethasone on fat accumulation in HepG2 cells. The mechanism of FGF21 improves the side effects of dexamethasone which was analyzed by Western blotting. This combination proved to be therapeutically more effective than dexamethasone or FGF21 used singly. FGF21 regulates oxidative stress and lipid metabolism by upregulating dexamethasone-inhibited SIRT-1 and then activating downstream Nrf-2/HO-1and PGC-1. FGF21 and dexamethasone are highly effective in the treatment of arthritis; meanwhile, FGF21 may overcome the limited therapeutic response and Cushing syndrome associated with dexamethasone.

FGF21 attenuates neurodegeneration through modulating neuroinflammation and oxidant-stress.

Previous studies indicate that FGF21 has ability to repair nerve injury, but the specific mechanism is less studied. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of FGF21 on neurodegeneration changes in aging and diabetic mice and its mechanism. The diabetic and aging mice were used to study the effects of FGF21 on neurodegeneration and possible mechanisms. These mice were administrated with PBS, FGF21 or metformin once daily for 4 or 6 months, then the mechanism was studied in SH-SY5Y cells. The relevant gene expression for neurodegeneration was assessed by Quantitative Real Time-PCR, Western blot, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The Western blot results of NeuN showed that FGF21 inhibited the loss of neurons in diabetic and aging mice. H&E staining results showed that the karyopyknosis and tissue edema around dentate gyrus and Cornu Amonis 3 (CA3) area of hippocampus were also inhibited by FGF21 in aging and diabetes mice. In vivo results revealed that administration of FGF21 suppressed the aggregation of tau and ß-amyloid1-42 in the brains of diabetic and aging mice. The aggregation resulted in apoptosis of neurons. Meanwhile, FGF21 significantly reduced the expression of Iba1, NF-κB, IL6 and IL8 (p < 0.05) and enhanced anti-oxidant enzymes (p < 0.05) in aging and diabetic mice. In addition, the phosphorylation of AKT and AMPKα were increased by FGF21 treatment. In vitro experiment showed that the aggregation of tau and ß-amyloid1-42 wereincreased by LPS in SH-SY5Y cells, and FGF21 inhibited the aggregation through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and promoting the phosphorylation of AKT and AMPKα. In conclusion, FGF21 attenuates neurodegeneration by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidant stress through regulating the NF-κB pathway and AMPKα/AKT pathway, which enhances the protective effect on mitochondria in neurons.