Discovery of urea-based pleuromutilin derivatives as potent gram-positive antibacterial agents.

There is an urgent need to discover new antibacterial drugs and provide new treatment options for clinical antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogen infections. Inspired by the structural insights from analyzing the co-crystal structure of lefamulin with the ribosomes of S. aureus, a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives of phenylene sulfide incorporated with urea moiety were designed and synthesized. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that derivatives with urea in the meta position of phenylene sulfide had optimal antibacterial activities in vitro. Among them, 21h was the most potent one against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clinical AMR Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range of 0.00195-0.250 µg/mL. And it possessed low resistance frequency, prolonged Post-Antibiotic Effect and the capability to overcome lefamulin-induced resistance. Furthermore, 21h exhibited potent antibacterial activity in vivo in both the thigh infection model and trauma infection model, representing a promising lead for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive pathogens, especially for AMR bacteria.

Maternal Physiological Variations Induced by Chronic Gestational Hypoxia: 1H NMR-Based Metabolomics Study.

Metabolomics have been widely used in pregnancy-related diseases. However, physiological variations induced by chronic hypoxia during pregnancy are not well characterized. We aimed to investigate physiological variations induced by chronic hypoxia during pregnancy. A Sprague-Dawley (SD) pregnant rat model of chronic hypoxia was established. Plasma and urine metabolite profiles at different stages of the pregnancy were detected by 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to analyze changes in plasma and urine metabolic trajectories at different time-points. We identified hypoxia-induced changes in the levels of 30 metabolites in plasma and 29 metabolites in urine during different stages of pregnancy; the prominently affected metabolites included acetic acid, acetone, choline, citric acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, and serine. Most significant hypoxia-induced changes in plasma and urine sample metabolites were observed on the 11th day of gestation. In summary, chronic hypoxia has a significant effect on pregnant rats, and may cause metabolic disorders involving glucose, lipids, amino acids, and tricarboxylic acid cycle. Metabolomics study of the effect of hypoxia during pregnancy may provide insights into the pathogenesis of obstetric disorders.

The distribution of liver cancer stem cells correlates with the mechanical heterogeneity of liver cancer tissue.

The survival of cancer stem cells is usually limited to a specific tumor microenvironment, and this microenvironment plays a vital role in the development of tumors. The mechanical properties of the microenvironment differ in different regions of solid tumors. However, in solid tumors, whether the distribution of cancer stem cells relates to the mechanical microenvironment of different regions is still unclear. In this study, we undertook a biophysical and biochemical assessment of the changes in the mechanical properties of liver tissue during the progression of liver cancer and explored the distribution of liver cancer stem cells in liver cancer tissues. Our analysis confirmed previous observations that the stiffness of liver tissue gradually increased with the progress of fibrosis. In liver cancer tissues, we found obvious mechanical heterogeneity: the core of the tumor was soft, the invasive front tissue was the hardest, and the para-cancer tissue was in an intermediate state. Interestingly, the greatest number of liver cancer stem cells was found in the invasive front part of the tumor. We finally established that stroma stiffness correlated with the number of liver cancer stem cells. These findings indicate that the distribution of liver cancer stem cells correlates with the mechanical heterogeneity of liver cancer tissue. This result provides a theoretical basis for the development of targeted therapies against the mechanical microenvironment of liver cancer stem cells.

High cholesterol in lipid rafts reduces the sensitivity to EGFR-TKI therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Overcoming EGFR-TKI resistant which has the initial enthusiasm over substantial clinical responses is a formidable challenge on nowadays. In this study, we showed that cholesterol level in lipid rafts in gefitinib resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines was remarkably higher than gefitinib sensitive cell line, and depletion of cholesterol increased gefitinib sensitivity. Furthermore, cholesterol-depleted enhanced gefitinib inhibit phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt-1, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2 and these were reversed in cholesterol add-back experiments. Gefitinib resistant cell lines showed high affinity of gefitinib and EGFR when cholesterol was depleted. Therefore, targeting cholesterol combined with EGFR-TKI is potentially a novel therapeutic strategy for gefitinib resistant treatment.

Tenocyte proliferation and migration promoted by rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived conditioned medium.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of secreted factors of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the proliferation and migration of tenocytes and provide evidence for the development of MSC-based therapeutic methods of tendon injury. RESULTS: Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived conditioned medium (MSC-CM) promoted the proliferation of tenocytes within 24 h and decreased the percentage of tenocytes in G1 phase. MSC-CM activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) signal molecules, while the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 abrogated the MSC-CM-induced proliferation of tenocytes, decreased the fraction of tenocytes in the G1 phase and elevated p-ERK1/2 expression. Furthermore, MSC-CM promoted the migration of tenocytes within 6 h, enhanced the formation of filamentous actin (F-actin) and increased the cellular and nuclear stiffness of tenocytes. CONCLUSIONS: MSC-CM promotes tenocyte proliferation by changing cell cycle distribution via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. MSC-CM-induced tenocyte migration was accompanied by cytoskeletal polymerization and increases in cellular and nuclear stiffness.

Tungsten(VI)-Copper(I)-Sulfur Cluster-Supported Metal-Organic Frameworks Bridged by in Situ Click-Formed Tetrazolate Ligands.

Six analogous two-dimensional (2D) [Tp*WS3Cu3]-based (Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) networks, namely, {[(Tp*WS3Cu3)2L3](µ3-N3)}n (2: L = 5-methyltetrazolate (Mtta); 3a: L = 5-ethyltetrazolate (Etta)) and {[(Tp*WS3Cu3)2L3]BF4}n (3b: L = Etta; 4: L = 5-propyltetrazolate (Ptta); 5: L = 5-butyltetrazolate (Btta); 6: L = 5-pentyltetrazolate (Petta)) were synthesized by reactions of [Et4N][Tp*WS3] (1), [Cu(CH3CN)4]BF4, NaN3, and NH4BF4 in different nitrile solvents (CH3(CH2)nCN, n = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) under solvothermal conditions. In the structures of 2-6, each alkyl tetrazolate L as a bridging ligand was generated in situ from the "click" reaction between azide and nitrile. These 2D (6,3) networks support two types of voids wherein the pendant alkyl groups are accommodated. A tetrahedron cage-like cluster [Tp*W(µ3-S)3(µ3-S')Cu3]4 (7) was also formed in some of the above reactions and can be readily separated by solvent extraction. The proportion of 7 increased with the elongation of the alkyl chains and finally became the exclusive product when heptylnitrile was employed. Further use of CuCN as a surrogate for [Cu(CH3CN)4]BF4 with the aim of introducing additional CN bridges into the network led us to isolate a tetrazolate-free compound, {[Et4N]{(Tp*WS3Cu3)[Cu2(CN)4.5]}2·2PhCH2CN}n (8·2PhCH2CN), a unique 2D network that features {(Tp*WS3Cu3)[Cu2(CN)5]}22-, {(Tp*WS3Cu3)3[Cu3(CN)7]2[Cu(CN)3]}4-, and {(Tp*WS3Cu3)[Cu4(CN)9]}26- ring subunits. Compounds 5-8 are soluble in DMF and exhibit a reverse saturable absorption and self-focusing third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) effect at 532 nm with hyperpolarizability γ values in the range of 4.43 × 10-30 to 5.40 × 10-30 esu, which are 400-500 times larger than that of their precursor 1. The results provide an interesting insight into the synergetic synthetic strategy related to the assembly of the [Tp*WS3Cu3]2+ cluster core, the "click" formation of the tetrazolate ligands, and the construction of the [Tp*WS3Cu3]2+ cluster-based 2D networks.

Diverse Tp*-Capped W-Cu-S Clusters from One-Pot Assembly Involving in Situ Thiolation of Phosphines.

In the absence/presence of S8, the one-pot assembly of [Et4N][Tp*WS3] [1; Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate] with [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 and bis- or tetraphosphine ligands 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethylenediamine (dppeda) produces six W-Cu-S clusters, namely, [(Tp*WS3Cu2Cl)2(dppe)] (2), [Tp*WS3Cu4(dppp)2(µ4-Cl)(µ-Cl)]PF6·MeCN (3·MeCN), [(Tp*WS3Cu3)2(µ4-Cl)(µ-Cl)2(dpppS2)] (4), [(Tp*WS3Cu2Cl)2(dppbS2)]·2MeCN·2H2O (5·2MeCN·2H2O), [(Tp*WS3Cu3Cl2)2(dppbS2)] (6), and [(Tp*WS3Cu3)2(Ph2PS2)3(µ6-Cl)0.5](PF6)0.5·0.75CH2Cl2 (7·0.75CH2Cl2). Compounds 2-7 are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, (1)H and (31)P{(1)H} NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. For 2, the dppe ligand bridges a pair of butterfly-shaped [Tp*WS3Cu2] cores to form a double-butterfly-shaped structure. For 4, the dppp ligand is susceptible toward S association and forms an in situ generated dpppS2 ligand, supporting an octanuclear double-half-open-cubane structure and contrasting an analogous system wherein a pentanuclear motorcycle-shaped cationic cluster 3 is formed with the absence of S8. A longer dppb ligand readily converts to S-based ligands in 5 and 6, subsequently serving as bridges between a pair of a butterfly-shaped (5) and nest-shaped (6) clusters. Further use of a tetraphosphine ligand, dppeda, in the cluster formation, with the presence of S8, leads to an unexpected ligand degradation to give the [Ph2PS2](-) anions. Three [Ph2PS2](-) anions juxtapose a pair of nest-shaped cluster cores to yield an octanuclear cluster, 7, featuring a cage to encapsulate µ6-Cl(-). The third-order nonlinear-optical (NLO) properties of 2-7 in N,N-dimethylformamide, investigated using a Z-scan technique at 532 nm, show that 2-6 have a reverse saturable absorption, while 7 has a notable saturable absorption. All of 2-7 exhibit a self-focusing effect with hyperpolarizability γ values in the range of 4.71 × 10(-30)-1.02 × 10(-29) esu, which are 440-1000 times higher than that of 1. The formation of 4-7 from 1 through the in situ thiolation of phosphine ligands presents a new approach to the design and assembly of the W-Cu-S clusters with interesting structural arrays and better NLO properties.

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunit-deficient mutants induced by ion beam and the effects of Glu-1 loci deletion on wheat quality properties.

BACKGROUND: High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) play a critical role in determining the viscoelastic properties of wheat. Mutations induced by ion beam radiation have been applied to improve the yield and quality of crop. In this study, HMW-GS-deficient mutant lines were selected and the effects of Glu-1 loci deletion on wheat quality properties were illustrated according to the analysis of dry seeds of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Xiaoyan 81 treated with a nitrogen ion beam. RESULTS: Three HMW-GS-deficient mutant lines were obtained and then detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Large-chromosome-fragment deletion resulted in specific deficiencies, and the deleted region sizes were determined using molecular markers. Agronomic characters, quantity and proportion of glutenins and dough microstructure of the deletion lines all proved to be quite different from those of wild-type Xiaoyan 81. Analysis of quality properties suggested that GluA1(-) had superior property parameters, while GluB1(-) and GluD1(-) both showed a significant decrease in quality properties compared with Xiaoyan 81. CONCLUSION: The effects of the three Glu-1 loci on flour and dough quality-related parameters should be Glu-D1 > Glu-B1 > Glu-A1. Ion beam radiation can be used as a mutagen to create new crop mutants.

[Multicomponent Content Difference Among Different Processing Degrees of Moutan Cortex Charcoal].

Objective: To establish a method of simultaneously determining gallic acid,5-HMF,catechin and paeonol in the different processing degrees of Moutan Cortex charcoal by HPLC,and to compare the difference. Methods: The HPLC separation was carried out on a UltimateTMXB-C18column( 250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 µm) with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and water containing 0. 5% formic acid. The flow rate was 1. 0 m L / min at 30 ℃ column temperature,and the detection wavelength was 245 nm. Results: The contents of gallic acid and 5-HMF were increased with the extension of processing time,but declined when it reached to a certain extent. And the contents of catechin and paeonol were decreased in the heating process. Conclusion: The differences of compounds content in different processing degree of Moutan Cortex charcoal were greatly. It provides a scientific basis for quality standard of Moutan Cortex charcoal.

[Study on Chemical Composition of Zingiberis Rhizome Carbonisata].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from Zingiberis Rhizome Carbonisata. g. Methods: Compounds were isolated by Sephadex LH-20,ODS,MCI and silica gel column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical property and spectral analysis. Results: 16 compounds were isolated and identified as sitost-5-en-3ß-ol acetate( 1),dibutyl phthalate( 2),4-[2-( 5-butylfuran-2-yl) ethyl]-2-methoxyphenol( 3),ß-sitosterol( 4),8-paradol( 5),10-gingerdione( 6),6-shogaol( 7),6-paradol( 8),3,5-diacetoxy-6-gingerdiol( 9),1,2-benzenediol( 10),zingiberone( 11),6-gingerol( 12),1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene( 13),stigmasterol acetate( 14),8-dehydrogingerdione( 15) and 3,5-diacetoxy-7-( 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-( 4,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) heptane( 16). Conclusion: All the compounds are isolated from Zingiberis Rhizome Carbonisata for the first time. And compounds 2,10,11,and13 are generated in the process of processing.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Dabigatran Etexilate Mimics, a Novel Class of Thrombin Inhibitors.

Human α-thrombin is a particularly promising target for anticoagulant therapy, and identification of oral small-molecular inhibitors of thrombin remains a research focus. On the basis of the X-ray crystal structure of human α-thrombin and its inhibitor dabigatran, we designed and synthesized a series of dabigatran etexilate mimics containing a novel tricyclic fused scaffold. The biological evaluations reveal that all of the compounds possess moderate activity of antiplatelet aggregation induced by thrombin in vitro. Moreover, compound I-8, which contains 2-hydroxymethyl-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine (HTMP), a cleavable moiety with antiplatelet activity, shows the best anticoagulant effect among the tested compounds in vivo. Those synthesized compounds that have better in vitro activity were subjected to bleeding complication tests, and the results demonstrate that the novel compounds are less likely to have bleeding risk than dabigatran etexilate.

[HPLC combined with PCA technology for analysis of five gingerol compounds in different processing degrees of ginger charcoal].

To establish a new method for simultaneously determining the content of five gingerol compounds in different processing degrees of ginger charcoal and PCA principal component analysis was conducted for analysis. Samples were analyzed on Ultimate TM XB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) , with acetonitrile (A) -0.1% phosphoric acid solution (B) as mobile phase for gradient elution. Detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. The flow rate was 0.6 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was 30 degrees C. The five compounds were separated well and showed good linearity (r ≥ 0.999 7) within the concentration ranges tested. The average value for recoveries was between 98.86% - 101.5% (RSD 1.4% - 2.9%). The contents of five compounds showed difference among different processing degrees of ginger charcoal. Zingiberone had the highest content in the standard carbon, and the content of gingerol was decreased as the deepening of processing degree. Different processing degrees of ginger charcoal were classified into three groups with PCA, and provided scientific basis for establishing the quality standards of ginger charcoal.

Efficient isolation of ion beam-induced mutants for homoeologous loci in common wheat and comparison of the contributions of Glu-1 loci to gluten functionality.

KEY MESSAGE: Ion beam mutations can be efficiently isolated and deployed for functional comparison of homoeologous loci in polyploid plants, and Glu - 1 loci differ substantially in their contribution to wheat gluten functionality. To efficiently conduct genetic analysis, it is beneficial to have multiple types of mutants for the genes under investigation. Here, we demonstrate that ion beam-induced deletion mutants can be efficiently isolated for comparing the function of homoeologous loci of common wheat (Triticum aestivum). Through fragment analysis of PCR products from M2 plants, ion beam mutants lacking homoeologous Glu-A1, Glu-B1 or Glu-D1 loci, which encode high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) and affect gluten functionality and end-use quality of common wheat, could be isolated simultaneously. Three deletion lines missing Glu-A1, Glu-B1 or Glu-D1 were developed from the original mutants, with the Glu-1 genomic regions deleted in these lines estimated using newly developed DNA markers. Apart from lacking the target HMW-GSs, the three lines all showed decreased accumulation of low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GSs) and increased amounts of gliadins. Based on the test data of five gluten and glutenin macropolymer (GMP) parameters obtained with grain samples harvested from two environments, we conclude that the genetic effects of Glu-1 loci on gluten functionality can be ranked as Glu-D1 > Glu-B1 > Glu-A1. Furthermore, it is suggested that Glu-1 loci contribute to gluten functionality both directly (by promoting the formation of GMP) and indirectly (through keeping the balance among HMW-GSs, LMW-GSs and gliadins). Finally, the efficient isolation of ion beam mutations for functional comparison of homoeologous loci in polyploid plants and the usefulness of Glu-1 deletion lines for further studying the contribution of Glu-1 loci to gluten functionality are discussed.

Case report: A novel R246L mutation in the LMX1B homeodomain causes isolated nephropathy in a large Chinese family.

BACKGROUND: Genetic factors contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Advances in genetic testing have enabled the identification of hereditary kidney diseases, including those caused by LMX1B mutations. LMX1B mutations can lead to nail-patella syndrome (NPS) or nail-patella-like renal disease (NPLRD) with only renal manifestations. CASE PRESENTATION: The proband was a 13-year-old female who was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at the age of 6. Then she began intermittent hormone and drug therapy. When she was 13 years old, she was admitted to our hospital due to sudden chest tightness, which progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESRD), requiring kidney replacement therapy. Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) results suggest the presence of LMX1B gene mutation, c.737G > T, p.Arg246Leu. Tracing her family history, we found that her father, grandmother, uncle and 2 cousins all had hematuria, or proteinuria. In addition to the grandmother, a total of 9 members of the family performed WES. The members with kidney involved all carry the mutated gene. Healthy members did not have the mutated gene. It is characterized by co-segregation of genotype and phenotype. We followed the family for 9 year, the father developed ESRD at the age of 50 and started hemodialysis treatment. The rest patients had normal renal function. No extra-renal manifestations associated with NPS were found in any member of the family. CONCLUSIONS: This study has successfully identified missense mutation, c.737G > T (p.Arg246Leu) in the homeodomain, which appears to be responsible for isolated nephropathy in the studied family. The arginine to leucine change at codon 246 likely disrupts the DNA-binding homeodomain of LMX1B. Previous research has documented 2 types of mutations at codon R246, namely R246Q and R246P, which are known to cause NPLRD. The newly discovered mutation, R246L, is likely to be another novel mutation associated with NPLRD, thus expanding the range of mutations at the crucial renal-critical codon 246 that contribute to the development of NPLRD. Furthermore, our findings suggest that any missense mutation occurring at the 246th amino acid position within the homeodomain of the LMX1B gene has the potential to lead to NPLRD.

Novel diagnostic biomarkers of oxidative stress, ferroptosis, immune infiltration characteristics and experimental validation in ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a prominent type of cerebrovascular disease leading to death and disability in an aging society and is closely related to oxidative stress. Gene expression profiling (GSE222551) was derived from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and 1934 oxidative stress (OS) genes were obtained from the GeneCards database. Subsequently, we identified 149 differentially expressed genes related to OS (DEOSGs). Finally, PTGS2, FOS, and RYR1 were identified as diagnostic markers of IS. Moreover, GSE16561 was used to validate the DEOSGs. Two diagnostic genes (PTGS2 and FOS) were significantly highly expressed, while RYR1 was significantly lowly expressed in the IS group. Remarkably, immune infiltration characteristics of these three genes were analyzed, and we found that PTGS2, FOS, and RYR1 were mainly correlated with Mast cells activated, Neutrophils, and Plasma cells, respectively. Next, we intersected three DEOSGs with the ferroptosis gene set, the findings revealed that only PTGS2 was a differentially expressed gene of ferroptosis. High PTGS2 expression levels in the infarcted cortex of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats were confirmed by immunofluorescence (IF), western blotting (WB), and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Inhibition of PTGS2 clearly improved the neurological outcome of rats by decreasing infarct volume, neurological problems, and modified neurological severity scores following IS compared with the controls. The protective effect of silencing PTGS2 may be related to anti-oxidative stress and ferroptosis. In conclusion, this work may provide a new perspective for the research of IS, and further research based on PTGS2 may be a breakthrough.

Comparison of Protective Effects of Shenmai Injections Produced by Medicinal Materials from Different Origins on Cardiomyocytes.

Shenmai injection is mainly used for the treatment of heart-related diseases, including coronary heart disease, viral myocarditis, chronic cor pulmonale, and shock in Asia. Medicinal materials from different origins produce Shenmai injections for clinical use, and their protective effects on cardiomyocytes may vary with the choice of raw materials. In this study, we compared the protective effects of Shenmai injections produced from different raw materials on cardiomyocytes. Results showed that the protective effects of various Shenmai injections on hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury were mainly attributed to total ginsenosides extract, with few differences between them. However, the protective effects of different Shenmai injections on doxorubicin and oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte injury were significantly different; the protective effects of Shenmai injection with Zhejiang Ophiopogon japonicus as raw material were significantly better than those with Sichuan Ophiopogon japonicus, consistent with our previous research results. Our study reveals the different cardiomyocyte protective effects of Shenmai injections produced by medicinal materials from different origins, laying a scientific foundation for their clinical selection.

Phytosomal tripterine with selenium modification attenuates the cytotoxicity and restrains the inflammatory evolution via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis.

Inflammation mediates a variety of physiological and pathological events, prompting an importance of inflammation management for prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases. This study formulated tripterine (Tri) into selenized phytosomes in an attempt to attenuate its cytotoxicity and potentiate its inflammation-regulating effect with selenium. Tri-loaded phytosomes (Tri-PTs) with selenium modification were prepared by a melting-hydration followed by in situ reduction technique. Then, selenized Tri-PTs (Se@Tri-PTs) were characterized by particle size, entrapment efficiency, and transmission electron microscope. The in vitro drug release and cellular uptake were performed to examine the formulation performance of Se@Tri-PTs. The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory efficacy through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis were appreciated in murine J774A.1 macrophage cell line, respectively. The resultant Se@Tri-PTs presented a particle size of 125 nm around. Se@Tri-PTs exhibited attenuated cytotoxicity and improved cellular uptake in macrophages compared with free Tri or Tri-PTs. Also, Se@Tri-PTs inhibited the releases of caspase-1p20 and mature IL-1ß, resulting in restriction of NLRP3 inflammasome activation that inhibits the formation of GSDMD-NT whereby to initiate pyroptosis. Altogether, our findings suggest that Se@Tri-PTs can inhibit inflammatory response by regulating the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, which in turn reduces pyroptosis via suppressing the cleavage of GSDMD.

Programmable probiotics modulate inflammation and gut microbiota for inflammatory bowel disease treatment after effective oral delivery.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play vital roles in intestinal inflammation. Therefore, eliminating ROS in the inflammatory site by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase may effectively curb inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN), a kind of oral probiotic, was genetically engineered to overexpress catalase and superoxide dismutase (ECN-pE) for the treatment of intestinal inflammation. To improve the bioavailability of ECN-pE in the gastrointestinal tract, chitosan and sodium alginate, effective biofilms, were used to coat ECN-pE via a layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly strategy. In a mouse IBD model induced by different chemical drugs, chitosan/sodium alginate coating ECN-pE (ECN-pE(C/A)2) effectively relieved inflammation and repaired epithelial barriers in the colon. Unexpectedly, such engineered EcN-pE(C/A)2 could also regulate the intestinal microbial communities and improve the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 and Odoribacter in the intestinal flora, which are important microbes to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Thus, this study lays a foundation for the development of living therapeutic proteins using probiotics to treat intestinal-related diseases.

SFI Enhances Therapeutic Efficiency of Gefitinib: An Insight into Reversal of Resistance to Targeted Therapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Background: The clinical application of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors is always accompanied by inevitable drug resistance. However, the mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we investigate the involvement of MAPK/SREBP1 pathway in NSCLC gefitinib resistance and evaluate the synergistic effects of shenqi fuzheng injection (SFI) and gefitinib on NSCLC cells. Methods: To investigate the MAPK/SREBP1 pathway involved in gefitinib resistance, Western blotting was used to examine p-MEK, p-ERK and SREBP1 expression in PC-9 and PC-9/GR cells, MTT was used on cell proliferation, wound healing assay was used on cell migration. To detect the cooperative effects of SFI and gefitinib, clonogenic assay was used on cell proliferation. Apoptosis assay was analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence was used to detect gefitinib binding to EGFR. Western blotting was used to detect whether SFI regulate the resistance to gefitinib via the suppression of MAPK/SREBP1 pathway. Results: Our results showed that MAPK/SREBP1 pathway mediated resistance to gefitinib in NSCLC cells. MAPK pathway was found to directly target SREBP1 and inhibition of SREBP1 increased gefitinib sensitivity. In addition, SFI showed cooperative anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis impacts on gefitinib resistant cells via down-regulating MAPK/SREBP1 pathway. Moreover, the combination of SFI and gefitinib enhanced gefitinib binding to EGFR resulting in the restoration of sensitivity to gefitinib. Conclusions: Taken together, MAPK/SREBP1 pathway could be regarded as the potential treatment target for overcoming resistance to EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC and adjuvant therapy of SFI could be a potential therapeutic strategy for gefitinib resistant treatment.

JuBei Oral Liquid Induces Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in NSCLC Cells.

BACKGROUND: Although gefitinib brings about tremendous advances in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, most of patients become incurable due to drug resistance. JuBei oral liquid (JB) has been widely used to treat pneumonia in clinic. Components of JB were reported to induce apoptosis in NSCLC, which indicated that JB could be a potential antitumor agent for NSCLC patients. In this study, we investigated the effect of JB on gefitinib-sensitive PC-9 and gefitinib-resistant PC-9/GR, H1975 cells as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: PC-9, PC-9/GR and H1975 cells were treated with JB, LY294002, SCH772984, gefitinib alone or in combination. Then, cell viability, colony formation, cell death, expression of mitochondria-dependent pathway proteins, expression of EGFR, PI3K/AKT, MAPK signal pathway proteins, Bcl-2 mitochondrial translocation, ROS generation and cell apoptosis were examined by MTT, colony forming, live/dead cell staining, Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assay. RESULTS: Our results showed that JB significantly induced cell growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death in PC-9, PC-9/GR and H1975 cells. JB activated mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway through inhibiting Bcl-2 mitochondrial translocation while inducing Bax translocated into mitochondria along with accumulated ROS production, thereby increasing the release of cytochrome c, subsequently cleaving procaspase9 into cleaved-caspase9 and then cleaving procaspase3 into cleaved-caspase3. Furthermore, the employment of protein kinase inhibitors LY294002 and SCH772984 revealed that the induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by JB was reliant on inactivation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK signal pathways. Moreover, JB could synergize with gefitinib to induce apoptosis in PC-9, PC-9/GR and H1975 cells. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that JB could be a potential therapeutic agent for NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations as well as those under gefitinib resistance.