MS/MS-based molecular networking discovery of sesquiterpenes from Carpesium abrotanoides L. with their cytotoxic and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

Employing an MS/MS-based molecular networking-guided strategy, three new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes (1-3) and one undescribed pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene (8), along with four known eudesmane-type sesquiterpene lactones (4-7) were extracted and purified from the herbs of Carpesium abrotanoides L. Structural elucidation encompassed comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, NMR calculations, DP4+ analysis, and ECD calculations. The cytotoxicity activity of all isolates was evaluated against two human hepatoma carcinoma cells (HepG2 and Hep3B) in vitro. It was demonstrated that compounds 2 and 4 showed moderate cytotoxic against HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Furthermore, all compounds were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. Particularly noteworthy is that, in comparison to the positive control, compound 1 demonstrated significant AChE inhibition with an inhibition rate of 77.86%. In addition, the inhibitory mechanism of compound 1 were investigated by in silico docking analyze and molecular dynamic simulation.

Kallikrein gene transfer induces angiogenesis and further improves regional cerebral blood flow in the early period after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats

AIMS

The aims of this study were to find out whether kallikrein could induce angiogenesis and affect the cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the early period after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R).

METHODS

The adenovirus carried human tissue kallikrein (HTK) gene was administrated into the periinfarction region after CI/R. At 12, 24, and 72 h after treatments, neurological deficits were evaluated; expression of HTK and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry staining; the infarction volume was measured; and rCBF was examined by( 14) C-iodoantipyrine microtracing technique.

RESULTS

The expression of VEGF was enhanced significantly in pAdCMV-HTK group than controls over all time points (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the rCBF in pAdCMV-HTK group increased markedly than controls at 24 and 72 h after treatment (P < 0.05), and the improved neurological deficit was accompanied by reduced infarction volume in pAdCMV-HTK group 24 and 72 h posttreatment.

CONCLUSION

In the early period after CI/R, kallikrein could induce the angiogenesis and improve rCBF in periinfarction region, and further reduce the infarction volume and improve the neurological deficits.

Human tissue kallikrein promoted activation of the ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex after acute cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Kallikrein, a serine proteinase, has been reported to have many functions, such as selectively dilating arterioles in the ischemic area and enhancing angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Therefore, it may promote cerebral poststroke reorganization. We observed the effect of human tissue kallikrein on the brain motor activation of acute ischemic stroke patients and evaluated patient condition severity and prognosis.

METHODS

Forty-four cases suffering from cerebral infarction between 6 and 72 h of onset were randomly assigned into the kallikrein group (n = 24) and the control group (n = 20). The control group was given conventional treatment, whereas the kallikrein group was given both conventional treatment and human tissue kallikrein over the course of 12-14 days. The activation of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and cerebellum, the affected forefinger strength and the NIHSS scores were evaluated before and after treatment. The MBI and MRS scores were assessed at 30 and 90 days after stroke onset.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the two groups in activation volume, patient condition and scores before treatment. After treatment, the ipsilesional SMC activation volume was significantly larger and the increase in the volume was significantly greater in the kallikrein group than in the control group (p < 0.05 for both). The NIHSS score was significantly smaller and the improvement in the score was significantly greater in the kallikrein group after treatment (p < 0.05 for both). Moreover, the MBI scores at 30 days were significantly higher, whereas the MRS scores at 30 days were significantly lower in the kallikrein group than in the control group (p < 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

Kallikrein improved neural function effectively and quickly after stroke, and promoting cerebral reorganization might be an important mechanism for kallikrein in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction.

Myc induces cyclin D1 expression in the absence of de novo protein synthesis and links mitogen-stimulated signal transduction to the cell cycle

Mitogen-activated signal transduction frequently leads to the induction of the c-myc proto-oncogene, but the subsequent molecular events downstream of Myc protein expression which promote cell cycle progression remain unclear. To study Myc-specific effects, without the complexity of the broader proliferative response evoked by serum, we employed the MycER-inducible system in the non-transformed Rat-1 cell line. We demonstrate that activation of wild-type, but not mutant, MycER is sufficient to transiently induce cyclin D1 RNA as well as protein expression to physiological levels, and promote G0/G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle. Stimulation of endogenous cyclin D1 RNA is rapid and clearly evident within 30 min of MycER-activation, reaching a peak at 3 h. Nuclear run-on analysis demonstrates that this induction occurs at the transcriptional level with a fivefold increase in the rate of transcription. Moreover, MycER induces cyclin D1 transcription with equal efficacy in the presence or absence of de novo protein synthesis. Our work shows that Myc and cyclin D1 lie consecutively in a major proliferation-control pathway, and together create a pivotal connection between signal transduction and cell cycle control.