Synthesis, Characterization, DNA/HSA Interactions, and Anticancer Activity of Two Novel Copper(II) Complexes with 4-Chloro-3-Nitrobenzoic Acid Ligand.

The purpose of this study was to identify new metal-based anticancer drugs; to this end, we synthesized two new copper(II) complexes, namely [Cu(ncba)4(phen)] (1) and [Cu(ncba)4(bpy)] (2), comprised 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid as the main ligand. The single-crystal XRD approach was employed to determine the copper(II) complex structures. Binding between these complexes and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and human serum albumin (HSA) was explored by electronic absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, and viscometry. Both complexes intercalatively bound CT-DNA and statically and spontaneously quenched DNA/HSA fluorescence. A CCK-8 assay revealed that complex 1 and complex 2 had substantial antiproliferative influences against human cancer cell lines. Moreover, complex 1 had greater antitumor efficacy than the positive control cisplatin. Flow cytometry assessment of the cell cycle demonstrated that these complexes arrested the HepG2 cell cycle and caused the accumulation of G0/G1-phase cells. The mechanism of cell death was elucidated by flow cytometry-based apoptosis assays. Western blotting revealed that both copper(II) complexes induced apoptosis by regulating the expression of the Bcl-2(Bcl-2, B cell lymphoma 2) protein family.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated bone metabolism in the bone microenvironment.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid membrane-enclosed entities containing specific proteins, RNA, miRNA, and lncRNA. EVs are released by various cells and play a vital role in cell communication by transferring their contents from the host cells to the recipient cells. The role of EVs has been characterized in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In this context, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory effects of EVs, with a focus on bone metabolism and the bone microenvironment. The roles of EVs in cell communication among bone-related cells, stem cells, tumor cells, and other cells under physiological or pathological conditions are also discussed. In addition, promising applications for EVs in treating bone-related diseases are proposed.

Solvent and Copper Ion-Induced Synthesis of Pyridyl-Pyrazole-3-One Derivatives: Crystal Structure, Cytotoxicity.

Five novel compounds, methyl 5-(acetyloxy)-1-(6-bromo-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (1), methyl 1-(6-bromo-2-pyridinyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2), Trimethyl 1,1',1''-tris(6-bromo-2-pyridinyl)-5,5''-dihydroxy-5'-oxo-1',5'-dihydro-1H,1''H-4,4': 4',4''-terpyrazole-3,3',3''-tricarboxylate (H2L¹, 3), [Cu2(L²)2]·CH3OH (4), H2L2A·CH3CN (5) were synthesized. Compounds 1-5 characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. And 1-3 were also characterized by ¹H NMR, 13C NMR and ESI-MS. The H2L¹, H2L² were formed by in-situ reaction. H2L² and H2L2A are mesomer compounds which have two chiral carbons. The antitumor activity of compounds 1-5 against BEL-7404, HepG2, NCI-H460, T-24, A549 tumor cell lines were screened by methylthiazolyl tetrozolium (MTT) assay. The compounds 1, 2 showed weakly growth inhibition on the HepG2 cell lines. The HepG2 and A549 cell lines showed higher sensitivity to compound 4, while the IC50 values are 10.66, 28.09 µM, respectively. It is worth noting that compounds 1-5 did not show cytotoxicity to human normal liver cell line HL-7702, suggesting its cytotoxic selectivity on these tumor cell lines.

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sonchus oleraceus aqueous extract on lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and mice.

CONTEXT: Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae) (SO) is a dietary and traditional medicinal plant in China. However, its underlying mechanism of action as an anti-inflammatory agent is not known. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of SO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract of SO was used to treat RAW 264.7 cells (in the working concentrations of 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.3 and 15.6 µg/mL) for 24 h. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators produced in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were assessed. Meanwhile, the expression level of TLR-4, COX-2, pSTATs and NF-κB was tested. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract in vivo was assessed using xylene-induced mouse ear oedema model and the anti-inflammatory compounds in the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS. RESULTS: SO extract significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators at gene and protein levels with the concentration of 31.3 µg/mL, and suppressed the expression of TLR-4, COX-2, NF-κB and pSTAT in RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of SO in vivo has significant anti-inflammatory effects with the concentration of 250 and 125 mg/kg, and less side effect on the weights of the mice at the concentration of 250 mg/kg. Moreover, HPLC-MS analysis revealed that the anti-inflammatory compounds in the extract were identified as villosol, ferulaic acid, ß-sitosterol, ursolic acid and rutin. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study indicated that SO extract has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo, which will be further developed as novel pharmacological strategies in order to defeat inflammatory diseases.

Fecal Calprotectin for predicting Relapse and Activity in Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Meta-analysis.

AIMS: We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of the predictive capacity of fecal calprotectin (FC) in activity and relapse of Crohn's disease (CD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic indices were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1,252 CD patients from 18 different studies were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of FC at a cutoff value of 50 µg/g to predict activity of CD were 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87-0.95] and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.35-0.59) respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of FC at a cutoff value of larger than 150 µg/g to monitor relapse of CD was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.82) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.66-0.76) respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve of FC for detecting CD activity was 0.78 (50 µg/g), 0.88 (100 µg/g), 0.85 (>150 µg/g), and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 10.21 (50 µg/g), 10.20 (100 µg/g), 11.68 (>150 µg/g) respectively. CONCLUSION: As a simple and noninvasive marker, FC is useful to predict the activity and relapse in CD patients, and the capacity of FC to predict CD activity was superior to its application in monitoring relapse of CD. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Zhuge Y, Huang Q-P, Li Q, Wang J-S. Fecal Calprotectin for predicting Relapse and Activity in Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Meta-analysis. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(2):116-124.

Tris[4-bromo-2-(methyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolato-κ(2) N,O]cobalt(III).

In the title compound, [Co(C8H7BrNO)3], the Co(III) ion is coordinated in a slightly distorted octa-hedral environment by three N atoms and three O atoms from three bidentate 4-bromo-2-(methyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolate ligands. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings are 82.6 (2), 57.1 (2) and 62.9 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of weak C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers.

Tris[2,4-dichloro-6-(ethyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolato-κ(2)N,O]cobalt(III).

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Co(C(9)H(8)Cl(2)NO)(3)], contains three independent mol-ecules. In each mol-ecule, the Co(III) ion is coordinated by an O atom and an N atom from three bidentate 2,4-dichloro-6-(ethyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolate ligands in a slightly distorted octa-hedral environment. In the crystal, a weak C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond is observed.

Erythromycin enhances CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T-cell responses in a rat model of smoke-induced lung inflammation.

Heavy smoking can induce airway inflammation and emphysema. Macrolides can modulate inflammation and effector T-cell response in the lungs. However, there is no information on whether erythromycin can modulate regulatory T-cell (Treg) response. This study is aimed at examining the impact of erythromycin on Treg response in the lungs in a rat model of smoking-induced emphysema. Male Wistar rats were exposed to normal air or cigarette smoking daily for 12 weeks and treated by gavage with 100 mg/kg of erythromycin or saline daily beginning at the forth week for nine weeks. The lung inflammation and the numbers of inflammatory infiltrates in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were characterized. The frequency, the number of Tregs, and the levels of Foxp3 expression in the lungs and IL-8, IL-35, and TNF-α in BALF were determined by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Treatment with erythromycin reduced smoking-induced inflammatory infiltrates, the levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in the BALF and lung damages but increased the numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and the levels of Foxp3 transcription in the lungs, accompanied by increased levels of IL-35 in the BALF of rats. Our novel data indicated that erythromycin enhanced Treg responses, associated with the inhibition of smoking-induced inflammation in the lungs of rats.

Bis[2,4-dichloro-6-(ethyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolato-κN,O]nickel(II).

In the title compound, [Ni(C(9)H(8)Cl(2)NO)(2)], the Ni(II) ion lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry by an N and an O atom from two symmetry-related bidentate 2,4-dichloro-6-(ethyl-imino-meth-yl)phenolate ligands. In the crystal structure, there are short Cl⋯Cl distances of 3.506 (1) and 3.350 (1) Å.