Pei Zhou

Schisanwilsonins A-G and related anti-HBV lignans from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Seven new dibenzocyclooctane lignans, schisanwilsonins A-G (1-7), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana, together with five known lignans (8-12). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques. The 12 lignans were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity in vitro. Schisanwilsonin D (4), schisantherin C (9), deoxyschizandrin (10) and (+)-gomisin K(3) (11) showed anti-HBV activity. 9 exhibited the most potent anti-HBV activity with potency against HBsAg and HBeAg secretion by 59.7% and 34.7%, respectively, at 50 microg/mL.

Schisanwilsonenes A-C, anti-HBV carotane sesquiterpenoids from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Three carotane-type sesquiterpenoids, schisanwilsonenes A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. Schisanwilsonene A, at 50 microg/mL, exhibited antiviral activity, inhibiting HBsAg and HBeAg secretion by 76.5% and 28.9%.

Recombinant high-density lipoprotein complex as a targeting system of nosiheptide to liver cells

Nosiheptide is a lipophilic peptide of significant anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) activity in cell culture, but has poor distribution to liver in vivo. In this study, recombinant high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) complexes of nosiheptide were constructed to target this anti-HBV agent to hepatocytes. The optimized rHDL–nosiheptide complex had a high drug-loading efficiency (>80%) and a diameter smaller than 30 nm. The concentration of nosiheptide in an optimized rHDL–nosiheptide complex to achieve 50% virus inhibition (IC50) in HepG2 2.2.15 cells was 0.63 μg/ml, which was 40 times lower than the IC50 of nosiheptide in control liposome (2.5 μg/ml) and 200 times lower than the IC50 of the free nosiheptide (12.5 μg/ml). The complex targeted most of the administered nosiheptide to the liver within 30 min after i.v. injection to male Wistar rats. Together, this report provides early evidence that it is feasible to develop efficient, HDL-based drug delivery systems against HBV, utilizing apolipoprotein A-I as the targeting moiety.

Protective effects of recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor on H1N1 influenza virus-induced pneumonia in mice

Protective effects of recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) on H1N1 influenza virus infection was studied in vivo and in vitro. Mice were infected with H1N1 influenza A viruses and rHuGM-CSF at doses of 0.34, 0.67, and 1.34mgkg(-1)d(-1) was administrated for 7days before the mice were infected with influenza virus and continued for a further 3days. Compared with control mice, rHuGM-CSF was demonstrated to increase the survival rate of the infected mice by 50.0%, 55.6%, and 80.0% and increased the mean survival days by 25.7%, 30.0%, and 46.8%, respectively. Histopathological study of the lungs in pneumonia mice found that pre-treatment with rHuGM-CSF significantly ameliorated lung injury induced by influenza virus infection. In vitro study demonstrated that when rHuGM-CSF were co-incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the PBMCs culture supernatant induced a dose-dependent reduction of virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in vitro. These results suggested that rHuGM-CSF might be an effective and potential protection for H1N1 influenza virus-induced pneumonia.