Regulatory Effect of Gandou Decoction on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway in Liver of Wilson Model Copper-loaded Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of Gandou decoction (GDD) on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hepatic tissue of Wilson disease model copper-loaded rats and its potential mechanism. Method: One hundred and fifteen SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group (n=20) and modeling group. Modeling group was given copper sulfate feed (1 g·kg-1·d-1) and 0.185%copper sulfate solution (0.02 mL·g-1·d-1) for 12 weeks after one week's adaptive feeding, so as to build the copper loaded rats model. After modeling, 95 model rats were randomly divided into model group (n=45), which were fed by modeling method for continuously four weeks; GDD group and penicillamine (PCA) group (n=25 per group). GDD group and PCA group were given GDD(0.4 g·kg-1·d-1) and PCA (0.09 g·kg-1·d-1) by gavage for four weeks. The hepatic tissues of rats in each group were removed after final medication for further research:inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) was used to detect the content of Cu element in rat livers. Htoxylin eosin(HE) staining was used to detect the pathological changes of rat liver. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of oxidative stress. Western blot was used to detect protein expressions in Wnt/β-catenin of rat livers. Result: Compared with model group, content of Cu element in GDD group was less (PPPβ-catenin, p-glycogen synthase kinase-3β(p-GSK3β),cellular myelocytomatosis oncogene (c-Myc) in GDD and PCA group increased, while p-β-catenin, Dishevelled3, GSK3β protein expressions reduced (PConclusion: GDD can relieve liver damage by promoting excessive copper discharge. GDD decoction can promote the compensatory self-healing of the injured liver tissue by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the hepatic tissue of Wilson disease model copper-loaded rats, so as to reduce the therapeutic effect of hepatocellular injury induced by high copper.

Effect of Gandou Decoction on Autophagy of SH-SY5Y Cell Induced by High Copper and Its Mechanism / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore the effect of Gandou decoction on autophagy of SH-SY5Y cells induced by high copper and its mechanism, in order to provide new therapeutic targets and research ideas for the prevention and treatment of brain-type Wilson disease (WD) with traditional Chinese medicine. Method: CuSO4 model showed a certain dose-effect and time-effect relationship according to methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT); lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) leakage rate was detected by LDH release assay; flow cytometry method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content. The fluorescent dye JC-1 was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells. Flow cytometry was used to quantify autophagy. The expressions of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3A/B), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and UNC-51-like kinase-1 (ULK1), phosphorylation-ULK (p-ULK), phosphorylation-AMPK (p-AMPK) were detected by Western blot. Result: According to MTT results, CuSO4 showed a dose-effect and time-effect relationship with cells (P4, the survival rate of cells showed a downward trend (P4-induced cell death (P4 compared with the normal group (P4-injured cells (P4 significantly increased the production of ROS in cells (P4-induced intracellular ROS production (P4 induced a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in cells (P4-induced mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-dependent manner (P1, AMPK, LC3A/B, ULK, p-AMPK in the model group were significantly increased, while the protein expressions of mTOR and p-ULK were significantly decreased (P1, AMPK, LC3A/B, p-AMPK and ULK were significantly decreased, whereas the protein expressions of mTOR and p-ULK were significantly increased in the rabbit serum group containing Gandou decoction (PConclusion: High copper can induce autophagic apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by inducing intracellular mitochondrial oxidative stress, up-regulating the expressions of autophagy-related proteins LKB1, AMPK, LC3A/B, ULK, p-AMPK and down-regulating the expressions of mTOR and p-ULK. However, Gandou decoction can inhibit the occurrence of autophagy, and cut off high copper-induced neuronal damage by down-regulating the expressions of autophagy-related proteins LKB1, AMPK, LC3A/B, ULK, p-AMPK, and up-regulating the expression of mTOR and p-ULK, so as to exert a neuroprotective effect.

Protective Effect of Gandou Decoction on Cer Signaling Pathway in HT-22 Induced by High Copper / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To detect ceramide(Cer) signaling pathway-related proteins expression levels in HT-22 with Gandou decoction (GDD), in order to explore its molecular targets and mechanism in regulating Cer signaling pathway. Method: The experiment was divided into normal group (normal HT-22 cultured by 10%blank rabbit serum), model group (HT-22 cells incubated with CuSO4), and GDD group (HT-22 cells incubated with CuSO4, continuously cultured by rabbit serum containing10%, 15%, 20%GDD). HT-22 cells were incubated with different concentrations of CuSO4.The cell growth and proliferation were assessed using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method; flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS); Western blot was used to detect relevant protein expression of Cer signaling pathway. Result: The results of MTT showed that CuSO4 inhibited the growth and proliferation of HT-22 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner; flow cytometry results showed that the model group increased the release of ROS compared with the normal group (PPPPConclusion: High copper can induce oxidative stress and deactivate Cer signaling pathway, which led to hippocampal neuron injury. These findings suggest that GDD reduces neurotoxicity induced by copper overload by increasing the copper excretion that inhibits the expressions of ASM, Cer, p38 MAPK, Cyt C, Caspase-9, Caspase-3.GDD reduces neurotoxicity induced by copper overload by decreasing copper levels in brain and then regulating Cer signaling pathway.

Research Progress of Therapeutic Mechanism of Gandou Decoction in Treatment of Wilson's Disease / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Wilson disease (WD) is a treatable neurological inherited disorder characterized by copper metabolism impairment. Metal chelating drugs, such as penicillamine, have been used to treat WD for decades, is exposuring its limitations of effect and utilize sphere. Genetic therapy was considered as the most potential way of curing WD, is still can only be achieved in the laboratory, which have massive problems to solve before its clinical utilization. Based on this, we started to research the curative mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) donated by national natural science fund project funding, found that TCM formula Gandou decoction regulate the metabolic disorders caused by liver cells and neurons apoptosis, autophagy, such as programmed cell death,from the molecular pathways of copper metabolism, Wnt/β-catenin pathway and mitogen-activated protein kmase(MAPK) pathways regulating liver damage such as cell signaling pathways, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) pathway and liver kinase B1(LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase(AMPK) pathway and the cell signaling pathway of neuronal damage. The above experimental results were verified by TX mice, a reliable WD animal models. This paper aimed to systematically review the research of GDD therapeutic mechanisms from the sight of programmed cell death, including aptosis and autophagy, and provided theoretical for formula optimization. In addition, we elaborated some assumptions and feasible advice for the further research of GDD therapeutic mechanism.

The Correlation between Blood Uric Acid and Goldstein Grading in Hepatolenticular Degeneration Patients with Different Chinese Medical Syndrome Types / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.</p>

Multiple pharmacological actions of Yiqi Huatan Decoction in a model of depression in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of Yiqi Huatan Decoction (, YHD) on a model of depression in rats under different pathological conditions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 8: normal, model, YHD, and maprotiline. The model group, YHD group and maprotiline group used separate feeding and rats were exposed to chronic and unpredictable stress to build the depression model. From day 2, the YHD group and maprotiline group were respectively given YHD (7 g/kg) and maprotiline (10 mg/kg) by gastrogavage once daily. The normal and model groups were given the same volume of drinking water. The medication duration were 21 days. At the end of the experiment, the serum levels of copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (COR) were detected by radioimmunoassay, and levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the hypothalamus were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography-eletricochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the content of copper and zinc in the serum of rats in the normal group, serum copper levels in model rats were significantly increased and zinc content was significantly reduced (both P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of ACTH and COR in the model group were significantly increased compared with those in the normal group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The contents of NE, DA, and 5-HT in the hypothalamus of rats in the model group were significantly reduced compared with those of the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, the serum copper content and plasma concentrations of ACTH and COR were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); meanwhile, serum zinc content and hypothalamic contents of NE, DA, and 5-HT were significantly increased in rats of the YHD group (all P<0.05). The same effects were also shown in the maprotiline group except for 5-HT (all P<0.05)</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pharmacological actions of YHD for depression might be related to improving trace-element anomalies, reversing endocrine dysfunction, and modulating the disorders of monoaminergic neurotransmitters.</p>

Research on the correlation between Chinese medical syndrome types and objective indices of Wilson's disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between Chinese medical syndrome types of Wilson's disease (WD) and clinical materials as well as physical and chemical indices.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 116 WD patients were typed by Chinese medical syndrome. The correlation between Chinese medical syndrome types and clinical materials as well as physical and chemical indices were analyzed using binary stepwise Logistic regression by SPSS 19.0 Software, taking the common Chinese medical syndrome types as the dependent variable and clinical materials as well as physical and chemical indices as the independent variables.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gan-Galibladder dampness-heat syndrome (GGDHS, 35.3%). Gan-stagnation and Pi-deficiency syndrome (GSPDS, 13.8%), Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (GSYDS, 13.8%), and phlegm-dampness retention syndrome (PDRS, 12.1%) were most often seen. GGDHS was positively correlated with grade of K-F ring, total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine transaminase (ALT), laminin (LN) (P < 0.01). GSYDS was positively correlated with TBIL (P < 0.01). PDRS was positively correlated with clinical types, ceruloplasmin (CP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total protein (TP) (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Qi blood deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with disease course, blood ammonia, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and LN (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chinese medical syndrome types were correlated with clinical materials, physical and chemical indices in WD patients, which could provide experimental reference for Chinese medical syndrome typing. GGDHS, GSPDS, GSYDS, and PDRS were most often seen.</p>