A series of indole-derived γ-hydroxy propiolate esters as potent anti-inflammatory agents: Design, synthesis, in-vitro and in-vivo biological studies.

A variety of novel indole-derived γ-hydroxy propiolate esters were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in-vitro and in-vivo. According to the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory analysis, all compounds showed potent NO inhibitory ability in a dose-dependent manner, with no apparent cytotoxicity. The model compound, L-37, also exhibited significant potency in PGE inhibition.

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2: Tumor biology, signaling pathway and therapeutic targeting (Review).

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2) is a type II transmembrane protein that serves critical roles in antiretroviral defense in the innate immune response. In addition, it has been suggested that BST2 is highly expressed in various types of human cancer and high BST2 expression is related to different clinicopathological parameters in cancer. The molecular mechanism underlying BST2 as a potential tumor biomarker in human solid tumors has been reported on; however, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no review published on the molecular mechanism of BST2 in human solid tumors.

Molecular mechanisms of syncytin-1 in tumors and placental development related diseases.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have evolved from exogenous retroviruses and account for approximately 8% of the human genome. A growing number of findings suggest that the abnormal expression of HERV genes is associated with schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, endometriosis, breast cancer, bladder cancer and other diseases. HERV-W env (syncytin-1) is a membrane glycoprotein which plays an important role in placental development.

Mg(OMe) promoted allylic isomerization of γ-hydroxy-α,β-alkenoic esters to synthesize γ-ketone esters.

This work concerns the Mg(OMe) promoted allylic isomerization of γ-hydroxy-α,β-alkenoic esters with TMEDA as an additive. The isomerization proceeded under mild conditions and afforded γ-keto esters in high yield (up to 96%) within 2 h. Both (Z)- and (E)-γ-hydroxy-α,β-alkenoic esters were tolerated under the reaction conditions.

Oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed stereoselective annulation of simple aldehydes and 5-alkenyl thiazolones.

A highly diastereoselective annulation of simple aldehydes and 5-alkenyl thiazolones, via oxidative NHC catalysis has been developed. This strategy provides facile access to a diverse library of functionalized chiral thiazolo pyrones. Aerobic oxygen can also be applied as a secondary oxidant to avoid the use of stoichiometric organic or inorganic oxidants.

Enantio- and diastereoselective asymmetric addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes in a doubly stereocontrolled manner catalyzed by bifunctional rosin-derived amine thiourea catalysts.

Starting from commercially available natural rosin derivatives, a class of bifunctional rosin-derived amine thiourea catalysts were designed and synthesized. The doubly stereocontrolled asymmetric addition of a variety of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes was investigated. These rosin-derived chiral thioureas have been shown to serve as effective catalysts for this double-sterecontrolled organocatalytic process by the investigation of the efficacy of the thiourea catalysts in comparison with other thiourea catalysts reported.

Structure-activity study of endomorphin-2 analogs with C-terminal modifications by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling.

Endomorphin-2 (EM-2) is a putative endogenous mu-opioid receptor ligand. To get insight into the important role of C-terminal amide group of EM-2, we investigated herein a series of EM-2 analogs by substitution of the C-terminal amide group with -NHNH(2), -NHCH(3), -N(CH(3))(2), -OCH(3), -OCH(2)CH(3), -OC(CH(3))(3), and -CH(2)-OH. Their binding affinity and bioactivity were determined and compared.

Type 1 diabetes attenuates the modulatory effects of endomorphins on mouse colonic motility.

Our previous studies have shown that endomorphins (EMs), endogenous ligands for mu-opioid receptor, display a significant potentiation effect on mouse colonic motility. In the present study, to assess whether diabetes alters these modulatory effects of EMs on colonic motility, we investigated the effects of EMs in type 1 diabetic mouse colon in vitro. At 4 weeks after the onset of diabetes, carbachol-induced contractions in the longitudinal muscle of distal colon were significantly reduced compared to those of non-diabetic mice.

Cardiovascular responses to intrathecal administration of endomorphins in anesthetized rats.

Endomorphins (EMs), the endogenous, potent and selective mu-opioid receptor agonists, have been shown to decrease systemic arterial pressure (SAP) in rats after intravenous (i.v.) administration.

In vitro characterization of the effects of endomorphin 1 and 2, endogenous ligands for mu-opioid receptors, on mouse colonic motility.

The effects of endomorphin 1 (EM1) and 2 (EM2) in colonic motility remain unknown. We investigated the effects and mechanisms of these endomorphins (EMs) on the colonic motility in vitro by applying various neural blocking agents and various opioid receptor antagonists. EMs (10(-9) to 10(-6)M) displayed significant stimulatory effects on the basal tonus or spontaneous activity of mouse colon but not of stomach and small intestine.