Ferritin is considered as an ideal delivery system due to its precise targeting, reversible self-assembly, high biocompatibility, and easy modification. this study aims to express, purify, and identify three fusion ferritin proteins, and explore their tumor targeting. Three fusion ferritin genes were synthesized and cloned into prokaryotic expression vectors, and the recombinant proteins were purified by affinity chromatography with nickel columns. The fusion ferritin proteins were identified by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE), Western blotting, and circular dichroism. Fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to react with fusion ferritin, and confocal laser scanning microscopy was employed to evaluate the tumor targeting of fusion ferritin. The reaction system of sulfo-cyanine7 (Cy7-SE) with fusion ferritin was injected into the tail vein of melanoma mice for in vivo tumor imaging to explore the tumor targeting of fusion ferritin. The results showed that soluble fusion ferritin proteins of about 21 kDa were expressed under the induction by isopropylthio-β-d-galactoside (IPTG), and the recombinant proteins with high purity were obtained. Western blotting showed that the recombinant proteins could be recognized by the corresponding antibodies. The target proteins were identified as multimers with α helixes by native-PAGE and circular dichroism. In vitro and in vivo tumor uptake experiments demonstrated that fusion ferritin was taken up by tumor cells and tumor tissue. This study successfully expressed, purified, and identified fusion ferritin, and verified its tumor uptake in vitro and in vivo, which laid a foundation for the application of ferritin in biomedicine.
Animals ; Mice ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/isolation & purification* ; Ferritins/metabolism* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism* ; Humans

Objective To observe the impact of mild hypothermia (MH)on the reactive oxygen species (ROS)and expression of cacpase-3mRNA and light chain 3 (LC3,a subunit of immunoglobulin)in hippocampus nerve cells of rats after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods A total of 65 healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD)adult rats were randomly (random number)divided into 2 groups:blank control group (n =5)and CPR group (n =60).Cardiac arrest (CA)was induced in rats of CPR group by asphyxia.The survival rats after CPR were randomly (random number)divided into 2 groups:normothermia CPR group (NT)and hypothermia CPR group (HT).Homeothermia of 37 ℃ was maintained in NT group after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC),and hypothermal intervention to 32 ℃ was carried out in HT group for 4 hours immediately after ROSC.Both NT group and HT group were then randomly divided to 2 subgroups 12 hours and 24 hours after ROSC (NT-12,NT-24,HT-12,HT-24 subgroups).During observation,the neurological deficit (NDS)of rats was scored,then the bilateral hippocampi were obtained from rats'head,and monoplast suspension of fresh hippocampus tissue was made immediately to determine the level of intracellular ROS by flow cytometry.Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure changes of cellular nucleus and mitochondria.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)was used to determine the expression of caspase-3mRNA and Western-blotting (WB)was used to determine the level of LC3 in frozen hippocampus tissue.Measured data were analyzed with paired sample T test and One-Way ANOVA.Results Of 60 rats with CA,44 were successfully resuscitated (73%)and 33 survived until the end of the experiment (55%).The NDSs of rats in NT and HT groups were significantly reduced in comparison with BC group (F=8.107,P<0.05),while the NDSs of rats in HT-12 subgroup and HT-24 subgroup were significantly increased in comparison with NDSs of rats in NT-12 subgroup and NT-24 subgroup,respectively (t=9.692,P<0.01;t=14.374,P<0.01 ).The ROS in hippocampus nerve cells of rats in NT group and HT group were significantly increased compared to BC group (F=16.824,P<0.05 ),whereas the ROS in HT-12 and HT-24 subgroups were significantly reduced compared to ROS in NT-12 and NT-24 subgroups,respectively (t =9.836,P<0.01;t =7.499,P<0.01).The expressions of caspase-3 mRNA in hippocampus nerve cells of rats in NT and HT groups were significantly increased compared to BC group (F=24.527,P<0.05),while the expressions of caspase-3 mRNA in rats of HT-12 and HT-24 subgroups were significantly reduced compared to NT-12 and NT-24 subgroups,respectively (t =6.935,P <0.01;t =4.317,P <0.01 ).The level of LC3B-II/I in hippocampus nerve cells of rats in NT and HT groups were significantly increased compared to BC group (F=6.584,P<0.05),while the levels of LC3B-II/I in rats of HT-12 and HT-24 subgroups were significantly reduced compared to NT-12 and NT-24 subgroups,respectively (t=10.836,P<0.001;t=2.653,P=0.02).Ultrastructure damage of nucleus and mitochondria in NT group was more evident compared to BC group,and eumorphism of nucleus and mitochondria were maintained in rats of HT group compared to NT group.Conclusions The mild hypothermia reduced the injury of nerve cells and improved the neurological function of rats survived from cardiac arrest likely by reducing ROS production of nerve cells and inhibition the expression of caspase-3mRNA and lowering the level of LC3 leading to reducing cellular apoptosis and massive autophagy in rats survived from cardiac arrest after CPR.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of additives on absorption of Coptis chinensis total alkaloid and their pharmacokinetics in mice.

METHODThe mice were fed with the mixture of C. chinensis total alkaloids and additives (1:1). And then the feces and orbital blood were taken to detect the content of total alkaloids by HPLC and their pharmacokinetics.

RESULTGlutin could make the absorption of jatrorrhizine, coptisine, berberine and total alkaloids increased by 30%. Tween 80 and arabic gum did not affect the absorption of berberine, but inhibit that of other alkaloids. There had no influence of lecithin on the absorption of alkaloids. The peak time of total alkaloids in blood were 2 h (Cmax 1=5.9 mg x L(-1)) and 5.0 h (Cmax 2=3.4 mg x L(-1)), respectively, AUC was 17.6 mg x h x L(-1), the elimination of Half-life t1/2 was 5.2 h. After addition of glutin, the peak time of total alkaloids in blood were 1.5 h (Cmax 1=7.6 mg x L(-1)) and 4.8 h (Cmax 2=8.5 mg x L(-1)), AUC was up to 31.1 mg x h(-1) x L(-1), the elimination of Half-life t1/2 was 6.2 h.

CONCLUSIONGlutin could accelerate the mice on the absorption of C. chinensis total alkaloids, to extend the elimination half-life, increase the blood concentration and bioavailability.

Absorption ; drug effects ; physiology ; Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Food Additives ; pharmacology ; Half-Life ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo analyze the cause of atypical manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in triple-phase spiral CT enhanced scan.

METHODSTriple-phase spiral CT scan was performed in 75 patients with HCC. The hepatic arterial phase (HAP), portal venous phase (PVP) and delayed phase (DP) images were started at 25 to 30 s, 65 to 70 s and 3 tp 5 min after injection of contrast medium. The contrast enhanced patterns of lesion were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSNinety-two lesions were found in 75 patients. Typical enhanced findings such as hyperdense in HAP and hypodense in PVP and DP was found in 60 of 92 lesions. Atypical enhanced findings were observed in the other 32 lesions. Fourteen of 32 atypical enhanced lesions were hyperdense in HAP and isodense in PVP, of which 8 were seen in liver cirrhosis and 3 in fatty liver. In DP, 10 were hypodense and 4 still isodense. Eight of the 32 lesions were hyperdense both in HAP and PVP, of which 6 were seen in fatty liver. In DP, 3 were isodense and 5 were hypodense. Six of 32 lesions were isodense in HAP which became hypodense in PVP and DP. Four of 32 lesions were all hypodense in HAP, PVP and DP.

CONCLUSIONMultiple atypical enhanced manifestations are present by triple-phase spiral CT scan in HCC. Pattern of blood supply, scanning technique and pathophysiologic status are usually the cause of these findings.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed