Natural Astaxanthin Improves Testosterone Synthesis and Sperm Mitochondrial Function in Aging Roosters.

Spermatogenesis, sperm motility, and apoptosis are dependent on the regulation of glandular hormones and mitochondria. Natural astaxanthin (ASTA) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. The present study evaluates the effects of ASTA on testosterone synthesis and mitochondrial function in aging roosters. Jinghong No. 1 layer breeder roosters (n = 96, 53-week old) were fed a corn−soybean meal basal diet containing 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg ASTA for 6 weeks. The levels of plasma reproductive hormones and the mRNA and protein levels of molecules related to testosterone synthesis were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the testes of the ASTA group roosters. In addition, antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging abilities in roosters of the ASTA groups were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes activities and mitochondrial membrane potential in sperm increased linearly with dietary ASTA supplementation (p < 0.05). The levels of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis factors decreased in roosters of the ASTA groups (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results suggest that dietary ASTA may improve testosterone levels and reduce sperm apoptosis, which may be related to the upregulation of the testosterone synthesis pathway and the enhancement of mitochondrial function in aging roosters.

Idarubicin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes: An in vitro molecular approach.

Idarubicin (IDA) is an anthracycline antibiotic, frequently used for the treatment of various human cancers. In vivo rodent model studies have identified a variety of possible adverse outcomes from IDA including heart effects like increased heart weights, myocardial histopathological injury, electrocardiogram abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction. Despite significant investigations, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cardiotoxicity of IDA have not been fully clarified. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of IDA on the HL-1 cardiac muscle cell. Different concentrations of IDA (10-6, 10-5, 10-4, and 10-3 M) were used at different time (6, 12, 24, and 48 h) periods, and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8); 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe method; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the oxidative stress level. In addition, we used network analysis to predict IDA-induced cardiotoxicity. The TUNEL assay, qRT-PCR, ELISA assay, and Western blotting detection of related apoptotic factors including caspase family, Bax, and Bcl-2. Overall, we found that IDA was generally more toxic at high concentrations or extended durations of exposure. At the same time, IDA can increase the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and decrease the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in cells, and increase the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the medium. Network analysis showed that the apoptosis signaling pathway was activated; specifically, the caspase family was involved in the signal pathway. The results of the TUNEL assay, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot found that IDA can activate apoptotic factors. The mechanism may be related to the activation of apoptosis signaling pathway. These results indicate that the cardiotoxic effects of IDA are most likely associated with oxidative stress and ROS formation, which finally ends in apoptotic factors' activation and induction of cell apoptosis.

Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Breast Cancer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Breast cancer is one of the common diseases among women. It is a malignant tumor with a variety of complex mechanisms. Its pathogenesis has not been clearly studied. Physical, chemical and surgical treatments often cause vomiting, nausea, dizziness and headache for women. As compared with traditional treatment, Chinese medicine is characterized by multiple targets, small side effect and good effect in treating breast cancer. In this paper, 85 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines that can treat breast cancer were included. Among them, 69 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines have been included in the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and 16 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines have not been included. The main medicinal ingredients in these Chinese herbal medicines for treatment of breast cancer were alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, terpenes, carbohydrates, volatile oils, coumarins and so on. In addition, these herbal medicines were classified according to their effects in breast cancer. Then, combined with the recent studies at home and abroad, this paper summarized the effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) on breast cancer, including the reversal of multi-drug resistance, the inhibition of metastasis and proliferation, the induction of tumor cell apoptosis, and the arrest of the cell cycle for breast cancer. This paper also explained three pathways for treating breast cancer by TCM, including intervening the tumor cell related apoptosis gene to inhibit breast cancer, inhibiting the expression of P-glycoprotein in the cell membrane to reverse the multi-drug resistance of breast cancer cells, and regulating the related epithelial mesenchymal transition signal pathway to prevent breast cancer cells metastasis and proliferation. In the end, it was concluded that Chinese medicine can reduce the drug resistance and metastasis of breast cancer cells, block the cell cycle of breast cancer cells, and also intervene the expression of apoptotic factors to promote the death of breast cancer cells. The inhibition of breast cancer by Chinese medicine was the result of the common effect of various ingredients. Therefore, Chinese medicine treatment for breast cancer has the unparalleled advantages as compared with chemical and surgical treatment. Chinese medicine is one of our important means to overcome breast cancer.

Effects of bevacizumab on morphology and apoptosis of human retinal pigment epithelial cells as well as the expression of apoptosis-related factors / 眼科新进展

Objective To investigate the effects of bevacizumab on cell morphology,apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related factors in human retinal pigment epitheliumcells.Methods Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were cultured in DMEM/F1 2 medium containing 0.25 g · L-1 bevacizumab and divided into 1-week dosing group and 2-week dosing group according to the different incubation time,respectively.Meanwhile,the control group was set up.Then,the cell morphology and apoptosis of each group were observed by light microscope and flow cytometry,accordingly.The expression levels of apoptosis-promoting genes P53,TP53INP1,Bax and apoptosisinducible gene Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results Light microscopic observation revealed that the cells in the 1-week control group and the 2-week control group showed typical epithelial cell morphology,and were in stone-like,single-layer adherent-like growth.Compared with the control group,part of the cell morphology after bevacizumab treatment changed slightly,and the cells became rounded,the cell body was elongated and the boundary was poor.The apoptotic rates of the 1-week control group,l-week dosing group,2-weekcontrol group and 2-week dosing group were (5.57 ± 1.46) ％,(6.39 ± 1.25) ％,(6.88 ± 1.10)％ and (13.34 ± 1.94)％,respectively,and there was no significant difference in the apoptotic rate between 1-week control group,1-week dosing group and 2-week control group (both P ＞ 0.05),but the apoptotic rate of the 2-week dosing group was significantly higher than that of the 2-week control group,the 1-week dosing group and 1-week control group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜0.01).RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the 1-week control group,the expression of P53,TP53INP1 and Bax mRNA was up-regulated in 1-week dosing group,but the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was down-regulated,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The expression levels of P53,TP53INP1 and Bax mRNA in 2-week dosing group were higher than those in 2-week control group and 1-week dosing group,while Bcl-2 mRNA expression was down-regulated,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of the above factors in 1-week control group and 2-week control group(all P ＞ 0.05).The protein expressions of above factors were similar to their mRNA expression.Conclusion Bevacizumab can alter the morphology of ARPE-19 ceils,increase the apoptotic rate and up-regulate the expression of apoptosis-promoting factors,but down-regulate the expression of apoptosis-suppression factors in ARPE-19 cells,which may be the reason for the loss of RPE layer in the macula after anti-VEGF therapy.

Neuroprotective effect of combining tanshinone IIA with low-dose methylprednisolone following acute spinal cord injury in rats.

The present study compared the potential neuroprotective effect of tanshinone IIA (TIIA) monotherapy, methylprednisolone (MP) monotherapy and combined treatment in an adult acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) rat model. The current study used the weight-drop method (Allen's Impactor) in the rat model and the mechanical scratch method in primary spinal cord neuron culture to determine whether the combined treatment was able to reduce the required dosage of MP in the treatment of ASCI to produce a similar or improved therapeutic effect. In vivo male Sprague Dawley rats (n=60) were randomly divided into 5 groups, of which 12 rats were selected for the sham group and T9-T11 laminectomies, leading to ASCI, were performed on 48 of the 60 rats using a 10 g ×25 mm weight-drop at the level of T10 spinal cord. Therefore, the ASCI group (n=12) included the 'laminectomy and weight-drop'. The remaining 36 ASCI model animals were subdivided into 3 groups (n=12 each group): TIIA group (30 mg/kg/day), MP group (30 mg/kg) and combined treatment group (TIIA 30 mg/kg/day + MP 20 mg/kg). Neuronal function following ASCI was evaluated using the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Levels of the anti-apoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), the pro-apoptotic factors Bcl-2 associated protein X (Bax) and caspase-3, and the inflammatory associated factor nuclear factor-κB, were analyzed by western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect caspase-3. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the anti-oxidative effect of combination TIIA and MP treatment was assessed by measuring the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in ASCI. In agreement with the experiment in vivo, primary neurons were prepared from the spinal cord of one-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats' and co-cultured with astrocytes from the brain cortex. The injury of neurons was induced by mechanical scratch and levels of apoptosis factors were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results of the current study indicated that injured animals in the combined treatment group exhibited a significant increase in BBB scores (P<0.05). TIIA + MP combined treatment and MP treatment was observed to reduce the expression of pro-apoptotic factors and promote neuron survival in vivo and in vitro. Combined treatment may promote neuroprotection through reduced apoptosis and inflammation caused by ASCI, similar to MP alone. Combined treatment reversed the decrease of SOD and the increase of MDA level caused by ASCI. In addition, combined treatment decreased the expression of caspase-3 in the neurons following ASCI in rats, as indicated by immunofluorescence double labeling. Overall, the present study indicates that the combined treatment of TIIA and MP may protect the neurons by stimulating the rapid initiation of neuroprotection following ASCI and reduce the dosage of MP in the treatment of ASCI required to produce the same or improved neuroprotective effects in vivo and in vitro.

Effects of Trastuzumab Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Clinical Efficacy and Related Index-es of Breast Cancer Patients after Surgery / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of trastuzumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on clinical effica-cy of breast cancer patients,serum angiogenic factors and apoptosis factors of breast tissue. METHODS:A total of 116 breast can-cer in patients were selected from our hospital during Jan. 2012-Dec. 2014 as research object,and then divided into control group and observation group according to random number table,with 58 cases in each group. Control group was given Carboplatin for in-jection 100 mg(added into 500 mL 5% Glucose injection after diluted into 10 mg/mL),ivgtt,200-400 mg/m2 on the first day of each chemotherapy cycle;Docetaxel injection ivgtt,75 mg/m2 on the first day of each chemotherapy cycle. On the basis of control group,observation group was additionally given Trastuzumab for injection,4 mg/kg in the first week,2 mg/kg in the 2nd-8th week,once a week,ivgtt. A treatment course lasted for 3 weeks,and both groups received 6 courses of treatment. Both groups re-ceived modified radical mastectomy 2 weeks after treatment. The levels of serum angiogenic factors and apoptosis factors of breast tissue were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment. Clinical efficacies and the occurrence of ADR were compared between 2 groups 1 year after treatment. RESULTS:Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in the levels of serum angiogenic factors and apoptosis factors of breast tissue between 2 groups (P>0.05). After treatment,the levels of serum angiogenic factors and apoptosis factors of breast tissue were decreased significantly in 2 groups,and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group,with statistical significance(P0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Trastuzumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is helpful to improve the therapeutic effect with breast cancer, prevent recnrence,and reduce the expression of serum angiogenic fac-tors and apoptosis factors of breast tissue with good safety.

Effects of overexpression of CTCF on apoptosis factors Bax and Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the effect of the over-expressed CTCF on apoptosis factors Bax and Bcl-2 in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of CTCF,Bax and Bcl-2 in MDA-MB-231. The overexpression vector of CTCF/pEGFP-N1 was constructed. The overexpression plasmid CTCF/pEGFP-N1 and the empty vector plasmid pEGFP-N1 were transfected into breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by lentivirus transfection, and the MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into CTCF group and control group. After successfully transfection of MDA-MB-231 identified by RT-PCR, real time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in MDA-MB-231 of the CTCF group and the control group. The protein levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The expression of CTCF was not found in MDA-MB-231, and expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were found in MDA-MB-231. Results of Q-PCR showed that the mRNA levels of Bax were 4.63±1.08 and 2.27±0.16 in CTCF group and control group, respectively, and they were statistically significant (t=27.50, P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were 1.39±0.14 and 3.56 ± 0.97 in CTCF group and control group, and there was significant difference between two groups(t=39.00, P<0.05). Results of Western blot assay showed that the protein level of Bax was higher in CTCF group compared with that of control group. The protein level of Bcl-2 was lower in CTCF group compared with that of control group. Results of ELISA showed that the protein levels of Bax were 15.25±2.17 and 6.24±1.78 in CTCF group and control group, respectively, and there was significant difference between the two groups (t=26.84, P<0.05). The protein levels of Bcl-2 were 4.59 ± 0.97 and 10.68 ± 1.93, and there was significant difference between the two groups (t=21.72, P<0.05). Conclusion The over-expressed CTCF can promote the expression of apoptotic factors and inhibit the expression of anti-apoptotic factors in breast cancer cells.

Effects of overexpression of CTCF on apoptosis factors Bax and Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the effect of the over-expressed CTCF on apoptosis factors Bax and Bcl-2 in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of CTCF,Bax and Bcl-2 in MDA-MB-231. The overexpression vector of CTCF/pEGFP-N1 was constructed. The overexpression plasmid CTCF/pEGFP-N1 and the empty vector plasmid pEGFP-N1 were transfected into breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by lentivirus transfection, and the MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into CTCF group and control group. After successfully transfection of MDA-MB-231 identified by RT-PCR, real time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in MDA-MB-231 of the CTCF group and the control group. The protein levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The expression of CTCF was not found in MDA-MB-231, and expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were found in MDA-MB-231. Results of Q-PCR showed that the mRNA levels of Bax were 4.63±1.08 and 2.27±0.16 in CTCF group and control group, respectively, and they were statistically significant (t=27.50, P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were 1.39±0.14 and 3.56 ± 0.97 in CTCF group and control group, and there was significant difference between two groups(t=39.00, P<0.05). Results of Western blot assay showed that the protein level of Bax was higher in CTCF group compared with that of control group. The protein level of Bcl-2 was lower in CTCF group compared with that of control group. Results of ELISA showed that the protein levels of Bax were 15.25±2.17 and 6.24±1.78 in CTCF group and control group, respectively, and there was significant difference between the two groups (t=26.84, P<0.05). The protein levels of Bcl-2 were 4.59 ± 0.97 and 10.68 ± 1.93, and there was significant difference between the two groups (t=21.72, P<0.05). Conclusion The over-expressed CTCF can promote the expression of apoptotic factors and inhibit the expression of anti-apoptotic factors in breast cancer cells.

How do Chinese medicines that tonify the kidney inhibit dopaminergic neuron apoptosis?

Wistar rats were intragastrically perfused with Chinese medicines used for tonifying the kidney. These included 0.180 g/mL of Herba Epimedii (Epimedium), Semen Cuscutae (Dodder Seed), or Herba Cistanches (Desertliving Cistanche), 0.04 mg/mL monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor selegiline, or distilled water for 14 consecutive days to prepare drug-containing serum or blank serum. MES23.5 cells in the logarithmic phase were cultured in media supplemented with 15% drug-containing serum for 24 hours, followed by incubation in culture solution containing 100 µmol/L H2O2 for 3 hours. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow tometry results showed that all drug-containing serums improved the survival rate of H2O2-injured MES23.5 cells, inhibited pro-apoptotic FasL and caspase-3 expression, promoted anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. However, drug-containing serums had little influence on Fas expression in H2O2-injured MES23.5 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that serum containing Herba Cistanches or Herba Epimedii increased the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in injured MES23.5 cells; serum containing Semen Cuscutae only increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression; while expression of the above neurotrophic factors remained the same in cells treated with serum containing selegiline. These findings indicate that Chinese medicines used to tonify the kidney can protect nerve cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related factors and neuro-trophic factors in MES23.5 cells.