Effects of Artesunate on hepatic fibrosis and its mechanism / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Artesunate(Art) on the LX-2 cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cultured hepatic stellate cells were divided into control group and Art-treated groups with 250,350,450 µmol/L. The rate of cellular proliferation was detected by MIT assay, the content of ceramide (Cer)was determined by HPLC method, the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) was determined by enzyme digestion method, the expressions of PPAR-γ, p53 and Caspase 3 were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, IX-2 treated with Art were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner(P < 0.01). Art could significantly increase the content of cerarnide in LX-2 ( P <0.01), and the content of Hyp was significantly decreased (P <0.05, P <0.01). The expressions of PPAR-γ, p53 and Caspase 3 were increased compared with that of control group(P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Artesunate could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells through upregulating ceramide.</p>

Impact of artesunate on the expression and secretion of transforming growth factor-b1 of primary rat hepatic stellate cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of the Artemisia annua plant-derived drug, artesunate, on proliferation of primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms of its anti-fibrogenic effects involving the inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1) expression and secretion in liver.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Isolated, cultured, and activated primary rat HSCs were divided into sixteen groups, including one untreated control group and fifteen artesunate-treated experimental groups with 125, 150, 175, 200 or 225 mumol/L for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The rate of cellular proliferation was measured using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. TGF-b1 mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate secreted levels of TGF-b1 protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Artesunate significantly inhibited proliferation of cultured HSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner (all, P less than 0.01). After 24 hours of exposure, the inhibition ratios of the various artesunate concentrations were: 6.06%+/-1.44% (125 mumol/L), 21.47%+/-5.57% (150 mumol/L), 42.00%+/-7.36% (175 mumol/L), 67.12%+/-4.55% (200 mumol/L), and 79.83%+/-3.67% (225 mumol/L). Artesunate significantly inhibited the TGF-b1 mRNA expression in HSCs, and the higher the drug concentration, the higher the degree of inhibition (all, P less than 0.01). In addition, artesunate significantly inhibited the expression of intracellular and secreted TGF-b1 protein (all, P less than 0.01). In response to artesunate (mumol/L concentrations), the TGF-b1 levels were (164.24+/-6.88) pg/ml (0μmol/L), (102.68+/-4.45) pg/ml (150μmol/L), (86.54+/-5.56) pg/ml (175μmol/L), and (56.55+/-5.66) pg/ml (200μmol/L).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Artesunate exerts anti-fibrogenic effects on HSCs in vitro, possibly by reducing the expression, translation and secretion of TGF-b1.</p>

Therapeutic effect of Haobieyangyinruanjianfang on the mouse liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore therapeutic effect of Haobieyangyinruanjianfang (HBYYRJ) on mouse liver fibrosis by schistosomiasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice except for normal control were infected with Japanese schistosome cercarias, after 12 weeks, infected mice were divided into 7 groups: low HBYYRJ group, middle HBYYRJ group, high HBYYRJ group, Fufangbiejiaruangan tablet (FFBJRG) group, colchicine group, 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group. Hepatic fibrosis was found in 3 months infection group. Liver hydroxyproline (Hyp) was determined, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) were detected with gelatin zymography, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and precollagen III (PC-III) were detected using RIA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBYYRJ obviously reduced hepatic fibrosis (probability value less than 0.01). Collagen and HA in 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group were higher than that in normal group (probability value less than 0.01), collagen in high and middle HBYYRJ groups and HA in middle and low HBYYRJ groups were lower than that in 6 months infection group (P less than 0.01, probability value less than 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group was higher than that in normal group (probability value less than 0.01), The expression of MMP-9 in three HBYYRJ groups and the expression of MMP-2 in high HBYYRJ group were lower than that in 6 months infection group (probability value less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBYYRJ can reduce liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis.</p>

A fluorospectrophotometric determination of nitrite in blood / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To establish a fluorospectrophotometric assay for the measurement of nitrite in blood.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Interference from hemoglobin and other blood ingredients was removed through sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment. Fluorescence of 1-[H]-naphthotriazole from the reaction of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene with nitrite was determined with fluorospectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The following conditions were proper: Serum or plasma was treated with sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment for two times, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene of 0.63 mmol x (L(-1)) was used, reaction solution pH and final pH were about 1.60 and 1.70 respectively, solution containing 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and supernatant after pretreatment was water-bathed at 20 degrees C for 15 minutes. The lower limit of detection was 24.27 nmol x L(-1). Nitrite determined in peripheral blood of healthy people was (10.91 +/- 2.38) micromol x L(-1), and its 95% distribution range was (6.24-15.57) micromol x L(-1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It's a relatively sensitive, specific, simple method. It's of some value to the study of nitric oxide.</p>