Biology subjects

Vu, B. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Vu, B. L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Isolation of compounds from Cyathea podophylla and their cytoprotective effects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced toxicity in F11 neuronal cells

The chemical constituents and cytoprotective potential of Cyathea podophylla, a Vietnamese fern, remain poorly investigated. This study aimed to isolate its compounds and evaluate their in vitro cytoprotective activity against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity in F11 cells. Compounds were chromatographically isolated and structurally characterized using NMR and HR-ESI-MS. Seven compounds were identified: five phenolics (trans-cinnamic acid, (E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one, p-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-O-acetyl-caffeic acid), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and butyl-{beta}-D-fructofuranoside. Six of these are newly reported for the Cyathea genus. In MTT assays, butyl-{beta}-D-fructofuranoside exhibited the strongest cytoprotective effect (69.6% cell protection at 10 {micro}M, p < 0.001), followed by (E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (39.2% at 10 {micro}M). The remaining compounds lacked significant activity. These findings expand the phytochemical profile of Cyathea podophylla and provide preliminary evidence of its cytoprotective properties against 6-OHDA-induced injury, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo validation.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Cyp7b1-inhibiting azoles as novel enhancers of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell mobilization

Mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are essential for transplantation-based therapies, including curative gene therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD). While granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim) remains the standard mobilization agent, many patients respond inadequately, and it can trigger life-threatening vaso-occlusive crises in SCD. The CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 (plerixafor) is routinely combined with G-CSF for non-SCD settings but is ineffective as a single agent in SCD, underscoring the urgent need for alternative strategies. We previously identified 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) as a physiological inducer of HSPC mobilization during pregnancy. Here, we show that exogenous 27HC enhances AMD3100-induced HSPC mobilization in mice, either alone or with G-CSF. Because 27HC is metabolized by the enzyme Cyp7b1, we tested whether pharmacological Cyp7b1 inhibition could mimic this effect. Treatment with clotrimazole, an antifungal and Cyp7b1 inhibitor, significantly enhanced AMD3100-induced HSPC mobilization in wild-type, SCD, and humanized mice. Importantly, intravenous administration of voriconazole, a clinically approved systemic antifungal with Cyp7b1-binding activity, similarly augmented AMD3100-induced HSPC mobilization in wild-type and SCD mice without altering steady-state hematopoiesis. These findings establish Cyp7b1-inhibiting azoles as novel and clinically relevant enhancers of HSPC mobilization, particularly for SCD patients who cannot safely receive G-CSF but require robust HSPC yields for gene therapy. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=128 SRC="FIGDIR/small/682145v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (40K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1fddaaforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@12036f4org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f8010aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@10c4aff_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Genes relocated between Drosophila chromosomes evolve under selection pressures different from canonical dispersed duplicates

Gene duplication creates a second copy of a gene either in tandem to the ancestral locus or dispersed to another chromosomal location. When the ancestral copy of a dispersed duplicate is lost from the genome, it creates the appearance that the gene was \"relocated\" from the ancestral locus to the derived location. Gene relocations may be as common as canonical dispersed duplications in which both the ancestral and derived copies are retained. Relocated genes appear to be under more selective constraints than the derived copies of canonical duplications, and they are possibly as conserved as single-copy non-relocated genes. To test this hypothesis, we combined comparative genomics, population genetics, gene expression, and functional analyses to assess the selection pressures acting on relocated, duplicated, and non-relocated single-copy genes in Drosophila genomes. We find that relocated genes evolve faster than single-copy non-relocated genes, and there is no evidence that this faster evolution is driven by positive selection. In addition, relocated genes are less essential for viability and male fertility than single-copy non-relocated genes, suggesting that relocated genes evolve fast because of relaxed selective constraints. However, relocated genes evolve slower than the derived copies of canonical dispersed duplicated genes. We therefore conclude that relocated genes are under more selective constraints than canonical duplicates, but are not as conserved as single-copy non-relocated genes.

genetics↗