Intervention Mechanism of Biejiajian Wan on Primary Liver Cancer by Regulating lncRNA SNHG5/miRNA-26a-5p/GSK-3β Signal Axis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Biejiajian Wan in the intervention of primary liver cancer based on long non-coding RNA SNHG5 （lncRNA SNHG5）/micro RNA-26a-5p （miRNA-26a-5p）/glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β） signal axis. MethodDouble luciferase reporting assay was used to verify the targeted interaction between lncRNA SNHG5 and miRNA-26a-5p， miRNA-26a-5p， and GSK-3β in HepG2 cells. Nude-mouse transplanted tumor model of human HepG2 were established and randomly divided into model group， Biejiajian Wan low-dose group （0.5 g·kg-1）， medium-dose group （1.0 g·kg-1）， and high-dose group （2.0 g·kg-1）， and sorafenib group （100 mg·kg-1）， with 10 mice in each group. The mice were given intragastric administration of normal saline or drug for 28 days， and the tumor volume was measured at different time. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histological changes of tumors. The nucleic acid levels of lncRNA SNHG5， miRNA-26a-5p， GSK-3β， and β-catenin mPNA in tumor tissue were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expression levels of GSK-3β and β-catenin in tumor tissue were detected by western blot. ResultCompared with the SNHG5-WT （wild type） + miRNA NC （negative control） group， the relative luciferase activities of the SNHG5-WT + miRNA-26a-5p mimic group were decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the GSK-3β-WT + miRNA NC group， the relative luciferase activity of the GSK-3β-WT + miRNA-26a-5p mimic group was decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the tumor volume of Biejiajian Wan low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the cells in the tumor tissue of nude mice in each dose group of Biejiajian Wan were sparsely arranged with necrocytosis， which showed concentration-dependent changes. Compared with the model group， the expression levels of lncRNA SNHG5， GSK-3β， and β-catenin were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of miRNA-26a-5p was increased in each dose group of Biejiajian Wan （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and β-catenin were decreased in each dose group of Biejiajian Wan （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBiejiajian Wan may affect the necrosis of liver cancer cells through lncRNA SNHG5/miRNA-26a-5p/GSK-3β signal axis and thus play an anti-tumor role. This research will provide more theoretical basis for the clinical application of Biejiajian Wan.

Effect of Qiwei Baizhusan on Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats with Diabetic Encephalopathy Based on PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of Qiwei Baizhusan（QWBZS） on diabetic encephalopathy（DE） rat model， and to explore the possible mechanism of QWBZS in the treatment of DE based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B（Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase-3β（GSK-3β） signaling pathway. MethodForty-eight SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group（8 rats） and high-fat diet group（40 rats）. After 12 weeks of feeding， rats in the high-fat diet group were intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg·kg-1 of 1% streptozotocin（STZ） for 2 consecutive days to construct a DE model， and rats in the blank group were injected with the same amount of sodium citrate buffer. After successful modeling， according to blood glucose and body weight， model rats were randomly divided into model group， low， medium and high dose groups of QWBZS（3.15， 6.3， 12.6 g·kg-1）， combined western medicine group（metformin+rosiglitazone， 0.21 g·kg-1）， with 6 rats in each group. The administration group was given the corresponding dose of drug by gavage， and the blank group and the model group were given an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by gavage， 1 time/day for 6 weeks. Morris water maze was used to detect the spatial memory ability of DE rats. Fasting insulin （FINS） level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） and insulin resistance index（HOMA-IR） was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the morphological changes of hippocampus in rats， ELISA was used to detect the indexes of oxidative stress in hippocampal tissues， real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels of PI3K， Akt， nuclear transcription factor-κB（NF-κB）， tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） and interleukin-1β（IL-1β） in hippocampus， and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of PI3K， Akt， phosphorylated（p）-Akt， GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β in hippocampus of rats. ResultCompared with the blank group， FINS and HOMA-IR values of the model group were significantly increased（P<0.01）， the path of finding the original position of the platform was significantly increased， and the escape latency was significantly prolonged（P<0.01）， the morphology of neuronal cells in hippocampal tissues was disrupted， the levels of reactive oxygen species（ROS） and malondialdehyde（MDA） in hippocampus of rats were increased， and the activity of superoxide dismutase（SOD） was decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt were decreased（P<0.01）， mRNA expression levels of NF-κB， TNF-α and IL-1β were increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the protein expression levels of PI3K， p-Akt and p-GSK-3β were significantly decreased， and the protein expression of GSK-3β was significantly increased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the FINS and HOMA-IR values of the medium dose group of QWBZS and the combined western medicine group were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， the path of finding the original position of the platform and the escape latency were significantly shortened（P<0.01）， the hippocampal tissue structure of rats was gradually recovered， and the morphological damage of nerve cells was significantly improved， the contents of ROS and MDA in hippocampus of rats decreased and the level of SOD increased（P<0.01）， the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt were increased（P<0.01）， and the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB， TNF-α and IL-1β were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the protein expression levels of PI3K， p-Akt and p-GSK-3β were significantly increased（P<0.01）， and the expression of GSK-3β was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. ConclusionQWBZS can alleviate insulin resistance in DE rats， it may repair hippocampal neuronal damage and improve learning and cognitive ability of DE rats by activating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

Effects of polyphyllin Ⅵ on the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells and potential mechanism / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of polyphyllin Ⅵ（PPⅥ） on the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells and potential mechanism. METHODS Using human glioma LN229 cells as objects， MTT assay was used to detect the survival rate after treated with different concentrations of PPⅥ [0 （control group）， 1， 2， 4， 8， 16， 32， 64 μmol/L] for different time （24， 48， 72 h）. The clone formation experiments were adopted to detect the number of cell clones and clone formation rate after being treated with different concentrations of PPⅥ [0 （control group）， 2， 4， 8 μmol/L] for 14 days. The flow cytometry and Western blot assay were used to detect the apoptotic rate of cells， the expressions of apoptosis-related protein [B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved caspase-3]， and the expressions of related proteins of Fas/Fas ligand （FasL） death receptor pathway and protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthesis kinase-3β （GSK-3β） pathway after being treated with different concentrations of PPⅥ [0（control group）， 4， 8 μmol/L] for 24 h. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the survival rate of cells， the number of clones and clone formation rate， the protein expression of Bcl-2， and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and GSK-3β protein were decreased significantly in different concentration groups of PPⅥ （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The apoptotic rate， the protein expressions of Bax， cleaved caspase-3， Fas， FasL and cleaved caspase-8 were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）. CONCLUSIONS PPⅥ can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human glioma LN229 cells， which may be related to the activation of the Fas/FasL death receptor pathway and the inhibition of the Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Mechanism of Modified Shenqiwan in Relieving Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice Based on GSK-3β/CREB Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of modified Shenqiwan on renal function and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy mice and explore the underlying mechanism based on the glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）/cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） response element-binding protein （CREB） signaling pathway. MethodFifty male db/db mice and 10 db/m mice were used in this study. The fifty db/db mice were randomly divided into model group， irbesartan group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups. The 10 db/m mice were assigned to the normal group. The mice in the low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups were administered with modified Shenqiwan in the dosage form of suspension of Chinese medicinal granules by gavage， those in the irbesartan group were given irbesartan suspension by gavage， and those in the normal and model groups were given distilled water of equal volume by gavage. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. The blood glucose levels， urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR）， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， CREB， transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， E-cadherin， Vimentin， fibronectin （FN）， plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 （PAI-1）， and Collagen type Ⅳ （Coll Ⅳ） in the mouse kidneys were recorded before and after treatment. The extent of renal pathological damage was also observed. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant increases in blood glucose levels， UACR levels， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， TGF-β1， E-cadherin， Vimentin， FN， PAI-1， and Coll Ⅳ in the kidneys （P<0.05）， decreased protein expression level of CREB （P<0.05）， and severe renal pathological damage. Compared with the model group， the low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups and the irbesartan group showed varying degrees of decreases in blood glucose levels， UACR levels， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， TGF-β1， E-cadherin， Vimentin， FN， PAI-1， and Coll Ⅳ in the kidneys （P<0.05）， increased expression level of CREB protein （P<0.05）， and improved renal pathological damage. ConclusionModified Shenqiwan can effectively reduce blood glucose levels， improve renal function， and alleviate fibrosis， and the mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of the GSK-3β/CREB signaling pathway.

Effects of rotenone exposure during pregnancy on GSK-3β and β-catenin protein expression in rat placenta / 环境与职业医学

Background Research on non-target organ damage of biological pesticides has attracted much attention. Rotenone exposure may be far beyond the occupational environment, and the exposureduring pregnancy may be increased through bioaccumulation, fruit or vegetable residues, and other forms of oral intake. At present, the effects of rotenone on placental development and its mechanism are still unknown. Objective To investigate the developmental damage of rat placenta and evaluate the expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β) and beta catenin (β-catenin) followed by rotenone exposure through the placental barrier during pregnancy, as well as to propose possible associated mechanisms. Methods Eighteen sexually mature SD female infertile rats without specific pathogens were selected and divided into three groups: blank control group (0.9% saline), corn oil group, and rotenone group (corn oil + 2 mg·kg−1 rotenone) by random number method, six female animals in each group. Another six male rats were selected and mated to the female rats at night with a female to male ratio of 3:1 per cage. Pregnant rats were given 0.9% saline, corn oil, and 2 mg·kg−1 rotenone preparation by isovolumetric gavage once daily for the entire gestation period (19 d), and their conditions were observed after the last dose. The pregnant rats were anesthetized, and the size of the placenta and blood perfusion were detected by ultrasound the next day of the last dose of rotenone. Then, 3 pregnant rats in each group were sacrificed immediately and the placenta and umbilical cord tissues were dissected. The remaining 9 pregnant rats gave birth naturally, and the fetuses were observed for developmental evaluation and weighed. The histopathological changes of umbilical cord and placenta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The reactive oxygen species levels of placenta tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of placenta tissues was detected by colorimetric method. The localization and levels of GSK-3β and β-catenin expression of placenta were detected by immunohistochemistry. The p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β and p-β-catenin/β-catenin protein expression in placental tissues were measured by Western blotting. Results No injury or death was recorded during the pregnant rats receiving rotennon administration. Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as fetal absorption and postpartum stillbirth were found in the rotenone group, and the weight of the fetal mice decreased (P<0.05). The B-ultrasound showed disc-shaped placenta with a thick middle and thin edge, smooth fetal surface, rough maternal surface, visible placental lobules, granular echotexture of the placenta with comma-like echogenic densities, and chorionic plate showing deep indentations, no calcification, degeneration, or necrosis in each group. Compared with the corn oil group, the fetal surface diameter of the placenta was reduced in the rotenone group (P<0.05). The Doppler color ultrasound showed that interplacental blood flow was reduced in the rotenone group, while interplacental blood flow was abundant in the blank control and the corn oil groups. The hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that smooth muscle cells in the umbilical cord tissues of rats were loosely arranged, with fuzzy nuclei and inflammatory infiltration in the rotenone group. The placental trophoblast cells were small in size, disorderly arranged with nuclear fragmentation and cytoplasm turbidity. The tissue reactive oxygen species level in the rotenone group was higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). The Ca2+-ATPase activity of placental tissues was reduced in the rotenone group (P<0.05). The immunofluorescence low-magnification observation showed that GSK-3β and β-catenin were expressed in placental tissue, weak fluorescence expression in the decidua basalis, strong fluorescence expression in the labyrinthine layer structure. The labyrinthine layer under high magnification showed that compared with the blank control group and the corn oil group, the brightness of β-catenin fluorescence expression in the rotenone group decreased (P<0.05), and the brightness of GSK-3β expression increased (P<0.05). The Western blotting results showed that the expression of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β proteins decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GSK-3β protein increased (P<0.01) in the rotenone group. No significant expression of p-β-catenin protein was detected in the placenta tissue of each group. Conclusion Rotenone exposure during pregnancy induces placental hypoperfusion, growth retardation, and oxidative stress in rats, as well as down-regulation of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β protein expression, and up-regulation of GSK-3β protein expression, which may further lead to abnormal pregnancy and fetal restricted growth.

Marsdenia tenacissima injection induces the apoptosis of prostate cancer by regulating the AKT/GSK3β/STAT3 signaling axis / 中国天然药物

Marsdenia tenacissima injection, a standard Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE), has been approved as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for various cancers. Our previous study showed that MTE inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. However, the underlying mechanisms and active ingredients of MTE against PCa were not completely understood. This study revealed that MTE induced significant decreases in cell viability and clonal growth in PCa cells. In addition, MTE induced the apoptosis of DU145 cells by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing the expression of Cleaved Caspase 3/7, Cyt c, and Bax. In vivo, DU145 xenografted NOD-SCID mice treated with MTE showed significantly decreased tumor size. TUNEL staining and Western blot confirmed the pro-apoptotic effects of MTE. Network pharmacology analysis collected 196 ingredients of MTE linked to 655 potential targets, and 709 PCa-associated targets were retrieved, from which 149 overlapped targets were screened out. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, and ErbB signaling pathways were closely related to tumor apoptosis. Western blot results confirmed that MTE increased the expression of p-AKTSer473 and p-GSK3βSer9, and decreased the expression of p-STAT3Tyr705in vitro and in vivo. A total of 13 compounds in MTE were identified by HPLC-CAD-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Molecular docking analysis indicated that six compounds may interact with AKT, GSK3β, and STAT3. In conclusion, MTE induces the endogenous mitochondrial apoptosis of PCa by regulating the AKT/GSK3β/STAT3 signaling axis, resulting in inhibition of PCa growth in vitro and in vivo.

Physical exercise suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by alleviating hypoxia and attenuating cancer stemness through the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Physical exercise, a common non-drug intervention, is an important strategy in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Due to the importance of hypoxia and cancer stemness in the development of HCC, the present study investigated whether the anti-HCC effect of physical exercise is related to its suppression on hypoxia and cancer stemness.@*METHODS@#A physical exercise intervention of swimming (30 min/d, 5 d/week, for 4 weeks) was administered to BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous human HCC tumor. The anti-HCC effect of swimming was assessed in vivo by tumor weight monitoring, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67. The expression of stemness transcription factors, including Nanog homeobox (NANOG), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4), v-Myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (C-MYC) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), was detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A hypoxia probe was used to explore the intratumoral hypoxia status. Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and proteins related to protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The IHC analysis of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), and the immunofluorescence co-location of CD31 and desmin were used to analyze tumor blood perfusion. SMMC-7721 cells were treated with nude mice serum. The inhibition effect on cancer stemness in vitro was detected using suspension sphere experiments and the expression of stemness transcription factors. The hypoxia status was inferred by measuring the protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α. Further, the expression of proteins related to Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway was detected.@*RESULTS@#Swimming significantly reduced the body weight and tumor weight in nude mice bearing HCC tumor. HE staining and IHC results showed a lower necrotic area ratio as well as fewer PCNA or Ki67 positive cells in mice receiving the swimming intervention. Swimming potently alleviated the intratumoral hypoxia, attenuated the cancer stemness, and inhibited the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, the desmin+/CD31+ ratio, rather than the number of CD31+ vessels, was significantly increased in swimming-treated mice. In vitro experiments showed that treating cells with the serum from the swimming intervention mice significantly reduced the formation of SMMC-7721 cell suspension sphere, as well as the mRNA expression level of stemness transcription factors. Consistent with the in vivo results, HIF-1α and Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway were also inhibited in cells treated with serum from swimming group.@*CONCLUSION@#Swimming alleviated hypoxia and attenuated cancer stemness in HCC, through suppression of the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. The alleviation of intratumoral hypoxia was related to the increase in blood perfusion in the tumor. Please cite this article as: Xiao CL, Zhong ZP, Lü C, Guo BJ, Chen JJ, Zhao T, Yin ZF, Li B. Physical exercise suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by alleviating hypoxia and attenuating cancer stemness through the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 184-193.

Effect of Danzhi Xiaoyaosan on Phosphorylation of Tau Protein in Rats with Alzheimer's Disease Based on PP2A and GSK-3β / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Danzhi Xiaoyaosan on the phosphorylation of tau protein and different sites of glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β） and phosphoseryl/suanyl phosphate protein phosphatase 2A （PP2A） in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease （AD） and its mechanism. MethodThe rat model of AD was established by injecting okadaic acid into the bilateral hippocampus of 90 male Wistar rats in SPF grades. The rats with successful modeling were selected and randomly divided into model group， aricept group （0.5 mg·kg-1）， and Danzhi Xiaoyaosan high， medium， and low groups （17.55， 8.77， and 4.38 g·kg-1）， and then gavaged for 42 d， once a day. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of rats， Nissl's staining was used to observe the morphological structure of neurons in the hippocampus， and Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of tau protein， GSK-3β， and PP2A. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of tau protein， GSK-3β， and PP2A. ResultAs compared with the control group， the learning and memory abilities of the rats in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the hippocampal CA3 region cells had abnormal structure， disorderly arrangement， and decreased number. The expression levels of GSK-3β mRNA， GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， p-PP2A， and p-tau were increased in the model group as compared with the control group （P<0.01）， and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A decreased significantly （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the learning and memory ability of the Aricept group and the Danzhi Xiaoyaosan groups were improved （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the cell morphology and the number of hippocampal CA3 regions were better. The mRNA expression levels of PP2A and tau in the Aricept group were significantly up-regulated （P<0.05）， the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-PP2A were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of PP2A in the high-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）， and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， whereas the protein expression levels of p-PP2A， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-tau were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated in the medium-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group （P<0.01）， the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-tau were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated in the low-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group （P<0.01）， and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， whereas the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β-Tyr216 were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A were significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionDanzhi Xiaoyaosan can improve the learning and memory ability of rats with AD， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A protein-related sites and the phosphorylation of tau protein.

Effects of Yizhi Tiaoshen acupuncture on learning and memory function and the expression of phosphorylated tau protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease model rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of Yizhi Tiaoshen (benefiting mental health and regulating the spirit) acupuncture on learning and memory function, and the expression of phosphorylated tubulin-associated unit (tau) protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats, and explore the effect mechanism of this therapy on AD.@*METHODS@#A blank group and a sham-operation group were randomly selected from 60 male SD rats, 10 rats in each one. AD models were established in the rest 40 rats by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and okadaic acid in the CA1 region of the bilateral hippocampus. Thirty successfully-replicated model rats were randomly divided into a model group, a western medication group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Shenmen" (HT 7), "Xuanzhong" (GB 39) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6); and the needles were retained for 10 min. Acupuncture was given once daily. One course of treatment was composed of 6 days, with the interval of 1 day; the completion of treatment included 4 courses. In the western medication group, donepezil hydrochloride solution (0.45 mg/kg) was administrated intragastrically, once daily; it took 7 days to accomplish one course of treatment and a completion of intervention was composed of 4 courses. Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition test (NORT) were used to assess the learning and memory function of the rats. Using HE staining and Nissl staining, the morphological structure of the hippocampus was observed. With Western blot adopted, the protein expression of the tau, phosphorylated tau protein at Ser198 (p-tau Ser198), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in the hippocampus was detected.@*RESULTS@#There were no statistical differences in all of the indexes between the sham-operation group and the blank group. Compared with the sham-operation group, in the model group, the MWM escape latency was prolonged (P<0.05), the crossing frequency and the quadrant stay time in original platform were shortened (P<0.05), and the NORT discrimination index (DI) was reduced (P<0.05); the hippocampal cell numbers were declined and the cells arranged irregularly, the hippocampal neuronal structure was abnormal and the numbers of Nissl bodies decreased; the protein expression of p-tau Ser198 and GSK-3βwas increased (P<0.05) and that of PP2A decreased (P<0.05). When compared with the model group, in the western medication group and the acupuncture group, the MWM escape latency was shortened (P<0.05), the crossing frequency and the quadrant stay time in original platform were increased (P<0.05), and DI got higher (P<0.05); the hippocampal cell numbers were elevated and the cells arranged regularly, the damage of hippocampal neuronal structure was attenuated and the numbers of Nissl bodies were increased; the protein expression of p-tau Ser198 and GSK-3β was reduced (P<0.05) and that of PP2A was increased (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the acupuncture group and the western medication group (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture therapy of "benefiting mental health and regulating the spirit" could improve the learning and memory function and alleviate neuronal injure of AD model rats. The effect mechanism of this therapy may be related to the down-regulation of GSK-3β and the up-regulation of PP2A in the hippocampus, and then to inducing the inhibition of tau protein phosphorylation.

Total Ginsenoside Extract from Panax ginseng Enhances Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation by Inactivating GSK-3β / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effects of total ginsenosides (TG) extract from Panax ginseng on neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation and their underlying mechanisms.@*METHODS@#The migration of NSCs after treatment with various concentrations of TG extract (50, 100, or 200 µ g/mL) were monitored. The proliferation of NSCs was examined by a combination of cell counting kit-8 and neurosphere assays. NSC differentiation mediated by TG extract was evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining to monitor the expression of nestin and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2). The GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in TG-treated NSCs was examined by Western blot assay. The NSCs with constitutively active GSK-3β mutant were made by adenovirus-mediated gene transfection, then the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs mediated by TG were further verified.@*RESULTS@#TG treatment significantly enhanced NSC migration (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and increased the proliferation of NSCs (P<0.01 or P<0.05). TG mediation also significantly upregulated MAP2 expression but downregulated nestin expression (P<0.01 or P<0.05). TG extract also significantly induced GSK-3β phosphorylation at Ser9, leading to GSK-3β inactivation and, consequently, the activation of the GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In addition, constitutive activation of GSK-3β in NSCs by the transfection of GSK-3β S9A mutant was found to significantly suppress TG-mediated NSC proliferation and differentiation (P<0.01 or P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#TG promoted NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation by inactivating GSK-3β.

Role of Akt/GSK3β signal pathway in baicalin improving the cognitive function of mice with brain injury induced by mechanical ventilation / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of baicalin on cognitive function of mice with brain injury induced by mechanical ventilation and its mechanism.Methods:Seventy two C57BL6 mice, weighing 20-25 g, aged 8-12 weeks, were randomly divided into control group (group C), mechanical ventilation group (group V), baicalin group (group B), baicalin+ Akt inhibitor MK-2206 group (group BM) according to random number table method, with 18 in each group.Mice in group C did not have mechanical ventilation and breathed air independently for 6 hours.Mice in group V received mechanical ventilation for 6 hours.Mice in group B and group BM were intraperitoneally injected with baicalin 100 mg/kg 30 minutes before mechanical ventilation, and mice in group BM were injected intraventricular with Akt inhibitor MK-2206 300 μg/kg 60 minutes before mechanical ventilation.Six mice in each group were randomly selected to test their learning and memory abilities by Morris water maze test 1st day before mechanical ventilation and 3rd day and 7th day after mechanical ventilation.One day after mechanical ventilation, six mice in each group were killed, and the brain tissue was taken.TUNEL method was used to detect the neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 area, and the apoptosis index was calculated.One day after mechanical ventilation, six mice in each group were killed, and the hippocampus was taken, Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, Akt, p-Akt, GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β.SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis of data, repeated measure ANOVA and one-way ANOVA were used for comparison between multiple groups.LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:The results of water maze test showed that the time and group interaction of the four groups were not significant ( F=1.14, P>0.05), the main effect of time and group were both significant ( F=47.36, 59.65, both P<0.05). At 3rd day and 7th day after mechanical ventilation, the escape latencies of mice in group V were higher than those in group C (both P<0.05), and the numbers of platform crossing were lower than those in group C (both P<0.05). And 3 days and 7 days after mechanical ventilation, the escape latencies of mice in group B were lower than those in group V (both P<0.05) and the numbers of platform crossing were higher than those in group V (both P<0.05). The escape latenies of mice in BM group on the 3rd and 7th day were higher than those in group B (both P<0.05), and the numbers of platform crossing were lower than those in group B on the 3rd day and 7th day after mechanical ventilation(both P<0.05). TUNEL and Western blot results showed that apoptosis index of hippocampal neurons and expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3 and caspase-9 were significant different in the four groups ( F=51.42, 41.21, 40.19, all P<0.05). The apoptosis index of hippocampal neurons ((40.6±3.9)%), the expression levels of caspase-3 (4.93±0.92) and caspase-9 (4.81±0.88) in the hippocampus of mice in group V were higher than those in group C ((13.7±1.4)%, (1.87±0.27), (1.71±0.25), all P<0.05), the apoptosis index of hippocampal neurons ((15.6±1.6)%), the expression levels of caspase-3 (1.95±0.30) and caspase-9 (1.76±0.28) in group B were lower than those in group V ((40.6±3.9)%, (4.93±0.92), (4.81±0.88), all P<0.05), the apoptosis index of hippocampal neurons ((27.8±2.7)%), the expression levels of caspase-3 (3.58±0.61) and caspase-9 (3.49±0.57) in BM group were higher than those in group B ((15.6±1.6)%, (1.95±0.30), (1.76±0.28), all P<0.05). Expression level of p-Akt, p-GSK-3β in hippocampal tissues of the four group of mice were significantly different ( F=37.54, 43.23, both P<0.05). The expression level of p-Akt (0.51±0.06) and p-GSK-3β (0.47±0.05) of hippocampal tissues of mice in group V were lower than those of group C ((1.07±0.10), (1.11±0.12), both P<0.05), the expression level of p-Akt (0.99±0.10) and p-GSK-3β (1.08±0.09) of hippocampal tissues of mice in group B were higher than those of group V (both P<0.05), the expression level of p-Akt (0.83±0.08) and p-GSK-3β (0.81±0.07) of hippocampal tissues of mice in group BM were lower than those in group B (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Baicalin can improve the cognitive function of mice with brain injury induced by mechanical ventilation, which is related with activation of Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway and inhibition of hippocampal neuron apoptosis.

Mechanism of Hedysarum Polysaccharide in Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signal Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Hedysarum polysaccharides （HPS） on the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in db/db mice with diabetic nephropathy. MethodFifty db/db mice were randomly divided into model group， irbesartan group， and high， middle， and low-dose HPS experimental groups according to their body mass， with 10 mice in each group， and another 10 C57BL/6 mice were selected as a normal group. The normal group and the model group were given 5 mL·kg-1·d-1 distilled water， the irbesartan group was given 22.75 mg·kg-1·d-1 irbesartan suspension， and the high， middle， and low-dose HPS experimental groups were given 200， 100， and 50 mg·kg-1·d-1 HPS suspensions， respectively. The mice in the 6 groups were given intragastric administration once a day for 12 weeks. The general state， blood glucose （GLU）， 24 h urine protein （UTP）， blood creatinine （SCr）， and urea nitrogen （BUN） of mice in each group were determined. The pathological changes in the kidney tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE）. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Wnt1， β-catenin， glycogen synthesis kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， and phosphorylated GSK-3β （p-GSK-3β） in the kidney were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultAfter treatment for 12 weeks， as compared with the normal group， the general state of mice in the model group was worse and the pathological ultrastructural lesions of kidney tissues were obvious. The levels of GLU， 24 h UTP， SCr， and BUN in the model group increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the general state and renal pathological ultrastructure of mice in the high and middle-dose HPS groups were improved to some extent， and the levels of SCr， BUN， and 24 h UTP in the high and middle-dose HPS groups decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. As compared with the normal group， the expression levels of Wnt1， β-catenin， GSK-3β， and p-GSK-3β protein and mRNA in the model group were higher （P<0.01）， while the expression levels of Wnt1， β-catenin， GSK-3β， and p-GSK-3β protein and mRNA in the high and middle-dose HPS groups were lower than those in the model group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionHPS can alleviate the renal injury of diabetic nephropathy to some extent， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Effects of GSK3β/eEF2K signaling pathway on pulmonary fibrosis in mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β)/eukaryotic extension factor kinase 2 (eEF2K) signaling pathway on the process of pulmonary fibrosis through in vivo experiments, and find new ideas for clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: The pulmonary fibrosis model of C57BL/6 male mice was induced by bleomycin with intratracheal injection at the dose of 2 mg/kg. After 14 days of modeling, animals were divided into model group, negative inhibition group and inhibition group (n=5 for each group), and control group was not processed. The inhibition group was treated with TDZD-8 (4 mg/kg) after modeling, the negative inhibition group was given DMSO solution after modeling, and the samples were collected after 28 days. Hematoxylin-eosin staining method was used to detect lung fibrosis in mice and scored according to Ashcroft scale. Expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, eEF2K, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), precursor protein of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), collagen I (Col I), collagen Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with control group, the fibrosis score was up-regulated, the expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, Col I, Col Ⅲ and α-SMA were increased, while that of eEF2K was decreased in model group (P＜0.05). Compared with model group, the fibrosis score, expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, Col I, Col Ⅲ and α-SMA were decreased, but the expression level of eEF2K was increased in inhibition group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: GSK3β can activate eEF2K by phosphorylation at the sites of Ser70, Ser392 and Ser470, increase the contents of fibrosis indicators, promote the formation of pulmonary fibrosis, and aggravate lung tissue lesions.

Icariin Inhibits Proliferation of CLC5 Hepatoma Cells via Akt/GSK3β/CDK Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of icariin on the proliferative capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line CLC5 and the underlying mechanism. MethodThe targets of icariin were screened out by network pharmacology， and the target network and protein-protein interaction （PPI） network were constructed to predict the possible targets and pathways of icariin. CCK-8 assay was employed to explore the effects of different concentrations （0， 6.25， 12.5， 25， 50 μmol·L-1） of icariin on the viability of CLC5 cells. Further， CLC5 cells were treated with 0， 25， 50 μmol·L-1 icariin， and the effect of icariin on CLC5 cell proliferation was examined by Edu-488 assay and clone formation assay （CFA）. Western blot was employed to measure the expression levels of proteins in the protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase 3β （GSK3β）/cell cycle-dependent kinase （CDK） pathway in the CLC5 cells exposed to different concentrations of icariin. ResultNetwork pharmacological analysis revealed that icariin may inhibit the hepatocellular carcinoma via cell cycle arrest and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Compared with the blank group， icariin decreased the viability of CLC5 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner （P<0.01） and reduced the positive rate of Edu-488 and the colonies in CFA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， icariin down-regulated the protein levels of p-Akt， p-GSK3β， CDK4， and CyclinD1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIcariin may block cell cycle to suppress the proliferation of CLC5 cells via inhibiting the Akt/GSK3β/CDK pathway.

Effect of Zuoguiwan on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway in Ovariectomized Osteoporosis Model Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Zuoguiwan on bone metabolism and Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin signaling pathway in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats model， and to explore the molecular biological mechanism of Zuoguiwan in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Method:The rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was established by bilateral ovariectomy， 60 female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， positive group （estradiol valerate tablet 0.05 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） and low， middle and high dose groups of Zuoguiwan （5.5，11，22 g·kg^-1·d^-1）.After successful establishment of the model in the 13^th week， intragastric administration （<italic>ig</italic>） was given once a day for a total of 12 weeks. After administration， the histomorphological changes of femur in rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， the bone mineral density （BMD） and bone mineral content（BMC） of femur were measured by dual energy X-ray apparatus， and the biomechanical properties of bone were measured by MTS Acumen3 biomechanical testing system. The contents of bone alkaline phosphatase （BALP）， bone glaprotein（BGP），estradiol （E₂） ，and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP）， type Ⅰ procollagen N-terminal propeptide （PINP） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the protein level of Wnt2，<italic>β</italic>-catenin，low density lipoprotein related receptor protein 5 （LRP5） and the phosphorylation level of glycogen synthase kinase-3<italic>β</italic>（GSK-3<italic>β</italic>） in rat tibia. Result:Compared with sham operation group， the maximum load and stiffness of BMD，BMC， in the model group decreased significantly（<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the contents of E₂ and PINP in serum decreased significantly（<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the content of BALP，BGP，TRAP increased significantly（<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the expression levels of Wnt2，p-GSK-3<italic>β </italic>Ser9，LRP5 and <italic>β</italic>-catenin protein in bone tissue decreased significantly（<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the trabecula of femur became thinner and thinner， the number of bone trabeculae decreased. Compared with model group， the maximum load and stiffness of BMD，BMC， in estradiol group and Zuoguiwan group were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the contents of serum E₂ and PINP were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the content of BALP，BGP，TRAP was significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the expression level of Wnt2，p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> Ser9，LRP5， <italic>β</italic>-catenin protein in bone tissue was significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01） ， the trabeculae of femur became thicker， the number increased， the structure was basically clear. Conclusion:Zuoguiwan has a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats， and its mechanism may be related to increasing the level of estrogen， activating Wnt/<italic>β</italic>-catenin signaling pathway， up-regulating the expression of Wnt2 and LRP5 protein， inhibiting the activity of GSK-3<italic>β</italic>， reducing the degradation of <italic>β</italic>-catenin， coordinating the dynamic coupling balance between bone formation and bone resorption， correcting the disorder of bone metabolism and improving bone morphology.

Effect of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription on Learning， Memory， and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in Epileptic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription （HZJDSG） on learning， memory， and the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase-3<italic>β</italic> （GSK-3<italic>β</italic>） pathway-related proteins in epileptic rats， and to explore its possible mechanism. Method:Forty-eight SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a sodium valproate （0.19 g·kg^-1） group， and low- （2.7 g·kg^-1）， medium- （5.4 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （10.8 g·kg^-1） HZJDSG groups， with eight rats in each group. The normal group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution （0.035 g·kg^-1） by intraperitoneal injection， and the other five groups received pentetrazol （PTZ） at the same dose to induce a chronic epilepsy model for a total of 14 times. The drug groups received corresponding drugs and the normal group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution at the same volume once a day for 28 days. During the drug intervention period， epilepsy was maintained in each modeling group by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ on day 7， 14， 21， and 28. The behavioral changes of rats were observed by Morris water maze and the pathomorphological changes of rat hippocampal neurons by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expression of phosphorylation Akt（p-Akt）and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> was detected by immunohistochemistry and the protein expression of PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， GSK-3<italic>β</italic>， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed prolonged platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， reduced number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， structural damage of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， down-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β </italic>in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and reduced relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the sodium valproate group and the HZJDSG groups showed shortened platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and improved neuronal structure in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， while the sodium valproate group and the high- and medium-dose HZJDSG groups exhibited increased number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and elevated relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:HZJDSG can improve the learning and memory of epileptic rats， and its antiepileptic effect may be achieved by the activation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3<italic>β</italic> pathway-related proteins.

Effect of TSG on GSK3β，PKA and PP2A of APP/PS1/Tau Triple-transgenic Mice Dementia Model / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of tetrahydroxy stilbene glycoside （TSG） on the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3<italic>β </italic>（GSK3<italic>β</italic>）， cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase （PKA） and Serine/threonine phosphatase 2A（PP2A） in the brain of amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1/Tau （APP/PS1/Tau） triple-transgenic mice dementia model. Method:A total of forty-five 8-month-old APP/PS1/Tau transgenic mice were randomly divided into model group， positive control group （Huperzine-A， 0.15 mg·kg^-1）， low， medium and high dose TSG groups （TSG， 0.033，0.1，0.3 g·kg^-1）， with 9 mice in each group， and another nine C5B7L/6J mice of the same age were selected as normal control group. After 60 days of intragastric administration， the general structure of hippocampal neurons was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， immunohistochemical （IHC） was used to detect the expression of PKA protein in the brain of mice in each group， the mRNA expression levels of GSK3<italic>β</italic>， PKA and PP2A were detected by real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and protein expression levels of GSK3<italic>β</italic> and PP2A were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal control group， the apoptosis level of neurons in the model group was significantly increased， the protein and mRNA expression levels of GSK3<italic>β</italic> and PKA were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the protein and mRNA expression levels of PP2A were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the apoptosis level of neurons in each treatment group was significantly down-regulated， the protein and mRNA expression levels of GSK3<italic>β</italic> and PKA were significantly down-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the protein and mRNA expression levels of PP2A were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:The mechanism of TSG in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease （AD） may be related to lowering the transcription and expression of GSK3<italic>β</italic> and PKA， increasing the transcription and expression of PP2A.

Mechanism of Huangjingwan in Inhibiting Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Hippocampal Neurons of Mice with Alzheimer's Disease Induced by D-galactose and Okadaic Acid Resulting in Learning and Memory Disorders / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Huangjingwan （HW） on the activities of glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， protein phosphatase 2A （PP2A） and the mechanism in inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampal neurons of mice with Alzheimer's disease. Method:After subcutaneous injection with 1.0% D-galactose （0.14 g·kg-1·d-1） into the back and neck of mice for 4 weeks， the right ventricle of mice was injected with 2 μL （75 ng） of okadaic acid for one time to make AD model， and the successfully modeled AD mice were selected by Morris water maze. Then， the selected AD mice were randomly divided into AD model group， memantine group （1.3×10-3 g·kg-1·d-1） and HW group （2.5 g·kg-1·d-1）. In addition， the sham model control group and the normal control group were set up. At the same time， 2 μL normal saline was injected into the right ventricle of mouse in the sham model control group for modeling control. Two weeks after modeling， the mice in the two experimental drug groups were given the corresponding dose of the experimental drug by gavage for 4 weeks. In addition， after 2 weeks of AD modeling， mice in control group and AD model group were intragastrically administrated with the same amount of normal saline daily for 4 weeks. The mice in normal control group were only given daily feed. At the end of gavage， all the mice were tested by the open field experiment and jumping platform experiment to evaluate the differences in exploratory activity ability， anxiety level and learning and memory ability. The number of neurons in CA1 and CA3 areas of hippocampus in all the mice was detected by Nissl staining. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and PP2A in hippocampus of mice in each group. Protein expressions of GSK-3β， PP2A， phosphorylated tau （p-tau） and total tau protein （t-tau） in hippocampus of mice in each group were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal control group， mice in AD model group showed an obvious dementia state， which was characterized by a lower spontaneous activity， lower exploration behavior ability， higher anxiety level， less movement and easier to stay and hide， longer learning response time， significantly increased number of learning and memory errors， and decreased numbers of hippocampal neuron in CA1 and CA3 areas， and reduced mRNA and protein expressions of PP2A， mRNA and protein expressions of GSK-3β， p-tau protein and the ratio of p-tau/t-tau were all increased significantly （P<0.01）， while expression of t-tau protein was decreased， with no significant difference. Compared with the AD model group， mice in the HW group showed a higher spontaneous activity， higher exploration ability， lower anxiety level， higher learning and memory performance， and the numbers of hippocampal neuron in CA1 and CA3 areas increased， while mRNA and protein expressions of PP2A increased， and the mRNA and protein expressions of GSK-3β， the expression of p-tau protein and the ratio of p-tau/t-tau were all decreased significantly （P<0.01）， but with no significant difference in the protein expression of t-tau. Conclusion:HW can inhibit tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampal neurons of AD mice， restore tau protein function， protect hippocampal neurons， and exert an anti-AD effect， which may be related to the regulatory mechanism in the activity balance between GSK-3β and PP2A in hippocampal neurons.

Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill () Reduces Coronary Microembolization in Rats via Regulation of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening and AKT-GSK3β Phosphorylation / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effects of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (, STDP) following sodium laurate-induced coronary microembolization (CME) in rats.@*METHODS@#Forty rats were divided into 4 groups: the control (sham) group, CME group, low-dose STDP pretreatment group (20 mg·kg@*RESULTS@#The rats in the CME group showed a significant increase in the fibrinogen-like protein 2 expression level and mitochondrial dysfunction and a decrease in the expression level of antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase and catalase, P<0.01 for all). In contrast, the rats in the low- and high-dose STDP pretreatment groups showed a significant decrease in coronary microthrombi (P<0.05); moreover, STDP restored the antioxidant-related protein activities and mitochondrial function, inhibited mPTP opening, decreased AKT-Ser473 phosphorylation, and increased GSK3β-Ser9 phosphorylation (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#STDP may be useful for treatment of CME, possibly via regulation of mPTP opening and AKT/GSK3β phosphorylation.

Neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills in Parkinson's disease / 药物分析学报

Parkinson's disease(PD)is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world;however,it lacks effective and safe treatments.Ginkgo biloba dropping pill(GBDP),a unique Chinese G.biloba leaf extract preparation,exhibits antioxidant and neuroprotective effects and has a potential as an alternative therapy for PD.Thus,the aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of GBDP in in vitro and in vivo PD models and to compare the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of GBDP and the G.biloba extract EGb 761.Using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry,46 GBDP constitu-ents were identified.Principal component analysis identified differences in the chemical profiles of GBDP and EGb 761.A quantitative analysis of 12 constituents showed that GBDP had higher levels of several flavonoids and terpene trilactones than EGb 761,whereas EGb 761 had higher levels of organic acids.Moreover,we found that GBDP prevented 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neuron loss in zebrafish and improved cognitive impairment and neuronal damage in methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced PD mice.Although similar effects were observed after EGb 761 treatment,the neuroprotective effects were greater after GBDP treatment on several endpoints.In addition,in vitro results suggested that the Akt/GSK3β pathway may be involved in the neuroprotective effects of GBDP.These findings demonstrated that GBDP have potential neuroprotective effects in the treatment of PD.