查看更多>>摘要：Aberrant tumor blood vessels are prone to propel the malignant progression of tumors,and targeting abnormal metabolism of tumor endothelial cells emerges as a promising option to achieve vascular normalization and antagonize tumor progression.Herein,we demonstrated that salvianic acid A(SAA)played a pivotal role in contributing to vascular normalization in the tumor-bearing mice,thereby improving delivery and effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic agent.S AA was capable of inhibit-ing glycolysis and strengthening endothelial junctions in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)exposed to hypoxia.Mechanistically,SAA was inclined to directly bind to the glycolytic enzyme PKM2,leading to a dramatic decrease in endothelial glycolysis.More importantly,SAA improved the endothelial integrity via activating the β-Catenin/Claudin-5 signaling axis in a PKM2-dependent manner.Our findings suggest that SAA may serve as a potent agent for inducing tumor vascular normalization.
查看更多>>摘要：Choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)-positive neurons in neural stem cell(NSC)niches can evoke adult neurogenesis(AN)and restore impaired brain function after injury,such as acute ischemic stroke(AIS).However,the relevant mechanism by which ChAT+neurons develop in NSC niches is poorly understood.Our RNA-seq analysis revealed that dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1(DDAH1),a hydrolase for asymmetric NG,NG-dimethylarginine(ADMA),regulated genes responsible for the synthesis and transportation of acetylcholine(ACh)(Chat,Slc5a7 and Slc18a3)after stroke insult.The dual-luciferase reporter assay further suggested that DDAH1 controlled the activity of ChAT,possibly through hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α).KC7F2,an inhibitor of HIF-1α,abolished DDAH1-induced ChAT expression and suppressed neurogenesis.As expected,DDAH1 was clinically elevated in the blood of AIS patients and was positively correlated with AIS severity.By comparing the results among Ddah1 general knockout(KO)mice,transgenic(TG)mice and wild-type(WT)mice,we discovered that DDAH1 upregulated the proliferation and neural differentiation of NSCs in the sub-granular zone(SGZ)under ischemic insult.As a result,DDAH1 may promote cognitive and motor func-tion recovery against stroke impairment,while these neuroprotective effects are dramatically suppressed by NSC conditional knockout of Ddah1 in mice.
查看更多>>摘要：Transcriptional dysregulation of genes is a hallmark of tumors and can serve as targets for cancer drug development.However,it is extremely challenging to develop small-molecule inhibitors to target abnormally expressed transcription factors(TFs)except for the nuclear receptor family of TFs.Little is known about the interaction between TFs and transcription cofactors in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma(GEA)or the therapeutic effects of targeting TF and transcription cofactor complexes.In this study,we found that ETS homologous factor(EHF)expression is promoted by a core transcrip-tional regulatory circuitry(CRC),specifically ELF3-KLF5-GATA6,and interference with its expression suppressed the malignant biological behavior of GEA cells.Importantly,we identified Ajuba LIM protein(AJUBA)as a new coactivator of EHF that cooperatively orchestrates transcriptional network activity in GEA.Furthermore,we identified KRAS signaling as a common pathway downstream of EHF and AJUBA.Applicably,dual targeting of EHF and AJUBA by lipid nanoparticles cooperatively attenuated the malignant biological behaviors of GEA in vitro and in vivo.In conclusion,EHF is upregulated by the CRC and promotes GEA malignancy by interacting with AJUBA through the KRAS pathway.Targeting of both EHF and its coactivator AJUBA through lipid nanoparticles is a novel potential therapeutic strat-egy.
查看更多>>摘要：Estrogen is imperative to mammalian reproductivity,metabolism,and aging.However,the hormone activating estrogen receptor(ERs)α can cause major safety concerns due to the enrichment of ERα in female tissues and certain malignancies.In contrast,ERβ is more broadly expressed in metabolic tissues and the skin.Thus,it is desirable to generate selective ERβ agonist conjugates for maximizing the therapeutic effects of ERs while minimizing the risks of ERα activation.Here,we report the design and production of small molecule conjugates containing selective non-steroid ERβ agonists Gtx878 or genis-tein.Treatment of aged mice with our synthesized conjugates improved aging-associated declines in insulin sensitivity,visceral adipose integrity,skeletal muscle function,and skin health,with validation in vitro.We further uncovered the benefits of ERβ conjugates in the skin using two inducible skin injury mouse models,showing increased skin basal cell proliferation,epidermal thickness,and wound healing.Therefore,our ERβ-selective agonist conjugates offer novel therapeutic potential to improve aging-associated conditions and aid in rejuvenating skin health.
查看更多>>摘要：Aberrant changes in the gut microbiota are implicated in many diseases,including inflamma-tory bowel disease(IBD).Gut microbes produce diverse metabolites that can shape the immune system and impact the intestinal barrier integrity,indicating that microbe-mediated modulation may be a promising strategy for preventing and treating IBD.Although fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotic supple-mentation are well-established IBD therapies,novel chemical agents that are safe and exert strong effects on the gut microbiota are urgently needed.Herein,we report the total synthesis of heudelotinone and the discovery of 5S-heudelotinone(an enantiomer)as a potent agent against experimental colitis that acts by modulating the gut microbiota.5S-Heudelotinone alters the diversity and composition of the gut microbio-ta and increases the concentration of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs);thus,it regulates the intestinal im-mune system by reducing proinflammatory immune cell numbers,and maintains intestinal mucosal integrity by modulating tight junctions(TJs).Moreover,5S-heudelotinone(2)ameliorates colitis-associated colorectal cancer(CAC)in an azoxymethane(AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced in situ carcinoma model.Together,these findings reveal the potential of a novel natural product,namely,5S-heudelotinone,to control intestinal inflammation and highlight that this product is a safe and effective candidate for the treatment of IBD and CAC.
查看更多>>摘要：Mornaphthoate E(MPE)is a prenylated naphthoic acid methyl ester isolated from the roots of a famous Chinese medicinal plant Morinda officinalis and shows remarkable cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines.In the current project,the first total synthesis of(±)-MPE was achieved in seven steps and 5.6％overall yield.Then the in vitro anti-tumor activity of MPE was first assessed for both enantiomers in two breast cancer cells,with the levoisomer exerting slightly better potency.The in vivo anti-tumor effect was further verified by applying the racemate in an orthotopic autograft mouse model.Notably,MPE exerted promising anti-metastasis activity both in vitro and in vivo and showed no obvious toxicity on mice at the therapeutic dosage.Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that MPE acted as a tubulin polymerization stabilizer and disturbed the dynamic equilibrium of microtubules via regulating PI3K/Akt signaling.In conclusion,our work has provided a new chemical template for the future design and development of next-generation tubulin-targeting chemotherapies.
查看更多>>摘要：Despite the great potential of anti-PD-L1 antibodies for immunotherapy,their low response rate due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has hampered their application.To address this issue,we constructed a cell membrane-coated nanosystem(mB4S)to reverse an immunosuppressive microenvironment to an immuno-supportive one for strengthening the anti-tumor effect.In this system,Epirubicin(EPI)as an immunogenic cell death(ICD)inducer was coupled to a branched glycopolymer via hydrazone bonds and diABZI as a stimulator of interferon genes(STING)agonist was encapsulated into mB4S.After internalization of mB4S,EPI was acidic-responsively released to induce ICD,which was characterized by an increased level of calreticulin(CRT)exposure and enhanced ATP secretion.Meanwhile,diABZI effectively activated the STING pathway.Treatment with mB4S in combination with an anti-PD-L1 antibody elicited potent immune responses by increasing the ratio of matured dendritic cells(DCs)and CD8+T cells,promoting cytokines secretion,up-regulating M1-like tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)and down-regulating immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs).Therefore,this nanosystem for co-delivery of an ICD inducer and a STING agonist achieved promotion of DCs maturation and CD8+T cells infiltration,creating an immuno-supportive microenvi-ronment,thus potentiating the therapy effect of the anti-PD-L1 antibody in both 4T1 breast and CT26 colon tumor mice.
查看更多>>摘要：Although various anti-osteoporosis drugs are available,the limitations of these therapies,including drug resistance and collateral responses,require the development of novel anti-osteoporosis agents.Rhizoma Drynariae displays a promising anti-osteoporosis effect,while the effective component and mechanism remain unclear.Here,we revealed the therapeutic potential of Rhizoma Drynariae-derived nanovesicles(RDNVs)for postmenopausal osteoporosis and demonstrated that RDNVs potentiated osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMSCs)by targeting estrogen receptor-alpha(ERα).RDNVs,a natural product isolated from fresh Rhizoma Drynariae root juice by differential ultracentrifugation,exhibited potent bone tissue-targeting activity and anti-osteoporosis efficacy in an ovariectomized mouse model.RDNVs,effectively internalized by hBMSCs,enhanced proliferation and ERα expression levels of hBMSC,and promoted osteogenic differ-entiation and bone formation.Mechanistically,via the ERα signaling pathway,RDNVs facilitated mRNA and protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and runt-related transcription factor 2 in hBMSCs,which are involved in regulating osteogenic differentiation.Further analysis revealed that naringin,existing in RDNVs,was the active component targeting ERα in the osteogenic effect.Taken together,our study identified that naringin in RDNVs displays exciting bone tissue-targeting activity to reverse osteoporosis by promoting hBMSCs proliferation and osteogenic differentiation through estrogen-like effects.
查看更多>>摘要：Obeticholic acid(OCA),a farnesoid X receptor(FXR)agonist with favorable effects on fatty and glucose metabolism,has been considered the leading candidate drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)treatment.However,its limited effectiveness in resolving liver fibrosis and lipotoxicity-induced cell death remains a major drawback.Ferroptosis,a newly recognized form of cell death characterized by uncontrolled lipid peroxidation,is involved in the progression of NASH.Nitric oxide(NO)is a versatile biological molecule that can degrade extracellular matrix.In this study,we developed a PEGylated thio-lated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSN)loaded with OCA,as well as a ferroptosis inhibitor liproxsatin-1 and a NO donor S-nitrosothiol(ONL@MSN).Biochemical analyses,histology,multiplexed flow cytometry,bulk-tissue RNA sequencing,and fecal 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were utilized to evaluate the effects of the combined nanoparticle(ONL@MSN)in a mouse NASH model.Compared with the OCA-loaded nanoparticles(O@MSN),ONL@MSN not only protected against hepatic steatosis but also greatly ameliorated fibrosis and ferroptosis.ONL@MSN also displayed enhanced therapeutic actions on the maintenance of intrahepatic macrophages/monocytes homeostasis,inhibition of immune response/lipid peroxidation,and correction of microbiota dysbiosis.These findings present a promising synergistic nanotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of NASH by simultaneously targeting FXR,ferrop-tosis,and fibrosis.
查看更多>>摘要：Immunogenic dying tumor cells hold promising prospects as cancer vaccines to activate sys-temic immunity against both primary and metastatic tumors.Especially,X-ray-induced dying tumor cells are rich in highly immunogenic tumor-associated antigens and self-generated dsDNA as potent adjuvants.However,we found that the X-ray induction process can result in the excessive exposure of phosphati-dylserine in cancer vaccines,which can specifically bind with the MerTK receptor on macrophages,acting as a"checkpoint"to facilitate immune silence in the tumor microenvironment.Therefore,we developed a novel strategy combining X-ray-induced cancer vaccines with UNC2250,a macrophage MerTK"checkpoint inhibitor,"for treating peritoneal carcinomatosis in colon cancer.By incorporating UNC2250 into the treatment regimen,immunosuppressive efferocytosis of macrophages,which relies on MerTK-directed recognition of phosphatidylserine on vaccines,was effectively blocked.Conse-quently,the immune analysis revealed that this combination strategy promoted the maturation of dendritic cells and M1-like repolarization of macrophages,thereby simultaneously eliciting robust adaptive and innate immunity.This innovative approach utilizing X-ray-induced vaccines combined with a checkpoint inhibitor may provide valuable insights for developing effective cancer vaccines and immunotherapies targeting colon cancer.
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