Immature Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Healthy Murine Arteries and Atherosclerotic Plaques: Localization and Activity.

The local development of atherosclerotic lesions may, at least partly, be associated with the specific cellular composition of atherosclerosis-prone regions. Previously, it was demonstrated that a small population of immature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) expressing both CD146 and neuron-glial antigen 2 is postnatally sustained in atherosclerosis-prone sites. We supposed that these cells may be involved in atherogenesis and can continuously respond to angiotensin II, which is an atherogenic factor.

Isorhizochalin: a minor unprecedented bipolar sphingolipid of stereodivergent biogenesis from the Rhizochalina incrustata.

Isorhizochalin (1) was isolated as its peracetate from the EtOH extract of the sponge Rhizochalina incrustata. Its structure and absolute stereochemistry were elucidated as (2S,3R,26R,27R)-2,27-diamino-3-O-beta-D: -galactopyranosyl-oxy-26-hydroxyoctacosan-18-one by extensive NMR, MS studies, chemical transformations, including micromolar-scale Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, and by analysis of CD spectra of isorhizochalinin perbenzoate (2b). Isorhizochalin is an unprecedented C-2 epimer of rhizochalin having an erythro configuration at the glycosylated 2-amino-3-alkanol alpha-terminus in contrast with a canonical threo configuration for other representatives of this structural group.

Synaptosides A and A1, triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Synapta maculata containing 3-O-methylglucuronic acid and their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells.

Two novel triterpene holostane glycosides, synaptosides A ( 1) and A 1 ( 2), have been isolated from the Vietnamese sea cucumber Synapta maculata (Synaptida, Apodida). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (NMR and MS) and chemical transformations. Glycosides 1 and 2 have rare branched pentasaccharide carbohydrate chains featuring a 3- O-methylglucuronic acid residue not previously reported in glycosides from sea cucumbers and a 6- O-sulfated glucose.