Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Antibodies, Viral ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

To improve the specific recognition and presentation of virus-like particle (VLPs), and to develop immune-targeted VLPs vaccine, the gene fragment encoding OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide was inserted into the VP3 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) between the 171th and 172th amino acids (aa) or 173th and 174th aa by reverse PCR. The recombinant proteins were expressed by using Escherichia coli and assembled into chimeric VLP (VLP(OVA)) in vitro after purification. The VLP(OVA) was measured by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The recombinant protein and the assembled VLPs were evaluated by Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and laser scanning confocal microscopy to confirm the insertion of OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide into VP3 and its location. The results show that insertion of OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ into the 173th and 174th aa of FMDV VP3 did not affect the assembly of VLPs. The VLP(OVA) in size was larger than VLPs, and the OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide was located on the surface of VLP(OVA).
Animals ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; virology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle

The special nucleic acid fragments, 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which interact with the capsid proteins, were selected as scaffolds to investigate the assembly efficiency of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus-like particles (VLPs). The assembled product was characterized by evaluation of particle size, surface potential, gel retardation assay, nuclease digestion experiments, size-exclusion chromatography, transmission electron microscopy and circular dichroism analysis. The results confirmed that the 5' UTR and IRES of FMDV co-assembled with the FMD VLPs and facilitated the assembly efficiency of FMD-VLPs. It demonstrates that the assembly efficiency of 75S particles of VLPs-5'UTR was significantly higher than those of the VLPs (P<0.001) and VLPs-IRES group (P<0.01). Comparatively the assembly efficiency of 12S particles of VLPs-IRES was significantly higher than those of the VLPs (P<0.000 1) and VLPs-5'UTR (P<0.000 1). It showed that the 5' UTR represented more effective in facilitating the assembly of VLPs. This study proposes an optimized strategy for improving the assembly efficiency of VLPs for the development of VLPs vaccine.
5' Untranslated Regions ; Capsid Proteins/metabolism* ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/physiology* ; Internal Ribosome Entry Sites ; Nucleic Acids/metabolism* ; Virus Assembly

AIM:To investigate the effect of liraglutide ( LG) on the expression of fibronectin type Ⅲdomain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) in the C2C12 myotubes.METHODS:The C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line was induced to differentiation.Differentiated cells were stimulated with gradient concentrations (1 ~1000 nmol/L) of LG for different time (0 ~24 h).The effects of LG on the expression of FNDC5 and the activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate ( AMP)-activated protein kinase ( AMPK) signaling pathway were determined .After pretreated with glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1 ) receptor antagonist exendin 9-39 , the inhibitor of Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2), STO609, or the inhibitor of AMPK, Compound C, the LG-induced FNDC5 expression in C2C12 myotubes was examined.The expression of FNDC5 and the activation of AMPK were determined by Western blot .RESULTS: In C2C12 myotubes, LG promoted the expression of FNDC5 in a dose-and time-dependent manner .LG also activated AMPK signaling pathway .These effects of LG were partly abolished by exendin 9-39 , STO609 and Compound C .CONCLUSION:LG promotes the expression of FNDC5 via GLP-1 receptor in the C2C12 myotubes possibly through activation of the CAMKK2/AMPK signaling pathways .

Objective To develop a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric(LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of valproic acid in human plasma.Methods After treating human plasma sample by acetonitrile protein precipitation method,the analytes were separated on a Shimpack VP-ODS analytical column(150 mm×2.0 mm I.D,5 μm) with the mobile phase of methanol and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate (55∶45,v/v)at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min.Detection was carried out by adopting the multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) scanning mode in the API3200 triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer,electrospray ionization source,negative ion mode,selected monitoring ionic reactions were m/z 142.9→m/z 142.9(valproic acid) and m/z 179.0→m/z 179.0(1-sulfonic acid).Results Valproic acid and internal standard 1-sulfonic acid retention time were 3.03 min and 2.38 min respectively.The plasma valproic acid linear range was 0.800-80.0 μg/mL(r>0.99) with the lower limit of quantitation(LLOQ) 0.800 μg/mL.The intra-and inter-batch relative standard deviations(RSD) were both less than 15%,and the relative errors(RE) were within ±15%.The mean extraction recovery rate was(84.1±2.4)%,and the mean matrix effect factor was(104.3±2.0)%.In the stability study,valproic acid was found to be stable in plasma under various storage conditions.Conclusion This method is suitable for the determination of valproic acid in human plasma and human pharmacokinetic study of valproic acid semisodium sustained release tablet.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on impaired wound healing in ob/ob mice and the underlying mechanism.METHODS:The ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, including vehicle, in-sulin and NaHS for treatment.C57BL/6 mice were treated with vehicle as control.Full-thickness punch biopsy wounds were created on the mice.Firstly, H2 S concentrations in the skins and granulation tissues were measured.The mRNA ex-pression of cystathionineγ-lyase ( CSE) was detected by RT-qPCR.The protein expression of CSE and MMP-9 were deter-mined by Western blot.The neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemistry me-thod.The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αand interleukin (IL)-6 were measured by ELISA.Collagen formation was measured by Masson staining.RESULTS:The H2 S levels in the skin and granulation were significantly decreased in ob/ob mice and increased in the NaHS-treated mice ( P<0.05 ) .CSE expression at mRNA and protein levels was significantly decreased in ob/ob mice compared with the control mice (P<0.05).The wound healing period was significantly shorter in NaHS group than that in vehicle-treated ob/ob mice group (P<0.05), in which the insulin group had no difference with vehicle ob/ob mice group.The neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage infiltration, and TNF-αand IL-6 levels were signifi-cantly increased in ob/ob groups, but were decreased in NaHS group ( P<0.01 or P<0.05 ) .Meanwhile, NaHS in-creased collagen formation in the granulation tissues of ob/ob mice.CONCLUSION:H2 S/CSE down-regulation contributes
to impaired wound healing in diabetes, which is alleviated by exogenous H2 S possibly through anti-inflammation.

BACKGROUNDAdvances in the understanding of cardiovascular pathogenesis have highlighted that inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Therefore, exploring pharmacologically based anti-inflammatory treatments to be used in cardiovascular therapeutics is worthwhile to promote the discovery of novel ways of treating cardiovascular disorders.

METHODSThe myocardial cell line H9c2(2-1) was exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in culture and resulted in a cellular pro-inflammation status. miR-21 microRNA levels were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). The influence of lovastatin on miR-21 under normal and pro-inflammatory conditions was tested after being added to the cell culture mixture for 24 hours. Conditional gene function of two predicted cardiovascular system relevant downstream targets of miR-21, protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3A (PPP1R3A) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), were analyzed with immunoblotting.

RESULTSForty-eight hours of LPS treatment significantly increased the miR-21 to 170.71%± 34.32% of control levels (P = 0.002). Co-treatment with lovastatin for 24 hours before harvesting attenuated the up-regulation of miR-21 (P = 0.013). Twenty-four hours of lovastatin exposure up-regulated PPP1R3A to 143.85%± 21.89% of control levels in cardiomyocytes (P = 0.023). Lovastatin up-regulated the phosphorylation level of STAT3 compared to the background LPS pretreatment (P = 0.0077), this effect was significantly (P = 0.018) blunted when miR-21 was functionally inhibited.

CONCLUSIONSmiR-21 plays a major role in the regulation of the cellular anti-inflammation effects of lovastatin.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jiaweisinisan (JWSNS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal recipe, on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in rat models of chronic psychological stress and elucidate the mechanism of JWSNS for ameliorating stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction.

METHODSSixty rats were randomly assigned into normal control group, model group, 3 JWSNS groups (high, moderate, and small doses), and omeprazole group (n=10). Rat models of chronic psychological stress were established by random stressful stimulations, and following the corresponding interventions, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels were detected using radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA expressions of gastrin receptor in the gastric tissue (GASR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide II receptor (VIPR2) in the jejunal tissue were examined using RT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructural changes in the gastric mucosa tissue cells of the glandular stomach area and alterations in the intercellular junctions.

RESULTSElectron microscopy revealed obvious damages in gastric mucosal epithelial cell organelles and nuclei in the model rats. These damages were ameliorated after treatments with JWSNS and omeprazole. Compared with the model group, the 3 JWSNS groups and omeprazole group all showed significantly lowered plasma ACTH and CORT levels, increased gastrin receptor mRNA expression and decreased jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expression (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJWSNS can obviously ameliorate the pathologies of the gastric mucosa cells, regulate the state of brain-gut axis, and modulate the gastric gastrin receptor and jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expressions in rats with chronic psychological stress.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; blood ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Bombesin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II ; metabolism ; Stress, Psychological ; pathology

The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen enantiomers were studied in rats after intravenous and oral administration of ibuprofen arginate by means of a chiral HPLC method. The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen was stereoselective after intravenous and oral administration of ibuprofen arginate. The pharmacokinetic stereoselectivity was higher after oral administration than that after intravenous administration. The systematic (R)-(-)-to-(S)-(+) inversion might be more important than the presystematic one in the stereoselective pharmacokinetics after oral administration. Oral administration of ibuprofen arginate resulted in a very rapid absorption of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen (eutomer), and the absolute bioavailabilities of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen and (R)-(-)-ibuprofen were about 100% and 80%, respectively. Based on the systemic exposure of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen, it could be concluded that the pharmacological actions might be similar when ibuprofen arginate was given orally and intravenously, except some differences in the onset of action.