Objective    To evaluate the changes in the expression and significance of serum exosomal miRNAs in patients with DeBakey typeⅠacute aortic dissection (AAD). Methods    Twelve male patients with AAD and six healthy male medical examiners from our hospital were retrospectively included in this study. According to the time of chest pain, the AAD patients were divided into an AAD group within 24 h of chest pain onset, aged 47.00±8.79 years and an AAD group within 48 h of chest pain onset, aged 50.17±9.99 years. The healthy males were allocated to a control group, aged 49.17±4.26 years. Serum exosomal miRNAs were isolated, identified and quantified, and then differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs were screened. The bioinformatic analyses such as GO and KEGG were performed on the differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs. Results    High-throughput screening results revealed differential expression of AAD serum exosomal miRNAs. The upregulated miRNAs of AAD groups was hsa-miR-574-5p (P<0.05), and downregulated miRNAs were hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, and hsa-miR-155-5p (P<0.05). Further bioinformatic analysis of the above miRNAs revealed that they were mainly enriched in signaling pathways such as transforming growth factor-β, cell cycle and endoplasmic reticulum protein synthesis. Conclusion    Differential expressions of serum exosomal miRNAs in AAD patients may be related to the pathogenesis of AAD, providing new ideas and clues for further exploration of AAD diagnostic markers and pathogenesis.

Hyperaldosteronism is a common disease that is closely related to endocrine hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Cytochrome P450 11B2 (CYP11B2), an important enzyme in aldosterone (ALD) synthesis, is a promising target for the treatment of hyperaldosteronism. However, selective inhibitors targeting CYP11B2 are still lacking due to the high similarity with CYP11B1. In this study, atractylenolide-I (AT-I) was found to significantly reduce the production of ALD but had no effect on cortisol synthesis, which is catalyzed by CYP11B1. Chemical biology studies revealed that due to the presence of Ala320, AT-I is selectively bound to the catalytic pocket of CYP11B2, and the C8/C9 double bond of AT-I can be epoxidized, which then undergoes nucleophilic addition with the sulfhydryl group of Cys450 in CYP11B2. The covalent binding of AT-I disrupts the interaction between heme and CYP11B2 and inactivates CYP11B2, leading to the suppression of ALD synthesis; AT-I shows a significant therapeutic effect for improving hyperaldosteronism.

Gram-negative pathogen-induced nosocomial infections and resistance are a most serious menace to global public health. Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan (QF), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used clinically in China for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, acute or chronic bronchitis and pulmonary infection. In this study, the effects of QF on Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced acute pneumonia in mice were evaluated. The mechanisms by which four typical anti-inflammatory ingredients from QF, arctigenin (ATG), cholic acid (CLA), chlorogenic acid (CGA) and sinapic acid (SPA), regulate anti-inflammatory signaling pathways and related targets were investigated using molecular biology and molecular docking techniques. The results showed that pretreatment with QF significantly inhibits the release of cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and chemokines (IL-8 and RANTES), reduces leukocytes recruitment into inflamed tissues and ameliorates pulmonary edema and necrosis. In addition, ATG was identified as the primary anti-inflammatory agent with action on the PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK pathways. CLA and CGA enhanced the actions of ATG and exhibited synergistic NF-κB inactivation effects possibly via the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, CLA is speculated to target FGFR and MEK firstly. Overall, QF regulated the PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK pathways to inhibit pathogenic bacterial infections effectively.

Members of the proto-oncogene superfamily are indispensable molecular switches that play critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival. Recent studies have attempted to prevent the interaction of RAS/GTP with RAS guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), impair RAS-effector interactions, and suppress RAS localization to prevent oncogenic signalling. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the natural triterpenoic acid inhibitor glycyrrhetinic acid, which is isolated from the roots of plant species, on RAS stability. We found that glycyrrhetinic acid may bind to the P-loop of RAS and alter its stability. Based on our biochemical tests and structural analysis results, glycyrrhetinic acid induced a conformational change in RAS. Meanwhile, glycyrrhetinic acid abolishes the function of RAS by interfering with the effector protein RAF kinase activation and RAS/MAPK signalling.