P2X7 is the most important subtype of the ATP receptors known so far. Recent investigations showed that the downstream signaling pathway of P2X7 is coupled with several key inflammatory molecules including IL-1beta and IL-18, this suggests P2X7 might have roles in the inflammatory diseases. Moreover, attenuation of P2X7 by selective antagonists in vitro and knockout mice in vivo reducing the inflammatory response indicated that P2X7 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. However, most previous studies on P2X7 were focused on nerve system diseases most, while its effects in inflammatory respiratory diseases, especially in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer have been poorly investigated. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress on the structure, distribution, biological activities of P2X7 and its relationship with inflammatory respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer, along with the development of P2X7 antagonist as therapeutics.

Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPAl) is a cold sensitive cation channel, which could also be activated by various pungent compounds. As a transduction channel in a number of sensory modalities, TRPAl expressing in heterogonous systems serves to provide great convenience in pharmacological analysis and functional investigation. Due to cellular toxicity, establishment of stable TRPAl cell line has always been challenging. Nevertheless, the first stable human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell line with un-controlled expression of TRPAl was successfully established. It was also confirmed that this stable cell line retained TRPAl expression for more than 25 passages in culture. The functional analysis of the cell response verified the stability and specificity of this novel recombinant TRPAl cell line. Altogether, the data indicated this TRPAl-HEK cell line would be a useful tool for functional analysis of TRPAl and for the development of high throughput screening (HTS) compatible assay in the effort to identify TRPAl modulators.

Objective This study evaluates the Anti- hypoxic effect of Fo li um Bambusae extract (FBE). Methods The survival time of mice under the conditi on of closed normobaric hypoxia, and those subjected to KCN, NaNO2 and lidoc aine poisoning, and the time of electrocardiograph disappearance after occlusio n of trachea and the duration of continuous gasping in mice after decapitation were used to evaluate the Anti- hypoxic effect of FBE. Results FBE ( 22.5 m g/kg, 45.0 mg/kg, 90.0 mg/kg) prolonged the survival time of mice under the c ondition of closed normobaric hypoxia, prolonged the survival time in mice subj ected to KCN, NaNO2 and lidocaine poisoning and prolonged the time of electro cardiograph disappearance and the duration of gasping in decapitated mice. Conc lusion FBE can increase the anti- hypoxic effect of animals.

AIM: To discuss the relationship between prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA) and prostate cancer and to seek a target for diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer.METHODS: A pair of primers was designed according to the published PSMA mRNA sequence.Total RNA was extracted from prostate cancer tissues and was reversely transcribed into cDNA,which was used as a template for PCR to amplify the PSMA gene.The recombinant was sequenced and the result was analyzed by BLAST.The PSMA5 gene specific primers were designed to identify its expression in different cells and prostate tissues.RESULTS: A new alternatively spliced variant of PSMA named PSMA5 was discovered when sequencing the recombinant.PSMA5 showed well pathological tissue-specificity,and its expression rate in prostate cancer,benign prostatic hyperplasia of prostate,and normal prostate tissue were 92.6%,78.8% and 10.0%,respectively.It expressed specifically in Pca cell line LNCaP,not in cell lines of PC3,bladder carcinoma,renal carcinoma,or hepatoma.CONCLUSION: A new alternative spliced variant of PSMA named PSMA5 was discovered,which was well correlated with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.This finding may give a new clue to the evolution of prostate cancer and may provide a target for the diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer.

AIM: To find out the gene structure and diversity of protate specific membrane antigen(PSMA) alternative spliced variants, and probe into the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.METHODS: 5'-RACE and 3'-RACE methods were used to amplify the 5' and 3'end of alternative spliced variant and then those viariants were sequenced for analyzing the gene stucture and diversity of PSMA alternative spliced variants of prostate cancer tissues.RESULTS: Four new alternative spliced variants of PSMA were discovered from prostate cancer tissues.Compared with reported PSMA alternative spliced variants,different insertions and deletions existed in different sites of those new variants.CONCLUSION: The discovery of the new variants confirms the diversity of PSMA spliced variants and provides the clues for seeking the target of diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer.

AIM:To study the blocking effect of shRNA on the expression of PSMA gene in LNCaP cell line by using shRNA eukaryotic expression vector.METHODS:Three pairs of DNA templates coding shRNA,synthesized against PSMA and cloned into the vector pSilencer 2.1-U6-neo,which was named pSilencer 2.1-U6-neo-shRNA,were identified by restriction endonuclease digestion analysis and DNA sequencing.LNCaP cells were then transfected with these three pSilencer 2.1-U6-neo-shRNAs and the negative control pSilencer 2.1-U6-neo-NC.After G418 selection,the cells were selected and the interfering effect was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The biological behaviours of the transfected LNCaP cells were also tested.RESULTS:Restriction endonuclease digestion analysis and DNA sequencing results all showed that the 3 target segments were cloned into pSilencer 2.1-U6-neo vector respectively.After transfected into LNCaP cells,the inhibitory ratio of PSMA mRNA was 33.15%,9.26% and 41.97% respectively,and that of PSMA protein was 26.26%,6.47%,40.69% respectively.The p-shRNA3 was chosen to test the cell growth and its invasive power in vitro.The results showed that after interfering,the invasiveness of LNCaP cells were enhanced.CONCLUSION:The vector-based shRNA on PSMA gene effectively knocks down the PSMA gene expression.The successful construction of PSMA shRNA makes it possible for further study of the interaction between PSMA and prostate cancer.

AIM: To obtain eukaryotic expression vector of Chinese prostate-specific membrane antigen. METHODS: Chinese prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR from prostate cancer tissues, then cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 0 and sequenced. RESULTS: Seven bases in Chinese PSMA cDNA sequence were found different from those reported by Israeli, which lead to two different amino acids. CONCLUSION: We have obtained the PSMA cDNA, and the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed. The study lays foundation for DCs vaccine modified by PSMA gene for the treatment of prostate neoplasms.

Objective To investigate the impact of AG490 on the blood-brain barrier (BBB ) permeability and the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6 )and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)after traumatic brain injury (TBI)in rats. Methods A total of 144 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group,a trauma group,and an AG490 intervention group (n=48 in each group). The rats in each group were redivided into four subgroups (4 h,1 d,3 d,and 7 d subgroups)according to the time points after cerebral injury (n=12 in each subgroup). A brain trauma models were induced by hydraulic shock method. Evans blue was used to determine the changes of the BBB permeability after cerebral injury in each group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was to detect the expression levels of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA in rat brain tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of human phospho tyrosine kinase (P-JAK2). Results (1)The permeability of BBB:The permeability of BBB increased at 4 h,1 d,3 d and 7 d after brain injury in the trauma group (Evans blue permeation:10. 4 ± 1. 2,16. 0 ± 1. 4,22. 3 ± 2. 0,and 8. 4 ± 0. 9μg/g,respectively). Compared with the control group, there were significant differences (all P<0. 01). The Evans blue permeation of the AG490 intervention group were 9. 1 ± 1. 0,12. 8 ± 1. 1,17. 5 ± 1. 4 and 7. 1 ± 0. 8μg/g,respectively at each time point,and they were all significantly lower than those of the trauma group (all P<0. 01). (2)The expression of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA:The expression levels of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA at 4 h,1 d,3 d and 7 d after traumatic brain injury in the trauma group were 2. 31 ± 0. 35,2. 73 ± 0. 35,3. 32 ± 0. 29,2. 14 ± 0. 24 and 7. 46 ± 1. 18,9. 42 ± 1. 54,13. 76 ± 1. 89,and 6. 28 ± 1. 00,respectively,they were all significantly higher than those of the control group (all P<0. 01). The expression levels of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA of the AG490 intervention group were 1. 14 ± 0. 22,1. 54 ± 0. 23,1. 94 ± 0. 32,1. 26 ± 0. 21 and 5. 57 ± 0. 88, 7. 78 ± 1. 02,11. 51 ± 1. 29,and 5. 05 ± 0. 97,respectively,they were all lower than those of the trauma group,but they still higher than the control group. There were significant differences (all P<0. 01). (3 )The expression of P-JAK2:The expression levels of P-JAK2-positive cells at each time point after traumatic brain injury in the trauma group were significantly higher than the control group (all P<0. 01),they were 17. 4 ± 2. 7,56. 2 ± 6. 7,26. 1 ± 5. 4,and 15. 3 ± 2. 5,respectively;those of the AG490 intervention group were 12. 2 ± 1. 4,41. 5 ± 4. 6,19. 4 ± 4. 1,and 9. 6 ± 2. 0,respectively,they were all lower than those of the trauma group,but still higher than the control group. There were significant differences (all P<0. 01). Conclusion During the acute phase after TBI,AG490 may activate the factor signaling pathways by inhibiting the non-receptor tyrosine kinase/signal transduction and transcription,significantly inhibit the expression of brain tissue inflammatory cytokines IL-6 IL-6 and TNF-α,reduce the BBB damage,and help to reduce secondary brain injury.

We established a cell based high throughput screening model by calcium assay on fluorometric imaging plate reader for finding modulators of TRPV3. The TRPV3 expression vector was transfected into HEK-293 and stable cell line expressing TRPV3 was selected with antibiotics. Upon TRPV3 specific modulators stimulated, pharmacological characteristics of TRPV3 over expression cell line were detected by calcium assay on fluorometric imaging plate reader. Assay conditions were optimized and stability of the model was observed. The reliability and accuracy of application to 96 and 384 well format high throughput screening were also evaluated. A stable HEK-293 cell line highly expressing TRPV3 was established. TRPV3 specific modulators could modulate calcium signal through TRPV3 in dose dependent manner. Optimized screening condition was established by assay development. This model is stable and sensitive, and meets the requirement of high throughput screening by Z'factor validation and Spiking test. This cell model can be applied to screening TRPV3 modulators by calcium assay.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Ion Transport ; Kidney ; cytology ; Membrane Transport Modulators ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; TRPV Cation Channels ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To explore the effect of drug injection under bronchoscopy on the retreatment of smear positive cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods From June 2016 to December 2017,164 cases of pul-monary tuberculosis with smear Yang cavity type were selected,which were divided into 2 groups according to the random digital table method,each groups has 82 cases.The control group received routine treatment,the observa-tion group underwent bronchoscopy with Kangfuxin Liquid combined with drug injection therapy.The clinical effect of the two groups,the changes of lung function before and after treatment and the improvement of clinical symp-toms were compared.Results The clinical curative effect of the treatment group was better than the control group, which difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). FEV1,FEV1/FVC,PEF index in the observation group were better than the control group,which difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The complication rate of observation group was lower than the control group,which difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). Conclusion Drug injection under bronchoscopy can significantly improve the clinical efficacy and lung function and promote clinical symptoms in patients with retreated smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis.It is worthy of popu-larization and application.