Promoting Effects on Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Four "Kidney-Tonifying" Traditional Chinese Herbs.

Traditional Chinese medicine can promote the proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). We chose four "Kidney-tonifying" Chinese herbal medicines, Radix Astragali, Salvia, Herba Epimedii, and Saussurea Involucrata, to evaluate whether they had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The four Chinese herbal medicines were intragastrically administered to Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, to prepare drug-containing serums of corresponding Chinese herbs. BMSCs were isolated, cultured, and exposed to culture solution containing 1%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (v/v) Radix Astragali-, Salvia-, Herba Epimedii-, and Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum, respectively. TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs were addressed in the same manner. Collagen type II protein was assessed by immunofluorescence methods. To assess whether the drug-containing serums had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs, MTT method was assessed. The proliferation of BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to culture solutions containing 1% and 5% Radix Astragali-, 1% and 5% Salvia-, 5% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum. The proliferation of TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to 1%, 5%, and 15% Radix Astragali-, 10% and 15% Salvia-, 5%, and 15% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum.

5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde inhibits adipogenic and enhances osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells.

Eucommiae Cortex (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver Bark) has been used for anti-osteoporosis usually as an ethnic drug for hundred years in China. In this study, a bioactive compound, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF), was isolated from Eucommiae Cortex. We found that after rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) were induced by 5-HMF at the concentration of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 microg/mL in the normal medium for 7 and 14 days, the mRNA expression of ALP, COL1alpha1 (7 days only), OCN and OPN increased. However, in the adipogenic induction medium (AIM), the mRNA expression of PPARgamma, FABP4, C/EBPalpha and LPL decreased with the 5-HMF treatment. Mineralized nodule formations were enhanced after bMSCs were induced by 5-HMF for 14 and 21 days in normal medium. In the AIM medium, 5-HMF not only inhibited the formation of adipose cells obviously, but also stimulated the mineralized nodule formation after induced for 21 days. These results indicated that 5-HMF was a powerful inhibitor of adipogenesis and enhancer of osteoblastogenesis. It may be one of the constituents contributing to anti-osteoporosis in Eucommiae Cortex.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis for the extraction of luteolin and apigenin from celery.

The extraction of flavonoids is of increasing interest because of their various pharmacological effects. This study is the first attempt for the ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis (USAEH) applied in the extraction of 2 bioactive flavonoid compounds in celery--luteolin and apigenin. The quantitative yields of luteolin and apigenin were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To achieve high yields of extracted compounds, the procedure was optimized with regard to the relative parameters involved. The optimal conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis using pectinase treatment were a reaction time of 30 min and a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL at pH 3 for luteolin and pH 5.5 for apigenin. The optimal ultrasonic parameters were an exposure period of 30 min at a temperature of 25 °C using a power source of 80 W. Under these optimal conditions, the yields of luteolin and apigenin were increased to 42.5 and 25.3 mg/g, respectively, which represented a 26.1-fold and a 32.2-fold increase in the yields of these 2 compounds, respectively, compared with the control model of aqueous extraction without enzyme or ultrasonic treatment.

[A preliminary exploration into medical genetics teaching to international students].

Medical education to international students has become an important part of higher education in China. Medical genetics is an essential and required course for international medical students. However, the internationalization of higher education in China has challenged the traditional teaching style of medical genetics. In this article, we discussed current situation and challenges in medical genetics teaching to international students, summarized special features and problems we encountered in teaching Indian students, and proposed some practical strategies to address these challenges and to improve the teaching.

[Genetic modifier loci of transplanted SP2/0 tumors in mice].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Our previous study found that BALB/c mice are highly susceptible to transplanted SP2/0 tumors, whereas C57BL/6J mice are barely susceptible. This study was to detect genetic modifier loci that would influence the size of transplanted SP2/0 tumors using these two inbred mouse strains and their F2 progenies. METHODS: A total of 5x106 SP2/0 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the left hide legs of 208 F2 mice derived from BALB/c and C57BL/6J strains. At the 17th day since inoculation, all mice were killed, the number and weight of transplanted tumors were recorded. A whole genomic scan using 85 microsatellite markers covering all chromosomes of the mouse, and composite interval mapping analysis were conducted in 208 F2 mice. RESULTS: Eight loci, with the percent of the total variance explanation of > or = 10% and P value of < or = 0.01, were found responsible for tumor formation. They were mapped on Chr1 (D1Mit113, 55cM and D1Mit407, 52 cM), Chr4 (D4Mit226, 41cM), Chr9 (D9Mit302, 55cM), Chr10 (D10Mit264, 42cM), Chr11 (D11Mit115, 35cM), Chr14 (D14Mit125, 45cM), and Chr18 (D18Mit123, 31cM). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple genetic variants affect individual susceptibility to transplanted SP2/0 tumors in mice. Identification of the target loci may be helpful in conformation of the haplotype and understanding of the genes responsible for tumor susceptibility or resistance.

Identification of QTLs for weight and cross-sectional area on cervical enlargement of spinal cord in mice.

Two inbred strains of mice, A/J, C57BL/6J and F2 intercross progenies,were used for QTL mapping for weight and cross-sectional area on cervical enlargement of spinal cord in mice. 13 QTLs located on Chromosome 2, 4, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and X, respectively, for these two traits were found. Six QTLs were responsible for the cord weight, four for the cross-sectional area and three for both. Among 13 QTLs, three QTLs (P < 0.01) termed SC1 (located near D15Mit158) ,SC2 (DXMit140) and SC3 (DXMit64) accounted for 24%, 19% and 15% of the total variance in weight phenotype, and -3.78, 3.41 and 2.06 mg additive effect, respectively. The P value of other QTLs is between 0.01 and 0.05. SC1 is only one QTL that responsible for both weight and cross-sectional area in three QTLs above. This study revealed the location of major QTLs related size of spinal cord in mice, and may be helpful in fine mapping and ultimate identification of candidate genes.