Valproic acid attenuates the multiple-organ dysfunction in a rat model of septic shock / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Valproic acid (VPA) improves early survival and organ function in a highly lethal poly-trauma and hemorrhagic shock model or other severe insults. We assessed whether VPA could improve organ function in a rat model of septic shock and illustrated the possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group, VPA group, LPS group, and LPS + VPA group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to replicate the experimental model of septic shock. Rats were treated with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Six hours after LPS injection, blood was sampled for gas analysis, measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Lung, liver and kidney were collected for histopathological assessment. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-a in pulmonary tissue were measured. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung was also evaluated by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LPS resulted in a significant decrease in PaO2, which was increased by VPA administration followed LPS injection. In addition, LPS also induced an increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, these increases were attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. The lungs, liver and kidneys from the LPS group were significantly damaged compared with the control group. However, the damage was attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. Myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pulmonary tissue increased significantly in the LPS group compared with the control group. These increases were significantly inhibited in the LPS + VPA group. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung tissue in the LPS group was inhibited compared with the control. However, the level of acetylation of histone H3 in the LPS + VPA group was markedly elevated in contrast to the LPS group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Treatment with VPA can attenuate multiple organ damage caused by LPS induced septic shock. Our data also suggest that the beneficial effects are in part due to the decrease in inflammatory cytokines and restoration of normal acetylation homeostasis.</p>

The effects of the Smad3-knockout on the hematopoiesis of mouse / 生物工程学报

The effects of the Smad3- knockout on the hematopoiesis of mouse were investigated in this work. Five pairs of wild type and Smad3- null mice were studied. White blood cell(WBC), red blood cell(RBC) and platelet (PLT) counting of peripheral blood cells were performed with blood obtained from tails. And white blood cells were classified by their morphology. Bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) were counted and classified. The CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-GEMM yields were measured in each pair of mice. CFU-S yield of each mouse was measured by injecting bone marrow cells into lethally irradiated 8-10 weeks old wild type female mice. And the pathomorphism of their bone marrows, spleens and livers were observed. As a result, WBC and PLT of Smad3- null mice were significantly higher than those in wild type mice. Smad3- null mice had much more proportion of granulocytes in classification. There wasn't any difference in RBC counting and BFU-E measurement. The yield of CFU-GM increased, while the yields of CFU-GEMM and CFU-S markedly reduced. Bone marrows are actively proliferative, with granulocytosis. The granulocyte/erythrocyte ratio increased. There were no obviously alterative in spleen and liver. Thus Smad3- knockout results in a decreased number of stem and progenitor cells. Moreover hematopoietic differentiation is abnormal with a tendency to forming more granulocytes and platelets. The effect of Smad3 on hematopoiesis is correlative to that of TGF-beta.