Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of 2-carba-cyclic phosphatidic acid by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a lysophospholipid mediator that suppresses cancer metastasis and osteoarthritis. It also has neuroprotective roles in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and delayed neuronal death following transient ischemia. In order to take advantage of the properties of cPA for the development of new therapeutic strategies, we have synthesized several cPA derivatives and discovered 2-carba-cPA (2ccPA) as a promising candidate. To develop 2ccPA as a therapeutic agent, we investigated the pharmacokinetic profile of 2ccPA by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in this study. When 2ccPA was administered intraperitoneally to mice at a dose of 1.6 mg/kg, the half-life of 2ccPA in plasma was 16 min. The 2ccPA, dosed intraperitoneally to mice at 16 mg/kg, distributed to each organ including brain at 20 min after dosing. It was found that 2ccPA was stable in neutral or alkaline conditions (e.g., intestine) but unstable in acidic conditions (e.g., stomach). When 2ccPA was orally administrated to rats as a gastro-resistant form using an enterosoluble capsule, plasma 2ccPA levels peaked at 2 h, slowly declined thereafter and persistently detected even at 10 h after administration. Here, we present the findings on the effect of the continuous release of 2ccPA from the capsule to reduce the lysophospholipase D activity and also decrease plasma levels of lysophosphatidic acid in rat. These findings will be useful in further studies for evaluating the application of 2ccPA in several disorders.

Short-term treatment with a 2-carba analog of cyclic phosphatidic acid induces lowering of plasma cholesterol levels in ApoE-deficient mice.

Plasma cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. An elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is a hallmark of hypercholesterolemia in metabolic syndrome. Our previous study suggested that when acetylated LDL (AC-LDL) was co-applied with a PPARγ agonist, rosiglitazone (ROSI), many oil red O-positive macrophages could be observed. However, addition of cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) to ROSI-stimulated macrophages completely abolished oil red O-stained cells, indicating that cPA inhibits PPARγ-regulated AC-LDL uptake. This study aimed to determine whether metabolically stabilized cPA, in the form of a carba-derivative of cPA (2ccPA), could reduce plasma cholesterol levels and affect the expression of genes related to atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE(-/-)) mice. 2ccPA reduced LDL-C levels in these mice (n = 3) from 460 to 330 mg/ml, from 420 to 350 mg/ml, and 420 to 281 mg/ml under a western-type diet. 2ccPA also reduced expression of lipid metabolism-related genes, cytokines, and chemokines in ApoE-deficient mice on a high-fat diet. Taken together, these results suggest that 2ccPA governs anti-atherogenic activities in the carotid arteries of apoE-deficient mice.

Repeated intraperitoneal injections of liposomes containing phosphatidic acid and cardiolipin reduce amyloid-ß levels in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

The accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aß) peptide and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles in the brain are two major neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is thought that an equilibrium exists between Aß in the brain and in the peripheral blood and thus, it was hypothesized that shifting this equilibrium towards the blood by enhancing peripheral clearance might reduce Aß levels in the brain: the 'sink effect'. We tested this hypothesis by intraperitoneally injecting APP/PS1 transgenic mice with small unilamellar vesicles containing either phosphatidic acid or cardiolipin over 3weeks. This treatment reduced significantly the amount of Aß in the plasma and the brain levels of Aß were lighter affected. Nevertheless, this dosing regimen did modulate tau phosphorylation and glycogen synthase kinase 3 activities in the brain, suggesting that the targeting of circulating Aß may be therapeutically relevant in AD. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: Intraperitoneal injection of small unilamellar vesicles containing phosphatidic acid or cardiolipin significantly reduced the amount of amyloid-beta (Aß) peptide in the plasma in a rodent model. Brain levels of Aß were also affected - although to a lesser extent - suggesting that targeting of circulating Aß may be therapeutically relevant of Alzheimer's disease.

Cyclic phosphatidic acid inhibits alkyl-glycerophosphate-induced downregulation of histone deacetylase 2 expression and suppresses the inflammatory response in human coronary artery endothelial cells.

Activation of the endothelium by alkyl-glycerophosphate (AGP) has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Our previous study suggested that cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) inhibits arterial wall remodeling in a rat model in vivo. However, the mechanisms through which specific target genes are regulated during this process remain unclear. Here, we examined whether cPA inhibited AGP-induced expression of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs, namely HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC8), which may affect subsequent transcriptional activity of target genes. Our experimental results showed that human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) expressed high levels of HDAC2 and low levels HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC8. Moreover, AGP treatment induced downregulation of HDAC2 expression in HCAECs. However, cotreatment with cPA inhibited this downregulation of HDAC2 expression. Interestingly, treatment with AGP increased the expression and secretion of endogenous interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8; however, this effect was inhibited when HCAECs were cotreated with cPA or the synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor gamma (PPARγ) antagonist T0070907. Thus, our data suggested that cPA may have beneficial effects in inflammation-related cardiovascular disease by controlling HDAC2 regulation.

A soy-based phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) normalizes the stress reactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in chronically stressed male subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Supplementation with a phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) has been observed to normalize stress induced dysregulations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Prolonged stress first induces a hyper-activation of the HPAA, which then can be followed by a state of hypo-activation.The aim of this study was to examine effects of an oral supplementation with 400 mg PS & 400 mg PA (PAS 400) per day on the endocrine stress response (ACTH, saliva and serum cortisol) to a psychosocial stressor. A special focus was to analyze subgroups of low versus high chronically stressed subjects as well as to test efficacy of 200 mg PS & 200 mg PA (PAS 200). METHODS: 75 healthy male volunteers were enrolled for this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, stratified by chronic stress level, and randomly allocated to one of three study arms (placebo, PAS 200 and PAS 400 per day, respectively). Study supplementation was administered for 42 days for each participant. Chronic stress was measured with the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS), and subgroups of high and low chronic stress were differentiated by median values as provided by the TICS authors. A six week period of supplementation was followed by an acute stress test (Trier Social Stress Test - TSST). RESULTS: Chronic stress levels and other baseline measures did not differ between treatment groups (all p>0.05). Acute stress was successfully induced by the TSST and resulted in a hyper-responsivity of the HPAA in chronically stressed subjects. Compared to placebo, a supplementation with a daily dose of PAS 400 was effective in normalizing the ACTH (p=0.010), salivary (p=0.043) and serum cortisol responses (p=0.035) to the TSST in chronically high but not in low stressed subjects (all p>0.05). Compared to placebo, supplementation with PAS 200 did not result in any significant differences in these variables (all p>0.05). There were no significant effects of supplementation with PAS on heart rate, pulse transit time, or psychological stress response (all p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In chronically stressed subjects, a supplementation with PAS 400 (MemreePlus™) can normalize the hyper-responsivity of the HPAA to an acute stressor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS-ID: DRKS00005125.

Liposomes bi-functionalized with phosphatidic acid and an ApoE-derived peptide affect Aß aggregation features and cross the blood-brain-barrier: implications for therapy of Alzheimer disease.

Targeting amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) within the brain is a strategy actively sought for therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the ability of liposomes bi-functionalized with phosphatidic acid and with a modified ApoE-derived peptide (mApoE-PA-LIP) to affect Aß aggregation/disaggregation features and to cross in vitro and in vivo the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Surface plasmon resonance showed that bi-functionalized liposomes strongly bind Aß (kD=0.6 µM), while Thioflavin-T and SDS-PAGE/WB assays show that liposomes inhibit peptide aggregation (70% inhibition after 72 h) and trigger the disaggregation of preformed aggregates (60% decrease after 120 h incubation). Moreover, experiments with dually radiolabelled LIP suggest that bi-functionalization enhances the passage of radioactivity across the BBB either in vitro (permeability=2.5×10(-5) cm/min, 5-fold higher with respect to mono-functionalized liposomes) or in vivo in healthy mice. Taken together, our results suggest that mApoE-PA-LIP are valuable nanodevices with a potential applicability in vivo for the treatment of AD. From the clinical editor: Bi-functionalized liposomes with phosphatidic acid and a modified ApoE-derived peptide were demonstrated to influence Aß aggregation/disaggregation as a potential treatment in an Alzheimer's model. The liposomes were able to cross the blood-brain barrier in vitro and in vivo. Similar liposomes may become clinically valuable nanodevices with a potential applicability for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Antinociceptive effect of cyclic phosphatidic acid and its derivative on animal models of acute and chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a structural analog of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), but possesses different biological functions, such as the inhibition of autotaxin (ATX), an LPA-synthesizing enzyme. As LPA is a signaling molecule involved in nociception in the peripheral and central systems, cPA is expected to possess analgesic activity. We characterized the effects of cPA and 2-carba-cPA (2ccPA), a chemically stable cPA analog, on acute and chronic pain. RESULTS: (1) The systemic injection of 2ccPA significantly inhibited somato-cardiac and somato-somatic C-reflexes but not the corresponding A-reflexes in anesthetized rats. (2) 2ccPA reduced sensitivity measured as the paw withdrawal response to electrical stimulation applied to the hind paws of mice through the C-fiber, but not Aδ or Aß. (3) In mice, pretreatment with 2ccPA dose-dependently inhibited the second phase of formalin-induced licking and biting responses. (4) In mice, pretreatment and repeated post-treatments with 2ccPA significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia following partial ligation of the sciatic nerve. (5) In rats, repeated post-treatments with 2ccPA also significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia following chronic sciatic nerve constriction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that cPA and its stable analog 2ccPA inhibit chronic and acute inflammation-induced C-fiber stimulation, and that the central effects of 2ccPA following repeated treatments attenuate neuropathic pain.

The effect of acute oral phosphatidic acid ingestion on myofibrillar protein synthesis and intracellular signaling in older males.

BACKGROUND: Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) may be driven by a diminished myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) response to anabolic stimuli (i.e. exercise and nutrition). Oral phosphatidic acid (PA) ingestion has been reported to stimulate resting muscle protein synthesis in rodents, and enhance resistance training-induced muscle remodelling in young humans. PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of acute oral PA ingestion on resting and exercise-induced MyoPS rates in older individuals. METHODS: Sixteen older males performed a bout of unilateral leg resistance exercise followed by oral ingestion of 750 mg of soy-derived PA or a rice-flour placebo (PL) over 60 min post-exercise. A primed-continuous infusion of l-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine with serial muscle biopsies was used to determine MyoPS at rest and between 0-150 and 150-300 min post-exercise. RESULTS: Plasma [PA] concentrations were elevated above basal values from 180 to 300 min post-exercise in PA only (P = 0.02). Exercise increased MyoPS rates above basal values between 150 and 300 min post-exercise in PL (P = 0.001), but not PA (P = 0.83). Phosphorylation of p70S6K, rpS6, 4E-BP1 and Akt was elevated above basal levels in the exercised leg over 150-300 min post-exercise for PL only (P = 0.018, 0.007, 0.011 and 0.002, respectively), and were significantly greater than PA (P < 0.01 for all proteins). The effects of oral PA ingestion on proteolytic signaling markers were equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Acute oral phosphatidic acid ingestion appears to interfere with resistance exercise-induced intramuscular anabolic signaling and MyoPS in older males and, therefore, may not be a viable treatment to counteract sarcopenia. Clinicaltials.gov registration no: NCT03446924.

2-O-Carba-oleoyl cyclic phosphatidic acid induces glial proliferation through the activation of lysophosphatidic acid receptor.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) are one of the lipid mediators regulating cell proliferation and differentiation through the activation of LPA receptors. An LPA receptor-mediated signal is important for the development of the central nervous system, while it has been demonstrated that LPA caused microglial activation and astroglial dysfunction. Previously, we have reported that cPA and carba analog of cPA, 2-O-carba-cPA (2ccPA), protected neural damage caused by transient ischemia. However, little is known about the target cell of cPA/2ccPA in the central nervous systems. Here, we examined the effect of 2ccPA on glial proliferation and differentiation using the primary astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) cultures. 2ccPA increased the DNA synthesis of astrocytes and OPCs, but it did not reduce the formazan production in the mitochondria. Further, 2ccPA increased the cell number and cell survival against oxidative stress. The inhibition of LPA receptors by ki16425 abolished 2ccPA-induced DNA synthesis. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was activated by 2ccPA, which contributed to the astroglial DNA synthesis. These results suggest that 2ccPA is a beneficial regulator of glial population through the activation of LPA receptor without reduction of mitochondrial activity.

Effects of phosphatidic acid supplementation on muscle thickness and strength in resistance-trained men.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of phosphatidic acid (PA) supplementation on muscle thickness and strength following an 8 week supervised resistance-training program. Fifteen resistance trained men (22.8 ± 3.5 years; 80.6 ± 8.7 kg; 178.1 ± 5.6 cm; 14.6% ± 8.8% body fat) were randomly assigned to a group that either consumed 750 mg of PA or a placebo (PL). Testing was carried out before (PRE) and after (POST) training/supplementation for muscle thickness and strength. Muscle thickness of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps brachii (BB), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles were measured via ultrasonography, along with 1 repetition maximum (1RM) of squat, deadlift, and bench press. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), using PRE values as the covariate, did not reveal any group differences for measures of muscle thickness in the RF (PA: 3.6% ± 5.2%; PL: 3.2% ± 4.2%, p = 0.97), VL (PA: 23.4% ± 18.1%, PL: 12.5% ± 15.4%, p = 0.37), BB (PA: 3.7% ± 6.4%, PL: 9.6% ± 12.4%, p = 0.86), or TB (PA: 15.1% ± 17.9%, PL: 10.7% ± 19.3%, p = 0.79). Likewise, no group differences were observed in changes in squat (PA: 8.4% ± 4.1%, PL: 8.1% ± 4.2%, p = 0.79), deadlift (PA: 10.1% ± 10.1%, PL: 8.9% ± 9.5%, p = 0.66), or bench press (PA: 5.7% ± 5.5%, PL: 5.1% ± 3.0%, p = 0.76) exercises. Collectively, however, all participants experienced significant (p < 0.05) improvements in each measure of muscle thickness and strength. Results of this study suggest that PA supplementation, in combination with a 3 days·week-1 resistance-training program for 8 weeks, did not have a differential effect compared with PL on changes in muscle thickness or 1RM strength.

Multifunctional liposomes delay phenotype progression and prevent memory impairment in a presymptomatic stage mouse model of Alzheimer disease.

The failure of clinical trials largely focused on mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer disease has suggested to the scientific community that the effectiveness of Amyloid-ß (Aß)-centered treatments should be evaluated starting as early as possible, well before irreversible brain damage has occurred. Accordingly, also the preclinical development of new therapies should be carried out taking into account this suggestion. In the present investigation we evaluated the efficacy of a treatment with liposomes multifunctionalized for crossing the blood-brain barrier and targeting Aß, carried out on young APP/PS1 Tg mice, taken as a model of pre-symptomatic disease stage. Liposomes were administered once a week to Tg mice for 7months, starting at the age of 5months and up to the age of 12 when they display AD-like cognitive and brain biochemical/anatomical features. The treatment prevented the onset of the long-term memory impairment and slowed down the deposition of brain Aß; at anatomical level, prevented both ventricle enlargement and entorhinal cortex thickness reduction, otherwise occurring in untreated mice. Strikingly, these effects were maintained 3months after treatment discontinuation. An increase of Aß levels in the liver was detected at the end of the treatment, then followed also by reduction of brain Amyloid Precursor Protein and increase of Aß-degrading enzymes. These results suggest that the treatment promotes brain Aß clearance by a peripheral 'sink' effect and ultimately affects Aß turnover in the brain. Worth of note, the treatment was apparently not toxic for all the organs analyzed, in particular for brain, as suggested by the lower brain TNF-α and MDA levels, and by higher level of SOD activity in treated mice. Together, these findings promote a very early treatment with multi-functional liposomes as a well-tolerated nanomedicine-based approach, potentially suitable for a disease-modifying therapy of AD, able to delay or prevent relevant features of the disease.

Concentrated Phosphatidic Acid in Cereal Brans as Potential Protective Agents against Indomethacin-Induced Stomach Ulcer.

One of complications associated with long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is peptic ulcer. Recently, we found that orally administered phosphatidic acid (PA) ameliorated aspirin-induced stomach lesions in mice. In this study, we identified PA-rich food sources and examined the effects of the food materials on indomethacin-induced stomach ulcer. Among examined, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) bran contained the highest level of PA (188 mg/100 g). PA was the richest phospholipid (25%) in the lipid fraction of the buckwheat bran. Administration of the lipid extracts of buckwheat bran significantly ameliorated indomethacin-induced stomach lesions in mice. In contrast, wheat (Triticum durum) bran lipids (PA, 4%) and soybean (Glycine max) lipids (PA, 3%) were not associated with ameliorative effects. These results indicated that PA-rich lipids can be used as an effective supplement for prevention of NSAID-induced stomach ulcer.

DOPA-based paclitaxel-loaded liposomes with modifications of transferrin and alendronate for bone and myeloma targeting.

Treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) with a combined strategy of bone and tumor targeting remains a crucial technical challenge due to the incorporation of various functional components into one single system. Here, we developed dioleoyl phosphatidic acid (DOPA)-based paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded liposomes with modifications of alendronate and transferrin (Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L), which were capable of bone affinity mediated by phosphate groups in DOPA and alendronate, and tumor targeting offered by transferrin. Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L had clear and well-defined spherical shape with an intermediated size of 118.8 ± 4.8 nm, a highly negative surface charge of -46.9 ± 6.8 mV and a drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) of approximately 80%. When the pH was changed from pH 7.4 to pH 6.5, the accumulative release of PTX from Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L significantly increased from 26.7 ± 3.7% to 41.7 ± 4.9%. Importantly, liposomes based on DOPA displayed an obviously stronger affinity with hydroxyapatite (HAp) than 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)-based liposomes. Compared to PTX-L, Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L exhibited obvious improvement of cytotoxicity (IC50 = 1.25 ± 0.09 µg/mL), significant enhancement on PTX intracellular accumulation (16.58 ± 0.62 µg/mg) and notable promotion to apoptosis induction (45.21 ± 3.10%) toward myeloma (MM1s) cells. In this study of antitumor efficacy, Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L with bone-specific targeting showed a significant effect on extending the median survival time (48 days) and terminal survival time (> 58 days) against the MM1S-injected nude mice among all formulations. The results suggested that Ald-/Tf-modified PTX-L had potential as an efficient anticancer drug delivery system for MM therapy.

Nanoliposomes protect against human arteriole endothelial dysfunction induced by ß-amyloid peptide.

We tested whether nanoliposomes containing phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and phosphatidic acid (NLPA) prevent ß-amyloid 1-42 (Aß42) fibrillation and Aß42-induced human arteriole endothelial dysfunction. NLPA abolished Aß42 fibril formation (thioflavin-T fluorescence/electron microscopy). In ex-vivo human adipose and leptomeningeal arterioles, Aß42 impaired dilator response to acetylcholine that was reversed by NLPA; this protection was abolished by L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester. Aß42 reduced human umbilical vein endothelial cell NO production that was restored by NLPA. Nanoliposomes prevented Aß42 amyloid formation, reversed Aß42-induced human microvascular endothelial dysfunction and may be useful in Alzheimer's disease.

Effects of oral phosphatidic acid feeding with or without whey protein on muscle protein synthesis and anabolic signaling in rodent skeletal muscle.

BACKGROUND: Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a diacyl-glycerophospholipid that acts as a signaling molecule in numerous cellular processes. Recently, PA has been proposed to stimulate skeletal muscle protein accretion, but mechanistic studies are lacking. Furthermore, it is unknown whether co-ingesting PA with other leucine-containing ingredients can enhance intramuscular anabolic signaling mechanisms. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine if oral PA feeding acutely increases anabolic signaling markers and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in gastrocnemius with and without whey protein concentrate (WPC). METHODS: Overnight fasted male Wistar rats (~250 g) were randomly assigned to four groups: control (CON, n = 6-13), PA (29 mg; n = 8), WPC (197 mg; n = 8), or PA + WPC (n = 8). Three hours post-feeding, gastrocnemius muscle was removed for markers of Akt-mTOR signaling, gene expression patterns related to skeletal muscle mass regulation and metabolism, and MPS analysis via the SUnSET method. RESULTS: Compared to CON rats, PA, WPC and PA + WPC resulted in a significant elevation in the phosphorylation of mTOR (Ser2481) and rps6 (Ser235/236) (p < 0.05) in the gastrocnemius though there were no differences between the supplemented groups. MPS levels in the gastrocnemius were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in WPC versus CON rats, and tended to be elevated in PA versus CON rats (p = 0.08), though MPS was less in PA + WPC versus WPC rats (p < 0.05) in spite of robust increases in mTOR pathway activity markers in the former group. C2C12 myoblast data agreed with the in vivo data herein showing that PA increased MPS levels 51% (p < 0.001) phosphorylated p70s6k (Thr389) levels 67% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results are the first in vivo evidence to demonstrate that PA tends to increases MPS 3 h post-feeding, though PA may delay WPC-mediated MPS kinetics within a 3 h post-feeding window.

Effects of synthetic and natural lysophosphatidic acids on the arterial blood pressure of different animal species.

Intravenous injection of lysophosphatidic acid was found to cause hypertension in rats and guinea pigs, but hypotension in cats and rabbits. The potencies of the pressor and depressor effects of synthetic lysophosphatidic acids in rats and cats depended on their chain length and the degree of unsaturation of their fatty acyl moieties.

Positive effects of soy lecithin-derived phosphatidylserine plus phosphatidic acid on memory, cognition, daily functioning, and mood in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

INTRODUCTION: We report previously unpublished, early pilot studies performed with a brain-health food supplement containing a proprietary blend of 100 mg phosphatidylserine (PS) and 80 mg phosphatidic acid (PA) produced from soy lecithin. METHODS: Serum analysis after single PS+PA ingestion was performed in healthy volunteers. A 3-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the influence of three PS+PA capsules/day, (300 mg PS + 240 mg PA/day) or placebo on memory and mood in functioning, non-depressive elderly people with memory problems, using the Wechsler Memory Scale and the List of Depressive Symptoms. Furthermore, a 2-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effect of three PS+PA capsules/day (300 mg PS + 240 mg PA/day) or placebo on daily functioning, mental health, emotional state, and self-reported general condition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). RESULTS: Serum PS peaked 90 min after ingestion, returning to baseline after 180 min. In the elderly, PS+PA [per protocol (PP) n = 31], unlike placebo (PP n = 26), significantly improved memory and prevented "winter blues" in a pre-post comparison. In the patients with AD, daily functioning (i.e., 7 activities of daily living) under PS+PA (PP n = 53) remained unchanged, but declined from 5.62 to 4.90 under placebo (PP n = 39; P = 0.035), with significant group difference (P = 0.021). The PS+PA group had 3.8% deterioration and 90.6% stability in daily functioning, compared to 17.9% and 79.5% under placebo, respectively (P = 0.066). Forty-nine percent of the PS+PA patients reported an improved general condition, compared to 26.3% under placebo (P = 0.084). Approximately, 43% of the PS+PA patients, but none under placebo, continued post-trial supplementation (while double-blinded). No negative side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: PS is efficiently absorbed after oral consumption. A positive influence of PS+PA on memory, mood, and cognition was demonstrated among elderly test subjects. Short-term supplementation with PS+PA in patients with AD showed a stabilizing effect on daily functioning, emotional state and self-reported general condition. The data encourage long-term studies with PS+PA in AD patients and other elderly with memory or cognition problems.

Innate immune protection against infectious diseases by pulmonary administration of a phospholipid-conjugated TLR7 ligand.

Pulmonary administration of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands protects hosts from inhaled pathogens. However, systemic side effects induced by TLR stimulation limit clinical development. Here, a small-molecule TLR7 ligand conjugated with phospholipid, 1V270 (also designated TMX201), was tested for innate immune activation and its ability to prevent pulmonary infection in mice. We hypothesized that phospholipid conjugation would increase internalization by immune cells and localize the compound in the lungs, thus avoiding side effects due to systemic cytokine release. Pulmonary 1V270 administration increased innate cytokines and chemokines in bronchial alveolar lavage fluids, but neither caused systemic induction of cytokines nor B cell proliferation in distant lymphoid organs. 1V270 activated pulmonary CD11c+ dendritic cells, which migrated to local lymph nodes. However, there was minimal cell infiltration into the pulmonary parenchyma. Prophylactic administration of 1V270 significantly protected mice from lethal infection with Bacillus anthracis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and H1N1 influenza virus. The maximum tolerated dose of 1V270 by pulmonary administration was 75 times the effective therapeutic dose. Therefore, pulmonary 1V270 treatment can protect the host from different infectious agents by stimulating local innate immune responses while exhibiting an excellent safety profile.

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles with an asymmetric lipid bilayer coating for siRNA delivery to the tumor.

Calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles (NP) with an asymmetric lipid bilayer coating have been designed for targeted delivery of siRNA to the tumor. An anionic lipid, dioleoylphosphatydic acid (DOPA), was employed as the inner leaflet lipid to coat the nano-size CaP cores, which entrap the siRNA, such that the coated cores were soluble in organic solvent. A suitable neutral or cationic lipid was used as the outer leaflet lipid to form an asymmetric lipid bilayer structure verified by the measurement of NP zeta potential. The resulting NP was named LCP-II with a size of about 25 to 30nm in diameter and contained a hollow core as revealed by TEM imaging. PEGylation of NP was done by including a PEG-phospholipid conjugate, with or without a targeting ligand anisamide, in the outer leaflet lipid mixture. The sub-cellular distribution studied in the sigma receptor positive human H460 lung cancer cells indicated that LCP-II could release more cargo to the cytoplasm than our previous lipid/protamine/DNA (LPD) formulation, leading to a significant (~40 fold in vitro and ~4 fold in vivo) improvement in siRNA delivery. Bio-distribution study showed that LCP-II required more PEGylation for MPS evasion than the previous LPD, probably due to increased surface curvature in LCP-II.