ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of specific farnesiod X receptor(FXR) agonist on growth of colon cancer cells in vitro. MethodsThe effects of specific FXR agonist(GW4064) on the growth of HCT116 cells of colon cancer were studied in vitro by using MTT and flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of FXR and vascular endothelial grouth factor(VEGF), were determined by using RT-PCR. ResultsThe FXR specific agonist GW4064 could increase the FXR mRNA expression of HCT-116 cells of colon cancer, downregulation of VEGF mRNA expression, and had obvious inhibitory effect on growth of HCT-116 cells, and promoted the apoptosis of HCT116 cells in a dose and time dependence. ConclusionsGW4064 can significantly inhibit colon cancer cells in vitro. FXR may be a potential treatment arget of colon cancer.
Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease driven by multiple factors such as genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and neuroendocrine system disorders. In recent years, the prevalence of obesity in China has been increasing year by year, and a series of obesity-induced diseases are a serious threat to public health. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, as a representative of the new weight loss drugs, have shown a therapeutic effect close to that of weight-loss metabolic surgery in clinical trials by targeting central appetite and metabolism and other synergistic effects, but they still face key problems such as significant differences in individual efficacy, limited evidence of the safety of long-term treatment, and regaining body weight after discontinuation of the drug. The mechanism of action and clinical evidence of several obesity drugs approved and listed in China are summarized, and the progress and challenges of obesity drug therapy in China in combination with recent advances in the development of multi-target agents internationally are discussed, with a view to providing a scientific basis for the clinical drug management of obesity and providing ideas for the research and development of obesity drugs in China as well as for the clinical transformation.
To construct the retroviral vector containing human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra)and to investigate the property of the transfected articular chondrocytes from osteoarthritic patients in vitro. Methods Retroviral vector PLXRN carrying IL-1Ra (PLXRN-IL-1Ra) gene was constructed by inserting IL-1Ra gene at the sites of Sal I and BamH I. The recombinant retroviral plasmid was homologously recombinated in bacterial cells. After screening and ampl ification, the recombinant retroviral plasmid was obtained and transfected into PT67 cells. The repl ication-defective retrovirus PLXRN-IL- 1Ra was packed and ampl ified in the PT67 cells. Viral titer was determined by infecting NIH/3T3 cells with serially diluted viral supernatants produced with a control vector. Experiments were divided into 3 groups: non-transducted group (group A), PLXRN transduction group (group B), PLXRN-IL-1Ra transduction group (group C). Primary articular chondrocytes from osteoarthritic patients were transduced with PLXRN and PLXRN-IL-1Ra.The positive chondrocytes clones, which were G418- resistant, were cultured for 3-4 weeks after being selected by G418. The expression of IL-1Ra mRNA in the chondrocytes was determined by RT-PCR. Levels of IL-1Ra protein synthesis in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results Restric tive endonuclease identification and gene sequencing confirmed that the recombinant contained IL-1Ra cDNA．Virus titer could reach 3 × 104 CFU/mL. Primary chondrocytes cultured in vitro were polygonal or spindle and were stained with purple particles by toluidine blue staining. After stable transduction into the chondrocytes the 311 bp fragment of IL-1Ra was detected in group C by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. ELISA showed that IL-1Ra in supernatants of the group A and group B were below the level of detection. The concentrations were（60.47 ± 15.13）ng/L in group C .There were significant differences between gene transduction group and control groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The construction of recombinant retrovirus vector by homologous recombination in bacterial cells can be quickly and easily performed. Stable and effective expression of IL-1Ra can be achieved by transduction with retroviral vectors in osteoarthritic articular chondrocytes, indicating potential util ity in gene therapy for osteoarthritis．
Obesity is closely related to thyroid function. The concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in obese patients is higher than that in the general population, and TSH will decrease accordingly after weight loss. Leptin is a bridge linking obesity and thyroid hormones, which can affect the release of TSH. There are many kinds of weight-reducing drugs that target the thyroid gland. Among them, thyroid hormone receptor-specific agonists may be potential drugs for future obesity treatment, but further studies are still needed.
Uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, typically as chronic anterior uveitis with insidious onset. Delayed and inadequate treatment may result in loss of patients' vision and even blindness. For refractory or severe uveitis related to juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic immunosuppressive agents should be used as early as possible. With the advantage of controlling ocular inflammation, avoiding ocular complications and reducing the use of traditional immunosuppressant drugs and glucocorticoid, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors have been new therapeutic options for uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, although methotrexate is known as the first-line approach. However, there are no internationally unified guidelines for clinical issues regarding the timing of application, reduction and withdrawal of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, and no agreement on the application of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in the management of ocular complications either. An in-depth understanding of the application status and progress of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis has important clinical significance.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes (T2DM), which is the main eye disease causing blindness in adults in recent years. At present, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have become the main drugs used in the treatment of diabetes due to its superior hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, hypertensive and cardiovascular effects. A large number of studies have shown that GLP-1RA drugs can protect retinal microvascular and optic nerves in the treatment of diabetes through various ways, but some studies have found that GLP-1RA drugs represented by semaglutide may lead to the progress of DR. Therefore, GLP-1RA should be used cautiously for patients who with severe non-proliferative DR or proliferative DR. Regardless of whether T2DM patients are complicated with DR, the fundus retinal condition should be monitored regularly after the use of GLP-1RA drugs, and timely countermeasures should be taken when DR occurs and develops. The benefits of GLP-1RA used by diabetes patients are obvious to all, and scientific and rational drug use can prevent the occurrence and progress of DR, which can better benefit DR Patients.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of TGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C on the directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MethodsH1 hESC were divided into control group and experimental group. When the hESC reached over confluence, the medium was changed to knockout serum replacement medium without bFGF to induce RPE differentiation. The experimental group was supplemented with 1 μmol/L TGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C at the first six days of induction. Real-time PCR was carried out to examine the expression of paired-box gene 6 (PAX6), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), cellular retinaldehyde blinding protein (CRALBP), and RPE65 in both groups at the 1, 3, 5 weeks of the induction process. hESC-derived RPE (hESC-RPE) cells were isolated mechanically and purified. Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to characterize the purified hESC-RPE cells. ResultsPigmented colonies were observed in experimental group at the 4 weeks of the induction process, while no pigmented colony could be detected in the control group. All the purified pigmented cells from experimental group showed polygons morphology. Experimental group showed significantly higher expression of RPE marker genes PAX6, MITF, CRALBP and RPE65 than the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the hESC and ARPE-19 cells line, purified hESC-RPE cells showed much higher expression of PAX6, MITF, CRALBP and RPE65(P<0.05).High expression level of PAX6 and RPE65 proteins were observed in hESC-RPE cells. Immunofluorescence verified the expression of PAX6 and ZO-1 in hESC-RPE cells. ConclusionTGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C significantly improved the differentiation efficiency of hESC into RPE.
Objectives To assess the effectiveness and safety of additional bedtime H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in suppressing nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB). Methods We identified eligible trials by searching The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMbase and CINAHL. We handsearched the data from the proceedings of correlated conferences, eight kinds of important Chinese journals and references of all included trials. All randomized controlled trials evaluating H2RAs for the control of NAB were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review was conducted using methods recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration. Results Only two randomized crossover studies including 32 participants met the inclusion criteria. Because the design, dosage and duration of the treatment were different between the studies, it was impossible to conduct Meta-analysis. There was no consistent conclusion between the two included studies in evaluating H2RAs for the control of NAB. Conclusion We can not conclude any implications for practice at this stage. Appropriately designed large-scale randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are needed to decide the effects of additional bedtime H2RAs in suppressing NAB.
ObjectiveTo study how CD73 is shed from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) surface.MethodsCD73 shedding was induced by treating RPE with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and TNF-α. After Phospholipase C (PLC) or pan matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors were added, surface amount of CD73 was evaluated by flow cytometry (FACS). Then selective inhibitors or their corresponding siRNAs of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were applied to the treatments of RPE; and their effects on induced CD73 shedding were evaluated by FACS. By site directed mutagenesis, mutations were introduced to Lys547-Phe548 coding sites of CD73 cDNA, which was cloned in a pcDNA mammalian expression vector. Both wt-CD73 and mutated-CD73 were over expressed in CD73-/- RPE and their induced shedding was compared.ResultsLPS and TNF-α induced CD73 shedding from RPE was completely blocked by the addition of pan MMP inhibitor but not PLC inhibitor. Selective MPP-9, but not MMP-2, inhibitor or its siRNA blocked CD73 shedding. In CD73-/- RPE induced CD73 shedding was happened to overexpressed wt-CD73 but not Lys547-Phe548 sites mutant CD73.ConclusionMMP-9 is responsible for shedding CD73 from RPE through hydrolyzing its Lys547 -Phe548 sites.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of non-ergoline dopamine agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole, and rotigotine) and α2δ ligands (pregabalin and gabapentin-enacarbil) in the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods The PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, and CNKI databases were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing different medications for RLS from 2000 to 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. The network meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software and R 4.1.0 software. Results A total of 36 RCTs involving 7 666 patients were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that gabapentin-enacarbil decreased IRLS scores to the greatest extent among all drugs (MD=−6.42, 95%CI −8.8 to −4.16), was superior to pramipexole (MD=−3.27, 95%CI −6.54 to −0.15), and was associated with the highest CGI-I response rates (RR=1.73, 95%CI 1.52 to 2.00). In terms of tolerance and safety, patients receiving rotigotine presented an increased incidence of withdrawal due to adverse events. Ropinirole had the highest incidence of nausea. Headache was most common side effect in rotigotine, while the incidences of somnolence and dizziness were higher in gabapentin-enacarbil than other treatments. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that gabapentin-enacarbil may be the best treatment for RLS. Rotigotine is associated with the worst tolerance. For safety, nausea is most common in ropinirole, headache is most common for rotigotine, and patients receiving gabapentin-enacarbil show increased incidences of somnolence and dizziness.