3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid, a Major Constituent of Brazilian Propolis, Increases TRAIL Expression and Extends the Lifetimes of Mice Infected with the Influenza A Virus.

Brazilian green propolis water extract (PWE) and its chemical components, caffeoylquinic acids, such as 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,4-diCQA), act against the influenza A virus (IAV) without influencing the viral components. Here, we evaluated the anti-IAV activities of these compounds in vivo. PWE or PEE (Brazilian green propolis ethanol extract) at a dose of 200 mg/kg was orally administered to Balb/c mice that had been inoculated with IAV strain A/WSN/33.

Novel anti-cancer compounds: structure-based discovery of chemical chaperons for p53.

Thermal stability of p53 is crucial in preventing cancer proliferation. Critical mutations which significantly destabilize p53 conformation prevent normal interaction between p53 and DNA and consequently interfere with its inhibitory function against cancer proliferation. The purpose of this study was to discover the small compounds called 'chemical chaperons' that can efficiently stabilize the functional p53 conformation and restore the anti-cancer activity.

Critical role of CD44 in hepatotoxin-mediated liver injury.

Background/aims: Blocking of adhesion molecules is considered to be one of the therapeutic strategies inflammatory diseases, although it remains unclear whether this strategy is beneficial.

Methods: We used CD44-deficient mice to assess whether inhibition of CD44 could control liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)).

Results: CD44-deficient mice exhibited suppressed liver inflammation during the early phase (within 6h) after CCl(4) injection due to reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production, but showed severe liver inflammation with increased numbers of apoptotic hepatocytes at the late phase (after 12h).