1.Decursin inhibits EC109 cells proliferation via suppression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
Changkang KE ; Yuying LIU ; Zhipei ZHANG ; Jiao ZHANG ; Yifang ZHU ; Jinwei LIU ; Ziqian WANG ; Jinbo ZHAO ; Xiaofei LI
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2018;34(4):230-236
Objective To investigate whether decursin(Dec) could inhibit EC109 cells proliferation by suppression of janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods The EC109 cells were treated with Dec(20,40,and 80 pmmol/L) for48 h.The cell viability was evaluated by MTT;the apoptotic cells was labelled by TUNEL;the mitochondrial oxidative stress level was detected by fluorescent staining;and western blotting was used to analyze the proteins of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and apoptosis in EC109 cells,respectively.After co-application of JAK2 / STAT3 antagonist(AG490),the inhibitory ability of Dec to EC109 was observed from the in vivo and in vitro levels.Results Compared to the control group,different concentrations of Dec dose-dependently down-regulated expressions of p-JAK2 [(55.89 ± 6.04) %] and p-STAT3 [(45.27 ± 8.65) %],repressed EC109 cell activity(0.43 ± 0.078),increased apoptotic rate[(35.31 ± 8.41)%],reduced MMP levels[(37.23 ± 6.89)%],promoted reactive oxygen species(ROS) [(231.81 ± 19.63)%],decreased glutathione (GSH) activity [(46.78 ± 6.91)%,P<0.05].However,Dec did not significantly affect the activity of the normal esophageal epithelium HET-1A cells(P >0.05).Meanwhile,Dec obviously leaded to reduction of Bcl2,increment of Bax,and augment of Caspase-3 cleavage (P <0.05).Additionally,the inhibitory effect of Dec on EC109 was specifically intensified after co-application of AG490 in vivo and in vitro levels(P <0.05).Conclusion Dec can fight against human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo via activation of mitochondrial oxidative stress-induced apoptosis which was mediated by JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
2.Alternations in cortical thickness and functional connectivity in patients with generalized anxiety disorder
Wei LI ; Huiru CUI ; Zhipei ZHU ; Hui LI ; Qiang HU ; Lanlan ZHANG ; Jianqi LI ; Zhi YANG ; Jijun WANG ; Chunbo LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2017;26(11):989-993
Objective To investigate the changes of cortical thickness and relative resting state functional connectivity in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).Methods The present study analyzed structural and eyes-open resting state functional MRI were performed in 21 patients with GAD and 22 matched healthy controls.Cortical thickness was estimated with FreeSurfer.The structurally altered regions were defined as region of interest (ROI) to analyze functional connectivity (FC) using resting state functional MRI data by DPABI.Results Cortical thickness of patients with GAD were increased in right rostral middle frontal gyrus (rMFG;MNI:x =27.9,y =53.4,z =-11.1;size:241.93 mm2;FDR corrected,P < 0.1) and right inferior temporal gyrus (IGT;MNI:x =49.7,y =-57.8,z =-8.7;size:138.93 mm2;FDR corrected,P<0.1) compared with healthy controls.FC between right rMFG and right superior/middle occipital gyrus as well as well as FC between rMFG and right precentral gyrus showed decreased in patients with GAD compared with healthy controls(AlphaSim corrected,P<0.05).FC between right rMFG and right angular gyrus showed increased in patients with GAD compared with healthy control (AlphaSim corrected,P<0.05).Conclusion The rMFG may play an important role in the pathophysiology of GAD,which can be used as an stimuli target in physicotherapeutics to improve anxiety symptoms.