OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of arctiin with anti-inflammatory bioactivity against triptolide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Forty SD rats were divided into 4 groups for gastric lavage of normal saline, arctiin (500 mg/kg), triptolide (500 μg/kg), or both arctiin (500 mg/kg) and triptolide (500 μg/kg). Blood samples were collected for analysis of biochemical renal parameters, and the renal tissues were harvested for determining the kidney index and for pathological evaluation with HE staining. In the RESULTS: In SD rats, arctiin significantly antagonized triptolide-induced elevation of BUN, Scr and kidney index ( CONCLUSIONS Arctiin can protect the kidney from triptolide-induced damages in rats possibly through the anti-inflammatory pathway.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Diterpenes/toxicity* ; Epoxy Compounds/toxicity* ; Furans ; Glucosides ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Phenanthrenes/toxicity* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the hazards of demulsifier production process.

METHODSThe air of production environment was monitored, and physical examinations were conducted on 52 exposure workers and 53 non-exposure workers (control), all the medical checks including clinical, electromyography and laboratory checks.

RESULTSThe air concentration of propylene oxide was 4.6 mg/m3, and the concentration of Ethylene oxide was 4.8 mg/m3. There was significant difference between exposure group and control group in terms of the incidence of neurasthenic syndromes, lachrymation, laryngopharyngeal ache, inappetence, tired and quadriplegia (P <0.01). The incidence of Achilles's tendon reflection, knee jerk slacking up, chronic pharyngitis, coryza, acne, hair lose and pneumonia were significantly higher in study group than that in control group (P <0.01). Peripheral nerve damage of impairment incidence rate was 40.4%, significantly higher than that in control group (9.4%). No significant difference was found between groups on IgG, IgA and IgM. And also did the rate of chromosome aberrance (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronuclie cell (MC) of peripheral blood (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe production environment of demulisier could stimulate respiratory channel and affect peripheral nerve and central nerve, but no aberrance effects were found.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Ethylene Oxide ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish the model of human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) malignant transformation induced by glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and define the different methylation genes at different stages.

METHODSDNA was extracted at different 16HBE malignant phases and changes of genes DNA methylation at different stages were detected using Methylation chip of 'NimbleGen HG18 CpG Promoter Microarray Methylation'. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to observe the methylation status of some genes, and then compared with the control groups.

RESULTSThe result showed that GMA induced 16HBE morphorlogical transformation at the dose of 8 µg/mL, and cell exposed to GMA had 1374 genes in protophase, 825 genes in metaphase, 1149 genes in anaphase, respectively; 30 genes are all methylation in the 3 stages; 318 genes in protophase but not in metaphase and anaphase; 272 genes in metaphase but not in protophase and anaphase; 683 genes in anaphase but not in metaphase and protophase; 73 genes in protophase and metaphase but not in anaphase; 67 genes in protophase and anaphase but not in metaphase; 59 genes in metaphase and anaphase but not in protophase.

CONCLUSIONThe pattern of DNA methylation could change in the process of 16HBE induced by GMA.

Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; DNA Methylation ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Respiratory Mucosa ; cytology

OBJECTIVES: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is the major component in commercial liquid epoxy resins, which are manufactured by co-reacting bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. This study was performed to show the developmental effects of prenatal and postnatal exposures to BADGE in male rat offspring. METHODS: Mated female rats were divided into four groups, each containing 12 rats. The dosing solutions were prepared by thoroughly mixing BADGE in corn oil at the 0, 375, 1500 and 3000 mg/kg/day concentrations. Mated females were dosed once daily by oral gavage on gestation day (GD) 6 - 20 and postnatal day (PND) 0 - 21. Pregnant female dams were observed general symptoms and body weight. Also, male pups were observed the general symptoms, body weight, developmental parameters (e.g. anogenital distance, pina detachment, incisor eruption, nipple retention, eye opening, testis descent), organ pathologic changes and hormone levels of plasma. RESULTS: Pregnant rats treated with BADGE died at a rate of about 70% in the 1500 mg/kg/day group and all rats treated with 3000 mg/kg/day died. Body weight, for male pups treated with doses of 375 mg/kg/day, was significantly lower than in the control group at PND 42, 56, and 63 (p<0.05). Evaluation of body characteristics including; separation of auricle, eruption of incisor, separation of eyelid, nipple retention, descent of testis, and separation of the prepuce in the BADGE treated group showed no difference in comparisons with the control group. AGD and adjusted AGD (mm/kg) for general developmental items in BADGE 375 mg/kg/day treated pups tended to be longer than in controls, however, these differences were not statistically significant. Relative weights of adrenal gland, lung (p<0.05), brain, epididymis, prostate, and testis (p<0.01) were heavier than in control in measures at PND 9 weeks. There were no significant changes in comparisons of histological findings of these organs. Loss of spermatids was observed in the seminiferous tubule at PND 9 weeks, but no weight changes were observed. The plasma estrogen levels were similar in the control and treatment groups at PND 3, 6 and 9 weeks. The plasma testosterone levels in the control group tended to increase with age. However, in the BADGE 375 mg/kg/day treated male pups it did not tend to increase. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that BADGE is a chemical that has developmental effects consistent with it being an endocrine disruptor.
Rats, Sprague-Dawley/growth & development ; Rats ; Pregnancy ; Male ; Korea ; Female ; Epoxy Compounds/administration & dosage/antagonists & inhibitors/*toxicity ; Carcinogens/administration & dosage/antagonists & inhibitors/*toxicity ; Animals

OBJECTIVETo study the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by glycidyl methacrylate (GMA).

METHODS16HBE cells were treated multiple times with GMA at concentrations of 1, 2, 4 and 8 microg/ml. Cellular biological characteristics of malignant transformation were identified by the tests of conA, colony forming frequency on soft agar, scanning electron microscope and tumorigenesis in nude mice. Test of immunocytochemical detection was also applied to confirm the derivation of cell and tumor. Groups of solvent control (DMSO) and positive control (MCA) were also performed at the same time.

RESULTSTransformed foci could be observed after the cells were treated by GMA at concentrations from 1 to 8 microg/ml. The number of transformation foci increased with the concentration of GMA. Transforming rate in 8 microg/ml group (8.48 x 10(-6)) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of solvent control group (4.5 x 10(-7)). The transformed cells lost contact inhibition and exhibited a crossover growth in culture dish. They also could grow in semi-solid agar and showed dose-reaction relations with the concentration of GMA. The colony forming frequency in 2, 4 and 8 microg/ml group was 1.20 per thousand, 2.35 per thousand and 5.70 per thousand respectively, which were higher than that of solvent control group (P < 0.01). The transformed cells could be agglutinated by low concentration of conA. Microvilli on the surface of transformed cells increased and became strong and long under scanning electron microscope. The transformed cells could form subcutaneous tumor in nude mice which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma in morphology. Expression of cytokeratin (CK) was detected in both 16HBE cells and tumor formed in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONGMA could induce the malignant transformation of 16HBE cells. This research system might provide a potential tool and lay a foundation for the study of the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis induced by GMA.

Animals ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Nude

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects of short-term exposure to glycidyl mathacrylate (GMA) on human lung fibroblast cells (2BS cells) in vitro.

METHODSDNA strand breakage was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis, and DNA ladder formation assay and flow cytometric analysis were carried out to detect apoptic responses of cells to GMA exposure. The HPRT gene mutation assay was used to evaluate the mutagenicity, and the effect of GMA on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the exposed cells was examined with the scrape loading/dye transfer technique. The ability of GMA to transform 2BS cells was also tested by an in vitro cell transformation assay.

RESULTSExposure to GMA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks but not apoptic responses. GMA was also shown to significantly induce HPRT gene mutations and morphological transformation in 2BS cells in vitro. In contrast, GMA produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of GJIC.

CONCLUSIONSGMA elicits both genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects on 2BS cells in vitro. The induction of DNA damage and gene mutations and inhibition of GJIC by GMA may casually contribute to GMA-induced cell transformation.

Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; Gap Junctions ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Lung ; cytology ; Methacrylates ; toxicity

OBJECTIVES: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a liquid compound obtained by condensation of two molecules of epichlorohydrin with one molecule of bisphenol A. General and reproductive toxicity with BADGE has been reported higher than 1000 mg/kg/day. This study was performed to show the effects of acute exposure to BADGE below 1000 mg/kg/day on the testis in adult male rats. METHODS: BADGE was administered by gastric lavage in a single dose of 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day in 8-week old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats. The right testis was processed for light microscopic analysis. The left testis was homogenized and spermatids were counted to determine the daily sperm production and daily abnormal sperm production. The sperm count, sperm motility, and incidence of abnormal sperm were estimated in the epididymis. In testicular sections, the seminiferous tubules were observed for qualitative changes. The progression of spermatogenesis was arbitrarily classified as full-matured, maturing, and immature. The specimen slide was observed at 3 points and 10 seminiferous tubules were evaluated at each point. RESULTS: The male rats exposed to single oral dose of BADGE at 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day were significantly increased the number of immature and maturing sperm on the testis. There were no significant differences with respect to sperm head count, sperm motility, and sperm abnormality in the BADGE treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that single oral exposure of BADGE 750 mg/kg/day can affect adult male testis development.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epoxy Compounds/*toxicity ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatids/drug effects ; Spermatogenesis/drug effects ; Testis/*drug effects/metabolism

Triptolide (TP) from Tripterygium wilfordii has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anticancer activities. TP is specially used for the treatment of awkward rheumatoid arthritis, but its clinical application is confined by intense side effects. It is reported that licorice can obviously reduce the toxicity of TP, but the detailed mechanisms involved have not been comprehensively investigated. The current study aimed to explore metabolomics characteristics of the toxic reaction induced by TP and the intervention effect of licorice water extraction (LWE) against such toxicity. Obtained urine samples from control, TP and TP + LWE treated rats were analyzed by UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS. The metabolic profiles of the control and the TP group were well differentiated by the principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The toxicity of TP was demonstrated to be evolving along with the exposure time of TP. Eight potential biomarkers related to TP toxicity were successfully identified in urine samples. Furthermore, LWE treatment could attenuate the change in six of the eight identified biomarkers. Functional pathway analysis revealed that the alterations in these metabolites were associated with tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism. Therefore, it was concluded that LWE demonstrated interventional effects on TP toxicity through regulation of tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and porphyrin metabolism pathways, which provided novel insights into the possible mechanisms of TP toxicity as well as the potential therapeutic effects of LWE against such toxicity.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Diterpenes ; toxicity ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Glycyrrhiza ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Phenanthrenes ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside( GTW),an extract derived from T. wilfordii,has been used for rheumatoid arthritis and other immune diseases in China. However its potential hepatotoxicity has not been investigated completely. Firstly,the content of triptolid( TP) in GTW was 0. 008% confirmed by a LC method. Then after oral administration of GTW( 100,150 mg·kg-1) and TP( 12 μg·kg-1) in female Wistar rats for 24 h,it was found that 150 mg·kg-1 GTW showed more serious acute liver injury than 12 μg·kg-1 TP,with the significantly increased lever of serum ALT,AST,TBA,TBi L,TG and bile duct hyperplasia even hepatocyte apoptosis. The expression of mRNA and proteins of liver bile acid transporters such as BSEP,MRP2,NTCP and OATP were down-regulated significantly by GTW to inhibit bile acid excretion and absorption,resulting in cholestatic liver injury. Moreover,GTW was considered to be involved in hepatic oxidative stress injury,although it down-regulated SOD1 and GPX-1 mRNA expression without significant difference in MDA and GSH levels. In vitro,we found that TP was the main toxic component in GTW,which could inhibit cell viability up to 80% in Hep G2 and LO2 cells at the dose of 0. 1 μmol·L-1. Next a LC-MS/MS method was used to detect the concentration of triptolid in plasma from rats,interestingly,we found that the content of TP in GTW was always higher than in the same amount of TP,suggesting the other components in GTW may affect the TP metabolism. Finally,we screened the substrate of p-glycoprotein( p-gp) in Caco-2 cells treated with components except TP extrated from GTW,finding that wilforgine,wilforine and wilfordine was the substrate of p-gp. Thus,we speculated that wilforgine,wilforine and wilfordine may competitively inhibit the excretion of TP to bile through p-gp,leading to the enhanced hepatotoxity caused by GTW than the same amount of TP.
Animals ; Caco-2 Cells ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; pathology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Diterpenes ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Female ; Glycosides ; toxicity ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Phenanthrenes ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tripterygium ; toxicity

To further understand triptolide, this paper has introduced the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, the clinic application and semi-synthesis of triptolide on basis of importance and significant contents of reference which have been consulted in the past twenty years. Presently triptolide and Tripterygium wilfordii have been a hot spot of modernization of Chinese traditional medicine. It is very important to develop a new dosage form of high effect and low toxicity by making use of advanced technology according to its characteristics.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; pharmacology ; Antispermatogenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Epoxy Compounds ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Tripterygium ; chemistry