Sustained release of simvastatin from hollow carbonated hydroxyapatite microspheres prepared by aspartic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Hollow carbonated hydroxyapatite (HCHAp) microspheres as simvastatin (SV) sustained-release vehicles were fabricated through a novel and simple one-step biomimetic strategy. Firstly, hollow CaCO3 microspheres were precipitated through the reaction of CaCl2 with Na2CO3 in the presence of aspartic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Then, the as-prepared hollow CaCO3 microspheres were transformed into HCHAp microspheres with a controlled anion-exchange method. The HCHAp microspheres were 3-5µm with a shell thickness of 0.5-1µm and were constructed of short needle nanoparticles. The HCHAp microspheres were then loaded with SV, exhibiting excellent drug-loading capacity and sustained release properties. These results present a new material synthesis strategy for HCHAp microspheres and suggest that the as-prepared HCHAp microspheres are promising for applications in drug delivery.

CXCL10 inhibits viral replication through recruitment of natural killer cells in coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis.

Coxsackievirus (CV)B3 is the primary cause of viral myocarditis. We previously observed CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) upregulation in the myocardium early in infection. However, the impact of CXCL10 in CVB3-induced myocarditis is unknown. Using isolated primary mouse cardiomyocytes we demonstrated for the first time that cardiomyocytes can express CXCL10 on interferon-gamma stimulation. To explore the role of CXCL10 in CVB3-induced myocarditis, both CXCL10 transgenic and knockout mice were used. Following CVB3 challenges, the viral titer in the hearts inversely correlated with the levels of CXCL10 at early phase of infection before visible immune infiltration. Furthermore, as compared with the control mice, the decreased virus titers in the CXCL10 transgenic mouse hearts led to less cardiac damage and better cardiac function and vice verse in the knockout mice. This antiviral ability of CXCL10 might be through recruitment of natural killer (NK) cells to the heart and increased interferon-gamma expression early in infection. At day 7 postinfection, with massive influx of mononuclear cells the expression of CXCL10 enhanced the infiltration of CXCR3(+) cells, CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cells, as well as the expression of associated inflammatory cytokines. However, the augmented accumulation of these immune cells and associated cytokines failed to alter the viral clearance and mice survival. These results suggest the protective role of CXCL10 during the early course of CVB3 infection, which is attributed to the recruitment of NK cells. Nonetheless, CXCL10-directed chemoattractant effect is not sufficient for host to clear the virus in the heart.

Inhibition of coxsackievirus B3 in cell cultures and in mice by peptide-conjugated morpholino oligomers targeting the internal ribosome entry site.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a primary cause of viral myocarditis, yet no effective therapeutic against CVB3 is available. Nucleic acid-based interventional strategies against various viruses, including CVB3, have shown promise experimentally, but limited stability and inefficient delivery in vivo remain as obstacles to their potential as therapeutics. We employed phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO) conjugated to a cell-penetrating arginine-rich peptide, P007 (to form PPMO), to address these issues. Eight CVB3-specific PPMO were evaluated with HeLa cells and HL-1 cardiomyocytes in culture and in a murine infection model. One of the PPMO (PPMO-6), designed to target a sequence in the 3' portion of the CVB3 internal ribosomal entry site, was found to be especially potent against CVB3. Treatment of cells with PPMO-6 prior to CVB3 infection produced an approximately 3-log(10) decrease in viral titer and largely protected cells from a virus-induced cytopathic effect. A similar antiviral effect was observed when PPMO-6 treatment began shortly after the virus infection period. A/J mice receiving intravenous administration of PPMO-6 once prior to and once after CVB3 infection showed an approximately 2-log(10)-decreased viral titer in the myocardium at 7 days postinfection and a significantly decreased level of cardiac tissue damage, compared to the controls. Thus, PPMO-6 provided potent inhibition of CVB3 amplification both in cell cultures and in vivo and appears worthy of further evaluation as a candidate for clinical development.

[Prokaryotic expression of DnaJ-homologous chaperon PBP and preparation of rabbit antibody against PBP].

AIM: To express DnaJ-homologous chaperon peripherin-binding protein(PBP) gene in E.coli and prepare the rabbit antibody against PBP. METHODS: The PBP cDNA was amplified from the human fetal brain tissue by RT-PCR. After confirmed by DNA sequencing, the PBP-cDNA was cloned into expression vector pET28a and then the PBP gene was expressed in E.coli under the IPTG induction. The expressed protein was purified through Ni-NTA affinity chromatography column. The rabbit antibody against PBP was prepared by immunizing two New Zealand white rabbits using the purified PBP as immunogen. The titer and specificity of the antisera were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The 720 bp PBP gene was amplified, cloned, and expressed in E.coli. The expressed product existed in the bacterial inclusion body and the supernatant of the bacteria lysate. The purified PBP reached electrophoretic purity. The rabbit antibody against PBP was prepared and its titer was about 1:1,600. Western blot analysis showed that the antibody could bind to the expressed PBP protein specifically. CONCLUSION: The PBP protein was expressed in E.coli and rabbit antibody against PBP was prepared successfully, which lays the foundation for further study on the structure and biological function of PBP.

A phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide specifically inhibits coxsackievirus B3 replication in cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) are promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of virus-induced diseases. We previously reported that coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infectivity could be inhibited effectively in HeLa cells by phosphorothioate AS-ODNs complementary to different regions of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of CVB3 RNA. The most effective target is the proximal terminus of the 3' untranslated region. To further investigate the potential antiviral role of the AS-ODN targeting this site in cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cell line), corresponding AS-ODN (AS-7) was transfected into the HL-1 cells and followed by CVB3 infection. Analyses by RT-PCR, Western blotting and plaque assay demonstrated that AS-7 strongly inhibits viral RNA and viral protein synthesis as compared to scrambled AS-ODNs. The percent inhibitions of viral RNA transcription and capsid protein VP1 synthesis were 87.6 and 40.1, respectively. Moreover, AS-7 could inhibit ongoing CVB3 infection when it was given after virus infection. The antiviral activity was further evaluated in a CVB3 myocarditis mouse model. Adolescent A/J mice were intravenously administrated with AS-7 or scrambled AS-ODNs prior to and after CVB3 infection. Following a 4-day therapy, the myocardium CVB3 RNA replication decreased by 68% and the viral titers decreased by 0.5 log(10) in the AS-7-treated group as compared to the group treated with the scrambled AS-ODNs as determined by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and viral plaque assay. Taken together, our results demonstrated a great potential for AS-7 to be further developed into an effective treatment towards viral myocarditis as well as other diseases caused by CVB3 infection.

[Cloning of a DnaJ homolog chaperon PBP and its subcellular localization].

AIM: To isolate and identify a human DnaJ homolog chaperon, PBP, from a human skeleton cDNA library, and to analyze its expression and distribution in transfected mammalian cells. METHODS: (32)p-dCTP labeled probe hybridization was used to screen the human skeleton cDNA library and sequence of the positive clones were analyzed. Then PBP gene was transfected into COS-7 cells using lipofectamin. PBP expressed in the cells were detected by Western-blot and indirect immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: A full-length(1.5 kb) cDNA of peripherin-binding protein (PBP) was identified, which is identical with that of mrj. Full length PBP was mainly localized to cytoplasms of COS-7 cells in interphase, and to nuclei in mitosis. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that besides cooperating with DnaK (HSP70), PBP itself plays an important role as a member of DnaJ family. PBP may also be involved in the regulation of cell cycle.

[A study of insertion/delation polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in pilots].

In order to understand insertion/delation (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in pilots,and to explore the relationship between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and the performance of the pilots, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the genotypes for an I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene in 118 pilots and 96 healthy subjects as controls. The result showed that the I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was categorized into three genotypes: two deletion alleles (genotype DD), heterozygous alleles (genotype ID), and two insertion alleles (genotype II). The genotype II and I allele frequency were significantly higher in pilots (44.07% and 0.65) than that in healthy subjects (31.25% and 0.52). It is suggested that I gene of ACE may play a role in performance of the pilots.