An effective inducer of dopaminergic neuron-like differentiation

Rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured and passaged in vitro. After induction with basic fibroblast growth factor for 24 hours, passage 3 bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were additionally induced into dopaminergic neurons using three different combinations with basic fibroblast growth factor as follows： 20% Xiangdan injection; ali-trans retinoic acid ＋ glial-derived neurotrophic factor; or sonic hedgehog ＋ fibroblast growth factor 8. Results suggest that the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells showed typical neuronal morphological characteristics after induction. In particular, after treatment with sonic hedgehog ＋ fibroblast growth factor 8, the expressions of nestin, neuron-specific enolase, microtubule- associated protein 2, tyrosine hydroxylase and vesicular monoamine transporter-2 in cells were significantly increased. Moreover, the levels of catecholamines in the culture supernatant were significantly increased. These findings indicate that Xiangdan injection, all-trans retinoic acid ＋ glial-derived neurotrophic factor, and sonic hedgehog ＋ fibroblast growth factor 8 can all induce dopaminergic neuronal differentiation from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In particular, the efficiency of sonic hedgehog ＋ fibroblast growth factor 8 was highest.

Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for SARS- CoV-2 through an ELISA-based screening for the inhibition of RBD/ACE2 interaction

Dear Editor,The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)global pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),which instigates severe and often fatal symptoms.As of September 4th,2020,more than 26 million cases of COVID-19 and almost 900,000 deaths have been reported to WHO.Based on Kissler and colleagues’modeled projections of future viral transmission scenarios,a resurgence in SARS-CoV-2 could occur over the next five years(Kissler et al.,2020).