Formation of radical fragments from even-electron ions is an exception to the "even-electron rule". In this work, ferulic acid (FA) and isoferulic acid (IFA) were used as the model compounds to probe the fragmentation mechanisms and the isomeric effects on homolytic cleavage. Elimination of methyl radical and CO2 are the two competing reactions observed in the CID-MS of [FA - H](-) and [IFA - H](-), of which losing methyl radical violates the "even-electron rule". The relative intensity of their product ions is significantly different, and thereby the two isomeric compounds can be differentiated by tandem MS. Theoretical calculations indicate that both the singlet-triplet gap and the excitation energy decrease in the transient structures, as the breaking C-O bond is lengthened. The methyl radical elimination has been rationalized as the intramolecular electronic excitation of a transient structure with an elongating C-O bond. The potential energy diagrams, completed by the addition of the energy barrier of the radical elimination, have provided a reasonable explanation of the different CID-MS behaviors of [FA - H](-) and [IFA - H](-).

Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), one of the main effective components of Panax notoginseng, appears to be effective in promoting osteogenesis and treating osteoporosis. However, hitherto, whether NGR1 can directly promote osteoblastogenesis remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we hereby examined the effects of NGR1 on the osteoblastogenesis of a pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) in in vitro time-course and dose-dependent experiments. Its efficacy was evaluated by assessing cell viability (indicator of proliferation), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (a marker of early osteoblastic differentiation), levels of osteocalcin (OCN; a marker of late osteoblastic differentiation), calcium deposition (a marker of final mineralization) and the expression of a series of osteoblastogenic marker genes (such as collagen Iα, Runx2, ALP and OCN) at different time points. When examining the proliferation of and ALP activity in the pre-osteoblasts, a bell-shaped dose-response pattern was observed when the cells were treated with various concentrations of NGR1, with a peak being observed at the concentration of 50 µg/ml. NGR1 markedly increased the expression of OCN at the concentration of 1,000 µg/ml in a dose‑dependent manner. Furthermore, treatment with 1,000 µg/ml NGR1 resulted in the highest mineralization by 4.3- and 5.9-fold on the 21st and 28th day, respectively compared with the control group (no treatment). On the whole, our findings indicate that NGR1 significantly promotes the osteoblastogenesis of pre-osteoblasts, which suggests that NGR1 has potential for use as a bone regeneration agent.

ObjectiveThis study sought to explore the role of metabolic disturbance in immunoregulation of gingivitis targeting T helper 17 cells (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg).Materials and MethodsA total of 20 gingivitis patients and 19 healthy volunteers were recruited. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate expression patterns of Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), retinoid-related orphan receptor-gammat (RORγt) and interleukin 17A (IL-17A) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of subjects across the two groups. Moreover, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to detect levels of TGF-β, IL-4, IL-6,TL-10 and L-17A secreted in the plasma as well as the SIgA secreted in saliva. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+Treg cells and the percentage of CD4+IL-17A+ Th17 cells in whole blood of subjects in both groups. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to analyze the plasma metabolites in the gingivitis patient group. Statistical analysis was applied to determine whether the plasma metabolites and related metabolic pathways significantly differed between gingivitis patients and healthy controls. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was employed to identify the potential relation between the metabolites and the Th17 and Treg related pathway.ResultsThe percentages of CD4+IL17A+Th17 cells and IL-17 significantly increased in the peripheral blood in the gingivitis group. Moreover, the upregulation of IL-17A mRNA and RORγt mRNA were also found in the gingivitis group. However, the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+Treg cells and Foxp3 mRNA in the whole blood did not significantly change. However, TGF-β mRNA as well as TGF-β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 in the periperial blood and SIgA in the saliva were higher in the gingivitis group. Notably, that the ratio of Th17/Treg cells was significantly increased during peripheral circulation. Furthermore, we identified 18 different metabolites which were differentially expressed in plasma between the gingivitis and healthy control groups. Notably, the levels of cholesterol, glycerol 1-octadecanoate, d-glucose, uric acid, cyclohexaneacetic acid, 3-pyridine, tryptophan, and undecane 2,4-dimethyl were significantly up-regulated. whereas the levels of lactic acid, glycine, linoleic acid, monopalmitic acid, glycerol, palmitic acid, pyruvate, 1-(3-methylbutyl)-2,3,4,6-tetramethylbenzene, 1 5-anhydro d-altrol, and boric acid were down-regulated in the gingivitis group, relative to healthy controls. IPA showed that these metabolites are connected to IL17 signaling, TGF-B signaling, and IL10 signaling, which are related closely to Th17 and Treg pathway.ConclusionOverall, these results showed that disturbance to glycolysis as well as amino and fatty acid metabolism are associated with Th17/Treg balance in gingivitis. Impaired immunometabolism may influence some periodontally involved systemic diseases, hence it is a promising strategy in targeted development of treatment therapies.

A Brønsted acid-catalyzed decarboxylative redox amination involving aldehydes with 2-carboxyindoline for the synthesis of N-alkylindoles is described. The decarboxylative condensations of aldehydes with 2-carboxyindoline produce azomethine ylides in situ, which then transform into N-alkylindoles by isomerization.

CoTOL is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula in clinics for treating gout and hyperuricemia, especially in obese patients with recurrent attacks. However, fewer studies have investigated how CoTOL impacts the intestinal flora in reducing uric acid. In the present, we analyze the bacteria targeted by ingredients of CoTOL and evaluate the effects of CoTOL on uric acid and intestinal flora in a mice model of obese hyperuricemia inoculated with xanthine dehydrogenase- (XOD-) producing bacteria, Streptococcus faecalis. Firstly, ingredients of herbs in CoTOL and gene target by these ingredients were retrieved from TCMID 2.0, and these genes were screened by DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.8, deciphered to retrieve the bacteria. Then, 3-4-week-old male C57bl/6j mice were randomly divided into 6 groups and fed with high fat diet for 8 weeks up to obesity standard. The mice were inoculated intragastrically with 5 × 109 CFU Streptococcus faecalis 3 times at the 5th, 6th, and 7th week and intragastrically administrated with uricase inhibitor, potassium-oxonate (PO, 250 mg/kg), to induce hyperuricemia at the 8th week, once a day for 7 consecutive days, respectively (IB model). IB model plus CoTOL (0.4 ml/20g) and allopurinol (40 mg/kg) were administrated by gavage at the 5th week, once a day for 4 weeks. The feces and blood in each group were sampled at the 4th and 8th week. With no bacteria inoculation, CoTOL, allopurinol, and blank group were treated with CoTOL and allopurinol or water, respectively. 44 species of bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus, etc.) genes were targeted by 6 ingredients of 6 herbs in CoTOL. Inoculation with Streptococcus faecalis significantly caused the elevation of uric acid and the change of intestinal flora structure, whereas treatment with CoTOL significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia and those of Bacteroides and Alloprevotella decreased. Furthermore, CoTOL exhibited a unique effect on reducing weight unobserved in allopurinol intervention. The present study, for the first time, demonstrated that CoTOL has beneficial effects on hyperuricemia and overweight, which may be attributed to regulating material metabolism and improving the structure or function of intestinal flora. Thus, CoTOL may be a promising therapy for hyperuricemia and overweight in chronic gout management and can be integrated with conventional treatments.