S. glabra exerts anti-lung cancer effects by inducing ferroptosis and anticancer immunity.

BACKGROUND: Sarcandra glabra (S. glabra), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated significant anticancer activity; however, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of S. glabra on lung cancer and to explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The chemical profile of S. glabra was analyzed via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The effects of S. glabra on the viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells were assessed via CCK8, colony formation, flow cytometry, scratch, and Transwell assays. In vivo anticancer activity was evaluated in an LLC mouse model. Proteomic analysis was performed to identify key molecules and pathways in S. glabra-treated LLC cells. The expression of ferroptotic proteins and associated cellular events were examined via western blotting, ROS production, iron accumulation, and lipid peroxidation assays. Immune modulation in tumor-bearing mice was evaluated by detecting immune cells and cytokines in the peripheral blood and tumor tissue. RESULTS: Our analysis quantified 1997 chemical markers in S. glabra aqueous extracts. S. glabra inhibited the viability and proliferation of lung cancer cells and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Scratch and Transwell assays demonstrated that S. glabra suppressed the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. Oral administration of S. glabra significantly inhibited tumor growth in LLC tumor-bearing mice. Proteomic analysis revealed that S. glabra upregulated the expression of the HMOX1 protein and activated the ferroptosis pathway. Consistent with these findings, we found that S. glabra triggered ferroptosis in lung cancer cells, as evidenced by the upregulation of HMOX1, downregulation of GPX4 and ferritin light chain proteins, iron accumulation, increased ROS production, and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, S. glabra demonstrated immunostimulatory properties in LLC tumor-bearing mice, leading to increased populations of immune cells (NK cells) and elevated cytokine levels (IL-2). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate that S. glabra induces ferroptosis in lung cancer cells by regulating HMOX1, GPX4, and FTL. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for the clinical application of S. glabra in lung cancer treatment.

Anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody double-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein IgG (GFAP-IgG) at the time of relapse was reported. The exact roles of GFAP-IgG in NMOSD are not fully understood and are the subject of ongoing research. This study revealed the possible connection between GFAP-IgG and the occurrence or development of diseases. CASE SUMMARY: A 19-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital due to a constellation of symptoms, including dizziness, nausea, and vomiting that commenced 1 year prior, reoccurred 2 mo ago, and were accompanied by visual blurring that also began 2 mo ago. Additionally, she presented with slurred speech and ptosis, both of which emerged 1 mo ago. Notably, her symptoms deteriorated 10 d prior to admission, leading to the onset of arm and leg weakness. During hospitalization, magnetic resonance imaging showed high T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery signals, and slightly high and equal diffusion-weighted imaging signals. The serum antibody of AQP4-IgG tested positive at a dilution of 1:100. CSF antibody testing showed positive results for GFAP-IgG at a dilution of 1:10 and AQP4-IgG at a dilution of 1:32. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with NMOSD. She received intravenous methylprednisolone at a daily dose of 500 mg for 5 d, followed by a tapering-off period. Afterward, the rate of reduction was gradually slowed down and the timely use of immunosuppressants was implemented. CONCLUSION: The CFS was slightly GFAP-IgG-positive during the relapse period, which can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The protein expression profiles induced by trimethyltin chloride in Vero cells / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the biomarkers and mechanism of kidney toxicity induced by trimethyltin chloride (TMT-Cl) through analyzing the differences of protein expression profiles between vero cells and vero cells exposed to TMT-Cl.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The differences of protein expression levels of three paired samples of vero cells and vero cells exposed to TMT-Cl were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-linear trap quadrupole (LC-ESI-LTQ). The differences of expression levels of Annexin A1 and α-Tubulin proteins were validated with western blot assay, and the differences of mRNA expression levels of Annexin A1 and α-Tubulin genes were detected with quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifteen spots of differential expression in protein profiles between vero cells and vero cells exposed to TMT-Cl were found, and 9 of these spots were identified by LC-ESI-LTQ. The expression levels of 3 proteins (Annexin A1,similar to RAN protein and a hypothetical protein) increased and the expression levels of 6 proteins(growth factor receptor-bound protein 10, tubulin alpha 6, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein, similar to elongation factor SIII p15 subunit, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and a hypothetical protein) reduced. The expression levels of α-Tubulin protein and mRNA significantly decreased in vero cells exposed to TMT-Cl, as compared with vero cells (P < 0.01). The expression of Annexin A1 protein in all exposure groups was significantly up-regulated, the expression of Annexin A1 mRNA in the groups exposed to 25 and 50 µmol/L TMT-Cl was significantly down-regulated, and The expression of Annexin A1 mRNA in the group exposed to 100 µmol/L TMT-Cl was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of present study suggest that 9 proteins with differential expression detected by LC-ESI-LTQ may be related to the kidney toxicity induced by TMT-Cl, which can serve as the biomarkers of early diagnosis and therapeutic effect for the kidney toxicity induced by TMT-Cl.</p>

[The influence of postburn administration of rhGH on the host inflammatory response].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in the systemic inflammatory response and T cell induced immunity after systemic administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) during early postburn stage. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups for the study. The rats in control group (C, n = 6) were only used for the determination of plasma levels of the cytokines, such as TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells. The SD rats in burn with rhGH treatment group (BT, n = 18) and burn without treatment group (B, n = 18) were inflicted with III degree scalding injury on the back. rhGH was injected subcutaneously on the abdomen of the rats in a dose of 6 IU/kg for 10 days in BT group. The blood samples were harvested from the rats in the two groups for the evaluation of the above indices. RESULTS: The plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were increased on the 3(rd) postburn day (PBD) and decreased on the 6(th) PBD in B group, while the CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were increased significantly and the plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 decreased obviously on the 3(rd) PBD in BT group. And the plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in BT group on the 6(th) PBD showed no difference from those in C group. But the plasma TNFalpha level in BT group was evidently higher than that in B and C group on the 6(th) PBD. Furthermore, the plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2 and IL-6 in BT group were still increased gradually on the 10(th) PBD, while the IL-2 and IL-6 levels were decreased obviously in B group, but the TNFalpha level was increased. CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of rhGH during different states of stress exerted different effects on T cell induced immunity and systemic inflammatory response.

The influence of postburn administration of rhGH on the host inflammatory response / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the systemic inflammatory response and T cell induced immunity after systemic administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) during early postburn stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups for the study. The rats in control group (C, n = 6) were only used for the determination of plasma levels of the cytokines, such as TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells. The SD rats in burn with rhGH treatment group (BT, n = 18) and burn without treatment group (B, n = 18) were inflicted with III degree scalding injury on the back. rhGH was injected subcutaneously on the abdomen of the rats in a dose of 6 IU/kg for 10 days in BT group. The blood samples were harvested from the rats in the two groups for the evaluation of the above indices.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were increased on the 3(rd) postburn day (PBD) and decreased on the 6(th) PBD in B group, while the CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were increased significantly and the plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-6 decreased obviously on the 3(rd) PBD in BT group. And the plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in BT group on the 6(th) PBD showed no difference from those in C group. But the plasma TNFalpha level in BT group was evidently higher than that in B and C group on the 6(th) PBD. Furthermore, the plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-2 and IL-6 in BT group were still increased gradually on the 10(th) PBD, while the IL-2 and IL-6 levels were decreased obviously in B group, but the TNFalpha level was increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Systemic administration of rhGH during different states of stress exerted different effects on T cell induced immunity and systemic inflammatory response.</p>