Objective:To compare and analyze the chemical constituents of volatile oils extracted from the different parts ( flow-ers,leaves and roots) of Stelleropsis tianschanica by chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Methods:The volatile oil was ex-tracted by diethyl ether-Soxhlet extraction method and analyzed by GC-MS with a capillary gas chromatographic column. The relative contents of the volatile compounds were calculated by chromatographic peak area normalization method.Results: Totally 179 volatile constituents in the different parts of Stelleropsis tianschanica were identified. Among them,81 compounds were identified in leaves,and the relative content accounted for 82.77% of the total volatile compounds;108 compounds were identified in flowers,and the relative content accounted for 82.85% of the total volatile compounds;112 compounds were identified in roots, and the relative content ac-counted for 85.98% of the total volatile compounds. Totally 33 compounds existed in all the three parts,and the content accounted for 39.24% of the total volatile components in leaves,35.86% in flowers and 48.89% in roots. The relative content of(Z,Z)-9,12-oc-tadecadienoic acid in leaves,flowers and roots of S. tianschanica was the highest,which accounted for 11.12%,9.8% and 22.49%, respectively. Conclusion:The different parts of S. tianschanica have similar volatile components, while the specific substances and the contents are different.

Background and Objectives: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumorigenic potential are reported as the crucial factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and therapy resistance. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are documented to play an important role in the protection of hepatocytes. Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat liver fibrosis and liver cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential role of combined use of BJJP with BMSCs in HCC cell lines. Methods: and Results: Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice and CSCs enriched from Huh7 cells by measuring CD24, CD133, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, CD29, CD14 and CD34. Differentiation potential of BMSCs was also determined. Cell viability and proliferation ability of CSCs were determined by CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. The expressions of CSCs biomarkers and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were determined by PCR and western blot. TOP-Flash/FOP-Flash luciferase assay was applied to measure the activity of β-catenin/TCF. Compared with untreated CSCs, BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone on CSCs lead to increased miR-140 expression and cell apoptosis, as well as decreased expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and cell viability.Downregualted expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins, Wnt3a and β-catenin were found in response to BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone. The combination of BJJP＋BMSCs treatment on CSCs could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs. Down-regulation of miR-140 in CSCs partially blocked the effects of BMSCs or BMSCs＋BJJP on the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin as well as the cell viability and apoptosis of CSCs.Reversed expression pattern was found in CSCs transfected with miR-140 overexpression. Conclusions Taken together, we demonstrate that BJJP＋BMSCs together could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs through regulating miR-140 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. This study demonstrated the potential of BJJP＋BMSCs in therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Background and Objectives: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumorigenic potential are reported as the crucial factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and therapy resistance. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are documented to play an important role in the protection of hepatocytes. Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat liver fibrosis and liver cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential role of combined use of BJJP with BMSCs in HCC cell lines. Methods: and Results: Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice and CSCs enriched from Huh7 cells by measuring CD24, CD133, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, CD29, CD14 and CD34. Differentiation potential of BMSCs was also determined. Cell viability and proliferation ability of CSCs were determined by CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. The expressions of CSCs biomarkers and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were determined by PCR and western blot. TOP-Flash/FOP-Flash luciferase assay was applied to measure the activity of β-catenin/TCF. Compared with untreated CSCs, BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone on CSCs lead to increased miR-140 expression and cell apoptosis, as well as decreased expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and cell viability.Downregualted expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins, Wnt3a and β-catenin were found in response to BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone. The combination of BJJP＋BMSCs treatment on CSCs could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs. Down-regulation of miR-140 in CSCs partially blocked the effects of BMSCs or BMSCs＋BJJP on the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin as well as the cell viability and apoptosis of CSCs.Reversed expression pattern was found in CSCs transfected with miR-140 overexpression. Conclusions Taken together, we demonstrate that BJJP＋BMSCs together could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs through regulating miR-140 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. This study demonstrated the potential of BJJP＋BMSCs in therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are a group of highly heterogeneous tumors. Their incidences have increased in the Western countries as well as in Asia for years. In recent years, predominant progression has been made in the basic and translational studies on gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasmas are classified as four types: type I( occurs on the basis of autoimmune atrophic gastritis, type II( clinically manifests as multiple endocrine tumor type I( and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, type III( is sporadic neuroendocrine neoplasmas, and type IIII( is neuroendocrine carcinoma. According to the location of primary tumor, intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasmas are classified as small intestine neuroendocrine neoplasmas and colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasmas. The latest finding shows that familial type I( gastric neuroendocrine neoplasmas exists homozygous missense mutation (c.2107C>T) of ATP4A gene. A number of researches focus on small intestine neuroendocrine neoplasmas recently. The chromosome instability, whole genome low methylation and abnormal expression of microRNA can be found in small intestine neuroendocrine neoplasmas. Part of them presents heterozygous mutations and loss of heterozygosity of CDKN1B gene. A recent study showed the heterozygous mutations of IPMK gene (c.990-993del) in familial small intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasmas. PROX1 and Annexin A1 may be involved in the malignant progression of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasmas via the Wnt pathway. The molecular mechanism of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma is significantly different from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. The expression of mTOR, thymidylate synthase and PD-L1 protein, and gene mutation of BRAF V600E and KRAS have been exclusively found in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma. The expression of thymidylate synthase, p27, p16, Gα15, PROX1 and Annexin A1 in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasmas is associated with the prognosis of these patients. Neurokinin A is a specific peripheral blood tumor biomarker for the prognosis and response to the treatment of patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasmas. INSL5 can be used as a unique biomarker for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasmas.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Mutation ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Prognosis ; Translational Medical Research