OBJECTIVETo study the ability of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus mushroom in the treatment of nerve injury following peroneal nerve crush in Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSAqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus was given by daily oral administration following peroneal nerve crush injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways; and c-Jun and c-Fos genes were studied in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) whereas the activity of protein synthesis was assessed in peroneal nerves by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSPeripheral nerve injury leads to changes at the axonal site of injury and remotely located DRG containing cell bodies of sensory afferent neurons. Immunofluorescence studies showed that DRG neurons ipsilateral to the crush injury in rats of treated groups expressed higher immunoreactivities for Akt, MAPK, c-Jun and c-Fos as compared with negative control group (P <0.05). The intensity of nuclear ribonucleoprotein in the distal segments of crushed nerves of treated groups was significantly higher than in the negative control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONH. erinaceus is capable of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. Potential signaling pathways include Akt, MAPK, c-Jun, and c-Fos, and protein synthesis have been shown to be involved in its action.

Agaricales ; chemistry ; Animals ; Axons ; pathology ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Glucans ; analysis ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; enzymology ; physiology ; Peroneal Nerve ; physiology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

deltaFosB, a naturally occurring truncated isform of fosB gene, existed in many tissues stably and played an important role in formation and differentiation of adipocyte and osteoblast. deltaFosB may be related to the metabolism of calcium in bone and mammary gland and regulate the signal pathway of calcium transfer from bone to mammary gland. We first sub-cloned deltafosB gene of goat into the vector pET32a to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-deltafosB. Then we induced for deltafosB gene expression efficiently by IPTG. Finally we immunized the adult rabbits with purified recombinant deltaFosB to prepare rabbit anti-goat deltaFosB polyclonal antibody. iELISA analysis showed the antibody with the titer of 1:51 200, and Western blotting result showed that the antibody could specifically detect the deltaFosB protein expressed in prokaryotic cell and HEK-293 cell, respectively. Further Western blotting assay showed that deltaFosB expressed in various tissues of goat in vivo.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Goats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo examine modulations caused by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on altered microenvironments and overbalanced neurotransmitters in pilocarpine-induced epileptic status rats and to investigate possible mechanisms.

METHODSCelecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) was administered 45 min prior to pilocarpine administration. The effects of COX-2 inhibitors on mIPSCs (miniature GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents) of CA3 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus were recorded. Expressions of COX-2, c-Fos, newly generated neurons, and activated microgliosis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and expressions of alpha-subunit of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) activity were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSPretreatment with celecoxib showed protection against pilocarpine-induced seizures. Celecoxib prevented microglia activation in the hilus and inhibited the abnormal neurogenesis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus by inhibiting MAPK/ERK activity and c-Fos transcription. Celecoxib also up-regulated the expression of GABA(A) receptors. NS-398 (N-2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl-methanesulfonamide), another COX-2 inhibitor, enhanced the frequency and decay time of mIPSCs.

CONCLUSIONThe COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib decreased neuronal excitability and prevented epileptogenesis in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rats. Celecoxib regulates synaptic reorganization by inhibiting astrogliosis and ectopic neurogenesis by attenuating MAPK/ERK signal activity, mediated by a GABAergic mechanism.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Nitrobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Pilocarpine ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; biosynthesis ; Status Epilepticus ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Synapses ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of rosiglitazone (RSG, the activator of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor lambda) for inhibiting endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced neonatal rat cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and c-fos.

METHODSIn vitro cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were treated with ET-1, phorbol ester (PMA, the PKC activator), ET-1+RSG, ET-1+chelerythrine (che, the PKC inhibitor), PMA+RSG, or without treatment (control), respectively. The effects of RSG on the protein content, (3)H-leucine incorporation, PKC activity and C-fos protein expression were observed in the cardiac myocytes stimulated with ET-1 or PMA.

RESULTSAfter two days of culture, the intracellular protein content in ET-1 group and PMA group were increased by 15% (339-/+15 microg/ml) and 13% (329-/+14 microg/ml) as compared with the control cells (290-/+13 microg/ml), respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the ET-1 group, cells treated with ET-1+10(-8) mol/L RSG, ET-1+10(-7) mol/L RSG, and ET-1+che showed decreased intracellular protein content by 10% (303-/+14 microg/ml, P<0.05), 12% (292-/+11 microg/ml, P<0.05), and 13% (291-/+12 microg/ml, P<0.01), respectively. The intracellular protein content in PMA+10(-7) mol/LRSG group was decreased by 10% (P<0.05) in comparison with the PMA group. RSG inhibited protein synthesis enhancement and increased (3)H-leucine incorporation induced by ET-1 and PMA, and antagonized the effects of ET-1 and PMA in promoting PKC activity and c-fos protein expression in the myocytes.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibitory effect of RSG on ET-1- or PMA-induced myocyte hypertrophy is associated with PKC-c-fos pathway.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Enlargement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of proto-oncogene c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy and effects of tanshinone II A (Tan) in the primary culture of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

METHODTwelve neonatal Wistar rats aged one day old of clean grade and both sexes were selected to isolate and culture cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocytes were divided into: normal control group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) +Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) + valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group. The cardiomyocyte size was determined by phase contrast microscope, the rate of protein synthesis in cardiomyocytes was measured by 3H-leucine incorporation. The c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTAng II was added to the culture medium and 30 min later, the c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes increased significantly (P < 0. 01). After Ang II took effect for 24 h, the rate of protein synthesis in Ang II group increased more prominently than that in normal control group (P < 0.01). After Ang II took effect for 7 days, the size of cardiomyocyte in Ang II group increased obviously (P < 0. 05). If tanshinone II or valsartan was added to the culture medium before Ang II, both of them could inhibit the increase of c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression (P < 0.01), cardiomyocyte protein synthesis rate (P < 0.01), and cardiomyocyte size (P < 0.05) induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II could ameliorate Ang II-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy by inhabiting c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression.

Angiotensin II ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, fos ; genetics ; Genes, jun ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on heroin seeking behavior and FosB expression in relevant brain regions. METHODS: Rat model of heroin relapse behaviors was developed with progressive fixed ratio program,and model rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a restraint group, a needle retention group, and a electroacupuncture group. The heroin seeking behavior was elicited by a small dose of heroin. FosB expression in relevnt brain region was assessed with immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: Tests on reinstatement of drug seeking behavior induced by heroin priming showed that compared with the restraint group, active pokes in the electroacupuncture group decreased significantly(P<0.05). Compared with the restraint group, the expression of FosB positive nuclei in Acd, Pcg and CeA of rats brain both in the electroacupuncture group and the needle retention group (P<0.05) decreased significantly. In LC, the expression of FosB positive nuclei in the needle retention group decreased significantly compared with the restraint group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Continuous acupuncture and needle retention attentuate the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviors induced by heroin priming, and the inhibitory effect may be mediated partially by the expression of FosB in relevant regions which are involved in the process of heroin addiction.
Amygdala ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Heroin Dependence ; metabolism ; psychology ; therapy ; Male ; Nucleus Accumbens ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the antisense c-fos oligonucleotides that control the expression of immediate-early gene c-fos in retina in order to better understand the mechanism by which antisense c-fos oligonucleotides induced myopia. In this study the signal transduction in the pathway linking visual experience and the regulation of the eye's growth was investigated. METHODS: Thirty-one 3-week guinea pigs were assigned into 3 groups: antisense and sense c-fos oligonucleotides were intravitreally injected every 3 days to the eyes of the experimental guinea pigs at different concentrations; and saline vehicle to control guinea pigs in the same way. The refraction and axial length of the eyes were measured before and after the treatment, and the immediate-early gene c-fos expression in the retina was quantified by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The moderate myopia was induced in high (1 nmol) and low (0.1 nmol) level of antisense c-fos oligonucleotide intravitreous injection (-5.425 D and -5.575 D, respectively) compared with the control ateral eyes. The refraction and axial length of the treated eyes increased, and the expression of immediate-early gene c-fos decreased significantly in the antisense c-fos oligonucleotides intravitreously injected eyes compared with the sense c-fos oligonucleotide intravitreously and saline vehicle injected eyes (P<0.01). The refraction and axial length were of no statistically significant differences among the sense c-fos oligonucleotides-treated eyes and saline-treated eyes and non-treated eyes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The obvious myopia can be induced by antisense c-fos oligonucleotides in guinea pigs; antisense c-fos oligonucleotides inhibit c-fos expression in the retina. Immediate-early gene c-fos may be a potential factor in the prevention of myopia and plays an important role in the signal transduction of the retina.
Animals ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; genetics ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microinjections ; Myopia ; chemically induced ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Retina ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of IL-13 on the differentiation and expression of transcription factor c-fos of human erythroleukemia cell line (HEL) cells.

METHODSReverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to observe the mRNA expression of IL-13 receptor a 1, GP i b, vWF and c-fos, and Western blot and cytometry were used to analyse their protein expression.

RESULTSIL-13 receptor a 1 was expressed on HEL cells. IL-13 (100 ng/ml ) up-regulated the mRNA expression of GP II b and vWF. The ratio of luminous absorption (LA) of GP I b to p-actin bands ( AB) was 1. 303 in control group, whereas was 2. 912 in experiment group; being 2. 23-fold higher than that in control group (P < 0. 05). The ratio of LA to AB for vWF was 0.217 in control group, and 0. 506 in experiment group; indicating a 2. 33-fold increase in experiment group (P <0. 05). The protein expression of GP I b and vWF was significantly increased in experiment group, compared with that in control group. IL-13 inducing the increased expression of c-fos mRNA and protein of HEL cells peaked at 30 min and 60 min, respectively. The ratio of LA to AB for c-fos was also increased at 30 min and 60 min (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONIL-13 prompts the differentiation of HEL cells and up-regulates the expression of c-fos.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-13 ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; metabolism ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Interleukin-13 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation ; von Willebrand Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the rules of protein expression of proto-oncogene (c-Fos/c-Jun) in different brain areas and nucleus of psychological stressed mice and the regulatory effect of modified Xiaoyao Pill (SXP).

METHODSThe mouse psychological stress model was established by electrical stimulation; SXP was administrated at the dose of 2 mg/g; the protein expression of c-Fos and c-Jun in different brain areas and nucleus, including hippocampus (CA1-4), central amygdaloid nucleus (CAN), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe protein expressions of c-Fos and c-Jun in all the tested brain areas of model mice 3 h after being stressed for 1, 3 or 5 times, were significantly higher than those of the normal mice (P < 0.01); After being stressed for one time, the expression at 1 h after stimulation was lower than that at 3 h after stimulation (P < 0.05), the expression in mice treated with SXP was lower than that in the untreated group, 3 h after three or five times of stress (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe protein expression of c-Fos and c-Jun began to rise 1 h after psychological stress and reached the peak at the 3rd h. That of c-Fos dropped to the normal level approximately after 6 h, but the dropping did not happen in expression of c-Jun, it remained on the high level unweakened after repeated stimulation; SXP can remarkably down-regulate the proto-oncogene (c-Fos and c-Jun) expressions after psychological stress in mice.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possible signal transduction mechanism of the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure in osteocytes.

METHODSAn animal model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis in rabbits was established. The expressions of c-fos, OPG and OPGL were detected by ultrasensitive S-P immunohistochemical method.

RESULTAt 4 and 8 days after distraction, distraction zone showed strong positive staining of c-fos, which were apparently higher than that in distraction zone of 2, 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. At 4 and 8 days after distraction and 2 weeks after consolidation, the expression of OPG was strong, and then wore off gradually at 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. Weak signals of OPGL could be detected at 6 weeks after consolidation only.

CONCLUSIONc-fos, OPG and OPGL are important regulators in distraction osteogenesis. c-fos is interrelated with the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure closely, OPG promotes new bone formation, while OPGL plays a more active role in bone remodeling.

Animals ; Mandible ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteocytes ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteoprotegerin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RANK Ligand ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation