With the rise of tumor immunotherapy, small molecule modulators targeting the immune system have become a research hotspot. As well-developed and mature targets, immunity protein kinases have attracted more and more attention. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinases (MNKs) are located at the meeting-point of ERK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, which can phosphorylate eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) at the conserved serine 209 exclusively and modulate the translation of mRNA. Herein we review the structural characteristics, mechanism, signaling transduction pathways and close relationship with tumors of MNKs.Meanwhile, the development process and clinical research progress of the MNKs inhibitors reported by different research institutions are introduced in detail.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity and efficiency of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) to differentiate into neuron- like cells after induction with B27- supplemented serum- free medium. METHODS: HUCMSCs at passage 4 were cultured for 14 days with serum-containing medium (SCM) (group A), SCM supplemented with 20 ng/mL nerve growth factor (NGF) and 10 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (group B), serum-free medium (SFM) (group C), or SFM supplemented with 20 ng/mL NGF and 10 ng/mL bFGF. The culture medium were changed every 3 days and the growth of the neurospheres was observed using an inverted microscope. The cell markers were analyzed with flow cytometry and the expressions of nestin, neuron- specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NEFH), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS: Before induction, HUCMSCs expressed abundant mesenchymal stem cell surface markers including CD29 (99.5%), CD44 (49.6%) and CD105 (77.7%). Neuron-like cells were observed in the cultures on days 7, 10, and 14, and the cell differentiation was the best in group D, followed by groups C, B and A. In all the 4 groups, the cellular expressions of nestin and GFAP gradually lowered while those of NEFH and NSE increased progressively. The expressions of GFAP, NEFH, nestin and NSE were significantly different between group A and the other 3 groups ( < 0.001 or 0.05). CONCLUSIONS B27-supplemented SFM effectively induces the differentiation of HUCMSCs into neuron- like cells, and the supplementation with cytokines (NGF and bFGF) strongly promotes the cell differentiation.

Studies have found that a variety of tumors continue to activate PD-1(programmed cell death protein 1, PD-1)/PD-L1(programmed cell death-ligand 1)signaling pathway by up-regulating PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and microenvironment. The dysfunction of T cells leads to the occurrence of tumor immune escape. Several PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies have been marketed to achieve significant clinical efficacy. However, because of the high production cost, the harsh conditions for storage and transportation, and the potential immunogenicity of monoclonal antibody, the seeking for PD-1/PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors has become a hot spot in the development of new drugs. In this paper, the biological mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 was introduced in detail. Based on the structural classification, the research progress of PD-1/PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors was reviewed, with a prospect of the development of small molecule inhibitors.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is characterized by excessive fat deposition in hepatocytes, fat accumulates mainly in the form of triglycerides, triglycerides derive from esterification of glycerol and free fatty acids; and the synthesis of fatty acid is abnormally active in tumor cells, which is significantly higher than that of normal cells, providing necessary lipid substrates for the formation of biofilms, the production of signaling molecules and energy during the proliferation and development of tumor cells. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC)is the limiting-rate enzyme of de novo lipogenesis. And it is also an enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the fatty acid synthesis pathway; its catalyzed product, malonyl-CoA, also inhibits the oxidation of fatty acids. ACC inhibition can reduce fatty acid synthesis and promote fatty acid oxidation, which reduce the amount of fatty acids in the body. Hence, attenuating fat accumulation could improve NAFLD, and reduction of fatty acid content inhibits development of tumor tissues because lipid substrates could not satisfy the requirement of cancer cells. Therefore, ACC inhibitors have potential to be the novel drugs that can treat NAFLD and cancer. The recent research progress on ACC inhibitors is reviewed in this paper.

In order to search for new antiplatelet agents with higher potency, a series of tetramethylpyrazine ( TMP) /chalcone hybrids ( 2-26) were synthesized and evaluated based on the principle of bioisostere and hybrid-ization. They exerted inhibitory activity against adenosine diphosphate ( ADP )-induced and arachidonic acid ( AA)-induced platelet aggregation to varied extent. Among them, compound 8 was the most potent with IC50 of 0. 14 mmol/L on ADP-induced platelet aggregation ( 9. 1 folds of TMP and 10. 5 folds of chalcone ) and 0. 09 mmol/L on AA-induced platelet aggregation ( 8. 8 folds of TMP and 10. 0 folds of chalcone) , which was superior to clinically used anti-platelet drug aspirin ( ASP, IC50 =0. 15 mmol/L) .

Type 2 diabetes,a glucose and lipid metabolism disorder accompanied by chronic multiple organ damage,has become a huge threat to human health,α/β hydrolase domain-6 (ABHD6) regulates the insulin release negatively by hydrolyzing monoacylglycerol.Small molecule ABHD6 inhibitors have been proven to lower bloodglucose and regulates energy homeostasis,which is a potential candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.This paper introduced the ABHD6 signaling pathway and its mechanism,then reviewed the progress of small molecule ABHD6 inhibitors with different structures in recent years,and analyzed the structure activity relationship.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is the rate-limiting enzyme which catalyses the metabolism of L-tryptophan(L-Trp) in the kynurenine pathway.It is overexpressed in many tumor cells and antigen presenting cells.This enzyme inhibits local immune response and supports tumor cells to evade immune surveillance by depleting L-Trp and producing kynurenine metabolites,thus,it is an important target for cancer immunotherapy.There are several IDO1 inhibitors with different scarfold under investigation,three of which have already entered clinical stage.The role of IDO1 in tumor immune tolerance and the research progress on IDO1 inhibitors in recent years are summarized in this paper.

Objective To investigate the influence of stigma on QOL of patients with mental disorders.Methods By using Link stigma series scale and schizophrenic quality of life scale,we assessed and analyzed 406 psychiatric patients′stigma and QOL, as well as the correlation and influence between them.Results The score of perceived devaluation-discrimination dimension of the stigma scale had positive correlation with total score of QOL,score of psycho-social dimension and score of motivation and energy dimension (P <0.05).The scores of challenge dimension and separation dimension in the stigma scale had positive correlation with motivation and energy dimension of the QOL scale (P <0.05).Regression analysis showed that stigma did not have influence on QOL of patients with mental disorders.Conclusion Stigma in psychiatric patients has no significant influence on QOL,but correla-tion relationship exists between them.The higher score of perceived devaluation-discrimination dimension,challenge dimension and separation dimension of stigma scale,the poor QOL the patient would have.

c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase plays an important role in signaling pathways including cell proliferation, metabolism as well as tumorigenic growth, migration and angiogenesis. c-Met has emerged as an attractive target for cancer therapy. Moreover, the interactive cross-talk between c-Met signaling and several other signaling pathways underlies a key effect for resistance of anti-cancer drugs. Thus, multi-target inhibitors become a new approach to cancer therapy. This paper introduces the c-Met signaling pathway and the resistance of kinase inhibitors caused by the cross-talk between c-Met and other membrane receptors and then will reviews the progress of single-target and multi-target c-Met inhibitors.

With the deepening of research, different new anti-diabetic drug targets have been discovered and reported, several categories of anti-diabetic drugs(linagliptin, exenatide, dapagliflozin, etc. )have been brought to the market and some new drugs acting on different targets are in late-stage clinical trials. All these progresses provide new means for overcoming diabetes. GPR119, GPR120, GPR40, AMPK, apelin receptor and GSK3β are anti-diabetic targets with great research values in current days and the future. This article reviews the mechanisms, drugs and research advances with respect to the above-mentioned targets.