The nociceptin receptor（NOP） has been involved in multiple biological functions, including pain, anxiety, cough, substance abuse, cardiovascular control, and immunity. Thus, selective NOP agonists might have clinica...The nociceptin receptor（NOP） has been involved in multiple biological functions, including pain, anxiety, cough, substance abuse, cardiovascular control, and immunity. Thus, selective NOP agonists might have clinical potential for the treatment of related diseases. In the present work, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship（3D-QSAR） studies were performed on a series of 3-substituted N-benzhydryl-nortropane analogs as NOP agonists using comparative molecular field analysis（Co MFA） and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis（CoM SIA） techniques. The statistically significant models were obtained with 54 compounds in training set by ligand-based atom-by-atom matching alignment. The CoM FA model gave cross-validated coefficient（q2） value of 0.530 using 6 components, non-cross-validated（r2） value of 0.921 with estimated F value of 93.668, and standard error of estimate（SEE） of 0.185. The best Co MSIA model resulted in q2 = 0.592, r2 = 0.945, N = 10, SEE = 0.162, and F = 75.654, based on steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bond acceptor fields. The predictive ability of the Co MFA and CoM SIA models was further validated using a test set of 18 molecules that were not included in the training set, which resulted in predictive correlation coefficients（r2pred） of 0.551 and 0.637, respectively. Moreover, the CoM FA and CoM SIA contour maps identified the features important for exhibiting potent binding affinities on NOP, and can thus serve as a useful guide for the design of potential NOP agonists.展开更多
AIM:To establish whether activation of adenosine type-3 receptors(A3Rs)and inhibition of interleukin- 1β-induced inflammation is beneficial in combination with antibiotic therapy to increase survival of mice challeng...AIM:To establish whether activation of adenosine type-3 receptors(A3Rs)and inhibition of interleukin- 1β-induced inflammation is beneficial in combination with antibiotic therapy to increase survival of mice challenged with anthrax spores. METHODS:DBA/2 mice were challenged with Bacillus anthracis spores of the toxigenic Sterne strain 43F2. Survival of animals was monitored for 15 d.Ciprofloxacin treatment(50 mg/kg,once daily,intraperitoneally) was initiated at day+1 simultaneously with the ad- ministration of inhibitors,and continued for 10 d.Two doses(2.5 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg)of acetyl-tyrosylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone(YVAD)and three doses(0.05,0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg)of 1-[2-Chloro- 6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-1- deoxy-N-methyl-β-D-ribofuranuronamide(Cl-IB-MECA) were tested.Animals received YVAD on days 1-4,and Cl-IB-MECA on days 1-10 once daily,subcutaneously. Human lung epithelial cells in culture were challenged with spores or edema toxin and the effects of IB-MECAon phosphorylation of AKT and generation of cAMP were tested. RESULTS:We showed that the outcome of antibiotic treatment in a murine anthrax model could be substantially improved by co-administration of the caspase-1/4 inhibitor YVAD and the A3R agonist Cl-IB-MECA.Combination treatment with these substances and ciprofloxacin resulted in up to 90%synergistic protection.All untreated mice died,and antibiotic alone protected only 30% of animals.We conclude that both substances target the aberrant host signaling that underpins anthrax mortality. CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest new possibilities for combination therapy of anthrax with antibiotics,A3R agonists and caspase-1 inhibitors.展开更多
Ischemic stroke is a global epidemic condition due to an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a specific area of brain either by arterial blockage or by narrowing of blood vessels.Despite having advancement in the...Ischemic stroke is a global epidemic condition due to an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a specific area of brain either by arterial blockage or by narrowing of blood vessels.Despite having advancement in the use of thrombolytic and clot removal medicine,significant numbers of stroke patients are still left out without option for treatment.In this review,we summarize recent research work on the activation ofδ-opioid receptor as a strategy for treating ischemic stroke-caused neuronal injury.Moreover,as activation ofδ-opioid receptor by a non-peptidicδ-opioid receptor agonist also modulates the expression,maturation and processing of amyloid precursor protein andβ-secretase activity,the potential role of these effects on ischemic stroke caused dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are also discussed.展开更多
Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor has been shown to lower the incidence of Parkinson's disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.Therefore,using these two treatme...Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor has been shown to lower the incidence of Parkinson's disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.Therefore,using these two treatments may help treat Parkinson's disease.To further investigate the mechanisms of action of these two compounds,we established a model of Parkinson's disease by treating mice with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and then subcutaneously injected them with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 or the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor linagliptin.We found that both exendin-4 and linagliptin reversed motor dysfunction,glial activation,and dopaminergic neuronal death in this model.In addition,both exendin-4 and linagliptin induced microglial polarization to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.Moreover,in vitro experiments showed that treatment with exendin-4 and linagliptin inhibited activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-and leucine-rich-repeat-and pyrin-domaincontaining 3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway and subsequent pyroptosis by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species.These findings suggest that exendin-4 and linagliptin exert neuroprotective effects by attenuating neuroinflammation through regulation of microglial polarization and the nucleotidebinding oligomerization domain-and leucine-rich-repeat-and pyrin-domain-containing 3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.Therefore,these two drugs may serve as novel anti-inflammatory treatments for Parkinson's disease.展开更多
Background:μ-opioid receptor agonists(MORAs)are indispensable for analgesia in bladder cancer(BC)patients,both during surgery and for chronic pain treatment.Whether MORAs affect BC progression and metastasis remains ...Background:μ-opioid receptor agonists(MORAs)are indispensable for analgesia in bladder cancer(BC)patients,both during surgery and for chronic pain treatment.Whether MORAs affect BC progression and metastasis remains largely unknown.This study focused on the effects of MORAs on the formation of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in BC and aimed to provide potential therapeutic targets,which would retain the pain-relieving effects of MORAs in BC patients without sacrificing their long-term prognosis.Methods:Different preclinical models were used to identify the effects of MORAs on the progression of BC.A novel immunocapture microfluidic chip was utilized to analyze whether MORAs affected the number of CTCs in mouse models and clinical BC patients.Bioinformatic analyses,total transcriptome sequencing,and molecular biology methods were then used to investigate the underlying mechanisms in these models and in BC cell lines.Results:Mouse models of hematogenous metastasis and in situ BC demonstrated that tumor metastasis was significantly increased after MORA treatment.A significant increase in the number of mesenchymal and/or epithelial CTCs was detected after MORA treatment in both the mouse models and clinical trial patients.Mechanistically,MORAs facilitated the formation of CTCs by activating the MOR/PI3K/AKT/Slug signaling pathway,hereby promoting the epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)of BC cells,as knockdown of MOR,Slug or blockade of PI3K inhibited the EMT process and CTC formation.Conclusion:MORAs promoted BC metastasis by facilitating CTC formation.The EMT-CTC axis could be targeted for preventive measures during MORA treatment to inhibit the associated tumormetastasis or recurrence in BC patients.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81101687)
文摘The nociceptin receptor（NOP） has been involved in multiple biological functions, including pain, anxiety, cough, substance abuse, cardiovascular control, and immunity. Thus, selective NOP agonists might have clinical potential for the treatment of related diseases. In the present work, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship（3D-QSAR） studies were performed on a series of 3-substituted N-benzhydryl-nortropane analogs as NOP agonists using comparative molecular field analysis（Co MFA） and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis（CoM SIA） techniques. The statistically significant models were obtained with 54 compounds in training set by ligand-based atom-by-atom matching alignment. The CoM FA model gave cross-validated coefficient（q2） value of 0.530 using 6 components, non-cross-validated（r2） value of 0.921 with estimated F value of 93.668, and standard error of estimate（SEE） of 0.185. The best Co MSIA model resulted in q2 = 0.592, r2 = 0.945, N = 10, SEE = 0.162, and F = 75.654, based on steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bond acceptor fields. The predictive ability of the Co MFA and CoM SIA models was further validated using a test set of 18 molecules that were not included in the training set, which resulted in predictive correlation coefficients（r2pred） of 0.551 and 0.637, respectively. Moreover, the CoM FA and CoM SIA contour maps identified the features important for exhibiting potent binding affinities on NOP, and can thus serve as a useful guide for the design of potential NOP agonists.
基金Supported by The US Department of Defense grant DAMD17-03-C-0122
文摘AIM:To establish whether activation of adenosine type-3 receptors(A3Rs)and inhibition of interleukin- 1β-induced inflammation is beneficial in combination with antibiotic therapy to increase survival of mice challenged with anthrax spores. METHODS:DBA/2 mice were challenged with Bacillus anthracis spores of the toxigenic Sterne strain 43F2. Survival of animals was monitored for 15 d.Ciprofloxacin treatment(50 mg/kg,once daily,intraperitoneally) was initiated at day+1 simultaneously with the ad- ministration of inhibitors,and continued for 10 d.Two doses(2.5 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg)of acetyl-tyrosylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone(YVAD)and three doses(0.05,0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg)of 1-[2-Chloro- 6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-1- deoxy-N-methyl-β-D-ribofuranuronamide(Cl-IB-MECA) were tested.Animals received YVAD on days 1-4,and Cl-IB-MECA on days 1-10 once daily,subcutaneously. Human lung epithelial cells in culture were challenged with spores or edema toxin and the effects of IB-MECAon phosphorylation of AKT and generation of cAMP were tested. RESULTS:We showed that the outcome of antibiotic treatment in a murine anthrax model could be substantially improved by co-administration of the caspase-1/4 inhibitor YVAD and the A3R agonist Cl-IB-MECA.Combination treatment with these substances and ciprofloxacin resulted in up to 90%synergistic protection.All untreated mice died,and antibiotic alone protected only 30% of animals.We conclude that both substances target the aberrant host signaling that underpins anthrax mortality. CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest new possibilities for combination therapy of anthrax with antibiotics,A3R agonists and caspase-1 inhibitors.
基金supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke under research grant NS088084(to HW)
文摘Ischemic stroke is a global epidemic condition due to an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a specific area of brain either by arterial blockage or by narrowing of blood vessels.Despite having advancement in the use of thrombolytic and clot removal medicine,significant numbers of stroke patients are still left out without option for treatment.In this review,we summarize recent research work on the activation ofδ-opioid receptor as a strategy for treating ischemic stroke-caused neuronal injury.Moreover,as activation ofδ-opioid receptor by a non-peptidicδ-opioid receptor agonist also modulates the expression,maturation and processing of amyloid precursor protein andβ-secretase activity,the potential role of these effects on ischemic stroke caused dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are also discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81771271(to JF),31800898(to WL),81430025(to JYL),and U1801681(to JYL)Key Research and Development Program of Liaoning Province,No.2020JH2/10300047(to JF)+1 种基金the Key Field Research Development Program of Guangdong Province,No.2018B030337001(to JYL)the Outstanding Scientific Fund of Shengjing Hospital,No.M0475(to JF)。
文摘Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor has been shown to lower the incidence of Parkinson's disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.Therefore,using these two treatments may help treat Parkinson's disease.To further investigate the mechanisms of action of these two compounds,we established a model of Parkinson's disease by treating mice with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and then subcutaneously injected them with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 or the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor linagliptin.We found that both exendin-4 and linagliptin reversed motor dysfunction,glial activation,and dopaminergic neuronal death in this model.In addition,both exendin-4 and linagliptin induced microglial polarization to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.Moreover,in vitro experiments showed that treatment with exendin-4 and linagliptin inhibited activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-and leucine-rich-repeat-and pyrin-domaincontaining 3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway and subsequent pyroptosis by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species.These findings suggest that exendin-4 and linagliptin exert neuroprotective effects by attenuating neuroinflammation through regulation of microglial polarization and the nucleotidebinding oligomerization domain-and leucine-rich-repeat-and pyrin-domain-containing 3/caspase-1/interleukin-1βpathway in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.Therefore,these two drugs may serve as novel anti-inflammatory treatments for Parkinson's disease.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:82171177,82173076Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation,Grant/Award Number:19ZR1430600+6 种基金Clinical Research Plan of Shanghai Hospital Development Center,Grant/Award Number:SHDC2020CR4062Key Specialty Construction Project of Pudong Health and Family Planning Commission of Shanghai,Grant/Award Number:PWZxq2017-06Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty,Grant/Award Number:shslczdzk03601Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Peri-operative Organ Support and Function Preservation,Grant/Award Number:20DZ2254200Shanghai 2021“Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan”domestic science and technology cooperation project,Grant/Award Number:21015801500Innovative research team of high-level local universities in Shanghai,Grant/Award Number:SHSMU-ZLCX20212601STI2030-Major Projects,Grant/Award Number:2022ZD0206200。
文摘Background:μ-opioid receptor agonists(MORAs)are indispensable for analgesia in bladder cancer(BC)patients,both during surgery and for chronic pain treatment.Whether MORAs affect BC progression and metastasis remains largely unknown.This study focused on the effects of MORAs on the formation of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in BC and aimed to provide potential therapeutic targets,which would retain the pain-relieving effects of MORAs in BC patients without sacrificing their long-term prognosis.Methods:Different preclinical models were used to identify the effects of MORAs on the progression of BC.A novel immunocapture microfluidic chip was utilized to analyze whether MORAs affected the number of CTCs in mouse models and clinical BC patients.Bioinformatic analyses,total transcriptome sequencing,and molecular biology methods were then used to investigate the underlying mechanisms in these models and in BC cell lines.Results:Mouse models of hematogenous metastasis and in situ BC demonstrated that tumor metastasis was significantly increased after MORA treatment.A significant increase in the number of mesenchymal and/or epithelial CTCs was detected after MORA treatment in both the mouse models and clinical trial patients.Mechanistically,MORAs facilitated the formation of CTCs by activating the MOR/PI3K/AKT/Slug signaling pathway,hereby promoting the epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)of BC cells,as knockdown of MOR,Slug or blockade of PI3K inhibited the EMT process and CTC formation.Conclusion:MORAs promoted BC metastasis by facilitating CTC formation.The EMT-CTC axis could be targeted for preventive measures during MORA treatment to inhibit the associated tumormetastasis or recurrence in BC patients.
