Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

About: Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a education organization based out in Shenyang, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Randomized controlled trial & Acupuncture. The organization has 2040 authors who have published 1326 publications receiving 14664 citations.

Exploring the proton conductance and drug resistance of BM2 channel through molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations at different pH conditions.

Abstract: BM2 channel plays an important role in the replication of influenza virus B. However, few studies attempt to investigate the mechanism of the proton conductance in BM2 channel, as well as the drug resistance of the BM2 channel. The first experimental structure of the BM2 protein channel has recently been solved, enabling us to theoretically study BM2 systems with different protonation states of histidine. By performing molecular dynamics simulations on the BM2 systems with different protonation states of four His19 residues, we provided our understanding of the structure, dynamics, and drug resistance of the BM2 channel. In general, the results of our study and other investigations both have demonstrated that whether the BM2 channel adopts an open or a closed form depends on the protonation state of His19. Meanwhile, we discovered that a drug (amantadine) was unable to enter into the center of the BM2 channel even at a low pH condition probably due to the number of hydrophilic residues of the BM2 channel. Finally, potentials of mean force (PMF) calculations were performed for the drug binding BM2 channel, energetically explaining why the BM2 channel exhibited drug resistance to two inhibitors of the AM2 channel, amantadine and rimantadine.

Chemical constituents and biological activities against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) of the essential oil from Citrus wilsonii leaves

Abstract: The essential oil obtained from Citrus wilsonii Tanaka leaves by hydrodistillation was investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of the essential oil were identified to be citronellol (16.94 %), neryl acetate (10.35 %), γ-terpinene (9.85 %), citronellal (9.36 %) and β-pinene (6.72 %). These four compounds, predicted with a bioactivity-test to be the active constituents, were isolated and identified. It was found that the essential oil of C. wilsonii leaves and the isolated compounds possessed fumigant and contact toxicity against Tribolium castaneum adults. The essential oil and γ-terpinene showed strong fumigant toxicity against T. castaneum (LC50 = 8.18 and 4.09 mg L -1 , respectively). The repellency of the crude oil and the active compounds was also determined. Citronellol, neryl acetate and β-pinene were strongly repellent (100, 86 and 92 %, respectively, at 78.63 nL cm -2 , after 2 h treatment) against T. castaneum. The essential oil and citronellol exhibited the same level of repellency compared with the positive control, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). The results indicate that the essen- tial oil of C. wilsonii leaves and its active compounds had the potential to be developed as natural fumigants, insecticides and repellents for the control of T. castaneum.

Transfer of the IL-37b gene elicits anti-tumor responses in mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer.

Abstract: IL-37b has shown anti-cancer activities in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-37b on breast carcinoma growth in mice and to determine the involvement of T cell activation in the effects. IL-37b gene was transferred into mouse breast carcinoma cell line 4T1 (4T1-IL37b cells), the expression of secretory IL-37b by the cells was detected, and the effects of IL-37b expression on the cell proliferation in vitro was evaluated. After injection of 4T1 cells or 4T1-IL37b cells into immunocompetent BALB/c mice, immunodeficient BALB/c nude mice and NOD-SCID mice, the tumor growth and survival rate were measured. The proliferation of T cells in vitro was also detected. IL-37b was detected in the supernatants of 4T1-IL37b cells with a concentration of 12.02±0.875 ng/mL. IL-37b expression did not affect 4T1 cell proliferation in vitro. BALB/c mice inoculated with 4T1-IL37b cells showed significant retardation of tumor growth. BALB/c mice inoculated with both 4T1 cells and mitomycin C-treated 4T1-IL37b cells also showed significant retardation of tumor growth. But the anti-cancer activity of IL-37b was abrogated in BALB/c nude mice and NOD-SCID mice inoculated with 4T1-IL37b cells. Recombinant IL-37b slightly promoted CD4+ T cell proliferation without affecting CD8+ T cell proliferation. IL-37b exerts anti-4T1 breast carcinoma effects in vivo by modulating the tumor microenvironment and influencing T cell activation.