We designed and synthesized eighteen lycorine derivatives with five different structural types, and evaluated their antiviral activities on a HCoV-OC43-infected H460 cell model. Structure-activity relationships suggested that the introduction of appropriate substituents on the 6N atom of lycorine was beneficial to activity. Compound 6a gave a good activity with the half effective concentration (EC₅₀) and selectivity index (SI) values of 2.36 μmol·L^-1 and 16.52, respectively. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) result indicated that 6a might target the non-structural protein 12 (NSP12) subunit in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 with the dissociation constant (K_D) value of 1.36 μmol·L^-1. Molecular docking indicated that 6a might act on nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase (NiRAN) catalytic center of NSP12, distinct from the mechanism of nucleoside-like drugs such as remdesivir. This study provides scientific data for the development of lycorine derivatives into a new class of anti-SARS-CoV-2 small molecule inhibitors.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the comprehensive intervention program of Xinjiang and to analyze the main problems to provide references for the adjusting on the intervention strategies in future work.Methods Based upon the combination of reviewing literatures,field investigations and questionnaires,an overall evaluation was made on the effectiveness of the program,supportive policies and intervention measures,etc.Results Some progressions had been achieved in the early days.However,in recent years,the negligence of the work and failed coordination between the related governments,and unbenefitting policies for iodinated salt,were the main obstacles for the progress.Conclusions To improve the progress of controlling iodine deficiency disorders,the government should fully carry on its responsibility,giving supports both of policy and funds.Salt administrative sector should make favourable policies to benefit the local population.And health sector should coordinate the related sectors,and reinforce the health education and surveillance.

Objective To investigate the early clinical outcome of peripheral cutting balloon(PCB) in the management of peripheral vessel stenosis.Methods Thirteen patients with peripheral limb vessel stenosis, in which 4 stenoses in hemodialysis access and 9 at lower limb arteries,underwent angioplasty by PCB.For multiple stenosis in the same vessel,the distal one should be expanded firstly.The balloon pressure was controlled in the range of 8 atm to 10 atm(1 atm=10.108 kPa).All the patient were given continuous anticoagulant therapy after the procedure.Results All the procedure were carried out successfully on the 13 patients,and no serious complications occured.The symptoms did not recur in all patients after the procedure.The 5 months' follow-up angiography proved that no restenosis occurred in one patient with previous stenosis at the hemodialysis access.Conclusion The angioplasty with PCB was a safe and reliable procedure in management of the peripheral limb vessel stenosis.The early outcome is satisfying.

Objective To investigate the effects of p300/CBP on histone acetylation of Foxp3 gene and its roles in the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods Forty-six children with KD and twenty-eight age-matched health children were consented to participate in this study.Co-immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR were performed to detect Foxp3-associated acetylation levels of histone H4 and binding abilities of p300, CBP, pSmad3 (phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) and NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) with Foxp3 gene in CD4+ T cells.The percentages of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+ cells (Treg) and the expression of Foxp3, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4), p300, CBP, TGF-βRⅡ (transforming growth factor β receptor Ⅱ) and pLAT1 at protein level were analyzed by flow cytometry.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of Foxp3, IL-10, TGF-β, TGF-βRⅠ, Egr-1 (early growth response protein 1), RARα (retinoic acid receptor α) and PLCγ1 (phospholipase C-γ1) in Treg cells at mRNA level.Plasma concentrations of TGF-β and retinol acid (RA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results (1) The percentages of Treg cells, levels of Foxp3 and molecules associated with suppressive function of Treg cells (TGF-β, IL-10 and CTLA4), acetylation levels of histone H4 associated with promoter, conserved non-coding DNA sequence 1 (CNS1) and CNS2 of Foxp3 gene decreased remarkably during acute KD (P<0.05), but were restored after IVIG therapy (P<0.05).Meanwhile, all of the aforementioned items in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL+) were lower than those without coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL-) (P<0.05).No significant differences in histone H4 acetylation associated with CNS3 were found among different groups (P>0.05).(2) The levels of p300 and CBP in Treg cells and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene were down-regulated significantly during acute KD (P<0.05), but were restored to some extent after IVIG treatment (P<0.05).The Foxp3-associated histone acetylation was positively correlated with the expression of p300 and CBP at mRNA level during acute KD (r=0.65, 0.42, P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of p300 and CBP and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0.05).(3) Compared with healthy subjects, plasma concentrations of TGF-β and RA and the expression of TGF-βRⅠ/Ⅱ/Egr-1, RARα and pLAT1/PLCγ1 were down-regulated during acute KD (P<0.05);the binding abilities of pSmad3 and NFAT with Foxp3 gene were reduced remarkably in patients with acute KD (P<0.05).All the items mentioned above were restored after IVIG treatment (P<0.05).Moreover, the ten items aforementioned in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0.05).(4) Higher acetylation levels of histone H4 associated with promoter, CNS1 and CNS2, and enhanced binding abilities of p300 and CBP with Foxp3 gene were found in CD4+ T cells isolated from patients with acute KD after co-stimulation with TGF-β, RA and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies as compared with those in CD4+ T cells without stimulation (P<0.05).However, no statistical difference in the acetylation level of histone H4 associated with CNS3 was found between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Hypoacetylation of histone H4 associated with Foxp3 gene caused by insufficient expression of p300/CBP and their impaired binding abilities might be involved with immune dysfunction in KD.IVIG therapy regulates the expression of p300/CBP and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene through up-regulating TGF-β signal.

Objective To investigate the effects of SMYD3 and MLL5 on histone methylation of Transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) gene and its roles in the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods Forty-two children with KD and 26 age-matched healthy children were consented to participate in this study. Co-Immunoprec-ipitation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine Foxp3-associated histone methylation levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, and binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in CD4+T cells. The proportion of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+cells (Treg) and protein levels of Foxp3, cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4), TGF-βRⅡand pSmad3 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate levels of Foxp3, interleukin (IL)-10, GITR, TGF-βRⅠand RARαmRNA in CD4+T cells. Plasma concentrations of TGF-βand retinol acid (RA) were measured by enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay. Independent-samples t-test was used as the statistical method in this study. Results ① The proportion of Treg, expression levels of Foxp3 and molecules associated with suppressive function of Treg cells(IL-10, GITR and CTLA4), and histone methylation levels of H3K4me3 associating with promoter, conserved non-coding DNA sequence (CNS) 1 and CNS2 of Foxp3 gene decreased remarkably during acute KD [Promoter:(5.4±1.8)%vs (9.1±2.2)%;CNS1:(2.6±0.9)% vs (3.8±1.1)%; CNS2: (2.4±0.8)% vs (4.2±1.0)%; t=5.50, 6.02, 9.56, 7.92, 7.97, 4.76, 7.73, 5.01, 8.66; P<0.05], and restored after intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) therapy [Promoter: (7.2 ±2.1)% vs (5.4 ±1.8)%; CNS1:(3.6±1.4)% vs (2.6±0.9)%; CNS2: (3.6±1.4)% vs (2.4±0.8)%; t=5.56, 4.59, 7.01, 6.04, 5.89, 4.83, 4.45, 4.00, 5.12; P<0.05]. Meanwhile, the nine former items in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL+) were lower than those without coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL-) [Promoter: (4.11±1.45)% vs (6.16±1.93)%; CNS1:(1.99±0.87)%vs (2.96±1.10)%;CNS2: (1.75±0.63)%vs (2.72±1.16)%;t=6.28, 3.24, 4.56, 3.69, 3.38, 4.40, 3.65, 3.00, 3.51; P<0.05]. No significant difference of H3K4me3 associated with CNS3 and H3K27me3 were found among the groups (t=1.03, 0.91, 1.48 and 0.79, 0.82, 1.53; P>0.05). ② Binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in CD4+T cells were down-regulated significantly during acute KD (t=6.63, 6.15; P<0.05), and restored to some extent after IVIG treatment (t=5.36, 4.56; P<0.05). Positive correlations between binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 and expression level of Foxp3 mRNA were detected in patients with acute KD (r=0.62、0.45, P<0.05). Furthermore, Binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in KD-CAL+group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group (t=4.11, 4.31; P<0.05). ③ Compared with healthy controls, plasma concentration of TGF-β and RA, and expressions of TGF-βRⅡ, TGF-βRⅠ, pSmad3 and RARα were down-regulated during acute KD (t=11.54, 12.81, 7.43, 16.10, 8.25, 12.06; P<0.05), and elevated remarkably after IVIG treatment (t=8.40, 6.24, 5.94, 11.78, 6.27, 8.30; P<0.05). Simultaneously, all the items aforementioned in KD-CAL+ group were found to be lower than those in KD-CAL-group (t=3.58, 3.30, 3.82, 5.27, 4.71, 3.78; P<0.05). Conclusion Hypomethylation of H3K4me3 associated with Foxp3 gene caused by insufficient binding levels of SMYD3/MLL5 may be involved with immune dysfunction in Kawasaki disease.

Objective To investigate the changes and significances of IL-17-associated histone methylation in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods Forty-two children with KD and 28 age-matched healthy children were recruited in this study. Co-immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR were performed to detect the IL-17-associated histone methylation in CD4+ T cells. The percentages of CD4+IL-17+ T cells (Th17) and the expression of IL-17 and pSTAT3 at protein level were analyzed by flow cytome-try. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of IL-17, IL-6Rα, gp130, IL-23R, IL-23Rβ1, ETV5, SOCS1, SOCS3, TLR4, MyD88/TRIF, TNFR1 and RIP1 at mRNA level and the expres-sion of miR155 in CD4+ T cells. The levels of IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-αin plasma samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results (1) The children with acute KD showed increased percenta-ges of Th17 cells and enhanced expression of IL-17 and H3K4me3, but inhibited expression of H3K27me3 [H3K4me3:(3.79±1. 45)% vs (1. 93±0. 31)%, H3K27me3: (54. 51±13. 60)% vs (73. 96± 22. 32)%;P<0. 05]. Moreover, the three former indexes in KD patients complicated with coronary artery lesions ( KD-CAL+) were higher than those in KD patients without coronary artery lesions ( KD-CAL-) , while the levels of H3K27me3 in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group [ H3K4me3:(5. 11±1. 68)% vs (2. 98±0. 99)%, H3K27me3:(45. 02±14. 83)% vs (60. 35±12. 51)%;P<0. 05]. A positive correlation was observed between the ratio of H3K4me3/H3K27me3 and IL-17 at transcriptional level in patients with acute KD (r=0. 69, P<0. 05). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) restored Th17 cells, expression of IL-17 and methylation levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 to normal levels [H3K4me3:(2. 44 ± 0. 77)% vs (3. 79 ± 1. 45)%, H3K27me3: (66. 52 ± 15. 73)% vs (54. 51 ± 13. 60)%;P<0. 05]. (2) The expressions of pSTAT3, ETV5 and miR155 increased significantly in pa-tients with acute KD, while the expressions of negative regulators of pSTAT3 ( SOCS1 and SOCS3 ) were down-regulated. The expressions of pSTAT3, ETV5 and miR155 in KD-CAL+ group were higher than those in KD-CAL- group (P<0. 05), while the levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group (P<0. 05). IVIG therapy restored the indexes mentioned above to some extent (P<0. 05). (3) Compared with the healthy subjects, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α) in plasma and the expressions of surface receptors (TLR4, IL-6Rα/gp130, IL-23R/IL-23Rβ1 and TNFR1) and its downstream adaptors (MyD88, TRIF, RIP1) in CD4+T cells were up-regulated in patients with acute KD (P<0. 05), but were down-regulated significantly after IVIG treatment (P<0. 05). Moreo-ver, all of the indexes mentioned above in KD-CAL+ group were found to be higher than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Aberrant patterns of IL-17-associated histone methylation might be related to the immune dysfunction in patients with KD.

Background The proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells is a primary link during angiogenesis.Studies showed that heat shock protein B6 (HspB6) promotes the secretion of multiple angiogenesis-related factors and therefore leads to neovascularization.Understanding the effects of neutralizing HspB6 antibody on the biological behavior of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells has an important significance in the target treatment of choroidal neovacularization diseases.Objective This study was to address the role and mechanism of neutralizing HspB6 antibody in tube formation of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells.Methods Human choroidal vascular endothelial cell line was normally cultured and harvested for total RNA extraction.Expressions of HspB6 mRNA and protein in human choroidal vascular endothelial cells were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry (FCM).The cells were seeded on 96-well plate covered with matrigel at the density of 2×104/hole.Then the neutralizing HspB6 antibody at the concentration of 100 μg/Land 500 μg/L was added into the medium respectively,and the control cells were set without the addition of HspB6 antibody.The number of capillary tubes was calculated 12 hours after culture by three-dimensional matrigel assay.In addition,0,50,100,500 μg/L of neutralizing HspB6 antibody were added into the cell medium separately for 24hours,cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method was employed to assay the inhibitory rate(IR) of the cells.Transwell test was used to count the cell number across chamber membrane for the evaluation of migration ability of the cells.The apoptosis of the cells was assayed by FCM.Results Both HspB6 mRNA and protein were expressed on human choroidal vascular endothelial cells.The number of capillary tube formation of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells was (67.25±5.75),(60.39±6.41) and (39.76±10.73) /field in the 0,100 and 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody groups,with significant difference among them (F =10.210,P =0.012),and the tube number was significantly less in the 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group compared with 0 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 group (P =0.005).The IR of neutralizing HspB6 antibody to the cellular proliferation and migration was enhanced with the increases of concentration and time lapse(Fconcentration =7.485,P =0.002 ; Ftime =16.684,P =0.001).The number of the cells through Transwell chamber membrane was 14.0 ± 2.5,11.1 ± 0.8,6.6 ± 0.1,6.7 ± 0.2 in the 0,50,100,500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group respectively,and that in the 100 μg/L and 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group was lessened in comparison with the 0 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group(both at P=0.000).The apoptosis rate of the cells was (22.73 ± 2.53)％ in the neutralizing HspB6 antibody group,which was significantly lower than (13.33±2.08) ％ of the control group (t=4.967,P=0.008).Conclusions Neutralizing HspB6 antibody inhibits capillary tube formation of human choroidal endothelial cells in vitro in dose-and timedependent manner,probably through suppressing the proliferation and migration and promoting the apoptosis of choroidal endothelial cells.

BACKGROUNDHuman beta-defensin-3 (HBD(3)) is an epithelial peptide that has been demonstrated to have a salt-insensitive broad spectrum of potent antimicrobial activity. Expressing antimicrobial peptides in Escherichia coli (E. coli) is very difficult for it can result in death of the bacterial host cells. Our aim was to establish a prokaryotic system expressing soluble HBD(3) protein and demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of the expressed protein. We then studied whether the host cells would activate the suicide pathways.

METHODSWe first cloned the complementary DNA coding for the mature chain of HBD(3), inserted it into the vector PGEX-KG then transformed E. coli BL21 (DE3) with the appropriate recombinant plasmid. After induction with 0.5 mmol/L isopropyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (IPTG) the transformed E. coli produced a recombinant glutathione S-transferase and HBD(3) (GST-HBD(3)) fusion protein. The fusion protein was treated with thrombin to produce pure HBD(3) protein then the antimicrobial activity of HBD(3) was evaluated in a liquid microdilution assay.

RESULTSThe fusion protein GST-HBD(3) was efficiently cleaved by thrombin and yielded HBD(3) that had anti-staphylococcus aureus activity with a minimal inhibitory concentration level of 12.5 microg/ml. The E. coli strain expressing the recombinant protein did not grow slower than the empty vector strain.

CONCLUSIONActive HBD(3) in E. coli by expressing the recombinant protein GST-HBD(3) could be produced, and suicide did not occur in the E. coli strain expressing the recombinant protein.

Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; growth & development ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Thrombin ; metabolism ; beta-Defensins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the activation of astrocytes and the expression of glia-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS54 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 18): sham-operated, TBI and HBO treatment groups. TBI was induced with Feeney's method, bone window was opened without strike on the brain tissue in the sham-operated group. HBO group rats received HBO treatment for 60 min in the hyperbaric chamber containing O2 100% at 3 ATA. When neurological functions were measured 48 h after TBI, rats were decapitated, the brain water content of 18 rats was measured, 18 brains were sliced for the morphological observation after Nissl staining and for the immunohistochemistry staining of astrocyte markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin and S100, and the other 18 brains of injured side were used for Western blot analysis of GDNF and NGF.

RESULTSHBO treatment reduced the neurological deficit, brain water content and hippocampal neuronal loss. In the observed cortex and hippocampal area astrocytes were activated, the cell number of positive expression of astrocyte markers GFAP, vimentin and S100 was increased, and the expression of GDNF and NGF was elevated after TBI. However, these indices were all enhanced further after the HBO treatment.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that HBO may be an effective therapy for TBI and upregulation of the expression of GDNF and NGF may underly the effect of HBO.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; methods ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To study the effects of melatonin (MT) on mitochondrial autophagy in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).Method Animal model of HIBD was established.Forty-five 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to sham operation group and HIBD group.Brain tissue were taken at 0,2,4,6,8,12,24 and 48 h after model preparation,and the expressions of mitochondrial autophagy-related protein Bnip3 and autophagy-related protein LC3-Ⅱ were detected.Seventy-two 7-day-old SD rats were randomly assigned to sham operation group,HIBD group and post-HIBD treatment group (3-MA,Mdivi-I,Rapa,MT,3-MA + MT,Mdivi-1 + MT,Rapa + MT).The sizes of cerebral infarction after different treatment were detected using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (TIC).Primary cortical cells of fetal SD rats (embryonic day:17 ～ 19 d) were cultured.JC-I staining was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential and immunofluorescence method was used to observe mitochondrial autophagy.The Oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion/R (OGD) model was prepared.Autophagy inhibitor 3-MA,mitochondrial autophagy inhibitor Mdivi-1,autophagy activator Rapa,and MT were applied and Bnip3 and LC3-Ⅱ expressions and CCK8 (Cell Counting Kit CCK 8) for cell viability assay were examined.Result TTC staining results showed significant white infarcts in the tissue of HIBD group after hypoxia-ischemia,especially in the 3-MA and Mdivi-1 groups,and the infarcts were smaller in Rapa group and groups with MT treatment,the differences were statistical significant (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the sham operation group,the expressions of Bnip3 and LC3-Ⅱ in the HIBD group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the normal group,the expressions of Bnip3 and LC3-Ⅱ in the OGD/R group were increased (P ＜0.05).The activities of 3-MA and Mdivi-1 cells decreased significantly,the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased,and mitochondrial autophagy were decreased (P ＜ 0.05).The cell activity,mitochondrial membrane potential,and mitochondrial autophagy of Rapa group were increased (P ＜ 0.05).The cell viability,Bnip3 and LC3-Ⅱ expressions were increased in groups with MT intervention (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion MT may play an important protective role in the early stage of brain injury by enhancing mitochondrial autophagy of HIBD,which provide a theoretical basis for the study of specific related mechanisms.