Betaine delays age-related muscle loss by mitigating Mss51-induced impairment in mitochondrial respiration via Yin Yang1.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of aging and a leading contributor to sarcopenia. Nutrients are essential for improving mitochondrial function and skeletal muscle health during the aging process. Betaine is a nutrient with potential muscle-preserving properties. However, whether and how betaine could regulate the mitochondria function in aging muscle are poorly understood. We aimed to explore the molecular target and underlying mechanism of betaine in attenuating the age-related mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. METHODS: Young mice (YOU, 2 months), old mice (OLD, 15 months), and old mice with betaine treatment (BET, 15 months) were fed for 12 weeks. The effects of betaine on muscle mass, strength, function, and subcellular structure of muscle fibres were assessed. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to identify the molecular target of betaine. The impacts of betaine on mitochondrial-related molecules, superoxide accumulation, and oxidative respiration were examined using western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence (IF) and seahorse assay. The underlying mechanism of betaine regulation on the molecular target to maintain mitochondrial function was investigated by luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Adenoassociated virus transfection, succinate dehydrogenase staining (SDH), and energy expenditure assessment were performed on 20-month-old mice for validating the mechanism in vivo. RESULTS: Betaine intervention demonstrated anti-aging effects on the muscle mass (P = 0.017), strength (P = 0.010), and running distance (P = 0.013). Mitochondrial-related markers (ATP5a, Sdha, and Uqcrc2) were 1.1- to 1.5-fold higher in BET than OLD (all P ≤ 0.036) with less wasted mitochondrial vacuoles accumulating in sarcomere. Bioinformatic analysis from RNA-seq displayed pathways related to mitochondrial respiration activity was higher enriched in BET group (NES = -0.87, FDR = 0.10). The quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed betaine significantly reduced the expression of a novel mitochondrial regulator, Mss51 (-24.9%, P = 0.002). In C2C12 cells, betaine restored the Mss51-mediated suppression in mitochondrial respiration proteins (all P ≤ 0.041), attenuated oxygen consumption impairment, and superoxide accumulation (by 20.7%, P = 0.001). Mechanically, betaine attenuated aging-induced repression in Yy1 mRNA expression (BET vs. OLD: 2.06 vs. 1.02, P = 0.009). Yy1 transcriptionally suppressed Mss51 mRNA expression both in vitro and in vivo. This contributed to the preservation of mitochondrial respiration, improvement for energy expenditure (P = 0.008), and delay of muscle loss during aging process. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, betaine transcriptionally represses Mss51 via Yy1, improving age-related mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle. These findings suggest betaine holds promise as a dietary supplement to delay skeletal muscle degeneration and improve age-related mitochondrial diseases.

Serum S-adenosylhomocysteine, rather than homocysteine, is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma survival: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggested that S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) may be a better serum biomarker for cardiovascular disease than homocysteine (Hcy). However, the role of SAH in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to prospectively explore the relationships between serum SAH and related metabolites [Hcy, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)] with HCC survival, and to evaluate the effect modifications by gene polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism key enzymes. METHODS: We included 1080 newly diagnosed patients with HCC from the Guangdong Liver Cancer Cohort. Serum SAH, Hcy, and SAM were measured utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Gene polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism key enzymes were identified using kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Primary outcomes were liver cancer-specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 3.6 y, 601 deaths occurred, with 552 (92%) attributed to HCC. Multivariable analysis revealed that patients in the highest quartile of serum SAH concentrations were significantly associated with worse survival compared with those in the lowest quartile, with HRs of 1.58 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.10; P-trend = 0.002) for LCSS and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.18, 2.02; P-trend = 0.001) for OS. There were no significant interactions between serum SAH concentrations and genetic variants of one-carbon metabolism key enzymes. No significant associations were found between serum Hcy, SAM concentrations, and SAM/SAH ratio with LCSS or OS. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum SAH concentrations, rather than Hcy, were independently associated with worse survival in patients with HCC, regardless of the genetic variants of one-carbon metabolism key enzymes. These findings suggest that SAH may be a novel metabolism-related prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Effects of Selective and Mixed-Action Kappa and Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists on Pain-Related Behavioral Depression in Mice.

We recently developed a series of nalfurafine analogs (TK10, TK33, and TK35) that may serve as non-addictive candidate analgesics. These compounds are mixed-action agonists at the kappa and delta opioid receptors (KOR and DOR, respectively) and produce antinociception in a mouse warm-water tail-immersion test while failing to produce typical mu opioid receptor (MOR)-mediated side effects. The warm-water tail-immersion test is an assay of pain-stimulated behavior vulnerable to false-positive analgesic-like effects by drugs that produce motor impairment. Accordingly, this study evaluated TK10, TK33, and TK35 in a recently validated assay of pain-related behavioral depression in mice that are less vulnerable to false-positive effects. For comparison, we also evaluated the effects of the MOR agonist/analgesic hydrocodone (positive control), the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist aprepitant (negative control), nalfurafine as a selective KOR agonist, SNC80 as a selective DOR agonist, and a nalfurafine/SNC80 mixture. Intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP lactic acid) served as a noxious stimulus to depress vertical and horizontal locomotor activity in male and female ICR mice. IP lactic acid-induced locomotor depression was alleviated by hydrocodone but not by aprepitant, nalfurafine, SNC80, the nalfurafine/SNC80 mixture, or the KOR/DOR agonists. These results suggest that caution is warranted in advancing mixed-action KOR/DOR agonists as candidate analgesics.

An integrated multi-system to screen quality markers of blossom of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. via combining lipid-lowering and expectorant assays.

The present research demonstrated that an integrated multi-system based on the assays of lipid-lowering and expectorant effects was used to screen quality markers of an edible and medical material-the blossom of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. (BCAVA)-and a portion of active constituents were quantified in multiple batches to provide scientific data to establish a quality standard for BCAVA. Mouse models were developed to evaluate the lipid-lowering and expectorant effects, facilitating the investigation of medicinal parts through different polar extractions of BCAVA. Subsequently, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was utilized for the in vivo and in vitro identification of chemical profiles within the medicinal parts of BCAVA. This methodological approach led to the selection and quantification of several active compounds from 21 batches of BCAVA sourced from different geographical regions samples. Notably, the ethanol extract of BCAVA exhibited significant lipid-lowering and expectorant effects while 183 compounds were identified in vitro and 109 in vivo, respectively. Then, five key ingredients were quantified, and the quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis to discriminate between samples from various geographical regions. Overall, the findings underscore the significance of an integrated, assay-based approach for the characterization and quality assessment of BCAVA.

NCP, a dual kappa and mu opioid receptor agonist, is a potent analgesic against inflammatory pain without reinforcing or aversive properties.

While agonists of mu (MOR) and kappa (KOR) opioid receptors have analgesic effects, they produce euphoria and dysphoria, respectively. Other side effects include respiratory depression and addiction for MOR agonists and sedation for KOR agonists. We reported that 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14ß-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6ß-{[4'-(2'-cyanopyridyl)]carboxamido}cmorphinan (NCP) displayed potent KOR full agonist and MOR partial agonist activities (58%) with 6.5x KOR-over-MOR selectivity in vitro Herein, we characterized pharmacological effects of NCP in rodents. In mice, NCP exerted analgesic effects against inflammatory pain in both the formalin test and the acetic acid writhing test, with A50 values of 47.6 and 14.4 microg/kg (s.c.), respectively. The analgesic effects in the acetic acid writhing test were mediated by the KOR. NCP at doses much higher than those effective in reducing inflammatory pain did not produce antinociception in the hot plate and tail flick tests, inhibit compound 48/80-induced scratching, cause conditioned place aversion (CPA) or preference, impair rotarod performance, inhibit locomotor activity, cause respiratory depression, or precipitate morphine withdrawal. However, NCP (10~100 microg/kg) inhibited gastrointestinal transit with a maximum of ~40% inhibition. In MOR knockout mice, NCP caused CPA, demonstrating that its lack of CPA is due to combined actions on the MOR and KOR. Following s.c. injection, NCP penetrated into the mouse brain. In rats trained to self-administer heroin, NCP (1~320 microg/kg/infusion) did not function as a reinforcer. Thus, NCP produces potent analgesic effects via KOR without side effects except constipation. Therefore, dual full KOR/partial MOR agonists with moderate KOR-over-MOR selectivity may be promising as non-addictive analgesics for inflammatory pain. Significance Statement Developing non-addictive analgesics is crucial for reducing opioid overdose deaths, minimizing drug misuse, and promoting safer pain management practices. Herein, pharmacology of a potential non-addictive analgesic, NCP, is reported. NCP has full KOR agonist / partial MOR agonist activities with a 6.5 x selectivity for KOR over MOR. Unlike MOR agonists, analgesic doses of NCP do not lead to self-administration or respiratory depression. Furthermore, NCP does not produce aversion, hypolocomotion, or motor incoordination, side effects typically associated with KOR activation.

Molecular Pharmacology Profiling of Phenylfentanil and Its Analogues to Understand the Putative Involvement of an Adrenergic Mechanism in Fentanyl-Induced Respiratory Depression.

While there are approved therapeutics to treat opioid overdoses, the need for treatments to reverse overdoses due to ultrapotent fentanyls remains unmet. This may be due in part to an adrenergic mechanism of fentanyls in addition to their stereotypical mu-opioid receptor (MOR) effects. Herein, we report our efforts to further understanding of the functions these distinct mechanisms impart. Employing the known MOR neutral antagonist phenylfentanil as a lead, 17 analogues were designed based on the concept of isosteric replacement. To probe mechanisms of action, these analogues were pharmacologically evaluated in vitro and in vivo, while in silico modeling studies were also conducted on phenylfentanil. While it did not indicate MOR involvement in vivo, phenylfentanil yielded respiratory minute volumes similar to those caused by fentanyl. Taken together with molecular modeling studies, these results indicated that respiratory effects of fentanyls may also correlate to inhibition of both α1A- and α1B-adrenergic receptors.

Dietary protein intake and changes in muscle mass measurements in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increasing dietary protein intake can be an efficient strategy to prevent sarcopenia. Nevertheless, due to the discrepancy in the population and their dietary pattern, evidence suggested the effects of dietary protein amount or source on sarcopenia prevention varies. This prospective cohort study investigated the correlation between dietary protein intakes or sources and changes in muscle mass measurements. Additionally, the study explored the link between dietary protein and the prevalence of sarcopenia. METHODS: Participants aged 40 to 75 were from Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (GNHS) 2011-2013 and returned in 2014-2017. Validated 79-item food frequency questionnaires were applied to calculate the amount of total, animal, and plant protein intakes and animal-to-plant protein ratio (APR). The body composition was examined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to calculate the appendicular lean mass (ALM) and its index (ASMI). Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the 2019 Asia Working Group of Sarcopenia's criteria. ANCOVA was utilized to compare the differences of Δ ALM and Δ ASMI across the quartiles of the dietary protein, and linear regression was employed to examine dose-response associations. Multilinear mixed-effect models were employed to evaluate whether protein intake relates to annual changes in ALM and ASMI. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to analyze the associations between dietary protein and sarcopenia. RESULTS: In total, 2709 participants during the 3.2-year follow-up period were considered eligible for analysis. Higher dietary protein intakes (total, animal, plant) in both sexes could preserve more ALM and ASMI in a dose-response manner (all P-trend < 0.05). The annual estimated preservations of ASMI were greater in the highest dietary protein intakes (total, animal, plant) quartile than the lowest (0.05-0.13 kg/m2/y, all P < 0.05). In women, the risk of sarcopenia was reduced by 35%-50 % in the highest protein intake (total, animal, plant) quartile than the lowest. The APR did not display any significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: Higher dietary protein intake, regardless of animal or plant sources, is associated with less muscle loss and a lower prevalence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and older Chinese, particularly women. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03179657.

Recent Advances on PKM2 Inhibitors and Activators in Cancer Applications.

Metabolic reprogramming of cells, from the normal mode of glucose metabolism named glycolysis, is a pivotal characteristic of impending cancerous cells. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), an important enzyme that catalyzes the final rate-limiting stage during glycolysis, is highly expressed in numerous types of tumors and aids in development of favorable conditions for the survival of tumor cells. Increasing evidence has suggested that PKM2 is one of promising targets for innovative drug discovery, especially for the developments of antitumor therapeutics. Herein, we systematically summarize the recent advancement on PKM2 modulators including inhibitors and activators in cancer applications. We also discussed the classifications of pyruvate kinases in mammals and the biological functions of PKM2 in this review. We do hope that this review would provide a comprehensive understanding of the current research on PKM2 modulators, which may benefit the development of more potent PKM2-related drug candidates to treat PKM2-associated diseases including cancers in future.

Structural Alterations of the "Address" Moiety of NAN Leading to the Discovery of a Novel Opioid Receptor Modulator with Reduced hERG Toxicity.

The search for selective opioid ligands with desired pharmacological potency and improved safety profile has always been an area of interest. Our previous effort yielded a potent opioid modulator, NAN, a 6α-N-7'-indolyl-substituted naltrexamine derivative, which exhibited promising pharmacological activities both in vitro and in vivo. However, significant human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) liability limited its further development. Therefore, a systematic structural modification on NAN was conducted in order to alleviate hERG toxicity while preserving pharmacological properties, which led to the discovery of 2'-methylindolyl derivative compound 21. Compared to NAN, compound 21 manifested overall improved pharmacological profiles. Follow-up hERG channel inhibition evaluation revealed a seven-fold decreased potency of compound 21 compared to NAN. Furthermore, several fundamental drug-like property evaluations suggested a reasonable ADME profile of 21. Collectively, compound 21 appeared to be a promising opioid modulator for further development as a novel therapeutic agent toward opioid use disorder treatments.

Characterization of a Potential KOR/DOR Dual Agonist with No Apparent Abuse Liability via a Complementary Structure-Activity Relationship Study on Nalfurafine Analogues.

Discovery of analgesics void of abuse liability is critical to battle the opioid crisis in the United States. Among many strategies to achieve this goal, targeting more than one opioid receptor seems promising to minimize this unwanted side effect while achieving a reasonable therapeutic profile. In the process of understanding the structure-activity relationship of nalfurafine, we identified a potential analgesic agent, NMF, as a dual kappa opioid receptor/delta opioid receptor agonist with minimum abuse liability. Further characterizations, including primary in vitro ADMET studies (hERG toxicity, plasma protein binding, permeability, and hepatic metabolism), and in vivo pharmacodynamic and toxicity profiling (time course, abuse liability, tolerance, withdrawal, respiratory depression, body weight, and locomotor activity) further confirmed NMF as a promising drug candidate for future development.

Elucidating the binding mechanism of LPA species and analogs in an LPA4 receptor homology model.

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 4 (LPA4) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer and obesity-induced diabetes, but its structure remains to be revealed. In the present work, a homology model of LPA4 was built for studying the binding mechanism of LPA species and analogs. Then five selected LPA species and analogs with structural variations in their phosphate groups, substitutions on the glycerol backbone, and fatty acyl chains were docked into the LPA4 model, followed by molecular dynamics simulations and energy analyses. The computational results revealed that the aliphatic residues located at the vertical cleft of LPA4 may form a hydrophobic environment for the fatty acyl moiety of LPA species and their analogs. Meanwhile, the positively charged residues in the central cavity of LPA4 may form ionic interactions with the negatively charged hydrophilic head group of LPA species and their analogs. In addition, it was noted that a different binding mode of the hydrophilic head group in each species with the central cavity of the LPA4 might lead to a special rearrangement of the fatty acyl moiety. Taken together, these results may facilitate understanding of the activation mechanism of LPA4 and help design selective ligands to modulate its function for therapeutic purposes.

Agonist-Promoted Phosphorylation and Internalization of the Kappa Opioid Receptor in Mouse Brains: Lack of Connection With Conditioned Place Aversion.

Selective kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists are promising antipruritic agents and analgesics. However, clinical development of KOR agonists has been limited by side effects, including psychotomimetic effects, dysphoria, and sedation, except for nalfurafine, and recently. CR845 (difelikefalin). Activation of KOR elicits G protein- and ß-arrestin-mediated signaling. KOR-induced analgesic and antipruritic effects are mediated by G protein signaling. However, different results have been reported as to whether conditioned place aversion (CPA) induced by KOR agonists is mediated by ß-arrestin signaling. In this study, we examined in male mice if there was a connection between agonist-promoted CPA and KOR phosphorylation and internalization, proxies for ß-arrestin recruitment in vivo using four KOR agonists. Herein, we demonstrated that at doses producing maximal effective analgesic and antiscratch effects, U50,488H, MOM-SalB, and 42B, but not nalfurafine, promoted KOR phosphorylation at T363 and S369 in mouse brains, as detected by immunoblotting with phospho-KOR-specific antibodies. In addition, at doses producing maximal effective analgesic and antiscratch effects, U50,488H, MOM-SalB, and 42B, but not nalfurafine, caused KOR internalization in the ventral tegmental area of a mutant mouse line expressing a fusion protein of KOR conjugated at the C-terminus with tdTomato (KtdT). We have reported previously that the KOR agonists U50,488H and methoxymethyl salvinorin B (MOM-SalB) cause CPA, whereas nalfurafine and 42B do not, at doses effective for analgesic and antiscratch effects. Taken together, these data reveal a lack of connection between agonist-promoted KOR-mediated CPA with agonist-induced KOR phosphorylation and internalization in male mice.

Rational Design, Chemical Syntheses, and Biological Evaluations of Peripherally Selective Mu Opioid Receptor Ligands as Potential Opioid Induced Constipation Treatment.

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesics. Peripherally acting µ opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) can be applied in the treatment of OIC without compromising the analgesic effects. NAP, a 6ß-N-4-pyridyl-substituted naltrexamine derivative, was previously identified as a potent and selective MOR antagonist mainly acting peripherally but with some CNS effects. Herein, we introduced a highly polar aromatic moiety, for example, a pyrazolyl or imidazolyl ring to decrease CNS MPO scores in order to reduce passive BBB permeability. Four compounds 2, 5, 17, and 19, when administered orally, were able to increase intestinal motility during morphine-induced constipation in the carmine red dye assays. Among them, compound 19 (p.o.) improved GI tract motility by 75% while orally administered NAP and methylnaltrexone showed no significant effects at the same dose. Thus, this compound seemed a promising agent to be further developed as an oral treatment for OIC.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of NAP Isosteres: A Switch from Peripheral to Central Nervous System Acting Mu-Opioid Receptor Antagonists.

The µ opioid receptor (MOR) has been an intrinsic target to develop treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD). Herein, we report our efforts on developing centrally acting MOR antagonists by structural modifications of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6ß-[(4'-pyridyl) carboxamido] morphinan (NAP), a peripherally acting MOR-selective antagonist. An isosteric replacement concept was applied and incorporated with physiochemical property predictions in the molecular design. Three analogs, namely, 25, 26, and 31, were identified as potent MOR antagonists in vivo with significantly fewer withdrawal symptoms than naloxone observed at similar doses. Furthermore, brain and plasma drug distribution studies supported the outcomes of our design strategy on these compounds. Taken together, our isosteric replacement of pyridine with pyrrole, furan, and thiophene provided insights into the structure-activity relationships of NAP and aided the understanding of physicochemical requirements of potential CNS acting opioids. These efforts resulted in potent, centrally efficacious MOR antagonists that may be pursued as leads to treat OUD.

Novel bivalent ligands carrying potential antinociceptive effects by targeting putative mu opioid receptor and chemokine receptor CXCR4 heterodimers.

The functional interactions between opioid and chemokine receptors have been implicated in the pathological process of chronic pain. Mounting studies have indicated the possibility that a MOR-CXCR4 heterodimer may be involved in nociception and related pharmacologic effects. Herein we have synthesized a series of bivalent ligands containing both MOR agonist and CXCR4 antagonist pharmacophores with an aim to investigate the functional interactions between these two receptors. In vitro studies demonstrated reasonable recognition of designed ligands at both respective receptors. Further antinociceptive testing in mice revealed compound 1a to be the most promising member of this series. Additional molecular modeling studies corroborated the findings observed. Taken together, we identified the first bivalent ligand 1a showing promising antinociceptive effect by targeting putative MOR-CXCR4 heterodimers, which may serve as a novel chemical probe to further develop more potent bivalent ligands with potential application in analgesic therapies for chronic pain management.

In Vitro Neuroprotective Effects of Macrophage Membrane-Derived Curcumin-Loaded Carriers against 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-Induced Neuronal Damage.

Curcumin (CUR) possesses neuroprotective effects. However, its clinical therapeutic efficacy is limited because of its low systemic bioavailability due to poor water solubility and fast metabolism. Herein, we designed biomimetic therapeutic nanovesicles (NVs) with enhanced performance and biocompatibility for the intracellular delivery of hydrophobic CUR. Cell membrane NVs were constructed to function as drug carriers by the serial extrusion of macrophages using filters with decreasing pore sizes. Various CUR loading strategies were also evaluated. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of the CUR-loaded NVs (NVs-CUR) against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced neuronal degeneration were studied thoroughly. CUR-loaded NVs were readily taken up by neurons in vitro, and the survival rate of MPP+-induced primary neurons increased from 65.37 ± 6.37 to 90.91 ± 3.18% after pretreatment with NVs-CUR. Compared with traditional Parkinson's disease chemotherapeutic treatment, NV formulations can improve the bioavailability of this drug. NVs are expected to become a new and effective drug-delivery platform for further applications in the field of central nervous system therapy.

Fabrication of 2D Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets with Highly Colloidal Stability and High Yield through Coordination Modulation.

2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising 2D materials with a wide range of applications due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, 2D MOFs are prone to stacking due to their ultrathin thickness, and the high-yield preparation method of 2D MOFs is highly demanded. In this work, a rapid and scalable method is novelistically presented to prepare 2D MOFs with highly colloidal stability and high yield through coordination modulation at room temperature. A well-ordered CuBDC-MBA nanosheet (BDC, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic; MBA, 4-methoxybenzoic acid) fabricated by introducing MBA as a modulator exhibits extremely stable colloid suspension for 6 months and the yield of well-dispersed CuBDC-MBA is higher than 88.6%. As MBA successfully participates in synthetic coordination of CuBDC-MBA and is presumably installed on the edge of 2D MOFs with low MBA content due to anisotropic growth, CuBDC-MBA and CuBDC are similar with respect to nanosheet morphology, integrated crystal structure, and porosity. Moreover, well-dispersed CuBDC-MBA shows higher catalytic effectiveness for the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with 1.5 times higher yield than CuBDC. Thus, this method can provide a new idea based on coordination modulation to directly fabricate 2D MOFs with purposeful properties.

Structure-Based Design and Development of Chemical Probes Targeting Putative MOR-CCR5 Heterodimers to Inhibit Opioid Exacerbated HIV-1 Infectivity.

Crystal structures of ligand-bound G-protein-coupled receptors provide tangible templates for rationally designing molecular probes. Herein, we report the structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological investigations of bivalent ligands targeting putative mu opioid receptor C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (MOR-CCR5) heterodimers. The bivalent ligand VZMC013 possessed nanomolar level binding affinities for both the MOR and CCR5, inhibited CCL5-stimulated calcium mobilization, and remarkably improved anti-HIV-1BaL activity over previously reported bivalent ligands. VZMC013 inhibited viral infection in TZM-bl cells coexpressing CCR5 and MOR to a greater degree than cells expressing CCR5 alone. Furthermore, VZMC013 blocked human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 entry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cells in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited opioid-accelerated HIV-1 entry more effectively in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC cells than in the absence of opioids. A three-dimensional molecular model of VZMC013 binding to the MOR-CCR5 heterodimer complex is constructed to elucidate its mechanism of action. VZMC013 is a potent chemical probe targeting MOR-CCR5 heterodimers and may serve as a pharmacological agent to inhibit opioid-exacerbated HIV-1 entry.

Verifying the role of 3-hydroxy of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-4,5α-epoxy-3,14ß-dihydroxy-6ß-[(4'-pyridyl) carboxamido]morphinan derivatives via their binding affinity and selectivity profiles on opioid receptors.

In the present study, the role of 3-hydroxy group of a series of epoxymorphinan derivatives in their binding affinity and selectivity profiles toward the opioid receptors (ORs) has been investigated. It was found that the 3-hydroxy group was crucial for the binding affinity of these derivatives for all three ORs due to the fact that all the analogues 1a-e exhibited significantly higher binding affinities compared to their counterpart 3-dehydroxy ones 6a-e. Meanwhile most compounds carrying the 3-hydroxy group possessed similar selectivity profiles for the kappa opioid receptor over the mu opioid receptor as their corresponding 3-dehydroxy derivatives. [35S]-GTPγS functional assay results indicated that the 3-hydroxy group of these epoxymorphinan derivatives was important for maintaining their potency on the ORs with various effects. Further molecular modeling studies helped comprehend the remarkably different binding affinity and functional profiles between compound 1c (NCP) and its 3-dehydroxy analogue 6c.

A Review of Light Sources and Enhanced Targeting for Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), as a clinically approved modality for the treatment of various disordered diseases including cancer, has received great advances in recent years. By preferentially accumulating non-toxic Photosensitizers (PSs) in the pathological area, and in situ generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) under local irradiation by a light source with appropriate wavelength, PDT works in a dual-selective manner. Over the past decades, numerous studies and reviews on PDT mainly focused on activable PSs and the newly emerging PSs in PDT. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are few articles on the systematic introduction of light sources and limited reports about targeted strategies in PDT. This review comprehensively summarizes various light sources applied in PDT together with typical enhanced targeting strategies, and outlines their advantages and disadvantages, respectively. The clinical applications and future perspectives in light sources are also partly presented and discussed.