Protective Effect of Resveratrol against IL-1β-Induced Inflammatory Response on Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Partly via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: An “in Vitro Study”

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound that prevents inflammation in chondrocytes and animal models of osteoarthritis (OA) via yet to be defined mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the protective effect of resveratrol on IL-1β-induced human articular chondrocytes was associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway by incubating human articular chondrocytes (harvested from osteoarthritis patients) with IL-1β before treatment with resveratrol. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and TNFα levels in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA(Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay). The levels of TLR4 and its downstream signaling targets (MyD88 and TRAF6) and IL-1β were assessed by measuring the levels of mRNA and protein expression by real-time RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively, in addition to assessing NF-κB activation. In addition, TLR4 siRNA was used to block TLR4 expression in chondrocytes further demonstrating that resveratrol prevented IL-1β-mediated inflammation by TLR4 inhibition. We found that resveratrol prevented IL-1β-induced reduction in cell viability. Stimulation of chondrocytes with IL-1β caused a significant up-regulation of TLR4 and its downstream targets MyD88 and TRAF6 resulting in NF-κB activation associated with the synthesis of IL-1β and TNFα. These IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses were all effectively reversed by resveratrol. Furthermore, activation of NF-κB in chondrocytes treated with TLR4 siRNA was significantly attenuated, but not abolished, and exposure to resveratrol further reduced NF-κB translocation. These data suggested that resveratrol prevented IL-1β-induced inflammation in human articular chondrocytes at least in part by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway suggesting that resveratrol has the potential to be used as a nutritional supplement to counteract OA symptoms.     

Two Major Bile Acids in the Hornbills, (24R,25S)-3α,7α,24-Trihydroxy-5β-cholestan-27-oyl Taurine and Its 12α-Hydroxy Derivative

Two major bile acids were isolated from the gallbladder bile of two hornbill species from the Bucerotidae family of the avian order Bucerotiformes Buceros bicornis (great hornbill) and Penelopides panini (Visayan tarictic hornbill). Their structures were determined to be 3α,7α,24‐dihydroxy‐5β‐cholestan‐27‐oic acid and its 12α‐hydroxy derivative, 3α,7α,12α,24‐tetrahydroxy‐5β‐cholestan‐27‐oic acid (varanic acid, VA), both present in bile as their corresponding taurine amidates. The four diastereomers of varanic acid were synthesized and their assigned structures were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. VA and its 12‐deoxy derivative were found to have a (24R,25S)‐configuration. 13 additional hornbill species were also analyzed by HPLC and showed similar bile acid patterns to B. bicornis and P. panini. The previous stereochemical assignment for (24R,25S)‐VA isolated from the bile of varanid lizards and the Gila monster should now be revised to the (24S,25S)‐configuration.     

Studies on the synthesis of cholane derivatives containing a mercapto group and their dimers with disulfide spacers. Part 2. 3α-Mercapto-5β-cholane-7α,12α,24-triol and its C(3)–C(3′) disulfide dimer

Two new sulfur-containing cholane derivatives were obtained from cholic acid: 3α-mercapto-5β-cholane-7α,12α,24-triol 2 and its C(3)–C(3′) disulfide dimer 3 as a potential supramolecular host.     

Unusual interaction extended between the pyranose ring oxygen and Zn(II) center in the complexes derived from 4,6-O-butylidene/ethylidene-N-(α-hydroxynaphthylidene/o-hydroxybenzylidene)-β-d-glucopyranosylamine: Evidence for a pseudo-bicapped tetrahedral complex of Zn(II) based on the crystal structure

The Zn(II) complexes of 4,6-O-butylidene/ethylidene-N-(α-hydroxynaphthylidene/o-hydroxybenzylidene)-β-d-glucopyranosylamine have been synthesized and characterized using spectral and analytical methods and structure for one of the products was established. The geometry of the complexes vary from unusual distorted trigonal bipyramidal to pseudo-bicapped tetrahedron depending upon the extent of binding of pyranose ring oxygens to the Zn(II) ion, as evidenced from crystal structures. Such interaction is also reflected on the optical rotation and CD spectral properties of these complexes in solution.