Higenamine enhances the antitumor effects of cucurbitacin B in breast cancer by inhibiting the interaction of AKT and CDK2.

Cucurbitacin B (Cu B), a tetracyclic triterpenoid derived from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, exhibits anticancer effects against various types of tumor. Higenamine, isolated from Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, has been used as a dietary supplement for regulating metabolic function. The present study suggested that higenamine enhances Cu B-induced cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells and in vivo. Network pharmacology analysis was used to identify the possible mechanism of action. Cu B alone inhibited breast cancer cell growth, induced apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Cu B combined with higenamine potentiated the cytotoxic effect of Cu B, resulting in the enhanced induction of apoptosis and G2/M arrest. The network pharmacology analysis also found that the major predicted targets of Cu B in breast cancer were AKT, endoplasmic reticulum, farnesyltransferase, CAAX box, α, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, RET proto-oncogene, and vascular endothelial growth factor A. The possible targets of higenamine involved in the synergic action were cyclin A2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), dihydrofolate reductase, and protein kinase CAMP­activated catalytic subunit α. The associated pathways were summarized by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and it was hypothesized that higenamine may enhance the antitumor effects of Cu B in breast cancer through inhibition of the interaction of AKT and CDK2. The protein expression was assayed by western blot analysis. The combined treatment also resulted in significant inhibition of growth in vivo.

Protective effect of FTY720 on several markers of liver injury induced by concanavalin a in mice.

BACKGROUND: 2-Amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl] propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride (FTY720) is a novel agent with protective effect on several markers of liver injury. It is a chemical substance derived by modifying myriocin from the ascomycete Isaria sinclairii. It has been reported that FTY720 is able to treat autoimmune encephalomyelitis, renal cancer, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. More potent clinical applications of FTY720 need to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of FTY720 on several markers of experimental liver injury and to investigate the possible mechanism of action. METHODS: Concanavalin A (Con A) at a dose of 15 mg/kg was intravenously. injected in mice, and 10 days before the Con A challenge, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, and 6 mg/kg of FTY720 were administered to mice. The liver injury was monitored biochemically by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. TNF-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in liver tissue were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: FTY720, when administered intragastrically for 10 days in mice with Con A-induced liver injury, dose-dependently reduced serum ALT and AST and TNF-α levels. The differences were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). It was also found that FTY720 decreases TNF-α and NF-κB protein expression in liver tissue. CONCLUSIONS: FTY720 is able to improve several markers of Con A-induced liver injury in mice, including serum ALT, serum AST, TNF-α, and NF-κB, which might be at least in part related to its ability to reduce TNF-α/NF-κB cascade activity.

[Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro. METHODS: Human adipose-derived stem cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion and PRP was prepared by dual centrifugal method. The ADSCS were interfused with 5%, 10%, and 20% PRP in conditioned culture media, using the untreated cells as the control group. The morphology of the cells were observed and their proliferative ability was detected using XTT colorimetric assay. The adipogenic differentiation ability of the cells was evaluated using oil Red O staining. RESULTS: The ADSCS treated with PRP showed better morphology with higher density than the control cells. XTT colorimetric assay demonstrated obviously stronger proliferative activity of PRP-treated cells than the control group (P<0.01). Interfusion with PRP caused a significant increase in adipogenic differentiation of the cells as compared to the control cells (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: PRP treatment produces obvious effects on the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro.

[Effects of irbesartan on renal advanced glycation end products and their receptor in rats with early diabetic nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of irbesartan on the renal expressions of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGEs) in rats with early diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the renoprotection mechanism of irbesartan. METHODS: Rat DN models established by a single injection of streptozotocin were randomly divided into the model group and irbesartan treatment group. With normal rats as the control, all the rats received daily gavage for 8 weeks. The 24-h urinary protein excretion and contents of AGEs in the serum and kidney tissues were measured. The expressions of RAGEs and RAGEs protein and mRNA in the kidney tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The pathological changes of the kidney were also assessed microscopically. RESULTS: Irbesartan significantly reduced the 24-h urinary protein excretion and the contents of AGEs in the serum and kidney tissues of DN rats, resulting also in decreased expressions of RAGEs and RAGEs protein and mRNA levels in the kidney. The treatment obviously alleviated the pathological changes in the kidney of the DN rats. CONCLUSION: Irbesartan offers renoprotection against DN possibly by reducing the serum and renal contents of AGEs and inhibiting the renal mRNA expressions of RAGEs and RAGEs.

[Protective effects of Shenkangwan against podocyte injury in rats with early diabetic nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphological changes and expressions of desmin and podocin in podocytes of rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats and renal protection mechanism of Shenkangwan. METHODS: DN model was established in rats by a single injection of streptozotocin. The rats were then randomly divided into model group, Shenkangwan treatment group, irbesartan treatment group, and Shenkangwan plus irbesartan treatment group, with normal rats as the control group. All the rats received daily gavage for 8 weeks. The urinary protein quantity in 24 h were detected, and the morphological changes of the kidneys were observed with optic and transmission electron microscopes. The expressions of desmin and podocin in the podocytes were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Shenkangwan and irbesartan reduced the urinary protein quantity in 24 h and alleviated the renal damage in DN rats, and the expression of desmin was significantly attenuated while podocin expression increased in the podocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Shenkangwan can provide renal protection against DN in rats and alleviate the structural and functional damages of podocytes possibly by reducing desmin expression and increasing podocin expression in the podocytes.

[Effects of 5F from Pteris semipinnate L on growth of human pathological scars in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 5F from Pteris semipinnate L on the growth of human pathological scar in nude mice. METHODS: 5F from Pteris semipinnate L was administered at different doses in nude mouse models bearing human pathological scars. The morphology, histology, tumor growth factor-beta1 and type I collagen content of the scar tissues were examined after the administration. RESULTS: Administration of 5F significantly reduced the volume of the implanted pathological scars in the nude mouse models, and histologically, the scar tissue exhibited a transition to the normal scar architecture with decreased TGF-beta1 and type I collagen content. CONCLUSION: 5F could effectively inhibit the growth of pathological scars in nude mice.

Effect of 2-amino-2-(2-(4-octylphenyl) ethyl) propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride (FTY 720) on immune liver injury in mice.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect against two immune liver injury models in mice by 2-amino-2-(2-(4-octylphenyl) ethyl) propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride and its possible mechanisms in Con A-induced liver damage. METHODS: Liver tissue or hepatocyte injury was monitored biochemically by measuring alanine aminotransferase (sALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (sAST) activity. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used for histopathological examination. To evaluate the role of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the liver injury, serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were determined using commercially available ELISA kit at 12 h after Con A challenge. We also determined FTY 720-induced spleen cell apoptosis by flow cytometry analysis or spleen cell proliferation test. RESULTS: Different doses of FTY 720 treatment dramatically reduced circulating markers of hepatocyte injury in two kinds of immunological liver injury models. FTY 720 dramatically reduced the elevated serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels after Con A injection. Effect of spleen cell supernatants treated with Con A or FTY 720 on hepatocytes showed that ALT activities in cultured hepatocyte supernatants in Con A treatment group increased markedly and FTY 720 could reduce this elevated ALT activities in FTY 720 treatment group. FTY 720 dose-dependently increased the percentage of apoptotic cells in T cells and inhibited splenocyte proliferation induced by Con A. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with FTY 720 was shown to produce protective effect on the immune liver injury in mice. The possible mechanism of FTY 720 on Con A-induced liver damage is that it could inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and induce lymphocyte apoptosis, resulting in the reduction of IL-4 or IFN-gamma release, and subsequently protecting liver from being damaged by Con A.

In vitro and in vivo protective effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on alloxan-induced pancreatic islets damage.

This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect against alloxan-induced pancreatic islets damage by Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides (Gl-PS) isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. In vitro, alloxan caused dose-dependent toxicity on the isolated pancreatic islets. Pre-treatment of islets with Gl-PS for 12 h and 24 h significantly reversed alloxan-induced islets viability loss. Gl-PS was also found to inhibit the free radicals production induced by alloxan in the isolated pancreatic islets using confocal microscopy. Gl-PS dose-dependently increased serum insulin and reduced serum glucose levels when pretreated intragastrically for 10 days in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. It was found that the pancreas homogenates had higher lipid peroxidation products in alloxan-treated mice than in the Gl-PS-treated animals. Aldehyde fuchsin staining revealed that alloxan caused nearly all the beta cells disappearing from the pancreatic islets, while Gl-PS partly protected the beta cells from necrosis. Alloxan (60 mg/kg) induced NF-kappa B activation in the pancreas at 30 min after injection, pretreatment with Gl-PS inhibited alloxan-induced activation of NF-kappa B. These results suggest that Gl-PS was useful in protecting against alloxan-induced pancreatic islets damage in vitro and in vivo; one of the mechanisms is through its scavenging ability to protect the pancreatic islets from free radicals-damage induced by alloxan.