Infection

Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a potent and selective ferroptosis inhibitor, suppresses Erastin-induced ferroptosis in HT-1080 cells (EC₅₀=60 nM). Ferrostatin-1, a synthetic antioxidant, acts via a reductive mechanism to prevent damage to membrane lipids and thereby inhibits cell death. Ferrostatin-1 exhibits antifungal activity.

Rapamycin (Sirolimus; AY 22989) is a potent and specific blood-brain barrier-transmissible mTOR inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 0.1 nM in HEK293 cells. Rapamycin is a molecular glue that binds FKBP12 and mTOR proteins together, thereby inhibiting mTOR kinase activity. Rapamycin binds to FKBP12 and specifically acts as an allosteric inhibitor of mTORC1. Rapamycin is an autophagy activator, an immunosuppressant.

Tamoxifen (ICI 47699) is an orally active, selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which blocks estrogen action in breast cells and can activate estrogen activity in other cells, such as bone, liver, and uterine cells. Tamoxifen is a potent Hsp90 activator and enhances the Hsp90 molecular chaperone ATPase activity. Tamoxifen also potent inhibits infectious EBOV Zaire and Marburg (MARV) with IC₅₀ of 0.1 μM and 1.8 μM, respectively. Tamoxifen activates autophagy and induces apoptosis. Tamoxifen can also be dissolved in corn oil (HY-Y1888) for use in inducing gene knockout in CreER transgenic mice. Tamoxifen has better solubility in corn oil compared to Tamoxifen Citrate (HY-13757).

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), meets analytical specification of Ch.P. is an aprotic solvent that dissolves polar and non-polar compounds, including water-insoluble therapeutic and toxic agents. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has a strong affinity for water and can rapidly penetrate or enhance the penetration of other substances into biological membranes. Dimethyl sulfoxide also has potential free radical scavenging and anticholinesterase effects and may affect coagulation activity. Dimethyl sulfoxide also induces histamine release from mast cells but is thought to have low systemic toxicity. Dimethyl sulfoxide also exhibits antifreeze and antibacterial properties.
MCE provides Dimethyl sulfoxide that complies with the inspection standards (Ch.P) of Part 4 of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition). Amicrobic, low endotoxin, can be used in various biochemical experiments such as drug dissolution.

Chloroquine is an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory agent widely used to treat malaria and rheumatoid arthritis. Chloroquine is an autophagy and toll-like receptors (TLRs) inhibitor. Chloroquine is highly effective in the control of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection in vitro (EC₅₀=1.13 μM).

Dexamethasone (Hexadecadrol) is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, apoptosis inducer, and common disease inducer in experimental animals, constructing models of muscle atrophy, hypertension, and depression. Dexamethasone can inhibit the production of inflammatory miRNA-155 exosomes in macrophages and significantly reduce the expression of inflammatory factors in neutrophils and monocytes. Dexamethasone also has potential for use in COVID-19 research.

L-Ascorbic acid (L-Ascorbate), an electron donor, is an endogenous antioxidant agent. L-Ascorbic acid inhibits selectively Ca_v3.2 channels with an IC₅₀ of 6.5 μM. L-Ascorbic acid is also a collagen deposition enhancer and an elastogenesis inhibitor. L-Ascorbic acid exhibits anti-cancer effects through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and selective damage to cancer cells.

Sorafenib (Bay 43-9006) is a potent oral active multikinase inhibitor. Sorafenib blocks autophosphorylation and activity of receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3) and RAF family kinases, thereby suppressing the RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, and selectively inhibiting the MAPK pathway in cancer cells. Sorafenib induces cell cycle arrest, autophagy, apoptosis, and PARP cleavage, reduces Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, cyclin D1 levels, and activates Bak and Bax. Sorafenib inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in mouse and rat models. Sorafenib can be used for cancer research, such as colon, breast, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ovarian, pancreatic, melanoma, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) is a specific and reversible inhibitor of vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) with IC₅₀ values of 4-400 nmol/mg. Bafilomycin A1, a macrolide antibiotic, is also used as an autophagy inhibitor at the late stage. Bafilomycin A1 blocks autophagosome-lysosome fusion and inhibits acidification and protein degradation in lysosomes of cultured cells. Bafilomycin A1 induces apoptosis.

Lipopolysaccharides, from E. coli O55:B5 (LPS, from Escherichia coli (O55:B5)) are endotoxins and TLR4 activators extracted from Escherichia coli (E. coli O55:B5) and are classified as S (smooth) type LPS. Lipopolysaccharides, from E. coli O55:B5 possess the typical three-part structure: O-antigen, core oligosaccharide, and lipid A. Lipopolysaccharides, from E. coli O55:B5 activate TLR-4 in immune cells, exhibit high pyrogenicity, and demonstrate dose and serotype specificity. Lipopolysaccharides, from E. coli O55:B5 can be widely used to induce cellular inflammation and establish animal models related to inflammation.
It is recommended to prepare a solution with concentration ≥2 mg/mL. Vortex thoroughly for more than 10 minutes. Due to the adsorption characteristics of LPS, silanized container or low adsorption centrifuge tubes should be used for aliquoting and storage, and mix thoroughly before use.

Acetylcysteine (N-Acetylcysteine) is a mucolytic agent that can cross the blood-brain barrier, which reduces the thickness of the mucus. Acetylcysteine is a ROS inhibitor. Acetylcysteine is a cysteine precursor, prevents hemin-induced ferroptosis by neutralizing toxic lipids generated by arachidonate-dependent activity of 5-lipoxygenases. Acetylcysteine induces cell apoptosis. Acetylcysteine also has anti-influenza virus activities. In addition, Acetylcysteine ​​is the most stable form of cysteine ​​during drug delivery and can be used in disulfidptosis studies.

Angiotensin II (Angiotensin II) is a vasoconstrictor and a major bioactive peptide of the renin/angiotensin system. Angiotensin II human plays a central role in regulating human blood pressure, which is mainly mediated by interactions between Angiotensin II and the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R). Angiotensin II human stimulates sympathetic nervous stimulation, increases aldosterone biosynthesis and renal actions. Angiotensin II human induces growth of vascular smooth muscle cells, increases collagen type I and III synthesis in fibroblasts, leading to thickening of the vascular wall and myocardium, and fibrosis. Angiotensin II human also induces apoptosis. Angiotensin II induces capillary formation from endothelial cells via the LOX-1 dependent redox-sensitive pathway.

Paclitaxel is a naturally occurring antineoplastic agent and stabilizes tubulin polymerization. Paclitaxel can cause both mitotic arrest and apoptotic cell death. Paclitaxel also induces autophagy.

Olaparib (AZD2281; KU0059436) is a potent and orally active PARP inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 5 and 1 nM for PARP1 and PARP2, respectively. Olaparib is an autophagy and mitophagy activator. Olaparib cannot cross the intact blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Staurosporine is a potent, ATP-competitive and non-selective inhibitor of protein kinases with IC₅₀s of 6 nM, 15 nM, 2 nM, and 3 nM for PKC, PKA, c-Fgr, and Phosphorylase kinase respectively. Staurosporine also inhibits TAOK2 with an IC₅₀ of 3 μM. Staurosporine is an apoptosis inducer.

LY294002 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of PI3K with IC₅₀s of 0.5, 0.57, and 0.97 μM for PI3Kα, PI3Kδ and PI3Kβ, respectively. LY294002 also inhibits CK2 with an IC₅₀ of 98 nM. LY294002 is a competitive DNA-PK inhibitor that binds reversibly to the kinase domain of DNA-PK with an IC₅₀ of 1.4 μM. LY294002 is an apoptosis activator.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an analogue of uracil and a potent antitumor agent. 5-Fluorouracil affects pyrimidine synthesis by inhibiting thymidylate synthetase thus depleting intracellular dTTP pools. 5-Fluorouracil induces apoptosis and can be used as a chemical sensitizer. 5-Fluorouracil also inhibits HIV.

ATP (Adenosine 5'-triphosphate) is a central component of energy storage and metabolism in vivo. ATP provides the metabolic energy to drive metabolic pumps and serves as a coenzyme in cells. ATP is an important endogenous signaling molecule in immunity and inflammation. ATP can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and induce IL-1β and chemokines secretion. ATP has anti-bacterial infection effects and can protect mice against bacterial infection in mice.

Venetoclax (ABT-199; GDC-0199) is a highly potent, selective and orally bioavailable Bcl-2 inhibitor with a K_i of less than 0.01 nM. Venetoclax induces autophagy.

Bortezomib (PS-341) is a reversible and selective proteasome inhibitor, and potently inhibits 20S proteasome (K_i=0.6 nM) by targeting a threonine residue. Bortezomib disrupts the cell cycle, induces apoptosis, and inhibits NF-κB. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor anticancer agent. Bortezomib can be used for the study of multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib effectively inhibits TREM2 expression in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).