Objective To investigate the optimal dosage of pirfenidone for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in Wistar rats, and the alteration of expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 （ TGF-β1...Objective To investigate the optimal dosage of pirfenidone for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in Wistar rats, and the alteration of expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 （ TGF-β1 ）, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （ TIMP-1 ）, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 （ MMP-13 ） in lung tissue. Methods Male Wistar rats were endotracheally instilled with bleomycin or normal saline. Pirfenidone （25-800 mg · kg^-l · d^-1 ）, dexamethasone （3 mg/kg）, or 1% carboxymethylcellulose sodium were given daily by feed 2 days before instillation of bleomycin. Groups T7 and T14 were fed pirfenidone 50 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1 at 7 days or 14 daYs after bleomycin instillation. Lungs were harvested at 28 days after bleomycin instillation. Patholological changes in luffg tissues were evaluated with HE staining. Lung collagen was stained by sirius red and measured by content of hydroxypro- line. Expression of proteins of TGF-β1 TIMP-1, and MMP-13 were detected by Western blotting. Results At doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg· kg^- 1 · d ^- 1, pirfenidone had significant anti-fibrotic effects for bleomy- cin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis, and these effects were most significantly attenuated at the dosage of 50 mg · kg^-1 ·d^ -1（ HE： P 〈 0. 01, P 〈 0.01, and P = 0.064; sirius red： P 〈0.05, P 〈 0.01, and P 〈 0.05 ; hydroxyproline： P = 0.595, P 〈 0.01, and P = 0.976）. Pirfenidone at a dosage of 50 mg · kg^- l · d^-1 inhibited protein expression of TGF-131 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue in the early phase （0.79 and 0.75 times of control group）, but had no effect on ex- nr^eelnn nf MMP-13. Conclusion Low dose pirfenidone, especially at dosage of 50 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1, has significant anti-fibrotic effects on bleomycin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis. Pirfenidone partially inhibits the enhancement of the expression of TGF-131 and TIMP-β1 in lung tissue.展开更多
This was a comparative cross-sectional study of eclamptic and normal healthy pregnant women conducted in kaduna State, Nigeria to determine Pregnancy Specific beta-1 Glycoprotein (PSG-1) levels in the peripheral blood...This was a comparative cross-sectional study of eclamptic and normal healthy pregnant women conducted in kaduna State, Nigeria to determine Pregnancy Specific beta-1 Glycoprotein (PSG-1) levels in the peripheral blood of third trimester women with eclampsia (EC;n = 38), normal healthy pregnant and non pregnant women controls (PC;n = 25 and NPC;n = 25 respectively), age and parity matched, attending labour rooms/wards and Antenatal Clinics (ANC) of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria and four other Hospitals in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Participants with smear positive malaria, seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other known clinical infection were excluded from this study. Pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein levels were estimated using Quantikine ELISA kits. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (Chicago, USA) and Graph pad Prism 6.0. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation while Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine the significant differences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean serum level of PSG-1 in EC was 2.53 ± 0.11 pg/ml, PC;2.56 ± 0.03 pg/ml) and NPC;0.62 ± 0.20 pg/ml. There was no significant difference between EC and PC (P > 0.05). Pregnant women (with and without EC) had significantly higher mean serum values compared to NPC p < 0.05. While pregnancy was associated with high levels of PSG-1, the study did not support the hypothesis of low PSG-1 level in EC. A longitudinal study to capture changes in PSG-I levels in the course of pregnancy as they manifest is recommended.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tacrolimus(FK506)is a key calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ transplant rejection and is effective in improving graft survival.However,it is linked to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance,contribut...BACKGROUND Tacrolimus(FK506)is a key calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ transplant rejection and is effective in improving graft survival.However,it is linked to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance,contributing to new-onset diabetes after transplantation and negatively affecting islet function.AIM To study the effects of tacrolimus on the insulin signaling pathway of hepatocytes.METHODS HL7702 cells were treated with different concentrations of tacrolimus(0.1 mg/L,1 mg/L,5 mg/L)for 24 hours.The proteins involved in insulin signaling were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS Compared with the control group,phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate(IRS)1 at Ser 307 and Ser 323 were increased significantly when the tacrolimus concentration reached 1 and 5 mg/L.Phosphorylation of IRS1 at Ser 1101 was also increased,although not significantly.However,phosphorylation of Ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 at Thr 389 was decreased significantly.The levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3αSer 21 and Ser 9 were increased.Surprisingly,phosphorylation of glycogen synthase at Ser 641 was increased.There was no significant change in the activity of glycogen phosphorylase.CONCLUSION Tacrolimus has no direct effect on hepatic glucose metabolism,but inhibits IRS1-mediated insulin signaling.This may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which tacrolimus induces insulin resistance.展开更多
Objective： To investigate the expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in normal ovarian epithelial cell and malignant ovarian epithelial tumor. Methods： Immunohistochemical staining with SP method was conducted ...Objective： To investigate the expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in normal ovarian epithelial cell and malignant ovarian epithelial tumor. Methods： Immunohistochemical staining with SP method was conducted to identify the expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in 18 samples of normal epithelial tissue and 34 cases of malignant epithelial tumor of ovary. Results： The expression rate of Wnt-1 and c-myc in malignant epithelial tumors was higher than those in normal epithelial cell （P〈0.05）. The abnormal expression rate of beta-catenin in malignant ovarian epithelial tumors was higher than that in normal epithelial cell （P〈0.05）. A significant positive correlation was found between Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in malignant ovarian epithelial tumor （P〈0.05）. A significant difference of expressions of Beta-catenin and C-myc was found between serous and mucinous tumors （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The abnormal expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc might indicate the malignant transformation in ovarian epithelial tumors.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that β-amyloid peptide （Aβ）, a characteristic pathological product of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）, results in neuronal endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）. However, the mech...BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that β-amyloid peptide （Aβ）, a characteristic pathological product of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）, results in neuronal endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）. However, the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine against ERS in AD are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To measure expression levels of protective proteins （GRP78 and GRP94） of ER molecular partners and pro-apoptotic Caspase-12 ER membrane expression following application of traditional Chinese medicine natural cerebrolysin （NC） to treat Aβ1-40-induced ERS. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A parallel-controlled study was performed at the Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University between September 2006 and November 2008. MATERIALS： Sprague Dawley male rats, 6-8 weeks old, were used to harvest tibial and femoral bone marrow. Isolation and purification of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） were established from the whole bone marrow by removing non-adherent cells in primary and passage cultures. Aβ1-40 was provided by Sigma, USA. NC was provided by Shenzhen Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, China. NC was predominantly composed of Renshen （Radix Ginseng）, Tianma （Rhizoma Gastrodiae）, and Yinxingye （Ginkgo Leaf） in a proportion of 1 ： 2： 2. Following conventional water extraction technology, an extract （1 ： 20） was prepared. Six adult, male, New Zealand rabbits underwent intragastric administration of NC extract （0.976 g/kg per day） for 1 month to prepare NC-positive serum, and the remaining 6 rabbits received intragastric administration of physiological saline to prepare normal blank serum. METHODS： A total of 500 nmol/L Aβ1-40 was used to establish ERS models of primary cultured MSCs. AD cell models were incubated with different doses of NC-positive serum （2.5%, 5%, and 10%）. MSCs treated with normal blank serum served as normal blank controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent immunocytochemistry were respectively used to measure mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78, GRP94, and Caspase-12 in MSCs. RESULTS： Following Aβ1-40 exposure, mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and GRP94, as well as Caspase-12, significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）, suggesting successful establishment of ERS models. Following NC-positive serum application, mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and GRP94 in MSCs significantly increased （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. However, mRNA and protein expression levels of Caspase-12 significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05, or P 〈 0.01） compared with the ERS model group. These effects were dose-dependent. CONCLUSION： NC downregulated Caspase-12 expression and upregulated GRP78 and GRP94 expression in MSCs in a dose-dependent manner under the state of Aβ1-40-induced ERS.展开更多
BACKGROUND： L-3-n-butylphthalide （L-NBP） can inhibit phosphorylation of tau protein and reduce the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 （Aβ1-42）. OBJECTIVE： To observe the neuroprotective effects of L-NBP...BACKGROUND： L-3-n-butylphthalide （L-NBP） can inhibit phosphorylation of tau protein and reduce the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 （Aβ1-42）. OBJECTIVE： To observe the neuroprotective effects of L-NBP on caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa-B （NF- K B） expression in a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cell experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory of Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University between January 2008 and August 2008. MATERIALS： L-NBP （purity 〉 98%） was provided by Shijiazhuang Pharma Group NBP Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Aβ1-42, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolo-2]-2,5 iphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT）, and rabbit anti-Caspase-3 polyclonal antibody were provided by Cell Signaling, USA; goat anti-choactase and rabbit anti-NF- kB antibodies were provided by Santa Cruz, USA. METHODS： Primary cultures were generated from rat basal forebrain and hippocampal neurons at 17 or 19 days of gestation. The cells were assigned into five groups： the control group, the Aβ1-42 group （2 μmol/L）, the Aβ1-42 ＋ 0.1 μmol/L L-NBP group, the Aβ1-42 ＋ 1 μ mol/L L-NBP group, and the Aβ1-42 ＋ 10μmol/L L-NBP group. The neurons were treated with Aβ1-42 （2 μmol/L） alone or in combination with L-NBP （0.1, 1, 10 μmol/L） for 48 hours. Cells in the control group were incubated in PBS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Morphologic changes were evaluated using inverted microscopy, viability using the M-I-I- method, and the changes in caspase-3 and NF- k B expression using Western blot. RESULTS： Induction with Aβ1-42 for 48 hours caused cell death and soma atrophy, and increased caspase-3 and NF- K B expression （P 〈 0.05）. L-NBP blocked these changes in cell morphology, decreased caspase-3 and NF- k B expression （P 〈 0.05）, and improved cell viability, especially at the high dose （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： AI3^-42 is toxic to basal forebrain and hippocampal primary neurons; L-NBP protects against this toxicity and inhibits the induction of caspase-3 and NF- K B expression.展开更多
基金Supported by National Ministry of Education Doctor Foundation of China(20020023045)
文摘Objective To investigate the optimal dosage of pirfenidone for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in Wistar rats, and the alteration of expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 （ TGF-β1 ）, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （ TIMP-1 ）, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 （ MMP-13 ） in lung tissue. Methods Male Wistar rats were endotracheally instilled with bleomycin or normal saline. Pirfenidone （25-800 mg · kg^-l · d^-1 ）, dexamethasone （3 mg/kg）, or 1% carboxymethylcellulose sodium were given daily by feed 2 days before instillation of bleomycin. Groups T7 and T14 were fed pirfenidone 50 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1 at 7 days or 14 daYs after bleomycin instillation. Lungs were harvested at 28 days after bleomycin instillation. Patholological changes in luffg tissues were evaluated with HE staining. Lung collagen was stained by sirius red and measured by content of hydroxypro- line. Expression of proteins of TGF-β1 TIMP-1, and MMP-13 were detected by Western blotting. Results At doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg· kg^- 1 · d ^- 1, pirfenidone had significant anti-fibrotic effects for bleomy- cin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis, and these effects were most significantly attenuated at the dosage of 50 mg · kg^-1 ·d^ -1（ HE： P 〈 0. 01, P 〈 0.01, and P = 0.064; sirius red： P 〈0.05, P 〈 0.01, and P 〈 0.05 ; hydroxyproline： P = 0.595, P 〈 0.01, and P = 0.976）. Pirfenidone at a dosage of 50 mg · kg^- l · d^-1 inhibited protein expression of TGF-131 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue in the early phase （0.79 and 0.75 times of control group）, but had no effect on ex- nr^eelnn nf MMP-13. Conclusion Low dose pirfenidone, especially at dosage of 50 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1, has significant anti-fibrotic effects on bleomycin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis. Pirfenidone partially inhibits the enhancement of the expression of TGF-131 and TIMP-β1 in lung tissue.
文摘This was a comparative cross-sectional study of eclamptic and normal healthy pregnant women conducted in kaduna State, Nigeria to determine Pregnancy Specific beta-1 Glycoprotein (PSG-1) levels in the peripheral blood of third trimester women with eclampsia (EC;n = 38), normal healthy pregnant and non pregnant women controls (PC;n = 25 and NPC;n = 25 respectively), age and parity matched, attending labour rooms/wards and Antenatal Clinics (ANC) of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria and four other Hospitals in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Participants with smear positive malaria, seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other known clinical infection were excluded from this study. Pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein levels were estimated using Quantikine ELISA kits. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (Chicago, USA) and Graph pad Prism 6.0. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation while Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine the significant differences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean serum level of PSG-1 in EC was 2.53 ± 0.11 pg/ml, PC;2.56 ± 0.03 pg/ml) and NPC;0.62 ± 0.20 pg/ml. There was no significant difference between EC and PC (P > 0.05). Pregnant women (with and without EC) had significantly higher mean serum values compared to NPC p < 0.05. While pregnancy was associated with high levels of PSG-1, the study did not support the hypothesis of low PSG-1 level in EC. A longitudinal study to capture changes in PSG-I levels in the course of pregnancy as they manifest is recommended.
文摘BACKGROUND Tacrolimus(FK506)is a key calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ transplant rejection and is effective in improving graft survival.However,it is linked to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance,contributing to new-onset diabetes after transplantation and negatively affecting islet function.AIM To study the effects of tacrolimus on the insulin signaling pathway of hepatocytes.METHODS HL7702 cells were treated with different concentrations of tacrolimus(0.1 mg/L,1 mg/L,5 mg/L)for 24 hours.The proteins involved in insulin signaling were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS Compared with the control group,phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate(IRS)1 at Ser 307 and Ser 323 were increased significantly when the tacrolimus concentration reached 1 and 5 mg/L.Phosphorylation of IRS1 at Ser 1101 was also increased,although not significantly.However,phosphorylation of Ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 at Thr 389 was decreased significantly.The levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3αSer 21 and Ser 9 were increased.Surprisingly,phosphorylation of glycogen synthase at Ser 641 was increased.There was no significant change in the activity of glycogen phosphorylase.CONCLUSION Tacrolimus has no direct effect on hepatic glucose metabolism,but inhibits IRS1-mediated insulin signaling.This may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which tacrolimus induces insulin resistance.
基金a grant from the Science Foundation of Chongqing Medical University(No.XB0508)
文摘Objective： To investigate the expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in normal ovarian epithelial cell and malignant ovarian epithelial tumor. Methods： Immunohistochemical staining with SP method was conducted to identify the expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in 18 samples of normal epithelial tissue and 34 cases of malignant epithelial tumor of ovary. Results： The expression rate of Wnt-1 and c-myc in malignant epithelial tumors was higher than those in normal epithelial cell （P〈0.05）. The abnormal expression rate of beta-catenin in malignant ovarian epithelial tumors was higher than that in normal epithelial cell （P〈0.05）. A significant positive correlation was found between Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc in malignant ovarian epithelial tumor （P〈0.05）. A significant difference of expressions of Beta-catenin and C-myc was found between serous and mucinous tumors （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The abnormal expression of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and c-myc might indicate the malignant transformation in ovarian epithelial tumors.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30973779the National Special Planning Project for Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, No.02-03LP41the Key Program of Scientific Planning of Guangdong Province, No. 2006B35630007
文摘BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that β-amyloid peptide （Aβ）, a characteristic pathological product of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）, results in neuronal endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）. However, the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine against ERS in AD are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To measure expression levels of protective proteins （GRP78 and GRP94） of ER molecular partners and pro-apoptotic Caspase-12 ER membrane expression following application of traditional Chinese medicine natural cerebrolysin （NC） to treat Aβ1-40-induced ERS. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A parallel-controlled study was performed at the Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University between September 2006 and November 2008. MATERIALS： Sprague Dawley male rats, 6-8 weeks old, were used to harvest tibial and femoral bone marrow. Isolation and purification of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） were established from the whole bone marrow by removing non-adherent cells in primary and passage cultures. Aβ1-40 was provided by Sigma, USA. NC was provided by Shenzhen Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, China. NC was predominantly composed of Renshen （Radix Ginseng）, Tianma （Rhizoma Gastrodiae）, and Yinxingye （Ginkgo Leaf） in a proportion of 1 ： 2： 2. Following conventional water extraction technology, an extract （1 ： 20） was prepared. Six adult, male, New Zealand rabbits underwent intragastric administration of NC extract （0.976 g/kg per day） for 1 month to prepare NC-positive serum, and the remaining 6 rabbits received intragastric administration of physiological saline to prepare normal blank serum. METHODS： A total of 500 nmol/L Aβ1-40 was used to establish ERS models of primary cultured MSCs. AD cell models were incubated with different doses of NC-positive serum （2.5%, 5%, and 10%）. MSCs treated with normal blank serum served as normal blank controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent immunocytochemistry were respectively used to measure mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78, GRP94, and Caspase-12 in MSCs. RESULTS： Following Aβ1-40 exposure, mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and GRP94, as well as Caspase-12, significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）, suggesting successful establishment of ERS models. Following NC-positive serum application, mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and GRP94 in MSCs significantly increased （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. However, mRNA and protein expression levels of Caspase-12 significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05, or P 〈 0.01） compared with the ERS model group. These effects were dose-dependent. CONCLUSION： NC downregulated Caspase-12 expression and upregulated GRP78 and GRP94 expression in MSCs in a dose-dependent manner under the state of Aβ1-40-induced ERS.
基金Supported by:the Medicine and Health Scientific Research Projects of Shandong Province,No. 2007HZ065
文摘BACKGROUND： L-3-n-butylphthalide （L-NBP） can inhibit phosphorylation of tau protein and reduce the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 （Aβ1-42）. OBJECTIVE： To observe the neuroprotective effects of L-NBP on caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa-B （NF- K B） expression in a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cell experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory of Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University between January 2008 and August 2008. MATERIALS： L-NBP （purity 〉 98%） was provided by Shijiazhuang Pharma Group NBP Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Aβ1-42, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolo-2]-2,5 iphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT）, and rabbit anti-Caspase-3 polyclonal antibody were provided by Cell Signaling, USA; goat anti-choactase and rabbit anti-NF- kB antibodies were provided by Santa Cruz, USA. METHODS： Primary cultures were generated from rat basal forebrain and hippocampal neurons at 17 or 19 days of gestation. The cells were assigned into five groups： the control group, the Aβ1-42 group （2 μmol/L）, the Aβ1-42 ＋ 0.1 μmol/L L-NBP group, the Aβ1-42 ＋ 1 μ mol/L L-NBP group, and the Aβ1-42 ＋ 10μmol/L L-NBP group. The neurons were treated with Aβ1-42 （2 μmol/L） alone or in combination with L-NBP （0.1, 1, 10 μmol/L） for 48 hours. Cells in the control group were incubated in PBS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Morphologic changes were evaluated using inverted microscopy, viability using the M-I-I- method, and the changes in caspase-3 and NF- k B expression using Western blot. RESULTS： Induction with Aβ1-42 for 48 hours caused cell death and soma atrophy, and increased caspase-3 and NF- K B expression （P 〈 0.05）. L-NBP blocked these changes in cell morphology, decreased caspase-3 and NF- k B expression （P 〈 0.05）, and improved cell viability, especially at the high dose （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： AI3^-42 is toxic to basal forebrain and hippocampal primary neurons; L-NBP protects against this toxicity and inhibits the induction of caspase-3 and NF- K B expression.
