Genome Mining of a Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium allii-sativi Revealed Polyketide-Terpenoid Hybrids with Antiosteoporosis Activity

Two novel meroterpenoids, alliisativins A and B (1, 2) were discovered through a genome-based exploration of the biosynthetic gene clusters of the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium allii-sativi MCCC entry 3A00580. Extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum calculations, chemical derivatization, and biogenetic considerations were utilized to establish their structures. Alliisativins A and B (1, 2) possess a unique carbon skeleton featuring a drimane sesquiterpene with a highly oxidized polyketide. Noteworthily, alliisativin A (1) showed dual activity in promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclast, indicating an antiosteoporosis potential.

Lead Optimization of Butyrolactone I as an Orally Bioavailable Antiallergic Agent Targeting FcγRIIB

Food allergy (FA) poses a growing global food safety concern, yet no effective cure exists in clinics. Previously, we discovered a potent antifood allergy compound, butyrolactone I (BTL-I, 1), from the deep sea. Unfortunately, it has a very low exposure and poor pharmacokinetic (PK) profile in rats. Therefore, a series of structural optimizations toward the metabolic pathways of BTL-I were conducted to provide 18 derives (2-19). Among them, BTL-MK (19) showed superior antiallergic activity and favorable pharmacokinetics compared to BTL-I, being twice as potent with a clearance (CL) rate of only 0.5% that of BTL-I. By oral administration, Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞) were 565 and 204 times higher than those of BTL-I, respectively. These findings suggest that butyrolactone methyl ketone (BTL-BK) could serve as a drug candidate for the treatment of FAs and offer valuable insights into optimizing the druggability of lead compounds.

Chemical Constituents from the deep-sea-derived Fungus Aureobasidium melanogenum LUO5

Three new C10 and C12 aliphatic δ-lactones (1-3), three new fatty acid methyl esters (4-6), and eight known compounds (7-14) were isolated from the marine Aureobasidium sp. LUO5. Their structures were established by detailed analyses of the NMR, HRESIMS, optical rotation, and ECD data. All isolates were tested for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Notably, compound 4 displayed the strongest inhibitory effect with the IC50 value of 120.3 nM.

Marine-Derived Alternariol Monomethyl Ether Alleviates Ovalbumin-Induced Food Allergy by Suppressing MAPK and NF-κB Signaling Pathways of Mast Cells

The prevalence of food allergies has grown dramatically over the past decade. Recently, studies have shown the potential of marine substances to alleviate food allergies. We utilized a rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 model to evaluate the antiallergic effects of alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) extracted from marine fungi Alternaria sp. Our results showed that AME attenuated food allergy symptoms in mice and reduced histamine release in serum. The population of mast cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes was considerably reduced. Moreover, in vitro assays also revealed that AME inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine. Transcriptomic analysis uncovered that AME regulated gene expression associated with mast cells. Additionally, Western blotting demonstrated that AME suppressed mast cell activation by modulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings provide a theoretical basis for the potential antiallergic use of marine-derived compounds in the development of functional foods.

Anti-necroptosis and anti-ferroptosis compounds from the Deep-Sea-Derived fungus Aspergillus sp. MCCC 3A00392

Eight undescribed (1-8) and 46 known compounds (9-54) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived Aspergillus sp. MCCC 3A00392. Compounds 1-3 were three novel oxoindolo diterpenoids, 4-6 were three bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, while 7 and 8 were two monocyclic cyclopropanes. Their structures were established by exhaustive analyses of the HRESIMS, NMR, and theoretical calculations of the NMR data and ECD spectra. Compounds 10, 33, 38, and 39 were able to inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced necroptosis in murine L929 cell lines. Functional experiments verified that compounds 10 and 39 inhibited necroptosis by downregulating the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL. Moreover, compound 39 also reduced the phosphorylation of RIPK1. Compounds 10, 33, and 34 displayed potent inhibitory activities against RSL-3 induced ferroptosis with the EC50 value of 3.0 μM, 0.4 μM, and 0.1 μM, respectively. Compound 10 inhibited ferroptosis by the downregulation of HMOX1, while compounds 33 and 34 inhibited ferroptosis through regulation of NRF2/SLC7A11/GCLM axis. However, these compounds only showed weak effect in either the necroptosis or ferroptosis relative mouse disease models. Further studies of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics might improve their in vivo bioactivities.

Cladosporium sphaerospermum extract inhibits quorum sensing associated virulence factors of Serratia marcescens

Serratia marcescens is now becoming a propensity for its highly antimicrobial-resistant clinical infections. Currently, it provides a novel strategy to prevent and control microbial infection by regulating S. marcescens quorum sensing (QS). Deep-sea-derived fungi are rich in QS bioactive constituents. In this work, the extracts from Cladosporium sphaerospermum SCSGAF0054 showed potent QS-related virulence factors and biofilm-inhibiting activities against S. marcescens NJ01. The swimming motility and multiple virulence factors such as prodigiosin, exopolysaccharide (EPS), lipase, protease and hemolysin were moderately inhibited by the extracts at varied concentrations. The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed that C. sphaerospermum extracts moderately arrested biofilm formation and cell viability. Further, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that expressions of genes associated with virulence factors, flhD, fimA, fimC, bsmA, bsmB, pigA, pigC, and shlA, were significantly down-regulated compared with control. In addition, the extracts combined with imipenem inhibited the QS system of S. marcescens NJ01, disrupted its preformed biofilm, released the intra-biofilm bacteria and killed the bacteria gradually. Therefore, the extracts combined with imipenem can partially restore bacterial drug sensitivity. These results suggest that the extracts from SCSGAF0054 effectively interfere with the QS system to treat S. marcescens infection alone or combining with classical antimicrobial drugs.

Hepialiamides A-C: Aminated Fusaric Acid Derivatives and Related Metabolites with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Samsoniella hepiali W7

A systematic investigation combined with a Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) molecular networking approach, was conducted on the metabolites of the deep-sea-derived fungus Samsoniella hepiali W7, leading to the isolation of three new fusaric acid derivatives, hepialiamides A-C (1-3) and one novel hybrid polyketide hepialide (4), together with 18 known miscellaneous compounds (5-22). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated through detailed spectroscopic analysis. as well as TD-DFT-based ECD calculation. All isolates were tested for anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Under a concentration of 1 µM, compounds 8, 11, 13, 21, and 22 showed potent inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglia cells, with inhibition rates of 34.2%, 30.7%, 32.9%, 38.6%, and 58.2%, respectively. Of particularly note is compound 22, which exhibited the most remarkable inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 426.2 nM.

Chemical Constituents of the Deep-sea Gammarid Shrimp-Derived Fungus Penicillium citrinum XIA-16

One new alkaloid, (S)-2-acetamido-4-(2-(methylamino)phenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid (1), was isolated from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium citrinum XIA-16, together with 25 known compounds including ten polyketones (2-11), eight alkaloids (12-19), six steroids (20-25), and a fatty acid (26). Their planar and relative structures were determined by an analysis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Penicitrinol B (6) significantly inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis (EC50 =2.0 μM) by reducing lipid peroxidation and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) expression. Under the concentration of 10 μM, penicitrinol A (7) was able to inhibit cuproptosis with the cell viabilities of 68.2 % compared to the negative control (copper and elesclomol) with the cell viabilities of 14.8 %.

Penicopeptide A (PPA) from the deep-sea-derived fungus promotes osteoblast-mediated bone formation and alleviates ovariectomy-induced bone loss by activating the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway

The potential of marine natural products as effective drugs for osteoporosis treatment is an understudied area. In this study, we investigated the ability of lead compounds from deep-sea-derived Penicillium solitum MCCC 3A00215 to promote bone formation in vitro and in vivo. We found that penicopeptide A (PPA) promoted osteoblast mineralization among bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a concentration-dependent manner, and thus, we selected this natural peptide for further testing. Our further experiments showed that PPA significantly promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation and not affecting their chondrogenic differentiation. Mechanistic studies showed that PPA binds directly to the AKT and GSK-3β and activates phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3β, resulting in the accumulation of β-catenin. We also evaluated the therapeutic potential of PPA in a female mouse model of ovariectomy-induced systemic bone loss. In this model, PPA treatment prevented decreases in bone volume and trabecular thickness. In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that PPA could promote osteoblast-related bone formation via the AKT, GSK-3β, and β-catenin signaling pathways, indicating the clinical potential of PPA as a candidate compound for osteoporosis prevention.

[Determination of 4-methyl-2-pentanol in workplace air by solvent desorption-gas chromatography]

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of 4-methyl-2-pentanol in the air of workplace by gas chromatography. Methods: In January 2022, 4-methyl-2-pentanol in the air of workplace was collected by activated carbontube, eluted with dichloromethane-methanol (95∶5, V/V), separated by capillary column and determined by gas chromatogram. Results: The limit of detection for 4-methyl-2-pentanol was 0.04 μg/ml. The linear range of 4-methyl-2-pentanol was 0.16-1616.60 μg/ml, with the regression equation of y=1.94x-5.48, and the coefficient correlation was 0.99958, and the minimum detection concentration was 0.03 mg/m(3) (collected sample volume was 1.50 L). The within-run precisions were 1.08%-1.75% and the between-run precisions were 1.41%-2.52%. The desorption rates were 95.15%-99.91%. The samples could be stored at least 3 days at room temperature and 7 days at 4 ℃ without significant loss. Conclusion: The method has the advantages of good precision, high sensitivity and simple operation. It is suitable for the determination of 4-methyl-2-pentanol in the air of workplace.

Penidihydrocitrinins A-C: New Polyketides from the Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium citrinum W17 and Their Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Osteoporotic Bioactivities

Three new polyketides (penidihydrocitrinins A-C, 1-3) and fourteen known compounds (4-17) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium citrinum W17. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1-17 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoporotic bioactivities. All isolates exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-stimulated nitric oxide production in murine brain microglial BV-2 cells in a dose-response manner. Notably, compound 14 displayed the strongest effect with the IC50 value of 4.7 µM. Additionally, compounds 6, 7, and 8 significantly enhanced osteoblast mineralization, which was comparable to that of the positive control, purmorphamine. Furthermore, these three compounds also suppressed osteoclastogenesis in a dose-dependent manner under the concentrations of 2.5 μM, 5.0 μM, and 10 μM.

Neotricitrinols A-C, unprecedented citrinin trimers with anti-osteoporosis activity from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium citrinum W23

Marine fungi are prolific source for the discovery of structurally diverse and bioactive molecules. In our search for new anti-osteoporosis compounds from deep-sea-derived fungi, we prioritized a fungus whose extract exhibited moderate activity and rich chemical diversity. The investigation of this strain afforded a class of citrinins, including three new citrinin trimers, neotricitrinols A-C (1-3), and three known dimeric/monomeric precursors (4-6). Neotricitrinols A-C (1-3) feature a unique octacyclic carbon scaffold among the few reported citrinin trimers with their absolute configurations established by spectroscopic analysis, theoretical-statistical approaches (GIAO-NMR, TDDFT-ECD/ORD calculations), DP4+ probability analysis as well as biogenetic consideration. A plausible biosynthetic pathway linking 1-3 from the common intermediate metabolite penicitrinol A (4) was proposed. Biologically, neotricitrinol B (2) showed potential anti-osteoporosis activity by promoting osteoblastogenesis and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation on primary bone mesenchymal stem cells, while displaying no cytotoxicity.

Citriquinolinones A and B: Rare Isoquinolinone-Embedded Citrinin Analogues and Related Metabolites from the Deep-Sea-Derived Aspergillus versicolor 170217

A systematic chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor 170217 resulted in the isolation of six new (1-6) and 45 known (7-51) compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of exhaustive analysis of their spectroscopic data and theoretical-statistical approaches including GIAO-NMR, TDDFT-ECD/ORD calculations, DP4+ probability analysis, and biogenetic consideration. Citriquinolinones A (1) and B (2) feature a unique isoquinolinone-embedded citrinin scaffold, representing the first exemplars of a citrinin-isoquinolinone hybrid. Dicitrinones K-L (3-4) are two new dimeric citrinin analogues with a rare CH-CH3 bridge. Biologically, frangula-emodin (32) and diorcinol (17) displayed remarkable anti-food allergic activity with IC50 values of 7.9 ± 3.0 μM and 13.4 ± 1.2 μM, respectively, while diorcinol (17) and penicitrinol A (20) exhibited weak inhibitory activity against Vibrio parahemolyticus, with MIC values ranging from 128 to 256 μM.

Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues

Aging, often considered a result of random cellular damage, can be accurately estimated using DNA methylation profiles, the foundation of pan-tissue epigenetic clocks. Here, we demonstrate the development of universal pan-mammalian clocks, using 11,754 methylation arrays from our Mammalian Methylation Consortium, which encompass 59 tissue types across 185 mammalian species. These predictive models estimate mammalian tissue age with high accuracy (r > 0.96). Age deviations correlate with human mortality risk, mouse somatotropic axis mutations and caloric restriction. We identified specific cytosines with methylation levels that change with age across numerous species. These sites, highly enriched in polycomb repressive complex 2-binding locations, are near genes implicated in mammalian development, cancer, obesity and longevity. Our findings offer new evidence suggesting that aging is evolutionarily conserved and intertwined with developmental processes across all mammals.

Hyposterolactone A, a 3α-Hydroxy Steroidal Lactone from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Hypocrea sp. ZEN14

Chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Hypocrea sp. ZEN14 afforded a new 3α-hydroxy steroidal lactone, hyposterolactone A (1) and 25 known secondary metabolites (2-26). The structure of the new compound was established by detailed spectroscopic analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation as well as a J-based configuration analysis. Compound 10 showed potent cytotoxicity against Huh7 and Jurkat cells with IC50 values of 1.4 μM and 6.7 μM, respectively.

[The efficacy and safety of intravenous sucrose iron therapy for recurrent iron deficiency anemia]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with recurrent iron deficiency anemia (IDA) . Methods: This retrospective analysis of 90 patients with recurrent IDA from May 2012 to December 2021 was conducted, comparing the efficacy and safety of the intravenous iron therapy group and the oral iron therapy group. Results: Among the 90 patients with recurrent IDA, 20 were males and 70 were females, with a median age of 40 (range: 14-85) years. A total of 60 patients received intravenous iron supplementation and 30 received oral iron supplementation. The hematologic response rates in the intravenous iron group were significantly higher than those in the oral iron group at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment [80.0% (48/60) vs 3.3% (1/30) and 96.7% (58/60) vs 46.7% (14/30), all P<0.001, respectively]. The median increase in hemoglobin levels was also significantly higher in the intravenous iron group than in the oral iron group [38 (4, 66) g/L vs 7 (1, 22) g/L at week 4 and 44.5 (18, 80) g/L vs 19 (3, 53) g/L at week 8, all P<0.001]. The intravenous iron group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who achieved normal hemoglobin levels than the oral iron group (55.0% vs 0 and 90% vs 43.3%, all P<0.001, respectively). Iron metabolism indicators were tested before and after 8 weeks of treatment in 26 and 7 patients in the intravenous and oral iron groups, respectively. The median increase in serum ferritin (SF) levels in the intravenous iron group 8 weeks after treatment was 113.7 (49.7, 413.5) μg/L, and 54% (14/26) of these patients had SF levels of ≥100 μg/L, which was significantly higher than the median increase in SF levels in the oral iron group [14.0 (5.8, 84.2) μg/L, t=4.760, P<0.001] and the proportion of patients with SF levels of ≥100 μg/L (P=0.013). The incidence of adverse reactions was 3.3% (2/60) in the intravenous iron group, which was significantly lower than that in the oral iron group [20.0% (6/30), P=0.015]. Conclusion: Intravenous iron supplementation is more effective for hematologic response, faster hemoglobin increase, and higher iron storage replenishment rates compared with oral iron supplementation in patients with recurrent IDA, and it is well tolerated by patients.

Ferroptosis Inhibitory Compounds from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. MCCC 3A00126

Two new xanthones (1 and 2) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium sp. MCCC 3A00126 along with 34 known compounds (3-36). The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was validated by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity and ferroptosis inhibitory activities. Compounds 14 and 15 exerted potent cytotoxicity against CCRF-CEM cells, with IC₅₀ values of 5.5 and 3.5 μM, respectively, whereas 26, 28, 33, and 34 significantly inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis, with EC₅₀ values of 11.6, 7.2, 11.8, and 2.2 μM, respectively.

[The effect of on-demand glucocorticoid strategy on the occurrence and outcome of p-ALG-associated serum sickness in aplastic anemia]

Objective: To investigate the effect of on-demand glucocorticoid strategy on the occurrence and outcome of porcine anti-lymphocyte globulin (p-ALG) -associated serum sickness in aplastic anemia (AA) . Methods: The data of AA patients who received in the Anemia Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Haematology Hospital, CAMS & PUMC from January 2019 to January 2022 were collected. Among them, 35 patients were enrolled in the on-demand group, with the glucocorticoid strategy adjusted based on the occurrence and severity of serum sickness; 105 patients were recruited in the usual group by matching the age and disease diagnosis according to 1∶3 ratio in patients who received a conventional glucocorticoid strategy in the same period. The incidences, clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes of serum sickness, and glucocorticoid dosage between the two groups were analyzed. Results: The incidences of serum sickness in the on-demand group and the usual group were 65.7% and 54.3% (P=0.237) , respectively. The median onset of serum sickness was the same [12 (9, 13) d vs the 12 (10, 13) d, P=0.552], and clinical symptoms and signs, primarily joint, and/or muscle pain, fever, and rash were similar. Severity grades were both dominated by Grades 1-2 (62.8% vs 51.4%) , with only a few Grade 3 (2.9% vs 2.9%) , and no Grades 4-5. No significant difference in the serum sickness distribution (P=0.530) . The median duration of serum sickness was the same [5 (3, 7) d vs 5 (3, 6) d, P=0.529], and all patients were completely cured after glucocorticoid therapy. In patients without serum sickness, the average dosage of prophylactic glucocorticoid per patient in the usual group was (469.48 ±193.57) mg (0 in the on-demand group) . When compared to the usual group, the average therapeutic glucocorticoid dosage per patient in the on-demand group was significantly lower [ (125.91±77.70) mg vs (653.90±285.56) mg, P<0.001]. Conclusions: In comparison to the usual glucocorticoid strategy, the on-demand treatment strategy could significantly reduce glucocorticoid dosage without increasing the incidence of serum sickness; in addition, the duration of serum sickness and the incidence of above Grade 2-serum sickness were similar.

Marine life as a source for breast cancer treatment: A comprehensive review

Breast cancer, one of the most significant tumors among all cancer cells, still has deficiencies for effective treatment. Moreover, substitute treatments employing natural products as bioactive metabolites has been seriously considered. The source of bioactive metabolites are not only the most numerous but also represent the richest source. A unique source is from the oceans or marine species which demonstrated intriguing chemical and biological diversity which represents an astonishing reserve for discovering novel anticancer drugs. Notably, marine sponges produce the largest amount of diverse bioactive peptides, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyketides along with many secondary metabolites whose potential is mostly therapeutic. In this review, our main focus is on the marine derived secondary metabolites which demonstrated cytotoxic effects towards numerous breast cancer cells and have been isolated from the marine sources such as marine sponges, cyanobacteria, fungi, algae, tunicates, actinomycetes, ascidians, and other sources of marine organisms.

[Effect of methylene blue labeling on therapeutic effect and prognosis of gastric cancer patients in D2 radical gastrectomy under laparoscope]

Objective: To investigate the effect of methylene blue tracing on the effect of surgical resection and the prognosis of gastric cancer patients in D2 radical surgery under laparoscope. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 160 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent surgical treatment in Xinxiang Central Hospital, the 4th Clinical College of Xinxiang Medical College from January 2016 to January 2019 were selected for retrospective analysis. Among them, 84 patients underwent laparoscopic D2 radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer combined with methylene blue labeling operation (labeling group), and the other 76 patients underwent only laparoscopic D2 radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (control group). The difference of intraoperative and postoperative recovery, lymph node dissection, and postoperative 3-year cumulative survival rate between the two groups were analyzed. Results: The age of patients in the labeled group and the control group were (64.9±7.8) and (66.0±8.3) years old, respectively (P=0.389); And the male patients accounted for 61.9% (52 cases) and 55.3% (42 cases), respectively (P=0.394); The operation time in the labeled group was (218.5±19.6) min, which was shorter than that in the control group (230.1±17.4) min (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the labeled group and the control group in the amount of bleeding during operation, the time of anal exhaust after operation, the time of eating after operation, the time of hospitalization after operation, and the average diameter of lymph nodes (P>0.05). The total number of dissected lymph nodes, D1 lymph nodes and D2 lymph nodes in the labeled group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P values<0.05). The operative complication rate in the labeled group was 11.9% (10 cases), which was lower than that in the control group (25.0%, 19 cases) (P=0.032); There was no statistical significance in 3-year cumulative survival rates of patients between the labeled group (61.9%) and the control group (52.6%) (χ²=3.46,P=0.065). Conclusion: The use of methylene blue tracing in laparoscopic D2 radical surgery for gastric cancer is beneficial to reduce the operation time, improve the lymph node clearance rate, and reduce surgical complications.

Tetracyclic Steroids Bearing a Bicyclo[4.4.1] Ring System as Potent Antiosteoporosis Agents from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Rhizopus sp. W23

Chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Rhizopus sp. W23 resulted in the identification of six new (1-3, 6, 8, 9) and 12 known (4, 5, 10-19) cyclocitrinol analogues, together with one handling artifact (7), all featuring an unusual 7/7/6/5-tetracyclic scaffold and bicyclo[4.4.1] A/B rings. Norcyclocitrinoic acids A and B (1, 2) represent the second occurrence of 24,25-bisnor cyclocitrinols. Structures were assigned to new steroids on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Compound 13 significantly enhances osteoblastogenesis and inhibits adipogenesis in mature bone marrow stromal cells at 5 μM, indicating a potential to be an antiosteoporosis lead.

Chemical Constituents of the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Cladosporium oxysporum 170103 and Their Antibacterial Effects

The Cladosporium fungi, one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, could produce various bioactive secondary metabolites. From the AcOEt-soluble extract of Cladosporium oxysporum 170103, three new secopatulolides (1-3) and thirteen known compounds (4-16) were obtained. Their structures were established by detailed analysis of the NMR and HR-ESI-MS data. All sixteen compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahemolyticus, ergosterol (10) presented moderate effect with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 μM. It can destruct the membrane integrity of Vibrio parahemolyticus to change the cell shape.

Three New Lanostanoids with Anti-HCV Effects from Abies nukiangensis

Three new lanostane derivatives (1-3) and twelve known triterpenoids (4-15) were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Abies nukiangensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly by detailed analysis of their NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data. Evaluation of the anti-HCV effects of all isolates showed that 3 exhibited moderate effect with the EC₅₀ value of 11.09 μM.

Chemical Constituents of the Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium citreonigrum MCCC 3A00169 and Their Antiproliferative Effects

Six new citreoviridins (citreoviridins J-O, 1-6) and twenty-two known compounds (7-28) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium citreonigrum MCCC 3A00169. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, including the HRESIMS, NMR, ECD calculations, and dimolybdenum tetraacetate-induced CD (ICD) experiments. Citreoviridins J-O (1-6) are diastereomers of 6,7-epoxycitreoviridin with different chiral centers at C-2-C-7. Pyrenocine A (7), terrein (14), and citreoviridin (20) significantly induced apoptosis for HeLa cells with IC₅₀ values of 5.4 μM, 11.3 μM, and 0.7 μM, respectively. To be specific, pyrenocine A could induce S phase arrest, while terrein and citreoviridin could obviously induce G0-G1 phase arrest. Citreoviridin could inhibit mTOR activity in HeLa cells.

Brefeldin A from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Fusarium sp. Targets on RIPK3 to Inhibit TNFα-Induced Necroptosis

From the deep-sea-derived Fusarium sp. ZEN-48, four known compounds were obtained. Their structures were established by extensive analyses of the NMR, HRESIMS, and the X-ray crystal-lographic data as brefeldin A (BFA, 1), brevianamide F (2), N-acetyltryptamine (3), and (+)-diaporthin (4). Although BFA was extensively investigated for its potent bioactivities, its role on TNFα-induced necroptosis was incompletely understood. In this study, BFA showed significant inhibition on TNFα-induced necroptosis by disrupting the necrosome formation and suppressing the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL (IC50 = 0.5 μM). While, it had no effect on TNFα-induced NF-κB/MAPKs activation and apoptosis. The finding raised significant implications of BFA for necroptosis-related inflammatory disease therapy and new drug development from marine fungi.

Cladosporioles A and B, Two New Indole Derivatives from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides 170056

Two new (cladosporioles A and B, 1 and 2) and fourteen known (3-16) compounds were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides 170056. The relative structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly by detailed analysis of their NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data. Their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Compound 15 exhibited weak effect with the MIC value of 156.25 μg/mL.

Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Study of Deep-Sea-Derived Butyrolactone I in Rats by UHPLC-MS/MS and UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Butyrolactone I (BTL-I) is a butanolide isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus, Aspergillus sp. It provides a potential new target for the prevention and treatment of food allergies. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic and pharmacokinetic profile of BTL-I in rats. The metabolic profiles were obtained by UHPLC–Q-TOF-MS. As a result, eleven metabolites were structurally identified, and the proposed metabolic pathways of BTL-I were characterized. The main metabolites were the oxidative and glucuronidative metabolites. In addition, a sensitive UHPLC–MS/MS method was established for the quantitation of BTL-I in rat plasma (LOQ = 2 ng/mL). The method was fully validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of BTL-I in rats after oral administration or intravenous administration. The oral bioavailability was calculated as 6.29%, and the maximum plasma concentrations were 9.85 ± 1.54 ng/mL and 17.97 ± 1.36 ng/mL for intravenous and intragastric dosing groups, respectively.

[Molecular mechanism of miR-369-3p regulating hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting ACTN4]

Objective: To investigate the effect of miR-369-3p targeting ACTN4 expression on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot were used to detect the expression levels of miR-369-3p and ACTN4 in hepatocarcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues. MiR-369-3p mimics, miR-negative control (NC), si-ACTN4, and si-NC were transfected into hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells by liposome method. Cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-dipheny-ltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptotic rates. The dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the targeted regulation of ACTN4 by miR-369-3p. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of cyclin D1, p21, Bcl-2 and Bax. Results: The expression level of miR-369-3p in liver cancer tissue was lower than that in adjacent tissues [(0.46±0.04) vs (1.00±0.08), P<0.001)], while the expression level of ACTN4 was higher than that in adjacent tissues [mRNA (3.12±0.29) vs (1.01±0.09); protein (0.61±0.06) vs (0.25±0.03), P<0.001]. Overexpression of miR-369-3p significantly decreased the cell viability[(0.71±0.06) vs (1.26±0.11), P<0.001)], increased cell apoptosis rate [(20.16±2.11)% vs (6.25±0.64)%, P<0.001], increased the proportion of cells in G(1) phase [(31.14±3.36)% vs (51.56±5.23)%, P<0.001], decreased the proportion of cells in S phase [(32.44±3.56)% vs (14.33) ±1.45)%, P<0.001], increased the levels of p21 and Bax protein (P<0.001), and decreased the levels of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 protein (P<0.001). Inhibition of the expression of ACTN4 significantly reduced the cell viability [(0.78±0.07) vs (1.24±0.12), P<0.001], increased the apoptosis rate [(6.58±0.66)% vs (18.32±1.82)%, P<0.001], increased the proportion of cells in G(1) phase [(48.69±4.21)% vs (30.33±3.01)%, P<0.001], decreased the proportion of cells in S phase [(36.21±3.42)% vs (18.54±1.61)%, P<0.001], increased the protein levels of p21 and Bax (P<0.001), and decreased the levels of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 protein (P<0.001). Compared with the miR-369-3p+ pcDNA group, overexpression of ACTN4 increased the proliferation ability of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells at 72 hours of culture[(1.12±0.11) vs (0.68±0.06), P<0.001], significantly reduced the proportion of cells in G(1) stage [(38.81±3.24)% vs (51.80±4.57)%, P<0.001], significantly increased the proportion of S-phase cells [(31.65±3.11)% vs (15.69±1.44)%, P<0.001], decreased cell apoptosis rate [(13.86±1.37)% vs (22.69±2.24)%, P<0.001], increased protein expressions of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 (P<0.001), decreased the protein expressions of p21 and Bax (P<0.001). Conclusion: MiR-369-3p can induce cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase, inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of liver cancer cells by regulating the expression of ACTN4.

Anti-HIV Compounds from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Chaetomium globosum

Chemical investigation on the deep-sea-derived fungus Chaetomium globosum led to the isolation of nine compounds. By extensive analyses of the 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectra, their structures were elucidated as xylariol A (1), 1,3-dihydro-4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methylisobenzofuran (2), epicoccone B (3), epicoccolide B (4), chaetoglobosin G (5), chaetoglobosin F_ex (6), cochliodone A (7), cochliodone B (8), and chaetoviridin A (9), assorting as four phenolics (1-4), two cytochalosans (5-6), and three azaplilones (7-9). Compounds 1-3 were firstly reported from C. globosum. Under the concentrations of 20 μg/mL, 1, 2, and 3 exhibited potent in vitro anti-HIV activity with the inhibition rates of 70 %, 75 %, and 88 %, respectively.

Solitumergosterol A, a unique 6/6/6/6/5 steroid from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium solitum MCCC 3A00215

A unique C30 steroid, solitumergosterol A (1), was isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium solitum MCCC 3A00215. The planar structure and relative configuration of 1 were established mainly on the basis of extensive analysis of its 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRESIMS data, while its absolute configuration was clarified by comparison of the experimental and theoretical ECD spectra. Noteworthily, 1 is a Diels-Alder adduct of a heterogeneous steroid bearing a 6/6/6/6/5 pentacyclic carbon skeleton. Solitumergosterol A (1) exhibited weak in vitro anti-tumor activity against MB231 cells by a RXRα-dependent mechanism.

Anti-Food Allergic Alkaloids from the Lotus Seed Pot

Lotus seed pod (LSP) has been used as traditional herbal cuisine to modulate immunity. From the AcOEt-soluble extract of LSP, one new aporphine alkaloid, N-[2-(2H-phenanthro[3,4-d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethyl]acetamide (nelunucine A, 1) was obtained along with 19 known ones. Their structures were established by detailed analysis of the 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HR-ESI-MS data. N-Nornuciferine (9) and lirinidine (10) showed potent in vitro anti-food allergic activity with IC₅₀ values of 40.0 and 55.4 μM, respectively, compared to 91.4 μM for loratadine, the positive control.

Chemical Constituents of the Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium solitum

A systematic chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium solitum MCCC 3A00215 resulted in the isolation of one novel polyketide (1), two new alkaloids (2 and 3), and 22 known (4-25) compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established mainly on the basis of exhaustive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Viridicatol (13) displayed moderate anti-tumor activities against PANC-1, Hela, and A549 cells with IC50 values of around 20 μM. Moreover, 13 displayed potent in vitro anti-food allergic activity with an IC50 value of 13 μM, compared to that of 92 μM for the positive control, loratadine, while indole-3-acetic acid methyl ester (9) and penicopeptide A (10) showed moderate effects (IC50 = 50 and 58 μM, respectively).

Chemical Constituents of the Marine Fungus Penicillium sp. MCCC 3A00228

One new (d-arabinitol-anofinicate, 1) and fourteen known (2-15) compounds were isolated from the marine Penicillium sp. MCCC 3A00228. The structure of the new compound was established mainly by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 exhibited weak transcriptional effect on Nur77. While compound 13 showed moderate in vitro anti-proliferative effect against QGY7701, H1299, and HCT116 tumor cells with IC₅₀ values of 21.2 μM, 18.2 μM, and 17.6 μM, respectively.

Three first records of stick insects attacking plants (Inseect: Phasmida) in Tibet

Except for a few stick insects that are economically valuable, most species be considered to be forest pests, so it is extremely important to obtain plant host-use information of more stick insects. In this paper, the plant hosts of three species of stick insects were recorded for the first time. We also discovered these stick insects can feed upon the flowers or leaves of plants. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Hypericum choisianum Wall. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) attacked Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) and Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Debregeasia orientalis C. J. Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finally, we were lucky enough to also obtain photographs of them mating and feeding.

[Effect of iron deficiency level on oral iron absorption]

Objective: To study the effect of iron deficiency level for oral iron absorption in iron deficient patients. Methods: 37 non-pregnant female patients who were diagnosed with iron deficiency and 13 healthy females who completed their physical examination at the outpatient department of the Anemia Center of the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital from July 2018 to June 2020 were included. Hepcidin and C2-C0 of oral iron absorption test were analyzed in different iron deficiency and serum ferritin level. Results: The median of Hepcidin in IDA, ID/IDE and healthy control group were 4.9 (2.17-32.86) , 26.98 (11.02-49.71) and 69.89 (42.23-138.96) μg/L (P<0.001) , respectively. Hepcidin level of IDA group was lower than that of ID/IDE group (adjusted P=0.005) and healthy control (adjusted P<0.001) . Hepcidin level of ID/IDE group had no significant difference compared with healthy control (adjusted P=0.22) . The mean of C2-C0 in IDA, ID/IDE and healthy control group were (35.30±21.68) , (37.90±14.06) and (23.57±10.14) μmol/L (P=0.130) , respectively. Multilinear regression analysis showed C0, SF, sTFR and HGB were independent factors for Hepcidin in iron deficient patients, with an equation of Hepcidin=-31.842-0.642*C0+2.239*SF+1.778*sTFR+0.365*HGB-0.274*RET-HB. We didn't find independent factor of C2-C0. Conclusion: The degree of iron deficiency had an effect on oral iron absorption. Patients of ID/IDE group absorbed iron more slowly than patients of IDA group. Iron deficient patients with normal gastrointestinal function absorbed more iron by oral administration when they were in a more serious iron deficient stage. Hepcidin was a better parameter to distinguish iron absorption level among different iron deficient patients than C2-C0 of oral iron absorption test.

Anti-Food Allergic Compounds from Penicillium griseofulvum MCCC 3A00225, a Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus

Ten new (1–10) and 26 known (11–36) compounds were isolated from Penicillium griseofulvum MCCC 3A00225, a deep sea-derived fungus. The structures of the new compounds were determined by detailed analysis of the NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations were established by X-ray crystallography, Marfey’s method, and the ICD method. All isolates were tested for in vitro anti-food allergic bioactivities in immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. Compound 13 significantly decreased the degranulation release with an IC₅₀ value of 60.3 μM, compared to that of 91.6 μM of the positive control, loratadine.

Antiproliferative Sorbicillinoids From the Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium allii-sativi

Two new (1-2) and three known (3-5) sorbicillinoids were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium allii-sativi MCCC 3A00580. Compounds 1 and 2, named sorbicatechols C and D, were two new hybrid dihydrosorbillinoids. Their structures were established mainly by spectroscopic analyses and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All five isolates were tested for antiproliferative activities against four tumor cell lines of MCF-7, HT-29, HuH-7, and LNCap. Compounds 2 and 5 inhibited HT-29 cells in a good dose-dependent manner. Mechanism investigation uncovered that they could significantly induce cell cycle G2-M phase arresting by increasing the protein levels of p-H3 and cyclin B1.

Nevadensin relieves food allergic responses and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice through inhibiting the expression of c-Kit receptors

Nevadensin (NEV), a natural flavonoid compound derived from Lysionotus pauciflorus Maxim, has numerous biological activities. However, few researchers have examined its potential impact on alleviating allergies. In the present study, NEV was found to upregulate rectal temperature, suppress the development of diarrhea, and decrease the levels of serum specific immunoglobulin E, histamine and mouse MC protease-1 in ovalbumin-allergic mice. Moreover, NEV also alleviated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions and inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine in bone marrow-derived mast cells. Furthermore, we provide the first demonstration that NEV decreases the expression of c-Kit and suppresses the proliferation of bone marrow-derived mast cells and accelerates their apoptosis. These findings indicated that L. pauciflorus-derived NEV might have the potential to alleviate food hypersensitivity.

Asperochratides A-J, Ten new polyketides from the deep-sea-derived Aspergillus ochraceus

Ten new C₉ polyketides (asperochratides A-J, 1-10) and 14 known miscellaneous compounds (11-24) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus ochraceus. Structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, modified Mosher's method, Mo₂(OAc)₄ induced circular dichroism (ICD) experiments, and ECD calculations. Structurally, compounds 1-11 and 16-18 share the same polyketide origin of the skeleton and belong to aspyrone co-metabolites. All isolates were tested for cytotoxic, anti-food allergic, anti-H1N1 virus, anti-microbe, and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Results showed that compounds 5-8 and 13-17 exerted significant cytotoxic effects on BV-2 cell line, and compound 16 showed the potential of anti-inflammatory activities.

Cladosporactone A, a Unique Polyketide with 7-Methylisochromen-3-one Skeleton from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides

A unique polyketide cladosporactone A along with eight known compounds were isolated from the deep-sea-derived Cladosporium cladosporioides. The structure of cladosporactone A was established by spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configuration was clarified by the theoretical ECD calculation. Cladosporactone A is the first member of polyketide with the 7-methylisochromen-3-one skeleton.

Coumarin alleviates ovalbumin-induced food anaphylaxis in a mouse model by affecting mast cell function

Coumarin is an important organic heterocyclic compound with a wide range of sources in nature. It plays an important role in the drug discovery process due to its existence in diverse biologically active compounds and its broad bioactivity. In this study, the anti-allergic activity of coumarin was evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse food allergy model and an immunoglobulin (Ig)E mediated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC) model. Coumarin could alleviate the OVA-induced allergic symptoms, decrease the diarrhea rates, and promote the rectal temperature rise in allergic mice. Moreover, coumarin had the ability to reduce the levels of histamine and mouse mast cell proteinases, inhibit OVA-specific IgE, and significantly decrease the population of mast cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Coumarin could also significantly suppress mast cell-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Additionally, the number of mature BMMCs was decreased as coumarin caused the suppression of c-KIT receptors. Furthermore, coumarin up-regulated the apoptosis of OVA-activated BMMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, coumarin displayed effective anti-food allergy activity via the regulation of mast cell function and numbers. Coumarin and its derivatives provide a new direction for the development of anti-food allergic drug components.

Andrastone A From the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Penicillium allii-sativi Acts as an Inducer of Caspase and RXRα-Dependent Apoptosis

Two new (1, 2) and one known (3) meroterpenoids were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium allii-sativi. The relative structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of an extensive analysis of the NMR and MS data, and the absolute configurations were established by ECD calculations. Andrastone A (1) is a rare andrastin bearing an unusual cyclopentan-1,3-dione. It shows a selectively antiproliferative effect against HepG2 tumor cells with an IC₅₀ value of 7.8 μM. Mechanism study showed that apoptosis via Caspase and RXRα pathways are responsible for the inhibitory effect.

Elevated plasma CXCL12/SDF-1 levels are linked with disease severity of postmenopausal osteoporosis

This study was designed to determine whether plasma CXCL12 levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients are related to disease severity. A total of 91 PMOP females were recruited, and 88 postmenopausal non-osteoporotic (PMNOP) women and 90 healthy females were incorporated as controls. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was utilised to explore bone-mineral density (BMD). The Genant semi-quantitative grading scale was used for vertebral fractures, and plasma CXCL12/SDF-1 levels were investigated by ELISA. Plasma TNF-α and C-telopeptide cross-linked collagen type 1 (CTX-1) were also tested. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were completed in order to assess clinical severity. Plasma CXCL12 levels were considerably elevated in PMOP females compared to PMNOP women and healthy controls. Plasma CXCL12 concentrations were positively correlated with the Genant grading system. We observed significant and negative correlations of plasma CXCL12 levels with lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip BMD. Moreover, plasma CXCL12 concentrations were positively correlated to VAS and ODI, as well as plasma TNF-α and CTX-1 levels. In conclusion, elevated plasma CXCL12 levels are correlated with disease severity in PMOP females.

Aphidicolin Chemistry of the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana MCCC 3A00494

Aphidicolin, a potent DNA polymerase α inhibitor, has been explored in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. So far, about 300 modified aphidicolins have been discovered. However, none have shown a stronger effect. Herein, we report 71 new (aphidicolins A1-A71, 1-71) and eight known (72-79) aphidicolin congeners from Botryotinia fuckeliana MCCC 3A00494, a fungus isolated from the western Pacific Ocean (-5572 m). The structures of 1-71 were determined through extensive spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography, chemical derivatization, modified Mosher's method, and the ECD exciton chirality method. Compounds 54-57 and 58-64 are novel 6/6/5/6/5 pentacyclic aphidicolins featuring tetrahydrofuran and dihydrofuran rings, respectively, while compounds 65-71 are rare noraphidicolins. Aphidicolin A8 (8) significantly induced apoptosis in T24 (IC₅₀ = 2.5 μM) and HL-60 (IC₅₀ = 6.1 μM) cancer cells by causing DNA damage. By docking its structure to the human DNA polymerase α binding pocket, 8 was found to form tight intermolecular contacts, elaborating aphidicolin A8 as a potently cytotoxic lead compound.