Glioma is difficult to treat due to the unique tumor microenvironment and blood-brain barrier. (13aS)-3-Hydroxyl-6,7-dimethoxyphenanthro[9,10-b] indolizidine (PF403), a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, has been identified as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma. However, the anti-glioma mechanism of PF403 in vivo has not been conclusively verified and must be further elucidated. Hence, a strategy without chemical modification was applied to identify the target of PF403. In this study, we identified nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) as the target of PF403 by using thermal proteome profiling (TPP). Moreover, microscale thermophoresis (MST), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments confirmed that NAMPT exhibits good affinity for PF403. Direct and indirect enzyme activity assays revealed that PF403 inhibited the catalytic activity of NAMPT, leading to a decrease in the concentration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) in U87 cells. X-ray diffraction and amino acid spot mutation experiments revealed that PF403 primarily relies on the formation of pi-pi interactions with residue Tyr188 to maintain binding with NAMPT (PDB code 8Y55). After NAMPT was knocked down with lentivirus, PF403 lost or partially lost its antitumor activity at the cellular and animal levels. These findings suggest that PF403 exerts antitumor activity by directly targeting NAMPT.

Twelve new grayanoids (-) along with five known compounds were isolated from flowers of . Their structures were fully characterized using a combination of spectroscopic analyses, computational calculations, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Rhomollone A () possesses an unprecedented 5/6/6/5 tetra-cyclic ring system (B- grayanane) incorporating a cyclopentene-1,3-dione scaffold. Rhodomollein XLIII () is a dimeric grayanoid, containing a novel 14-membered heterocyclic ring with a symmetry axis. The antinociceptive activities of compounds , , , , and - were evaluated by an acetic acid-induced writhing test. Among them, compounds , , , and displayed significant antinociceptive activities at a dose of 20 mg/kg with inhibition rates ranging from 41.9% to 91.6%. Compounds and inhibited 46.0% and 39.4% of the acetic acid-induced writhes at a dose of 2 mg/kg, while compound inhibited 34.3% of the writhes at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg.

Coxsackievirus B type 3 (CVB3) is one of the major causative pathogens associated with viral meningitis and myocarditis, which are widespread in the human population and especially prevalent in neonates and children. These infections can result in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and other severe clinical complications. There are no vaccines or drugs approved for the prevention or therapy of CVB3-induced diseases. During screening for anti-CVB3 candidates in our previous studies, we found that jiadifenoic acids C exhibited strong antiviral activities against CVB3 as well as other strains of Coxsackie B viruses (CVBs). The present studies were carried out to evaluate the antiviral activities of jiadifenoic acids C. Results showed that jiadifenoic acids C could reduce CVB3 RNA and proteins synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Jiadifenoic acids C also had a similar antiviral effect on the pleconaril-resistant variant of CVB3. We further examined the impact of jiadifenoic acids C on the synthesis of viral structural and non-structural proteins, finding that jiadifenoic acids C could reduce VP1 and 3D protein production. A time-course study with Vero cells showed that jiadifenoic acids C displayed significant antiviral activities at 0-6 h after CVB3 inoculation, indicating that jiadifenoic acids C functioned at an early step of CVB3 replication. However, jiadifenoic acids C had no prophylactic effect against CVB3. Taken together, we show that jiadifenoic acids C exhibit strong antiviral activities against all strains of CVB, including the pleconaril-resistant variant. Our study could provide a significant lead for anti-CVB3 drug development.

ObjectiveTo immunoscreen the mimic peptides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen from phage displayed 12-mer peptide library.MethodsSpecific IgG was purified from sera of patients with TB and used as the target to immunoscreen a phage random peptide library of 12 amino acids.Positive clones which were obtained after three rounds of biopanning were detected by ELISA and sequenced.The diagnostic value of the high frequent positive clones were observed by ELISA.Results After 3 rounds of immunoscreening,the eluted phages were enriched effectively.Six kinds of animo acid sequence were obtained from twelve positive phage clones.Sensitivity of the two high frequent positive clones were 71.4％ (A2)and 55.4％ (A7) respectively.ConclusionThe antigen-mimic peptide was successfully screened from 12 random phage peptide library and the peptides can be recognized by tuberculosis patients' polyclonal antibodies.

This study aims to investigate the preventive role and potential mechanisms of blocking extracellular HMGB1 function on doxorubicin induced cardiac injury. Mice were treated with HMGB1 blocker glycyrrhizin 1 h before and one time every day (intraperitoneal, 10 mg per mouse) after doxorubicin injection, and sacrificed on the day 14 after doxorubicin challenge. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and hemodynamic measurement. Myocardial inflammation and collagen deposition were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and picrosirius red staining. The interaction of HMGB1 and TLR2 was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. The protein contents of HMGB1, MyD88, p65NF-kappaB and phospho-p65NF-kappaB were measured by Immunoblot. Compared with mice treated with saline, doxorubicin treatment led to an upregulation in HMGB1 expression. Blocking HMGB1 activity with glycyrrhizin protected mice against cardiac dysfunction, inflammatory response, and cardiac fibrosis induced by doxorubicin challenge. Glycyrrhizin inhibited the interaction of HMGB1 and TLR2, and blocked the downstream signaling of TLR2. In conclusion, blocking HMGB1 protected against doxorubicin induced cardiac injury by inhibiting TLR2 signaling pathway.

In recent years, mass outbreaks of highly pathogenic (HP) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have spread all over the Chinese swine industry. Based on the first infectious cDNA clone of HP PRRSV strain pJX143 and that of an attenuated PRRSV, pAPRRS, constructed in our group, we constructed several chimeric clones with various substitutions of structural protein genes (ORF4-7) and 3' UTR between attenuated pAPRRS and virulent pJX143.Upon transfection of MA-104 cultured cells, all chimeric constructs pSX12, p5NX12, and p56N12 were rescued. The rescued viruses maintained the similar virological properties, based on the results of the growth curve of the rescued viruses. To test if the chimeric viruses can be used as a vaccine candidate, vSX12 and v56N12 vaccinated pigs were challenged with the HP PRRSV JX143 strain. As a result, the vSX12 vaccinated pigs were all seroconverted by 14-day-post vaccination, while v56N12 vaccinated pigs showed poor antibody response. Upon challenge, the vSX12-vaccinated group showed no signs of clinical PRRS syndrome, and virema period was shorten to 6 days post-challenge. Our results demonstrated that 1) vSX12 chimeric virus is a good vaccine candidate; 2) the virulence determinants of HP PRRSV probably located in coding regions other than ORF3-7 and 3' UTR, as our chimeric viruses were proved to be attenuated.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Open Reading Frames ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome ; virology ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Swine ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

To construct a recombinant plasmid Pet23a-M, the gene encoding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus membrane protein was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the expression plasmid Pet23a. Results of restriction endonuclease analysis, PCR detection and DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the cloned DNA sequence was the same as that reported. The recombinants were transformed into Escherichia coli (E. Coli) BL21 (DE3) and induced by Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The expression of 27 kD (1 kD=0.992 1 ku) protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and pured by metal chelated chromatography. Results of Western-blot showed that this expressed protein could react with antibodies in sera of SARS patients during convalescence. This provided the basis for the further study on SARS virus vaccine and diagnostic agents.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Plasmids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; biosynthesis

To construct a recombinant plasmid Pet23a-M, the gene encoding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus membrane protein was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the expression plasmid Pet23a. Results of restriction endonuclease analysis, PCR detection and DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the cloned DNA sequence was the same as that reported. The recombinants were transformed into Escherichia coli (E. Coli) BL21 (DE3) and induced by Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The expression of 27 kD (1 kD=0.992 1 ku) protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and pured by metal chelated chromatography. Results of Western-blot showed that this expressed protein could react with antibodies in sera of SARS patients during convalescence. This provided the basis for the further study on SARS virus vaccine and diagnostic agents.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Membrane Proteins/isolation & purification ; Plasmids/biosynthesis ; Plasmids/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus/chemistry ; SARS Virus/*genetics ; Viral Vaccines/biosynthesis

OBJECTIVE:To prepare weishu emulsion and to establish its quality control method.METHODS:Weishu emulsion was prepared with sodium carboxymethylcellulose,etc.as the adjuvants and the content of dyclonine hydrochoride was determined by UV-spectrophotometry.RESULTS:The linear range of dyclonine hydrochloride was2.0～12.0?g/ml(r=0.9999)and the average recovery rate was99.38%,RSD=0.47%,(n=6).CONCLUSION:The emulsion is feasible in preparation method and controllable in quality.

Objective To investigate the pharmacodynamic action of Yunkang Capsule(YKC).Methods The animals were divided into YKC groups(at high-,moderate-and low-dosage respectively),diphenidol control group,model control group and blank control group.The action of YKC on vertigo and thrombosis,hemorrheologic indexes,piamatral microcirculation and free radicals of the animal models were observed.Results YKC could significantly prolong the latency of vertigo,reduce wet weight of thrombus,decrease blood viscosity,plasma viscosity and hematocrit,promote the dilation of piamatral micro-vessels,increase the amount of interweave microdot,increase plasma SOD activity and decline plasma MDA content of animal models.Conclusion YKC has actions of counteracting vertigo and thrombosis,improving hemorrheology and microcirculation,and clearing away free radicals.