Transgenic Expression of PRSS1R122H Sensitizes Mice to Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Mutations in the trypsinogen gene (PRSS1) cause human hereditary pancreatitis. However, it is not clear how mutant forms of PRSS1 contribute to disease development. We studied the effects of expressing mutant forms of human PRSS1 in mice. METHODS: We expressed forms of PRSS1 with and without the mutation encoding R122H (PRSS1R122H) specifically in pancreatic acinar cells under control of a full-length pancreatic elastase gene promoter. Mice that did not express these transgenes were used as controls. Mice were given injections of caerulein to induce acute pancreatitis or injections of lipopolysaccharide to induce chronic pancreatitis. Other groups of mice were fed ethanol or placed on a high-fat diet to induce pancreatitis. Pancreata were collected and analyzed by histology, immunoblots, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. Trypsin enzymatic activity and chymotrypsin enzymatic activity were measured in pancreatic homogenates. Blood was collected and serum amylase activity was measured. RESULTS: Pancreata from mice expressing transgenes encoding PRSS1 or PRSS1R122H had focal areas of inflammation; these lesions were more prominent in mice that express PRSS1R122H. Pancreata from mice that express PRSS1 or PRSS1R122H had increased levels of heat shock protein 70 and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, and reduced levels of chymotrypsin C compared with control mice. Increased expression of PRSS1 or PRSS1R122H increased focal damage in pancreatic tissues and increased the severity of acute pancreatitis after caerulein injection. Administration of lipopolysaccharide exacerbated inflammation in mice that express PRSS1R122H compared to mice that express PRSS1 or control mice. Mice that express PRSS1R122H developed more severe pancreatitis after ethanol feeding or a high-fat diet than mice that express PRSS1 or control mice. Pancreata from mice that express PRSS1R122H had more DNA damage, apoptosis, and collagen deposition and increased trypsin activity and infiltration by inflammatory cells than mice that express PRSS1 or control mice. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of a transgene encoding PRSS1R122H in mice promoted inflammation and increased the severity of pancreatitis compared with mice that express PRSS1 or control mice. These mice might be used as a model for human hereditary pancreatitis and can be studied to determine mechanisms of induction of pancreatitis by lipopolysaccharide, ethanol, or a high-fat diet.

Targeted delivery of microRNA 146b mimic to hepatocytes by lactosylated PDMAEMA nanoparticles for the treatment of NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide, and precision therapeutic will be a benefit for the NAFLD regression. In this study, we observed low microRNA 146 b (miR-146 b) expression in NAFLD mice model induced by methionine-choline-deficient diet (MCD) compared with control group. Furthermore, miR-146b-/- mice induced MCD exhibited severe liver steatosis and hepatitis. A bio-distribution study showed that novel Lactosylated PDMAEMA nanoparticles effectively targeted hepatocytes Lac-PDMAEMA. We coupled miR-146b mimic with Lac-PDMAEMA and then were administrated to NAFLD mice model, which could obviously alleviate the hepatic steatosis. Lac-PDMAEMA effectively delivered miR-146b mimic to hepatocytes with a ∼8-fold upregulation of miR-146b mimic targeting MyD88 and IRAK1, and in turn suppressed the expression of PPARγ. Meanwhile, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA levels were decreased after administration of Lac-PDMAEMA/miR-146b mimic. So, we made a conclusion that targeted delivering miR-146b mimic to the hepatocytes by, coupling Lac-PDMAEMA nanoparticles could effectively alleviate the hepatic steatosis in NAFLD mice, which maybe bring a new and effective way to intervene and therapy the NAFLD.

Regioselective Bromination of Thieno[2',3':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one and Sequential Suzuki Couplings.

Regioselective bromination of thieno[2',3':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one at the 2- or 9-position was achieved by modulating the basicity of the reaction conditions. An anion-directed site-specific bromination mechanism was proposed. In addition, a one-pot bromination-Suzuki coupling protocol was developed for quick access of analogues at the 9-position.

Synthesis and evaluation of 2-(2-arylmorpholino)ethyl esters of ibuprofen hydrochlorides as COX-2 and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Based on the positive effects of COX-2 inhibitors on depressive symptoms and the desirable physicochemical and biological properties of the morpholine group, a series of novel 2-(2-arylmorpholino)ethyl esters of ibuprofen hydrochlorides were designed, synthesized, and tested for their COX-2 inhibitory and serotonin reuptake inhibitory activities in vitro. The structure-activity relationships of the 2-(2-arylmorpholino)ethyl esters of ibuprofen hydrochlorides as dual COX-2 and serotonin reuptake inhibitors were determined and discussed in detail. The biological assays indicated that five of the compounds possess good COX-2 selectivity (selectivity index COX-1/COX-2 42.8-158.1). The compound 2-[2-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)morpholino]ethyl 2-(4-iso-butylphenyl)-propanoate hydrochloride (1k) shows better COX-2 inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.78 µM) than ibuprofen (IC50 = 7.6 µM), and it simultaneously possesses favorable serotonin reuptake inhibitory activity.