Analysis of Multiple Drug Resistance Mechanism in Different Types of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Assessment of the Expression of ABC-Transporters,MVP, YB-1, and Analysis of Their Correlation with Chemosensitivity of Cancer Cells

Chemotherapy of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is restricted by low chemosensitivity and multiple drug resistance (MDR). The purpose of our study was the analysis of MDR mechanism in different types of STS. We assessed the expression of ABC-transporters, MVP, YB-1, and analyzed their correlation with chemosensitivity of cancer cells. STS specimens were obtained from 70 patients without metastatic disease (2018–2020). Expression level of MDR-associated genes was estimated by qRT-PCR and cytofluorimetry. Mutations in ABC-transporter genes were captured by exome sequencing. Chemosensitivity (SI) of STS to doxorubicin (Dox), ifosfamide (Ifo), gemcitabine (Gem), and docetaxel (Doc) was analyzed in vitro. We found strong correlation in ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 expression. We demonstrated strong negative correlations in ABCB1 and ABCG2 expression with SI (Doc) and SI (Doc + Gem), and positive correlation of MVP expression with SI (Doc) and SI (Doc + Gem) in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Pgp expression was shown in 5 out of 44 STS samples with prevalence of synovial sarcoma relapses and it is strongly correlated with SI (Gem). Mutations in MDR-associated genes were rarely found. Overall, STS demonstrated high heterogeneity in chemosensitivity that makes reasonable in vitro chemosensitivity testing to improve personalized STS therapy, and classic ABC-transporters are not obviously involved in MDR appearance.     

Overexpression of Human ABCB1 and ABCG2 Reduces the Susceptibility of Cancer Cells to the Histone Deacetylase 6-Specific Inhibitor Citarinostat

Citarinostat (ACY-241) is a promising oral histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6)-selective inhibitor currently in clinical trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the inevitable emergence of resistance to citarinostat may reduce its clinical effectiveness in cancer patients and limit its clinical usefulness in the future. In this study, we investigated the potential role of the multidrug efflux transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2, which are two of the most common mechanisms of acquired resistance to anticancer drugs, on the efficacy of citarinostat in human cancer cells. We discovered that the overexpression of ABCB1 or ABCG2 significantly reduced the sensitivity of human cancer cells to citarinostat. We demonstrated that the intracellular accumulation of citarinostat and its activity against HDAC6 were substantially reduced by the drug transport function of ABCB1 and ABCG2, which could be restored by treatment with an established inhibitor of ABCB1 or ABCG2, respectively. In conclusion, our results revealed a novel mechanism by which ABCB1 and ABCG2 actively transport citarinostat away from targeting HDAC6 in cancer cells. Our results suggest that the co-administration of citarinostat with a non-toxic modulator of ABCB1 and ABCG2 may optimize its therapeutic application in the clinic.     

Snapshots of ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8: A Sterol’s Journey to Cross the Cellular Membranes

The subfamily-G ATP-binding cassette (ABCG) transporters play important roles in regulating cholesterol homeostasis. Recent progress in the structural data of ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8 disclose putative sterol binding sites that suggest the possible cholesterol translocation pathway. ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8 share high similarity in the overall molecular architecture, and both transporters appear to use several unique structural motifs to facilitate cholesterol transport along this pathway, including the phenylalanine highway and the hydrophobic valve. Interestingly, ABCG5/G8 is known to transport cholesterol and phytosterols, whereas ABCG1 seems to exclusively transport cholesterol. Ligand docking analysis indeed suggests a difference in recruiting sterol molecules to the known sterol-binding sites. Here, we further discuss how the different and shared structural features are relevant to their physiological functions, and finally provide our perspective on future studies in ABCG cholesterol transporters.     

ABCG5/G8 Deficiency in Mice Reduces Dietary Triacylglycerol and Cholesterol Transport into the Lymph

The adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter G5/G8 is critical in protecting the body from accumulating dietary plant sterols. Expressed in the liver and small intestine, it transports plant sterols into the biliary and intestinal lumens, thus promoting their excretion. The extent to which G5/G8 regulates cholesterol absorption remains unclear. G5/G8 is also implicated in reducing the absorption of dietary triacylglycerols (TAG) by unknown mechanisms. We hypothesized that G5/G8 suppresses the production of chylomicrons, and its deficiency would enhance the absorption of both dietary TAG and cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of G5/G8 deficiency on lipid uptake and secretion into the lymph under steady‐state conditions. Surprisingly, compared with wild‐type mice (WT) (n = 9), G5/G8 KO (n = 13) lymph fistula mice given a continuous intraduodenal infusion of [3H]‐TAG and [14C]‐cholesterol showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in lymphatic transport of both [³H]‐TAG and [¹⁴C]‐cholesterol, concomitant with a significant (P < 0.05) increase of [³H]‐TAG and [¹⁴C]‐cholesterol accumulated in the intestinal lumen. There was no difference in the total amount of radiolabeled lipids retained in the intestinal mucosa between the two groups. G5/G8 KO mice given a bolus of TAG showed reduced intestinal TAG secretion compared with WT, suggesting an independent role for G5/G8 in facilitating intestinal TAG transport. Our data demonstrate that G5/G8 deficiency reduces the uptake and secretion of both dietary TAG and cholesterol by the intestine, suggesting a novel role for the sterol transporter in the formation and secretion of chylomicrons.     

Functional Expression of Choline Transporters in Microglia and Their Regulation of Microglial M1/M2 Polarization

Background: Microglia are key cells of the immune system in the central nervous system and are suggested to be deeply involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. It is well known that microglia have functional plasticity, with an inflammatory M1 phenotype and an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Inhibition of choline transport in macrophages has been reported to suppress the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. However, the role of the choline transport system in regulating microglial M1/M2 polarization has not been fully elucidated to date. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of choline uptake in microglia, and its association with microglial M1/M2 polarization. Methods: The immortalized mouse microglial cell line SIM-A9 was used for [³H]choline uptake and expression analysis of choline transporters. The association between the choline uptake system and the M1/M2 polarization of microglia was also analyzed. Results: Choline transporter-like protein (CTL) 1 and CTL2 were highly expressed in SIM-A9 cells, and CTL1 and CTL2 were localized in the plasma membrane and mitochondria, respectively. Functional analysis of choline uptake demonstrated the existence of Na⁺-independent, pH-dependent, and intermediate-affinity choline transport systems. Choline uptake was concentration-dependently inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (HC-3), an inhibitor of choline uptake, and increased by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Expression of the mRNA of M1 microglia markers IL-1β and IL-6 was increased by LPS, and their effects were suppressed by choline deprivation and HC-3. In contrast, mRNA expression of the M2 microglial marker arginase-1 (Arg-1) was increased by IL-4, and the effect was enhanced by choline deprivation and HC-3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that inhibition of CTL1-mediated choline uptake in microglia preferentially induces M2 microglia polarization, which is a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory brain diseases.     

BMP4 Enhances Foam Cell Formation by BMPR-2/Smad1/5/8 Signaling

Atherosclerosis and its complications are characterized by lipid-laden foam cell formation. Recently, an obvious up-regulation of BMP4 was observed in atherosclerotic plaque, however, its function and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In our study, BMP4 pretreatment induced macrophage foam cell formation. Furthermore, a dramatic increase in the ratio of cholesteryl ester (CE) to total cholesterol (TC) was observed in BMP4-treated macrophages, accompanied by the reduction of cholesterol outflow. Importantly, BMP4 stimulation inhibited the expression levels of the two most important cellular cholesterol transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1, indicating that BMP4 may induce formation of foam cells by attenuating transporters expression. Further mechanism analysis showed that BMPR-2, one of the BMP4 receptors, was significantly increased in BMP4 treated macrophage foam cells. That blocking its expression using specific siRNA significantly increased ABCA1 and ABCG1 levels. Additionally, BMP4 treatment triggered the activation of Smad1/5/8 pathway by BMPR-2 signaling. After blocking the Smad1/5/8 with its inhibitor, ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression levels were up-regulated significantly, suggesting that BMP4 inhibited the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 through the BMPR-2/Smad1/2/8 signaling pathway. Therefore, our results will provide a new insight about how BMP4 accelerate the progressio of atherosclerosis, and it may become a potential target against atherosclerosis and its complications.     

TM4SF5-Mediated Regulation of Hepatocyte Transporters during Metabolic Liver Diseases

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is found in up to 30% of the world’s population and can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has a poor 5-year relative survival rate of less than 40%. Clinical therapeutic strategies are not very successful. The co-occurrence of metabolic disorders and inflammatory environments during the development of steatohepatitis thus needs to be more specifically diagnosed and treated to prevent fatal HCC development. To improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, the identification of molecules and/or pathways responsible for the initiation and progression of chronic liver disease has been explored in many studies, but further study is still required. Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) has been observed to play roles in the regulation of metabolic functions and activities in hepatocytes using in vitro cell and in vivo animal models without or with TM4SF5 expression in addition to clinical liver tissue samples. TM4SF5 is present on the membranes of different organelles or vesicles and cooperates with transporters for fatty acids, amino acids, and monocarbohydrates, thus regulating nutrient uptake into hepatocytes and metabolism and leading to phenotypes of chronic liver diseases. In addition, TM4SF5 can remodel the immune environment by interacting with immune cells during TM4SF5-mediated chronic liver diseases. Because TM4SF5 may act as an NAFLD biomarker, this review summarizes crosstalk between TM4SF5 and nutrient transporters in hepatocytes, which is related to chronic liver diseases.     

Analysis of Binding Determinants for Different Classes of Competitive and Noncompetitive Inhibitors of Glycine Transporters

Glycine transporters are interesting therapeutic targets as they play significant roles in glycinergic and glutamatergic systems. The search for new selective inhibitors of particular types of glycine transporters (GlyT-1 and GlyT-2) with beneficial kinetics is hampered by limited knowledge about the spatial structure of these proteins. In this study, a pool of homology models of GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 in different conformational states was constructed using the crystal structures of related transporters from the SLC6 family and the recently revealed structure of GlyT-1 in the inward-open state, in order to investigate their binding sites. The binding mode of the known GlyT-1 and GlyT-2 inhibitors was determined using molecular docking studies, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA free energy calculations. The results of this study indicate that two amino acids, Gly373 and Leu476 in GlyT-1 and the corresponding Ser479 and Thr582 in GlyT-2, are mainly responsible for the selective binding of ligands within the S1 site. Apart from these, one pocket of the S2 site, which lies between TM3 and TM10, may also be important. Moreover, selective binding of noncompetitive GlyT-1 inhibitors in the intracellular release pathway is affected by hydrophobic interactions with Ile399, Met382, and Leu158. These results can be useful in the rational design of new glycine transporter inhibitors with desired selectivity and properties in the future.     

铝源前驱体对离子热法合成磷酸铝分子筛的影响

以离子液体1-乙基-3-甲基-咪唑溴盐为溶剂和模板剂,选用不同的铝源,在常压下合成AlPO4-11分子筛. 考察了在不同铝源条件下,物料配比、晶化时间和晶化温度对合成AlPO4-11分子筛的影响. 产物通过X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等表征手段进行了表征. 结果表明铝源性质的不同导致了合成规律和合成机理的不同. 以异丙醇铝为铝源合成分子筛时,所需最佳P/Al比为3/1,分子筛的晶化速率较慢;而以碱式乙酸铝为铝源合成分子筛时,物料的P/Al摩尔比相对较低(1.5/1),分子筛的合成具有更快的晶化速率.     

从假性紫罗兰酮合成β-紫罗兰酮中主要副产物(I)的分离鉴定

假性紫罗兰酮在浓硫酸及 - 2 0°C低温条件下反应 ,主要生成 β-紫罗兰酮 ,少量的 α-及 γ-紫罗兰酮 ,同时生成副产物 ( I)及 ( II)。用 IR、1H NMR及 MS光谱分析方法 ,对副产物 ( I)进行了结构鉴定 ,结构为 3,4,4a,5 ,8,8a-六氢 - 2 ,5 ,5 ,8a-四甲基 - 2 H - 1 -苯并吡喃     

Genetic Variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">ABC G5/G8</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">NPC1L1</Emphasis> Impact Cholesterol Response to Plant Sterols in Hypercholesterolemic Men

ATP-binding cassette hetero-dimeric transporters G5 and G8 (ABCG5/G8) have been postulated to mediate intestinal cholesterol efflux, whereas Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) protein is believed to be essential for intestinal cholesterol influx. The individual or combined genetic markers, such as single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs), of these two transporter genes may explain inter-individual variations in plasma cholesterol response following plant sterol (PS) intervention. The present study was aimed at investigating the association between ABCG5/G8 and NPC1L1 genotype SNPs with sterol absorption and corresponding plasma concentrations. The study used a 4-week crossover design with 82 hypercholesterolemic men characterized by high vs. low basal plasma PS concentrations consuming spreads with or without 2 g/day of PS. For the ABCG8 1289 C > A (T400 K) polymorphism, the A allele carriers with high basal plasma PS concentrations demonstrated a 3.9-fold greater reduction (p < 0.05) in serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than their low basal plasma PS counterparts. For the NPC1L1 haplotype of 872 C > G (L272L) and 3929 G > A (Y1291Y), individuals carrying mutant alleles showed a 2.4-fold greater (p < 0.05) reduction in LDL-C levels, compared to wild type counterparts. Results suggest that genetic and metabolic biomarkers together may predict inter-individual lipid level responsiveness to PS-intervention, and thus could be useful in devising individualized cholesterol lowering strategies.     

Molecular Mechanism of Food-Derived Polyphenols on PD-L1 Dimerization: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

In cancer immunotherapy, an emerging approach is to block the interactions of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) using small-molecule inhibitors. The food-derived polyphenols curcumin (CC), resveratrol (RSV) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have anticancer immunologic functions, which, recently, have been proposed to act via the downregulation of PD-L1 expression. However, it remains unclear whether they can directly target PD-L1 dimerization and, thus, interrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of such compounds on PD-L1 dimerization, molecular docking and nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Binding free energy calculations show that the affinities of CC, RSV and EGCG to the PD-L1 dimer follow a trend of CC > RSV > EGCG. Hence, CC is the most effective inhibitor of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Analysis on contact numbers, nonbonded interactions and residue energy decomposition indicate that such compounds mainly interact with the C-, F- and G-sheet fragments of the PD-L1 dimer, which are involved in interactions with PD-1. More importantly, nonpolar interactions between these compounds and the key residues Ile54, Tyr56, Met115, Ala121 and Tyr123 play a dominant role in binding. Free energy landscape and secondary structure analyses further demonstrate that such compounds can stably interact with the binding domain of the PD-L1 dimer. The results provide evidence that CC, RSV and EGCG can inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 interactions by directly targeting PD-L1 dimerization. This provides a novel approach to discovering food-derived small-molecule inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway with potential applications in cancer immunotherapy.     

五氧化二氮硝解合成1,4,5,8-四硝基-1,4,5,8-四氮杂双环[4.4.0]癸烷

以1,4,5,8-四氮杂双环[4．4．0]癸烷为原料,经亚硝酸钠在盐酸中亚硝化、五氧化二氮在硝硫混酸介质中硝解,得到1,4,5,8-四硝基-1,4,5,8-四氮杂双环[4．4．0]癸烷,并用红外光谱和元素分析方法对产物进行了结构鉴定,产物收率达85％。     

3-(4-氯-2-氟-5-甲氧基苯基)-1-甲基-5-三氟甲基-1H-吡唑的合成

3 (4 氯 2 氟 5 甲氧基苯基 ) 1 甲基 5 三氟甲基 1H 吡唑是合成除草剂的中间体。它通过以下途径制得 :邻氯对氟苯甲醚在冰水浴下与甲基二氯甲基醚和四氯化钛反应得 4 氯 2 氟 5 甲氧基苯甲醛 ;后者经甲基格氏试剂作用 ,然后在酸性条件下用三氧化铬氧化 ,转变为 4 氯 2 氟 5 甲氧基苯乙酮 ;4 氯 2 氟 5 甲氧基苯乙酮在甲醇钠 /甲醇体系中 ,与三氟乙酸乙酯反应得相应的 β 二酮 ;然后用水合肼闭环 ,再用硫酸二甲酯甲基化即得产品。总收率 6 3 5 %。最后一步用硫酸二甲酯甲基化时 ,反应在酸性条件下进行可减少副产品的生成。产品结构经质谱、核磁共振氢谱、碳谱确认     

5-甲氧基-4-硝基邻苯二胺的合成新工艺

系统地研究了用于制备高分子新单体2,5-二氨基-6-羟基苯并咪唑(DAHBI)的关键中间体5-甲氧基-4-硝基邻苯二胺(MNPDA)的合成,获得了IR和MS定性合格的目标产物。结果表明:以1,5-二氯-2,4-二硝基苯(DCDNB)为原料经单氨解和醇解二步反应先制得5-甲氧基-2,4-二硝基苯胺(MDNA),再经多硫化钠选择还原合成MNPDA的路线,经工艺优化后,可获得纯度为98.9%,总收率42.2%的MNPDA。为结构改性高聚物的创新研发与性能研究提供物质基础。     

Chaperone-Assisted Mitotic Actin Remodeling by BAG3 and HSPB8 Involves the Deacetylase HDAC6 and Its Substrate Cortactin

The fidelity of actin dynamics relies on protein quality control, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. During mitosis, the cochaperone BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) modulates cell rounding, cortex stability, spindle orientation, and chromosome segregation. Mitotic BAG3 shows enhanced interactions with its preferred chaperone partner HSPB8, the autophagic adaptor p62/SQSTM1, and HDAC6, a deacetylase with cytoskeletal substrates. Here, we show that depletion of BAG3, HSPB8, or p62/SQSTM1 can recapitulate the same inhibition of mitotic cell rounding. Moreover, depletion of either of these proteins also interfered with the dynamic of the subcortical actin cloud that contributes to spindle positioning. These phenotypes were corrected by drugs that limit the Arp2/3 complex or HDAC6 activity, arguing for a role for BAG3 in tuning branched actin network assembly. Mechanistically, we found that cortactin acetylation/deacetylation is mitotically regulated and is correlated with a reduced association of cortactin with HDAC6 in situ. Remarkably, BAG3 depletion hindered the mitotic decrease in cortactin–HDAC6 association. Furthermore, expression of an acetyl-mimic cortactin mutant in BAG3-depleted cells normalized mitotic cell rounding and the subcortical actin cloud organization. Together, these results reinforce a BAG3′s function for accurate mitotic actin remodeling, via tuning cortactin and HDAC6 spatial dynamics.     

1,5-二氟-2,4-二硝基苯的合成研究

采用1,5 二氯 2,4 二硝基苯与无水氟化钾反应合成1,5 二氟 2,4 二硝基苯的方法,对其氟化条件进行了研究,其最佳工艺条件为:在DMF溶剂中,1,5 二氯 2,4 二硝基苯与无水氟化钾摩尔比为1∶3,于110～115℃搅拌反应4h,产品收率为85%(以1,5 二氯 2,4 二硝基苯计),纯度为90%。     

5,7-二甲基-N-芳基-1,2,4-三唑[1,5-a]嘧啶-2-磺酰胺的合成

以5-氨基-3-巯基-1,2,4-三唑为原料,经氧氯化后分别与6个芳胺反应,得到5氨基-N-芳基1,2,4-三唑-3-磺酰胺,继而和乙酰丙酮于乙酸中环合,制得6个取代的1,2,4-三唑[1,5-a]嘧啶-2-磺酰胺衍生物,同时讨论了胺解反应和环合反应的影响因素。所有目标产物的结构均经IR和1HNMR谱验证。     

2-氯-5-(4-氯-1-甲基-5-三氟甲基-1H-吡唑-3-基)-4-氟苯甲醛的合成

2－氯－5－（4－氯－1－甲基－5－三氟甲基－1H－吡唑－3－基）－4－氟苯甲醛是合成除草剂的中间体，它可以通过以下2步反应制得：首先，4－氯－3－（4－氯－2－氟－5－甲基苯基）－1－甲基－5－三氟甲基－1H－吡唑在乙酸／乙酐混合溶剂中用三氧化铬氧化，然后，在乙醇／水混合溶剂中，用碳酸氢钠催化水解得目的的产物，2步反应总收率达到71．6％。     

不同担载量介微孔复合分子筛加氢脱硫催化剂性能研究

以ZSM-5/KIT-1(ZK-1)介微孔复合分子筛为载体,采用浸渍法分别制备了金属担载量为8%Mo3%Co,16%Mo6%Co,20%Mo7%Co和24%Mo8%Co的加氢脱硫催化剂。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、N2吸附脱附分析、紫外可见漫反射(UV-vis)表征手段分析其结构;以3%(wt)的CS2/环己烷溶液为硫化液,500×10-6的二苯并噻吩/十氢萘溶液为原料液,在小型固定床反应器中评价催化剂的加氢脱硫反应活性。实验结果表明ZSM-5/KIT-1介微孔复合分子筛作为加氢脱硫催化剂载体具有优异的反应性能。当催化剂的担载量达到20%Mo7%Co时,表现出最佳的加氢脱硫反应活性,脱硫率为93%,高于相同反应条件下的商业用催化剂。