GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attenuating effect of Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on inflammatory injury in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned to 7 groups according to body weight including normal control group, HSYA blank group (76.8 mg/kg), COPD group, COPD+HSYA (30, 48, 76.8 mg/kg) groups and COPD+dexamethasone (2 mg/kg), 10 in each group. Passive cigarette smoke and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharides were used to establish a COPD model in rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of lung tissue sections was used, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assay mRNA levels of some cytokines in lung tissues, the cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis was used to determine phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) levels in lung tissues, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein levels in lung tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Lung alveolar septa destruction, alveolus fusion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and bronchiole exudation were observed. These pathological changes were alleviated in the COPD+HSYA group. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors were significantly increased in lung tissues from COPD rats (all P<0.01) and were inhibited by HSYA. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF of COPD rats were significantly increased (all P<0.01) which were inhibited by HSYA (all P<0.01, 48, 76.8 mg/kg). The levels of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and p65 in lung tissues of COPD rats were significantly increased (all P<0.01) and were suppressed by HSYA (all P<0.01, 48, 76.8 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS HSYA could alleviate inflammatory cell infiltration and other pathological changes in the lungs of COPD rats. HSYA inhibited inflammatory cytokine expression, and increase phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in the lungs of COPD rats. The protective mechanism of HSYA to inhibit COPD inflammation might be by attenuating NF-κB and p38MAPK signal transduction.

Objective: To study on the physical and chemical properties of dichroa alkali hydrochloride and to establish a method for the determination of entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes. Method: HPLC was used to determine the content of dichroa alkali hydrochloride with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-triethylamine-glacial acetic acid(9:91:0.35:0.75) and detection wavelength at 265 nm.The oil-water partition coefficient of this compound in different pH range was measured by shake flask method.The stability of the dichroa alkali hydrochloride in phosphate buffer solution with different pH after sterilization at 125℃ for 30 min was investigated.Ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes.The microcolumn was prepared by dextran gel and cation exchange resin,respectively.Then the free drug and liposome were separated by centrifugation,the drug content was measured,and the encapsulation efficiency was calculated.The t-test was performed using SPSS 20.0 software,the differences between these two methods were compared. Result: In the pH 6-9,the oil-water partition coefficient of dichroa alkali hydrochloride increased with increasing of pH,which was between 0.016 and 1.44;the recovery rate of dichroa alkali hydrochloride after sterilization was 37.16%-57.91%.Between the dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation,there was no significant difference in the entrapment efficiency of the liposomes. Conclusion: Dichroa alkali hydrochloride is suitable for preparation of liposomes.However,its stability is not ideal,so the experimental temperature should be strictly controlled in the preparation process.Dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation can be used to determine the entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes,and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation is suggested after comparison.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), an active ingredient of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine Carthamus tinctorius L., on lung inflflammation and pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) in rats.

METHODSAnimals were divided into 6 groups including normal group, model group, three HSYA groups and dexamethasone (DXM) group. Three doses of HSYA (35.6, 53.3, and 80.0 mg•kg•day) were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected in rats for 3 weeks after BLM administration and DXM was used as the positive control (n=8 or 12). Arterial blood gas was assayed and morphological changes were observed. Lung mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and some cytokines in lung tissue were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Nuclear factor-κB p65 or α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein distribution in rat lung tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSOn the 7th day after BLM administration, lung tissue showed serious inflammation. Treatment with HSYA or DXM ameliorated lung inflammation. After treatment with HSYA or DXM, oxygen partial pressure (PaO) increased (HSYA 80.0 mg•kg, P<0.01) and COpartial pressure (PaCO) decreased (HSYA 53.3, 80.0 mg•kg, P<0.05). Moreover, the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6; and the number of NF-κB p65 positive cells was lower in HSYA 53.3 and 80.0 mg•kggroups than those in the model group (all P<0.05). Twenty-one days after BLM administration, HSYA or DXM treatment ameliorated fibrosis, increased PaO2 (HSYA 53.3, 80.0 mg•kg-1, P<0.01), and decreased PaCO2 (53.3 and 80.0 mg•kg-1, P<0.05). Further, the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and collagen I as well as the number of α-SMA positive cells increased in the model group and HSYA can attenuate these changes (53.3, 80.0 mg•kg, P<0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining indicated that the fibrosis and collagen deposition were ameliorated in HSYA groups (53.3, 80.0 mg•kg, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHSYA could alleviate acute lung inflflammation and chronic pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM in rats.

A taeniasis/cysticercosis information management system was designed to achieve the dynamic monitoring of the epidemic situation of taeniasis/cysticercosis and improve the intelligence level of disease information management.The system in-cludes three layer structures(application layer,technical core layer,and data storage layer)and designs a datum transmission and remote communication system of traffic information tube in Browser/Server architecture.The system is believed to promote disease datum collection.Additionally,the system may provide the standardized data for convenience of datum analysis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src regulating neuroinflammation through phosphatase and tensin homology protein(PTEN)in microglia. Methods BV2 cells were incubated with PTEN inhibitor bpv(HOpic)for 2 hours,and then added with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to induce neuroinflammation,Western blot was performed to determine the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B(Akt)to investigate the activity of PTEN. Enzyme-linked immunosorben assay(ELISA)was used to determine the release of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)to assess neuroinflammation.After PTEN inhibitor or Src specific small interfering RNA was added,the change of neuroinflammation was evaluated to study the mechanism of Src regulating neuroinflammation. Results LPS induced significant neuroinflammation in BV2 cells,as indicated by significantly increased expression of p-Akt and release of TNF-α(P<0.001).The PTEN inhibitor signficantly increased Akt phosphorylation(P<0.05)and TNF-α release(P<0.001)in LPS-induced BV2 cells compared to simply LPS-induced cells.The Src small interfering RNA significantly decreased the release of TNF-α(P<0.001)and inhibited PTEN(P<0.001)and Akt(P<0.001)phosphorylation. Conclusion Src kinase may regulate neuroinflammtion response in BV2 cells by regulating the phosphorylation of PTEN.

Compared with traditional drying methods for Chinese materia medica, microwave drying technology is not only with the features of easy and convenient to operate, rapidity, good effects, well remained appearance of medicine and low energy consumption, but also with the feature of extraordinary sterilization effects at the same time with drying. This article introduced the features and effects of microwave drying and sterilization technology, reviewed its application in the TCM field, and proposed existing problems and prospects in the recent research by targeting security problems (microwave radiation and microwave residue).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, with several risk factors contributing to the onset, such as aging, genetics, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. There are several PD animals that mimics different risk factor. α-Synuclein mutation mice and systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection mice are two kinds of most common animal models that replicate genetic mutation and neuroinflammation, respectively. However, in these two animal models, the pathogenesis occurred after a long period of stimulation. In the present study, four-month-old α-synucleintransgenic mice (A53T) were intraperitoneally injected with LPS once a week for continuous 8 weeks to simulate the inflammatory response. The behavioral results showed that the time of mice staying on the rod and the performance score were markedly decreased, indicating motor dysfunction. Dopaminergic neuronal function also decreased. It was noted that the movement dysfunction and pathological changes were aggravated in LPS plus α-synuclein challenged mice compared with LPS or α-synuclein stimulated alone, suggesting that the double attack had synergistic effects. Mechanistic study demonstrated that LPS and α-synuclein combined challenge led to obvious neuroinflammatory response and apoptosis, which might contribute to motor and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction. In addition, differential proteomic study showed that the expression of CD99L2 and COX7RP significantly increased in the midbrain of LPS plus α-synuclein challenged mice, which were closely related to inflammation and apoptosis, and might be involved in the pathogenesis of PD. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that LPS could potentiate dopaminergic neuronal function in α-synuclein transgenic mice, which might be an ideal method to develop PD animal model.

OBJECTIVEThis study observed attenuating effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), an effective ingredient of aqueous extract of Carthamus tinctorius L, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endothelium inflammatory injury.

METHODSEahy926 human endothelium cell (EC) line was used; thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was assayed to observe the viability of EC; Luciferase reporter gene assay was applied to measure nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit nuclear binding activity in EC; Western blot technology was used to monitor mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was applied to observe intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin mRNA level; EC surface ICAM-1 expression was measured with flow cytometry and leukocyte adhesion to EC was assayed with Rose Bengal spectrophotometry technology.

RESULTSHSYA protected EC viability against LPS-induced injury (P <0.05). LPS-induced NF-κB p65 subunit DNA binding (P <0.01) and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor α (IκBα) phosphorylation was inhibited by HSYA. HSYA attenuated LPS triggered ICAM-1 and E-selectin mRNA levels elevation and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK or c-Jun N-terminal kinase MAPK. HSYA also inhibited LPS-induced cell surface ICAM-1 protein expression P <0.01) and leukocyte adhesion to EC (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONHSYA is effective to protect LPS-induced high expression of endothelium adhesive molecule and inflammatory signal transduction.

Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; drug effects ; Quinones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The present therapeutic drugs for PD can only alleviate the patients' symptoms, but cannot prevent or delay progression of the disease. Great efforts have been made in the identification of new molecular targets that can prevent or delay the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Growing evidences support the key role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of PD, featured by the activation of glial cells and many enzymes and receptors. This review will provide an overview of the enzymes and receptors closely related to neuroinflammation, which have a potential in the prevention or treatment of the disease.