ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on behavioral impairments in the rat model of autism spectrum disorder （ASD） and explore the mechanism of action. MethodsTwelve SD pregnant rats were intraperitoneally injected with valproic acid （VPA） （10 rats） or normal saline （2 rats）， and male offspring were selected to establish the model of ASD and the control rats. Rats were randomly assigned into model， low-dose （0.75 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （1.5 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan， vitamin D （positive drug， 3.7×10^-5 g·kg^-1）， and blank groups. Each group was administrated with the corresponding concentration of drugs or the same volume of normal saline by gavage for 2 weeks. After the intervention， the three-chamber social test was conducted to evaluate social interaction and social preference. The open field test was carried out to observe spontaneous behavior and anxiety state. Hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE） was used to observe the pathological changes of the prefrontal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of mitochondria in prefrontal neurons. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 （Iba-1） in the prefrontal tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was adopted to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Western blot was employed to assess the expression differences of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （p-AMPK）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphorylated Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （p-ULK1）， Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （ULK1）， and FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 （FUNDC1）. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group spent less time sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.01） and showed reductions in the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.01）. In addition， the model group showed extensive apoptosis of neurons， with shrunken nuclei and red-stained cytoplasm， and extensive necrosis of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， mitochondrial swelling， decreased matrix density， disrupted cristae， and autophagic lysosomes in neurons， increases in the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01） and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and down-regulation in the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan and the vitamin D prolonged the time spent sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， restored the morphology of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， decreased the number of apoptotic cells， alleviated the swelling of mitochondria in neurons， increased the matrix density， mitigated the fragmentation and disorder of cristae， and increased the number of autophagosomes. Moreover， the drugs decreased the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan ameliorate autism-like behaviors and reduce neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory damage in the rat model of ASD by promoting mitophagy mediated by the AMPK/ULK1/FUNDC1 pathway.

Objective To investigate the role and related mechanisms of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). Methods Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were isolated and cultured for the extraction and identification of exosomes. Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into Control group, RILI group and RILI + exosomes group (EXO group), with 6 rats in each group. Except for Control group, the other groups received a single X-ray dose of 30 Gy to the right lung. Immediately after irradiation, the EXO group was administered 2 × 10⁹ exosomes/kg via tail vein injection. Control group and RILI group were given the same volume of normal saline. Eight weeks post-irradiation, the rats were sacrificed, lung tissue and peripheral venous blood were collected. HE and Masson staining were employed to observe the pathological and fibrotic changes of lung tissue. The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. RT-qPCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Cdh1, and Col1a1 in lung tissue. The expression levels of Vimentin and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. The expression levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were detected by Western blot. Results MSC-derived exosomes were successfully extracted and identified. Compared with RILI group, EXO group showed significantly reduced pathological changes of lung inflammation and collagen deposition. The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, INF-γ, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and Col1a1 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the mRNA level of Cdh1 was significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The levels of Vimentin and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were significantly reduced, while p-AMPK level was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). Conclusion Exosomes derived from MSCs may alleviate RILI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by AMPK/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin(mTOR)plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes,including growth,proliferation and differentiation.As an essential component of the human immune system,T lymphocytes are regulated by mTOR through metabolic pathways such as carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism.This article summarizes the critical role of mTOR in T cell differentiation and reviews recent advances in natural compounds that modulate T cells via mTOR.These findings contribute to the development of mTOR-targeted therapies for diseases.

Objective:To investigate the effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) and their conditioned medium on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) polyploid A549 cells.Methods:A549 cells in logarithmic phase were selected. After induction treatment with 1 μmol/L docetaxel for 24 h, DMEM/F12 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum was used to culture the cells for 3 d, finally the polyploid A549 cells model was successfully established. After finishing the separation and culture of hUC-MSC, hUC-MSC conditioned medium was prepared. Normally cultured polyploid A549 cells were treated as the control group, conditioned medium cultured polyploid A549 cells were treated as the conditioned medium group. hUC-MSC was co-cultured with polyploid A549 cells, and the ratio of the total number of cells was 2:1 and 5:1, respectively, which were recorded as MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group. Cells in each group were continually cultured for 48 h or 72 h. Proliferation and apoptosis of polyploid A549 cells in each group were detected by using flow cytometry, cell migration ability was detected by using Transwell assay, and the expressions of migration and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by using Western blotting.Results:Polyploid A549 cells model was successfully established and hUC-MSC was cultured separately. The result of cell proliferation detected by flow cytometry showed that at 48 h, the mean fluorescence intensity of the control group, conditioned medium group, MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group was 1 695±305, 2 020±85, 1 259±35 and 1 356±33, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 14.00, P < 0.05); at 72 h, the mean fluorescence intensity of the control group, conditioned medium group, MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group was 1 052±77, 1 309±24, 864±201 and 1 103±237, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 3.90, P > 0.05). The result of Transwell assay showed that at 48 h, the number of cell migration in the control group, conditioned medium group, MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group was 52±9, 57±12, 68±8 and 75±11, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant( F = 32.16, P < 0.05); the number of cell migration in each experimental group was all higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). The percentage of apoptotic cells in the control group, conditioned medium group, MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group was (15.53±4.27)%, (13.77±1.75)%, (3.60±0.50)% and (2.33±0.06)%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 182.36, P < 0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between the control group and conditioned medium group ( P > 0.05); there were statistically significant differences between MSC 1 group and the control group, MSC 2 group and the control group (both P < 0.05). Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of migration-related protein matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) was increased, the expression of pro-apoptotic protein bax was reduced, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein bcl-xL was increased in conditioned medium group, MSC 1 group and MSC 2 group. Conclusions:hUC-MSC can improve the migration and anti-apoptotic ability of polyploid A549 cells, suggesting that hUC-MSC may affect the survival of tumor cells during the process of chemotherapy damage and repair.

Objective:To investigate the proliferation and apoptosis characteristics of polyploid non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell model induced by docetaxel (Doc), and to analyze the potential role of polyploid tumor cells in chemotherapy resistance and tumor recurrence.Methods:NSCLC A549 cells were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 1 μmol/L Doc for 24 h. After drug removal, the cells were cultured in complete medium until the third day or the 5th day, and then they were recorded as the control group, Doc 24 h group, Doc 24 h+ 3 d group, Doc 24 h + 5 d group, respectively. The cell morphology was detected by using immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell ploidy and cell cycle. Dil labeling and CFSE labeling were applied to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry by Annexin-V/PI double labeling was used to detect apoptosis. The changes of cyclin and apoptotic protein were analyzed by using Western blot.Results:Immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with the control group, the volume of a small number of surviving cells in Doc 24 h group was increased slightly and the cells showed multinuclear status; while the cell volume in Doc 24 h+ 3 d group and Doc 24 h+ 5 d group continued to increase, and the nucleus remained multinuclear. The results of cell ploidy analysis also showed that the percentage of polyploid cell subsets was (3.40±0.95)%, (20.80±2.87)% in Doc 24 h group, (55.67±3.85)% in Doc 24 h+3 d group and (76.20±2.51)% in Doc 24 h+5 d group. With the prolongation of withdrawal time, the percentage of polyploid cell subsets was increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( F= 478.054, P < 0.05). The percentage of G 1 and S phase cell subsets in Doc 24 h group was lower than that in the control group, and the percentage of G 2/M phase cell subsets was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The protein expression level of cdc2, P-cdc2 (Thr14), P-cdc2 (Tyr15), P-cyclin B1 (Ser128), P-cyclin B1 (Ser147) in the cells of the control group, Doc 24 h group, Doc 24 h+ 3 d group and Doc 24 h+ 5 d group was down-regulated in sequence, while the expression level of cyclin B1 was up-regulated, and cdc25c was down-regulated in Doc 24 h + 3 d group and Doc 24 h+ 5 d group. Dil staining results showed that the fluorescence of cell-labeled Dil in Doc 24 h group, Doc 24 h+ 3 d group and Doc 24 h + 5 d group did not decrease significantly. CFSE staining showed that the fluorescence intensity of CFSE labeled by polyploid A549 cells did not change significantly with the prolonged withdrawal time. Annexin-V/PI double staining showed that the percentage of apoptotic cell subsets in Doc 24 h group was higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05), but the percentage of apoptotic cell subsets in Doc 24 h + 3 d group and Doc 24 h + 5 d group was lower than that in Doc 24 h group, while there was no statistically significant difference when compared with the control group ( P > 0.05). Western blot results showed that the expression of bcl-xl and mcl-1 in the control group, Doc 24 h group, Doc 24 h + 3 d group and Doc 24 h + 5 d group was up-regulated in sequence, while the expression of bax and bak in Doc 24 h + 3 d group and Doc 24 h + 5 d group was up-regulated, but down-regulated in Doc 24 h+5 d group. Conclusions:Doc can induce polyploidy of A549 cells in vitro. The cell cycle is blocked in G 2/M phase. After doc treatment, the proliferation of A549 cells is significantly decreased, and the apoptosis of A549 cells is promoted. However, with the prolongation of withdrawal time, apoptosis resistance occurs, and the expression levels of corresponding pro-apoptosis and anti-apoptosis proteins show significant changes. This may be helpful for polyploid tumor cells to produce drug resistance and tumor recurrence after chemotherapy intervention.

Objective:To study the migration of polyploid tumor cells induced by docetaxel, the characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the killing effect of immune cells on them, in order to explore the potential role of polyploid tumor cells in tumor recurrence.Methods:The human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells were treated with 1 μmol/L docetaxel for 24 h, and the cells were collected as Doc 1 d group. After drug removal, the cells were cultured in fresh and complete medium for 3 or 5 days, then the cells were collected as Doc 3 d group or Doc 5 d group respectively. The A549 cells were treated with DMSO for 24 h as control group. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect cell morphology, flow cytometry was used to analyze cell ploidy, scratch test was used to detect cell migration, Western blotting was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition related proteins, and lactate dehydrogenase release method was used to evaluate the killing activity of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells.Results:Compared with the control group, most of the cells in the Doc 1 d group, Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group were apoptotic, a few of the surviving cells were significantly larger, and the nucleus was polynuclear. The proportions of polyploid cell subset (DNA content > 4N) in the control group, Doc 1 d group, Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group were (1.93±0.55)%, (22.97±2.37)%, (51.30±12.51)% and (67.87±8.31)% respectively, and the difference among the four groups was statistically significant ( F=26.521, P<0.001). The proportion of polyploid cell subset in Doc 1 d group, Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P<0.001). With the prolongation of withdrawal time, the proportion of polyploid cell subset in Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group was significantly higher than that in Doc 1 d group ( P=0.009; P=0.004). After 24 h and 48 h culture, the wound healing rates of the control group were both 100%, and the wound healing rates of the Doc 3 d group were (39.10±2.12)% and (46.13±5.32)% respectively, with no significant difference ( t=2.126, P=0.051). Compared with the control group at 24 h and 48 h, the cell migration abilities of Doc 3 d group were significantly lower ( t=49.756, P<0.001; t=30.825, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased gradually in the Doc 1 d group, Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group, the expression of Vimentin protein increased gradually, and the expressions of Snail protein and N-cadherin protein did not change significantly. The killing efficiencies of CIK cells against the cells of the control group, Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group were (27.27±1.91)%, (17.87±2.35)%, (9.47±0.51)% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=11.294, P<0.001). The killing efficiency of Doc 3 d group and Doc 5 d group was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P=0.004; P<0.001). The killing efficiency of Doc 5 d group was significantly lower than that of Doc 3 d group ( P=0.003). Conclusion:The migration ability of polyploid tumor cells induced by docetaxel is weakened, but epithelial-mesenchymal transition is likely to occur, and the killing effect of immune cells on them is reduced.

Objective: To investigate the Effects of entinostat on the expression of NKG2D ligands in the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, A549 and HCC-827, and to detect the effect of entinostat-mediated NK cell killing of A549 and HCC-827 cells. Meth-ods: The effect of entinostat on A549 and HCC-827 cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of NKG2D ligands. mRNA levels of the ligands were detected by RT-PCR . The level of soluble MICA in cell culture super-natant was evaluated by ELISA. The cytotoxicity of NK cells against A549 and HCC-827 cell lines (treated with entinostat) was assessed using lactate dehydrogenase release assay. Results: Entinostat showed a time-and dose-dependent inhibition effect on the prolifera-tion of A549 and HCC-827 cell lines. The expression of NKG2D ligands and mRNA transcription levels of MICA and MICB were en-hanced after treatment with 0.5, 1μmol/L entinostat for 48 h. The soluble MICA level in A549 cell culture supernatant was increased by 1μmol/L entinostat. The sensitivity of HCC-827 cells to NK cells was enhanced upon treatment with 0.5, 1μmol/L entinostat. Con-clusions: entinostat enhanced the killing effect of NK cells on non-small cell lung cancer cells by up-regulating the expression of NKG2D ligands. This provides a new method and theory for the treatment of NSCLC.