To investigate the effects of traditional Chinese compound recipe Yiqi Zengmin (YQZM) formula on expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle of rats with type 2 diabetes induced by high-fat diet combined with low-dose-streptozotocin injection.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism and the protective effect of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) on rat cardiomyocytes when ischemic preconditioning performed.MethodsCultured rat cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups: control group, ischemic group,ischemic preconditioning group and cyclohexamide group. Cell viabilities were analyzed by MTT. The apoptosis was evaluated with DNA ladder and flow cytometry Annexin V Flous staining. Western Blot was used to determine the expression of HSP27 and caspase-3 in cardiomyocytes.ResultsIschemic preconditioning could improve cell viability. The apoptosis ratio in ischemic preconditioning group was significantly less than that in ischemic group. These were accompanied by an increase in the expression of HSP27 and a decrease in caspase-3. The expression of the increased HSP27 and the protective effect induced by ischemic preconditioning were completely abolished by the presence of cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor.ConclusionThe expression of HSP27 induced by ischemic preconditioning plays an important role in protecting cardiomyocytes, and the mechanism is possibly related to the inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; chemically induced ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; analysis ; Neurotensin ; analysis ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of genistein (Gen) on MAPK signal pathway in the CIA rat fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).

METHODSThe rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established. The cultured FLS of CIA rats were divided using randomized method. The effects of Gen (at the concentration of 50, 100, and 200 micromol/L, respectively) on the proliferation of FLS in CIA rats using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Effects of Gen (at the concentration of 50, 100, and 200 pmol/L, respectively) on the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the FLS of CIA rats were detected.

RESULTSGen could inhibit the proliferation of FLS in CIA rats. The FLS proliferation in the high dose Gen group at 72 h was only 1.10+/-0.04, significantly lower than that in the model group (2.12+/-0.03, P<0.01). Besides, after Gen's action on FLS, the expression of p-ERK was down-regulated. It was only 0.34+/-0.02 in the high dose Gen group, significantly lower than that in the model group (2.68+/-0.14, P<0.01). There was no change in the expression of ERK (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGen could inhibit the proliferation of FLS in CIA rats. Its mechanism of action was mainly correlated to down-regulating the tyrosine kinase of MAPK signal transduction pathway and inhibiting phosphorylation of ERK.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Female ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To observe adhesion and growth of Sehwann cells(SCs) on small intestinal submueosa(SIS) and study the bioeompatibility of SIS with SCs.Methods The SCs of SD neonate rat were isolated and cultured in vitro,then were seeded on prepared SIS.At different times,the adhesion,growth and proliferation of SCs on SIS were observed by phase contrast microscope,histological examination,scanning e- lectron microscope and transmission electron microscope.Results By phase contrast microscope,SCs grew well on the edge of SIS after 3 and 5 days.SCs adhered tightly on the surface of SIS after 5 days through histo- logical examination.By scanning electron microscope,on the surface of SIS,SCs grew and adhered actively, prominence of cells body were obvious.They connected end-to-end with each other or arranged in clusters. Protein granules were secreted on cells surface.By transmission electron microscope,SCs grew in good condi- tion and adhered tightly on the surface of SIS.At the interface of SCs and SIS,prominence was seen to contact with SIS in the bottom of cell body.Conclusion SCs are able to adhere and grow well on the surface of SIS.As a scaffold,SIS has good biocompatibility with SCs.

Altitude ; Animals ; Arvicolinae ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia ; Rats ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

Objective To investigate the effect of BRAFV600E mutation on the invasion capacity of a human melanoma cell line, A375. Methods Plasmids containing short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) specific for BRAF gene were prepared in previous study, and used to transfect A375 cells. Those cells transfected with negative plasmid and untransfected cells served as the controls. Transwell chambers were used to examine the invasion ability of melanoma cells in vitro. RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively, before and after the transfection. The activity of MMP-2 was also studied with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results Compared with the negative control, the specific shRNA decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2 by 35% and 85%, respectively, and those of VEGF by 45% and 14%, respectively. Additionally, the number of cells invading through Matrigel chambers reduced by 69% in those cells transfected with the positive plasmid. Conclusions The mutant BRAFV600E has the potential to enhance the invasion capacity of melanoma cells, whereas specific shRNA could suppress the increase in metastasis capacity likely by inhibiting the production of VEGF and MMP.

OBJECTIVE:To study the interaction mechanism between flavonoids and human serum albumin (HSA),and to compare the effects of different B-ring substitutions(hydroxyl,methoxyl group)of flavonoids on macromolecular receptor. METH-ODS:The interaction regularity between three flavonoids with different B-ring substitutions(quercetin,hesperetin,methyl hespere-tin) and HSA was studied with fluorescence spectroscopy,the fluorescence quenching types between 3 flavonoids and HSA were determined and analyzed,and the velated binding constant,binding site and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. RE-SULTS:The quenching constants (Ksv) and binding constants (KA) were decreased with the increase of temperatures. The number of binding site(n)was approximately equal to one,and the thermodynamic parameters ΔH<0,ΔS>0,the binding interaction of these compounds with macromolecules was influenced because of the difference of the B-ring substituents. CONCLUSIONS:The quenching mechanism between three flavonoids and HSA was static quenching;the number of binding site was one;the interaction force of the three compounds with HSA was mainly static electricity,and hydroxyl group in the B-ring was likely the major active group and exerted stronger binding force than methoxyl group to connect with macromolecules.

Growth year is one of the important factors for the quality of Polygala tenufolia. In this study, primary metabolites and secondary metabolites were compared in 1, 2 and 3 years old P. tenufolia cultivated in Shaanxi Heyang. The samples were subjected to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, and the obtained data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and other statistical analysis methods. In addition, content and correlation of different metabolites were also calculated. The results showed no significance between main component contents in 2 year-old and 3 year-old P. Tenufolia, but 1 year-old was statistically different. The contents of primary metabolites, such as fructose, sucrose, and choline increased as time goes on, while glycine and raffinose decreased. The contents of secondary metabolites, such as onjisaponin Fg, polygalasaponin XXVIII, polygalasaponin XXXII increased, while polygalaxanthone III and parts of oligosaccharide multi-ester including tenuifoliose A, tenuifoliose C, tenuifoliose C2 and tenuifoliose H decreased with the extension of the growth years. Growth years has important impact on the quality of P. tenuifolia and the existing growing years of commodity P. tenuifolia have its scientific evidence. This study supplied a new method for the quality evaluation of Chinese medicinal materials.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on α-naphthylisothi (ANIT)-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats.MethodsA total of 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected.Fouty-two rats were gavaged with ANIT (100 mg/kg) to induce acute liver injury,six rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the liver injury and the rats left were evenly divided into control group which were gavaged with saline and UDCA group which were gavaged with UDCA (20 mg/kg).Six rats were sacrificed at 48 hours,72 hours and 96 hours after modeling.The six untreated rats were set as blank control group.Serum and liver tissues of all rats were kept after sacrificed.Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),total bilirubin (TBil) and total bile acid (TBA) were tested,interleukin-10 (IL-10),interleukin-6 (IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of multidrug resistance associated protein2 (Mrp2) at mRNA level in liver tissue was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the inflammatory reaction activity of liver tissues was inspected with Haematoidin-Eosin (HE)staining under microscope.ResultsAt 48 hours after liver injury modeling,serum TBil (143.80± 12.08) μmol/L vs.(178.50±15.19) μmol/L,TBA (13.15±3.81) μmol/L vs.(21.68±7.93)mol/L,IL-10 (44.13±3.68,37.15±6.25 ng/L),IL-6(50.80±2.09,57.32±4.63 ng/L) and TNF-α (17.53±0.84) ng/L vs,(19.10±1.64) ng/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01 or P＜ 0.05).At 72 hours after liver injury modeling,serum ALT (721.67±97.54) U/L vs.(929.50±148.29) U/L and IL-10 (54.68±6.79)ng/L vs.(43.85±4.08) ng/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).At 96 hours after liver injury modeling,serum ALT (156.83±14.99) U/L vs.(250.67±42.29) U/L,AST (143.67±27.45) U/L vs.(206.00±63.94) U/L and TBil (23.53±5.08) μmol/L vs.(34.02±9.98) μmol/L of UDCA group and control group were compared,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).The differences of Mrp2 expression at mRNA level in liver tissues between UDCA group and control group at 48 hours (0.77 ± 0.21,0.46 ± 0.25),72 hours (2.27 ±0.84,1.10 ±0.38) and 96 hours (3.64±0.54,2.75±0.69) after liver injury modeling were statistically significant (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).ConclusionThe mechanism of the protective effects of UDCA on ANIT-induced liver injury may be related with the regulation of serum cytokines and liver Mrp2 expression.