Aim To investigate the molecular mecha-nism for the inhibitory effect of puerarin on IL-6 secre-tion in human osteoblast-likeMG-63 cells. Methods According to our previous studies, human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells containing two estrogen receptor ( ER) isoforms are a suitable model for this study. En-zyme-linked immnosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay and small interfering RNA were performed to investigate the effect of puerarin on IL-6 expression in osteoblast-derived cells and underly-ing molecular mechanism. Results Puerarin could obviously inhibit IL-6 expression and IL-6 promoter ac-tivity by human osteoblastic MG-63 cells. Treatment with the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 abrogates the a-bove actions of puerarin on osteoblast-derived cells. U-sing siRNA technology, we further demonstrated that the effects of puerarin on IL-6 production were media-ted by ERα. Conclusion The effect of puerarin on IL-6 production in osteoblast is mediated by ERα.

Pruni Semen,the seed of several unique Prunus plants,is a traditional purgative herbal material.To determine the authentic sources of Pruni Semen,46 samples from four species were collected and analyzed.Ten compounds including multiflorin A(Mul A),a notable purative compound,were isolated and identified by chemical separation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Seventy-six communal components were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with linear ion trap-quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry,and acetyl flavonoid glycosides were recognized as characteristic constituents.The flavonoids were distributed in the seed coat and cyanogenic glycosides in the kernel.Based on this,methods for identifying Pruni Semen from different sources were established using chemical fingerprinting,quantitative analysis of the eight principal compounds,hierarchical cluster analysis,principal component analysis,and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis.The results showed that the samples were divided into two categories:one is the small seeds from Prunus humilis(Ph)and Prunus japonica(Pj),and the other is the big seeds from Prunus pedunculata(Pp)and Prunus triloba(Pt).The average content of Mul A was 3.02.6.93,0.40,and 0.29 mg/g,while the average content of amygdalin was 18.5,17.7,31.5,and 30.9 mg/g in Ph,Pj,Pp,and Pt,respectively.All the above information suggests that small seeds might be superior sources of Pruni Semen.This is the first comprehensive report on the identification of chemical components in Pruni Semen from different species.

Objective:To explore the protective effect and mechanism of Tongfu Lifei decoction (TFL) on human monocytic leukemia cell THP-1 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods:① THP-1 cells were cultured in vitro, and incubated with 1 mg/L LPS for 18 hours to construct an in vitro THP-1 cell inflammation model. Other THP-1 cells were taken as blank control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted by cells. ② THP-1 cells were divided into seven groups and treated with 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 mL/mL TFL for 24 hours (added different dosages of TFL solution per milliliter of culture medium, with a crude drug content of 1 kg/L). The cell survival rate was detected using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric method, and the intervention dosage of TFL for its non-toxic effect on THP-1 cells was screened. ③ Another THP-1 cells were divide into inflammatory model group and 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 mL/mL TFL groups according to the intervention dosage of TFL screened by MTT colorimetry. After 24 hours of intervention, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by cells were measured using ELISA. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) signaling pathway proteins in cells. Real time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of microRNAs (miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-155) in cells. ④ The maximum non-toxic concentration of TFL (0.04 mL/mL) on the THP-1 cell was selected as the intervention dose. THP-1 cells were divided into inflammation model group, TFL group, TFL+miR-146a inhibitor group, TFL+miR-146b inhibitor group, and TFL+miR-155 inhibitor group. The inflammation model group was not given any drug intervention. The other inhibitor groups were added 100 nmol/L corresponding inhibitor. After 24 hours of intervention, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by cells were measured using ELISA. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway proteins in cells. Results:① Compared with the blank control group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by cells in the inflammatory model group were significantly increased, indicating the successful construction of the THP-1 inflammatory cell model in vitro. ② 0-0.04 mL/mL TFL had no toxic effect on THP-1 cells. However, the survival rates of cells in the 0.08 mL/mL and 0.16 mL/mL TFL groups were significantly lower than those in the inflammation model group, indicating that TFL dosages exceeding 0.04 mL/mL had toxic effects on THP-1 cells. ③ Compared with the inflammation model group, 0.01 mL/mL TFL had no significant effect on the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by THP-1 cells, while intervention with 0.02 mL/mL and 0.04 mL/mL TFL significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by cells [TNF-α(ng/L): 95.89±8.55, 70.73±11.70 vs. 137.10±7.19, IL-6 (ng/L): 23.03±2.55, 16.58±1.72 vs. 32.60±2.55, all P < 0.01]. Compared with the inflammation model group, the expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway proteins in THP-1 cells in different dosages of TFL groups were significantly reduced, and showed a certain dosage dependence. The expressions of the pathway proteins in the 0.04 mL/mL TFL group were significantly lower than those in the inflammation model group [PD-1 protein (PD-1/β-actin): 0.28±0.04 vs. 1.00±0.10, PD-L1 protein (PD-L1/β-actin): 0.54±0.05 vs. 1.00±0.08, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) protein (PI3K/β-actin): 0.28±0.03 vs. 1.00±0.08, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) protein (p-Akt/Akt): 0.38±0.04 vs. 1.00±0.10, all P < 0.01]. Compared with the inflammation model group, the expression of miR-146a in THP-1 cells in the 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 mL/mL TFL groups was significantly reduced (2 -ΔΔCt: 0.46±0.11, 0.31±0.13, 0.23±0.14 vs. 1.01±0.18, all P < 0.01), while there was no significant change in the expressions of miR-146b and miR-155. ④ Compared with the inflammation model group, the TFL group showed a significant decrease in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by THP-1 cells. The miR-146a inhibitor could significantly reverse the inhibitory effect of TFL on inflammatory factors, and the difference was statistically significant as compared with the TFL group [TNF-α (ng/L): 138.55±10.30 vs. 72.33±10.59, IL-6 (ng/L): 31.35±3.98 vs. 15.75±3.76, both P < 0.01]. Compared with the inflammation model group, the expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway proteins in THP-1 cells in the TFL group were significantly reduced. The expressions of pathway proteins in cells in the TFL+miR-146a inhibitor group were significantly higher than those in the TFL group [PD-1 protein (PD-1/β-actin): 0.85±0.09 vs. 0.37±0.04, PD-L1 protein (PD-L1/β-actin): 0.83±0.08 vs. 0.55±0.06, PI3K protein (PI3K/β-actin): 0.85±0.09 vs. 0.63±0.06, p-Akt protein (p-Akt/Akt): 0.98±0.10 vs. 0.75±0.07, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion:TFL regulates the expression of miR-146a to inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway in THP-1 cells, regulates the immune barrier of sepsis induced in cell inflammation model in vitro, and thus protects LPS induced THP-1 cells.