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ObjectiveTo explore the intervention mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang in rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） based on the Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 （ROCK2）/Myosin phosphatase target Subunit 1 （MYPT1） pathway. MethodSixty male SD suckling rats in SPF grades were randomly divided into blank group （n=10） and model group （n=50）. The comprehensive modeling method （gavage administration of iodoacetamide+exhaustion of swimming+disturbance of hunger and satiety） was used to replicate the rat model of FD. After successful replication of the model， the rats in the model group were randomly divided into model group， mosapride group， and high， middle， and low-dose Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang groups， with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group and model group were given 10 mL kg-1·d-1 normal saline， those in the mosapride group were given 1.35 mg·kg-1·d-1 mosapride， and those in the high， middle， and low-dose Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang groups were given 12， 6， and 3 g·kg-1·d-1 Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang， respectively. The intervention lasted 14 days. The general living conditions of rats were observed before and after modeling and administration， and the 3-hour food intake and body mass of rats were measured. After intervention， the intestinal propulsion rate of rats was measured， and the pathological changes in the gastric tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The content of choline acetyl transferase （ChAT） and vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue homogenate was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， the distribution of adenosine triphosphate （ATP） enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle was observed by frozen section staining， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and phosphorylated-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 （p-MYPT1） in the gastric tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had withered hair， lazy movement， slow action， poor general living condition， lower 3-hour food intake， body mass， and lower intestinal propulsion rate （P<0.05）， whereas no obvious abnormality in gastric histopathology. In the model group， the content of ChAT in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue decreased， the content of VIP in gastric tissue increased， the distribution of ATP enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle decreased significantly， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and p-MYPT1 in the gastric tissue decreased significantly （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the general living condition of rats in each intervention group was significantly improved， and the 3-hour food intake， body mass， and intestinal propulsion rate were significantly increased （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in gastric pathology in the intervention groups. The content of ChAT in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue increased significantly， the content of VIP in the gastric tissue decreased， the distribution of ATP enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle increased significantly， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and p-MYPT1 in the gastric tissue increased significantly （P<0.05）. The intervention effect of Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang group on the above indexes was dose-dependent. ConclusionXiangsha Liujunzi Tang can effectively improve the general living condition and gastric motility of rats with FD， and its specific mechanism may be related to the activation of the RhoA/ROCK2/MYPT1 pathway in the gastric tissue to regulate smooth muscle relaxation and contraction and promote gastric motility.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease mouse model with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver Yang. MethodThe C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into normal group， a model group， low-， medium， and high-dose （3.25， 6.5， 13 g·kg-1） Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba groups， and a selegiline group （0.01 g·kg-1）. The mouse model of Parkinson's disease with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang was established by intragastric administration of Fuzitang combined with intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1，2，3，6-tetrahydropyridine （MPTP）. The behavioral changes were evaluated by rotarod test and pole test. The protein levels of Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）， Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 （ROCK2）， myosin light chain 1 （MLC1）， and α-synuclein in the substantia nigra were determined by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and MLC1 in the substantia nigra. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. The ultrastructural changes of mouse neurons were observed under a transmission electron microscope. ResultCompared with the normal group， the modeling shortened the latency to fall， increased the average total time in the pole test （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the levels of RhoA， ROCK2， MLC1， TNF-α， α-synuclein， and IL-1β in the substantia nigra （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， different doses of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba and selegiline prolonged the latency to fall， shortened the average total time in the pole test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the levels of ROCK2， MLC1， α-synuclein， TNF-α， and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05）. Further， the modeling decreased the number of cytoplasmic organelles and caused mitochondrial swelling and abnormal shape of endoplasmic reticulum compared with the normal group. The neurons in high-dose Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba and selegiline groups showed intact nuclei， clear cell boundary， and normal endoplasmic reticulum shape. ConclusionThe combination of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba may improve the motor coordination ability of Parkinson's disease mouse model with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang by inhibiting the neuroinflammation mediated by the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway in the brain.
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Objective:To observe the effect of astragaloside Ⅳ on lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)- induced neurite retraction of N1E-115 cells and its potential mechanism.Methods:N1E-115 cells were divided into blank group, model group, the low, medium and high dose groups of astragaloside Ⅳ. The blank group and model group was not intervened by astragaloside; while the low, medium and high dose groups were treated with 20,40 and 80 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ for 24 h. Each group was cultured with serum-free medium for 12 h. The model group and astragaloside Ⅳ groups were intervened by 40 μmol/L LPA for 10 min. Each group was observed and photographed with the inverted microscope, and the number of neurites in N1E-115 cells was counted by Image J software. The fluorescence expression of recombinant ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA), rho associated coiledcoil protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), phospho-rho associated coiledcoil protein kinase 2 (p-ROCK2) and phospho-myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC2) proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of RhoA and ROCK2 ; the protein expression levels of RhoA, ROCK2, p-MLC2 and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) were detected by Western blotting.Results:Compared with 20 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ group, the inhibition rate of neurite retraction in 40 and 80 μg/ml astragalosideⅣ groups increased ( P<0.05). Compared with model group, the average fluorescence intensity of RhoA, p-ROCK2, p-MLC2 in 20, 40, 80 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ groups and the ROCK2 average fluorescence intensity in 40 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ group were decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); the expression of RhoA mRNA (0.89±0.09, 0.41±0.01, 0.09±0.03 vs. 1.50±0.01) and ROCK2 mRNA (0.89±0.09, 0.14±0.01, 0.20±0.01 vs. 1.62±0.17) decreased in 20, 40, 80 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ groups ( P<0.05, P<0.01); the ROCK2 protein (0.75±0.06, 0.57±0.02, 0.66±0.01 vs. 1.08±0.02), p-MLC2 protein (1.72±0.03, 1.40±0.04, 1.29±0.03 vs. 2.19±0.11), MLC2 protein (1.13±0.02, 0.68±0.03, 0.75±0.03 vs. 1.60±0.03) in 20, 40, 80 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ groups and the RhoA protein (0.35±0.01, 0.40±0.03 vs. 0.57±0.08) in 20, 40 μg/ml astragaloside Ⅳ groups were decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:Astragaloside Ⅳ can prevent LPA-induced neurite retraction and promote damaged nerve regeneration. The mechanism may down-regulae the protein expression levels of RhoA, ROCK2, p-ROCK2, p-MLC2 and MLC2 in RhoA-ROCK2 signaling pathway, and inhibite nerve growth cone collapse.
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Objective To analyze the expression of ROCK2 in osteosarcoma tissues and explore its effect on the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells and related mechanism. Methods Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of ROCK2 in osteosarcoma tissues. The migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells were analyzed by wound-healing and Transwell assays after the knockdown of ROCK2 expression. The effect of reducing ROCK2 expression on metastasis in vivo was tested by tail vein metastasis experiment. We detected the expression of EMT-related proteins in osteosarcoma cells, and added the EMT inducer TGF-β to osteosarcoma cells with down-regulated ROCK2 expression to detect the changes of cell invasion and migration. Results The expression of ROCK2 in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly higher than that in corresponding adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). After down-regulating the expression of ROCK2 in osteosarcoma cells, the invasion and migration abilities in vivo and in vitro were significantly inhibited (P < 0.05). The expression of EMT-related protein E-cadherin decreased, while N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins increased significantly. Inducing EMT could attenuate the inhibitory effect of down-regulating ROCK2 on the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells. Conclusion The expression of ROCK2 is increased in osteosarcoma tissues, which promotes the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells by inducing EMT. ROCK2 may be a potential biomarker for targeted therapy of osteosarcoma.
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Aim To investigate the role of S-sulfhydration of RhoA kinase 2 in the neuroprotection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) against hypoxic injury. Methods Rat hippocampal neurons were primarily cultured and treated with exogenous H2S donor NaHS (50, 100, 200 (xmol • L"1 ) and S-sulfhydration inhibitor DTT (50 (xmol • L"1 during 4 hours of hypoxia and 12 hours of reoxygenation. Cell viability, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) activity released from injured neuron to culture supernatant, and the proportion of apoptotic cells were measured to assess the neuroprotection of H2S, and the role of S-sulfhydration in the neuroprotection of H2S was preliminarily explored. In addition, the S-sulf- hydrated proteins in neurons were isolated and purified by modified biotin-switch assay. And then, the RhoA kinase 2 (ROCK2) expression and activity, and S-sul- fhydrated ROCK2 were detected to further confirm the role H2S on the S-sulfhydrated ROCK2 by Western blot and assay kits, respectively. Results The decrease of cell viability, and the increase of LDH and NSE released from injured neuron to culture supernatant and cell apoptosis after hypoxia/ reoxygenation ( H/R) were significantly inhibited by 100 and 200 |imol • L"1 NaHS. Compared with the effect of 200 jimol • L"1 NaHS, the neuroprotection of 200 (xmol • L"1 NaHS could be inhibited by co-application with DTT. Furthermore, 100 and 200 (junol • L"1 NaHS could reduce the expression of R0CK2 protein and restrain ROCK2 activity via promoting the S-sulfhydryl modification of ROCK2 protein in hippocampal neurons. Conclusions H2S exerts protective effect on H/R injury of rat hippocampal neurons via down-regulation of ROCK2 expression and inhibition of R0CK2 activity by S-sulfhydration modification.
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Objective:To study the effect of icariin on renin homologous protein A (RhoA)/Rho-related kinase (ROCK) pathway in rats with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and its protective mechanism. Method:Totally 54 clean-grade male SD rats were tested and randomly divided into normal group, model group, RhoA inhibitor group (Rhosin, 40 mg·kg-1·d-1) and three doses of icariin groups (low, medium and high corresponding dose， 30, 60, 120 mg·kg-1·d-1). Adriamycin hydrochloride 6.5 mg·kg-1 was given in tail vein of rats to induce NS model in rats. After the model was established, peritoneal administration was carried out. The normal group and the model group were given saline 2.5 mL·d-1, and the inhibitor group and all of dose groups were given corresponding doses of Rhosin and icariin for intervention. Total urinary protein (Alb), creatinine (Cre), total urinary protein/creatinine ratio (A/C) kit were detected in rats, ultrastructure of kidney was identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and proteins expressions of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2. Result:TEM showed that the basement membrane was intact and the foot process was regular in the normal group, in model group, basement membrane was damaged seriously, foot process disappeared, and fusion was serious, in the low-dose group, the basement membrane injury was alleviated, the number and density of foot process were improved, and the fusion was obvious， in the middle-dose group and the inhibitor group, the basement membrane thickening was alleviated, and the foot process was slightly fused, in the high-dose group, the basement membrane structure was more complete, and podocytes were longer and arranged tightly. Compared with the normal group, the levels of Alb, Cre and A/C in urine, and RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions in kidney tissue of rats of the model group were significantly higher (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the levels of Alb, A/C in urine and RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions in kidney tissue in the inhibitor group and low, medium and high-dose groups, and Cre in urine in inhibitor group and high-dose group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the inhibitor group, the levels of Alb, Cre in urine and RhoA protein in kidney tissue in the high-dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the levels of Alb, Cre, A/C in urine and RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions in kidney tissue of the low-dose group, and the levels of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 mRNA expressions in kidney tissue of the middle-dose group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the low-dose group, the levels of Alb, A/C in urine, and RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions in kidney tissue in the middle and high-dose groups, Cre in urine of the high-dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the middle-dose group, the levels of Alb, Cre in urine, and RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions, ROCK2 mRNA expression in kidney tissue in the high-dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion:Icariin may protect glomerular endothelium and podocyte by affecting RhoA/ROCK pathway in the treatment of NS rats.
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MSC transplantation has been explored as a new clinical approach to stem cell-based therapies for bone diseases in regenerative medicine due to their osteogenic capability. However, only a small population of implanted MSC could successfully reach the injured areas. Therefore, enhancing MSC migration could be a beneficial strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of cell transplantation. Catharmus tinctorius volatile oil (CTVO) was found to facilitate MSC migration. Further exploration of the underlying molecular mechanism participating in the pro-migratory ability may provide a novel strategy to improve MSC transplantation efficacy. This study indicated that CTVO promotes MSC migration through enhancing ROCK2 mRNA and protein expressions. MSC migration induced by CTVO was blunted by ROCK2 inhibitor, which also decreased myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Meanwhile, the siRNA for ROCK2 inhibited the effect of CTVO on MSC migration ability and attenuated MLC phosphorylation, suggesting that CTVO may promote BMSC migration via the ROCK2/MLC signaling. Taken together, this study indicates that C. tinctorius volatile oil could enhance MSC migration via ROCK2/MLC signaling in vitro. C. tinctorius volatile oil-targeted therapy could be a beneficial strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of cell transplantation for bone diseases in regenerative medicine.
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Objective Early clinical symptoms of esophageal cancer are often not obvious , so a deeper insight into tumor markers is very important for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer .This study was to investigate the expressions of Rock 2 and Wnt11 in the specific esophageal cancer cell lines Eca-109 and HEEC and the relationship of the signal transduction pathway of proteins with the development of esophageal cancer . Methods Esophageal cancer cell lines Eca-109 and HEEC were cultured and the expression levels of Rock2 and Wnt11 in the cell lines were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot . Results The mRNA expressions of Rock2 and Wnt11 were significantly increased in the Eca-109 as compared with those in the HEEC cell line (4.955± 0.539 vs 1.000±0.000, P<0.01;2.925±0.230 vs 1.000±0.000, P<0.01), and so were the protein expressions of Rock 2 and Wnt11 (955.000±21.628 vs 778.844±102.193, P<0.05;2175.316±145.623 vs 1312.233±50.734, P<0.05). Conclusion The up-regula-ted expressions of Rock 2 and Wint11 may be the markers of the metastasis of esophageal squamous cancer .
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Objective To investigate the effect of the cerebral protection and possible mechanism of fasudil for hypoxic-ischemic cerebral damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. Methods The HBID model was established, then the mice were randomly divided into different groups. The expressions ofα-SMA and ROCK-2 were detected in the newborn rats with ischemia. Results Compared with the model group, expressions of α-SMA, ROCK-2 decreased in each treatment group with significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Following with the increases of administration dose and the administration time, expressions of α-SMA, ROCK-2 decreased gradually with significant differences (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Fasudil can reduce the expressions of α-SMA, ROCK-2 in the newborn mice with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage to attenuate the brain tissue hypoxic-ischemic injury. The protective effect on brain is significant by giving high-dose fasudil in the early neonatal rat HIBD (0 h).
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Aim To investigate the expression and im-plication of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 , FoxM1 in PC12 cell in-jury induced by lead acetate. Methods PC12 cells were treated with lead acetate at the doses of 100 , 200 and 400 μmol·L-1 . The cell viability was determined by MTT reduction assay and LDH assay, the intracellu-lar production of oxygen species was measured by as-sessing SOD and MDA levels, cell apoptosis was deter-mined by Hoechst 33342 staining, the expressions of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 , FoxM1 , Bcl-2 and Bax were deter-mined by immunoblotting analysis. Results Lead ac-etate induced cell injury in PC12 cells in a dose-de-pendent manner, and it potentiated oxygen radical pro-duction and cell apoptosis. In addition, lead acetate enhanced HIF-1α and ROCK-2 expressions, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and decreased FoxM1 expression. Conclusion Lead acetate can induce PC12 cell apop-tosis, which may be related with the expressions of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 and FoxM1 . Cellular oxidative stress may contribute to the injury as well.
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Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on the expression of Rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1) and Rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK2) in rat peri-infarct cortex after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), so as to study the underlying mechanism by which EA improves cerebral ischemia. Methods Totally 40 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were equally randomized into four groups, control group, sham-operation group, model group and EA group. MACO in the model group and EA group was successfully established by an improved Longa procedure. EA was given 90 min after resuscitation for the EA group, once a day for 14 days. The modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) of rats in each group were determined on the 1st day, 3rd day, 7th day and the 14th day after operation. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the brain 14 d after operation. Results Neural dysfunction was not observed in the control group and sham-operation group. The values ofmNSS were significantly different between model group and EA group at 7 d, 14 d after operation (P<0. 05). Both immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting analysis indicated that the expression levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 were up-regulated in model group, while those in EA group were significantly less than those in the model group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 is up-regulated in rat cortex after focal cerebral infarction, and the up-regulation can be prevented by EA intervention, which might be oneof the mechanisms by which EA promotes the recovery of neurological dysfunction after cerebral infarction.