The ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction induces G₂/M arrest and apoptosis in AGS cells

Zuogui Pill Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognitive Function in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Injured Rats

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a devasting cerebrovascular disease, accompanied with ischemia stroke, cerebral infarction. Zuogui Pill (ZGP), as a Chinese traditional medicine, is proved to be effective in many diseases and cancers. Our study aimed to detect the roles of ZGP in CI/R injury.

METHODS

Neural stem cells were isolated from rats and induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were applied to assess the function of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis. Rat CI/R injury models were established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. The function of ZGP on CI/R injury was identified via evaluating modified neurological severity score, infarct area, and cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Compared to the control, the cell viability was obviously decreased in the oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery (OGD/R) group, while the adverse influence on cells was reversed by cultured plus 10% ZGP serum. Consistently, ZGP attenuated the influence of OGD/R on cell apoptosis. More importantly, ZGP could alleviate CI/R injury of rats by reducing neurological damage and infarct area and promoting cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

This study provided protective roles of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis induced by OGD/R. In addition, ZGP played protective roles on neuroinflammation and cognitive function in rats.

Neohesperidin promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via BMP2-Wnt/β-catenin pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the role of neohesperidin (NH) in mice with steroid-induced femoral head necrosis (SONFH) and in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The SONFH model was established. The effects of NH on SONFH mice were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and micro-CT, while those on proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and associated pathways of BMSCs were detected by molecular experiments. Besides, the effects of NH on β-catenin nuclear translocation and the H3K27me3 abundance on the transcriptional start site of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) were also determined by immunofluorescence staining and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. Results indicated that NH not only reduced histopathological changes and improved the structures of the femoral heads of the SONFH mice but also promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mouse BMSCs, enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and upregulated expressions of osteoblast markers in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, NH was also confirmed to upregulate the expressions of genes related to osteogenesis and Wnt/β-catenin pathway of BMSCs, which, however, were all noticeably downregulated by Noggin and DKK1. Additionally, Noggin and DKK1 in combination further promoted the suppressive effect on genes related to osteogenesis and Wnt/β-catenin pathway than alone. Besides, NH induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin in BMSCs and further reduced H3K27me3-triggered enrichment of BMP2. In conclusion, NH could promote proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via BMP2-Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms Underlying Treatment of Gastric Precancerous Lesions by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) are an essential precursor in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer, known to be one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive prospect for the prevention and therapy of GPL owing to several advantages including a definite curative effect, fewer side effects compared to other treatments, multiple components, and holistic regulation. Despite these characteristic advantages, the mechanisms of TCM in treating GPL have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge with respect to herbal formulations and the therapeutic mechanisms of TCM active ingredients for GPL. This paper elaborates on the mechanisms of TCM underlying the prevention and treatment of GPL, specifically those that are linked to anti-H. pylori, anti-inflammation, antiproliferation, proapoptotic, antioxidation, antiglycolytic, and antiangiogenesis effects.

Weiqi Decoction Attenuated Chronic Atrophic Gastritis with Precancerous Lesion through Regulating Microcirculation Disturbance and HIF-1α Signaling Pathway

Aim

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), the precancerous lesions of gastric cancer, plays an important role in the stepwise process of gastric cancer. The ancient Chinese medicine believes in that Qi deficiency and blood stasis are involved in the pathogenesis of CAG. Weiqi decoction, a classical formula from Longhua Hospital, could supplement Qi and activate blood circulation of human beings and has been used for treating CAG in clinic over twenty years. The study aims to clarify the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of Weiqi decoction on CAG rats.

Methods

Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups: control group, model group, folic acid group, and WQD-treated groups at doses of 4 g/kg, 2 g/kg, and 1 g/kg, with eight rats in each group. MNNG and saturated NaCl were used to induce CAG rat with precancerous lesion (intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia). After 40 weeks, gastric mucosal blood flow was measured using Laser Doppler Flowmetry. The pathological changes of the gastric mucosa were identified by H&E staining and AB-PAS staining. The protein expression of COX-2, HIF-1α, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, Ki67, and cleaved caspase 3 in the gastric tissues was measured by western blotting approach. Gene expression of COX-2, HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, Ang-1, and Ang-2 was detected by using Quantitative PCR method. The PGE2 concentrations in serum were detected by ELISA method. The protein expression of Ki67 in gastric mucosa was also detected by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Compared with control rats, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia as well as the microcirculation disturbance of gastric mucosa were induced in the stomach of CAG rats identified by the H&E and AB-PAS staining as well as microcirculation measurement, which could be significantly attenuated by WQD treatment. Moreover, compared with the control group, the protein and gene expression of COX-2, HIF-1α, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 in gastric tissues of pylorus was obviously increased and the serum PGE2 level was significantly deceased in CAG rats, which could be significantly counteracted by WQD administration. However, the gene expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 was not significant difference between control rats and CAG rats, and WQD also had no significant effect on the gene expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2. Furthermore, the increased cell proliferation marked by upregulated protein expression of Ki67 and decreased cell apoptosis marked by downregulated protein expression of cleaved caspase 3 in stomach of pylorus in CAG rats were obviously reversed by WQD treatment.

Conclusion

WQD attenuated CAG with precancerous lesion through regulating gastric mucosal blood flow disturbance and HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Berberine hydrochloride counteracts enhanced IL-8 expression induced by SN 38 in AGS cells

IL-8 over-expression could enhance cancer metastasis. In present study, berberine hydrochloride (BER) triggered proliferative inhibition and G2/M arrest in AGS cells, down-regulated protein expression of cyclin B1, Bcl-2, up-regulated expression of p21, p53 and cleaved caspase 3, but showed no effect on protein expression of CHOP, Bip, and caspase 4. BER could down-regulate the enhanced IL-8 expression through down-regulating ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK over-activation induced by SN 38. The increased IL-8 mediated adhesive ability of AGS cells to HUVECs induced by SN 38, could be reduced by BER. Thus, BER could reduce the side-effect of SN 38 in clinic.