Induction of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells and natural killer cell-mediated lysis: distinct effects at the level of recognition and lysis in relation to target cell proliferation

The erythroleukemic K562 cell line was induced to erythroid differentiation by a variety of agents, including hemin, bleomycin, and cytosine arabinoside. The sensitivity of induced cells to binding and lysis by non-sensitized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) in agarose was studied in relation to the target cell division rate. Differentiated K562 cells formed a lower proportion of conjugates with MNC, when compared with non-induced controls. The reduction correlated significantly with the level of differentiation, irrespective of the inducer and the proliferative status. The differentiation-induced alterations of lysis, however, were strongly influenced by the modification of target cell growth rate which was caused by the differentiating agent. These data suggest that target cell differentiation has distinct effects upon the steps of recognition and lysis by natural killer cells.     

The adaptation of the plaque reduction assay for measuring specific cytotoxic cells in limiting dilution cultures

The use of the original haemolytic plaque reduction technique to measure cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been developed further as a rapid screening assay, particularly suitable for limiting dilution analyses. Using hybridoma cells as targets, the cytotoxicity has been measured by the loss of haemolytic plaque formation and by the reduction of the amount of haemolytic monoclonal antibody secreted from viable target cells into the assay supernatants. The assessment of large numbers of cytotoxic samples has been greatly facilitated by quantitating the amount of haemoglobin released in the assay with an automated microELISA multiscanner and by scoring visually using a modification of the spot test. Using these new techniques, relatively high frequency estimates of cytotoxic cell precursors in an allogeneic response (1 in 462 spleen cells) and an anti-fluorescein response (1 in 3970 spleen cells) were obtained.     

抗癌作用新靶点及其抑制剂的研究进展

针对靶点分子或某种发生发展机制来设计抗肿瘤药物的研究工作已取得了相当大的成就.这类药物的特异性强,疗效显著,因此,针对这些新靶点进行药物设计可以使抗肿瘤药物的研究产生一次新的革命.本综述旨在讨论目前抗肿瘤药物研究的潜在的新靶点以及它们相应的抑制剂或拮抗剂.     

基于网络药理学预测射干治疗支气管哮喘作用机制

目的:基于网络药理学预测射干治疗支气管哮喘的作用机制。方法:通过中药系统药理学技术平台(TCMSP)检索射干化学成分,Swiss Target Prediction数据库得到射干的预测靶点,通过Gene Cards数据库获取哮喘相关靶点将射干的预测靶点与哮喘相关靶点进行映射得到射干治疗哮喘的预测靶点。通过Cytoscape(3.6.0)软件,生成射干治疗哮喘的蛋白与蛋白相互作用(PPI)网络。通过DAVID网站(基因百科全书)进行KEGG通路分析,运用systems Dock网站对预测靶标与其对应的成分进行分子对接。结果:射干活性化合物有17种,筛选出射干可能与哮喘相关的靶点74个,关键靶点共16个,包括雌激素受体α(ESR1)、蛋白激酶C-α(PRKCA)、醛糖还原酶(AR)、蛋白激酶C-delta(PRKCD)、蛋白质激酶C-β(PRKCB)等。通过KEGG通路分析得到128条通路,结合文献检索,筛选出治疗哮喘的可能通路为20条,主要分为以下四类,①气道炎症相关通路:PI3K-Akt信号通路、趋化因子信号通路、MAPK信号通路等;②气道平滑肌相关通路:Ras信号通路、Hippo信号通路、钙信号通路等;③血管增生相关通路:VEGF信号通路;④免疫相关通路:T细胞受体信号通路、Toll样受体信号通路。结论:射干通过多靶点、多通路治疗哮喘,其机制可能与气道炎症相关通路、气道平滑肌相关通路、血管增生相关通路、免疫相关通路的作用相关。     

中药"显效理论"或有助于阐释并弘扬中药特色优势

该文归纳出中药"显效理论",即中药通过"众多显效形式(显效型)的单靶点叠加作用、多靶点协同作用及毒性分散效应"发挥药效并削弱自身毒性。一味中药可含有约1 000种成分,一种成分口服进入体内后又可产生约100种代谢产物。无数化学成分及其无数体内代谢产物中的众多显效形式可共同发挥"集团军式作用"。在药物分子少、靶点分子多的情况下,中药不同种的显效型分子可相继与靶点分子结合,发生叠加作用,当"靶点充分占位"时药效始启动。既有浓度上的叠加作用又有时间段先后的叠加作用,这使得药效得以持久。显效型呈现药效叠加和毒性分散,源于不同显效形式分子结构之间药效基团相同而毒性基团不完全相同。"毒性分散效应"适于对无毒中药而不适于对有毒中药的解释。显效理论揭示中药可以众多化学成分及众多代谢产物参与发挥药效过程,包括叠加作用、协同作用及毒性分散效应,可有助于阐释和弘扬中药特色优势。今后需研究/确证的问题:中药药效物质基础及其作用机制是怎样构成的?多数中药为什么毒性小?体现中药特色优势的中药"显效理论"如何在新药研发中应用?     

Toll-like receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma: potential novel targets for pharmacological intervention

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed by a wide variety of cell types including immune cells. They play a crucial role in the inflammatory and host defense response against microorganisms, and triggering TLRs can mediate the activation of innate immunity. Furthermore, research suggests that various TLRs may function differently on different tumor cells. The change in TLR activity may elicit an anti-tumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for HCC therapy.

Areas covered: This review discusses the role of the TLR family in HCC and the underlying signaling pathway of TLRs as a form of pattern recognition receptor in mediating inflammation and HCC immunity responses. Agonists and antagonists of TLRs, which render TLRs as potential therapeutic targets, activate downstream molecules, subsequently causing HCC cell survival. The proliferation or protection against the development of HCC is also described.

Expert opinion: A series of studies have highlighted a crucial role of TLRs in HCC and consider TLR signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets for HCC. However, the conclusions of these studies are in part paradoxical and controversial. Thus, it is necessary to extend further research to help determine the signaling pathways involved.     

Mechanisms of the Bushen Huoxue formula in the treatment of osteoarthritis based on network pharmacology-molecular targets

Background:Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease with a high incidence, high disability rate, and poor prognosis. Clinical studies have shown that Bushen Huoxue formula can relieve joint swelling and pain and improve limb function and joint mobility, but there is a lack of high-quality scientific basis. Using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to study the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue formula in the treatment of osteoarthritis.Methods:First, the active ingredients and corresponding target predictions of the formula were obtained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Meanwhile, the osteoarthritis disease targets were obtained through the genome annotation database platform (GeneCards) and the DrugBank database, and the target proteins obtained above were standardized using the Uniprot (https://www.uniprot.org) database standardization of names. Then, the Venn diagram was created by taking the intersection of the active ingredient and the target of the disease, and the “active ingredient-target” network was constructed and analyzed using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. At the same time, the intersecting targets were imported into the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins database to build a protein-protein interaction network and to screen the core targets; the intersecting targets were visualized by using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery 6.8 database for gene ontology functional analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and construct the “active ingredient-target-pathway” network. Finally, the main active ingredients of the formula for tonifying the kidney and invigorating the blood were validated by molecular docking with the core targets.Results:A total of 194 active ingredients and 365 targets of the Bushen Huoxue formula were collected, 776 targets for osteoarthritis diseases and 96 targets for the intersection of active ingredients and diseases. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis yielded 104 relevant pathways, including tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways, cancer signaling pathways, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathways, Toll-like receptors signaling pathways, and osteoclast differentiation, apoptosis, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, and other related pathways. The molecular docking results showed good binding of the main active ingredients to the core targets.Conclusion:This study shows that the treatment of osteoarthritis involves multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway processes. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, inhibition of cartilage matrix degradation, and reduction of subchondral bone destruction may be an important mechanism for the therapeutic effect.