Research advances on adrenergic receptor signaling involved in disease microenvironment through regulation of macrophages / 生理学报

Adrenergic receptor (AR), one of the key receptors for nervous system, plays an important role in the immune microenvironment and the progression of many diseases. In recent years, the regulation of ARs and its signal on macrophages has become a research hotspot. Researchers found that ARs could exert different regulatory functions on macrophages in different microenvironments, which in turn affects occurrence and development of diseases such as tumor, heart failure, obesity, acute injury, infection and pregnancy-related diseases. This review summarizes the expression and functional regulation of ARs on macrophages, and the role of ARs in microenvironment of related diseases, which might provide new ideas for the treatments.

Effects of Heyan Kuntai Capsule () on Follicular Development and Oocyte Cohesin Levels in Aged Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Heyan Kuntai Capsule (, HYKT) on the ovarian function of aged mice and expressions of cohesion complexes in oocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five 9-month-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups by block randomization method (n=5 per group), including the control group (saline), 17β-estradiol group [E, 100 μg/(kg•d)], and low-, medium-, and highdose of HYKT groups [0.3, 0.9, 2.7 g/(kg•d), respectively]. All mice were treated by intragastric administration for 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and anti-VASA staining were used to detect the amounts of follicles. The apoptosis of follicles was measured by anti-gamma HA histone family member X (γHAX) staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. The density of cohesin subunits, REC8 meiotic recombination protein (REC8), structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) 1β and SMC3 in oocytes were evaluated by immunofluorescent staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After administration of E and high-dose of HYKT, the total number of follicles as well as the number of primordial and primary follicles were significantly increased (P<0.05). Anti-γHAX staining and TUNEL assay demonstrated that high-dose of HYKT and E partly suppressed the apoptosis of follicles (P<0.05). Furthermore, it showed an increased trend in the levels of REC8 and SMC1β, after administration with E and HYKT, and no obvious change in the level of SMC3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HYKT could enhance the number of follicles, suppress apoptosis of oocytes and have a trend to elevate the meiotic-specific cohesin subunits (REC8 and SMC1β) in oocytes of aged mice, indicating a beneficial effect on the ovarian function in terms of the quantity and quality of follicles.</p>

A general description for Chinese medicine in treating premature ovarian failure / 中国结合医学杂志

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a kind of gynecological disease that causes amenorrhea, infertility, menopause and urogenital symptoms. Currently hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most popular choice for women with POF to get rid of menopausal syndrome. However, as the popularization of Chinese herbs made Chinese medicine (CM) shine new lights, physicians are able to treat POF with both meno-herbs and integrated therapy. HRT has its own indications and contraindications. For example, unexplained vaginal bleeding, acute liver damage, liver dysfunction, vascular embolization, and breast cancer are all contraindications of HRT, and CM is taken by more physicians as an adjuvant therapy. This review, including a range of common Chinese herbs and formulations according to the existing literature, provides a general description of CM treating POF from the aspects of mechanisms and clinical application. It also highlights acupuncture as a unique physiotherapy for POF. Although the validity of CM has been supported by the evidence of many preclinical trials, clinical trials and meta-analysis, the adverse events with CM therapy still exist and no guarantee has been made for its safety. This review concludes the updated information for CM treating POF contributing to further studies.

Therapeutic effect of Bushen Huoxue recipe on autoimmune premature ovarian failure mice established by immunization with recombinant porcine zona pellucida 4 antigen / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (, BHR) in the treatment of murine autoimmune premature ovarian failure (POF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant porcine zona pellucida 4 (pZP4) was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain within prokaryotic plasmid pET28a (+), purified by Ni-affinity chromatography and verified by Western blot. Murine autoimmune POF model was established by immunization with pZP4 of female BALB/c mice. Fifty POF mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, which were respectively given low (3.75 mg/kg), moderate (7.5 mg/kg), and high dose (15.0 mg/kg) of BHR by gastrogavage once daily for 20 days, with 17-β-estradiol (0.13 mg/kg) and normal saline as positive and negative control. Estrous cycles were analyzed through vaginal smears, serum estradiol (E) levels, and anti-pZP4 antibody titers were detected by ELISA. The proliferative responses in vitro of spleen lymphocytes to pZP4 antigen restimulation were measured by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, and the histomorphology changes of ovary were evaluated by optical microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The purified pZP4 was visible as a single lane with 14.4 kD in SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The murine POF model with lengthening estrous cycles, decreased levels of serum E2, high titers of serum anti-pZP4 antibody, and reduced ovarian follicles and corpus lutea were established by immunization with recombinant pZP4. Treatment with moderate and high dosage BHR significantly increased ovarian follicles and reduced the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes to the pZP4 antigen of POF mice (P <0.05). However, only the high dosage BHR administration significantly improved the estrous cycles, elevated the serum E levels (P <0.01), and decreased the serum anti-pZP4 antibody titers of model mice P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The recombinant pZP4 could evoke the antigen-specific immune response in mice and induce the autoimmune ovarian injury. It has been demonstrated that BHR was able to increase the serum E levels and protect ovarian functions from the autoimmune injury in murine POF model.</p>

Effect of Gengnianchun Recipe on bone mineral density, bone biomechanical parameters and serum lipid level in ovariectomized rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Gengnianchun Recipe (GNC) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical parameters and serum lipid level in the bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to explore the prophylactic and therapeutic action of GNC on ovariectomy induced osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OVX SD rats, 10 - 12 months old, were divided into different groups and fed with GNC 2 g/d, GNC 1 g/d and Nilestriol 0.125 mg/week, respectively for 4 months to observe the change of BMD and bone biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, and the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and to compare the effect of the two drugs on the morphology of the uterus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was marked reduction in BMD and biomechanical parameters in lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.01) and increase of serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01) in rats after OVX. GNC or Nilestriol significantly improved the decreased BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and reduced the serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01). In the Nilestriol group, the wet weight of uterus got increased obviously (P < 0.01), the number of uterine glands increased, uterine columnar epithelium thickened, and the mitotic figures in the epithelial stroma and myointimal cells augmented. But no such effect in wet weight and morphology of uterus was found in the GNC group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GNC could increase the BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, reduce the serum TC and LDL-C levels, yet produce no adverse reaction in stimulating proliferation and hypertrophy of uterus.</p>

Predominant effect of bushen ningxin decoction on postmenopausal osteoporosis in mice / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effect of Bushen Ningxin decoction (BSNX) on postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The BALB/c female mice postmenopausal osteoporosis model was established. The model mice were treated by BSNX, with 17beta-estradiol (E2) and normal saline as positive and negative control, respectively. All mice were sacrificed after 12 weeks' treatment, the serum cytokines Th1/Th2, bone mineral density (BMD) of vertebrae (L3 - 4) and left femur were determined, and morphological quantitative analysis of bone tissue of right femurs was performed and osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA expression in tibia was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The ratio in weight of uterus to body was calculated, and uterine slice was gotten for histological observation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with the negative control group, the level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was significantly increased (P < 0.01) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) decreased (P < 0.05) in the BSNX treated group. The BMD of mice were improved, area of bone trabecula and OPG mRNA expression were increased in the BSNX treated and E2 treated group (P < 0.01). But the uterus in the former was significantly smaller than that in the latter (P < 0.01), while it was not significantly different to that in the negative control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BSNX can selectively prevent and cure the postmenopausal osteoporosis, it has no or slight stimulation on uterus. The mechanism may relate with its effects in regulating the deviation of Th1/Th2, enhancing the OPG expression and inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts.</p>

Protective effect of bushen ningxin recipe on ovariectomized rabbits with atherosclerosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Bushen Ningxin recipe (BNR) on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six female New Zealand white rabbits of three months old were randomly divided into four groups, the normal group, the sham operation group, the control group (ovariectomized) and the treated group (ovariectomized and treated with BNR). All rabbits, except the normal group, were fed with high-cholesterol diet starting from two weeks after operation, and to the treated group BNR was given additionally for 3 months. Levels of blood lipid (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) and NO were measured at the end of the 12th week, and at the same time, histomorphological and pathological examination of aorta under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the ratio of atherosclerotic area of lesion/endothelium ratio (AL/AE) and thickness of endothelium/medium ratio (TE/TM) were estimated using image analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in levels of blood lipid between groups, except those in the normal group. As compared with the control group, in the treated group, level of serum NO was higher, AL/AE and TE/TM were lower and the pathological changes of aorta was milder.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BNR could inhibit the atherosclerosis formation in ovariectomized rabbits, it showed protection on vascular endothelial cells.</p>

Effect of bushen ningxin decoction on proliferation and apoptosis of murine osteoblast / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Bushen Ningxin decoction (BSNXD) on postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Postmenopausal osteoporosis model of female BALB/c mice were founded and afforded with BSNXD. The experiment was ceased, and the skeleton and blood of mice in each group were collected following 12 weeks of the treatment. Change of osteoblastic organelle in right femur was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Osteoblasts from calvaria of different groups were isolated and cultured by the tissue fragment migrating growth method and the proliferation ratio of osteoblasts in the second passage was examined with thiazolyl blue reagents when cultured for 1 day and 5 days, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TEM showed that the osteoblasts of the animal treated by BSNXD had more cell organelles and developed Golgi complex, whose ability of proliferation(P < 0.05) and anti-apoptosis is stronger than that of OVX group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BSNXD can accelerate the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of osteoblasts, the effective concentration of pharmacological serum varies from 10% to 20%.</p>

Expressions of CL16/CR6 and CL12/CR4 in first-trimester human trophoblast cells / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the transcription and protein expressions of chemokines CL16, CL12 and their receptors CR6, CR4 in first-trimester human cytotrophoblast cells and human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR. Methods Transcriptions of CR6, CL16, CR4, CL12 in purified first-trimester human trophoblast cells and JAR line were assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and protein expressions of CR6, CL16, CR4, CL12 were analyzed in primary cultured villous cytotrophoblasts (VCT), extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVCT), JAR line and placentas by immunostaining. Results CR6 and CR4 were highly transcribed in primary cultured trophoblast cells with mRNA relative level of 1.12?0.25 and 1.08?0.11 respectively, and their ligands CL16 and CL12 were transcribed moderately with mRNA relative level of 0.89?0.11 and 0.78?0.10 respectively. It was demonstrated that CL16, CL12, CR6 and CR4 were expressed in primary cultured VCT, EVCT, JAR line and placentas by immunostaining. Conclusion The co-expression of CL16/CR6 and CL12/CR4 in trophoblast cells may play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of first-trimester trophoblast cells in a manner of autocrine.

Transcription of chemokine receptors in villi and trophoblasts of human first trimes-ter gestation / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective: To investigate the mRNA expression of chemokine receptors in human villi and trophoblasts of first trimester gestation . Methods: The authors first obtained villous tissues from fifteen women who had undergone selective termination at 5 - 10 weeks of normal gestation. Total RNA was then extracted, using the TRIzol reagent, from villous tissues or Percoll-gradient purified trophoblasts. Consequently, the expressions of chemokine receptors in villous tissues and trophoblasts were investigated by way of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Results: The chemokine receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR6, were highly expressed in each villous tissue, while the CCR6, CCR7, XCR1 and CX3CR1 were moderately expressed in villi. The chemokine receptors, CCR1- CCR5, CCR8 - CCR10, CXCR1 -CXCR3, were expressed only in some villous samples, while no CXCR5 mRNA was found in any villous tissue. The authors also found that the freshly isolated and Percoll-purified trophoblasts expressed CCR1, CCR3 - CCR5, CCR8 - CCR9, CXCR1 - CXCR4, CXCR6, XCR1 and CX3CR1 mRNA. Conclusion: A variety of chemokine receptors were expressed in villous tissues and trophoblasts of human first trimester gestation, hence, these receptors may play an important biological role at the materno-fetal interface in normal human pregnancy.