Effects of tacrolimus on infection of Friend murine leukemia virus to Fυ-4 gene heterozygous mice

INTRODUCTION Tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressive drug,has been widely used in the prevention of the organtransplantation rejection reaction and the therapy ofautoimmune disease[1], and so on. During the resentyears, many researches have indicated that this drugmight have extensive potential effects in microbialinfections, for example, promoting most bacterial andviral infections[2-5], but inhibiting the infections of someviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),cyto…     

Mechanism of the inhibitory effect of endogenous histamine on epilepsy in rats

Clinical data demonstrated that long-term epilepsy, especially among children, or ingesting anticonvulsant drugs over time are likely to result in cognitive deficits (e. g. memory or attention problems as well as other CNS side effects such as psychomotor speed abnormalities, somnolence, asthenia, and dizziness. New drug therapy has been expected. The histaminergic neuron system seems to be involved in various physiological and behavioral functions including sleep - wake cycles, stress behavior, neuroendocrine, learning and memory through histamine HI, H2 and H3 receptors. The role of brain histamine in regulating seizure susceptibility has been studied, and a possible anticonvulsant action of endogenous histamine has been postulated     

Hypoglycemic efficacy of chitosan-coated insulin liposomes after oral administration in mice

INTRODUCTION In the past two decades the potential usefulnessof liposomes as drug carriers for improving enteral ab-sorption of poorly absorbed drugs including peptidedrugs such as insulin has attracted considerable interest.These phospholipid vesicles are capable of encapsulat-ing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs; they arebiodegradable and are not toxic in vivo. The drugsencapsulated in liposomes are sufficiently protectedfrom enzymatic attack and immune recognition[1]. Li-po…     

Acetazolamide inhibits aquaporin-1 protein expression and angiogenesis

INTRODUCTION Recently the medical remedy for malignant tumorhas been concentrated to cut off the tumor nutritionsupply such as inhibiting the angiogenesis and otheraspects[1]. Angiogenesis, the formation of new bloodvessels, is essential for tumor progression and meta-stasis. Vigorous neovascularization, or angiogenesis,has been associated with a poor prognosis for cancersarising at several primary sites[2]. The process of an-giogenesis is required for sustaining tumor growth inthe …     

P05 How to improve the teaching of clinical pharmacology

Clinical pharmacology plays an important role for medical students as well as clinical doctors to grasp the medication principle of efficacy, economy, and specification so as to realize drug therapy to be safe and rational. In order to improve the teaching quality, we have organized clinical pharmacology teaching in great consideration. First, teaching of clinical pharmacology is performed by the co-endeavour of both the basic pharmacology teachers and clinical doctors. The chapters of basic principles, clinical pharmacology of the aged, perinatal pharmacology, adverse drug reactions and drug induced diseases are performed by basic pharmacology teachers, while the drug therapies of various diseases are performed by clinical doctors. Such arrangement can educe both the teachers and the doctors＇ specialities greatly. And secondly, we have exploited suitable clinical pharmacology experiments, such as investigation of adverse drug reactions, practice of filling adverse drug reactions report forms, determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of drugs in volunteers, observation of methods for new drugs＇ pharmacokinetic research and therapeutic drug monitoring and so on. In the end, we have improved the classic method for examination. We choose such questions with fairly depth and width and correlate with clinic for the exam as to develop the students＇ ability of analyzing and solving problems.     

New development of drugs against opioid addiction

Opioid addiction has been a big trouble for human being for several centuries. In China, it also has become a main direct threat against national safety, society advancement, economic development and public health. Based on the national report in 2002, the number of addicts registered in due form is over 1 million, which are distributed in 2148 counties and cities in China. The real number of addicts, however, is much more than those as mentioned above. Money used for buying opioids each year in China might be over 10 billion except for other payment. Base on the statistics, 20 - 50% crimes are commited by addicts. On the other hand, drug abuse often induces contagion spread, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV disease. About 70% HIV positive subjects in China are related to drug abuse. We are very happy to see more andmore attention has been paid to the problem in our country. Recently, a program on neurobiological basis and medical biological measures of addiction has been supported by National Science and Technology Ministry as a 973 program.     

Transdermal Iontophoresis of Non—steroid Anti—inflammatory Drugs

Oral admuinistration is currently the principal route for non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).This type of drugs is highly effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.The clinical use of these drugs,howeever,is often limited because of their potential to cause some adverse reactions such as irritation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa,particularly at high dose levels.To minimize the side effects for patients,transdermal drug delivery should be a good way.In this project,iontophoresis has been used in conjunction with chemical penetriation enhancers to increase transdermal drug delivery.Piroxicam,indomethacin,naproxen and diclofenacsodium were employed to research into the effect and the mechanism of constant direct current iontophoresis and laurocapram pretreatment on the drug percutaneous fluxes.The synergisticeffect has also been discussed.Then diclofenac sodium gel has been prepared for investigating the feasibility of its clinical use.     

Oxidative stress,the blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases: The critical beneficial role of dietary antioxidants

In recent years, growing awareness of the role of oxidative stress in brain health has prompted antioxidants, especially dietary antioxidants, to receive growing attention as possible treatments strategies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases(NDs). The most widely studied dietary antioxidants include active substances such as vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols. Dietary antioxidants are found in usually consumed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and oils and are ...     

Design,preparation and pharmacodynamics of ICG-Fe(Ⅲ) based HCPT nanocrystals against cancer

The use of nanocrystal technology to manufacture drug delivery systems intended to enhance therapeutic efficacy has attracted the attention of the pharmaceutical industry.However, the clinical application of nanocrystal drugs for injection is restricted by Ostwald ripening and the large-scale use of stabilizers such as polysorbate and lecithin, which have potential toxicity risks including hemolysis and allergies. Here, we designed an amorphous nanocrystal drug complex(IHNC), which is stabilizer...     

P53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through a caspase-3- independent, but caspase-9-dependent pathway in oridonin-treated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Aim： To study the caspase-3-independent mechanisms in oridonin-induced MCF-7 human breast cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. Methods： The viability of oridonin- treated MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT （thiazole blue） assay. Apoptotic cells with condensed nuclei were visualized by phase contrast microscopy. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The apoptotic ratio was determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Cell cycle alternation and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9, heat shock protein （Hsp）90, p53, p-p53, p21, Poly （ADP-ribose） polymerase （PARP）, and the inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase （ICAD） protein expressions were detected by Western blot analysis. Results： Oridonin inhibited cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle was altered through the upregulation of p53 and p21 protein expressions. Pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and calpain inhibitor II both decreased cell death ratio. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the downregulation of △ψmit were detected in oridonin-induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis, which was involved in a postmitochondrial caspase-9-dependent pathway. Decreased Bcl-2 and Hsp90 expression levels and increased Bax and p21 expression levels were positively correlated with elevated levels of phosphorylated p53 phosphorylation. Moreover, PARP was partially cleaved by calpain rather than by capase-3. Condusion： DNA damage provoked alternations in the mitochondrial and caspase-9 pathways as well as p53-mediated cell cycle arrest, but was not related to caspase-3 activity in oridonin-induced MCF-7 cells.     

Oridonin induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell apoptosis through tyrosine kinase and mitochondrial pathway

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell death through apoptosis and tyrosine kinase pathway. To examine the pathway of oridonin-induced A431 cell death, morphologic observation, lactate dehydrogenase activity-based assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis were carried out. When A431 cells, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were treated with oridonin, caspase-3 was activated followed by the degradation of caspase-3 substrates, inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time-dependent manner. Oridonin promoted the release of cytochrome c and the down-regulation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim). Oridonin up-regulated the expression ratio of mitochondrial proteins, Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, the total tyrosine kinase activity of A431 cellular proteins and the expression of EGFR were markedly reduced after oridonin treatment. Taken together, oridonin induced apoptosis in A431 cells via mitochondrial pathway, activation of caspase-3 and inhibition of tyrosine kinase activities.     

Oridonin induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell apoptosis through tyrosine kinase and mitochondrial pathway

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Rabdosia rubescens, induces human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell death through apoptosis and tyrosine kinase pathway. To examine the pathway of oridonin-induced A431 cell death, morphologic observation, lactate dehydrogenase activity-based assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis were carried out. When A431 cells, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were treated with oridonin, caspase-3 was activated followed by the degradation of caspase-3 substrates, inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time-dependent manner. Oridonin promoted the release of cytochrome c and the down-regulation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Oridonin up-regulated the expression ratio of mitochondrial proteins, Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, the total tyrosine kinase activity of A431 cellular proteins and the expression of EGFR were markedly reduced after oridonin treatment. Taken together, oridonin induced apoptosis in A431 cells via mitochondrial pathway, activation of caspase-3 and inhibition of tyrosine kinase activities.     

Involvement of mitochondria and caspase pathways in N-demethyl-clarithromycin-induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cell

AIM: To study the mechanisms by which N-demethyl-clarithromycin (NDC) induces human cervical cancer HeLa cell apoptosis in vitro. METHODS: The viability of N-demethyl-clarithromycin-induced HeLa cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells with condensed nuclei were visualized by phase contrast microscopy. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Measurement of mitochondrial transmembrane potential was analyzed by a FACScan flowcytometer. Caspase-3, poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), caspase-activated DNase (ICAD), Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and SIRT1 protein expression and the release of cytochrome c were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: N-demethyl-clarithromycin, an anti-inflammatory substance, inhibited HeLa cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. N-demethyl-clarithro-mycin induced HeLa cell death through the apoptotic pathways. The pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) and the caspase-9 inhibitor (z-LEHD-fmk) partially enhanced cell viability induced by N-demethyl-clarithromycin, but the caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk) had almost no effect. Caspase-3 was activated then followed by the degradation of caspase-3 substrates, the inhibitor of ICAD and PARP. Simultaneously, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was markedly reduced and the release of cytochrome c in the cytosol was increased. N-demethyl-clarithromycin upregulated the expression ratio of mitochondrial Bax/Bcl-2, and significantly increased the expression of the p53 protein. It also downregulated anti-apoptotic protein SIRT1 expression. CONCLUSION: N-demethyl-clarithromycin induced apoptosis in HeLa cells via the mitochondrial pathway.     

Reactive oxygen species contribute to oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Aim:

To investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells.

Methods:

The cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Morphological changes of apoptosis and autophagy were examined using Hoechst 33258 staining and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, respectively. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured using fluorescent dye rhodamine 123. DCF-induced fluorescence was used to measure the intracellular ROS level. Protein expression was examined using Western blot.

Results:

Treatment of HeLa cells with oridonin (20–160 μmol/L) inhibited the cell growth in time- and concentration-dependent manners. The cells treated with oridonin (80 μmol/L) for 24 h displayed marked DNA fragmentation and MDC-positive autophagosomes. In the presence of the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (2 mmol/L), the oridonin-induced apoptosis was significantly enhanced. Treatment of HeLa cells with oridonin (20–120 μmol/L) induced intracellular ROS generation in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of the ROS scavenger NAC (5 mmol/L), the oridinin-induced ROS generation was markedly reduced. NAC (5 mmol/L) or non-thiol antioxidant catalase (1000 U/mL) significantly reduced the oridonin-induced inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis. Furthermore, oridonin significantly reduced ΔΨm, which was blocked by NAC. Oridonin markedly increased Bax expression in mitochondria, and decreased Bcl-2 expression in both the cytosol and mitochondria. Oridonin also markedly increased the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 in the cytosol. All the effects were blocked by NAC. Oridonin increased the levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8, and decreased the expression of pro-caspase 3 and pro-caspase 9, which were blocked by NAC.

Conclusion:

ROS plays a critical role in oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy.     

冬凌草甲素通过诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞自噬下调凋亡的机制

研究冬凌草甲素通过诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞自噬拮抗凋亡的机制。MTT法测定冬凌草甲素对HeLa细胞的细胞毒作用。通过相差显微镜观察细胞形态学变化，用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测DNA片段化，用流式细胞仪检测细胞自噬和凋亡水平，用Western blotting检测分析药物对蛋白质表达的影响。冬凌草甲素明显抑制HeLa细胞的增殖，诱导HeLa细胞凋亡，同时诱导HeLa细胞发生自噬。Western blotting检测结果表明，冬凌草甲素作用24 h后，促凋亡蛋白Bax、细胞色素c和控制Bax活力的去乙酰化酶SIRT-1的表达明显改变。冬凌草甲素(64 μmol·L^-1)诱导的自噬通过影响SIRT-1和线粒体途径蛋白的表达下调凋亡。     

Oridonin induces a caspase-independent but mitochondria- and MAPK-dependent cell death in the murine fibrosarcoma cell line L929

Oridonin, an active component isolated from Rabdosia rubescences, has been reported to exhibit antitumor effects, but little is known about its molecular mechanisms of action. In this study, the growth-inhibitory activity of oridonin for L929 cells is in time- and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with various concentrations of oridonin for 12 h, the majority of L929 cells underwent apoptosis as measured by an LDH activity-based assay. Although apoptotic bodies were observed in oridonin-treated L929 cells, DNA fragmentation as a hallmark of apoptosis was not found. The pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD, and caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD, sensitized L929 cells to oridonin, however, a PARP inhibitor (DPQ) effectively blocked oridonin-induced cell death. After 12 h treatment, PARP proenzyme was significantly cleaved. This result indicated that oridonin-induced L929 cell death required PARP degradation in a caspase-independent manner. In addition, an MEK/ERK inhibitor (PD98059) markedly blocked oridonin-induced cell death, whereas a p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) weakly protected the cells against death. Treatment with 41.2 microM oridonin for 12 h induced significant and persistent ERK activation and p38 inactivation in L929 cells without evident changes in the protein levels. The responsiveness of ERK and p38 to oridonin suggests the involvement of these kinases in this apoptotic process. Moreover, oridonin increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression, whereas it had no effect on the expression of Bcl-xL. These results indicate that regulation of the Bcl-2 and MAPK families maybe the effector mechanisms of oridonin-induced L929 cell death, independent of the caspase pathway.     

Norcantharidin induces apoptosis in HeLa cells through caspase, MAPK, and mitochondrial pathways

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of norcantharidin (NCTD)-induced HeLa cell apoptosis. METHODS: HeLa cell growth inhibition was measured by MTT method. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and agarose gel electrophoresis. Caspase activities were assayed using caspase apoptosis detection kit. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the level of ICAD, ERK/p-ERK, JNK/p-JNK, and Bcl-XL/Bax expression. RESULTS: Norcantharidin inhibited HeLa cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. HeLa cells treated with norcantharidin showed typical characteristics of apoptosis including the morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. Caspase family inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-8, -9 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk, Ac-LEHD-CHO, respectively) and caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) partially prevent norcantharidin-induced apoptosis, but initiator caspase-1 inhibitor (Ac-YVAD-fmk) did not. The activities of caspase-3, -8, and -9 were up-regulated after norcantharidin treatment. Furthermore, NCTD-induced activat     

Caspase inhibition augmented oridonin-induced cell death in murine fibrosarcoma l929 by enhancing reactive oxygen species generation

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescences, has been reported to have antitumor effects. In this study, the growth-inhibitory activity of oridonin for L929 cells was exerted in a time-and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with oridonin for 24 h, L929 cells underwent both apoptosis and necrosis as measured by an lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity-based assay. A rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was triggered by oridonin, and subsequently up-regulation of phospho-p53 (ser 15) expression and an increased expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was observed. Furthermore, there was a significant fall in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and increase in caspase-3 activity after exposure to oridonin for 24 h. Surprisingly, the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and caspase3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk rendered L929 cells more sensitive to oridonin, rather than preventing oridonin-induced cell death. Oridonin and z-VAD-fmk co-treatment not only resulted in an even higher ROS production, but also made a more significant reduction in the MMP. Pretreatment of ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) led to a complete inhibition of oridonin-induced cell death, intracellular ROS generation, and MMP collapse. NAC treatment also reversed the potentiation of cell death by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Taken together, these observations showed that oridonin-induced cell death in L929 cells involved intracellular ROS generation, activation of phospho-p53 (ser 15), and up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; and the augmented cell death by z-VAD-fmk was dependent on an increased ROS production.