Objective: To reveal a novel mechanism by which 5-aza-2′- deoxycytidine (AZA) plays its anticancer role, and whether AZA can inhibit the expressions of cancer-associated genes by activating their antisense RNAs. Methods: Six genes were chosen from those having antisense RNAs, which were previously obtained by sequencing a double-stranded RNA library. The selected genes included phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN ), signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT 1), Ras-like proto-oncogene B (RALB ), MET, CD 44 and heat-shock protein A4 (HSPA 4). The human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were treated with AZA (dissolved in DMSO) or DMSO (as the control). The expressions of sense and antisense RNAs for the selected genes were detected by strand-specific RT-PCR and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively. Results: The antisense RNAs of all 6 genes were activated by AZA treatment (all P < 0.01). On the other hand, AZA also induced the expressions of tumor suppressor gene PTEN and innate immunity-related gene HSPA 4 (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). In contrast, the expressions of cancer-related genes, CD 44 and HSPA 4, were obviously inhibited by AZA treatment (both P < 0.01). Conclusion: AZA can activate the antisense RNAs, so as to promote the expressions of tumor suppressor genes and innate immunityrelated genes, but to inhibit the expressions of cancer-associated genes; which may be the novel mechanism underlying anticancer effect of AZA.

This study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of syringin on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats and its mechanisms. Complete Freund's adjuvant (FCA) was used to induce AA in rats. Secondary paw swelling of AA rats was measured with volume meter. Pain response and polyarthritis index were scored. Meanwhile, splenic lymphocyte proliferation response induced by concanavalin A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was examined with MTT assay. IL-2 production of splenic lymphocytes and IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha production of peritoneal macrophage (PM phi) were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The secondary inflammation of AA rats appeared on the 14th day after injection of FCA. Syringin and tripterygium glycosides (TG) were given by intragastric administration for 16 days from the 14th day. Treatment of AA rats with syringin and TG from the 22th day significantly attenuated the secondary hind paw swelling, as well as relieved the pain response and the polyarthritic symptoms of the whole body as compared with that of the AA model group. The suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production of splenic lymphocytes in AA rats were reversed by treatment with syringin. Meanwhile, syringin remarkably down-regulated IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha productions from PM phi. These results indicate that anti-inflammatory effects of syringin on AA rats are mediated by modulating the immune function of abnormal cells and the balance of cytokines.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Eleutherococcus ; chemistry ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; metabolism ; Male ; Phenylpropionates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

This study focused on prevention and treatment of acute and chronic asthma by oligonucleotides containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG-ODNs). Acute and chronic asthma models of mice were made by sensitizing and inhaling ovalbumin (OVA); The number of white blood cells (WBC) and eosnophils (EOS) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was counted and the concentration of cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was examined in BALF by ELISA kit. After that, TLR-9 mRNA was detected in mice spleen cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and TLR-9 protein was determined in mice lung tissues by Western blotting. Compared with acute asthma models of mice, WBC in BALF decreased obviously in the groups of Bordetella pertussis, CpG-ODNs and seq A to seq I which were administrated by both of intragastric (ig) and intraperitoneal (ip) injection group, EOS decreased obviously in Bordetella pertussis, CpG+ and seq A to seq D ig groups, and in all ip administrating groups, although it was not effective in the groups of seq E to seq I. In chronic asthma models of mice, IFN-gamma increased ((1) control: 176.45 +/- 23.46 pg x mL(-1); (2) model: 174.11 +/- 22.71 pg x mL(-1); (3) CpG+ ip: 220.56 +/- 15.42 pg x mL(-1); (4) seq A ip: 225.23 +/- 21.60 pg x mL(-1)) and IL-4 decreased obviously (1) control: 66.91 +/- 5.81 pg x mL(-1); (2) model: 81.02 +/- 11.24 pg x mL(-1); (3) CpG+ ip: 63.99 +/- 6.09 pg x mL(-1); (4) seq A ip: 62.75 +/- 10.03 pg x mL(-1)) in the BALF of CpG+ and seq A ip group, although VEGF was not changed in this research. And also, TLR-9 mRNA in spleen cells (TLR-9/GAPDH: (1) control: 0.62 +/- 0.13; (2) model: 0.66 +/- 0.17; (3) CpG+ ip: 1.46 +/- 0.26; (4) seq A ip: 1.42 +/- 0.34) and TLR-9 protein in lung tissues (TLR-9/beta-actin: (1) control: 0.63 +/- 0.16; (2) model: 0.61 +/- 0.07; (3) CpG+ ip: 1.15 +/- 0.25; (4) seq A ip: 1.03 +/- 0.29) both increased in ip groups, but the change was not significant in ig group. The study confirms that CpG-ODNs and seq A could inhibit airway inflammation remarkably, this mechanism might be related with regulating Th1/Th2 balance and controlling the expression of TLR-9.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bordetella pertussis ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Female ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; Lung ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ovalbumin ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Myostatin gene (MSTN) encodes a negative regulator for controlling skeletal muscle growth in animals. In this study, MSTN^-/- homozygous mutants with "double muscle" phenotypic traits and stable inheritance were bred on the basis of MSTN gene editing rabbits, with the aim to establish a method for breeding homozygous progeny from primary MSTN biallelic mutant rabbits. MSTN^-/- primary mutant rabbits were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The primary mutant rabbits were mated with wild type rabbits to produce F1 rabbits, whereas the F2 generation homozygous rabbits were bred by half-sibling mating or backcrossing with F1 generation rabbits of the same mutant strain. Sequence analysis of PCR products and its T vector cloning were used to screen homozygous rabbits. The MSTN mutant rabbits with 14-19 week-old were weighed and the difference of gluteus maximus tissue sections and muscle fiber cross-sectional area were calculated and analyzed. Five primary rabbits with MSTN gene mutation were obtained, among which three were used for homozygous breeding. A total of 15 homozygous rabbits (5 types of mutants) were obtained (M2-a: 3; M2-b: 2; M3-a: 2; M7-a: 6; M7-b: 2). The body weight of MSTN^-/- homozygous mutant rabbits aged 14-19 weeks were significantly higher than that of MSTN^+/+ wild-type rabbits of the same age ((2 718±120) g vs. (1 969±53) g, P < 0.01, a 38.0% increase). The mean cross sections of gluteus maximus muscle fiber in homozygous mutant rabbits were not only significantly higher than that of wild type rabbits ((3 512.2±439.2) μm² vs. (1 274.8±327.3) μm², P < 0.01), but also significantly higher than that of MSTN^+/- hemizygous rabbits ((3 512.2±439.2) μm² vs. (2 610.4±604.4) μm², P < 0.05). In summary, five homozygous mutants rabbits of MSTN^-/- gene were successfully bred, which showed a clear lean phenotype. The results showed that the primary breeds were non-chimeric mutant rabbits, and the mutant traits could be inherited from the offspring. MSTN^-/- homozygous mutant rabbits of F2 generation could be obtained from F1 hemizygous rabbits by inbreeding or backcrossing. The progenies of the primary biallelic mutant rabbits were separated into two single-allelic mutants, both of which showed a "double-muscle" phenotype. Thus, this study has made progress in breeding high-quality livestock breeds with gene editing technology.
Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; Gene Editing ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Myostatin/metabolism* ; Phenotype ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo examine the role of Cd-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the apoptosis of neuronal cells.

METHODSNeuronal cells (primary rat cerebral cortical neurons and PC12 cells) were incubated with or without Cd post-pretreatment with rapamycin (Rap) or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, and the activation of phosphoinositide 3'-kinase/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways were measured by western blotting or immunofluorescence assays.

RESULTSCd-induced activation of Akt/mTOR signaling, including Akt, mTOR, p70 S6 kinase (p70 S6K), and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Rap, an mTOR inhibitor and NAC, a ROS scavenger, blocked Cd-induced activation of Akt/mTOR signaling and apoptosis of neuronal cells. Furthermore, NAC blocked the decrease of B-cell lymphoma 2/Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bcl-2/Bax) ratio, release of cytochrome c, cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G).

CONCLUSIONCd-induced ROS generation activates Akt/mTOR and mitochondrial pathways, leading to apoptosis of neuronal cells. Our findings suggest that mTOR inhibitors or antioxidants have potential for preventing Cd-induced neurodegenerative diseases.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the application value of point-of-care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) scoring in selecting respiratory support treatment modalities for neonatal infectious pneumonia (NIP). Methods A total of 89 NIP patients were selected as the study subjects and divided into control group (no assisted ventilation) with 46 cases, noninvasive group (noninvasive assisted ventilation) with 28 cases, and invasive group (invasive mechanical ventilation) with 15 cases based on the degree of dyspnea and blood gas analysis results. The POC-LUS scores of the three groups were compared, and the correlations of POC-LUS scores with arterial oxygen partial pressure [p_a(O₂)] and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure [p_a(CO₂)] were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the predictive efficacy of POC-LUS scores for the need for noninvasive assisted ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation in NIP patients. Results The POC-LUS scores of the noninvasive group and the invasive group were (31.7±7.3) and (42.1±8.0), respectively, which were higher than (21.5±7.3) of the control group. Additionally, the score of the invasive group was higher than that of the noninvasive group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between POC-LUS scores and p_a(O₂) (r=-0.802, P < 0.05), and a significant positive correlation with p_a(CO₂) (r=0.807, P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of POC-LUS scores for predicting the need for noninvasive assisted ventilation and invasive mechanical ventilation were 0.918 (95%CI, 0.862 to 0.973) and 0.938 (95%CI, 0.889 to 0.987), respectively. The sensitivity was 0.767 and 0.933, and the specificity was 0.935 and 0.824, with optimal cutoff values of 29.5 and 31.5, respectively. Conclusion POC-LUS scoring can quantitatively assess the severity of lung lesions in NIP patients and serves as a guiding tool for clinicians in selecting assisted ventilation treatment modalities.

OBJECTIVE To explore the factors influencing the failure of tigecycline in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii （MDRAb） pneumonia， and to provide a basis for the rational use of tigecycline. METHODS The information of patients with MDRAb pneumonia who were treated with tigecycline in the ICU of our hospital during Aug. 2020-Jun. 2022 were collected retrospectively. The patients were divided into treatment failure group and treatment success group according to the curative effect. The basic information， acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ （APACHE-Ⅱ） score， laboratory indicators， and medication-related information were recorded and compared between 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted for analyzing the influential factors inducing the failure of tigecycline in the treatment of MDRAb pneumonia. RESULTS A total of 102 cases of MDRAb pneumonia received tigecycline therapy， with 71 in the treatment success group and 31 in the treatment failure group. Compared with the treatment success group， the patients in the treatment failure group had higher APACHE Ⅱ score （P＜0.05）， and more cases with abnormal coagulation function and comorbidities ≥2 types （P＜0.05）. After the treatment of tigecycline， procalcitonin level of the treatment failure group was significantly higher than that of the treatment success group （P＜0.05）. Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for the failure of tigecycline in the treatment of MDRAb pneumonia included abnormal coagulation function and APACHE-Ⅱ score ≥20 （P＜0.05）； doubling the first dose was a protective factor （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS In patients with MDRAb pneumonia with APACHE-Ⅱ score ≥20 and abnormal coagulation function， tigecycline therapy is more likely to fail； doubling the first dose of tigecycline has better efficacy in the treatment of MDRAb pneumonia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate anti-melanoma effect of ethanol extract of Ilex hainanensis Merr. (IME) and elucidate its underlying mechanism.

METHODSThirty-six tumor-bearing mice were randomized into 6 groups (n=6) as follows: model group, IME 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg groups and dacarbazine (DTIC) 70 mg/kg group. The mice in the IME treatment groups were intragastrically administered with IME 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg per day, respectively. The mice in the DTIC group were intraperitoneally injected with DTIC 70 mg/kg every 2 days. The drug administration was lasting for 14 days. The cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dime-thylthylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell cycle and apoptosis. The gene and protein expressions of nuclear factor κB-p65 (NF-κB-p65), Bcl-2, B-cell lymphomaextra large (Bcl-xL) and Bax were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Caspases-3, -8, and -9 activities were detected using the colorimetric method. In addition, a B16-F10 melanoma xenograft mouse model was used to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of IME in vivo. Furthermore, a survival experiment of tumor-bearing mice was also performed to evaluate the possible toxicity of IME.

RESULTSIME significantly inhibited the proliferation of B16-F10 cells (P<0.01). Flow cytometric analysis showed that IME induced G/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (both P<0.01). IME inhibited activation of NF-κB, decreased the gene and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and increased the gene and protein expressions of Bax (all P<0.01). In addition, IME induced the activation of Caspases-3, -8, and -9 in B16-F10 cells. The study in vivo showed that IME significantly reduced tumor volume (P<0.01), and the inhibitory rate came up to 68.62%. IME also induced large areas of necrosis and intra-tumoral apoptosis that correlated with a reduction in tumor volume. Survival experiment showed that treatment with IME for 14 days significantly prolonged survival time and 20% of mice in the IME 200 mg/kg group were still alive until the 50th day. Notably, IME showed no apparent side-effects during the treatment period.

CONCLUSIONIME exhibited significant anti-melanoma activity in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that IME might be a promising effective candidate with lower toxic for malignant melanoma therapy.

We compared the efficiency of cloning goat using human lactoferrin (hLF) with genetically modified donor cells marked by single (Neo(r)) or double (Neo(r)/GFP) markers. Single marker expression vector (pBLC14) or dual markers expression vector (pAPLM) was delivered to goat fetal fibroblasts (GFF), and then the transgenic GFF was used as donor cells to produce transgenic goats. Respectively, 58.8% (20/34) and 86.7% (26/30) resistant cell lines confirmed the transgenic integration by PCR. Moreover, pAPLM cells lines were subcultured with several passages, only 20% (6/30) cell lines was observed fluorescence from each cell during the cell passage. Somatic cell nuclear transfer using the donor cells harbouring pBLC14 or pAPLM construct, resulting in a total of 806 reconstructed embryos, a pregnancy rate at 35 d (53.8%, 39.1%) and 60 d (26.9%, 21.7%), and an offspring birth rate (1.9%, 1.4%) with 5 and 7 newborn cloned goats, respectively. Transgene was confirmed by PCR and southern-blot in all cloned offspring. There were no significant differences at the reconstructed embryo fusion rates, pregnancy rates and the birth rate (P > 0.05) between single and double markers groups. The Neo(r)/GFP double markers could improve the reliability for accurately and efficiently selecting the genetically modified donor cells. No adverse effect was observed on the efficiency of transgenic goat production by SCNT using somatic cells transfected with double (Neo(r)/GFP) markers vector.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cloning, Organism ; methods ; veterinary ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Genetic Markers ; Goats ; embryology ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neomycin ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; veterinary ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; veterinary

OBJECTIVETo probe the possible mechanism of growth-inhibitory and apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by arsenic trioxide.

METHODSThe induction of apoptosis in two tongue squamous carcinoma cells treated by arsenic trioxide was investigated. The morphology changes of the cells was observed under electron microscope. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was detected using rhodamine 123 and flow cytometry. The cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, and p16, p53, BCL-2, Caspase-3, and PARP changes were examined by western blot.

RESULTS1. The antiproliferative effect on the oral squamous carcinoma cells by arsenic trioxide was carried out through two ways: induction of apoptosis and toxicity damage. 2. Activation of the caspase-3 and PARP, while no changes of p16, p53, BCL-2 occurred. 3. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential collapse and G(2)-M stagnation were correlated with apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS1. Tubulins and mitochondria may be the chief action position of arsenic trioxide, which is the start-up factors of mechanism. 2. Activation of the caspase-3 proteolytic pathway may be one of the pivotal ways of apoptosis procedure induced by arsenic trioxide.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; DNA, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Intracellular Membranes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism