Icaritin inhibits PD-L1 expression by Targeting Protein IκB Kinase α.

Icaritin, a small molecule currently being investigated in phase III clinical trials in China (NCT03236636 and NCT03236649) for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a prenylflavonoid derivative obtained from the Epimedium genus. Previously, it was found that Icaritin decreased the expression of PD-L1, but its direct molecular targets and the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. In this study, we report the identification of IKK-α as the protein target of Icaritin by biotin-based affinity binding assay.

Repeat oral dose toxicity studies of melamine in rats and monkeys.

Melamine is an important and widely used organic industrial chemical. Recently, clinical findings of renal failure and kidney stones in infants have been associated with ingestion of melamine-contaminated infant formula. To understand the toxicity and clinical outcome of melamine exposure, repeated oral dose studies in rats and monkeys were performed to characterize the subchronic toxicity of melamine.

A unique proteolytic fragment of alpha1-antitrypsin is elevated in ductal fluid of breast cancer patient.

By comparison of mass spectra from a small cohort of nipple aspiration fluids (NAF), we previously discovered a panel of five candidate breast cancer biomarkers among them an unidentified 4.7 kD peptide BF5. The purposes of the present study were to verify the presence of BF5 in an independent cohort; to determine the protein identity of BF5; and to provide insight into the biology of BF5 production and elevation in tumor-associated NAF.

A clp gene homologue belonging to the Crp gene family globally regulates lytic enzyme production, antimicrobial activity, and biological control activity expressed by Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3.

Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3, a biological control agent for plant diseases, produces multiple extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and displays antimicrobial activity against various fungal and oomycetous species. However, little is known about the regulation of these enzymes or their roles in antimicrobial activity and biocontrol. A study was undertaken to identify mutants of strain C3 affected in extracellular enzyme production and to evaluate their biocontrol efficacy.