In this report, we reviewed recent literature on physiologically active substances from sea cucumbers (SCs) andtheir activities together with results obtained from our study. Preventive properties against lipid metabo...In this report, we reviewed recent literature on physiologically active substances from sea cucumbers (SCs) andtheir activities together with results obtained from our study. Preventive properties against lipid metabolism were reported inrats using a whole SC preparation with no particular constituent specified. Administration of the preparation lowered serumand hepatic cholesterol levels and improved the HDL/LDL ratio. These functions may be attributed to the stimulatory effectof the extract on the secretion of cholesterol in feces. Novel fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCSs) from Ludwigothureagrisea significantly induced fibroblast growth factor 2-dependent angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HU-VECs). The proangiogenetic activity seemed attributable to the action of the sulfated fucose branches on the polysaccharide.SCs contain mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) that are capable of absorbing UV. A biogenetic precursor of MAAs wasfirst reported in SCs. The anti-proliferative effects of a branched chain fatty acid from a sea cucumber on prostate cancercells was reported with the activity of 5-lipoxygenase. Glycosphingolipid constituents in SCs have been systematically ana-lyzed over the past ten years. The results showed that the gangliosides in several SCs differed from those of mammals in thata sialic acid of SC gangliosides directly binded to glucose of cerebroside. Neuritogenic activity of the glycosphingolipids wasdemonstrated in vitro experiments and may lead to the development of therapeutic products for neurological disorders. Ourstudy also showed that sphingoid bases, the hydrolyzed products of glycosphingolipids from SCs, induced significant apoptosisin several tumor cell lines.展开更多
Ion channels are membrane proteins that are found in a number of viruses and which are of crucial physiological importance in the viral life cycle. They have one common feature in that their action mode involves a cha...Ion channels are membrane proteins that are found in a number of viruses and which are of crucial physiological importance in the viral life cycle. They have one common feature in that their action mode involves a change of electrochemical or proton gradient across the bilayer lipid membrane which modulates viral or cellular activity. We will discuss a group of viral channel proteins that belong to the viroproin family, and which participate in a number of viral functions including promoting the release of viral particles from cells. Blocking these channel-forming proteins may be ＂lethal＂, which can be a suitable and potential therapeutic strategy. In this review we discuss seven ion channels of viruses which can lead serious infections in human beings： M2 of influenza A, NB and BM2 of influenza B, CM2 of influenza C, Vpu of HIV-1, p7 of HCV and 2B of picomaviruses.展开更多
文摘In this report, we reviewed recent literature on physiologically active substances from sea cucumbers (SCs) andtheir activities together with results obtained from our study. Preventive properties against lipid metabolism were reported inrats using a whole SC preparation with no particular constituent specified. Administration of the preparation lowered serumand hepatic cholesterol levels and improved the HDL/LDL ratio. These functions may be attributed to the stimulatory effectof the extract on the secretion of cholesterol in feces. Novel fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCSs) from Ludwigothureagrisea significantly induced fibroblast growth factor 2-dependent angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HU-VECs). The proangiogenetic activity seemed attributable to the action of the sulfated fucose branches on the polysaccharide.SCs contain mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) that are capable of absorbing UV. A biogenetic precursor of MAAs wasfirst reported in SCs. The anti-proliferative effects of a branched chain fatty acid from a sea cucumber on prostate cancercells was reported with the activity of 5-lipoxygenase. Glycosphingolipid constituents in SCs have been systematically ana-lyzed over the past ten years. The results showed that the gangliosides in several SCs differed from those of mammals in thata sialic acid of SC gangliosides directly binded to glucose of cerebroside. Neuritogenic activity of the glycosphingolipids wasdemonstrated in vitro experiments and may lead to the development of therapeutic products for neurological disorders. Ourstudy also showed that sphingoid bases, the hydrolyzed products of glycosphingolipids from SCs, induced significant apoptosisin several tumor cell lines.
文摘Ion channels are membrane proteins that are found in a number of viruses and which are of crucial physiological importance in the viral life cycle. They have one common feature in that their action mode involves a change of electrochemical or proton gradient across the bilayer lipid membrane which modulates viral or cellular activity. We will discuss a group of viral channel proteins that belong to the viroproin family, and which participate in a number of viral functions including promoting the release of viral particles from cells. Blocking these channel-forming proteins may be ＂lethal＂, which can be a suitable and potential therapeutic strategy. In this review we discuss seven ion channels of viruses which can lead serious infections in human beings： M2 of influenza A, NB and BM2 of influenza B, CM2 of influenza C, Vpu of HIV-1, p7 of HCV and 2B of picomaviruses.
