Objective:To investigate the role of platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-AB on angiogenensis in aged mice.Methods:Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells(CMEC)from the hearts of young adult and old mice were cultured.Expression of PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA was detected by RT-PCR.The migration of CMEC was determined with ChemoTX Chamber.Ear angiogenesis model was made in mice.Blood flow in neo-microvessels and collateral vessels was measured with Laser Doppler.Then biotin-labeled Dextran-lysine was injected into the mice through cardiac puncture to label vessels.Ears were cut and immunohistochemistry was carried out by ABC method.Results:Both PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA were highly ex-pressed in CMEC of young adult mice;expression of PDGF-BB was not detected in aged mice.PDGF-AB reverted the levels of PDGF-BB in aged CMEC to the levels of young adult mice.Migration rate of CMEC in aged mice was significantly increased after stimulation by PDGF-AB(P

Objective To explore the effects of intraventricular administration of insulin on the expressions of Bcl-2,Bax mRNA and neuronal hippocampus apoptosis in rats after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods This experiment was implemented in the animal Laboratory center of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University.Thirty male SD rats were randomly (random number)divided into three groups:control group (n=6),CPR group (n=12),insulin treated group ( n =12).CPR was performed at 6 minutes after ventricular fibrillation induced by transesophageal overdrive pacing.Resuscitation procedures lasted until restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).ROSC was defined as the recovery of the supraventricular heart rates and the increase of mean arterial pressure (MAP) ＞ 60mmHg for more than 10 minutes.Ten minutes after ROSC in rats,12.5 μL ( 1 U) regular insulin was injected into the left ventricle in the insulin group,and 12.5 μL isotonic saline was injected the control and CPR groups at least 10 minutes.Real-time PCR was used to observe the expressions of Bcl-2,Bax mRNA in hippocampus CAI after reperfusion 24 h and 72 h.TUNEL staining was used to observe the neuronal apoptosis in all groups after reperfusion 7 days.Blood glucose was monitored in rats before and after CPR.Results ① The Bcl-2mRNA in insulin groups were significantly higher than those in the CPR group after 24 h and 72 h (P ＜0.01 ).The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA in 24 h insulin group were significantly higher than those in 72 h insulin group ( P ＜ 0.01 ) ; There were no significantly different in the Bax mRNA between insulin groups and the CPR and the control group after 24 h and 72 h ( P ＞ 0.05 ) ; ②After CPR 7 d,the apoptotic neurons of hippocampal CA1 area in the CPR group ( 124.75 ± 17.35 ) were significantly higher than those in the control group (5.12 ± 3.26) ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and the insulin group (92.79 ± 7.35 )(P ＜0.01 ); the apoptotic neurons in the insulin group were higher than those in the control group (P ＜0.0l ),and the differences were statistically significant.③There were no significant difference in venous blood glucose in the CPR and insulin groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Insulin may regulate Bcl-2mRNA expression in hippocampus,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and protect neurons after CPR in rats.

Objective To summarize experiences of microsurgical treatment of dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine. Methods A series of 12 patients with dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine were treated by using microsurgical techniques through posterior approach or antero-lateral approach. Results Complete resection was achieved in 10 patients. Postoperative neurological symptoms improved greatly in all. Conclusion The key points of treatment in dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine are to analyze the preoperative image carefully and have knowledge about anatomy of high cervical spine as well as the experience of microsurgical technique.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor on the neuronal apoptosis in ischemia-reperfusion region (IRR) of rat cerebral cortex.

METHODSRats prepared by middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion were used as the research model. The animals were divided into A group (untreated), B group (DMSO control) and C group (treated with z-DEVD-fmk). Before reperfusion, z-DEVD-fmk (7 microg/kg) was injected into the ischemic side of ventriculus cerebri of C group rats. The expression and activation of caspase-3, expression and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and apoptotic neurons in the temporal-parietal cortex IRRs (SPAB method) of all the rats were studied using Western blotting, in situ apoptotic detection (TUNEL method) and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn the cerebral IRRs of A, B, C groups reperfused for 1 h and 24 h, the quantities of caspase-3 precursor were 16.7 +/- 3.0, 11.5 +/- 3.0 and 47.5 +/- 3.5, and 76.1 +/- 3.5, 71.3 +/- 6.4 and 88.2 +/- 5.5, respectively; the caspase-3 fragments (12,000) 8.2 +/- 2.3, 9.4 +/- 1.2 and 4.3 +/- 1.6, and 59.0 +/- 6.3, 60.5 +/- 7.2 and 17.3 +/- 2.8, respectively; the PARP 12.6 +/- 3.0, 13.9 +/- 2.0 and 53.7 +/- 4.1, and 67.5 +/- 8.6, 61.1 +/- 6.6 and 93.6 +/- 4.1, respectively; the PARP fragments (24,000) 6.0 +/- 0.7, 6.6 +/- 1.2, 3.6 +/- 1.1, and 27.4 +/- 2.6, 25.8 +/- 3.2, 12.1 +/- 2.8 (relative quantity, x+/- s); the densities of apoptotic neurons 83.3 +/- 7.5, 84.3 +/- 5.7 and 45.7 +/- 4.0, and 197.4 +/- 11.8, 185.2 +/- 11.2 and 99.1 +/- 5.8 (cell number/0.1 mm(2), x+/- s). These results showed that in the cerebral IRRs of both A and B groups, all caspase-3 expression and activation, PARP expression and cleavage, and neuronal apoptosis were increased relevantly along with prolongation of the reperfusion time (P < 0.05 - 0.001). At each time point of the reperfusion, caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage and neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral IRR of C group were significantly less than those of the former two groups (P < 0.05 - 0.001). The variations of the 5 parameters of A, B and C groups correlated positively with one another (r = 0.630 - 0.942, P < 0.01). The cells expressing PARP were mainly neurons in the cerebral IRRs of all the animals, but the difference of their number was not distinct among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSIt is an important mechanism resulting in apoptosis of the injured neurons in the cerebral IRR that caspase-3 expression and activation abnormally increased by the reperfusion have more PARP rapidly inactivated by over-cleavage. z-DEVD-fmk may decrease PARP cleavage by inhibiting activity and auto-activation of caspase-3, and prevent the injured neurons from apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDBlocking the 4-1BB/4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) signal may modulate the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines and prolong the survival of the grafts, which play a key role in organ transplantation tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody (mAB) in acute rejection of rat orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSThe orthotopic liver transplantation model was set up, while male Lewis rats were used as liver donors and Brown-Norway rats as recipients. The recipient rats were intravenously injected with anti 4-1BBL mAB or isotype control antibody. Groups were monitored for graft survival after transplantation. Plasma chemistry, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin (BIL), was assayed. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma in plasma were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Allograft histology images were collected under light microscope and electron microscope.

RESULTSIsotype antibody treated recipients exhibited elevated plasma levels of liver injury markers including AST, ALT and BIL, progressive portal and venous inflammation and cellular infiltration of the liver allografts, and a mean graft survival time (MST) of 10.9 days. Administration of anti 4-1BBL mAB resulted in a decrease in plasma levels of liver injury markers and the concentrations of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. The histological grade of rejection on day 7 decreased and MST (17.3 days) increased substantially.

CONCLUSIONSThese results demonstrate that attenuation of acute rejection follows the blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody and strongly suggest it is a promising strategy to prevent progression of graft rejection by suppressing T cell-mediated immunity.

4-1BB Ligand ; immunology ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew

BACKGROUNDThe antitumor role of Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene and its potential molecular mechanisms are not well understood. The objective of this study was to observe the antitumor ability of RASSF1A in hepatocellular carcinoma, and study the mechanisms of cell apoptosis induced by RASSF1A.

METHODSAfter stably transfecting a RASSF1A (wild-type or mutant) expression vector into the BEL-7402 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, RT-PCR and Western blotting was used to detect the RASSF1A expression levels in recombinant cells. The effects of wild-type RASSF1A on cell growth were observed in vitro by analyzing cell proliferation rate, cell colony formation, and in vivo by analyzing tumorigenesis in nude mice. In addition, the effect of RASSF1A gene expression on the chemosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to antitumor drugs was examined by inhibition of cell proliferation and the percentage of apoptotic cells.

RESULTSWild-type RASSF1A, not the mutant, suppressed cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Re-expression of wild-type RASSF1A could enhance the inhibition of cell proliferation and the percentage of apoptotic cells following cell treatment with mitomycin, but had no significant effect when combined with adriamycin, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin treatment.

CONCLUSIONWild-type RASSF1A inhibits cell growth and enhances cell chemosensitivity to mitomycin in hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that RASSF1A may serve as a new target for gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Mitomycin ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

This study is to investigate the effect of diet and gene on blood-fat trait of the individual mouse. One hundred and twenty mice were fed with high fat emulsion for 4 weeks. Then the genotypes of Glut-4 were analyzed by PCR-SSCP to investigate the effect on blood-fat traits and some organ performance of mice. After fed with high fat emulsion for 4 weeks, 98 mice suffered from hyperlipidemia, while 22 mice did not. And a T/A mutation was found in 188 targeted fragments we amplified at 8,521 site, and association analysis showed that the mice carried BB genotype had higher TC, TG and LW/BW level than those of the mice with AA genotype (P < 0.05). Different Glut-4 genotypes show different sensitivities to high fat emulsion on mice.
Animals ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; genetics ; Hyperglycemia ; blood ; genetics ; Lipids ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Obese ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on the proliferation of hepatocytes and hepatic tumor cells and the expression of ALR in herpatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSPrimary rat hepatocytes, QGY and HepG2 cells were cultured separately with ALR from different species. Cell proliferation was detected by their 3H-TdR uptake. The expression of ALR was examined in 9 normal hepatic tissues and 21 HCC cases using immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTSDifferent ALRs could stimulate the proliferation of HepG2 and QGY cells in a dose-dependent way in vitro, but all ALR had no influence in the proliferation of primary rat hepatocytes. The expression of ALR was absent in normal hepatic tissues, but present in all HCC hepatic tissues. However, the expression of ALR had no relationship with the differentiation and size of the carcinomas.

CONCLUSIONALR might play an important role in the occurrence and development of HCC.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Liver Regeneration ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To investigate the correlation between concomitant diabetes mellitus and clinical features in patients with COVID-19.Methods:Fifty patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Sixth People′s Hospital of Shenyang were divided into 2 groups with and without diabetes mellitus. Indexes such as hospitalization days, duration of positive virus-PCR result, secondary infection, duration of fever, rate of liver dysfunction, and rate of cardiac injury were compared between 2 groups.Results:The average hospitalization durations of diabetes group and control group were(24.0±6.8) and(18.4±5.9) days, respectively, and the duration of positive virus-PCR testing results were(16.0±4.5) and(12.3±4.4) days respectively, suggesting longer hospital stay and longer time for virus clearance in the diabetes group than those in the control group(both P<0.05). The rates of secondary infection, severe subtype, liver dysfunction and cardiac injury in the diabetes group increased, though without significant difference( P>0.05). Conclusion:Prolonged duration of positive virus-PCR result and average days of hospitalization in patients with COVID-19 may be associated with diabetes mellitus.

Glucosamine, a naturally occurring amino monosaccharide, has been reported to play a role in the regulation of apoptosis more than half century. However the effect of glucosamine on tumor cells and the involved molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated. Glucosamine enters the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) downstream of the rate-limiting step catalyzed by the GFAT (glutamine:fluctose-6-phosphate amidotransferase), providing UDP-GlcNAc substrates for O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) protein modification. Considering that O-GlcNAc modification of proteasome subunits inhibits its activity, we examined whether glucosamine induces growth inhibition via affecting proteasomal activity. In the present study, we found glucosamine inhibited proteasomal activity and the proliferation of ALVA41 prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of proteasomal activity results in the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, followed by induction of apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that glucosamine downregulated proteasome activator PA28gamma and overexpression of PA28gamma rescued the proteasomal activity and growth inhibition mediated by glucosamine. We further demonstrated that inhibition of O-GlcNAc abrogated PA28gamma suppression induced by glucosamine. These findings suggest that glucosamine may inhibit growth of ALVA41 cancer cells through downregulation of PA28gamma and inhibition of proteasomal activity via O-GlcNAc modification.
Acetylglucosamine/chemistry/metabolism ; Alloxan/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Autoantigens/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucosamine/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*enzymology ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Ubiquitinated Proteins/metabolism