Primary study on the toxic mechanism of vanadyl trehalose in Kunming mice

V4 C3 MXene Immune Profiling and Modulation of T Cell-Dendritic Cell Function and Interaction

Although vanadium-based metallodrugs are recently explored for their effective anti-inflammatory activity, they frequently cause undesired side effects. Among 2D nanomaterials, transition metal carbides (MXenes) have received substantial attention for their promise as biomedical platforms. It is hypothesized that vanadium immune properties can be extended to MXene compounds. Therefore, vanadium carbide MXene (V4 C3 ) is synthetized, evaluating its biocompatibility and intrinsic immunomodulatory effects. By combining multiple experimental approaches in vitro and ex vivo on human primary immune cells, MXene effects on hemolysis, apoptosis, necrosis, activation, and cytokine production are investigated. Furthermore, V4 C3 ability is demonstrated to inhibit T cell-dendritic cell interactions, evaluating the modulation of CD40-CD40 ligand interaction, two key costimulatory molecules for immune activation. The material biocompatibility at the single-cell level on 17 human immune cell subpopulations by single-cell mass cytometry is confirmed. Finally, the molecular mechanism underlying V4 C3 immune modulation is explored, demonstrating a MXene-mediated downregulation of antigen presentation-associated genes in primary human immune cells. The findings set the basis for further V4 C3 investigation and application as a negative modulator of the immune response in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Vanadium-based nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and treatment

In the past few decades, various vanadium compounds have displayed potential in cancer treatment. However, fast clearness in the body and possible toxicity of vanadium compounds has hindered their further development. Vanadium-based nanomaterials not only overcome these limitations, but take advantage of the internal properties of vanadium in photics and magnetics, which enable them as a multimodal platform for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this paper, we first introduced the basic biological and pharmacological functions of vanadium compounds in treating cancer. Then, the synthesis routes of three vanadium-based nanomaterials were discussed, including vanadium oxides, 2D vanadium sulfides, carbides and nitrides: V_mX_n (X = S, C, N) and water-insoluble vanadium salts. Finally, we highlighted the applications of these vanadium-based nanomaterials as tumor therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

Study on the Pharmacological Character of an Insulin-Mimetic Small Molecular Compound of Vanadyl Trehalose

To investigate the effect of vanadyl trehalose (VT) on oxidative stress and reduced glutathione/glutathione-S-transferase (GSH/GSTs) pathway gene expression in mouse gastrointestinal tract, as well as the protective effects of vitamin C (VC) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Thirty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group (group A), VT group (group B), VC + VT group (group C), GSH + VT group (group D) and VC + GSH + VT group (group E). The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and the expressions of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutathione synthetase (GSS), regulated through glutathione reductase (GSR) and glutathione-S-transferase pi (GSTpi) in stomach and duodenum in vanadyl trehalose treated group were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). The C, D, E group can significantly improve the above indicators, but those only in the stomach in E group reached the level of the control group. Vanadyl trehalose (VT) was able to cause oxidative stress damage to the gastrointestinal tract of mice, which affects GSH content and GSH-Px activity and interferes with the normal expression of GSH/GSTs pathway. Exogenous vitamin C, reduced glutathione and the combination of the two could play a specific role in antioxidant protection and reduce the toxicity of vanadyl trehalose.

Acute oral toxicity test and assessment of combined toxicity of cadmium and aflatoxin B1 in kunming mice

Cadmium and aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) are both common and widespread pollutants in food and feed. There are several reports on toxicity induced by Cadmium or AFB₁ alone, but few address the toxicity caused by co-exposure to the two substances. In this study, 42 female and 42 male Kunming (KM) mice were divided into seven groups to test the acute oral toxicity of CdCl₂ and AFB₁, using Karber's method. The combined toxicity was assessed using the Keplinger evaluation system. Acute toxicity symptoms, deaths, and body and organ weights were evaluated, and hematological, blood biochemical, and histopathological analyses were conducted. The results revealed the following median lethal doses (LD₅₀): LD_{50(Female KM mice)} = 62.56 mg/kg; LD_{50(Male KM mice)} = 48.79 mg/kg; LD_{50(KM mice)}=55.27 mg/kg. The combined toxicity of AFB₁ and CdCl₂ showed an additive effect in mice, and an increase in the mixed dose of AFB₁ and CdCl₂ resulted in greater toxicity. These results demonstrated that the combined toxicity of AFB₁ and CdCl₂ was greater than the toxicities of the individual components in mice; thus, this may cause particular challenges when addressing these hazards in food and feed and the associated risk to human and animal health.

Vanadium in Biological Action: Chemical, Pharmacological Aspects, and Metabolic Implications in Diabetes Mellitus

Vanadium compounds have been primarily investigated as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of various major health issues, including cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. The translation of vanadium-based compounds into clinical trials and ultimately into disease treatments remains hampered by the absence of a basic pharmacological and metabolic comprehension of such compounds. In this review, we examine the development of vanadium-containing compounds in biological systems regarding the role of the physiological environment, dosage, intracellular interactions, metabolic transformations, modulation of signaling pathways, toxicology, and transport and tissue distribution as well as therapeutic implications. From our point of view, the toxicological and pharmacological aspects in animal models and humans are not understood completely, and thus, we introduced them in a physiological environment and dosage context. Different transport proteins in blood plasma and mechanistic transport determinants are discussed. Furthermore, an overview of different vanadium species and the role of physiological factors (i.e., pH, redox conditions, concentration, and so on) are considered. Mechanistic specifications about different signaling pathways are discussed, particularly the phosphatases and kinases that are modulated dynamically by vanadium compounds because until now, the focus only has been on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B as a vanadium target. Particular emphasis is laid on the therapeutic ability of vanadium-based compounds and their role for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, specifically on that of vanadate- and polioxovanadate-containing compounds. We aim at shedding light on the prevailing gaps between primary scientific data and information from animal models and human studies.