Reversal of P-gp and MRP1-mediated multidrug resistance by H6, a gypenoside aglycon from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, in vincristine-resistant human oral cancer (KB/VCR) cells.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) to anticancer drugs is a major obstacle to successful chemotherapy in the treatment of cancers. Identification of natural compounds capable of circumventing MDR with minimal adverse side effects is an attractive goal. Here, we found that H6, a gypenoside aglycon from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, displayed potent anti-MDR activity.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid binds to GABAb receptor to inhibit cholangiocarcinoma cells growth via the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been reported to inhibit the growth of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells, but the mechanisms are still not fully understood.

Aims: To explore the mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect of GABA on QBC939 cells.

Methods: An initial immunohistochemistry study of the expressions of GABA receptors in cholangiocarcinoma tissues was followed by the culture and treatment of QBC939 cells for 48 h with GABA, GABA + bicuculine (GABAA receptor antagonist), GABA + phaclofen (GABAB receptor antagonist), and GABA + AG490 (Janus Kinase inhibitor).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel 99mTc cyclopentadienyl tricarbonyl complex ([(Cp-R)99mTc(CO)3]) for sigma-2 receptor tumor imaging.

We report the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel (99m)Tc 4-(4-cyclohexylpiperazine-1-yl)-butan-1-one-1-cyclopentadienyltricarbonyl technetium ([(99m)Tc]5) as a potential SPECT tracer for imaging of σ(2) receptors in tumors. [(99m)Tc]5 was prepared in 25±5% isolated radiochemical yield with radiochemical purity of >99% via double-ligand transfer (DLT) reaction from the ferrocene precursor 2b (4-(4-cyclohexylpiperazine-1-yl)-1-ferrocenylbutan-1-one). The corresponding Re-complex 4 and the ferrocenyl complex 2b showed relatively high affinity towards σ(2) receptors in in vitro competition binding assay (K(i) values of 4 and 2b were 64.

Relative quantitation of neuropeptides over a thousand-fold concentration range.

Neuropeptides are essential cell-to-cell signaling molecules that influence diverse regulatory and behavioral functions within biological systems. Differing in their amino acid sequences and post-translational modifications, hundreds of neuropeptides are produced via a series of enzymatic processing steps, and their levels vary with location, time, and physiological condition. Due to their wide range of endogenous concentrations and inherent chemical complexity, using mass spectrometry (MS) to accurately quantify changes in peptide levels can be challenging.

Antibody-free, targeted mass-spectrometric approach for quantification of proteins at low picogram per milliliter levels in human plasma/serum.

Sensitive detection of low-abundance proteins in complex biological samples has typically been achieved by immunoassays that use antibodies specific to target proteins; however, de novo development of antibodies is associated with high costs, long development lead times, and high failure rates. To address these challenges, we developed an antibody-free strategy that involves PRISM (high-pressure, high-resolution separations coupled with intelligent selection and multiplexing) for sensitive selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-based targeted protein quantification. The strategy capitalizes on high-resolution reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separations for analyte enrichment, intelligent selection of target fractions via on-line SRM monitoring of internal standards, and fraction multiplexing before nano-liquid chromatography-SRM quantification.

Possible modulation of Arabidopsis ETR1 N-terminal signaling by CTR1.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) Constitutive Triple-Response1 (CTR1) plays a key role in mediating ethylene receptor signaling via its N-terminal interaction with the ethylene receptor C-terminal histidine kinase (HK) domain. Loss-of-function mutations of CTR1 prevent ethylene receptor signaling, and corresponding ctr1 mutants show a constitutive ethylene response phenotype. We recently reported in Plant Physiology that expression of the truncated ethylene receptor Ethylene Response1 (ETR1) isoforms etr1 ( 1-349) and dominant ethylene-insensitive etr1-1 ( 1-349) , lacking the C-terminal HK and receiver domains, both suppressed the ctr1 mutant phenotype.

Advanced proteomic liquid chromatography.

Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is the predominant platform used to analyze proteomics samples consisting of large numbers of proteins and their proteolytic products (e.g., truncated polypeptides) and spanning a wide range of relative concentrations.

Increased frequencies of Th17 and Th22 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with secondary syphilis.

T-helper (Th) 17 and the more recently identified Th22 cells are of great importance in host defense against pathogens, but can also be responsible for chronic inflammatory disorders. However, the roles of the two cell subsets in syphilis remain elusive. In this study, we show that the frequencies of Th17 and Th22 cells are significantly increased in the peripheral blood of patients with secondary syphilis (SS).

Polymorphisms in the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene and acute rejection risk in transplant recipients.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphisms have been reported to influence the risk for acute rejection (AR) in transplant recipients. However, the results still remain controversial and ambiguous. The objective of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the association between polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene and the risk of AR in transplant recipients.

The effects of solvent on switchable stereoselectivity: copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions using D2-symmetric biphenyl phosphoramidite ligands.

A highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic aromatic enones was developed with phosphoramidite ligands bearing a D(2)-symmetric biphenyl backbone. This type of reaction demonstrated that toluene and THF solvents can completely reverse the absolute configuration of the products, thus simplifying the process of accessing either enantiomer (S: 92% ee, 94% yield; R: 99% ee, 96% yield).

Arabidopsis RTE1 is essential to ethylene receptor ETR1 amino-terminal signaling independent of CTR1.

The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ethylene receptor Ethylene Response1 (ETR1) can mediate the receptor signal output via its carboxyl terminus interacting with the amino (N) terminus of Constitutive Triple Response1 (CTR1) or via its N terminus (etr1¹⁻³⁴⁹ or the dominant ethylene-insensitive etr1-1¹⁻³⁴⁹) by an unknown mechanism. Given that CTR1 is essential to ethylene receptor signaling and that overexpression of Reversion To Ethylene Sensitivity1 (RTE1) promotes ETR1 N-terminal signaling, we evaluated the roles of CTR1 and RTE1 in ETR1 N-terminal signaling. The mutant phenotype of ctr1-1 and ctr1-2 was suppressed in part by the transgenes etr1¹⁻³⁴⁹ and etr1-1¹⁻³⁴⁹, with etr1-1 conferring ethylene insensitivity.

Label-free quantitative LC-MS proteomics of Alzheimer's disease and normally aged human brains.

Quantitative proteomics analysis of cortical samples of 10 Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains versus 10 normally aged brains was performed by following the accurate mass and time tag (AMT) approach with the high resolution LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometer. More than 1400 proteins were identified and quantitated. A conservative approach of selecting only the consensus results of four normalization methods was suggested and used.

Overexpression of DNA polymerase iota (Polι) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The present study investigated the transcriptional regulation of low-fidelity translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) polymerases in human esophageal carcinoma. Significantly higher mRNA expression of polymerase zeta (Polξ), RAD18, polymerase iota (Polι), and polymerase kappa (Polκ) was found in esophageal carcinomas. The increased expression of Polι in tumor samples was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Neuropeptide Y reverses chronic stress-induced baroreflex hypersensitivity in rats.

Chronic stress, as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, has been reported to result in elevated plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and be highly associated with abnormal cardiac autonomic function. This study aimed to explore the effect of NPY on the chronic stress-induced abnormal baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS). Seven types of recognized stressors were used to develop chronic stress rat model.

The dietary flavonoid luteolin inhibits Aurora B kinase activity and blocks proliferation of cancer cells.

In human, Aurora B is a chromosomal passenger protein that induces phosphorylation of histone and involves in spindle checkpoint and cytokinesis. Aberrant expression of Aurora B has been shown to correlate with genetic instability and carcinogenesis. In the past, Aurora B has been validated as a drug target by several studies.

Highly efficient asymmetric anti-Mannich reactions of carbonyl compounds with N-carbamoyl imines catalyzed by amino-thiourea organocatalysts.

A series of pyrrolidine-based organocatalysts which bear three synergistic features, i.e. secondary amino group, various H-bond donor groups at the 4-position and a stereocontrol silyl ether group at the α-position of the pyrrolidine nitrogen atom, were developed.

A Bayesian adaptive design for multi-dose, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I/II trials.

We present a design for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) featuring two simultaneous iterative processes, dose escalation and cohort expansion. In this design, patient enrollment does not need to stop when transitioning from the evaluation of the dose safety and tolerability to the assessment of its efficacy. The cohort expansion used in dose-finding is adaptive, based on the interim comparisons between each dose and placebo.

Long-term neuropeptide Y administration in the periphery induces abnormal baroreflex sensitivity and obesity in rats.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an important neuronal element involved in cardiovascular regulation. Since elevated plasma levels of NPY have been observed in numerous pathological situations, this study aimed to determine whether long-term elevated plasma concentrations of NPY could result in aberrant baroreflex sensitivity. Mini-osmotic pump containing NPY (85 μg per 30 days) was subcutaneously implanted between scapulae in male rats for 4 months.

In vivo molecular imaging in retinal disease.

There is an urgent need for early diagnosis in medicine, whereupon effective treatments could prevent irreversible tissue damage. The special structure of the eye provides a unique opportunity for noninvasive light-based imaging of ocular fundus vasculature. To detect endothelial injury at the early and reversible stage of adhesion molecule upregulation, some novel imaging agents that target retinal endothelial molecules were generated.

[In vitro effect of iron overload on bone marrow cell function by inducing the reactive oxygen species].

Objective: To investigate the in vitro effect of iron overload on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and of bone marrow (BM) cell function.

Methods: BM mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) were cultured with ferric citrate (FAC) at different concentrations and for different time to create iron overload and confirmed by the detection of cellular labile iron pool (LIP). The changes of ROS, apoptosis, hematopoietic colony formation (CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-GM and CFU-mix) and the percentage of the CD34 + cells percentage were analyzed.

[Effects of oxidative stress on hematopoiesis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with iron overload].

Objective: To establish a model of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with iron overload derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells and explore the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the hematopoiesis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with iron overload.

Methods: The model was established by adding different concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 µmol/L)of ferric citrate (FAC) into mononuclear cells from UCB and culturing for different times (6, 12, 24 h). The UCB cells were divided into 4 groups: control group, group FAC, group FAC+N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and group FAC+ L-Glutathione (GSH).

Role of CYP2A5 in the bioactivation of the lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in mice.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent lung carcinogen. Previously, we have demonstrated that NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis in mice depends on target-tissue bioactivation by pulmonary cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that mouse CYP2A5 plays an essential role in NNK bioactivation in mouse lung.

[Establishment of new vessels model by implantation of VEGF165 in mouse].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of establishing a murine new vessels model with Lentiviral vector (LVs) mediated human vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (pcDNA3.1/ VEGF165) gene.

Methods: Lentivirus plasmid carrying a human VEGF165 was constructed and was used to transfect mouse's NIH/3T3 cells.

Legume pectate lyase required for root infection by rhizobia.

To allow rhizobial infection of legume roots, plant cell walls must be locally degraded for plant-made infection threads (ITs) to be formed. Here we identify a Lotus japonicus nodulation pectate lyase gene (LjNPL), which is induced in roots and root hairs by rhizobial nodulation (Nod) factors via activation of the nodulation signaling pathway and the NIN transcription factor. Two Ljnpl mutants produced uninfected nodules and most infections arrested as infection foci in root hairs or roots.

Inhibition of histone methylation arrests ongoing graft-versus-host disease in mice by selectively inducing apoptosis of alloreactive effector T cells.

Histone methylation is thought to be important for regulating Ag-driven T-cell responses. However, little is known about the effect of modulating histone methylation on inflammatory T-cell responses. We demonstrate that in vivo administration of the histone methylation inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) arrests ongoing GVHD in mice after allogeneic BM transplantation.