Essential oil of Cayratia japonica was separated into 85 peaks by means of GC/MS/DS and 30 peaks of them were identified. The oil showed pronounced antiviral activities against influenza virus A, in vivo and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in vitro. The inhibitory effect of the oil on replication of HSV-1 in Hela cells was comparable to that of acyclovir (ACV).

Objective To study the protective effects on ovarian function by caloric restriction (CR) and its mechanism.Methods Thirty female C57BL/6 mice of 8 weeks old were randomly divided into two groups,including ad libitum (AL) group and caloric restriction (CR) group.The general situation and ovarian function of those mice were compared and evaluated.Ovarian follicles were counted by hematoxylin-eosin staining.Anti-Miillerian Hormone(AMH) mRNA expression of the ovary were detected by using real-time PCR.The concentrations of serum estradiol,progesterone of the mice were measured by ELISA.And the fertility of mice by mating trials were evaluated,SIRT3,Hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and catalase (CAT) mRNA expression of the mice ovaries were detected by Real-Time PCR.Results The total follicles were 546 in CR mice and 286 in AL mice.The proportion of primordial follicles were 38.6％ (211/546)in ovaries of CR mice and 29.4％ (84/286)in ovaries of AL mice,which reached statistical difference.The proportion of atretic follicles 5.3％ (29/546) in ovaries of CR mice,compared with 16.8％ (48/286) in AL mice,was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05).The AMH mRNA expression in CR mice ovaries was 3.37 times of that of AL mice (P ＜ 0.05).The serum concentration of estradiol in CR mice was up to (5.3 ± 1.6) pmol/L,which was much higher than (3.6 ± 1.6) pmol/L in AL mice.While,the progesterone concentration of (0.4 ±0.3) nmol/L in CR mice was lower than (1.4 ± 0.8) nmol/L in AL mice (P ＜ 0.05).Fertility and survival of offsprings were both improved in CR mice.The expression level of SIRT3 mRNA in CR mice ovary was 1.39 times,CAT was 1.55 times and HIF-1 α was 0.31 times of those in AL mice (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Caloric restriction can delay the ovary aging process through reduce follicle depletion by suppressing follicle recruitment and ovulation.The function of ovarian reserve and reproductive endocrine was effectively protected.Caloric restriction can reduce the incidence of follicular atresia,its mechanism might be associated with anti-oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE:To study the preventive effect of Lonicera japonica alcohol extract on mice with liver injury based on metabolomics method. METHODS:30 mice were equally randomized into a normal control (isometric normal saline) group,a model(isometric normal saline)group and a group of L. japonica alcohol extract(2 g/kg). The mice were given drugs by ig once a day for 14 consecutive days. On the 8th day of administration,the models were established by giving 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMN,10 ml/kg)ip once a day for 7 consecutive days. Gas chromatography-mass spectrum(GC-MS)was used to analyze 24 h total ions chromatogram of the urine sample on the 1st,3rd,5th and 7th day of administration of drugs and DMN. The change in endogenic small molecule metabolites in urine was observed. Principal component analysis was employed to explore the change in the metabolite chromatogram and underlying biomarkers in urine. RESULTS:The contour of the chromatogram changed to a largest extent 1 to 5 d after given DMN,but showed an obvious trend towards regression 7 days thereafter. DMN resulted in increase in the contents of 8-phenyl-8-azbicyclo-[4,3,0]non-3-ene-7,9-dione,2-(6-heptynyl)-1,3 dioxolane,bis-(O-methyloxime)-4-ketoglu-cose,and decrease in the contents of malonic acid,2-(4- chlorophenylthiomethoxyl)ethyl,tetrahydro-2-furanacetaldehyde,D-ga-lactose,erythro-pentonic acid and galacturonic acid,in endogenic small molecule metabolites in mouse urine,for which Lonicera japonica alcohol extract can improve that. CONCLUSIONS:Previous administration of L. japonica alcohol extract ig has preven-tive effect to some extent on the physiological and metabolic conditions of mice with liver injury induced by DMN.

Objective To prepare hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) recombinant protein and confirm its activity preliminarily according to building HGF gene prokaryotic expression vector and transforming into E.coli.Methods Clone HGF inserted into the vector pET-26b(+) to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET-26b(+)-HGF and transform into E.coli Rosseta(DE3).The transformed bacteria induced by IPTG was purified through Ni-NTA resin affinity chromatography frozen-drying after renaturation.Results HGF gene recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET-26b(+)-HGF was constructed successfully.E.coli Rosseta(DE3) which was transformed into pET-26b(+)-HGF expresses the target protein as the form of inclusion bodies,accounting for 38％ of the total bacterial proteins,and confirmed by Western blot.HGF protein which was purified by Ni-NTA resin affinity chromatography,has a purity of about 95％,and can promote proliferation,migration,and inhibition of apoptosis for human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 cells after interaction.Conclusion HGF gene recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET-26b (+)-HGF was constructed and expressed in transformed E.coli Rosseta(DE3) successfully.They resumed their recombinant HGF protein structure after purification and renaturation,and had biological activity confirmed by in vitro studies.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of suppression of EphB4 and/or mTOR on the biological behaviors of ovarian cancer cells, and the potential regulatory pathways. Antisense EphB4 vectors and shRNA vectors targeting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were constructed and transfected into A2780 and SKOV3 cells (two ovarian cancer cell lines). The effects of the antisense EphB4 vectors and the shRNA vectors on the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of ovarian cancer cells were measured, and the expression of EphB4, mTOR and Akt detected. The results showed that transfection with mTOR shRNA could inhibit growth, induce apoptosis, and reduce invasive ability of ovarian cancer cells, which was accompanied by downregulation of EphB4, mTOR and Akt. The inhibitory effects on cell growth caused by mTOR shRNA alone were weaker than those by antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4. In the antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4-transfected cells, it was found that EphB4 knockdown could decrease the mTOR expression and slightly reduce the Akt phosphorylation. Significant suppressive effects on cell growth were observed in cells co-transfected with antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4 and mTOR shRNA. In co-transfection group, the expression levels of EphB4, mTOR and Akt were distinctly lower than those in other groups. It was concluded that suppression of EphB4 may inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells by downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and reverse Akt phosphorylation induced by mTOR shRNA. Inhibition of EphB4 and mTOR combined may cooperatively suppress the biological behaviors of ovarian cancer cells.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of suppression of EphB4 and/or mTOR on the biological behaviors of ovarian cancer cells, and the potential regulatory pathways. Antisense EphB4 vectors and shRNA vectors targeting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were constructed and transfected into A2780 and SKOV3 cells (two ovarian cancer cell lines). The effects of the antisense EphB4 vectors and the shRNA vectors on the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of ovarian cancer cells were measured, and the expression of EphB4, mTOR and Akt detected. The results showed that transfection with mTOR shRNA could inhibit growth, induce apoptosis, and reduce invasive ability of ovarian cancer cells, which was accompanied by downregulation of EphB4, mTOR and Akt. The inhibitory effects on cell growth caused by mTOR shRNA alone were weaker than those by antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4. In the antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4-transfected cells, it was found that EphB4 knockdown could decrease the mTOR expression and slightly reduce the Akt phosphorylation. Significant suppressive effects on cell growth were observed in cells co-transfected with antisense pEGFP-C1-EphB4 and mTOR shRNA. In co-transfection group, the expression levels of EphB4, mTOR and Akt were distinctly lower than those in other groups. It was concluded that suppression of EphB4 may inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells by downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and reverse Akt phosphorylation induced by mTOR shRNA. Inhibition of EphB4 and mTOR combined may cooperatively suppress the biological behaviors of ovarian cancer cells.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, EphB4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Suppression, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibition of NK4 protein in the proliferation of human Raji lymphoma xenografts in nude mice, and to explore its molecular mechanism.

METHODSModels of human Raji lymphoma xenograft transfected with HGF gene were established by subcutaneous inoculation in nude mice. After establishment of the models, the mice received continuous NK4 protein via tail vein for 4 weeks, and the weight and tumor growth were monitored every week. After 8 weeks, the expression of HGF mRNA and c-Met mRNA of tumor tissues was measured by real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR. The apoptotic index (AI) and microvessel density (MVD) were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSThe models of human Raji lymphoma xenograft were successfully established. Although the animal weights of all groups declined, especially in the groups with NK4 protein injection, there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The tumor volume in HGF gene transfected group was larger than those of the control groups (P < 0.01), and there was no statistical significance among the control groups (P > 0.05). However, the tumor volume of the NK4 protein injection group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Expression of HGF mRNA and c-Met mRNA in HGF gene transfected group increased significantly after injection of NK4 protein (P < 0.01). AI in HGF gene transfected group (33.5% ± 12.3%) was significantly lower than that of control groups (89.1% ± 22.3% vs. 81.9% ± 27.0%, P < 0.05), but became significantly higher (119.1% ± 18.9%) after NK4 protein injection (P < 0.01). MVD in HGF gene transfected group (28.5 ± 2.0) was higher than that of control groups (12.2 ± 1.4, 13.8 ± 1.3, P < 0.01), although declined (15.5 ± 2.5) after NK4 protein injection (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNK4 protein suppresses significantly the growth of human Raji lymphoma xenografts transfected with HGF gene. The pathogenesis may be involved in promoting tumor cell apoptosis and restraining tumor angiogenesis through competitive interrupting HGF/Met signal pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Heterologous

Objective BAG3-related myopathy is a rare condition so far reported in twenty patients worldwide.The purpose of this study was to draw attention to this rare disease and to the fact that BAG3-related myopathy should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis of hypercapnia.Methods We report a sporadic case of a 14-year-old Chinese girl with a de novo p.Pro209Leu mutation in BAG3 and reviewed the literatures for reported cases related to this mutation.Results We described a 14-year-old Chinese girl who presented with gradually appearing symptoms of hypercapnia that required assisted ventilation.The muscle biopsy and the blood whole-exome sequencing results confirmed the diagnosis of myofibrillar myopathy with a de novo p.Pro209Leu mutation in BAG3.Totally twenty-one patients from twenty families with a confirmed diagnosis of BAG3-related myopathy were reported to date,including this patient and literature review.The male to female ratio was 11 :10 and most showed initial symptoms in the first decade of life.Most patients presented toe/clumsy walking or running as the onset symptom,followed by muscle weakness or atrophy.Creatine kinase levels were elevated in fourteen patients and were normal in three.Eighteen patients developed respiratory insufficiency during the disease course and thirteen (one could not tolerate non-invasive assisted ventilation) required non-invasive assisted ventilation for treatment.Except for one not reported,heart involvement was found in seventeen patients during the disease course and seven underwent heart transplantation.Z-disk streaming and aggregation could be observed in most of the patients' muscle histology.In the long-term follow-up,five patients died of cardiac or respiratory failure.Conclusion BAG3-associated myopathy is a rare type of myofibrillar myopathy.It should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis of hypercapnia.