ABSTRACT
In this study, a combination of metabolomics and network pharmacology was used to study the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism of action of Yiyi Fuzi powder (YYFZ) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats. The animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval number: TCM-LAEC2021241). The metabolomic analysis using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique identified 22 metabolites, including arachidonic acid, tryptophan, linoleic acid, phenylalanine, as significant biomarkers for the treatment of RA with YYFZ, and they were significantly regressed after YYFZ treatment. The analysis of YYFZ blood components also revealed that 11 blood components, including hypaconitine, benzoylhypaconitine, and deoxyaconitine, may be the components that exert direct pharmacological effects in YYFZ in vivo, and further network pharmacological analysis of blood components obtained that YYFZ may exhibit anti-inflammatory effects through acting on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway. The results of this study provide implications for the clinical application of YYFZ.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To generate mouse B7-2 gene RNAi lentivirus and study its interference effects on B7-2 expression and T lymphocytes proliferation induced by dendritic cells. Methods: Three sequences specific targeting B7-2 gene and one non-specific sequence were respectively synthesized, and inserted into lentiviral vector, then the recombinant vectors were sequencing. 293 T cells were co-transfected with lentiviral expression plasmid and packaging plasmids to produce recombinant lentivirus which titre was checked according to the expression level of green fluorescent protein ( GFP). Bone marrow cells from C57 BL/6 mice were isolated to differentiate into DCs at the present of GM-CSF, IL-4 and LPS for 48 h, then morphology and phenotypic was identified. DCs were infected by recombinant RNAi lentivirus and then the efficiency of infection and the expression of B7-2 on the surface of DCs were detected by flow cytometry. Effects on the proliferation of T cells were detected by co-culturing with DCs which were infected by B7-2 RNAi lentivirus and murine spleen T cells in vitro. Results: DNA sequencing confirmed that three B7-2 RNAi and one non-specific recombinant lentiviral transfer plasmids were successfully constructed, the titer of recombinant lentivirus was ( 2-4) × 108 TU/ml. The recombinant lentivirus could effectively infect DC and inhibit the expression of B7-2. After the B7-2 recombinant lentivirus infection, the ability of DCs to stimulate the proliferation of T cells decreased obviously ( P＜0. 05). Conclusion: The lentiviral B7-2 gene RNAi vector can effectively silence the expression of B7-2 on the surface of DCs and inhibit the proliferation effect of T cells induced by DCs.
ABSTRACT
The mechanism of muscle damage in critically ill patients mainly includes microcirculation disorder, changes in cells and metabolism, inflammation, increased myoprotein breakdown in muscular atrophy, and inactivation of ion channels. Manual muscle testing is the most commonly used muscle strength measurement for critically ill patients, which is simple and economic, but subjective, being not accurate and sensitive in evaluating muscle weakness of patients and distal limb function. Neuroelectrophysiological testing is safe, non-invasive, simple and objective, but it requires specialized equipment and trained qualified professionals, high medical costs, time and effort consumption, and lack of specificity. Dynamometer is a simple, objective, convenient and inexpensive assessment method, which has a good reliability and validity in application in the critically ill patients, but it is not widespread in China.