A mechanism for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. CVD and kidney disease are closely related, with kidney injury increasing CVD mortality. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal diseases involves complex and diverse interactions between multiple extracellular and intracellular signaling molecules, among which transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)/ transient receptor potential ankyrin 1(TRPA1) channels have received increasing attention. TRPV1 belongs to the vanilloid receptor subtype family of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, and TRPA1 belongs to the TRP channel superfamily. TRPV1/TRPA1 are jointly involved in the management of cardiovascular and renal diseases, and play important roles in regulating vascular tension, promoting angiogenesis, anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation. The mechanism of TRPV1 / TRPA1 is mainly related to regulation of intracellular calcium influx and release of nitric oxide (NO) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Therefore, this study takes TRPV1 / TRPA1 channel as the research object, analyzes and summarizes the process and mechanism of TRPV1 / TRPA1 affecting cardiovascular and renal diseases, and lays a foundation for the treatment of cardio-renal diseases.

Aspartate metabolic flux promotes nitric oxide to eliminate both antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant Edwardsiella tarda in zebrafish.

Introduction: Metabolic reprogramming potentiates host protection against antibiotic-sensitive or -resistant bacteria. However, it remains unclear whether a single reprogramming metabolite is effective enough to combat both antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant bacteria. This knowledge is key for implementing an antibiotic-free approach. Methods: The reprogramming metabolome approach was adopted to characterize the metabolic state of zebrafish infected with tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant Edwardsiella tarda and to identify overlapping depressed metabolite in dying zebrafish as a reprogramming metabolite. Results: Aspartate was identify overlapping depressed metabolite in dying zebrafish as a reprogramming metabolite. Exogenous aspartate protects zebrafish against infection caused by tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant E. tarda. Mechanistically, exogenous aspartate promotes nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis. NO is a well-documented factor of promoting innate immunity against bacteria, but whether it can play a role in eliminating both tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant E. tarda is unknown. Thus, in this study, aspartate was replaced with sodium nitroprusside to provide NO, which led to similar aspartate-induced protection against tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant E. tarda. Discussion: These findings support the conclusion that aspartate plays an important protective role through NO against both types of E. tarda. Importantly, we found that tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant E. tarda are sensitive to NO. Therefore, aspartate is an effective reprogramming metabolite that allows implementation of an antibiotic-free approach against bacterial pathogens.

Characterization of balofloxacin-stressed proteomics and identification of balofloxacin-binding proteins pre-peptidase and integration host factor in Edwardsiella tarda.

The overuse of antibiotics to control bacterial pathogens leads to the generation of their antibiotic-resistant strains including Edwardsiella tarda. Understanding of mechanisms of the antibiotic resistance is crucial to develop novel methods to manage the infection. Here, two-dimensional electrophoresis-based proteomics was used to characterize balofloxacin-responsive proteins. The altered proteome consisted of 19 proteins with differential abundance, where six metabolic pathways were enriched. The metabolic modulation activated the central carbon metabolism with elevation of NADH, PMF, and ATP. Among the 19 proteins, ETAE_1987 (pre-peptidase) and ETAE_2174 (integration host factor beta subunit) were bound with balofloxacin directly. This was further confirmed by the binding of balofloxacin with recombinant ETAE_1987 and ETAE_2174 using Oxford cup method. Compared with bovine serum albumin, a known balofloxacin-binding protein, ETAE_1987 and ETAE_2174 increased the binding capability by 3.3- and 22-fold, respectively. The combination was validated by microscale thermophoresis. These data characterize the balofloxacin-stressed proteome as a result of the increased central carbon metabolism and energy metabolism and determine ETAE_1987 and ETAE_2174 as balofloxacin-binding proteins. These findings have significant implications in understanding bacterial antibiotic-resistant and drug action mechanisms based on balofloxacin-binding proteins. SIGNIFICANCE: Antibiotic-resistant Edwardsiella tarda strains are frequently isolated and cause a great loss in aquaculture since these bacterial strains are insensitivity to antibiotics. The present study showed that the increased central carbon metabolism forms a characteristic feature of the balofloxacin-stressed proteomics. Furthermore, two proteins, ETAE_1987 (pre-peptidase) and ETAE_2174, of the balofloxacin-stressed proteome were identified as balofloxacin-binding proteins. The binding capability is 0.39 ±â€¯0.017 and 2.67 ±â€¯0.066 ng/µg proteins for ETAE_1987 and ETAE_2174, respectively. These results reveal the elevated central carbon metabolism as a key feature of the balofloxacin-stressed proteomics and pre-peptidase and integration host factor as balofloxacin-binding proteins in E. tarda. These findings are useful in the understanding of bacterial balofloxacin-stressed mechanisms and providing new targets for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Pyruvate cycle increases aminoglycoside efficacy and provides respiratory energy in bacteria.

The emergence and ongoing spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria puts humans and other species at risk for potentially lethal infections. Thus, novel antibiotics or alternative approaches are needed to target drug-resistant bacteria, and metabolic modulation has been documented to improve antibiotic efficacy, but the relevant metabolic mechanisms require more studies. Here, we show that glutamate potentiates aminoglycoside antibiotics, resulting in improved elimination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. When exploring the metabolic flux of glutamate, it was found that the enzymes that link the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-pyruvate-AcCoA pathway to the TCA cycle were key players in this increased efficacy. Together, the PEP-pyruvate-AcCoA pathway and TCA cycle can be considered the pyruvate cycle (P cycle). Our results show that inhibition or gene depletion of the enzymes in the P cycle shut down the TCA cycle even in the presence of excess carbon sources, and that the P cycle operates routinely as a general mechanism for energy production and regulation in Escherichia coli and Edwardsiella tarda These findings address metabolic mechanisms of metabolite-induced potentiation and fundamental questions about bacterial biochemistry and energy metabolism.

Two New Dolabrane Diterpenes from the Chinese Mangrove Ceriops tagal.

Two new dolabrane diterpenes, tagalenes J and K (1 and 2), together with eleven known analogues (3 - 13), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the Chinese mangrove Ceriops tagal. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS, as well as the comparison with data in the literatures. Cytotoxicities of isolated compounds against MCF-7, SW480, HepG2, HeLa, PANC-1, and A2058 cancer cell lines were also evaluated. Compound 4 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against SW480, HeLa, and PANC-1 cell lines with IC50 values of 27.7, 22.2, and 17.6 µm, respectively.

Two new phenylpropanoids from the Chinese mangrove Ceriops tagal.

Two new phenylpropanoids, tagalphenylpropanoidins A-B (1-2), together with a known analogue, 2,3,6-trimethoxy-5-(1-propenyl)phenol (3), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the Chinese mangrove Ceriops tagal. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS, as well as the comparison with data in the literature. Compound 3 was discovered from this plant for the first time. Cytotoxicities of the three compounds against MCF-7 and HL-60 cancer cell lines were also evaluated.

Metabolic Mechanism for l-Leucine-Induced Metabolome To Eliminate Streptococcus iniae.

Crucial metabolites that modulate hosts' metabolome to eliminate bacterial pathogens have been documented, but the metabolic mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study explores the metabolic mechanism for l-leucine-induced metabolome to eliminate Streptococcus iniae in tilapia. GC-MS-based metabolomics was used to investigate the tilapia liver metabolic profile in the presence of exogenous l-leucine. Thirty-seven metabolites of differential abundance were determined, and 11 metabolic pathways were enriched. Pattern recognition analysis identified serine and proline as crucial metabolites, which are the two metabolites identified in survived tilapias during S. iniae infection, suggesting that the two metabolites play crucial roles in l-leucine-induced elimination of the pathogen by the host. Exogenous l-serine reduces the mortality of tilapias infected by S. iniae, providing a robust proof supporting the conclusion. Furthermore, exogenous l-serine elevates expression of genes IL-1ß and IL-8 in tilapia spleen, but not TNFα, CXCR4 and Mx, suggesting that the metabolite promotes a phagocytosis role of macrophages, which is consistent with the finding that l-leucine promotes macrophages to kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Therefore, the ability of phagocytosis enhanced by exogenous l-leucine is partly attributed to elevation of l-serine. These results demonstrate a metabolic mechanism by which exogenous l-leucine modulates tilapias' metabolome to enhance innate immunity and eliminate pathogens.

GC-MS-Based Metabolome and Metabolite Regulation in Serum-Resistant Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcus agalactiae causes severe systemic infections in human and fish. In the present study, we established a pathogen-plasma interaction model by which we explored how S. agalactiae evaded serum-mediated killing. We found that S. agalactiae grew faster in the presence of yellow grouper plasma than in the absence of the plasma, indicating S. agalactiae evolved a way of evading the fish immune system. To determine the events underlying this phenotype, we applied GC-MS-based metabolomics approaches to identify differential metabolomes between S. agalactiae cultured with and without yellow grouper plasma. Through bioinformatics analysis, decreased malic acid and increased adenosine were identified as the most crucial metabolites that distinguish the two groups. Meanwhile, they presented with decreased TCA cycle and elevated purine metabolism, respectively. Finally, exogenous malic acid and adenosine were used to reprogram the plasma-resistant metabolome, leading to elevated and decreased susceptibility to the plasma, respectively. Therefore, our findings reveal for the first time that S. agalactiae utilizes a metabolic trick to respond to plasma killing as a result of serum resistance, which may be reverted or enhanced by exogenous malic acid and adenosine, respectively, suggesting that the metabolic trick can be regulated by metabolites.

Decandrinin, an unprecedented C9-spiro-fused 7,8-seco-ent-abietane from the Godavari mangrove Ceriops decandra.

Decandrinin (1), an unprecedented C9-spiro-fused 7,8-seco-ent-abietane, was obtained from the bark of an Indian mangrove, Ceriops decandra, collected in the estuary of Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. The constitution and the relative configuration of 1 were determined by HRMS (ESI) and extensive NMR investigations, and the absolute configuration by circular dichroism (CD) and optical-rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectroscopy in combination with quantum-chemical calculations. Decandrinin is the first 7,8-seco-ent-abietane.

Limonoids with an oxygen bridge between C(1) and C(29) from the seeds of a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum.

Ten limonoids, named granatumins L-U (1-10, resp.), were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum, collected in the estuary of Krishna, Andhra Pradesh. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. The relative configuration of granatumin L (1) was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Granatumins L-T (1-9, resp.) belong to the small group of limonoids with an oxygen bridge between C(1) and C(29), while granatumin U (10) is a 28-Me-oxidized mexicanolide. This is the first report of limonoids with an O-bridge between C(1) and C(29) from the Indian X. granatum. The pronounced structural diversity of limonoids from this mangrove might originate from environmental factors.

[Diversity and in vitro antitumnor activity of endophytic fungi from mangrove plants Xylocarpus].

A total of 24 biologically pure entophytic fungal strains were isolated from stems, leaves, and seed coats of Xylocarpus plants by repeated purification, and identified with Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA molecular method, which belonging to 14 genera, 11 families, 9 orders and 3 classes. There were differences in genus and species levels among three plant materials from different habitats and species, and it was found that the strains of Phomopsis and Colletotrichum existed in all three plant materials. In vitro assay of antitumor activity by MTT method revealed that the EtOAc extracts of 15 strains exhibited potent antitumor activity. These results suggest that it is of value for further investigation on the above fungal strains.

3-O-methylthespesilactam, a new small-molecule anticancer pan-JAK inhibitor against A2058 human melanoma cells.

Natural product-inspired discovery of new drug leads plays a key role in drug development. Recently, small-molecule JAK inhibitors have been pursued for the development of anticancer therapeutics. However, most of these inhibitors reported up to now are multi-nitrogen polycyclic aromatic heterocycles. Undoubtedly, the discovery of new types of promising JAK-inhibitory leads is pivotal for JAK inhibitor-based anticancer drug development. Herein we report an unprecedented sesquiterpenoid-alkaloid named thespesilactam, containing a benzo[cd]indole scaffold, from the heartwood of the Portia tree, Thespesia populnea. Its 3-O-Me product, i.e. 8-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-methoxy-7-methylbenzo[cd]indol-2(1H)-one, named 3-O-methylthespesilactam, of which the structure was identified by NMR investigations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, was discovered as a new type of small-molecule anticancer pan-JAK inhibitor against A2058 human melanoma cells, and selective and potent inhibitor of JAK1 and TYK2.

Thaixylomolins A-C: limonoids featuring two new motifs from the Thai Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Three limonoids named thaixylomolins A-C (1-3), featuring two new motifs, were isolated from the seeds of a Thai mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis. The absolute configurations of these limonoids were determined by extensive NMR investigations, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and circular-dichroism spectroscopy in combination with quantum-chemical calculations. Thaixylomolin B exhibited inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide and IFN-γ-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophages with an IC50 value of 84.3 µM.

New limonoids from the seeds of a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum.

Two new mexicanolides, named granatumins H and I (1 and 2, resp.), and two phragmalins, named granatumins J and K (3 and 4, resp.), were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis, collected from the swamps of Krishna estuary, Andhra Pradesh. The structures of these limonoids were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. Granatumin J (3) is a highly oxidized phragmalin with five AcO groups, whereas granatumin K (4) is the first phragmalin found in nature with conjugated C(8)C(30) and C(14)C(15) bonds.

New diterpenes from a Godavari mangrove, Ceriops decandra.

Eleven new diterpenes, named decandrins A-K (1-11), including nine abietanes (1-9) and two podocarpanes (10-11), were isolated from the barks of an Indian mangrove, Ceriops decandra, collected in the mangrove swamp of Godavari estuary, Andhra Pradesh, together with four known abietanes. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data (new compounds) or comparison with data in the literature (known compounds). This is the first report of abietane and podocarpane diterpenoids from C. decandra.

Andhraxylocarpins†A-E: structurally intriguing limonoids from the true mangroves Xylocarpus granatum and Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Five new limonoids, including andhraxylocarpins A and B (1 and 2) which contain a 9-oxa-tricyclo[3.3.2.1(7, 10)]undecane-2-ene motif, andhraxylocarpins C and D (3 and 4), which contain a (Z)-bicyclo[5.2.1]dec-3-en-8-one substructure, and andhraxylocarpin E (5), which contains a tricyclo[3.3.1.1(3, 6)]decane-9-one scaffold, were isolated from the seeds of two true mangroves, Xylocarpus granatum and Xylocarpus moluccensis, that were collected in the estuaries of Andhra Pradesh, India. The absolute configurations of these compounds were determined by extensive NMR investigations, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and by circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion spectroscopy, in combination with quantum-chemical calculations. The pronounced structural diversity of limonoids from these mangroves might originate from environmental factors.

Moluccensins R-Y, limonoids from the seeds of a mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Eight limonoids, named moluccensins R-Y (1, 2, 5-10), and six known compounds, including 6-hydroxymexicanolide (3), were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis, collected in the estuaries of Andhra Pradesh. The absolute configuration of moluccensin V (7) was confirmed by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The (1)H and (13)C NMR data for 6-hydroxymexicanolide (3) was assigned for the first time, and the 6R absolute configuration established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Moluccensin R (1), 6R-hydroxymexicanolide (3), and 2-hydroxyfissinolide (4) exhibited marked antifeedant activity against the third-instar larvae of Brontispa longissima at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. The most potent compound tested was 2-hydroxyfissinolide (4), with an AFC(50) (concentration for 50% antifeedant activity) value of 94 µg/mL at 24 h.

Chemical constituents and some biological activities of plants from the genus Ceriops.

In this review, the literature data on phytochemical and biological investigations of the genus Ceriops are compiled. The Ceriops species are mangrove plants widely distributed along the sea coasts of Africa, Madagascar, South Asia, and South Pacific islands. To date, 43 diterpenes and 29 triterpenes have been reported from the embryos, fruits, hypocotyls, roots, stems, and twigs of C. tagal and C. decandra. Diterpenoids and triterpenoids are the main constituents of this genus. The isolated terpenes showed an enormous structural diversity and exhibited various biological properties, such as antitumor, antibacterial, and larvicidal activities.

Dolabranes from the Chinese Mangrove, Ceriops tagal.

Six new dolabranes, named tagalsins P-U (1-6), were isolated from stems and twigs of a Chinese mangrove, Ceriops tagal, along with seven known dolabranes, an abietane, and a pimarane. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data or comparison with data in the literature. The relative configurations of tagalsins P and Q (1, 2), two new 15,16-dinor-dolabranes, were confirmed by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This is the first report of 16-nordolabranes and 15,16-dinordolabranes from plants of the Ceriops genus. Tagalsins Q (2), R (3), and U (6) showed moderate antifeedant activity against the third-instar larvae of Brontispa longissima at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. However, none of the new dolabranes exhibited significant activity against human cancer cell lines.

Limonoids from the Seeds of a Hainan Mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum.

Ten new limonoids, hainangranatumins A-J (1-10), and 25 known compounds were isolated from seeds of a Chinese mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum, collected on Hainan Island. Hainangranatumins A-E (1-5) and I and J (9 and 10) are 9,10-seco-mexicanolides, whereas hainangranatumin F (6) is a limonoid possessing an 8α,30α-epoxy ring and a C1-C29 oxygen bridge. Hainangranatumin G (7) is a limonoid with a central pyridine ring, and hainangranatumin H (8) is a phragmalin 1,8,9-ortho ester. The relative configurations of hainangranatumins A and B were established by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and their absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of the specific rotation of the free acids obtained from alkaline hydrolysis. This is the first report of X-ray crystallographic structures of 9,10-seco-mexicanolides with a flexible C2-C30-C8 linkage. Hainangranatumins I and J (9 and 10), unusual 9,10-seco-mexicanolides with a C9-C30 linkage, are proposed to be artifacts derived from hainangranatumin C and xylomexicanin A, respectively.