Caveolin-1 Alleviates Acetaminophen—Induced Hepatotoxicity in Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating the Ang II/EGFR/ERK Axis

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used antipyretic analgesic which can lead to acute liver failure after overdoses. Chronic alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) appears to enhance the risk and severity of APAP-induced liver injury, and the level of angiotensin II (Ang II) increased sharply at the same time. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Caveolin-1 (CAV1) has been proven to have a protective effect on AFLD. This study aimed to examine whether CAV1 can protect the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity of AFLD by affecting Ang II or its related targets. In vivo, the AFLD model was established according to the chronic-plus-binge ethanol model. Liver injury and hepatic lipid accumulation level were determined. The levels of Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang II, CAV1, and other relevant proteins were evaluated by western blotting. In vitro, L02 cells were treated with alcohol and oleic acid mixture and APAP. CAV1 and ACE2 expression was downregulated in APAP-treated AFLD mice compared to APAP-treated mice. The overexpression of CAV1 in mice and L02 cells alleviated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in AFLD and downregulated Ang II, p-EGFR/EGFR and P-ERK/ERK expression. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed interactions between CAV1, Ang II, and EGFR. The application of losartan (an Ang II receptor antagonist) and PD98059 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor) alleviated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in AFLD. In conclusion, our findings verified that CAV1 alleviates APAP-aggravated hepatotoxicity in AFLD by downregulating the Ang II /EGFR/ERK axis, which could be a novel therapeutic target for its prevention or treatment.     

The Insulin Receptor: An Important Target for the Development of Novel Medicines and Pesticides

The insulin receptor (IR) is a transmembrane protein that is activated by ligands in insulin signaling pathways. The IR has been considered as a novel therapeutic target for clinical intervention, considering the overexpression of its protein and A-isoform in multiple cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans. Meanwhile, it may also serve as a potential target in pest management due to its multiple physiological influences in insects. In this review, we provide an overview of the structural and molecular biology of the IR, functions of IRs in humans and insects, physiological and nonpeptide small molecule modulators of the IR, and the regulating mechanisms of the IR. Xenobiotic compounds and the corresponding insecticidal chemicals functioning on the IR are also discussed. This review is expected to provide useful information for a better understanding of human IR-related diseases, as well as to facilitate the development of novel small-molecule activators and inhibitors of the IR for use as medicines or pesticides.     

乙酰胆碱M3受体拮抗剂的从头设计

M3受体是人体内分布广泛的一种重要的毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱受体亚型,与膀胱过度活动症、心律失常、呼吸道及支气管疾病密切相关.设计与合成M3受体拮抗剂对于开发治疗相关疾病的药物具有重要理论意义和应用价值。本文采用同源模建方法,构建了人M3受体蛋白的三维结构,基于M3受体拮抗剂的结构构建了其药效团模型,其中较理想的模型含有6个药效团特征元素。利用药效团模型进行了虚拟筛选,虚拟筛选的数据库是本实验室构建的虚拟化合物库,发现了10个新型的对M3受体有拮抗作用的化合物。最后对这10个化合物进行了分子对接,根据对接结果,发现3个化合物对接能量及结合方式比较合理,为M3受体拮抗剂的合成研究及活性测定奠定了基础。     

Immunofluorescent Evidence for Nuclear Localization of Aromatase in Astrocytes in the Rat Central Nervous System

Estrogens regulate a variety of neuroendocrine, reproductive and also non-reproductive brain functions. Estradiol biosynthesis in the central nervous system (CNS) is catalyzed by the enzyme aromatase, which is expressed in several brain regions by neurons, astrocytes and microglia. In this study, we performed a complex fluorescent immunocytochemical analysis which revealed that aromatase is colocalized with the nuclear stain in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive astrocytes in cell cultures. Confocal immunofluorescent Z-stack scanning analysis confirmed the colocalization of aromatase with the nuclear DAPI signal. Nuclear aromatase was also detectable in the S100β positive astrocyte subpopulation. When the nuclear aromatase signal was present, estrogen receptor alpha was also abundant in the nucleus. Immunostaining of frozen brain tissue sections showed that the nuclear colocalization of the enzyme in GFAP-positive astrocytes is also detectable in the adult rat brain. CD11b/c labelled microglial cells express aromatase, but the immunopositive signal was distributed only in the cytoplasm both in the ramified and amoeboid microglial forms. Immunostaining of rat ovarian tissue sections and human granulosa cells revealed that aromatase was present only in the cytoplasm. This novel observation suggests a new unique mechanism in astrocytes that may regulate certain CNS functions via estradiol production.     

An Ultra-Low Dose of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alleviates Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Cognitive Impairments and Modulates TrkB Receptor Expression in a 5XFAD Mouse Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, but there is still no available treatment. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is emerging as a promising therapeutic agent. Using THC in conventional high doses may have deleterious effects. Therefore, we propose to use an ultra-low dose of THC (ULD-THC). We previously published that a single injection of ULD-THC ameliorated cognitive functioning in several models of brain injuries as well as in naturally aging mice. Here, 5xFAD AD model mice received a single treatment of ULD-THC (0.002 mg/kg) after disease onset and were examined in two separate experiments for cognitive functions, neurotropic, and inflammatory factors in the hippocampus. We show that a single injection of ULD-THC alleviated cognitive impairments in 6- and 12-month-old 5xFAD mice. On the biochemical level, our results indicate an imbalance between the truncated TrkB receptor isoform and the full receptor, with AD mice showing a greater tendency to express the truncated receptor, and ULD-THC improved this imbalance. We also investigated the expression of three AD-related inflammatory markers and found an ameliorating effect of ULD-THC. The current research demonstrates for the first time the beneficial effects of a single ultra-low dose of THC in a mouse model of AD after disease onset.     

NX210c Peptide Promotes Glutamatergic Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Transmission and Signaling in the Mouse Central Nervous System

NX210c is a disease-modifying dodecapeptide derived from the subcommissural organ-spondin that is under preclinical and clinical development for the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrate that NX210c increased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)- and GluN2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (GluN2A-NMDAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents in the brain. Accordingly, using extracellular field excitatory postsynaptic potential recordings, an enhancement of synaptic transmission was shown in the presence of NX210c in two different neuronal circuits. Furthermore, the modulation of synaptic transmission and GluN2A-NMDAR-driven signaling by NX210c restored memory in mice chronically treated with the NMDAR antagonist phencyclidine. Overall, by promoting glutamatergic receptor-related neurotransmission and signaling, NX210c represents an innovative therapeutic opportunity for patients suffering from CNS disorders, injuries, and states with crippling synaptic dysfunctions.     

基于序列的G蛋白偶联受体-药物相互作用预测研究

准确预测G蛋白质偶联受体(GPCR)是否与药物(Drug)相互作用是新药开发的关键步骤之一。从时间和费用方面来说,通过生物实验的方法来确定GPCR-Drug是否相互作用的代价是昂贵的。因此,直接从蛋白质序列出发预测GPCR-Drug的相互作用具有重要的意义。提出了一种基于序列的GPCR-Drug相互作用预测方法:从蛋白质序列抽取进化信息特征;对药物抽取指纹特征;基于上述两种特征,使用基于证据理论的K近邻算法进行分类预测。在标准数据集上的实验结果表明了所述方法的有效性。     

基于突触离子通道动力学神经元网络的高效并行仿真算法

在计算神经科学领域,大规模神经元网络的并行仿真对探索和揭示生物大脑中信息传递机制有着重要作用。为加速大规模神经元网络仿真,提出一种模块独立性强、耦合度低的基于突触递质-受体离子通道动力学的神经元网络的并行算法。通过分析化学突触信息传递机理及递质分子、受体离子通道动力学特征,提出了递质-受体计算分离的思想,增强了突触前神经元引起的递质分子浓度计算与突触后绑定状态的受体浓度计算之间的独立性,降低突触电流计算中突触前神经元状态和突触后神经元状态之间的耦合度。基于上述思想,设计并实现了一种生物神经网络并行算法。仿真结果表明了该算法的高效性。     

Relationship between Brain Metabolic Disorders and Cognitive Impairment: LDL Receptor Defect

The low-density-lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) removes low-density lipoprotein (LDL), an endovascular transporter that carries cholesterol from the bloodstream to peripheral tissues. The maintenance of cholesterol content in the brain, which is important to protect brain function, is affected by LDLr. LDLr co-localizes with the insulin receptor and complements the internalization of LDL. In LDLr deficiency, LDL blood levels and insulin resistance increase, leading to abnormal cholesterol control and cognitive deficits in atherosclerosis. Defects in brain cholesterol metabolism lead to neuroinflammation and blood–brain-barrier (BBB) degradation. Moreover, interactions between endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and mitochondria are induced by ox-LDL accumulation, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) regulates the levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain, and hypoxia is induced by apoptosis induced by the LDLr defect. This review summarizes the association between neurodegenerative brain disease and typical cognitive deficits.