Astragaloside IV alleviates lung inflammation in Klebsiella pneumonia rats by suppressing TGF-β1/Smad pathway

Astragaloside IV is a biologically active substance derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus mambranaceus Bunge, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV on Klebsiella pneumonia rats and the underlying mechanisms. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) rats were treated with different dosages of astragaloside IV (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) by intragastric administration. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Pathological changes of lung tissue were inspected by HE staining. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in lung tissue was determined with immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-Smad2/Smad2, p-Smad3/Smad3, IκBα/p-IκBα, and p65/p-p65 in lung tissue were determined by western blot. The mechanism was further investigated with TGF-β1 inhibitor SB-431542. Astragaloside IV reduced the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by K. pneumoniae and improved lung tissue damage in a dose-dependent manner. Astragaloside IV also decreased the expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins and decreased the protein levels of inflammation-related p-IκBα and p65 in lung tissues induced by K. pneumoniae. Additionally, it was found that the effects of 20 mg/kg astragaloside IV were similar to SB-431542, which could improve pulmonary fibrosis induced by K. pneumoniae, decrease the levels of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins in lung, and reduce inflammation at the same time. Astragaloside IV could alleviate the inflammation of rat pneumonia induced by K. pneumoniae through suppressing the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.

RNA-binding protein with serine-rich domain 1 regulates microsatellite instability of uterine corpus endometrial adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of RNA-binding protein with serine-rich domain 1 (RNPS1) in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), the role of RNPS1 knockdown in UCEC development in vitro and in vivo, and the relationship between RNPS1 and mismatch repair (MMR) in UCEC. METHODS: We predicted the potential function of RNPS1 using bioinformatics systems. The expression of RNPS1 in tissues and cell lines was analyzed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The expression of RNPS1 in MMR was assessed using bioinformatics and western blotting. The proliferation and apoptosis of UCEC cells were assessed under RNPS1 knockdown conditions, and RNPS1 regulation in MMR was detected by suppressing Notch signaling. Associations between RNPS1 and gene mutations in UCEC and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The RNPS1 level was higher in UCEC tumors than in normal tissues and tumors or RL952 cells. Prognostic outcomes were worse when UCEC showed abundant RNPS1 expression. Lentiviral RNPS1 knockdown weakened tumor cell proliferation and suppressed biomarker expression, reduced the tumor volume, promoted apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, and inhibited UCEC development. Increased MutS homolog 2 (MSH2) and MutS homolog 6 (MSH6) levels in MMR after RNPS1 knockdown were reversed by inhibiting Notch signaling. Furthermore, RNPS1 was associated with mutations in NAA11, C2orf57, NUPR1, and other genes involved in UCEC prognosis. CONCLUSION: RNPS1 may regulate the expression levels of MSH2 and MSH6 in MMR, enhancing the proliferation, development, and prognosis of UCEC through a Notch signaling pathway in UCEC. Our study offers a new method and strategy for delaying UCEC development through modulating MMR.

Reversal effect of peptide-modified chitosan tetramethylpyrazine nanoparticles on multidrug resistance in tumor cells / 中国中药杂志

To prepare peptide-modified chitosan tetramethylprazine nanoparticles(FGF-CS-TMP-NPS) and investigate its reversal effect on multidrug resistance in tumor cells. The pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs were prepared by ion crosslinking method, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)(MCF-7, MCF-7/ADR, K562 and K562/ADR) and drug-resistant related protein P-gp. MCF-7/ADR and K562/ADR were selected as cell models. The cytotoxicity of pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs, the multiple of cell resistance to adriamycin, the reversal resistance index of pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs to doxorubicin and the sensitization of pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs to doxorubicin were detected by MTT assay. After MCF-7/ADR and K562/ADR were treated with pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs, the expression changes of P-gp were detected by Western blot. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs were 37.66%± 0.53% and 3.25%± 0.34% respectively in HPLC. The nanoparticles showed an average particle size of(150.50±9.3) nm, polymer dispersity index of(0.059±0.007) and Zeta potential of(19.30±2.02) mV as detected by laser particle size analyzer. The nanoparticles were spherical and well dispersed under transmission electron microscope. Western blot results showed that EGFR was positively expressed in MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells, while negatively expressed in K562 and K562/ADR cells. P-gp was highly expressed in MCF-7/ADR and K562/ADR, while negatively expressed in MCF-7 and K562. pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs had a weak effect on MCF-7/ADR and K562/ADR. The adriamycin resistance of MCF-7/ADR cells was 108.36 times, and that of K562/ADR cells was more than 100 times. When IC_(85) of pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs was used as the administration concentration, the reversion index of MCF-7/ADR and K562/ADR cells was 3.68 and 1.87, respectively. pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs could enhance the sensitivity of adriamycin to MCF-7/ADR cells in a positive correlation with the concentration, and the sensitivity was significantly higher than that of K562/ADR cells. Western blot results showed that the expression level of P-gp in MCF-7/ADR cells decreased significantly after treatment with pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs, while the expression level of P-gp in K562/ADR cells did not change significantly. Experimental results show that pEGF-CS-TMP-NPs have an active targeting effect on MCF-7/ADR cells with high EGFR expression, and can effectively reverse the multidrug resistance of MCF-7/ADR cells. Active targeting effect is related to the peptides modification of nanoparticles, and the mechanism of reversing tumor MDR may be achieved by down-regulating the expression level of P-gp.

Expression of CD90/EpCAM/CD24 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines at various stages of differentiation / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To confirm the malignant phenotype of hepatocarcinoma cell (HCC) lines at various stages of differentiation (MHCC97L, MHCC97H and HCCLM3) and to explore their expression levels of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The invasive and proliferative properties of each HCC line were assessed by transwell assay and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) colorimetric assay. Sensitivity to chemotherapy was assessed by treatment with oxaliplatin and determination of the half inhibitory concentration (IC50). The expression of CD90, EpCAM and CD24 was measured by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of cells that migrated through the invasion assay membrane were significantly different between the three HCC lines: HCCLM3 (30.57 +/- 8.95) more than MHCC97H (21.33 +/- 4.17) more than HCC97L (9.33 +/- 3.85), P less than 0.01. The IC50 was significantly different between the three HCC lines: HCCLM3 (36.57 +/- 6.95) mumol/L more than MHCC97H (26.35+/-3.88) mumol/L more than MHCC97L (17.68 +/- 3.25) mumol/L. The CSC marker with the highest expression on all three HCC lines was CD90 (HCCLM3: 0.92% +/- 0.21%, MHCC97H: 1.98% +/- 0.23%, and MHCC97L: 2.55% +/- 0.34%), followed by EpCAM (2.11% +/- 0.32%, 3.23% +/- 0.18%, and 4.38% +/-0.49%, respectively), and CD24 as the lowest (0.68% +/- 0.37%, 1.22% +/- 0.26%, and 1.36% +/- 0.24%, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Higher expression of CSC markers on HCC lines is associated with a stronger invasive ability and higher sensitivity to chemotherapy.</p>

Critical illness polyneuropathy in a patient with Parkinson disease: a case report and review of the literature / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report a case of critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) with Parkinson disease and discuss the development, clinical features and early diagnosis of this condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of a patient with CIP and Parkinson's disease and the relevant literature were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>This case showed no typical disease course of sepsis, and the condition exacerbated rapidly. The patient presented initially with abnormal homeostasis, followed by rapid onset of respiratory muscle weakness to require mechanical ventilation, but no limb weaknesses were detected. Intravenous antibiotics and aggressive treatment of sepsis did not produce any positive responses to wean from mechanical ventilation. Examinations of creatine kinase and cerebrospinal fluid showed no abnormalities. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies demonstrated declined nerve conduction velocity and decreased sensory and motor muscle action potentials, suggesting the possibility of CIP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In patients with Parkinson disease, the occurrence of sepsis with prolonged mechanical ventilation and limb weakness indicates the necessity of neurophysiological examination, muscle biopsies and laboratory tests, which may help detect CIP in the early phase. Proper interventions of sepsis may reduce the likeliness of CIP. Elimination of the risk factors and aggressive management of sepsis can be effective measures for preventing CIP.</p>

Short -term therapeutic efficacy and safety of kallikrein in patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the short-term therapeutic efficacy and safety of kallikrein in patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty-one patients with anterior circulation cerebral infarction, admitted to our hospital from October 2006 to April 2009, were enrolled in the randomized single-blind control trail. These patients were assigned to kallikrein treatment group (n=31) and control group (n=30). They were both treated by identical basis therapy, such as antiplatelet,dilute blood viscosity, neurotrophy therapy and symptomatic treatment. The patients in the treatment group were treated by intravenous infusion administration of 0.15 PNA kallikrein diluted in 100 mL 0.9% saline at 30-40 drops /min once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the pretherapy and 21st post-treatment day, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), activity of daily living (ADL) of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in these patients were performed;blood routine examinations and urinalysis,hepatorenal function, levels of blood glucose and lipid, and ECG were assessed;blood pressure and pulse rate were monitored. CT scan was employed for ICH if necessary. Drug relative hemorrhage and adverse drug reaction (ADR) were recorded in detail. Results As compared with those in the control group,significantly reduced NIHSS scores and obviously improved ADL scores in the kallikrein treatment group were noted (P=0.022, P=0.032, respectively). According to the mean rank (kallikrein treatment group:23.86, control group: 35.93), the efficacy in the treatment group was better than that in the control group.Except that asthmatic attack happened to 2 patients (having the history of asthma) during treatment period, no other ADRs were noted in all the patients. No abnormal changes of blood routine examinations, urinalysis, hepatorenal function, levels of blood glucose and lipid, and ECG and head CT features in the kallikrein treatment group were detected before and after the treatment;no drug relative hemorrhage was noted either. Conclusion Kallikrein is safe and effective in treating patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction, through reducing the neurologic function impairment and improving ADL.