ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide ( APS ) on depressive behaviors and hippocampal NF-κB signaling in rats with depression. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into con-trol group, depressive group, APS-low (200 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ) group and APS-high ( 400 mg · kg-1 · d-1 ) group. Depressive behaviors were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) in rats. After trea-ted with APS, depressive behaviors were valuated by open field test, forced swim test and sucrose preference test. Levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 ( p-NF-κB p65 ) , phosphorylated IκBα ( p-IκBα) , NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured to assess the activity of NF-κB sig-naling pathways. Results Compared to control group, rats in depressive group had less sucrose intake in su-crose preference and longer immobility time in forced swim test, as well as increased hippocampal NF-κB signaling activity. However, APS treatment dose-de-pendently alleviated depressive-like behaviors and in-hibited the activation of NF-κB signaling induced by UCMS. Conclusion The antidepressant effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of hipp-ocampal NF-κB signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on renal TGF-β1/Smads signa-ling pathway in rats with diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into nor-mal group,DM group,APS low dose (APS-low) group and APS high dose (APS-high) group. Rats in APS-low group and APS-high group respectively received 200 and 400 mg·kg-1·d-1APS for 8 weeks. Con-centrations of fasting blood-glucose(FBG),blood urea nitrogen and creatinine,as well as urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and osteopontin (OPN) were measured. Levels of TGF-β1,Smad2,phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2),Smad3,phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3),Smad7,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2,MMP-9,tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 were investigated. Results Compared to control group,DM group had higher levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1,OPN, TGF-β1,Smad2,p-Smad2,Smad3,p-Smad3,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2,but lower levels of Smad7,MMP-2 and MMP-9. APS significantly decreased the levels of FBG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine KIM-1 and OPN, as well as inhibited the activity of TGF-β1/Smads sig-naling pathway. Conclusion The renoprotective effects of APS might be associated with the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of B7-H3 and IL-21 in serum of patients with HBV-related primary liver cancer.Methods: Gathering 121 cases of HBV-related patients,50 cases of primary hepatic carcinoma of them were considered as hepatic carcinoma group,71 cases of benign group including 12 cases with acute hepatitis,21 cases of chronic moderate to severe hepatitis,20 cases of compensatory phase cirrhosis,18 cases of decompensated cirrhosis and 20 cases of healthy persons in the same period as normal control.The content of serum B7-H3 and IL-21 were detected by ELISA.HBV DNA quantitative results were analyzed by Quantitative Real-time PCR.Results: The levels of B7-H3 and IL-21 in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma were (207.60±57.16)ng/ml and(2 357.28±805.01)pg/ml,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the normal control subjects(P<0.001).Comparison with the normal control subjects,the content of B7-H3 and IL-21 in serum of patients with different clinical types in the benign group increased significantly(P<0.001).B7-H3 and IL-21 were positively associated with each other in serum of patients with HBV-related primary liver cancer.The expression of sB7-H3 was not significantly correlated with the degree of HBV DNA replication.The expression of IL-21 was correlated with HBV DNA replication in patients with HBV associated hepatocellular carcinoma,but was not significantly correlated with the degree of HBV DNA replication.Conclusion: HBV-related primary hepatic carcinoma express sB7-H3 and IL-21 with high level.The continuous high expression of sB7-H3 and IL-21 in the body may be related to the development and prognosis of the patients.