OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Hyssopus cuspidatus Boriss. extract (HCE) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. METHODS: Components identification of HCE was conducted using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry. Mice were sensitized with OVA to establish asthmatic model, and dexamethasone was used as positive control. Respiratory reactivity, white cells counting in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood, cytokine level measurement in serum and lung tissue, and histologic examination were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of HCE on asthma. Network pharmacology approach was used for mechanism prediction. Western blotting and untargeted lipidomics method were applied for mechanism validation. RESULTS: Fifty-two compounds were identified in HCE, predominantly terpenoids and flavonoids. HCE markedly reduced airway resistance, the eosinophil infiltration in lung tissues, and the levels of immunoglobulin E, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and interleukin-13. Network pharmacology analysis suggested phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) may be key proteins of HCE in the treatment of allergic asthma. Western blot results indicated that the levels of phosphorylated PI3K, JNK, and P38 were downregulated in HCE-treated group. Moreover, HCE significantly upregulated the levels of ceramide and sphingomyelin and downregulated the level of phosphatidylcholine. CONCLUSION HCE inhibited allergic asthma via PI3K/JNK/P38 signaling pathway and lipid homeostasis regulation.

ObjectiveTo study androgen excess within ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS patients in vitro,and the partial improvement by using astragalus polysaccharides.MethodsOvarian granulosa cells from the PCOS patients during IVF / ICSI - ET were isolated and cultured in vitro,then it was treated by different concentrations of astragalus polysaccharides.The levels of estradiol,progesterone and testosterone were determined.ResultsAndrogen secretion within ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS patients was significantly increased [ ( 0.4716 ± 0.03 ) nmol/L,( 0.23 ± 0.0162 ) nmol/L,P ＜ 0.05 ].The levels of estradiol and progesterone were not significantly different( P ＞ 0.05 ).Different concentrations of astragalus polysaccharides may result from the alleviation of androgen secretion which was commonly found in PCOS treatment (concentration was 1000 μg/ml,100 μg/ml,50 μg/ml,P ＜ 0.01 ;concentration was 500 μg/ml,P =0.002 ; concentration was 200 μg/ml,P =0.003).ConclusionsAstragalus polysaccharides inhibit the secretion of testosterone in granulosa cells of PCOS patients during in vitro,and it may be an alternative treatment for PCOS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of endoplasmic reticalam stress (ERS) on albumin-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular cells (HKCs). MethodsWestern blot was performed to detect the relationship of the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRF78) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP) with the action time and concentration of haman serum albumin (HSA). Expression levels of CHPO mRNA and protein in HKCs after CHOP siRNA transfection were examined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot respectively. Annexin-V-FITC and PI doable staining cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of HKCs induced by HSA and influenced by CHOP siRNA. Results(1)After HKCs were stimulatde by 0, 5, 10, 20 g/L albumin for 24 hours respectively, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and HKCs apoptosis were increased with the albumin concentration (P<0.01). After HKCs were stimulated by 20 g/L albumin for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 hours respectively, the expression of GRP78 was up-regulated at 6-hour, while CHOP and HKCs apoptosis were increased at 12-hour, and significant differences were found among groups (P<0.01). (2) CHOP siRNA significantly inhibited albumin-induced HKC CHOP mRNA and protein expression, as well as HKC apoptosis (P<0.01). ConclusionsRenal tubular cells exposed to high protein load result in EBS. ERS may subsequently lead to tubular damage by activation of pro-apoptosis factor CHOP.