OBJECTIVE: By analyzing the hormone secretion of the adenohypophysis, thyroid glands, gonads, and adrenal cortex in patients with hematological diseases before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), this study aims to preliminarily explore the effect of HSCT on patients' hormone secretion and glandular damage. METHODS: The baseline data of 209 hematological disease patients who underwent HSCT in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2023, as well as the data on the levels of hormones secreted by the adenohypophysis, thyroid glands, gonads and adrenal cortex before and after HSCT were collected, and the changes in hormone levels before and after transplantation were analyzed. RESULTS: After allogeneic HSCT, the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and estradiol (E2) decreased, while the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) increased. The T3 level of patients with decreased TSH after transplantation was lower than that of those with increased TSH after transplantation. In female patients, the levels of prolactin (PRL), progesterone (Prog), and testosterone (Testo) decreased after HSCT. Testo and PRL decreased when there was a donor-recipient sex mismatch, and the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (COR) decreased when the HLA matching was haploidentical. The levels of T3, FT3, and PRL decreased after autologous HSCT. In allogeneic HSCT patients, the levels of TSH, T4, T3, FT3, and ACTH in the group with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were significantly lower than those in the group without GVHD. Logistic regression analysis showed the changes in hormone levels after transplantation were not correlated with factors such as the patient's sex, age, or whether the blood types of the donor and the recipient are the same. CONCLUSION HSCT can affect the endocrine function of patients with hematological diseases, mainly affecting target glandular organs such as the thyroid, gonads, and adrenal glands, while the secretory function of the adenohypophysis is less affected.
Humans ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Male ; Hematologic Diseases/blood* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Triiodothyronine/blood* ; Luteinizing Hormone/blood* ; Thyroid Gland/metabolism* ; Estradiol/blood* ; Thyrotropin/blood* ; Gonads/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood* ; Hormones/metabolism* ; Adrenal Cortex/metabolism* ; Prolactin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) Schisandra chinensis on interleukin (IL), glucose metabolism, and pituitary-adrenal and gonadal axis of rats after strenuous navigation and exercise.

METHODSA total of 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the quiet control group, the stress group, and the CM group (15 in each group). The CM group received 2.5 g/kg of Schisandra chinensis twice per day for one week before modeling. Except the quiet controls, rats were trained using the Bedford mode for 10 days. On the 11th day, they performed 3 h of stressful experimental navigation and 3 h of strenuous treadmill exercise. The levels of serum testosterone (T), cortisol (CORT), luteinizing hormone (LH), IL-1, IL-2, and IL-6 were tested by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The adrenal cortex ultrastructure was observed using electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the quiet control group, after navigation and strenuous exercise, blood glucose was increased, and T level was decreased in the stress group (both P<0.01). The blood glucose, CORT, IL-1 and IL-2 levels were significantly reduced in the CM group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) as compared with the stress group. Electron microscopy revealed that the rats in the CM group had a smaller decrease in adrenal intracellular lipid droplets and higher levels of apoptosis than those in the stress group.

CONCLUSIONSSchisandra chinensis can reduce serum CORT and blood glucose levels in stressed rats. It appears to protect the cell structure of the adrenal cortex, and offset the negative effects of psychological stress and strenuous exercise related to immune dysfunction. Schisandra chinensis plays a regulatory role in immune function, and can decrease the influence of stress in rats.

Adrenal Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Swimming ; physiology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), dexamethasone (Dex), and insulin on the mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54 in the MCF7 cell line in vitro.

METHODSMCF7 breasr cancer cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of LPS (10 and 20 µg/ml), TNFα (20 and 100 ng/ml), IL-6 (10 and 20 ng/ml), Dex (10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/L), and insulin (0.01 and 0.1 IU/L). Those treated with culture fluid only served as controls. The mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the blank con- trol, LPS (10 and 20 µg/ml), TNFα (20 and 100 ng/ml), IL-6 (10 and 20 ng/ml), Dex (10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/L), and insulin (0.01 and 0.1 IU/L) significantly increased the expressions of GPR54 mRNA (P < 0.05) and protein (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLPS, TNFα, IL-6, Dex, and insulin evidently increase the expression of GPR54 in the MCF7 cell line, indicating their influence on the function of gonads by regulating the GPR54 level.

Blotting, Western ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; MCF-7 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Kisspeptin-1 ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explain the essence of pungent-hot herb property express according to in vivo and in vitro studies on its effect on calmodulin on the base of the observation of the adjustment in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis functions of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in rats under the state of yang deficiency.

METHODThe yang-deficient model was duplicated by intramuscularly injecting hydrocortisone sodium succinate powder injection. After the intervention with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex for seven days, TSH, T3, T4, 17-OHCS, COR, T, E2 of hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland axis and other relevant indexes were detected. The calmodulin expression in livers and L02 cells cultured in vitro was detected by using Western blot.

RESULTPungent-hot herbs Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex can significantly correct indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and calmodulin, whereas the bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex showed no obvious effect.

CONCLUSIONThe pungent-hot herb property expression may be closely related to calmodulin.

Animals ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the single and combined effects of estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol (E2) on goldfish (Carassius auratus).

METHODSBatch tests were conducted. Serum levels of vitellogenin (VTG) and E2, gonadosomatic indices (GSI), gonadal DNA damage and liver 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were measured after exposure for 14 days.

RESULTSThe VTG level increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. The serum E2 level was significantly higher and the GSI level was significantly lower in goldfish after exposed to the 3 drugs. DNA damage occurred in treated samples and EROD activity was significantly suppressed 7 days after exposure. The joint effect of E1 and E2 was additive with regard to VTG induction.

CONCLUSIONThe results of our study highlight a series of effects of steroidal estrogens on goldfish. Further study is needed to confirm their effect as a whole.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrone ; pharmacology ; Goldfish ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Vitellogenins ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the differentiation ability difference of hematopoietic, mesenchymal and endothelial potential between CD41⁺ cells derived from the mouse aorta-gonadmesonephros (AGM) region, yolk sac (YS) and embryonic circulating blood (CB).

METHODSCD41⁺ cells were sorted from AGM, YS and CB. The CD45 and c-kit expression were studied in CD41⁺ cells by flow cytometry. IL-3 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) treatment together with semi solid culture were used to assess hematopoietic potential difference of CD41⁺ cells. Immunofluorescence staining of α-SMA was used to assess mesenchymal potential difference. The endothelial cell induction system was used to assess endothelial potential difference.

RESULTSThe proportions of CD45+ cells in CD41⁺ population were 51.9% (AGM), 45.8% (YS) and 22.2% (CB), respectively, while those of c-kit⁺ cells were 40.0% (AGM), 39.6% (YS) and 36.2% (CB), respectively. After stimulated by IL-3 factor, the number of total colonies increased in all three groups-derived CD41⁺ cells compared to that of unstimulated group[(14.1±1.9) vs (1.2±0.2), (32.4±1.1) vs (18.4±2.2) and (41.8±0.9) vs (10.4±1.8)], (P<0.01). After stimulated by BMP-4 factor, compared to unstimulated group, CFU-Mix colony number in CD41⁺ cells from AGM region and YS were significantly decreased[(0.5±0.6) vs (3.2±0.8), (1.3±0.7) vs (7.4±1.7)](P<0.01), but there was no difference in CB group[(2.5±0.5) vs (3.9±1.5)](P>0.01). The mesenchymal marker α-SMA was highly expressed in CD41⁺ cells from AGM region and YS, but lowly expressed in CD41⁺ cells from CB.

CONCLUSIONThere are some differences between CD41⁺ cells in AGM region, YS and CB on hematopoietic cell surface marker expression, hematopoietic colony formation with IL-3 and BMP-4 stimulation.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Gonads ; cytology ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Mesonephros ; cytology ; Mice ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Yolk Sac ; cytology

The aim of the present paper is to better understand the mechanism of hematopoietic development through studying the biological characteristics of hematopoietic progenitor cells at different stages of development. Firstly, the c-kit expression levels of the mononuclear cells from murine embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region at embryonic day (E)10.5 and E11.5, fetal liver (FL) at E12.5, E14.5, E16.5, E18 and bone marrow (BM) were assayed with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Secondly, hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from AGM at E10.5, FL at E14.5 and BM were isolated by using c-kit microbeads. Isolated c-kit(+) population cells from AGM, FL and BM were then co-cultured with E14.5 FL-derived stromal cells in transwell co-culture system in vitro. After 3, 7, 10 days of co-culture, numerous floating cells were generated. The floating cells generated in transwell inserts were collected for FACS cell count, migration activity detection and colony forming unit (CFU) formation assay. The results showed that the c-kit was highly expressed in E10.5 AGM, with the percentage of c-kit(+) cells declining during AGM development. c-kit expression was highly expressed again in E12.5 FL, declining along with the progressive development of the FL region. Co-cultured with FL-derived stromal cells, E10.5 AGM-derived c-kit(+) cells produced the highest number of hematopoietic cells, while BM-derived c-kit(+) cells produced the lowest number of hematopoietic cells. Compared with E10.5 AGM-derived c-kit(+) cells, E14.5 FL- and BM- derived c-kit(+) cells inclined to differentiate after 7 to 10 days of culture in vitro. E10.5 AGM and E14.5 FL-derived c-kit(+) cells exhibited a higher migration activity than BM-derived c-kit(+) cells. Moreover, E10.5 AGM-derived c-kit(+) cells showed a higher ability to form mixed colony-forming unit (CFU-Mix) colony. In conclusion, compared with FL- and BM-derived c-kit(+) cells, E10.5 AGM-derived c-kit(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells exhibit better proliferation, migration potential, and have a higher ability to maintain the undifferentiation state in vitro, providing an insight into their clinical manipulation.
Animals ; Aorta ; embryology ; Coculture Techniques ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Gonads ; embryology ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mesonephros ; embryology ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

Using Affymetrix's Chicken Genome Array, we used total RNA isolated from the gonads of male and female chicks at embryonic day 9 to identify the genes differentially expressed between male and female. Statistical results show 19 493 genes expressed in male chick's embryonic gonads and 19 368 genes expressed in female. There were 145 genes specificity expressed in male and 189 genes in female. The gene ontology classification (GOC) indicated these differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in cellular component, cell process and molecular banding, a part of genes were involved in organelle component, metabolic process, biologic process, catalytic activity and signal transducer activity. Some genes had reported for sex determination and differentiation in birds, such as avian sex-specific avian sex-specific W-linked, chomodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1 and sex determining region Y-box 9. In addition, we also found several genes or hypothetical proteins were unknown function for the gonad differentiation and development, focus to their biological function and expression pattern in further works would provide a beneficial reference for understand the mechanism of sex differentiation and determination in birds.
Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gonads ; embryology ; metabolism ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sex Differentiation ; genetics ; Sex-Determining Region Y Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of BMP-4 in stromal cells in vitro derived from human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region. Stromal cells derived from human AGM region (hAGM S1-S5) and fibroblasts derived from human fetal trunk (hFT) were cultured in vitro. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of BMP-4 in hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells at mRNA level. And BMP-4 level was detected in the supernatant of hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells by ELISA assay. hFT cells were used as control group. The results showed that the heterogenous hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells displyed shapes of fibroblast-like and endothelial-like cells. hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells expressed BMP-4 mRNA, but fetal trunk fibroblasts (hFT) did not express BMP-4 mRNA. In the supernatant of hAGM S1-S5 cells, BMP-4 could be detected by ELISA assay ana its levels were statistically higher than that in hFT group (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between groups of hAGM S1-S5 (p > 0.05). It is concluded that human AGM-derived stromal cells in vitro express BMP-4, and the establishment of a new culture system based on the feeder cells of AGM stroma would promote the differention of embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells at a high proportion.
Aorta ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Gonads ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Mesonephros ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the hematopoietic growth factors expressed in human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM)-derived stromal cells in vitro in order to provide the basic data for elucidating the role of AGM -derived-stromal cells in embryo-hematopoiesis and its hematopoietic suppoitive effect. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of IL-6, SCF, Flt3-L, oncostatin M (OSM), IL-3, TPO, M-CSF and LIF in human aorta-gonad-mesonephros-derived stromal cells (hAGMS1-S5) at mRNA level. IL-6, SCF and Flt3-L levels were detected in the supernatant of hAGMS1-S5 stromal cells by ELISA assay. Umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells were cocultured with hAGMS1-S5 feeder cells, and hematopoietic cells were collected at day 14 for colony analysis in methylcellulose semisolid medium. The results showed that human aorta-gonad-mesonephros-derived stromal cells S1-S5 expressed IL-6, SCF, Flt3-L and OSM mRNA, but did not express IL-3, TPO, M-CSF and LIF mRNA. In the supernatant of hAGMS1-S5 cells, IL-6, SCF and Flt3-L could be detected by ELISA assay at different levels, while there was no significant difference between groups of hAGMS1-S5 (P > 0.05). When cocultured with umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells, hAGMS1-S5 could support the expansion of CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-Mix. The supportive effects of hAGM S1-S5 were significantly different (P < 0.05), hAGM S3 and S4 were better than hAGM S1, S2, and S5. It is concluded that detection of hematopoietic growth factors expressed in human aorta-gonad-mesonephros-derived stromal cells provided a solid foundation to elucidate the mechanism of hematopoiesis and the hematopoietic supportive effect of these stromal cells.
Aorta ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gonads ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Hematopoiesis ; physiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mesonephros ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oncostatin M ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics