OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression on cell growth and apoptosis in imatinib resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells (K562/A02-IM), and explore the relationship between HO-1 gene and CML.

METHODSThe expression of HO-1 in 20 drug-resistant CML patients was detected by RT-PCR. Different concentrations of hemin were used to induce HO-1 expression of K562/A02-IM, HO-1 expression at different time was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI staining, and MTT assay was used to detect viability of K562/A02-IM cells after induction or inhibition of HO-1 gene by hemin and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP).

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that HO-1 was expressed in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs). When treated with hemin at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40 µmol/L) for 16 h, the expression of HO-1 in K562/A02-IM was increased in a dose-dependent manner, and peaked at 20 µmol/L of hemin for 16 h. The apoptosis rates were (17.61 ± 0.01)%, (12.13 ± 0.11)%, (7.94 ± 0.03)% and (4.62 ± 0.15)% at 0,10, 20 and 40 µmol/L of hemin respectively for 16 h and were (14.7 ± 0.05)%, (8.1 ± 0.07)% and (16.3 ± 0.13)% at 20 µmol/L of hemin treatment for 8,16, and 24 h respectively. Hemin induced apoptosis of K562/A02-IM cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of HO-1 was induced in K562/A02-IM cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the survival of K562/A02-IM cells was significantly increased as compared to that of control group. When HO-1 was inhibited by ZPP, the cells survival was sharply decreased compared to that of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHO-1 was expressed in the BMMNCs. It is a kind of molecules whose expression can be induced and can promote the growth of drug-resistant cells. Inhibition of HO-1 expression probably be used for the treatment of drug-resistant CML.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; genetics ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; K562 Cells ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology

Alpinia zerumbet is a commonly used drug for ethnic minorities in Guizhou province. It has the effects of warming and drying dampness，relieving pain and eliminating malaria，and treating chills，chest and abdomen，indigestion，vomiting and diarrhea，with a long history of nearly 200 years. The author reviewed Chinese and foreign literatures for the past 30 years，and reviewed the research progress of the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of A. zerumbet in and abroad，in order to provide a theoretical basis for its medicinal value. With the development of instruments and technology，the chemical composition of A. zerumbet has attracted more and more attention. More than 200 compounds have been isolated and identified，including volatile oils，flavonoids，steroids，terpenoids and organic acids and many other chemical ingredients. Pharmacological studies have shown that A. zerumbet has many pharmacological activities，such as anti-oxidation，blood pressure lowering，antispasmodic analgesia and protection against endothelial cells. However，current studies on the chemical constituents only focus on volatile oil components，and only a few studies focus on other organic matter and polysaccharides and are not deep enough. In clinic，the use of A. zerumbet is more confusing. The roots，stems，leaves，flowers，fruits and seeds can be used in medicines，but the pharmacological effects of the various medicinal parts have not been clearly explained，which leads to confusion in clinical medication. In addition，the pharmacological mechanism is not clear，especially in the studies on traditional activities，such as analgesic，digestive and anti-ulcer. The studies only focus on the pharmacological activity，and with only a few studies on the mechanism of action. Besides，the existing studies are mainly in vitro activity experiments，and need further validation in clinical trials，so as to provide reference for further rational development and comprehensive utilization of medicinal resources.

This study aimed to explore the characteristic role of Puerariae Lobatae Radix(PLR) in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea(PD). Estrogen(E_2) was combined with oxytocin to establish a mouse model of PD. The mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a Gegen Decoction group, a PLR-free Gegen Decoction group, a PLR group, and a positive drug group(ibuprofen). Writhing response times and writhing incubation of mice in each group were tested by behavio-ral assessment, and the serum levels of prostaglandin F_(2α)(PGF_(2α)), prostaglandin E_2(PGE_2), E_2, and progesterone(PROG) were detected by ELISA kits. Western blot method was adopted to detect cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and estrogen receptor alpha(ER_α) expression levels in uterine tissues. Doppler ultrasound was employed to detect changes in uterine artery blood flow in mice, including peak systolic blood flow velocity(maximum velocity), end-diastolic velocity(minimum velocity), peak systolic blood flow velocity/end-diastolic velocity(S/D), pulsatility index(PI), and resistive index(RI). Histopathological changes in the uterus were detected by HE staining. Based on the oxytocin-induced isolated uterine contraction model, the effects of Gegen Decoction, PLR-free Gegen Decoction, and PLR on the amplitude, frequency, and activity of isolated uterine contraction were compared to investigate the role of PLR in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD. The results showed that compared with the Gegen Decoction group, the PLR-free Gegen Decoction improved the indicators of PD except for E_2 content, ER_α expression, and uterine artery blood flow. PLR could significantly down-regulate the serum content of E_2 and the protein expression of uterine ER_α, and improve the uterine artery blood flow. The data suggested that PLR, as the sovereign drug of Gegen Decoction, might function in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD by mediating E_(2 )and improving the uterine artery blood flow.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Dysmenorrhea/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; Pueraria ; Uterus

Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; Tretinoin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, laboratorial and bone marrow pathological features of primary thrombocytopenia (ET) patients with different mutations of CALR, JAK2 and MPL genes. METHODS: The chinical data of 120 cases of ET in Jiangsu provincial people's hospital/ The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to December 2017 were collected and analyzed, including 76 cases with JAK2 gene mutation, 40 cases with CALR gene mutation, 2 cases with MPL gene mutations, 2 cases without gene mutation. RESULTS: Among the ET patients, compared with the JAK2 gene mutation, CALR gene mutation showed statistically significant deareament of white blood cells and hemoglobin (P=0.001, P=0.01) and the male platelets in CALR group showed significant increament (P=0.04). Fourthermore, the average number of megakaryocytes and its cluster numbers in each hight power field of vision showed statistically significant decreament in CALR group as compared with JAK2 group (P=0.001, P=0.001), and thrombotic events in CALR group were signicantly lower than those in JAK2 group (7.5% vs 18.4%) (P=0.03). CONCLUSION Mutations of CALR, JAK2 have different clinical characteristics and blood pathological changes of Chinese ET patients, and their clinical significance is worth to explore.
Bone Marrow ; Calreticulin ; genetics ; China ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; genetics ; Thrombocythemia, Essential