Troxerutin, a semi-synthetic derivative of the natural bioflavanoid rutin, has been reported to possess many beneficial effects in human bodies, such as vasoprotection, immune support, anti-inflammation and anti-aging. However, the effects of troxerutin on genome-wide transcription in blood cells are still unknown. In order to find out effects of troxerutin on gene transcription, a high-throughput RNA sequencing was employed to analysis differential gene expression in blood cells consisting of leucocytes, erythrocytes and platelets isolated from the mice received subcutaneous injection of troxerutin. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the expression of only fifteen genes was significantly changed by the treatment with troxerutin, among which 5 genes were up-regulated and 10 genes were down-regulated. Bioinformatic analysis of the fifteen differentially expressed genes was made by utilizing the Gene Ontology (GO), and the differential expression induced by troxerutin was further evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR).

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with synaptic dysfunction, pathological accumulation of β‐amyloid peptide 1‐42 (Aβ1‐42), and neuronal loss. The self‐association of Aβ1‐42 monomers (Aβ‐M) into soluble oligomers seems to be crucial for the development of neurotoxicity. Previous publications have shown that Aβ oligomers and dimers might play key roles in inducing AD. The role of Aβ‐M was rarely investigated and still unclear in AD. To understand the effects of Aβ‐M on neurons and other cell types in the brain could be the key to understand its function. In our study, we found that Aβ‐M expression slowly induced cell apoptosis within 48 hours after transfection, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) interacted with Aβ‐M in the pull‐down and the yeast two‐hybrid assays, and Aβ‐M played a major role in inducing phosphorylation of Tau at Ser‐214, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) at Thr‐183/Tyr‐185, p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) at Thr‐389. We also discovered that β2AR, G protein‐coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), and protein kinase A (PKA) mediated the phosphorylation of Tau and JNK. Aβ‐M induced phosphorylation of Tau at Ser‐214 through both β2AR‐cAMP/PKA‐JNK and β2AR‐GRK signaling pathways. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) mediated the phosphorylation of p70S6K induced by Aβ‐M.

Background and Purpose Hirudin variants are the most powerful thrombin inhibitors discovered to date, with a lower risk of bleeding than heparin. For anticoagulation, the C‐termini of hirudin variants bind to the exocite I of thrombin. Anticoagulant effects of gene‐recombinant hirudin are weaker than natural hirudin for the reason of lacking tyrosine O‐sulfation at C‐terminus. Experimental Approach An integrative pharmacological study was carried out using molecular dynamic, molecular biological and in vivo and in vitro experiments to elucidate the anticoagulant effects of protein‐engineered hirudins. Key Results Molecular dynamic analysis showed that modifications of the C‐termini of hirudin variant 1 of Hirudo medicinalis (HV1) and hirudin variant 2 of Hirudinaria manillensis (HM2) changed the binding energy of the C‐termini to human thrombin. The study indicated that Asp61 of HM2 that corresponds to sulfated Tyr63 of HV1 is critical for inhibiting thrombin activities. Further, the anticoagulant effects of HV1 and HM2 were improved when the amino acid residues adjacent to Asp61 were mutated to Asp. These improvements were prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and thrombin time of human blood, and decreased Ki and IC50 values. In the in vivo experiments, mutations at C‐termini of HV1 and HM2 significantly changed partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin and thrombin time Conclusion and Implications The study indicated that the anticoagulant effects of gene‐engineered HM2 are stronger than gene‐engineered HV1 and HM2‐E60D‐I62D has the strongest effects and could be an antithrombotic with better therapeutic effects.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) restrict overexuberant lymphocyte activation. While close proximity between Tregs and their suppression targets is important for optimal inhibition, and literature indicates that draining lymph nodes (LNs) may serve as a prime location for the suppression, signaling details orchestrating this event are not fully characterized. Using a protocol to enable peripheral generation of inducible antigen-specific Tregs (asTregs) to control allergen-induced asthma, we have identified an antigen-specific mechanism that locks asTregs within hilar LNs which in turn suppresses airway inflammation. The suppressive asTregs, upon antigen stimulation in the LN, downregulate sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 egress receptor expression. These asTregs in turn mediate the downregulation of the same receptor on incoming effector T cells. Therefore, asTregs and effector T cells are locked in these draining LNs for prolonged interactions. Disruption of individual steps of this retention sequence abolishes the inflammation controlled by asTregs. Collectively, this study identifies a new requirement of spatial congregation with their suppression targets essential for asTreg functions and suggests therapeutic programs via Treg traffic control.

Pet allergens are major causes for asthma and allergic rhinitis. Fel d 1 protein, a key pet allergen from domestic cat, can sensitize host and trigger asthma attack. In this study, we report that co-immunization with recombinant Fel d 1 protein (rFel d 1) plus plasmid DNA that contains Fe1 d 1 gene was effective in preventing and treating the natural Fel d 1 (nFel d 1) induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. A population of T regulatory cells (iTreg) exhibiting a CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ phenotype and expressing IL-10 and TGF-β was induced by this co-immunization strategy. Furthermore, after adoptive transfers of the iTreg cells, mice that were pre-sensitized and challenged with nFel d 1 exhibited less signs of allergic inflammation, AHR and a reduced allergic immune response. These data indicate that co-immunization with DNA and protein mixture vaccine may be an effective treatment for cat allergy.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the role of β 2 adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) in insulin signaling transduction in H9C2 cardiomyoblast cells to understand the formation of the β 2 AR-insulin receptor (IR) protein complex and its role in insulin-induced Glut4 expression. Methods: H9C2 cells were treated with various protein inhibitors (CGP, β 1 AR inhibitor CGP20712; ICI, β 2 AR inhibitor ICI 118,551; PKI, PKA inhibitor myristoylated PKI; PD 0325901, MEK inhibitor; SP600125, JNK inhibitor) with or without insulin or isoproterenol (ISO) before RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and quantitative-PCR (Q-PCR). Yeast twohybrid, co-immunoprecipitation and His-tag pull-down assay were carried out to investigate the formation of the β 2 AR-IR protein complex. The intracellular concentrations of cAMP in H9C2 cells were tested by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the phosphorylation of JNK was tested by Western blot. Results: Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the most significantly enriched processes in the domain of molecular function (MF) were catalytic activity and binding, whereas in the domain of biological processes (BP) were metabolic process and cellular process. Furthermore, the enriched processes in the domain of cellular components (CC) were cell and cell parts. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the most significant pathways that have been altered included the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Q-PCR, which was performed to verify the gene expression levels exhibited consistent results. In evaluating the signaling pathways, the sustained stimulation of β 2 AR by ISO inhibited insulin signalling, and the effect was primarily through the cAMP-PKA-JNK pathway and MEK/JNK signaling pathway. Yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation and His-tag pull-down assay revealed that β 2 AR, IR, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), Grb2-associated binding protein 1 (GAB1) and Grb2 existed in the same protein complex. Conclusion: The sustained stimulation of β 2 AR might inhibit insulin signaling transduction through the cAMP-PKA-JNK and MEK/JNK pathways in H9C2 cells.

The stability of E5D mutant ACTH is higher than WT ACTH. The pharmacological effects of E5D ACTH is equivalent to those of WT ACTH.