hFcγRIIa: a double-edged sword in osteoclastogenesis and bone balance in transgenic mice.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease accompanied by local and systemic bone loss. FcγRs, especially FcγRIIa (hFcγRIIa), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. However, the contribution of hFcγRIIa to bone loss has not been fully elucidated.

The ICF2 gene Zbtb24 specifically regulates the differentiation of B1 cells via promoting heme synthesis.

Background: Loss-of-function mutations of ZBTB24 cause immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies syndrome 2 (ICF2). ICF2 is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with immunological defects in serum antibodies and circulating memory B cells, resulting in recurrent and sometimes fatal respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with ICF2 indicates an essential role of ZBTB24 in the terminal differentiation of B cells.

Membrane Bound CRT Fragment Accelerates Tumor Growth of Melanoma B16 Cell In Vivo through Promoting M2 Polarization via TLR4.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a major calcium-binding luminal resident protein on the endoplasmic reticulum that can also be released extracellular as well as anchored on surface of cells. Previously, we demonstrated that soluble recombinant CRT fragment 39-272 (CRT/39-272) exhibited potent immunostimulatory effects as well as immunoregulation effects on immune cells. Here, we constructed stable B16 melanoma cell lines expressing recombinant CRT/39-272 on the membrane (B16-tmCRT/39-272) to investigate the roles of cell surface CRT on tumor progression.

Altered Phenotype and Enhanced Antibody-Producing Ability of Peripheral B Cells in Mice with -Driven Cre Expression.

Given the importance of B lymphocytes in inflammation and immune defense against pathogens, mice transgenic for Cre under the control of promoter ( mice) have been widely used to specifically investigate the role of -flanked genes in B cell development/function. However, impacts of expression/insertion of the Cre transgene on the phenotype and function of B cells have not been carefully studied. Here, we show that the number of marginal zone B and B1a cells was selectively reduced in mice, while B cell development in the bone marrow and total numbers of peripheral B cells were comparable between and wild type C57BL/6 mice.

Protective Effects of 28-O-Caffeoyl Betulin (B-CA) on the Cerebral Cortex of Ischemic Rats Revealed by a NMR-Based Metabolomics Analysis.

28-O-caffeoyl betulin (B-CA) has been demonstrated to reduce the cerebral infarct volume caused by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) injury. B-CA is a novel derivative of naturally occurring caffeoyl triterpene with little information associated with its pharmacological target(s). To date no data is available regarding the effect of B-CA on brain metabolism.

Infection deteriorating hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Infection is common in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which may worsen the clinical condition and prognosis. However, the characteristics of infection and its influence on prognosis in hepatitis B virus related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) as defined by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) have not been clarified. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of infection and its influence on mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF defined by EASL in China.

Botanical Volatiles Selection in Mediating Electrophysiological Responses and Reproductive Behaviors for the Fall Webworm Moth .

Host-plant volatiles play vital roles for insects to locate foraging, mating, and oviposition sites in the environment. As one of the devastating invasive forestry pests, causes a great annual loss in China, and understanding its chemical ecology is an important task. The current research was done in terms of chemical analysis, electrophysiology, and behavioral assays on to assess its olfactory reception toward host-plant volatiles.

Insufficient CD100 shedding contributes to suppression of CD8 T-cell activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

CD100 is an immune semaphorin constitutively expressed on T-cells. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is an important mediator of membrane-bound CD100 (mCD100) cleavage to generate soluble CD100 (sCD100), which has immunoregulatory activity in immune cell responses. The aim of the study was to investigate the level and role of sCD100 and mCD100 in modulating CD8 T-cell function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

M860, a Monoclonal Antibody against Human Lactoferrin, Enhances Tumoricidal Activity of Low Dosage Lactoferrin via Granzyme B Induction.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a soluble glycoprotein of the transferring family found in most biological fluids, functioning as a major first line defense molecule against infection in mammals. It also shows certain anti-tumor activity, but its clinical application in tumor therapy is limited because high dosage is required. In this study, we demonstrate that M860, a monoclonal antibody against human LF (hLF), could significantly increase the anti-tumor potential of low dosage hLF by forming LF-containing immune complex (IC).

Interleukin-35 Suppresses the Antitumor Activity of T Cells in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aims: Interleukin (IL)-35 has immunosuppressive functions in autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and certain cancers. However, few studies have focused on its immunoregulatory activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, we investigated the role of IL-35 in the pathogenesis of this disease.

[Effects of protease inhibitors on the activities of midgut proteases in Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus) larvae.].

To clarify the effects of protease inhibitors on the activities of midgut proteases in Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) larvae, the inhibitory effects of four kinds of protease inhibitors on the activities of midgut proteases of C. chinensis larvae were examined in vitro and in feeding conditions with indoor artificial insect inoculation.

Dual anti-ischemic effects of rosmarinic acid n-butyl ester via alleviation of DAPK-p53-mediated neuronal damage and microglial inflammation.

The discovery of efficacious anti-ischemic drugs remains a challenge. Recently we have found that rosmarinic acid n-butyl ester (RABE), a derivative of rosmarinic acid, significantly protects SH-SY5Y cells against oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced cell death. In the present study we simultaneously investigated the effects of RABE on the two key players in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, ischemic neuronal damage and microglial inflammation.

Caffeoyl Triterpenoid Esters as Potential Anti-ischemic Stroke Agents from Celastrus orbiculatus.

Three new triterpenoids, celastrusins A-C (1-3), together with 3-O-caffeoyl-α-amyrin (4) were isolated from the root bark of Celastrus orbiculatus. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography using Cu Kα radiation, and the comparison of both observed and reported spectroscopic data. An in vitro bioassay revealed that the caffeoyl triterpenoid esters 1, 3, and 4 possess neuroprotective effects against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced SH-SY5Y cell damage.

The Effects of Phellinus linteus Polysaccharide Extracts on Cholesterol Efflux in Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein-Loaded THP-1 Macrophages.

The removal of excess cellular cholesterol is critical for maintaining cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Phellinus linteus polysaccharide extracts (PLPEs) is an immunomudulatory agent with a molecular weight of 153 kd. Here, we analyzed the effects of PLPEs on cholesterol efflux in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-loaded THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) macrophages.

Protective effect of resveratrol on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in diabetic cataract rat.

Objective: To study the protective effect of resveratrol on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in diabetic cataract rat.

Methods: A total of 84 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 12 in Group A (control group), 24 in Group B (diabetic cataract group), 24 in Group C (therapeutic-dose of resveratrol group) and 24 in Group D (low-dose of resveratrol group). Rats in Group B-D were given with 60 mg/kg streptozotocin through intraperitoneal injection.

A novel caffeoyl triterpene attenuates cerebral ischemic injury with potent anti-inflammatory and hypothermic effects.

Despite the intense efforts in searching for stroke therapies, an urgent need still exists to explore novel neuroprotective agents for ischemic stroke that have high efficacy and wide therapeutic time-window. Here, we provide the first demonstration that 28-O-caffeoyl betulin (B-CA), a novel derivative of naturally occurring caffeoyl triterpene, could significantly alleviate brain infarction and neurological deficit when given as late as 6 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat. Moreover, post-ischemia B-CA administration exhibited long-term (14 days post stroke) protective effects on both brain infarction and functional (i.

Lithocarpic acids O-S, five homo-cycloartane derivatives from the cupules of Lithocarpus polystachyus.

Chemical investigation of the cupules of Lithocarpus polystachyus resulted in the identification of four 3,4-seco-homo-cycloartane and one homo-cycloartane derivatives named lithocarpic acids O-S. Their structures were determined based on extensive 1D/2D NMR, IR, MS spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. Lithocarpic acid O (1) exhibited inhibitory activities on mouse and human isozymes of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) with IC₅₀ values of 0.

Four new triterpenoids isolated from the resin of Garcinia hanburyi.

Four new triterpenoids, 2-O-acetyl-3-O-(4'-O-acetyl)-α-l-arabinopyranosylmaslinic acid (1), 2-O-acetyl-3-O-(3'-O-acetyl)-α-l-arabinopyranosylmaslinic acid (2), 2-O-acetyl-3-O-(3',4'-O-diacetyl)-α-l-arabinopyranosylmaslinic acid (3), and 3-O-(3'-O-acetyl)-α-l-arabinopyranosyloleanolic acid (4), together with six known triterpenoids, 3-O-(4'-O-acetyl)-α-l-arabinopyranosyloleanolic acid (5), maslinic acid (6), 2-O-acetylmaslinic acid (7), 3-O-acetylmaslinic acid (8), betulinic acid (9), and 2α-hydroxy-3β-O-acetylbetulinic acid (10), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Garcinia hanburyi resin. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of the spectroscopic data and chemical methods.

(M)- and (P)-bicelaphanol A, dimeric trinorditerpenes with promising neuroprotective activity from Celastrus orbiculatus.

(M)-Bicelaphanol A (1) and (P)-bicelaphanol A (2), two unprecedented dimeric trinorditerpenes existing as atropisomers, together with their monomer celaphanol A (3), were isolated from the root bark of Celastrus orbiculatus. The structures and absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compound 1 exhibited a significant in vitro neuroprotective effect against a hydrogen peroxide-induced cell viability decrease in PC12 cells at 1 μM, while compounds 2 and 3 showed such effects at 10 μM.

[The role of heme oxygenase 1 in hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis and mitochondrial trans membrane potential change in rat primary type II alveolar epithelium cells].

Objective: To understand the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in hydrogen peroxide [H(2)O(2)] induced apoptosis and mitochondrial trans-membrane potential (MTMP) change in primary alveolar epithelial cell type II(AEC II).

Methods: Primary AEC II collected from healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were cultured for 24 hours, then divided into four groups to be treated with: (1) saline; (2) H(2)O(2) (0.5 mmol/L); (3) H(2)O(2) +HO-1 (0.