Inflammatory cytokines activate p38 MAPK to induce osteoprotegerin synthesis by MG-63 cells

Inflammatory bone diseases are characterized by the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines that regulate bone turnover. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble osteoblast-derived protein that influences bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activation. In the present study, we demonstrate that interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha induce OPG mRNA production and OPG secretion by osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. Maximum induction of OPG secretion by either cytokine requires activation of the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway but neither the p42/p44 (ERK) nor the c-Jun N-terminal MAPK pathways. Induction of OPG mRNA by either cytokine is also p38 MAPK dependent. Taken together, these data indicate that cytokine-induced OPG gene expression and protein secretion are differentially regulated by specific MAP kinase signal transduction pathways.     

Y-40138, a multiple cytokine production modulator, protects against D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatitis

Acute and fulminant liver failure induced by viral hepatitis, alcohol or other hepatotoxic drugs are associated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury is an experimental model of fulminant hepatic failure. In this model, TNF-alpha plays a central role in the pathogenesis of D-GalN/LPS-induced liver injury in mice. Y-40138, N-[1-(4-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl phenyl)cyclopropyl] acetamide.HCl inhibits TNF-alpha and augments interleukin (IL)-10 production in LPS-injected mice in plasma. In the present study, we examined the effect of Y-40138 on D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatitis. Y-40138 (10mg/kg, i.v.) significantly suppressed TNF-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production and augmented IL-10 production in plasma. In addition, Y-40138 significantly inhibited TNF-alpha production induced by direct interaction between human T lymphocytes and macrophages. Y-40138 suppressed plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation and improved survival rate in D-GalN/LPS-injected mice, and it is suggested that the protective effect of Y-40138 on hepatitis may be mediated by inhibition of TNF-alpha and MCP-1, and/or augmentation of IL-10. This compound is expected to be a new candidate for treatment of cytokine and/or chemokine-related liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis.     

Diterpenes from the brown algae Dictyota dichotoma and Dictyota linearis

Nineteen secondary metabolites of the brown alga Dictyota dichotoma (Huds.) Lam. and fifteen metabolites of the brown alga D. linearis (Ag.) Grev. were isolated and their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of their NMR and mass spectral data. The diterpenes isopachydictyolal (1) from D. dichotoma and 4alpha-acetyldictyodial (2) from D. linearis are new natural products. The antiviral activity of metabolites isolated in adequate amounts was evaluated in laboratory assays against Herpes simplex virus I (HSV I) and Poliomyelitis Virus I, using Vero cells as hosts.     

Benzo(alpha)pyrene-induced up-regulation of CYP1A2 gene expression: role of adrenoceptor-linked signaling pathways

CYP1A2, a principal catalyst for metabolism of various therapeutic drugs and carcinogens, among others, is in part regulated by the stress response. This study was designed to assess whether catecholamines and in particular adrenergic receptor-dependent pathways, modulate benzo(alpha)pyrene (B(alpha)P)-induced hepatic CYP1A2. To distinguish between the role of central and peripheral catecholamines in the regulation of CYP1A2 induction, the effect of central and peripheral catecholamine depletion using reserpine was compared to that of peripheral catecholamine depletion using guanethidine. The effects of peripheral adrenaline and L-DOPA administration were also assessed. The results suggest that alterations in central catecholamines modulate 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase activity (MROD), CYP1A2 mRNA and protein levels in the B(alpha)P-induced state. In particular, central catecholamine depletion, dexmedetomidine-induced inhibition of noradrenaline release and blockade of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors with prazosin, up-regulated CYP1A2 expression. Phenylephrine and dexmedetomidine-induced up-regulation may be mediated, in part, via peripheral alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, respectively. On the other hand, the L-DOPA-induced increase in central dopaminergic activity was not followed by any change in the up-regulation of CYP1A2 expression by B(alpha)P. Central noradrenergic systems appeared to counteract up-regulating factors, most likely via alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. In contrast, peripheral alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor-related signaling pathways are linked to up-regulating processes. The findings suggest that drugs that bind to adrenoceptors or affect central noradrenergic neurotransmission, as well as factors that challenge the adrenoceptor-linked signaling pathways may deregulate CYP1A2 induction. This, in turn, may result in drug-therapy and drug-toxicity complications.     

TGF-α、TGF-β1在胰腺癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究TGF-α、TGF-β1与胰腺癌临床病理的关系.方法:免疫组织化学SABC法检测41例胰腺癌组织和12例正常胰腺组织中TGF-α、TGF-β1的表达情况,并分析其与病人的年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、病理分级和分期(UICC)等指标的相关性.结果:在41例胰腺癌组织中TGF-αTGF-β1的阳性表达率分别为73.2%、63.4%,在12例正常胰腺组织中的阳性表达率分别为16.7%、25.0%,两组之间存在显著差异(P=0.001).在胰腺癌组织中,TGF-β1的表达在不同分期中存在显著差异(P=0.019);TGF-α的表达与胰腺癌患者的年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、大小、分期及组织学分级无相关性(P>0.05).结论:TGF-α、TGF-β1在胰腺癌中高表达.TGF-β1与胰腺癌病理分期有关.     

Structure of a Peptidal Antibiotic P168 Produced by Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson

( + )-α-Kainic acid (1) was synthesized by starting from a building block, N-Boc-3-acetoxyallylglycine ethyl ester (2). The key intermediate, a methyl 4-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)prenylamino]-5-hydroxy-2-pentenoate derivative (9), was prepared from 2 in eight synthetic steps. After converting 10 into a methyl ester (11), intramolecular ene-carbocyclization of 11 gave a pyrrolidine derivative (12), which was converted to 1 in a moderate yield.     

Asymmetric Trans-esterification of meso-2,5-Dibromoadipate and Synthesis of Optically Active cis-2,5-Disubstituted Pyrrolidines

Asymmetric trans-esterification of meso-2,5-dibromoadipate to (–)-benzyl methyl 2,5-dibromoadipate by lipase with subsequent chemical reactions afforded optically active cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines. An equivalent asymmetric transformation was performed by selectively hydrolyzing a cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine having a chiral N-substituent.     

Strict Binding Specificity of Small-Sized Lectins from the Red Alga Hypnea japonica for Core (α1-6) Fucosylated N-Glycans

Small-sized isolectins (9 KDa) from Hypnea japonica belong to a new lectin family. Here, we describe the carbohydrate-binding properties of the three isolectins (hypninA1, A2, and A3) and the amino acid sequence of hypninA3 (P85888). In frontal affinity chromatography with about 100 pyridylaminated oligosaccharides, the isolectins, which had no affinity for monosaccharides, commonly bound only core (α1-6) fucosylated N-glycans, and did not the other oligosaccharides examined, including (α1-2), (α1-3), and (α1-4) fucosylated glycans. The specific binding of hypninA3 with the fucosylated N-glycans (K _a; 0.52–7.58×10⁶ M^?1) was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance analyses on an immobilized glycoprotein with and without core (α1-6) fucose. Such specificity of hypninA is clearly distinct from those of other known fucose-binding lectins, making it a valuable tool for cancer diagnosis and quality control of medicinal antibodies. HypninA3 is a polypeptide composed of 90 amino acids containing four half-cystines.