Carboplatin-Induced Thrombocytopenia through JAK2 Downregulation, S-Phase Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Megakaryocytes

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a common complication when treating malignancies with cytotoxic agents wherein carboplatin is one of the most typical agents causing CIT. Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is one of the critical enzymes to megakaryocyte proliferation and differentiation. However, the role of the JAK2 in CIT remains unclear. In this study, we used both carboplatin-induced CIT mice and MEG-01 cell line to examine the expression of JAK2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Under CIT, the expression of JAK2 was significantly reduced in vivo and in vitro. More surprisingly, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway remained inactivated even when thrombopoietin (TPO) was administered. On the other hand, carboplatin could cause prominent S phase cell cycle arrest and markedly increased apoptosis in MEG-01 cells. These results showed that the thrombopoiesis might be interfered through the downregulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway by carboplatin in CIT, and the fact that exogenous TPO supplement cannot reactivate this pathway.

Berberine Suppresses Leukocyte Adherence by Downregulating CX3CL1 Expression and Shedding and ADAM10 in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Vascular Endothelial Cells

Berberine exerts therapeutic effects in inflammation-associated diseases. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemic acute lung injury (ALI) rat model, berberine alleviated lung injury through different anti-inflammatory mechanisms; however, treatment effects on CX3CL1 expression and shedding remain to be examined. As these processes play important roles in promoting the binding of leukocytes to the endothelium, the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis and its related pathways may serve as potential targets for the clinical treatment of ALI. The anti-inflammatory effects of berberine were investigated in LPS-stimulated rats, human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and THP-1 monocytic cells. Cx3cl1 expression in rat pulmonary tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry. CX3CL1, CX3CR1, RELA, STAT3, and ADAM10 levels were examined using Western blotting. CX3CL1 and ADAM10 mRNA levels were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Soluble fractalkine levels in LPS-stimulated rats and HUVECs were examined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Berberine significantly mitigated the LPS-induced upregulation of fractalkine and soluble fractalkine in rats and cultured HUVECs. Berberine mitigated the LPS-induced activation of the NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways. In THP-1 cells, berberine mitigated the LPS-induced upregulation of CX3CR1. Furthermore, the membrane expression of ADAM10 in LPS-stimulated HUVECs was suppressed by the berberine treatment. Berberine dose-dependently inhibited the LPS-induced activation of the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis and fractalkine shedding through ADAM10. These findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of berberine on monocyte adherence to the endothelium during inflammation.

The influence of functional fitness and cognitive training of physical disabilities of institutions

According to an investigation done by Taiwan Ministry of the Interior in 2013, there was more than 90% of the disability care institutions mainly based on life care. Previous studies have shown that individuals can effectively improve physical and cognitive training, improved in independent living and everyday competence. The purpose of the study was to investigate influence of the intervention program applying functional fitness and cognitive training to disabled residents in the institution. The subjects were disabled persons of a care institution in southern Taiwan and were randomly divided into training and control groups, both having 17 subjects. The age of the subjects was between 56 and 98 years with a mean age of 79.08 ± 10.04 years; the subjects of training group implemented 12 weeks of training on physical and cognitive training, while the control group subjects did not have any training program. The results revealed that subjects of the training group have significantly improved their functional shoulder rotation flexibility of left and right anterior hip muscle group flexibility of right, sitting functional balance of left and right, naming, attention, delayed recall, orientation, and Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA). The study suggested developing physical fitness programs and physical and cognitive prescriptions for the disabled people of the institutions.

In vivo and in vitro inhibitory effects of a traditional Chinese formulation on LPS-stimulated leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression

AIM OF THE STUDY

A traditional Chinese formulation Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HLJDT on the LPS-stimulated leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression both in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HLJDT was extracted from rhizoma coptidis, radix scutellariae, cortex phellodendri and fructus gardeniae in a weight rario of 1:1:1:1. In vivo leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion was observed in rat lung after LPS stimulation (5mg/kg, i.p.) with or without HLJDT (350 or 700mg/kg, i.g.) pretreatment. The protein expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) was analyzed by immunohistochemical method. In vitro leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion was performed by examining the adhesion of THP-1cells to LPS-stimulated human vascular endothelial cells with or without HLJDT pretreatment. The VCAM-1 expression at the RNA and protein levels was investigated by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The activation of NF-κB was examined by the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by immunocytochemical method.

RESULTS

In vivo, HLJDT dose-dependently reduced the number of leukocytes adhered to endothelium and VCAM-1 protein expression in lung venules of LPS-challenged rats. In vitro, HLJDT dose-dependently decreased the number of THP-1cells adhered to LPS-stimulated endothelial cells and the expression of VCAM-1 both at the RNA and protein levels. The LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B in endothelial cells was also dose-dependently inhibited by HLJDT.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated an additional mechanism underlying the anti-inflmmatory effect of HLJDT by inhibiting the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression. The inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by HLJDT might suggest a profound anti-inflammatory consequences.

Current and strain-induced spin polarization in InGaN/GaN superlattices

The lateral current-induced spin polarization in InGaN/GaN superlattices (SLs) without an applied magnetic field is reported. The fact that the sign of the nonequilibrium spin changes as the current reverses and is opposite for the two edges provides a clear signature for the spin Hall effect. In addition, it is discovered that the spin Hall effect can be strongly manipulated by the internal strains. A theoretical work has also been developed to understand the observed strain-induced spin polarization. Our result paves an alternative way for the generation of spin polarized current.