Role of PI3K-AKT-mTOR Pathway as a Pro-Survival Signaling and Resistance-Mediating Mechanism to Therapy of Prostate Cancer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy are the gold standard options for treating prostate cancer (PCa). These are initially effective, as localized and the early stage of metastatic disease are androgen- and castration-sensitive. The tumor strongly relies on systemic/circulating androgens for activating AR signaling to stimulate growth and progression. However, after a certain point, the tumor will eventually develop a resistant stage, where ADT and AR antagonists are no longer effective. Mechanistically, it seems that the tumor becomes more aggressive through adaptive responses, relies more on alternative activated pathways, and is less dependent on AR signaling. This includes hyperactivation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, which is a central signal that regulates cell pro-survival/anti-apoptotic pathways, thus, compensating the blockade of AR signaling. The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is well-documented for its crosstalk between genomic and non-genomic AR signaling, as well as other signaling cascades. Such a reciprocal feedback loop makes it more complicated to target individual factor/signaling for treating PCa. Here, we highlight the role of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling as a resistance mechanism for PCa therapy and illustrate the transition of prostate tumor from AR signaling-dependent to PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway-dependent. Moreover, therapeutic strategies with inhibitors targeting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal used in clinic and ongoing clinical trials are discussed.     

盐酸替罗非班的合成研究

以4-(4-哌啶基)-1-氯丁烷、L-酪氨酸等为原料经过7步反应得到盐酸替罗非班。此合成路线操作简易,总收率达21.6%,中间体及最终产物结构均经过MS和1H NMR确证。     

二磺酰胺类内皮素受体拮抗剂的构效关系研究

应用量子化学方法计算了34个二磺酰胺类化合物的结构参数,并用BP神经网络对34个二磺酰胺类化合物的结构参数与ETs受体拮抗活性进行了定量构效关系分析,获得了一个预测能力较好的QSAR神经网络模型。研究表明：二磺酰胺类化合物与ETs受体之间存在直接的电荷迁移作用,电子结构、疏水性是影响其活性的主要因素。本文建立的二磺酰胺类化合物分子结构与ETs受体拮抗活性之间的定量构效关系,为设计合成新的此类内皮素受体拮抗剂提供了参考。     

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists—Use in Chronic Kidney Disease

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) are drugs with a potentially broad spectrum of action. They have been reported to have healing effects in many diseases, such as chronic heart failure, hypertension, or nephrotic syndrome. Numerous studies suggest that mineralocorticoid receptor activation is pathogenic and a progression factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, results of studies on the use of MRA in the treatment of CKD are inconclusive. Current guidelines recommend against the use of MRA in patients with advanced CKD. Although, there is growing interest on their use in this population due to treatment benefits. In this review, we summarize studies which were purposed to evaluate the impact of MRA therapy on CKD patients. Despite many benefits of this treatment e.g., reducing cardiovascular mortality or alleviating proteinuria, steroidal MRA (such as spironolactone or eplerenone) have a low safety profile. They often lead to hyperkalemia complications which are dangerous in patients with CKD, and diabetic nephropathy, especially in hemodialysis patients. Studies on recently developed nonsteroidal MRA showed that they have fewer side effects. In our review, we discuss steroidal and nonsteroidal MRA treatment effects on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, the cardiovascular system, and hyperkalemia in CKD patients. We present new content and recent publications in this field.     

内皮素受体拮抗剂CPU-0213 血药浓度的HPLC 测定法和药动学研究

目的: 建立内皮素受体拮抗剂CPU-0213 在小鼠和大鼠血清中的检测方法, 测定单次静脉注射(iv) CPU-0213 80 mg·kg^-1后在小鼠和大鼠体内的药代动力学。方法: 用HPLC 测定小鼠和大鼠血清中的药物浓度, 3P97 程序拟合药动学参数。结果: CPU-0213 在0.4～200 μg·L^-1的范围内呈良好的线性关系(r=0.9998), 最低检测浓度为35 μg·L^-1。日内差小于2.7 %, 日间差小于6.3 %, 方法回收率大于95.9 %。CPU-0213 在小鼠和大鼠体内的药-时数据均符合二室模型, 消除半衰期分别为83.0±1.8 min 和96.6±11.5 min 。结论: 该方法灵敏、简单, 专属性强, 重现性好。单次iv CPU-021380 mg·kg^-1后, 在小鼠和大鼠体内的药代动力学未见种属差异性。     

NMDA Receptor Modulation of Incidental Learning in Pavlovian Context Conditioning.

Rats exposed to a footshock show conditional fear when reexposed to the shock context. Immediate presentation of shock after placement in the context significantly reduces this fear. Preexposure to the context in the absence of shock, coupled with a minimum preshock interval during training, overcomes this immediate shock deficit. Because rats learn about the context during preexposure and express that learning after being reinforced, the context preexposure effect is an aversive analogue of latent learning. The authors examined the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphovalerate (APV) on the facilitatory effect of context preexposure. Rats were preexposed to a chamber after APV administration. The next day they were placed in the same chamber without drug and received shock 35 s later. APV blocked the facilitatory effect of preexposure. Therefore NMDA receptors are important for contextual latent learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New insights into the stereochemical requirements of the bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists binding

Bradykinin (BK) is a nonapeptide involved in several pathophysiological conditions including among others, septic and haemorrhagic shock, anaphylaxis, arthritis, rhinitis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease. Accordingly, BK antagonists have long been sought after for therapeutic intervention. Action of BK is mediated through two different G-protein coupled receptors known as B1 and B2. Although there are several B1 antagonists reported in literature, their pharmacological profile is not yet optimal so that new molecules need to be discovered. In the present work we have constructed an atomistic model of the B1 receptor and docked diverse available non-peptide antagonists in order to get a deeper insight into the structure-activity relationships involving binding to this receptor. The model was constructed by homology modeling using the chemokine CXC4 and bovine rhodopsin receptors as template. The model was further refined using molecular dynamics for 600 ns with the protein embedded in a POPC bilayer. From the refinement process we obtained an average structure that was used for docking studies using the Glide software. Antagonists selected for the docking studies include Compound 11, Compound 12, Chroman28, SSR240612, NPV-SAA164 and PS020990. The results of the docking study underline the role of specific receptor residues in ligand binding. The results of this study permitted to define a pharmacophore that describes the stereochemical requirements of antagonist binding, and can be used for the discovery of new compounds.     

Bivalent effects of MK-801 on ethanol-induced sensitization do not parallel its effects on ethanol-induced tolerance.

The relationship between the effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK-801 on acute responses to ethanol and its ability to block ethanol sensitization and tolerance was examined in DBA/2J mice. Cross-sensitization between these drugs was also studied. Repeated administration of 0.1 mg/kg MK-801 with ethanol potentiated, whereas 0.25 mg/kg attenuated, sensitization to ethanol's locomotor stimulant effects; rearing was similarly affected. There was evidence for cross-sensitization between ethanol and 0.25 mg/kg MK-801. MK-801 potentiated ethanol's ataxic effects in the grid test, but had no effect on tolerance to this effect. MK-801's effects on ethanol sensitization appeared to be related to its own behavioral effects, rather than NMDA receptor blockade per se. Further, these studies demonstrate dissociation between ethanol sensitization and tolerance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

缬沙坦治疗早期糖尿病肾病的临床观察

目的观察缬沙坦治疗早期糖尿病肾病的临床疗效。方法选取60例早期糖尿病肾病患者,随机分为2组。对照组30例,单纯给予糖尿病综合治疗;治疗组30例,在对照组基础上加用缬沙坦80mg/d治疗。疗程为8周。观察其治疗前后尿白蛋白排泄率和肾功能变化,记录不良反应。结果治疗后2组UAER经统计学比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后2组BUN、Scr未增高,经统计学比较,无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论缬沙坦能有效降低尿蛋白,保护肾功能,临床应用安全。