Spatiotemporal pharmacometabolomics based on ambient mass spectrometry imaging to evaluate the metabolism and hepatotoxicity of amiodarone in HepG2 spheroids

Three-dimensional(3D)cell spheroid models combined with mass spectrometry imaging(MSI)enables innovative investigation of in vivo-like biological processes under different physiological and pathological conditions.Herein,airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization-MSI(AFADESI-MSI)was coupled with 3D HepG2 spheroids to assess the metabolism and hepatotoxicity of amiodarone(AMI).High-coverage imaging of>1100 endogenous metabolites in hepatocyte spheroids was achieved using AFADESI-MSI.Following AMI treatment at different times,15 metabolites of AMI involved in Ndesethylation,hydroxylation,deiodination,and desaturation metabolic reactions were identified,and according to their spatiotemporal dynamics features,the metabolic pathways of AMI were proposed.Subsequently,the temporal and spatial changes in metabolic disturbance within spheroids caused by drug exposure were obtained via metabolomic analysis.The main dysregulated metabolic pathways included arachidonic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism,providing considerable evidence for the mechanism of AMI hepatotoxicity.In addition,a biomarker group of eight fatty acids was selected that provided improved indication of cell viability and could characterize the hepatotoxicity of AMI.The combination of AFADESI-MSI and HepG2 spheroids can simultaneously obtain spatiotemporal information for drugs,drug metabolites,and endogenous metabolites after AMI treatment,providing an effective tool for in vitro drug hepatotoxicity evaluation.

Progress on diagnostic and prognostic markers of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant disease characterized by low survival and high recurrence rate,whose patients are mostly at the stage of locally advanced or metastatic disease when first diagnosed.Early diagnosis is particularly important because prognostic/predictive markers help guide optimal individualized treatment regimens.So far,CA19-9 is the only biomarker for pancreatic cancer approved by the FDA,but its effectiveness is limited by low sensitivity and specificity.With recent advances in genomics,proteomics,metabolomics,and other analytical and sequencing technologies,the rapid acquisition and screening of biomarkers is now possible.Liquid biopsy also occupies a significant place due to its unique advantages.In this review,we systematically describe and evaluate the available biomarkers that have the greatest potential as vital tools in diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer.

Gut microbiota-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic study and molecular mechanism of specnuezhenide in the treatment of colorectal cancer targeting carboxylesterase

Specnuezhenide(SNZ)is among the main components of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi,which has antiinflammation,anti-oxidation,and anti-tumor effect.The low bioavailability makes it difficult to explain the mechanism of pharmacological effect of SNZ.In this study,the role of the gut microbiota in the metabolism and pharmacokinetics characteristics of SNZ as well as the pharmacological meaning were explored.SNZ can be rapidly metabolized by the gut microbiome,and two intestinal bacterial metabolites of SNZ,salidroside and tyrosol,were discovered.In addition,carboxylesterase may be the main intestinal bacterial enzyme that mediates its metabolism.At the same time,no metabolism was found in the incubation system of SNZ with liver microsomes or liver homogenate,indicating that the gut microbiota is the main part involved in the metabolism of SNZ.In addition,pharmacokinetic studies showed that salidroside and tyrosol can be detected in plasma in the presence of gut microbiota.Interestingly,tumor development was inhibited in a colorectal tumor mice model administered orally with SNZ,which indicated that SNZ exhibited potential to inhibit tumor growth,and tissue distribution studies showed that salidroside and tyrosol could be distributed in tumor tissues.At the same time,SNZ modulated the structure of gut microbiota and fungal group,which may be the mechanism governing the antitumoral activity of SNZ.Furthermore,SNZ stimulates the secretion of short-chain fatty acids by intestinal flora in vitro and in vivo.In the future,targeting gut microbes and the interaction between natural products and gut microbes could lead to the discovery and development of new drugs.

Expression and prognosis of inducible T-cell co-stimulator and its ligand in Chinese stage I–III lung adenocarcinoma patients

Background:Immunotherapy has become the fastest-adopting treatment paradigm for lung cancer with improved survival.By binding with its ligand(inducible T-cell costimulator and its ligand[ICOSL]),an inducible T-cell co-stimulator(ICOS)could contribute to reversing immunosuppression and improving immune response and thus be a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.Methods:We selected 54 formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from cases with stage I–III lung adenocarcinoma cancer.Immunohistochemical expression of ICOS and ICOSL was evaluated.The correlation with clinical parameters in Chinese patients was also compared with TCGA results.Results:The positive rates of ICOS and ICOSL were 68%and 81.5%,respectively,in lung tumor tissues.Of these,9 cases had a low expression of ICOS,and 22 cases had a high expression of ICOS;ICOSL expression was low in 20 cases and high in 24 cases.According to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer(8th edition),phase I lesions were detected in 21 cases,phase II lesions in 15 cases,and phase III lesions in 18 cases.The median survival time of all patients was 44.5 months,and the median disease-free survival was 32 months.Univariate analysis showed that the factors significantly associated with overall survival were tumor size,regional lymph node involvement,stage,and expression level of ICOS/ICOSL.Survival analysis using log-rank test indicated that the lower ICOS+cell infiltration may predict poor prognosis,whereas lower ICOSL protein expression may be associated with better prognosis,but ICOSL data need further validation in larger samples due to inconsistency in TCGA mRNA prediction.Conclusion:ICOS/ICOSL might be associated with prognosis of lung cancer,and ICOS and its ligand may be potential therapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer.

Promise of spatially resolved omics for tumor research

Tumors are spatially heterogeneous tissues that comprise numerous cell types with intricate structures.By interacting with the microenvironment,tumor cells undergo dynamic changes in gene expression and metabolism,resulting in spatiotemporal variations in their capacity for proliferation and metastasis.In recent years,the rapid development of histological techniques has enabled efficient and high-throughput biomolecule analysis.By preserving location information while obtaining a large number of gene and molecular data,spatially resolved metabolomics(SRM)and spatially resolved transcriptomics(SRT)approaches can offer new ideas and reliable tools for the in-depth study of tumors.This review provides a comprehensive introduction and summary of the fundamental principles and research methods used for SRM and SRT techniques,as well as a review of their applications in cancer-related fields.

Integration of network pharmacology with experimental verification reveals the hypoglycemic mechanism of coptisine in Jinqi Jiangtang tablets:inhibition of the FoxO1 signaling pathway and hepatic gluconeogenesis

Background:Jinqi Jiangtang tablets(JQJT)have been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in China for many years.Exploring the effective substances and mechanisms of JQJT is important for its clinical application and further drug research and development.This study aimed to explore the chemical basis and mechanisms of JQJT in the treatment of T2DM.Methods:With network pharmacology,we screened substances in JQJT and their possible targets,then constructed the action network and enriched the biological functions and pathways associated with the active components,and identified the potential targets and mechanisms of JQJT in the treatment of T2DM.Based on the network pharmacology data,we explored the hypoglycemic mechanisms of coptisine in JQJT through western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results:Forty-three compounds with good pharmacokinetic properties were identified in JQJT,together with 146 potential biological targets.Among these potential targets,74 were associated with treatment of T2DM.A compound-target network of the 43 compounds against T2DM was constructed.Biological process and signal pathway enrichment analysis of the network highlighted the FoxO signaling pathway.Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that coptisine,but not epiberberine,significantly inhibited expression of key genes involved in hepatocyte gluconeogenesis by regulating the FoxO1 signaling pathway.Conclusion:Network pharmacology analysis and cell experiments showed that coptisine regulated glucose homeostasis by inhibiting the FoxO1 signaling pathway and hepatic gluconeogenesis,which may be one of the mechanisms of JQJT in the treatment of T2DM.

In vitro and in vivo antioxidative and hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Cortex Dictamni

AIM To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Cortex Dictamni aqueous extract(CDAE) in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats.METHODS The in vitro antioxidant effect of CDAE was investigated using α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), β-carotene bleaching, reducing power, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assays. A linoleic acid system, including ferric thiocyanate(FTC) and thiobarbituric acid(TBA) assays, was used to evaluate the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of CDAEagainst CCl4-induced liver damage were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Silymarin was used as a positive control. Liver damage was assessed by determining hepatic histopathology and liver marker enzymes in serum. Enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidant levels and lipid peroxide content were measured in the liver. Cytochrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1) protein expression was measured via immunohistochemical staining. Nuclear factor E2-related factor(Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase catalytic subunit(γ-GCSc) protein expression was measured by Western blot.RESULTS Our results showed that CDAE exhibited a strong antioxidant activity in vitro. CDAE scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals in a dose-dependent manner. CDAE inhibited lipid peroxidation with a lipid peroxide inhibition rate of 40.6% ± 5.2%. In the FTC and TBA assays, CDAE significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation(P < 0.01). In vivo histopathological studies indicated that CCl4-induced liver injury was alleviated following CDAE treatment in rats of both sexes. CDAE(160 and 320 mg/kg) significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevations of alkaline phosphatase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in rats of both sexes(P < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001). Moreover, CDAE restored the decreased activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as non-enzyme antioxidant glutathione, which were induced by CCl4 treatment. CDAE significantly suppressed the up-regulation of CYP2E1 and promoted Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and γ-GCSc protein expression.CONCLUSION CDAE exhibits good antioxidant performance in vitro, with marked radical-scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. CDAE is effective in preventing CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats of both sexes. The hepatoprotective activity of CDAE may be attributable to its antioxidant activity, which may involve Keap1-Nrf2-mediated antioxidant regulation.

Inhibition of chemokine-like factor 1 improves bloodbrain barrier dysfunction in rats following focal cerebral ischemia

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1),a novel C-C chemokine,on brain-blood barrier(BBB)integrity in rat focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model.METHODS Antibodies against CKLF1 was applied to the rightcerebral ventricle immediately after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.Brain water content,Evans blue leakage and the expression of aquaporin-4(AQP-4),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)and occludin were measured.RESULTS After treatment with antiCKLF1 antibody,brain water content and Evans blue leakage in ipsilateral hemisphere were decreased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h after reperfusion,but not changed in contralateral hemisphere.Anti-CKLF1 antibody reduced the expression of AQP-4 and MMP-9,and upregulated the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin.These results suggest that CKLF1 is involved in BBB disruption after reperfusion.CONCLUSION Inhibition of CKLF1 protects against cerebral ischemia by maintaining BBB integrity,possibly via inhibiting the expression of AQP-4 and MMP-9,and increasing the expression of tight junction protein.

New anthraquinone derivatives from the roots of Berchemia floribunda

A new naphthoquinone-anthraquinone dimer named floribundiquinone E （1） and a new anthraquinone 2-acetylphyscion （2） were isolated from the roots of Berchemia floribunda Brongn. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

Development of an XBP1 agonist,HLJ2,as a potential therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE To identify the valid targets and new drugs of ulcerative colitis(UC),a recurrent and intractable inflammatory bowel disease.METHODS and RESULTS In an in vivo mouse model of DSS-induced colitis,HLJ2 decreased weight loss,colon contracture,disease activity index(DAI),colon mucosa damage index(CMDI)and histopathological index(HI).HLJ2 also decreased myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity and reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IL^(-1)β,and IL-6.HLJ2 improved intestinal mucosa damage induced by dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)and increased the expression of ZO-1 and claudin-1.Fecal 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing demonstrated a significant improvement in UC intestinal dysbacteriosis in mice treated with HLJ2,including increased abundance of probiotics such as Lachnospiraceae,Prevotellaceae,and Lactobacillaceae.At the same time there was a reduction in the abundance of pathogenic or conditional pathogenic microorganisms such as Bacteroidaceae,Porphyromonadaceae,Deferribacteraceae,and Pseudomonadaceae in HLJ2-treated mice compared with untreated mice.CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that the XBP1 agonist HLJ2 inhibits inflammation,regulates the intestinal flora,and protects the intestinal mucosa.It is thus a potential therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis.

Culture of yeast cells immobilized by alginate-chitosan microcapsules in aqueous-organic solvent biphasic system

Immobilization biocatalysis is a potential technology to improve the activity and stability of biocatalysts in nonaqueous systems for efficient industrial production.Alginate-chitosan(AC)microcapsules were prepared as immobilization carriers by emulsifi cation-internal gelation and complexation reaction,and their contribution on facilitating the growth and metabolism of yeast cells were testifi ed successfully in culture medium-solvent biphasic systems.The cell growth in AC microcapsules is superior to that in alginate beads,and the cells in both immobilization carriers maintain much higher activity than free cells,which demonstrates AC microcapsules can confer yeast cells the ability to resist the adverse effect of solvent.Moreover,the performance of AC microcapsules in biphasic systems could be improved by adjusting the formation of outer polyelectrolyte complex(PEC)membrane to promote the cell growth and metabolic ability under the balance of resisting solvent toxicity and permitting substrate diffusion.Therefore,these findings are quite valuable for applying AC microcapsules as novel immobilization carriers to realize the biotransformation of value-added products in aqueous-solvent biphasic systems.

Two new furostanol saponins from the seeds of Allium cepa L.

从瞀或蒜之类 cepa L 的种子的 n-BuOH 摘录的 Phytochemical 分析。导致了四 furostanol saponins，其二是新混合物，命名 ceparoside A (1a ) 和 ceparoside B (2a ) 的隔离。新混合物的化学结构通过 NMR 的联合被阐明， MS 光谱数据和化学分析。

Transformation of berberine to its demethylated metabolites by the CYP51 enzyme in the gut microbiota

Berberine(BBR)is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptis chinensis that improves diabetes,hyperlipidemia and inflammation.Due to the low oral bioavailability of BBR,its mechanism of action is closely related to the gut microbiota.This study focused on the CYP51 enzyme of intestinal bacteria to elucidate a new mechanism of BBR transformation by demethylation in the gut microbiota through multiple analytical techniques.First,the docking of BBR and CYP51 was performed;then,the pharmacokinetics of BBR was determined in ICR mice in vivo,and the metabolism of BBR in the liver,kidney,gut microbiota and single bacterial strains was examined in vitro.Moreover,16S rRNA analysis of ICR mouse feces indicated the relationship between BBR and the gut microbiota.Finally,recombinant E.coli containing cyp51 gene was constructed and the CYP51 enzyme lysate was induced to express.The metabolic characteristics of BBR were analyzed in the CYP51 enzyme lysate system.The results showed that CYP51 in the gut microbiota could bind stably with BBR,and the addition of voriconazole(a specific inhibitor of CYP51)slowed down the metabolism of BBR,which prevented the production of the demethylated metabolites thalifendine and berberrubine.This study demonstrated that CYP51 promoted the demethylation of BBR and enhanced its intestinal absorption,providing a new method for studying the metabolic transformation mechanism of isoquinoline alkaloids in vivo.

Design and synthesis of novel cytotoxic podophyllotoxin derivatives

In order to investigate the effect of different C4 linkage moieties on the cytotoxicity of podophyllotoxin derivatives, novel 4-N- and 4-C-substituted 4＇-O-demethylepipodophyllotoxin derivatives were designed and synthesized. All the compounds were tested against A549 and MCF-7 tumor cells in vitro, and six compounds showed significant cytotoxicity. The most active compound 9f was superior to GL-331, and exhibited potent cytotoxicity with IC50 value at 10^-7 mol/L level.

Association Between Polymorphisms of DNA Repair Gene XRCC1 and DNA Damage in Asbestos-Exposed Workers

Objective To compare the asbestos-induced DNA damage and repair capacities of DNA damage between 104 asbestosexposed workers and 101 control workers in Qingdao City of China and to investigate the possible association between polymorphisms in codon 399 of XRCC1 and susceptibility to asbestosis. Methods DNA damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by comet assay, and XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms of DNA samples from 51 asbestosis cases and 53 non-asbestosis workers with a similar asbestos exposure history were analyzed by PCR/RFLP. Results The basal comet scores （3.95±2.95） were significantly higher in asbestos-exposed workers than in control workers （0.10±0.28）. After 1 h H2O2 stimulation, DNA damage of lymphocytes exhibited different increases. After a 4 h repair period, the comet scores were 50.98±19.53 in asbestos-exposed workers and 18.32±12.04 in controls. The residual DNA damage （RD） was significantly greater （P〈0.01） in asbestos-exposed workers （35.62%） than in controls （27.75%）. XRCC1 genetic polymorphism in 104 asbestos-exposed workers was not associated with increased risk of asbestosis. But compared with polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 （polymorphisms in codon 399） and the DNA damage induced by asbestos, the comet scores in asbestosis cases with Gin/Gin, Gln/Arg, and Arg/Arg were 40.26±18.94, 38.03±28.22, and 32.01±11.65, respectively, which were higher than those in non-asbestosis workers with the same genotypes （25.58±11.08, 37.08±14.74, and 29.38±10.15）. There were significant differences in the comet scores between asbestosis cases and non-asbestosis workers with Gin/Gin by Student＇s t-test （P〈0.05 or 0.01）. The comet scores were higher in asbestosis workers with Gin/Gin than in those with Arg/Arg and in non-asbestosis workers exposed to asbestos, but without statistically significant difference. Conclusions Exposure to asbestos may be related to DNA damage or the capacity of cells to repair H2O2-induced DNA damage. DNA repair gene XRCC 1 codon 399 may be responsible for the inter-individual susceptibility in DNA damage and repair capacities.

Antioxidant antileishmanial cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of a local plant Myrtus nivellei from Algeria Sahara

Objective: To study the phytochemical constituents and in vitro biological activities of hydromethanolic extract and fractions from Algerian Sahara Myrtus nivellei(M. nivellei)collected in Hoggar region and to identify the active fraction that can act as an alternative of commonly used antibiotics and as antileishmanial or antioxidant agents.Methods: Phytochemical screening of M. nivellei aerial parts was realised according to the literature. Extract was firstly prepared by using aqueous methanol then fractionated with ethyl acetate and butanol solvents. Total phenolics, tannis and flavonoids, of the hydromethanolic extract and their fractions were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method as gallic acid equivalents and by aluminium chloride as rutin equivalent respectively.Extract and fractions were tested for their antimicrobial and antiparasital activities against standard bacteria using agar diffusion method and two kinds of leishmania visceral and cutaneous. The antioxidant activities were realized using phosphomolybdenum, FRAP and DPPH tests.Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening exhibited the presence of flavonoids,tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The experimental results showed that plant extract and fractions were high in phenolic compounds and exhibited an important role as antioxidant,antimicrobial and had a moderate antileishmanial activity.Conclusions: These observations lead us toward more studies in this field, so that we can get more benefits from our local Algerian medicinal plants.

Influence of flavone extract from cultivated saussurea on learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease A comparison with estradiol benzoate

The present study established a mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease, and investigated the effects of treatment with flavone extract from artificially cultivated saussurea. A positive control group was treated with estradiol benzoate, and learning and memory ability were examined in the 8-arm radial maze. The learning and recognition ability of mice with Alzheimer＇s disease treated with flavone extract was significantly improved and the number of hippocampal neurons was significantly increased in the flavone-treated and positive control groups compared with the model group. The results indicate that flavone extract from artificially cultivated saussurea can improve learning and memory deficits in mice with Alzheimer＇s disease, exerting effects similar to those of estradiol benzoate.

The mTORC1 signaling network underlying the pathogenesis and treatment of depression: new insights into rapid-acting antidepressant therapies

Depression is a devastating mental disorder and major depressive disorder(MDD) that afflicts 16% of the global population at some point in their lives.Currently available classical antide.pressants(SSRIs,SNRIs,TCAs and MOIs),require a minimum of 2–4 weeks of continuous treat.ment to elicit therapeutic relief in depressed patients and are associated with high rates of non-respon.siveness,and limited duration of efficacy.Therefore,faster-acting antidepressant therapies are need.ed,particularly for patients at risk for suicide for current therapies for depression.Although the molecu.lar mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of depression are still largely unclear,previous studies have suggested that modulators of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1) signaling may have beneficial neuroprotective and antidepressant effects.Here,we review recent advances in understanding mTORC1 signaling in depression and potential therapeutic strategies resulting from modulation of the mTORC1 signaling network.We also highlight recent studies considered to support mTORC1 signaling modulation as a rapid-acting antidepressant therapy(e.g.ketamine,scopolamine,GLYX-13,(2R,6 R)-HNK,Ro-256891 etc.) and discuss future research directions.Studies on prospec.tive next-generation rapid-acting antidepressant therapies should focus on developing more selective glutamate receptors(e.g.α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors(AMPARs)agonists or activators) that activate the mTORC1 signaling pathway free of ketamine's adverse effects.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of heterocycle-substituted phthalimide derivatives

A series of heterocycle-substituted phthalimide derivatives were synthesized.Structurally diverse derivatives with heterocyclic rings,including furan,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine,1,3,4-thiadiazine,imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazine,pyrazole,1,2,4-triazolo[3,4- b][1,3,4]thiadiazine,thiazole and thiazoline,were obtained by the reactions ofα-bromoketone intermediate with various nucleophiles containing oxygen,nitrogen and sulfur atom.Their cytotoxic activity was also evaluated against five human cancer cell lines in vitro.

A new glycoside from the leaves of Neoalsomitra integrifoliola

A new ionone glycoside （6R,9R）-blumenyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 6）-β-D-gluco-pyranoside （1）, together with a new natural product 2-methoxyl-4-trans-pmpenyl-phenol α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 6）-β-D-glucopyranoside （2）, was isolated from the leaves ofNeoalsomitra integrifoliola. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis. Compound 1 showed weak anti-inflammatory and low-level antioxidant activities.