Effect of Cordyceps sinensis powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment group by random digit table, 10 in each group. A chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model was prepared by one step 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with CS powder solution at the daily dose of 2 g/kg, once per day. Equal volume of double distilled water was intragastrically administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication lasted for 12 weeks. The general condition of rats, their body weight, blood pressure, 24 h proteinuria, urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), serum creatinine (SCr) , and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed before surgery, at week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 10 after surgery. Pathological changes of renal tissues were observed under light microscope. Morphological changes of mitochondria in renal tubular epithelial cells were observed under transmission electron microscope. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including reduced glutathione (GSH), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh renal tissue homogenate were detected. Mitochondria of renal tissues were extracted to detect levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS). And expressions of cytochrome-C (Cyto-C) and prohibitin in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the renal cortex were also measured by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the sham-operation group, body weight was significantly decreased at week 2 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure increased at week 4 (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, body weight was significantly increased at week 12 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure decreased at week 8 (P < 0. 01) in the treatment group. (2) Compared with the sham-operation group, 24 h proteinuria, urinary NAG, blood SCr and BUN significantly increased in the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, blood and urinary biochemical indices all significantly decreased in the treatment group (all P <0. 01). (3) Results of pathological renal scoring: Glomerular sclerosis index, scoring for tubulointerstitial fibrosis, degree of tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltration were all obviously higher in the model group than in the sham-operation group (all P <0. 01). All the aforesaid indices were more obviously improved in the treatment group than in the model group (all P <0. 01). (4) Compared with the sham-operation group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px were significantly reduced, but MDA contents obviously increased in the renal cortex of the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01), but MDA contents obviously decreased in the renal cortex of the treatment group (P <0. 01). (5) Compared with the sham-operation group, the mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased, but ROS levels significantly increased in the model group (all P <0.01). Compared with the model group, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased in the treatment group, thereby inhibiting the tendency of increased production of ROS (both P < 0. 01). (6) Results of Western blot showed that, compared with the sham-operation group, expression levels of mitochondrial Cyto-C and Prohibitin were significantly reduced in the renal cortex (P <0. 01), but significantly elevated in the cytoplasm of the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, each index was obviously improved in the treatment group with statistical difference (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CS powder had renal protection, and its mechanism might partially depend on in- hibition of oxidative stress and protection for mitochondria.</p>

The enhancement of DNA binding ability of a mutated E2 (A338V) protein of HPV-2 / 病毒学报

HPV-2 is a very common type of HPV which causes common warts. The E2 protein of virus can repress the activity of the viral early promoter through binding to the specific binding sites in viral LCR. Previously we reported that the repression of a mutated E2 protein of HPV-2 isolated from a patient with huge common wart on the viral early promoter was obviously decreased, and A338V mutation located at the C terminal DNA binding region of E2 protein. In this study, we expressed and purified the recombinant mutated and prototype E2 fusion proteins, both in the contexts of the C terminal and the full length, by prokaryotic expression system. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed E2 protein could bind to double-stranded DNA oligos labeled with biotin that covered two E2 binding sites. The DNA binding abilities of both C terminal and full-length mutated E2 proteins were stronger than the prototype analogs. This result indicates that the enhancement of the mutated E2 DNA binding ability may be the molecular mechanism for its impact on the activity of viral promoter, which correlates with the phenotype of extensive common wart.

Effect of acupoint injection on erythropoietin resistance in patients with chronic renal failure / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect on erythropoietin (Epo) resistance between acupoint injection and subcutaneous injection of rHuEpo in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight cases were randomly divided into two groups, 19 cases in each one. In subcutaneous injection group (control group), subcutaneous injection of rHuEpo was administered, 3 times a week, lasting 2 months. In acupoint group (observation group), rHuEpo was injected on unilateral Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36), one point was chosen each time, the bilateral acupoints were injected alternatively, 3 times a week, for 2 months. Meanwhile, a normal control group of 19 healthy persons was set up. The levels of CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Scr, BUN, Hb, Hct and SF were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, the values of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in two groups were all higher than those in normal control group (all P < 0.01). After treatment for 2 months, the values of CRP, IL-6,TNF-alpha, Scr and BUN in two groups decreased apparently and those of Hb, Hct and SF increased obviously, indicating statistic significant differences as compared with the values before treatment separately (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In comparison between two groups after treatment, every index above in observation group was improved much significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint injection of rHuEpo at Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenshu (BL 23) increases significantly the values of Hb, Hct and SF, and decreases apparently the values of BUN, Scr and inflammatory factors, such as CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha as compared with subcutaneous injection. Acupoint injection improves Epo resistance and enhances Epo efficacy via alleviating micro-inflammatory state of the body.</p>