DNA/RNA-based medication is an ultimate strategy in
the field of personalized medicine. The authors summarized the recent progress
in the development of their original lipid-like material: SS-cleavable pH-Activated
Lipid-like Material (ssPalm) as a platform of the DNA/RNA delivery system. The
material forms a DNA/RNA-encapsulating nanoparticle with neutral charge, and it
confer the endosomal escape, and subsequent release of their encapsulating
cargos to the cytoplasm. Also, the trafficking and physiological functions of
the particles can be controlled by the changing of the hydrophobic structure.
Furthermore, the transfection activity was highly improved by the insertion of
self-degradable linker. The authors summarized the concept and application of a
series of ssPalm.
Sinomenine
(SN), an alkaloid isolated from Sinomenium
acutum, has been used therapeutically for arthritis in China over many
years. Herein, it was found that SN dose-dependently increased SOCS3 expression
levels and inhibited matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) levels in human chondrocyte
cells. SOCS3 expression was increased by SN blocked IL-1β-induced interaction
between TRAF6 and TAK1, thereby culminating in the inhibition of MMPs levels. In
addition, SN also inhibited IL-6-induced JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation. These findings
provided a molecular basis for the potential application of SN and suggested
that SN exhibited a cartilage protective property for the treatment of
arthritis.
Nephrotoxicity
induced by chemotherapy is common and limits the use of anticancer drug
especially cisplatin. To improve the therapeutic efficiency of cisplatin,
minimizing nephrotoxicity is very important. The present study investigated whether
germacrone, a bioactive compound found in Curcuma species, has a protective
effect on renal proximal tubular cells toxicity induced by cisplatin. The
authors found that germacrone reduces cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in renal
proximal tubular cells by inhibition of OCT2-mediated cisplatin uptake into
renal proximal tubular cells. This
result suggests that germacrone may be a candidate agent for reducing
nephrotoxicity during cisplatin chemotherapy.
Lubiprostone is an
effective drug for various types of constipation in patients without cancer;
however, efficacy and safety in patients with cancer have not been clarified. In
the present study, Sada et al. retrospectively compared the efficacy and
safety of lubiprostone on constipation in patients with and without cancer. It is shown that while
lubiprostone was as effective in cancer patients as in non-cancer patients, in cancer
patients it was associated with a high incidence of diarrhea and nausea side effects,
especially in patients with a low body-mass index.
Xanthine and hypoxanthine are intermediate
metabolites of uric acid formation and a source of reactive oxidative species
(ROS) by xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR). They are reabsorbed in renal proximal
tubules, but the mechanism has not been clarified yet. This study showed that
xanthine is reabsorbed in the same manner as uric acid through uric acid
transporters URAT1 and GLUT9, while hypoxanthine is not. Accordingly, it is
expected that treatment with URAT1 inhibitor along with XOR inhibitor will
effectively decrease purine pools in the body by suppressing reabsorption of
xanthine increased by XOR inhibitor, thereby preventing cell injury due to ROS
generated during XOR-mediated reactions.