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1.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38903013

Direct observation by the naked eye of fluorescence-stained microbes adsorbed on surface imprinted polymers (SIPs) is highly challenging and limited by speed, accuracy and the semiquantitative nature of the method. In this study, we tested for the presence of spores of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc4), which cause severe banana Fusarium wilt disease and reduces the area of banana plants. This kind of spore can become dormant in soil, which means that the detection of secreted molecules (molecular imprinting) in soil may be inaccurate; detection methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Raman spectroscopy are more accurate but time-consuming and inconvenient. Therefore, a semiquantitative and rapid SIP detection method for Foc4 was proposed. Based on the ITO conductive layer, a reusable and naked-eye-detectable Foc4-PDMS SIP film was prepared with a site density of approximately 9000 mm-2. Adsorption experiments showed that when the Foc4 spore concentration was between 104 to 107 CFU/mL, the number of Foc4 spores adsorbed and the fluorescence intensity were strongly correlated with the concentration and could be fully distinguished by the naked eye after fluorescence staining. Adsorption tests on other microbes showed that the SIP film completely recognized only the Foc series. All the results were highly consistent with the naked-eye observations after fluorescence staining, and the results of the Foc4-infected soil experiment were also close to the ideal situation. Taken together, these results showed that Foc4-PDMS SIPs have the ability to rapidly and semiquantitatively detect the concentration of Foc in soil, which can provide good support for banana cultivation. This method also has potential applications in the detection of other fungal diseases.

2.
Clin Transl Med ; 14(6): e1666, 2024 Jun.
Article It | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38880983

Dysregulated RNA modifications, stemming from the aberrant expression and/or malfunction of RNA modification regulators operating through various pathways, play pivotal roles in driving the progression of haematological malignancies. Among RNA modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, the most abundant internal mRNA modification, stands out as the most extensively studied modification. This prominence underscores the crucial role of the layer of epitranscriptomic regulation in controlling haematopoietic cell fate and therefore the development of haematological malignancies. Additionally, other RNA modifications (non-m6A RNA modifications) have gained increasing attention for their essential roles in haematological malignancies. Although the roles of the m6A modification machinery in haematopoietic malignancies have been well reviewed thus far, such reviews are lacking for non-m6A RNA modifications. In this review, we mainly focus on the roles and implications of non-m6A RNA modifications, including N4-acetylcytidine, pseudouridylation, 5-methylcytosine, adenosine to inosine editing, 2'-O-methylation, N1-methyladenosine and N7-methylguanosine in haematopoietic malignancies. We summarise the regulatory enzymes and cellular functions of non-m6A RNA modifications, followed by the discussions of the recent studies on the biological roles and underlying mechanisms of non-m6A RNA modifications in haematological malignancies. We also highlight the potential of therapeutically targeting dysregulated non-m6A modifiers in blood cancer.


Hematologic Neoplasms , Humans , Hematologic Neoplasms/genetics , Hematologic Neoplasms/metabolism , Hematologic Neoplasms/pathology , RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional/genetics , RNA/genetics , RNA/metabolism , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine/metabolism , Adenosine/genetics
3.
Article Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38858107

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation, featuring chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), asthma, and intolerance to cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) inhibitors. The use of these medications can lead to an acute worsening of rhinitis and asthma symptoms. This condition has not yet received sufficient attention in China, with a high rate of misdiagnosis and a lack of related research. The Chinese Rhinology Research Group convened a group of leading young experts in otolaryngology from across the country, based on the latest domestic and international evidence-based medical practices to formulate this consensus.The consensus covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies for N-ERD, including pharmacotherapy, surgery, biologic treatments, and desensitization therapy. The goal is to improve recognition of N-ERD, reduce misdiagnosis, and enhance treatment outcomes.


Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal , Humans , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects , China , Rhinitis/diagnosis , Rhinitis/therapy , Rhinitis/chemically induced , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/therapy , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Consensus , Asthma/diagnosis , Asthma/drug therapy , Chronic Disease
4.
Curr Opin Genet Dev ; 86: 102205, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38776766

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal RNA modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs), regulating gene expression at the transcription and post-transcription levels. Complex interplay between m6A and other well-studied epigenetic modifications, including histone modifications and DNA modification, has been extensively reported in recent years. The crosstalk between RNA m6A modification and histone/DNA modifications plays a critical role in establishing the chromatin state for the precise and specific fine-tuning of gene expression and undoubtedly has profound impacts on both physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we discuss the crosstalk between RNA m6A modification and histone/DNA modifications, emphasizing their sophisticated communications and the mechanisms underlying to gain a comprehensive view of the biological relevance of m6A-based epigenetic network.


Adenosine , Epigenesis, Genetic , Histones , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine/metabolism , Adenosine/genetics , Chromatin/genetics , Chromatin/metabolism , DNA/genetics , DNA/metabolism , DNA Methylation/genetics , Histones/metabolism , Histones/genetics , RNA/metabolism , RNA/genetics , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism
5.
J Med Chem ; 67(11): 9447-9464, 2024 Jun 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38748913

In this work, a series of bifunctional PD-L1/CD73 (cluster of differentiation 73) small-molecule inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Among them, CC-5 showed the strongest PD-L1 inhibitory effects with an IC50 of 6 nM and potent anti-CD73 activity with an IC50 of 0.773 µM. The high PD-L1/CD73 inhibitory activity of CC-5 was further confirmed by SPR assays with KD of 182 nM for human PD-L1 and 101 nM for CD73, respectively. Importantly, CC-5 significantly suppressed tumor growth in a CT26 and B16-F10 tumor model with TGI of 64.3% and 39.6%, respectively. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and flow cytometry analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) indicated that CC-5 exerted anticancer effects via activating the tumor immune microenvironment. Collectively, CC-5 represents the first dual PD-L1/CD73 inhibitor worthy of further research as a bifunctional immunotherapeutic agent.


5'-Nucleotidase , B7-H1 Antigen , Immunotherapy , 5'-Nucleotidase/antagonists & inhibitors , 5'-Nucleotidase/metabolism , Humans , B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Animals , Mice , Immunotherapy/methods , Cell Line, Tumor , Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis , Drug Discovery , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , GPI-Linked Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , GPI-Linked Proteins/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Structure-Activity Relationship , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/chemistry , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/chemical synthesis
6.
Microsyst Nanoeng ; 10: 65, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38784375

The development of artificial intelligence-enabled medical health care has created both opportunities and challenges for next-generation biosensor technology. Proteins are extensively used as biological macromolecular markers in disease diagnosis and the analysis of therapeutic effects. Electrochemical protein biosensors have achieved desirable specificity by using the specific antibody-antigen binding principle in immunology. However, the active centers of protein biomarkers are surrounded by a peptide matrix, which hinders charge transfer and results in insufficient sensor sensitivity. Therefore, electrode-modified materials and transducer devices have been designed to increase the sensitivity and improve the practical application prospects of electrochemical protein sensors. In this review, we summarize recent reports of electrochemical biosensors for protein biomarker detection. We highlight the latest research on electrochemical protein biosensors for the detection of cancer, viral infectious diseases, inflammation, and other diseases. The corresponding sensitive materials, transducer structures, and detection principles associated with such biosensors are also addressed generally. Finally, we present an outlook on the use of electrochemical protein biosensors for disease marker detection for the next few years.

7.
Front Microbiol ; 15: 1404366, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38784792

Introduction: Biliary Infection in patients is a common and important phenomenon resulting in severe complications and high morbidity, while the distributions and drug resistance profiles of biliary bacteria and related risk factors are dynamic. This study explored the characteristics of and risk factors for biliary infection to promote the rational use of antibiotics in clinically. Methods: Bacterial identification and drug susceptibility testing were completed using the Vitek 2 Compact analysis system. The distribution and antibiotic-resistant characteristics of 3,490 strains of biliary bacteria in patients at Nankai Hospital from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed using Whonet 5.6 and SPSS 26.0 software. We then retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and risk factors associated with 2,340 strains of Gram-negative bacilli, which were divided into multidrug-resistant bacteria (1,508 cases) and non-multidrug-resistant bacteria (832 cases) by a multivariate Cox regression model. Results and discussion: A total of 3,490 pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated from bile samples, including 2,340 (67.05%) Gram-negative strains, 1,029 (29.48%) Gram-positive strains, and 109 (4.56%) fungal strains. The top five pathogenic bacteria were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of Escherichia coli resistance to ciprofloxacin increased (p < 0.05), while the resistance to amikacin decreased (p < 0.05). The resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cephalosporins, carbapenems, ß-lactamase inhibitors, cephalases, aminoglycosides, and quinolones increased (p < 0.05), and the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, ticacillin/clavulanic acid, and amicacin declined significantly (p < 0.05). The resistance of Enterococcus faecium to tetracycline increased by year (p < 0.05), and the resistance of Enterococcus faecalis to erythromycin and high-concentration gentamicin declined (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the administration of third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins was an independent risk factor for biliary infection. In summary, Gram-negative bacilli were the most common pathogenic bacteria isolated from biliary infection patients, especially Escherichia coli, and the rates and patterns of drug resistance were high and in constant flux; therefore, rational antimicrobial drug use should be carried out considering risk factors.

8.
Adv Sci (Weinh) ; : e2403414, 2024 May 24.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38790136

The colon is the largest compartment of the immune system, with innate immune cells exposed to antigens in the environment. However, the mechanisms by which the innate immune system is instigated are poorly defined in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, a population of CD16+ neutrophils that specifically accumulate in CRC tumor tissues by imaging mass cytometry (IMC), immune fluorescence, and flow cytometry, which demonstrated pro-tumor activity by disturbing natural killer (NK) cells are identified. It is found that these CD16+ neutrophils possess abnormal cholesterol accumulation due to activation of the CD16/TAK1/NF-κB axis, which upregulates scavenger receptors for cholesterol intake including CD36 and LRP1. Consequently, these region-specific CD16+ neutrophils not only competitively inhibit cholesterol intake of NK cells, which interrupts NK lipid raft formation and blocks their antitumor signaling but also release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to induce the death of NK cells. Furthermore, CD16-knockout reverses the pro-tumor activity of neutrophils and restored NK cell cytotoxicity. Collectively, the findings suggest that CRC region-specific CD16+ neutrophils can be a diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target for CRC.

9.
Mol Neurobiol ; 2024 May 24.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38787492

Isavuconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug used for the treatment of serious infections caused by invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis in adults. With the continuous use of this drug, its safety and environmental impact have received increasing attention. However, information on the adverse effects of the drug is very limited. Fish is a particularly important model for assessing environmental risks. In this study, the aquatic vertebrate zebrafish was used as a model to study the toxic effects and mechanisms of isavuconazole. We exposed zebrafish embryos to 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/L of isavuconazole 6 h after fertilization. The results showed that at 72 hpf, isavuconazole exposure reduced heart rate, body length, and survival of zebrafish embryos compared to controls. Secondly, when isavuconazole reached a certain dose level (0.25 mg/L), it caused morphological changes in the Tg(elavl3:eGFP) transgenic fish line, with the head shrunk, the body bent, the fluorescence intensity becoming weaker, the abnormal motor behaviour, etc. At the same time, exposure of zebrafish embryos to isavuconazole downregulated acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and adenosine triphosphate (ATPase) activities but upregulated oxidative stress, thereby disrupting neural development and gene expression of neurotransmitter pathways. In addition, astaxanthin partially rescued the neurodevelopmental defects of zebrafish embryos by downregulating oxidative stress. Thus, our study suggests that isavuconazole exposure may induce neurodevelopment defects and behavioural disturbances in larval zebrafish.

10.
Plant Physiol Biochem ; 211: 108659, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38691875

Chromium (Cr) contamination in agricultural soils poses a risk to crop productivity and quality. Emerging nano-enabled strategies show great promise in remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals and enhancing crop production. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of nano silicon (nSi) in promoting wheat growth and mitigating adverse effects of Cr-induced toxicity. Wheat seedlings exposed to Cr (K2Cr2O7) at a concentration of 100 mg kg-1 showed significant reductions in plant height (29.56%), fresh weight (35.60%), and dry weight (38.92%) along with enhanced Cr accumulation in roots and shoots as compared to the control plants. However, the application of nSi at a concentration of 150 mg kg-1 showcased substantial mitigation of Cr toxicity, leading to a decrease in Cr accumulation by 27.30% in roots and 35.46% in shoots of wheat seedlings. Moreover, nSi exhibited the capability to scavenge oxidative stressors, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage, while significantly enhancing gas exchange parameters, total chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activities (enzymatic and nonenzymatic) in plants grown in Cr-contaminated soil. This study further found that the reduced Cr uptake by nSi application was due to downregulating the expression of HMs transporter genes (TaHMA2 and TaHMA3), alongwith upregulating the expression of antioxidant-responsive genes (TaSOD and TaSOD). The findings of this investigation highlight the remarkable potential of nSi in ameliorating Cr toxicity. This enhanced efficacy could be ascribed to the distinctive size and structure of nSi, which augment its ability to counteract Cr stress. Thus, the application of nSi could serve as a viable solution for production of crops in metal contaminated soils, offering an effective alternative to time-consuming and costly remediation techniques.


Chromium , Silicon , Triticum , Triticum/drug effects , Triticum/metabolism , Triticum/growth & development , Silicon/pharmacology , Chromium/toxicity , Soil Pollutants/toxicity , Plant Roots/drug effects , Plant Roots/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Antioxidants/metabolism , Seedlings/drug effects , Seedlings/metabolism
11.
J Med Chem ; 67(10): 7995-8019, 2024 May 23.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38739112

Based on the close relationship between programmed death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in glioblastoma (GBM), we designed and synthesized a series of small molecules as potential dual inhibitors of EGFR and PD-L1. Among them, compound EP26 exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against EGFR (IC50 = 37.5 nM) and PD-1/PD-L1 interaction (IC50 = 1.77 µM). In addition, EP26 displayed superior in vitro antiproliferative activities and in vitro immunomodulatory effects by promoting U87MG cell death in a U87MG/Jurkat cell coculture model. Furthermore, EP26 possessed favorable pharmacokinetic properties (F = 22%) and inhibited tumor growth (TGI = 92.0%) in a GBM mouse model more effectively than Gefitinib (77.2%) and NP19 (82.8%). Moreover, EP26 increased CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells in tumor microenvironment. Collectively, these results suggest that EP26 represents the first small-molecule-based PD-L1/EGFR dual inhibitor deserving further investigation as an immunomodulating agent for cancer treatment.


Antineoplastic Agents , B7-H1 Antigen , ErbB Receptors , Glioblastoma , Animals , Mice , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Drug Discovery , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Glioblastoma/drug therapy , Glioblastoma/pathology , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/chemistry , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Immunotherapy/methods , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis , Structure-Activity Relationship
12.
Connect Tissue Res ; 65(3): 253-264, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38753365

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis, a skeletal ailment marked by bone metabolism imbalance and disruption of bone microarchitecture, Neferine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid with diverse pharmacological activities, has received limited attention in the context of osteoporosis treatment. METHODS: We employed a bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) rat model to induce osteoporosis and subsequently administered Neferine treatment for four weeks following successful model establishment. Throughout the modeling and treatment phases, we closely monitored rat body weights. We assessed alterations in bone tissue microstructure through micro-CT, HE staining, and safranin O-fast green staining. Levels of bone formation and resorption markers in serum were evaluated using ELISA assay. Western blot analysis was employed to determine the expression levels of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK, and bone formation-related genes in bone tissue. We isolated and cultured OVX rat BMSCs (OVX-BMSCs) and induced osteogenic differentiation while simultaneously introducing Neferine and the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 for intervention. RESULTS: Neferine treatment effectively curbed the rapid weight gain in OVX rats, ameliorated bone loss, and decreased serum levels of TRAP, CTX-I, PINP, and BALP. Most notably, Neferine promoted the expression of bone formation-related factors in bone tissue of OVX rats, while concurrently activating the p38MAPK signaling pathway. In in vitro experiments, Neferine facilitated the expression of bone formation-related factors in OVX-BMSCs, increased the osteogenic differentiation potential of OVX-BMSCs, and activated the p38MAPK signaling pathway. Nevertheless, SB203580 partially reversed Neferine's promotive effect. CONCLUSION: Neferine can boost the osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs and alleviate OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats by activating the p38MAPK signaling pathway.


Benzylisoquinolines , Cell Differentiation , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Osteogenesis , Osteoporosis , Ovariectomy , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases , Animals , Benzylisoquinolines/pharmacology , Osteogenesis/drug effects , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Female , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Osteoporosis/pathology , Osteoporosis/drug therapy , Osteoporosis/metabolism , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/drug effects , MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects , Rats
13.
Transl Psychiatry ; 14(1): 202, 2024 May 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38734669

The pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) involves lipid metabolism. Our earlier research also revealed that MDD patients had much lower total cholesterol (TC) concentrations than healthy controls (HCs). However, it is still unclear why TC decreased in MDD. Here, based on the Ingenuity Knowledge Base's ingenuity pathway analysis, we found that sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 11A (SCN11A) might serve as a link between low lipid levels and MDD. We analyzed the TC levels and used ELISA kits to measure the levels of SCN11A in the serum from 139 MDD patients, and 65 HCs to confirm this theory and explore the potential involvement of SCN11A in MDD. The findings revealed that TC levels were considerably lower and SCN11A levels were remarkably increased in MDD patients than those in HCs, while they were significantly reversed in drug-treatment MDD patients than in drug-naïve MDD patients. There was no significant difference in SCN11A levels among MDD patients who used single or multiple antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or other antidepressants. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of TC and SCN11A were linked with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scales score. A substantial association was also found between TC and SCN11A. Moreover, a discriminative model made up of SCN11A was discovered, which produced an area under a curve of 0.9571 in the training set and 0.9357 in the testing set. Taken together, our findings indicated that SCN11A may serve as a link between low lipid levels and MDD, and showed promise as a candidate biomarker for MDD.


Cholesterol , Depressive Disorder, Major , Humans , Depressive Disorder, Major/blood , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Cholesterol/blood , Case-Control Studies , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use
14.
Leukemia ; 38(6): 1236-1245, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38643304

Targeting the metabolic dependencies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells is a promising therapeutical strategy. In particular, the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway (C/M) is significantly altered in AML cells compared to healthy blood cells. Moreover, methionine has been identified as one of the dominant amino acid dependencies of AML cells. Through RNA-seq, we found that the two nucleoside analogs 8-chloro-adenosine (8CA) and 8-amino-adenosine (8AA) significantly suppress the C/M pathway in AML cells, and methionine-adenosyltransferase-2A (MAT2A) is one of most significantly downregulated genes. Additionally, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Venetoclax (VEN), a BCL-2 inhibitor recently approved by the FDA for AML treatment, significantly decreases the intracellular level of methionine in AML cells. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that combining 8CA or 8AA with VEN can efficiently target the Methionine-MAT2A-S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) axis in AML. Our results demonstrate that VEN and 8CA/8AA synergistically decrease the SAM biosynthesis and effectively target AML cells both in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest the promising potential of combining 8CA/8AA and VEN for AML treatment by inhibiting Methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis and provide a strong rationale for our recently activated clinical trial.


Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic , Drug Synergism , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute , Methionine Adenosyltransferase , Methionine , S-Adenosylmethionine , Sulfonamides , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Humans , Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology , Sulfonamides/pharmacology , Methionine/metabolism , Methionine/analogs & derivatives , Methionine Adenosyltransferase/metabolism , Methionine Adenosyltransferase/antagonists & inhibitors , Methionine Adenosyltransferase/genetics , Animals , Mice , S-Adenosylmethionine/pharmacology , S-Adenosylmethionine/metabolism , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine/pharmacology , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Cell Line, Tumor
15.
Adv Mater ; : e2401263, 2024 Apr 27.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38678376

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries stand out as one of the promising candidates for next-generation electrochemical energy storage technologies. A key requirement to realize high-specific-energy Li-S batteries is to implement low amount of electrolyte, often characterized by the electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio. Low E/S ratio aggravates the known challenges for Li-S batteries and introduces new ones originated from the high concentration of polysulfides in limited electrolyte reservoir. In this review, the connections between the fundamental properties of electrolytes and the electrochemical/chemical reactions in Li-S batteries under lean electrolyte condition are elucidated. The emphasis is on how the solvating properties of the electrolyte affect the fate of polysulfides. Built upon the mechanistic analysis, different strategies to design lean electrolytes to improve the overall process of Li-S reactions and Li anode protection are discussed.

16.
EMBO J ; 43(10): 1990-2014, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38605226

Prenatal lethality associated with mouse knockout of Mettl16, a recently identified RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase, has hampered characterization of the essential role of METTL16-mediated RNA m6A modification in early embryonic development. Here, using cross-species single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we found that during early embryonic development, METTL16 is more highly expressed in vertebrate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) than other methyltransferases. In Mettl16-deficient zebrafish, proliferation capacity of embryonic HSPCs is compromised due to G1/S cell cycle arrest, an effect whose rescue requires Mettl16 with intact methyltransferase activity. We further identify the cell-cycle transcription factor mybl2b as a directly regulated by Mettl16-mediated m6A modification. Mettl16 deficiency resulted in the destabilization of mybl2b mRNA, likely due to lost binding by the m6A reader Igf2bp1 in vivo. Moreover, we found that the METTL16-m6A-MYBL2-IGF2BP1 axis controlling G1/S progression is conserved in humans. Collectively, our findings elucidate the critical function of METTL16-mediated m6A modification in HSPC cell cycle progression during early embryonic development.


Hematopoietic Stem Cells , Methyltransferases , RNA-Binding Proteins , Zebrafish , Animals , Methyltransferases/metabolism , Methyltransferases/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Zebrafish/metabolism , Zebrafish/embryology , Zebrafish/genetics , Humans , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology , Cell Cycle , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine/metabolism , Adenosine/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Mice , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Embryonic Development/genetics , Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism , Zebrafish Proteins/genetics , Cell Proliferation
17.
J Med Chem ; 67(9): 6906-6921, 2024 May 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38663873

DNA damage response (DDR) defects in cells play a crucial role in tumor development by promoting DNA mutations. These mutations create vulnerabilities specific to cancer cells, which can be effectively targeted through synthetic lethality-based therapies. To date, numerous small molecule DDR inhibitors have been identified, and some of them have already been approved for clinical use. However, due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, mutations may occur in the amino acid residues of DDR targets. These mutations can affect the efficacy of small molecule inhibitors targeting DDR pathways. Therefore, researchers have turned their attention to next-generation DNA damage repair modulators, particularly those based on PROTAC technology. From this perspective, we overviewed the recent progress on DDR-targeting PROTAC degraders for cancer therapy. In addition, we also summarized the biological functions of different DDR targets. Finally, the challenges and future directions for DDR-target PROTAC degraders are also discussed in detail.


DNA Damage , DNA Repair , Humans , DNA Damage/drug effects , DNA Repair/drug effects , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasms/metabolism , Neoplasms/pathology , Animals , Proteolysis/drug effects , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology
18.
Bioorg Chem ; 147: 107376, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38640722

The inhibition of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway with small molecules is a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. Herein, novel small molecules compounds bearing various scaffolds including thiophene, thiazole, tetrahydroquinoline, benzimidazole and indazole were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Among them, compound Z13 exhibited the most potent activity with IC50 of 189.6 nM in the homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) binding assay. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay demonstrated that Z13 bound to PD-L1 with high affinity (KD values of 231 nM and 311 nM for hPD-L1 and mPD-L1, respectively). In the HepG2/Jurkat T co-culture cell model, Z13 decreased the viability rate of HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, Z13 showed significant in vivo antitumor efficacy (TGI = 52.6 % at 40 mg/kg) without obvious toxicity in the B16-F10 melanoma model. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that Z13 inhibited tumor growth in vivo by activating the tumor immune microenvironment. These findings indicate that Z13 is a promising PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor deserving further investigation.


Antineoplastic Agents , B7-H1 Antigen , Cell Proliferation , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Indazoles , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor , Humans , B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Indazoles/chemistry , Indazoles/pharmacology , Indazoles/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Animals , Molecular Structure , Mice , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Drug Discovery , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Hep G2 Cells , Cell Survival/drug effects
19.
Obes Facts ; 17(3): 286-295, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38569473

INTRODUCTION: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary chronic headache disorder that occurs in individuals with a pre-existing primary headache disorder, particularly migraine disorder. Obesity is often combined with chronic daily headaches and is considered a risk factor for the transformation of episodic headaches into chronic headaches. However, the association between obesity and MOH among individuals with migraine has rarely been studied. The present study explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and MOH in people living with migraine. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data from the Survey of Fibromyalgia Comorbidity with Headache study. Migraine and MOH were diagnosed using the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition. BMI (kg/m2) is calculated by dividing the weight (kg) by the square of the height (m). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and MOH. RESULTS: A total of 2,251 individuals with migraine were included, of whom 8.7% (195/2,251) had a concomitant MOH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, education level, headache duration, pain intensity, headache family history, chronic migraine, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, demonstrated there was an association between BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.11; p = 0.031) and MOH. The results remained when the BMI was transformed into a category. Compared to individuals with Q2 (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤23.9 kg/m2), those with Q4 (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) had an adjusted OR for MOH of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.04-3.17; p = 0.037). In the subgroup analyses, BMI was associated with MOH among aged more than 50 years (OR, 1.13; 95%, 1.03-1.24), less than high school (OR, 1.08; 95%, 1.01-1.15), without depression (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12), and without anxiety (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12). An association between BMI and MOH was found in a sensitivity analysis that BMI was classified into four categories according to the World Health Organization guidelines. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, BMI was associated with MOH in Chinese individuals with migraine.


Body Mass Index , Headache Disorders, Secondary , Migraine Disorders , Obesity , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Migraine Disorders/complications , Migraine Disorders/epidemiology , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Obesity/complications , Obesity/epidemiology , Headache Disorders, Secondary/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Comorbidity , Logistic Models
20.
Article Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38563171

Objective:To evaluate the expression of eosinophil cationic protein and myeloperoxidase in nasal secretions in different types of rhinitis, and to explore their values in the differential diagnosis of different types of rhinitis. Methods:Six hundred and eighty-four subjects were selected, including 62 subjects in the acute rhinitis group, 378 subjects in the allergic rhinitis group, 94 subjects in the vasomotor rhinitis group, 70 subjects in the eosinophilic non-allergic rhinitis group, and 80 subjects in the control group. Nasal secretion samples were collected from the five groups, and the percentages of inflammatory cells were counted by Rachel's staining, and the expression of ECP/MPO was detected by colloidal gold assay. The correlation between the clinical diagnosis, the inflammatory cells in the nasal secretions and the expression of ECP/MPO was analyzed. Results:Nasal cytological smears showed that compared with the control group, the percentage of eosinophils in the AR and NARES groups were significantly higher (P<0.05), while the percentage of neutrophils was not different (P>0.05); the percentage of neutrophils was significantly higher in the acute rhinitis group compared with the control group (P<0.05), while the percentage of eosinophils was not statistically different (P>0.05); in vasomotor rhinitis group, the eosinophils and neutrophils were not statistically different compared with the control group(P> 0.05). The colloidal gold results showed that there were differences in the expression of ECP/MPO in different types of rhinitis, among which 49 cases (79.0%) in the acute rhinitis group expressed ECP+/MPO+; 267 cases (70.6%) in the AR group and 56 cases (75.7%) in the NARES group expressed ECP+/MPO-; 80 cases (85.1%) in the vasomotor rhinitis group and 69 cases (86.3%) in the control group expressed ECP-/MPO-. Conclusion:The differences in ECP and MPO expression between different types of rhinitis have certain reference value for the differential diagnosis of different types of rhinitis and the selection of treatment programs.


Rhinitis, Vasomotor , Rhinitis , Humans , Eosinophils/metabolism , Gold Colloid/metabolism , Nasal Mucosa/metabolism , Peroxidase/metabolism , Rhinitis/diagnosis , Rhinitis/metabolism , Rhinitis, Vasomotor/metabolism
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