Correlation between NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress and dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cell in hyperlipidemic patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase (NOX)-mediated oxidative stress plays a key role in promotion of oxidative injury in the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the status of NOX in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of hyperlipidemic patients and to assess the correlation between NOX activity and the functions EPCs. METHODS: A total of 30 hyperlipidemic patients were enrolled for this study and 30 age-matched volunteers with normal level of plasma lipids served as controls. After the circulating EPCs were isolated, the EPC functions (migration, adhesion and tube formation) were evaluated and the status of NOX (expression and activity) was examined. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, hyperlipidemic patients showed an increase in plasma lipids and a reduction in EPC functions including the attenuated abilities in adhesion, migration and tube formation, concomitant with an increase in NOX expression (NOX2 and NOX4), NOX activity, and reactive oxygen species production. The data analysis showed negative correlations between NOX activity and EPC functions. CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive correlation between the NOX-mediated oxidative stress and the dysfunctions of circulating EPCs in hyperlipidemic patients, and suppression of NOX might offer a novel strategy to improve EPCs functions in hyperlipidemia.

Activation of Nrf2 by 18α-GA affects proliferation of adult neural stem cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effect of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation by 18α-gly-cyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA) on the proliferation and self-renewal of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs), and to explore an ef-fective way of maintaining the viability of aNSCs .METHODS:NSCs were dissociated from subventricular zone of the mice at postnatal days 0, 60, and 300.The expression levels of Nrf2 in the NSCs at various ages were compared .After treatment with 18α-GA, the expression of Nrf2 was examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.shRNA lentiviral vector (LV) car-rying green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was constructed to knock down Nrf2 expression.The knockdown efficiency in the aNSCs was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot .Subsequently , the aNSCs were divided into DMSO group , 18α-GA group, LV-GFP group and LV-Nrf2-shRNA group.BrdU incorporation assay , Tuj1 staining, CCK-8 assay, Hoechst 33342/PI staining and detection of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were performed to analyze the proliferation , dif-ferentiation, viability, apoptosis and oxidative stress levels of the NSCs .RESULTS:The mRNA expression level of Nrf2 in adult and aged NSCs was significantly lower than that in newborn NSCs (P<0.01), while the ROS level of aNSCs was significantly higher (P<0.05).After treatment with 18α-GA, the expression level of Nrf2 in the aNSCs was significantly up-regulated as compared with DMSO group ( P<0.01).Increased number of BrdU +and Tuj1 +cells was observed in 18α-GA group, indicating that 18α-GA-treated cells had higher viability (P<0.05).Meanwhile, there were fewer apop-totic cells and lower ROS level in 18α-GA group than those in DMSO group (P<0.05).After knockdown of Nrf2 in aNSCs and then treated with 18α-GA, there were less BrdU +and Tuj1 +cells, as well as the aNSCs with lower viability in LV-Nrf2-shRNA group (P<0.05).Moreover, the ROS level was increased in LV-Nrf2-shRNA group as compared with LV-GFP group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Activation of Nrf2 by 18α-GA elevates the antioxidant capacity of aNSCs , thus ameliorating the cell proliferation and differentiation potentials .

Activation of Nrf2 by 18α-GA affects proliferation of adult neural stem cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effect of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation by 18α-gly-cyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA) on the proliferation and self-renewal of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs), and to explore an ef-fective way of maintaining the viability of aNSCs .METHODS:NSCs were dissociated from subventricular zone of the mice at postnatal days 0, 60, and 300.The expression levels of Nrf2 in the NSCs at various ages were compared .After treatment with 18α-GA, the expression of Nrf2 was examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.shRNA lentiviral vector (LV) car-rying green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was constructed to knock down Nrf2 expression.The knockdown efficiency in the aNSCs was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot .Subsequently , the aNSCs were divided into DMSO group , 18α-GA group, LV-GFP group and LV-Nrf2-shRNA group.BrdU incorporation assay , Tuj1 staining, CCK-8 assay, Hoechst 33342/PI staining and detection of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were performed to analyze the proliferation , dif-ferentiation, viability, apoptosis and oxidative stress levels of the NSCs .RESULTS:The mRNA expression level of Nrf2 in adult and aged NSCs was significantly lower than that in newborn NSCs (P<0.01), while the ROS level of aNSCs was significantly higher (P<0.05).After treatment with 18α-GA, the expression level of Nrf2 in the aNSCs was significantly up-regulated as compared with DMSO group ( P<0.01).Increased number of BrdU +and Tuj1 +cells was observed in 18α-GA group, indicating that 18α-GA-treated cells had higher viability (P<0.05).Meanwhile, there were fewer apop-totic cells and lower ROS level in 18α-GA group than those in DMSO group (P<0.05).After knockdown of Nrf2 in aNSCs and then treated with 18α-GA, there were less BrdU +and Tuj1 +cells, as well as the aNSCs with lower viability in LV-Nrf2-shRNA group (P<0.05).Moreover, the ROS level was increased in LV-Nrf2-shRNA group as compared with LV-GFP group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Activation of Nrf2 by 18α-GA elevates the antioxidant capacity of aNSCs , thus ameliorating the cell proliferation and differentiation potentials .

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of patchouli oil

In the present study, the antimicrobial tests of patchouli oil were studied by using molecular docking technology and antimicrobial test in vitro. Five biological macromolecule enzymes, required by the bacteria in the process of biosynthesis were selected as target molecules. Five antibiotics benzylpenicillin, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin, which are generally acknowledged as antibacterial drugs, were selected as reference compounds. The 3 three-dimensional [3D] structures of the 5 reference compounds and 26 compounds from patchouli oil were established by using surflex-dock software [8.1]. And the 3D structures of five biological macromolecule enzymes derived from Protein Data Bank [PDB]. Molecular docking was carried out between the 31 chemical compounds [ligands] and the 5 enzymes [receptors] by using surflex-dock function. Furthermore, the antibacterial effects of 31 chemical compounds were investigated by the scoring function after molecular docking was completed. By comparing the scoring result of 26 compounds in patchouli oil with 5 compared components, we inferred antibacterial activity in about 26 compounds in patchouli oil. On the other hand, six frequently-used pathogenic bacteria were selected for antimicrobial test in vitro, patchouli oil and its two major compounds: [-]-patchouli alcohol and pogostone, which their contents exceeded 60% in patchouli oil samples, were selected antibacterial agents. Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and Minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] were also determined. Molecular docking technology and antimicrobial test in vitro proved that patchouli oil had strong antimicrobial effects. Particularly, pogostone and [-]-patchouli alcohol have potent antimicrobial activity

Drug-eluting stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery disease: immediate and long-term outcomes / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in selective patients with left main coronary artery disease.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>From October 2002 to November 2007, 44 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on left main coronary artery lesions, including 5 patients with concurrent left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction<40%), 2 with chronic respiratory dysfunction and 5 with chronic renal failure. The findings in coronary angiography, procedural success rate, severe complications and the follow-up results of the patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The immediate procedural success rate was 100% in these patients without any severe complications. No non-fatal acute myocardial infarction or emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed and death occurred in none of the cases during hospitalization. In the follow-up period for 14.2-/+9.3 (6-65) months after PCI, no subacute or late thromboses were found. One patient died from heart failure 4 months after PCI, and 6 patients (13.6%) experienced recurrent angina. Thirty-seven patients (84.1%) were free of any major cardiovascular events (MACE) after the procedure. A repeat coronary angiography was performed in 35 patients (79.5%) within 6 months after PCI, and 3 (8.6%) of them were confirmed to have restenosis, including 1 patient with distal bifurcation restenosis who were subsequently treated with CABG and two patients with side-branch ostium restenosis managed with cutting balloon dilation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Implantation of drug-eluting stents is safe and effective for management of left main coronary artery disease with good immediate and long-term outcomes.</p>