Objective:To explore the mechanism of modified Shaoyao Decoction with Astragali Radix and Houttuynize Herba in regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway against intestinal mucosal barrier injury in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.Methods:Totally 72 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, a mesalazine group, and modified Shaoyao Decoction high-, medium-, and low-dose groups using a random number table method. After successful modeling, the mesalazine group was given 0.2 g/kg of mesalazine suspension by gavage, while modified Shaoyao Decoction high-, medium-, and low-dose groups were given 44.5, 22.3, and 11.1 g/kg of modified Shaoyao Decoction by gavage, once a day, for a total of 4 weeks. The pathological changes of colon tissue were observed using HE staining; immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the expressions of tight junction protein (ZO-1), cytoskeletal protein (F-actin), and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE cadherin) in colon tissue; Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, NF-κB, VEGF, and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in colon tissue; QRT PCR was used to detect the expressions of PI3K and Akt mRNA in colon tissue; ELISA method was used to detect the levels of serum TNF-α and endothelin (ET).Results:Compared with the model group, the DAI scores of the mesalazine group and modified Shaoyao Decoction high-dosage group decreased significantly on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after modeling ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). In mesalazine group and modified Shaoyao Decoction high-, medium-, and low-dose groups, the pathological injury score of colon tissue decreased ( P<0.01), the immunofluorescence intensity of ZO-1, F-actin and VE-cadherin protein expression in colon tissue increased ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expressions of PI3K, Akt, NF-κB and VEGF protein decreased ( P<0.01). The expression of COX-2 protein and the levels of PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA decreased in the mesalazine group and modified Shaoyao Decoction high- and medium groups ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Modified Shaoyao Decoction can antagonize the intestinal barrier injury of UC by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway and promote the healing of intestinal mucosal ulcer.

Objective To investigate the effect of serum of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with blood stasis syndrome (BSS) on proliferation and cycle of EC9706 cells, and to explore the action of blood micro-environment of ESCC patient with BSS on EC9706 cells. Methods Human EC9706 cells were cultured in an incubator with RPMI-1640 medium containing fetal bovine serum ( FBS) , at 37℃ and under 5% saturated humidity for 24 h. After EC9706 cells were starved in serum-free medium for another 24h, the three experimental groups were treated with serum of ESCC patients with BSS, serum of ESCC patients with spleen-qi deficiency syndrome (SQDS), and serum from healthy volunteers, respectively. Cell proliferation was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay, EC9706 cell morphology was observed under light microscope, and cell cycle was measured by flow cytometer (FCM). Results The serum concentrations of ESCC patients with BSS and ESCC patients with SQDS for obtaining 50 percent cell proliferation rates ( PI50) were 71.1 μL/mL and 118 μL/mL, respectively. And the proliferation of EC9706 cells in the both groups all arrived to the peak values at culturing hour 48. The light microscopy results showed that the feature of EC9706 cells in both groups presented as spindle-like or polygon-like shape, and cell count in BSS group was larger than SQDS group. FCM assay results for EC9706 cell cycle showed that the percentage of G1-phase EC9706 was decreased and the percentage of S-phase EC9706 was increased in BSS group as compared with those in SQDS group ( P<0.05). Conclusion Serum micro -environment in ESCC patients with BSS is more beneficial to EC9706 cells proliferation than ESCC patients with SQDS, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of cell cycle.

Purpose To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) in the process of temozolomide ( TMZ) reduce glioma in-vasiveness and its possible mechanism. Methods C6 glioma cells of logarithmic phase were randomly divided into TMZ treatment (10, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 min group) (n=15), dynamic monitoring content of TNF-αin the culture medium was measured by ra-dioimmunoassay, expression of p53 protein in C6 cells was detected with Western blotting method, and cell apoptosis was used with AnnexinV-FITC. A glioma invasiveness model was established in vitro and glioma invasiveness was determined by crystal violet stai-ning. Results For C6 cells, contents of TNF-αin the nutrient fluid and expressions of p53 protein in C6 cells obviously increased af-ter TMZ treatment and they achieved the peak at 120 min (P<0. 01), followed by decrease gradually. Glioma invasiveness was re-duced after TMZ acted on glioma in vitro. Conclusion TMZ can reduce glioma invasiveness by TNF-α, which this role may be is TMZ promote C6 cells release of TNF-α and increased TNF-α due to glioma cells apoptosis.