Downregulation of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis blocks the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in human colon cancer cells.

Chemokine CXCL12 is an extracellular chemokine, which binds to its cell surface receptor CXCR4. High expressions of CXCR4 and CXCL12 are associated with biological malignant potential in colon cancers. We aimed to investigate the roles of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the development of colon cancers.

Synthesis and evaluation of trehalose-based compounds as novel inhibitors of cancer cell migration and invasion.

As a continuous research for the discovery of trehalose-based anti-invasive agents, we developed a convenient synthetic approach for the preparation of 6,6'-dideoxy-6,6'-bis(acylamino)-α,α-D-trehaloses. A series of trehalose-based amides were prepared through the trityl protection of the two primary hydroxyls of α,α-D-trehalose, benzoylation, the removal of the trityl protective group, mesylation, azidation, catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of hydrochloride, coupling reaction with a variety of acids, and subsequent debenzoylation and deacetylation in some cases. Compound 8b, 6,6'-dideoxy-6,6'-bis(2-hydroxybenzamide)-α,α-D-trehalose, was just as potent as the natural brartemicin against the invasion of murine colon 26-L5 cells.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships studies of brartemicin analogs as anti-invasive agents.

Brartemicin is a trehalose-based inhibitor of tumor cell invasion produced by the actinomycete of the genus Nonomuraea. In order to find more potent anti-invasive agents and study the structure-activity relationships, a series of 19 brartemicin analogs were prepared via two synthetic routes from α,α-D-trehalose and evaluated for their anti-invasive activities. Compound 4f, 6,6'-bis(2,3-dimethoxybenzoyl)-α,α-D-trehalose, was more potent than the natural brartemicin.

[Effects of budesonide on HIF-1α and VEGF expression and airway remodeling in an asthmatic mouse model].

Objective: To study the effects of budesonide on hypoxia inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, angiogenesis and airway remodeling in the chronic asthmatic mouse model.

Methods: Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control, asthma model and treatment groups (10 in each group).The asthmatic mouse model was established via OVA challenge test.

Flavonoids from Dracocephalum tanguticum and their cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells.

Two new flavonoids, ladanetin-6-O-β-(6″-O-acetyl)glucoside (1) and pedalitin-3'-O-β-glucoside (2), together with 15 known compounds (3-17), were isolated from the whole plants of Dracocephalum tanguticum. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (IR, MS, 2D NMR) data analysis and by the comparison with spectroscopic data reported in the literature. Antioxidant capacities of the isolated substances were determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferrous ions, and ABTS(·)(+) radical in vitro assay, and their cytoprotective activities were also tested on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Anti-perforin neutralizing antibody reduces myocardial injury in viral myocarditis.

Aim: To investigate the role of anti-perforin neutralizing antibody in viral myocarditis.

Methods: We divided 45 Balb/c mice randomly into 3 groups, a normal control group, a control group inoculated with coxsackie virus B3, and a group inoculated with anti-perforin neutralizing antibody. The second group was inoculated with 0.

[Mechanism of conditioned immune response in curing bronchial asthma in mice].

Objective: To understand the mechanism of effect of conditioned immune response in curing bronchial asthma.

Methods: An experimental asthma modal was produced on healthy BALB/C mice (female, 4 - 6 weeks old) by sensitization and stimulation with ovalbumin (OV A). Totally 105 mice were divided into 7 groups randomly with 15 in each and treated differently: in group CIR(1), noise was used as conditioned stimulus (CS) and budesonide and salbutamol as unconditioned stimulus (UCS) respectively, a conditioned immune response model of mice with asthma was established by the combination of CS and UCS 7 times (7 days), then the mice were given CS only, and the combination were given once a week for 20 weeks.

[Therapeutic mechanisms of interferon-beta and intravenous immunoglobulin for experimental peripheral neuropathy].

Objective: To explore the therapeutic mechanisms of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for experimental peripheral neuropathy induced by Campilobacter jejuni (Cj) lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Method: Forty healthy Wistar rats weighing 205 - 230 g were divided into IFN-beta, IVIG, IFN-beta plus IVIG and control groups. After the immune neuropathy was induced in the rats by Cj LPS, IFN-beta (1.

Oligomers of resveratrol and ferulic acid prepared by peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation and their protective effects on cardiac injury.

Peroxidase extracted from Momordica charantia was used for the oligomerization of trans-resveratrol and ferulic acid on a preparative scale. One new heterocoupling oligomer, trans-3 E-3-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylene]-4-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)tetrahydro-2-franone (6), and six resveratrol dimers, leachianol G (1), restrytisol B (2), parthenostilbenins A (3) and B (5), 7- O-acetylated leachianol G (4), and resveratrol trans-dehydrodimer (8), and one known ferulic acid dehydrodimer, (3alpha,3aalpha,6alpha,6aalpha)tetrahydro-3,6-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1 H,4 H-furo[3,4-c]furan-1,4-dione (7) were obtained. Bioactive experiments showed that compounds 6- 8 have strong free radical scavenging effects and also have protective effects on doxorubicin-induced cardiac cell injury when tested in vitro.

[The mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of anti-Fas ligand antibody on viral myocarditis in mice].

Objective: Viral myocarditis (VM) is one of the most common acquired myocardial diseases in children. However, its pathogenesis is not clear. Recent studies indicate that the cytotoxicity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) plays an important role in the development of myocardial injury involved in VM.

Dynamic changes in myocardial matrix metalloproteinase activity in mice with viral myocarditis.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major regulators of collagen degradation involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases of the heart. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic changes in myocardial MMP activity in mice with viral myocarditis (VM), the relationship between MMP activity and both cardiac function and the quantity of myocardial collagen, and the role MMPs playing in the pathological lesions of VM.

Methods: Sixty-five six-week-old male DBA/2 mice were divided into two groups.

[Myocardial matrix metalloproteinases activities in mice with viral myocarditis and their relationship with cardiac function and myocardial collagen amount].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes of myocardial matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activities in mice with viral myocarditis (VM) and their relationships with cardiac function and myocardial collagen amount and to explore the role of MMPs in the pathologic lesion of VM.

Methods: Sixty-five six-week-old male DBA/2 mice were obtained from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. They were divided into two groups randomly.