Effect of Optimized Concentrations of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor on Proliferation of Fibroblasts and Expression of Collagen: Related to Pelvic Floor Tissue Regeneration / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Fibroblasts were the main seed cells in the studies of tissue engineering of the pelvic floor ligament. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were widely studied but at various concentrations. This study aimed to optimize the concentrations of combined bFGF and EGF by evaluating their effects on proliferation and collagen secretion of fibroblasts.@*Methods@#Fibroblasts were differentiated from rat adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used for cell identification. The growth factors were applied at concentrations of 0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml as three groups: (1) bFGF alone, (2) EGF alone, and (3) bFGF mixed with EGF. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. Expression of Type I and III collagen (Col-I and Col-III) mRNAs was evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software and GraphPad Prism using one-way analysis of variance and multiple t-test.@*Results@#ADSCs were successfully isolated from rat adipose tissue as identified by expression of typical surface markers CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD45 in flow cytometry. Fibroblasts induced from ADSC, compared with ADSCs, were with higher mRNA expression levels of Col I and Col III (F = 1.29, P = 0.0390). bFGF, EGF, and the mixture of bFGF with EGF can enhanced fibroblasts proliferation, and the concentration of 10 ng/ml of the mixture of bFGF with EGF displayed most effectively (all P < 0.05). The expression levels of Col-I and Col-III mRNAs in fibroblasts displayed significant increases in the 10 ng/ml bFGF combined with EGF group (all P < 0.05).@*Conclusions@#The optimal concentration of both bFGF and EGF to promote cell proliferation and collagen expression in fibroblasts was 10 ng/ml at which fibroblasts grew faster and secreted more Type I and III collagens into the extracellular matrix, which might contribute to the stability of the pelvic floor microenvironment.

miR-449a: a potential therapeutic agent for cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be associated with cancer progression and carcinogenesis. They are small, highly conserved, noncoding RNA molecules consisting of 19-25 nucleotides. By binding to complementary binding sites within the 3'-untranslated region of target mRNAs, miRNAs inhibit the translation of mRNAs or promote their degradation. miRNAs play critical roles in cancer initiation and development by functioning either as oncogenes or as tumor suppressors. Similarly, several studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in regulating various biological processes, including apoptosis, proliferation, cellular differentiation, signal transduction, and carcinogenesis. Among miRNAs, one that may be of particular interest in cancer biology is miR-449a, which has been reported to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, and to promote apoptosis and differentiation through the transforming growth factor-ß activated kinase 1, NOTCH, nuclear factor-κB/P65/vascular endothelial growth factor, retinoblastoma-E2F, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, WNT-ß-catenin signaling, tumor protein P53, and androgen receptor signaling pathways. The miR-449 cluster is located in the second intron of CDC20B on chromosome 5q11.2, a region that has been identified as a susceptibility locus in cancer, and the abnormal expression of miR-449a may be related to the occurrence and development of tumors. As one example, miR-449a has been reported to be involved in the development of carcinoma and may be a potential prognostic indicator. On the basis of the putative pathogenetic relationships between cancer and miR-449a, we consider that miR-449a has the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of some types of cancer. In this review, the role of miR-449a in tumorigenesis and its mechanism of action are explored. Furthermore, its potential as a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment is considered.

Pharmacokinetics of the alkaloids from the processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica in rats / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the pharmacokinetic process about the concentration in rat plasma of the alkaloids from processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica with RP-HPLC method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hypersil BDS C18 column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.8 mL.min-1. The UV detection wave length was 254 nm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration-time data of strychnine, brucine, strychnine N-oxide and brucine N-oxide were all in accordance with an open two-compartment model after i.v. alkaloids. Their parameters were as follows: T1/2 alpha were (8 +/- 5), (4 +/- 3), (6.2 +/- 1.7) and (3.0 +/- 0.8) min, T1/2 beta were (262 +/- 125), (416 +/- 131), (285 +/- 50) and (342 +/- 141) min, CL were (17 +/- 4), (21 +/- 12), (1.9 +/- 1.8) and (2.8 +/- 1.1) mL.min-1, Vc were (1.4 +/- 0.5), (1.7 +/- 1.1), (0.24 +/- 0.16) and (0.23 +/- 0.06) L.kg-1, Vd were (6.0 +/- 1.2), (12 +/- 7), (0.8 +/- 0.6) and (1.5 +/- 0.6) L.kg-1, AUC were (57,578 +/- 25,578), (35,240 +/- 15,616), (93,088 +/- 22,375) and (177,712 +/- 120,110) h.microgram.L-1, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is a good reference for pharmacokinetics in human bodies.</p>