An imbalance in adenosine-mediated signaling,particularly the increased A_(2A)R-mediated signaling,plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.Existing therapeutic approaches fail to alter disease prog...An imbalance in adenosine-mediated signaling,particularly the increased A_(2A)R-mediated signaling,plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.Existing therapeutic approaches fail to alter disease progression,demonstrating the need for novel approaches in PD.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive approach that has been shown to improve motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.However,the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation remain unknown.The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the beneficial effects of prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of experimental parkinsonism are based on modulation of adenosine-mediated signaling.Animals with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions underwent intermittent theta burst stimulation for 3 weeks and were tested for motor skills using the Rotarod test.Immunoblot,quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,immunohistochemistry,and biochemical analysis of components of adenosine-mediated signaling were performed on the synaptosomal fraction of the lesioned caudate putamen.Prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation improved motor symptoms in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals.A 6-hydroxydopamine lesion resulted in progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the caudate putamen.Treatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation began 7 days after the lesion,coinciding with the onset of motor symptoms.After treatment with prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation,complete motor recovery was observed.This improvement was accompanied by downregulation of the e N/CD73-A_(2A)R pathway and a return to physiological levels of A_(1)R-adenosine deaminase 1 after 3 weeks of intermittent theta burst stimulation.Our results demonstrated that 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration reduced the expression of A_(1)R and elevated the expression of A_(2A)R.Intermittent theta burst stimulation reversed these effects by restoring the abundances of A_(1)R and A_(2A)R to control levels.The shift in ARs expression likely restored the balance between dopamine-adenosine signaling,ultimately leading to the recovery of motor control.展开更多
Background: Cytokines are mediators of diseases. Expression levels in the blood could be of clinical relevance. Objective: sIL-2Rα is used as a marker for different malignancies in human medicine. The aim of this stu...Background: Cytokines are mediators of diseases. Expression levels in the blood could be of clinical relevance. Objective: sIL-2Rα is used as a marker for different malignancies in human medicine. The aim of this study was to show if sIL-2Rα is detectable and if there is any correlation to different diseases in dogs. Methods: For this purposes sIL-2Rα concentrations in the blood were measured in healthy dogs, in dogs with different non-neoplastic diseases and benign tumors and in dogs with malignant tumors. Serum levels of sIL-2Rα were measured by using a human specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Measurement of sIL-2Rα was successful in most of the samples. Dogs with diseases have significantly increased serum levels of sIL-2Rα compared to healthy controls. sIL-2Rα serum levels are higher in patients with non-neoplastic diseases and benign tumors than in those with malignant neoplasia. There is a strong correlation between sIL-2Rα and leukocyte count. Conclusion: Measurements of sIL-2Rα in serum may be helpful in detecting stages and grades of inflammation in the progression of disease. sIL-2Rα could actually not be used as an indicator for malignant diseases in dogs like in humans. The strong correlation between sIL-2Rα and the leukocyte count indicates the inflammatory response to the disease. This could be helpful in giving a prognosis in some cases, because the inflammatory reaction is of prognostic relevance in different diseases including malignant and non-malignant neoplasia. Although the results of our research studies were very promising, further studies should be performed with a canine ELISA.展开更多
Plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAHB) or severe hepatitis B (SHB) were measured quantitatively by 'sandwich' ELISA with monoclonal antibodi...Plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAHB) or severe hepatitis B (SHB) were measured quantitatively by 'sandwich' ELISA with monoclonal antibodies in order to explore the change of sIL-2R levels, its clinical significance,and its relation to liver damage. The results showed that the plasma sIL-2R levels in patients with CAHB and SHB were much higher than those in normal controls (P < 0. 01 ), and the level ofplasma sIL-2R in patients with SHB was greatly higher than that in patients with CAHB. These results suggest that there is close relation between plasma level of sIL-2R, the clinical types of hepatitis B,and the severity of liver damage. In addition, there is no significant difference in plasma levels of sIL-2R between acute severe hepatitis B (ASHB), subacute severe hepatitis B (SASHB), and chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB). No relation was found between sIL-2R level and hepatitis B virusreplication activity.展开更多
AIM: To determine whether the positive status of human epidermal growth receptor 2(HER2) can be regarded as an effective prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer(GC) undergoing R0 resection.METHODS: A total ...AIM: To determine whether the positive status of human epidermal growth receptor 2(HER2) can be regarded as an effective prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer(GC) undergoing R0 resection.METHODS: A total of 1562 GC patients treated by R0 resection were recruited. HER2 status was evaluated in surgically resected samples of all the patients using immunohistochemical(IHC) staining. Correlations between HER2 status and clinicopathological characteristics were retrospective analyzed. Hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard model, stratified by age, gender, tumor location and tumor-nodemetastasis(TNM) stage, with additional adjustment for potential prognostic factors.RESULTS: Among 1562 patients, 548(positive rate = 35.08%, 95%CI: 32.72%-37.45%) were HER2 positive. Positive status of HER2 was significantly correlated with gender(P = 0.004), minority(P < 0.001), tumor location(P = 0.001), pathological grade(P < 0.001), TNM stage(P < 0.001) and adjuvant radiotherapy(74.67% vs 23.53%, P = 0.011). No significant associations were observed between HER2 status and disease free survival(HR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.96-1.46, P = 0.105) or overall survival(HR = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.96-1.48, P = 0.118) using multivariate analysis, although stratified analyses showed marginally statistically significant associations both in disease free survival and overall survival, especially among patients aged < 60 years or with early TNM stages(Ⅰ and Ⅱ). Categorical age, TNM stage, neural invasion, and adjuvant chemotherapy were, as expected, independent prognostic factors for both disease free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSION: The positive status of HER2 based on IHC staining was not related to the survival in patients with GC among the Chinese population.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the difference of peripheral blood sIL-2R before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and evaluate the clinical value of the sIL-2R in breast cancer's diagnosis and therapy. Me...Objective: To investigate the difference of peripheral blood sIL-2R before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and evaluate the clinical value of the sIL-2R in breast cancer's diagnosis and therapy. Methods: The peripheral blood sIL-2R levels of the breast cancer patients with or without chemotherapy were detected by ELISA. The healthy persons were made as the control group. Results: The sIL-2R levels of the breast cancer patients were higher than that of the control group(P(0.05); the sIL-2R's levels in I^II stage breast cancer were lower than that in Ill^IV stage breast cancer (P(0.05); the sIL-2R levels of the patients before chemotherapy were higher than that of the patients undergone chemotherapy(P(0.05); The level of the patient with chemotherapy was still higher than that of the control group (P(0.05); the sIL-2R levels of the patients whose chemotherapies were noneffective were higher than that of the patients received effective chemotherapies (P(0.05). There was no significant difference between the group with ER(+) or PR(+) and the group with ER(-) or PR(-)(P〉0.05). Conclusion: The breast cancer patients have the high sIL-2R levels. There is a close relationship between the cancer incidence and the patients, immune situation. The level of sIL-2R could be a clinical index which can be used for evaluating the cancer degree, because the higher levels of sIL-2R can indicate that the immune ability of patient is worse. There is a significant difference between the sIL-2R levels of the patients before chemotherapy and that of the patients undergone chemotherapy.展开更多
As of August 16,2021,there have been 207,173,086 confirmed cases and 4,361,996 deaths due to the coronavirus disease(COVID-19),and the pandemic remains a global challenge.To date,no effective and approved drugs are av...As of August 16,2021,there have been 207,173,086 confirmed cases and 4,361,996 deaths due to the coronavirus disease(COVID-19),and the pandemic remains a global challenge.To date,no effective and approved drugs are available for the treatment of COVID-19.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)plays a crucial role in the invasion into host cells by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the etiological agent of COVID-19.Notably,ACE2 density is influenced by medical conditions,such as hypertension,or by drugs,including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)and angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs),which can change the fate of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.ACE2 is a target for these drugs and can be manipulated to limit the viral entry and replication within the cells.Different strategies aimed at blocking ACE2 with small molecules,peptides,and antibodies,or by neutralizing the virus through its competitive binding with human recombinant soluble ACE2(hrsACE2)are currently under investigation.In this article,we review the current state of knowledge that emphasizes the need to find effective therapeutic agents against COVID-19 by exploiting ACE2 as a potential target.The increased soluble ACE2 levels and the application of hrsACE2 in patients with COVID-19 can be implemented to control the disease.It has not yet been established whether hypertension and other comorbidities,independent of age,have a direct role in COVID-19.Therefore,the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors,ACEIs and ARBs,should not be discontinued during COVID-19 treatment.展开更多
Isofloridoside (IF) is a naturally occurring galactosylglycerol compound with a refreshing sweet taste. It is found in red algae, where it acts as a photosynthetic intermediate. However, the mechanism by which IF elic...Isofloridoside (IF) is a naturally occurring galactosylglycerol compound with a refreshing sweet taste. It is found in red algae, where it acts as a photosynthetic intermediate. However, the mechanism by which IF elicits sweetness has not been determined. In this study, we investigate the interaction between IF and the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3. We show that IF causes an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and an increase in Erk phosphorylation in T1R2/T1R3-expressing HEK293T cells, indicating that IF interacts with T1R2/T1R3. IF also activates endogenously expressed T1R2/T1R3 in mouse small intestinal endocrine L-cells, and promotes the secretion of the incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In silico docking simulations of IF and T1R2/T1R3 predict that IF forms hydrogen bonds with Tyr103 in the extracellular Venus flytrap domain of T1R2. This result is consistent with the binding mode of many other sweet-tasting molecules. We found that IF have the potential as a new alternative sweetener.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Ron receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in macrophages, including Kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages,suppresses endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. Further, we have also ide...BACKGROUND: Ron receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in macrophages, including Kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages,suppresses endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. Further, we have also identified genes from Ron replete and Ron deplete livers that were differentially expressed during the progression of liver inflammation associated with acute liver failure in mice by microarray analyses.While important genes and signaling pathways have been identified downstream of Ron signaling during progression of inflammation by this approach, the precise role that Ron receptor plays in regulating the transcriptional landscape in macrophages, and particular in isolated Kupffer cells, has still not been investigated.METHODS: Kupffer cells were isolated from wild-type(TK+/+)and Ron tyrosine kinase deficient(TK-/-) mice. Ex vivo, the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in the presence or absence of the Ron ligand, hepatocyte growth factor-like protein(HGFL). Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses were utilized to identify alterations in gene expression between genotypes.RESULTS: Microarray analyses identified genes expressed differentially in TK+/+ and TK-/- Kupffer cells basally as well as after HGFL and LPS treatment. Interestingly, our studies identified Mefv, a gene that codes for the anti-inflammatory protein pyrin, as an HGFL-stimulated Ron-dependent gene.Moreover, lipocalin 2, a proinflammatory gene, which is induced by LPS, was significantly suppressed by HGFL treatment.Microarray results were validated by qRT-PCR studies on Kupffer cells treated with LPS and HGFL.CONCLUSION: The studies herein suggest a novel mechanism whereby HGFL-induced Ron receptor activation promotes the expression of anti-inflammatory genes while inhibiting genes involved in inflammation with a net effect of diminished inflammation in macrophages.展开更多
BACKGROUND The transforming growth factor β(TGFβ) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development of liver fibrosis by activating TGFβ type Ⅱ receptor(TGFβR2), followed by the recruitment of TGFβR1 fin...BACKGROUND The transforming growth factor β(TGFβ) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development of liver fibrosis by activating TGFβ type Ⅱ receptor(TGFβR2), followed by the recruitment of TGFβR1 finally triggering downstream signaling pathway.AIM To find drugs targeting TGFβR2 that inhibit TGFβR1/TGFβR2 complex formation, theoretically inhibit TGFβ signaling pathway, and thereby ameliorate liver fibrosis.METHODS Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs were screened for binding affinity with TGFβR2 by virtual molecular docking. We identified 6 candidates and further explored their potential by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) cell cytotoxic experiment to validate toxicity and titrated the best cellular working concentrations. Next, we further demonstrated the detailed molecular working mechanisms using mutagenesis analysis. Finally, we used a mouse model to investigate its potential anti-liver fibrosis effect.RESULTS We identified 6 drug candidates. Among these 6 drugs, dihydroergotamine(DHE) shows great ability in reducing fibrotic gene expressions such as collagen, p-SMAD3, and α-SMA in TGFβ induced cellular model of liver fibrosis in LX-2 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DHE binds to TGFβR2. Moreover, mutation of Leu27, Phe30, Thr51, Ser52, Ile53, and Glu55 of TGFβR2 disrupted the binding of TGFβR2 with DHE. In addition, DHE significantly improved liver fibrosis, as evidenced by Masson’s trichrome staining of liver sections. This is further supported by the width and the velocity of the portal vein, and serum markers of liver function. In line with those observations, DHE also decreased macrophages infiltration and extracellular matrix deposition in the liver.CONCLUSION DHE alleviates liver fibrosis by binding to TGFβR2 thereby suppressing TGFβ signaling pathway. We show here that as far as drug repurposing, DHE has great potential to treat liver fibrosis.展开更多
diabetes mellitus(DM)is a disease syndrome characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia.A long-term high-glucose environment leads to reactive oxygen species(ROS)production and nuclear DNA damage.human umbilical cord mesen...diabetes mellitus(DM)is a disease syndrome characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia.A long-term high-glucose environment leads to reactive oxygen species(ROS)production and nuclear DNA damage.human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(HUcMSC)infusion induces significant antidiabetic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1)receptor(IGF1R)is important in promoting glucose metabolism in diabetes;however,the mechanism by which HUcMSC can treat diabetes through IGF1R and DNA damage repair remains unclear.In this study,a DM rat model was induced with high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin(STZ)administration and rats were infused four times with HUcMSC.Blood glucose,interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-10,glomerular basement membrane,and renal function were examined.Proteins that interacted with IGF1R were determined through coimmunoprecipitation assays.The expression of IGF1R,phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 2(p-CHK2),and phosphorylated protein 53(p-p53)was examined using immunohistochemistry(IHC)and western blot analysis.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the serum levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG).Flow cytometry experiments were used to detect the surface markers of HUcMSC.The identification of the morphology and phenotype of HUcMSC was performed by way of oil red“O”staining and Alizarin red staining.DM rats exhibited abnormal blood glucose and IL-6/10 levels and renal function changes in the glomerular basement membrane,increased the expression of IGF1 and IGF1R.IGF1R interacted with CHK2,and the expression of p-CHK2 was significantly decreased in IGF1R-knockdown cells.When cisplatin was used to induce DNA damage,the expression of p-CHK2 was higher than that in the IGF1R-knockdown group without cisplatin treatment.HUcMSC infusion ameliorated abnormalities and preserved kidney structure and function in DM rats.The expression of IGF1,IGF1R,p-CHK2,and p-p53,and the level of 8-OHdG in the DM group increased significantly compared with those in the control group,and decreased after HUcMSC treatment.Our results suggested that IGF1R could interact with CHK2 and mediate DNA damage.HUcMSC infusion protected against kidney injury in DM rats.The underlying mechanisms may include HUcMSC-mediated enhancement of diabetes treatment via the IGF1R-CHK2-p53 signalling pathway.展开更多
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR-2)and neuropilin-1(NRP-1)are two prominent antiangiogenic targets.They are highly expressed on vascular endothelial cells and some tumor cells.Therefore,targeting VE...Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR-2)and neuropilin-1(NRP-1)are two prominent antiangiogenic targets.They are highly expressed on vascular endothelial cells and some tumor cells.Therefore,targeting VEGFR-2 and NRP-1 may be a potential antiangiogenic and antitumor strategy.A7R,a peptide with sequence of Ala-Thr-Trp-Leu-Pro-Pro-Arg that was found by phage display of peptide libraries,can preferentially target VEGFR-2 and NRP-1 and destroy the binding between vascular endothelial growth factor 165(VEGF165)and VEGFR-2 or NRP-1.This peptide is a new potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and a targeting ligand for cancer therapy.This review describes the discovery,function and mechanism of the action of A7R,and further introduces the applications of A7R in antitumor angiogenic treatments,tumor angiogenesis imaging and targeted drug delivery systems.In this review,strategies to deliver different drugs by A7R-modified liposomes and nanoparticles are highlighted.A7R,a new dual targeting ligand of VEGFR-2 and NRP-1,is expected to have efficient therapeutic or targeting roles in tumor drug delivery.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from Ministry of Science,Technological Development and Innovation,Serbia,No.451-03-68/2022-14/200178(to NN)University of Defence,No.MFVMA/02/22-24(to MN)。
文摘An imbalance in adenosine-mediated signaling,particularly the increased A_(2A)R-mediated signaling,plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.Existing therapeutic approaches fail to alter disease progression,demonstrating the need for novel approaches in PD.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive approach that has been shown to improve motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.However,the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation remain unknown.The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the beneficial effects of prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of experimental parkinsonism are based on modulation of adenosine-mediated signaling.Animals with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions underwent intermittent theta burst stimulation for 3 weeks and were tested for motor skills using the Rotarod test.Immunoblot,quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,immunohistochemistry,and biochemical analysis of components of adenosine-mediated signaling were performed on the synaptosomal fraction of the lesioned caudate putamen.Prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation improved motor symptoms in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals.A 6-hydroxydopamine lesion resulted in progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the caudate putamen.Treatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation began 7 days after the lesion,coinciding with the onset of motor symptoms.After treatment with prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation,complete motor recovery was observed.This improvement was accompanied by downregulation of the e N/CD73-A_(2A)R pathway and a return to physiological levels of A_(1)R-adenosine deaminase 1 after 3 weeks of intermittent theta burst stimulation.Our results demonstrated that 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration reduced the expression of A_(1)R and elevated the expression of A_(2A)R.Intermittent theta burst stimulation reversed these effects by restoring the abundances of A_(1)R and A_(2A)R to control levels.The shift in ARs expression likely restored the balance between dopamine-adenosine signaling,ultimately leading to the recovery of motor control.
文摘目的探讨黄芪葛根汤对高血脂症模型大鼠血脂,血清瘦素(LEP)、脂联素、脂联素受体2(Adipo R2)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(PPAR)mRNA和蛋白表达的影响。方法选取80只SPF级成年雄性SD大鼠,随机选取20只作为对照组,其余大鼠随机分为模型组、黄芪葛根汤组、黄芪组、葛根组共4组,每组15只。造模成功后第2天,黄芪葛根汤组、黄芪组、葛根组按照10 m L/kg进行灌胃给药,2次/d;模型组和对照组给予等量生理盐水,连续给药30 d。给药过程中,对照组喂养基础饲料,其余大鼠给予高脂饲料喂养。对所有组大鼠的血脂、LEP表达、脂联素、脂联素受体2、PPARα的mRNA和蛋白的表达情况进行观察对比。结果以高脂饲料喂养大鼠8周后,大鼠血清中血脂,LEP表达显著升高,脂联素、脂联素受体2、PPAR的mRNA和蛋白的表达均显著降低,与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。大鼠高血脂症模型建立后,给予黄芪,葛根及黄芪葛根汤治疗,实验组大鼠血脂、LEP水平显著降低,脂联素、脂联素受体2、PPAR的mRNA和蛋白水平均显著升高(P<0.05),而相较于黄芪组和葛根组,黄芪葛根汤治疗组大鼠的各项指标均接近正常大鼠水平。结论黄芪葛根汤能够有效改善高血脂症大鼠的各临床指标,有显著的降血脂作用。
文摘Background: Cytokines are mediators of diseases. Expression levels in the blood could be of clinical relevance. Objective: sIL-2Rα is used as a marker for different malignancies in human medicine. The aim of this study was to show if sIL-2Rα is detectable and if there is any correlation to different diseases in dogs. Methods: For this purposes sIL-2Rα concentrations in the blood were measured in healthy dogs, in dogs with different non-neoplastic diseases and benign tumors and in dogs with malignant tumors. Serum levels of sIL-2Rα were measured by using a human specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Measurement of sIL-2Rα was successful in most of the samples. Dogs with diseases have significantly increased serum levels of sIL-2Rα compared to healthy controls. sIL-2Rα serum levels are higher in patients with non-neoplastic diseases and benign tumors than in those with malignant neoplasia. There is a strong correlation between sIL-2Rα and leukocyte count. Conclusion: Measurements of sIL-2Rα in serum may be helpful in detecting stages and grades of inflammation in the progression of disease. sIL-2Rα could actually not be used as an indicator for malignant diseases in dogs like in humans. The strong correlation between sIL-2Rα and the leukocyte count indicates the inflammatory response to the disease. This could be helpful in giving a prognosis in some cases, because the inflammatory reaction is of prognostic relevance in different diseases including malignant and non-malignant neoplasia. Although the results of our research studies were very promising, further studies should be performed with a canine ELISA.
文摘Plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAHB) or severe hepatitis B (SHB) were measured quantitatively by 'sandwich' ELISA with monoclonal antibodies in order to explore the change of sIL-2R levels, its clinical significance,and its relation to liver damage. The results showed that the plasma sIL-2R levels in patients with CAHB and SHB were much higher than those in normal controls (P < 0. 01 ), and the level ofplasma sIL-2R in patients with SHB was greatly higher than that in patients with CAHB. These results suggest that there is close relation between plasma level of sIL-2R, the clinical types of hepatitis B,and the severity of liver damage. In addition, there is no significant difference in plasma levels of sIL-2R between acute severe hepatitis B (ASHB), subacute severe hepatitis B (SASHB), and chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB). No relation was found between sIL-2R level and hepatitis B virusreplication activity.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNo.81360318+1 种基金the Application and Basic Research Program of Qinghai Province of ChinaNo.2014-Z-745
文摘AIM: To determine whether the positive status of human epidermal growth receptor 2(HER2) can be regarded as an effective prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer(GC) undergoing R0 resection.METHODS: A total of 1562 GC patients treated by R0 resection were recruited. HER2 status was evaluated in surgically resected samples of all the patients using immunohistochemical(IHC) staining. Correlations between HER2 status and clinicopathological characteristics were retrospective analyzed. Hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard model, stratified by age, gender, tumor location and tumor-nodemetastasis(TNM) stage, with additional adjustment for potential prognostic factors.RESULTS: Among 1562 patients, 548(positive rate = 35.08%, 95%CI: 32.72%-37.45%) were HER2 positive. Positive status of HER2 was significantly correlated with gender(P = 0.004), minority(P < 0.001), tumor location(P = 0.001), pathological grade(P < 0.001), TNM stage(P < 0.001) and adjuvant radiotherapy(74.67% vs 23.53%, P = 0.011). No significant associations were observed between HER2 status and disease free survival(HR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.96-1.46, P = 0.105) or overall survival(HR = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.96-1.48, P = 0.118) using multivariate analysis, although stratified analyses showed marginally statistically significant associations both in disease free survival and overall survival, especially among patients aged < 60 years or with early TNM stages(Ⅰ and Ⅱ). Categorical age, TNM stage, neural invasion, and adjuvant chemotherapy were, as expected, independent prognostic factors for both disease free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSION: The positive status of HER2 based on IHC staining was not related to the survival in patients with GC among the Chinese population.
文摘Objective: To investigate the difference of peripheral blood sIL-2R before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and evaluate the clinical value of the sIL-2R in breast cancer's diagnosis and therapy. Methods: The peripheral blood sIL-2R levels of the breast cancer patients with or without chemotherapy were detected by ELISA. The healthy persons were made as the control group. Results: The sIL-2R levels of the breast cancer patients were higher than that of the control group(P(0.05); the sIL-2R's levels in I^II stage breast cancer were lower than that in Ill^IV stage breast cancer (P(0.05); the sIL-2R levels of the patients before chemotherapy were higher than that of the patients undergone chemotherapy(P(0.05); The level of the patient with chemotherapy was still higher than that of the control group (P(0.05); the sIL-2R levels of the patients whose chemotherapies were noneffective were higher than that of the patients received effective chemotherapies (P(0.05). There was no significant difference between the group with ER(+) or PR(+) and the group with ER(-) or PR(-)(P〉0.05). Conclusion: The breast cancer patients have the high sIL-2R levels. There is a close relationship between the cancer incidence and the patients, immune situation. The level of sIL-2R could be a clinical index which can be used for evaluating the cancer degree, because the higher levels of sIL-2R can indicate that the immune ability of patient is worse. There is a significant difference between the sIL-2R levels of the patients before chemotherapy and that of the patients undergone chemotherapy.
文摘As of August 16,2021,there have been 207,173,086 confirmed cases and 4,361,996 deaths due to the coronavirus disease(COVID-19),and the pandemic remains a global challenge.To date,no effective and approved drugs are available for the treatment of COVID-19.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)plays a crucial role in the invasion into host cells by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the etiological agent of COVID-19.Notably,ACE2 density is influenced by medical conditions,such as hypertension,or by drugs,including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)and angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs),which can change the fate of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.ACE2 is a target for these drugs and can be manipulated to limit the viral entry and replication within the cells.Different strategies aimed at blocking ACE2 with small molecules,peptides,and antibodies,or by neutralizing the virus through its competitive binding with human recombinant soluble ACE2(hrsACE2)are currently under investigation.In this article,we review the current state of knowledge that emphasizes the need to find effective therapeutic agents against COVID-19 by exploiting ACE2 as a potential target.The increased soluble ACE2 levels and the application of hrsACE2 in patients with COVID-19 can be implemented to control the disease.It has not yet been established whether hypertension and other comorbidities,independent of age,have a direct role in COVID-19.Therefore,the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors,ACEIs and ARBs,should not be discontinued during COVID-19 treatment.
基金supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Reaserch(C)20K05927 from JSPS KAKENHI,Japan.
文摘Isofloridoside (IF) is a naturally occurring galactosylglycerol compound with a refreshing sweet taste. It is found in red algae, where it acts as a photosynthetic intermediate. However, the mechanism by which IF elicits sweetness has not been determined. In this study, we investigate the interaction between IF and the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3. We show that IF causes an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and an increase in Erk phosphorylation in T1R2/T1R3-expressing HEK293T cells, indicating that IF interacts with T1R2/T1R3. IF also activates endogenously expressed T1R2/T1R3 in mouse small intestinal endocrine L-cells, and promotes the secretion of the incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In silico docking simulations of IF and T1R2/T1R3 predict that IF forms hydrogen bonds with Tyr103 in the extracellular Venus flytrap domain of T1R2. This result is consistent with the binding mode of many other sweet-tasting molecules. We found that IF have the potential as a new alternative sweetener.
基金supported in part by grants from the Public Health Services Grants CA125379NIH P30 DK078392 from the National Institutes of Health,Veteran's Administration VA1001BX00080312POST12040055 from the American Heart Association Great Rivers Affiliate
文摘BACKGROUND: Ron receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in macrophages, including Kupffer cells and alveolar macrophages,suppresses endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. Further, we have also identified genes from Ron replete and Ron deplete livers that were differentially expressed during the progression of liver inflammation associated with acute liver failure in mice by microarray analyses.While important genes and signaling pathways have been identified downstream of Ron signaling during progression of inflammation by this approach, the precise role that Ron receptor plays in regulating the transcriptional landscape in macrophages, and particular in isolated Kupffer cells, has still not been investigated.METHODS: Kupffer cells were isolated from wild-type(TK+/+)and Ron tyrosine kinase deficient(TK-/-) mice. Ex vivo, the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in the presence or absence of the Ron ligand, hepatocyte growth factor-like protein(HGFL). Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses were utilized to identify alterations in gene expression between genotypes.RESULTS: Microarray analyses identified genes expressed differentially in TK+/+ and TK-/- Kupffer cells basally as well as after HGFL and LPS treatment. Interestingly, our studies identified Mefv, a gene that codes for the anti-inflammatory protein pyrin, as an HGFL-stimulated Ron-dependent gene.Moreover, lipocalin 2, a proinflammatory gene, which is induced by LPS, was significantly suppressed by HGFL treatment.Microarray results were validated by qRT-PCR studies on Kupffer cells treated with LPS and HGFL.CONCLUSION: The studies herein suggest a novel mechanism whereby HGFL-induced Ron receptor activation promotes the expression of anti-inflammatory genes while inhibiting genes involved in inflammation with a net effect of diminished inflammation in macrophages.
基金Supported by the Special Research Project for Capital Health Development,No.2022-2-2174the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission,No.Z191100007619037.
文摘BACKGROUND The transforming growth factor β(TGFβ) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development of liver fibrosis by activating TGFβ type Ⅱ receptor(TGFβR2), followed by the recruitment of TGFβR1 finally triggering downstream signaling pathway.AIM To find drugs targeting TGFβR2 that inhibit TGFβR1/TGFβR2 complex formation, theoretically inhibit TGFβ signaling pathway, and thereby ameliorate liver fibrosis.METHODS Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs were screened for binding affinity with TGFβR2 by virtual molecular docking. We identified 6 candidates and further explored their potential by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) cell cytotoxic experiment to validate toxicity and titrated the best cellular working concentrations. Next, we further demonstrated the detailed molecular working mechanisms using mutagenesis analysis. Finally, we used a mouse model to investigate its potential anti-liver fibrosis effect.RESULTS We identified 6 drug candidates. Among these 6 drugs, dihydroergotamine(DHE) shows great ability in reducing fibrotic gene expressions such as collagen, p-SMAD3, and α-SMA in TGFβ induced cellular model of liver fibrosis in LX-2 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DHE binds to TGFβR2. Moreover, mutation of Leu27, Phe30, Thr51, Ser52, Ile53, and Glu55 of TGFβR2 disrupted the binding of TGFβR2 with DHE. In addition, DHE significantly improved liver fibrosis, as evidenced by Masson’s trichrome staining of liver sections. This is further supported by the width and the velocity of the portal vein, and serum markers of liver function. In line with those observations, DHE also decreased macrophages infiltration and extracellular matrix deposition in the liver.CONCLUSION DHE alleviates liver fibrosis by binding to TGFβR2 thereby suppressing TGFβ signaling pathway. We show here that as far as drug repurposing, DHE has great potential to treat liver fibrosis.
基金supported by the Peak Disciplines(Type IV)of Institutions of Higher Learning in Shanghai,the Discipline Leader Program of Pudong New District Health and Family Planning Commission(No.PWRd2018-02)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(Nos.20181ACB20021 and 20181BAB205044),China.
文摘diabetes mellitus(DM)is a disease syndrome characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia.A long-term high-glucose environment leads to reactive oxygen species(ROS)production and nuclear DNA damage.human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(HUcMSC)infusion induces significant antidiabetic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1)receptor(IGF1R)is important in promoting glucose metabolism in diabetes;however,the mechanism by which HUcMSC can treat diabetes through IGF1R and DNA damage repair remains unclear.In this study,a DM rat model was induced with high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin(STZ)administration and rats were infused four times with HUcMSC.Blood glucose,interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-10,glomerular basement membrane,and renal function were examined.Proteins that interacted with IGF1R were determined through coimmunoprecipitation assays.The expression of IGF1R,phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 2(p-CHK2),and phosphorylated protein 53(p-p53)was examined using immunohistochemistry(IHC)and western blot analysis.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the serum levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG).Flow cytometry experiments were used to detect the surface markers of HUcMSC.The identification of the morphology and phenotype of HUcMSC was performed by way of oil red“O”staining and Alizarin red staining.DM rats exhibited abnormal blood glucose and IL-6/10 levels and renal function changes in the glomerular basement membrane,increased the expression of IGF1 and IGF1R.IGF1R interacted with CHK2,and the expression of p-CHK2 was significantly decreased in IGF1R-knockdown cells.When cisplatin was used to induce DNA damage,the expression of p-CHK2 was higher than that in the IGF1R-knockdown group without cisplatin treatment.HUcMSC infusion ameliorated abnormalities and preserved kidney structure and function in DM rats.The expression of IGF1,IGF1R,p-CHK2,and p-p53,and the level of 8-OHdG in the DM group increased significantly compared with those in the control group,and decreased after HUcMSC treatment.Our results suggested that IGF1R could interact with CHK2 and mediate DNA damage.HUcMSC infusion protected against kidney injury in DM rats.The underlying mechanisms may include HUcMSC-mediated enhancement of diabetes treatment via the IGF1R-CHK2-p53 signalling pathway.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81302686)Primary Research&Developement Plan of Shandong Province(No.2016GSF201083)
文摘Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR-2)and neuropilin-1(NRP-1)are two prominent antiangiogenic targets.They are highly expressed on vascular endothelial cells and some tumor cells.Therefore,targeting VEGFR-2 and NRP-1 may be a potential antiangiogenic and antitumor strategy.A7R,a peptide with sequence of Ala-Thr-Trp-Leu-Pro-Pro-Arg that was found by phage display of peptide libraries,can preferentially target VEGFR-2 and NRP-1 and destroy the binding between vascular endothelial growth factor 165(VEGF165)and VEGFR-2 or NRP-1.This peptide is a new potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and a targeting ligand for cancer therapy.This review describes the discovery,function and mechanism of the action of A7R,and further introduces the applications of A7R in antitumor angiogenic treatments,tumor angiogenesis imaging and targeted drug delivery systems.In this review,strategies to deliver different drugs by A7R-modified liposomes and nanoparticles are highlighted.A7R,a new dual targeting ligand of VEGFR-2 and NRP-1,is expected to have efficient therapeutic or targeting roles in tumor drug delivery.