Synthesis and evaluation of a dendritic poly(L-glutamic acid)-graft-polyethylenimine copolymer as an efficient gene delivery vector / 药学学报

The study was designed to synthesize a novel dendritic copolymer composed of polyamidoamine dendrimer G0 as the inner core and poly(L-glutamic acid) grafted low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PGLP) as surrounding arms for gene delivery vector. The molecular structure of PGLP was confirmed by 1H NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). The DNA combination capability of PGLP was examined by gel retardation electrophoresis. The particle sizes and zeta potentials of PGLP/pDNA complexes were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cytotoxicity of PGLP was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and hemolysis assays, which was approved by Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. The in vitro transfection efficiency of PGLP was measured by a flow cytometry. The results of physicochemical properties suggested that PGLP could self-assemble with DNA to form complexes with average particle sizes of about 105-200 nm and zeta potentials of about +10 - +28 mV, which could protect DNA from serum degradation. The results of biological properties suggested that PGLP showed more higher transfection efficiencies but lower cytotoxicity than PEI 25K or Lipofectamine 2000 in various cell lines (HEK 293T, HeLa, BEL 7402, RASMC). Importantly, it was found that PGLP/pDNA complexes at w/w = 8 showed more strong serum-resistant capacity than PEI 25K/pDNA complexes. Therefore, PGLP is a promising candidate vector for gene delivery.

Isolation and Identification of Chemical Constituents from Rhizomes of Dendropanax proteus / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The chemical constituents from 95% ethanol extract of Dendropanax proteus rhizomes and their anti-inflammatory activities were investigated. These compounds in 95% ethanol extract of D. proteus rhizomes were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography, preparative liquid chromatography, etc. Their structures were elucidated based on the spectral data and physicochemical properties. All the compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide production in the murine microglia BV2 cell line. Nine compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of 95% ethanol extract of D. proteus rhizomes, and identified as (-)-syringaresinol (1), (+)-(7S,8S)-1',4-dihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-7',8,9'-trinor-8,4'-oxyneoligna-7,9-diol (2), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-O-4'-coniferyl ether (3), threo-guaiacylglycerol-β-O-4'-coniferyl ether (4), coniferyl alcohol (5), 7-O-ethylguaiacylglycerol (6), vanillin (7), syringaldehyde (8), and excoecanol B (9). Compounds 2 and 4 showed neuritis inhibitory activity against microglial inflammation factor, their half inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were 5.85, 7.29 μmol ·L-1, respectively. Compounds 1-6,8-9 are isolated from this plant for the first time, compounds 2 and 4 exhibit the potent inhibitory activity.

Research progress of pharmacological effects of mulberroside / 中国药理学通报

Mulberroside, a glycosylated stilbene, is the main bioactive constituent of white mulberry root-bark ( Sangbaipi) . It is widely used in many famous traditional Chinese medicine pre-scriptions to treat gout, arthritis, and rheumatism through pur-ging diuresis and relieving edema. In recent years, the pharma-cological activity of mulberroside has drawn extensive attention. With the utilization of the techniques and methods of modern pharmacology, a variety of biological activity and pharmacologi-cal effects of mulberroside are discovered gradually. The recent progress in the research on pharmacological effects of mulberro-side was reviewed in this paper to provide reference for the fur-ther development and comprehensive utilization.

Regulation of P-glycoprotein gene expression by PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway / 药学学报

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP binding cassette protein, plays a major role in efflux transport of drugs and xenobiotics due to its abundant expression on several barriers. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway in modulation of P-gp gene expression in human colon adenocarcinoma LS174T. The effect of PMA on MDR1 luciferase activity was investigated by PXR-MDR1 dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Real-time qPCR assay and Western blot analysis were used to study the gene expression of P-gp and NF-κB, respectively. Compared to the vehicle-treated group, PMA statistically decreased P-gp luciferase activity, mRNA expression and protein expression. Moreover, PMA treatment yielded a significant and dose-dependent increase in RelA/p65 translocation to nucleus. Meanwhile, a remarkable increase of the pho-IκBα status was observed in LS174T cells after treatment with PMA (1-100 nmol·L-1). In addition, knockdown of PKCα, NF-κB or PXR can significantly attenuate PMA-induced P-gp suppression.These results suggested that PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway might play crucial roles in modulation of P-gp gene expression.

OATP1B1 in drug-drug interactions between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin / 药学学报

The study was designed to explore the drug-drug interactions mechanisms mediated by OATP1B1 between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin. First, the changes of rosuvastatin pharma­cokinetics were investigated in presence of Danshensu in rats. Then, the primary rat hepatocytes model was established to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin by hepatocytes. Finally, HEK293T cells with overexpression of OATP1B1*1a and OATP1B1*5 were established using a lentiviral delivery system to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic parameters of Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ were increased about 123%, 194% and 195%, by Danshensu in rats, while the CLz/F value was decreased by 60%. Uptake of rosuvastatin in the primary rat hepatocytes was decreased by 3.13%, 41.15% and 74.62%, respectively in the presence of 20, 40 and 80 μmol·L-1 Danshensu. The IC50 parameters was (53.04 ± 2.43) μmol·L-1. The inhibitory effect of Danshensu on OATP1B1 mediated transport of rosuvas­tatin was related to the OATP1B1 gene type. In OATP1B1*5-HEK293T mutant cells, transport of rosuvastatin were reduced by (39.11 ± 4.94) % and (63.61 ± 3.94) %, respectively, by Danshensu at 1 and 10 μmol·L-1. While transport of rosuvastatin was reduced by (8.22 ± 2.40) % and (11.56 ± 3.04) % and in OATP1B1*1a cells, respectively. Danshensu significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats, which was related to competitive inhibition of transport by OATP1B1. Danshensu exhibited a significant activity in the inhibition of rosuvastatin transport by OATP1B1*5-HEK293T, but not by OATP1B1*1a, suggesting a dependence on OATP1B1 sequence.

OATP1B1 in drug-drug interactions between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin / 药学学报

The study was designed to explore the drug-drug interactions mechanisms mediated by OATP1B1 between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin. First, the changes of rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics were investigated in presence of Danshensu in rats. Then, the primary rat hepatocytes model was established to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin by hepatocytes. Finally, HEK293T cells with overexpression of OATP1B1*a and OATP1B1*5 were established using a lentiviral delivery system to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic parameters of C(max0, AUCO(0-t), AUC(0-∞) were increased about 123%, 194% and 195%, by Danshensu in rats, while the CL z/F value was decreased by 60%. Uptake of rosuvastatin in the primary rat hepatocytes was decreased by 3.13%, 41.15% and 74.62%, respectively in the presence of 20, 40 and 80 μmol x L(-1) Danshensu. The IC50 parameters was (53.04 ± 2.43) μmol x L(-1). The inhibitory effect of Danshensu on OATP1B1 mediated transport of rosuvastatin was related to the OATP1B1 gene type. In OATP1B1*5-HEK293T mutant cells, transport of rosuvastatin were reduced by (39.11 ± 4.94)% and (63.61 ± 3.94)%, respectively, by Danshensu at 1 and 10 μmol x L(-1). While transport of rosuvastatin was reduced by (8.22 ± 2.40)% and (11.56 ± 3.04)% and in OATP1B1*1a cells, respectively. Danshensu significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats, which was related to competitive inhibition of transport by OATPJBI. Danshensu exhibited a significant activity in the inhibition of rosuvastatin transport by OATP1B1*5-HEK293T, but not by OATP1B1*1a, suggesting a dependence on OATP1B1 sequence.

Effect of Ursolic Acid on Breast Cancer Resistance Protein-mediated Transport of Rosuvastatin In Vivo and Vitro / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate whether ursolic acid can inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)-mediated transport of rosuvastatin in vivo and in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Firstly, we explored the pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, a substrate of BCRP) in rats in the presence or absence of ursolic acid. Secondly, we studied the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats in the presence or absence of ursolic acid or Ko143 (inhibitor of BCRP). Finially, the concentration-dependent transport of rosuvastatin and the inhibitory effects of ursolic acid and Ko143 were examined in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) 2-BCRP421CC (wild type) cells and MDCK2-BCRP421AA (mutant type) cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As a result, significant changes in pharmacokinetics parameters of 5-FU were observed in rats following pretreatment with ursolic acid. Both ursolic acid and Ko143 could significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin. The rosuvastatin transport in the BCRP overexpressing system was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. However, there was no statistical difference in BCRP-mediated transport of rosuvastatin betweent the wild type cells and mutant cells. The same as Ko143, ursolic acid inhibited BCRP-mediated transport of rosuvastatin in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ursolic acid appears to be a potent modulator of BCRP that affects the pharmacokinetic of rosuvastatin in vivo and inhibits the transport of rosuvastatin in vitro.</p>

Study on action mechanism of Danhong injection based on computational system biology approach / 中国中药杂志

Danhong injection is a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius, and has been widely applied in treating coronary heart diseases and ischemic encephalopathy in clinic. Despite the complexity of its chemical compounds and the diversity of targets, especially in system biology, there have not a report for its action mechanism as a whole regulatory biological network. In this study, protein data of S. miltiorrhiza and C. tinctorius were searched in TCMGeneDIT database and agilent literature search (ALS) system to establish the multi-component protein network of S. miltiorrhiza, C. tinctorius and Danhong injection. Besides, the protein interaction network was built based on the protein-protein interaction in Genecards, BIND, BioGRID, IntAct, MINT and other databases. According to the findings, 10 compounds of S. miltiorrhiza and 14 compounds of C. tinctorius were correlated with proteins. The 24 common compounds had interactions with 81 proteins, and formed a protein interaction network with 60 none-isolated nodes. The Cluster ONE module was applied to make an enrichment analysis on the protein interaction network and extract one sub-network with significant difference P <0.05. The sub-network contains 23 key proteins, which involved five signaling pathways, namely Nod-like receptor signaling pathway, epithelial cell signaling in helicobacter pylori infection, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway and neurotrophin signaling pathway through KEGG signaling pathway mapping. In this study, the computational system biology approach was adopted to preliminarily explain the molecular mechanism of main compounds of Danhong injection in preventing and treating diseases and provide reference for systematic studies on traditional Chinese medicine compounds.

Correlation analysis of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor single nucleotide polymorphism with venous thromboembolism / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the change of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and its correlation of 2 sites (505a/g, 1040c/t) in its gene-coding region with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The genotype distribution of TAFI in 80 patients with VTE and 80 normal controls was detected by allele-specific PCR. The results showed that the distribution of each genotype of 505a/g polymorphism was not significantly different between the VTE and control groups (P > 0.05). However, t allele frequency of 1040c/t in VTE group decreased significantly as compared with the control group (40% vs 53.75%, P < 0.05), mainly due to the decrease of the proportion of tt homozygous in VTE group. It is concluded that obvious relationship is found between the polymorphism of 1040c/t in TAFI gene and VTE patients. t allele genotype may paly a protective role in VTE. The polymorphism of TAFI 505a/g may be not associated with VTE.