Study of 3-bromopyruvate on regulating imbalance of apoptosis/autophagy in fibroblast-like synoviocytes through AMPK/mTOR pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the regulatory effects of 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) on apoptosis and autophagy of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rats based on AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and the underlying mechanism. Methods FLS of rats in vitro were cultured and induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to construct a model of rheumatoid arthritis (R A). MTT assay was used to explore the optimal concentration of TNF-α and 3 -BrPA for induction and treatment of FLS. The effects of 3-BrPA on the migration and invasion of FLS were detected by Wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The apoptosis of FLS was tested by flow cytometry and mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit (JC-1). Moreover, FLS autophagic flux was detected by mCherry-EGFP-LC3B-overexpressed plasmids, and the expression of apoptosis/autophagy-related proteins as well as AMPK/mTOR pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blot. Results 3-BrPA (15 μmol • L) significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of FLS stimulated by TNF-a (25 μg • L

Progress on Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome by Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis / 中国结合医学杂志

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific intestinal disease that not only affects the quality of life of patients and their families but also increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important component of inflammatory response system, and its activation induces an inflammatory cascade response that is involved in the development and progression of UC by releasing inflammatory cytokines, damaging intestinal epithelial cells, and disrupting the intestinal mucosal barrier. Chinese medicine (CM) plays a vital role in the prevention and treatment of UC and is able to regulate NLRP3 inflammasome. Many experimental studies on the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome mediated by CM have been carried out, demonstrating that CM formulae with main effects of clearing heat, detoxifying toxicity, drying dampness, and activating blood circulation. Flavonoids and phenylpropanoids can effectively regulate NLRP3 inflammasome. Other active components of CM can interfere with the process of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation, leading to a reduction in inflammation and UC symptoms. However, the reports are relatively scattered and lack systematic reviews. This paper reviews the latest findings regarding the NLRP3 inflammasome activation-related pathways associated with UC and the potential of CM in treating UC through modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The purpose of this review is to explore the possible pathological mechanisms of UC and suggest new directions for development of therapeutic tools.

Detection of micrometastasis in mediastinal lymph nodes in operable non-small cell lung cancers / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using the LUNX-mRNA as a marker and RT-PCR technique to assess mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with operable NSCLC, to evaluate at gene level the feasibility of this method in detection of micrometastasis in NSCLC and the necessity of systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy during surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty patients with operable NSCLC were involved in this study. The mediastinal lymph nodes were taken during operation. RT-PCR assay was carried out to detect the LUNX-mRNA. Ten cases with benign lung disease were assayed by the same method as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventy one mediastinal lymph nodes were obtained from 20 patients, 8 (11.3%) of which showed histologically metastasis with HE staining, while 23 (32.4%) were LUNX-mRNA positive by RT-PCR, P < 0.001. Micrometastasis was detected in 25.4% of all lymph nodes. LUNX-mRNA was found to be positive in 23.6% of lymph nodes from 15 patients with stage I A-II B NSCLC compared with 62.5% from 5 patients with stage III NSCLC, with a significant difference (P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>About 25.4% of mediastinal lymph nodes are with micrometastasis in patients with operable NSCLC. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy is necessary to deal with the regional lymph nodes during surgery.</p>

Screening and identification of therapeutic effect evaluation antigens of angiostrongyliasis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify antigens which may help evaluate the therapeutic effect of angiostrongyliasis from adult worm antigen of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The adult worm antigens of A. cantonensis were analyzed by Western blotting with the sera of rats infected with A. cantonensis before and after treatment. The sera of rats were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The antigens with relative molecular mass between 38,000 and 78,000 reacted not only with the sera of rats before treatment, but also with that after treatment. The antigens with M(r) between 190,000 and 17,000 reacted with the sera of rats before treatment but not with that after treatment; those with M(r) between 32,000 and 24,000 antigens strongly reacted with the former, but the reaction became much weakened with the latter. The AC32-IgG antibody appeared earlier than the AC-IgG, and disappeared rapidly after treatment. Six of the 10 treated rats became negative for AC-IgG as found by ELISA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The antigens of adult worm antigen of A. cantonensis with M(r) of 190,000, 32,000, 24,000, 17,000 and 16,000 may serve as candidate antigens for therapeutic effect evaluation of angiostrongyliasis.</p>