[Buyang Huanwu Decoction promotes arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischemia in mice by activating PDGF signaling pathway].

This study aims to investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on blood flow recovery and arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischemia in mice via the platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) signaling pathway. Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomized into model(clean water, 10 mL·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), beraprost sodium(positive control, 18 µg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and low-, medium-, and high-dose(10, 20, and 40 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1), respectively) Buyang Huanwu Decoction groups(n=8). The hindlimb ischemia model was established by femoral artery ligation. The mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage daily for 14 days after ligation. For laser Doppler perfusion imaging, the mice were anesthetized and measured under a Periscan PSI imager. The density of capillary and arterio-le in the ischemic gastrocnemius was measured using immunofluorescence staining of the frozen tissue sections. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of PDGF subunit B(PDGFB), phosphorylated mitogen extracellular kinase(p-MEK), MEK, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK), and ERK. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA level of PDGFB. The Buyang Huanwu Decoction-containing serum was used to treat the vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) in hypoxia at doses of 10% and 20%. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was assessed in vitro. The results showed that compared with the model group, beraprost sodium and Buyang Huanwu Decoction enhanced the blood flow recovery, increased the capillary and arteriole density, and up-regulated the protein levels of PDGFB, p-MEK, p-ERK, and mRNA levels of PDGFB, with the medium-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction demonstrating the most significant effect. The 10% Buyang Huanwu Decoction-containing serum enhanced the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Our findings demonstrate that Buyang Huanwu Decoction up-regulates PDGFB transcription and activates PDGF signaling pathway to promote arteriogenesis and blood flow recovery in ischemic gastrocnemius.

miR-362-3p Targets Orosomucoid 1 to Promote Cell Proliferation, Restrain Cell Apoptosis and Thereby Mitigate Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cardiomyocytes Injury.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of how miR-362-3p/orosomucoid 1 (ORM1) involved in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocytes injury. Based on data obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we revealed that ORM1 was highly expressed and positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory factors (MAPK1, MAPK3, IL1B and CASP9). miR-362-3p was identified as an upstream regulatory miRNA of ORM1 and negatively modulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of ORM1 in H/R-injured cardiomyocytes. Moreover, we found that miR-362-3p was downregulated in cardiomyocytes injured by H/R. The promoting influence of miR-362-3p mimic on the proliferation and the inhibitory effect of miR-362-3p mimic on the apoptosis of H/R-stimulated cardiomyocytes were eliminated by overexpression of ORM1. Furthermore, miR-362-3p affected the expression of MAPK1, MAPK3, IL1B and CASP9 in H/R-injured cardiomyocytes through targeting ORM1. Our outcomes illustrated that miR-362-3p exhibited a protective influence on H/R-induced cardiomyocytes through targeting ORM1.

Inhibition of SETD7 protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury through regulating Keap1/Nrf2 signaling.

The protein SET domain-containing lysine methyltransferase 7 (SETD7) has recently been shown to regulate apoptosis in various cells. However, the role of SETD7 on cardiomyocyte apoptosis during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of SETD7 in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes and reveal the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that SETD7 expression was significantly up-regulated in cardiomyocytes in response to H/R injury. The inhibition of SETD7 by siRNA-mediated gene silencing significantly suppressed H/R-induced apoptosis and decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The overexpression of SETD7 markedly enhanced H/R-induced apoptosis and ROS production. Moreover, the knockdown of SETD7 reduced the expression of Keap1 and promoted the expression of Nrf2. In addition, the knockdown of SETD7 increased the activity of antioxidant response element and promoted the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase 1. However, the knockdown of Nrf2 partially abrogated the SETD7 inhibition-mediated protective effect against H/R injury. Taken together, these results indicate that the inhibition of SETD7 attenuates H/R-induced injury of cardiomyocytes via the down-regulation of Keap1 and promotion of the Nrf2-mediated anti-oxidation signaling pathway.

[Combined inhibition of STAT3 and HIF-1α for enhancement of chemosensitivity in the model of human laryngeal squamous cacinoma in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the enhancement of chemosensitivity of the model of human laryngeal squamous cacinoma in nude mice. METHOD: Model nude mice were divided into six groups randomly: control group(A) , cisplatin group(B) , cisplatin and AG490 group(C) , cisplatin and HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (D), cisplatin combined AG490 and HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (E), HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (F) (only in calculating tumor inhibition rate). 3mg/kg cisplatin was administered by peritoneal injection for 3 days. Then cisplatin and 10 mg/kg AG490 were administered every other day for 12 days. The expression of Ki67 and HIF-1α was detected by immunocytochemical method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of p-STAT3. RESULT: The expression of HIF-1α in group C and group D were lower than that in group B, and there were significant difference respectively (t1 = 2.782, t2 = 3.873, P < 0.05); The expression of HIF-1α in group E was lower than that in group C and group D respectively, and there were significant difference respectively (t1 = 6.140, t2 = 3.667, P < 0.01). The expression level of p-STAT3 in group C was markedly lower compared with that in group B, and there were significant difference between them (t = 17.840, P < 0.01); There were no difference between the expression level of p-STAT3 in group D and that in group B (t = 0.038, P > 0.05); The expression level of p-STAT3 in group E was significantly lower compared with that in group C and group D respectively (P < 0.01). Tumor inhibition rate of group E was higher than that in group B, group C , as well as group D respectively and there were significant difference respectively (t1 = 5.509, P < 0.01; t2 = 3.422, P < 0.05; t3 = 2.718, P < 0.05 ). Ki67 index of group E was lower than that in group B, group C as well as group D respectively and there were significant difference respectively(t1 = 8.307, P < 0.01; t2 = 3.736, P < 0.05; t3 = 4.524, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Combined inhibition of STAT3 and HIF-1α could enhance chemo-sensitivity in the model of human laryngeal squamous cacinoma in nude mice.

Dihydroartemisinin as a Putative STAT3 Inhibitor, Suppresses the Growth of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Targeting Jak2/STAT3 Signaling.

Developing drugs that can effectively block STAT3 activation may serve as one of the most promising strategy for cancer treatment. Currently, there is no putative STAT3 inhibitor that can be safely and effectively used in clinic. In the present study, we investigated the potential of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) as a putative STAT3 inhibitor and its antitumor activities in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The inhibitory effects of DHA on STAT3 activation along with its underlying mechanisms were studied in HNSCC cells. The antitumor effects of DHA against HNSCC cells were explored both in vitro and in vivo. An investigation on cooperative effects of DHA with cisplatin in killing HNSCC cells was also implemented. DHA exhibited remarkable and specific inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation via selectively blocking Jak2/STAT3 signaling. Besides, DHA significantly inhibited HNSCC growth both in vitro and in vivo possibly through induction of apoptosis and attenuation of cell migration. DHA also synergized with cisplatin in tumor inhibition in HNSCC cells. Our findings demonstrate that DHA is a putative STAT3 inhibitor that may represent a new and effective drug for cancer treatment and therapeutic sensitization in HNSCC patients.

Interaction between TNFR1 and TNFR2 dominates the clinicopathologic features of human hypopharyneal carcinoma.

Although the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) has been associated with clinicopathologic features of some other cancers, their roles in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) have not been documented. Forty-five HPSCC specimens were analyzed for the expression of TNFR1 and TNFR2 and its relationship with clinicopathologic factors. Interaction between the two receptors and its effects on TNF-α was investigated by neutralizing TNFR1 and upregulation of TNFR2. The results indicated that, in HPSCC specimens, the expression of TNFR1 but not TNFR2 is associated with clinical staging, T stage, cervical lymph node metastasis, and histologic grade in HPSCC. In Fadu cells, when conjugating with its receptors, TNF-α mediates proliferation effects, and neutralizing TNFR1 and/or upregulating TNFR2 evokes proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects and potentiates cisplatin (DDP)-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. In conclusion, interaction of TNFR1 with TNFR2 determines the biological characters of HPSCC, and TNFR1 may dominate this process. Moreover, interaction between the two receptors plays important roles in determining the fates of HPSCC cells and thus may serve as a therapeutic target for developing new therapeutic strategies for HPSCC.

[Expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP in laryngeal carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of X-chromosome-linked inhibitors of apoptosis (XIAP) XIAP in laryngeal squamous carcinomas and the relationship between the expression of XIAP and clinical biological behaviors. METHOD: Paraffin-embedded tissue specimens used for this study were obtained from 50 patients with laryngeal squamous carcinomas. The patients had received neither chemotherapy nor radiation therapy before tumor resection. Using immunohistochemical staining for the paraffin sections (SP methods), we examine the expression of XIAP protein in laryngeal squamous carcinomas and normal laryngeal tissues, investigate the connection of the XIAP expression with the clinicopathological parameters. RESULT: The expression of XIAP protein was observed mainly in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The staining color was dark brown. The expression of XIAP is remarkably higher in laryngeal squamous carcinomas than that in normal laryngeal tissue specimens. The statistical analysis revealed that in laryngeal squamous carcinomas XIAP expression had no relationship with the elements such as age, sex, smoking history, tumor site and lymph node metastases. However, there is significant correlation between XIAP expression and tumor clinical stage, T stage and pathological stage (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: XIAP is expressed higher in laryngeal squamous carcinomas than in normal laryngeal tissues. The level of XIAP expression is associated with tumor clinicopathological characteristics in laryngeal squamous carcinomas. While tumor growth and malignancy increased, the expression of XIAP was up-regulated in laryngeal squamous carcinomas. It may play a role of anti-apoptosis in the process of carcinogenesis and development in laryngeal squamous carcinomas.