A total solid-phase synthesis of DILP8

We have developed a cysteine anchoring method for the synthesis of DILP8 and its analogues. The first is to synthesis of DILP8A SS13-18, C14-MeOBzl, C24-Acm and activate it as DILP8A S13-18, C14-SSPyr C24-Acm. A next step is to synthesize the DILP8BC16-Acm. The desired peptide, DILP8 with Cys(Acm) at A-24 and B-16, was then dissolved in 75% HOAc by addition of Iodine in MeOH and 4M HCl in dioxane. The reaction mixture was monitored by HPLC and the excess iodine was reduced with ascorbic acid. Purification of the peptide was achieved by HPLC. Pure synthetic DILP8 showed a single peak on analytical HPLC with corrected molecular ion. By using the above methods, enough peptide and highly homogenous pure DILP8 were generated

Molecular events associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in the absence of Epstein-Barr virus genome

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process in tumor metastasis. The EMT-related events associated with metastasis of NPC in the absence of EBV have not been elucidated. We established an EBV-negative NPC cell line from a bone marrow biopsy of an NPC patient. Using a Matrigel system we isolated an invasive and non-invasive sublines, designated NPC-BM29 and NPC-BM00. NPC-BM29 acquired an invasive-like phenotype characterized by EMT, marked by down-regulation of E-cadherin and β-catenin with concomitant increased expression of Ets1. NPC-BM29 cells expressed ≥ 10-fold higher of MMP-9 than NPC-BM00 cells. NPC-BM29 cells grew better in 2% serum than NPC-BM00 cells, with a population doubling-time of 26.8 h and 30.7 h, respectively. A marked reduction in colony-formation ability of NPC-BM00 cells compared to NPC-BM29 was observed. Wound-healing assay revealed that NPC-BM29 cells displayed higher motility than NPC-BM00 and the motility was further enhanced by cell treatment with TPA, a PKC activator. Cell surface markers and tumor-associated molecules, AE3, MAK6 and sialyl-Tn, were up-regulated in NPC-BM29 cells, whereas the expression of HLA-DR and CD54 was significantly increased in NPC-BM00 cells. NPC-BM29 consistently released higher levels of IL-8 and IL-10 than NPC-BM00, with low levels of IL-1α expression in both cell lines. Higher level of VEGF production was detected in NPC-BM00 than NPC-BM29 cells. These data show that EBV is not required for exhibiting multiple metastatic phenotypes associated with EMT. More studies that target right molecules/signalings associated with the EMT may offer new therapeutic intervention options for NPC invasion and metastasis

Up-regulation of the expression of cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide by electroacupuncture in the arcuate nucleus of diet-induced obese rats

Abstract It was reported that acupuncture or electro-acupuncture (EA) is effective in reducing the body weight for obese patients, although the mechanisms remain obscure. In a previous study, we have found that rats fed with high-fat (HIF) diet developed diet-induced obesity (DIO) with a concomitant decrease in the hypothalamic content of the cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide, a peptide with anorexiogenic effect. To assess the central effect of EA on DIO rat, we revealed that EA up-regulated the expression of CART peptide in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the DIO rats. After feeding with HIF diet for 14 weeks, the DIO rats received EA stimulation three times per week for 4 weeks. The expression of CART peptide in ARC was measured using immunohistochemistry. The plasma ACTH was measured with ELISA. EA caused a reduction of both body weight and energy intake in DIO rats and increased the expression of CART peptide in ARC. The plasma ACTH was increased in response to restraint stress, but EA produced no further increase in ACTH levels. The results suggest that EA can up-regulate the expression of CART peptide to approach normal level, resulting in an inhibition of food intake and a reduction of body weight in DIO rats. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Electroacupuncture; CART; Body weight; Diet-induced obesity; Arcuate nucleus In humans and animals, a chronic high-fat (HIF) diet without a compensatory increase in energy expenditure leads to the progressive development of obesity E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (J.-S. Han). 1 Present address: Department of Surgery, Tianjin No. 3 Central Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China. tiveness of acupuncture, and even today, it is not generally regarded as scientifically acceptable. The problem has always been the difficulty to explain the mechanisms behind the effects of acupuncture, and to demonstrate its effects in controlled clinical trials As in much of human obese cases, the rat model of dietinduced obesity (DIO) appears to follow a polygenic mode in inheritance. Hypothalamic neuropeptides play an important role in regulating energy balanc

Combined Phytochemistry and Chemotaxis Assays for Identification and Mechanistic Analysis of Anti-Inflammatory Phytochemicals in Fallopia japonica

Plants provide a rich source of lead compounds for a variety of diseases. A novel approach combining phytochemistry and chemotaxis assays was developed and used to identify and study the mechanisms of action of the active compounds in F. japonica, a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat inflammation. Based on a bioactivity-guided purification strategy, two anthranoids, emodin and physcion, were identified from F. japonica. Spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize its crude extract, fractions and phytochemicals. The crude extract, chloroform fraction, and anthranoids of F. japonica significantly inhibited CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis. Mechanistic studies showed that emodin and physcion inhibited chemotaxis via inactivating the MEK/ERK pathway. Moreover, the crude extract and emodin could prevent or treat type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. This study illustrates the applicability of a combinational approach for the study of anti-inflammatory medicine and shows the potential of F. japonica and its anthranoids for anti-inflammatory therapy

Possible regulatory role of dynorphin (1-13) on narcotic-induced changes in naloxone efficacy.

ABSTRACT Tulunay

Pressor Effects of Orexins Injected Intracisternally and to Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla of Anesthetized Rats

Orexin A and B, two recently isolated hypothalamic peptides, have been reported to increase food consumption upon intracerebroventricular injections in rats. In addition to the hypothalamus, orexin A-immunoreactive fibers have been observed in several areas of the medulla that are associated with cardiovascular functions. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hypothesis that orexins may influence cardiovascular response by interacting with neurons in the medulla. Intracisternal injections of orexins A (0.0056- 7.0 nmol) or B (0.028-0.28 nmol) dose dependently increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 4-27 mmHg and heart rate (HR) by 26-80 beats/min in urethan-anesthetized rats, with orexin A being more effective in this regard. MAP and HR were not changed by intravenous injection of orexins at higher concentrations. Microinjection of orexin A (14 pmol/50.6 nl) to the rostral ventrolateral medulla, which was confirmed by histological examination, increased MAP and HR. Our results indicate that, in addition to a role in positive feeding behavior, orexins may enhance cardiovascular response via an action on medullary neurons

Interaction of Ovokinin(2-7) With Vascular Bradykinin 2 Receptors

Intravenous administration of ovokinin(2-7), a cleavage peptide derived from ovalbumin, dose-dependently (0.1-5 mg/kg) lowered the mean arterial pressure (MAP) that was not accompanied by a significant change in the heart rate (HR) of urethane-anesthetized rats. The hypotensive effects of ovokinin(2-7) were five orders of magnitude lower compared to that of bradykinin and were largely prevented by pretreatment with the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist HOE140 (81.6±18.4%) and moderately affected by the B1 receptor antagonist [des-Arg10]-HOE140 (26.3±15.5%). Intracellular Ca2+ levels, as measured by Fur 2-AM, were significantly elevated in cultured aorta smooth muscle cells by ovokinin(2-7). The increases were abolished by HOE140 and unaffected by [des-Arg10]-HOE140. The elevation of intracellular Ca2+ by ovokinin(2-7) was dependent on Ca2+ entry from extracellular space as it was reduced in a Ca2+-free solution. Pretreatment of the cells with the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (2 μM) eliminated the Ca 2+ increase by the peptide. PA phosphohydrolase and phospholipase A2 inhibitors significantly reduced the responses as well. Our results show that ovokinin(2-7) modulates cardiovascular activity by interacting with B2 bradykinin receptors

Synthesis and relationship of L-glutaminyl-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide to the thyrotropin releasing hormone

The new L-glutaminyl-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide (Gln-His-Pro(NH 2)) has been synthesized. This open glutaminyl-form has been compared with the cyclized pyro-form of (pyro)Glu-His-Pro(NH 2), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). Gln-His-Pro(NH 2) is converted into (pyro)Glu-His-Pro(NH 2) under very mild conditions some of which are analogous to steps used in the isolation of TRH. Gln-His-Pro(NH 2) had up to five per cent of the activity of TRH although it is unknown whether this activity is intrinsic or due to contamination or conversion. There is no evidence that Gln-His-Pro(NH 2) is present in the hypothalamus, but if it were it could be a moiety of a larger molecule which is convertible into Gln- or (pyro)Glu-His-Pro(NH 2) or it could be a biosynthetic precursor or a metabolic transformation product of TRH. (Pyro)Glu-His-Pro(NH 2) shows the functions expected of the hormone