Objective To study the effects of oxymatrine as inhibitor of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus (HFRSV) infection in vitro and in vivo.Methods In vitro studies,a dose of oxymatrine without cytotoxicity and 76-118 strain of HFRSV was taken to treat Vero cells in three ways:①After treated with oxymatrine for 48 h,Vero cells were attacked by HFRSV at dilution of 10-1 ～ 10-6,respectively for 24 h before changing to maintenance medium; ②Vero cells were first attacked by HFRSV of 10-1 ～ 10-6 dilution respectively,then oxymatrine was used for 48 h before changing to maintenance medium; ③Vero cells were attacked by HFRSV at dilution of 10-1 ～ 10-6 respectively,and meanwhile treated with oxymatrine for 48 h before changing to maintenance mcdium.Each dilution handled four porocytes,and four positive controls were set up at the same time.Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed to determine the inhibitory effect of oxymatrine in experimental group and positive control.In vivo studies,thirty 2-week-old hamsters,weighing about 30-40 g,were divided into experimental and control groups according to body weight,n =15.These aninals were inoculated intraperitoneally with HFRSV in 100TCID50(0.1 ml each); on days 4-13,0.1 ml of oxymatrine 1:100 were given to each hamster in experimental group daily by intraperitoneal injection,while the same amount of saline was given to the control ones.Lung tissue of hamsters was then dissected out to slice to be identified by immunofluorcscence stain.Results It was demonstrated that oxymatrine with the diluted fractions of 1:8 was safe in vitro.When the virus dilution of HFRSV was l0-4,compared with control groups,the differences were statistically significant in method 2 and 3 (z =-2.53,-2.53,all P ＜ 0.05),while no statistical significance in method 1 (z＝5.36,P＞ 0.05).When the virus dilution of HFRSV was 10-1 ～ 10-3,10-5,10-6,the differences were not statistically significant (z--0.00,-0.32,-0.19,4.21,4.21,all P ＞ 0.05).In vivo studies,compared with control group,the differences were statistically significant in experimental group (z =-3.85,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Oxymatrine significantly inhibites HFRSV.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of stronger neo-minophagen C (SNMC) on fulminant liver failure (FLF).

METHODSD-Gal N and LPS were injected once into the abdominal cavity of rats to establish an experimental model of FLF. The level of plasma ALT, Alb, TBil, TNFalpha, NO, ET-1, IL-6 and liver histopathology of the rats were examined.

RESULTSIn the D-Gal N and LPS model of FLF, there was an obvious decline of plasma TNFalpha (F = 52.84), NO (F = 15.81), ET-1 (F = 15.68), IL-6 (F = 15.32) and there was less hepatic tissue damage in SNMC-treated groups using different doses (high dose, medium dose, low dose) and at different times (pre-protection, simultaneous protection, post-protection) compared with those not treated with SNMC. These results indicated that SNMC could be used to treat FLF. It was better to use a low dose of SNMC and use it at the same time as inducing the FLF. There were no differences in the results of those treated with SNMC of different dosages and treated at different times.

CONCLUSIONSNMC can decrease the mortality of FLF by preventing hepatocyte apoptosis induced by D-Gal N and LPS and inhibit liver inflammation caused by all kinds of factors.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Galactosamine ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver Failure, Acute ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVEApoptosis of the cells of liver cancer cell line HepG2 could be induced by TNF alpha and actinomycin D (Act D). In the current study, the molecular mechanism of the apoptosis protection of stronger neo-minophagen C (SNMC) to HepG2 cells was investigated.

METHODSSNMC was added to the HepG2 cell culture medium when the cell concentration reached 0, 2, 20, 100, 200, 800 microg/ml 30 min before their apoptosis were inducted with TNF alpha and Act D. A flow cytometry assay was performed to detect the cell apoptosis rate; electromicroscopy was employed to visualize the subcellular structure after apoptosis. DNA ladder formation was checked with genomic DNA agarose electrophoresis. The expression pattern of apoptosis related protein Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSAfter pretreatment with various concentrations of SNMC and 12 hours after treatment with TNF alpha and Act D, the HepG2 cell apoptosis rate and DNA ladder formation decreased dramatically when the SNMC concentration was higher in the media; the intracellular inactive form of Caspase-3 increased while the 17*10(3) active Caspase-3 decreased gradually. In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 increased and the expression of Bax decreased. Under the electromicroscope, the typical nucleolus condensation of HepG2 induced by TNF alpha and Act D was not seen among the 100 microg/ml SNMC treated cells.

CONCLUSIONSNMC inhibits TNF alpha and Act D induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. This protective action may be regulated by intracellular apoptosis related factors.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cysteine ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Glycine ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver Failure