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•Paeoniflorin is mainly metabolized in intestinal bacteria.•The low bioavailability of paeoniflorin can be improved by certain methods.•Paeoniflorin exerts anti-inflammatory effect ...through multiple mechanisms and targets.•Paeoniflorin has a low toxicity at effective concentration.
Increasing pharmacological evidence supports that paeoniflorin, a water-soluble monoterpene glycoside isolated from Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Shaoyao in Chinese), has a wide range of medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, anticonvulsive, analgesic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, antidepressant-like, antitumoral, and immune-regulatory activities; as well as enhancing cognition and attenuating learning impairment. In addition to pharmacodynamic studies, information on pharmacokinetics is also significant for the further development and utilization of paeoniflorin. The present review focuses on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of paeoniflorin, especially main pharmacological activities of paeoniflorin on inflammation and immune function. According to the findings obtained both in vitro and in vivo, a broad application prospect has been opened for paeoniflorin. However, further studies are needed to clarity the direct molecular mechanisms and key targets underlying the beneficial effects of paeoniflorin on inflammation and immunity.
Intracellular tau accumulation forming neurofibrillary tangles is hallmark pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how tau accumulation induces synapse impairment is elusive. By overexpressing ...human full‐length wild‐type tau (termed hTau) to mimic tau abnormality as seen in the brain of sporadic AD patients, we find that hTau accumulation activates JAK2 to phosphorylate STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) at Tyr701 leading to STAT1 dimerization, nuclear translocation, and its activation. STAT1 activation suppresses expression of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs) through direct binding to the specific GAS element of GluN1, GluN2A, and GluN2B promoters, while knockdown of STAT1 by AAV‐Cre in STAT1flox/flox mice or expressing dominant negative Y701F‐STAT1 efficiently rescues hTau‐induced suppression of NMDAR expression with amelioration of synaptic functions and memory performance. These findings indicate that hTau accumulation impairs synaptic plasticity through JAK2/STAT1‐induced suppression of NMDAR expression, revealing a novel mechanism for hTau‐associated synapse and memory deficits.
Synopsis
Tau accumulation, one hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, induces synaptic impairment by activating JAK2/STAT1 signaling, which transcriptionally suppresses N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. Downregulation of STAT1 ameliorates synaptic function and memory performance in mice.
Accumulation of hTau triggers JAK2‐dependent STAT1 dimerization, activation and nuclear translocation.
STAT1 activation directly suppresses N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor expression.
Downregulation of STAT1 rescues hTau‐induced N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor suppression.
Tau accumulation, one hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, induces synaptic impairment by activating JAK2/STAT1 signaling, which transcriptionally suppresses N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. Downregulation of STAT1 ameliorates synaptic function and memory performance in mice.
Macroautophagy/autophagy deficit induces intracellular MAPT/tau accumulation, the hallmark pathology in Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies; however, the reverse role of MAPT accumulation in ...autophagy and neurodegeneration is not clear. Here, we found that overexpression of human wild-type full-length MAPT, which models MAPT pathologies as seen in sporadic AD patients, induced autophagy deficits via repression of autophagosome-lysosome fusion leading to significantly increased LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3)-II and SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) protein levels with autophagosome accumulation. At the molecular level, intracellular MAPT aggregation inhibited expression of IST1 (IST1 factor associated with ESCRT-III), a positive modulator for the formation of ESCRT (the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) complex that is required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Upregulating IST1 in human MAPT transgenic mice attenuated autophagy deficit with reduced MAPT aggregation and ameliorated synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions, while downregulating IST1 per se induced autophagy deficit with impaired synapse and cognitive function in naïve mice. IST1 can facilitate association of CHMP2B (charged multivesicular body protein 2B) and CHMP4B/SNF7-2 to form ESCRT-III complex, while lack of IST1 impeded the complex formation. Finally, we demonstrate that MAPT accumulation suppresses IST1 transcription with the mechanisms involving the ANP32A-regulated mask of histone acetylation. Our findings suggest that the AD-like MAPT accumulation can repress autophagosome-lysosome fusion by deregulating ANP32A-INHAT-IST1-ESCRT-III pathway, which also reveals a vicious cycle of MAPT accumulation and autophagy deficit in the chronic course of AD neurodegeneration.Abbreviations: AAV: adeno-associated virus; Aβ: β-amyloid; aCSF: artificial cerebrospinal fluid; AD: Alzheimer disease; ANP32A: acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member A; ATG: autophagy related; AVs: autophagic vacuoles; CEBPB: CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta; CHMP: charged multivesicular body protein; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium; EBSS: Earle's balanced salt solution; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; ESCRT: endosomal sorting complex required for transport; fEPSPs: field excitatory postsynaptic potentials; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GSK3B: glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; HAT: histone acetyl transferase; HDAC: histone deacetylase; INHAT: inhibitor of histone acetyl transferase; IST1: IST1 factor associated with ESCRT-III; LAMP2: lysosomal associated membrane protein 2; LTP: long-term potentiation; MAP1LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPT/tau: microtubule associated protein tau; MVB: multivesicular bodies; MWM: Morris water maze; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline solution; RAB7: member RAS oncogene family; SNAREs: soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1
As a commercial antibiotic, bicyclomycin (BCM) is currently the only known natural product targeting the transcription termination factor rho. It belongs to a family of highly functionalized ...diketopiperazine (DKP) alkaloids and bears a unique O‐bridged bicyclo4.2.2piperazinedione ring system, a C1 triol, and terminal exo‐methylene groups. We have identified and characterized the BCM biosynthetic pathway by heterologous biotransformations, in vitro biochemical assays, and one‐pot enzymatic synthesis. A tRNA‐dependent cyclodipeptide synthase guides the heterodimerization of leucine and isoleucine to afford the DKP precursor; subsequently, six redox enzymes, including five α‐ketoglutarate/Fe2+‐dependent dioxygenases and one cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, regio‐ and stereoselectively install four hydroxy groups (primary, secondary, and two tertiary), an exo‐methylene moiety, and a medium‐sized bridged ring through the functionalization of eight unactivated C−H bonds.
Enzymatic characterization of the biosynthesis of the antibiotic bicyclomycin revealed a tRNA‐dependent cyclodipeptide synthase for the heterodimerization of Leu and Ile to afford the diketopiperazine precursor. Subsequently, six redox enzymes activate eight unactivated C−H bonds through regio‐ and stereoselective hydroxylation, alkenylation, heterocyclization, and desaturation/epoxidation.
Summary
Despite the high cure probability for acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a minority of patients will relapse and the risk factors for relapse are unclear. We retrospectively analysed 212 ...patients who were diagnosed with non‐high‐risk APL and received all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus arsenic as front‐line therapy at Peking University Institute of Hematology from February 2014 to December 2018. A total of 176 patients (83%) received oral arsenic (realgar‐indigo naturalis formula) plus ATRA, 36 patients (17%) received arsenic trioxide plus ATRA and 203 patients were evaluable for relapse. After a median (range) follow‐up of 53·6 (24·3–85·4) months, two patients had molecular relapse and eight had haematological relapse. A promyelocytic leukaemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML‐RARA) transcript level of ≥6·5% at the end of induction therapy was associated with relapse (P = 0·031). The 5‐year cumulative incidence of relapse, event‐free survival and overall survival were 5·5%, 92·3% and 96·3% respectively. In conclusion, the present long‐term follow‐up study further confirmed the high cure probability of ATRA plus oral arsenic as front‐line therapy for non‐high‐risk APL and showed that the PML‐RARA transcript level at the end of induction therapy was associated with relapse.
To evaluate sleep disturbances of Chinese frontline medical workers (FMW) under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and make a comparison with non-FMW.
The medical workers from ...multiple hospitals in Hubei Province, China, volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire, including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), was used to evaluate sleep disturbances and mental status. Sleep disturbances were defined as PSQI>6 points or/and AIS>6 points. We compared the scores of PSQI, AIS, anxiety and depression VAS, as well as prevalence of sleep disturbances between FMW and non-FMW.
A total of 1306 subjects (801 FMW and 505 non-FMW) were enrolled. Compared to non-FMW, FMW had significantly higher scores of PSQI (9.3 ± 3.8 vs 7.5 ± 3.7; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.47), AIS (6.9 ± 4.3 vs 5.3 ± 3.8; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.38), anxiety (4.9 ± 2.7 vs 4.3 ± 2.6; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.22) and depression (4.1 ± 2.5 vs 3.6 ± 2.4; P = 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.21), as well as higher prevalence of sleep disturbances according to PSQI > 6 points (78.4% vs 61.0%; relative risk RR = 1.29; P < 0.001) and AIS > 6 points (51.7% vs 35.6%; RR = 1.45; P < 0.001).
FMW have higher prevalence of sleep disturbances and worse sleep quality than non-FMW. Further interventions should be administrated for FMW, aiming to maintain their healthy condition and guarantee their professional performance in the battle against COVID-19.
•Frontline COVID-19 medical workers have a high prevalence of sleep disturbances.•Females have worse sleep quality than males among frontline medical workers.•Further interventions are needed to improve sleep disorders of medical workers.
Summary
Rice false smut has emerged as a serious grain disease in rice production worldwide. The disease is characterized by the transformation of individual rice florets into false smut balls, which ...is caused by the fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens. To date, little is known about the host factors required for false smut ball formation by U. virens. In this study, we identified histological determinants for the formation of false smut balls by inoculating U. virens into rice floral mutants defective with respect to individual floral parts. The results showed that U. virens could form mature false smut balls in rice floral mutants with defective pistils, but failed to develop false smut balls in the superwoman mutant lacking stamens, identifying that U. virens requires rice stamens to complete its infection cycle. Comparative transcriptome analysis indicated a list of candidate host genes that may facilitate nutrient acquisition by U. virens from the rice stamens, such as SWEET11, SWEET14 and SUT5, and genes involved in the biosynthesis of trehalose and raffinose family sugars. These data pinpoint rice stamens as the key target organ of U. virens infection and provide a valuable starting point for dissecting the molecular mechanism of false smut ball formation.
There is an urgent need for an oral, efficient and safe regimen for high-risk APL under the pandemic of COVID-19. We retrospectively analysed 60 high-risk APL patients. For induction therapy (IT), in ...addition to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and oral arsenic (RIF), 22 patients received oral etoposide (VP16) as cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC), and 38 patients received intravenous CC as historical control group. The median dose of oral VP16 was 1000 mg interquartile rage (IQR), 650-1250. One patient died during IT in the control group, 59 evaluable patients (100%) achieved complete haematological remission (CHR) after IT and complete molecular remission (CMR) after consolidation therapy. The median time to CHR and CMR was 36 days (33.8-44) versus 35 days (32-42; p = 0.75) and 3 months (0.8-3.5) versus 3.3 months (2.4-3.7; p = 0.58) in the oral VP16 group and in the control group. Two (9.1%) and 3 (7.9%) patients experienced molecular relapse in different group respectively. The 2-year estimated overall survival and event-free survival were 100% versus 94.7% (p = 0.37) and 90.9% versus 89.5% (p = 0.97) respectively. A completely oral, efficient and safe induction regimen including oral VP16 as cytoreductive chemotherapy combined with ATRA and RIF is more convenient to administer for patients with high-risk APL.
Cyclopropanation of unactivated olefinic bonds via addition of a reactive one-carbon species is well developed in synthetic chemistry, whereas natural cyclopropane biosynthesis employing this ...strategy is very limited. Here, we identify a two-component cyclopropanase system, composed of a HemN-like radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzyme C10P and a methyltransferase C10Q, catalyzes chemically challenging cyclopropanation in the antitumor antibiotic CC-1065 biosynthesis. C10P uses its 4Fe-4S cluster for reductive cleavage of the first SAM to yield a highly reactive 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical, which abstracts a hydrogen from the second SAM to produce a SAM methylene radical that adds to an sp
-hybridized carbon of substrate to form a SAM-substrate adduct. C10Q converts this adduct to CC-1065 via an intramolecular S
2 cyclization mechanism with elimination of S-adenosylhomocysteine. This cyclopropanation strategy not only expands the enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the radical SAM enzymes and methyltransferases, but also sheds light on previously unnoticed aspects of the versatile SAM-based biochemistry.
The radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) has successfully suppressed field populations of several insect pest species, but its effect on mosquito vector control has been limited. The ...related incompatible insect technique (IIT)-which uses sterilization caused by the maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia-is a promising alternative, but can be undermined by accidental release of females infected with the same Wolbachia strain as the released males. Here we show that combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques (IIT-SIT) enables near elimination of field populations of the world's most invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus. Millions of factory-reared adult males with an artificial triple-Wolbachia infection were released, with prior pupal irradiation of the released mosquitoes to prevent unintentionally released triply infected females from successfully reproducing in the field. This successful field trial demonstrates the feasibility of area-wide application of combined IIT-SIT for mosquito vector control.
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