The bioactivity-guided isolation of potentially active natural products has been widely utilized in pharmaceutical discovery. In this study, by screening fungal extracts against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), three new aspochalasins, templichalasins A‒C (1‒3), along with six known aspochalasins (4‒9) were isolated from an active extract derived from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus templicola LHWf045. Compound 1 features a unique 5/6/5/7/5 pentacyclic ring system, while compounds 2 and 3 possess unusual 5/6/6/7 tetracyclic skeletons. Their structures were characterized through extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, we demonstrated that compound 4 can be readily converted into compounds 1‒3 under mild acidic conditions and proposed a plausible mechanism for this conversion. Bioactivity evaluation of compounds 1‒9 against CVB3 revealed the inhibitory effects of all compounds against the virus. Notably, compound 9 exhibited superior antiviral activity, surpassing the commercial drug ribavirin in selectivity index (SI) value.
Antiviral Agents/isolation & purification* ; Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure ; Enterovirus B, Human/drug effects* ; Endophytes/chemistry* ; Cytochalasins/isolation & purification* ; Drug Discovery ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have strong self-renewal ability and multiple differentiation potential. Some studies confirmed that spreading shape and area of single MSCs influence cell differentiation, but few studies focused on the effect of the circularity of cell shape on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs with a confined area during osteogenic process.METHODS: In the present study, MSCs were seeded on a micropatterned island with a spreading area lower than that of a freely spreading area. The patterns had circularities of 1.0 or 0.4, respectively, and areas of 314, 628, or 1256 µm² . After the cells were grown on a micropatterned surface for 1 or 3 days, cell apoptosis and F-actin were stained and analyzed. In addition, the expression of β-catenin and three osteogenic differentiation markers were immunofluorescently stained and analyzed, respectively.RESULTS: Of these MSCs, the ones with star-like shapes and large areas promoted the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers and the survival of cells. The expression of F-actin and its cytosolic distribution or orientation also correlated with the spreading shape and area. When actin polymerization was inhibited by cytochalasin D, the shape-regulated differentiation and apoptosis of MSCs with the confined spreading area were abolished.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a spreading shape of low circularity and a larger spreading area are beneficial to the survival and osteogenic differentiation of individual MSCs, which may be regulated through the cytosolic expression and distribution of F-actin.
Actins ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Shape ; Cytochalasin D ; Cytosol ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteogenesis ; Polymerization ; Polymers

The dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in the process of cell division, the transportation of organelles, vesicle trafficking and cell movement. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) hijacks the actin dynamics network during the viral entry and migration of the pre-integration complex (PIC) into the nucleus. Actin dynamics linked to HIV-1 has emerged as a potent therapeutic target against HIV infection. Although some inhibitors have been intensely analyzed with regard to HIV-1 infection, their effects are sometimes disputed and the exact mechanisms for actin dynamics in HIV infection have not been well elucidated. In this study, the small molecules regulating HIV-1 infection from diverse inhibitors of the actin dynamic network were screened. Two compounds, including Chaetoglobosin A and CK-548, were observed to specifically bar the viral infection, while the cytochalasin family, 187-1, N-WASP inhibitor, Rho GTPase family inhibitors (EHop-016, CID44216842, and ML-141) and LIMK inhibitor (LIM domain kinase inhibitor) increased the viral infection without cytotoxicity within a range of ~ µM. However, previously known inhibitory compounds of HIV-1 infection, such as Latrunculin A, Jasplakinolide, Wiskostatin and Swinholide A, exhibited either an inhibitory effect on HIV-1 infection combined with severe cytotoxicity or showed no effects. Our data indicate that Chaetoglobosin A and CK-548 have considerable potential for development as new therapeutic drugs for the treatment of HIV infection. In addition, the newly identified roles of Cytochalasins and some inhibitors of Rho GTPase and LIMK may provide fundamental knowledge for understanding the complicated actin dynamic pathway when infected by HIV-1. Remarkably, the newly defined action modes of the inhibitors may be helpful in developing potent anti-HIV drugs that target the actin network, which are required for HIV infection.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actins ; Anti-HIV Agents ; Cell Division ; Cell Movement ; Cytochalasins ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; HIV Infections ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Organelles ; Phosphotransferases ; Transportation

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) releases Ca²⁺ from ryanodine receptor (RyR)-sensitive calcium pools in various cell types. In cardiac myocytes, the physiological levels of cADPR transiently increase the amplitude and frequency of Ca²⁺ (that is, a rapid increase and decrease of calcium within one second) during the cardiac action potential. In this study, we demonstrated that cADPR levels higher than physiological levels induce a slow and gradual increase in the resting intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺](i)) level over 10 min by inhibiting the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA). Higher cADPR levels mediate the tyrosine-dephosphorylation of α-actin by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) present in the endoplasmic reticulum. The tyrosine dephosphorylation of α-actin dissociates phospholamban, the key regulator of SERCA, from α-actin and results in SERCA inhibition. The disruption of the integrity of α-actin by cytochalasin B and the inhibition of α-actin tyrosine dephosphorylation by a PTP1B inhibitor block cADPR-mediated Ca²⁺ increase. Our results suggest that levels of cADPR that are relatively higher than normal physiological levels modify calcium homeostasis through the dephosphorylation of α-actin by PTB1B and the subsequent inhibition of SERCA in cardiac myocytes.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine Diphosphate* ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Calcium ; Cyclic ADP-Ribose ; Cytochalasin B ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Homeostasis ; Muscle Cells* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases* ; Reticulum ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; Tyrosine

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of bisphosphonates, anti-osteoporosis agents, on glucose uptake in retinal capillary endothelial cells under normal and high glucose conditions. The change of glucose uptake by pre-treatment of bisphosphonates at the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB) was determined by measuring cellular uptake of [3H]3-O-methyl glucose (3-OMG) using a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB cells) under normal and high glucose conditions. [3H]3-OMG uptake was inhibited by simultaneous treatment of unlabeled D-glucose and 3-OMG as well as glucose transport inhibitor, cytochalasin B. On the other hand, simultaneous treatment of alendronate or pamidronate had no significant inhibitory effect on [3H]3-OMG uptake by TR-iBRB cells. Under high glucose condition of TR-iBRB cells, [3H]3-OMG uptake was increased at 48 h. However, [3H]3-OMG uptake was decreased significantly by pre-treatment of alendronate or pamidronate compared with the values for normal and high glucose conditions. Moreover, geranylgeraniol (GGOH), a mevalonate pathway intermediate, increased the uptake of [3H]3-OMG reduced by bisphosphonates pre-treatment. But, pre-treatment of histamine did not show significant inhibition of [3H]3-OMG uptake. The glucose uptake may be down regulated by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway with pre-treatment of bisphosphonates in TR-iBRB cells at high glucose condition.
Alendronate ; Animals ; Blood-Retinal Barrier ; Capillaries* ; Cytochalasin B ; Diphosphonates* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Glucose* ; Hand ; Histamine ; Mevalonic Acid ; Rats* ; Retinaldehyde*

Mammalian pancreatic β-cells play a pivotal role in development and glucose homeostasis through the production and secretion of insulin. Functional failure or decrease in β-cell number leads to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite the physiological importance of β-cells, the viability of β-cells is often challenged mainly due to its poor ability to adapt to their changing microenvironment. One of the factors that negatively affect β-cell viability is high concentration of free fatty acids (FFAs) such as palmitate. In this work, we demonstrated that Yes-associated protein (Yap1) is activated when β-cells are treated with palmitate. Our loss- and gain-of-function analyses using rodent insulinoma cell lines revealed that Yap1 suppresses palmitate-induced apoptosis in β-cells without regulating their proliferation. We also found that upon palmitate treatment, re-arrangement of F-actin mediates Yap1 activation. Palmitate treatment increases expression of one of the Yap1 target genes, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Our gain-of-function analysis with CTGF suggests CTGF may be the downstream factor of Yap1 in the protective mechanism against FFA-induced apoptosis.
Actins ; metabolism ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cytochalasin D ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; pharmacology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Palmitic Acid ; pharmacology ; Phosphoproteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; metabolism ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidines ; pharmacology

In the present study, we investigated the effect of staurosporine on the formation of cellular processes in human gingival fibroblasts and rat astrocytes. Staurosporine caused a rapid induction of process formation in human gingival fibroblasts and rat astrocytes in a concentration dependent manner. The process formation of human gingival fibroblasts and rat astrocytes was prevented by the pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that staurosporine-induced ROS production was responsible for the process formation. Colchicine, a microtubule depolymerizing agent, inhibited the staurosporine-induced process formation, whereas cytochalasin D, an actin filament breakdown agent, failed to suppress the formation of cellular processes. This result indicated that polymerization of microtubule, and not actin filament, was responsible for the formation of cellular processes induced by staurosporine. In support of this hypothesis, Western blot analysis was conducted using anti-tubulin antibody, and the results showed that the amount of polymerized microtubule was increased by the treatment with staurosporine while that of depolymerized beta-tubulin in soluble fraction was decreased. These results indicate that staurosporine induces ROS-mediated, microtubule-dependent formation of cellular processes in human gingival fibroblasts and rat astrocytes.
Acetylcysteine ; Actin Cytoskeleton ; Animals ; Astrocytes* ; Blotting, Western ; Colchicine ; Cytochalasin D ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Microtubules ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Rats* ; Staurosporine* ; Tubulin

The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses by modulating the activation of Src and subsequently inducing nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB translocation. In spite of its critical functions, few papers have examined how the actin cytoskeleton can be regulated by the activation of toll-like receptor (TLR). Therefore, in this study, we further characterized the biological value of the actin cytoskeleton in the functional activation of macrophages using an actin cytoskeleton disruptor, cytochalasin B (Cyto B), and explored the actin cytoskeleton's involvement in morphological changes, cellular attachment, and signaling events. Cyto B strongly suppressed the TLR4-mediated mRNA expression of inflammatory genes such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), without altering cell viability. This compound also strongly suppressed the morphological changes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a TLR4 ligand. Cyto B also remarkably suppressed NO production under non-adherent conditions but not in an adherent environment. Cyto B did not block the co-localization between surface glycoprotein myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD2), a LPS signaling glycoprotein, and the actin cytoskeleton under LPS conditions. Interestingly, Cyto B and PP2, a Src inhibitor, enhanced the phagocytic uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. Finally, it was found that Cyto B blocked the phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) at 1 min and the phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) at 5 min. Therefore, our data suggest that the actin cytoskeleton may be one of the key components involved in the control of TLR4-mediated inflammatory responses in macrophages.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actins ; Cell Survival ; Cytochalasin B* ; Fluorescein ; Glycoproteins ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Nitric Oxide ; Phosphorylation ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the solid culture of the endophyte Phomopsis sp. IFB-E060 in Vatica mangachapoi. METHOD: Isolation and purification were performed through silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration over Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and HPLC. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses (UV, CD, IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR). The cytotoxicity of the isolates was evaluated in vitro by the MTT method against the human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated from the solid culture of the endophyte Phomopsis sp. IFB-E060 and their structures were identified as 18-methoxy cytochalasin J (1), cytochalasin H (2), (22E, 24S)-cerevisterol (3), ergosterol (4), and nicotinic acid (5). Compound 1 had an inhibition rate of 24.4% at 10 μg·mL(-1) and 2 had an IC50 value of 15.0 μg·mL(-1), while a positive control 5-fluorouracil had an inhibition rate of 28.7% at 10 μg·mL(-1). CONCLUSION 18-Methoxy cytochalasin J (1), produced by endophytic Phomopsis sp. IFB-E060, is a new cytochalasin with weak cytotoxicity to the human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721.
Ascomycota ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cytochalasins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Magnoliopsida ; microbiology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Bark ; microbiology

This experimental research was aimed to establish an optimum system of enucleation, purification and identification for preparing the cytoplasts of suspension culture cells in order to undertake cell recombination. Human leukemia HL-60 cells in suspension culture were purified by 42% Percoll density gradient centrifugation and low-speed centrifugation at 1 500r/min, respectively. The purified HL-60 cells were treated with cytochalasin B (CB) alone or combined with colcchicine and enucleated by isopycnic gradient centrifugation on 50% Percoll at 25 degrees C and 34 degrees C, respectively. Cytoplasts made from HL-60 cells were purified through gradient centrifugation by 37%, 38% and 40% Percoll, respectively. The final cytoplasts were identified by Wright-Giemsa staining and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylidole dihydrochloride (DAPI)/5, 6-carboxyflu-orescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) double-staining. The phenotype and mitochondrial membrane potential of HL-60 cytoplasts were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the enucleation ratio of HL-60 cells induced by CB combined with colcchicine was up to 91. 98% +/-4. 29%, which was significantly higher than that in CB alone group (74. 95% +/- 3. 02%)(P<0. 01). The rates of enucleation and cytoplast with diameter over 5min in 34 degrees C group were higher than those in 25 degrees C group (all P<0. 01). The cytoplast purities were (95.43 +/- 0. 59)% in 38% Percoll groups,which were higher than those of 40% Percoll (P<0. 05). Nucleus and caryoplasm could be clearly distinguished by DAPI and CFSE double labeling. The results further showed that the phenotype of HL-60 cytoplasts had no significant change, and the activity of the cytoplasts was above 80% within 12h. It is concluded that enucleation throuth density gradient centrifugation on 50% Percoll mediated by CB combined with colcchicine, 38%Percoll of purification followed by DAPI/CFSE double labeling and MMP detection is an optimum scheme for preparation and identification of cytoplast from suspension culture cells.
Cell Compartmentation ; Cell Nucleus ; Cell Separation ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Colchicine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cytochalasin B ; pharmacology ; Cytoplasm ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans