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The heterogeneity and drug resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) often lead to treatment failure. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), a rate-limiting enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, regulates the intracellular redox environment and mediates tumor cell resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism underlying the involvement of IDH1 acetylation in the development of CRC drug resistance under induction of TNFα. We found TNFα disrupted the interaction between SIRT1 and IDH1 and increased the level of acetylation at K115 of IDH1. Hyperacetylation of K115 was accompanied by protein ubiquitination, which increased its susceptibility to degradation compared to IDH1 K115R. TNFα-mediated hyperacetylation of K115 sensitized the CRC cells to 5FU and reduced the NADPH/NADP ratio to that of intracellular ROS. Furthermore, TNFα and 5FU inhibited CRC tumor growth in vivo, while the K115R-expressing tumor tissues developed 5FU resistance. In human CRC tissues, K115 acetylation was positively correlated with TNFα infiltration, and K115 hyperacetylation was associated with favorable prognosis compared to chemotherapy-induced deacetylation. Therefore, TNFα-induced hyperacetylation at the K115 site of IDH1 promotes antitumor redox homeostasis in CRC cells, and can be used as a marker to predict the response of CRC patients to chemotherapy.

Tumor cells undergo a metabolic shift in order to adapt to the altered microenvironment, although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored. HnRNP A1 is involved in the alternative splicing of the pyruvate kinase (PK) mRNA, allowing tumor cells to specifically produce the PKM2 isoform. We found that the acetylation status of hnRNP A1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells was dependent on glucose availability, which affected the PKM2-dependent glycolytic pathway. In the glucose-starved HCC cells, SIRT1 and SIRT6, members of deacetylase sirtuin family, were highly expressed and deacetylated hnRNP A1 after direct binding. We identified four lysine residues in hnRNP A1 that were deacetylated by SIRT1 and SIRT6, resulting in significant inhibition of glycolysis in HCC cells. Deacetylated hnRNP A1 reduced PKM2 and increased PKM1 alternative splicing in HCC cells under normal glucose conditions, thereby reducing the metabolic activity of PK and the non-metabolic PKM2–β-catenin signaling pathway. However, under glucose starvation, the low levels of acetylated hnRNP A1 reduced HCC cell metabolism to adapt to the nutrient deficiency. Taken together, sirtuin-mediated hnRNP A1 deacetylation inhibits HCC cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in a PKM2-dependent manner. These findings point to the metabolic reprogramming induced by hnRNP A1 acetylation in order to adapt to the nutritional status of the tumor microenvironment.

We screened a highly specific monoclonal antibody (McAb), named 6D, against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac). Single McAb 6D was used as both nanogold-labeled antibody and test antibody to develop a single self-paired colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strip (Sa-GICS). The detection limit achieved using the Sa-GICS approach was 10(5) CFU/mL, with a result that can be observed by the naked eye within 10 min. Moreover, Sa-GICS can detect eight strains of Aac and display no cross-reactions with other pathogenic plant microorganisms. Artificial contamination experiments demonstrated that Sa-GICS would not be affected by impurities in the leaves or stems of the plants and were consistent with the PCR results. This is the first report on the development of a colloidal gold immunoassay strip with self-paired single McAb for the rapid detection of Aac. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of the test strip.

The shortage of effective antibiotics against carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) poses a public health threat. Combination treatment may represent a good choice for treating infections caused by CRPA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of fosfomycin in combination with colistin against clinical CRPA isolates. Eighty-seven isolates were collected from three hospitals in China. The checkerboard method and time-kill assay were used to assess the interactions between fosfomycin and colistin. The fosfomycin/colistin combination displayed synergistic and partial synergistic activity against 21.84% and 27.59% of the isolates, respectively. Antagonism was not observed. In combination, the colistin MIC values were ⩽0.5 μg ml(-1) for 91.95% of the isolates. This result differed significantly from those obtained using a single agent treatment (The colistin MIC values were ⩽0.5 μg ml(-1) for only 25.29% of the isolates). In addition, the time-kill assay demonstrated that the fosfomycin/colistin combination treatment exerted bactericidal effects against five isolates and that the regrowth observed after colistin monotherapy was prevented. In summary, the combination of fosfomycin and colistin demonstrated synergistic activity against the CRPA isolates tested in this study. Furthermore, fosfomycin may potentially widen the therapeutic window of colistin, suggesting that this combination could be applied clinically to control infections caused by CRPA.

A Pt(IV)-based metallointercalator, trans-dichloro(1,10-phenanthroline)(ethylenediamine)platinum(IV) trans-[PtCl2(phen)(en)]Cl2, was synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, ESI–MS, and elemental analysis. Three human carcinoma cell lines Hela, MCF-7, and A549 were employed for in vitro cytotoxicity evaluations using the standard MTT assay. Based on the measured IC50 values, the cytotoxicity of this metallointercalator is very similar to that of cisplatin. Reduction of trans-[PtCl2(phen)(en)]2+ by l-glutathione and 3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol was studied by 1H NMR and ESI–MS; the Pt(IV) complex was reduced to its Pt(II) counterpart. The oxidation products of l-glutathione and 3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol were identified as the glutathione disulfide and the cyclic intramolecular disulfide, respectively. Mechanisms for these reductions are proposed.

The lack of active antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii has posed great threat to the public health. Combination therapies with antibiotics owning different antimicrobial mechanisms have been proposed as good options for treating MDR A. baumannii infections. This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of tigecycline in combination with colistin and sulbactam against MDR A. baumannii. A total of 70 strains from two hospitals in China were examined in the study. The checkerboard method was used for determining synergistic activity of different antibiotic combinations. Tigecycline/colistin combination displayed synergistic and partial synergistic activity in 24.3% of the isolates, whereas the tigecycline/sulbactam combination showed synergistic and partial synergistic activity in 64.3% of the isolates. Neither of the combinations showed antagonism in this study. In addition, for evaluating the ability of combinations on resistance prevention, mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) of tigecycline, colistin, sulbactam alone and tigecycline in combination with colistin and sulbactam were studied against MDR A. baumannii. Compared with tigecycline used alone, combination therapies could achieve lower MPCs of tigecycline. However, when the MPCs of dual-drug therapy were in conjunction with clinical pharmacokinetic profiles, combinations may not strictly curb the occurrence of resistance at current dosage regimen. In summary, this study suggested that combination therapy was a good option for treating MDR A. baumannii infections. But the finding that combination with these drugs at current dosage regimen may not prevent emergence of resistance warranted further studies on dosage of combined antibiotics required for achieving resistance prevention.

Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional protein, has been reported to be protoxicant in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. In this study, the mechanisms underlying the detrimental role of OPN in acetaminophen toxicity were explored.Male C57BL/6 (wild-type, WT) and OPN(-/-) mice were administered with acetaminophen (500 mg/kg, ip). After the treatment, serum transaminase (ALT), as well as OPN expression, histology changes, oxidative stress and inflammation response in liver tissue were studied. Freshly isolated hepatocytes of WT and OPN(-/-) mice were prepared.Acetaminophen administration significantly increased OPN protein level in livers of WT mice. OPN expression was mainly localized in hepatic macrophages 6 h after the administration. In OPN(-/-) mice, acetaminophen-induced serum ALT release was reduced, but the centrilobular hepatic necrosis was increased. In OPN(-/-) mice, the expression of CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 in livers was significantly increased; GSH depletion and lipid peroxidation in livers were enhanced. On the other hand, OPN(-/-) mice exhibited less macrophage and neutrophil infiltration and reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1α in livers. An anti-OPN neutralizing antibody significantly reduced acetaminophen-induced serum ALT level and inflammatory infiltration in livers of WT mice.OPN plays a dual role in acetaminophen toxicity: OPN in hepatocytes inhibits acetaminophen metabolism, while OPN in macrophages enhances acetaminophen toxicity via recruitment of inflammatory cells and production of proinflammatory cytokines.

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of minocycline combined with fosfomycin against isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A total of 87 clinical isolates of MRSA collected from three Chinese hospitals were included in the study. The checkerboard method with determination of the fractional IC index (FICI) was used to determine whether antibiotic combinations act synergistically against these isolates. The susceptibility results for minocycline and fosfomycin were interpreted according to the most relevant criteria. The results demonstrated the following interactions: 76 isolates (87.4%) showed synergistic interactions (FICI0.5) and 11 isolates (12.6%) showed indifferent interactions (0.5