Rat urotensin-II-induced main pulmonary artery contractions are mediated by MAPK

AIM: To investigate rat Urotensin-II(rat U-II)-induced vasoconstriction of rat main pulmonary arteries and the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK). METHODS: The main pulmonary artery was dissected from the male Sprague-Dawley rats and artery ring width was 3-4 mm. Concentration-response curves were generated to rat U-II(0.03 nmol/L-30 nmol/L).Inhibitor of MAPK, PD 98059(0.1 μmol/L-10 μmol/L) were added into the medium after rat U-II(30 nmol/L)induced vasoconstriction had reached plateau to construct the relaxant concentration-response curves and their EC₅₀ and E_max. RESULTS：Rat U-II was a potent vasoconstrictor of isolated rat main pulmonary arteries [EC₅₀=7.95±0.40, E_max=(14.28±6.34)% of the response to 60 mmol/L KCl]; PD 98059 caused concentration-dependent relaxations of rat U-II precontracted arteries [EC₅₀=5.91±0.45, E_max=(81.39±13.65)%]. CONCLUSION: Rat U-II was a potent vasoconstrictor of rat main pulmonary arteries and this response was mediated through MAPK.     

Effects of TGF-β1 and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPC)

AIM:To study the effect of TGF-β₁ and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC). METHODS:CD₃₄⁺cells were purified from fresh umbilical cord blood by immunomagnetic beads, and mononuclear cells were purified from bone marrow by Ficoll-hypaque. The effects of TGF-β₁ and /or TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of CD₃₄⁺ cells、CFU-GEMM、CFU-GM、CFU-E and BFU-E were detected by using liquid and semi-solid culture systems.RESULTS:TGF-β₁ antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E, which was as 4, 2.6, 2.7, 1.8, 2.1 times as that of the control (the cytokines combination), respectively. TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 4, 2.9, 2.6, 1.7, 1.8 times as that of the control. The above two antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines could respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 5.3, 2.1, 2.7, 1.9, 1.8 times as that of the control.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of endogenous TGF-β₁ and TNF-α by antisense PS-ODNS will be one of the effective methods to expand HSPC ex vivo.     

Effect of tea-polyphenols on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in THP-1 cells incubated with VLDL,LDL or ox-LDL

AIM:To investigate the effect of tea-polyphenols (TP) on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA in THP-1 cells (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line). METHODS:THP-1 cells were incubated with the different concentrations of TP, VLDL, LDL or ox-LDL. In the THP-1 cellls, the nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB was detected with immunohistochemistry technique, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression was detected by hybridization in situ, and accumulation of total cholesterol (TC) in cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L TP was determined with oxidase assay. RESULTS:The nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression and TC in THP-1 cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L of TP were lower than those with 0 μg/L of TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O (P＜0.05). The differences of these markers in THP-1 cells incubated with more than 40 μg/L TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O were not statistically significant, compared with TP-C group (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION:TP inhibited the activation of NF-κB, the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA and the foam cell formation in the mono-macrophage.     

Effect of fibronectin on proliferation and collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM:To investigate the effects of fibronectin (FN) on the proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFb) derived from SHR (CFb_SHR) and WKY (CFb_WKY). METHODS:CFb derived from 12-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and WKY was cultured by outgrowth of tissue block. Cell proliferation of CFb was measured by cell number counting and[³H]-TdR incorporation using 24-well plates pre-coated with 5 μg/cm² of FN. Collagen synthesis was determined by [³H]-proline incorporation. RESULTS:As compared with control, the cell number of fibroblasts derived from SHR and WKY were significantly increased to 163.75% and 170.42% respectively after 72 h incubation with FN in the presence of 0.4% FCS from a intial cell density of 1×10⁴ cells/mL. DNA synthesis of CFb was markedly promoted by FN. FN induced an increased in [³H]-proline incorporation in both CFb_SHR and CFb_WKY. CONCLUSION:FN is able to promote cell proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFb derived both from SHR and WKY.     

Bt对小地考虑呼吸作用的影响

利用红外CO2分析仪测定小地老虎幼虫呼吸节律的变化结果显示：小地老虎幼虫呼吸节律属于不规则波动型，取食含Bt烟叶的幼虫呼出的CO2量显著低于对照组，且呼吸节律的波动性也明显增大，说明小地考虑幼虫取食Bt后，呼吸代谢受到一定干扰，出现呼吸水平降低及代谢紊乱现象。     

几种除草剂药液表面张力、叶面接触角与药效的相关性研究

在除草剂氟磺胺草醚、灭草松和精喹禾灵药液中添加不同浓度的喷雾助剂ABS(十二烷基苯磺酸钠)和JFC ,以温室盆栽法测得各处理抑制杂草的效果,结果表明,在多数情况下添加喷雾助剂可使3种供试除草剂的药效显著提高。     

Influences of chronic hypoxia on the gene expression of Kv1.3,Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 induced by acute hypoxia in PASMC of rats

AIM and METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from 6th rat subcultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMC) exposed to continual chronic hypoxia or normoxia and the effects of chronic hypoxia on the changes of Kv1.3,Kv2.1,Kv3.1 mRNA in cultured PASMC induced by acute hypoxia were studied by semiquantitative RT-PCR in vitro. RESULTS:①Kv1.3,Kv2.1,Kv3.1 genes were found to be expressed in PASMC of rats exposed either to hypoxia or normxia.②The expression of Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 in 6th subcultured of PASMC in normaxia group could be upregulated by exposure to acute hypoxia,the levels of Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 mRNA were significantly increased from 0.646±0.092, 0.782±0.104 to 1.059±0.134, 0.985±0.116,respectively (P<0.01,n=5). ③PASMC cultured continuously in chronic hypoxia for 6 subcultures and then exposed to normoxia for 12 h,thereafter the expression of Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 were downregulated by acute hypoxia for 6 hours.The level of Kv2.1 mRNA was significantly decreased from 1.008±0.117 to 0.649±0.097 (P<0.01,n=5). CONCLUSION:Kv2.1,Kv3.1 genes might be oxygen sensitive genes.Chronic hypoxia might change the response of these Kv genes of PASMC to acute hypoxia and down-regulate its expression,which might probably decrease the role of Kv in HPV.     

Effects of PD98059 on the differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts

AIM: To investigate the effects of PD98059 on the differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts.METHODS: hMSC were separated from human marrow and expanded in cuture medium. hMSC were induced with dexamethasone, β-glycerophosphate, vitamin C which acted as osteoblast differentiation inducer. PD98059 was added into the osteoblasts induction medium. The cells were assayed with cell morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and calcium deposition. RESULTS: The isolated cultured MSC comprised a single phenotypic population and displayed a fibroblast-like morphology. After induced with osteoblasts induction medium, the cells showed changes in cell morphology from spindle-shape to cuboidal and polygonal. The AP activity increased gradually and reached the peak in 12 days, then decreased. Many scattered tangerice calcium nodes were observed. PD 98059 significantly inhibited AP activity and calcium deposition in a dose-dependent manner. A striking observation of the present study was that a few adipocytes appeared in cultures that were treated with PD 98059 and osteogenic differentiation medium. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that osteogenic diferentiation from the hMSCs was related to the activation of the ERK.     

Effects of Taoren Honghua Jian on the hyperlipidemia without symptom

AIM: To examine the effect of traditional chinese medicine recipe, Taoren Honghua(semen persicae-flos carthami) decoction, on hyperlipidemia without symptom. METHODS: The plasma TC, TG, LDL, HDL, apolipoprotein(Apo) A, Apo Bof the patients with hyperlipidemia without symptom were measured using automatic analyzer (shimadiu CL-7200), the production of nitric oxide(NO) was detected by Greiss reaction, and SODactivity and MDAformation were examined using o-trihydroxy benzene and barbituric methotheds, respectively. RESULTS: After oral administration of Taoren Honghua decoction, the plasma levels of TC, TG, LDL, and MDAof the patients were markedly decreased, however, the plasma levels of ApoA, HDL, SODand NOwere significantly increased and almost no change was detected in the plasma level of Apo B. In control group, it was found that although the plasma level of TC, TG and LDL were decreased ( P<0.05 ) and ApoAas well as HDLwere increased, ApoB, SOD, MDA and NO production were all unchanged. CONCLUSION: The traditional chinese medicine recipe, Taoren Honghua decoction,has a significant therapeutic effect on patients with hyperlipidemia by removing blood stasis, promoting qi circulation and in turn reducing blood lipid level.