[Effects and Mechanism of Yisui Lixue Decoction on Dyshaematopoiesis of Marrow Cell in Model Rats with Myelodysplastic Syndrome Induced by Dimethyl Benzanthracene]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanism of Yisui Lixue decoction on dyshaematopoiesis of marrow cell in model rat with myelodysplastic syndrome( MDS) induced by dimethyl benzanthracene( DMBA).

METHODS

The model rats with MDS were induced by the chemical mutagens DMBA,which randomly divided into normal control group,physiological saline model group,compound Zaofan pill group, low dose group and high dose group of Yisui Lixue decoction,with 12 rats in each group. The rats were treated with different drugs for one month from the 14 th day, and executed on the 31 th day. The degree of bone marrow hyperplasia,dyshaematopoiesis,IL-3 and TNF-α in serum, the expression of CD34,and the proportion of the original cells were measured in the experimental group.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal control group, the degree of bone marrow hyperplasia was hyperactive and dyshaematopoiesis was more obvious in the physiological saline model group; and in the treatment group were improved, especially in the high dose group of Yisui Lixue decoction. Compared with the normal control group, the content of IL-3 in serum was decreased and TNF-α was increased( P< 0. 01) in the physiological saline model group; the content of IL-3 was increased( P < 0. 05) and THF-α was decreased( P < 0. 05) in the treatment groups, the effects were more obvious( P < 0. 01) in the high dose group of Yisui Lixue decoction. Compared with the normal control group, the positive expression of CD34 and CD45 were significantly increased( P < 0. 01) in the physiological saline model group, and those in treatment groups were decreased( P < 0. 05),especially in the high dose group of Yisui Lixue decoction( P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSION

Yisui Lixue decoction can improve the degree of bone marrow hyperplasia, dyshaematopoiesis, elevate the expression of IL-3,reduce the expression of TNF-α and CD34 and CD45.

Optimization of Ultrasonic Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim Using Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activities In Vitro

The ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim was modeled using response surface methodology. A Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize three extraction variables, including ethanol concentration (X 1), extraction time (X 2), and ratio of aqueous ethanol to raw material (X 3), for the achievement of high extraction yield of the phenolic compounds. The optimized conditions are X 1 of 50% (v/v), X 2 of 27.5 min, and X 3 of 250 mL/g. Under these conditions, the experimental yield is 4.29 ± 0.033% (n = 3). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). And it indicates that the phenolic compounds from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim possess significant antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis reveals that the main phenolic compound in the extract product was identified as gallic acid, catechin (Cianidanol), p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, ferulaic acid, rutin, benzoic acid, and quercetin.

Crocetin induces cytotoxicity in colon cancer cells via p53-independent mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

Crocin has been proposed as a promising candidate for cancer chemoprevention. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the chemopreventive action and the possible mechanisms of crocin against human colon cancer cells in vitro.

METHODS

Cell proliferation was examined using MTT assay and the cell cycle distribution fractions were analyzed using flow cytometric analysis after propidium iodide staining. Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL Apoptosis Detection Kit with laser scanning confocal microscope. DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, while expression levels of p53, cdk2, cyclin A and P21 were examined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Treatment of SW480 cells with crocetin (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mmol/L) for 48 h significantly inhibited their proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) significantly induced cell cycle arrest through p53-independent mechanisms accompanied by P21 induction. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) caused cytotoxicity in the SW480 cells by enhancing apoptosis and decreasing DNA repair capacity in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

This report provides evidence that crocetin is a potential anticancer agent, which may be used as a chemotherapeutic drug.

Anti-idiotypic antibody (ab2) vaccines: coupling of Ab2 BR3E4 to KLH increases humoral and/or cellular immune responses in animals and colorectal cancer patients

The colorectal carcinoma (CRC)-associated CO17-1A/GA733 antigen (Ag) has been the target of a phase II/III randomized trial of passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibody CO17-1A (Ab1), and phase I active immunotherapy trials with polyclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2) mimicking the CO17-1A or GA733 epitope of the Ag. However, monoclonal rat Ab2 BR3E4 directed against Ab1 CO17-1A was superior to polyclonal Ab2 in inducing antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice and rabbits. Various forms of Ab2 BR3E4, i.e., BR3E4-F(ab')2 precipitated with aluminum-hydroxide (alum), BR3E4-F(ab')2 coupled to KLH and precipitated or non-precipitated with alum, and BR3E4-IgG in alum or incomplete Freund's adjuvant were compared for their capacity to induce in rabbits anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3) that specifically bind to the CO17-1A Ag. BR3E4-F(ab')2 coupled to KLH and precipitated with alum was shown to induce the highest Ab3 titers, followed by Ab2 BR3E4-IgG in alum. Therefore Ab2 BR3E4 as intact IgG (IgG group) or as F(ab')2 coupled to KLH (KLH group), was administered in a phase I trial to 45 patients with CRC, stage Dukes'D (UICC stage IV), with the goal to modulate patients' immune responses to their tumors. Fifteen of 23 patients in the IgG group developed Ab3 binding specifically to Ab2, and in four of these patients the Ab3 also specifically bound to Ag-positive CRC cells. Lymphoproliferative responses to Ab2 and/or GA733-2E Ag stimulation were observed in three of these patients. Eighteen of the 22 KLH group patients tested developed Ab3 and the Ab3 bound specifically to CRC cells in eight patients. Five of the 15 KLH group patients tested developed lymphoproliferative responses to Ab2 and/or GA733-2E Ag. Thus, there was a trend for the KLH group demonstrating higher immune response rates than the IgG group. Clinical responses were rare in these patients with liver metastases.

[The effects of lipopolysaccharide and anti-inflammatory drugs on nuclear factor-kappa B in pulmonary intravascular macrophage]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate activation of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-kappa B) in pulmonary intravascular macrophage (PIM) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and effects of anti-inflammatory drugs dexamethasone (DEX) and aspirin (ASA) on the process.

METHODS

PIMs isolated from three healthy pigs were cultured and divided into four groups: Control group; LPS- stimulated group; DEX- or ASA-treated group. The NF-kappa B activity of nuclear protein extract from the PIMs and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the supernatant were measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA), respectively.

RESULTS

The activity of NF-kappa B significantly increased from 0.5 hr to 4 hr after LPS stimulation (P < 0.01); The level of TNF-alpha in the supernatant elevated markedly from 1 hr to 2 hr after LPS stimulation (P < 0.01); positive correlation was found between the NF-kappa B activity and the TNF-alpha concentration at 1 hr after LPS stimulation (r = 0.991, P < 0.01). Compared with LPS-stimulated group, both NF-kappa B activity and TNF-alpha concentration were significantly lowered in DEX- or ASA-treated groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

LPS might activate NF-kappa B in the PIMs, and induce the increase of transcription and expression of TNF-alpha gene; Both DEX and ASA could inhibit the activation of NF-kappa B and reduce the release of TNF-alpha.