The ginsenoside-Ro is sensitive to be hydrolyzed in an alkaline medium. This paper investigated the hydrolysis kinetics of ginsenoside-Ro under different pH and temperature values. The results showed ginsenoside-Ro in alkaline solution followed pseudo-first-order reaction. Hydrolysis kinetics of ginsenoside-Ro has not been reported previously. The hydrolysis rate was independent of initial concentration. On the basis of UFLC-MS/MS, NMR, as well as chemical evidence,the structure of hydrolyzate was assigned as 3-O- [beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl- (1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl] -oleanolic acid.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Kinetics ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between sensitivity to 5-FU and the status of a panel of microsatellite loci in three human colon cancer cell lines.

METHODSCell viability in several concentrations of 5-FU was assessed by the MTT test. Expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1 in LoVo, SW480 and SW1116 cells were analyzed by immunocytochemical staining.Ten mononucleotide and dinucleotide microsatellite loci were analyzed by the PCR-SSLP-silver staining method.

RESULTSBy MTT assay, it showed that LoVo cells were more sensitive than SW480 and SW1116 cells (0.8 micromol/L,2.2 micromol/L and 1.9 micromol/L, respectively, P < 0.05). By immunocytochemical staining, hMSH2 was expressed in SW480 and SW1116 cells but not in LoVo cells, while hMLH1 was positive in all three cell lines. The PCR-SSLP-silver staining of 10 microsatellite loci revealed that LoVo cells had a different pattern of electrophoretic bands compared with SW480 and SW1116 cells, manifesting both additions and band-shifts.

CONCLUSIONTogether with hMSH2 and hMLH1, the status of a panel of microsatellite loci may be used as convenient predictors for drug-optimization or prognosis-assessment in colorectal cancer patients before chemotherapy.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Base Pair Mismatch ; Carrier Proteins ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microsatellite Repeats ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

Objective: To compare tea polysaccharides(TPS) characteristics and their role in scavenging free radicals and reducing blood glucose(BG) in diabetic mice(DM). Methods: TPS was extracted from green,Oolong and black tea which were made from the same fresh leaves from Hubei,Fujian and Yunnan. Then the recovery rate of TPS, contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein were analysed, and scavenging rate of -2Oand 稯H in vitro and hypoglycemic effect were also determined. Results: 1. The yield and contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein of green tea TPS were the highest, and those of black tea TPS were the lowest. Oolong tea TPS acted the best in scavenging-2O and 稯H . 2. The hypoglycemic effect of TPS from Hubei tea was the best . The effect of TPS extracted from semi-fermented Oolong tea and fermented black tea was better than that of non-fermented green tea. 3. There were obvious differences in yield, free radical scavenging rate and effect of reducing BG among TPS extracted from tea in different regions. TPS extracted from Fujian tea had the best effect in reducing BG,but that from Yunnan tea had not. Conclusion: There was remarkable effect of region and process on physico-chemical characteristics,effect of scavenging radical and reducing blood sugar TSP.

Objective To investigate the apoptosis of T lymphocytes,the expression of Bcl-2, Fas on the peripheral blood T lymphocytes in end stage renal disease patients;and to explore the characteristics of Th1 /Th2 profile and the influence of dialysis membranes with different permeability on the apoptosis of T lymphocytes of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods The study included 10 non-dialyszed (ND)patients,45 maintenance hemodialysis patients with cellulose acetate (CA) membranes(13),low-flux polusulfone(PS-LF) membranes(16),high-flux polusulfone (PS-HF) membranes (16) and 8 healthy volunteers (C).The apoptosis of T lymphocytes,expression of Bcl-2,Fas on peripheral blood T lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation for 24 hours were measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical.ELISA was performed for detecting the levels of IFN-?and IL-4 in culture supematants.Results In ESRD patients,the apoptosis of T lymphocytes was greater than that of group C.Group CA was greater than group PS-HF and group PS-LF (P＜0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was lower than that of group C (P＜0.05).There was negative correlation between the T lymphocytes apoptosis and Bcl-2. The expression of Fas on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was greater than that of group C (P＜0.05), and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.The level of IFN-?of ESRD patients was decreased significantly compared with that in group C (P＜0.05),and there was negative correlation between T lymphocytes apoptosis and IFN-?.IL-4 was increased in ESRD patients (P＜0.05) and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.Conclusions The accelerated apoptosis of T lymphocytes in ESRD patients may be related to the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas of T lymphocytes.ESRD patients show a suppressed secretion of IFN-?and an increased secretion of IL-4. T lymphocytes apoptosis of maintenance hemodialysis patients is influenced not only by the biocompatibility but also by the permeability of the dialysis membrane.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Serum ; metabolism ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cross-talk between extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor (NF-kappaB) signal transduction pathways in the hepatocytes expressing hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 (HCV NS3). METHODS: A cell line QSG7701/NS3, which stably expressed HCV NS3 protein, was constructed by transfecting plasmid pcDNA3.1-NS3 into a human immortalized hepatocyte line QSG7701. Before and after QSG7701/NS3 cells were treated by MEK inhibitor PD98059, the phosphorylation level of ERK and the expression of cyclin D1 protein were detected by Western blot; the DNA binding activities of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and NF-kappaB were evaluated with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Cell cycles were measured by flow cytometry (FCM); the effects of PD98059 on the cell proliferation were determined by MTT assay. RESULTS: HCV NS3 protein could up-regulate the phosphorylation of ERK and the expression level of cyclin D1 in QSG7701 cells. PD98059 could inhibit the cell proliferation mediated by HCV NS3 protein, down-regulate the activities of AP-1 and NF-kappaB, and suppress the expression of cyclin D1. CONCLUSION The inhibition of ERK can suppress the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB and the cell proliferation mediated by HCV NS3 protein in a dose-dependent manner. There may be a cross-talk between ERK and NF-kappaB signal transduction pathways, which may exert synergistic action on the proliferation and malignant transformation of hepatocytes.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo get a complete cDNA sequence of B2 and evaluate the correlation on structure and expression between B2 and insulin like growth factor binding protein related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) in colorectal carcinomas, paired normal tissues, adenomas, tissues adjacent to the tumor, and colorectal carcinoma cell lines.

METHODS5'RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA end) was applied to get the sequence of the 5' end of B2. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of B2 in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines (SW480, SW1116, SW620, HCT8, CoLo205 and LoVo).

RESULTSA sequence of 1,125 bp was obtained by combining the sequence from 5'RACE product and the known sequence of B2. It shared 1,122/1,125 identities with IGFBP-rP1. At the level of mRNA, the expression of B2/IGFBP-rP1 was high in colorectal carcinomas, moderate in adenomas and tissues adjacent to tumor, low in normal tissues (P < 0.05). Five cell lines except SW480 showed no expression of B2/IGFBP-rP1. A significant difference was obtained in the immunoreactivity of B2/IGFBP-rP1 between normal tissue and cancer (P < 0.05). In 28.9% (22/76) samples, cancer cells locating at the invasive front of cancer nest had a stronger staining of B2/IGFBP-rP1 than those surrounding the lumen. These samples had also an increased frequency of lymph node metastases, increased depth of invasion and a stronger staining of B2/IGFBP-rP1 than in other samples (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSB2 is the same gene as IGFBP-rP1. Overexpression of B2/IGFBP-rP1 may play an important role in the initiation and promotion of colorectal cancer. Its overexpression in invading tumor cells may be linking with an increased potential of invasion.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; secondary ; Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of p53 protein, incidence of p53 gene mutation and microsatellite instability in ulcerative colitis, dysplasia of colonic mucosa and ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

METHODSP53 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in 70 specimens from 21 cases of ulcerative colitis and 25 colonic mucosa specimens from normal subjects. The specimens of ulcerative colitis were examined for the mutation in exon 5, 6, 7, 8 of p53 gene with microdissection-PCR-SSCP/HA-clone-sequencing technique and the alterations in 10 microsatellite loci with microdissection-PCR-SSLP-clone- sequencing technique.

RESULTNone of 25 normal specimens was p53-positive immunohistochemically, while 4/21 of ulcerative colitis specimens were p53-positive. P53- positive rate in inflammatory mucosa of ulcerative colitis specimens was 0/5, while that was 1/7, 2/7 and 1/2 in low-grade displasia (LGD), high-grade displasia (HGD) and carcinoma, respectively. The abnormal exons were detected by SSCP and confirmed by sequencing in 2 out of 21 cases: one was exon 6 in a case with carcinoma and the other was exon 8 in a HGD case; both had positive P53 expression. Two cases showed positive in Bat26 locus by SSLP: one was a LGD case, the other was a case of carcinoma, who also had abnormal exon 6 of p53 gene. Other 9 microsatellite loci, (TGF beta RII(A)(10), IGFIIR(G)(8), IGFIIR(CT)(5), TGF beta RII(GT)(3), BAX(G)(8), hMSH3(A)8, hMSH6(C)(8), TCF4(A)(9) and DPC4 (CA)(17)) were showed negative in all cases.

CONCLUSIONP53 gene mutations and microsatellite instability may be one of the mechanisms for higher risk of carcinogenesis in ulcerative colitis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; Genomic Instability ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo screen the differentially methylated DNA sequences between mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer (MACC) and normal colonic mucosa.

METHODSThe methylated DNA sequences were enriched by methylation CpG islands amplification (MCA), and the differentially methylated DNA sequences between MACC and normal colonic mucosa were isolated by representational difference analysis (RDA). Similarities between the separated fragments and the human genomic DNA were analyzed with BLAST program system in GenBank. With the separated fragment 1A12 as probe, dot blot was used to study its distribution between RDA products (No. 1-4 rounds), MACC (tester) and normal colonic mucosa(driver).

RESULTSTwenty-five differentially methylated DNA sequences were obtained. Preliminary studies indicated that 1A01 fragment was concerned with two different genes (LOC256866 and CECR7), it was located in the first exon of CECR7. 1A12 fragment was located in 5 flanking region of GR6 gene. By dot blot with 1A12 probe, hybridized signals were detected in MCA product of MACC and RDA products of No. 1-4 rounds, respectively. No signal was detected in MCA product of normal colonic mucosa.

CONCLUSIONThe differentially methylated DNA sequences can be isolated effectively between two different tissues with MCA coupled with RDA. Different methylated DNA fragments exist between MACC and normal colonic mucosa and these fragments may be concerned with colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Neoplasm ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA