Effects of Zhizi Chuanxiong Capsule () on the Abnormal Methylation in Rabbits with Atherosclerosis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of Zhizi Chuanxiong Capsule (ZCC, ) on abnormal DNA methylation in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis (AS).@*METHODS@#After 1 week of adaptive feeding, 48 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group (n=12) fed with normal diet for 22 weeks; a model group (n=12) fed with high fat diet for 14 weeks followed by 8 weeks of normal diet feeding; a low-dose ZCC group (n=12) fed with high fat diet and low-dose ZCC for 14 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of normal diet and low-dose drug; a high-dose ZCC group (n=12) fed with high fat diet and high-dose drug for 14 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of normal diet and high-dose drug. After 22 weeks of feeding, blood samples were taken from the rabbit ear vein, and the genomic DNA was extracted for methylation immunoprecipitation sequencing (Medip-seq). The aorta tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.@*RESULTS@#Eight rabbits died during the feeding process. HE staining showed that the size of the lipid deposition on vessel wall and atherosclerotic plaque formation were reduced in both low- and high-dose group. The Medip-seq results showed that there were 146 abnormally methylated genes (including both hypermethylated gene and hypomethylated genes) in the model group, compared with the control group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Pathway analysis showed that these abnormally methylated genes were found to be involved in multiple AS-related functions and pathways, such as protein kinase C activity, cholesterol transport, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, peroxisome proliferater-activated receptor signaling pathway, vascular smooth muscle contraction, inflammation and so on. The abnormal methylated genes in AS model group were altered in both low- and high-dose groups: low-dose ZCC could change 72 of the 146 abnormally methylated genes, high-dose ZCC could change 71. Through GO and Pathway analysis, these altered methylated genes were involved in protein kinase C activity, inflammatory pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, etc. CONCLUSION: ZCC could treat AS through regulating the abnormal hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes in AS rabbit model.

[Effects of salinity variation on the treatment wastewater containing ammonia in the SBBR and SBR].

According to nitrogen-containing wastewater, effects of salinity variation on nitrification and denitrification in internal circulation sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR), and the process of recovery as decreased salinity were investigated. The results show that nitrosation process is effected in internal circulation SBBR and SBR as the increase of salinity, and as the salinity is less than 1.0 x 10(4) mg x L(-1), the speed of ammonia-oxidize is quicker in the SBR than in the SBBR, but the state is opposite as the salinity beyond 1.5 x 10(4) mg x L(-1). As the salinity increased to 4.0 x 10(4) mg x L(-1), the process of ammonia-oxidize was restrained strongly both in SBBR and SBR. The nitrite accumulation is attained continually as the salinity at 1.5 x 10(4) mg x L(-10 and 2.5 x 10(4) mg x L(-1) in the SBBR and SBR respectively. In the SBBR, the removal rate of TN was about 60% as the salinity was less than 1.5 x 10(4) mg x L(-1), and the SND was restrained strongly as the salinity beyond 3.0 x 10(4) mg x L(-1).