Objective To investigate the of 5-fluorouracil effects on the expression of Smad7,TGF-β receptorⅠ,Bcl-2 and Bax in keloid fibroblasts.Methods After primary culture of keloid fibroblasts,4-6 passages of cells were inoculated in 5 different concentrations of 5-fluorouracil(10,20,40,80,160μmol/L)for 24,48 and 72 hours.Proliferative ability of keloid fibroblasts was detected by MTT assay.Expression of Smad 7,TGF-βreceptorⅠ,Bcl-2 and Bax in keloid fibroblasts was measured by Western blot.Results During MTT,5-fluorouracil did not affect cell viability at 24 hour at the concentration of 10 and 20 μmol/L.Compared with the control group,no significant difference was detected(P＞0.05).At other concentrations,fibroblast death was visible in each group(P＜0.01).Western blot analysis showed that the expression of Smad7 significantly decreased and the expression of TGF-β receptor Ⅰ significantly increased in the TGF-β1 group compared with the blank control group(P＜0.0 1).5-fluorouracil could significantly enhance the expression of Smad7(P＜0.01).There was a remarkable decrease of the Bcl-2 expression and marked increase of the Bax expression in different concentrations of 5-fluorouracil compared with the control group(P＜0.05).But,5-fluorouracil did not show any effect on the synthesis of TGF-β receptor Ⅰ.Conclusion 5-fluorouracil could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis on human keloid fibroblasts in vitro.

AIM: Anti-atherosclerosis effects of Momordica charantia L was further studied in a New Zealand rabbit atherosclerotic model at the basis of anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects. METHODS: Animals were divided into 3 groups: normal group (normal rabbit diet), atherosclerosis group(diet containing 2% cholesterol), and Momordica charantia L group(diet containing 2% cholesterol and 1 5% sarcocarp of Momordica charantia L ). Ninety days later, all animals were sacrificed. The effect of Momordica charantia L on atherosclerosis was evaluated by measuring serum lipid and total cholesterol content of artery wall, observing fatty liver degree, aorta arteriosclerotic area, and the thickness of intima. RESULTS: The level of total serum cholesterol and LDL-C in Momordica charantia L treatment group were obviously lower than those in atherosclerosis group, so were the total cholesterol content of artery wall, fatty liver degree, atherosclerotic area, intima thickness and I/M ratio, but no significantly difference was found between the two groups in TG level. The level of HDL-C in Momordica charantia L treatment group was evidently lower than that in normal control group. CONCLUSION: Momordica charantia L has an anti-atherosclerosis action in rabbits.