Effects of Mycophenolic Acid on High Glucose-induced Expression of TGF-β and CTGF in Mesangial Cells

Mycophenolicacid(MPA),theactivemetab oliteofmycophenolatemofetil(MMF),isapo tent,non competitive,andreversibleinhibitorofinosine5'monophosphatedehydrogenase(IMP DH),therate limitingenzymefordenovopurinesynthesis,andthusinterfereswithcellularbiosyn thesisofguanosineanddeoxyguanosinenucleo tides.BesidesstronglyinhibitingtheproliferationofTlymphocyteandBlymphocyte,MPAhasbeenidentifiedtohavesomeotherbiologicalfunctionsinrecentyears,includinginterferingglycosylationofadhesionmolecule,relievin…     

High Glucose Promotes the CTGF Expression in Human Mesangial Cells via Serum and Glucocorticoid-induced Kinase 1 Pathway

The role of serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 （SGK1） pathway in the connective tissue growth factor （CTGF） expression was investigated in cultured human mesangial cells （HMCs） under high glucose. By using RT-PCR and Western blot, the effect of SGK1 on the CTGF expression in HMCs under high glucose was examined. Overexpression of active SGK1 in HMCs transfected with PIRES2-EGFP- S422D hSGK1 （SD） could increase the expression of phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF as compared with HMCs groups transfected with PIRES2-EGFP （FP） under high glucose or normal glucose. Overexpression of inactive SGK1 in HMCs transfected with PIRES2-EGFP- K127N hSGK1 （KN） could decrease phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF expression as compared with HMCs groups transfected with FP under high glucose. In conclusion, these results suggest that high glucose-induced CTGF expression is mediated through the active SGK1 in HMCs.     

Antagonistic Effects of Tranilast on Proliferation and Collagen Synthesis Induced by TGF-β2 in Cultured Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells

Primaryopen angleglaucoma (POAG)isalead ingcauseofblindness ,whichinvolvesopticneuropa thyaccompaniedbycharacteristicvisualfielddefectsandisoftenassociatedwithelevatedintraocularpres sureduetodisturbanceofaqueoushumoroutflowthroughthetrabecularmeshwork …     

Study on the efficacy and safety of Xueyou Mixture (血友合剂) in treating hemophilia

Objective:To observe the effect of Xueyou Mixture(血友合剂,XYM) on blood coagulation factors and its safety in treating hemophilia.Methods:To the randomly selected 65 inpatients of hemophilia,XYM was administered accompanied with intravenous dripping of liver cell growth factor 60-100 mg once a day to protect the liver,with no blood products like concentrated Ⅷ and FⅨ factors or blood plasma given.The treatment lasted for 3 weeks.The short-term eff icacy and adverse reactions were observed.The long-term efficacy in patients was observed in a follow-up study of 6-12 months after they were discharged from the hospital but continuously took XYM orally.Results:The short-term markedly effective rate in the patients was 95.38%(62/65).After they were treated for 3 weeks,the level of FⅧ factor activity increased in 56 patients of type A from(3.32±2.21) % to(4.18±2.23) %,and in 9 of type B from(4.92±1.81) % to(5.64±1.96) %.Compared with that before treatment,the difference was signif icant in both of them(P<0.01).No obvious adverse reaction was found in the treatment period.The follow-up study showed that in 22 patients of type A,the FⅧ factor activity ratio increased from(3.25±2.11) % to(6.31±2.16) %,(8.36±1.05) %,and(16.38±2.71) % in the 2nd,3rd and 6th month after discharge respectively,all showing significant difference to that before treatment(P<0.01);and in 4 patients of type B,it increased from(4.15±2.26) % to 7.8% and 11.6%(mean value) in the 2nd and 6th month respectively.Conclusion:XYM could raise the activity of factors Ⅷ and Ⅸ in patients with hemophilia,and the degree of the rise is related with the duration of the therapy,with no obvious adverse reaction,which strikes out a new path and new train of thinking for the treatment of the disease by non-blood preparation.     

Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase and TIMP-1 Expression by TGF-β1 in Cultured Human RPE Cells

Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)are a familyof zinc binding,calcium-dependent endopeptidases thatfunction by degrading extracellular matrix(ECM)components.The functional effects of these enzymesare in part controlled byinteractions withtissueinhibi-tors of metalloproteinases(TI MPs)acting as naturalMMPinhibitors.Aprecise balance between MMPandTI MPactivities may be i mportant for the integrity ofECMcomponents[1].It shows that the expression andactivity of MMPs could be regulated by va…     

Phenotypic Modulation of Mesangial Cells in Diabetic Rats and Effect of Tujian Mixture (菟箭合剂) on It

Phenotypic Modulation of Mesangial Cells in Diabetic Rats and Effect of Tujian Mixture (菟箭合剂) on It@尹德海$Peking Union Medical College Hospital!Beijing (100730) @梁晓春$Peking Union Medical College Hospital!Beijing (100730) @郑法雷$Peking Union Medical College Hospital!Beijing (100730) @朴元林$Peking Union Medical College Hospital!Beijing (100730)…     

Effects of High Concentration Glucose on the Expression of NF-κB, Bax and Cytochrome C and Apoptosis of Islet Cells in Mice

The roles of NF-kappaB （NF-κB） expression, Bax activity and cytochrome C （Cyt C） release, apoptosis of islet cells induced by high concentration glucose were explored in vitro. Pancreatic islet cells, which were isolated from Kunming mice, were cultured with different concentrations of glucose in DMEM, and divided into the following groups： G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6 groups, corresponding to the glucose concentrations of 5.6, 7.8, 11.1, 16.7, 22.5, and 27.6 mmol/L, respectively. After culture for 120 h, insulin secretion was evaluated by radioimmunoassay, and the NF-rd3 expression was detected by immunocytochemistry. Bax activity and Cyt C release were measured by immunofluorescence, and apoptosis was examined by Hoechst33342 assay. The results showed that in GI, G2 and G3 groups, insulin secretion was enhanced with the increase of glucose concentration, and the NF-κB expression was also increased （P〈0.05）, but Bax activity, Cyt C release and apoptosis rate showed no significant difference among them. However, in G4, G5, and G6 groups, apoptosis rate of islet cells, NF-rd3 expression, Bax activity, and Cyt C release were all significantly increased, and insulin secretion was impaired as compared with G1, G2, and G3 groups （P〈0.05）. It was concluded that the exposure of islet cells to high glucose could induce islet cells apoptosis as well as impaired insulin secretion. The NF-κB signaling pathway and mitochondria pathway in islet cells might play some roles in the progressive loss of islet cells in diabetes. The inhibition of the NF-κB expression could be an effective strategy for protecting pancreatic islet cells.     

Up-regulation of HIF-1α and VEGF Expression by Elevated Glucose Concentration and Hypoxia in Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Summary： In order to explore the effect of high glucose concentration and high glucose concentration with hypoxia on the production of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）, human RPE cells were cultured in 5,56 mmol/L glucose （control group）, 5.56 mmol/L glucose with 150 !a mol/L COCl2 （hypoxic group）, 25 mmol/L glucose （high glucose group） and 25 mmol/L glucose with 150 μmol/L COCl2 （combination group）. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF mRNAs. Western blot analysis was used to measure the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins. Although the small amount of HIF-1α protein was able to be detected in high glucose group but not in control group, there was no significant difference between the expression of HIF-1α mRNA of RPE cells in high glucose group and that of RPE cells in control group. As compared with RPE cells in control group, the mRNA expression and the protein synthesis of VEGF in high glucose group were up-regulated. As compared with RPE cells in hypoxic group, the expression of HIF-1α mRNA of RPE cells in combination group was not different, but the protein synthesis of HIF-1α, the mRNA expression and the protein synthesis of VEGF were more obviously up-regulated. In conclusion, high concentration glucose mainly influence the protein synthesis of HIF-1α of RPE cell, and HIF-1α protein is able to be accumulated in high concentration glucose. Under hypoxia, the HIF-1α protein induced by high concentration glucose is more stable, and the expression of VEGF is obviously increased. It is suggested that high concentration glucose may play a role in retinal neovascularization, especially at ischemia stage of diabetic retinopathy.     

Effect of Aike Mixture(艾可合剂) on the Inflammatory Infiltration in Patients with Chronic Prostatitis Type Ⅲ A

Objective:To observe the effect of Aike Mixture(艾可合剂,AKM) on prostatic inflammatory infiltration in patients with chronic prostatitis typeⅢA(ⅢA-CP/CPPS) and evaluate its anti-inflammatory action. Methods:A total of 60 patients with 1 A-CP/CPPS suitable to operation and differentiated as Chinese medicine Gan(肝)-qi stagnancy syndrome type were selected.They were assigned with the random number table to two groups equally.Before operation,the patients in the treated group were administered with Proscar comb...     

Effect of Dexamethasone and Aquaporin-1 Antisense Oligonucleotides on the Aquaporin-1 Expression in Cultured Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells

The changes in the expression of aquaporin-1 （AQP1） mRNA and protein in cultured human trabecular meshwork （HTM） cells treated with dexamethasone and transfected with antisense oligonucleotides （AS-ODN） were studied, and the implication of AQP1 regulation in corticosteroid-glaucoma and the possibility of AS-ODN inhibiting the AQP1 expression were evaluated. The cultured HTM cells in vitro were treated with different concentrations of dexamethasone and transfected with oligonucleotides for 5 days respectively. Then, total RNA and protein of HTM cells were extracted. The changes of AQP1 mRNA and protein were demonstrated qualitatively and quantitatively by RT-PCR and Western blot. Band intensities were detected by imaging analysis. There was a parallel relationship between the results of RT-PCR and those of Western blot. The expression levels of AQP1 mRNA and protein in dexamethasone-treated groups were increased initially and decreased later as dexamethasone concentration was stepped up. In the 0.04 μg/mL and 0.4 μg/mL groups, the levels of AQP1 were higher than in control group （0 μg/mL）. In the 4 μg/ mL and 40 μg/mL groups, the AQP1 expression levels were lower than in control group. AS-ODN could down-regulate the expression of AQP1 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. At 5 μg/mL, down-regulation efficiency reached the maximum. There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of AQP1 mRNA and protein between all sense oligonucleotides groups and control group. It was suggested that dexamethasone may induce the changes of the AQP1 expression in HTM cells to be involved in the occurrence of corticosteroid-glaucoma. AS-ODN can down-regulate the AQP1 expression in HTM cells to some extent.     

Effects of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on TGF-β and MCP-1 in Injured Lung of Rats

The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） on bleomycin （BLM）-induced lung injury of rats and the effect on transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）. MSCs were isolated from SD rats. The recipients rats were divided randomly into four groups： lung injury group, MSC treatment group, MSC control group and normal control group. Rats of lung injury group and MSC treatment group were perfused with BLM of 5mg/kg （0.2-0.3ml） intratracheally, others were perfused with normal saline. After twelve hours, rats of MSC treatment group and MSC control group were injected MSCs of 0.5×10^6per rat into tail vein. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphology in lung tissue. ELISA was used to detect the contents of TGF-β and MCP-1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）. Collagen content of the lung tissue was assessed by hydroxyproline （HYP） concentration. It was found that the thickness of alveolar wall and lung interstitium were significantly reduced in the rats of MSC treatment group compared with the lung injury group. HYP content in lung interstitium, TGF-β and MCP-1 in serum and BALF were increased significantly in rats of lung injury group two weeks after BLM perfusion, but they were reduced significantly in the rats of MSC treatment group compared with the injured rats. These observations provide evidence that MSCs engraftment could alleviate bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis in rats and the therapeutic effects might relate with the decrease of TGF-β and MCP-1.     

Inhibitory Effects of Parthenolide on the Angiogenesis Induced by Human Multiple Myeloma Cells and the Mechanism

The inhibitory effects of parthenolide （PTL） on angiogenesis induced by multiple myeloma （MM） cells in vitro and the mechanism were investigated. Human MM line RPMI8226 cells were cultured in vitro. The effects of MM culture supernatant on the migration and tubule formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） treated with PTL were observed. By using Western blot, the expression of p65 and IкB-α in MM cells was detected. RT-PCR was used to assay the expression of VEGF, IL-6, MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA in MM cells. ELISA was used to measure the levels of VEGF and IL-6 in MM cell culture supernatant. The expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in MM cells was examined by immunohistochemistry. （1） In 3.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 μmol/L PTL groups the number of migrated cells was 310±56, 207±28, 127±21 and 49±10 respectively, which was significantly different from that in positive control group （598±47） （P〈0.01）. In 3.5 and 5.0 μmol/L PTL groups the areas of capillary-like structures were 0.092±0.003 and 0.063±0.002 mm2, significantly less than in positive control group （0.262±0.012 mm2） （P〈0.01）, but in 7.5 and 10 μmol/L PTL groups no capillary-like structures were found; （2） After treatment with different concentrations of PTL for 48 h, the expression of p65 protein was gradually decreased, while that of IкB-α was gradually enhanced with the increased concentration of PTL; （3） After treatment with 3.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 μmol/L PTL for 48 h, the VEGF levels in the supernatant were 2373.4±392.2, 1982.3±293.3, 1247.0±338.4 and 936.5±168.5 pg/mL respectively, significantly different from those in positive control group （2729±440.0 pg/mL） （P〈0.05）. After treatment with 7.5 and 10 μmol/L PTL, the IL-6 levels in the culture supernatant were 59.6±2.8 and 41.4±9.8 pg/mL respectively, signifi- cantly lower than in positive control group （1287.3±43.5 pg/mL） （P〈0.05）; （4） RT-PCR revealed that PTL could significantly inhibit the expression of V     

Studies on the Cultivation and Transplantation.of Epidermal Cells:Growth of Cultured Human Epidermal Keratinocytes in Three Culture Models

The growth of 111 cultures of human epidermal keratinocytes inexplant culture,dispersed cell culture and 3T3 feeder layer culturewas studied.The rate of monolayer formation was 80.0% in 3T3feeder layer cultures,52.5% in explant cultures and only 11.8% indispersed cell cultures.It is concluded that among the modelsstudied the 3T3 feeder layer culture is the most effective andpossesses many advantages for the cultivation of human keratino-cytes;the explant culture would be a simple and easy method if wecan effectively control the contamination by fibroblasts.The growthpattern of cultured keratinocytes in each model was described.     

Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on Apoptosis of Nervous Cells and Expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in the Spinal Cord of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits

To study the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction （补阳还五汤BYHWD） on spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury and explore the possible mechanism involved. Method： 27 model rabbits with ischemia-reperfusion injury were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group and a BYHWD-pre-treated group. 24 and 48 hours after the ischemia-reperfusion injury, the motor functions of hind limbs were observed, the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and Bax in the spinal tissue were investigated with the immunohistochemical methods and apoptosis of nervous cells with TUNEL straining; and the malondialdehyde （MDA） level and superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity in the spinal cord were then determined. Results： BYHWD can improve significantly the motor function of hind limbs, increase SOD activity and decrease the level of MDA, up-regulate expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulated expression of Bax, and depress apoptosis of nervous ceils in the spinal cord caused by the ischemia reperfusion in the rabbits. Conclusion： BYHWD has a protective action on the spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the mechanisms may be related to the decrease of lipid peroxidation and inhibition of apoptosis of nervous cells.     

Effects of Nephritis No.3 Recipe on Nitric Oxide,Nitric Oxide Synthase Secreted by Cultured Mesangial Cells in Rats and the Gene Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Objective:To explore the effect of the Nephritis No.3(N-3)recipe on nitric oxide(NO),nitric oxide synthase(NOS)secreted by cultured mesangial cells(MC)and its gene expression of the in-ducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS).Methods:The drug(nephritis No.3)-containing serum was preparedwith serum pharmacological technique,and then was applied to react on mesangial cells cultured In fetalcalf serum(FCS)and cells cultured in FCS plus lipopolysaccharide.To observe the secretion of NO andNOS and the gene expression of iNOS by means of RT-PCR.Results:Under the two kinds of culture con-ditions,the content of NO and NOS in the groups with drug-containing serum were higher than thosewithout drug-containing serum(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expression of iNOS mRNA was up-regula-ted too.Conclusion:The N-3 could significantly promote the secretion of NO and NOS and the mRNA ex-pression of iNOS in rats.     

Shp-2／NF-κB Pathway Mediates the Inhibition of Lipoxin A4 onIL-1β-induced Synthesis of IL-6 in Glomerular Mesangial Cells

Objective: To examine whether lipoxin A4 (LXA4) has an antagonistic effect on IL-1β-induced synthesis of IL-6 in glomerular mesangial cells, and to explore the molecular mechanisms of signal pathway in LXA4 actions. Methods: The glomerular mesangial cells of rat were cultured and treated with IL-1β with or without preincubation with LXA4 at different concentrations. The amount of IL-6 in the supernatant of cells was analyzed by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expressions of mRNA of IL-6 were determined by RT-PCR. The expressions of Src homology 2( SH2 ) containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase 2(Shp-2) were assessed by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Activities of DNA-binding of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) were measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA). Results:IL-1β- snulated secretion of protein and expression of mRNA of IL-6 in mesangial cells were inhibited by LXA4 in a dose-dependent manner. LXA4 antagonizes the phosphorylation of Shp-2 and activities of NF-κB induced by IL-1β Conclusion: LXA4 antagonists IL-1β-induced synthesis of IL-6 in glomerular mesangial cellsthrough the mechanism of Shp-2/NF-κB pathway-dependent signal transduction.     

Effects of L-Tetrahydropalmatine on NOSⅢ Gene Expression in Hypoxia and Cultured Porcine Cerebral Arterial Endothelial Cells during Reoxygenation

L- Tetrahydropalmatine (L- THP) ,a kind of al-kaloid extracted from traditional Chinese medicineRhizoma corydalis,posseses sedative,analgesic andhypnotic effects.Recently,it has been demonstratedthat L- THPalso had calcium- antagonistic and antiar-rythmic effects.Studies showed that L- THP had aprotective effect on acute focal and global cerebral is-chemia- reperfusion injury[1,2 ] .Many studies provedthat the production of NO wasincreased significantlyduring ischemia- reperfusion.The o…     

Effects of Danhong Injection(丹红注射液) and Its Main Components on Anticoagulation and Fibrinolysis in Cultured Vein Endothelial Cells

Objective: To observe the effects of Danhong Injection(丹红注射液) and its main components, including daiclzein and hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA), on the anticoagulation, fibrinolysis, anti-apoptosis in hypoxia model of vein endothelial cells(VECs). Methods: VECs were prepared and were put in a hypoxia environment, which consisted of mixed gas of 95% N_2 and 5% CO_2 mixed gas, when reached confluent culture. Five groups used different treatments, including normal control group, hypoxia group, daiclzein group, HSYA group and Danhong Injection group. The VECs were identified by fluorescence double labeling methods. The morphology was observed by a phase contrast microscopy. The effects of Danhong Injection, daiclzein and HSYA on 6 keto prostaglandin F1α(6-keto-PGF1α) level was measured by the method of radioimmunoassay(RIA). Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity was tested by water soluble tetrazolium salt. The content of malondialdehyde(MDA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid. The activities of tissue-type plasminogen activator(t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI) were measured by the method of chromogenic substrate. The contents of endothelin(ET) and nitric oxide(NO) were detected by non-equilibrium RIA and enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Cells apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Compared with the normal control group, the floating cells number, PAI activity, ET and MDA contents, and cells apoptosis rate in the culture solution of hypoxia group were all significantly increased, whereas the 6-keto-PGF1α and NO contents, and t-PA and SOD activities were decreased significantly(P0.01). Compared with the hypoxia group, Danhong Injection markedly increased the 6-keto-PGF1α content and SOD activity, regulated PAI and t-PA activities, ET and NO contents, and decreased MDA content and cells apoptosis rate(P0.05 or P0.01). Conclusions: Danhong Injection and its main components played an important role in protecting primary VECs from hypoxic damage by regulating the secretion and vasomotor function of VECs. The function of Danhong Injection was most remarkable.     

Effects of Houttuynia Cordata Thumb on Expression of BMP-7 and TGF-β1 in the Renal Tissues of Diabetic Rats

Objective： To explore the effects of Houttuynia Cordata Thumb （HCT 鱼腥草 Yu Xing Cao） on expression of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） and bone morphogenetic protein-7 （BMP-7） in the renal tissues of diabetic rats. Methods： The diabetic rats induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin（STZ） were randomly divided into a model group, a HCT group and a lotensin group, with normal rats designated as the controls. 8 weeks later, the ratio of kidney weight to body weight, the glomerular area, the excretion of β 2-microglobin （β2-MG） in 24-hr urine, the albumin excretion in 24-hr urine, and creatinine clearance rate （CCR） were investigated. The expression of TGF- β 1, BMP-7 and collagen I in the renal tissues was observed with the immunohistochemical method and by the semi-quantitative assay. Results： The overgrowth of glomerulus, the excretion of β 2-MG in 24-hr urine, the albumin excretion rate in 24-hr urine and CCR in the HCT group significantly reduced （P〈0.05）, and the expression of TGF-β1 and collagen I significantly decreased （P〈0.05）, but BMP-7 significantly increased （P〈0.05） in the HCT group as compared with those in the model group, with no significant difference as compared with the lotensin group （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： HCT has a protective effect on the renal tissues in diabetic rats, which is probably correlated with the decrease of the expression of TGF-β1 and collagen I and with the increase of the expression of BMP-7 in the renal tissues.