Objective To investigate gallic acid-derived chemical constituents of Choerospondias axillaries (Roxb.) Burtt. et Hill., and evaluate their in vitro anti-tumor, anti-hypoxia and anti-bacteria activities. Methods The aimed chemical constituents were isolated by various chromatographic means, and their structures were identified by physicochemical and spectroscopic data. MTT method was employed to evaluate anti-tumor and anti-hypoxia activities. Antibacterial activities were tested by paper disc method. Results Seven compounds 1-7 were isolated from the stem barks of Choerospondias axillaries (Roxb.) Burtt. et Hill. and identified as gallic acid(1), gallic acid ethyl ether(2), 1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(3), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(4), 1,4-di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(5), 1,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(6), and 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(7). Compounds 1, 2 and 4-6 significantly inhibited K562 cells with the IC50 values of 2.9, 14.6, 39.1, 40.2, 41.2 μg/ml, respectively, and 3 and 7 also showed a slight inhibition of the K562 cells with the inhibition rate of 20.8% and 30.1% at 100 μg/ml respectively. Compounds 1-7 showed protective effects on anoxia-induced injury in cultured ECV304 and PC12 cells at the concentrations showing no significant cytotoxicity, and 5-7 also showed an antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 to a certain extent. Conclusion Compounds 2-7 were isolated from the genus Choerospondias for the first time. It was the first time to report 1-7 as anti-tumor and anti-hypoxia constituents of Choerospondias axillaries, and the anti-hypoxia activity for 1-7 was also recorded for the first time in the present study.

Immune system is a security guard to help human body repel or remove bacteria, viruses, parasites and other fore-ign invaders .But when some tissue components or the immune system itself become abnormal, it can not distinguish friend from foe accurately and may attack our own tissue then cause some clinical symptoms, leading to autoimmune diseases. Nearly 5 % of the world's population suffer from various autoimmune diseases. By now in addition to control the formation of autoantigens such as infection,tiredness, the main biologics used in clinic are immunoregulators to block pathological autoimmune response and then to create a new proper immune response. Recently, new biologics to treat autoimmune disease come into being one after another, and this article gives a brief overview about research progress in anti-autoimmune disease biologics.

Objective To investigate the physicochemica l properties and immunobiological activity of a polysaccharide (RAP-B-1) from stems of Rubus amabilis. Methods The crude polysaccharide (RAP) was obtained successively by boiling, ethanol precipitating and dialyzing. RAP was isolated with DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 to obtain a polysaccharide RAP-B-1. The physicochemical properties of RAP-B-1 were studied by hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and methylation, CE, IR, NMR and GC-MS. The immunobiological activities were estimated by the proliferative activity of spleen lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in mice. Results The molecular weight of RAP-B-1 was 4.80×104 with specific optical rotation value [α] 20D+68.3 (c=1,H2O), and was composed of eight monosaccharides. The molar ratios were as Xyl: Ara: Glc: Rha:Gal: Man: GlcA: GalA = 1.0:6.9:0.8:1.1:6.9:0.3:0.5:3.3. RAP-B-1 was an arabinogalactan. The linkages of arabinose were →1) Ara (2,3→,→1) Ara(5→and→1) Ara, and the linkages of galactose were→1) Gal(4→,→1) Gal(6→and→1) Gal. RAP-B-1 could improve the proliferative activity of spleen T cells(P<0.05) and booste phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages at 50μg/ml concentration(P<0.01). Conclusion RAP-B-1 is an arabinogalactan and has immunobiological activity.

PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway as a T cell immune response co-stimulatory signaling pathway plays an important role in adaptive immunity. PD-1 is a major co-receptor expressing on T cells, binding with its ligands(PD-L1 and PD-L2), PD-1 can inhibit T cell activation and protect the body against the attacks from its own immune system. In addition to adjusting and maintaining autoimmune tolerance, in tumor cells PD-L1 expression is up-regulated, while in the virus-infected T cells PD-L1 expression is also upregulated. PD-1 / PD-L1 are involved in the tumor and infectious pathogen immune evasion, thus blocking the PD-1 / PD-L1 signaling pathway has become a hot research of cancer and chronic diseases. Currently, there are several anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies approved by the FDA to enter clinical studies, which have shown significant anti-cancer effect.

In the second half of 2016,the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved 7 new molecular entities and 3 new Biologic License Application(BLA), the lowest number in recent years. According to the prescription information for profes-sionals,this article introduced the description,mechanism of action and clinical studies and briefly describes the boxed warning,indi-cations and usage,dosage and administration,dosage form and strength,contraindications,warning and precautions,adverse reac-tions,drug interaction and the use in the special population. In addition,the first and critical events in the history of new drug develop-ment and reaserch were emphasized.

Anthrax is a malignant infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis spores,after entering the host Bacillus an-thracis produces and releases anthrax toxin,which is the main cause leading to death of the host. The anthrax toxin is composed of two enzymatically active components:lethal factor(LF)and edema factor(EF),and one shared receptor binding and translocation com-ponent:protective antigen(PA). PA combined with LF is called lethal toxin(LeTx),while PA combined with EF called edema toxin (EdTx). Currently,the main drugs for treating anthrax are antibiotics,but antibiotics can only kill part of anthrax spores and bacte-ria,and cannot inhibit the activity of anthrax toxin. So it is necessary to develop novel drugs for inhibiting anthrax toxin. This review summarizes the evolution of small-molecule inhibitors of anthrax toxin respectively targeting PA,LF and EF.

Parkinson′s disease(PD),the second neurodegenerative disease in the world,is characterized by a combination of motor symptoms(rest tremor,bradykinesia,rigidity,postural instability,stooped posture and freezing of gait)and non-motor symp?toms(including psychiatric and cognitive disorders). The core neuropathological features of PD are the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the deposition of iron and cytoplasmic protein aggregates(Lewy bodies)inside neurons. Currently,clinical treatment for PD is symptomatic and there is no effective treatment to restore neuronal degeneration. In the PD therapy ,medication re?mains dominant. Anti-PD drugs are mainly based on the critical signal pathways or some specific targets which play a key role in the pathogenesis of PD to relieve the symptoms of PD. Research and development in novel drugs to prevent or treat PD have been a crucial subject,and some novel candidates are under development. In this paper,we summarize and analyze the anti-PD drugs,and make a brief discussion about its pharmacological targets.

Luteinizing hormone(LH)is a gonadotropin of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis(HPG),secreted by the anteri?or pituitary. The secretion of LH is directly controlled by the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH),acts at the ovaries and testes to stimulate the production of gonadal hormones. Aging leads to increases in LH,and higher serum levels of LH has been ob?served in Alzheimer′s disease(AD)patients when compared to age-matched controls. Evidences from basic research and epidemiologi?cal investigation support the critical role of elevated LH in pathogenic process of AD and deteriorating cognitive decline. Here we sum?marize the recent discoveries containing human AD epidemiological evidence for LH,cognitive impairments resulting from LH activi?ty,LH in AD pathology and LH receptor signaling mechanisms.

Alzheimer′s disease(AD)is one of the most common causes of cognitive impairment.“Aβhypothesis”and“tau protein aggregation hypothesis”are two representative hypotheses in relation to AD pathology. But recently,therapeutic strategy target?ing on reducing Aβdeposition failed in clinical trials. On the other hand,as the phosphorylation of tau protein is regulated by multiple upstream kinases,inhibition of a single kinase usually cannot effectively suppress the aggregation of the tau. While blocking multiple kinases at the same time will produce serious side effects. Currently,targeting on Aβand tau protein get into awkward situations. In view of this,researchers are looking for new drug targets for improving cognitive function. Phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4 4)is an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of cAMP in the body. There are four subtypes for PDE4,and PDE4A,B and D are highly expressed in the central nervous system. Inhibition of PDE4 causes activation of cAMP/PKA/CREB/BDNF signal pathway,which is beneficial for the strengthening and consolidation of learning and memory. This review will focus on the most recent evidence regarding the role of PDE4 in learning and memory.

Protein phosphatase 2A(PP2A)is the main serine/threonine protein phosphatase of the brain,and it is involved in many physiological and pathological processes in the cell. Particularly in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer′s disease(AD),PP2A is closely related to the main pathological features of AD. Deregulation of PP2A enzymes correlates with increased tau phosphorylation, the formation of amyloid precursor protein,and the missing of neurons. PP2A as the target of drug development may bring new hope for the treatment of AD. This review introduces the structure and activity regulation of PP2A,and the role of PP2A in AD.