ABSTRACT
Pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 has seriously threatened human life and health worldwide and caused a large number of deaths. Viral infection and acute inflammation are important causes of death, so it is particularly important to combine antiviral therapy with anti-inflammatory therapy. Glycyrrhizic acid, the main component of the glycyrrhizic root extract, has a wide range of pharmacological effects as well as high efficiency and low toxicity, its preparation has been widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and other diseases. Glycyrrhizic acid can regulate the expression and release of a variety of cytokines and play a significant anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, glycyrrhizic acid also showed significant inhibition towards a variety types of viruses. Therefore, the potential application of glycyrrhizic acid as COVID-19 treatment should be explored.
ABSTRACT
AKT/mTOR/STATs signaling pathway not only plays an important role in tumor growth, but also in the regulation of immune system. Activated AKT promotes the activation of downstream signaling pathways mTORC1 and mTORC2 through phosphorylation. mTOR is currently being considered as an important regulator of immune system and plays an important role in regulating the function and metabolism of various immune cells. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune deficiency disease whose pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. This article focuses on the regulation of AKT/mTOR/STATs signaling pathways in various immune cells such as macrophage M1/M2 polarization, B cell proliferation and differentiation, helper T lymphocyte (Th cell) proliferation and differentiation, and Treg cell proliferation and differentiation, which would be helpful to illustrate the role of the AKT/mTOR/STATs signaling pathway in mediating the regulation of immune cells in MS.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP that contains mouse cell surface activation protein CD69 and enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP),and to generate CD69 transgenic mice based on this vector.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>First, RNA was extracted from mouse lung tissue and cDNA was synthesized via reverse transcription. PCR primer was designed through the PubMed searching, then mouse CD69 DNA fragment was amplified with PCR. Second, this DNA fragment was subcloned to the pInsulater-LCK-IRES-EGFP plasmid and constructed the transgenic vector after the verification of nucleotide sequence. Third, the expression vector was then transfected into 293 T cells and its expression in 293 T cells was observed under fluorescence microscope. Last, microinjection was performed to transfer the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP into fertilized eggs, which were implanted into pseudo-pregnant recipient mice. After birth the tail samples of the pups were obtained for the purpose of genotyping to determine the transgenic founders. Fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer were used to measure the expression of CD69 on cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The construction of the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP was verified by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The transfected 293 T cell showed expression of the protein under fluorescence microscope. Identification of PCR for the tail tissue of the pups confirmed the present of CD69 transgene and resting lymphocytes demonstrated the expression of CD69.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The construction of expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP and generation of CD69 transgenic mice have been successfully processed, which lays a foundation of the solid pattern studies in inflammatory diseases.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Antigens, CD , Genetics , Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte , Genetics , DNA, Complementary , Genetic Vectors , Genotype , Green Fluorescent Proteins , Genetics , Lectins, C-Type , Genetics , Mice, Transgenic , Plasmids , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis, DNA , TransfectionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether a novel compound, 3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-(ethyl sulfonyl)-6-methylquinoxaline 1, 4-dioxide (Q39), induces apoptosis in human leukemia cell line k562 in hypoxic environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT assay was used to determine the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50). Flow cytometry and DAPI staining were employed to determine the apoptosis; JC-1 staining was used to determine mitochondria membrane potential (DeltaPsim); Western-blotting was used to determine protein expression of procaspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, PARP, Bax, Bcl-2 and HIF-1alpha.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In hypoxic environment, Q39 exerted higher antiproliferative activity in K562 cells, and the IC50 value was (0.21+/- 0.05) micromol/L. The apoptotic phenomenon was observed at 6 h after cells exposed to Q39, and apoptotic body emerged as exposure time increased. After K562 cells were incubated with Q39 for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h, the ratio of apoptotic cells was 2.8%, 3.2%, 5.9% and 19.2%, respectively. By fluorescence stain assay, an significant Delta Psim loss in K562 cells induced by Q39 was shown in a time-dependent manner. Western blot assay demonstrated that Q39 decreased the protein expression of Bcl-2, procaspase-3, and HIF-1alpha, meanwhile increased protein expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and induced the cleavage of PARP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The novel compound Q39 exhibits great anticancer activity against K562 cells in hypoxic environment. Q39 can downregulate the protein expression of HIF-1alpha, and regulate the apoptosis-related protein expression to cause a drop of DeltaPsim, suggesting that mitochondria and HIF-1alpha pathway might be involved in the antiproliferative effect of Q39.</p>