Modified Shuyuwan Mediated Mitochondrial Autophagy Improve APP/PS1 Mice Oxidative Stress Injury and Ability of Learning and Memory / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effects and related mechanisms of modified Shuyuwan on the decline of learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease （AD） mice. MethodForty 5-month-old SPF APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into model group， Donepezil group， modified Shuyuwan group， modified Shuyuwan+ chloroquine （CQ） group， 10 mice in each group， the same background wild type C57BL/6J ten mice were set as the normal group. Among them， the modified Shuyuwan group was given the modified Shuyuwan decoction （10 g·kg-1）， the Donepezil group was given the Donepezil hydrochloride solution （0.45 mg·kg-1）， the modified Shuyuwan + CQ group was CQ （10 mg·kg-1） was injected intraperitoneally on the basis of the modified Shuyuwan group， and the normal group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for a total of 35 days. After the administration， Morris water maze experiment and new object recognition experiment to detect the spatial memory ability of mice. TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling（TUNEL） staining to detect the apoptosis level of mouse hippocampal CA1 neurons， biochemical detection of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and superoxide in mouse hippocampal neurons dismutase （SOD） levels. transmission electron microscopy to observe the ultrastructure of neuronal mitochondria in the CA1 region of mouse hippocampus. Western blot to detect mouse hippocampal mitochondrial autophagy adaptor protein （p62） and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅱ （LC3Ⅱ）， PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1）， E3 Ubiquitin Ligase（Parkin）protein expression level. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） detection of mouse hippocampal mitochondrial forkhead transcription factor O1 （FoxO1）， PINK1， Parkin mRNA expression level. ResultCompared with the normal group， the escape latency of the model group mice increased significantly， the number of crossing platforms and the retention time in the target quadrant decreased significantly， the relative resolution index decreased significantly， and the ability to recognize new objects was weakened （P<0.05）， neurons in the hippocampus CA1 area decreased. The number of dead cells increased significantly （P<0.05）， the level of ROS was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the level of SOD was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， the morphology of hippocampal mitochondria was severely damaged， the expression of p62 and LC3Ⅱ proteins increased （P<0.01）， Parkin protein expression decreased （P<0.05）， and PINK1 protein expression increased （P<0.05）， FoxO1， PINK1， Parkin mRNA expressions all decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the mice's escape latency was significantly shortened after the intervention of the modified Shuyuwan， the number of crossing platforms and the proportion of residence time in the target quadrant increased significantly， the relative resolution index increased significantly， and the ability to identify new objects was enhanced （P<0.05）. Apoptotic cells were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. ROS levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and SOD levels were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， mitochondrial morphology and various structures were significantly improved， p62， LC3Ⅱ protein expression decrease （P<0.05，P<0.01）， PINK1， Parkin protein expression increased （P<0.01）. FoxO1， PINK1， Parkin mRNA expression increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the modified Shuyuwan group， the evasion latency of mice in the modified Shuyuwan + CQ group increased significantly， the number of crossing platforms and the proportion of residence time in the target quadrant decreased， and the relative resolution index decreased （P<0.05）， the SOD level was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The damage of mitochondrial morphology and structure increased again， the expression of p62 and LC3Ⅱ protein increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of PINK1 and Parkin decreased significantly（P<0.05， P<0.01）. FoxO1， PINK1， and Parkin mRNA expression was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Shuyuwan can effectively improve the oxidative stress damage and learning and memory ability of AD mice. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of FoxO1， PINK1， and Parkin factors， promoting mitochondrial autophagy， reducing oxidative stress， and protecting neuronal damage.

Molecular mechanism of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix drug pair for depression based on integrative pharmacology platform of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Xiaochaihu decoction is a classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine. Modern research has proved its anti-depression effect. However, its pharmacological mechanism for anti-depression effect is difficult to be unveiled because of the complexity of compound Chinese medicines. Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix is the core drug pair of Xiaochaihu decoction. In this research, Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix were analyzed by the integrative pharmacology platform to study its molecular mechanism for anti-depression. One hundred and sixteen active ingredients were predicted, 62 for Bupleuri Radix, mainly including saikosaponins, acids, alcohols, and 54 for Scutellariae Radix, mainly including flavonoids and glycosides. Its anti-depression effect was relevant to 118 core targets, including 22 known disease targets, such as serotonin receptor(HTR2C), activating transcription factor(ATF1, ATF2), δ opioid receptor(OPRD1), μ opioid receptor (OPRM1), κ opioid receptor(OPRK1), inositol monophosphatase(IMPA1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), histamine H1 receptor(HRH1), neurotrophic factor tyrosine kinase receptor1 (NTRK1), Glycogen synthetase kinase 3β(GSK3β), etc. The antidepressant effect involved positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter, transcription factor binding, cytosol, transcriptional regulation of DNA template, enzyme binding, endocrine system, nervous system, neurotrophin signaling pathway, cell growth and death, signal transduction, thyroid hormone signaling pathway and other related biological processes and metabolic pathways. This study provides a scientific evidence for further study of the anti-depression mechanism of this drug pair.

Effects of siRNA specific to the protein kinase CK2α on apoptosis of laryngeal carcinoma cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The relationship between apoptosis and tumors is a major focus in cancer research. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has emerged as a very potent tool to generate cellular knockdown phenotypes of a desired gene. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of siRNA specific to the protein casein kinase 2α (CK2α) on apoptosis of laryngeal carcinoma cells and to explore possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An siRNA expression plasmid specific to CK2α, psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α, and a non-specific siRNA expression plasmid, psiRNA-hH1neo-cont, were constructed and transfected into Hep-2 cells by a lipofectamine method. The mRNA and protein levels of CK2α in transfected cells were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis. Apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining methods. The morphological changes to Hep-2 cells were observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured by Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Levels of CK2α mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in the psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The apoptotic rate of the psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group was significantly higher compared to that in the untransfected group and the siRNA-hH1neo-cont transfected group (25.66% ± 0.83%, 3.66% ± 0.43%, and 5.18% ± 0.22%) (P < 0.05). Compared with the untransfected group and the siRNA-hH1neo-cont transfected group, the psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group presented with classical ultrastructural features of apoptosis, such as karyopyknosis, chromatic agglutination adjacent to the nuclear membrane, and apoptotic bodies. Compared with the other two groups, the level of Bcl-2 protein in the psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group was decreased (0.20 ± 0.09 vs. 0.72 ± 0.16, 0.56 ± 0.11, P < 0.01), while the Bax protein level was increased (0.81 ± 0.17 vs. 0.26 ± 0.12, 0.33 ± 0.17, P < 0.01) and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax was decreased (0.25 ± 0.05 vs. 2.76 ± 0.21, 1.70 ± 0.22, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The siRNA expression plasmid specific to CK2α could suppress CK2α expression and induce the apoptosis of laryngeal carcinoma cells. This is possibly by decreasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. CK2α may provide a potential therapeutic target against human laryngeal carcinoma.</p>

Gene transfer into primary cultures of fetal neural stem cells by a recombinant adenovirus carrying the gene for green fluorescent protein / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the transduction efficiency of a recombinant adenovirus carrying the gene for green fluorescent protein (Ad-GFP) into the primary cultures of fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) by the expression of GFP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Ad-GFP was constructed by homologous recombination in bacteria with the AdEasy system; NSCs were isolated from rat fetal hippocampus and cultured as neurosphere suspensions. After infection with the recombinant Ad-GFP, NSCs were examined with a fluorescent microscopy and a flow cytometry for their expression of GFP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the viral infection, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the percentage of GFP-positive cells was as high as 97.05%. The infected NSCs sustained the GFP expression for above 4 weeks. After differentiated into astrocytes or neurons, they continued to express GFP efficiently.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We have successfully constructed a viral vector Ad-GFP that can efficiently infect the primary NSCs. The reporter gene was showed fully and sustained expression in the infected cells as well as their differentiated progenies.</p>

Experimental study on embryonic neural stem cells transplantation into natural rat cochlea via round window / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the survival of neural stem cell (NSC) infected by recombinant adenovirus with GFP (Ad-GFP) and the expression of GFP in normal rat cochlea and their potential effect on auditory function and cochlea structures via round window transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In comparison with the normal rats without any transplantation (Group III), normal rat cochleae were transplanted with NSC infected with Ad-GFP (Group I) or the artificial perilymph (Group II) via round windows. Auditory functions were monitored by thresholds of auditory brain stem responses (ABR); the cochlea structures were examined by HE staining; survivals of implanted NSC were determined by the expression of GFP; survivals of hair cells were accessed by whole mount preparation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neither at pre-transplantation nor at post-transplantation, there were significant differences in the click-ABR thresholds in rats between Group I and Group II (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in these values before and after transplantation in the same rats from each group. After transplantation, the cochlea structures were normal in both Group I & Group II. Grafted NSC was visualized by the GFP expression in every turn of the cochlea in all animals of Group I. There were no significant differences in the loss of outer hair cell (OHC) among three groups. The inner hair cell (IHC) and most OHC were normal in every turns of cochleae of all groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The embryonic NSC infected with Ad-GFP could survive and express the GFP gene in normal rat cochlea after transplantation via round window, which had not obvious affection to auditory function and inner ear pathology of rat cochlea.</p>

Inhibitory effects of small interfering RNA specific to protein kinase CK2a on the growth of laryngeal carcinoma cells / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to protein kinase CK2a on proliferation and apoptosis of Hep-2 cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>siRNA expression plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2 specific to protein kinase CK2a and non-specific siRNA expression plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo-cont were constructed respectively, and then were transfected into Hep-2 cells by lipofectamine methods. Protein kinase CK2a mRNA and protein of the transfected cells were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot, respectively. Proliferation and apoptosis of the transfected cells were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Protein kinase CK2a mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased in the cells transfected with psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2 (P < 0.05). The Hep-2 cells grew slowly after transfected with psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2(P < 0.05). Obvious subdiploid peaks were found in the cells transfected with psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>siRNA expression plasmid specific to protein kinase CK2a suppressed the protein kinase CK2a expression and the proliferation of Hep-2, and induced apoptosis of Hep-2 cells.</p>