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Constant efforts have been made to move towards maintaining the positive anti-inflammatory functions of glucocorticoids (GCs) while minimizing side effects. The anti-inflammatory effect of GCs is mainly attributed to the inhibition of major inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB through GR transrepression, while its side effects are mainly mediated by transactivation. Here, we investigated the selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator (SGRM)-like properties of a plant-derived compound. In this study, glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated alleviation of inflammation by SP-8 was investigated by a combination of in vitro, in silico, and in vivo approaches. Molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay suggested that SP-8 bound stably to the active site of GR via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. SP-8 activated GR, induced GR nuclear translocation, and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation. Furthermore, SP-8 did not up-regulate the gene and protein expression of PEPCK and TAT in HepG2 cells, and it did not induce fat deposition like GC and has little effect on bone metabolism. Interestingly, SP-8 upregulated GR protein expression and did not cause GR phosphorylation at Ser211 in RAW264.7 cells. This work proved that SP-8 dissociated characteristics of transrepression and transactivation can be separated. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of SP-8 were confirmed in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and in a mouse model of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, respectively. In conclusion, SP-8 might serve as a potential SGRM and might hold great potential for therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.
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INTRODUCTION: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent comorbidity among patients with end-stage kidney disease. Although sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are validated in treating heart failure and ameliorating left ventricular hypertrophy among non-dialysis patients, the effects on dialysis patients are unknown. We previously investigated the pharmacokinetics of henagliflozin in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) and clarified its safety. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is being conducted at three hospitals in Shanghai, China. A target of 108 HD or PD patients with HFpEF are randomly allocated to treatment group (henagliflozin 5 mg/day in addition to standard therapy) or control group (placebo with standard therapy) at a ratio of 1:1. All subjects will be followed up for 24 weeks. The primary outcome is change in echocardiography-measured left ventricular mass index. The secondary interests include changes in left atrial volume index, E/e', e' and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Intergroup comparisons of change in echocardiography-related outcomes from baseline to 24 weeks are based on a linear regression model adjusted for baseline values (analysis of covariance), and repeated measure analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment is employed for comparison of change in NT-proBNP. Subgroup analyses of the primary and secondary outcomes are conducted to determine whether the effect of henagliflozin varies according to dialysis modality. The χ2 method is used to compare the occurrence of adverse events and severe adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (LY2023-127-B). All participants provide written informed consent before screening. The results of the trial will be disclosed completely in international peer-reviewed journals. Both positive and negative results will be reported. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300073169.
Subject(s)
Heart Failure , Kidney Failure, Chronic , Renal Dialysis , Humans , Double-Blind Method , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications , Middle Aged , Male , Stroke Volume/drug effects , Female , Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Aged , China , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Echocardiography , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Adult , Heart Ventricles/diagnostic imaging , Heart Ventricles/physiopathology , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/etiology , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/drug therapyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to examine the factors associated with the serum angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 (Angpt-2/Angpt-1) ratio in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and to investigate the association between Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. METHODS: Patients on PD who were prevalent between January 2014 and April 2015 in the center of Renji Hospital were enrolled. At the time of enrollment, serum and dialysate samples were collected to detect biochemical parameters, serum angiopoietin-2 and angiopoietin-1 levels. Patients were dichotomized into two groups according to a median of Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio and followed up prospectively until the end of the study. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were enrolled, including 168 males (51.7%) with a mean age of 56.9 ± 14.2 years and a median PD duration of 32.4 (9.8-55.9) months. Multiple linear regression showed pulse pressure (ß = 0.206, p < .001) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (ß = 0.149, p = .011) were positively correlated with serum Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio, while residual renal function (RRF) (ß= -0.219, p < .001) was negatively correlated with serum Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed the high serum Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio (HR)=2.467, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.243-4.895, p = .010) and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.486, 95%CI 1.038-2.127, p = .031). In further subgroup analysis by gender, a significant association was shown in high Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio with all-cause mortality in male (p < .05), but not in female patients (p>.05). CONCLUSIONS: High Angpt-2/Angpt-1 ratio is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in PD patients.
Subject(s)
Angiopoietin-1 , Angiopoietin-2 , Cardiovascular Diseases , Peritoneal Dialysis , Humans , Male , Angiopoietin-2/blood , Female , Middle Aged , Peritoneal Dialysis/mortality , Prospective Studies , Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality , Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Aged , Angiopoietin-1/blood , Adult , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood , Kidney Failure, Chronic/mortality , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Biomarkers/blood , Cause of Death , Risk Factors , Proportional Hazards ModelsABSTRACT
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a substantial role in cancer onset and recurrence. Anomalous iron and lipid metabolism have been documented in CSCs, suggesting that ferroptosis, a recently discovered form of regulated cell death characterised by lipid peroxidation, could potentially exert a significant influence on CSCs. However, the precise role of ferroptosis in gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) remains unknown. To address this gap, we screened ferroptosis-related genes in GCSCs using The Cancer Genome Atlas and corroborated our findings through quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. These results indicate that stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) is a key player in the regulation of ferroptosis in GCSCs. This study provides evidence that SCD1 positively regulates the transcription of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) by eliminating transcriptional inhibition of P53. This mechanism increases the cholesterol content and the elevated cholesterol regulated by SCD1 inhibits ferroptosis via the mTOR signalling pathway. Furthermore, our in vivo studies showed that SCD1 knockdown or regulation of cholesterol intake affects the stemness of GCSCs and their sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers. Thus, targeting the SCD1/squalene epoxidase/cholesterol signalling axis in conjunction with ferroptosis inducers may represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of gastric cancer based on GCSCs.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol , Ferroptosis , Neoplastic Stem Cells , Signal Transduction , Squalene Monooxygenase , Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase , Stomach Neoplasms , TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases , Ferroptosis/genetics , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Stomach Neoplasms/genetics , Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism , Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/metabolism , Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/genetics , TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism , Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology , Humans , Squalene Monooxygenase/metabolism , Squalene Monooxygenase/genetics , Cholesterol/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Animals , Mice , Gene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Physical Exercise Therapy (PET) is increasingly applied in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), yet the empirical evidence supporting its efficacy remains ambiguous. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of PET for individuals with ASD, providing evidence-based support for clinical and scientific research. METHODS: We systematically searched four international databases (Medline via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Libraries, and Web of Science) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP Libraries) up to July 31, 2023. The search was conducted in both English and Chinese for original research articles employing randomized-controlled-trial (RCT) designs to study PET's effects on individuals diagnosed with ASD according to DSM or other established criteria. Co-primary outcomes focused on the overall severity of autism, while secondary outcomes included measures of stereotyped behaviors, social deficits, social skills, and executive functioning. Data from the included studies were synthesized and analyzed using RevMan 5.4. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023443951). RESULTS: A total of 28 RCTs comprising 1081 participants were analyzed. Of these, only three studies met high-quality standards. Compared to control groups, PET showed improvement in at least one core symptom of autism, including Motor Performance (SMD=1.72, 95%CI[1.01, 2.44], I2=90%), Restricted Repetitive Behaviors (SMD=-0.81, 95%CI[-1.00, -0.62], I2=0%), Social Dysfunction (SMD=-0.76, 95%CI[-1.06, -0.46], I2=47%). CONCLUSIONS: PET may offer benefits in reducing the overall severity and associated symptoms in individuals with ASD. However, given the high overall risk of bias in the included studies, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Exercise Therapy , Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Autism Spectrum Disorder/rehabilitation , Exercise Therapy/methods , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Outcome Assessment, Health CareABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer immunotherapy has become an innovative approach in cancer treatment; however, its efficacy in gastrointestinal cancer is limited by the absence of infiltration of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, it is therefore urgent to develop a novel therapeutic drug to enhance immunotherapy. In this study, we describe a previously unreported potentiating effect of Icariside I (ICA I, GH01), the main bioactive compound isolated from the Epimedium species, on anti-tumor immune responses. Mechanistically, molecular docking and SPR assay result show that ICA I binding with TRPV4. ICA I induced intracellular Ca2+ increasing and mitochondrial DNA release by targeting TRPV4, which triggered cytosolic ox-mitoDNA release. Importantly, these intracellular ox-mitoDNA fragments were taken up by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which amplified the immune response. Moreover, our study shows the remarkable efficacy of sequential administration of ICA I and anti-α-PD-1 mAb in advanced tumors and provides a strong scientific rationale for recommending such a combination therapy for clinical trials. ICA I enhanced the anti-tumor effects with PD-1 inhibitors by regulating the TRPV4/Ca2+/Ox-mitoDNA/cGAS/STING axis. We expect that these findings will be translated into clinical therapies, which will benefit more patients with cancer in the near future.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Immunotherapy , Membrane Proteins , TRPV Cation Channels , Humans , TRPV Cation Channels/metabolism , TRPV Cation Channels/antagonists & inhibitors , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Immunotherapy/methods , Cell Line, Tumor , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/immunology , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects , Up-Regulation/drug effects , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Mice , Drug Synergism , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology , Female , Mice, Inbred BALB C , DNA, Mitochondrial , Molecular Docking SimulationABSTRACT
The global demand for protein is on an upward trajectory, and peanut protein powder has emerged as a significant player, owing to its affordability and high quality, with great future market potential. However, the industry currently lacks efficient methods for rapid quality testing. This research paper addressed this gap by introducing a portable device with employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) to quickly assess the quality of peanut protein powder. The principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS), and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) methods were used to construct the model to further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the device. The results demonstrated that the newly established NIR method with PLS and GRNN analysis simultaneously predicted the fat, protein, and moisture of peanut protein powder. The GRNN model showed better predictive performance than the PLS model, the correlation coefficient in calibration (Rcal) of the fat, the protein, and the moisture of peanut protein powder were 0.995, 0.990, and 0.990, respectively, and the residual prediction deviation (RPD) were 10.82, 10.03, and 8.41, respectively. The findings unveiled that the portable NIR spectroscopic equipment combined with the GRNN method achieved rapid quantitative analysis of peanut protein powder. This advancement holds a significant application of this device for the industry, potentially revolutionizing quality testing procedures and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality products to fulfil consumer desires.
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Garlic exhibits hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular benefits. The inconsistent results of garlic preparations on adipogenesis have caused more confusion in the public and academia. The compounds responsible for the anti-adipogenesis effect of garlic remain unknown. The present study aimed to verify the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity component in garlic and explored its possible effects in metabolic syndrome. We verified the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity components of garlic in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a 10-week-high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro, two water-soluble and four typical lipid-soluble compounds of garlic were tested for their anti-adipogenesis. Then, the water-soluble compound, alliin, and two processing methods produced garlic oils, were evaluated in vivo study. Mice received oral administration of alliin (25 mg/kg) and garlic oils (15 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Serum lipids, parameters of obesity, and indicators involved in regulating glycolipid metabolism were examined. Our findings confirmed that both water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic contributed to garlic's anti-adipogenesis effect, in which water-soluble sulfides, especially alliin, exhibited greater potency. Alliin possessed potent effects of anti-obesity and improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Alliin mediated these effects partly attributed to its modulation of enzymatic activities within glycolipid metabolism and activating PPARγ signaling pathway. In contrast to odorous lipid-soluble sulfides, alliin is odorless, stable, and safe, and is an ideal nutraceutical or even medicinal candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alliin could be used to standardize the quality of garlic products.
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OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by cisplatin (CDDP) is a complex, critical illness with no effective or specific treatment. The purpose of the study was to assess the protective effect of protopanaxadiol (PPD) on the kidneys in CDDP-induced AKI models and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: In vitro, the protection of PPD was assessed in HK-2. KM mice were injected with CDDP to induce AKI models in vivo. The determination of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (SCr) was performed, and pathological changes were examined by histopathological examination. Immunostaining and western blot analyses were used to analyze the expression levels of proteins. RESULTS: PPD can increase the viability of HK-2 cells damaged by CDDP, improve cell morphology, and alleviate the symptoms of AKI in mice. In addition, PPD can down-regulate the protein expression of TRF and up-regulate the protein expression of Ferritin heavy chain, Glutathione peroxidase 4, and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 reduce the iron content in cells and kidney tissues, and restore the antioxidant defense system. CONCLUSION: PPD has an inhibitory effect on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, which may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis by regulating iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury , Cisplatin , Ferroptosis , Sapogenins , Cisplatin/toxicity , Animals , Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Acute Kidney Injury/prevention & control , Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism , Ferroptosis/drug effects , Mice , Sapogenins/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/metabolism , Kidney/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Cell Line , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Iron/metabolism , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Cell Survival/drug effectsABSTRACT
Peritoneal fibrosis is a common pathological response to long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) and a major cause for PD discontinuation. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the induction and progression of peritoneal fibrosis is of great interest. In our study, in vitro study revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key factor in fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Furthermore, STAT3 induced by IL-6 trans-signalling pathway mediate the fibroblasts of the peritoneal stroma contributed to peritoneal fibrosis. Inhibition of STAT3 exerts an antifibrotic effect by attenuating fibroblast activation and ECM production with an in vitro co-culture model. Moreover, STAT3 plays an important role in the peritoneal fibrosis in an animal model of peritoneal fibrosis developed in mice. Blocking STAT3 can reduce the peritoneal morphological changes induced by chlorhexidine gluconate. In conclusion, our findings suggested STAT3 signalling played an important role in peritoneal fibrosis. Therefore, blocking STAT3 might become a potential treatment strategy in peritoneal fibrosis.
Subject(s)
Aminosalicylic Acids , Fibroblasts , Peritoneal Fibrosis , Phenotype , STAT3 Transcription Factor , Signal Transduction , Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Aminosalicylic Acids/pharmacology , Benzenesulfonates/pharmacology , Chlorhexidine/analogs & derivatives , Chlorhexidine/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Extracellular Matrix/metabolism , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/pathology , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects , Peritoneal Fibrosis/drug therapy , Peritoneal Fibrosis/metabolism , Peritoneal Fibrosis/pathology , Peritoneum/pathology , Peritoneum/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , STAT3 Transcription Factor/antagonists & inhibitors , STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolismABSTRACT
Separating helium (He) and hydrogen (H2), two gases that are extremely similar in molecular size and condensation properties, presents a formidable challenge in the helium industry. The development of membranes capable of precisely differentiating between these gases is crucial for achieving large-scale, energy-efficient He/H2 separation. However, the limited selectivity of current membranes has hindered their practical application. In this study, we propose a novel approach to overcome this challenge by engineering submicroporous membranes through the fluorination of partially carbonized hollow fibers. We demonstrate that the fluorine substitution on the inner rim of the micropore walls within the carbon hollow fibers enables tunability of the microporous architecture. Furthermore, it enhances interactions between H2 molecules and the micropore walls through the polarization and hydrogen bonding induced by C-F bonds, resulting in simultaneous improvements in both He/H2 diffusivity and solubility selectivities. The fluorinated HFM-550-F-1â min membrane exhibits exceptional mixed-gas separation performance, with a binary mixed-gas He/H2 selectivity of 10.5 and a ternary mixed-gas He/(H2+CO2) selectivity of 20.8, at 40â bar feed pressure and 35 °C, surpassing all previously reported polymer-based gas separation membranes, and remarkable plasticization resistance and long-term continuous stability over 30â days.
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Sunflower seeds, oil, and protein powder are rich in nutritional value, but the quality of different varieties of sunflower seeds is quite different, and the comprehensive comparative analysis characteristics of edible and oil sunflower seeds are still unclear. The comprehensive analysis and comparison of the raw material indicators, physicochemical properties, and processing characteristics of four edible and four oil sunflower seed varieties were investigated. The results showed that the engineering properties, texture characteristics, single-cell structure, and oil, protein, and starch granule distribution were different between edible and oil sunflower seeds. The composition of fatty acids and amino acids was different among edible, oil sunflower seeds and different varieties. The oleic acid (18.72~79.30%) and linoleic acid (10.11~51.72%) were the main fatty acids in sunflower seed oil, and in amino acid composition, the highest content was glutamic acid (8.88~11.86 g/100 g), followed by aspartic acid (3.92~4.86 g/100 g) and arginine (4.03~4.80 g/100 g). Sunflower meal proteins were dominated by 11S globulin and 2S albumin, and the secondary structure was dominated by ß-folding, with -SH and S-S varying greatly among different varieties. Sunflower meal proteins vary widely in terms of functional properties among different varieties, and specialized quality screening was necessary. This study provided a reference and theoretical support for understanding sunflower seeds to further promote the processing and utilization of sunflower seeds.
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Aerobic glycolysis accelerates tumor proliferation and progression, and inhibitors or drugs targeting abnormal cancer metabolism have been developing. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) significantly contribute to tumor initiation, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3), a member of FPR family, involves in inflammation, tissue repair, and angiogenesis. However, studies in exploring the regulatory mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis and CSCs by FPR3 in gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that overexpressed FPR3 suppressed glycolytic capacity and stemness of tumor cells, then inhibited GC cells proliferation. Mechanistically, FPR3 impeded cytoplasmic calcium ion flux and hindered nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) nuclear translocation, leading to the transcriptional inactivation of NFATc1-binding neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 3 (NOTCH3) promoter, subsequently obstructing NOTCH3 expression and the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, and ultimately downregulating glycolysis. Additionally, NFATc1 directly binds to the sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) promoter and modifies stemness in GC. In conclusion, our work illustrated that FPR3 played a negative role in GC progression by modulating NFATc1-mediated glycolysis and stemness in a calcium-dependent manner, providing potential insights into cancer therapy.
Subject(s)
Cell Proliferation , Glycolysis , Neoplastic Stem Cells , Signal Transduction , Stomach Neoplasms , Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Calcium/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism , Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology , NFATC Transcription Factors/metabolism , NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics , Receptor, Notch3/metabolism , Receptor, Notch3/genetics , Receptors, Formyl Peptide/metabolism , Receptors, Formyl Peptide/genetics , Receptors, Lipoxin/metabolism , Receptors, Lipoxin/genetics , SOXB1 Transcription Factors/metabolism , SOXB1 Transcription Factors/genetics , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism , Stomach Neoplasms/geneticsABSTRACT
Cardiac arrest (CA) is a serious cardiac event, which has a high incidence and low survival rate at home and abroad. In order to predict the risk of CA in advance, a large number of studies have been conducted by relevant researchers. This paper mainly summarizes the characteristics and research status of the existing analysis and prediction of CA from three aspects: the risk prediction factors of CA, the evaluation index of risk prediction of CA and the early warning scoring system of CA. We hope it can help medical staff to understand the current progress in this field, and provide new ways and methods for predicting the risk of CA.
Subject(s)
Heart Arrest , Humans , Heart , Incidence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Polymer vitrimer is a novel material that contains dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) allowing it to combine the desirable characteristics of both thermoplastics and thermosets. Similar to the traditional polymer nanocomposites, introducing nanoparticles into polymer vitrimer is also an effective strategy to further enhance its properties. However, a comprehensive understanding of matrix and interfacial bond exchange reactions (BERs) to tailor the properties of polymer vitrimer nanocomposites (PVNs) is still lacking. Herein, we utilized coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate model PVNs in which there are two different kinds of DCBs in the vitrimer matrix and at the interface. Our results show that the normalized bond autocorrelation function (Csw) confirms the independence of BERs in the vitrimer matrix and in the interface. By varying the bond swap energy barrier (ΔEsw) in the matrix ΔEswmat or in the interface ΔEswint, or in both ΔEswall, a maximum mechanical property is observed at the moderate value of ΔEswmat, ΔEswint, orΔEswall. Meanwhile, the effect of ΔEsw on the stress relaxation and the bond orientation as a function of the time under a fixed strain is well probed, which both decay more slowly at greater ΔEsw. We simulated the tension-recovery curve to examine the effect of ΔEsw on the hysteresis loss and permanent deformation of PVNs, finding an optimal value to achieve its minimum energy dissipation and maximum recovery ratio. Lastly, we investigated the efficiency of self-healing by building and removing walls from the system. Interestingly, a maximum self-healing efficiency of the stress-strain behavior is observed at moderate ΔEsw. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between the structure and properties of PVNs, offering implications for the manipulation of their mechanical properties and enhancement of their self-healing capabilities.
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Lupus nephritis (LN) is a kidney disease that occurs after systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects the kidneys. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is highly expressed in the serum of patients with LN. Renal PTX3 deposition is directly related to clinical symptoms such as proteinuria and inflammation. The excessive proliferation of mesangial cells (MCs) is one of the representative pathological changes in the progression of LN, which is closely related to its pathogenesis. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is the main component of ginsenoside metabolism and has not been reported in LN. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PTX3 and mesangial cell proliferation and to evaluate the potential role and mechanism of PPD in improving LN. PTX3 is highly expressed in the kidneys of LN patients and LN mice and is positively correlated with renal pathological indicators, including proteinuria and PCNA. The excessive expression of PTX3 facilitated the proliferation of MCs, facilitated the activation of the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and increased the expression of HIF-1α. Further studies showed that PPD can effectively inhibit the abnormal proliferation of MCs with high expression of PTX3 and significantly improve LN symptoms such as proteinuria in MRL/lpr mice. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the PTX3/MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway. In this study, both in vitro, in vivo, and clinical sample results show that PTX3 is involved in the regulation of MCs proliferation and the early occurrence of LN. Natural active compound PPD can improve LN by regulating the PTX3/MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein , Lupus Nephritis , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Sapogenins , Serum Amyloid P-Component , Lupus Nephritis/drug therapy , Lupus Nephritis/metabolism , Animals , Sapogenins/pharmacology , C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Mice , Humans , MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects , Female , Serum Amyloid P-Component/metabolism , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Adult , Male , Mice, Inbred MRL lpr , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/metabolism , Kidney/pathologyABSTRACT
The gut microbiota and Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can influence the progression of diseases, yet the role of these factors on gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. In this work, the analysis of the gut microbiota composition and SCFA content in the blood and feces of both healthy individuals and GC patients indicated that significant reductions in the abundance of intestinal bacteria involved in SCFA production were observed in GC patients compared with the controls. ABX mice transplanted with fecal microbiota from GC patients developed more tumors during the induction of GC and had lower levels of butyric acid. Supplementation of butyrate during the induction of gastric cancer along with H. pylori and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in WT in GPR109A-/-mice resulted in fewer tumors and more IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells, but this effect was significantly weakened after knockout of GPR109A. Furthermore, In vitro GC cells and co-cultured CD8+ T cells or CAR-Claudin 18.2+ CD8+ T cells, as well as in vivo tumor-bearing studies, have indicated that butyrate enhanced the killing function of CD8+ T cells or CAR-Claudin 18.2+ CD8+ T cells against GC cells through G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) and homologous domain protein homologous box (HOPX). Together, these data highlighted that the restoration of gut microbial butyrate enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity via GPR109A/HOPX, thus inhibiting GC carcinogenesis, which suggests a novel theoretical foundation for GC management against GC.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Stomach Neoplasms , Humans , Mice , Animals , Butyrates/metabolism , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism , Butyric Acid , ClaudinsABSTRACT
Two new protopanaxadiol type sapogenins, (3ß,12ß)-3,12,20-trihydroxydammar-24-en-26-al (1) and (3ß,12ß)-3,12,20-trihydroxydammar-24-en-26-oic acid (2), were isolated from the alkali hydrolysate of stems-leaves of Panax notoginseng, along with seven known analogues (3-9). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 and the known sapogenins 5-8 displayed weak to moderate inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages with IC50 values from 44.5 to 143.6 µM, respectively.
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IDO/TDO/Kyn/AhR signaling plays a crucial role in regulating innate and adaptive immunity, and targeting Ah receptor (AhR) inhibition can potentially redirect immune cells toward an antitumoral phenotype. Therefore, AhR is an attractive drug target for novel small molecule cancer immunotherapies. In this study, natural products tanshinolic A-D (1-4), the first adducts composed of ortho-naphthoquinone-type tanshinone and phenolic acid featuring a unique 1,4-benzodioxan hemiacetal structure, were isolated and characterized from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that these adducts exhibited significant AhR inhibitory activity. A linear strategy was developed to construct a cis-3,4-disubstituted 1,4-benzodioxan hemiacetal structure. Encouragingly, in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, (±)-13e demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, promote INF-γ secretion in CD8+ T cells, and inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 signal transduction, which could exert tumor inhibition properties by inhibiting AhR activity, positioning it as a promising candidate for tumor immunotherapy.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Salvia miltiorrhiza , Humans , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Immunotherapy , Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon , Salvia miltiorrhiza/chemistry , Piperoxan/chemistry , Piperoxan/pharmacologyABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics of henagliflozin in dialysis patients with diabetes. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, open-label study where 10 hemodialysis and 10 peritoneal dialysis patients with diabetes were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to oral administration of henagliflozin in doses of 5 and 10 mg/day. The pharmacokinetics of a single dose of henagliflozin on Days 1 and 2, the minimum plasma concentration (Cmin) of the steady state on Day 10, and single hemodialysis clearance of henagliflozin were measured. RESULTS: The mean values of Cmax were 70.2-77.0 ng/mL and 105-143 ng/mL in the 5 mg and 10 mg henagliflozin groups, respectively; the mean values of AUCinf were 777-811 h*ng/mL and 1290-1730 h*ng/mL in the 5 mg and 10 mg henagliflozin groups, respectively. The median Tmax values ranged from 1 to 3 h across the dose range. The mean values of T1/2 of henagliflozin were 14.1-14.5 and 16.2-21.0 h in the 5 mg and 10 mg groups, respectively. The Cmin values of the steady state in dialysis patients taking 5 mg and 10 mg of henagliflozin were 15.0 ± 4.4 ng/mL and 26.8 ± 16.3 ng/mL, respectively, which were 123.8% and 131.0% higher than those in diabetic patients with normal renal function, respectively. Henagliflozin concentration was decreased by 1.1% after hemodialysis treatment. No treatment-related serious adverse events or discontinuations occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Henagliflozin at the current recommended dosage may be safe, although it is possible to result in slight accumulation in patients on dialysis. REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number ChiCTR2200062872. The date of registration: August 22, 2022.