Mechanism of Chaihu Shugan Powder () for Treating Depression Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the effective components of Chinese medicine (CM) contained in Chaihu Shugan Powder (, CSP) in the treatment of depressive disorders and to predict its anti-depressant mechanism by network pharmacology.@*METHODS@#Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity calculation method was used to screen the active components of CSP. Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacological Database Analysis Platform and text mining tool (GoPuMed database) were used to predict and screen the active ingredients of CSP and anti-depressive targets. Through Genetic Association Database, Therapeutic Target Database, and PharmGkb database targets for depression were obtained. Cytoscape3.2.1 software was used to establish a network map of the active ingredients-targets of CSP, and to analyze gene function and metabolic pathways through Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery and the Omicshare database.@*RESULTS@#The 121 active ingredients and 15 depression-related targets which were screened from the database can exert antidepressant effects by improving the neural plasticity, growth, transfer condition and gene expression of neuronal cell, and the raise of the expression of gap junction protein. The 15 targets passed 14 metabolic pathways, mainly involved in the regulation of neurotransmitters (5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and epinephrine), inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, calcium signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and other signal channels to exert anti-depressant effects.@*CONCLUSION@#This article reveals the possible mechanism of CSP in the treatment of depression through network pharmacology research, and lays a foundation for further target studies.

Proventive and Therapentic Effects of Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Monocrotaline-Induced Hepatic Vein Occlusion Disease / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of endothelial progenitor cells on monocrotaline-induced hepatic vein occlusion disease in mice.@*METHODS@#C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: saline group (n=15), monocrotaline group (n=15), and endothelial progenitor cell infusion group (n=15). Liver function (TBIL, ALT, AST), liver index, and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured on the 8 day after intragastric administration. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic central venous endothelial cells and hepatocytes were observed by both HE and immunohistochemical staining. Hepatic fibrosis was observed by Masson's trichrome staining.@*RESULTS@#By the light microscopy, the liver of the monocrotaline group showed moderate to the severe injuries of hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cells, and hepatic venous congestion. Masson staining showed moderate to severe hepatic fibrosis of central vein and hepatic sinus. In the endothelial progenitor cell group, hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cell injuries, and the fibrosis of central hepatic vein and hepatic sinus were mild to moderate. Hepatic venous congestion was reduced in comparison with that in the mice of the monocrotaline group. Compared with the endothelial progenitor cell group, the liver index was higher, the liver function was more abnormal, and the serum expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were higher in the monocrotaline group.@*CONCLUSION@#The monocrotaline-induced damage of hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cells is an linitiating factor for hepatic vein occlusive disease. Infusion of endothelial progenitor cells can play a role in preventing and treating hepatic vein occlusion.

Apoptosis induced by transferring cytosine deaminase suicide gene into kinds of cancer cells with novel polyamidoamine dendrimers / 药学学报

This study demonstrates efficacy of a novel polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM dendrimers) with pentaerythritol derivatives as the core (G5 PD dendrimer) in deliver of the cytosine deaminase (CD) gene and EGFP gene fusion plasmid into different tumor cell lines to induce apoptosis. The physical and chemical properties of G5 PD dendrimers in terms of DNA complexation, particulate properties and transfection efficiencies were investigated and compared with commercial gene vectors PEI 25 kDa. The optimum ratio of G5 PD dendrimer complexed with plasmid DNA was 0.2:1, and the particle size of the complex was (100±5) nm. Compared with the commercial gene carriers PEI, G5 PD dendrimer exhibited a higher transfection efficiency at the weight ratio of 1:1 in three different cell lines, given the fact that PEI are different from PAMAM dendrimers in terms of molecular structure. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assays of the cell lines transfected with G5 PD dendrimer/pCD-EGFP-N1 followed by exposure to various concentrations of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) also showed that the transfected cell lines could generate a very low amount of 5-FC to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a short period of time, which indicating the high expression level of CD gene in the cell line. These results indicate that the CD/5FC system of G5 PD dendrimer has an excellent efficacy in gene delivery.

Maytansine class antibody drug conjugates: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Compared with the traditional anti-tumor therapy, the antibody-based therapeutic strategies have shown considerably higher targeting selectivity and lower side effects. Antibody drug conjugates (ADC), combining the advantage of the biological antibodies and small molecule toxins, is regarded as a new way for the future cancer therapy. Maytansines are one of the cytotoxins widely used in ADC and the postmarketing ADC ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla, ATE) which use such toxins successfully has expanded the indications from leukemia to other solid tumors. Currently, the clinical research progress in such ADC goes smoothly. This paper reviews the characteristics, metabolic characteristics, preparation of each component and the latest clinical research progress in the maytansine class ADC.

Auristatin class antibody drug conjugates: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Antibody drug conjugates (ADC) are a novel biological targeted anti-cancer agents that have the specificity target of monoclonal antibody and the significant cytotoxicity of the drug. It can not only improve the curative effect of the antibody but also expand the scope of clinical application of the small molecule toxins. Auristatins have been widely used in ADC and has achieved great success because of their powerful biological activity. The structure feature of auristatins is different from that of other cytotoxins-which determine the design of this kind of ADC′ linker is different from others′. We review the progress in each component and the latest clinical research of the auristatin class ADC- which may benefit to the further development of ADC.

In vitro transdermal behavior of effective constituents in Chonghe gel / 中国中药杂志

Chonghe gel originated from the Chinese ancient prescription, can be used for the treatment of diabetic foot. This experiment was to study the transdermal absorbability of paeoniflorin and osthole in Chonghe gel . Franz diffusing cells method was adopted for the in vitro model of rat belly skins. Paeoniflorin and osthole in the receiving liquid, skins and gel were determined by HPLC. The receiving liquid were screened, and Chonghe gel and Chonghe ointment were compared by transdermal absorbability. Result showed that ethanol-normal saline (2: 8) solution was the appropriate receiving liquid. The penetration rates of paeoniflorin and osthole were 78.07, 7.08 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1). respectively. In 24 h, the accumulated penetration rates were (31.51 +/- 1.33)%, (12.38 +/- 1.28)%, respectively. The retention rates of paeoniflorin and osthole in skin were (0.92 +/- 0.45)%, (4.81 +/- 1.03) %, respectively. The retention of osthole in skins was a drug reservoir. Transdermal behavior of effective constituents in Chonghe gel was more efficient than that in ointment. In vitro, the transdermal behavior of paeoniflorin in Chonghe gel was close to a Weibull process, while the behavior of osthole was close to Higuchi process.

The relationship of virus load, receptor expression and tumor spectrum in layer chickens infected by ALV-J / 病毒学报

Abstract:Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) infect cells by binding to the chNHE1 receptor protein of the host and causes tumors. The tumor incidence of the ALV-J-infected chickens was observed by histo pathology, and virus was isolated on DF-1 cell line. The ALV-J load and mRNA of chNHElreceptor protein were detected by real time PCR. The relationship between ALV-J load, chNHE1 receptor expression levels and tumor spectrum was analyzed. The results showed that the tumors induced by ALV-J in laying hens and local lines of chicken were different. No significant relationship was observed between ALV-J load and tumor spectrum. ALV-J load was positively correlated with mRNA expression of chNHE1. The mRNA expression of chNHE1 increased when the tumors occurred. Our results suggest the chNHE1 protein is not only the receptor of ALV-J infected host but also play an important role in the process of tumor development. This study provides a scientific basis for further studying of oncogenic mechanism of ALV-J.

Determination of platelet-associate autoantibodies against platelet-specific receptors by cytometric bead array and its clinical application in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for detecting platelet-associate autoantibodies against platelet-specific receptors using cytometric bead array, and compare the clinical usefulness of this method and modified indirect monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigen technique (MAIPA) in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) from non-immune thrombocytopenic purpura (non-ITP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The microbeads were coated with monoclonal antibodies against glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (CD41a), platelets were isolated from blood samples, then platelet lysate was incubated with the coated microbeads, and R-Phycoerythrin-conjugated goat-antihuman IgG polyclonal antibodies, finally analyzed with flow cytometry. GP IIb/IIIa autoantibodies in sample plasma were measured by modified indirect MAIPA at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The individual fluorescence level was calculated as the ratio to the three controls. The mean ratios were 3.36 (range 0.84 - 22.94) in the ITP group, 1.16 (range 0.67 - 5.59) in the non-ITP patient and 1.08 (range 0.72 - 1.76) in the healthy controls. There was a highly significant difference (P <0.01) between the ITP patients and either the non-ITP patients or the normal controls. If the up limit of healthy controls was set as cutoff value, ratio of greater than 1.76 was considered positive. Cytometric bead array had a sensitivity of 71.43%, a specificity of 94.28% and a positive predictive value of 95.24% for the diagnosis of ITP, the sensitivity being higher than that of modified indirect MAIPA' s (5179%) (chi2 = 4.57, P <0.05). The ROC curve showed the discriminative validity of cytometric bead array was 0.916.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Flow cytometric bead method for detection of platelet-associate autoantibodies against platelet-specific receptors is a more rapid, better reproducibility and higher sensitivity than modified MAIPA, and has a potential value in promoting the diagnosis of ITP and guiding treatment.</p>

Inhibitory effect of silencing STAT3 gene with short hairpin RNA mediated by polyamidoamine dendrimers on growth of prostate cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possibility of using generation 5 polyamidoamine dendrimers (G5-PAMAM-D) as gene vector for eukaryotic expression plasmid of siRNA in prostate carcinoma in vitro and vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Firstly, eukaryotic expression vector of siRNA pSilencing 4.1-EGFP-shRNA, specific for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA for signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) was constructed. pEGFP-C1 and pSilencing 4.1-EGFP-shRNA were cotransfected into prostate cancer cells PC-3 and 22Rv1 with G5-PAPAM-D as vector, and to observe silencing of EGFP. Next, pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA was transfected into PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells by G5-PAPAM-D, Western blotting and apoptosis staining was used to detect silencing of STAT3 and growth inhibition. Thirdly, BALB/C mice subcutaneous tumor model was made with PC-3 cells. Polyplex of G5-PAMAM-D and pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA was injected intratumorally. The tumor volume was measured and recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fluorescence detection and Western blotting analysis demonstrated that G5-PAMAM-D was able to deliver Silencing 4.1-EGFP-shRNA and pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA into the two prostate cancer cell lines, and shRNA was expressed to induce silence of EGFP and STAT3. MTT results showed that proliferation of prostate cancer cells was suppressed by G5-PAMAM-D/pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA and induced apoptosis of PC-3 cells in vitro. Human prostate cancer in mice was successfully formed by inoculation of PC-3 cells into male BABL/C mice. In G5-PAMAM-D/pSilencing 4.1-STAT3-shRNA treated group, the tumor volume was shrank remarkably at 9 days after treatment and tumor growth was retarded compared with control groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GS-PAMAM-D nanoparticles can be used to deliver plasmid vector expressing shRNA into prostate cancer cells effectively in vitro and vivo. It appears to be a promising gene vector for RNA interference therapy in prostate cancer.</p>