Metabolomic-based investigation of Yinlan alleviating hyperlipidemia by inhibiting blood stasis and phlegm turbidity through the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR pathway

Yinlan lipid regulatory capsule (YL) is a composite traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) new drug to alleviate hyperlipidemia, while its therapeutic mechanism in vivo was not clarified with nontargeted metabolomics investigation. An animal model was established in rats fed a high-fat diet, and their body weights, body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol levels were measured. Serum, liver and kidney tissue samples were also extracted for PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR signaling pathway research using PCR and UHPLC–MS. The obtained plasma samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomic investigation, which revealed PXR-CYP3A4-related metabolites and changes induced by YL. Finally, the key metabolites were chosen as index components, and their levels in the serum, liver, small intestine and bile were used for simultaneous UHPLC–MS-MS determination. The results indicated that YL was effective in rebalancing blood TG and TC levels (compared to controls). With respect to the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1 pathway, as a result of YL’s effect, gene expression or activity of the two targets decreased significantly in both the liver and kidney. The same trend was observed in the serum samples mentioned above. Metabolomics screening and data revealed that 44 metabolites can be regarded as biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia, fatty acids synthesis, and body energy consumption, as well as synthesis, transportation and exertion of cholesterol. YL’s treatment focused on 26 of them, primarily bile acids, indicating that the antihyperlipidemic effect of this drug lies in its inhibitory activity of cholesterol metabolism. Subsequent analysis of those in vivo components revealed that significant increases (compared to the model group) occurred in the blood, liver, small intestine and bile in groups that received medium and high doses of YL (while the low dose was relatively unchanged). Those target components exhibit a close relationship with PXR and/or CYP3A4. The use of YL repressed PXR expression and subsequently decreased CYP3A4 activity. As a result, synthesis of related bile acids increased, while cholesterol levels decreased, consequently leading to the attenuation of hyperlipidemia. This study comprehensively investigated the antihyperlipidemia mechanism of YL based on its repression of PXR-CYP3A4 activity and related metabolite yield, establishing an accurate method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of YL.     

THE EFFECTS OF PERFUSION OF LATERAL VENTRICLE WITH CaCl_2 ON THE FEBRILE RESPONSE AND cAMP CONTENT IN PLASMA AND CEREBROSPINAL FLUID DURING LP-INDUCED FEVER

Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) containing 40 mmol/L excess calcium was perfus-ed through the lateral ventricles of New Zealand white rabbits in order to reduce the Na~+/Ca~(++) ratio in the brain and the effects on both the febrile response and adenosine cyclic mo-nophosphate (cAMP) concentration in plasma and c.s.f, during leucocytic pyrogen (LP)-induced fever were observed. The results showed that cAMP concentration in c.s.f, increas-ed significantly during LP-induced fever while the cAMP level in Plasma remained unchang-ed, and the perfusion of artificial c.s,f, containing 40 mmol/L excess calcium can signif-icantly inhibit not only the febrile response but also the increase in c.s.f, cAMP level,while there appears no effect on plasma cAMP concentration, thus demonstrating that theincrease of Na~+/Ca~(++) ratio causing the increase of cAMP content in the brain may be anessential link in the pathogenesis of LP-induced fever.     

Acid-base properties of xanthosine 5'-monophosphate (XMP) and of some related nucleobase derivatives in aqueous solution: micro acidity constant evaluations of the (N1)H versus the (N3)H deprotonation ambiguity

The first acidity constant of fully protonated xanthosine 5'-monophosphate, that is, of H3(XMP)+, was estimated by means of a micro acidity constant scheme and the following three deprotonations of the H2(XMP)+/- (pKa=0.97), H(XMP)- (5.30), and XMP2- (6.45) species were determined by potentiometric pH titrations; further deprotonation of (XMP-H)3- is possible only with pKa>12. The most important results are that the xanthine residue is deprotonated before the P(O)2(OH)- group loses its final proton; that is, twofold negatively charged XMP carries one negative charge in the pyrimidine ring and one at the phosphate group. Micro acidity constant evaluations reveal that this latter mentioned species occurs with a formation degree of 88 %, whereas its tautomer with a neutral xanthine moiety and a PO3(2-) group is formed only to 12 %; this distinguishes XMP from its related nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, like guanosine 5'-monophosphate. At the physiological pH of about 7.5 mainly (XMP-H)3- exists. The question, which of the purine sites, (N1)H or (N3)H, is deprotonated in this species cannot be answered unequivocally, though it appears that the (N3)H site is more acidic. By application of several methylated xanthine species intrinsic micro acidity constants are calculated and it is shown that, for example, for 7-methylxanthine the N1-deprotonated tautomer occurs with a formation degree of about 5 %; a small but significant amount that, as is discussed, may possibly be enhanced by metal ion coordination to N7, which is known to occur preferably to this site.     

Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency in Humans

Molybdenum cofactor (Moco) deficiency (MoCD) is characterized by neonatal-onset myoclonic epileptic encephalopathy and dystonia with cerebral MRI changes similar to hypoxic–ischemic lesions. The molecular cause of the disease is the loss of sulfite oxidase (SOX) activity, one of four Moco-dependent enzymes in men. Accumulating toxic sulfite causes a secondary increase of metabolites such as S-sulfocysteine and thiosulfate as well as a decrease in cysteine and its oxidized form, cystine. Moco is synthesized by a three-step biosynthetic pathway that involves the gene products of MOCS1, MOCS2, MOCS3, and GPHN. Depending on which synthetic step is impaired, MoCD is classified as type A, B, or C. This distinction is relevant for patient management because the metabolic block in MoCD type A can be circumvented by administering cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP). Substitution therapy with cPMP is highly effective in reducing sulfite toxicity and restoring biochemical homeostasis, while the clinical outcome critically depends on the degree of brain injury prior to the start of treatment. In the absence of a specific treatment for MoCD type B/C and SOX deficiency, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of the underlying metabolic changes in cysteine homeostasis and propose novel therapeutic interventions to circumvent those pathological changes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Two New Compounds: N(C2H4NH3)3(H2TO4)(HTO4)·2H2O (T = P,As)

The synthesis and structures of two new compounds with the general formula N(C₂H₄NH₃)₃(H₂TO₄)(HTO₄)·2H₂O (T = P, As) are reported. They crystallize with triclinic unit cells and are isotropic. We determined the structure of phosphate salt. The following unit cell parameters were found: a = 9.886(4), b = 9.308(2), c = 10.140(3) Å, α = 109.38(2), β = 108.83(3), γ = 74.40(3)°, V = 819.2(5) ų, and ρ_cal. = 1.537 g · cm^?3. The crystal structure was solved with a final R = 0.042 for 3748 with I > 3σ I). The space group is P-1 and Z = 2. The atomic arrangement can be described as a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds made up from H_nPO₄ ^3?n (n = 1, 2) anions and H ₂ O molecules between which are trapped the tris(2-ammoniumethyl)amine cations. Solid-state ¹³C and ³¹P MAS-NMR spectroscopies are in agreement with X-ray structure. Ab initio calculations allow the attribution of the phosphorus signals to the independent crystallographic sites.     

Resonant-Mie-scattering of aggregates of phosphomolybdate and papaverine for measuring activities and screening inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozymes

A resonant-light-scattering (RLS) method was proposed to quantify phosphate for screening inhibitors of isozymes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). In acidified mixtures of phosphate, papaverine and molybdate, there were aggregates exhibiting micrometre sizes, no absorbance peaks over 360 nm but strong RLS peaks at 392 nm; Mie scattering thus accounted for the RLS signals. When papaverine was added before molybdate to acidified samples of phosphate, RLS signals at 392 nm were stable from 5 to 25 min since the addition of molybdate; after optimization, phosphate from 0.40 to 3.60 μM was quantifiable. This RLS method tolerated 60 mg L⁻¹ proteins besides common PDE inhibitors and dimethyl sulfoxide in acidified samples of phosphate; the integration of this RLS method with the coupled action of a phosphomonoesterase on PDE product was thus rational to measure PDE activities without the removal of proteins in samples. By quantifying activities of a truncated mutant of human PDE4B2 via this RLS method, Michaelis–Menten constant, inhibition constants of rolipram, papaverine and theophylline varied over three magnitudes and were consistent with those estimated by an improved malachite green assay of phosphate, respectively. Hence, this novel RLS method was promising for screening inhibitors of PDE isozymes.     

Expedient Total Synthesis of Triciribine and Its Prodrugs

Triciribine (TCN, 1) and its monophosphate (TCNP, 2) are tricyclic nucleotide derivatives that have potential antineoplastic activity. Triciribine inhibits the phosphorylation, activation, and signaling of Akt-1, -2, and -3, which may result in the inhibition of Akt-expressing tumor cell proliferation. Both TCN and TCNP have very low bioavailability, and the development of both drugs as intravenous (IV) treatments was halted because of the toxicity induced by the high doses needed for their use as general cytotoxic agents. This publication describes an expedient and straightforward total synthesis of amino acid prodrugs (3, 4) of TCN and TCNP. In our study, both the prodrugs significant improved the plasma exposure of the parent drugs and the prodrugs.     

A Negative Deviation from Stern–Volmer Equation in Fluorescence Quenching

A negative deviation from the normal Stern-Volmer equation shown in the fluorescence quenching of doxorubicin by adenosine 5' monophosphate is interpreted in terms of doxorubicin exists in two different conformers in the ground state. An estimate of the Stem-Volmer constant for the excited-state quenching is about 218 M(-1). The fluorescence decay of free doxorubicin is a bi-exponential in polar protic and polar aprotic solvents. In the presence of adenosine 5' monophosphate, doxorubicin shows a tri-exponential decay in water.     

Two molybdenum (VI) monophosphates with a tunnel structure: AMoO2PO4 (A=Cs, Tl) and structural relationships in the series

Two new molybdenum (VI) monophosphates CsMoO₂PO₄ and TlMoO₂PO₄ have been synthesized by solid state chemistry. Their structure were determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The frameworks MoO₂PO₄ delimit tunnels in which are located the univalent cations. Structural relationships between the different monophosphates of the AMoO₂PO₄ series with A = Ag, Na, K, Tl, Cs, are presented in which two kinds of frameworks appear owing to the size of the univalent cations.