Digoxin alleviates pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage M2 polarization via regulating mTORC2-IRF4 signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the protective effect of digoxin (Dig) on the bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanism. Methods Pulmonary fibrosis model was established by intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg · kg

Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathway in Epileptic Disorders

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway coordinates the metabolic activity of eukaryotic cells through environmental signals, including nutrients, energy, growth factors, and oxygen. In the nervous system, the mTOR pathway regulates fundamental biological processes associated with neural development and neurodegeneration. Intriguingly, genes that constitute the mTOR pathway have been found to be germline and somatic mutation from patients with various epileptic disorders. Hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway due to said mutations has garnered increasing attention as culprits of these conditions : somatic mutations, in particular, in epileptic foci have recently been identified as a major genetic cause of intractable focal epilepsy, such as focal cortical dysplasia. Meanwhile, epilepsy models with aberrant activation of the mTOR pathway have helped elucidate the role of the mTOR pathway in epileptogenesis, and evidence from epilepsy models of human mutations recapitulating the features of epileptic patients has indicated that mTOR inhibitors may be of use in treating epilepsy associated with mutations in mTOR pathway genes. Here, we review recent advances in the molecular and genetic understanding of mTOR signaling in epileptic disorders. In particular, we focus on the development of and limitations to therapies targeting the mTOR pathway to treat epileptic seizures. We also discuss future perspectives on mTOR inhibition therapies and special diagnostic methods for intractable epilepsies caused by brain somatic mutations.

Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathway in Epileptic Disorders

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway coordinates the metabolic activity of eukaryotic cells through environmental signals, including nutrients, energy, growth factors, and oxygen. In the nervous system, the mTOR pathway regulates fundamental biological processes associated with neural development and neurodegeneration. Intriguingly, genes that constitute the mTOR pathway have been found to be germline and somatic mutation from patients with various epileptic disorders. Hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway due to said mutations has garnered increasing attention as culprits of these conditions : somatic mutations, in particular, in epileptic foci have recently been identified as a major genetic cause of intractable focal epilepsy, such as focal cortical dysplasia. Meanwhile, epilepsy models with aberrant activation of the mTOR pathway have helped elucidate the role of the mTOR pathway in epileptogenesis, and evidence from epilepsy models of human mutations recapitulating the features of epileptic patients has indicated that mTOR inhibitors may be of use in treating epilepsy associated with mutations in mTOR pathway genes. Here, we review recent advances in the molecular and genetic understanding of mTOR signaling in epileptic disorders. In particular, we focus on the development of and limitations to therapies targeting the mTOR pathway to treat epileptic seizures. We also discuss future perspectives on mTOR inhibition therapies and special diagnostic methods for intractable epilepsies caused by brain somatic mutations.

Inhibitory effects of resveratrol on the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of HUVECs through targeting mTORC2/Rictor / 基础医学与临床

Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol on the proliferation, migration and angiogenic ability of HUVECs mediated by Rictor over-expression adenovirus.Methods The Rictor was obtained through PCR and cloned into GV314 plasmid to construct recombinant plasmid, then co-transfected 293T cells with helper plasmids to obtain Rictor overexpressing adenoviral particles(Ad-Rictor),the vector without target gene Ad-Null was set as the negative control group.Ad-Rictor and Ad-Null were infected HUVECs respectively,we also set up blank control group and resveratrol-intervention group(Ad-Rictor+Res). The expression of recombinant protein was detected by fluorescence microscopy and Western blot. CCK-8 assay,wound healing and matrigel assay were performed to as-sess the proliferation,migration and tube formation of HUVECs. Results We constructed Ad-Rictor and Ad-Null which may infect HUVECs and express Rictor protein efficiently. Ad-Rictor could significantly improve the prolifer-ation,migration and lumen formation (P<0.05), resveratrol intervention may significantly inhibit these functions induced by Ad-Rictor (P<0.05). Conclusions Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation, migration and angiopoietic ability of HUVECs through targeting mTORC2/Rictor.