Objective To study the anti-proliferation,pro-apoptosis and cell cycle blocking effects of arsenic trioxide(As_(2)O_(3)) on rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs).Methods The effects of As_(2)O_(3) on VSMCs viability,growth and proliferation were assayed by MTT,trypan blue exclusion and()~3H-thymidine incorporation methods.Change of cell cycle and apoptosis of VSMCs induced by As_(2)O_(3) were observed by flow cytometry and DNA laddering methods.Western blot was applied to detect the expression changes of P53 and P21()~(waf1/cip1) proteins.As_(2)O_(3) inhibited the growth and DNA synthesis of VSMCs both time-and dose-dependently,while had no obvious cytotoxic effects on cell viability at the concentrations from 1 to(16 ?mol/L).(8 ?mol/L) of As_(2)O_(3) significantly blocked the cell cycle progression,decreased the S phase and increased G_(0)G_(1) phase partition with sub-G_(1) apoptotic distribution. Results Typical DNA fragmentation of VSMCs induced by(16 ?mol/L) of As_(2)O_(3) was observed at different time points.(8 ?mol/L) of As_(2)O_(3) significantly up-regulated P53and P21()~(wif1/cip1) expression in a time-dependent manner.Conclusion These results suggest that As_(2)O_(3) inhibited the proliferation,accelerated the apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle progression in VSMCs which may relate to P53 and P21~(waf1/cip1) pathway.

Objective To evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide(As_(2)O_(3)) on the transgenic TNF-? promoter activity in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) and macrophages(M?s).Methods Human TNF-? promoter was constructed by reporter gene system and was transiently transfected into VSMCs and M?s.Promoter activity was tested by luciferase activity with or without LPS and Ang Ⅱ stimulation,before or after different dosage of As_(2)O_(3) treatment.Results The results showed: TNF-? promoter stably expressed in VSMCs and M?s compared with CMV promoter(58.3% and 55.6%,respectively).Both LPS and Ang Ⅱ up-regulated TNF-? promoter activity (P

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C ) in tissue, serum and lymph fluid in esophageal cancer patients, and the relationship between its expression and tumor lymphatic metastasis. Methods Expressions of VEGF-C in 76 cases of ESC was detected by immunohisto-chemical SP method and VEGF-C levels in lymph fluid and serum were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Positive immunostaining of VEGF-C in esophageal cancer tissue was 63.1%,The expression of VEGF-C in tissue was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage ( P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively), but not to patient age, tumor length or differentiation; VEGF-C in lymph fluid is significantly higher than in serum( P<0.05) ; The expression of VEGF-C in lymph fluid end serum were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis( P<0.05). Conclusion There are cliuical significance between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis、TNM stage in tissue of esophageal cancer. The level of VFGF-C in lymph fluid is higher than that in serum, both associate with lymph-node metastasis closely.

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factorC(VEGF-C),its receptor3(VEGFR-3) and podoplanin in tissue of esophageal cancer,and the relationship between their expression and tumor lymphatic metastasis.Methods Expression of VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and podoplanin in 76 cases of ESC was detected by immunohistochemical SP method and lymphatic vessel density(LVD) was calculated.Results Positive immunostaining of VEGF-C in esophageal cancer tissue was 63.1%;the expression of VEGF-C was significantly associated with the depth of lymph node metastasis and tumor invasion(P

Objective: To explore the effect of resveratrol (Res) on angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with the possible mechanisms in vitro.
Methods: The HUVECs were cultured in 6 groups.①Control group, HUVEC were cultured with high glucose in DMEM,②Res group, the cell were cultured with Res at different concentrations,③Res with PI3K blocker LY294002 (Res+Blocker 1) group, ④Blocker 1 group, HUVEC were cultured with LY294002 alone, ⑤Res with eNOS blocker L-NAME (Res +Blocker 2) group and ⑥Blocker 2 group. The effect of Res on HUVEC proliferation was detected by CCK-8 kit, the protein expressions of p-Akt, p-eNOS were examined by Westin blot analysis, nitric oxide (NO) level was measured by nitrate reduction method and the endothelial cell migration was assayed by transwell chamber method.
Results: ① Compared with Control group, HUVEC proliferation increased in Res (1, 5μmol/L ) group, P<0.01, the proliferation in Res (5μmol/L) group was higher than those in Res (0.2, 10, 20μmol/L) group, P<0.01, while Res (20 μmol/L) group could inhibit the proliferation P<0.01. ②Compared with Control group, Res (5μmol/L) group had the higher protein expressions of p-Akt, p-eNOS, P<0.05-0.01, higher NO level, P<0.05.③Compared with Res group, Res+Blocker 1 group had lower expressions of p-Akt, p-eNOS, P<0.01, lower NO, P<0.05; the expressions of p-Akt, p-eNOS and NO level were similar between Res+Blocker 1 group and Blocker 1 group, all P>0.05.④Compared with Control group, the cell migration and tubing formation were higher in Res (5μmol/L) group, P<0.01;compared with Res group, the cell migration and tubing formation were lower in Res+Block2 group, P<0.01.
Conclusion: Res could up-regulate NO level via activating PI3-K/Akt/eNOS signaling and therefore, improving the proliferation, migration and tubing formation of HUVEC in vitro.

Objective: To explore the effect of atorvastatin (Atv) on high glucose-induced oxidative stress injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by SIRT1/NADPH oxidase pathway with the possible mechanisms.
Methods: HUVECs were cultured in low glucose medium and then divided into 6 experimental groups:①Normal group,②Osmotic pressure control group,③High glucose (HG) group,④HG+Atv (0.1, 1.0, 10.0)μmol/L group,⑤HG+sirtinol (SIRT1 inhibitor) group,⑥HG+apocynin (NOX4 inhibitor) group, and HUVECs were further cultured for 24 hours. The cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8 kit, ROS level was detected by lfow cytometry method, protein expressions of SIRT1 and NOX4 were measured by Western blot analysis.
Results: ① Compared with Normal group, HG group had decreased HUVECs proliferation, Atv improved the HG inhibited proliferation in a does dependent manner. ② HG group had the higher level of ROS, increased NOX4 protein expression and decreased SIRT1 protein expression. ③ In HG condition, Atv up-regulated SIRT1 expression and down-regulated ROS and NOX4 expressions in a does dependent manner.④In HG condition, sirtinol decreased SIRT1 expression, increased NOX4 expression, and apocynin decreased NOX4 expression, while it had no inlfuence on SIRT1 expression.
Conclusion: Atorvastatin could resist HG-induced oxidative stress injury in HUVECs, which might be related to up-regulated SIRT1 expression, and SIRTI plays the role in NADPH oxidase at upstream.

AIM: To detect the effects of resveratrol (RSV) on the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in primarily cultured neonatal rat atrial myocytes with electric remodeling induced by rapid electrical stimulation (RES).Furthermore, to find out the possible mechanism of miR-21 regulating electrical remodeling.METHODS: The neonatal rat atrial myocytes were isolated by double-enzyme (trypsin and collagenase I) digestion and differential adhesion method.The atrial fibrillation (AF) model was induced by RES.Atrial myocytes were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, RSV group, RES group, and RSV+RES group.To further detect whether RSV regulated electric remodeling by miR-21, except the 4 groups, we add miR-21 over-expression group and miR-21 inhibitor group: RES+negative control (NC) group, RES+miR-21 mimics group, RES+miR-21 mimics+RSV group, RES+miR-21 inhibitor group, and RES+miR-21 inhibitor+RSV group.The optimal concentration and pretreatment time of resveratrol were determined by CCK-8 assay.The expression of miR-21 and the mRNA expression of L-type calcium channels CACNA1C and CACNB2 in atrial myocytes were detected by qPCR.The protein expression of L-type calcium channels Cav1.2 and Cavβ2 in the atrial myocytes was analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS: The expression of miR-21 in RES group was significantly increased compared with control group, while preconditioning with RSV decreased the expression of miR-21.Compared with RES+miR-21 mimics group, the expression of miR-21 in RES+miR-21 mimics+RSV group was significantly decreased.Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of CACNA1C and CACNB2, and the protein levels of Cav1.2 and Cavβ2 were increased (P<0.05).Compared with RES group, the expression of miR-21 in RES+miR-21 inhibitor group and RES+miR-21 inhibitor+RSV group was decreased, while the mRNA expression of CACNA1C and CACNB2, and the protein levels of Cav1.2 and Cavβ2 were increased.However, no difference of the expression of miR-21, the mRNA expression of CACNA1C and CACNB2, and the protein levels of Cav1.2 and Cavβ2 among RSV+RES, RES+miR-21 inhibitor and RES+miR-21 inhibitor+RSV groups was observed (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: In AF model induced by RES, RSV may reduce electric remodeling by inhibiting the expression of miR-21 and regulating the downstream target genes.

BACKGROUND:Currently, antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ODN) have a good prospect in gene therapy, but AS-ODN with smal molecular weight cannot easily enter into the cels, which is susceptible to nuclease degradation. Therefore, there is stil a lack of fundamental understanding about how to improve their transfection efficiency, and target-based transferring. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether a weak cationic and phosphorylcholine-containing diblock copolymer (MPC30-DEA70) can act as a carrier system to deliver a chemicaly synthesized transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) AS-ODN into myocardial cels. METHODS: MPC30-DEA70 was compounded with TGF-β1 AS-ODN at various N/P ratios and the MPC30-DEA70/TGF-β1 AS-ODN complexes were characterized by DNA electrophoresis. MTT assay was used to observe the biocompatibility. Confocal laser scanning microscope was used to observe the distribution and location of MPC30- DEA70/TGF-β1 AS-ODN in cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the transfection efficiency and fluorescence intensity of MPC30-DEA70/TGF-β1 AS-ODN in cells. Western blot and RT-PCR methods were employed to measure the expression of TGF-β1 in cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cell growth inhibition showed that the MPC30-DEA70 had low cytotoxicity to myocardial cells within the effective transfection dosage range (< 20 mg/L). Data from the flow cytometry test indicated a clear trend of increasing transfection efficiency with the increasing of N/P ratios. At high N/P ratios, the expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in myocardial cells were significantly lower. This study shows that MPC30-DEA70 can work as an effective transgenic vector in myocardial cells. TGF-β1 AS-ODN can silence the expression of TGF-β1 gene efficiently and specially, and may antagonize TGF-β1-mediated biological function.

AIM:To investigate the effects of Akt1 gene transfection into myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) on mitochondrial permeability transition. METHODS:Forty adult male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups with 8 rats each:control group,I/R group,Ad-gene group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The rats in Ad-gene group were injected with 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 solution including Akt1 gene to the myocardium 48 h before ischemia while those in control group and I/R group were injected with PBS of the same volume. Rats in Ad-blank group were injected with Lipofectamine 2000 of the same volume into myocardium. In Ad-inhibitor group 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 and gene complexes with LY294002 were injected. Hemodynamics,apoptotic index,the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase,creatine kinase,the expression of Akt1,cytosolic,mitochondrial cytochrome C and MPT were also measured. RESULTS:The lowest level of Akt1 protein expression was observed in control group. The protein expression of Akt1 in Ad-gene group was higher than that in I/R group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The AI,LDH and CK in Ad-gene group were significantly lower than those in other groups except control group. Transfection of Akt1 markedly reduced the loss of mitochondrial cytochome C after I/R injury. Ad-gene transfection led to a significant increase in absorbance at 540 nm compared to I/R group,Ad - black group and Ad-inhibitor group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Akt1 gene prevents myocardial apoptosis after I/R injury. Akt1 gene also inhibits the opening of mitochondria permeability transition and protects mitochondrial functions of myocardium in I/R injury.

Objective To detect the role of miR-34a on macrophage inflammation and polarization under high glucose conditions.Methods Mouse macrophages were collected and cultured during high glucose for 3－28 days.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-34a,iNOS,MCP-1 and Arg-1 mRNA.Then miR-34a was over-expressed or silenced,ELISA was used to detect the expression of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of iNOS and MCP-1 mRNA.Western blot was used to detect the expres-sion of Notch1.Results Expression of miR-34a increased under high glucose conditions in RAW264.7 cells continuously.Over-expression of miR-34a promoted the expression of MCP-1 and iNOS observed by RT-qPCR and increased the expression of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α detected by ELISA.Further studies showed that siRNA-Notch1 down-regulated the expression of miR-34a,MCP-1,iNOS,IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α.Conclusions Chronic high glucose condition stimulates the expression of miR-34a which promotes M1 macrophage polarization and releasing of pro-inflammatory factors.