ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-hyperglycemia effect and mechanism of aqueous extract from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) leaves on STZ-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetic rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg). A total of 21 successful SD male rats were randomly divided into model group (STZ). G. pentaphyllum leaves aqueous extract low dose group (GP•H2O-L, 100 mg/kg) and high dose group (GP•H2O-H, 500 mg/kg), another seven normal rats were taken as the control group. Blood samples were taken from the 2nd and 3rd weekends to detect plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations; Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of TNF-α and GLUT-4 mRNA in skeletal muscle; Western blotting was used to detect GLUT-4 total protein in skeletal muscle; The expression of GLUT-4 protein on skeletal muscle sarcolemma was observed by immunofluorescence staining. Results: The results showed that the food intake and water intake of the STZ group were significantly increased compared with the control group, while the body weight and skeletal muscle weight were obviously decreased; Plasma triglyceride and blood glucose concentrations and the expression of TNF-α mRNA in skeletal muscle were significantly increased, while the expression of GLUT-4 mRNA, GLUT-4 total protein and GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle sarcolemma was obviously decreased. Compared with the STZ group, the high-dose aqueous extract of G. pentaphyllum leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose of STZ-induced diabetic rats, and reversed the expression of TNF-α mRNA and GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle. Conclusion: The aqueous extract from G. pentaphyllum leaves could reduce hyperglycemia in STZ-induced diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be related to increasing the expression of GLUT-4 protein on skeletal muscle sarcolemma and inhibiting skeletal muscle inflammation.
ABSTRACT
Objective:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of MDSCs in peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and to investigate the clinical significance of change of MDSCs in the peripheral blood and provide new ways for e-valuating immune state and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 62 patients with HCC and 20 healthy donors.The phenotype of CD3,CD4,CD33,HLA-DR and Th1,Th2 immune subsets in peripheral blood of each group were observed by FCM methods.Results:There were statically different frequencies in the peripheral blood between hepato-cellular carcinoma and healthy control group,which the proportion of total CD3+T lymphocytes and CD3+CD4+T cells were lower and the proportion of CD33+HLA-DR-MDSCs was higher in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.( P<0.05 ).The increase of percentage of MDSCs was greater in patients at Stage C and D than in patients at stage A and B.Conclusion:The Th1/Th2 ratio in the PBMC were of imbalance and MDSCs was significantly increased in peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.The increase of MDSCs was significantly correlated with clinical stage.CD33+HLA-DR-MDSCs may play an important role in prediction in prognosis and tumor immune status of hepatocellular carcinoma.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Optic nerve injury, caused by retinal and optic nerve diseases, can eventually result in vision loss. To date, few effective treatments have been discovered to restore visual function. Previous studies showed that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has a neuroprotective effect on the central nervous system, particularly in nerve injury. In this study, we investigated the effects of rhEPO on axonal regeneration and functional restoration following optic nerve injury. This was done by measuring the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43), a marker for neuronal regeneration, on the retina and flash-visual evoked potential (F-VEP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to rhEPO and control (saline) groups. Optic nerve crush injury models were established and rhEPO or saline were immediately injected into the vitreous cavity. The expression of GAP-43 was detected by immunohistochemistry and the F-VEP was measured pre-injury, immediately after injury, 1 week and 2 weeks post-injury.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No detectable staining for GAP-43 was observed in normal retina. In the control group, the level of GAP-43 expression was higher at 1 week post-injury, but decreased at 2 weeks. In the rhEPO group, the level of GAP-43 expression was notably higher at both 1 week and 2 weeks. At each time point post-injury, the expression of GAP-43 in rhEPO group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Obvious changes in F-VEP examination were detected immediately after optic nerve injury, including significantly prolonged latency and decreased amplitude of the P1 wave. In the control group, the changes were still obvious at 1 week. The latency was decreased and the amplitude had slightly recovered to 28.23% of the normal value at 2 weeks. In rhEPO group, there was significantly more recovery than the control group at 1 week and 2 weeks post-injury (P < 0.05). The latency most close to the normal level and the amplitude had recovered to 65.51% of the normal value at 2 weeks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rhEPO can prolong the expression of GAP-43 and increase its intensity after optic nerve injury, thereby promoting neural repair and axonal regeneration. Under the protection of rhEPO, the conduction velocity of the optic nerve recovered significantly. Therefore, rhEPO has neuroprotective effects on the optic nerve and promotes functional restoration of the optic nerve.</p>