Pilose antler peptide protects osteoblasts from inflammatory and oxidative injury through EGF/EGFR signaling.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)/EFG receptor (EGFR) signaling plays an important role in the osteoblastogenesis. The potential effects of pilose antler peptide (PAP) on osteoblast cell damages was investigated in our present study through EGF/EGFR signaling. In MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells, PAP treatment significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines by decreasing the levels of serum proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). PAP treatment also alleviated the oxidative responses as indicated by increased activities of catalase (SOD) and decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). EGF inhibition, by siRNA knockdown, almost abolished PAP-induced osteoblast cytoprotection against inflammation and oxidant stress. Further, our results showed that PAP stimulated the nuclear erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)2/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) signaling, and inhibited the activation of uclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. On the other hand, EGF siRNA knockdown inhibited PAP-induced cytoprotection, which decreased the expression of Nrf-2, HO-1 and increased the level of p-NF-κBp65, p-IκBα in MC3T3-E1 cells. Thus, our research demonstrated that PAP protects osteoblasts from inflammatory and oxidative injury through EGF/EGFR signaling.

Whether amnion membrane preserved in Honghua injection can prevent tendon adhesion following transplanting into foot flexor tendon? / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported that more and more methods were used to prevent and cure tendon adhesion following tendon rupture by repairing tendinous sheath. Especially, amnion membrane is commonly used to effective prevent and cure adhesion and promote healing of biomembrane; however, the effect on tendon adhesion needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE: To verify the efficacy of amnion membrane preserved in Honghua injection on preventing and curing tendon adhesion following transplanting into foot flexor tendon. METHODS: Bilateral foot flexor tendons of 32 healthy mature chickens were cut off. By anastomosis, amnion membrane preserved in Honghua injection was transplanted into left foot flexor tendon, considering as experimental group. Right foot flexor tendons were randomly divided into two groups: blank control group, anastomosis was performed alone; positive control group, amnion membrane not preserved in any injections was transplanted. At 4 weeks after fixation by plaster cast, sliding function of tendon was detected using biomechanics, and local samples were obtained for histopathological observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the experimental group, broken end of left tendon was well healed; fiber tissues were formed surrounding tendon; tissue adhesion was not observed surrounding tendon. Proliferative quantity and adhesion of fiber tissues, as well as content of hydroxyproline in the experimental group were significantly less than in the blank control and positive control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); total inflexion angle of articulationes digitorum pedis and slipping distance of flexor digitorum profundus tendon in the experimental group were significantly greater than in the blank control and positive control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results indicated that amnion membrane preserved in Honghua injection might prevent tendon adhesion and effectively promote tendon healing.