The influence of Saw palmetto extract on immune function in GL261 glioma / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract (SR) on GL261 glioma in rats and immune system.Methods The 40 rats were divided into 4 groups randomly,one was the control group without tumor (n =10),the other 30 rats were given subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells and then divided into 3 groups:tumor-bearing group (n =10),low dose SR group (n =10),and high dose SR group (n =10).After 1 weeks feeded,the rats of SR groups were given the saw palmetto extract,low dose group 50 mg/kg once a day every other day and 300 mg/kg of high dose group every other day.The tumor-bearing groups received the same dose of distilled water.After 4 weeks feeding,we measured the tumor weight and the inhibition rate was calculated.The tumor cell apoptosis was detected by TdT mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining.The splenic T lymphocyte proliferation was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTF).Results (1) The SR groups compared to tumor group,the tumor weight was significantly reduced (F =62.678,P =0.000).The tumor inhibition rate was significantly higher in high dose group.(2) The apoptosis of tumor cells in tumor-bearing group was significantly less than SR groups and the apoptosis was significantly increased after treatment with SR,especially in high dose SR group (F =1.287E3,P =0.000).(3) Compared to SR groups and control group,T lymphocyte proliferation of tumor-bearing group reduced obviously.After treated with SR,T lymphocyte proliferation significantly increased and was higher in high-dose group (F =103.565,P =0.000).Conclusions Saw palmetto extract can activate T lymphocytes and induce apoptosis to tumor cells.Its function was related to SR concentration.

Regulation of saw palmetto extract on immune function in GL261 glioma / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract ( SR ) on GL261 glioma in rats and immune system.Methods:The 40 rats were divided into 4 groups randomly,one was the control group without tumor( the blank group) ( n=10) ,the other 30 rats were given subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells and then divided into 3 groups:the tumor-bearing group( n=10) ,low dose SR group( n=10) ,and high dose SR group( n=10).After 1 week fed,the rats of SR groups were given the saw palmetto extract,low dose group 50 mg/kg once a day every other day and 300 mg/kg of high dose group every other day.The tumor-bearing groups received the same dose of distilled water.After 4 weeks fed, we measured the tumor weight and the inhibition rate was calculated.The tumor cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.The activity of splenic macrophages was detected by macrophage phagocytosis of chicken erythrocytes and CD4+lymphocytes by flow cytometry.Results:①The SR groups compared with tumor group, the tumor weight was significantly reduced(F=62.678,P=0.000).The tumor inhibition rate was significantly higher in high dose group.②The apoptosis of tumor cells in tumor-bearing group was significantly less than SR groups and the apoptosis was significantly increased after treatment with SR ,especially in high dose SR group(F=1.287,P=0.000).③Compared with the blank group,the macrophage activity decreased remarkablely.SR enhanced the macrophage activity obviously, positively related to doses of SR ( F=141.205,P=0.000;F=126.903,P=0.000).④In the tumor-bearing group,the CD4+lymphocyte count decreased significantly.After SR treatment,the CD4+lymphocyte increased and were positively related to the dose of SR.Conclusion: Saw palmetto extract can strengthen the immune system.

Effect of saw palmetto extract on PI3K cell signaling transduction in human glioma.

Saw palmetto extract can induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling transduction pathway in human glioma U87 and U251 cell lines. Suspensions of U87 and U251 cells in a logarithmic growth phase were seeded into six-well plates at a density of 104 cells/well. In the experimental group, 1 µl/ml saw palmetto extract was added, while the control group was cultured without a drug for 24 h. The expression levels of PI3K, B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) and p53 were evaluated through western blot analysis. In the experimental group, the U87 and U251 cells exhibited a lower expression level of PI3K protein as compared with the control group (t=6.849; P<0.001). In addition, the two cell lines had a higher expression level of p53 protein in the experimental group as compared with the control group (t=40.810; P<0.001). Protein expression levels of Bcl-xL decreased significantly in the experimental group as compared with the control group (t=19.640; P=0.000). Therefore, saw palmetto extract induces glioma cell growth arrest and apoptosis via decreasing PI3K/Akt signal transduction.

Occlusion of middle cerebral artery induces apoptosis of cerebellar cortex neural cells via caspase-3 in rats.

AIM: Occlusion of the middle ferebral artery in rats may cause secondary injury that is not associated with middle ferebral artery feeding zone. This entity has been investigated very rarely. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HE staining method observed the changes of cerebellar cortex after MCAO operation. Electron Microscopy and TUNEL methods observed the apoptosis of neural cells of cerebellar cortex after MCAO in rats. Immunohistochemical analyses method observed the caspase-3 in neural cells of cerebellar cortex. RESULTS: The results of HE staining indicated that no ischemia-necrosis changes of cerebellar cortex tissue were observed after MCAO operation by HE staining. Further experiments by Electron Microscopy and TUNEL assay revealed that the apoptosis of neural cells of cerebellar cortex were induced after MCAO in rats. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analyses showed that caspase-3 played an important role on MCAO-induced apoptosis of neural cells of cerebellar cortex. CONCLUSION: These data showed for the first time that the role of caspase-3 in the mechanism of secondary injury of separated infarction in cerebellar cortex after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats and it might give a new treatment strategy for individuals with human ischemic stroke.

ATRA combined with IFN? to induce differentiation and growth inhibition of NB cells / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To study the effect of ATRA and IFN? on growth and differentiation of SH-SY5Y cell line and the possible molecular mechanisms.Methods The expression of TrkA mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Trypan blue exclusion was used to detect the antiproliferative effect of ATRA,IFN?and ATRA +IFN? on SY5Y cells.Morphologic changes were observed using phase-contrast microscopy.Results TrkA mRNA was upregulated by ATRA and IFN?.ATRA and IFN? could induce morphological differentiation and inhibit growth of SY5Y cells.The combination of ATRA+IFN? enhanced the induced differentiation and growth inhibition of SY5Y cells.Conclusion Synergistic effects of ATRA and IFN? on growth inhibition and inducing differentiation in SY5Y cells are observed and this may result from upregulating the expression of TrkA mRNA.