Phenylbutyrate facilitates homeostasis of non-resolving inflammatory macrophages.

Non-resolving inflammatory monocytes/macrophages are critically involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, mechanisms of macrophage polarization are not well understood, thus hindering the development of effective strategies to promote inflammation resolution. In this study, we report that macrophages polarized by subclinical super-low dose LPS preferentially expressed pro-inflammatory mediators such as (which encodes the protein monocyte chemo attractant protein-1) with reduced expression of anti-inflammatory/homeostatic mediators such as (which encodes the protein ferroportin-1).

Effect of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate on the phase transition of starch: dissolution or gelatinization?

This work revealed that the interactions between starch, the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim][OAc]), and water might contribute to the phase transition (gelatinization, dissolution, or both) of native starch at reduced temperature. Using mixtures of water and [Emim][OAc] at certain ratios (7.2/1 and 10.

Anti-CD22-MCC-DM1 and MC-MMAF conjugates: impact of assay format on pharmacokinetic parameters determination.

CD22 represents a promising target for antibody-drug conjugate therapy in the context of B cell malignancies since it rapidly internalizes, importing specifically bound antibodies with it. To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of anti-CD22-MCC-DM1 and MC-MMAF conjugates, various approaches to quantifying total and conjugated antibody were investigated. Although the total antibody assay formats gave similar results for both conjugates, the mouse pharmacokinetic profile for the anti-CD22-MCC-DM1 and MC-MMAF appeared significantly different depending on the conjugated antibody assay format.

Mice expressing a humanized form of VEGF-A may provide insights into the safety and efficacy of anti-VEGF antibodies.

VEGF-A is important in tumor angiogenesis, and a humanized anti-VEGF-A monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab) has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for metastatic colorectal and nonsquamous, non-small-cell lung cancer in combination with chemotherapy. However, contributions of both tumor- and stromal-cell derived VEGF-A to vascularization of human tumors grown in immunodeficient mice hindered direct comparison between the pharmacological effects of anti-VEGF antibodies with different abilities to block host VEGF. Therefore, by gene replacement technology, we engineered mice to express a humanized form of VEGF-A (hum-X VEGF) that is recognized by many anti-VEGF antibodies and has biochemical and biological properties comparable with WT mouse and human VEGF-A.