Expression of Serum and Glucocorticoid-inducible Kinase1 in Diabetic Rats and Its Modulation by Fluvastatin

The expression of serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase in the renal cortex of diabetic rats was examined, and the function of signal transduction mediated by SGK1 in diabetic nephropathy and its modulation by fluvastatin were also investigated. 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group （n = 8）, diabetic nephropathy group （n = 8） and fluvastatin-treated diabetic nephropathy group （15 mg/kg/d, n=8）. The metabolic parameters were measured at the 8th week. The expression of transforming growth factor β1 （TGF-β1） and fibronectin （FN） was immunohistochemically examined. The expression of SGK1 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, and CTGF mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. As compared to DN, blood glucose, 24-h urinary protein, Cer and kidney weight index were all decreased and the weight was increased obviously in group F. At the same time, mesangial cells and extracellular matrix proliferation were relieved significantly. The levels of cortex SGK1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated, and both TGF-β1 and FN were down-regulated by fluvastatin. The mRNA of SGK1 was positively correlated with the CTGF, TGF-β1 and FN. SGK1 expression is markedly up-regulated in the renal cortex of DN group and plays an important role in the development and progress of diabetic nephropathy by means of signal transduction. Fluvastatin suppressed the increased SGKlmRNA expression in renal cortex and postponed the development of diabetic nephropathy.     

Prevalence of age-related cataract in Ganzi and Shanghai. The Epidemiological Study Group.

It has been reported that the prevalence of cataract is much higher in plateau than that in plain regions. But the data are incomplete and can not be compared because of different examination methods and different diagnostic criteria. A small group of ophthalmologists was sent to Ganzi, Sichuan Province at the altitude of 3.393 m, and to Qinpu in the suburb of Shanghai which is at the sea level. In Ganzi 3,905 (91.97%) people including 822 Hans and 3,083 Zang and in Qinpu 3,101 (93.20%) were studied. Age-related cataract was diagnosed when there are cortical or nuclear, or mixed opacities; and aphakia due to previous extraction of age-related cataract. Direct method was used to standardize the data. The prevalence of age-related cataract in Ganzi is about 82% higher than that in Qinpu in all age groups; from age 16-60, the prevalence of age-related cataract in Ganzi is about 180% (in Hans) and 160% (in Zangs) higher than that in Qinpu. There is no significant difference in the prevalence of age-related cataract between the ethnic groups in Ganzi. In Ganzi, the sunshine hours per year are 1.28 times that in Qinpu, and the global radiation in Ganzi is 1.47 times that in Qinpu. The higher prevalence of cataract in Ganzi than in Qinpu may be due to the greater exposure to the sunshine on the Tibetan plateau. The differences in prevalence between males and females and between indoor and outdoor work are discussed.

     

Expression of Pinl and Ki67 in Cervical Cancer and Their Significance

In order to investigate the expression levels of Pinl mRNA and protein in cervical cancer and its association with Ki67 and their clinical significance, amplification of Pinl gene was examined by RT-PCR, and the expression of both Pinl and Ki67 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in cervical cancer tissues. It was shown that the expression levels of Pinl were higher in cervical cancer than in normal cervical tissues （P〈0.05）. The expression of Pinl protein was increased progressively along with the disease process from normal cervix to CIN and to cervical cancer （P〈0.05）. No significant difference in the Pinl expression was found between disease stages （FIGO）, pathological grades or pelvic lymph node metastasis status （P〉0. 05）. The expression of Pin1 was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix （P〈0.05）. In cervical cancer, the overexpression of Pinl was positively correlated with that of Ki67 （P〈 0. 05）. These results suggested that the overexpression of Pinl was closely related with cancer cell proliferation or progression of cervical cancer and contributed to oncogenesis. Pinl may serve as a potential marker for cervical cancer diagnosis.     

Effect of Coiquhoumia Root on the Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β in Mesangiai Proliferation Giomerulonephritis Model

Summary： To study the efficacy and the mechanism of Colquhoumia root （ Tripterygium hypoglaucure （Le,vL） Hutch） in the treatment of mesangial proliferation glomerulonephritis （MsPGN）, SD rats were injected with anti-thymoeyte serum （ATS） to make MsPGN model （anti-Thyl model）. The rats were then divided into 3 groups： normal control group, anti-Thyl model group and treatment group. Histopathologieal （HE, PAS）, immunohistoehemieal, RT-PCR technique and computer imaging analysis system were used to evaluate mesangial matrix production, the expression of TGF-β protein and mRNA in the tissues of kidney. Our result showed that proteinuria and the ratio of extraeellular matrix/glomerular capillaries area （ECM/CA） were increased significantly in model group. The expression of both TGF-β protein and mRNA in glomeruli was much higher in model group than in control group （P〈0.01）. After the treatment with Colquhoumia root, proteinuria, ECM/CA and the expression of both TGF-β1 protein and mRNA in glomeruli were significantly decreased in treatment group as compared with those in model group. It is concluded that Colquhoumia root is effective in reducing proteinuria and mesangial matrix proliferation in MsPGN and it may achieve these effects by inhibiting the expressions of TGF-β1 protein and mRNA of mesangial cells.     

Effects of Chloroquine on GFAP, PCNA and Cyclin D1 in Hippocampus and Cerebral Cortex of Rats with Seizures Induced by Pentylenetetrazole

The effects of chloroquine on glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP）, proliferation cell nuclear antigen （PCNA） and Cyclin D1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats with seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole （PTZ） were observed in the present study. Forty-eight male adult Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into control group, chloroquine intervening group, and PTZ group. The behavior and electroencephalogram （EEG） were observed and recorded. GFAP and PCNA were examined with immunohistochemistry. The content of Cyclin D1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex was inspected with Western blot. The results showed no seizure activity in the control group, severe seizure activity in the PTZ group （Ⅳ - Ⅴ degree）, and slight seizure activity （ Ⅰ -- Ⅲ degree） in the chloroquine intervening group （P〈0.05）. EEG recordings showed no epileptic spikes in the control group, high amplitude with fast frequency in the PTZ group, low amplitude and slow frequency in the chloroquine intervening group. The expression of GFAP and the positive index of PCNA in the PTZ group were higher than those of control group （P 〈0.05 and P〈0.01, respectively）. No differences in GFAP expression and PCNA index were observed between chloroquine intervening and control groups （P〉0.05）. The content of Cyclin D1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex was significantly higher in the PTZ group than in control and chloroquine intervening groups （P〈 0.05）. Therefore, it is considered that chloroquine, by inhibiting the functions and proliferation of glial cells in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, can alleviate the seizure activities. These results suggest that chloroquine may be an ideal anticonvulsant in preventing and treating epilepsy.     

Effects of tetrandrine on phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells and expression of p38 MAPK as well as MKP-1 after intimal injury of rabbit carotid arteries

Objective： To study the effects of tetrandrine （Tet） on phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMCs） and expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38MAPK） as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 （MKP-1） after vascular intimal injury. Methods： HE staining was used to analyze vascular morphology of sham-injured group, injured group and Tet-treated group at day 28. lmmunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR were respectively used to detect the expression change of smooth muscle a-actin （SMa-actin）, proliferation cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）, p38MAPK and MKP-1 of injured group and Tet group at days 7, 14 and 28 after balloon injury. Results： ① All layers of vascular wall in sham-injured group were intact at day 28. The neointimal area was significantly increased and the lumen area notably decreased in injured group at day 28. The neointimal proliferation in Tet treated group was less than that in injured group, and the lumen area of Tet group was significantly increased than that of injured group at day 28. ②Compared with the injured group, the expression of SMa-actin, PCNA, p38MAPK and MKP-1 of vascular wall in Tet group was no difference, and the neointimal proliferation condition was also basically as same as injured group at day 7 after injury. The expression of PCNA and p38MAKP in Tet group was obviously lower than that in injured group, and the expression of MKP-1 in Tet group was obviously higher than that in injured group at days 14 and 28 after injury. The expression of SMa-actin in Tet group was slightly higher than that in injured group at days 14 and 28 after injury. Conclusions： Tet could reduce neointimal proliferation by inhibiting VSMCs phenotypic modulation and p38MAPK signaling transduction pathway as well as its down regulation.     

Local Expression of Vaginal Th1 and Th2 Cytokines in Murine Vaginal Candidiasis under Different Immunity Conditions

To investigate the expression of vaginal Th1 and Th2 cytokines in rats with experimental vaginal candidiasis under different immune conditions, ICR murine vaginal candidiasis model was established and immno-suppressed murine models of vaginal cadidiasis were established in estrogen-treated mice. Non-estrogen-treated mice were used as controls. The mRNA level of Th1 （IL-2）/Th2 （IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β1） cytokines in murine vaginal tissues was determined by RT-PCR. The cykotine in local tissues was increased to different extent under normal immune condition. IL-2 mRNA was increased during early stage of infection, while IL-10 was increased transiently during late stage of infection. TGF-β1 production was found to be increased persistently. At same time, the expression of IL-2 mRNA was suppressed in immno-suppressed group, and the level of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β1 were higher than the normal immunity group to different degree during infection. The high level of IL-2 mRNA during early stage of infection was associated with clearance of mucosal Candidia albicans （C. albicans）, and its expression suppressed leading to decreased clearance of mucosal C. albican in immuno-suppression. The over-expression of IL-4 and IL-10 could significantly enhance the susceptibility to C. albicans infection in mice.     

Differential expression of βig-h3 in human hepatoma cell lines

Objective：To observe the differential expression of TGF-β-induced gene human clone 3 （βig- h3） in human hepatoma cell lines. Methods：Human hepatoma cells HHCC, 7721, T7721 constructed by stably transfectiug HAb18G/CD147 cDNA into 7721 and normal human liver cell QZG were cultured as previously. RT-PCR and western blot were used to investigate the differential expression of βig-h3 in human hepatoma cell lines and normal liver cell. Results ：The results of RT-PCR suggested that the expression of βig-h3 mRNA in human hepatoma cells was higher than that in normal human liver cell QZG（P〈0.01）, and its expression level in human hepatoma cells in turn was HHCC〉T7721〉7721. Moreover, the similar results of βig-h3 protein expression were testified by western blot. Conclusion：This study demonstrates that the expression of βig-h3 in hepatoma cell lines is higher than that in normal liver cell QZG, which provides a sound basis for exploring the function of βig-h3 in processes of adhesion and metastasis of human hepatoma cells.     

Metformin inhibits nuclear factor-κB activation and inflammatory cytokines expression induced by high glucose via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation in rat glomerular mesangial cells in vitro

Background The renoprotective mechanisms of adenosine monophosphate （AMP）-activated protein kinase （AMPK） agonist-metformin have not been stated clearly.We hypothesized that metformin may ameliorate inflammation via AMPK interaction with critical inflammatory cytokines The aim of this study was to observe the effects of metformin on expression of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）,intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and transforming growth factor-beta 1 （TGF-β1） induced by high glucose （HG） in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells （MCs）.Methods MCs were cultured in the medium with normal concentration glucose （group NG,5.6 mmol/L）,high concentration glucose （group HG,25 mmol/L） and different concentrations of metformin （group M1,M2,M3）.After 48-hour exposure,the supernatants and MCs were collected.The expression of NF-κB,MCP-1,ICAM-1,and TGF-β1 mRNA was analyzed by real time polymerase chain reaction.Westem blotting was used to detect the expression of AMPK,phospho-Thr-172 AMPK （p-AMPK）,NF-κB p65,MCP-1,ICAM-1,and TGF-β1 protein.Results After stimulated by HG,the expression of NF-κB,MCP-1,ICAM-1,TGF-β1 mRNA and protein of MCs in group HG increased significantly compared with group NG （P ＜0.05）.Both genes and protein expression of NF-κB,MCP-1,ICAM-1,TGF-β1 of MCs induced by high glucose were markedly reduced after metformin treatment in a dose-dependent manner （P ＜0.05）.The expression of p-AMPK increased with the rising of metformin concentration,presenting the opposite trend,while the level of total-AMPK protein was unchanged with exposure to HG or metformin.Conlusion Metformin can suppress the expression of NF-κB,MCP-1,ICAM-1 and TGF-β1 of glomerular MCs induced by high glucose via AMPK activation,which may partlv contribute to its reno-protection.     

Expression change of nuclear receptor corepressor （NCoR） in androgen independence prostate cancer and its clinical significance

Objective：To explore the expression of nuclear receptor corepressor （NCoR） in androgen independence prostate cancer （AIPC） and its clinical significance. Methods：The expression of NCoR and androgen receptor （AR） in prostatie tissues, from 15 cases with AIPC, 20 cases with androgen dependence prostate cancer （ADPC） and 20 cases with benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH）, was detected by immunohistoehemistry respectively. Results：The expression of NCoR was observed mainly in the nucleus and slightly in the nucleus. The positive cell percentage of NCoR in AIPC was significantly lower than that in ADPC and BPH （P〈0. 01）. The NCoR expression was significantly lower in low differentiation prostate cancer （Pca） than that in high differentiation Pca （P〈0. 05）. The rate of NCoR expression was significantly higher in low stage Pca than that in high stage Pca （P〈0. 05）. AR, expressing in the nucleus, was found to be negative in one case of AIPC, while was strongly expressed in other cases of AIPC, and all eases of ADPC and BPH. Conclusion： The transition to AIPC of Pea may be correlated with the decrease of NCoR protein.     

Analysis of transforming growth factor β signaling in chronic rhinosinusitis

Background It has been reported that there is a significant difference in the local tissue concentration of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β1 between chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps （CRSsNP） and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps （CRSwNP） patients. TGF-β has been reported to play an important role in regulating epithelial cell repair in lower airway remodeling and may be a critical factor involved in the remodeling process of chronic rhinosinusitis （CRS）. Methods Ethmoidal mucosal samples collected from CRS and healthy control patients were analyzed for TGF-β1, TGF-β receptor I, TGF-βreceptor II, Smad3, phospho-Smad3, Smad7, and Smad anchor for receptor activation by Western blotting analysis. The proliferation of sinonasal epithelial cells at baseline and after TGF-β1 and/or EGF stimulation was evaluated by the MTT assay. Results In CRSsNP, TGF-β1, TGF-β receptor I, TGF-β receptor II, and Smad3 protein levels were significantly higher than controls. In CRSwNP, TGF-β1, Smad3, and pSmad3 protein levels were significantly lower than controls. Smad7 protein was significantly higher in CRS than controls. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the baseline proliferation levels of sinonasal epithelial cells were lower in CRS than controls. Conclusions CRSwNP is characterized by a lower level of TGF-signaling compared with the control, In CRSsNP, although the upstream signaling of TGF-β was enhanced, the high Smad7 protein expression may restrain the downstream signaling components （e.g., pSmad3） and the TGF-β antiproliferative effect on sinonasal epithelium. The difference in the local tissue concentration of TGF-β1 between CRSsNP and CRSwNP patients did not result in significant differences in epithelial proliferation.     

Expression and Significance of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Caspase-3 in Different Phases of Human Hemangioma

Summary： The relationship between Bcl-2, Bax, Fas, caspase-3 and development of hemangioma and the molecular mechanism was investigated. By using immunohistochemical S-P method, proliferating cell nuclear antigen was detected. According to the classification of Mulliken in combination with PCNA expression, 27 cases were identified as proliferating hemangioma and 22 cases as involutive hemangioma. Five normal skin tissues around the tumor tissue served as controls. By using immunohistochemical technique, the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Fax and Caspase-3 was detected. The cells expressing Bcl-2, Bax, Fax and cappase-3 were identified as hemangioma endothelia by immunohistochemical staining of Ⅷ factor. The average absorbance （A） and average positive area rate of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and caspase-3 expression were measured by using HPIAS-2000 imaging analysis system. The results showed that the expression of Bcl-2 in the endothelia of proliferating hemangioma was significantly higher that in involutive degenerative hemangioma endothelia and vascular endothelia of normal skin tissue （P〈0.01）. The expression of Bax, Fas and Caspase-3 in the endothelia of involutive hemangioma was obviously higher than in the endothelia of proliferating hemangioma and normal skin tissue （P〈0.01）. The expression of BAx and Fas in endothelia of proliferating hemangioma was higher than in those of normal skin tissue （P〈0.05）. It was suggested that Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and caspase-3 might be involved in the development and involution of hemangioma. Bcl-2 could promote the growth of hemangioma by inhibiting apoptosis of endothelia. Bax, Fas and caspase-3 promote the switch of hemangioma from proliferation to involution by inducing the apoptosis of hemangioma endothelia.