Protective effect of melatonin against oxygen-induced retinopathy: a study based on the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the protective effect of melatonin (Mel) against oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in neonatal mice and the role of the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.@*METHODS@#Neonatal C57BL/6J mice, aged 7 days, were randomly divided into a control group, a model group (OIR group), and a Mel treatment group (OIR+Mel group), with 9 mice in each group. The hyperoxia induction method was used to establish a model of OIR. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and retinal flat-mount preparation were used to observe retinal structure and neovascularization. Immunofluorescent staining was used to measure the expression of proteins and inflammatory factors associated with the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis and lymphocyte antigen 6G. Colorimetry was used to measure the activity of myeloperoxidase.@*RESULTS@#The OIR group had destruction of retinal structure with a large perfusion-free area and neovascularization, while the OIR+Mel group had improvement in destruction of retinal structure with reductions in neovascularization and perfusion-free area. Compared with the control group, the OIR group had significant increases in the expression of proteins and inflammatory factors associated with the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis, the expression of lymphocyte antigen 6G, and the activity of myeloperoxidase (P<0.05). Compared with the OIR group, the OIR+Mel group had significant reductions in the above indices (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the OIR group had significant reductions in the expression of melatonin receptors in the retina (P<0.05). Compared with the OIR group, the OIR+Mel group had significant increases in the expression of melatonin receptors (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Mel can alleviate OIR-induced retinal damage in neonatal mice by inhibiting the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis and may exert an effect through the melatonin receptor pathway.

Therapeutic effect of in vitro 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine combined with imatinib on gastrointestinal stromal tumor / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine(5-aza-CdR) combined with imatinib on the proliferation, motility, invasion, and apoptosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST) cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT assay was used to investigate the effect of the two agents on proliferation of GIST882. Plate colony forming assay was used to determine the number of colony-forming. Motility and invasion abilities were tested to evaluate the inhibitory effect of each agent. Flow cytometry was used to observe apoptosis and cell cycle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>5-aza-CdR or imatinib effectively inhibited the growth of GIST882 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manner. The inhibitory rate of combined treatment using 5-aza-CdR and imatinib was significantly higher than that of 5-aza-CdR or imatinib alone(P<0.05). After treatment for 48 h, the apoptosis rates of 5-aza-CdR group (1000 μg/L) and imatinib group (100 μmol/L) were (11.7±1.2)% and (14.6±0.8)%, respectively. Compared with the control group (2.8±0.3)%, the difference was statistically significant(P=0.000). Furthermore, the difference in apoptosis rate was significant between combined treatment group (19.4±1.1)% and single drug treatment group(vs. 5-aza-CdR group, P=0.000, vs. imatinib group, P=0.013). 5-aza-CdR raised G0/G1 ratio and reduced S ratio of GIST882. Imatinib and combined group had no apparent influence on the cell cycle of GIST882 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>5-aza-CdR may be a potential agent of GIST treatment in the near future.</p>