Osmolarity,cell volume and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between osmolarity, cell volume and cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTT method was applied to detect the proliferation ability of the poorly-differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell (CNE-2Z) under various osmolarity conditions. The flow cytometry was used to analyse cell cycle distribution. Cell volume was obtained by the image analysis of living cells and cell viability was determined by the trypan blue assay. RESULTS: Cultivation of cells under the hypertonic conditions of 370 and 440 mOsmol/L increased cell volume by 8.7% and 27.8% and facilitated cell proliferation by 22.2% and 33.9%, respectively. However, hypotonic incubation of cells with osmolarity of 160 and 230 mOsmol/L decreased cell volume by 12.8% and 4.1% and inhibited cell proliferation by 34.0% and 15.6%, respectively. Cell volume was positively correlated with cell proliferation rate. Long-term cultivation of cells under anisotonic conditions did not significantly alter cell cycle distribution, but hypotonic cultivation decreased cell viability. CONCLUSION: Proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was closely correlated with the osmolarity of culture medium and cell volume. Hypotonic cultivation may inhibit cell proliferation by decreasing cell volume to facilitate cell death mechanisms.     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by hepatocyte growth factor in vitro

AIM: To explore a new method of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Bone marrow MSC was cultured with DMEM media (10% fetal calf serum) 4-6 passages, and induced by HGF (10 μg/L) for 30 d. Automatical beating of the differentiated cells was observed daily with transverse microscopy, or under condition of 0.1% isoproterenol or cal-cium-deprived incubation. Specific cardiac myosin in the cells was indentified by immunochemistry. RESULTS: At 14-20 d of differentiation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells formed clones, in 10%-50% of which spontaneous beating cell-mass had come to continuously exist. Isoproterenol increased the beating rate and calcium-deprived media inhibited the beating. The cells were identified to be cardiomyocytes by expression of cardiac myosin heavy chain. CONCLUSION: HGF may induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes with high efficiency, but the differentiating pathway of stem cells remains to be further studied.     

Influence of Sini decoction on the proliferation and apoptosis of artery smooth muscle cells after balloon injury

AIM: To investigate the influence of Sini decoction (SND) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rabbit abdominal aorta smooth muscle cells after ballon injury and discuss the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell's (VSMCs) proliferation and apoptosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restenosis (RS) and the feasibility of SND preventing post-PCI RS. METHODS: The animal model of rabbit abdominal aorta ballon injury was set up and the therapertic group was treated with SND. The shape of proliferative and apoptotic cell were investigated by electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using α-actin,PCNA and Cyclin E monoclonal antibodies. In situ Cell Death Detection Kit was used to identify apoptotic cells. Abdomial aorta angiography was operated in the 84th day subgroup and the stenosis degree was evalued by quantitative angiographic analysis. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the therapeutic group displayed a lower proliferative percentage and a higher apoptosic percentage (P<0.05). Moreover, the apoptosic peek time was on the 14th day after operation,which was longer than the control group. CONCLUSION: SND effectly inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs and iuduced apoptosis in VSMCs.     

The mechanism of apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells

AIM: To study the signal transduction pathway of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells. METHODS: After establishing the model of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells, at the point of apoptosis initiation, molecular caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and Fas/FasL were measured with flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope. ERK2 and P38 expression in HL-60 cells were detected by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The model of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine was established in HL-60 cells. At the point of apoptosis initiation, upregulation of caspase-3 and decrease in Bcl-2/Bax were observed. However, the expression of Fas/FasL did not significantly change. ERK2 expression decreased and P38 expression increased. CONCLUSIONS: Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and mitogen activated protein kinase pathways were involved in signal transduction of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells.     

Effect of propolis on the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65 of lung tissue in acute lung injury rats

AIM: To study the effect of propolis on the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65 in lung tissue of acute lung injury (ALI) rats. METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control, model control, dectancyl group, water soluble derivative of propolis (WSP) group and ethanol extracted propolis (EEP) group. ALI animal model was performed by oleic acid and LPS twice attack. The pathologic slice was observed with light microscope and the NF-κB p65 activity and CD54 expression were tested by immunohistochemistry (SABC and SP). RESULTS: Both EEP and WSP antagonized the lung edema, decreased the inflammation and inhibited the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65. CONCLUSION: The increase in the expression of CD54 and the activation of NF-κB p65 in the lung tissues of ALI were involved in the formation of ALI. Propolis ameliorated the lung damage, which maybe related to the inhibition of CD54 expression and NF-κB p65 activation.     

Role of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase in vascular remodeling

NAD(P)H oxidase was initially found in phagocytes and it participates in the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS). Recent researches have showed that NAD(P)H oxidase also expresses in other tissues including blood vessels and it plays a critical role in vascular remodeling through ROS which are important signaling molecules in vascular cells.This article reviews the biochemical characterization, activation paradigms, structure, and function of this enzyme.     

Chloride channels of platelets

Chloride channels distribute widely in the body, and participate in many physiological actions and regulatory processes. Based on their physiological roles and molecular structures, six kinds of chloride channels have been identified: (1) The chloride channels family; (2) Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; (3) Swelling-activated chloride channels; (4) Calcium-activated chloride channels; (5) The p64 (CLIC) gene family; (6) γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine receptors. The chloride channels do exist in platelets, and their appearances are dependent on the presence of intracellular calcium. Blocking agents of chloride channels inhibit the thrombin-activated platelet aggregation and the elevation of the intracellular calcium concentration in a dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that chloride channels play a role in the activation of platelets. In addition, chloride channels act on both the cell volume regulation and the intracellular pH regulation in platelets.     

Recent advances in molecular mechanisms of oncosis

Oncosis is another form of cell death, which is different from apoptosis. The review will discuss the recent advances of oncosis on pathological morphology, nuclear biochemical changes and molecular mechanisms.     

蜱传性疾病--莱姆病螺旋体研究进展

莱姆病是一种蜱传性人兽共患病,在我国北方各省广泛流行,其病原体为伯氏疏螺旋体。莱姆病可使皮肤、心脏、关节和神经系统等多种组织器官受损。本文综述了莱姆病螺旋体的形态、种下分类、生化特征、传播媒介和贮存宿主等方面的研究进展"     

犬传染性喉气管炎病毒的分离及鉴定

用犬肾细胞 (MDCK)从疑似犬传染性喉气管炎病毒感染犬的急性期血清中分离到 1株病毒 ,经血凝试验、免疫电镜观察、中和试验、免疫荧光抗体试验、细胞培养特征观察和回归动物试验等鉴定 ,证明所分离的病毒为犬传染性喉气管炎病毒 ,命名为 BJ- JB- 3。