Effect of traditional Chinese medicine for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood on renal Notch/Hes1 signaling in rats with diabetic nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood on Notch/Hes1 signaling pathway in the renal tissue and vascular endothelial CD34 and CD144 expressions in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy.@*METHODS@#Rat models of early-stage diabetic nephropathy were established by left nephrectomy and high- fat and high- sugar feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The rats were randomized into model group, benazepril group, and high-, moderate-, and low-dose TCM capsule groups for corresponding treatments, with 6 normal rats as the control group. After 8 weeks of drug treatment, blood glucose and 24-h urinary albumin of the rats were measured, and the renal histopathology was observed with HE staining; Hes1 expression in the renal tissue was detected with immunohistochemical staining, and the renal expressions of CD34 and CD144 were detected using Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal control group, the rat models of diabetic nephropathy showed obvious abnormalities in 24- h urinary albumin and expressions of Hes1, CD34 and CD144d. The TCM capsule at both the high and moderate doses significantly reduced 24-h urinary albumin in the rats; the renal expressions of Hes1 and CD34 was significantly reduced in all the dose groups, and the expression of CD144 was significantly reduced in the high- dose group. Compared with benazepril group, the TCM capsule obviously reduced CD34 expression at all the 3 doses and lowered CD144 expression at the low dose. Histopathologically, the rats in the model group showed glomerular hypertrophy, increased mesenteric matrix, thickening and widening of the mesenteric membrane, and nodular hyperplasia. These pathologies were obviously alleviated by treatment with the TCM capsule at the high and moderate doses.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) capsule for replenishing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood can reduce Hes1, CD34 and CD144 in kidney tissue of model rats, play a protective role on kidney function and delay the development of DN.

Research progress on orphan nuclear receptor NR 4A1 in atherosclerosis / 药学实践杂志

Orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1 from the NR4A subfamily is one of the transcriptional factors that have not identified specific ligands .Previous studies have found that NR4A1 could regulate cell proliferation ,apoptosis ,differentiation and stress responses by changing gene expression ,post-translational modification and interactions between coregulatory pro-teins .Recently ,it has shown that NR4A1 has an abnormal expression in human atherosclerotic lesions and has been identified as a key regulator gene in vascular cells dysfunction .Regulating NR4A1 expression can have an important impact on the prolif-eration of smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell activation ,meanwhile it could reduce inflammation ,foam cell formation and lipid deposition ,inhibit vascular remodeling ,and prevent the development of atherosclerosis .These studies suggest that NR4A1 might be a novel target for drug development in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis .

Expression and localization of Rdd proteins in Xenopus embryo / 대한해부학회지

The previous study has shown that repeated D domain-like (Rdd) proteins, a group of novel secretory proteins consisting of repeated domains of a cysteine-rich sequence, are involved in the process of blood vessel formation in Xenopus embryo. We performed further experiments to examine the localization of Rdd proteins in embryogenesis. Detection of tagged Rdd proteins expressed in blastomeres showed that Rdd proteins formed a high molecular weight complex and existed in the extracellular space. A rabbit antibody against the Rdd synthetic peptide identified a single band of 28 kD in embryonic tissue extract. By whole-mount immunostaining analysis, signal was detected in the regions of inter-somites, vitelline veins, and branchial arches at the tailbud stage. Staining of Rdd was remarkably reduced in the embryos injected with vascular endothelial growth factor Morpholino. We suggest that Rdd proteins interact with a molecule(s) associated with vascular precursor cells.

A Verification of Neogenesis of Vascular Cells by BrdU Immunohistochemistry During Callotasis of the Tibiae in Sprague-Dawley Rats

The callotasis is widely used in lengthening of bones without bone graft. We thought that the accompanying vessels is critical in the viability of distal tissue to the lengthened area and has an important effect on the bone-lenthening itself. So we made an assumption that the accompanying vessels is adapted to the lengthening via neogenesis more than simple physical stretching. At this, we placed a pair of small external fixator in the left tibiae of ten Spraugue-Dawley rats and made an osteotomies. At two weeks after 25% lengthening, vessels of both lengthened and unlengthened side was harvested and five sections from each vessels were stained with BrdU immunohistochemical staining. We investigated the DNA synthesis counting the number of BrdU labeled cells. The number of BrdU labeled cells is significantly increased in the lenthened side arteries(p<0.0001). The synthesis of DNA was significantly increased in the center rather than the ends (p<0.0001). And there was no difference between the number of the BrdU labeled cells of proximal part and that of distal parts(p=0.316). It means that the accompanying vessles in the distraction-lengthening are adapted to the lengthening not only by just physical stretching but also by neogenesis of vascular cells.

Experimental study on effect of arsenic trioxide on vascular smooth muscle cells / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide(As_2 O_3)nanoparticles on rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro in comparison with normal form As_2 03.Methods The rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro.Nano and normal forms of As_2O_3 with drug concentrations of 3?mol/L were added into the cells.Cell proliferation curve was drawn according to the light absorption values of MTT test.Flow cytometry was applied to observe the apoptosis.DNA was extracted and underwent electrophoresis.Results Cell proliferation treated with the 3?mol/L concentration of As_2O_3 was inhibited. Cell growth was inhibited markedly with increased treatment time,and the inhibition effect of nano drug form seemed stronger than that of normal form.MTT light absorption values of cells treated at 24,48 and 72 h showed statistically significant difference(H=10.934,15.039,15.539,P