Expression of Concern: Fisetin rescues retinal functions by suppressing inflammatory response in a DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.

The Editor-in-Chief of Documenta Ophthalmologica is publishing an editorial expression of concern for the manuscript "Fisetin rescues retinal functions by suppressing inflammatory response in a DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma" by Li et al. (2019) [1].

Fisetin rescues retinal functions by suppressing inflammatory response in a DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease, which could lead to visual loss. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fisetin, a natural flavone with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, is able to alleviate glaucoma. METHODS: We employed a DBA/2J mouse model which was treated with or without fisetin. Pattern electroretinogram (P-ERG), visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6. Western blotting was performed to assess the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). RESULTS: We found that DBA/2J mice treated with fisetin (10-30 mg/kg) showed improved P-ERG and VEP amplitudes and reduced IOP compared to untreated DBA/2J mice. In addition, there were more survived retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and less activated microglia in fisetin-treated DBA/2J mice than those in untreated mice. Furthermore, secreted protein levels and mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 were significantly repressed by fisetin. The phosphorylated p65 level in the nucleus was dramatically reduced in fisetin-treated mice compared to it in untreated mice. Our results demonstrate that fisetin may exert its function through regulating cytokine productions and inhibiting NF-κB activation in the retina. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, fisetin is able to promote the visual functions of DBA/2J mice by inhibiting NF-κB activation.

A Functional Assay for Sick Sinus Syndrome Genetic Variants.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Congenital Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) is a disorder associated with sudden cardiac death due to severe bradycardia and prolonged pauses. Mutations in HCN4, the gene encoding inward Na+/K+ current (If), have been described as a cause of congenital SSS. The objective of this study is to develop an SSS model in embryonic zebrafish, and use zebrafish as a moderate-throughput assay to functionally characterize HCN4 variants. METHODS: To determine the function of hcn4 in zebrafish, embryos were either bathed in the If -specific blocker (ZD-7288), or endogenous hcn4 expression was knocked down using splice-blocking morpholinos. To assess whether the zebrafish model discriminates benign from pathogenic variants, we tested four HCN4 mutations known to cause human SSS and four variants of unknown significance (VUS). RESULTS: Pharmacological blockade and knockdown of hcn4 in zebrafish phenocopied human SSS, displaying bradycardia and cardiac pauses in intact embryos and explanted hearts. The zebrafish assay correctly identified all disease-causing variants. Of the VUS, the assay predicted 2 as benign and 2 as hypomorphic variants. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that our embryonic zebrafish assay is a novel and effective tool to functionally characterize human HCN4 variants, which can be translated into important clinical prognostic information.

[IR and Raman spectroscopic studies on the derivatives of butylphthalide].

dl-NBP is a potentially beneficial and promising drug for treatment of ischemic stroke with multiple actions that affect different pathophysiologic processes, such as improving microcirculation, decreasing brain infarct volume, regulating energy metabolism, and especially inhibiting platelet aggregation and reducing thrombus formation. However, NBP is limited to use in the clinic by other side effects, such as elevated aminotransferase, abnormal liver function and digestive response. Some derivates of NBP were synthesized with the halides (F, Cl and Br) on the 6-position, and their IR and Raman spectra were measured. They proved the complemental information for deducing their structure. By comparing the spectra of the NBP, the band of disubstituted benzene disappeared in the derivatives, and the band of trisubstituted benzenes were observed. The stretching vibrational band of C--H was detected in the Raman spectra, but was not observed in IR. In the low frequency region, the deformation vibration band of --C--C--C--C was also observed in the Raman spectra.

Synthesis and biological activity of n-butylphthalide derivatives.

A series of n-butylphthalide derivatives were designed and synthesized. The in vitro activities of these compounds were evaluated by a resting tension of isolated rat thoracic aorta ring assay. Compounds 4g and 4i were found to be more active than n-butylphthalide.