Mongolian HCC vs. Caucasian HCC: The Metabolic Reprogramming Process in Mongolian HCC is an Interesting Difference.

Racial/ethnic and region disparities in incidence and mortality are obviously in liver cancer. Mongolia has the highest reported incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the world, while the incidence of HCC is relatively low in the United States, but differences in their molecular characteristics remain largely elusive. Here we report differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Mongolian hepatocellular carcinoma and in Caucasian HCC and their intersection DEGs, as well as their corresponding signaling pathways in Mongolian and Caucasian hepatocellular carcinoma patients based on the transcriptome sequences from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We got 908 up-regulated genes and 1946 down-regulated genes in Mongolian HCC, 1244 up-regulated genes and 1912 down-regulated genes in Caucasian HCC, 254 Co-upregulated genes and 1035 co-downregulated genes in Mongolian and Caucasian. The results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that most of the genes with altered expression levels in Mongolian HCC participate in biological processes that involve metabolic reprogramming of various substances, accounting for about one-third of all biological processes. In particular, multiple amino acid biosynthesis and metabolic processes appear to be specific in Mongolian HCC compared with Caucasian HCC. The biological processes they share include those in which most immune cells are involved and cell cycle-related biological processes. In addition, we also found the genes UPP2, PCK1, GLYAT, GNMT, ADH1B and HPD, encode for key metabolic enzymes, whose expression level up-regulated or down-regulated more than 5 times in Mongolian HCC and was dramatically correlated with survival in Mongolian HCC (p value < 0.01), More importantly, these molecules are potential targets for some metabolic antitumor drugs. This study not only makes up for the shortcomings of previous studies on liver cancer, which paid more attention to its commonality, but ignored the specificity of liver cancer in different races and regions. More importantly, the purpose of this study is to identify robust molecular subclasses and information with underlying unique tumor biology. And this study may have important implications for the study of the pathogenic factors and molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma and the precise therapy of Mongolian HCC.

Therapeutic and immunoregulatory effects of water-soluble alkaloids E2-a from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds as a novel potential agent against echinococcosis in experimentally protoscolex-infected mice.

Novel compounds and more efficient treatment options are urgently needed for the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE), which is caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The decoction of Sophora moorcroftiana (Fabaceae) has been used to treat parasitosis for years in traditional Tibetan medicine. The aim of this study was to screen insecticidal water-soluble alkaloids from S. moorcroftiana seeds and evaluate the therapeutic effects against CE and the immune response induced by the alkaloidal fraction. Low polarity compounds (E2-a) were isolated from water-soluble alkaloid (E2) and matrine and sophocarpine were identified as major components. The E2-a fraction was more effective against protoscoleces than other constituents from S. moorcroftiana. After 20 weeks of secondary infection with protoscoleces, mice were orally treated with E2-a (100 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks to evaluate therapeutic and immunoregulatory activities. Compared with the untreated group, E2-a treatment induced a significant reduction in cyst weight (mean 2.93 g) (p < 0.05) and an impaired ultrastructural modification of the cyst. Interestingly, the application of E2-a resulted in a significant increased frequency of CD3+CD4+ T-cell subsets and decreased frequency of CD3+PD-1+ T-cell subsets, compared with protoscolece-infected mice without treatment. The E2-a fraction of S. moorcroftiana can inhibit the cyst development of CE and boost the specific immune response by reducing the expression of PD-1 and accelerate the cytokine secretion of antigen-specific T-cells. All data suggest the E2-a fraction from S. moorcroftiana seeds may be used as a new potential therapeutic option against E. granulosus infection.

Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Constituent and effects of polysaccharides isolated from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds on lifespan, reproduction, stress resistance, and antimicrobial capacity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds (SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol (4 mg·mL-1). In SMpol (4 mg·mL-1) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.

Life Span and Motility Effects of Ethanolic Extracts from Sophora moorcroftiana Seeds on Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: Sophora moorcroftiana is an endemic shrub species with a great value in folk medicine in Tibet, China. In this study, relatively little is known about whether S. moorcroftiana is beneficial in animals' nervous system and life span or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this question, under survival normal temperature (25°C), S. moorcroftiana seeds were extracted with 95% ethanol, and Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to three different extract concentrations (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 400 mg/mL) from S. moorcroftiana seeds. RESULTS: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span and slow aging-related increase in C. elegans and could not obviously influence the motility of C. elegans. CONCLUSION: Given these results by our experiment for life span and motility with 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds in C. elegans, the question whether S. moorcroftiana acts as an anti-aging substance in vivo arises. SUMMARY: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds have no effect on the life span in C. elegans when extract concentrations from S. moorcroftiana seeds <400 mg/LThe 400 mg/L 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span in C. elegansThe 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could not obviously influence the motility in C. elegans. Abbreviation used: S. moorcroftiana: Sophora moorcroftiana; C. elegan: Caenorhabditis elegan; E. coli OP50: Escherichia coli OP50; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.

A flavonoid compound from Chrysosplenium nudicaule inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of the human stomach cancer cell line SGC-7901.

CONTEXT: Gastric cancer remains highly prevalent, but treatment options are limited. Natural products have proved to be a rich source of anticancer drugs. Chrysosplenium nudicaule Ledeb. (Saxifragaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the highlands of China. It has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive diseases for hundreds of years. Recent studies revealed that this herb had anticancer activity, and the flavonoids were speculated to be the effective components. 6,7,3'-Trimethoxy-3,5,4'-trihydroxy flavone (TTF) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,3'trimethoxy-flavone-7-O-ß-d-glucoside (DTFG) are flavonoid compounds isolated from Chrysosplenium nudicaule. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of TTF and DTFG on SGC-7901 human stomach cancer cell in vitro to determine the anticancer and induction of apoptosis properties of TTF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proliferation of cells treated with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 µg/mL of TTF or DTFG for 24, 48, and 72 h was assessed by the MTT assay. After being treated with TTF, the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was assessed by acridine orange staining, ultrastructure, electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Results indicated that TTF inhibited the growth of cancer cells with an IC50 value of 8.33 µg/mL after 72 h incubation. However, DTFG showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cell. Further studies on TTF also confirmed that it was able to induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells at a concentration as low as 4 µg/mL. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The apoptotic effect of TTF makes it a promising candidate for future chemotherapeutic application in treating stomach cancer.

[Studies on isolation, purification and antibacterial activities of beta-defensin in Yak neutrophils].

AIM: To isolate and purify beta-defensin from the neutrophils of Yak. METHODS: The method of percoll gradient centrifugation was employed to purify neutrophils from Yak peripheral blood. The crude extraction from Yak neutrophils was isolated respectively through a way of extraction by 50 mL/L acetic acid, acid soluble extract of Yak neutrophils was obtained. Then it was further purified by Bio-Gel P-10 Polyacrylamide gel filtration and RP-HPLC, and 9 out of 22 apices showed antibacterial activity. 9 apices showing antibacterial activity were selected to be analyzed by mass spectrograph.The antibacterial activities of the extracts from every step were analyzed by agarose radial diffusion assay. RESULTS: The molecular weight of the purified Yak BNBD-1-3 was determined to be 4.2, 4.6 and 4.8 kDa by mass spectrograph. BNBD-1-3 from Yak neutrophils were able to effectively kill Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. CONCLUSION: Yak neutrophils have beta-defensin which have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, Yak defensin has an important part in innate immunity.