In the course of screening lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors, two related benzodiazepine derivatives, cyclopenol and cyclopenin, were isolated from the extract of a deep marine-d...
In the course of screening lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors, two related benzodiazepine derivatives, cyclopenol and cyclopenin, were isolated from the extract of a deep marine-derived fungal strain, Aspergillus sp. SCSIOW2. Cyclopenol and cyclopenin inhibited the LPS-induced formation of NO and secretion of IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells at nontoxic concentrations. In terms of the mechanism underlying these effects, cyclopenol and cyclopenin were found to inhibit the upstream signal of NF-kappa B activation. These compounds also inhibited the expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in mouse microglia cells, macrophages in the brain. In relation to the cause of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta-peptide is known to induce inflammation in the brain. Therefore, the present study investigated the ameliorative effects of these inhibitors on an in vivo Alzheimer's model using flies. Learning deficits were induced by the overexpression of amyloid-beta 42 in flies, and cyclopenin but not cyclopenol was found to rescue learning impairment. Therefore, novel anti-inflammatory activities of cyclopenin were identified, which may be useful as a candidate of anti-inflammatory agents for neurodegenerative diseases.
Porous CaSiO3 composite scaffolds with different dopants, such as MgSiO3, MgCl2 and CaSO4, were successfully prepared by 3D gel-printing (3DGP). (m, n) is proposed to describe the filament geometry features. The resul...
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Porous CaSiO3 composite scaffolds with different dopants, such as MgSiO3, MgCl2 and CaSO4, were successfully prepared by 3D gel-printing (3DGP). (m, n) is proposed to describe the filament geometry features. The results show that doping can improve the strength of porous composite scaffolds and MgCl2-doped composite scaffolds had the highest modulus of elasticity of 1241 MPa. The shrinkage rate range of the composite scaffolds was 11.44-13.16%, and their porosity was all about 60%. When porous composite scaffolds were soaked in SBF for 28 days at 37 degrees C, the degradation rate was 2.7% (pure), 0.3% (MgSiO3), 0.2% (MgCl2), 5.27% (CaSO4), respectively. It explains that MgSiO3 and MgCl2 inhibited the in vitro degradation of CaSiO3, while CaSO4 promoted. It is obviously that doped MgCl2 can improve the mechanical properties of porous scaffolds, and doped CaSO4 can improve the degradation of scaffolds, which play an important role in bone repair engineering.
Sexual transmission is currently the main mode of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, 181 HIV-infected female cross-border travelers entering Yunnan province were recruited between 2...
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Sexual transmission is currently the main mode of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, 181 HIV-infected female cross-border travelers entering Yunnan province were recruited between 2003 and 2012. HIV RNAs were extracted from their frozen serum and gag-pol gene sequences were obtained for phylogenetic and recombination analyses. In total, 131 gag-pol gene sequences were obtained successfully, at a rate of 72.4%. The most prevalent subtypes were CRF01_AE, followed by CRF08_BC, subtypes B and C. The other four subjects were classified as undefined subtypes and other recombinants. The subtype distribution of intravenous drug users was significantly different from that of sexually transmitted infections and unknown groups. The genetic distances of subtype B, C, and CRF01_AE strains were all close to the reference sequences from Yunnan province and Southeast Asian countries. Gene diversity and cocirculation of multiple subtypes were observed in female cross-border travelers, and CRF01_AE was the dominant epidemic subtype. The advantages of these subtype preferences for sexual transmission were obvious in HIV infection and transmission among this population. Our findings also suggest that close attention should be given to the HIV infection status of the female migrant population. In addition, a description of their epidemic characteristics is significant for the surveillance and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the Yunnan province.
As the barrier between the human body and the outside world, the skin is vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms, especially when suffering from skin injuries such as burns. Staphylococcus aureus remains the most comm...
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As the barrier between the human body and the outside world, the skin is vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms, especially when suffering from skin injuries such as burns. Staphylococcus aureus remains the most common type of bacteria that infects humans, and the surging drug resistance poses a major threat to the treatment of these infections. Here we report the development of antibacterial photodynamic peptides (APPs) that are constructed based on the covalent conjugation of an antibacterial peptide and the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6). Peptide conjugation significantly increases the photo-stability of Ce6, while retaining its ROS generation capability under photo-irradiation. The APPs combine the antibacterial activity of the peptide and the photodynamic therapy of Ce6, and under the assistance of mild laser irradiation, can eradicate bacterial infection and inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms ex vivo. One of the APPs, (GKRWWKWWRR)(2)KGGK(Ce6)G, AMP(2)-Ce6, with Ce6 conjugated with the dimeric peptide, showed exceptional antibacterial activity with an MIC90 value around 3.2 mu M without photo-irradiation and <0.1 mu M with short light treatment. Supported by a hydrogel matrix composed of gelatin and recombinant human collagen III protein (rhCol III) mimicking the extracellular matrix of skin cells, AMP(2)-Ce6 efficiently accelerated the healing rate of wounds and improved the quality of wound healing in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Altogether, here we report the development of antibacterial photodynamic peptides, which together with a regenerative matrix material exhibit an added effect against staphylococcal skin infection. This composite material holds promise as a new type of wound dressing material for skin infection and wound healing.
Multienzyme detection and monitoring enzyme activity in situ are significant for the disease to diagnose. This study aims to develop a quantum dots (QDs)-based nanoprobe Cyanine5-DDDLEVLFQFPGLVPRGSGGHHHHHH-QDs (Cy5-LE...
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Multienzyme detection and monitoring enzyme activity in situ are significant for the disease to diagnose. This study aims to develop a quantum dots (QDs)-based nanoprobe Cyanine5-DDDLEVLFQFPGLVPRGSGGHHHHHH-QDs (Cy5-LEVLVP-QD), which is able to detect two enzymes inside a bent capillary using CE. Cy5-LEVLVP and QDs were allowed to bind with each other through metal affinity interaction and then injected the Cy5-LEVLVP-QD complex into a capillary with different bends, followed by related enzyme that can cleave the Cy5-LEVLVP peptide. The fluorescence of Cy5 was excited by QDs due to Forster resonance energy transfer. By monitoring the peaks produced by the original Cy5-LEVLVP-QD complex and a significant fluorescence change, sensitive analysis of two different enzymes was conducted. Therefore, the novel approach of using capillaries with semicircular bends could prove particularly useful for enzyme investigating in disease.
Objective: Recent studies have revealed the adjuvant activity of cubosomes and their potential utility as an antigen delivery system. In this study, to further enhance the adjuvant activity of cubosomes, two cationic ...
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Objective: Recent studies have revealed the adjuvant activity of cubosomes and their potential utility as an antigen delivery system. In this study, to further enhance the adjuvant activity of cubosomes, two cationic polymers are modified on the surface of cubosomes. Methods: Here, we exploit the effects of surface chemistry on the adjuvant activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide cubosomes (GLPC) by placing two kinds of molecules, that is, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and poly(diallydimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDAC), on their surface. Results: CTAB- or PDDAC-modified GLPC were found to significantly promote humoral and cellular immune responses, as well as the proliferation of CD3+ CD4+ or CD3+ CD8+T cells through the powerful activation of dendritic cells (DCs). The enhanced immune responses of PDDAC-modified GLPC might be attributed to the maturation of DCs into draining lymph nodes and the activation of spleen and cytokines in serum. Conclusion: PDDAC modification is beneficial for enhancing humoral and cellular immune response, suggesting that PDDAC-GLPC-OVA has the ability to be a potential adjuvant for vaccine.
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