用于磁性靶向治疗肺纤维化的聚多巴胺包覆的Fe3O4/甲强龙/环磷酰胺复合超粒子

肺纤维化是一种致命性肺部疾病, 目前临床常规的甲强龙(MPS)联合环磷酰胺(CTX)治疗方法存在明显的不良反应. 基于降低药物毒副作用的目的, 本文设计了一种聚多巴胺(PDA)包覆的Fe₃O₄纳米粒子/甲强龙/环磷酰胺复合超粒子(Fe₃O₄/MPS/CTX@PDA SPs), 提出磁性靶向治疗肺纤维化的思路. 从预制的油溶性Fe₃O₄纳米粒子出发, 通过水包油微乳液模板法制备了Fe₃O₄ 超粒子(SPs), 并在进一步包覆PDA壳层的过程中引入MPS和CTX, 制备了Fe₃O₄/MPS/CTX@PDA SPs, 考察了Fe₃O₄/MPS/CTX@PDA SPs的稳定性、 磁性、 对MPS和CTX的负载及释放, 分析了其生物毒性, 并建立动物模型验证了其磁性靶向功能.     

Intracellular Delivery of Peptidyl Ligands by Reversible Cyclization: Discovery of a PDZ Domain Inhibitor that Rescues CFTR Activity

A general strategy was developed for the intracellular delivery of linear peptidyl ligands through fusion to a cell‐penetrating peptide and cyclization of the fusion peptides via a disulfide bond. The resulting cyclic peptides are cell permeable and have improved proteolytic stability. Once inside the cell, the disulfide bond is reduced to produce linear biologically active peptides. This strategy was applied to generate a cell‐permeable peptide substrate for real‐time detection of intracellular caspase activities during apoptosis and an inhibitor for the CFTR‐associated ligand (CAL) PDZ domain as a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis.     

Taurine Inhibits Myocardial Fibrosis via PKC-ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways

Previous studies have demonstrated the important role of taurine in inhibiting proliferation of myofibroblasts( myoFb) and myocardial fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The present study was designed to shed light on this issue through exploring the signal pathways via in vitro experiments. Angiotension Ⅱ (AngⅡ) treatment significantly increased myoFb proliferation and the levels of collagens Ⅰ and Ⅲ(P<0.05), whereas taurine, PKCα(PKC: protein kinase C) specific inhibitor L-threo-dihydro-sphingosine(D4681), ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98095) abrogated myoFb proliferation and collagen levels(P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively), and increased the G₀/G₁ phase rate and decreased S phase rate. Immunocytochemistry, confocal fluorescence staining and image analysis showed that taurine could inhibit the translocation and expression of p-PKCαin membrane, and then inhibit nuclear translocation and expression of p-ERK1/2. These results have statistically significant differences compared with those of AngⅡ group(P<0.01). Western blot results also show that taurine could inhibit the protein expression of p-PKCα and p-ERK1/2. We used p-PKCα specific inhibitor D4681 in order to elucidate the relationship between p-PKCα and p-ERK1/2 in signal transduction pathways. Finally, the results show that the protein expression of p-ERK1/2 and nuclear translocation were suppressed in D4681 group.     

Fedratinib Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via the JAK2/STAT3 and TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease with multiple causes, characterized by excessive myofibrocyte aggregation and extracellular matrix deposition. Related studies have shown that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine causing fibrosis, promoting abnormal epithelial–mesenchymal communication and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. Fedratinib (Fed) is a marketed drug for the treatment of primary and secondary myelofibrosis, targeting selective JAK2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, its role in pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential effects and mechanisms of Fed on pulmonary fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies have shown that Fed attenuates TGF-β1- and IL-6-induced myofibroblast activation and inflammatory response by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In vivo studies have shown that Fed can reduce bleomycin-induced inflammation and collagen deposition and improve lung function. In conclusion, Fed inhibited inflammation and fibrosis processes induced by TGF-β1 and IL-6 by targeting the JAK2 receptor.     

一种抗血氧波动干扰的肝储备功能测量方法

肝储备功能参数是评估肝脏代谢作用是否正常的关键指标,也是判断切除肝叶手术能否进行的重要依据。当前临床上获取肝储备功能参数是通过脉搏色素分光光度法测量吲哚菁绿色素浓度实现的,但是该方法需要假设血氧值为100%,这将导致肝储备功能参数的计算值存在一定误差。针对这一问题,提出了一种抗血氧波动干扰的肝储备功能参数测量方法,以修正的朗伯-比尔定律为理论基础,实现了对脉搏色素分光光度法测量的吲哚菁绿色素浓度的修正。在人体注入吲哚菁绿后,利用自制的数据采集单元在指端皮肤处同步采集805和940 nm的双波长透射信号,以及730,805和890 nm的三波长反射信号,将收集到的五组数据依次上传至计算机,利用接收到的数据和人体注射色素前的血氧值绘制出吲哚菁绿色素的浓度曲线,并计算其特征参数,根据浓度曲线的特征参数计算出肝储备功能参数。以有效肝脏血流量为例,将所提出的方法和脉搏色素分光光度法的测量结果分别跟目前测量有效肝脏血流量最准确的电磁流量计法的测量结果相比较,测量误差得到了明显的改善。实验结果表明,该方法提高了肝储备功能参数测量的精确度,为临床提供了一种更加准确的肝储备功能参数检测方法。     

Visual DNA as a diagnostic tool

We report on the incorporation of the Visual DNA concept in a genotyping assay as a simple and straightforward detection tool. The principle of trapping streptavidin‐coated superparamagnetic beads of micrometer size for visualization of genetic variances is used for PrASE‐based detection of a panel of mutations in the severe and common genetic disorder of cystic fibrosis. The method allows a final investigation of genotypes by the naked eye and the output is easily documented using a regular hand‐held device with an integrated digital camera. A number of samples were run through the assay, showing rapid and accurate detection using superparamagnetic beads and an off‐the‐shelf neodymium magnet. The assay emphasizes the power of Visual DNA and demonstrates the potential value of the method in future point‐of‐care tests.     

A High-affinity Activator of G551D-CFTR Chloride Channel Identified By High Throughput Screening

A stably transfected CHO cell line coexpressing G551D-CFTR and iodide-sensitive yellow fluorescent protein mutant EYFP-H148Q-I152L was successfully established and used as assay model to identify smallmolecule activators of G551D-CFTR chloride channel from 100000 diverse combinatorial compounds by high throughput screening on a customized Beckman robotic system. A bicyclooctane compound was identified to activate G551D-CFTR chloride channel with high-affinity(Kd=1.8 μmol/L). The activity of the bicyclooctane compound is G551D-CFTR-specific, reversible and non-toxic. The G551D-CFTR activator may be useful as a tool to study the mutant G551D-CFTR chloride channel structure and transport properties and as a candidate drug to cure cystic fibrosis caused by G551D-CFTR mutation,     

Inhibitory effect of CXC chemokine receptor 4 antagonist AMD3100 on bleomycin induced murine pulmonary fibrosis

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which binds the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), has been shown to play a critical role in mobilizing the bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells and inflammatory cells. We studied the effects of AMD3100, CXCR4 antagonist, on a murine bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Treatment of mice with AMD3100 in bleomycin-treated mice resulted in the decrease of SDF-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at an early stage and was followed by the decrease of fibrocytes in the lung. AMD3100 treatment decreased the SDF-1 mRNA expression, fibrocyte numbers in the lung at an early stage (day 3) and CXCR4 expression at the later stage (day 7 and 21) after bleomycin injury. The collagen content and pulmonary fibrosis were significantly attenuated by AMD3100 treatment in later stage of bleomycin injury. AMD3100 treatment also decreased the murine mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell chemotaxis when either in the stimulation with bleomycin treated lung lysates or SDF-1 in vitro. In BM stem cell experiments, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK which was induced by SDF-1 was significantly blocked by addition of AMD3100. Our data suggest that AMD3100 might be effective in preventing the pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the fibrocyte mobilization to the injured lung via blocking the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.