N- and C-alkylation of seven-membered iminosugars generates potent glucocerebrosidase inhibitors and F508del-CFTR correctors

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a library of novel seven-membered iminosugars is reported.

Effects of Tacrolimus (FK506) on Encephalomyocarditic Virus-Induced Diabetes in Mice

The effects of tacrolimus on insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) induced by the D-variant of encephalomyocarditis virus (D-EMCV) have been investigated. Male BALB/c mice were treated with tacrolimus before viral inoculation, and then were inoculated with 10 plaque forming units (PFU) of DEMCV. The mice continued to be treated with tacrolimus until the animals were sacrificed. D-EMCV-infected mice, which were treated with saline as controls, showed abnormal glucose tolerance test (GTT) values, whereas all infected mice with tacrolimus pretreatment were normal on 7 days-post inoculation (DPI). Histological observations revealed that non-treated tacrolimus D-EMCV-infected mice and which developed diabetes showed severe insulitis in their islets of Langerhans. On the other hand, D-EMCV-infected mice treated with tacrolimus were normal. In D-EMCV-infected mice, viruses in the pancreata were detected at the same level regardless of treatment with tacrolimus or saline. Expressions of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA in spleens of tacrolimus-treated D-EMCV-infected mice were lower than that of non-treated tacrolimus DEMCV-infected mice on 7 DPI. The results suggest that tacrolimus suppresses expressions of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNAs to prevent the onset of D-EMCV-induced IDDM.

Increased susceptibility of thymocytes to apoptosis in mice lacking AIM, a novel murine macrophage-derived soluble factor belonging to the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain superfamily

Apoptosis of cells must be regulated both positively and negatively in response to a variety of stimuli in the body. Various environmental stresses are known to initiate apoptosis via differential signal transduction cascades. However, induction of signals that may inhibit apoptosis is poorly understood, although a number of intracellular molecules that mediate inhibition of apoptosis have been identified. Here we present a novel murine macrophage-specific 54-kD secreted protein which inhibits apoptosis (termed AIM, for apoptosis inhibitor expressed by macrophages). AIM belongs to the macrophage scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain superfamily (SRCR-SF), members of which share a highly homologous conserved cysteine-rich domain. In AIM-deficient mice, the thymocyte numbers were diminished to half those in wild-type mice, and CD4/CD8 double-positive (DP) thymocytes were strikingly more susceptible to apoptosis induced by both dexamethasone and irradiation in vivo. Recombinant AIM protein significantly inhibited cell death of DP thymocytes in response to a variety of stimuli in vitro. These results indicate that in the thymus, AIM functions in trans to induce resistance to apoptosis within DP cells, and thus supports the viability of DP thymocytes before thymic selection.