PI3K/Akt Pathway is Required for Spinal Central Sensitization in Neuropathic Pain

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) has been identified in the expression of central sensitization after noxious inflammatory stimuli. However, its contribution in neuropathic pain remains to be determined. Here we address the role of PI3K signaling in central sensitization in a model of neuropathic pain, and propose a novel potential drug target for neuropathic pain. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model was used in the study as the model for neuropathic pain. Western blotting, whole-cell patch clamp, and von Frey assay were performed to study biochemical, electrical, and behavioral changes in CCI rats, respectively. A steroid metabolite of the fungi (wortmannin) was used to block PI3K signaling and its effects on CCI rats were tested. PI3K/Akt signaling increased in the spinal cord L4–L6 sections in the CCI rats. CCI also facilitated miniature excitatory postsynaptic potential of dorsal horn substantia gelatinosa neurons, increased phosphorylation of glutamate receptor subunit GluA1 and synapsin at the synapse, and induced mechanic allodynia. Wortmannin reversed biochemical, electrical, and behavioral changes in CCI rats. This study is the first to show PI3K/Akt signaling is required for spinal central sensitization in the CCI neuropathic pain model.     

Establishment and characterization of human osteosarcoma cell lines with different pulmonary metastatic potentials

To develop an investigative tool for the study of human osteosarcoma (OSA), we established a human OSA cell line, namely, SOSP-9607, which exhibits a potential for spontaneous pulmonary metastasis. Subsequently, we screened two related sublines (F5M2 and F4) that have different pulmonary metastatic potentials. An in vivo orthotopic transplantation assay confirmed spontaneous pulmonary metastasis in all mice (100%) transplanted with the more aggressive OSA cells (F5M2) and a lesser degree of metastases with smaller nodules in 33.3% mice transplanted with the less aggressive OSA cell subline (F4). In mice transplanted with F5M2 cells, death from metastasis occurred at a median of 71 days; however, in mice transplanted with F4, no death occurred even after 120 days. Therefore, the F5M2 and F4 sublines, which originated from the same parent cell line, differed with respect to metastasis-related properties such as proliferating ability and invasiveness. Hence, these well-characterized human OSA sublines can be used as valuable models for comparative studies of genetic determinants of OSA in the future.     

Epitope mapping of a chimeric CD137 mAb: a necessary step for assessing the biologic relevance of non‐human primate models

Antibody based manipulation of the CD137 (4‐1BB) co‐signaling pathway is an attractive option for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. We developed a chimeric anti‐human CD137 monoclonal antibody (GG) and characterized its function. As a component of planned preclinical studies, we evaluated the binding of GG to activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cynomolgus macaque and baboon against human. Interestingly, GG only recognized human CD137, while a commercial anti‐CD137 mAb (4B4‐1), recognized activated PBMCs from both human and non‐human primates (NHP). Subsequent analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of CD137 is largely conserved between primate species (～95% identical), with the extracellular domain differing by only 9–10 amino acids. Based on these data, we generated mutant constructs in the extracellular domain, replacing NHP with human CD137 sequences, and identified 3 amino acids critical for GG binding. These residues are likely part of a conformational epitope, as a peptide spanning this region is unable to block mAb binding. These data demonstrate that subtle sequence variations of defined co‐stimulatory molecules amongst primate species can be employed as a strategy for mapping residues necessary for antibody binding to conformational epitopes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

蒙农红豆草不同花色表型及色素成分特征分析

蒙农红豆草不仅是良好的饲草作物,还可以用作庭院观赏及蜜源植物。该研究以蒙农红豆草浅色花瓣突变体与对照群体中的粉红色、紫红色花瓣为试验材料,通过对花瓣颜色的表型和色素种类及含量的综合分析,明确影响花色形成的主要物质。结果表明:(1)蒙农红豆草浅色花突变体与对照的粉红色花和紫红色花为3种不同的色系,根据黄度(b*)和色相角(h°)将浅色花突变体的花色定义为黄白色花。(2)在3种花色中共检测到10种类黄酮和5种花青素,其中6种山奈酚衍生物、2种矮牵牛素衍生物、2种飞燕草素衍生物和1种锦葵素衍生物为首次在蒙农红豆草中报道;同时还发现山奈酚-3-芸香苷、山奈酚-3-葡萄糖苷和飞燕草素-3-羧基修饰芸香苷在3种花色中含量(36%~50%、21%~35%和27%~65%)最多。研究推测:芦丁、山奈酚-3-芸香苷-5-鼠李糖苷和山奈酚-3-p-香豆酰葡萄糖苷为影响蒙农红豆草花色变化的主要成分。     

重组SARS病毒N蛋白可与SARS患者血清发生特异反应

N蛋白是SARS CoV病毒基因组编码病毒核衣壳蛋白 ,它不同于现已知的任何蛋白质 .对它的深入研究对揭示SARS -CoV的致病机理和疫苗及诊断试剂的研制有重要意义 .灭活的病毒经逆转录后 ,用根据已知的病毒的基因组序列所设计的引物PCR扩增N蛋白基因 .扩增出的基因经序列分析表明和已知的序列完全一致 ,共编码 4 2 2个氨基酸残基 .将N蛋白基因克隆入原核表达载体pET2 8a构建成表达质粒pET2 8a N .表达质粒转化大肠杆菌BL2 1 (DE3) ,并用IPTG诱导后 ,获得了高表达N蛋白的重组菌株 .目的蛋白经一步金属离子螯合层析纯化后获得了纯度超过 90 %的样品 .Western印迹及ELISA分析表明 ,SARS患者体内有特异性的针对N蛋白的抗体 ,并具有较高的特异性 .这为临床上诊断SARS患者提供了新方法 ,并为SARS疫苗的研制提供了研究思路     

A series of spirocyclic analogues as potent inhibitors of bacterial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases

We have identified a series of spirocyclic furan and pyrrolidine inhibitors of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases. The most potent analogue 1b showed IC50=5 nM (E. faecalis PheRS) and IC50=2 nM (S. aureus PheRS) with high selectivity over the human enzyme. The crystal X-ray structure of analogue 1b was determined.     

TNF‐α induces up‐regulation of MicroRNA‐27a via the P38 signalling pathway,which inhibits intervertebral disc degeneration by targeting FSTL1

The mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration is still unclear, and there are no effective therapeutic strategies for treating this condition. miRNAs are naturally occurring macromolecules in the human body and have many biological functions. Therefore, we hope to elucidate whether miRNAs are associated with intervertebral disc degeneration and the underlying mechanisms involved. In our study, differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by the GEO database and then confirmed by qPCR and in situ hybridization. Apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells was detected by flow cytometry and Bcl2, Bax and caspase 3. Deposition of extracellular matrix was assessed by Alcian blue staining, and the expression of COX2 and MMP13 was detected by immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR. Moreover, qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR27a and its precursors. The results showed that miR27a was rarely expressed in healthy intervertebral discs but showed increased expression in degenerated intervertebral discs. Ectopic miR27a expression inhibited apoptosis, suppressed the inflammatory response and attenuated the catabolism of the extracellular matrix by targeting FSTL1. Furthermore, it seems that the expression of miR27a was up‐regulated by TNF‐α via the P38 signalling pathway. So we conclude that TNF‐α and FSTL1 engage in a positive feedback loop to promote intervertebral disc degeneration. At the same time, miR27a is up‐regulated by TNF‐α via the P38 signalling pathway, which ameliorates inflammation, apoptosis and matrix degradation by targeting FSTL1. Thus, this negative feedback mechanism might contribute to the maintenance of a low degeneration load and would be beneficial to maintain a persistent chronic disc degeneration.     

Eremophilane Sesquiterpenes and Benzene Derivatives from the Endophyte Microdiplodia sp. WGHS5

Three new eremophilane sesquiterpenes phomadecalins G−I ( 1 – 3 ) and two new benzene derivatives microdiplzenes A and B ( 12 and 13 ), together with nine known eremophilane sesquiterpenes ( 4 – 11 and 14 ) were isolated from an endophytic fungus, Microdiplodia sp. WGHS5. Their structures were elucidated by the interpretation of HR-ESI-MS and NMR data; meanwhile, the absolute configurations of new compounds were determined on the base of ECD calculations. All compounds were evaluated for the antimicrobial activities and antiproliferative effect on human gastric cancer cell lines (BGC-823).     

Prostaglandin E3 attenuates macrophage-associated inflammation and prostate tumour growth by modulating polarization

Alternative polarization of macrophages regulates multiple biological processes. While M1-polarized macrophages generally mediate rapid immune responses, M2-polarized macrophages induce chronic and mild immune responses. In either case, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived lipid mediators act as both products and regulators of macrophages. Prostaglandin E₃ (PGE₃) is an eicosanoid derived from eicosapentaenoic acid, which is converted by cyclooxygenase, followed by prostaglandin E synthase successively. We found that PGE₃ played an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting LPS and interferon-γ-induced M1 polarization and promoting interleukin-4-mediated M2 polarization (M2a). Further, we found that although PGE₃ had no direct effect on the growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro, PGE₃ could inhibit prostate cancer in vivo in a nude mouse model of neoplasia. Notably, we found that PGE₃ significantly inhibited prostate cancer cell growth in a cancer cell-macrophage co-culture system. Experimental results showed that PGE₃ inhibited the polarization of tumour-associated M2 macrophages (TAM), consequently producing indirect anti-tumour activity. Mechanistically, we identified that PGE₃ regulated the expression and activation of protein kinase A, which is critical for macrophage polarization. In summary, this study indicates that PGE₃ can selectively promote M2a polarization, while inhibiting M1 and TAM polarization, thus exerting an anti-inflammatory effect and anti-tumour effect in prostate cancer.