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1.
Arch Biochem Biophys ; 754: 109929, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38367794

ABSTRACT

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although treatment options have improved, a large proportion of patients show low survival rates, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the new small-molecule compound dihydrocelastrol (DHCE), acquired through the structural modification of celastrol (CE), in the treatment of DLBCL. DHCE showed potent anti-lymphoma efficacy and synergistic effects with doxorubicin. DHCE triggered DLBCL cell apoptosis and G0/G1-phase blockade, thereby hindering angiogenesis. DHCE inhibited B-cell receptor cascade signalling and Jun B and p65 nuclear translocation, thereby suppressing pro-tumourigenic signalling. Finally, DHCE exerted lower toxicity than CE, which showed severe hepatic, renal, and reproductive toxicity in vivo. Our findings support further investigation of the clinical efficacy of DHCE against DLBCL.


Subject(s)
Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse , Pentacyclic Triterpenes , Transcription Factor AP-1 , Humans , Transcription Factor AP-1/metabolism , Angiogenesis , Signal Transduction , Apoptosis , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation
2.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38804044

ABSTRACT

Epigenetic modifications play an important role in cellular senescence, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a key methyltransferase involved in epigenetic remodeling in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. We have previously demonstrated that GSK126, a specific EZH2 inhibitor, exhibits anti-MM therapeutic efficacy and safety in vivo and in vitro; however, its specific mechanism remains unclear. This study shows that GSK126 induces cellular senescence in MM, which is characterized by the accumulation of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF) and p21, and increased senescence-associated ß galactosidase activity. Furthermore, EZH2 is inhibited in ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) overexpression OCI-MY5 and RPMI-8226 cells. RRM2 overexpression inhibits the methyltransferase function of EZH2 and promotes its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby inducing cellular senescence. In this senescence model, Lamin B1, a key component of the nuclear envelope and a marker of senescence, does not decrease but instead undergoes aberrant accumulation. Meanwhile, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) is significantly increased. The inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation in turn partially restores Lamin B1 level and alleviates senescence. These findings suggest that EZH2 inhibition increases Lamin B1 level and induces senescence by promoting ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These data indicate that EZH2 plays an important role in MM cellular senescence and provide insights into the relationships among Lamin B1, p-ERK1/2, and cellular senescence.

3.
J Biol Chem ; 298(8): 102218, 2022 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35780839

ABSTRACT

The stinging hairs of plants from the family Urticaceae inject compounds that inflict pain to deter herbivores. The sting of the New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox) is among the most painful of these and can cause systemic symptoms that can even be life-threatening; however, the molecular species effecting this response have not been elucidated. Here we reveal that two classes of peptide toxin are responsible for the symptoms of U. ferox stings: Δ-Uf1a is a cytotoxic thionin that causes pain via disruption of cell membranes, while ß/δ-Uf2a defines a new class of neurotoxin that causes pain and systemic symptoms via modulation of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. We demonstrate using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments that ß/δ-Uf2a is a potent modulator of human NaV1.5 (EC50: 55 nM), NaV1.6 (EC50: 0.86 nM), and NaV1.7 (EC50: 208 nM), where it shifts the activation threshold to more negative potentials and slows fast inactivation. We further found that both toxin classes are widespread among members of the Urticeae tribe within Urticaceae, suggesting that they are likely to be pain-causing agents underlying the stings of other Urtica species. Comparative analysis of nettles of Urtica, and the recently described pain-causing peptides from nettles of another genus, Dendrocnide, indicates that members of tribe Urticeae have developed a diverse arsenal of pain-causing peptides.


Subject(s)
Neurotoxins , Peptides , Toxins, Biological , Urticaceae , Humans , Neurotoxins/chemistry , Pain , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/toxicity , Toxins, Biological/chemistry , Urticaceae/chemistry , Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels/drug effects
4.
Ann Behav Med ; 57(1): 93-97, 2023 01 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35815757

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The timing and regularity of eating patterns could play a role in systemic inflammation, as circadian clocks responsible for daily rhythms of inflammatory signaling are entrained by food intake. PURPOSE: To evaluate associations of intra-weekly and weekday-weekend differences in eating timing patterns with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). METHODS: A community-based sample of 103 U.S. women from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network completed a meal-timing questionnaire and provided a blood sample for measurement of hsCRP. Differences in weekday versus weekend eating start time, eating end time, and nightly fasting duration were calculated as eating jetlag metrics. Intra-weekly variability in eating timing patterns was defined by the standard deviation (SD) of these variables. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate cross-sectional associations of eating timing variability metrics with hsCRP. RESULTS: Each additional 30-min difference in weekday-weekend eating end time was related to 13% higher hsCRP (p = .023). Similarly, every 30-min increase in eating end time SD, reflecting greater variability in timing of last eating occasion, was associated with 29% higher hsCRP. Per 1-hr weekday-weekend difference in nightly fasting duration, there was a 45% elevation in hsCRP (p = .003). Every 30-min increase in nightly fasting duration SD, representing greater variability in span of the daily fasting/eating periods, was associated with 46% higher hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS: Variable eating timing patterns were associated with higher hsCRP. Intervention studies are needed to determine whether stabilizing the timing of eating occasions may represent a novel strategy to reduce chronic inflammation.


Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein , Sleep , Humans , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feeding Behavior , Risk Factors , Inflammation , Eating
5.
Macromol Rapid Commun ; 44(8): e2300014, 2023 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36790071

ABSTRACT

Inverse vulcanization utilizes an organic compound as reagent for crosslinking elemental sulfur to result in corresponding polymeric material with a high sulfur content. This work, employing 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) as the reagent, demonstrates the first attempt on extending the scope of crosslinking agents of inverse vulcanization to saturate compounds. Under nuclear magnetic spectroscopic analysis, the reactions between TIPB and elemental sulfur take places through ring-opening reaction of S8 resulting in sulfur radicals at sulfur chain ends, radicals transferring to isopropyl groups of TIPB, and radical coupling reactions between carbon radicals and sulfur radicals. The obtained products are similar to the sulfur polymers from conventional inverse vulcanization processes and show self-healing property.


Subject(s)
Organic Chemicals , Sulfur , Indicators and Reagents , Sulfur/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Carbon
6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(6)2023 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36982972

ABSTRACT

Gomesin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide which is isolated from the haemocytes of the Brazilian tarantula Acanthoscurria gomesiana and can be produced chemically by Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. Gomesin exhibits a range of biological activities, as demonstrated by its toxicity against therapeutically relevant pathogens such as Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, cancer cells, and parasites. In recent years, a cyclic version of gomesin has been used for drug design and development as it is more stable than native gomesin in human serum and can penetrate and enter cancer cells. It can therefore interact with intracellular targets and has the potential to be developed as a drug lead for to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and other human diseases. This review provides a perspective on the discovery, structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action, biological activity, and potential clinical applications of gomesin.


Subject(s)
Antimicrobial Peptides , Neoplasms , Humans , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/therapeutic use , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Structure-Activity Relationship
7.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; 62(29): e202302812, 2023 07 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37148162

ABSTRACT

Ziconotide (ω-conotoxin MVIIA) is an approved analgesic for the treatment of chronic pain. However, the need for intrathecal administration and adverse effects have limited its widespread application. Backbone cyclization is one way to improve the pharmaceutical properties of conopeptides, but so far chemical synthesis alone has been unable to produce correctly folded and backbone cyclic analogues of MVIIA. In this study, an asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP)-mediated cyclization was used to generate backbone cyclic analogues of MVIIA for the first time. Cyclization using six- to nine-residue linkers did not perturb the overall structure of MVIIA, and the cyclic analogues of MVIIA showed inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV 2.2) and substantially improved stability in human serum and stimulated intestinal fluid. Our study reveals that AEP transpeptidases are capable of cyclizing structurally complex peptides that chemical synthesis cannot achieve and paves the way for further improving the therapeutic value of conotoxins.


Subject(s)
Conotoxins , omega-Conotoxins , Humans , omega-Conotoxins/pharmacology , omega-Conotoxins/therapeutic use , Analgesics/pharmacology , Analgesics/therapeutic use , Conotoxins/pharmacology , Calcium Channels/chemistry , Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology
8.
J Exp Bot ; 73(18): 6103-6114, 2022 10 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35724659

ABSTRACT

Plant molecular farming aims to provide a green, flexible, and rapid alternative to conventional recombinant expression systems, capable of producing complex biologics such as enzymes, vaccines, and antibodies. Historically, the recombinant expression of therapeutic peptides in plants has proven difficult, largely due to their small size and instability. However, some plant species harbour the capacity for peptide backbone cyclization, a feature inherent in stable therapeutic peptides. One obstacle to realizing the potential of plant-based therapeutic peptide production is the proteolysis of the precursor before it is matured into its final stabilized form. Here we demonstrate the rational domestication of Nicotiana benthamiana within two generations to endow this plant molecular farming host with an expanded repertoire of peptide sequence space. The in planta production of molecules including an insecticidal peptide, a prostate cancer therapeutic lead, and an orally active analgesic is demonstrated.


Subject(s)
Biological Products , Domestication , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Nicotiana/genetics , Nicotiana/metabolism , Plants/metabolism , Peptides/metabolism , Biological Products/metabolism , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
9.
Chirality ; 34(7): 1019-1034, 2022 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35521642

ABSTRACT

A readily available chiral cyclohexanediamine-derived bifunctional tertiary amine-squaramide catalyst is more effective for the asymmetric dearomative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-nitrobenzofurans and N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A range of structurally diverse spiro-fused polyheterocyclic compounds containing oxindole, pyrrolidine, and hydrobenzofuran motifs were smoothly obtained in excellent results (up to 99% yield, >20:1 dr in all cases and up to 99% ee). This method features high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, exquisite asymmetric induction, wide functional group tolerance, great potential for scale-up synthesis, and attractive product diversification.


Subject(s)
Imines , Spiro Compounds , Benzofurans , Cycloaddition Reaction , Nitriles , Stereoisomerism
10.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi ; 47(22): 6005-6019, 2022 Nov.
Article in Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36471951

ABSTRACT

Patrinia villosa, regarding its functions in clearing heat and detoxification and eliminating carbuncles and pus, is widely used as a traditional medicinal herb that contains rich nutrition and substances such as various amino acids, vitamins, and soluble su-gar, and it is also an edible wild herb in Chinese folk tradition for 2 000 years. In 1973, Japanese scholars firstly separated three iridoids from Japanese P. villosa, and by 2021, chemical components such as flavonoids, iridoids, organic acids, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and steroids have been found, which have multiple pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial, sedative, and liver protection capabilities. Studies indicate that flavonoids, saponins, phenylpropanoids, and triterpenoids in P. villosa are vital substances for its pharmacological activities. However, the quality of this medicinal material cannot be controlled due to the unclear records in ancient books in the past dynasties and different drug use habits in different places, and thus its circulation is chaotic. At present, researchers have used flavonoids, organic acids, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoid saponins, and other compounds to conduct studies in this regard. Therefore, on the basis of the existing literature resources, we comprehensively summarize the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and quality control of P. villosa to further provide a reference for the safety and effectiveness of clinical drug use and lay a foundation for the follow-up experimental research.


Subject(s)
Patrinia , Saponins , Triterpenes , Patrinia/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Triterpenes/pharmacology , Iridoids , Quality Control
11.
Chembiochem ; 22(8): 1415-1423, 2021 04 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33244888

ABSTRACT

Agelaia-MPI and protonectin are antimicrobial peptides isolated from the wasp Parachartergus fraternus that show antimicrobial and neuroactive activities. Previously, two analogues of these peptides, neuroVAL and protonectin-F, were designed to reduce nonspecific toxicity and improve potency. Here, the three-dimensional structures of neuroVAL, protonectin and protonectin-F were determined by using circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and hemolytic activities were tested for the parent peptides and analogues. All peptides showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with agelaia-MPI being the most active. Protonectin and protonectin-F were found to be toxic to cancerous and noncancerous cell lines. Internalization experiments revealed that these peptides accumulate inside both cell types. By contrast, neuroVAL was nontoxic to all tested cells and was able to enter cells without accumulating. In summary, neuroVAL has potential as a nontoxic cell-penetrating peptide, while protonectin-F needs further modification to realize its potential as an antitumor peptide.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Wasps/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Antifungal Agents/chemical synthesis , Antifungal Agents/chemistry , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemical synthesis , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry , Cell Line , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests
12.
J Urol ; 206(3): 655-661, 2021 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33904760

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Previous studies have elucidated the unique macroscopic and histological properties of buccal mucosa that make it a viable and durable graft for urethral augmentation. However, no prior literature has directly investigated the impact of preoperative oral health on these features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed all consenting patients who underwent buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty at our institution from 2018 to 2020. Validated oral health surveys, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Kayser-Jones Brief Oral Health Status Examination (BOHSE) were completed preoperatively. A staff pathologist analyzed BMG histology and quantified oral mucositis using a modified Oral Mucosa Rating Scale. RESULTS: We analyzed 51 patients with a median age of 40 years (IQR 31-58). Mean BOHSE score was 1.1 and OHIP-14 score was 1.4. Median epithelial thickness was 530 µm and lamina propria thickness was 150 µm. On age-adjusted analysis, increasing BOHSE and OHIP-14 were associated with decreasing epithelial thickness (p values <0.05). Higher BOHSE scores also correlated with thinner lamina proprias (p=0.05) and increased graft stretch (p=0.03). The 2 patients with postoperative urine leaks and available graft histology had lamina propria thicknesses well below the cohort median, at 50 µm and 60 µm. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that oral health conditions impact graft histology and stretch. Although much remains to be learned, our findings shed light on the potential importance of optimizing oral health prior to BMG urethroplasty, and raise the question of if preoperative mucosal biopsy could help inform surgical decision making and discussions regarding surgical success.


Subject(s)
Mouth Mucosa/transplantation , Oral Health/statistics & numerical data , Plastic Surgery Procedures/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Urethral Stricture/surgery , Adult , Autografts/diagnostic imaging , Autografts/pathology , Autografts/transplantation , Biopsy , Clinical Decision-Making , Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Complications/pathology , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Preoperative Period , Prospective Studies , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Surveys and Questionnaires/statistics & numerical data , Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods , Tissue and Organ Harvesting/statistics & numerical data , Treatment Outcome , Urethra/abnormalities , Urethra/diagnostic imaging , Urethra/pathology , Urethra/surgery , Urography/methods
13.
J Nat Prod ; 84(1): 81-90, 2021 01 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33397096

ABSTRACT

Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides found within five families of flowering plants (Violaceae, Rubiaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Poaceae) that have a cyclic backbone and six conserved cysteine residues linked by disulfide bonds. Their presence within the Violaceae species seems ubiquitous, yet not all members of other families produce these macrocyclic peptides. The genus Palicourea Aubl. (Rubiaceae) contains hundreds of neotropical species of shrubs and small trees; however, only a few cyclotides have been discovered hitherto. Herein, five previously uncharacterized Möbius cyclotides within Palicourea sessilis and their pharmacological activities are described. Cyclotides were isolated from leaves and stems of this plant and identified as pase A-E, as well as the known peptide kalata S. Cyclotides were de novo sequenced by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, and their structures were solved by NMR spectroscopy. Because some cyclotides have been reported to modulate immune cells, pase A-D were assayed for cell proliferation of human primary activated T lymphocytes, and the results showed a dose-dependent antiproliferative function. The toxicity on other nonimmune cells was also assessed. This study reveals that pase cyclotides have potential for applications as immunosuppressants and in immune-related disorders.


Subject(s)
Cyclotides/drug effects , Cyclotides/metabolism , Fabaceae/chemistry , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Solanaceae/chemistry , Violaceae/chemistry , Brazil , Cyclotides/chemistry , Humans , Lymphocytes/chemistry , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Magnoliopsida , Mass Spectrometry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/metabolism
14.
J Cell Mol Med ; 24(17): 9774-9785, 2020 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32790017

ABSTRACT

Previous studies revealed that caspase recruitment domain protein 9 (CARD9) was involved in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) inflammation and that interfering with its expression in vivo could inhibit inflammation. However, the specific mechanism is unknown. This study aimed to discover the related signal pathways of CARD9 in macrophages. SiRNA interference technology was used in vivo and in vitro to detect CARD9-related signal pathways in peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and membrane-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1) pathways in macrophages were activated specially to looking for the upstream signal path of CARD9. Results showed up-regulation of CARD9 expression in peritoneal macrophages of SAP rats (P < .05). CARD9 siRNA alleviated inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB and p38MAPK in peritoneal macrophages in vivo or in vitro. Meanwhile, CARD9 siRNA reduced the concentration of CARD9 and Bcl10 in peritoneal macrophages, and TLR4 and Dectin-1 took part in CARD9 signal pathways in macrophages. In conclusion, there is an inflammation signal pathway comprised of TLR4/Dectin-1-CARD9-NF-κB/p38MAPK activated in macrophages in SAP. Blockade of CARD9 expression in macrophages can effectively alleviate SAP inflammation.


Subject(s)
CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/genetics , Inflammation/genetics , Lectins, C-Type/genetics , Pancreatitis/genetics , Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics , Animals , CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Humans , Inflammation/pathology , Macrophages/metabolism , Macrophages/pathology , NF-kappa B/genetics , Pancreatitis/pathology , Peritoneum/metabolism , Peritoneum/pathology , RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology , Rats , Severity of Illness Index , Signal Transduction/genetics , Toll-Like Receptor 4/antagonists & inhibitors , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics
15.
Blood ; 131(11): 1219-1233, 2018 03 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29288170

ABSTRACT

The pathogenesis of corticosteroid-resistant immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a clinically challenging condition in which patients exhibit either no response to corticosteroids or are corticosteroid-dependent, remains poorly understood. Murine studies suggest that bone marrow (BM) endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a crucial role in regulating megakaryocytopoiesis. However, little is known regarding the number and function of BM EPCs or how to improve impaired BM EPCs in corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients. In the current case-control study, we evaluated whether the BM EPCs in corticosteroid-resistant ITP differed from those in corticosteroid-sensitive ITP. Moreover, whether atorvastatin could enhance the number and function of BM EPCs derived from corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Reduced and dysfunctional BM EPCs, characterized by decreased capacities of migration and angiogenesis as well as higher levels of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis, were observed in corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients. In vitro treatment with atorvastatin quantitatively and functionally improved BM EPCs derived from corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients by downregulating the p38 MAPK pathway and upregulating the Akt pathway, and rescued the impaired BM EPCs to support megakaryocytopoiesis. Subsequently, a pilot cohort study showed that atorvastatin was safe and effective in corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients. Taken together, these results indicate that reduced and dysfunctional BM EPCs play a role in the pathogenesis of corticosteroid-resistant ITP, and the impaired BM EPCs could be improved by atorvastatin both in vitro and in vivo. Although requiring further validation, our data indicate that atorvastatin represents a promising therapeutic approach for repairing impaired BM EPCs in corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients.


Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Atorvastatin/administration & dosage , Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism , Drug Resistance/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Myelopoiesis/drug effects , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Apoptosis/drug effects , Bone Marrow Cells/pathology , Cell Movement/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Female , Humans , MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects , Male , Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects , Prospective Studies , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/metabolism , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/pathology , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
16.
Chemistry ; 26(18): 4070-4079, 2020 Mar 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31633249

ABSTRACT

The coordination number between copper and nitrogen in copper/nitrogen-based electrocatalysts is important for boosting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, it is difficult to control unsaturated copper/nitrogen constructions as well as to compare their ORR performances in similar carbon matrices in a simple yet efficient manner. In this study, we have easily attained two types of Cu+ -N2 and Cu2+ -N4 constructions simply by etching pyrolyzed Cu-doped zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoleaves (Cu-ZIF-L) with sulfuric acid or nitric acid, respectively. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra were recorded to further confirm the different copper/nitrogen constructions after the different acid treatments. Electrochemical studies have demonstrated that Cu+ -N2 sites are more active in boosting the ORR performance than Cu2+ -N4 sites. Furthermore, Cu-N/C-H2 SO4 , used as an air cathode in a zinc-air battery, exhibited excellent performance and stability.

17.
Ann Hematol ; 99(2): 215-221, 2020 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31900500

ABSTRACT

Many studies have confirmed that overexpressed WT1 exists in leukemic cells, especially in AML. However, the immunophenotypic features of this sort of leukemic cells remain to be unclarified. We retrospectively analyzed the immunophenotype of 283 newly diagnosed AML patients with intermediated and poor cytogenetic risk to evaluate the correlation between phenotype and WT1 overexpression. EVI1 transcripts, KMT2A-PTD, FLT3-ITD, and NPM1 mutations were simultaneously assessed. Our results revealed that overexpressed WT1 was significantly associated with the expression of CD117, CD13, and CD123. Besides, leukemic cells with WT1 overexpression also lacked lymphoid and myeloid differentiation-related markers. FAB subtype M2 patients had higher WT1 levels, compared with other FAB subtype. Multivariate analysis was proved that NPM1 mutation, M2 subtype, and the expression of CD123 were independently associated with WT1 overexpression. These indicated that AML with overexpressed WT1 was proliferated and blocked in the early stage of AML development. It presumably provided some clues to detect overexpressed WT1 cells via multiparameter flow cytometry. CD123-targeted drugs might become one of the alternative treatments for patients with WT1 overexpression.


Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism , WT1 Proteins/biosynthesis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antigens, CD/biosynthesis , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antigens, Differentiation/biosynthesis , Antigens, Differentiation/genetics , Female , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Nuclear Proteins/biosynthesis , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Nucleophosmin , Risk Factors , WT1 Proteins/genetics
18.
Eur J Haematol ; 105(2): 185-195, 2020 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32282962

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Currently, the prognostic stratification and therapeutic evaluation systems for multiple myeloma (MM) lack specific molecular indicators. OC-STAMP is a new gene and is also highly expressed in MM. METHODS: A total of 160 MM patients have been investigated with both quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), flow cytometry (FCM) and cytogenetic FISH on the same mononuclear cells isolated from bone marrow specimens. RESULTS: We found that OC-STAMP mRNA levels were significantly higher in newly diagnosed cases of MM than in healthy donors (median, 0.52% vs. 0.02%, P < .001). Moreover, the changes in the OC-STAMP mRNA levels paralleled the disease stages and minimal residual disease, as detected by FCM. Furthermore, we found that patients with high OC-STAMP mRNA levels were more likely to develop ≥3 bone lesions, be diagnosed with Durie-Salmon stages III, and have the P53 (17p13) deletion. In addition, advanced stage patients with high OC-STAMP mRNA levels had a lower 4-year progression-free survival (5.6% vs. 22.9%, P = .0055) and a worse 4-year overall survival (25.8% vs. 48.8%, P = .0137) compared to patients with low mRNA levels of this indicator. CONCLUSIONS: OC-STAMP may be a promising molecular indicator to monitor treatment effects and participate in the prognostic stratification of MM.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Multiple Myeloma/genetics , Multiple Myeloma/mortality , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy , Bone Marrow/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Chromosome Aberrations , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hematologic Neoplasms/genetics , Hematologic Neoplasms/metabolism , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Male , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Middle Aged , Multiple Myeloma/diagnosis , Multiple Myeloma/therapy , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Survival Analysis , Translocation, Genetic , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
19.
BMC Pediatr ; 20(1): 131, 2020 03 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32197600

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Screening for elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) can help identifying individuals at the risks of chronic and metabolic diseases, but blood collection is invasive and cannot be widely used for investigations. Considered as simple and inexpensive screening indices, individual characteristics and anthropometric measurements can be measured in a large crowd and may be important surrogate markers for ALAT levels. This study aimed to examine the diagnostic performance of individual characteristics and anthropometric parameters as predictive factors for discerning an elevated ALAT activity among Shenzhen children and adolescents. METHODS: A school-based screening study was performed from 9 high schools in Shenzhen during February 2017 and June 2018. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to examine the diagnostic performance of each variable for detecting elevated ALAT. RESULTS: Altogether 7271 students aged 9-17 years were involved. The proportion of elevated ALAT greatly increased with increasing classification of BMI-z. By the sex-specific cut-offs for elevated ALAT (30 U/L boys; 19 U/L girls), BMI showed the highest area under the curve of 0.789 (95% CI 0.765-0.812) and followed by weight (0.779 [0.755-0.802]), BMI-z (0.747 [0.722-0.772]), height (0.622 [0.597-0.647]), and age (0.608 [0.584-0.632]), while height-z was not capable. With the cut-off of 67.8 kg for weight and 22.6 kg/m2 for BMI, the accuracy to identify elevated ALAT was 87.1% for weight and 82.9% for BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of elevated ALAT was more common in overweight or obese children and adolescents. BMI and weight had the superiority of detecting elevated ALAT, followed by BMI-z, height, and age.


Subject(s)
Alanine Transaminase , Body Height , Obesity , Adolescent , Alanine Transaminase/analysis , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Reference Values
20.
Br J Haematol ; 185(5): 836-851, 2019 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30916375

ABSTRACT

Refinement of risk stratification in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) might aid the identification of patients who are likely to relapse. Abnormal S100 calcium binding protein A16 (S100A16) has been implicated in various cancers, but its function remains unclear. We found S100A16 transcript levels were higher in 130 adults with newly-diagnosed Ph-negative B-cell ALL compared with 33 healthy controls. In 115 of 130 patients who achieved first complete remission, those with high S100A16 transcript levels displayed a lower 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; 34% [21, 47%] vs. 40% [48, 72%]; P = 0·012) and higher 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS; 65% [53, 78%] vs. 35% [23, 46%]; P = 0·012), especially when receiving chemotherapy only. In multivariate analysis a low S100A16 transcript level was independently-associated with a higher CIR (Hazard ratio [HR] = 3·74 [1·01-13·82]; P = 0·048) and inferior RFS (HR = 5·78 [1·91, 17·84]; P < 0·001). Function analysis indicated that knockdown of S100A16 promoted proliferation and anti-apoptosis and reduced chemosensitivity. S100A16 over-expression revealed an opposite trend, especially in a xeno-transplant mouse model. Western blotting analysis showed upregulation of PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 in S100A16-knockdown and S100A16-overexpression B-cell ALL cell lines respectively. Inhibition assays suggested these two signalling pathways participated in the S100A16-mediated proliferation and survival effects in B-cell ALL cell lines. Trial Registration: Registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry [ChiCTR-OCH-10000940]; http://www.chictr.org.cn.


Subject(s)
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology , S100 Proteins/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Apoptosis/physiology , Case-Control Studies , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/physiology , Cell Proliferation/physiology , Female , Heterografts , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Middle Aged , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , S100 Proteins/biosynthesis , Survival Analysis , Transcription, Genetic , Transfection , Young Adult
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