ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (Ginaton) on bcl-2 and bcl-xL mRNA expression in the myocardium of patients underwent hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty congenital heart disease patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the control group and the treated group. Patients in both groups received St. Thomas' cardioplegic solution via radix aortae, while Ginaton (0.5 mg/kg) was added in the treated group. Cardiac surgery was started after complete heart arrest. Myocardium was taken before the aorta ascendens was unblocked and mRNA expression of bcl-2 and bcl-xL in the ventricular tissue was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gene expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-xL were significantly higher in the treated group than those in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ginaton could promote the mRNA expressions of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 and bcl-xL in myocardium of patients underwent CI'PB.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Cardiopulmonary Bypass , Methods , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Gene Expression , Ginkgo biloba , Chemistry , Heart Defects, Congenital , Genetics , General Surgery , Hypothermia, Induced , Myocardium , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Plant Leaves , Chemistry , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 , Genetics , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , bcl-X Protein , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene regulation and the inhibitory effect of antisense RNA on HCV gene expression in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) was co-transfected by recombinant plasmid of antisense RNA complementary to HCV 5' untranslated region (5'UTR)and HCV 5' UTR Directed luciferase (luc) gene expression recombinant plasmid. Meanwhile a reversed HCV 5'UTR recombinant plasmid which can not transcribe as antisense RNA in the cell and a recombinant plasmid in which the luc was regulated by simian virus 40 (sv40) 5'UTR were used as controls respectively. The level of luc gene expression was determined by an enzymatic assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The antisense RNA which directed to HCV 5'UTRcould obviously knock down the level of luc gene expression and the close-dependent inhibition of antisense RNA was observed at the same time. However the above inhibition was not shown in the cells co-transfected by reversed HCV 5'UTR recombinant plasmid and HCV 5'UTR directed luc gene expression recombinant plasmid. No reduction was observed in luc gene expression level in the cell co-transfected by both antisense RNA recombinant plasmid and SV40 5'UTR directed luc gene expression recombinant plasmid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCV 5'UTR plays an important role in regulation of viral gene expression. The antisense RNA complementary to HCV 5'UTR could effectively inhibit the gene expression regulated by HCV 5'UTR in vitro.</p>