Protective effect of water extracts of Veronicastrum latifolium (Hemsl.) Yamazaki on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice and its effect on intestinal flora.

Liver fibrosis refers to a reversible event of repair and reconstruction following injury due to various etiologies, and its continuous development will lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Abnormal alterations in intestinal microbiota can hasten the development of hepatic fibrosis and damage. Veronicastrum latifolium (Hemsl.) Yamazaki (VLY) is a classic drug applied extensively for managing acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and ascites in ethnic minority areas of Guizhou Province, China, which possesses broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. In view of the crucial role of intestinal microbiota in the development of liver fibrosis, the present study attempted to investigate the effects of VLY aqueous extract on ameliorating CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis in mice and on intestinal microbiota and to explore its possible mechanism. Phytochemical analysis showed that VLY water extract contained a variety of components, particularly rich in organic acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids, nucleotides and their derivatives, carbohydrates and other compounds. VLY water extract remarkably alleviated CCl4-induced liver damage and fibrosis in mice, improved liver histology, and improved liver function abnormalities. VLY water extract also inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells and invasion of intrahepatic inflammatory cells. Additionally, sequencing the 16 s rDNA gene revealed that VLY water extract changed the intestinal microbiota composition in liver fibrotic mice. It elevated the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enriched the relative Lactobacillus richness, which is capable of mitigating fibrosis and inflammation in impaired liver. In summary, through modulation of inflammation and intestinal microbiota, VLY water extract can reduce the CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis.

[Effects of ST6Gal I antisense oligonucleotide-mediated gene silencing on cell adhesion and invasiveness of hela cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) targeting ST6Gal I on cell adhesion and invasiveness of human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa which over-expressed ST6Gal I . METHODS: ASODN and sense oligonucleotide (SODN) targeting ST6Gal I were designed and constructed, and transfected into a cervical cancer cell line, HeLa, by lipofectmine 2000. HeLa cells were cultured and divided into 4 groups: blank control group, liposome group, SODN group and ASODN group. RT-PCR was used to examine the ST6Gal I mRNA expression. Flow cytometry was used to examine the amount of alpha2, 6-sialylation on the HeLa cell surface. The HeLa cell adhesion and invasiveness to extracellular matrix ( ECM) were analyzed by using CytoMatrixTM kit and cell invasion assay kit, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of ST6Gal I mRNA in HeLa cells at 48 hrs after transfection in the ASODN group was significantly decreased in comparison with that in the blank control group, liposome group, and SODN group(P <0. 01). The amount of alpha2,6-sialylation on cell surface in ASODN group was significantly lower than that of the other 3 groups ( P <0. 05). The adhesion and invasiveness of the cells in the ASODN group decreased remarkably, both significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups ( all P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Specific ASODN targeting ST6Gal I effectively inhibits HeLa cell ST6Gal I expression, decreases the amount of alpha2,6-sialylation on cell surface and leads to a decline of cell adhesion and invasiveness to ECM. This result also established a fine base for further studying on anti-tumor treatment with antisense oligonucleotide.

[Combinatorial effects of ST6Gal I siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide-mediated gene silence on metastasis ability of cervical carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the combinatorial effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) on the cell adhesion and invasiveness of human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa with over-expressing ST6Gal I. METHODS: The siRNA and ASOs targeting to ST6Gal I were designed and synthesized chemically, and then with lipofectamine 2000, transferred into HeLa cells, which were cultured and divided into 7 groups: blank control group, liposome group, siRNA group transfected with ST6Gal I siRNA, ASO1 group transfected with ST6Gal I ASO whose target site is same as siRNA, ASO2 group transfected with ST6Gal I ASO whose target site is different with siRNA, siRNA+ASO1 group transfected with siRNA and its homologous ASO1, siRNA+ASO2 group transfected with siRNA and its nonhomologous ASO2. RT-PCR was used to examine the ST6Gal I mRNA expression. Flow cytometry was used to examine the amount of alpha2, 6-sialylation on the HeLa cell surface. The HeLa cell adhesion or invasiveness to extracellular matrix (ECM) was analyzed by using CytoMatrix kit or cell invasion assay kit, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of ST6Gal I mRNA, the amount of a2,6-sialylation of cell surface, the cell adhesion and invasion to ECM were remarkably decreased in siRNA group, ASO1 group, ASO2 group, siRNA+ASO, group and siRNA+ASO2 group, and all significantly lower than those in the blank control group and liposome group (all P < 0.05), especially in siRNA+ASO2 group. The difference was significant between siRNA+ASO2 group and siRNA group (all P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between siRNA+ASO1 group and siRNA group, neither between blank control group and liposome group (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The synthesized chemically specific siRNA targeting to ST6Gal I can effectively downregulate the ST6Gal I expression in HeLa cell and further lead to the decline of cell adhesion and invasiveness to ECM, and use of associating siRNA with ASO targeting to same gene but different oligonucleotide location possesses the synergy and additive effect on targeted gene expression knocked down.

[ST6Gal I siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide-mediated gene silencing lowers the invasiveness potential of colonic carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting ST6Gal I on adhesion and invasiveness of human colonic carcinoma cell line SW480 over-expressing ST6Gal I. METHODS: siRNA and ASOs targeting ST6Gal I were constructed and transfected into SW480 cells via lipofectmine 2000. SW480 cells were cultured and divided into 7 groups, namely the blank control group, liposome group, siRNA group (transfected with ST6Gal I siRNA), ASO(1) group (transfected with ST6Gal I ASO whose target site is different from the siRNA), ASO(2) group (transfected with ST6Gal I ASO targeting the same site as siRNA), siRNA+ASO(1) group (transfected with siRNA and ASO(1)), siRNA+ASO(2) group (transfected with siRNA and ASO(2)). RT-PCR was used to examine ST6Gal I mRNA expression following the treatment. Flow cytometry was used to examine the amount of alpha2,6-sialylation on SW480 cell surface. SW480 cell adhesion and invasiveness to the extracellular matrix (ECM) were analyzed using CytoMatrix kit and cell invasion assay kit, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of ST6Gal I mRNA, the amount of alpha2,6-sialylation on the cell surface and cell adhesion and invasion to ECM decreased remarkably in groups siRNA, ASO(1), ASO(2), siRNA+ASO(1) and siRNA+ASO(2), all significantly lower than those of the blank control and liposome groups (all P<0.05), especially in siRNA+ASO(1) group. Significant difference was noted between siRNA+ASO(1) and siRNA groups (P<0.05), but not between siRNA+ASO(2) and siRNA groups, or between blank control and liposome groups (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Chemically synthesized specific siRNA targeting ST6Gal I effectively inhibits SW480 cell ST6Gal I expression and leads to diminished cell adhesion and invasiveness to ECM, suggesting a combined effect of siRNA and ASO with different targeting sites.

[Effect of ST6Gal I siRNA-mediated gene silencing on the adhesion and invasion of SW480 cells].

AIM: To study the effect of synthesized ST6Gal I specific siRNA on the adhesion and invasiveness of human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 with over expression of ST6Gal I. METHODS: A double strand small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting ST6Gal I was designed and synthesized, and then transfected into SW480 cells by lipofectmine 2000. SW480 cells were cultured and divided into 4 groups: blank control group, liposome control group, non-specific siRNA group and ST6Gal I siRNA group. The expression of ST6Gal I mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and the amount of alpha-2, 6-sialylation on the SW480 cell surface was detected by flow cytometry. The adhesion and invasion of SW480 cells to extracellular matrix (ECM) were analyzed by using CytoMatrix kit and cell invasion assay kit, respectively. RESULTS: After SW480 cells were transfected for 48 hours, the expression of ST6Gal I mRNA in ST6Gal I siRNA group was significantly decreased compared with that in the blank control group, liposome control group, and non-specific siRNA group (P<0.05). After SW480 cells were transfected for 72 hours, the amount of alpha-2, 6-sialylation on cell surface, the adhesion and invasion of the cells in ST6Gal I siRNA group were markedly lower than those in the other 3 groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The chemically synthesized specific siRNA targeting ST6Gal I can effectively inhibit the expression of ST6Gal I and reduce cell adhesion and invasion to ECM in SW480 cells. Our research is important for further study of anti-tumor treatment with RNA interference.