Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 in U937 foam cells / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in U937 foam cells and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the cytokines. U937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of GbE (0.1, 1, and 10 microg x L(-1)), and stimulated by 100 mg x L(-1) oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 h. The expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture solution were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that incubated with 100 mg x L(-1) ox-LDL for 24 h, the U937 cells became foam cells, the protein or mRNA expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells were higher markedly than those in normal U937 cells. When the cells were pretreated with GbE (0.1, 1, and 10 microg x L(-1)), the increases of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in U937 foam cells were remarkably inhibited, but IL-10 expression increased greatly. Especially when cells were pretreated with 10 microg x L(-1) GbE, the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were markedly lower than those in U937 foam cells. The protein expression of IL-10 and mRNA expressions of IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R were markedly higher than those in U937 foam cells. GbE inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, but up-regulated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells, which might be related with its anti-atherosclerotic actions.

Expression of VEGF in endothelial cells and the effects of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human umbilical veins endothelial cell line (ECV304) and the inhibitory effect of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (ST I) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Exposure to 2.5 mg x L(-1) LPC or LPC + ST I for 24 hours, VEGF protein was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, VEGF mRNA expression in ECV304 was examined by in situ hybridization. VEGF165 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and Realtime RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LPC upregulated VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA expression in the ECV304 cells. ST I was shown to markedly inhibit the LPC-induced increase of VEGF protein and VEGF165 mRNA (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LPC can induce a strong expression of VEGF in ECV304 cells and ST I can inhibit it.</p>

DNA microarray analysis of protective mechanism of buyang huanwu decoction on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyse the effects of buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWT) on differentially expressed genes during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats with DNA microarray.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>cDNA microarray chips containing 512 cDNAs were made by Biostar Genechip Inc. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with an filament. Saline or BYHWT was given p.o. after onset of cerebral ischemia and brains were removed after 24 h of recirculation for mRNAs isolation. A differential measurment of mRNAs from post-ischemic and BYHWT treated animals was performed with microarray.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Up-and down-regulated genes were 69 and 80 in ischemic group. Up-and down-regulated genes were 25 and 6 in BYHWT treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BYHWT regulates the differential expression genes after focal brain ischemia/reperfusion in rats, due to its mechanism of protecting cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.</p>

Studies on the simvastatin effect on the artery of atherosclerotic rabbit using proteomics approaches / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the inhibitory effect of simvastatin via investigating the overall expression level of proteins in the artery of atherosclerotic rabbit.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Experimental model was established by feeding the rabbits a high fat diet (cholesterol 0.5 g.kg-1.d-1, lard 0.5 mL.kg-1.d-1) for 8 weeks. Then simvastatin (5 mg.kg-1) were fed for 4 weeks to the rabbits. The overall protein levels were measured using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and a PDQUEST data processing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty nine protein spots showed significant quantitative changes in comparison with the normal and the diseased rabbits. Furthermore, after the diseased rabbit having taken simvastatin, an obvious decay of symptom of fatty liver was observed, and the intensity of most spots has not been back-regulated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Simvastatin facilitates the metabolism of fat in the blood, but the lesion of the internal wall of the atherosclerotic artery cannot be restored.</p>

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in U937 foam cells and the inhibitory effect of drugs / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in U937 foam cells and the inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>U937 cells were incubated with 80 mg.L-1 oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) for 48 h and a macrophage-derived foam cell model was established. The VEGF concentration in the media was determined by ELISA; the VEGF protein expression in cells was measured with immunohistochemistry; the VEGF mRNA level in cells was measured by in situ hybridization; the positive ratio detected by a morphometrical analysis system was used as the amount of the VEGF protein expression and the mRNA level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After U937 cells were incubated with OX-LDL, VEGF expression level increased greatly both in the cells and in the media. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were shown to remarkably inhibit the increase of VEGF. After treated with 10 micrograms/L-1 salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF protein concentration in the media and positive ratio in the cells decreased compared with foam cells. After treated with 10 micrograms.L-1 salvianolic acid B and 100 micrograms.L-1 Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF mRNA level decreased measured by in situ hybridization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A high VEGF expression level was determined in U937 foam cells. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were found to inhibit VEGF expression significantly in U937 foam cells in vitro.</p>