DNA Methylation and Transcription of HLA-F and Serum Cytokines Relate to Chinese Medicine Syndrome Classification in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the molecular bases of Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in terms of DNA methylation, transcription and cytokines.@*METHODS@#Genome-wide DNA methylation and 48 serum cytokines were detected in CHB patients (DNA methylation: 15 cases; serum cytokines: 62 cases) with different CM syndromes, including dampness and heat of Gan (Liver) and gallbladder (CHB1, DNA methylation: 5 cases, serum cytokines: 15 cases), Gan stagnation and Pi (Spleen) deficiency (CHB2, DNA methylation: 5 cases, serum cytokines: 15 cases), Gan and Shen (Kidney) yin deficiency (CHB3, DNA methylation: 5 cases, serum cytokines: 16 cases), CHB with hidden symptoms (HS, serum cytokines:16 cases) and healthy controls (DNA methylation: 6 cases). DNA methylation of a critical gene was further validated and its mRNA expression was detected on enlarged samples. Genome-wide DNA methylation was detected using Human Methylation 450K Assay and furthered verified using pyrosequencing. Cytokines and mRNA expression of gene were evaluated using multiplex biometric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based immunoassay and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively.@*RESULTS@#Totally 28,667 loci, covering 18,403 genes were differently methylated among CHB1, CHB2 and CHB3 (P<0.05 and |Δβ value| > 0.17). Further validation showed that compared with HS, the hg19 CHR6: 29691140 and its closely surrounded 2 CpG loci were demethylated and its mRNA expressions were significantly up-regulated in CHB1 (P<0.05). However, they remained unaltered in CHB2 (P>0.05). Levels of Interleukin (IL)-12 were higher in CHB3 and HS than that in CHB1 and CHB2 groups (P<0.05). Levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α and MIP-1β were higher in CHB3 than other groups and leukemia inhibitory factor level was higher in CHB1 and HS than CHB2 and CHB3 groups (P<0.05). IL-12, MIP-1α and MIP-1β concentrations were positively correlated with human leukocyte antigen F (HLA-F) mRNA expression (R2=0.238, P<0.05; R2=0.224, P<0.05; R=0.447, P<0.01; respectively). Furthermore, combination of HLA-F mRNA and differential cytokines greatly improved the differentiating accuracy among CHB1, CHB2 and HS.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Demethylation of CpG loci in 5' UTR of HLA-F may up-regulate its mRNA expression and HLA-F expression was associated with IL-12, MIP-1α and MIP-1β levels, indicating that HLA-F and the differential cytokines might jointly involve in the classification of CM syndromes in CHB.@*REGISTRATION NO@#ChiCTR-RCS-13004001.

Effect of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection in Improving Sensitivity of Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells to Cisplatin Through Tumor Associated Macrophages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To investigate the effect of Shenqi Fuzheng injection on the sensitivity of cisplatin through immunomodulation, in order to explore its mechanisms. Method::The cell survival was measured by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT), the rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot, and the expression level of cytokines was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result::Shenqi Fuzheng injection 1, 10, 100 mL·L-1 significantly inhibited the growth of co-cultured cells, and the cell survival rate was 71.8%and 59.9%at the concentration of 10, 100 mL·L-1 respectively.Shenqi Fuzheng injection 10 mL·L-1 combined with cisplatin significantly increased the sensitivity of co-cultured cells to cisplatin.The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin was reduced from 30 to 15 μmol·L-1.The rate of apoptosis induced by the combined treatment increased by 15.5%compared with that of cisplatin 15 μmol·L-1 (P<0.05). The expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-w (Bcl-w) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl) were inhibited, and the expressions of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and protein induced by BH3 domain (Bid) apoptosis were increased (P<0.05). Shenqi Fuzheng injection reduced the release of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced by cisplatin (P<0.05). Conclusion::Shenqi Fuzheng injection improves the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 to cisplatin by regulating immune cells, and plays a synergistic role in inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cells.This study provides experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of tumors with Yiqi Fuzheng method, and experimental reference for the study of traditional Chinese medicine in alleviating drug resistance of tumors.

Research Methods of Compatibility of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas and Its Advances / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMF) is composed of several Chinese herbal medicines based on the theory of TCM. It plays a synergistic role under the appropriate dosage ratio to achieve the overall adjustment and treatment of TCM. It is of great significance to study the compatibility of TCMF in promoting the modernization, development and clinical application of TCM. The compatibility law is the core of TCMF theory. In recent years, based on the seven compatible relations and monarch-minister-assistant-guide principles, the composition, pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetic properties of the TCMF and their compounds were studied by new techniques and new methods, and the scientific connotation of compatibility of TCMF was discussed from different perspectives. In addition, the establishment of a variety of mathematical methods and models, the development and application of network pharmacology and data mining methods also provide great help to the research on compatibility of TCMF. The development of research methods has promoted the scientific research on the compatibility of TCMF, but it is the main task of the research on the TCMF compatibility to establish the suitable research methods for the complex relationship of pharmacodynamic substances, to clarify the internal roles of TCMF and their compounds/components compatibility, and to construct a new modern TCMF.

An overview of epigenetics in Chinese medicine researches / 中国结合医学杂志

Chinese medicine (CM) has contributed to human health care for several thousand years and is still popular in Asian countries. But the mechanisms underlying CM remain obscure, and need to be clarifified by modern biological subjects and methods. Recently, CM researches on epigenetics have gained obvious improvement following rapidly developed molecular technologies. In this review, we revealed mutual characteristics of epigenetics and CM, such as holism, yin-yang dynamic nature, reversibility and balance, and visceral manifestation. Moreover, epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone post-transcriptional modifications, micro RNA interference, etc. may help explore the molecular basis of CM syndrome classifification, and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), CHM compounds and Chinese herbal formulae activities. Meanwhile, CM and epigenetics might promote each other and jointly develop following the continuous progress of epigenetics in CM researches.

Research advances in traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in cancer patients / 中西医结合学报

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome, also known as TCM ZHENG or TCM pattern, is an integral and essential part of TCM theory that helps to guide the design of individualized treatments. A TCM syndrome, in essence, is a characteristic profile of all clinical manifestations in one patient that can be readily identified by a TCM practitioner. In this article, the authors reviewed the presentations of TCM syndromes in seven common malignancies (liver, lung, gastric, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and esophageal cancers), the objectivity and the standardization of TCM syndrome differentiation, the evaluation of TCM syndrome modeling in cancer research, and syndrome differentiation-guided TCM treatment of cancers. A better understanding of TCM syndrome theory, as well as its potential biological basis, may contribute greatly to the clinical TCM diagnosis and the treatment of cancer.

Advances in mesenchymal stem cells combined with traditional Chinese medicine therapy for liver fibrosis / 中西医结合学报

Liver fibrosis is a primary cause of liver cirrhosis, and even hepatocarcinoma. Recently, the usage of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been investigated to improve liver fibrosis. It has been reported that the differentiation, proliferation and migration of MSCs can be regulated by traditional Chinese medicine treatment; however, the mechanisms are still unclear. In this article, the authors review the characteristics of MSCs such as multidirectional differentiation and homing, and its application in animal experiments and clinical trials. The authors also list areas that need further investigation, andlook at the future prospects of clinical application of MSCs.

Research approach for biological basis of Chinese medical syndromes of chronic viral hepatitis B / 中国中西医结合杂志

Chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) is a major infectious disease greatly harmful to the health of Chinese people. Chinese medicine has its speciality and advantages in treating it depending syndrome-differentiation. The objectified researches regarding Chinese medical syndromes in CHB heretofore were reviewed in this article. Moreover, aiming at existing problems and taking the angle of "disease-syndrome combining" study, authors put forward research approach, and approaches for studying systemic biology based biological basis of Chinese medical syndrome in hepatitis B with reductionism and holism, cybernetics and system theories in combination.

Advances in researches on genetic predisposition to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head / 中国骨伤

The pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is not very clear at present. For the past few years researches showed that the SONFH related to genetic predisposing factors. The related research progresses were reviewed in this article to show the correlation between genetic mutation and genetic polymorphism of steroid metabolism and transport, resistance and receptor, coagulation and fibrinolysis, lipid and bone metabolism and susceptibility to SONFH. The article also discussed current problems, countermeasure and future applications.

Review on experimental research of Chinese herbal medicine and its components intervention for tumor metastasis / 中国中药杂志

Invasion and metastasis are the basic characteristic of malignant tumor. It is the major cause of death in cancer patients. Preventing and suppressing tumor invasion and metastasis is a key pathway to decrease the mortality of malignant tumor. Since the limitations and the toxicity of chemotherapy, it was more and more attended to looking for safer and more effective agents from the Chinese herbal medicine to prevent and suppress metastasis. There are certain advantages in Chinese herbal medicine to suppressing tumor metastasis. The recent researches suggested new results that the Chinese herbal medicines treat tumor metastasis. This review summarized the research results in recent years and provides a reference for the further research.

Review on experimental research of Chinese herbal medicine intervenion for breast cancer / 中国中药杂志

A review was about the mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine and its compounds intervening breast cancer in recent years. Experimental results showed that Chinese herbal medicine and its compounds have the activity of anti-cancer, through inhibiting the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells, restraining the metastasis, appearing the estrogen-like activity and improving multi-drug resistance, and so on.