Background and purpose:Connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) is a member of CCN family,it has been reported that CTGF involve in many biological processes and various pathological conditions.In our study,the correlation of CTGF expression and biological effects on breast cancer cell lines were investigated.Methods:The eukaryotic expression vectors containing CTGF open reading frame(ORF) pcDNA3.0/CTGF were constructed and transfected into breast cancer cell lines.The relationship between CTGF expression and breast cancer cell growth ability and proliferation,cell cycle distribution,apoptosis,cell motility and invasive capacity in vitro were observed.Results:Upregulation of CTGF expression in MCF-7 cell line could inhibit its growth ability and proliferation,increased the proportion of G0G1 phase cells,enhanced apoptosis and inhibited its invasive ability in vitro.Downregulation of CTGF expression in MDA-MB-231 cell line increased its growth ability and proliferation,decreased apoptosis and promoted its invasive ability in vitro.There were no differences of cell motility among different groups in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.Conclusions:CTGF can inhibit breast cancer cell growth by increasing cell apoptosis and/or the proportion of cells in G0G1 phase.CTGF can also inhibit breast cancer cell invasive ability.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Buguozhi Decoction in improving learning-memory of vascular dementia model rats.Methods:The rat models with VaD were established by bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries(2 一V0).The gene expressions of ER-?,NR2B were evaluated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.Results:Buguozhi Decoction can significantly improve mRNA and protien pruducts of ER-?,NR2B gene in hippocampus of the vascular dementia model rats,compared with the model group(P

Objective:To investigate the effect of long-term alcohol intake on sensory information synaptic transmission of mossy fiber-granular cells in the cerebellar cortex of mice.Methods:Twenty healthy male ICR mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were divided into normal saline group(control group) and alcohol intake group(alcohol group) according to random number table, with 10 mice in each group. The mice in alcohol group were injected intraperitoneally with 20% alcohol and the mice in control group were injected with the same amount of saline for 28 days.After the injection, the scalp, muscle tissue and skull were removed in turn, and the dura mater was removed to fully expose the crus II area of cerebellum. The mice were stimulated by air blowing at 30 mm of the ipsilateral tentacle pad with a gas jet device.When the the maximal response site was determined, the NMDA receptor antagonist (D-APV), metabolic glutamate receptor 1 antagonist (JNJ16259685) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) were perfused on the brain surface of mice. Each drug was perfused for 20 minutes and ACSF was used between the two drugs until the waveform was recovered. Patch clamp amplifier was used to record the changes of potential waveform in mouse cerebellar granule layer. The data were analyzed by the softwares of Clampfit 10.3 and SPSS 22.0.Results:After exposure to wind stimulation, the latency of field potential response in granular layer of mice in alcohol group (11.8±0.7)ms was significantly longer than that in the control group (10.1±0.2)ms ( t=-8.041, P<0.05), and the amplitude of N1 (1.2±0.1) MV was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.6±0.1) MV ( t=-12.728, P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the rise time of P1 waveform((4.4±0.2)ms, (3.2±0.2)ms), duration ((12.1±0.5)ms, (10.3±0.2)ms), extinction time((7.8±0.2)ms, (6.9± 0.2)ms), volume under waveform ((7.3±0.2)ms, (4.3±0.2)ms) were significantly increased in the alcohol group ( t=16.100, - 11.840, -11.673, -35.576, all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the amplitude, half width, rise time and decay time of Roff wave between the two groups ( t=-1.909, -0.910, -0.789, 1.462, all P>0.05). When JNJ16259685 was perfused on the brain surface of mice in alcohol group, the amplitude of field potential evoked by five blowing stimuli had no significant difference compared with that before administration (all P>0.05). When D-APV was perfused into the brain surface of mice in the alcohol group, the amplitude of P1 ((42.3±1.5) Mv)was significantly lower than that before administration ((101.1±0.9)mV) and after elution ((100.1±2.2) mV) ( t=106.762, - 69.605, both P<0.05), and the area under waveform of P1 ((42.6±1.3)%) was also significantly lower than that before administration ((100.6±1.6)%) and after elution ((97.6±2.2)%) ( t=88.862, -67.791, both P<0.05).The ratio of N2 / N1 (0.3±0.1) was significantly lower than that before administration (0.4±0.1) and after elution (0.3±0.1) ( t=2.242, 2.121, both P<0.05). When NMDA was perfused on the brain surface of mice in the control group, compared with before administration and after elution, the amplitude of P1 ((110.7±3.2) mV, (100.1±0.9) mV, (102.0±1.7) mV, t=-10.173, 7.669, both P<0.05), the area under the waveform of P1 ((127.9±3.5)%, (100.0±3.1)%, (115.0±5.3)%, t=-18.698, 6.447, both P<0.05), the ratio of N2 / N1 ((0.5±0.1), (0.3±0.1), (0.3±0.1), t=-5.669, 5.669, both P<0.05) were all significantly increased. When D-APV was perfused on the brain surface of mice in control group, the field potential evoked by blowing stimuli had no significant difference compared with that before administration and after elution (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Long-term alcohol intake significantly suppresses the synaptic transmission of excitatory glutamate in MF-GC, and enhances the inhibitory response mediated by GABAA receptor in cerebellar cortex. The inhibitory component is enhanced by NMDA receptor, but not by type 1 metabolic glutamate receptor.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Bu-Shen-An-Tai recipe (BSATR) and its two components (Bushen recipe, and Huoxue recipe) on endometrial morphology during peri-implantation in superovulated mice. Mice were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal (N), model (M), Bushen (BS), Huoxue (HX) and Bu-Shen-An-Tai (BH) groups. The uteri were collected on day 4 of pregnancy, and the endometrium thickness, microvessel density (MVD) and number of pinopodes observed. Compared with the M group, the endometrial thickness in the BS, HX and BH groups was significantly increased and there was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between the BS and the BH groups. The mean MVD was significantly lower in the M group than in the N group, and there was a significant increase in MVD in the BS, HX and BH groups as compared with the M group. Compared with the M group, the pinopode scores in the endometrium were significantly increased in the HX and BH groups; and the BS group had significantly higher pinipode scores than the HX and BH groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that the recipes (Bushen, Huoxue and BSATR) could improve the endometrial environment by regulating the endometrial thickness, MVD and the number of pinopodes at the window of implantation. Moreover, the Huoxue recipe and the BSATR were more efficient than the Bushen recipe, with the BSATR tending to have the most beneficial effects.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of vasopressin receptor antagonist tolvaptan for treating dilutional hyponatremia casused by decompensated liver cirrhosis.Methods Ninety-six subjects with decompensated liver cirrhosis complicated by dilutional hyponatremia were divided into test group (n =56) and control group (n =40) by double blind method.Test group were treated with a single dose of tolvaptan 15 mg orally in addition to routine therapy,while control group were treated with routine therapy plus placebo.The changes in serum sodium concentration,liver functions,ascites,and edema of lower extremities between the two groups were observed.Measurement data were compared by t test,and categorical data were compared by chisquare test.Results On day 7,36 (64.3％) patients in test group and 9 (22.5％) patients in control group reached normal serum sodium concentrations (x2 =5.241,P＜0.01).All the patients in test group and only 3 patients in control group had 24 hours' total urine volume above 3500 mL.Difference of 24 hours' total urine volume during 7-day treatment between the two groups was statistically significant (t=20.899,P＜0.01).Thirty-nine patients in test group and 15 patients in control group had reduced ascites (x2 =4.260,P=0.039),but improvement of edema in lower extremities of both groups was comparable (12 cases in test group and 7 cases in control group; x2 =0.227,P=0.634).Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total bilirubin (TBil),potassium and creatinine levels of test group were improved after treatment,but were not significantly different from either baseline levels (t=1.509,0.783,1.107,1.237; both P＞0.05) or those of the control group (t=1.712,1.635,1.121,0.873; both P＞0.05).Conclusions Single dose of tolvaptan (15 mg) exerts a strong diuretic effect and is able to greatly increase serum sodium concentration,thus has distinct therapeutic effect for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis complicated by dilutional hyponatremia.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of DNA methyltransferases 1, 3A and 3B in CD4+ T cells of MRL/lpr mice, and explore their relationship with the expression levels of methylation-sensitive genes (ITGAL, CD70). Methods CD4+ T ceils were isolated from spleens of 16-week-old MRL/lpr and BALB/c control mice by anti-CIM antibody labeled magnetic beads. Transcription levels of DNA methyhransferases 1, 3A and 3B and methylation-sensitive genes(ITGAL, CD70) were measured by real-time mice when compared with BALB/c control mice and the difference was significant (P<0.05), while the expression of DNMTI and DNMT3A showed a tendency of decrease (P>0.05). The mRNA expression of CD70 was significantly higher (P<0.01), but the expression of ITGAL had no significant difference between the two P<0.01 ). Conclusion Decreased expression of DNMT3B may attribute to the elevated expression of methylation-seusitive gene CD70, thus lead to the dysfunction of CD4+ T cell and play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of zearalenone (ZEA) on the proliferation of SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells in vitro and its possible mechanism.

METHODSSK-N-SH cells were cultured in estrogen-free improved minimum essential medium and divided into 5 groups based on different treatments: group 1, without treatment; group 2, treated with 17beta-estradiol (E(2)); group 3, treated with ZEA; group 4, treated with both E(2) and ICI 182780; group 5, treated with both ZEA and ICI 182780. Absorbance value (AV) was determined at the time point of 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours, and DNA proliferation index (PI) at 72 hours. Flow cytometer, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were employed to monitor cell apoptosis.

RESULTSAt 24, 48 and 72 hours, the AV of group 3 were 1.39, 1.32, and 1.22 times to those of group 1, respectively. PI in group 3 was 1.43 times of that in group 1 at 72 hours. The results of group 2 were similar to those in group 3. At the same time, the growth of cells was inhibited by ICI 182780 despite the presence of E(2) and ZEA. Apoptosis cells were abundant in group 1 and ICI 182780 groups, but little in E(2) and ZEA groups.

CONCLUSIONZEA might promote the proliferation of SK-N-SH cells to a level similar to that of E(2), which might probably be brought about via estrogen receptor pathways and depressing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; Receptors, Estrogen ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Zearalenone ; toxicity

The study aimed to clone the open reading frame of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) from Aquilaria sinensis and analyze the bioinformatics and expression of the gene. One unique sequence containing C4H domain was discovered in our previous reported wound transcriptome dataset of A. sinensis. The open reading frame of C4H was cloned by RT-PCR strategy with the template of mixed RNA extracted from A. sinensis stem which treated by different wound time. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein was performed. C4H expression profiles in responds to MeJA (methyl jasmonate) application were analyzed by real-time PCR. The length of C4H open reading frame (ORF) was 1 515 bp, encoding 514 amino acids. The GenBank accession number is KF134783. Inducible-experiments showed that the genes were induced by mechanical wound as well as MeJA induction, and reached the highest expression level at 8 h and 20 h, respectively. The full-length cDNA of C4H and its expression patterns will provide a foundation for further research on its function in the molecular mechanisms of aromatic compounds and flavonoids biosynthesis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Oxidoreductases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; genetics ; Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of beta-elemene combined with aclarubicin on the induction of HL-60 cell apoptosis and its mechanisms in antileukemia therapy.

METHODSHL-60 cells were treated for 20 hours with different dose of aclarubicin (0.05, 0.10, 0.25 microg/ml) or with different concentrations of beta-elemene (10, 20, 40 microg/ml) in the presence or absence of aclarubicin (0.10 microg/m). The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), the productions of PGE2 in culture supernatants was detected by competitive ELISA and the expressions of COX-2 and NF-kappaB activity in HL-60 cells by Western blot.

RESULTSLower concentration of aclarubicin (0.05, 0.10 microg/ml) didn't affect apoptotic rate, and COX-2, NF-kappa B and PGE2 expression on HL-60 cells. Combined treatment of beta-elemene and aclarubicin (0.10 microg/ml) enhanced the apoptotic effect and down-regulated COX-2, NF-kappaB and PGE2 expressions. There was a positive correlation between the effects and beta-elemene concentrations.

CONCLUSIONbeta-elemene enhances aclarubicin-mediated apoptotic effect, down-regulation of COX-2 and their inducing products PGE2 in HL-60 cells by suppressing activitation of NF-kappaB.

Aclarubicin ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of β-elemene combined with aclarubicin on the induction of HL-60 cell apoptosis and its mechanisms in antileukemia therapy.Methods HL-60 cells were treated for 20 hours with different dose of aclarubicin(0.05,0.10,0.25 μg/ml) or with different concentrations of β-elemene (10,20,40 μg/ml) in the presence or absence of aclarubicin (0.10 μg/m).The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),the productions of PGE2 in culture supernatants was detected by competitive ELISA and the expressions of COX-2 and NF-kappaB activitv in HL-60 cells by Western blot.Results Lower concentration of aclarubicin (0.05,0.10 μg/ml) didn't affect apoptotic rate,and COX-2,NF-kappa B and PGE2 expression on HL-60 cells.Combined treatment of β-elemene and aclarubicin (0.10 μg/ml) enhanced the apoptotic effect and down-regulated COX-2,NF-kappaB and PGE2 expressions.There was a positive correlation between the effects and β-elemene concentrations.Conclusion β-elemene enhances aclarubicin-mediated apoptotic effect,down-regulation of COX-2 and their inducing products PGE2 in HL-60 cells by suppressing activitation of NF-kappaB.