Proteomics-Based Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets of Artesunate in a Lupus Nephritis MRL/lpr Mouse Model

This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets of artesunate in an MRL/lpr lupus nephritis mouse model by quantitative proteomics. We detected serum autoimmune markers and proteinuria in 40 female mice that were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): normal C57BL/6 control group; untreated MRL/lpr lupus; 9 mg/kg/day prednisone positive control MRL/lpr lupus; and 15 mg/kg/day artesunate-treated MRL/lpr lupus groups. Renal pathology in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus and artesunate groups was examined by Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Artesunate treatment in lupus mice decreased serum autoantibody levels and proteinuria while alleviating lupus nephritis pathology. Through tandem mass tag-tandem mass spectrometry (TMT-MS/MS) analyses, differentially expressed proteins were identified in the artesunate group, and subsequent functional prediction suggested associations with antigen presentation, apoptosis, and immune regulation. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD046815. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis of the top 19 selected proteins confirmed the TMT-MS/MS results. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting of an enriched protein from PRM analysis, cathepsin S, linked to antigen presentation, highlighted its upregulation in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus group and downregulation following artesunate treatment. This study suggests that artesunate holds potential as a therapeutic agent for lupus nephritis, with cathepsin S identified as a potential target

Proteomics-Based Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets of Artesunate in a Lupus Nephritis MRL/lpr Mouse Model

This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets of artesunate in an MRL/lpr lupus nephritis mouse model by quantitative proteomics. We detected serum autoimmune markers and proteinuria in 40 female mice that were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): normal C57BL/6 control group; untreated MRL/lpr lupus; 9 mg/kg/day prednisone positive control MRL/lpr lupus; and 15 mg/kg/day artesunate-treated MRL/lpr lupus groups. Renal pathology in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus and artesunate groups was examined by Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Artesunate treatment in lupus mice decreased serum autoantibody levels and proteinuria while alleviating lupus nephritis pathology. Through tandem mass tag-tandem mass spectrometry (TMT-MS/MS) analyses, differentially expressed proteins were identified in the artesunate group, and subsequent functional prediction suggested associations with antigen presentation, apoptosis, and immune regulation. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD046815. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis of the top 19 selected proteins confirmed the TMT-MS/MS results. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting of an enriched protein from PRM analysis, cathepsin S, linked to antigen presentation, highlighted its upregulation in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus group and downregulation following artesunate treatment. This study suggests that artesunate holds potential as a therapeutic agent for lupus nephritis, with cathepsin S identified as a potential target

Proteomics-Based Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets of Artesunate in a Lupus Nephritis MRL/lpr Mouse Model

This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets of artesunate in an MRL/lpr lupus nephritis mouse model by quantitative proteomics. We detected serum autoimmune markers and proteinuria in 40 female mice that were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): normal C57BL/6 control group; untreated MRL/lpr lupus; 9 mg/kg/day prednisone positive control MRL/lpr lupus; and 15 mg/kg/day artesunate-treated MRL/lpr lupus groups. Renal pathology in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus and artesunate groups was examined by Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Artesunate treatment in lupus mice decreased serum autoantibody levels and proteinuria while alleviating lupus nephritis pathology. Through tandem mass tag-tandem mass spectrometry (TMT-MS/MS) analyses, differentially expressed proteins were identified in the artesunate group, and subsequent functional prediction suggested associations with antigen presentation, apoptosis, and immune regulation. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD046815. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis of the top 19 selected proteins confirmed the TMT-MS/MS results. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting of an enriched protein from PRM analysis, cathepsin S, linked to antigen presentation, highlighted its upregulation in the untreated MRL/lpr lupus group and downregulation following artesunate treatment. This study suggests that artesunate holds potential as a therapeutic agent for lupus nephritis, with cathepsin S identified as a potential target

Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Preussomerins from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i> ZJ-HQ1

Two new chlorinated preussomerins, chloropreussomerins A and B (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>), together with nine known preussomerin analogues, <b>3</b>–<b>11</b>, were obtained from the endophytic fungus <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i> ZJ-HQ1. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were both determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using Cu Kα radiation. Chloropreussomerins A and B (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>) are the first chlorinated compounds in the preussomerin family, and preussomerin M (<b>3</b>) is reported for the first time as a natural product. Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed potent <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.9 to 8.9 μM, and compounds <b>4</b>–<b>7</b> exhibited significant bioactivity against A549, HepG2, and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 2.5–9.4 μM. In the antibacterial assay, compounds <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, <b>5</b>–<b>7</b>, and <b>11</b> exhibited significant activities against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, with MIC values between 1.6 and 13 μg/mL

Aspterpenacids A and B, Two Sesterterpenoids from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus terreus H010

Two new sesterterpenoids, aspterpenacids A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>), with an unusual carbon skeleton of a 5/3/7/6/5 ring system were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus H010. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. A biogenetic pathway for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> is proposed. Both <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed no significant antibacterial activity or cytotoxicity at 50 μM

Aspterpenacids A and B, Two Sesterterpenoids from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus terreus H010

Two new sesterterpenoids, aspterpenacids A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>), with an unusual carbon skeleton of a 5/3/7/6/5 ring system were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus H010. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. A biogenetic pathway for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> is proposed. Both <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed no significant antibacterial activity or cytotoxicity at 50 μM