Urantide improves atherosclerosis by controlling C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and transforming growth factor-ß expression in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of urantide on the expression status of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the inflammatory cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß in the aortas of rats with atherosclerosis (AS), and to identify its underlying mechanisms. The effects of urantide in a rat model of AS and in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were analyzed via hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. The results in vivo demonstrated that urantide downregulated the expression of inflammatory mediators CRP and MCP-1 and upregulated the expression of TGF-ß. The results in vitro indicated that urantide inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs. In addition, urantide reduced the expression of CRP and downregulated the secretion of TGF-ß in the culture supernatant. In conclusion, urantide ameliorated the arterial inflammatory damage that was observed in the AS rat model at the cell and tissue levels by controlling the expression of CRP and the inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and TGF-ß. Therefore, urantide may be a potential agent for the complementary treatment of AS.

[Studies on biological characteristics and germination conditions of Thladiantha dubia seeds].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics and find out the optimum condition for germination of seed of Thladiantha dubia Bunge for its standardized culturing. METHOD: The weight per 1 000 seeds, seed moisture content and seed viability were determined. The biological characteristics were studied and germination conditions of seed of T. dubia were tested under following conditions: different seed soaking time, different temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 degrees C) and different irradiation time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 min). RESULT: The average length, width and thickness of T. Dubia seed were 4.96, 3.25 and 1.08 mm, respectively. The weight per 1 000 seeds was 14.03 g; the seed moisture content was 10.10%; the seed viability was 90.33%. Under the same condition of light, temperature and other factors, the seed germination percentage and germination energy were the highest after seed soaking 24 h. The suitable temperature range of seeds was form 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C. Under different irradiation time, the seed germination percentage and germination energy were the highest after irradiation 10 min. In different germinating beds, the seeds germination percentage and germination energy were the highest on paper (TP), which was 89.33%. CONCLUSION: The optimum condition for the germination of the seed of T. dubia is seed soaking 12 h, irradiation 10 min, 25-30 degrees C on filter paper.