ABSTRACT
Testosterone (T) is a key member of the androgen family, and its biosynthesis is regulated by the hypothalamie-pituitary-gonadal axis, and it is an important hormone that drives sexual differentiation and body development in mammals. The regulatory effects of testosterone on the organism include the androgen receptor (AR) mediated genomic pathway and the non-genomic pathway independent of AR. The genomic approach is that testosterone binds to AR in the cytoplasm through the cell membrane, and then the ligand receptor complex is transferred into the nucleus and combines with androgen response elements (ARE) in the promoter region of the androgen response gene to regulate the downstream gene expression. By binding to receptors on the cell membrane, testosterone rapidly activates related signaling molecules on the membrane and in the cell, and produces effects by initiating transmembrane signal transduction mechanisms, a process known as non-genomic pathway. The heart is the first functional organ formed during embryonic development. Its main function is to provide power for blood flow. Its morphogenesis and function maintenance are closely related to the cell type that constitutes the heart. It is known that the heart is one of the target organs of androgens. In recent years, studies have found that ligand-dependent transcription factor AR is distributed in various cell types of heart tissues, including cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts. In addition to affecting gender differentiation and maintaining sexual characteristics, testosterone is also widely involved in the development and function maintenance of many tissues and organs. It also plays an important role in the regulation of cardiac physiological and pathological processes, including participating in heart development, inducing cardiac hypertrophy, regulating cardiac contraction, delaying cardiac aging and affecting vascular calcification. This paper reviews the function of testosterone and its receptor in the main cell types of the heart and their mechanism of action on cardiac physiological and pathological processes in order to provide a reference for the study of the mechanism of action of androgens in the heart.
ABSTRACT
AIM:To identify the expression of fermitin family homolog 2 (FERMT2) in hepatocellular carci-noma ( HCC) tissues and the effect of FERMT 2 on the cell growth and related protein expression .METHODS:Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect FERMT 2 expression in the HCC tissues .The technique of CRISPR/Cas9 was applied to construct stable FERMT2 knockout MHCC97H cell line.WST-1 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure the cell viability , cell-cycle distribution and cell apoptosis .Western blot was used to determine the expression of related proteins in the MHCC97H cells.RESULTS:In HCC tissues, the expression level of FERMT2 was higher than that in adjacent liver tissues (P<0.05).High expression of FERMT2 was significantly correlated with postoperative recurrence of tumor.Knockout of FERMT2 gene evidently inhibited MHCC97H cell viability and accelerated cell apoptosis .Mean-while, the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen , cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and anti-apoptotic fac-tors were significantly downregulated in MHCC97H cells with FERMT2 knockout (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:FERMT2 may function as a promoter of hepatocarcinogenesis and progression via regulating the cell viability , cell-cycle distribution and cell apoptosis , which is related with the expression of cell cycle regulators and anti-apoptotic factors .
ABSTRACT
Figure four of the Jiujing Tu (Illustration of Moxibustion) of the Dunhuang Caves is the earliest and the most complete recording of treatment for five kinds of strain and seven kinds of impairments in the history of acupuncture and moxibustion. Figure 12 is held as a mystery since it only provided illustrations without indications. Through analysis and approved by clinical experiences, it is held that the two figures are companion illustrations on prevention and treatment of five kinds of strain and seven kinds of impairments as well as health keeping with moxibustion. The point prescriptions in these two figures are defined according to the tri-gram in Yijing (The Book of Change), which allowed the maximization of harmony between the human and the nature. Recovery and health are thus fulfilled through regulation on points at the head, trunk and four extremities of the body. And it is considered to have great significance for promoting the development of the present acupuncture and moxibustion theory since it is effective in both preventing and curing diseases caused by deficient and stagnation conditions such as the wei (flaccidity) syndrome, bi (arthralgia) syndrome, paralysis, dementia, asthma and so on.