AIM:Todeterminetheeffectofsalviaextractonangiogenesisofthemyocardiumintheratswith myocardial infarction (MI) and to analyze its possible mechanism .METHODS: Left coronary artery of Sprague-Dawley rats was ligated to establish a MI model .The rats were randomly divided into MI model group , 3 different dose groups of salvia (10, 20 and 40 mg? kg-1? d-1), and sham operation group.Each group consisted of 8 rats.The rats in all treat-ment groups were orally administered with the salvia extract , and the rats in MI group and sham operation group were fed with the same volume of saline .The rats were sacrificed 4 weeks later .The hemodynamic changes of the rats were deter-mined , and the segmental heart samples were used for morphological observation by hematoxylin and eosin staining , Masson staining, or electron microscopic analysis.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of dif-ferentiation 34 ( CD34 ) was analyzed according to immunohistochemistry .RESULTS: Compared with sham operation group, the morphological changes of the myocardium in MI group were disordered , part of myocardial cell outline disap-peared , and obvious fibrosis in the necrosis myocardial tissue and fuzzy or disappearing microvascular ultrastructure were al -so observed .Compared with MI group , the number of new microvessels in all the treatment groups increased obviously , and the morphological changes of the endothelial cells were relatively complete according to electron microscopy .Compared with sham operation group , the protein expression of VEGF and CD 34 in the cytoplasm of the myocardial tissues in MI group in-creased only a little .Compared with MI group , the protein expression of VEGF and CD 34 in the cytoplasm of the myocardi-al tissues in all treatment groups increased significantly ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: Salvia extract obviously promotes angiogenesis of the myocardial tissues in the rats after myocardial infarction .

BACKGROUND:Results of recent studies demonstrated the modulation of thymosin β4 on hair cycle and regeneration, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism by which thymosinβ4 increases hair regeneration through Wnt signal pathway.
METHODS:After the mouse model of depilation was established using rosin/paraffin mixed agents, the experimental animals were randomly assorted to three different groups, including low-dose, high-dose and control groups, and a dose of 0.3μg/50μL, 3μg/50μL thymosinβ4 and PBS was administered on the depilated backs every 12 hours, respectively. Then photography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were applied to observe the growth of hair, and the expressions ofβ-catenin and LEF-1 mRNA in different groups at different time were quantitatively evaluated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The hair growth of the low-dose group was faster than that of the other groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated inflammatory cel s infiltration in the dermis after depilation, and the number of hair fol icles that were in the phase of anagen was much more than the other groups as time went by. Immunohistochemistry ofβ-catenin showed the accumulation of intra-cel ularβ-catenin in the low-dose group at the bulge of fol icles assessed by integrated absorbance analysis (P<0.05), so did the in situ hybridization of LEF-1 mRNA. Low-dose thymosinβ4 accelerates hair growth through Wnt signal pathway by elevating the level ofβ-catenin and LEF-1 mRNA.

Aim To explore the effect of protein kinase D1 (PKD1 )on adherence,migration,proliferation, microvascular formation,and eNOS expression in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)of rats.Method The EPCs were isolated from bone marrow of rats,cultured and detected,the effects of PKD1 and its specific blocking agent CID755673 on adhesion,migration,proliferation,or microvascular formation were observed,as well as mRNA and protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS ) in EPCs.Results PKD1 significantly promoted adhe-sion,migration,proliferation and microvascular forma-tion of EPCs,and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of eNOS in EPCs,according to the cell cul-ture experiments of EPCs in vitro.Conclusion PKD1 has the role of angiogenesis through regulation of EPCs,which might be dependent on eNOS.

Objective To explore the effect of astragalus extracts on adherence, migration, cell viability, microvascular formation, and eNOS expression in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of rats. Methods EPCs were cultured, isolated and identified in vitro and divided into four groups: low titer group (10-4 g/L of astragalus extracts), middle titer group (10-3 g/L of astragalus extracts), high titer group (10-2 g/L of astragalus extracts) and control group. The effects of astragalus extract on adhesion, migration or microvascular formation were observed under the inverted microscope and com?pared between all groups;Cell viability was detected by MTT assay;mRNA transcription and protein expression levels of en?dothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in EPCs were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot re?spectively. Results Compared with the control group, cell adhesion, migration and microvascular formation of EPCs all en?hanced with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=15.256, 13.633, 97.549 respectively, and P <0.05 in all cases); Cell vitality of EPCs increased with administration of astragalus extracts in a time and dose dependant manner. (F=9.755 for time and F=10.18 for dose). mRNA transcription and protein expression of eNOS in EPCs were up-reg?ulated with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=56.356 and 77.125 respectively, and P<0.05 in both cases). Conclusion Astragalus extracts play important role in angiogenesis in EPCs probably through up-regulating expressions of eNOS.

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease. Recent studies have shown that chronic stress (CS) might modulate periodontal disease, but there are few models of CS-induced periodontitis, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The present study established a rat model of periodontitis associated with CS induced by nylon thread ligatures. The severity of periodontitis was evaluated in this model by radiographic and pathological examination. The inflammatory reaction indicated by the elevated serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and glucocorticoid receptor-α (GR-α) expressions were detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR and western blotting. Open-field tests and serum corticosterone were used to evaluate CS. The results showed that CS induced behavioral changes and increased corticosterone levels of the animals with periodontitis. CS stimulation markedly increased alveolar bone loss, periodontal pocket depth and the number of plaques. It also enhanced the inflammatory reaction. These results suggest that CS accelerated the ligature-induced pathological changes associated with periodontitis. Further analysis of the mechanisms involved showed that GR-α expression was significantly downregulated in periodontal tissues of the animals undergoing CS. Blocking GR-α signaling in lipopolysaccharide and corticosteroid-treated human periodontal ligament fibroblast cells in vitro significantly upregulated the expression of p-Akt (protein kinase B) and TLR4, promoted nuclear factor-κB activity and increased levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8. This research suggests that CS might accelerate the pathological progression of periodontitis by a GR-α signaling-mediated inflammatory response and that this may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of periodontal disease, particularly in patients with CS.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Corticosterone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Ligation ; Models, Animal ; Nylons ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis* ; Phosphotransferases

This study assessed the roles of chronic stress (CS) in the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and explored the underlying mechanisms of periodontitis. Using an animal model of periodontitis and CS, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the protein levels of the alpha1-adrenergic receptor (alpha1-AR) and beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2-AR) were assessed. Furthermore, human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic the process of inflammation. The proliferation of the HPDLFs and the expression of alpha1-AR and beta2-AR were assessed. The inflammatory-related cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 were detected after pretreatment with the alpha1/beta2-AR blockers phentolamine/propranolol, both in vitro and in vivo. Results show that periodontitis under CS conditions enhanced the expression of TH, alpha1-AR and beta2-AR. Phentolamine significantly reduced the inflammatory cytokine levels. Furthermore, we observed a marked decrease in HPDLF proliferation and the increased expression of alpha1-ARfollowing LPS pretreatment. Pretreatment with phentolamine dramatically ameliorated LPS-inhibited cell proliferation. In addition, the blocking of alpha1-ARsignaling also hindered the upregulation of the inflammatory-related cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8. These results suggest that CS can significantly enhance the pathological progression of periodontitis by an alpha1-adrenergic signaling-mediated inflammatory response. We have identified a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of periodontal disease, particularly in those patients suffering from concurrent CS.
Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/immunology ; Fibroblasts/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/administration & dosage/immunology ; Male ; Periodontal Ligament/cytology/immunology/pathology ; Periodontitis/*drug therapy/*etiology/immunology/pathology ; Phentolamine/*therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/analysis/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/analysis/immunology

Objective:To analyze the related risk factors for vertebral artery tortuosity, and explore the mechanism of vertebral artery tortuosity.Methods:Two hundred and eighty-two patients accepted head/neck and MR angiography in our hospital from October 2016 to October 2017 were selected. The tortuosity degrees of vertebral artery were measured and calculated by PACS system. The differences of tortuosity degrees of vertebral arteries in different age groups were compared. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlation between vertebral artery tortuosity and both clinical data and and biochemical levels, and multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for vertebral artery tortuosity.Results:The tortuosity degrees of the left and right vertebral arteries in these patients ranged from 5.1% to 72.6%. The tortuosity degrees of vertebral arteries in patients aged 40-49 years were significantly higher than those in patients aged 20-29 years and 30-39 years ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the tortuosity degree of the right vertebral artery was positively correlated with age and triglyceride level ( r=0.232, P=0.000; r=0.172, P=0.004); the tortuosity degree of the left vertebral artery was positively correlated with triglyceride level ( r=0.123, P=0.043). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age ( 95%CI: 0.059-0.194, P=0.000) and triglyceride level ( 95%CI: 0.173-1.942, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for right vertebral artery tortuosity. Triglyceride level ( 95%CI: 0.041-2.559, P=0.043) was independent risk factor for left vertebral artery tortuosity. Conclusion:There are congenital developmental factors associated with vertebral artery tortuosity; some nurture factor, as triglyceride level, may promote its development.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of a dual-crosslinked injectable hydrogel derived from acellular musclar matrix (AMM) for promoting myoblasts proliferation and myogenic differentiation. METHODS: Firstly, hyaluronic acid was oxidized with NaIO ₄ and methylated to prepare methacrylamidated oxidized hyaluronic acid (MOHA). Then, AMM obtained by washing enzymatically treated muscle tissue was aminolyzed to prepare aminated AMM (AAMM). MOHA hydrogel and AAMM were crosslinked using Schiff based reaction and UV radiation to prepare a dual-crosslinked MOHA/AAMM injectable hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize MOHA, AAMM, and MOHA/AAMM hydrogels. The injectability of MOHA/AAMM hydrogel were evaluated by manual injection, and the gelation performance was assessed by UV crosslinking. The rheological properties and Young's modulus of the hydrogel were examined through mechanical tests. The degradation rate of the hydrogel was assessed by immersing it in PBS. The active components of the hydrogel were verified using immunofluorescence staining and ELISA assay kits. The promotion of cell proliferation by the hydrogel was tested using live/dead staining and cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assays after co-culturing with C2C12 myoblasts for 9 days. The effect of the hydrogel on myogenic differentiation was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: FTIR spectra confirmed the successful preparation of MOHA/AAMM hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibited good injectability and gelation ability. Compared to MOHA hydrogel, MOHA/AAMM hydrogel exhibited higher viscosity and Young's modulus, a reduced degradation rate, and contained a higher amount of collagen (including collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅲ) as well as bioactive factors (including epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor 1). The live/dead cell staining and CCK-8 assay indicated that with prolonged incubation time, there was a significant increase in viable cells and a decrease in dead cells in the C2C12 myoblasts within the MOHA/AAMM hydrogel. Compared with MOHA hydrogel, the difference was significant at each time point ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining and RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that the deposition of IGF-1 and expression levels of myogenic-related genes (including Myogenin, Troponin T, and myosin heavy chain) in the MOHA/AAMM group were significantly higher than those in the MOHA group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION The MOHA/AAMM hydrogel prepared based on AMM can promote myoblasts proliferation and myogenic differentiation, providing a novel dual-crosslinked injectable hydrogel for muscle tissue engineering.
Hydrogels ; Hyaluronic Acid/pharmacology* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Cell Differentiation ; Myoblasts/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation