Discovery and structure-activity relationships of spiroindolines as novel inducers of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation

A novel series of spiroindoline derivatives was discovered for use as inducers of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation, resulting from optimization of screening hit 1. Exploration of structure-activity relationships led to compound 18, which showed improved potency (rOPC EC₅₀ = 0.0032 μM). Furthermore, oral administration of compound 18 significantly decreased clinical severity in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model.     

MicroRNA-450b-3p inhibits cell growth by targeting phosphoglycerate kinase 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulation of microRNAs frequently contributes to the occurrence and progression of human diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, the role of miR-450b-3p in HCC was investigated. Gene Expression Omnibus database and HCC specimens were used to evaluate the expression level of miR-450b-3p and the patient's prognosis. Cell functional analyses and tumor xenograft model were used to assess the role of miR-450b-3p in HCC. Bioinformatics was used to predict the downstream target gene of miR-450b-3p, which was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. MiR-450b-3p was found to be downregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, compared with nontransformed immortal hepatic cells and adjacent normal liver tissues, respectively. Lower expression of miR-450b-3p was associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with HCC. Ectopic expression of miR-450b-3p inhibited HCC cell viability, colony formation, and cell-cycle progression in vitro, and suppressed the growth of HCC xenograft tumors in vivo. Interestingly, a negative correlation between miR-450b-3p and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) protein was observed among HCC specimens. Additionally, miR-450b-3p inhibited PGK1 expression and phosphorylation of protein kinase B in HCC cell lines. Further experiments confirmed that PGK1 was a direct target of miR-450b-3p. Moreover, restoration of PGK1 abrogated the inhibitory effect of miR-450b-3p on HCC proliferation and cell division. In conclusion, miR-450b-3p is downregulated in human HCC and exerts tumor suppressive effects at least in part by inhibiting PGK1.     

Efficient induction of neural progenitor cells from human ESC/iPSCs on Type I Collagen

Science China Life Sciences - A stable, rapid and effective neural differentiation method is essential for the clinical applications of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem...     

发酵法生产紫杉醇的检测分析

目的:采用高效液相色谱法对发酵液中的紫杉醇进行测定。方法:将紫杉醇产生菌发酵产物经乙酸乙酯萃取得测定样品,高效液相色谱分析方法为苯基柱(250mm×4.6mm,5μm),流动相乙腈-甲醇-水(36∶4∶60),流速1mL/min,检测波长227nm,进样体积20μL,柱温室温。结果:紫杉醇与干扰物可达到基线分离,在2.2～110μg/mL范围内,紫杉醇的峰面积与浓度线性关系良好,相关系数0.9996,平均回收率为99.55%,RSD为0.60%。结论:与使用C18柱色谱条件相比,该分析方法灵敏度高,不需要复杂的样品前处理过程,仪器配置不复杂、操作方便、准确性高,可有效地检测发酵液中紫杉醇的含量。     

4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester isolated from Lonicera japonica Thunb. targets the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway to attenuate H2O2-induced liver oxidative damage in HepG2 cells

Background4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (4,5-CQME) is a caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) isolated from Lonicera japonica Thunb., a traditional Chinese medicine. To date, the biological activity of 4,5-CQME has not been fully investigated.PurposeThe aim of the current study was to explore the anti-oxidative activity and the underlying mechanism of 4,5-CQME.MethodsMTT assay was used to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of 4,5-CQME. DCFH-DA was used as a fluorescence probe to detect intracellular ROS. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected using the fluorescent probe JC-1. MDA and GSH levels were measured using MDA and GSH commercial kits, respectively. Apoptosis assay was performed using the Annexin V-FITC/PI method. The functional mechanism of 4,5-CQME was investigated by analyzing relative signaling pathways through immunofluorescent staining, quantitative PCR and western blot analysis.ResultsHepG2 cells were incubated with different concentrations of 4,5-CQME for 12 h before exposure to 500 μM H₂O₂ for 3 h. 4,5-CQME attenuated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage and had a higher cytoprotective effect than 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, or 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. 4,5-CQME also reduced ROS and MDA levels and rescued GSH depletion. Western blots demonstrated that 4,5-CQME decreased Bax/Bcl-2 and Bak levels. A mechanistic study confirmed that 4,5-CQME significantly suppressed H₂O₂-induced MAPKs phosphorylation but had little effect on MAPKs phosphorylation under normal conditions. By contrast, 4,5-CQME induced AKT phosphorylation in the presence or absence of H₂O₂. 4,5-CQME also regulated the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and enhanced both the mRNA and protein expressions of HO-1 and NQO1. The anti-oxidative effect of 4,5-CQME was greatly abolished by co-incubation with the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 or PI3K inhibitor wortmannin.ConclusionsTaken together, these results showed that 4,5-CQME offered significant protection against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, and its effect was in part due to the modulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.