Define Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Its Fate: Biodisposition of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Normal and Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury Mice.

The pharmaceutical industry and clinical trials have been revolutionized mesenchymal stem cell-based therapeutics. However, the pharmacokinetics of transplanted cells has been little characterized in their target tissues under healthy or disease condition. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction analytical method with matrix effect was developed to track the biodistribution of human mesenchymal stem cells in normal mice and those with Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver injury.

Anti-Fibrosis Effects of Magnesium Lithospermate B in Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis: By Inhibiting TGF-βRI/Smad Signaling.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe and irreversible interstitial pulmonary disease with high mortality and few treatments. Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is a hydrosoluble component of and has been reported to have antifibrotic effects in other forms of tissue fibrosis. In this research, we studied the effects of MLB on pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.

Gigantol ameliorates CCl-induced liver injury via preventing activation of JNK/cPLA2/12-LOX inflammatory pathway.

Arachidonic acid (AA) signaling pathway is an important constituent of inflammatory processes. In our previous study, it was found that dihydro-stilbene gigantol relieved hepatic inflammation in mice with CCl-induced acute liver injury. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of arachidonate metabolic cascade in this process.

A novel bile acid analog, A17, ameliorated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in high-fat diet-fed hamsters.

Being endocrine signaling molecules that regulate lipid metabolism and affect energy balance, bile acids are potential drug candidates for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Obeticholic acid (OCA) could improve NASH accompanied by significant side effects. Therefore, it is worthwhile to develop safer and more effective bile acid analogs.

The Protective Effect of Magnesium Lithospermate B on Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Inhibiting the Jak2/Stat3 Signaling Pathway.

Acute inflammation is an important component of the pathogenesis of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI). Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) has strong neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MLB had underlying protective effects against hepatic I/R injury and to reveal the potential mechanisms related to the hepatoprotective effects.

Exploration of the hepatoprotective chemical base of an orally administered herbal formulation (YCHT) in normal and CCl-intoxicated liver injury rats. Part 2: Hepatic disposition in vivo and hepatoprotective activity in vitro.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Yin-Chen-Hao Tang (YCHT) has been a very popular, hepatoprotective three-herb formula with an unclear chemical base.

Aim Of This Study: To reveal the hepatoprotective chemical base of oral-dosed YCHT, we bridged the hepatic disposition of six compounds in vivo and their hepatoprotection in vitro.

Materials And Methods: In vivo, following the oral administration of YCHT in normal and CCl-induced liver injury rats, the determinations of chlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, geniposide, genipin, rhein and emodin were conducted in the portal vein plasma, the liver, and the systemic plasma.

The Endotoxin Delivery Protein HMGB1 Mediates Caspase-11-Dependent Lethality in Sepsis.

Caspase-11, a cytosolic endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS) receptor, mediates pyroptosis, a lytic form of cell death. Caspase-11-dependent pyroptosis mediates lethality in endotoxemia, but it is unclear how LPS is delivered into the cytosol for the activation of caspase-11. Here we discovered that hepatocyte-released high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was required for caspase-11-dependent pyroptosis and lethality in endotoxemia and bacterial sepsis.

Reprogramming Tumor-Associated Macrophages To Reverse EGFR Resistance by Dual-Targeting Codelivery of Gefitinib/Vorinostat.

Gefitinib is a first-line therapy in the EGFR-mutated nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the development of drug resistance is almost unavoidable, thus leading to an unsustainable regimen. EGFR mutation is the major cause responsible for the molecular-targeting therapy failure in NSCLC.

Codelivery of dihydroartemisinin and doxorubicin in mannosylated liposomes for drug-resistant colon cancer therapy.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle in cancer chemotherapy and makes the treatment benefits unsustainable. Combination therapy is a commonly used method for overcoming MDR. In this study we investigated the anti-MDR effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) in drug-resistant human colon tumor HCT8/ADR cells.

Poly-γ-glutamic acid-based GGT-targeting and surface camouflage strategy for improving cervical cancer gene therapy.

Polycation-based delivery presents a major method for non-viral gene therapy. However, the disadvantages of cationic vectors are their tendencies to be captured and eliminated by the reticuloendothelial system due to their excessive positive charges and nonspecific interaction with normal cells that leads to adverse effects. PEGylation was applied to solve these major problems.

Recent progress in microRNA delivery for cancer therapy by non-viral synthetic vectors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Because of significant changes in their expression in cancer, miRNAs are believed to be key factors in cancer genetics and to have potential as anticancer drugs. However, the delivery of miRNAs is limited by many barriers, such as low cellular uptake, immunogenicity, renal clearance, degradation by nucleases, elimination by phagocytic immune cells, poor endosomal release, and untoward side effects.

Molecular-dynamics-simulation-driven design of a protease-responsive probe for in-vivo tumor imaging.

A protease-responsive probe is developed based on a molecular dynamics simulation method for the rational design of the hairpin "turn" structure of peptides. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based probe is used for in vivo detection of legumain, a protease overexpressed in inflammation-related carcinogenesis, providing a potential method for early cancer detection and tumor imaging, and helpful information for better understanding legumain's role in tumorigenesis.

Cell-penetrating apoptotic peptide/p53 DNA nanocomplex as adjuvant therapy for drug-resistant breast cancer.

Drug resistance becomes a formidable challenge against effective cancer therapy. Defective apoptosis in cancer cells is a key factor responsible for chemoresistance or radioresistance. Promoting apoptosis is an important method to sensitize the resistant cells, thereby achieving successful treatment for MDR cancer.