ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) in cardiomyocytes differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ES cells were differentiated into cardiomyocytes with hanging-drop cultures. Retinoic acid (RA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The co-expression of cardiac sarcomeric protein (α-actinin or troponin-T) and mGluR4 were verified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis. The mRNA and protein expressions of mGluR4 were verified by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Meanwhile, the expression of mGluR4 in prenatal mouse heart was also examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>mGluR4 was expressed in both mouse ES cells and ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The level of mGluR4 protein expression decreased during the maturation of the cardiomyocytes. The co-expression rate of mGluR4 and Troponin T in the beating embryoid bodies (EBs) was only (3.00 ±1.00)%. On the other hand, mGluR4 gene and protein expressions showed remarkable down-regulation in the development of mouse fetal heart, which was not detected in mouse adult heart.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of mGluR4 is down-regulated in the cardiomyocyte differentiation of ES cells. The trend of expression is consistent with that in the prenatal mouse heart development.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Cell Differentiation , Physiology , Cell Line , Embryonic Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Mice, Inbred ICR , Myocytes, Cardiac , Cell Biology , Metabolism , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore a more effective therapy for acute gouty arthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in eachgroup. On the basis of diet intervention, the observation group was treated with electroacupuncture at local points combined with blood-letting puncture and cupping, and the control group with oral administration of Probenecid. Their therapeutic effects were ob served.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate was 96.7% in the observation group which was better than 86.7% in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, blood uric acid decreased significantly in the two groups (both P < 0.01), the observed group being lower than the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of diet intervention, electroacupuncture plus blood-letting puncture and cupping is a better therapy for acute gouty arthritis.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Arthritis, Gouty , Diet Therapy , Drug Therapy , Therapeutics , Bloodletting , Combined Modality Therapy , Electroacupuncture , Probenecid , Therapeutic Uses , Uricosuric Agents , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the estrogenic activity and its mechanism of ethanol extract from black soybean (BSE).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The modified MCF-7 cell proliferation assay was used to evaluate the estrogenic activity of BSE. And the possible mechanisms were addressed using RT-PCR measurements in which pure estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 was employed as a tool.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The estrogenic activity of BSE at various concentrations (1-1000 microg x mL(-1)), expressed as proliferative effect (PE) relative to that of solvent control, was examined. The results indicated that, at low concentration range (10-200 microg x mL(-1)), BSE was able to induce MCF-7 cell growth with a maximum at 100 microg x mL(-1). The results of RT-PCR showed that pS2 and PR mRNA could be significantly induced by BSE in MCF-7 cells, which was relative to the concentration of BSE. Moreover, the specific estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI182,780 could block these reactions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ethanol extract of black soybean can stimulate the growth of MCF-7 cells and increase the expression of estrogen receptor-responsive gene, suggesting that the estrogenic effects of BSE are mediated by the estrogen receptor.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Metabolism , Pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Estradiol , Pharmacology , Estrogen Receptor Modulators , Pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Receptors, Progesterone , Genetics , Seeds , Chemistry , Soybeans , Chemistry , Trefoil Factor-1 , Tumor Suppressor Proteins , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the estrogenic activity of ethanol extract from adzuki bean Phaseolus angularis and its effect on progesterone receptor (PR) level of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The modified MCF-7 cell proliferation assay was used to evaluate the estrogenic activity of adzuki bean extract. And its effect on PR mRNA and protein were addressed using RT-PCR measurements and western blotting analysis respectively in which pure estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 was employed as the tool.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The estrogenic activity of adzuki bean extract at various concentrations (10-200 microg x mL(-1)), expressed as proliferative effect (PE) relative to that of solvent control, was examined. The results indicated that the extract of adzuki bean was able to induce MCF-7 cell growth with a maximum at 100 microg x mL(-1). The results of RT-PCR and western blotting showed that PR mRNA and protein could be significantly induced by adzuki bean extract in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 could block these reactions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ethanol extract of adzuki bean has the estrogen-like activities through the estrogen response pathway.</p>