Autoimmune diseases (AID) are characterized by autoimmune disorder, as autologous tissue is attacked by the autoimmune system. It is reported that the imbalance of autoimmune tolerance and ingrained inflammatory response are the core events of AID undoubtedly. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) which belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily is a ligand activated transcription factor. PPARγ combines with retinoid X receptor (RXR) to form heterodimer. When PPARγ is activated, the complex regulates gene expression by binding to a specific peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE). In addition, PPARγ has diversified biological functions, playing important roles in regulating metabolism, controling inflammation, modulating glucose and lipid metabolism, ameliorating atherosclerosis, anti-tumor, and regulating immune response. However, recently researches indicate that PPARγ participates in the pathogenesis of AID. PPARγ plays key roles in regulating activation and polarization of macrophages, function of dendritic cells, proliferation and differentiation of T cells, and modulation of the function of related stromal cells. This article summarizes the biological functions and signal transduction pathways of PPARγ and the protective effects of agonists of PPARγ on AID, aiming to provide theoretical support for the research of mechanism and prevention and treatment of AID.

Neuropathological, clinical epidemiology and animal models studies provide clear evidence for the activation of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is linked with reduced risk to develop the disease. But the clinical trials got a negative outcome with traditional NSAIDs treating AD. The therapeutic effects of NSAIDs on Alzheimer's disease are still not clear based on the present research. Profound study for anti-inflammatory mechanisms and standardized clinical trials are needed. As cause and effect relationships between neuroinflammation and AD are being worked out, the challenge is how to realize the effect of traditional NSAIDs on treating AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy

Chinese traditional patent medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis(PBCRBS) originated from traditional Chinese medicine theory and had approved efficacy and safety standards. However, its compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism is not clear. To analyze the compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS, a statistical and bioinformatics analysis was carried out using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TICMISS, V2.0) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The compatibility regularity analysis shows that the most commonly used herb combinations are Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and Honghua (Carthamustinctorius L.). The anti-thrombotic mechanism analysis reveals that 25 ingredients have an effect on 29 thrombosis related molecules which 23 molecules are related to inflammation response. Furthermore, there are 5 inflammation molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF, IL1β) served as major targets. At the same time, Danshen, Chuangxiong and Honghua mainly used as sovereign herb or minister herb in the application of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS probably has an effect on anti-thrombotic activity through inhibiting the inflammatory response. In summary, the most commonly used herb combinations of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS are Danshen, Chuanxiong and Honghua. Inhibiting inflammatory response, especially inflammation related molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF and IL1β), is probably a new starting point to clarify the anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese patent medicine for PBCRBS.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Computational Biology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; secondary

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Fluorescence Polarization ; methods ; Protein Kinases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; chemistry ; metabolism

To identify the inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase (GST), a high-throughput screening method was established in a 384-well microplate with total 35 microL volume, and the absorbance at 340 nm is detected. The concentrations of substrates, CDNB and GST were determined by chromatometry. The optimal enzyme kinetics reaction time and temperature are 2 h and 30 degrees C , respectively. The established model was evaluated by NaOCl, a known GST inhibitor, and the parameter Z' was 0.77, which showed a high feasibility and stability of the assay. A total of 31,098 compounds were screened, of which 4 compounds were shown to inhibit GST activity, high inhibiting activity for their IC50 of GST inhibition was 3.94, 4.05, 74.85, and 77.41 mg x L(-1), separately. The results indicated that the colorimetric method by using CDNB and GSH as substrate is stable, sensitive, reproducible and also suitable for high throughput screening.
Dinitrochlorobenzene ; chemistry ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; analysis ; Glutathione ; chemistry ; Glutathione Transferase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Substrate Specificity

AIMTo develop a fluorescence polarization-based high throughput screening and identify ligands for human Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (hLOX-1).

METHODSSequential ultracentrifugation at 4 degrees C from normolipidemic fasting volunteers to obtain low density lipoprotein (LDL), which was modified by CuSO4 (5 micromol x L(-1)) at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The assay was based on the interaction between receptor and ligand, and hLOX-1 was labeled by FITC and bound to its specific ligand, oxLDL. Different reaction time and DMSO concentration were optimized to determine the stability and tolerance of fluorescence polarization (FP) assay. 3 200 compounds were screened in black 384-well microplate by FP-based competitive displacement assay, at excitation filter of 485 nm and emission filter of 530 nm. Z' was used to assess the assay quality.

RESULTSThe FP-based HTS was formatted in a 384-well microplate with a Z' factor of 0. 75, and three active compounds for hLOX-1 were identified with IC50 below 40 micromol x L(-1) from total 3 200 compounds.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the fluorescence polarization assay is stable, sensitive, reproducible and well suited for high throughput screening efforts.

Binding, Competitive ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Fluorescence Polarization ; methods ; Humans ; Ligands ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fixatives ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods

BACKGROUNDTo construct recombinant retroviral vector expressing HBcAg in eukaryotic cells.

METHODSThe HBV core gene fragment was amplified by using PCR from pADR which contains complement nucleotide sequence of HBV subtype adr and cloned into retroviral expression plasmid pLXSN, then transfected into packing cell (PT67) with lipofec AMINE. After 2-3 weeks selection with G418, large colonies were isolated and transferred to individual plates. Virus-containing medium was collected and used to infect NIH3T3, EL4 and mouse bone marrow derived dendritic cells(DC). DNA was extracted from infected cells and tested by PCR. Indirect immunofluorescence and FACS were used to detect the expression of HBcAg. Cell mediated immunity of immunized C57BL/6 mice with transduced DC was analyzed.

RESULTSThe insertion of HBV core gene fragment in the recombinant retroviral plasmid was confirmed by PCR as well as enzyme digestion with EcoR1 and BamH2. The viral titer reached 3 x 10(5) CFU/ml. The result of PCR showed that the HBV core gene had been integrated into the genome of infected NIH3T3 cells. Indirect immunofluorescence and FACS analysis showed that HBcAg had been expressed in these cells. HBcAg specific CTL responses could be generated in mice immunized with retrovirus transduced DC.

CONCLUSIONSHBV core gene had been integrated into eukaryotic cells with retroviral vector and target gene had been expressed efficiently. These results may have some impact on gene therapy of chronic hepatitis B.

3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Mice ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection

JAK-3, a member of the Janus kinase family, is a protein tyrosine kinase, which plays an important role in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Previous studies showed that regulation of JAK-3's activity plays a crucial role in the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Many reports have been published with a focus on selective JAK-3 inhibitors, some of which showed excellent JAK-3 selectivity and inhibitory activities. Among the JAK-3 inhibitors reported, tofacitinib has satisfactory therapeutic benefits in the clinical trials, and has been approved for treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, some JAK-3 inhibitors exhibited moderate to severe side effects, which need to be controlled by drug improvement. In order to pave the way for improvement of current JAK-3 inhibitors and development of new JAK-3 inhibitors, we provide an outline of the structure of JAK-3 and strategies in development of its inhibitors.