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Muscularis macrophages, as the most abundant immune cells in the intestinal muscularis externa, exhibit tissue protective phenotype in the steady state. Owing to tremendous advances in technology, we now know the fact that muscularis macrophages are a heterogeneous population of cells which could be divided into different functional subsets depending on their anatomic niches. There is emerging evidence showing that these subsets, through molecular interactions with their neighbours, take part in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes in the gut. In this review, we summarize recent progress (particularly over the past 4 years) on distribution, morphology, origin and functions of muscularis macrophages and, where possible, the characteristics of specific subsets in response to the microenvironment they occupy, with particular emphasis on their role in muscular inflammation. Furthermore, we also integrate their role in inflammation-related gastrointestinal disorders, such as post-operative ileus and diabetic gastroparesis, in order to propose future therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of pyrazolyl-acylhydrazone derivatives ( 1e- 20e) have been designed and synthesized and their biologic activities were also evaluated for telomerase inhibition and tumor cell antiproliferation. Among all the compounds, 12e showed the most potent activity in vitro, which inhibited the growth of MCF-7 and B16-F10 cell lines with IC values of 0.57 ± 0.03 and 0.49 ± 0.07 μM, respectively. Compound 12e also exhibited significant telomerase inhibitory activity (IC = 1.9 ± 0.43 μM). The result of flow cytometry demonstrated that compound 12e induced cell apoptosis. Docking simulation was performed to insert compound 12e into the crystal structure of telomerase at ATP binding site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound 12e with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth may be a potential anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]