Medicinal values and their chemical bases of Paris (Trilliaceae) are reviewed. Paris plants include 40 species and varieties. Among them, 18 ones are medicinal plants with similarity in traditional uses. Fourteen species have been studied phytochemically, which led to isolation of 207 compounds including 121 steroidal saponins. These saponins are major active constituents from Paris plants, which can explain the traditional uses of the plants to treat cancer, malignant boil, bleeding, gastritis, and so on. The similarity in medicinal uses and chemical constituents of Paris plants implies the possibility of resource substitution among these species. It is worth to further investigate Paris plants in chemical constituents, pharmacological activity, biological property, and toxicology.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo study the relationship between the antitumor immunoreaction and the cell apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma.MethodsThe IL-1β converting enzyme, Fas and FasL protein were labeled by LSAB immunohistochemistric method in 46 cases of esophageal carcinoma, of which 13 cases were labeled by TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).ResultsThe positive rates of ICE, Fas and FasL proteins in the cancer nests were 78.26%, 60.87% and 47.83%. The expression of ICE protein was related to the histological grading of the cancer.Conclusions The expression of Fas, FasL protein may be related to the immunological escape of the cancer cell; the expression of ICE was related to the histological grading of the cancer.

Objective To study adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA and protein expression level in myocardium of autoimmune myocarditis animal models induced by immunization of mice with lactobacillus casei cell wall element(LCWE). Methods Forty-five Balb/c male mice were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 15), which were intraperitoneally injected with LCWE and phosphate buffered solution(PBS) at day 0,3,5 and 10,respectively. Sera and myocardium samples were gained 14,21 and 28 days after the first immunization. AM expression levels were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT- PCR) and immunchistochemistry,and mycardial histopathological lesions were observed. The anti- myosin antibodies in different stages were examined by an ELISA. Results There were myocardial necrosis or inflammatory infiltration in the experimental group, but myocardial lesions were not found in the control group. Anti - myosin antibodies were detected in sera of experimental mice,but not in control group. Immunchistochemistry findings demonstrated that AM expression level was higher in the experimental group than in the control group( P

OBJECTIVETo study the role of Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents and their gene expression in Al-induced neurons apoptosis.

METHODSNeurons from 0 - 3 day rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations of AlCl(3 x 6) H2O. The cell apoptosis was observed by the TUNEL method and under the scan electron microscope. Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents were detected by the immunochemistry method while their gene expressions were measured by the RT-PCR method.

RESULTS(1) DNA fractions in the TUNEL method increased with the rising aluminum concentration. Blebbings and apoptosis bodies on the surface of the neurons were clearly observed under the scan electron microscope. (2) Bcl-2 protein contents and their gene expression decreased with the rising aluminum concentration (P < 0.01, r = -0.695; P < 0.05, r = -0.647), while Bax increased at the same time (P < 0.01, r = 0.676; P < 0.01, r = 0.794), the value of Bcl-2/Bax was related with the aluminum concentration (P < 0.01, r = -0.655; P < 0.01, r = -0.777).

CONCLUSIONThe aluminum may induce neurons apoptosis. Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents and their gene expression may play an important role in Al-induced apoptosis.

Aluminum ; toxicity ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Cold Temperature ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Dust ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; urine ; Thromboxane B2 ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Weather

Squalene synthase (SQS) is a key enzyme in plant terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. This study focused on cloning and analysis of Huperzia serrata SQS (HsSQS1) gene. After searching the transcriptome dataset of H serrata, one unique sequence encoding SQS was discovered. The primers were designed according to the transcript sequence of HsSQS1 from the H. serrata transcriptome dataset. The open reading frame of HsSQS1 was cloned using RT-PCR strategy. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein were performed. The cDNA (named as HsSQS1) contains a 1263 bp open reading frame and encodes a predicted protein of 420 amino acids. The GenBank accession number for this gene is JQ004938. HsSQS1 contains two transmembrane regions, without signal peptide. The conserved domain of squalene synthase was presented in HsSQS1. HsSQS1 was more abundant in H. serrata root than in leaf and stem. This study cloned and analyzed squalene synthase gene from H. serrata for the first time. The result will provide a foundation for exploring the mechanism ofterpenoid biosynthesis in H. serrata plants.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; genetics ; Huperzia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; Plant Stems ; enzymology ; Plants, Medicinal ; enzymology ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

The study was aimed to investigate the expression of HLA class I molecules and MHC class I chain-related molecules A/B (MICA/MICB) in K562 and adriamycin (ADM)-resistant K562 cell lines (K562/AO2) and their effect on cytotoxicity of NK cells. Expression of HLA class I molecules and MICA/MICB on the surface of K562 and K562/AO2 cell lines were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity of NK cells (isolated from 3 healthy persons) against K562 and K562/AO2 cells were detected by LDH releasing assay at different effect-to-target cell ratios (E:T). In blocking experiments, anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibody (McAb) (W6/32, a pan anti-HLA class I antibody) and anti-MHC class I chain-related molecules McAb (BAMO-1, specifically against MICA and MICB) were added to the target cells at E:T of 10:1. The results showed that the expression of MHC class I chain-related molecules on K562 was higher than that on K562/AO2 (P=0.000), and HLA class I molecules were not detectable on both cells. Cytotoxicities of NK cells against K562 and K562/AO2 cells were (29.32 +/- 0.12)%, (45.33 +/- 0.78)%, (58.37 +/- 0.87)%, (72.37 +/- 0.96)% and (12.47 +/- 0.91)%, (24.36 +/- 1.11)%, (33.29 +/- 1.03)%, (53.87 +/- 1.27)% at E:T ratios of 5:1, 10:1, 20:1 and 30:1 respectively (P=0.000), the cytotoxicity of NK cells on K562 cells was significantly higher than that on K562/A02 cells at different E:T ratios. Blocking experiments confirmed that at E:T of 10:1 killing of NK cells against K562 and K562/AO2 cells was efficiently inhibited by BAMO-1, whereas W6/32 had no effect on K562 and K562/AO2 cells. It is concluded that the expression of MHC class I chain-related molecules on K562 and K562/AO2 cells is correlated with NK cell-mediated lysis. NK cells display higher cytotoxicity against parental K562 cells than multi-drug resistant K562/AO2 cells. Down-regulation of MICA/B in multi-drug resistant tumor cell lines leads to reduction of susceptibility to NK lysis.
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; immunology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; immunology ; Genes, MHC Class I ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; immunology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between immunochemical level of salivary and caries in children aged 4-6 years old.

METHODSTwo groups were assorted as patients with caries and without caries. Every group included 45 people. Measurements of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)were performed by using radio-immunoassay and single agar diffusion assay. The levels of lysozyme (LZ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied with colorimetry and turbidimentry.

RESULTSThe levels of LDH, SigA, ALP, LZ had significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The level of LDH between patients and peoples without caries had little difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of caries is associated with age, and it may have association with immunochemical levels of salivary.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Child ; Dental Caries ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Male ; Saliva

OBJECTIVETo study the expression levels of cdk5, p35 and p53 genes in arsenic trioxide (As2O3O)-induced neuron apoptosis and to explore the potential mechanism.

METHODSThe cultured primary rats' neurons were divided into 5 groups, which were exposed to 0, 1, 5, 10 micromol/L As2O3 and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 8 h, respectively. The cell viability and cell apoptosis were detected by MTT colouration methods and flow cytometry, respectively. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to measured the expression levels of cdk5, p35 and p53 genes.

RESULTSThe cell viability inhibition rates were 16.77%, 19.72% and 27.81% in 1, 5, 10 micromol/L As203 groups, respectively. Compared to the untreated group and DMSO group, the cell apoptosis rates were significantly increased in 5 and 10 micromol/L As2O3 groups (P < 0.05). The expression levels of cdk5, p35 and p53 genes increased with the exposure doses of AsO3. However, there were no significant differences in p35 gene expression between different dose subgroups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in cdk5 and p53 gene expression between different dose subgroups (P < 0.05). The expression levels of cdk5 gene in 5 and 10 micromol/L As2O3 groups were significantly higher than those in untreated group and DMSO group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of p53 gene in 1, 5 and 10 micromol/L As2O3 groups were significantly higher than that in untreated group (P < 0.05). The expression level of p53 gene in 10 mciromol/L As2O3 group was significantly higher than that in DMSO group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCdk5, p35 and p53 genes may involve in the process of As2O3-induced neural cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxides ; toxicity ; Phosphotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of mitochondria membrane potential and cytoplasma cytochrome C as the mechanism of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.

METHODSPrimary neurons were dissociated from cerebral cortex of 1 - 3 days old SD rats and cultured with DMEM incubator at 37 degrees C. After 5 days' cultivation, the neurons were added S9 and B(a)P, and the concentrations of treated B(a)P were 0, 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L respectively. After administering of B(a)P, the neurons were cultivated for 40 hours. Apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the changes in mitochondrial potential (DeltaPsim) were tested with Rhodamine fluorescence (R2123) technique. Preparation of cytosolic extracts by centrifugation. Western blotting analysis was used to evaluate the level of cytochrome C of cytoplasm.

RESULTSThe apoptotic rate of neuron increased in both the middle dose group and the high dose group compared with controls, and had a dose-response tendency with the concentration of B(a)P. Moreover mitochondrial potential decreased in a dose dependent manner. There was a negative correlation between DeltaPsim and the apoptotic rate of neurons (r = -0.763, P < 0.05); Western blotting analysis showed cytoplasmic cytochrome C level increased significantly, which was positively related with neuron apoptosis (r = 0.831, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLoss of mitochondria membrane potential and increase of cytoplasma cytochrome C may be the main cause of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley