Objective To investigate the roles of a epoprostenol(PGI2) analog (Iloprost) in regulating the differentiation of CD4+ T cells to Treg cells and the possible mechanism.Methods Naǐve CD4+ T cells were isolated from human peripheral blood samples by using the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then cultured under Treg-polarizing condition.The percentages of Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level were respectively measured by using flow cytometry and RT-PCR for evaluation the effects of Iloprost on the differentiation of CD4+ T cells to Treg cells.The cAMP accumulation assay was used to detect the level of intracellular cAMP.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5).Results lloprost decreased the percentage of Treg cells and inhibited the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level in a dose dependent manner (P＜0.05).However,the inhibitory effects of Iloprost were weakened when IP receptors were blocked by IP antagonist (CAY10449).A six-fold increase in the levels of intracellular cAMP in Treg cells was induced by Iloprost (P＜0.05) and a similar effect could be achieved by using a cAMP agonist,db-cAMP (P＞0.05).H-89,a protein kinase A inhibitor,inhibited the Iloprost-induced expression of cAMP in Treg cells.Moreover,Iloprost inhibited the IL-2 mediated phosphorylation of STAT5 (P＜0.05) and a similar effect could be achieved by using db-cAMP (P＞0.05).The Iloprost-mediated down-regulation of pSTAT5 was blocked by using H-89.Conclusion PGI2 could activate the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway by binding to the IP receptor,resulting in inhibited phosphorylation of STAT5 and suppressed differentiation of naǐve CD4+ T cells to Treg cells.

Objective:To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(lncRNA MALAT1) in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of neonatal rats induced by hyperoxia and its effect on alveolar type 2 epithelial cells (AEC Ⅱ).Methods:The lung injury model of neonatal SD rats induced by hyperoxia(model group, n=50, inhaled oxygen concentration of 80%-85%) and the control group(inhaled air, n=50) were prepared.Lung tissue samples were taken and retained on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21, and the physiological and pathological changes of lung tissue were detected by paraffin-embedded sections and hematoxylin-eosin staining; The dynamic expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in lung tissue was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction; The dynamic expression of surfactant protein C(SPC) in lung tissue and AECⅡ was detected by Western blot.AECⅡ was extracted from lung tissue of normal newborn rats, and lncRNA MALAT1 was knocked down by siRNA.The cells were collected and Western blot as well as immunofluorescence were used to detect the changes of SPC. Results:The lung tissue of model group gradually became thickened with alveolar compartments, and the alveolar cavity was enlarged with the disappearance of alveolar spine and other pathological structural changes.Compared with the control group, there was no difference in the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 and SPC in the lung tissue from model group on days 1, 3( P>0.05), but the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 and SPC significantly increased on days 7, 14 and 21( P<0.05). When lncRNA MALAT1 was inhibited, SPC expression showed a decrease trend. Conclusion:Hyperoxia can lead to the stagnation of lung development in neonatal rats, and the structure and function of alveolar disorders are impaired.The expression of lncRNA MALAT1 is involved in the process of hyperoxia-induced BPD in neonatal rats.The increase of lncRNA MALAT1 may promote the proliferation of AECⅡ.

Objective:To investigate expression level of transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif(TAZ) in neonatal rats with chronic lung diseases induced by hyperoxia and explore its potential role in the disease.Methods:The model of high-oxygen-induced lung injury in neonatal rats was established by continuous inhalation of high-concentration oxygen.The rats in experimental group inhaled 85% oxygen, while the rats in control group inhaled air.The lung tissues were collected at the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day, and the lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin staining to observe the pathological changes of the lung.In addition, the dynamic expressions of TAZ, surfactant protein C(SPC) and aquaporin-5(AQP5) in lung tissue were detected by real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry staining.Results:In the experimental group, with the prolongation of oxygen inhalation time, we found that the alveolar cavity increased, the number decreased, the alveolar septum thickened, and the alveolar structure was simplified.Compared with the control group, there was no difference in TAZ, SPC and AQP5 expression at 1st and 3rd days in the lung tissue in the experimental group( P>0.05). However, at 7, 14 and 21 days, the expression of TAZ in mRNA and protein level in lung tissue in experimental group decreased significantly, and the expression of SPC in mRNA and protein level increased significantly, while the expression of AQP5 in mRNA and protein level decreased, the differences were all statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:Hyperoxia can cause alveolar structure disorder and pulmonary arrested development in neonatal rat.The expression levels of SPC and AQP5 show that the injury of type Ⅰ alveolar epithelial cells (AEC Ⅰ) is severe.Although the number of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AEC Ⅱ) increased, but its differentiation capacity decreased obviously.The decrease of TAZ expression may cause AEC Ⅱ lose the function of differentiation into AEC Ⅰ.

Objective To investigate the effect of the Shaofu zhuyu decoction on the changes of the body writhing behavior,inflammatory reaction and COX-2 expression of the rats with the primary dysmenorrhea. Methods Fifty SD female rats were randomly divided into blank control group,model control group,high,middle and low dose of Shaofu zhuyu decoction groups,10 in each group.Dysmenorrhea rat model was established by treating with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin.Effect of Shaofu zhuyu decoction of different doses on writhing behavior,changes of endometritis cells and COX-2 expression in uterine smooth muscle of dysmenorrhea rats were observed. Results In the model control group,latency of the body writhing behavior was shortened and the total score was high,many inflammatory cells (especially for neutrophils) infiltrated in endometrium and uterine smooth muscle,immunohistochemistry showed that brown granules were found in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells of uterus,and COX-2 expression was positive in uterine smooth muscle cells.As compared with the model control group,writhing latency increased,total score decreased in both the high and middle dose of Shaofu zhuyu decoction groups,and infiltration of a small number of inflammatory cells was seen in the endometrium and smooth muscle(P<0.01);COX-2 expression was decreased (P<0.01) especially for the high dose of Shaofu zhuyu decoction group.As compared with the model control group,the latency of the low dose of Shaofu zhuyu decoction group was significantly increased,and the total score was decreased(P<0.01),but there was no significant difference in inflammatory cell infiltration and COX-2 expression (P>0.05). Conclusion A potential mechanism by which Shaofu zhuyu decotion treats primary dysmenorrhea may be related with alleviating pain,inhibiting inflammatory responses,and down-regulating expression of COX-2.

Objective:To explore the effect of Bushen Huoxue Decoction on ventricular remodeling and myocardial nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) protein in rats with chronic heart failure.Methods:60 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (15 rats) and experimental group (45 rats). The rats of the experimental group was established CHF model by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery combined with exhaustive swimming and starvation. Rats with chronic heart failure were randomly divided into model group, Bushen Huoxue group and lisinopril group.The Bushen Huoxue group was perfused with 15.75 g/(kg·d) Bushen Huoxue Decoction, the lisinopril group was perfused with 1.8 mg/(kg·d) of lisinopril suspension, and the sham operation group and model group were perfused with equal volume of distilled water. After 4 weeks of administration, the general mental state of rats was observed. The left ventricular internal systolic diameter (LVIDs) and internal diastolic diameter (LVIDd) were measured by cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and short axis shortening fraction (LVFS) were calculated. The expression of NF-κB protein in rat myocardium was detected by Western blot, and the morphology of left ventricular myocytes was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining.Results:Compared with the model group, the myocardial fibers of rats in Bushen Huoxue group and lisinopril group were arranged orderly, with few pyknosis, a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group, the levels of LVIDs [(6.00±0.58)mm vs. (6.99±0.90)mm] and LVIDd [(3.96±0.51)mm vs. (5.14±0.57)mm] significantly decreased, LVEF [(54.48±6.75)% vs. (30.28±4.85)%] and LVFS [(33.86±4.27)% vs. (26.10±4.96)%] significantly increased, as well as the expression of myocardial NF-κB (1.06±0.10 vs. 1.58±0.29) protein significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Bushen Huoxue Decoction can resist ventricular remodeling,improve cardiac function and treat heart failure of CHF rats and the possible mechanism might be it could down-regulate myocardial NF-κB expression.