Periodontitis is a common oral disease caused by bacteria coupled with an excessive host immune response. Stem cell therapy can be a promising treatment strategy for periodontitis, but the relevant mechanism is complicated. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of mitochondria from human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hESC-MSCs) for the treatment of periodontitis. The gingival tissues of periodontitis patients are characterized by abnormal mitochondrial structure. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were exposed to 5 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h to establish a cell injury model. When treated with hESC-MSCs or mitochondria derived from hESC-MSCs, HGFs showed reduced expression of inflammatory genes, increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and enhanced mitochondrial function compared to the control. The average efficiency of isolated mitochondrial transfer by hESC-MSCs was determined to be 8.93%. Besides, a therapy of local mitochondrial injection in mice with LPS-induced periodontitis showed a reduction in inflammatory gene expression, as well as an increase in both the mitochondrial number and the aspect ratio in gingival tissues. In conclusion, our results indicate that mitochondria derived from hESC-MSCs can reduce the inflammatory response and improve mitochondrial function in HGFs, suggesting that the transfer of mitochondria between hESC-MSCs and HGFs serves as a potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of stem cells.
Humans ; Gingiva/cytology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/physiology* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Animals ; Periodontitis/therapy* ; Mice ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Human Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism* ; Male

Dopamine D₃ receptor (D₃R) is implicated in multiple psychotic symptoms. Increasing the D₃R selectivity over dopamine D₂ receptor (D₂R) would facilitate the antipsychotic treatments. Herein, novel carbazole and tetrahydro-carboline derivatives were reported as D₃R selective ligands. Through a structure-based virtual screen, ZLG-25 (D₃R K_i = 685 nmol/L; D₂R K_i > 10,000 nmol/L) was identified as a novel D₃R selective bitopic ligand with a carbazole scaffold. Scaffolds hopping led to the discovery of novel D₃R-selective analogs with tetrahydro-β-carboline or tetrahydro-γ-carboline core. Further functional studies showed that most derivatives acted as hD₃R-selective antagonists. Several lead compounds could dose-dependently inhibit the MK-801-induced hyperactivity. Additional investigation revealed that 23j and 36b could decrease the apomorphine-induced climbing without cataleptic reaction. Furthermore, 36b demonstrated unusual antidepressant-like activity in the forced swimming tests and the tail suspension tests, and alleviated the MK-801-induced disruption of novel object recognition in mice. Additionally, preliminary studies confirmed the favorable PK/PD profiles, no weight gain and limited serum prolactin levels in mice. These results revealed that 36b provided potential opportunities to new antipsychotic drugs with the multiple antipsychotic-like properties.

Objective: To explore the ways to build a team of professional drug inspectors in Hubei province in oder to improve the quality and effectiveness of drug inspections in our province, reduce the risk of supervision, and ensure the safety of people's drug use. Methods: The requirements of national regulations and policies for the inspectors were interpreted, the construction system of profes-sional drug inspectors in Shanghai drug review and verification center was selected as comparison, the current situation and existing problems of the construction of drug inspectors in our province were analyzed, and the construction methods of professional inspectors in Hubei province were found out. Results: On the basis of the existing team of drug inspectors, a standardized system for selection, training, evaluation and grading of drug inspectors should be established, and the establishment of a team of professional drug inspec-tors in our province should be gradually completed. Conclusion: Our province can gradually establish a team of professional drug in-spectors, firstly from the current "main part-time assisted by full-time" to " lay equal stress on part-time and full-time", and then to"main full-time assisted by part-time", till the final realization of all professional drug inspectors.