[Respiratory infectious diseases and tissue "damage-repair" balance:pathological characteristics, treatment, and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine]

Respiratory infectious diseases are important diseases causing major public safety events, posing a great threat to life, health, and social development. Effective control and scientific treatment of the diseases is the key basis for ensuring the stability and long-term development of the community of a shared future for human health. Although the pathogens of respiratory viral infectious diseases are diverse and the process is complex, the common pathological basis of their pathogenesis is characterized by the "damage-repair" functional imbalance of the immune microenvironment of the lesions, which leads to the subsequent structural and functional destruction of important organs. Therefore, the treatment should focus on antivirus and immunological regulation, strengthen the protection against immune injury, and promote the functional repair of damaged tissues. The above conclusions are the scientific core of host-directed therapies(HDT), which coincides with "human-disease co-treatment and healthy qi and pathogen interaction" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theories. Under the support of TCM and western medicine theories, the complete pathological chain "infection-immunity-injury" of respiratory viral infectious diseases is integrated with dynamic change in "healthy qi-pathogen" in TCM to transform the treatment focus from the diseases to the patients. It is possible to fundamentally correct the "damage-repair" imbalance in the disease state, change the environment for disease development, and bring benefits to patients by strengthening human intervention, maintaining immune homeostasis, enhancing the protection of tissues and organs, and promoting the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. This study focused on the common and key pathological processes of respiratory infectious diseases, especially the immune damage caused by the viral infection, to seek effective prevention and treatment strategies, review relevant theoretical progress, summarize effective drug candidates, prospect future research and development, and highlight the therapeutic characteristics of TCM.

Effects of Shenlian extract on experimental atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice based on ultrasound biomicroscopy

Background

This study directly and dynamically investigated the effects of SL extract (i.e., a combination of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae and Andrographis paniculata extract) on plaque progression in vivo by high resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

Methods

An atherosclerosis model was established by placing a perivascular collar on the right common carotid artery in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice. Thickness, plaque area and local blood flow were observed by UBM, pathological changes were observed by histochemical staining, and lipid levels were measured by respective commercially available kits.

Results

Compared with the model group, the SL extract groups showed reduced wall thickness of the aortic arch (GC: P = 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001; LC: P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001; BC: P = 0.027, P = 0.017, and P = 0.003; respectively), which presented with retarded plaque progression of the cartoid artery with concordantly increased blood flow (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001) as visualized in vivo by UBM. Histological analysis confirmed the reduction of carotid atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

The SL extract inhibited the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in an ApoE^-/- mice model by UBM analysis, and did so by effects that ameliorated local blood flow and improved blood lipid levels.

Extract of Caulis Spatholobi, a novel blocker targeting tumor cell‑induced platelet aggregation, inhibits breast cancer metastasis

Metastasis of breast cancer is the vital step for malignant progression. During such a process, hematogenous metastasis is an indispensable approach for the dissemination of cancer cells. A platelet, contributes to hypercoagulable state, and is also identified the crucial factor in the coagulation system for supporting metastasis. Therefore, the relationship of a platelet and a tumor cell plays a critical role in tumor cell metastasis. Consequently, inhibiting tumor cell‑induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) is recongnized as a crucial target on suppression of tumor metastasis such as aspirin (ASA). Under such circumstance, here we report that, through dissociating the tumor‑platelet (T‑P) complex, 80% ethanol extracts of Caulis Spatholobi (SET) successfully alleviated the hypercoagulation state, thereby reducing tumor metastasis and improving the prospects of survival in breast cancer cell model. Through MTT and anti‑aggregation assay stimulated by ADP, we detected the optimum treatment time and the optimum dose of SET. By using confocal microscopy, we observed that SET can strongly block the formation of T‑P complex in vitro. The result was further quantified and confirmed by the FACS analysis. The fluorescent value of T‑P complex was obviously decreased in the drug‑treated groups. In vivo, 4T1 cells were injected through the mouse tail vein for dynamic visualization by small animal imaging system. The metastatic intensity was quantified and the survival curve was analyzed. Additionally, general observation and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of lung tissue was performed. SET exerted an obvious effect on the inhibition of metastasis and increasing the survival rate of mice. For the molecular mechanism study of anti‑TCIPA, zymography and RT‑PCR assay preliminarily revealed the molecular mechanism of SET in the regulation of P‑T interaction. Collectively, through drug efficacy identification and pharmacological revealing, we have obtained a promising candidate for the interference of breast metastasis by suppressing TCIPA, which will be beneficial for clinical cancer treatment.

[Antitumor components screening of Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data]

This is to report the screening, extracting and validating antitumor components and compounds from Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data. In this work, different components from Stellera chamaejasme L. were collected by HPD macroporous resin and polyamide resin column, and their antitumor activity on A549 were tested by MTT assay. Activity results indicate that activity of components at 30-39 min is more potent than that of Stellera chamaejasme L. extract, and the activity of components at 33.97 min is equivalent to positive drug, cis-platinum at 100 microg x mL(-1), but with totally different mode of action. Under the case of discrete activity, the weight analysis is capable of screening active components and compounds from natural products.

Influence of Wuji Wan in different compatibilities on colonic motility and 5-hydroxytryptamine contents in rats with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Wuji Wan in different compatibilities on colonic motility and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) contents in rats with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS).

METHODS: A rat model of PI-IBS was established by intracolonic instillation of acetic acid and restraint stress. Rats were divided into several groups. Wuji Wan in different compatibilities was given to rats in Wuji Wan groups, Pinaverium bromide tablets to rats in the positive group and water to the other two groups. BIOPAC MP150 polygraph was used to record colon motion curves and evaluate colonic motility using motility index and the change rate of the motility index. HPLC-ECD was used to determine the contents of 5-HT and the percent conversion of 5-HT in serum, colon, odobenus rosmarus, hypothalamus and frontal lobe. The number of mast cells was counted to calculate their degranulation rate by Toluene ammonia blue staining.

RESULTS: After treatment, the colonic motility index (1770.10, 1504.97, 1700.64, 1467.22 vs 2112.15) and the change rate of motility index (68.10, 40.16, 59.97, 39.33 vs 104.69) in middle- and high-dose Wuji Wan groups were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01). The content of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the colon (3493.38, 2640.41, 2086.08, 3255.63, 2688.69, 2129.13 vs 4168.36) was remarkably reduced (all P < 0.01) and the conversion rate of 5-HT in serum (3.20, 4.60, 6.61, 2.86, 3.40, 4.05 vs 2.08) was notably increased (all P < 0.05 or 0.01). In the middle- and high-dose groups, the contents of 5-HT in the limbic system (243.16, 295.03, 250.28, 303.61 vs 124.42; 303.51, 397.30, 339.94, 353.02 vs 198.58; 260.87, 302.75, 254.65, 298.92 vs 166.71) were increased (all P < 0.01) and the percent conversion of 5-HT (134.69, 98.61, 130.57, 95.87 vs 281.91; 209.43, 184.55, 189.56, 186.75 vs 262.01; 109.36, 86.52, 115.41, 88.47 vs 268.36) was decreased (all P < 0.05 or 0.01). The number of mast cells (6.40, 5.11, 6.48, 5.57 vs 10.47) and their degranulation ratio (23.81, 17.94, 23.25, 19.19 vs 34.10) were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Wuji Wan in different compatibilities exerts therapeutic effects on colonic motility in rats with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome possibly by improving the contents of 5-HT and the abnormal condition of mast cells and therefore modulating the function of the brain-gut axis.

[Effect of Shenlian extracts on blood flow and vessel pathological changes in rabbits carotid atherosclerosis model induced by low shear stress]

Lipid accumulation in the vessel wall and tunica intima vasorum pathological changes are important factors in the development of atherosclerosis, which are closely related with hemodynamics. In this paper, we established a model of local low shear stress in rabbits using carotid artery cannula and a high cholesterol diet for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The effects of Shenlian extract on blood flow, vascular pathology formation and lipid metabolism were assessed by electromagnetic blood flow meter and hematoxylin-eosin staining of the proximal end in carotid artery at different times. The results demonstrate that the relationship between blood flow and shear stress for control, atorvastatin, Shenlian extract high-dose, Shenlian extract middle-dose, and Shenlian extract low-dose were linearly related. The blood flow and the shear stress of proximal end in carotid artery of Shenlian extract (1.12, 2.24, 4.48 g x kg(-1)), and atorvastatin (4.7 x 10(-4) g x kg(-1)) were significantly (P < 0.05)increased compared with the control. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ,and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were markedly decreased with the increasing of dose and time. This study is the first to prove that the inhibition of Shenlian extract on low shear stress (LSS) induces rabbits carotid atherosclerosis with increasing blood flow and decreasing lipids and vessel pathological changes.

[Antitumor effect of alcohol extracts from Stellera chamaejasme]

OBJECTIVE

To screen the best antitumor components of Stellera chamaejasme and their sensitive cell lines.

METHOD

Sixteen different components of alcohol extracts from S. chamaejasme, including HH, H1-H8, JH and J1-J8, were got by gradient column chromatography eluted with alcohol in different concentrations. In the first screening, the solvent control group, the drug group, the positive group and the blank group were set up. Then the human cancer cell lines such as hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402, SK-HEP-1, and lung cancer A549, NCI-H157 were processed with the components, and the concentration for each drug group was 100 mg x L(-1). Thus, the 48 hour suppression ratio to the four kinds of cancer cells for each component were compared by the SRB method, to select the most inhibitive components and the most sensitive cell lines, which were used as the subjects of the second screening. In the second screening, each component including the concentration of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg x L(-1) was used to treat the sensitive cell lines and the inhibition rates to each cell line of 24, 48, 72 h by the SRB assay were detected. Also, the IC50 of each component was calculated and their main chemical composition was analyzed by UPLC-MS.

RESULT

The inhibition effect to the proliferation of the different cancer cells has great difference among 16 components, and the lung cancer cells are more sensitive to them than the hepatocarcinoma cells. Besides, the inhibition rates of JS, J6 and H8 are higher than the other components and their effect has a certain time and concentration dependence. At 72 h, the inhibition rate of each component ranges from (60.57 +/- 3.83)% to (96.66 +/- 0.51)% for lung cancer cells, and IC50 from (9.61 +/- 0.79) mg x L(-1) to (55.76 +/- 2.31) mg x L(-1). J5, J6 and H8 are the biflavonoids.

CONCLUSION

The biflavonoids in alcohol extracts from S. chamaejasme have exerted a satisfactory inhibitory effect on the lung cancer cell proliferation.