Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Steroids ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the expression in the VEGF,TGF-?1 of cervical squamous car- cinoma infected by HPV16,18.Methods Cells exfoliated from cervix(collected by clinician)of 99 women with cervical cancer and 54 women as a control group were analyzed blindly by human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 Fluorescent Polymerase Reaction Diagnositic kit.The expression of VEGF,TGF-?1 of the positive HPV16,18 of 38 women with cervical squamous cancer were studied by immunohistochemical stain.Results The positive expression of HPV16,18 was observed in 53 in the case of cervical cancer with positive rates of 54 %,but the positive rates was 7 % in the control group(P

AIMTo investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on histology and behavioral tests during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in gerbils.

METHODSGlobal cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries for 10 min in gerbils. Three doses of MT were administrated intraperitoneally 30 min prior to the onset of ischemia. Locomotor activity was measured by using the open field method 3 and 7 days after the ischemic episode. T maze test was carried out 4, 5 and 6 days after ischemia to assess the working memory of gerbils. Neuronal damage was assessed in CA1 pyramidal layer of gerbil hippocampus and evaluated 7 days after ischemia.

RESULTSMT significantly reversed the locomotor activity increases, ameliorated learning and working memory deficit, and reduced the extent of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells injury after transient global cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil.

CONCLUSIONMT provides significantly protective effect against both histological and behavioral consequences of global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Female ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Memory ; drug effects ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neurons ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

Animals ; Asia ; epidemiology ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo study the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the pathogenesis of human keloid.

METHODSHuman keloid fibroblasts (HKF) were isolated from human keloid and cultured in vitro. The cells were then divided into 3 groups according to different processing, i.e. ASODN treatment (AT), in which phosphorothioate CTGF antisense oligonucleotides (ASODN) labeled by fluorescent isothiocyananate were transfected into the HKFs by liposome; liposome control (LC, with liposome only); control groups (without liposome or ASODN). The distribution of CTGF ASODN in all groups of cells was observed under fluorescent microscope. The CTGF mRNA index (RI) of HKF was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR). The collagen synthesis of HKF was assessed by (3)H-proline incorporation method.

RESULTSA large amount of fluorescence could be observed in the cytoplasm of HKFs in AT 12 hours after transfection, but not in LC and C groups. The CTGF mRNA index of HKF in AT group 48 hours after transfection was significantly lower than that in LC and C groups (0.12 +/- 0.62 vs 0.51 +/- 0.18 vs 0.54 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). The (3)H-proline incorporation rate in AT group (108.96 +/- 79.05) was lower than that in LC and C groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of CTGF gene and collagen synthesis of the cultured HKF could be inhibited by CTGF ASODN, implying that CTGF played a role in the development of excessive fibrosis of human keloid.

Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Keloid ; etiology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Transfection

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the human cord blood adult stem cells (ASCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro induced by combined stimulation with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem cell factor (SCF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The adult stem cells were obtained through density gradient centrifugation and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The adult stem cells were cultured in DMEM with HGF (10 ng/ml)+SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) in induced group I. In induced group II the enriched cells were cultured in DMEM with SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) and the undifferentiated cells acted as the control group without the factors. The morphology of cells was observed by the inverted phase contrast microscopy; the expression of albumin (Alb), human hepatocyte cytokeratin (CK18) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were detected by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR assay in the 21-day culture. Alb secreted by hepatocytes in the medium was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at day 7, 14, 21, 23 and 25. The results showed that the shapes of ASCs changed and their sizes and number increased in the course of culture in group I. After being induced for three weeks, the cells turned round and resembled hepatocyte-like cells. The mRNA for Alb could be detected by RT-PCR in the differentiated adult stem cells in group I, and the mRNA for AFP was poorly detected by RT-PCR at day 21. Alb and CK18 were positive through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry at day 21, compared with group II and the control group. In group I, Alb in the medium significantly increased, compared with control group, and reached the highest level at day 21, then decreased at day 23. It is concluded that under some definite inducing conditions, human cord blood adult stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and HGF plays a critical role during the course.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; pharmacology

AIMIn order to investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells on proliferation and differentiation towards megakaryocytes of CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood in vitro.

METHODSAfter mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells were advancely planted in DMEM medium and grown up to 80%, then the CD34+ cells were added to culture with mesenchymal stem/ progenitor cells or without mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells in DMEM for 14 days with TPO + IL-3 + SCF, TPO + IL-3 + SCF + IL-11 respectively. After cultured for 14 days, mononuclear cells (MNCs) were counted by automatic cell analyzer. The number of CD41+ cells and platelets were detected by flow cytometry. Platelets function were assessed through platelet aggregation test which was induced by thrombin.

RESULTSAs compared with the control group, the number of MNCs of co-culture system was not increased significantly (P > 0.05), but the number of CD4+ cells and platelets were increased significantly (P < 0.05). The platelets were aggregated by thrombin induced which could be seen in microscope or flow cytometry.

CONCLUSIONIt is concluded that mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells may be promoted to induce the cord blood CD34+ cells to differentiate towards megakaryocyte in the culture medium.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; physiology

This study was aimed to establish one tube PCR reaction technique to determine ABO blood group genotypes. Salting-out method was adopted to extract genomic DNA; one tube polymerase chain reaction with GeneScan technique was used to identify ABO genotypes. The results showed that the ABO genotypes of 132 samples were in accordance with the phenotypes determined by serological technique. The frequencies of A, B and O were 0.205, 0.159 and 0.636 respectively. AA, AO, AB, BB, BO and OO genotypes were 8 (6.1%), 31 (23.5%), 7 (5.3%), 6 (4.5%), 23 (17.4%), and 57 (43.2%) respectively. It is concluded that one tube polymerase chain reaction with GeneScan technique can determine the genotypes of ABO blood group.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results

To study the effect of GM-CSF on in vitro expansion of megakaryocyte progenitor cells from cord blood, CD34(+) cells isolated by magnetic cell sorting system (MACS) were cultured in serum-free medium containing TPO, IL-3, SCF and with or without various concentrations of GM-CSF (5, 20, 100 ng/ml). The numbers of MNC, proportion of CD34(+)CD41(+) cells and CFU-MK were measured at 6, 10 and 14 days. The results showed that the expansion of MNC and proportion of CD41(+) cells was accelerated distinctly by various concentrations of GM-CSF after 14 days, while 20 and 100 ng/ml GM-CSF exhibited higher expansion effect than that of 5 ng/ml. TPO + IL-3 + SCF with 5 ng/ml or 20 ng/ml GM-CSF could stimulate the formation of CFU-MK, while TPO + IL-3 + SCF with 100 ng/ml GM-CSF could inhibit it. It is concluded that GM-CSF can accelerate the expansion of megakaryocyte progenitor cells from CD34(+) cells in cord blood in the serum-free medium containing TPO + IL-3 + SCF.
Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of connective tissue growth factor on the pathogenesis of human hypertrophic scar.

METHODSNormal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured in vitro. The collagen synthesis of fibroblasts were measured by H3-proline incorporation method. The expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA of fibroblasts were detected with immunocytochemistry staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods.

RESULTSCompared with normal skin fibroblast, the collagen synthesis and the expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA in the hypertrophic scar fibroblast was higher (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONConnective tissue growth factor may play an important role in promoting the fibrotic process of hypertrophic scar.

Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction