Effect of Cordyceps sinensis powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment group by random digit table, 10 in each group. A chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model was prepared by one step 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with CS powder solution at the daily dose of 2 g/kg, once per day. Equal volume of double distilled water was intragastrically administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication lasted for 12 weeks. The general condition of rats, their body weight, blood pressure, 24 h proteinuria, urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), serum creatinine (SCr) , and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed before surgery, at week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 10 after surgery. Pathological changes of renal tissues were observed under light microscope. Morphological changes of mitochondria in renal tubular epithelial cells were observed under transmission electron microscope. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including reduced glutathione (GSH), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh renal tissue homogenate were detected. Mitochondria of renal tissues were extracted to detect levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS). And expressions of cytochrome-C (Cyto-C) and prohibitin in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the renal cortex were also measured by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the sham-operation group, body weight was significantly decreased at week 2 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure increased at week 4 (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, body weight was significantly increased at week 12 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure decreased at week 8 (P < 0. 01) in the treatment group. (2) Compared with the sham-operation group, 24 h proteinuria, urinary NAG, blood SCr and BUN significantly increased in the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, blood and urinary biochemical indices all significantly decreased in the treatment group (all P <0. 01). (3) Results of pathological renal scoring: Glomerular sclerosis index, scoring for tubulointerstitial fibrosis, degree of tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltration were all obviously higher in the model group than in the sham-operation group (all P <0. 01). All the aforesaid indices were more obviously improved in the treatment group than in the model group (all P <0. 01). (4) Compared with the sham-operation group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px were significantly reduced, but MDA contents obviously increased in the renal cortex of the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01), but MDA contents obviously decreased in the renal cortex of the treatment group (P <0. 01). (5) Compared with the sham-operation group, the mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased, but ROS levels significantly increased in the model group (all P <0.01). Compared with the model group, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased in the treatment group, thereby inhibiting the tendency of increased production of ROS (both P < 0. 01). (6) Results of Western blot showed that, compared with the sham-operation group, expression levels of mitochondrial Cyto-C and Prohibitin were significantly reduced in the renal cortex (P <0. 01), but significantly elevated in the cytoplasm of the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, each index was obviously improved in the treatment group with statistical difference (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CS powder had renal protection, and its mechanism might partially depend on in- hibition of oxidative stress and protection for mitochondria.</p>

Inflammation accelerates lipid dysregulation mediated cardiac fibrosis through enhancing myocardial endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation are risk factors of cardiac fibrosis. This study was aimed to investigate their possible synergetic effects and underlying mechanisms on progression of cardiac fibrosis in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE -/-) mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four ApoE-/- mice were divided into normal chow diet (control), high fat diet (HFD group), and HFD plus subcutaneously injection of 10% casein (inflammation group) for 8 weeks. Lipid profile and serum amyloid A (SAA) were examined by clinical biochemical assays and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and Masson staining were used to evaluate the myocardial accumulation of lipid and collagen. Collagen I protein expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition related protein expressions were determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum SAA level was significantly higher in inflammation group [(127.42 ± 26.99) ng/ml] than in control [(15.40 ± 7.62) ng/ml] and HFD [(8.17 ± 0.72) ng/ml] group (all P < 0.01).However serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in HFD group than in inflammation and control groups[TG (7.53 ± 2.05) mmol/L vs. (3.43 ± 0.79) mmol/L; TC (27.80 ± 3.99) mmol/L vs. (14.94 ± 1.92) mmol/L;LDL-C (11.56 ± 2.56) mmol/L vs. (9.46 ± 1.31) mmol/L, all P < 0.05) . Foam cell formation in cardiac vessels, myocardial collagen deposit, protein expressions of collagen I, CD31, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were all significantly higher in inflammation group than in HFD group (all P < 0.05) suggesting that inflammation contributes to the phenotype endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in heart.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inflammation exacerbates dyslipidemia mediated cardiac fibrosis in ApoE-/- mice partly through enhancing myocardial endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.</p>

Role of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene methylation in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs in early diagnosis and outcome prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the role of methylation of Human MutS homolog 2 (MSH2) and Human runt-related transcription factor 3 genes (RUNX3) in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs in early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods The methylation-specific PCR was used to detect hypermethylation of MSH2 and RUNX3 genes in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs from 54 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 18 chronic nasopharyngitis patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The specificity and sensitivity in early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by detecting MSH2 and/or RUNX3 gene methylation were evaluated. The relationship between methylation of MSH2 or RUNX3 gene and the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed. Results Hypermethylation of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene was respectively detected in 38 out of 54 (70.37%) and in 28 out of 54 (51.85%) nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, while there was no methylation in nasopharyngeal swabs from 18 chronic nasopharyngitis patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusions Parallel combined testing of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene methylation in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs determined by methylation-specific PCR could increase the specificity and sensitivity in early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and is of important clinical significance. However it may not serve as an index in evaluating the clinical prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma at present.

Role of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene methylation in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs in early diagnosis and outcome prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the role of methylation of Human MutS homolog 2 (MSH2) and Human runt-related transcription factor 3 genes (RUNX3) in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs in early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods The methylation-specific PCR was used to detect hypermethylation of MSH2 and RUNX3 genes in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs from 54 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 18 chronic nasopharyngitis patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The specificity and sensitivity in early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by detecting MSH2 and/or RUNX3 gene methylation were evaluated. The relationship between methylation of MSH2 or RUNX3 gene and the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed. Results Hypermethylation of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene was respectively detected in 38 out of 54 (70.37%) and in 28 out of 54 (51.85%) nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, while there was no methylation in nasopharyngeal swabs from 18 chronic nasopharyngitis patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusions Parallel combined testing of MSH2 and RUNX3 gene methylation in DNA prepared from nasopharyngeal swabs determined by methylation-specific PCR could increase the specificity and sensitivity in early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and is of important clinical significance. However it may not serve as an index in evaluating the clinical prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma at present.