Objective To study the effects of sulfur mustard on chromosomal aberration in Chinese hamster fibroblast cell line (CHL cells) and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in the bone marrow cells of mice. Methods CHL cells (with and without S9) treated with different concentrations of sulfur mustard for 24 h were harvested for the preparation of chromosome. Subsequently, the frequency and the type of chromosomal aberration were examined. The KM mice were sacrificed at 24 h after subcutaneous injection of sulfur mustard. The number of micronuclei-containing polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) was counted by means of bone marrow smear and Giemsa staining. Results Sulfur mustard might increase the chromosomal aberration frequency of CHL cell in a dose-dependent manner. S9 had no effects on the classificaiton and the frequency of chromosomal aberration. The types of chromosomal aberration included gap, break, deletion, polyploid, and so on. Compared with that in the control group, the MN ratio in every group increased significantly (P

Objective To investigate the effect of gypenoside on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory response. Methods The BV2 microglia cell line was cultured in vitro. The BV2 microglia cells were divided into four groups: normal control, LPS (10 ng/ml), GP + LPS (GP 20 μg/ml, LPS 10 ng/ml), and GP (20 μg/ml). After 24 h cultivation, ELISA was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Immunocytochemistry staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of nuclear factor (NF-κB) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1). Results Compared with the normal control group, the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression level of NF-κB in the LPS group were increased significantly (all P < 0. 001). Compared with the LPS group, the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression level of NFκB were decreased significantly, while the expression level of SOCS-1 was increased significantly (P < 0. 001). There were no significant differences in the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression levels of NF-κB and SOCS-1 between the GP group and normal control group (all P > 0. 05 ). Conclusions GP can significantly inhibit the LPS-mediated microglial inflammatory response. SOCS-1 protein may be involved in GP inhibiting LPS-mediated microglial inflammatory response.