Resveratrol Prevents Cytoarchitectural and Interneuronal Alterations in the Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several alterations, including disorganized brain cytoarchitecture and excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance. We aimed to analyze aspects associated with the inhibitory components in ASD, using bioinformatics to develop notions about embryonic life and tissue analysis for postnatal life. We analyzed microarray and RNAseq datasets of embryos from different ASD models, demonstrating that regions involved in neuronal development are affected. We evaluated the effect of prenatal treatment with resveratrol (RSV) on the neuronal organization and quantity of parvalbumin-positive (PV+), somatostatin-positive (SOM+), and calbindin-positive (CB+) GABAergic interneurons, besides the levels of synaptic proteins and GABA receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HC) of the ASD model induced by valproic acid (VPA). VPA increased the total number of neurons in the mPFC, while it reduced the number of SOM+ neurons, as well as the proportion of SOM+, PV+, and CB+ neurons (subregion-specific manner), with preventive effects of RSV. In summary, metabolic alterations or gene expression impairments could be induced by VPA, leading to extensive damage in the late developmental stages. By contrast, due to its antioxidant, neuroprotective, and opposite action on histone properties, RSV may avoid damages induced by VPA.     

Serum concentration and mRNA expression in milk somatic cells of toll-like receptor 2, toll-like receptor 4, and cytokines in dairy cows following intramammary inoculation with Escherichia coli

The objective of the current study was to investigate the toll-like receptors (TLR), including the soluble forms sTLR2 and sTLR4, involved in innate immune responses of dairy cows to experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis. Six clinically healthy Holstein dairy cows received an intramammary inoculation of E. coli O111:K58 between 63 and 83 d postpartum. Concentrations of sTLR2 and sTLR4, the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) in blood were measured by ELISA. Furthermore, 10 mL of milk was collected from challenged quarters immediately before inoculation and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after inoculation, and mRNA expression of selected genes, including TLR2, TLR4, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8, was quantified by real-time PCR. Escherichia coli intramammary infection elicited a decrease in the circulating levels of leukocytes. Rectal temperature was elevated at 6 h postinoculation (PI). Similarly, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and SAA increased at 6 h PI. However, serum concentrations of sTLR2, sTLR4, and Hp did not differ after challenge. The mRNA expression of TLR2, IL-1β, and IL-8 in milk somatic cells increased at 12 h PI, whereas a decreased IL-6 mRNA expression was detected from 6 to 48 h PI. In conclusion, we found that TLR2 mRNA expression increased in milk somatic cells collected from infected quarters of cows challenged with E. coli, whereas the concentrations of sTLR2 and sTLR4 remained unchanged after challenge. Thus, sTLR2 and sTLR4 may protect the host by sequestrating pathogen-associated molecular patterns during E. coli mastitis.     

Effects of Ospemifene on Drug Metabolism Mediated by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Humans in Vitro and in Vivo

The objective of these investigations was to determine the possible effects of the novel selective estrogen receptor modulator, ospemifene, on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated drug metabolism. Ospemifene underwent testing for possible effects on CYP enzyme activity in human liver microsomes and in isolated human hepatocytes. Based on the results obtained in vitro, three Phase 1 crossover pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in healthy postmenopausal women to assess the in vivo effects of ospemifene on CYP-mediated drug metabolism. Ospemifene and its main metabolites 4-hydroxyospemifene and 4′-hydroxyospemifene weakly inhibited a number of CYPs (CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2C8, and CYP2D6) in vitro. However, only CYP2C9 activity was inhibited by 4-hydroxyospemifene at clinically relevant concentrations. Induction of CYPs by ospemifene in cultured human hepatocytes was 2.4-fold or less. The in vivo studies showed that ospemifene did not have significant effects on the areas under the plasma concentration-time curves of the tested CYP substrates warfarin (CYP2C9), bupropion (CYP2B6) and omeprazole (CYP2C19), demonstrating that pretreatment with ospemifene did not alter their metabolism. Therefore, the risk that ospemifene will affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs that are substrates for CYP enzymes is low.     

Beneficial effects of mangiferin on hyperlipidemia in high-fat-fed hamsters

Scope : Mangiferin, a natural polyphenol, has been shown to have hypolipidemic effect in rat and mouse. However, the mechanism of action is not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the effect and mechanism of action of mangiferin on hyperlipidemia induced in hamsters by a high‐fat diet. Methods and results: Forty male hamsters were randomly assigned to normal control, high‐fat control, and high fat with mangiferin (50 and 150 mg/kg BW) groups. Mangiferin treatment significantly decreased final body weight, liver weight and visceral fat‐pad weight, serum triglyceride (TG) and total free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations, hepatic TG levels and hepatic and muscle total FFA contents. Mangiferin upregulated mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPAR‐α), fatty acid translocase (CD36) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT‐1), but downregulated mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1c (SREBP‐1c), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), acyl‐CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT‐2) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) in liver. Mangiferin also stimulated mRNA expression of PPAR‐α, CD36, CPT‐1 and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in muscle. Conclusions : The results suggest that mangiferin may ameliorate hypertriglyceridemia partly by modulating the expression levels of genes involved in lipid oxidation and lipogenesis.     

Computer Simulations and Network-Based Profiling of Binding and Allosteric Interactions of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Variant Complexes and the Host Receptor: Dissecting the Mechanistic Effects of the Delta and Omicron Mutations

In this study, we combine all-atom MD simulations and comprehensive mutational scanning of S-RBD complexes with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) host receptor in the native form as well as the S-RBD Delta and Omicron variants to (a) examine the differences in the dynamic signatures of the S-RBD complexes and (b) identify the critical binding hotspots and sensitivity of the mutational positions. We also examined the differences in allosteric interactions and communications in the S-RBD complexes for the Delta and Omicron variants. Through the perturbation-based scanning of the allosteric propensities of the SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD residues and dynamics-based network centrality and community analyses, we characterize the global mediating centers in the complexes and the nature of local stabilizing communities. We show that a constellation of mutational sites (G496S, Q498R, N501Y and Y505H) correspond to key binding energy hotspots and also contribute decisively to the key interfacial communities that mediate allosteric communications between S-RBD and ACE2. These Omicron mutations are responsible for both favorable local binding interactions and long-range allosteric interactions, providing key functional centers that mediate the high transmissibility of the virus. At the same time, our results show that other mutational sites could provide a “flexible shield” surrounding the stable community network, thereby allowing the Omicron virus to modulate immune evasion at different epitopes, while protecting the integrity of binding and allosteric interactions in the RBD–ACE2 complexes. This study suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein may exploit the plasticity of the RBD to generate escape mutants, while engaging a small group of functional hotspots to mediate efficient local binding interactions and long-range allosteric communications with ACE2.     

激活素A对巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞吞饮活性及TLR4表达的双向调节作用

目的探讨激活素A(ActivinA)对巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞活性的调节作用及其可能的机制。方法取对数生长期的小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞,加入1μg/ml脂多糖(LPS),继续培养8h,采用ELISA法检测细胞分泌ActivinA水平;分别加入ActivinA、LPS和ActivinA+LPS,中性红染料法检测细胞吞饮活性;流式细胞术分析细胞表面分子MHCⅠ、MHCⅡ及Toll样受体4(TLR4)的表达水平。结果LPS呈时间依赖性刺激RAW264.7细胞分泌ActivinA;ActivinA可明显促进静息RAW264.7细胞的吞饮活性,而对MHCⅠ、MHCⅡ及TLR4的表达水平无明显影响;ActivinA和LPS共同作用,ActivinA明显抑制了LPS活化的RAW264.7细胞的吞饮活性,并下调TLR4的表达。结论ActivinA可能以自分泌/旁分泌形式参与巨噬细胞活性调节,其抑制LPS作用与TLR4表达有关。     

Δ6 Desaturase mRNA Abundance in HepG2 Cells Is Suppressed by Unsaturated Fatty Acids

The effect of unsaturated fatty acids on the abundance of Δ6 desaturase (D6D) mRNA and the fatty acid composition of HepG2 cell membranes was examined. Supplementation of HepG2 cells with oleic acid (18:1n-9, OA), linoleic acid (18:2n-6, LA), α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3, ALA), arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) reduced D6D mRNA abundance by 39 ± 6.6, 40 ± 2.2, 31 ± 5.2, 55 ± 4.8, and 52 ± 5.0%, respectively, compared with control cells. Despite the reduction in D6D mRNA abundance, the level of D6D conversion products (20:3n-9, EPA and AA) in OA, ALA and LA supplemented cells, respectively, was elevated above that in control cells. Our results suggest that although unsaturated fatty acids decrease the abundance of D6D mRNA by as much as 50%, the conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and accumulation of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in HepG2 cell phospholipids continues to occur.     

人源化叶酸受体α抗体质控方法的建立

目的建立人源化叶酸受体α抗体的质控方法。方法应用基于表面等离子体共振(Surface plasmon resonance,SPR)技术的BIAcore3000系统测定人源化叶酸受体α单抗与重组人叶酸受体α的亲和力,从而反映该抗体的功能;采用ELISA法测定其抗原结合力;SDS-PAGE和SEC-HPLC测定其纯度;紫外分光光度法测定其蛋白含量;毛细管等电聚焦电泳法测定等电点;其他各项指标检测按《中国药典》三部(2005版)要求进行。结果人源化叶酸受体α单抗成品的平均相对百分效价为105%,RSD为6.0%。单抗成品及参考品与叶酸受体的结合力均存在量效关系,且符合四参数方程式:Y=(A-D)/[1+(X/C)B]+D,其曲线相关系数在0.98以上,成品经3次测定,相对抗原结合力平均值为97%,RSD为25%。还原SDS-PAGE分析显示,单抗成品的IgG重链和轻链百分比为98.2%;非还原SDS-PAGE分析显示,完整IgG百分比为96.7%;SEC-HPLC分析显示,单抗成品单体为99.1%,聚合体为0.9%。其他各项指标均符合《中国药典》三部(2005版)要求。结论已初步建立了人源化叶酸受体α抗体的质控方法,为该制品的质量控制奠定了基础。     

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of the effect of sodium alendronate in the progression of experimental periodontitis in rats

The aim of the present research was to investigate the ultrastructural aspects and the immunoexpression of receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) on experimental periodontal disease of alendronate (ALN)‐treated rats. Male Wistar rats received daily injections of 2.5 mg/kg body weight of ALN during 7 days previously and 7, 14, and 21 days after the insertion of a 4.0 silk suture into the gingival sulcus around the right upper second molar. Specimens were fixed in 0.1% glutaraldehyde + 4% formaldehyde under microwave irradiation, decalcified in 4.13% EDTA and paraffin embedded for TRAP histochemistry and immunohistochemistry for RANKL and OPG, or embedded in Spurr epoxy resin for TEM analysis. ALN reduced the activity of osteoclasts and significantly decreased the resorption of the alveolar crest. In the control group the alveolar crest appeared resorbed by TRAP‐positive osteoclasts, which presented ultrastructural features of activated cells. The immunoexpression of RANKL was not inhibited by the drug; however, the expression of OPG was increased in the treated animals. The alveolar crest of ALN‐treated specimens at 21 days showed signs of osteonecrosis, like empty osteocyte lacunae, the exposed bone regions and bacterial infection. The results showed that ALN treatment in individuals with periodontal disease represents a risk of osteonecrosis because of the reduced activity of osteoclasts resultant of the increased immunoexpression of OPG. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:902–909, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.