This paper was aimed to study effects of diosgenin on expressions of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in synovial tissues of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats induced by bovine type II collagen, in order to investigate the possible mechanism of herbal medicine diosgenin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After the CIA rats models were successfully established, rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, CIA model group, diosgenin group, and positive medicine control (tripterygium) group. The in situ hybridization was used to detect the expressions of AP-1 (c-fos and c-jun) in synovial tissues of the knee joint. The real-time PCR was used to detect the VEGF mRNA expression in synovial tissues of rats’ knee joints. The results showed that c-jun and c-fos, VEGF mRNA expressions in synovial tissues of rats’ knee joints were obviously higher than that of the blank control group (P<0.01). After treatment of diosgenin and tripterygium, the expressions of c-jun and c-fos, VEGF mRNA were significantly reduced (P<0.01). It was concluded that diosgenin may regulate the expression of VEGF in synovial tissues through c-jun and c-fos of AP-1 in order to inhibit synovial angiogenesis for the treatment of RA.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of rhIFN-γ on human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562,and the impaction on the expression of CD123.Methods MTT method was used to test cell relative viability with rhIFN-γ at different concentrations.The expression of CD123 on K562 ceils was detected by flow cytometry.Results The relative inhibition of K562 cells proliferation was hampered when the cells were treated with rhIFN-γ for 72 h at the concentration of 5 x 10P ～ 108 U/L,respectively.However,rhIFN-γ at 2 x 105 U/L was benefit to K562 cells proliferation.After treatment with rhIFN-γ at 0,2 x 105 U/L and 107 U/L,the percentages of CD123 expression on K562 cells were (4.10 ± 1.46) ％,(7.2 ± 2.50) ％ as well as (21.6 ± 1.17) ％,respectively.Compared with the control group,107 U/L rhIFN-γ significantly increased the expression of CD123 on K562 cells (P＜0.05).Conclusion The effect of rhIFN-γ on the growth of K562 cells has two aspects (inhibition or proliferation),and it can increase the expression of CD 123.

Objective To investigate the changes of IL‐1β,IL‐2 ,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 ,IL‐10 and INF‐γexpressions in bone marrow of chro‐nic myeloid leukemia(CML)patients .Methods The IL‐1β,IL‐2 ,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 ,IL‐10 and INF‐γexpression levels were detected by u‐sing flow cytometry in 30 cases of CML chronic phase(CML‐CP) ,21 cases of CML accelerated phase(CML‐AP) ,15 cases of CML blastic phase(CML‐BP) ,42 cases of CML remission after treatment and 7 cases of non‐remission .Then the detection results were compared with those in the control group .Results The expression levels of INF‐γ and IL‐2 in each CML groups were lower than those in the control group(P<0 .05) ,while the expression levels of IL‐1β,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 and IL‐10 were higher than those in the con‐trol group(P<0 .05) .With the disease condition progression ,the INF‐γand IL‐2 levels were gradually decreased ,i .e .,CML‐BPCML‐AP> CML‐CP ,the difference among groups had statistical significance (P<0 .05) .After complete remission by treatment ,the INF‐γand IL‐2 levels were risen to some extent ,but which were still lower than those in the control group(P<0 .01) ,the expression levels of IL‐1β,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 and IL‐10 were decreased to some extent ,but likewise were higher than those in CML‐CP(P< 0 .05);the levels of IL‐1β,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 ,IL‐10 ,IL‐2 and INF‐γ had no statistical difference between the non‐remission group and CML‐BP group(P>0 .05) .Conclusion The changes of serum cytokines in bone marrow microenvironment of CMLpatients have certain significance to the occurrence ,development and prognosis of CML ;the de‐tection of IL‐1β,IL‐2 ,IL‐4 ,IL‐6 ,IL‐10 and INF‐γlevels in bone marrow is hopeful to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for im‐mune therapy and prognosis judgment of CML patients .

Objective To study the effects of medicated serum with total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscreae Nipponicae (RDN) on VEGF mRNA expression and AP-1 activity in rat synovial cell strain RSC-364 induced by IL-17 and TNF-α. To investigate the mechanism about total saponin from RDN inhibition of angiogenesis. Methods Medicated serum of total saponins from RDN and tripterygium (positive control) were prepared. Rat synovial cells RSC-364 were divided into four groups: the blank control,IL-17+TNF-α model,tripterygium medicated serum,and total saponins medicated serum groups. After one hour of incubation,all groups except for the blank control were incubated with both IL-17(10 μg·L-1 ) and TNF-α(10 μg·L-1 ) for 24 hours. VEGF mRNA expression in RSC-364 was detected by PrimeScriptTM real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) detection kit,and the AP-1 DNA-binding activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results Compared with the control blank group,both of the VEGF mRNA expression and AP-1 activity in rat synovial cell strain RSC-364 induced by IL-17 and TNF-α increased remarkably (P<0. 05,P<0.01). The VEGF mRNA expression and AP-1 activity in tripterygium medicated serum group and total saponins medicated serum group were remarkably lower than those of the model control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two medicated serum groups. Conclusion Serum medicated with total saponins from RDN can remarkably decrease VEGF mRNA expression and AP-1 activity,indicating that the total saponins from RDN could influence VEGF secretion by inhibiting the AP-1 signal transduction pathway,VEGF is the key factor of angiogenesis,thereby to restrain angiogenesis.

Objective To explore the role of TMAO from gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),we detected the serum level of TMAO and its precursor metabolites in NAFLD,as well as the expression level of Eubacterium rectum,Bacteroidetes multiforme,Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in the intestinal flora.Methods We collected 118 subjects and divided into NAFLD group(86 cases)and healthy control group(32 cases)randomly.We also detected the serum level of TMAO and its precursor metabolites in subjects by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection(LC-MS),and the expression of target bacterial DNA was detected by qRT-PCR.Results Serum TMAO,TMA and choline levels were significantly increased in NAFLD(P<0.05),and liver fat content was positively correlated with TMAO(P<0.05).The expression level of Lactobacillus and Eubacterium rectum in NAFLD group were increased(P<0.05);the expression level of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides multiform were decreased(P<0.05).The serum TMAO level was positively correlated with Eubacterium rectum(r=0.280,P<0.05),and negatively correlated with Bifidobacterium(r=-0.332,P<0.05).Conclusion The level of TMAO in serum shows a positive correlation with NAFLD.The structure of intestinal flora in individuals with NAFLD is altered and linked to TMAO.This suggests that the intestinal flora may have a significant impact on the development of NAFLD through TMAO.