Perampanel in real-world clinical care of patients with epilepsy: Interim analysis of a phase IV study.

Objective: To assess the retention rate, efficacy, safety, and dosing of perampanel administered to patients with epilepsy during routine clinical care in the retrospective phase IV, PROVE Study (NCT03208660). Methods: Exposure, efficacy, and safety data were obtained from the medical records of patients initiating perampanel after January 1, 2014, across 29 US study sites. The cutoff date for this interim analysis was October 10, 2018. The primary efficacy endpoint was retention rate. Secondary efficacy endpoints included median percent changes in seizure frequency, seizure-freedom rate, and overall investigator impression of seizure effect. Results: All enrolled patients (N = 1121) received perampanel. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) cumulative duration of exposure to perampanel was 16.6 (14.7) months; overall mean (SD) daily perampanel dose was 5.7 (2.7) mg. Perampanel uptitration occurred weekly (21.1%), biweekly (23.8%), every 3 weeks (1.5%), other (43.3%), and unknown (10.3%). Across the Safety Analysis Set (N = 1121), retention rate on perampanel at 24 months was 49.5% (n = 319/645).At 12 months, the median reduction in seizure frequency per 28 days from baseline in the small number of patients for whom data were available was 75.0% (n = 85), and 30/85 (35.3%) patients were seizure free. Based on investigator impression at the end of treatment, improvement, no change (ie, stable), or worsening of seizures was reported in 54.3%, 33.7%, and 12.0% of patients, respectively.Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 500 (44.6%) patients; the most common were dizziness (9.2%), aggression (5.4%), and irritability (4.5%). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 32 (2.9%) patients. Significance: Favorable retention and sustained efficacy were demonstrated for ≥12 months following initiation of perampanel during routine clinical care in patients with epilepsy.

Inhibition of canine distemper virus replication by blocking pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis with A77 1726, the active metabolite of the anti-inflammatory drug leflunomide.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is the aetiological agent that causes canine distemper (CD). Currently, no antiviral drugs have been approved for CD treatment. A77 1726 is the active metabolite of the anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug leflunomide. It inhibits the activity of Janus kinases (JAKs) and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHO-DHase), a rate-limiting enzyme in de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. A77 1726 also inhibits the activity of p70 S6 kinase (S6K1), a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates and activates carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (CAD), a second rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo pathway of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Our present study focuses on the ability of A77 1726 to inhibit CDV replication and its underlying mechanisms. Here we report that A77 1726 decreased the levels of the N and M proteins of CDV and lowered the virus titres in the conditioned media of CDV-infected Vero cells. CDV replication was not inhibited by Ruxolitinib (Rux), a JAK-specific inhibitor, but by brequinar sodium (BQR), a DHO-DHase-specific inhibitor, and PF-4708671, an S6K1-specific inhibitor. Addition of exogenous uridine, which restores intracellular pyrimidine nucleotide levels, blocked the antiviral activity of A77 1726, BQR and PF-4708671. A77 1726 and PF-4708671 inhibited the activity of S6K1 in CDV-infected Vero cells, as evidenced by the decreased levels of CAD and S6 phosphorylation. S6K1 knockdown suppressed CDV replication and enhanced the antiviral activity of A77 1726. These observations collectively suggest that the antiviral activity of A77 1726 against CDV is mediated by targeting pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis via inhibiting DHO-DHase activity and S6K1-mediated CAD activation.

Nano-curcumin versus curcumin in amelioration of deltamethrin-induced hippocampal damage.

We aimed to prove that oxidative stress is the main mechanism responsible for hippocampal neurotoxicity induced by deltamethrin (DLM). The protective role of curcumin (CMN) and nano-curcumin (NCMN) over this toxicity was studied. The rats were categorized into four groups: control, DLM, CMN and NCMN. The study continued for 30 days. Hippocampus was processed for histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical studies. Caspase-3, glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured for DLM-induced oxidative stress (increased MDA by 354%/decreased GSH by 61%, SOD by 61%, CAT 57%). Oxidative stress induced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through increasing Nrf2, gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase heavy subunit (GCS-HS) and light subunit (GCS-LS) and decreasing AChE. It increases the activity of astrocytes through increasing GFAP. Finally, oxidative stress has a bad impaction on cognitive function. Improvement of oxidative stress was observed with use of CMN and NCMN (decrease of MDA/increase of GSH, SOD, CAT). The level of Nrf2, GCS-HS and GCS-LS decreased, while AChE, GFAP increased. Improvement of cognitive function was observed in both groups. In conclusion, oxidative stress is the common mechanism responsible for DLM-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity. It exerts apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through increasing Nrf2, HS-GCS, LS-GCS and decreasing AChE. In addition, it activates astrocytes through increasing expression of GFAP. The protective role of CMN and CMMN is related to their potent antioxidant effect. Much improvement has been detected with NCMN as compared to CMN.

Furukawa Agar - A novel bacteriological agar designed to inhibit fungal contamination when sampling organic compost.

A novel bacteriological agar, named Furukawa Agar, has been specifically designed to inhibit the growth of filamentous fungi during microbiological examination of bacteria from organic compost, thereby allowing complete analysis of the resulting bacterial organisms, without the overgrowth with filamentous fungi.

Testosterone/bicalutamide antagonism at the predicted extracellular androgen binding site of ZIP9.

ZIP9 is a Zn2+ transporter, testosterone receptor, and mediator of signaling events through G-proteins. Despite these pivotal properties, however, its physiological and pathophysiological significance has not yet been comprehensively addressed. Using a cell line that lacks the classical androgen receptor we show that ZIP9-mediated phosphorylation of Erk1/2, CREB, or ATF-1 and expression of claudin-5 and zonula occludens-1 by testosterone can be completely antagonized by bicalutamide (Casodex), an anti-androgen of significant clinical impact. Computational modeling and docking experiments with ZIP9 reveal typical characteristics of ZIP transporters and an extracellular binding site for testosterone capable of accommodating bicalutamide. The presence of this site is verified by our demonstration that the membrane-impermeable testosterone analogue T-BSA-FITC labels the membrane only when ZIP9 is expressed and that this labeling is completely prevented by bicalutamide. The study connects structural features of ZIP9 to its functions and indicates a possible relevance of ZIP9 as a pharmacological target.

Inhibition of MEK-ERK1/2-MAP kinase signalling pathway reduces rabies virus induced pathologies in mouse model.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway has been shown to regulate pathogenesis of many viral infections, but its role during rabies virus (RV) infection in vivo is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of MEK-ERK1/2 signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of rabies in mouse model and its regulatory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines and other mediators of immunity, and kinetics of immune cells. Mice were infected with 25 LD50 of challenge virus standard (CVS) strain of RV by intracerebral (i.c.) inoculation and were treated i.c. with U0126 (specific inhibitor of MEK1/2) at 10 µM/mouse at 0, 2, 4 and 6 days post-infection. Treatment with U0126 resulted in delayed disease development and clinical signs, increased survival time with lesser mortality than untreated mice. The better survival of inhibitor-treated and RV infected mice was positively correlated with reduced viral load and reduced viral spread in the brain as quantified by real-time PCR, direct fluorescent antibody test and immunohistochemistry. CVS-infected/mock-treated mice developed severe histopathological lesions with increased Fluoro-Jade B positive degenerating neurons in brain, which were associated with higher levels of serum nitric oxide, iNOS, TNF-α, and CXCL10 mRNA. Also CVS-infected/U0126-treated mice revealed significant decrease in caspase 3 but increase in Bcl-2 mRNA levels and less TUNEL positive apoptotic cells. CVS-infected/U0126-treated group also showed significant increase in CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells in blood and spleen possibly due to less apoptosis of these cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that MEK-ERK1/2 signalling pathway play critical role in the pathogenesis of RV infection in vivo and opens up new avenues of therapeutics.

Inhibitory modulation of human estrogen receptor α and ß activities by dicyclohexyl phthalate in human breast cancer cell lines.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are man-made compounds that are used widely in industry, and the ubiquitous exposure of humans to PAEs has been reported. Although some PAEs have been suggested to function as xenoestrogens in in vitro systems, such as human estrogen receptors (ERs) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells, few studies have attempted to elucidate whether PAEs affect human ERα/ERß-mediated signaling in human breast cancer cells (i.e., combination between human ERs and human cells). Thus, further experiments are needed in order to clarify the activities of PAEs. Among the 9 PAEs (carbon# in the side chains: 2-8) investigated, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dipentyl phthalate (DPENP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) were found to exhibit strong anti-estrogenic activities in MCF-7 cells (ER-positive) in the presence of 1 nM 17ß-estradiol (E2). Since limited information is currently available on DPENP and DCHP, we herein focused on these two PAEs. Experiments using MDA-MB-231 cells (ER-negative) transfected with human ERα or ERß expression plasmids revealed that DCHP was a markedly stronger anti-estrogenic PAE than DPENP; DCHP inhibited ERα and ERß activities stimulated by 1 nM E2 with IC50 values of ~5 and 11.2 µM, respectively. Furthermore, DCHP abrogated diarylpropionitrile (DPN)-stimulated ERß activity with an IC50 value of 5.17 µM, which was approximately 2-fold stronger than that of DPENP (IC50 = 10 µM). The results of the present study suggest that PAEs (DCHP) function not only as an anti-estrogen for ERα, but also for ERß, at least in human breast cancer cell lines.

IQGAP1 Mediates Hcp1-Promoted Escherichia coli Meningitis by Stimulating the MAPK Pathway.

Escherichia coli-induced meningitis remains a life-threatening disease despite recent advances in the field of antibiotics-based therapeutics, necessitating continued research on its pathogenesis. The current study aims to elucidate the mechanism through which hemolysin-coregulated protein 1 (Hcp1) induces the apoptosis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Co-immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometric (MS) characterization led to the identification of IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) as a downstream target of Hcp1. IQGAP1 was found to be up-regulated by Hcp1 treatment and mediate the stimulation of HBMEC apoptosis. It was shown that Hcp1 could compete against Smurf1 for binding to IQGAP1, thereby rescuing the latter from ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Subsequent study suggested that IQGAP1 could stimulate the MAPK signaling pathway by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, an effect that was blocked by U0126, an MAPK inhibitor. Furthermore, U0126 also demonstrated therapeutic potential against E. coli meningitis in a mouse model. Taken together, our results suggested the feasibility of targeting the MAPK pathway as a putative therapeutic strategy against bacterial meningitis.

Regulation of enterovirus 2A protease-associated viral IRES activities by the cell's ERK signaling cascade: Implicating ERK as an efficiently antiviral target.

In a previous study the ERK1/2 pathway was found to be crucially involved in positive regulation of the enterovirus A 71(EV-A71) IRES (vIRES), thereby contributing to the efficient replication of an important human enterovirus causing death in young children (<5yrs) worldwide. This study focuses on unraveling more about the detailed mechanism of ERK's involvement in this regulation of vIRES. Through the use of siRNAs and specifically pharmacological inhibitor U0126, the ERK cascade was shown to positively regulate EV-A71-mediated cleavage of eIF4GI that established the cellular conditions which favour vIRES-dependent translation. Site-directed mutagenesis of the viral 2A protease (2Apro) was undertaken to show that the positive regulation of virus replication by the ERK cascade was mediated through effects on both the cis-cleavage of the viral polyprotein by 2Apro and its trans-cleavage of cellular eIF4GI. This ERK-2Apro linked network coordinating vIRES efficiency was also found in other important human enteroviruses. This identification of the ERK cascade as having a key role in maintaining the 2Apro proteolytic activity required to maximize enterovirus IRES activity, expands current understanding of the diverse functions of the ERK signaling cascade in the regulation of viral translation, therefore providing a potentially comprehensive drug target for anti-enterovirus infection.

Rivaroxaban significantly inhibits the stimulatory effects of bone-modulating hormones: In vitro study of primary female osteoblasts.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant therapy is a mainstay of treatment subsequent to major orthopedic surgeries. Evidence linking anticoagulant therapy, osteoporosis, and delayed fracture healing is not conclusive. We have previously reported that rivaroxaban significantly inhibited cell growth and energy metabolism in a human osteoblastic cell line. This study analyzed the response of primary female osteoblast cells to rivaroxaban in combination with various bone-modulating hormones. METHODS: Bone samples were taken from both premenopausal (pre-Ob) and postmenopausal (post-Ob) women. Cells were isolated from each sample and cultured to sub-confluence. Each sample was then treated with Rivaroxaban (10 µg/ml) in combination with the following hormones or with the hormones alone for 24 hours: 30nM estradiol-17ß (E2), 390nM estrogen receptor α (ERα) agonist PPT, 420nM estrogen receptor ß (ERß) agonist DPN, 50nM parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1nM of vitamin D analog JKF. RESULTS: No effects were observed after exposure to rivaroxaban alone. When pre-Ob and post-Ob cells were exposed to the bone-modulating hormones as a control experiment, DNA synthesis and creatine kinase (CK)-specific activity was significantly stimulated with a greater response in the pre-Ob cells. When the cells were exposed to rivaroxaban in combination with bone-modulating hormones, the increased DNA synthesis and CK-specific activity previously observed were completely attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: Rivaroxaban significantly inhibited the stimulatory effects of bone-modulating hormones in both pre-Ob and post-Ob primary human cell lines. This finding may have clinical relevance for patients at high risk of osteoporosis managed with rivaroxaban or other factor Xa inhibitors.

mTOR inhibition by rapamycin protects against deltamethrin-induced apoptosis in PC12 Cells.

The autophagy pathway can be induced and upregulated in response to intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we explored a novel pharmacotherapeutic approach involving the regulation of autophagy to prevent deltamethrin (DLM) neurotoxicity. We found that DLM-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells, as demonstrated by the activation of caspase-3 and -9 and by nuclear condensation. DLM treatment significantly decreased dopamine (DA) levels in PC12 cells. In addition, we observed that cells treated with DLM underwent autophagic cell death, by monitoring the expression of LC3-II, p62, and Beclin-1. Exposure of PC12 cells to DLM led to the production of ROS. Treatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) effectively blocked both apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors attenuated apoptosis as well as autophagic cell death. We also investigated the modulation of DLM-induced apoptosis in response to autophagy regulation. Pretreatment with the autophagy inducer, rapamycin, significantly enhanced the viability of DLM-exposed cells, and this enhancement of cell viability was partially due to alleviation of DLM-induced apoptosis via a decrease in levels of cleaved caspase-3. However, pretreatment of cells with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3MA), significantly increased DLM toxicity in these cells. Our results suggest that DLM-induced cytotoxicity is modified by autophagy regulation and that rapamycin protects against DLM-induced apoptosis by enhancing autophagy. Pharmacologic induction of autophagy by rapamycin may be a useful treatment strategy in neurodegenerative disorders. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 109-121, 2017.

PPAR-γ activation attenuates deltamethrin-induced apoptosis by regulating cytosolic PINK1 and inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction.

Central events in the mitochondrial-dependent cell death pathway include the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, which causes the release of apoptogenic molecules leading to cell death. Based on the cytotoxic mechanism of deltamethrin (DLM), we examined the neuroprotective mechanisms of rosiglitazone (RGZ), which is against DLM-induced neuronal cell death. In this study, we found that DLM induces apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells as demonstrated by the activation of caspase-3 and nuclear condensation. In addition, neuronal cell death in response to DLM was due to mitochondrial dependent-apoptosis pathways since DLM increased cytochrome c release into the cytosol and activated caspase-9. DLM exposure reduced PINK1 expression, and pretreatment with RGZ significantly reduced cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation. RGZ also attenuated the reduction of complex I activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels. Pretreatment with RGZ significantly enhanced PINK1 expression in DLM-exposed cells. In addition, RGZ increased cytosolic PINK1 by inhibiting mitochondrial translocation of PINK1. Interestingly, RGZ fails to rescue DLM-induced mitochondrial dysfunction both in PINK1 knockdown and PPAR-γ antagonist treated cells. Results from this study suggest that RGZ exerts anti-apoptotic effects against DLM-induced cytotoxicity by attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction through cytosolic PINK1-dependent signaling pathways.

Ca²âº Movement Induced by Deltamethrin in PC3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

This study explored the effect of deltamethrin, a pesticide, on intracellular free Ca²âº concentration ([Ca²âº]i) in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Deltamethrin at concentrations between 5 µM and 20 µM evoked [Ca²âº]i rises in a concentration-dependent manner. This Ca²âº signal was inhibited by 22% by removal of extracellular Ca²âº. Nifedipine, econazole, and SKF96365 also inhibited the Ca²âº signal. Treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²âº pump inhibitor 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) in Ca²âº-free medium nearly abolished deltamethrin-induced [Ca²âº]i rises. Treatment with deltamethrin also inhibited most of BHQ-induced [Ca²âº]i rises. Inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122 failed to alter deltamethrin-evoked [Ca²âº]i rises. Deltamethrin killed cells at concentrations of 20-100 µM in a concentration-dependent fashion. Chelation of cytosolic Ca²âº with 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid/acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM) did not prevent deltamethrin's cytotoxicity. Together, in PC3 human prostate cancer cells, deltamethrin induced [Ca²âº]i rises that involved Ca²âº entry through store-operated Ca²âº channels and PLC-independent Ca²âº release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Deltamethrin induced cytotoxicity in a Ca²âº-independent manner.

Aquaporin 3 Expression Induced by Salvia Miltiorrhiza via ERK1/2 Signal Pathway in the Primary Human Amnion Epithelium Cells from Isolated Oligohydramnios.

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the most common Chinese herbal drugs, which is effective to treat oligohydramnios. In this study, the aim was to investigate how Salvia miltiorrhiza regulate aquaporin 3 expression in the human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) with normal amniotic fluid volume or isolated oligohydramnios, whether via extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) signal transduction pathway or not. Primary hAECs cultures from 120 patients were incubated with Salvia miltiorrhiza or/and ERK1/2 inhibitor-- U0126. Localization of aquaporin 3 was detected by immunohistochemistry and the expression of total ERK1/2, phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and aquaporin 3 was detected by Western blot. The results were: (1) In hAECs with normal amniotic fluid volume, treatment with 10 µmol/L of U0126 for 6 h resulted in the optimal inhibition of p-ERK1/2 (P<0.05). However, the expression of total ERK1/2 or aquaporin 3 did not significantly change after different concentrations or time of U0126 treatment. Salvia miltiorrhiza significantly up-regulated aquaporin 3 expression, which was not affected by U0126. (2) In hAECs with isolated oligohydramnios, treatment with 5 µmol/L of U0126 for 2 h resulted in the optimal inhibition of p-ERK1/2 and the lowest expression of aquaporin 3 (P<0.05). Moreover, Salvia miltiorrhiza significantly up-regulated aquaporin 3 expression, which was obviously blocked by U0126. These results suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza may regulate aquaporin 3 expression in hAECs. In addition, in hAECs with isolated oligohydramnios, Salvia miltiorrhiza may regulate the expression of aquaporin 3 via the ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway, which provides a novel thread to the improved treatment for isolated oligohydramnios.

Deltamethrin-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial caspase-dependent signaling pathways in murine splenocytes.

Deltamethrin (DLM) is a well-known pyrethroid insecticide used extensively in pest control. Exposure to DLM has been demonstrated to cause apoptosis in various cells. However, the immunotoxic effects of DLM on mammalian system and its mechanism is still an open question to be explored. To explore these effects, this study has been designed to first observe the interactions of DLM to immune cell receptors and its effects on the immune system. The docking score revealed that DLM has strong binding affinity toward the CD45 and CD28 receptors. In vitro study revealed that DLM induces apoptosis in murine splenocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. The earliest markers of apoptosis such as enhanced reactive oxygen species and caspase 3 activation are evident as early as 1 h by 25 and 50 µM DLM. Western blot analysis demonstrated that p38 MAP kinase and Bax expression is increased in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas Bcl 2 expression is significantly reduced after 3 h of DLM treatment. Glutathione depletion has been also observed at 3 and 6 h by 25 and 50 µM concentration of DLM. Flow cytometry results imply that the fraction of hypodiploid cells has gradually increased with all the concentrations of DLM at 18 h. N-acetyl cysteine effectively reduces the percentage of apoptotic cells, which is increased by DLM. In contrast, buthionine sulfoxamine causes an elevation in the percentage of apoptotic cells. Phenotyping data imply the effect of DLM toxicity in murine splenocytes. In brief, the study demonstrates that DLM causes apoptosis through its interaction with CD45 and CD28 receptors, leading to oxidative stress and activation of the mitochondrial caspase-dependent pathways which ultimately affects the immune functions. This study provides mechanistic information by which DLM causes toxicity in murine splenocytes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 808-819, 2016.

The protective role of glutamine against acute induced toxicity in rats.

CONTEXT: Deltamethrin (DLM) is an insecticide commonly used to protect agricultural crops against pests. QT prolongation with malignant ventricular arrhythmias are amongst the most common cardiovascular complications. DLM intoxication cause decreased level of antioxidant enzymes. Glutamine is the precursor of glutathione which is an antioxidant and has been demonstrated to improve outcome after several critical illnesses. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that glutamine, by means of antioxidant characteristics, may antagonize the cardiotoxic effects of DLM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All experiments were performed on 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into following groups (n = 10); Group I: control, Group II: l-glutamine, Group III: DLM, Group IV: DLM and after 4 h l-glutamine. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and parameter analyses were performed in cardiac tissue. RESULTS: We found that TAS was higher and TOS lower in DLM group. We also found that interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly more frequent in DLM group and QT and QTc of DLM group were higher than others. DISCUSSION: Recent studies have shown that several special amino acids, such as glutamine, glycine, arginine and taurine, exhibit cytoprotective effect on the cardiocyte, and have established the cardioprotective properties of glutamine. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed the protective role of glutamine against cardiotoxic effects of DLM in rats. This protective effect was confirmed by showing both tissue level improvement in oxidative stress markers and improvement in prolonged QT interval.

DPP-4 inhibitors repress NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-1beta via GLP-1 receptor in macrophages through protein kinase C pathway.

BACKGROUND: Anti-atherosclerotic effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been shown in many studies. Since inflammation and immune response play a key role in atherogenesis, we examined the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on the expression of nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) Inflammasome and Interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) in human macrophages. METHODS AND RESULTS: THP-1 macrophages were incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) with or without DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin and NVPDPP728). The effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on the expression of NLRP3, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß were studied. Both DPP-4 inhibitors induced a significant reduction in NLRP3, TLR4 and IL-1ß expression; concurrently, there was an increase in glucagon like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression. Simultaneously, DPP-4 inhibitors reduced phosphorylated-PKC, but not PKA, levels. To determine the role of PKC activation in the effects of DPP-4 inhibitors, cells were treated with PMA- which blocked the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on NLRP3 and IL-1ß as well as TLR4 and GLP-1R. Over-expression of GLP-1R in macrophages with its agonist liraglutide also blocked the effects of PMA. CONCLUSION: DPP-4 inhibitors suppress NLRP3, TLR4 and IL-1ß in human macrophages through inhibition of PKC activity. This study provides novel insights into the mechanism of inhibition of inflammatory state and immune response in atherosclerosis by DPP-4 inhibitors.

Nonallergenic urushiol derivatives inhibit the oxidation of unilamellar vesicles and of rat plasma induced by various radical generators.

Urushiols consist of an o-dihydroxybenzene (catechol) structure and an alkyl chain of 15 or 17 carbons in the 3-position of a benzene ring and are allergens found in the family Anacardiaceae. We synthesized various veratrole (1,2-dimethoxybenzene)-type and catechol-type urushiol derivatives that contained alkyl chains of various carbon atom lengths, including -H, -C1H3, -C5H11, -C10H21, -C15H31, and -C20H41, and investigated their contact hypersensitivities and antioxidative activities. 3-Decylcatechol and 3-pentadecylcatechol displayed contact hypersensitivity, but the other compounds did not induce an allergic reaction, when the ears of rats were sensitized by treatment with the compounds every day for 20 days. Catechol-type urushiol derivatives (CTUDs) exerted very high radical-scavenging activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a methyl linoleate solution induced by 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). However, veratrole-type urushiol derivatives did not scavenge or inhibit lipid peroxidation. CTUDs also acted as effective inhibitors of lipid peroxidation of the egg yolk phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicle (PC LUV) liposome system induced by various radical generators such as AMVN, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride, and copper ions, although their efficiencies differed slightly. In addition, CTUDs suppressed formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides in rat blood plasma induced with copper ions. CTUDs containing more than five carbon atoms in the alkyl chain showed excellent lipophilicity in a n-octanol/water partition experiment. These compounds also exhibited high affinities to the liposome membrane using the ultrafiltration method of the PC LUV liposome system. Therefore, CTUDs seem to act as efficient antioxidative compounds against membranous lipid peroxidation owing to their localization in the phospholipid bilayer. These results suggest that nonallergenic CTUDs act as antioxidants to protect against oxidative damage of cellular and subcellular membranes.

Decrease in the production of ß-amyloid by berberine inhibition of the expression of ß-secretase in HEK293 cells.

BACKGROUND: Berberine (BER), the major alkaloidal component of Rhizoma coptidis, has multiple pharmacological effects including inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, reduction of cholesterol and glucose levels, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects. It has also been demonstrated that BER can reduce the production of beta-amyloid40/42, which plays a critical and primary role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanism by which it accomplishes this remains unclear. RESULTS: Here, we report that BER could not only significantly decrease the production of beta-amyloid40/42 and the expression of beta-secretase (BACE), but was also able to activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HEK293 cells stably transfected with APP695 containing the Swedish mutation. We also find that U0126, an antagonist of the ERK1/2 pathway, could abolish (1) the activation activity of BER on the ERK1/2 pathway and (2) the inhibition activity of BER on the production of beta-amyloid40/42 and the expression of BACE. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that BER decreases the production of beta-amyloid40/42 by inhibiting the expression of BACE via activation of the ERK1/2 pathway.

Interaction between AR signalling and CRKL bypasses casodex inhibition in prostate cancer.

The underlying mechanism of failed androgen ablation therapy is unknown. It is recognised that under therapeutic conditions the androgen receptor (AR) remains functionally active independent of hormone stimulation and may function through an alternative pathway. We report a novel cooperative interaction between CRKL (an intracellular signalling adaptor protein) and the AR. We demonstrate by biochemical and genetic approaches that CRKL is associated with the AR complex and is localised in the nucleus of prostate cancer cells and patient tissue biopsies. The interaction between CRKL and the AR is functionally relevant as demonstrated by its presence on the enhancer region of an androgen regulated gene (human Kallikrein-2), its upregulation of PSA, and reduction in AR transactivation following its disruption by siRNA knockdown. In the presence of the AR inhibitor casodex, the expression of CRKL co-stimulated by growth factors is able to rescue AR activity independent of hormone. Our data provides insight on how a non-nuclear factor such as CRKL may interact with the AR complex to bypass hormone dependency by using an alternative growth factor signalling pathway in advanced prostate cancer.