Objective To explore the effects of phentolamine on the function of the islets isolated from normal rats.Methods The SD rats islets were isolated by digestive method with collagenase and DNase.Millipore Multiscreen Assay System was used to observe the effects of phentolamine on the function of isolated islets. Insulin and glucagon were measured by RIA. Results ⑴Insulin secretion of the isolated islets incubated in culture medium was glucose concentration-dependent manner. Phentolamine had stimulate insulin secretion significantly. Nifedipine (Ca 2+ channel blocker) and diazoxide (K + channel opener) had inhibit the insulin release, but their effects were abolished by phentolamine. ⑵Glucagon secretion of the isolated islets in culture medium incubated was inhibited by glucose. Phentolamine inhibited glucagon secretion significantly, and the inhibiting effect was also concentration-dependent manner,both the nifedipine and diazoxide had the effect too. Conclusion Phentolamine could stimulate insulin secretion, and inhibit glucagon secretion in the isolated islets.It maybe has some hypoglycemic effects on diabetes.

Objective To explore the effects of the clonidine-displacing substance(CDS)on the function of isolated islets from normal rats. Methods The SD rat islets were isolated by digestive method with collagenase and DNase, and incubated in RPMI 1640 culture medium overnight. Multiscreen Assay System was used to observe the effects of CDS on the function of the isolated islets. Insulin and glucagon were measured by RIA. Results Glucagon secretion of the isolated islets in incubation medium was inhibited by glucose. CDS could significantly inhibit glucagon secretion in concentration-dependent manner. Insulin secretion of the isolated islets was dependent on the glucose concentration of incubation medium. CDS could stimulate insulin secretion significantly. Nifedipine (Ca 2+ channel blocker) and diazoxide (K + channel opener) could inhibit the insulin release of the isolated islets, the effect of which could be abolished by CDS. Conclusion As an endogenous ligand of imidazoline receptors, CDS could stimulate insulin secretion, and inhibit glucagon release in the isolated islets.

Inflammation is one of the key pathological process of atherosclerosis (AS),and multiple risk factors of AS have consanguineous relationships with the regulation of inflammatory signal pathway.So it could be effective approach to control inflammation,even the pathological process of AS if we do the deep research on AS inflammatory signal pathway and make out the potential medicine.

Atherosclerosis(AS),the major cause of ischemic cerebrovascular disorder(CVD)destroying human health,the damage-reaction theory and inflammation theory proposed by professor Ross were popular because those theories were explainning the beginning and developing of AS well.The key point is anti-inflammatory.Through the intervention of some key factors in inflammatory response network,the theory provide a great significance and value on the treatment of AS.We considered that AS pathogenesis of "Endogenous Heat Toxin,Phlegm and Blood Stasis" in Chinese medicine has substantial relationship with current mainstream theory of AS-"injury-response theory,inflammatory reaction theory",which is a good integrating point for AS pathogenesis in both theoretical systems of Chinese and Western Medicine.With the entry point of intervention of "Endogenous Heat Toxin" or "inflammatory response",on the basis of activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis and heat-clearing and detoxicating,it is a beneficial attempt with theoretical and practical significance to discuss the role of Chinese medicine on prevention and treatment of AS.With the mainline of AS anti-inflammatory theory,this article analyzed and discussed the research ideas of Chinese Herbs intervene AS inflammatory reaction combined with our work of the research group.

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba was known as fine quality in the Shennong's Herbal. It is sweet in taste and mild in property with the effect of regulating the middle, invigorating the spleen, assisting twelve meridians, harmonizing stomach-qi, unclogging nine orifices, and moderating hundreds of herbs. In recent years, the efficacies of Ziziphus jujuba have been widely studied with considerable meaningful achievements. In this article, main research progresses in recent ten years were reviewed, which included resources, chemical components and pharmacological effects of Ziziphus jujuba. The research and development of medication, health care product and food with Ziziphus jujuba as its main ingredient were summarized for further references in related studies.

Neurodegenerative diseases are threating our health seriously.Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation and development of neurodegenerative diseases, and its primary characteristics are the activation of microglia and the increasing level of inflammation cytokines.This review describes the relationship between neuroinflammation and several neurodegenerative diseases, and the models in vivo and in vitro.In addition, combining with traditional Chinese medicines knowledge of encephalopathy, we summarizes pharmacological effects and mechanisms of multiple herb extracts and monomer compounds in preventing the activation of microglia and inhibiting neuroinflammation, thus, to provide the basis for gradually revealing the related rules and characteristics of treating encephalopathy by traditional Chinese medicine, and improving the accuracy of the clinical drugs, as well as developing new drugs for the prevention and control of encephalopathy.

Atherosclerosis (As) is an important pathological basis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The pathogenesis studies of As have been a hot topic in the field of vascular biology research. The inflammation is known as a major participant in the development process of As. And monocyte-macrophage plays a central role in inflam-mation. In recent years, with the deepening research on inflammatory mechanisms, the As macrophage polarization is attracting researchers' attention. Under different environmental inductions, macrophages develop into M1 and M2 phenotypes. M1 macrophages (classical type), which can stimulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, is generally considered as pro-inflammatory subtypes and can facilitate the progress of As. Whereas, M2 macrophages (alternative type), which can inhibit pro-inflammatory factor production, function as anti-inflammatory subtypes and likely to inhibit the progression of As. The mechanisms of As, macrophage polarization in As, and opportunities for herbal medicines will be summarized in this review.

The proliferation of tumor cells is regulated by a complex array of signaling pathways, among these signaling pathways,the programmed cell death. Autophagy and apoptosis are two types of programmed death. There are significant differences in their morphological and functional features, but they also have many links. Both apoptosis and autophagy are involved in activation,expression and regulation of a series of genes. By reviewing the research progress in recent years, this article will discuss the cellular regulation and molecular mechanisms of their related genes. Through summarizing the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis,it aims to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis in tumor progression,and looking at the perspectives for studies on the autophagy and apoptosis in tumor treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether extracts of Danshen and Chuanxinlian (SL) could promote the function recovery in pre-monocytic cell line THP-1 induced by TNF-alpha.

METHODSL extracts (0.125-2 g x L(-1)) were used to incubate THP-1 for 24 h before stimulation with TNF-alpha (20 microg x L(-1)), the adhesion, migration, lipid uptake and secretion of THP-1 were observed.

RESULTSL (0.5-2 g x L(-1)) had obvious effect on decreasing the THP-1 adhesion. The number of passed membrane was much fewer than that of control cells in SL (0.125-2 g x L(-1)). SL (0.125-2 g x L(-1)) reduced the total cholesterol content significantly. The levels of IL-6 in SL (2 g x L(-1)) were significantly decreased,and IL-10 was increased than that before the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSL extracts could promote the function recovery such as adhesion, migration, lipid uptake and secretion of THP-1 induced by TNF-alpha, which probably is one of the mechanisms of inhibit the inflammatory reaction in initiation and development of AS.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Rabbits ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

The interactions between endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) contribute to vascular physiological functions and also cause the occurrence and development of different kinds of diseases. Currently, EC-SMC co-culture model is the best way to study the interactions between the two kinds of cells. This article summarizes existing EC-SMC co-culture models and their effects on the structure and functions of the two kinds of cells. Microscopically speaking, it provides a basis for in-depth studies on their interactions as well as a reference for the establishment of in vitro EC-SMC co-culture system that is closer to organic physiology or pathology state.
Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; methods ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism