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A new Hofmann-type metal–organic framework with bent pillar ligand, [Fe(dpoda){Ag(CN)2}2] (dpoda = 2,5-di-(pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole), was synthesized. Four-, two- and one-step spin-crossover (SCO) properties were obtained by using different sizes of aromatic guests. Most importantly, hysteretic four-step SCO behaviour with the sequence of LS ↔ HS0.25LS0.75 ↔ HS0.5LS0.5 ↔ HS0.67LS0.33 ↔ HS is observed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disorder characterized by recurrent arousal from sleep and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). OSAS-associated chronic kidney disease is mainly caused by CIH-induced tissue damage. Therefore, an OSAS model was established by CIH exposure in a hypoxic chamber for five weeks. In our study, macrophage infiltration and macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) were observed in the kidneys of CIH rats and appeared to contribute to the development of renal fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well defined. We also found that upon binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), aldosterone stimulated MMT and consequently led to renal fibrosis under hypoxic conditions. Additionally, an in vitro study of RAW264.7 macrophages demonstrated that MR activation may contribute to MMT, which resulted in a predominant M1 phenotype under hypoxic conditions. These effects were reversed by the MR blocker eplerenone. These results provide preliminary evidence that MR activation might be involved in the transdifferentiation of macrophages into myofibroblasts in the CIH model. The attenuation of renal injury demonstrates a protective role of MR blockade in CIH-induced renal disease. • Macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) is observed in kidney with CIH rats. • MR activation might be involved in the transdifferentiation of macrophages into myofibroblasts in the CIH model. • Eplerenone treatment could improve renal interstitial fibrosis by reducing the number of MMT cells and collagen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safflower extract and aceglutamide (SA) has been used clinically for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral embolism, hemorrhage, and mental deterioration. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of SA injection in the recovery of peripheral innervations of diabetic mice., Methods: The C57BL/6 male mice were divided into four groups: normal control group (n = 44), diabetic group (n = 44), diabetic + SA group (diabetic mice treated with SA injection, n = 44), and diabetic + SA + vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)1-BL group (diabetic mice treated with SA injection and VEGFR 1 blocking antibody n = 24). The streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model and injured peripheral nerve mice model were built. The mice with injured peripheral nerves were intraperitonealy administered with SA injection for successive 21 days. The corneal sensitivity, number of corneal nerve fibers, and contents of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-B and various neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in corneal tissue of four groups were observed., Results: The diabetic group showed decreased number of corneal nerve fibers, compared with the control group (P = 0.002). And compared with the diabetic group, the diabetic + SA group showed a significant increase in the number of nerve fibers (P = 0.024) and the contents of VEGF-B, NGF, and GDNF in the cornea (all P < 0.05). However, when the diabetic mice were treated with the blocking antibodies specialized for VEGF-B receptor, the neutralization of VEGFR-1 completely abolished the increased expression of NGF and GDNF stimulated by SA injection., Conclusions: SA injection could reduce the nerve injury caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and its protective effect might be associated with the promotion of the expressions of VEGF-B, NGF, and GDNF.

Polycyanometallate compounds with both photochromism and photomagnetism have appealing applications in optical switches and memories, but such optical behaviors were essentially restricted to the cryogenic temperature. We realized, for the first time, the photochromism and photomagnetism of 3d-4f hexacyanoferrates at room temperature (RT) in [Eu(III)(18C6)(H2O)3]Fe(III)(CN)6·2H2O (18C6 = 18-crown-6). Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from crown to Fe(III) yields long-lived charge-separated species at RT in air in the solid state and also weakens the magnetic susceptibility significantly. The PET mechanism and changing trend of photomagnetism differ significantly from those reported for known 3d-4f hexacyanoferrates. This work not only develops a new type of inorganic-organic hybrid photochromic material but opens a new avenue for RT photomagnetic polycyanometallate compounds.

The protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases with a broad range of cellular targets. Members of the PKC family participate at the diverse biological events involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival. The PKC isoform zeta (PKCζ) is an atypical member that has recently been found to play an essential role in promoting human uterine contractility and thus been raised as a new target for treating preterm labour and other tocolytic diseases. In this study, an integrative protocol was described to graft hundreds of inhibitor ligands from their complex crystal structures with cognate kinases into the active pocket of PKCζ and, based on the modeled structures, to evaluate the binding strength of these inhibitors to the non-cognate PKCζ receptor by using a consensus scoring strategy. A total of 32 inhibitors with top score were compiled, and eight out of them were tested for inhibitory potency against PKCζ. Consequently, five compounds, i.e. CDK6 inhibitor fisetin, PIM1 inhibitor myricetin, CDK9 inhibitor flavopiridol and PknB inhibitor mitoxantrone as well as the promiscuous kinase inhibitor staurosporine showed high or moderate inhibitory activity on PKCζ, with IC 50 values of 58 ± 9, 1.7 ± 0.4, 108 ± 17, 280 ± 47 and 0.019 ± 0.004 μM, respectively, while other three compounds, including two marketed drugs dasatinib and sunitinib as well as the Rho inhibitor fasudil, have not been detected to possess observable activity. Next, based on the modeled structure data we modified three flavonoid kinase inhibitors, i.e. fisetin, myricetin and flavopiridol, to generate a number of more potential molecular entities, two of which were found to have a moderately improved activity as compared to their parent compounds.

The model compound [Zn(HCOO)2(4,4'-bipy)] (1; 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) is selected in this work to demonstrate the effectiveness of our previously proposed design strategy for electron-transfer photochromic metal-organic complexes. The electron-transfer photochromic behavior of 1 has been discovered for the first time. Experimental and theoretical data illustrate that the photochromism of 1 can be attributed to the electron transfer from formato to 4,4'-bipy and the formation of a radical photoproduct. The electron transfer prefers to occur between formato and 4,4'-bipy, which are combined directly by the Zn(II) atoms. A high-contrast (up to 8.3 times) photoluminescence switch occurs during the photochromic process. The similarity of photochromic behaviors among 1 and its analogues as well as viologen compounds has also been found. Photochromic studies of this model compound indicate that new electron-transfer photochromic metal-organic complexes can be largely designed and synthesized by the rational assembly of nonphotochromic electron-donating and electron-accepting ligands.