Small molecule inhibitors of the Dishevelled-CXXC5 interaction are new drug candidates for bone anabolic osteoporosis therapy.

Bone anabolic agents promoting bone formation and rebuilding damaged bones would ideally overcome the limitations of anti-resorptive therapy, the current standard prescription for osteoporosis. However, the currently prescribed parathyroid hormone (PTH)-based anabolic drugs present limitations and adverse effects including osteosarcoma during long-term use. Also, the antibody-based anabolic drugs that are currently being developed present the potential limits in clinical application typical of macromolecule drugs. We previously identified that CXXC5 is a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway via its interaction with Dishevelled (Dvl) and suggested the Dvl-CXXC5 interaction as a potential target for anabolic therapy of osteoporosis. Here, we screened small-molecule inhibitors of the Dvl-CXXC5 interaction via a newly established in vitro assay system. The screened compounds were found to activate the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and enhance osteoblast differentiation in primary osteoblasts. The bone anabolic effects of the compounds were shown using ex vivo-cultured calvaria. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration analysis confirmed interaction between Dvl PDZ domain and KY-02061, a representative of the screened compounds. Oral administration of KY-02327, one of 55 newly synthesized KY-02061 analogs, successfully rescued bone loss in the ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. In conclusion, small-molecule inhibitors of the Dvl-CXXC5 interaction that block negative feedback regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling are potential candidates for the development of bone anabolic anti-osteoporosis drugs.

The anti-inflammatory effects of a methanolic extract from Radix Isatidis in murine macrophages and mice.

Radix Isatidis is the dried root of the plant Isatidis indigotica Fort (family Cruciferae) and traditionally used as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-endotoxic, and immune regulatory agent in the folk medicine of Korea and China. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extracts of Radix Isatidis (RIME) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages and in a TPA-induced ear edema animal model. Anti-inflammatory effects of RIME were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In order to investigate the effects of RIME in vivo, activation of myeloperoxidase, and histological assessment were examined in the 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model. RIME significantly inhibited the release from macrophages of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E(2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Topical administration of RIME at 1-5 mg/ear resulted in reduction of ear inflammation in mice. Thus, our results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects of RIME involve decreased production of inflammatory mediators, which suggests that RIME may have therapeutic potential in a variety of inflammation-related diseases.

Achiral and chiral determination of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from methanol extracts of Hylomecon species by high performance liquid chromatography.

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from the methanol extracts of Hylomecon hylomeconoides and H. vernale (Papaveraceae). Achiral and chiral methods were adapted for the separation of 6-methoxydihydrosanguinarine (1), 6-acetonyldihydrosanguinarine (2) and dihydrosanguinarine (3). The achiral reversed phase HPLC method made it possible the simultaneous separation and determination of 1, 2 and 3 within 20 min on ODS column using acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0) (50:50, v/v). The separation and determination of 1 and 2 enantiomers was available using chiral columns. The same amount of (+) and (-)-enantiomers of 1 was found from the methanol extract of specimen, indicated that 1 could be the artifact produced by the reaction of sanguinarine with methanol. H. hylomeconoides showed higher level of 1 and 3 in compared with H. vernale, especially in root samples permitting the possibility of chemical discrimination between two species.