1H-NMR-based metabolic profiling of rat urine to assess the toxicity-attenuating effect of the sweat-soaking method on Radix Wikstroemia indica.

Radix Wikstroemia indica (L.) C.A. Mey. (RWI) is a toxic medicinal species primarily present in the Miao area of China. The toxicity of RWI is effectively reduced whilst maintaining the therapeutic effect when processed using the 'sweat-soaking method', which is a common method of Traditional Chinese Medicine preparation. However, there is a lack of scientific and medical evidence to explain the potential mechanisms by which the toxicity of RWI is reduced after preparation using this method, and the endogenous systemic metabolic effect of RWI remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to explore the endogetnous metabolic alterations caused by RWI and to examine the possibility of reducing the toxicity of RWI using the sweat-soaking method using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic analysis in rats. Principal Component Analysis, Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Orthogonal PLS-DA were used to assess individual proton NMR spectra. A total of 34 metabolic products were altered after delivering raw RWI, and 32 endogenous metabolites were induced by processed RWI. The metabolic pathways that lead to a significant impact on energy and carbohydrate, amino acid, organic acids and lipid metabolism following raw and processed RWI use were identified. The mitochondria of hepatic and renal tubules of rats were injured in the raw RWI group, whereas the processed product reduced or interfered with energy substrate, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, whilst reducing the levels of metabolic markers of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, without causing damage to the mitochondria. Our previous study showed that the median lethal dose (LD50) value of raw RWI was 4.05 g/kg in rats after oral administration; however, the LD50 value of the processed RWI could not be measured. The maximum tolerated dose and minimum lethal dose were 20 and 30 g/kg for the processed RWI, respectively, corresponding to 109 and 164 times the clinical daily dose (0.029 g/kg). Thus, the sweat-soaking method reduced the toxicity of RWI. Moreover, after processing, the toxic component YH-10 was converted into a YH-10 + OH compound, reducing the content of the toxic YH-10 by 48%, whilst also reducing the contents of the toxic components YH-12 and YH-15 by 44 and 65%, respectively. In conclusion, the present study showed that the sweat-soaking method reduced the toxicity of RWI, as evidenced by the reduction of the levels of metabolic markers and the activity of metabolic pathways, thus providing a basis for processing of RWI for clinical use.

Influence of acute cadmium exposure on the liver proteome of a teleost fish, ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis).

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that causes the disruption of a variety of physiological processes. In this study, the effect of Cd on liver proteome of ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, was investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS). Twenty-three altered protein spots were successfully identified. They were involved in oxidative stress response, metal metabolism, methylation, and so on. The mRNA expression of 60S acidic ribosomal protein P0, heat shock protein 70, apolipoprotein A-I, betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase, parahox cluster neighbor, and transferrin was subsequently determined by real-time PCR. The mRNA expression of these genes was consistent with proteomic results. These findings enrich our knowledge on the influence of Cd toxicity to teleost fish, and may be worthy of further investigation to develop biomarkers.

[Effects of cryopreservation length on the proliferative potential of cord blood hematopoietic cells in vitro].

AIM: To study the effects of cryopreservation length on the proliferative potential of hematopoietic cells derived from cord blood. METHODS: Using Dextran-40 and 10% DMSO as cryoprotectants, separated nuclear cells were stored in liquid nitrogen after they were freezed according programme. One month or 4 months later, they were thawed and expanded in serum-free medium for culture and expansion of hematopoietic cell (SFEM) for 5 weeks. Dynamic results were detected every week. RESULTS: At the 5th week of expanding, TNC were expanded for 1499.0 +/- 115.6-folds and 1513.0 +/- 110.4-folds, respectively. CD34+ cells and CFCs reached to their highest level at the 2nd week and at the 3rd week. CD34+ cells were expanded for 63.8 +/- 6.1-folds and 62.4 +/- 5.7-folds, respectively. CFCs were expanded for 53.8 +/- 6.3-folds and 54.8 +/- 6.7-folds, respectively. Between the two kinds of cells, statistical significant difference in proliferative potential wasn't detected. CONCLUSION: In ideal cryopreservative condition, the cryopreservation length would do not affect the proliferative potential of cord blood hematopoietic cells.