Phenochalasins, inhibitors of lipid droplet formation in mouse macrophages, produced by Phomopsis sp. FT-0211

Phomopsis sp. FT-0211, a soil isolate, was found to produce inhibitors of lipid droplet formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Structurally related new compounds designated phenochalasins A and B were isolated from the fermentation broth of the producing strain by solvent extraction, ODS column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Phenochalasin A caused a dose-dependent reduction in the number and size of lipid droplets in macrophages without any cytotoxic effect at least up to 20 microm. On the other hand, phenochalasin B showed inhibition of lipid droplet formation with a severe cytotoxic effect on macrophages.

Structure elucidation of fungal phenochalasins, novel inhibitors of lipid droplet formation in mouse macrophages

The structures of phenochalasins A and B were elucidated by spectroscopic studies including various NMR measurements. Phenochalasins A and B have the cytochalasan skeleton of the 21,23-dioxa, 17,22-dione moiety containing unique phenyl and O-methyl phenyl residues at the C-10 position, respectively.

Beauveriolides, specific inhibitors of lipid droplet formation in mouse macrophages, produced by Beauveria sp. FO-6979

Beauveria sp. FO-6979, a soil isolate, was found to produce inhibitors of lipid droplet formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. A new compound beauveriolide III was isolated along with a known compound beauveriolide I from the fermentation broth of the producing strain by solvent extraction, ODS column chromatography, silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Beauveriolides I and III caused a reduction in the number and size of cytosolic lipid droplets in macrophages at 10 microM without any cytotoxic effect on macrophages.

Structure elucidation of fungal beauveriolide III, a novel inhibitor of lipid droplet formation in mouse macrophages

The structure of fungal beauveriolide III, an inhibitor of lipid droplet formation in mouse macrophages, was elucidated to be cyclo-[(3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methyloctanoyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanyl- D-allo-isoleucyl] by spectral analyses and chemical degradation.

[Study on mechanisms of T lymphocyte function changes in mice under simulated weightlessness in terms of IL-2 and Bcl-2 gene transcription]

To understand the mechanisms of T lymphocyte function changes under simulated weightlessness T lymphocyte proliferation (MTT assay), IL-2 production (biological assay), IL-2 gene (dot blot) and Bcl-2 oncogene (RT-PCR) transcription of splenic cell were observed in mice. The results showed that on the 7 th and 14 th day of simulated weightlessness T lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production decreased and significant on the 14 th day; on the 7 th and 14 th day of simulated weightlessness IL-2 and Bcl-2 gene transcription decreased, significant on the 14 day. It demonstrated that simulated weightlessness inhibits IL-2 production by decreasing IL-2 gene transcrition. IL-2 and Bcl-2 gene may be regulators of lymphocyte function under simulated weightlessness.

[Effect of -6 degrees bed-rest on T-lymphocyte proliferation and cytokines production in human]

In this study, the effect of -6 degrees head-down bed-rest on proliferation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin, a kind of polyclone T cell activators and cytokines production were observed. The results showed: after 2 d bed-rest, proliferation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin decreased significantly; the activity of interleukin-2 trended to decrease; the expression of interleukin-2 receptor tended to increase; the production of interleukin-6 decreased significantly. After 6 d bed-rest, T lymphocyte proliferation restored to normal; the activity of interleukin-2 and expression of interleukin-2 receptor had no change; the production of interleukin-6 decreased significantly. This result demonstrated that -6 degrees bed-rest can decrease T lymphocyte proliferation function, and this decrease may be caused by the reduction of cytokines secretion.

[Determination of water soluble silicon from herbal drugs]

This article has set up a method for silicon determination by ammonium molybdate-ferrous sulfate-sodium carbonate spectrophotometry. The method is simple, convenient, quick, effective and free of the influence of phosphate ion and reducing agents such as vitamin C and so on. By this method water soluble silicon has been determined in 38 herbal drugs.