Objective To investigate the mechanisms of 6-hydroxygenistein(6-OHG)in the treatment of high-altitude hypoxia-induced lung injury.Methods The intersection targets of 6-OHG and high-altitude hypoxia-induced lung injury were identified using databases,including Swiss Target Prediction,SuperPred,GeneCards,and OMIM.The STRING database and Cytoscape software were used to construct a protein interaction network for the intersection targets of drugs and diseases,and targets with degree values greater than the median were identified as key targets.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of key targets were performed using the DAVID database to identify relevant signaling pathways.The Maestro 13.7 software was used for molecular docking validation.A large hypobaric hypoxic chamber was used to establish a high-altitude lung injury model in mice.A total of 42 male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups(n=14 in each group),including a normal control group,which was exposed to the environmental conditions at the altitude of 1400 m and received a single intraperitoneal injection of normal saline,a model group,which received a single intraperitoneal injection of normal saline,and a 6-OHG group,which received a single intraperitoneal injection of 6-OHG at 100 mg/kg.Then,1 h after drug administration,mice in the model and 6-OHG groups were placed in a large hypobaric hypoxic simulation chamber for animal experiments.Then,they ascended to an altitude of 8 000 m at a speed of 10 m/s,remained in that environment for 24 h,and then descended to an altitude of 3500 m.Mice in the three groups were sacrificed,and their lung tissues were extracted to measure the water content in the lungs.Pathological changes were observed using HE staining,and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),H2O2,total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),and glutathione(GSH)were measured.Western blot was performed to determine the expression levles of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)proteins.Results Key targets such as serine/threonine protein kinase 1(AKT1),HIF-1α,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor A(PPARA)were identified.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the targets of 6-OHG in the treatment of high altitude hypoxia-induced lung injury were mainly involved in PI3K/AKT,HIF-1α/VEGF,tumor necrosis factor(TNF),and other signaling pathways.The results of animal experiments demonstrated that compared with the model group,the 6-OHG group showed significant improvement in the pathological damage of lung tissues induced by high altitude hypoxia,presenting statistically significant differences in the levels of MDA,H2O2,GSH,and T-SOD(P＜0.01).The results of Western blot assay revealed statistically significant differences in the p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,HIF-1α,and VEGF levels in the lung tissues of the 6-OHG group compared with those of the model group(P＜0.01).The molecular docking results showed that 6-OHG could form stable binding with PI3K,AKT,HIF-1α,and VEGF.Conclusion 6-OHG may alleviate lung injury induced by high altitude hypoxia in mice by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibiting the HIF/VEGF signaling pathway.

Objective To study the clinical efficacy of Bushen Huoxue decoction in the treatment of varicocele infertility and its influence on epididymis function and sperm vitality. Methods A total of 98 patients with varicocele infertility who were treated in our hospital from August 2016 to July 2018 were selected. The patients were randomly divided into control group of 49 cases and study group of 49 cases. The patients in the control group were treated with Maizhiling plus Wuzi Yanzong pill; the patients in the study group were treated with Bushen Huoxue decoction. After 12 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy of the patients was evaluated. The semen quality (including semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, forward-moving sperm), sex hormones, and seminal plasma neutral α-glucosidase in the two groups were compared before and after treatment. After the end of treatment, the patients were followed up for 3 months to observe the pregnancy of the patients' spouse. Results After treatment, the total effective rate of the study group was87.76％, and the total effective rate of the control group was 69.39％. The semen quality, sex hormone and neutral α-glucosidase levels in the study group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Bushen Huoxue decoction has a significant clinical effect in treating varicocele infertility. It can improve the semen quality, improve testosterone level and seminal plasma neutral α-glucosidase level, and improve the fertility of patients with varicocele.It is worthy of clinical promotion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of high transcription of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (gdnf) gene induced by hyperacetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) at its promoter region II in rat C6 glioma cells.

METHODSThe acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and the binding capacity of Egr-1 to its binding site in gdnf promoter were examined by ChIP-PCR in C6 astroglioma cells and normal rat astrocytes, and its changes were investigated in C6 astroglioma cells after treatment with histone acetyltransferase inhibitor curcumin or deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A.

RESULTSCompared normal astrocytes, C6 astroglioma cells showed significantly increased acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and Egr-1 binding capacity (P<0.01). Curcumin treatment significantly reduced H3K9 acetylation level at Egr-1 binding site and decreased both the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA levels in C6 astroglioma cells (P<0.05). Conversely, increased H3K9 acetylation at the Egr-1 binding site induced by trichostatin A significantly increased the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA expression levels (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONH3K9 hyperacetylation induces increased Egr-1 binding to gdnf gene promoter II, which might be the reason for the high transcription level of gdnf gene in rat C6 glioma cells.

Acetylation ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Glioma ; metabolism ; Histones ; chemistry ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Transcription, Genetic

Objective To investigate the mechanism of high transcription of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (gdnf) gene induced by hyperacetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) at its promoter region II in rat C6 glioma cells. Methods The acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and the binding capacity of Egr-1 to its binding site in gdnf promoter were examined by ChIP-PCR in C6 astroglioma cells and normal rat astrocytes, and its changes were investigated in C6 astroglioma cells after treatment with histone acetyltransferase inhibitor curcumin or deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Results Compared normal astrocytes, C6 astroglioma cells showed significantly increased acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and Egr-1 binding capacity (P<0.01). Curcumin treatment significantly reduced H3K9 acetylation level at Egr-1 binding site and decreased both the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA levels in C6 astroglioma cells (P<0.05). Conversely, increased H3K9 acetylation at the Egr-1 binding site induced by trichostatin A significantly increased the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion H3K9 hyperacetylation induces increased Egr-1 binding to gdnf gene promoter II, which might be the reason for the high transcription level of gdnf gene in rat C6 glioma cells.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of high transcription of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (gdnf) gene induced by hyperacetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) at its promoter region II in rat C6 glioma cells. Methods The acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and the binding capacity of Egr-1 to its binding site in gdnf promoter were examined by ChIP-PCR in C6 astroglioma cells and normal rat astrocytes, and its changes were investigated in C6 astroglioma cells after treatment with histone acetyltransferase inhibitor curcumin or deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Results Compared normal astrocytes, C6 astroglioma cells showed significantly increased acetylation level of H3K9 at Egr-1 binding site in gdnf gene promoter region II and Egr-1 binding capacity (P<0.01). Curcumin treatment significantly reduced H3K9 acetylation level at Egr-1 binding site and decreased both the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA levels in C6 astroglioma cells (P<0.05). Conversely, increased H3K9 acetylation at the Egr-1 binding site induced by trichostatin A significantly increased the binding of Egr-1 to promoter region II and gdnf mRNA expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion H3K9 hyperacetylation induces increased Egr-1 binding to gdnf gene promoter II, which might be the reason for the high transcription level of gdnf gene in rat C6 glioma cells.