Mechanism of Dihuangyin in Treatment of Mice with Atopic Dermatitis by Regulating JAK1/STAT3 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of Dihuangyin on 2， 4-dinitrochlorobenzene （DNCB） -induced model mice with atopic dermatitis （AD）. MethodA mouse model with AD was established by repeatedly stimulating the back skin of mice with DNCB. After successful modeling， the mice were randomly divided into model group， Runzao group （0.78 g·kg-1）， and high， medium， and low dose （40.30， 20.15， and 10.08 g·kg-1） groups of Dihuangyin， with 12 mice in each group， and the blank group consisted of 12 mice， 72 in total. The administration groups were given the corresponding liquid by dose， and the blank group and model group were given the same dose of pure water by intragastric administration， once a day. The skin lesions and scratching times of mice were observed after continuous administration for two weeks. The back skin lesions of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and toluidine blue to observe the pathology. The contents of serum immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ， IL-4， IL-6， Janus kinase 1 （JAK1）， and transcriptional activator 3 （STAT3） in skin lesion tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The expressions of JAK1， phosphorylation（p）-JAK1， STAT3， and p-STAT3 proteins in skin lesion tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， the back skin of the model group showed large-scale scab， dryness， erosion， hypertrophy with scratching， epidermal hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis， hyperacanthosis with edema， and a large number of mast cell infiltration in the dermis， some of which were degranulated. The contents of IgE， IL-4， IL-6， and IFN-γ in the serum of mice were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-JAK1， STAT3， and p-STAT3 and mRNA expressions of IL-4， IL-6， IFN-γ， JAK1， and STAT3 in skin lesion tissue were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， only a small amount of dryness and desquamation were observed in the back skin of mice in each administration group， and cell edema was reduced. The inflammatory infiltration was significantly reduced， and the number of mast cell infiltration was significantly decreased. The serum IgE， IL-4， IL-6， and IFN-γ of mice were decreased to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of p-JAK1， STAT3， and p-STAT3 and mRNA expressions of IL-4， IL-6， IFN-γ， JAK1， and STAT3 in skin lesion tissue were significantly decreased， and the effect of high dose group of Dihuangyin was the best （P<0.01）. ConclusionDihuangyin can improve skin lesions and pruritus in mice with AD， and its mechanism may be related to the effective regulation of cytokines on the helper T cells （Th1）/Th2 axis by interfering with the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway and affecting skin barrier function.

Role and mechanism of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein STAT1/3/5 in hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate whether signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1/3/5) have a protective effect on hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI) and its mechanism.Methods:Seventy C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: normoxia control group, HALI group, and STAT1/3/5 inhibitor groups, with 14 mice in each group. The HALI model was established by exposure to more than 90% hyperoxia for 48 hours; three STAT inhibitor groups were pretreated by intraperitoneal injection of STAT1 inhibitor 40 mg/kg and STAT3 inhibitor 5 mg/kg, and STAT5 inhibitor 10 mg/kg for 1 week. Six blood samples were randomly collected from each group, and microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lung tissue of the sacrificed mice was obtained, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). The water content of lung tissue was calculated. The pathological changes in lung tissue were observed under the light microscope, and the pathological score of lung injury was performed. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated STAT (p-STAT1, p-STAT3, p-STAT5) in lung tissue. The 7-day cumulative survival rates of the remaining 8 mice in each group were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.Results:Under the light microscope, the alveolar structures in the HALI group and the STAT1 inhibitor group were destroyed, a large number of neutrophils (NEU) infiltrated in the alveoli and lung interstitium, which were thickened. The pathological score of lung injury and the water content of the lung tissue was significantly increased. In STAT3 inhibitor and STAT5 inhibitor groups, the alveolar cavity was clear, the degree of NEU infiltration and the thickness of lung interstitium were lower than those in HALI group, the pathological score of lung injury and the water content of lung tissue were significantly decreased, especially in STAT3 inhibitor group. Compared with the normoxia control group, the contents of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MDA, and MMP9, and the expression levels of p-STAT3 and p-STAT5 in the HALI group were significantly increased. In contrast, the content of SOD and the expression of miR-21 were significantly decreased. Compared with the HALI group, the contents of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MDA, and MMP9 in the STAT3 inhibitor group and STAT5 inhibitor group were significantly decreased. At the same time, the content of SOD and the expression of miR-21 were significantly increased, especially in STAT3 inhibitor group [TNF-α (μg/L): 42.53±3.25 vs. 86.36±5.48, IL-6 (ng/L): 68.46±4.28 vs. 145.00±6.89, IL-1β (μg/L): 28.74±3.53 vs. 68.00±5.64, MDA (μmol/g): 20.33±2.74 vs. 42.58±3.45, and MMP9 (ng/L): 128.55±6.35 vs. 325.13±6.65, SOD (kU/g): 50.53±4.19 vs. 22.53±3.27, miR-21 (2 -ΔΔCt): 0.550±0.018 vs. 0.316±0.037, all P < 0.05]. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 7-day cumulative survival rates of the STAT3 inhibitor group and STAT5 inhibitor group were significantly higher than those of the HALI group [62.5% (5/8), 37.5% (3/8) vs. 12.5% (1/8), both P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Inhibition of STAT3 hyperactivation may suppress the inflammatory response, regulate oxidative stress, improve lung permeability through regulating the expression of miR-21, which exert lung protection in HALI.

Expression and clinical significance of interleukin-2/Janus kinase 3/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 5 in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To detect the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2)/Janus kinase 3/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 5 (JAK3/STAT5) signaling pathway in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and explore its mechanism in the development and progression of AS.Methods:Clinical data, peripheral blood and laboratory tests of 30 patients with active AS (ASA), 30 patients with stable AS (ASS) and 50 healthy subjects (HC) were collected. The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, signal transduction and transcription activator 5a (STAT5a) and signal transduction and transcription activator 5b (STAT5b) were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b proteins and phosphorylated proteins were detected by Western-blot. Plasma IL-2 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two independent samples t-test or one-way analysis of variance were used for measurement data consistent with normal distribution, LSD- t test was used for pairwise comparison between the three groups, Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for non-normal distribution, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis between variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b mRNA expression levels in monitoring AS activity. Results:① The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b were significantly different among the three groups ( F=65.98, P<0.001; F=21.15, P<0.001; F=13.67, P<0.001). JAK3 mRNA expression in ASA group (2.5±0.9) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.1±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.5), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The mRNA expression level of STAT5a in ASA group (1.4±0.3) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.9±0.3) and healthy subjects group (1.0±0.3), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). STAT5b mRNA expression level in ASA group (1.5±0.6) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.0±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.4), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The expression level of JAK3 mRNA in HLA-B27 positive group (1.9±1.0) was higher than that in HLA-B27 negative group (1.4±0.6), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.22, P=0.032). The phosphorylation levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b showed statistically significant differences among the three groups ( F=91.56, P<0.001; F=25.15, P< 0.001; F=178.59, P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of JAK3 protein in ASA group (1.04±0.08) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.568±0.019) and healthy subjects (0.536±0.064), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5a protein in ASA group (1.166±0.096) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.923±0.018) and healthy subjects (0.911±0.017), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5b protein in ASA group (0.81±0.05) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.21±0.03) and healthy subjects (0.24± 0.07), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The difference of plasma IL-2 concentration among the three groups was statistically significant ( F=3.32, P=0.040). The IL-2 concentration in the ASA group [(110±40) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in the ASS group [(89±40) pg/ml] and the healthy group [(88±39) pg/ml], the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.044, P=0.016). ② Spearman correlation analysis showed that STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with platelets in AS patients ( r=0.353, P=0.006). JAK3 mRNA expression level in ASA group was positively correlated with IL-2 concentration ( r=0.766, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r=-0.485, P=0.007). STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r= 0.680, P<0.001), and STAT5b mRNA expression level was positively correlated with hypersensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.823, P<0.001). ③ The ROC curve showed that JAK3 mRNA expression level predicted the area under ROC curve (AUC) of ASA with a 95% CI of 0.920 (0.853, 0.987), sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 90.0%, respectively. STAT5a mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.874 (0.787, 0.961), and the sensitivity and specificity were 96.7% and 66.7%, respectively. STAT5b mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.749 (0.617, 0.881), and the sensitivity and specificity were 73.3% and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusion:This study suggests that IL-2/JAK3/STAT5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS, and JAK3 mRNA can be used as a biological indicator to monitor the activity of AS disease.

Effect of Qingzao Jiufei Tang on JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway and Expression of Downstream Apoptosis-related Proteins in Lung Cancer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To observe the effect of Qingzao Jiufei Tang on apoptosis of lung cancer, Janus protein tyrosine kinase 2/signal transducers and transcriptional activator protein 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway, as well as the expressions of downstream apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) and Cyclin D1. Method::Totally 50 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: chemotherapy group (CTX), model group, high-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group, middle-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group and low-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group, with 10 mice in each group. The model of lung cancer was established by injecting Lewis lung cancer cells into the right axillary of mice. High-dose, middle-dose and low-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang groups were orally given drugs (11, 5.5, 2.75 g·kg-1·d-1) two weeks before the modeling. Chemotherapy group was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg·kg-1·(2 d)-1, while model group was administered intragastrically with the equal volume of normal saline. After inoculation, the mice in each group were continued to be administered. Two weeks later, the mice in each group were killed, and the tumors were collected. Then the JAK2 protein phosphorylation level was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). STAT3, Bax and Cyclin D1 protein expression levels were detected by Western blot, and apoptosis of lung cancer cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Result::Compared with model group, the phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 protein in lung cancer cells were significantly decreased, the expression of Bax protein was significantly increased, and the expression of Cyclin D1 protein was significantly decreased in high-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group, middle-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group and chemotherapy group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of transmission electron microscopy showed significant apoptotic phenomena in high-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group, middle-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group, low-dose Qingzao Jiufei Tang group and chemotherapy group compared with the model group. Conclusion::Qingzao Jiufei Tang had an obvious effect in promoting the apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 protein, the promotion of its downstream Bax protein expression and the inhibition of its downstream Cyclin D1 protein expression.

Effect of Serum Containing Yanghetang on Apoptosis of MCF-7 Cells in Breast Cancer Through p38/STAT3 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To investigate the effect of serum containing Yanghetang (YHT) on the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in breast cancer based on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38)/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3 (STAT3) signal pathway. Method::YHT liquid with crude drug 1 g·mL-1 was prepared. Female SD rats were randomly divided into control group (distilled water), and high, medium and low-dose YHT groups (24, 12, 6 g·kg-1). YHT-medicated serum was prepared, and 10%medicated serum was used to intervene MCF-7 cells. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay (CCK-8) was used to detect the effect of serum containing YHT on MCF-7 cell proliferation, apoptosis of MCF-7 cells was detected by flow cytometry protein expressions of p38 and STAT3 were detected by Western blot, Quantitative Real-time PCR (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the expressions of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-xl(Bcl-xl) and Survivin mRNA. Result::CCK-8 assay showed that YHT serum inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner compared with the blank group. The inhibitory effect was most obvious in the high-dose group, with the inhibition rates of 38%, 45%and 54%at different time points (P<0.01). Flow cytometry showed that, compared with the blank group, the apoptosis rate in the medium and high-dose groups increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, with the apoptosis rates at 11.6%and 16.5%respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed that, compared with the blank group, the expressions of p38 and STAT3 protein was decreased in high, medium-dose YHT groups (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the blank group, the expressions of Bcl-xl and Survivin mRNA were decreased in high, medium-dose YHT groups (P<0.05, P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion::YHT serum can promote the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in breast cancer, which may be related to the p38/ STAT3 signaling pathway.

Effect of Huangqi Jianzhongtang on JAK2/STAT3 Signal Pathway in Rats with Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold Type Gastric Ulcer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Huangqi Jianzhongtang on Janusprotein tyrosine kinase 2/signal transducers and transcriptional activator protein 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signal pathway in rats with spleen-stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer (GU). Method:A total of 60 SPF level Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: blank group and model group. Model rats were used to reconstruct the spleen-stomach deficiency cold type GU model by comprehensive modeling method. Model rats were divided into model group, Anweiyang group and high, medium and low-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang groups according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in blank group and model group were given 10 mL·kg-1·d-1 distilled water, and 16, 8, 4 g·kg-1·d-1 Huangqi Jianzhongtang, respectively. Rats in the positive control group were given 0.14 g·kg-1·d-1 Anweiyang for 21 days. The gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), the protein expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Western blot, and the contents of interleukin-10（IL-10）and interleukin-17（IL-17）in the gastric tissue of each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result:Compared with the blank group, the general survival condition of the model group was worse, the content of IL-10 in gastric homogenate was significantly reduced, while the content of IL-17 was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in gastric tissue was not significantly increased, whereas the gene expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of IL-10 increased, but the content of IL-17 decreased, the gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 and the level of protein phosphorylation decreased in the treatment group, especially in the high-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion:Huangqi Jianzhongtang can improve the survival condition of rats with spleen stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer, and its mechanism may be related to the intervention of gastric mucosal immune barrier dysfunction mediated by JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.

Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Changes of JAK/STAT Pathway in Hypothalamic Arcuate Nuclei of Rats With Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stress / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the changes of leptin receptor-tyrosine kinase Janus2 （JAK2）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） pathway and the regulatory effect of Xiaoyaosan on the hypothalamic arcuate nuclei of rats with chronic mild unpredictable stress model （CUMS）. Method:Sixty male sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， Xiaoyaosan group， and fluoxetine group. After one-week adaptive feeding， the rats in model group， Xiaoyaosan group and fluoxetine group were uesd to replicate the chronic psychological stress rat model through mild unpredictable stimulation. Meanwhile ， they were simultaneously administered the corresponding drugs， Xiaoyaosan 19.27 g·kg-1·d-1， Fluoxetine 2 mg·kg-1·d-1 （based on the average adult body weight of 60 kg）， the rats in the normal group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline for 6 weeks. The body weight， food intake， sucrose consumption ratios， and the experimental behavior in the open field test （OFT） of the groups were observed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of ob-R， JAK2， and STAT3 in the arcuate nucleus of rat hypothalamus. Result:Compared with the normal group， the body weight and food intake of the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the sucrose consumption ratios ， the total behavioral distance of the experimental field and the total distance of the central area were significantly reduced， the protein and mRNA expressions of ob-R， JAK2， STAT3 in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus in rats increased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the body weight of Xiaoyaosan group increased significantly on the 7th， 14th， 21st and 28th days （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the food intake of rats increased significantly on the 21st and 35th days of the experiment （P<0.05）， and the sucrose consumption ratios， the total distance of the experimental behavior in the open field test （OFT） and the total distance of the central area were significantly improved. Xiaoyaosan had a corresponding regulatory effect on the protein and mRNA expressions of ob-R， JAK2， STAT3 in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus in model rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Conclusion:Xiaoyaosan regulates the body weight， appetite， and energy metabolism of chronically mild and unpredictable stress rats， which may be related to the ob-R-JAK2/STAT3 pathway in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

The influence of STAT2 siRNA inhibition on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of signal transducers and activators of transcription 2(STAT2) on the apoptosis of oxidative stress-induced HEI-OC1 hair cells. METHODS: With random number table method,HEI-OC1 hair cells were divided into interference group and non-interference group. The artificial synthesis design targeted STAT2 small interfering RNA(siRNA) and opti-modified Eagle medium(opti-MEM) were added into the interference group, and only the opti-MEM was added into the non-interfere group. The 0, 20, 40, 60 μmol/L of tertiary butyl peroxide hydrogen(t-BHP) was added into the interference and non-interference group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression of STAT2 and cysteine protease(caspase)-3. The apoptotic rate of hair cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the interference group and non-interference group, the apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells and the relative expression level of STAT2, Caspase-3 increased with the dose of t-BHP(P<0.01). The apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells and the relative expression level of Caspase-3 in the interference group with 20, 40, 60 μmol/L of t-BHP were higher than that of the 20, 40 μmol/L group(P<0.01). The apoptotic rate of HEI-OC1 cells in the interference group was higher than those in the non-interference group with the same dose(P<0.01), while the relative expression level of STAT2 was lower than those in the non-interference group with the same dose(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Inhibiting oxidative stress and STAT2 expression in hair cells can lead to aggravation of apoptosis. STAT2 has anti-apoptotic effect.

Effect of aflibercept on the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 in rat retinal Müller cells / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To investigate the effect of aflibercept on the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3)in rat retinal Müller cells. <p>METHODS: The rat retinal Müller cells treated with different concentrations of Aflibercept 100 μL(diluted concentrations of 400, 200, 100 pg/mL, respectively). MTT assay were used to detect cell proliferation, flow cytometry. Apoptosis were detected by the instrument, cell invasion were detected by transwell chamber method, and protein(AKT, STAT3, GAPDH)expression were detected by Western-blot method.<p>RESULTS: The proliferation activity of Müller cells were decreased with the increased of aflibercept concentration, and compared the difference were statistically significant(<i>P</i><0.05). After treatment for 48h, the apoptotic rate of Müller cells were gradually increased with the increased of aflibercept concentration, and the invasion and penetration index of Müller cells gradually were decreased, and compared the difference were statistically significant(<i>P</i><0.05). After 48 h of transfection, the relative expression of AKT protein in Müller cells were not change significantly with the increased of Aflibercept concentration(<i>P</i>>0.05), and the relative expression of STAT3 protein decreased gradually, and compared the difference were statistically significant(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Aflibercept can inhibit the expression of STAT3 protein in rat retinal Müller cells, thereby inhibit cell proliferation and invasion and promote apoptosis.

Participation of the arcRACME protein in self-activation of the arc operon located in the arginine catabolism mobile element in pandemic clone USA300

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus pandemic clone USA300 has, in addition to its constitutive arginine catabolism (arc) gene cluster, an arginine catabolism mobile element (ACME) carrying another such cluster, which gives this clone advantages in colonisation and infection. Gene arcR, which encodes an oxygen-sensitive transcriptional regulator, is inside ACME and downstream of the constitutive arc gene cluster, and this situation may have an impact on its activation. Different relative expression behaviours are proven here for arcRACME and the arcACME operon compared to the constitutive ones. We also show that the artificially expressed recombinant ArcRACME protein binds to the promoter region of the arcACME operon; this mechanism can be related to a positive feedback model, which may be responsible for increased anaerobic survival of the USA300 clone during infection-related processes.

Effects of 3 Kinds of Serum Containning Blood-activating and Stasis-eliminating TCM Compound Formu-las on JAK/STAT Signal Pathway of Glioma U251 Cells / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of 3 kinds of serum containing blood-activating and stasis-eliminating TCM compound formulas on aggressive behavior,Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transduction and transcriptional activator (STAT) pathway of glioma U251 cells. METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into normal saline group (5 mL/kg),Taohong Siwu decoction group(5.7 g/kg),Xuefu Zhuyu decoction(8.5 g/kg)and Didang decoction(2.8 g/kg),calculated by crude drug,intragastrically administrated once a day,for 10 d. 10% drug-containing serum culture medium was prepared after 2 h of last administration. After 10% drug-containing serum culture medium intervening U251 cells for 1 week,Transwell method was conducted to detect the cell invasion rate, Western blot was adopted to detect the metal matrix protease 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2),phosphorylated STAT3(p-STAT3)protein expression;and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect MMP-2,MMP-9 mRNA expression. RESULTS:Compared with blank serum,Xuefu Zhuyu decoction drug-containing serum can reduce cell invasion rate (P0.05). CON-CLUSIONS:In the 3 kinds of blood-activating and stasis-eliminating TCM compound formulas,Xuefu Zhuyu decoction shows sig-nificant invasive effect on inhibiting U251 cells;the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway and decreasing MMP-2,MMP-9 gene and protein expressions.

Study on the Effect and Its Mechanism of Carvedilol on Leptin-induced Activation and Proliferation of Hu-man Hepatic Stellate Cells / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and its mechanism of carvedilol on leptin-induced activation and proliferation of LX2 human hepatic stellate cells(HSC-LX2). METHODS:HSC-LX2 with logarithmic growth periods were divided into blank con-trol group,leptin-stimulated group and carvedilol low-concentration,medium-concentration,high-concentration groups(5,10,20μmol/L). Except for the blank control group,other groups were added 0.1 g/L leptin and corresponding concentration of carvedilol. After 24 h,MTT method was used to detect the optical density(OD)value of cells and calculate the proliferation rate. Flow cytom-etry was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),matrix metalloproteinase inhibition factor 1 (TIMP-1),leptin,leptin receptor mRNA expressions. Western blot method was used to detect phosphorylated Janus kinase 2(p-JAK2),phosphorylated signal trans-duction and transcriptional activator 3 (p-STAT3) protein expressions. RESULTS:Compared with blank control group,OD value of cell was increased in leptin-stimulated group;apoptotic rate was decreased;cells of G0/G1 were decreased;α-SMA,TIMP-1, leptin,leptin receptor mRNA expressions and p-JAK2,p-STAT3 protein expressions were increased (P<0.05). Compared with leptin-stimulated group,OD values of cells were decreased in carvedilol concentration groups;apoptotic rate was increased,and the cells were mainly blocked in G0/G1 phase;α-SMA,TIMP-1,leptin,leptin receptor mRNA expressions and p-JAK2,p-STAT3 protein expressions were decreased(P<0.05)and was concentration-depended(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Carvedilol can inhibit the activation and proliferation of leptin-induced HSC-LX2,promote its apoptosis. The mechanism may associate with down-regulat-ing leptin,leptin receptor gene expression and blocking JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway activation by leptin in cells.