Inhibitory Effect of -Sitosterol on the Ang II-Induced Proliferation of A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells.

Objective: To explore the effects of -sitosterol on VSMC proliferation.

Materials And Methods: A7r5 cells were pretreated with 2 M angiotensin II (Ang II) for 24 hr to establish an excessive VSMC proliferation model, followed by treatment with -sitosterol for 24 hr. Cells were divided into five groups: control, Ang II, and Ang II + -sitosterol (2, 4, 8 M).

The Synthesis of a Multiple D-A Conjugated Macrocycle and Its Application in Organic Photovoltaic.

As a novel class of materials, D-A conjugated macrocycles hold significant promise for chemical science. However, their potential in photovoltaic remains largely untapped due to the complexity of introducing multiple donor and acceptor moieties into the design and synthesis of cyclic π-conjugated molecules. Here, we report a multiple D-A ring-like conjugated molecule (RCM) via the coupling of dimer molecule DBTP-C3 as a template and thiophenes in high yields.

Predicting response to immunotherapy in gastric cancer via assessing perineural invasion-mediated inflammation in tumor microenvironment.

Background: The perineural invasion (PNI)-mediated inflammation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) varies among gastric cancer (GC) patients and exhibits a close relationship with prognosis and immunotherapy. Assessing the neuroinflammation of TME is important in predicting the response to immunotherapy in GC patients.

Methods: Fifteen independent cohorts were enrolled in this study.

Beta-Sitosterol Modulates the Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via the PPARG/AMPK/mTOR Pathway.

Introduction: The increased migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is an essential pathological factor in the early development of atherosclerosis. Beta-sitosterol (BS), a natural phytosterol abundant in plant seeds, exhibits various bioactivities, including cardioprotective effects. However, its effects on VSMC migration and underlying mechanisms remain to be explored.

Autophagy-Related Genes in Atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a common chronic vascular inflammatory disease and one of the main causes of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs). Autophagy-related genes (ARGs) play a crucial part in pathophysiological processes of AS. However, the expression profile of ARGs has rarely been adopted to explore the relationship between autophagy and AS.

Ligustilide inhibited Angiotensin II induced A7r5 cell autophagy via Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Autophagy is essential to vessel homeostasis and function in the cardiovascular system. Ligustilide (LIG) is one of the main active ingredients extracted from traditional Chinese medicines, such as Ligusticum chuanxiong, Angelica, and other umbelliferous plants, and reported to have cardiovascular protective effects. In this study, we explore the effects and the potential mechanism of ligustilide on the Ang II-induced autophagy in A7r5 cells.