A hnRNPA2B1 agonist effectively inhibits HBV and SARS-CoV-2 omicron in vivo

The twenty-first century has already recorded more than ten major epidemics or pandemics of viral disease, including the devastating COVID-19. Novel effective antivirals with broad-spectrum coverage are urgently needed. Herein, we reported a novel broad-spectrum antiviral compound PAC5. Oral administration of PAC5 eliminated HBV cccDNA and reduced the large antigen load in distinct mouse models of HBV infection. Strikingly, oral administration of PAC5 in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 omicron (BA.1) infection significantly decreases viral loads and attenuates lung inflammation. Mechanistically, PAC5 binds to a pocket near Asp49 in the RNA recognition motif of hnRNPA2B1. PAC5-bound hnRNPA2B1 is extensively activated and translocated to the cytoplasm where it initiates the TBK1-IRF3 pathway, leading to the production of type I IFNs with antiviral activity. Our results indicate that PAC5 is a novel small-molecule agonist of hnRNPA2B1, which may have a role in dealing with emerging infectious diseases now and in the future.

Research progress of antioxidant drugs in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury / 药学学报

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is one of the most difficulties in the studies of cardiovascular diseases, and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in cells is the main cause of it. Reducing ROS level by antioxidant drugs to protect cardiomyocytes is being the spotlight on MIRI treatment. In this review, the research progress of antioxidant drugs in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in recent years was summarized.

Verification of a sporadic Alzheimer disease model in SORL1 gene knockout mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the behavioral and pathological features of SORL1 gene knockout mice with those of normal mice and APP/PSE1 mice to verify the feasibility of using SORL1 knockout mice as a model of sporadic Alzheimer disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SORL1 gene of fertilized mouse eggs were edited using Crispr/Case9 technique. SORL1 mice were screened and identified by detecting the DNA sequence, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of SORL1. SORL1 mice, control mice and APP/PSE1 mice all underwent Morris water maze test to assess their learning and memory abilities with positioning navigation and space exploration experiments. The expression of APP and Aβ in the brain of the mice was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DNA sequencing showed CAAT deletion in SORL1 gene in two chromosomes of SORL1 mice, and the control mice had intact SORL1 gene without the deletion; Western blotting did not detect the expression of the SORL1 in the brain of SORL1 mice. Morris water maze test showed that in positioning navigation experiment, the average avoidance latency was similar between SORL1 mice and APP/PSE1 mice (P>0.05) but increased significantly in both mice as compared with the control group (P<0.05); similar results were obtained in the space exploration experiment. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting revealed significantly increased APP and Aβ expression in the brain tissue of both SORL1 mice and APP/PSE1 mice compared with the control mice without significant differences between the two transgenic mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SORL1 mice exhibit similar behavioral and pathological changes with APP/PSE1 mice and can be used as a model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease.</p>

Protective effect of butylphthalide in a cell model of Alzheimer's disease induced by Aβ25-35 in Neuro 2a cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of butylphthalide in a cell model of Alzheimer's disease(AD) induced by Aβ25-35 in Neuro 2a (N2a) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>N2a cells were divided into AD group, butylphthalide (NBP) group and control group. AD cell model was established by adding 20 µmol/L Aβ25-35 to cultured N2a cells. The cells in NBP group were treated with 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 µmol/L NBP 4 h prior to treatment with 20 µmol/L Aβ25-35. The cell viability were determined by MTT assay, the cell apoptotic rate were detected by AnnexinV-FITC flow cytometry, and the cell morphological changes were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. The expression of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were determined by qRT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the control group, the number of adherent cells was significantly decreased, neurite structures were reduced, and the cell viability was decreased, while the apoptotic rate and expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were increased in AD group (P<0.05). Compared with that in AD group, the number of adherent cells was increased in NBP group and the cell morphology was similar to the normal control cells. The cell viability of N2a cells was increased in NBP group with decreased apoptotic rate and expression of TNF-αand IL-1β mRNA (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Butylphthalide can protect against AD in the cell model induced by Aβ25-35 possibly by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines.</p>

Preparation of in situ gel systems for the oral delivery of ibuprofen and its pharmacokinetics study in beagle dogs / 药学学报

The in situ gel systems can form gel in situ after administration to achieve sustained release, thus provides a promising strategy for drug delivery systems. The aim of this study was to design and prepare in situ gel systems for the oral delivery of ibuprofen (IBU-ISG) and study its pharmacokinetics in Beagle dogs. The characteristics of the basic material of gellan gum (Kelcogel, Kel) and sodium alginate (Manugel, M) were studied through investigating the complex viscosity of the Kel or M solution with or without different concentrations of calcium ion or sodium citrate to ascertain the amount range of the excipients. The measurement of complex viscosity of the solution (0. 5% Kel and 1% M) with different concentrations of sodium citrate and calcium ion was carried out to select the suitable proportion of calcium ion and sodium citrate. The formulation of binary IBU-ISG was optimized by monitoring the complex viscosity before gelling in vitro release property. The optimized formulation contains 1.0% sodium alginate, 0.5% gellan gum, 0. 21% sodium citrate and 0.056% calcium chloride. A single oral dose of IBU-ISG and reference formulation (IBU suspension) were given to each of the 6 healthy Beagle dogs, ibuprofen in plasma at different sampling times was determined by RP-HPLC. The pharmacokinetics parameters in 6 Beagle dogs were calculated. The Tmax of IBU-ISG and reference formulation were (1.8 +/- 0.6) and (0.4 +/- 0. 1) h. The Cmax values were (29.2 +/- 7.6) and (37.8 +/- 2.2) microg x mL(-1). The T(1/2) were (2.3 +/- 0.5) and (2.0 +/- 0.9) h, and the AUC(0-t) were (131.0 +/- 38.6) and (117.3 +/- 23.1) microg x mL(-1) x h, respectively. The binary IBU-ISG was successfully prepared.