Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells repair severe acute pancreatitis by secreting miR-181a-5p to target PTEN/Akt/TGF-β1 signaling

BackgroundSevere acute pancreatitis (SAP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have shown obvious protective effect on SAP. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism. The objective of this study is to unravel the role and regulatory mechanism of miR-181a-5p in BMSCs-mediated pancreatic repair.MethodsBMSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and characterized by flow cytometry and Oil Red O staining. Sodium taurocholate- and caerulein-induced models were used as SAP models in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Pancreatic injury were evaluated by H&E and histopathological analysis, as well as by measuring levels of amylase, lipase and cytokines. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to detect the level of miR-181a-5p and the protein levels of PTEN/Akt, respectively. ELISA was conducted to detect the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, angiopoietin, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1. The apoptotic rate of AR42 J cells was quantitated by concurrent staining with Annexin-V-FITC and PI.ResultsBMSCs significantly attenuated pancreatic injury in SAP rats by reducing inflammatory infiltration and necrosis, and this effect was abolished by CXCR4 agonist AMD3100. ADM3100 exhibited more severe pancreatic injury and decreased miR-181a-5p levels in the pancreas and serum compared to SAP group. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p in BMSCs (BMSCs-miR-181a-5p) markedly potentiated the protective effect of BMSCs by reducing histological damage and levels of amylase and lipase. Moreover, BMSCs-miR-181a-5p dramatically reduced levels of angiopoietin, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, but induced the levels of IL-4 and IL-10. In caerulein-treated AR42 J cells, co-culturing of BMSCs-miR-181a-5p alleviated caerulein-induced increase of amylase and lipase, and apoptosis via PTEN/Akt/TGF-β1 signaling.ConclusionBMSCs alleviate SAP and reduce inflammatory responses and apoptosis by secreting miR-181a-5p to target PTEN/Akt/TGF-β1 signaling. Hence, BMSCs-miR-181a-5p could serve as potential therapeutic target for SAP.     

Structural investigations into the binding mode of novel neolignans Cmp10 and Cmp19 microtubule stabilizers by in silico molecular docking,molecular dynamics,and binding free energy calculations

Microtubule stabilizers provide an important mode of treatment via mitotic cell arrest of cancer cells. Recently, we reported two novel neolignans derivatives Cmp10 and Cmp19 showing anticancer activity and working as microtubule stabilizers at micromolar concentrations. In this study, we have explored the binding site, mode of binding, and stabilization by two novel microtubule stabilizers Cmp10 and Cmp19 using in silico molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and binding free energy calculations. Molecular docking studies were performed to explore the β-tubulin binding site of Cmp10 and Cmp19. Further, MD simulations were used to probe the β-tubulin stabilization mechanism by Cmp10 and Cmp19. Binding affinity was also compared for Cmp10 and Cmp19 using binding free energy calculations. Our docking results revealed that both the compounds bind at Ptxl binding site in β-tubulin. MD simulation studies showed that Cmp10 and Cmp19 binding stabilizes M-loop (Phe272-Val288) residues of β-tubulin and prevent its dynamics, leading to a better packing between α and β subunits from adjacent tubulin dimers. In addition, His229, Ser280 and Gln281, and Arg278, Thr276, and Ser232 were found to be the key amino acid residues forming H-bonds with Cmp10 and Cmp19, respectively. Consequently, binding free energy calculations indicated that Cmp10 (?113.655 kJ/mol) had better binding compared to Cmp19 (?95.216 kJ/mol). This study provides useful insight for better understanding of the binding mechanism of Cmp10 and Cmp19 and will be helpful in designing novel microtubule stabilizers.     

Homodimerization as a molecular switch between low and high efficiency PrPC cell surface delivery and neuroprotective activity

PrP^C is associated with a variety of functions, and its ability to interact with a multitude of partners, including itself, may largely explain PrP multifunctionality and the lack of consensus on the genuine physiological function of the protein in vivo. In contrast, there is a consensus in the literature that alterations in PrP^C trafficking and intracellular retention result in neuronal degeneration. In addition, a proteolytic modification in the late secretory pathway termed the α-cleavage induces the secretion of PrPN1, a PrP^C-derived metabolite with fascinating neuroprotective activity against toxic oligomeric Aβ molecules implicated in Alzheimer disease. Thus, studies focusing on understanding the regulation of PrP^C trafficking to the cell surface and the modulation of α-cleavage are essential. The objective of this commentary is to highlight recent evidences that PrP^C homodimerization stimulates trafficking of the protein to the cell surface and results in high levels of PrPN1 secretion. We also discuss a hypothetical model for these results and comment on future challenges and opportunities.     

Resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy is mediated by TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway in male Wistar rats

The TGF-β1-Smad pathway is a well-known negative regulator of muscle growth; however, its potential role in resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy is not clear. The present study proposed to determine whether and how this pathway may be involved in resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy. Skeletal muscle samples were collected from the control, trained (RT), control + SB431542 (CI_TGF), and trained + SB431542 (RTI_TGF) animals following 3, 5, and 8 weeks of resistance training. Inhibition of the TGF-β1-Smad pathway by SB431542 augmented muscle satellite cells activation, upregulated Akt/mTOR/S6K1 pathway, and attenuated FOXO1 and FOXO3a expression in the CI_TGF group (all p < .01), thereby causing significant muscle hypertrophy in animals from the CI_TGF. Resistance training significantly decreased muscle TGF-β1 expression and Smad3 (P-Smad3^S423/425) phosphorylation at COOH-terminal residues, augmented Smad2 (P-Smad2-L^S245/250/255) and Smad3 (P-Smad3-L^Ser208) phosphorylation levels at linker sites (all p < .01), and led to a muscle hypertrophy which was unaffected by SB431542, suggesting that the TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway is involved in resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy. The effects of inhibiting the TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway were not additive to the resistance training effects on FOXO1 and FOXO3a expression, muscle satellite cells activation, and the Akt/mTOR/S6K1 pathway. Resistance training effect of satellite cell differentiation was independent of the TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway. These results suggested that the effect of the TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway on resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy can be attributed mainly to its diminished inhibitory effects on satellite cell activation and protein synthesis. Suppressed P-Smad3^S423/425 and enhanced P-Smad2-L^S245/250/255 and P-Smad3-L^Ser208 are the molecular mechanisms that link the TGF-β1-Smad signaling pathway to resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy.     

Introduction: Metals in Biology: α-Ketoglutarate/Iron-Dependent Dioxygenases

Four minireviews deal with aspects of the α-ketoglutarate/iron-dependent dioxygenases in this eighth Thematic Series on Metals in Biology. The minireviews cover a general introduction and synopsis of the current understanding of mechanisms of catalysis, the roles of these dioxygenases in post-translational protein modification and de-modification, the roles of the ten-eleven translocation (Tet) dioxygenases in the modification of methylated bases (5mC, T) in DNA relevant to epigenetic mechanisms, and the roles of the AlkB-related dioxygenases in the repair of damaged DNA and RNA. The use of α-ketoglutarate (alternatively termed 2-oxoglutarate) as a co-substrate in so many oxidation reactions throughout much of nature is notable and has surprisingly emerged from biochemical and genomic analysis. About 60 of these enzymes are now recognized in humans, and a number have been identified as having critical functions.     

Isolation, partial chemical and biological characterization of thymone B

A new approach to the study of the molecular arrangements of proteins in membranes is described. Irradiation with visible light of native erythrocytes or washed erythrocyte membranes suspended in buffers containing a) riboflavin, fluorescein or fluorescein coupled to dextran and b) ³H-labelled tryptophan resulted in incorporation of radioactivity into the membrane proteins. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized membranes followed by radioactivity measurements of the separated membrane proteins revealed that in native erythrocytes the protein components known to be located at the exterior cell surface, Band 3 and the major sialoglycoproteins became specifically labelled, whereas in washed lysed cells all of the major membrane proteins were labelled.     

水翁花蕾和水翁叶精油的化学成分研究

水翁的花营和鲜叶经水蒸汽蒸馏得到一种淡黄色的精油,前者出油率为0.18％。后者为0.08％。我们应用毛细管气相色谱,气相色谱/质谱联用,红外光谱和紫外光谱等方法,对两种精油进行化学分成分析,分别鉴定出35个和27个已知化学成分。两者相同的化学成分有:β-罗勒烯(Z)、β-罗勒烯(E)、α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、月桂烯、小茴香烯、香叶醇、顺式-丁香烯、橙花叔醇等23个化学成分,分别占花营精油全油的90％和叶精油95％以上。     

Initial steps in the degradation of benzene sulfonic acid, 4-toluene sulfonic acids,and orthanilic acid in Alcaligenes sp. strain O-1

Alcaligenes sp. strain O-1 grew with benzene sulfonate (BS) as sole carbon source for growth with either NH₄ ⁺ or NH₄ ⁺ plus orthanilate (2-aminobenzene sulfonate, OS) as the source(s) of nitrogen. The intracellular desulfonative enzyme did not degrade 3- or 4-aminobenzene sulfonates in the medium, although the enzyme in cell extracts degraded these compounds. We deduce the presence of a selective permeability barrier to sulfonates and conclude that the first step in sulfonate metabolism is transport into the cell. Cell-free desulfonation of BS in standard reaction mixtures required 2 mol of O₂ per mol. One mol of O₂ was required for a catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. When meta ring cleavage was inhibited with 3-chlorocatechol in desalted extracts, about 1 mol each of O₂ and of NAD(P)H per mol of BS were required for the reaction, and SO₃ ^2- and catechol were recovered in high yield. Catechol was shown to be formed by dioxygenation in an experiment involving ¹⁸O₂. 4-Toluene sulfonate was subject to NAD(P)H-dependent dioxygenation to yield SO₃ ^2- and 4-methylcatechol, which was subject to meta cleavage. OS also required 2 mol of O₂ per mol and NAD(P)H for degradation, and SO₃ ^2- and NH₄ ⁺ were recovered quantitatively. Inhibition of ring cleavage with 3-chrorocatechol reduced the oxygen requirement to 1 mol per mol of OS SO₃ ^2- (1 mol) and an unidentified organic intermediate, but no NH₄ ⁺, were observed.