It has been proven that Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E are the important positive regulators of cell cycle, they are closely related to the tumor proliferation. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between Brucine and the proliferation in human lung cancer cell line PC-9, and the effect of it on the expression of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for multi-drug resistance in tumors. CD133 is a known biomarker of CSCs. The aim of this study is to screen for drug-resistant differentially expressed genes in CD133+ and CD133- lung cancer cells and to identify novel lung tumor drug-resistant genes.

Triptolide (TPT), an active compound extracted from Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii , has been used in therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, after synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid arthritis (RASFs) were treated with TPT, we investigated its effect on the differentiation of Th17 cells. Firstly, the mRNA level of cyclooxygenase (COX) wad detected by qRT-PCR and the protein level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was tested by ELISA in RASFs treated with different concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 nmol L-1 ) of TPT. Then after TPT pre-treated RASFs and RA CD4 + T cells wer e co-cultured for 3 days in the presence or absence of PGE2, IL-17 and IFN-gamma production in CD4 T cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed TPT decreased the mRNA experssion of COX2 and the secretion of PGE2 in RASFs in a dose-dependent manner(P <0. 05). We further found that differentiation of Thl7 cells was downregulated in a dose-dependent manner, and exogenous PGE2 could reverse the inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation(P <0. 05). Taken together, our results demonstrated that TPT inhibited the mRNA level of COX2 and the secretion of PGE2 in RASFs, which partly led to impaired Th17 cell differentiation in vitro.

To investigate the effect of curcumin (Cur) on radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell CNE-2 and its mechanism.

To investigate the effect of Moutan Cortex on mesangial proliferation and basement membrane thickening induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

To investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine on chronic heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISO) and to observe its effects on ADMA metabolism pathway in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats.

Blueberries are an excellent source of dietary polyphenols such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. In this study, we investigated the ability of anthocyanins from the wild blueberries of Inner Mongolia to suppress the growth of the oral cancer cell line KB. The blueberry anthocyanins were extracted with methanol-containing 0.1% (v/v) hydrochloric acid. Fourteen unique anthocyanins were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The anticancer bioactivity of the extracts on KB cells was analyzed using methylthiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry (FCM) and immunocytochemistry. It was shown that the blueberry anthocyanins suppressed the proliferation of KB cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of oral cancer KB cells. Immunocytochemistry analysis showed that the expression of caspase-9 and cytochrome c were obviously increased after the anthocyanins treatment. Western blot analysis also indicated that the expression of p53 was increased. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) showed that the amount of unmethylated p53 increased, indicating that the anthocyanins can down-regulate the methylation of p53.

To explore the anti-inflammatory effect of triptolide (TPT) by regulating miR-155 in monocytes pre-stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

To construct a lentiviral expression vector for FcγRIIB and identify its expression in HT-1080 cells.

To probe matrine acting on natural killer cell (NK) activating receptor NKG2D ligands expression in CML cell line K562 and its underlying molecular mechanism.

Cisplatin-resistance in Lung cancer cells is widespread in the clinical treatment, seriously affecting the effects of the treatment of lung cancer. Therefore, the research of mechanisms of cisplain-resistance has significant meaning for developing new chemotherapeutic drug and solving the cisplain-resistance in clinic treatment. IKBKB is one of the most important catalytic subunits of IKK complexes. It plays an important regulatory role in activation of NF-κB. The aim of this study is to investigate the differential expression of IKBKB gene in human lung adenocarcinoma cells line A549 and the cisplatin-resistant variant A549/DDP and the mechanisms of cisplain-resistance induced by IKBKB gene.

In this study, the roles of hMMS2 (human methyl methanesulfonate sensitive mutant 2) gene encoding the human ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 variant 2 in the drug resistance in human colon carcinoma were investigated by using a well-differentiated human colorectal carcinoma L-OHP-resistant cell line, THC8307/L-OHP. THC8307/L-OHP cells were transfected via liposome along with plasmid pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR-MMS2 expressing both miRNA against hMMS2 and GFP, followed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence to select stable transfectants with significantly reduced hMMS2 expression. Compared with untransfected or pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP vector-transfected cells, the hMMS2-depleted cells displayed significantly (P<0.05) reduced half inhibition concentration(IC50) resistance index (RI) and colony-forming efficiency (CFE) upon treatment with oxaliplatin (L-OHP), while its relative reverse efficiency(RRE) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the control cells, indicating compromised ability of cell proliferation. Indeed, Rho-damine 123 staining and flow cytometry analyses revealed an increased rate of apoptosis in hMMS2-depleted cells while no difference in cell proliferation or apoptosis was observed between the two control cell lines. The above observations collec-tively indicate that suppression of hMMS2 reverses L-OHP tolerance in differentiated human colorectal carcinoma cells by promoting apoptosis.

To investigate the effects of cinobufagin on the apoptosis in U-2OS osteosarcomas cells (U-2OS cells) and explore its potential mechanism.

Fosmidomycin (100 micromol x L(-1)) which is the effective inhibitor of DXR, key enzyme in terpenoid MEP pathway, was used to treat with hairy roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The treated roots were harvested at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16 and 21 d, mRNA level of SmDXR and tanshinone content in treated and negative control groups were detected. Results found that, after treated with fosmidomycin, color of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots grew pale gradually comparing with controls; mRNA level of SmDXR in hairy roots varied as a shape of parabolic and the highest value achieved at the sixth day after treatment, then it decreased gradually; Content of four kinds of tanshinones were detected. Among of the four kinds of tanshinones, Tanshinone I content changed relatively little, while content of dihydrotanshinone I, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II (A) decreased gradually in 21 days. The content of total tanshinones in NC groups was 5, 63 times more than FOS-treated roots in the 21th day. The previous results showed that SmDXR played an important role in the accumulation of tanshinone content in MEP pathway. Once the mRNA level of SmDXR was suppressed, the accumulation of secondary metabolites will be significantly affected.

To study the effect of sophoridine against bone cancer pain in bone cancer pain model rats induced by W256 tumor cells and its mechanism.

In order to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of triptolide (TP) on 4T1 mice breast cancer cell line in vitro and in mouse model, as well as the possible mechanisms, we detected the effect of TP on cell proliferation by MTT assay or Crystal Violet Staining in our research. Flowcytometry combined with FITC-Annexin V/PI staining were used for detecting TP induced 4T1 cell apoptosis. The protein expression of ERalpha, p-ERalpha, ERbeta, p-ERbeta, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38, SAPK/JNK, and p-SAPK/JNK was tested by western blotting. We also compare TP with chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in 4T1 tumor bearing BLAB/c mice model, the Xenogen bioluminescence imaging, H&E, and IHC result indicated that TP exhibits an anticancer proliferation activity. As a result, TP in 100, 10, 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1), all inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 cells by MTT assay and Crystal Violet Staining. TP which concentrations is 10, 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1) could induce the apoptosis of 4T1 cells and reduce the cell proliferation. TP in 200 microg x kg(-1) could inhibit the tumor growth in vivo. The anticancer proliferation of TP was involved in its effect on reducing expression of ERalpha, p-ERalpha, ERbeta, and p-ERbeta, but nothing to do with the activation of MAPK signaling pathway.

Ginsenoside Rb1 is an active component in ginseng. Previous in vitro experiments showed that ginsenoside Rb1, could inhibit lipolysis and promote glucose transporter in adipocytes. This study focused on the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 in insulin resistance and ectopic fat deposit in obese mice induced by high fat diet and its molecular mechanism. Obese male C57/L mice induced by high fat diet were randomly divided into the diet-induced obesity group (DIO group), the ginsenoside Rb1 group (Rb1 group) and the rosiglitazone group (Rog group), and continuously fed with high fat diet. In addition, male C57/L mice fed with normal diet were selected as the normal group (NC group). Mice in Rb1 group and Rog groups were intraperitoneally injected with ginsenoside Rb1 and rosiglitazone with the dosage of 20 mg x kg(-1) and 10 mg x kg(-1), respectively. NC and DIO groups were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of saline. Two weeks later, the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed. Three days later, the mice were killed, and their serum samples were collected to detect insulin and free fatty acid (FFA). Their livers were weighed to examine the triglyceride content, and a pathological detection was performed. Epididymal adipose tissues were weighed, and PDE3B, HSL and perilipin were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the treatment with ginsenoside Rb1 for two weeks could improve the glucose tolerance of obese mice. Except for 0-120 min, the areas under the glucose tolerance curve (0-30 min, 0-60 min and 0-90 min) in the Rb1 group were less than that in the DIO group (P < 0.05, n = 5), with a much lower HOMA-IR (P < 0.05, n = 5). The fat level of obese mice was significantly reduced by Rbl (P < 0.05, n = 5), and so were liver weight/weight (P < 0.05, n = 8). The increased serum FFA of obese mice declined after the treatment of Rb1 (P < 0.05, n = 8). Rb1 could partially recover the expression of perilipin in adipose tissues, but without obvious change in the expressions of PDE3B and HSL and the phosphorylated activation. The above findings indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 could reduce the release of FFA and alleviate the ectopic deposit of triglyceride by up-regulating the expression of perilipin in adipose tissue, which may be one of its mechanisms for improving the insulin resistance and abnormal glucose metabolism of organisms.

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.

This study was purposed to explore the effects of a methylation inhibitor arsenic trioxide (As2O3, ATO) and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) on the expression of JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway in family members JAK3, TYK2 and hematopoietic cell phosphatase SHP-1 in chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 and their roles in pathogenesis of leukemia. The K562 cells were divided into 3 groups:single drug-treated group, combined 2 drugs-treated group, group without drug treatment as control. The concentration of 5-aza-CdR were 0.5, 1, 2 µmol/L; the concentration of ATO was 1, 2.5, 5 µmol/L; the concentration of combined drugs was ATO 1 µmol/L + 5-aza-CdR 0.5 µmol/L, ATO 2.5 µmol/L + 5-aza-CdR 1 µmol/L, and ATO 5 µmol/L + 5-aza-CdR 2 µmol/L. The K562 cells were treated with above-mentioned concentration of drugs for 24, 48 and 72 hours, then the total RNA of cells was extracted, the JAK3, TYK2 and SHP-1 expressions were detected by real-time quantitative-PCR. The results showed that after the K562 cells were treated with ATO and 5-aza-CdR alone and their combination, the expression of SHP-1 mRNA increased, the expressions of JAK3 mRNA and TYK2 mRNA decreased along with increasing of concentration and prolonging of time, displaying the concentration and time-dependency. The SHP-1 negatively related with JAK3 and TYK2. The effect of SHP-1 on JAK3 was significantly higher than that on TYK2. It is concluded that when the K562 cells are treated with ATO and 5-aza-CdR alone and their combination, the expression of SHP-1 is up-regulated and the expressions of JAK3, TYK2 are down-regulated in concentration-and time-dependent manners, moreover the ATO and 5-aza-CdR show synergies demethylation effect. The SHP-1 gene exert effect possibly through inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway, the JAK3 is affected more than TYK2, the JAK3 may exert more important role in TAK/STAT pathway.