Activation of the AXL kinase causes resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy in lung cancer

Human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) with activating mutations in EGFR frequently respond to treatment with EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as erlotinib, but responses are not durable, as tumors acquire resistance. Secondary mutations in EGFR (such as T790M) or upregulation of the MET kinase are found in over 50% of resistant tumors. Here, we report increased activation of AXL and evidence for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in multiple in vitro and in vivo EGFR-mutant lung cancer models with acquired resistance to erlotinib in the absence of the EGFR p.Thr790Met alteration or MET activation. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of AXL restored sensitivity to erlotinib in these tumor models. Increased expression of AXL and, in some cases, of its ligand GAS6 was found in EGFR-mutant lung cancers obtained from individuals with acquired resistance to TKIs. These data identify AXL as a promising therapeutic target whose inhibition could prevent or overcome acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs in individuals with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.     

An NS3 protease inhibitor with antiviral effects in humans infected with hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious cause of chronic liver disease worldwide with more than 170 million infected individuals at risk of developing significant morbidity and mortality. Current interferon-based therapies are suboptimal especially in patients infected with HCV genotype 1, and they are poorly tolerated, highlighting the unmet medical need for new therapeutics. The HCV-encoded NS3 protease is essential for viral replication and has long been considered an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in HCV-infected patients. Here we identify a class of specific and potent NS3 protease inhibitors and report the evaluation of BILN 2061, a small molecule inhibitor biologically available through oral ingestion and the first of its class in human trials. Administration of BILN 2061 to patients infected with HCV genotype 1 for 2 days resulted in an impressive reduction of HCV RNA plasma levels, and established proof-of-concept in humans for an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor. Our results further illustrate the potential of the viral-enzyme-targeted drug discovery approach for the development of new HCV therapeutics.     

Phosphodiesterase: overview of protein structures, potential therapeutic applications and recent progress in drug development

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are essential regulators of cyclic nucleotide signaling with diverse physiological functions. Because of their great market potential and therapeutic importance, PDE inhibitors became recognized as important therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases. Currently, there are seven PDE inhibitors on the market, and the pharmacological and safety evaluations of many drug candidates are in progress. Three-dimensional (3D) structures of catalytic domains of PDE 1, -3, -4, -5 and -9 in the presence of their inhibitors are now available, and can be utilized for rational drug design. Recent advances in molecular pharmacology of PDE isoenzymes resulted in identification of new potential applications of PDE inhibitors in various therapeutic areas, including dementia, depression and schizophrenia. This review will describe the latest advances in PDE research on 3D structural studies, the potential of therapeutic applications and the development of drug candidates.Received 30 November 2004; received after revision 24 January 2005; accepted 5 February 2005     

多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白单克隆抗体对兔及鼠巴氏杆菌病的保护

用兔子分离的多杀性巴氏杆菌(P.multocida)免疫小鼠得脾细胞,与骨髓瘤细胞融合后制备针对37.5KDa外膜蛋白的单克隆抗体(MAbs)。用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA),全细胞放射免疫沉淀试验(WCRIP),免疫印迹分析筛选所需MAbs。WC-RIP和免疫印迹试验表明,用完整多杀性巴氏杆菌吸附及洗脱的MAb1608,其识别的抗原暴露于细胞表面,抗体易于接近,其分子量为37.5KDa,蛋白酶K处理多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜,MAb1608的活性完全消除,说明此MAb结合于某一蛋白抗原决定簇。在免疫印迹试验中MAbl6108与提纯的脂多糖(LPS)无反应。被动转移研究表明与对照组比,鼻内接种MAb1608并同时鼻内攻毒的9只家兔其死亡率、肺炎严重程度、非呼吸道脏器和鼻腔中多杀性巴氏杆菌数量都明显要低。肺中多杀巴菌数量减少84.750倍。被动转移试验也表明MAb1608保护鼠免受具有该MAb识别抗原决定簇的同源或异源多杀巴菌株的攻击。但是,当用缺乏MAb1608识别抗原决定簇的多杀巴菌株攻击鼠时,MAb1608不提供保护作用。本研究表明37.5KDa外膜蛋白是保护性MAb的作用靶。     

实验小鼠过渡饲养繁殖管理探讨

实验小鼠过渡饲养繁殖管理探讨韦克，潘永全，尹才渊，曹阳，周开源重庆医科大学实验动物中心（重庆歇台子６３００４６）作为当代生命科学研究重要支撑条件—ＡＥＩＲ四个基本要素之一的实验动物，其犹如“活的仪器”、“活的天平”之重要性，已为越来越多的人们所认识。...     

Comparative studies on phenotypic plasticity of two herbs, Changium smyrnioides and Anthriscus sylvestris

The endangered medicinal herb, Changium smyrnioides can only be found in deciduous forest gaps within the middle to northern subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forest zone of China. The considerable plasticity of its shoot and root structure helps it to capture light more effectively in winter and early spring, and to adapt to the soil moisture conditions in its narrow habitat. Another medicinal plant, Anthriscus sylvestris, is of similar economic importance but commonly distributed widely. In contrast to C. smyrnioides, it has low structural plasticity. It is also specialized to adapt to the moist and sunny environment, where habitat, such as the banks of creeks and rivers, is abundant.     

Enhancing the quality metric of protein microarray image

The novel method of improving the quality metric of protein microarray image presented in this paper reduces impulse noise by using an adaptive median filter that employs the switching scheme based on local statistics characters; and achieves the impulse detection by using the difference between the standard deviation of the pixels within the filter window and the current pixel of concern. It also uses a top-hat filter to correct the background variation. In order to decrease time consumption, the top-hat filter core is cross structure. The experimental results showed that, for a protein microarray image contaminated by impulse noise and with slow background variation, the new method can significantly increase the signal-to-noise ratio, correct the trends in the background, and enhance the flatness of the background, the consistency of the signal intensity.