Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of diseases ranging from simple steatosis to more severe forms of liver injury including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In humans, only 20%-40% of patients with fatty liver progress to NASH, and mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) develop fatty liver but are resistant to NASH development. To understand how simple steatosis progresses to NASH, we examined hepatic expression of anti-inflammatory microRNA-223 (miR-223) and found that this miRNA was highly elevated in hepatocytes in HFD-fed mice and in human NASH samples. Genetic deletion of miR-223 induced a full spectrum of NAFLD in long-term HFD-fed mice including steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and HCC. Furthermore, microarray analyses revealed that, compared to wild-type mice, HFD-fed miR-223 knockout (miR-223KO) mice had greater hepatic expression of many inflammatory genes and cancer-related genes, including (C-X-C motif) chemokine 10 (Cxcl10) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz), two well-known factors that promote NASH development. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Cxcl10 and Taz are two downstream targets of miR-223 and that overexpression of miR-223 reduced their expression in cultured hepatocytes. Hepatic levels of miR-223, CXCL10, and TAZ mRNA were elevated in human NASH samples, which positively correlated with hepatic levels of several miR-223 targeted genes as well as several proinflammatory, cancer-related, and fibrogenic genes. Conclusion: HFD-fed miR-223KO mice develop a full spectrum of NAFLD, representing a clinically relevant mouse NAFLD model; miR-223 plays a key role in controlling steatosis-to-NASH progression by inhibiting hepatic Cxcl10 and Taz expression and may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of NASH. (Hepatology 2019;70:1150-1167).

B e n z i m i d a z o l e s i n O n e S t e p f r o m oN i t r o a n i l i n e s a n d A l d e h y d e s

A number of benzoates derived from 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid and substituted 1-piperidineethanol were synthesized and found to be potent 5-HT4 receptor agonists in the electrically-stimulated myenteric plexus and longitudinal muscle of the guinea pig ileum and the rat esophagus muscle. Monosubstitution of the piperidine ring with Me, OH, NH-Ac, or CONH2 groups gave compounds equipotent to 7a (ML 10302), a 5-HT4 receptor agonist previously reported to have nanomolar affinity. 7a,k were as potent as serotonin (5-HT) but had maximal responses which were only 60-80% of that of 5-HT, suggesting a partial agonist profile for these compounds. Binding assays were performed with [3H]GR 113808 in the rat striatum, and several of these compounds were found to have nanomolar affinity for 5-HT4 receptors (7a, Ki = 1.07 +/- 0.5 nM; 7k, Ki = 1.0 +/- 0.3 nM). The introduction of two methyl groups on the piperidine ring brought about a dramatic change in the pharmacological profile of 2-[(cis- and trans-3,5-dimethylpiperidinyl)ethyl]-4-amino-5-chloro-2- methoxybenzoate, 7g,h. 7g (Ki = 0.26 +/- 0.06 nM) inhibited the relaxant action of 5-HT in the rat esophagus muscle with a pA2 value of 8.6. The advantage of the ester function was demonstrated by comparing the activity of several such compounds at 5-HT4 receptors with those of the corresponding amidic derivatives. This difference was less marked when the basic moiety was sterically constrained as in the quinuclidine and tropane moieties. Structural analyses of 7a,g were performed by determining their X-ray crystal structures and by molecular modeling (SYBYL). A relatively limited number of minimum energy conformers was found for both compounds. They were characterized by the cis folded conformation of the ethyl chain and by the orientation of the lone pair of the nitrogen atom pointing out of the molecule as seen in conformationally-constrained benzamides such as zacopride and renzapride. A hypothetical model for the 5-HT4 receptor with two sites for the binding of agonist and antagonist molecules was proposed.

We have investigated the effect of qinghaosu (QHS, artemisinin) and its derivatives on Leishmania major replication in vitro and on the disease development in mice infected with L. major. Artemisinin is effective against promastigotes in vitro, with an ED50 (50% effective dose) at 7.5 x 10(-7) M. Both artemisinin and artemether are leishmanicidal for amastigotes in infected murine macrophages in vitro, with ED50 at 3 x 10(-5) M and 3 x 10(-6) M respectively. These compounds have no effect on the viability of macrophages or on the phytohaemaglutinin-induced proliferation of normal spleen cells, even at 10(-4) M. BALB/c mice infected in the footpad with L. major developed significantly smaller lesions and parasite loads when treated with the compounds. Intra-lesion injection of the compounds was the most effective route. The intramuscular and oral routes were also effective; however, intravenous injection with artesunate was not effective.