Via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiment, this study explored and validated the potential molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg_1(Rg_1) against radiation enteritis. Targets of Rg_1 and radiation enteritis were retrieved from BATMAN-TCM, SwissTargetPrediction, and GeneCards. Cytoscape 3.7.2 and STRING were employed for the construction of protein-protein interaction(PPI) network for the common targets, and screening of core targets. DAVID was used for Gene Ontology(GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment to predict the possible mechanism, followed by molecular docking of Rg_1 with core targets and cellular experiment. For the cellular experiment, ~(60)Co-γ irradiation was performed for mo-deling of IEC-6 cells, which were then treated with Rg_1, protein kinase B(AKT) inhibitor LY294002, and other drugs to verify the effect and mechanism of Rg_1. The results showed that 29 potential targets of Rg_1, 4 941 disease targets, and 25 common targets were screened out. According to the PPI network, the core targets were AKT1, vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA), heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1), Bcl-2-like protein 1(BCL2L1), estrogen receptor 1(ESR1), etc. The common targets were mainly involved in the GO terms such as positive regulation of RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter transcription, signal transduction, positive regulation of cell proliferation, and other biological processes. The top 10 KEGG pathways included phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway, RAS pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) pathway, Ras-proximate-1(RAP1) pathway, and calcium pathway, etc. Molecular docking showed that Rg_1 had high binding affinity to AKT1, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, and other core targets. Cellular experiment indicated that Rg_1 can effectively improve cell viability and survival, decrease apoptosis after irradiation, promote the expression of AKT1 and B-cell lymphoma-extra large(BCL-XL), and inhibit the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein(BAX). In conclusion, through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiment, this study verified the ability of Rg_1 to reduce radiation enteritis injury. The mechanism was that it regulated PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby suppressing apoptosis.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Network Pharmacology ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Radiation Injuries ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of Xuebijing Injection in the treatment of sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) based on network pharmacology and in vitro experiment. The active components of Xuebijing Injection were screened and the targets were predicted by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The targets of sepsis-associated ARDS were searched against GeneCards, DisGeNet, OMIM, and TTD. Weishengxin platform was used to map the targets of the main active components in Xuebijing Injection and the targets of sepsis-associated ARDS, and Venn diagram was established to identify the common targets. Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used to build the "drug-active components-common targets-disease" network. The common targets were imported into STRING for the building of the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, which was then imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 for visualization. DAVID 6.8 was used for Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment of the common targets, and then Weishe-ngxin platform was used for visualization of the enrichment results. The top 20 KEGG signaling pathways were selected and imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 to establish the KEGG network. Finally, molecular docking and in vitro cell experiment were performed to verify the prediction results. A total of 115 active components and 217 targets of Xuebijing Injection and 360 targets of sepsis-associated ARDS were obtained, among which 63 common targets were shared by Xuebijing Injection and the disease. The core targets included interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β), IL-6, albumin(ALB), serine/threonine-protein kinase(AKT1), and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA). A total of 453 GO terms were annotated, including 361 terms of biological processes(BP), 33 terms of cellular components(CC), and 59 terms of molecular functions(MF). The terms mainly involved cellular response to lipopolysaccharide, negative regulation of apoptotic process, lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway, positive regulation of transcription from RNA polyme-rase Ⅱ promoter, response to hypoxia, and inflammatory response. The KEGG enrichment revealed 85 pathways. After diseases and generalized pathways were eliminated, hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), Toll-like receptor, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were screened out. Molecular docking showed that the main active components of Xuebijing Injection had good binding activity with the core targets. The in vitro experiment confirmed that Xuebijing Injection suppressed the HIF-1, TNF, NF-κB, Toll-like receptor, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, inhibited cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species generation, and down-regulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in cells. In conclusion, Xuebijing Injection can regulate apoptosis and response to inflammation and oxidative stress by acting on HIF-1, TNF, NF-κB, Toll-like receptor, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways to treat sepsis-associated ARDS.
Humans ; Network Pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; NF-kappa B ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Sepsis/genetics* ; NLR Proteins

Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo and in vitro experiments were employed to study the molecular mechanism of Blaps rynchopetera Fairmaire in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). The components of B. rynchopetera were collected by literature review, and the active components were screened out through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). PharmMapper was used to obtain the targets of the active components. The targets of NSCLC were obtained from DrugBank, GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, and PharmGKB. The Venn diagram was drawn to identify the common targets shared by the active components of B. rynchopetera and NSCLC. The "drug component-target" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were constructed by Cytoscape, and the key targets were screened by Centiscape. Gene Ontology(GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment of the above key targets were performed by DAVID. AutoDock and PyMOL were used for the molecular docking between the key targets and corresponding active components. A total of 31 active components, 72 potential targets, and 11 key targets of B. rynchopetera against NSCLC were obtained. The active components of B. rynchopetera had good binding activity with key targets. Further, the serum containing B. rynchopetera was prepared and used to culture human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The CCK-8 assay was employed to determine the inhibition rates on the growth of A549 cells in blank control group and those exposed to different concentrations of B. rynchopetera-containing serum, cisplatin, and drug combination(B. rynchopetera-containing serum+cisplatin) for different time periods. The cell migration and invasion of A549 cells were detected by cell scratch assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X(Bax), caspase-3, cell division cycle 42(CDC42), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase SRC, and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in A549 cells. C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with Lewis cells and randomly assigned into a model control group, a B. rynchopetera group, a cisplatin group, and a drug combination(B. rynchopetera+cisplatin) group, with 12 mice per group. The body weight and the long diameter(a) and short diameter(b) of the tumor were monitored every other day during treatment, and the tumor volume(mm~3) was calculated as 0.52ab~2. After 14 days of continuous medication, the mice were sacrificed for the collection of tumor, spleen, and thymus, and the tumor inhibition rate and immune organ indexes were calculated. The tissue morphology of tumors was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the positive expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, CDC42, SRC, and VEGF in the tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that B. rynchopetera and the drug combination regulated the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, CDC42, SRC, and VEGF to inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells and Lewis cells, thus playing a role in the treatment of NSCLC via multiple ways.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics* ; Caspase 3 ; Network Pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Cisplatin ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The material basis and mechanism of Chaenomelis Fructus in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) were explored by network pharmacology, and the potential anti-RA targets of Chaenomelis Fructus were verified by molecular docking and animal experiments. The active components and targets of Chaenomelis Fructus were searched against the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM were used to obtain RA-related targets. The common targets shared by Chaenomelis Fructus and RA were considered as the potential targets of Chaenomelis Fructus in the treatment of RA. Cytoscape 3.9.0 was employed to establish a "traditional Chinese medicine-active component-common target-disease" network. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was established by STRING, and the core genes were visualized by RStudio 4.1.0. DAVID was used for Gene Ontology(GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment to predict and visualize the involved signaling pathways. Molecular docking was carried out with the active components screened out as ligands and RA core genes as the targets. Finally, the prediction results were verified by animal experiments. Four main active components of Chaenomelis Fructus were obtained, which corresponded to 137 targets. Chaenomelis Fructus and RA shared 37 common targets. GO annotation yielded 239 terms(P<0.05), and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis screened out 94 signaling pathways(P<0.05), mainly involving interleukin-17(IL-17), tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor, and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the main active components of Chaenomelis Fructus bound well with the core targets of RA. The results of animal experiments proved that Chaenomelis Fructus can alleviate joint swelling in the mice with RA. The results of ELISA showed that Chaenomelis Fructus lowered the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β). Western blot showed that Chaenomelis Fructus down-regulated the protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA). Chaenomelis Fructus exerts anti-inflammatory effect and reduces pannus formation by regulating the core targets such as VEGFA, IL-1β, and IL6 in the treatment of RA. The findings of this study provide new ideas for the future treatment of RA with Chaenomelis Fructus.
Animals ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism of Liujing Toutong Tablets(LJTT) on a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO). The pMCAO model was established using the suture method. Eighty-four male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a nimodipine group(0.020 g·kg~(-1)), and high-, medium-, and low-dose LJTT groups(2.8, 1.4, and 0.7 g·kg~(-1)). The Longa score, adhesive removal test and laser speckle contrast imaging technique were used to evaluate the degree of neurological functional impairment and changes in local cerebral blood flow. The survival and mortality of rats in each group were recorded daily. After seven days of continuous administration following the model induction, the rats in each group were euthanized, and brain tissue and blood samples were collected for corresponding parameter measurements. Nissl staining was used to examine pathological changes in brain tissue neurons. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-1β, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), beta-endorphin(β-EP), and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) in rat serum were measured using specific assay kits. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of various indicators. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα(p-IκBα), and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase alpha(p-IKKα) in brain tissue were determined using Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1) and C-C chemokine receptor 5(CCR5) in rat brain tissue. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed significantly higher neurological functional impairment scores, prolonged adhesive removal time, decreased cerebral blood flow, increased neuronal damage, reduced survival rate, significantly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in serum, significantly decreased levels of VEGF and β-EP, significantly increased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-IKKα in rat brain tissue, and significantly upregulated protein expression of CKLF1 and CCR5. Compared with the model group, the high-dose LJTT group significantly improved the neurological functional score of pMCAO rats after oral administration for 7 days. LJTT at all doses significantly reduced adhesive removal time and restored cerebral blood flow. The high-and medium-dose LJTT groups significantly improved neuronal damage. The LJTT groups at all doses showed reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in rat serum, increased VEGF and β-EP levels, and significantly decreased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, p-IKKα, and CCR5 protein in rat brain tissue. The entropy weight analysis revealed that CGRP and β-EP were significantly affected during the model induction, and LJTT exhibited a strong effect in reducing the release of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β. LJTT may exert a neuroprotective effect on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia by reducing neuroinflammatory damage, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the regulation of the CKLF1/CCR5 axis. Additionally, LJTT may exert certain analgesic effects by reducing CGRP and NO levels and increasing β-EP levels.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; I-kappa B Kinase/pharmacology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Brain Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Tablets

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Zhongfeng Xingnao Decoction(ZFXN) in intervening microcirculatory di-sorders in cerebral hemorrhage by network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. The information on the components of ZFXN was obtained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) database, and the predicted targets of chemical components were obtained from PubChem and SwissTargetPrediction. The relevant targets of cerebral hemorrhage and microcirculatory disorders were collected from the GeneCards database, and the common targets of the components and diseases were analyzed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery(DAVID) for Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses. Visualization of the correlation network was carried out using Cytoscape software to further screen important chemical components for molecular docking prediction with disease targets. The animal experiment validation was performed using modified neurological severity score(mNSS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and Western blot to detect the effects of ZFXN intervention in mice with cerebral hemorrhage. The results showed that there were 31 chemical components and 856 targets in the four drugs contained in ZFXN, 173 targets for microcirculatory disorders in cerebral hemorrhage, and 57 common targets for diseases and components. The enrichment analysis showed that common targets were mainly involved in biological processes, such as cell proliferation and apoptosis, and signaling pathways, such as tumor pathway, viral infection, phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results revealed that the common components β-sitosterol of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra showed good docking with proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase(SRC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide gene(PIK3CA), recombinant protein tyrosine phosphatase non receptor type 11(PTPN11), AKT1, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), calcium adhesion-associated protein beta 1(CTNNB1), vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA), and tumor protein p53(TP53). Moreover, sennoside E of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma showed good docking with MAPK1. The results revealed that the ZFXN relieved the neural injury in mice with cerebral hemorrhage, decreased the expression of S100 calcium-binding protein B(S100β), neuron specific enolase(NSE), matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin 1β(IL-1β), SRC, EGFR, CTNNB1, VEGFA, TP53, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), and leukocyte differentiation antigen 86(CD86), and increased the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and zona occludens 1(ZO-1). The results indicate that ZFXN may inhibit neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory response through PI3K/AKT/p53 pathway to protect the blood-brain barrier, thereby slowing down microcirculatory impairment in cerebral hemorrhage.
Animals ; Mice ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Network Pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Microcirculation ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; ErbB Receptors ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/drug therapy* ; Neoplasms ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of Shegan Mahuang Decoction(SGMHD) on cold-induced asthma in rats and explored its underlying mechanism. Seventy-two healthy male SD rats of specific pathogen free(SPF) grade were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a positive control group(dexamethasone, 0.4 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-, medium-, and high-dose SGMHD groups(3.2, 6.4, and 12.8 g·kg~(-1)). The blank group received saline, while the other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) solution. Subsequently, the rats were placed in a cold chamber adjustable to 0-2 ℃, and OVA solution was ultrasonically nebulized to induce cold-induced asthma in rats. After three weeks of treatment, the general behaviors of rats were observed. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to evaluate pathological changes in lung tissues, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining assessed mucin changes, and Masson staining was performed to examine collagen deposition. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin-4(IL-4) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1(TRPV1), nuclear respiratory factor 1(NRF-1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A(mtTFA) in lung tissues. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues. Compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited signs of rapid respiration, increased frequency of defecation with looser stools, and disheveled and dull fur. Pathological results showed significant infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissues, narrowing of bronchial lumens, increased mucin secretion, and enhanced collagen deposition in the model group. Additionally, the levels of IL-4 and VEGF in serum and BALF were significantly elevated, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues were significantly increased. Compared with the model group, SGMHD improved the behaviors of rats, alleviated pathological changes in lung tissues, mucin production, and collagen deposition, significantly decreased the levels of IL-4 and VEGF in serum and BALF, and reduced the mRNA expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues, with the medium-dose SGMHD group showing the most significant effect. Moreover, the protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues were also reduced, with the medium-dose SGMHD group exhibiting the most significant effect. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SGMHD can alleviate airway inflammation and inhibit airway remodeling in cold-induced asthma rats. These effects may be associated with the modulation of the TRPV1/NRF-1/mtTFA signaling pathway.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Asthma/genetics* ; Lung ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Mucins/therapeutic use* ; Ovalbumin ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; TRPV Cation Channels/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Ovarian cancer is one of the three major cancers in gynecology. Ovarian cancer has insidious symptoms in its early stages and mostly has progressed to advanced stages when detected. Surgical treatment combined with chemotherapy is currently the main treatment, but the 5-year survival rate is still less than 45%. Angiogenesis is a key step in the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer. The inhibition of ovarian cancer angiogenesis has become a new hotspot in anti-tumor targeted therapy, which has many advantages such as less drug resistance, high specificity, few side effects, and broad anti-tumor spectrum. Modern research has confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can inhibit tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting the expression of pro-angiogenic factors, up-regulating the expression of anti-angiogenic factors, inhibiting the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, reducing the density of tumor microvessels, and regulating related signaling pathways, with unique advantages in the treatment of ovarian cancer. This paper presented a review of the role of TCM in inhibiting ovarian cancer angiogenesis in order to provide references for the optimization of clinical ovarian cancer treatment strategies.
Humans ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Angiogenesis ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the Runx2 gene can induce the differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) to ligament fibroblasts in vitro and promote the tendon-bone healing in rabbits. METHODS: hAMSCs were isolated from the placentas voluntarily donated from healthy parturients and passaged, and then identified by flow cytometric identification. Adenoviral vectors carrying Runx2 gene (Ad-Runx2) and empty vector adenovirus (Ad-NC) were constructed and viral titer assay; then, the 3rd generation hAMSCs were transfected with Ad-Runx2 (Ad-Runx2 group) or Ad-NC (Ad-NC group). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect Runx2 gene and protein expression to verify the effectiveness of Ad-Runx2 transfection of hAMSCs; and at 3 and 7 days after transfection, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was further used to detect the expressions of ligament fibroblast-related genes [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), collagen type Ⅰ, Fibronectin, and Tenascin-C]. The hAMSCs were used as a blank control group. The hAMSCs, hAMSCs transfected with Ad-NC, and hAMSCs were mixed with Matrigel according to the ratio of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 to construct the cell-scaffold compound. Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, and the corresponding cell-scaffold compound with better proliferation were taken for subsequent animal experiments. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups of sham operation group (Sham group), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction group (ACLR group), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction+hAMSCs transfected with Ad-NC-scaffold compound group (Ad-NC group), and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction+hAMSCs transfected with Ad-Runx2-scaffold compound group (Ad-Runx2 group), with 3 rabbits in each group. After preparing the ACL reconstruction model, the Ad-NC group and the Ad-Runx2 group injected the optimal hAMSCs-Matrigel compunds into the bone channel correspondingly. The samples were taken for gross, histological (HE staining and sirius red staining), and immunofluorescence staining observation at 1 month after operation to evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltration as well as collagen and Tenascin-C content in the ligament tissues. RESULTS: Flow cytometric identification of the isolated cells conformed to the phenotypic characteristics of MSCs. The Runx2 gene was successfully transfected into hAMSCs. Compared with the Ad-NC group, the relative expressions of VEGF and collagen type Ⅰ genes in the Ad-Runx2 group significantly increased at 3 and 7 days after transfection ( P<0.05), Fibronectin significantly increased at 3 days ( P<0.05), and Tenascin-C significantly increased at 3 days and decreased at 7 days ( P<0.05). CCK-8 detection showed that there was no significant difference ( P>0.05) in the cell proliferation between groups and between different time points after mixed culture of two ratios. So the cell-scaffold compound constructed in the ratio of 1∶1 was selected for subsequent experiments. Animal experiments showed that at 1 month after operation, the continuity of the grafted tendon was complete in all groups; HE staining showed that the tissue repair in the Ad-Runx2 group was better and there were fewer inflammatory cells when compared with the ACLR group and the Ad-NC group; sirius red staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that the Ad-Runx2 group had more collagen typeⅠ and Ⅲ fibers, tending to form a normal ACL structure. However, the fluorescence intensity of Tenascin-C protein was weakening when compared to the ACLR and Ad-NC groups. CONCLUSION Runx2 gene transfection of hAMSCs induces directed differentiation to ligament fibroblasts and promotes tendon-bone healing in reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament in rabbits.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Animals ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Fibronectins/metabolism* ; Collagen Type I/genetics* ; Tenascin/metabolism* ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/surgery* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Tendons/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism*

Objective To identify immune-related dysregulation mechanisms and potential diagnostic predictive biomarkers in osteoporosis. Methods Gene expression data for both osteoporosis and control populations were retrieved from the GSE35958 and GSE56815 datasets. Immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by screening DEGs and were compared with the immunology database and analysis portal (ImmPort) database. Enrichment analysis of these immune-related DEGs was conducted using the Clusterprofiler software package. A protein-protein interaction network was built with the STRING database, which is a search tool for finding interacting genes/proteins, and the top 10 genes with the highest network connectivity were identified as candidate genes. Subsequently, the diagnostic predictive effect of candidate genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, logistic regression, and column plots. Finally, PCR and Western blot analysis were applied to detect the differential expression of these genes in bone marrow tissue of patients with osteoporosis. Results A total of 138 immune-related DEGs were obtained through intersection analysis. The results of the enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were involved in biological functions such as immune inflammation and signaling pathways including T cell receptors, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), rat sarcoma virus oncogene homologs (Ras), osteoclast differentiation, and B cell receptors. In addition, among the candidate genes, upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and downregulated AKT1, SRC, and JUN in osteoporosis showed the highest connectivity. Among them, VEGFA, EGFR, JUN, and AKT1 demonstrated the best diagnostic predictive value. Conclusion The screening of immune-related DEGs will enhance the understanding of osteoporosis and facilitate the development of immunotherapy targets.
Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; Biomarkers ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Computational Biology/methods* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods*