Potent, selective and reversible hMAO-B inhibition by benzalphthalides: Synthesis, enzymatic and cellular evaluations and virtual docking and predictive studies.

Monoaminooxidases (MAOs) are important targets for drugs used in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and particularly on Parkinson's Disease (PD). Compounds containing a trans-stilbenoid skeleton have demonstrated good selective and reversible MAO-B inhibition. Here, twenty-two (Z)-3-benzylidenephthalides (benzalphthalides, BPHs) displaying a trans-stilbenoid skeleton have been synthesised and evaluated as inhibitors of the MAO-A and MAO-B isoforms.

Jarid2 is induced by TCR signalling and controls iNKT cell maturation.

Jarid2 is a reported component of three lysine methyltransferase complexes, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that methylates histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27), and GLP-G9a and SETDB1 complexes that methylate H3K9. Here we show that Jarid2 is upregulated upon TCR stimulation and during positive selection in the thymus. Mice lacking Jarid2 in T cells display an increase in the frequency of IL-4-producing promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF)(hi) immature invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and innate-like CD8(+) cells; Itk-deficient mice, which have a similar increase of innate-like CD8(+) cells, show blunted upregulation of Jarid2 during positive selection.

NFAT1 transcription factor in dendritic cells is required to modulate T helper cell differentiation.

The NFAT family of transcription factors plays a central role in the regulation of cytokine gene expression during the immune response. NFAT functions have been extensively explored in lymphocyte activation and differentiation, but the involvement of NFAT proteins in dendritic cells (DCs) is still not well known. Here, we investigated the role of the NFAT1 transcription factor in murine DCs.

Synthesis, bioevaluation and structural study of substituted phthalazin-1(2H)-ones acting as antifungal agents.

Twenty-five polysubstituted phthalazinone derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antifungal activity against a panel of pathogenic and clinically important yeasts and filamentous fungi. Among them, the compound 4-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-methylphthalazin-1(2H)-one (5) exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against standardised strains of dermatophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans, as well as against some clinical isolates. A physicochemical study performed on compound 5 revealed its conformational and electronic characteristics, providing us with useful data for the future design of novel related antifungal analogues.

Antimalarial activity of imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ol derivatives and related compounds.

The synthesis of several series of imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ol derivatives and the results of their evaluation against Plasmodium falciparum are presented and discussed. The effects of electron-withdrawing or-donating substituents on different parts of the molecule, as well as those produced by the incorporation of an additional fused ring, were analyzed. Several compounds showed significant antimalarial activity in vitro with IC(50) values as low as 60 nM and a certain efficacy in vivo by reducing parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei mouse models.

Structure of a domain-swapped FOXP3 dimer on DNA and its function in regulatory T cells.

The transcription factor FOXP3 is essential for the suppressive function of regulatory T cells that are required for maintaining self-tolerance. We have solved the crystal structure of the FOXP3 forkhead domain as a ternary complex with the DNA-binding domain of the transcription factor NFAT1 and a DNA oligonucleotide from the interleukin-2 promoter. A striking feature of this structure is that FOXP3 forms a domain-swapped dimer that bridges two molecules of DNA.

Anti-HIV activity of stilbene-related heterocyclic compounds.

Viral transcription has not been routinely targeted in the development of new antiviral drugs. This crucial step of the viral cycle depends on the concerted action of cellular and viral proteins such as NF-kappaB and Tat. In the present study, stilbene-related heterocyclic compounds including benzalphthalide, phthalazinone, imidazoindole and pyrimidoisoindole derivatives are tested for their anti-HIV activity.

Vasorelaxant activity of phthalazinones and related compounds.

Several series of dihydrostilbenamide, imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole, pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindole and phthalazinone derivatives were obtained and their vasorelaxant activity was measured on isolated rat aorta rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (10(-5)M). Some phthalazinones attained, practically, the total relaxation of the organ at micromolar concentrations. For the most potent compound 9h (EC(50)=0.

IFN-gamma production by CD8+ T cells depends on NFAT1 transcription factor and regulates Th differentiation.

CD8+ T lymphocytes are excellent sources of IFN-gamma; however, the molecular mechanisms that dictate IFN-gamma expression upon TCR stimulation in these cells are not completely understood. In this study, we evaluated the involvement of NFAT1 in the regulation of IFN-gamma gene expression in murine CD8+ T cells and its relevance during Th differentiation. We show that CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells, represent the very first source of IFN-gamma upon primary T cell activation, and also that the IFN-gamma produced by naive CD8+ T cells may enhance CD4+ Th1 differentiation in vitro.

The role of interferon-gamma on immune and allergic responses.

Allergic diseases have been closely related to Th2 immune responses, which are characterized by high levels of interleukin (IL) IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13. These cytokines orchestrate the recruitment and activation of different effector cells, such as eosinophils and mast cells. These cells along with Th2 cytokines are key players on the development of chronic allergic inflammatory disorders, usually characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airway obstruction, and airway inflammation.