ACAT1 deficiency in myeloid cells promotes glioblastoma progression by enhancing the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and lethal brain tumor with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In this environment, myeloid cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), play a pivotal role in suppressing antitumor immunity. Lipometabolism is closely related to the function of myeloid cells. Here, our study reports that acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), the key enzyme of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and ketogenesis, is significantly downregulated in the MDSCs infiltrated in GBM patients. To investigate the effects of ACAT1 on myeloid cells, we generated mice with myeloid-specific (LyzM-cre) depletion of ACAT1. The results show that these mice exhibited a remarkable accumulation of MDSCs and increased tumor progression both ectopically and orthotopically. The mechanism behind this effect is elevated secretion of C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) of macrophages (Mφ). Overall, our findings demonstrate that ACAT1 could serve as a promising drug target for GBM by regulating the function of MDSCs in the TME.

S1PR1 serves as a viable drug target against pulmonary fibrosis by increasing the integrity of the endothelial barrier of the lung

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with unclear etiology and limited treatment options. The median survival time for IPF patients is approximately 2-3 years and there is no effective intervention to treat IPF other than lung transplantation. As important components of lung tissue, endothelial cells (ECs) are associated with pulmonary diseases. However, the role of endothelial dysfunction in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is incompletely understood. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor highly expressed in lung ECs. Its expression is markedly reduced in patients with IPF. Herein, we generated an endothelial-conditional S1pr1 knockout mouse model which exhibited inflammation and fibrosis with or without bleomycin (BLM) challenge. Selective activation of S1PR1 with an S1PR1 agonist, IMMH002, exerted a potent therapeutic effect in mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis by protecting the integrity of the endothelial barrier. These results suggest that S1PR1 might be a promising drug target for IPF therapy.

Study on Improvement Effects of Polygonum orientale Flower Extract on Hypoxia-reoxygenation Injury of H 9c2 Cardiomyocytes / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To study the improvement effects and mechanism of Polygonum orientale flower extract on hypoxia- reoxygenation injury of H 9c2 cardiomyocytes. METHODS ：H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into normal control group ，model group and low- ，medium- and high-concentrations groups of P. orientale flower extract （20，40，80 μg/mL）. Except for normal control group ，other groups were given 800 μmol/L CoCl2 to induce hypoxia-reoxygenation injury model. Cell apoptosis was observed. The levels of Ca 2+（in cytoplasm ），mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP），ATP enzyme （Na+-K+-ATP enzyme ，Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme） activities， the ratio of cytochrome c （Cyto c ）， protein in cytosol to mitochondria ，phosphorylation levels of reperfusion injury salvage kinase （RISK） signaling pathwayrelated protein [protein kinase B （Akt）and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2（ERK1/2）] as well as protein expression of HIF- 1 α were detected respectively. In addition，the cells were divided into normal control group ，model group and P. orientale flower extract group （80 μ g/mL），PI3K inhibitor LY294002+CoCl2 group（15 μmol/L LY294002+80 μmol/L ，LY294002+P. orientale flower extract group （15 μmol/L LY294002+80 μg/mL P. orientale flower extract ），MEK inhibitor PD98059+CoCl2 group（25 μmol/L PD98059+800 μmol/L CoCl2），PD98059+P. orientale flower extract group （25 μmol/L PD98059+80 μg/mL P. orientale flower extract ）. After cultured by the same method ，the phosphorylation levels of Akt protein and ERK1/2 protein in the cells were measured to verify the activation of P. orientale flower extract to RISK signaling pathway. RESULTS：Compared with model group ，nuclear pyknosis and the number of apoptotic bodies were reduced in different concentrations groups of P. orientale flower extract. ROS level ，Ca2+ level（except for low-concentration group ），MMP，ratio of Cyto c in cytoplasm to Cyto c in mitochondria ，protein expression of HIF- 1α were decreased significantly（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the activity of ATP enzyme （except for the low-concentration group ），Akt protein and ERK 1/2 protein phosphorylation level were significantly increased （P＜0.01）. After treated with PI 3K inhibitor LY 294002 and MEK inhibitor PD 98059，Akt protein and ERK 1/2 protein phosphorylation level in cadiomyocyte were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：P. orientale flower extract can improve hypoxia-reoxygenation injury of H 9c2 cardiomyocytes，the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis ，improving ATPase activity ，protecting mitochondria ，regulating RISK signaling pathway related proteins and HIF- 1α protein expression.

A novel S1P1 modulator IMMH002 ameliorates psoriasis in multiple animal models

Psoriasis is characterized by abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes, as well as infiltration of immune cells into the dermis and epidermis, causing itchy, scaly and erythematous plaques of skin. The understanding of this chronic inflammatory skin disease remains unclear and all available treatments have their limitations currently. Here, we showed that IMMH002, a novel orally active S1P modulator, desensitized peripheral pathogenic lymphocytes to egress signal from secondary lymphoid organs and thymus. Using different psoriasis animal models, we demonstrated that IMMH002 could significantly relieve skin damage as revealed by PASI score and pathological injure evaluation. Mechanistically, IMMH002 regulated CD3 T lymphocytes re-distribution by inducing lymphocytes' homing, thus decreased T lymphocytes allocation in the peripheral blood and skin but increased in the thymus. Our results suggest that the novel S1P agonist, IMMH002, exert extraordinary capacity to rapidly modulate T lymphocytes distribution, representing a promising drug candidate for psoriasis treatment.

Effect of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy combined drugs on sleep quality and quality of life in patients with insomnia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy combined drugs on sleep quality and quality of life in patients with insomnia.Methods A total of 100 patients with insomnia treated in hospital from January 2016 to October 2017 were selected as subjects.The patients were divided into experimental group (n=50) and control group (n=50) according to the random number table.The control group was given conventional drug only,and the experimental group was combined with interpersonal and social rhythm therapy on the basis of the drugs treatment.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Sleeping Personal Beliefs and Attitudes (DBAS) were used to assess the recent sleep quality of the two groups.The WHO Quality of Life Measurement Profile (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to compare of the quality of life between two groups.Results The clinical effective rate was 94.0％ in the experimental group and 80.0％ in the control group.There was significant difference between the two groups (x2=4.332,P＜0.05).Before treatment,there was no significant difference in PSQI ((13.61±2.09) vs (13.60±2.08),t=0.03,P＞0.05) and DBAS((80.96±10.11) vs (80.87±11.03),t =0.02,P＞ 0.05) scores between experimental group and control group.After treatment,D BAS score ((125.74 ±21.53) vs (104.22±20.97),t=4.93,P＜0.05) of both groups increased significantly,and PSQI score decreased significantly((7.51±2.35) vs (10.02±2.40),t=16.73,P＜0.05).The PSQI score in experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(t=7.97,P＜0.05),and the DBAS score was significantly higher than that of the control group (t =13.72,P＜0.05).Before treatment,scores in the psychological,physiological,environmental and social relations fields of the two groups were not statistically different (P ＞0.05).After the treatment,all the scores in the four fields of the two groups were significantly increased (P ＜0.05),and the scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy combined with drugs can effectively improve sleep quality and the quality of life.