1.Study on the Anti-inflammatory, Antitussive and Analgesic Effects of Jinhua Qingre Capsules
Changjiu GAO ; Chaoli ZHANG ; Zhujia ZHENG ; Jiafu HOU ; Huan LIU ; Ting WU ; Huiying BI ; Guangping WANG ; Jindan AN ; Zhongcheng YU
Herald of Medicine 2017;36(3):268-271
Objective To study the anti-inflammatory,antitussive,and analgesia effects of Jinhua qingre capsules.Methods The anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by the methods include xylene-induced mouse auricular swelling and histamine-induced pigment oozing from skin vessel in rats;The antitussive and analgesic effect were assessed by ammonia water induced cough model and acetic acid-induced twisting method.Results In anti-inflammation experiment,the high dose (12 g·kg-1) and moderate (6 g·kg-1) groups of Jinhua qingre capsules showed significant inhibitory effect on auricular swelling and significant difference compared with control group (P < 0.01,P < 0.05.);the high dose (10 g· kg-1) and moderate dose (5 g·kg-1) groups of Jinhua Qingre capsules play a marked inhibitory role in the increase in mouse peritoneal capillary permeability (P < 0.01,P < 0.05).In antitussive experiment,high dose (12 g· kg-1) and moderate dose (6 g· kg-1) groups had significant inhibitory effect on cough caused by ammonia water (P < 0.01,P < 0.05) compared with control group.In analgesic experiment,the high dose (12 g·kg-1),moderate dose (6 g·kg-1),and low dose (3 g·kg-1) groups effectively reduced the writhing frequency of mice (P < 0.01,P < 0.05).Conclusion Jinhua qingre capsules have potential effects on anti-inflammatory,antitussive,and analgesic.
2.Clinical value of capture of cancer cells in pleural fluid of patients with lung cancer by cytochip.
Guangping WU ; Weijian HOU ; Yujie ZHAO ; Enhua WANG ; Changqing FANG ; Shuli LIU ; Jindan SONG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2005;8(3):195-197
BACKGROUNDImmunocytochemistry is valuabale in differentiating malignant fluids from benign ones. However, the diagnostic value of a single tumor marker is limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical value of capture of cancer cells in pleural fluids of patients with lung cancer by cytochip.
METHODSA new pattern cytochip was developed to immunize hybridization of cells in pleural fluids of patients with 42 lung cancers and with 20 lung benign lesions. Ten antibodies were fixed on the cytochip, they were epithelial specific antigen (ESA), CD44V6, ND-1, T cell (CD3), CD45RO, B cell (CD20), CD79a, Hodgkin's cell (CD15), CD30 and macrophage (CD68).
RESULTSThe point of positive hybridization showed round distribution with clear border, and the shape of cell displayed well. The positive numbers of ESA, CD44V6, ND-1 were 35, 30, 38 respectively in pleural fluids of 42 patients with luog cancers; lymphocytes and neutrophils were found on the 1 ESA and 1 ND-1 respectively, and only lymphocytes were found on the 3 CD44V6 in 20 ones with lung benign lesions; the other 7 antibodies did not capture cancer cells except for lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages from two pleural fluids.
CONCLUSIONSThe cytochip could be an important practical foreground in clinic for diagnosing cancer cells in pleural fluids of patients with lung cancer.
3.Study on Mechanism of Xiaojin Pills in Treatment of Breast Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification
Delian NIU ; Dongyin LIAN ; Qin HU ; Lihua SUN ; Ying CHEN ; Hongping HOU ; Guangping ZHANG ; Jianrong LI ; Zuguang YE ; Bo PENG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(2):41-49
Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of Xiaojin Pills in the treatment of breast cancer using an integrated network pharmacology and experimental verification.Methods The chemical components and potential targets of Xiaojin Pills were obtained from TCMSP,TCM-ID,ETCM and SwissTargetPrediction databases.Breast cancer related targets were collected from GeneCards,OMIM and KEGG databases.The overlapped targets were imported into STRING database to analysis a protein-protein interaction(PPI).The key targets of PPI networks were screened based on node topology parameter values through Cytoscape 3.8.0.DAVID database was used to analyze the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment to build drug-chemical components-key targets-signaling pathway network.The breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 were used to study the effects of Xiaojin Pills extract on cell apoptosis,migration and invasion,and to verify the key pathway obtained by enrichment analysis.Results Totally 181 chemical components in Xiaojin Pills were obtained,including quercetin,myricetin,pinocembrin and β-sitosterol.615 potential targets were identified for the anti-breast cancer effects of Xiaojin Pills.After overlapping,170 key targets against breast cancer were identified based on the topological analysis,which included SRC,ERK1/2,AKT1,EGFR,etc.KEGG analysis enriched pathways including pathways in cancer,MAPK signaling pathway,endocrine resistance,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance,apoptosis,and HIF-1 signaling pathway,which may play important roles in the therapeutic effects of Xiaojin Pills against breast cancer.GO enrichment was involved in protein phosphorylation,inflammatory response,negative regulation of apoptosis,and positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascades.Cell experiments showed that Xiaojin Pills further induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways.At the same time,the expressions of ZO-1 and β-catenin increased,and the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation process was reversed to inhibit the metastasis of breast cancer cells.Conclusion The key targets and signaling pathways of Xiaojin Pills in the treatment of breast cancer are studied through network pharmacology combined with in vitro experiments,which provided a basis for further study of its pharmacodynamic material basis,mechanism of action and clinical application.
4.Study on the effects and mechanism of Guiling Gao on the activity state of rats with damp-heat syndrome
Ling SONG ; Han LI ; Yunhang GAO ; Tengfei CHEN ; Hongping HOU ; Bo PENG ; Guangping ZHANG ; Zuguang YE
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;45(1):47-53
Objective:To investigate the effects of Guiling Gao on body temperature, gastrointestinal motility, gastrointestinal hormones, Th1/Th2 cytokines and water metabolism in rats with damp-heat syndrome.Methods:Totally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, mosapride group, Guiling Gao low dose group (3.4 g/kg), medium dose group (6.8 g/kg) and high dose group (13.6 g/kg) according to random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups adopted the method of "environmental factors + fat and sweet diet + biological factors" to prepare the rat model of damp heat syndrome of febrile diseases. After modeling, they were administered by gavage for 7 days. During the experiment, the general state, body weight and body temperature were observed, the gastric residue rate of rats was calculated by weighing method, the intestinal propulsion rate of rats was calculated by charcoal propulsion method, and the levels of serum motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), somatostatin (SS), substance P (SP),IL-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were detected by ELISA, and the changes of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) mRNA transcription level were detected by real-time PCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the weight of rats in Guiling Gao high dose group increased after experiment of 22 days ( P<0.05), and body temperature of rats in Guiling Gao medium and high dose group decreased in 19-20 day ( P<0.01); and the gastric emptying rate and the small intestine propulsion rate of small intestine in Guiling Gao medium and high dose group increased significantly ( P<0.01 or P<0.05); the serum MTL, GAS and SP levels increased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), and SS decreased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the Guiling Gao medium and high dose groups; The levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio decreased ( P<0.01); The expression of AQP3 mRNA (1.16 ± 0.25 vs. 0.23 ± 0.01) in the Guiling Gao high dose group was up-regulated ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Guiling Gao can effectively improve the activity state of damp-heat syndrome model rats caused by complex factors. This mechanism may be related to enhancing gastrointestinal movement, increasing gastrointestinal hormone secretion, restoring the dynamic balance of immune system Th1/Th2 and promoting the transport of water from intestinal cavity.
5.Evaluation of corneal nerve damage in diabetic patients after panretinal photocoagulation based on the wide-field mosaic analysis of corneal subbasal nerve plexus
Shulan HUANG ; Shaozhen ZHAO ; Xiaowu WANG ; Jizhong YANG ; Xiaofen ZHENG ; Yuping HAN ; Juwei ZHAO ; Guangping HOU ; Hua YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2021;39(11):968-974
Objective:To explore the damage of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) to the subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) and its related mechanisms by comparing SNP changes in wide-field mosaic between before and after PRP treatment in diabetic patients.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted.Fifty-seven patients (114 eyes) with type 2 diabetes mellitus and binocular diabetic retinopathy (DR) stage IV to receive PRP treatment in Shanxi Eye Hospital from April to November 2019 were enrolled.The subjects were randomly divided into horizontal-vertical laser group and vertical-horizontal laser group according to a random number table.Twenty-nine eyes from 29 patients were assigned to the horizontal-vertical laser group with the photocoagulation sequence of temporal-nasal-inferior-superior.Twenty-eight eyes from 28 patients were assigned to the vertical-horizontal laser group with the photocoagulation sequence of inferior-superior-temporal-nasal.The severer eyes of each subject were chosen as the treatment eye and the contralateral eyes were chosen as the control eye.Corneal confocal laser scanning microscopy (CCM) was performed before PRP treatment, 1 week after each photocoagulation, and 1 month after the completion of PRP treatment to collect images of the SNP over an area of 2-3 mm around the whorl-like pattern.Captured images at each time were merged into one image by using the Photoshop CC 2017 image processing software, and then the nerve fiber length (NFL) of whorl-like pattern was measured by Neuron J image analysis software.McGill pain questionnaire was used to investigate the pain of patients after each photocoagulation.The NFL changes of SNP at different time points were compared between different eyes and different photocoagulation sequence groups.The study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by an Ethics Committee of Shanxi Eye Hospital (No.201804b). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to entering the study cohort.Results:After PRP treatment, there were different degrees of neural structure loss of SNP nerve fibers in 11 treatment eyes, but there was no significant change in SNP nerve fibers in the control eyes.There were significant differences in NFL between the treatment eyes and the control eyes at various time points ( Feyes=2.020, P=0.039; Ftime=4.062, P=0.001). In the horizontal-vertical laser group, different degrees of neural structure loss on the photocoagulation side were found in SNP nerve fibers after the first and second photocoagulation.In the vertical-horizontal laser group, different degrees of neural structure loss on the photocoagulation side were found in SNP nerve fibers after the third and fourth photocoagulation.There was no significant difference in NFL of treatment eyes between the two groups ( Fgroup=0.099, P=0.754), but there was a significant difference in NFL at various time points before and after treatment ( Ftime=5.231, P<0.001). There were 9 (9/57) patients who complained of pain after PRP, which occurred at the first time of photocoagulation in 7 of them. Conclusions:SNP damage may occur after PRP in patients with DR, and SNP is prone to be damaged on the photocoagulation side when performing horizontal photocoagulation.
6.Detoxification Mechanism of Combined Chebulae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta in Regulating Cardiac Metabolic Enzyme CYP2J3
Han LI ; Ling SONG ; Yunhang GAO ; Tengfei CHEN ; Hongping HOU ; Bo PENG ; Zuguang YE ; Guangping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(17):88-95
ObjectiveTo investigate the detoxification mechanism of Chebulae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta, and their effective components ellagic acid, liquiritin and aconitine based on cardiac cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system. MethodIn in vivo experiments, rats were randomly divided into control group, prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta group (0.25 g·kg-1), Chebulae Fructus group (0.252 g·kg-1), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group (0.25 g·kg-1) and combination group (0.25 g·kg-1 Chebulae Fructus+0.25 g·kg-1 Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma+0.25 g·kg-1 prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta, with prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta as standard). After 8 days of administration, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in rats were detected to observe the pathological changes of heart tissue. Real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of CYP2J3, respectively. In in vitro experiments, control group, aconitine group, ellagic acid group, liquiritin group and combination group (aconitine+ellagic acid+liquiritin) were set, and their effects on cell number, DNA content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by high content analysis. The changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of CYP2J3 were also observed. ResultIn vivo experiments, compared with the control group, the prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta group had increased CK and LDH in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the combination group had decreased activities of CK and LDH. Additionally, pathological staining results showed that Chebulae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma reduced the cardiac toxicity caused by prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta. Real-time PCR found that compared with the control group, prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta down-regulated the mRNA level of CYP2J3 (P<0.05), while up-regulated that expression when used in combination with Chebulae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (P<0.01). The protein and mRNA translation levels were basically consistent. In vitro experiments, high content analysis revealed that there was a decrease in the cell number, DNA content and MMP fluorescence value of the aconitine group (P<0.01) and the combination group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the fluorescence value of the combination group was higher than that of the aconitine group. Moreover, aconitine down-regulated the mRNA level of CYP2J3 (P<0.05), but the down-regulating ability of aconitine was reversed in the combination group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe detoxification mechanism of combined Chebulae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and prepared Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta is mainly that the combination of ellagic acid, liquiritin and aconitine can up-regulate the expression of CYP2J3, and promote the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) to produce epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), thus reducing the cardiac toxicity, and this effect may start from the transcriptional link.
7.16S rDNA Sequencing Reveals Effect of Tanreqing Injection on Pulmonary Flora in Rat Model of COPD
Qian LUO ; Rui FU ; Bo PENG ; Weiya CHEN ; Xiaolu WEI ; Tengfei CHEN ; Ling SONG ; Yunhang GAO ; Guangping ZHANG ; Hongping HOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):98-103
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Tanreqing injection (TRQ) on the pulmonary flora in the rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodWistar rats were randomized into control, model, and TRQ groups. The rats in other groups except the control group were treated by smoking combined with intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide for the modeling of COPD. The TRQ group was intraperitoneally injected with TRQ (2 g·kg-1). At the end of the experiment, after blood collection from the abdominal aorta of the rats, the lung tissue was collected for hematoxylin-eosin and picric sirius red staining to reveal the pathological changes. The lung lavage fluid was collected, and the diversity and relative abundance of lung flora in different groups were analyzed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. ResultThe lungs of the control group were normal, and those of the model group showed neutrophil infiltration, telangiectasia, lung hemorrhage and emphysema in individual cases, and thickening of collagen fibers in the trachea. Compared with the model group, the TRQ group showed significantly improved lungs and recovered collagen fibers. The MLI analysis showed that compared with the control group, the model group showcased increased alveolar space (P<0.01), which was reduced in the TRQ group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed increased wall thickness (P<0.01), and the increase was attenuated in the TRQ group (P<0.01). TRQ increased the Simpson index and altered the α diversity of pulmonary flora. The results of principal co-ordinate analysis showed that TRQ changed the β diversity and reduced the β diversity index of pulmonary flora. At the genus level, the model group showed increased relative abundance of g_Bacillus and g_Brevundimonas and decreased relative abundance of g_Pseudomonas, compared with the control group. After treatment with TRQ, the relative abundance of g_Stenotrophomonas increased, and that of g_Bacillus decreased. The LEfSe of differential taxa between groups showed that the modeling increased the relative abundance of g_Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and TRQ treatment increased the relative abundance of g_Rhodococcus and g_Stenotrophomonas. ConclusionTRQ can regulate the diversity of pulmonary flora and restore the balance of bacterial genera in the rat model of COPD, which may be one of the mechanisms of the prevention and treatment of COPD with TRQ.
8.Ganmai Dazao Tang Treats Breast Cancer-related Depression via MAPK/NF-κB Signling Pathway
Jieyuan LIU ; Yanli WANG ; Delian NIU ; Mengting LI ; Lijinchuan DONG ; Xinmin LIU ; Hongping HOU ; Guangping ZHANG ; Ying CHEN ; Bo PENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):170-178
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Ganmai Dazao Tang on breast cancer-related depression and explore the mechanism of the decoction in regulating immune inflammation and neurotransmitters via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. MethodBALB/c mice were randomized into control, model, fluoxetine (5 mg·kg-1·d-1), and low- and high-dose (crude drug 20 and 40 g·kg-1, respectively) Ganmai Dazao Tang groups (n=10). The mouse model of 4T1 orthotopic transplantation-induced breast cancer-related depression-like behavior was established. The depression-like behavior of mice was assessed by the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test. RT-qPCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-17A, forkhead box P3 (FoxP3),IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cerebral cortex. Flow cytometry was employed to measure the proportions of immune cell subsets in the spleen and thymus. HPLC-MS/MS was employed to measure neurotransmitter levels in the cerebral cortex. Western blotting was employed to detect the activation of the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. ResultCompared with the model group, administration of Ganmai Dazao Tang at a dose of 40 g crude drug·kg-1 continuously for 4 weeks shortened the immobility time of modeled mice in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests (P<0.05), down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-17A, and TNF-α (P<0.05), increased the proportions of T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, helper T 17 (Th17) cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells, and reduced the proportion of CD8+ T cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, it lowered the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and kynurenine (Kyn), decreased the kynurenine/tryptophan (Kyn/Trp) ratio (P<0.05), increased the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and down-regulated the protein levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated p38 MAPK, and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (P<0.05). ConclusionGanmai Dazao Tang can down-regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-17A, and TNF-α, restore 5-HT metabolism and Kyn/Trp balance, increase the 5-HT content, and reduce the activation of p38 MAPK, ERK, and the MAPK-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammation in the treatment of cancer-related depression.
9.Construction and Experimental Validation of Chemically-induced Cough Model Based on Cough Waveforms
Yunhang GAO ; Ling JIA ; Han LI ; Ling SONG ; Cong GUO ; Tengfei CHEN ; Hongping HOU ; Weiya CHEN ; Guangping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):230-236
ObjectiveTo construct a cough model induced by chemical stimuli by whole-body plethysmography (WBP) for counting coughs based on cough waveforms, and use this model to explore the antitussive effect of GK-A. MethodDifferent chemical stimuli were used to induce coughs in mice or guinea pigs. Respiratory waveforms were monitored by WBP, and the recognizable and typical cough waveforms were selected for cough counting. Guinea pigs were induced to cough with different concentrations of citric acid or capsaicin, and cough waveforms were used to optimize the stimulation conditions. The optimized guinea pig model of cough was validated with dextromethorphan, and the optimized guinea pig model of capsaicin-induced cough was used to evaluate the antitussive effect of GK-A. ResultWBP could count the coughs induced by capsaicin and citric acid in guinea pigs by recognizable and typical respiratory waveforms. The optimized stimulation conditions were capsaicin concentration of 100 µmol·L-1 and nebulization for 2 min. The validation results showed that compared with the model group, the dextromethorphan group of guinea pigs had reduced coughs (P<0.05) and prolonged cough latency (P<0.01). GK-A prolonged the cough latency (P<0.05) and reduced coughs (P<0.05) in the mouse model of ammonia-induced cough. In the guinea pig model of capsaicin-induced cough, GK-A prolonged cough latency (P<0.05), reduced coughs (P<0.05), and decreased substance P (SP) content in the guinea pig serum (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionA guinea pig model of capsaicin-induced cough was successfully established based on cough waveform counting, which provided an objective and accurate cough counting method. GK-A has antitussive effects, possibly by inhibiting the neuropeptide SP.