Objective To investigate the effect of construct the Notch1 (NICD) eukaryotic expression vector on the proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro. Methods Rat BMSCs were experimented as the object. NICD eukaryotic expression vector was constructed. pEGFP-N1-NICD expressing plasmids were used to transfect BMSCs. The study included control group (CON group), empty vector group (VEC group) and the trans-fection group (TRA group). After 48-hour transfection, BMSCs were observed for general morphology. The protein expres-sions of NSE, GFAP and Notch1 were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting assay respectively. The apoptosis, cy-cle distribution and cell proliferation were evaluated by flow cytometry and MTT assay. Results The DNA sequencing con-firmed that the pEGFP-N1-NICD recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed, and both VEC group and TRA group expressed green fluorescence after 48-hour transfection. The relative expression levels of Notch1 and GFAP mRNA and pro-tein were significantly higher in TRA group than those in VEC group and CON group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between VEC group and CON group. After 48-hour transfection, the ratio of living cells was significantly lower in TRA group than that of CON group and VEC group, and the early apoptotic rate and late apoptotic rate were significantly higher in TRA group than those of CON group and VEC group (P<0.05). The late apoptotic rate was significantly higher in VEC group than that of CON group. The proportion of G1/G0 cells was significantly higher in TRA group than that of CON group and VEC group, but S and G2/M cells were significantly lower (P<0.05). The value of growth curve was gradually de-creased in TRA group than that of CON group and VEC group (P<0.05). Conclusion The high expression of NICD gene might induce apoptosis of BMSCs, inhibit the proliferation in part, and induce into glial-like cell differentiation.

Objective To explore effects of ginsenosides Rg1 on the expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 1 in cortex cells after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods Ninety healthy rats were randomly divided into sham-operative group, focal cerebral ischemia group, ginsenoside Rg 1groups (low, medium and high concentrations) and drug control group. Rats were intraperitoneally injected saline 45 mg/kg, saline 45 mg/kg+ginsenosides Rg1 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, nimodipine 1 mg/kg 5 d before surgery, respectively. Focal cerebral isch?emia model was made by middle cerebral artery occluding in rats. The neurological deficit score and TTC staining were used to verify the success of the rat model. The expressions of PARP-1 and TNFR1 were evaluated by immunohistochemical meth?od and Western blot technique. Results There were obvious symptoms of neurological deficit and large pale infarct area in focal cerebral ischemia group compared with those of sham-operative group. There were higher percentages of neurological deficit score and infarct area in ginsenosides Rg1 groups and positive control group than those of sham-operative group, but which were lower than those of ischemia group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between ginsenosides Rg1 groups and positive control group. The positive cells of PARP-1 and TNFR1 were higher in ginsenosides Rg1 low-dose group than those of sham-operative group and positive control group, while ones of medium and high-dose Rg1 group were higher than those of sham-operative group, and were lower than those of ischemia group (P<0.05). Compared with sham-op?erative group, PARP-1 and TNFR1 expression strips were significantly enhanced in ischemia group. Expression strips were higher in ginsenosides Rg1 low-dose group than those of sham-operative group. Expression strips were higher in ginsen?osides Rg1 medium-dose group than those of sham-operative group, but which were lower than those of ischemia group, and ones of high-dose group were lower than ischemia group (P<0.05). Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg1 shows protective effects on focal ischemia injury, which may be related with down-regulation of the expression of PARP-1 and TNFR1.

Objective To explore the effects of lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on restraining the mouse pancre?atic cancer cells LTPA by the polarization of macrophages to type 1 macrophages (M1). Methods LTPA tumor model of the subcutaneous CB-17SCID mice was constructed. Model mice were randomly divided into tumor-bearing model group (n=10) and LBP treatment group (n=10). The LBP treatment group was fed 10mg/kg LBP every day, and the tumor-bearing model group was fed the same dose of normal saline. The same amount of macrophages Raw264.7 was randomly divided into the control group and experimental groups (different concentrations of LBP). MTT assay was used to detect the optical density (OD) of Raw264.7 in experimental groups and control group. ELISA was used to detect the levels of the interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 in experimental group (LBP was 100 mg/L) and the control group. Flow cytometry was used to test the levels of the membrane protein CD16/32 and CD206 in experimental group (LBP was 100 mg/L) and the control group. The tumor mass was weighted and the volume was calculated after three weeks. The effects of LBP on the growth of subcutaneous tumor were detected. HE staining and KI-67 staining were used to detect the microscopic changes of tumor and the proliferation of the LTPA. Results The dose of 100 mg/L LBP can promote the growth of the macrophages Raw264.7 (P<0.01), and induced the high expression of CD16/32 and low expression of CD206, high secretion of IL-12 and low secretion of IL-10. The weight, volume of the tumor and the expression of KI-67 were significantly lower in experimental group than those in the con?trol group (P<0.01). The microscopic necrosis area range of tumor was larger than that of control group. Conclusion The LBP has the effect of restraining LTPA by the polarization of macrophages to M1.

Objective To investigate the effects of zinc fingers and homeoboxes 3 (ZHX3) silence on expressions of smad3, smad4 and RUNX2 in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods ZHX3 low expression vector (ZHX3 silent group) was constructed and was transfected to rat BMSCs. Empty vector was transfected into BMSCs and was used as vehicle control group, and wild type BMSCs was used as the control group. The cell transfection rate was measured under a fluorescence microscope, and then the successful transfection was identified. The immunocytochemistry and immu?noblotting methods were used to detect the expression levels of smad3, smad4 and RUNX2. Results (1) Cells with BMSCs phenotype can be obtained by recovery culturing. (2) After transfection, the green fluorescent protein was found in ZHX3 si?lence group and vehicle control group. Blank control group showed no significant fluorescence. The expression level of ZHX 3 was significantly lower in ZHX3 silence group than that of vehicle control group. (3) Results of immunofluorescence asssay showed that the positive expressions of smad3 and smad4 were located in nucleus and cytoplasm, the positive expression of RUNX2 was mainly located in nucleus. Positive cells were observed in three groups. There was no significant difference in fluorescence intensity between the control group and the vehicle control group, but the fluorescence intensity was significant?ly lower in ZHX3 gene silence group than that of two control groups. (4) There were no significant differences in expressions of smad3, smad4 and RUNX2 betweem control group and the vehicle control group, but they were significantly higher than those of ZHX3 silence group(P < 0.05). Conclusion ZHX3 gene silence can delay vitro osteogenesis of BMSCs, which may play a role by the down-regulated expression levels of smad3, smad4 and RUNX2.

Objective To compare different ways to trace bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) after being transplanted in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into sham group, model group (ischemia-reperfusion,IR), BrdU tracing group, PKH26 tracing group and GFP tracing group. Fo?cal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was established by blocking middle cerebral artery. 24 hours after cerebral isch?emia-reperfusion injury, 10μL BMSCs that were labeled respectively by BrdU, PKH26, GFP were added respectively into BrdU, PKH26 and GFP tracing group while equal volum of normal saline was added into sham group and model group. Mod?el and transplanting cells efficacy was determined by neural behavioral score, TTC staining and brain water content;Neurons were counted using tar violet staining;The number of transplant cells in the transplanting site was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Results Before transplanting, there was no significant difference among BrdU, PKH26 and GFP group in cell labeled efficacy. By contrast, neural behavioral score, brain infarct volume and brain tissue water content were significantly lower in all three tracing groups than that in model group 4 weeks after transplantation while neuron counts were markedly higher. There was no significant difference of above parameters among the three tracing groups. However, the number of traced transplanting cells in damaging area in GFP group is significantly higher than that in BrdU group and PKH26 group. Conclusion In cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, the tracing effect of GFP last longer, therefore it is significantly more effective than BrdU and PKH26.

Objective To establish a mice model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and to investigate the effect of cisplatin on the expression of caspase-3 in mouse cochlea.Methods Totally 69 Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group,cisplatin 2.5mg/(kg?d) group,cisplatin 3.5mg/(kg?d) group and cisplatin 4.5mg/(kg?d)group.Mice were injected intraperitoneally for 5 days.Auditory brainstem response(ABR) was measured to observe the change of hearing.Envision method of immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of caspase-3 in cochlea.Results The weight and hearing of mice in different dose cisplatin groups were declined significantly as compared with those in control group(P

Aim To study the effects of sodium ferulate on A?induced cognitive deficits and expressions of IL-1? and phospho-p38MAPK proteins.Methods Alzheimers disease model of rats was produced by intracerebroventricular injection of A?_(25-35)(10 ?g,once).Morris water maze was used to measure spatial memory performance.Nissl staining and immunohistochemical technique for glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) were employed to determine the morphology of pyramidal neurons and astrocyte infiltration in hippocmpal CA1 regions.The levels of phospho-p38MAPK and IL-1? were determined by Western blot and ELISA method.Reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed changes in FasL mRNA.Results Intracerebroventricular injection of A?_(25-35)in rats resulted in spatial memory impairments shown by longer escape latency and decreased percentage of time spent in the target quadrant.These behavioral dysfunctions were accompanied by astrocyte activation and infiltration,increased IL-1? production and elevated FasL mRNA level,the loss of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1,and the increase of phosphorylated p38MAPK.Oral administration of sodium ferulate(50,100,250 mg?kg~(-1)daily) and ibuprofen 15 mg?kg~(-1)daily markedly improved the memory impairment,attenuated pyramidal neuronal damage,and reversed the A?-induced increases in IL-1? and p38MAPK activation.Conclusion sodium ferulate prevents A?-induced neurotoxicity through suppressions of inflammatory response and the activation of p38MAPK.

Objective To examine expression levels of autophagy gene pULK and PI3KC3 and to explore their correla?tion with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A total of 77 samples of surgical resection from NSCLC speci? mens (including 31 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 31 cases of adenocarcinoma and 15 cases of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma) and 21 samples of same normal lung tissue were randomly selected. Expressions of pULK and PI3KC3 in lung tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. All dates were analyzed using SPSS13.0 statistical pack?age. Results Immunohistochemistry indicated that pULK and PI3KC3 localized into the cytoplasm. The expression levels of pULK and PI3KC3 are significantly lower in patient with NSCLC than those in peri-tumor tissue (35.1%vs 81.0%, 40.3%vs 76.2%respectively, P<0.01) . Immunohistochemistry and Western bolt analysis confirmed that pULK and PI3KC3 ex?pressions were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01) in patients with low grade cellular differentiation, metastasis of lymph node, or stageⅢandⅣ. And expression levels of pULK and PI3KC3 in NSCLC did not differ significantly with ages, gen?der, tumor size and pathological type. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of PI3KC3 was positively correlated with pULK. Conclusion pULK and PI3KC3 expressions were lower in NSCLC than those in normal lung tissue group. The expression levels of pULK and PI3KC3 in NSCLC were correlated with patient's clinical stage, differentiation grade, lymph node metastasis but were unrelated with age, gender, histological type and size.

Objective To investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 on the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in brain tissue after cerebral arterial thrombosis in adult rats. Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group, Ginsenoside Rg1-L group, Ginsenoside Rg1-M group, Ginsen-oside Rg1-H group and nimodipine group (n=5 for each group). The ischemia-reperfusion rat model was established by mid-dle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurological score after reperfusion was observed. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), neuronal NOS (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) were detected by nitrate reduction method and colorimetric method. The expressions of nNOS and iNOS after reperfusion were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. Results (1) The neu-rological scores after cerebral ischemia were significantly lower in Rg1-L group, Rg1-M group and Rg1-H group than those of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group(2.40±0.55,1.80±0.84, 1.60±0.89 vs 3.20±0.84,P<0.05). (2) Compared with those of model group, serum levels of NO and iNOS were reduced, and nNOS levels increased, in three groups of Rg1. (3) Compared with those of model group, the expression of nNOS was significantly increased,and iNOS expression was significantly re-duced, in three groups of Rg1. Conclusion The preventive effects of Ginsenosides Rg1 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury may be associated with the activation of nNOS and the inhibition of iNOS.

Objective We examined the Grp78, ERK1/2 and phospho-ERK1/2 expressions in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) tissue samples in vitro, we interfered the expression of Grp78 in SMMC-7721 cells to explore whether Grp78 is involved in ERK1/2 signal pathway. Methods The Grp78, ERK1/2 and phospho-ERK1/2 expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry and confirmed by Western blotting in 47 HCC tissue samples. The Grp78 expression in SMMC-7721 cells was interfered by plasmid transfection and siRNA, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and expression were determined by Western blotting. Results The Grp78 expression was significantly correlated with ERK1/2 and phospho-ERK1/2 in HCC tissue samples. Overexpression of Grp78 promoted ERK1/2 phosphorylation in SMMC-7721 cells and the increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited by Grp78 knockdown. Conclusion Grp78 is involved in the regulation of ERK1/2 signal pathway and might be a potential target for the comprehensive therapy of HCC.