Antidepressant effect and mechanism of imperatorin / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the antidepressant effect of imperatorin(IMP) and explore its mechanism. Methods The model of depression was established by prenatal stress (PS) on late pregnant mother, then male offspring rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, PS model, fluoxetine group(5 mg • kg"1), IMP( 15, 30 mg • kg"1). Sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, and open field test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes. 5- hydroxytryptamine ( 5-HT ) concentration, serotonin transporters(5-HTT) and 5-HT,A receptor(5-HT,AR) mRNA expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR. Results Compared with PS group, the percentage of sucrose preference and the number of total crossings, center crossings, rearing, grooming and 5-IIT concentration significantly increased in IMP group(/> <0. 01). The im-mobility time was significantly reduced in IMP group compared with PS group ( P < 0. 01). The 5-HT concentration and 5-HT1A R mRNA expressions of PS offspring rats significantly increased by the administration ofIMP (P<0.05,P<0.01). And, the increased 5- HTT mRNA markedly decreased in IMP group compared with PS group (P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions IMP can obviously improve rat behavior and show anti-depressant effect, which may relate to the 5- HT concentration, 5-HTT and 5-HT,AR mRNA expression in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Role of ERK/FoxO3a signal axis in inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the ERK/FoxO3a signal axis could induce the inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The MTT method was adopted to observe the effect of different concentrations of VB-1 on human hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2 and immortalized human embryo liver cell line L-02. The cell growth was assessed by the clone formation assay. The protein phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and FoxO3a were measured by the western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>VB-1 inhibited the viability of HepG2 cell line in a concentration-dependent manner, with a weak effect on L-02 cell line. VB-1 could effectively inhibit the anchorage-dependent growth of HepG2 cells, and reduce the expression levels of pERK1/2 and pFoxO3a in a concentration-dependent manner. MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 could enhance VB-1' s effect in inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation and ERK1/2, FoxO3a phosphorylation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VB-1 inhibits the proliferative activity of hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2 by blocking the ERK/FoxO3a signal axis.</p>

Nuclear factor κB and IKB expression and calcium deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E and low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the histopathological features, nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and IKB expressions as well as calcium deposition of atherosclerosis plaques (AS) in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice (ApoE(-/-), LDLR(-/-)fed high-fat diet.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight C57BL/6J mice fed with normal diet were used as control, 32 ApoE(-/-) mice and LDLR(-/-) mice were divided into normal diet and high-fat diet groups (n = 8 each). After 4 months, aorta was collected for morphologic (HE, Oil Red O, Von Kossa) and immunohistochemistry (nuclear factor-κB, IKB, macrophage surface molecule-3, α-smooth action protein) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Degree of AS in ApoE(-/-) and LDLR(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diet were significantly severer than those fed with normal diet and AS was more significant in ApoE(-/-) mice than in LDLR(-/-) mice. NFκB and IKB expressions in high-fat diet group were significantly higher than the normal diet group (P < 0.05). Double-labeling of NFκB revealed dominant expression in smooth muscle cells. Calcium deposition was significantly more in ApoE(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diet than mice fed with normal diet (P < 0.05) and was similar in LDLR(-/-) mice fed with high and normal diet (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-fat diet contributes to the formation of AS plagues in ApoE(-/-) and LDLR(-/-) mice joined by upregulated NFκB and IKB expressions and calcium deposition.</p>