AIM: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of angiotensin II (AngⅡ) on expression of MMP-9 in THP-1 macrophages. METHODS: Macrophages converted from THP-1 monocytes by incubating with PMA (0.1 μmol/L) for 48 h were divided into PMA group; PMA+AngⅡ group (10-7mol/L, 1 h); PMA+AngⅡ+PDTC group (10 μmol/L, 30 min) and PDTC group. Western blotting was used to detect the MMP-9 and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA in THP-1 macrophages was measured by RT-PCR.RESULTS: Compared to control group, the expression of MMP-9 (1.06±0.11, P<0.05) and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 (1.02±0.10, P<0.05) in THP-1 macrophages were expressed when treated with AngⅡ (10-7mol/L); and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA were upregulated (1.22±0.08, P<0.05). However, NF-κB inhibitor PDTC reduced the NF-κB p65 (0.99±0.12, P<0.01) and MMP-9 (1.04±0.14, P<0.01) expressions and decreased the expression of MMP-9 mRNA (0.90±0.06,P<0.01). CONCLUSION: NF-κB signaling pathway contributes to the expression of MMP-9 in THP-1 macrophage induced by AngⅡ.

AIM:The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of angiotensin II (AngⅡ) on expression of MMP-9 in THP-1 macrophages. METHODS:Macrophages converted from THP-1 monocytes by incubating with PMA (0.1 ?mol/L) for 48 h were divided into PMA group; PMA+AngⅡ group (10-7mol/L,1 h); PMA+AngⅡ+PDTC group (10 ?mol/L,30 min) and PDTC group. Western blotting was used to detect the MMP-9 and phosphorylation of NF-?B p65,and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA in THP-1 macrophages was measured by RT-PCR.RESULTS:Compared to control group,the expression of MMP-9 (1.06?0.11,P

Objective:To investigate the effect of Danggui Buxuetang（DGBX）on the functional activity of rat endothelial progenitor cells（EPCs）exposed to different luminar shear stress （SS）. Method:EPCs isolated from rat bone marrow were incubated on a parallel plate flow chamber at a steady SS of 0， 0.12， 1.2， 2.4 Pa for 6 h，then the cells exposed to different SS were randomly divided into 8 groups： control group （perfused with serum free medium），simvastatin group（0.1 μmol·L^-1 simvastatin），3 DGBX groups（low，medium，high-dose DGBX）and 3 inhibitor groups（3 DGBX groups with LY294002）. After 12 h，the samples were collected for the detection of cell proliferation ，migration，tubule formation ，the secretion of nitric oxide （NO） ，and the expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase（eNOS） mRNA and protein kinase B（Akt），respectively. Result:Compared with the control group，simvastatin and DGBX（high-dose）could both promote the functional activities and NO secretion，and up-regulate the expressions of eNOS mRNA and Akt protein in EPCs exposed to different SS（P<0.05），while DGBX（mid-dose）could do these only at 0 Pa. However，LY294002 could inhibit all effects of DGBX on EPCs. Conclusion:SS seems to play an important role in the effect of DGBX on EPCs，and DGBX could promote the functional activity of EPCs exposed to SS by up-regulating the expressions of NO/eNOS/Akt.

DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator), Calsenilin and KChIP3 (potassium channel interacting protein 3) belong to the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) superfamily, which transduces the intracellular calcium signaling into a variety of activities. They are encoded by the same gene locus, but have distinct subcellular locations. DREAM was first found to interact with DRE (downstream regulatory element) site in the vicinity of the promoter of prodynorphin gene to suppress gene transcription. Calcium can disassemble this interaction by binding reversibly to DREAM protein on its four EF-hand motifs. Apart from having calcium dependent DRE site binding, DREAM can also interact with other transcription factors, such as cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), CREB-binding protein (CBP) and cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM), by this concerted actions, DREAM extends the gene pool under its control. DREAM is predominantly expressed in central nervous system with its highest level in cerebellum, and accumulating evidence demonstrated that DREAM might play important roles in pain sensitivity. Novel findings have shown that DREAM is also involved in learning and memory processes, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. This mini-review provides a brief introduction of its discovery history and protein structure properties, focusing on the mechanism of DREAM nuclear translocation and gene transcription regulation functions.

Bawei Chenxiang Powder is a traditional Tibetan folk medicine formula, consisting of resinous wood of Aquilaria sinensis, kernel of Myristica fragrans, fruit of Choerospondias axillaris, travertine, resin of Boswellia carterii or B. bhaw-dajiana, stem of Aucklandia lappa, fruit of Terminalia chebula(roasted), and flower of Gossampinus malabarica. It has the function of clearing heart heat, nourishing heart, tranquilizing mind, and inducing resuscitation, which has been used for the treatment of coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. Modern research shows that the medicine materials of this formula mainly contain terpenoids like sesquiterpenes and triterpenes and polyphenols like flavonoids, lignans, and tannins, displaying some pharmacological activities such as anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia, and spatial learning and memory promotion. This review summaries the traditional uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities research progress, hopefully to provide a reference for clarification of its pharmacological active ingredients.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Flavonoids ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Terminalia ; Tibet