Metabolomics analysis reveals the renal protective effect of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey in type 1 diabetic rats / 中国天然药物

The dry root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey has garnered much interest owing to its medicinal properties against diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS)-based metabolomics approach was used to illustrate the therapeutic mechanisms of ginseng extract on the serum and urinary metabolic profiles in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) rats. Pharmacological and renal parameters in response to the administration of ginseng were also evaluated. In total, 16 serum endogenous metabolites and 14 urine endogenous metabolites, including pyruvic acid, indoleacetic acid, and phenylacetylglycine, were identified as potential biomarkers for diabetes. Pathway enrichment and network analysis revealed that the biomarkers modulated by ginseng were primarily involved in phenylalanine and pyruvate metabolism, as well as in arginine biosynthesis. Moreover, the levels of several renal injury-related biomarkers in T1DM rats were significantly restored following treatment with ginseng. The administration of the extract helped maintain tissue structure integrity and ameliorated renal injury. The findings suggest that the regulatory effect of ginseng extract on T1DM involves metabolic management of diabetic rats, which subsequently attenuates T1DM-induced early renal dysfunction.

Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on septic rats and its mechanism / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

This study aims to observe the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on liver and lung in rats with septic shock and reveal its mechanism. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP with ginsenoside Rb1. Then, the survival rate, arterial blood pressure, TLR4 mRNA, and TNF-α levels were determined. The liver and lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). The overall survival rate of the Rb1 group was significantly higher than that of the CLP group. Mean arterial blood pressure went down in both the CLP and Rb1 groups after CLP, and there was a significant difference both in the sham and Rb1 groups when compared with the CLP group. The Rb1 treatment group had markedly lower TLR4 mRNA expression and TNF-α levels than the CLP group. In the CLP group, pathology showed swelling, degeneration, necrosis, and neutrophil infiltration in the liver and alveolar epithelial cells. However, in the Rb1 group, there was mild degeneration and slight neutrophil infiltration, but no obvious necrosis. Rb1 may improve the survival rate, ameliorate arterial blood pressure, and protect the liver and lung in septic shock rats by downregulating the expression of TLR4 mRNA and inhibiting the production of TNF-α.

Expression and identification of the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor type III variant / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clone the extracellular domain (ECD) of the type III variant of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII) and construct the recombinant expression plasmid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A DNA fragment (vIII ECD) encoding the extracellular domain of human EGFRvIII was obtained by PCR, and its T-A was cloned and sequenced. The DNA fragment was then ligated into the GST fusion expression vector to construct the recombination plasmid. After identification with restriction digestion and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for expression of the recombinant protein. The target protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of restriction digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed the successful construction of the recombinant plasmid. SDS-PAGE showed that the fusion protein was expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli BL21 (DE3), and the amount of the fusion protein expressed in the bacteria, after induction for 4 h, accounted for up to 15% of the total bacterial proteins. Western blotting demonstrated that the fusion protein could be recognized by the specific anti-EGFR antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We have successfully constructed the recombinant expression vector of vIII ECD and induced the expression of the fusion protein, which may facilitate functional and immunological studies of EGFRvIII.</p>

Exploration of the alternative splicing variants of rat phospholipase C-gamma 1 pre-mRNA / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expression of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma1) alternative splicing variants in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the sequence of human PLCG1 splicing variant, specific primers for rat PLC-gamma1 were designed and synthesized. The rat RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA, which was amplified using the specific primers, and the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed using BLAST and bioinformatics methods. Totally 21 rat tissue samples were examined, including the heart, liver, lung, kidney, eyeball, and brain obtained in 3 different embryonic stages, 7 different early postnatal stages, and in adulthood.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result did not show that rat PLC-gamma1 had the same splicing variant (PLC-gamma1a, NM_002660) as human does.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The same splicing variant of PLC-gamma1 detectable in human may not exist in rats, and the pre-mRNA may undergo splicing resulting predominantly in PLC-gamma1b mRNA. Very likely, the alternative splicing site of rat PLC-gamma1 is not identical to that of human.</p>

Use of capillary electrophoresis to determine hemoglobin A2 in healthy adults and alpha- and beta-thalassemia carriers / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) method for the estimation of blood hemoglobin A2 (Hb A2) concentrations in routine thalassemia screening.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 105 samples from healthy adults and 93 samples with positive phenotypes were collected by routine thalassemia screening. CIEF was compared with Helena spife combo electrophoresis system for Hb A2 measurement and its precision and reproducibility were tested by analyzing intra-assay or inter-assay coefficient of variations(CVs). The reliability and veracity of Hb A2 measurement by CIEF for the detection of alpha- and beta- thalassemia including Hb E were evaluated by genotyping of 93 consecutive samples for routine thalassemia screening.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By us e of CIEF for measurement of Hb A2 in a local healthy adult population, the range of reference value(3.59%-5.23%) was obtained. The results of CIEF showed good linearity relation to that of conventional Hb electrophoresis assay. All thalassemia carriers (43 cases of alpha-thals and 44 of beta-thals) or Hb E carriers (6 cases) presumptively identified by the present CIEF for the quantification of Hb A2, combined with routine RBC parameters for indicating microcytosis and hypochromia were confirmed to be the heterozygous or compound heterozygous defects of alpha- or beta- globin gene by molecular diagnosis, without any false positive or false negative results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The measurement of Hb A2 by CIEF method is rapid, precise and reproducible; it could be used in routine screening for alpha- or beta- thalassemia.</p>