DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 is an innate guardian for human squamous cell carcinoma and an molecular vector for anti-carcinoma effect of 1,25(OH)2 D3.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. While its exact tumorigenesis mechanisms is far from well-established and less satisfied therapeutic strategy can be clinically used nowadays. In this study, we intended to investigate the role of DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) in human SCC. Firstly, we identified DDIT4 is significantly suppressed in human SCC tissue and cultured A431 cell line, and reduced DDIT4 accelerates keratinocytes proliferation but impedes the autophagy flux through mTORC1 pathway by affecting the downstream S6 Kinase1, 4E-BP1, Beclin1 and LC3 II/I. While 1,25(OH)2 D3 enhanced DDIT4 expression and activated autophagy and inhibit mTORC1 to take the effect of anti-proliferation and activating autophagy. Further, formation of direct vitamin D receptor (VDR)-DDIT4 transcription complex was verified by ChIP-qPCR, which showed the molecular mechanism of how 1,25(OH)2 D3 promotes DDIT4 transcription. Thirdly, xenograft tumor-bearing mice model treated by gradient concentrations of 1,25(OH)2 D3 revealed the obvious anti-carcinoma effect of 1,25(OH)2 D3 in vivo and DDIT4 acted the molecular vector of 1,25(OH)2 D3 through mTORC1. Lastly, elevated DDIT4 expression was verified in human actinic keratoses tissue, and chronic long-term ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on mouse disclosed UV could promote DDIT4 expression inside epidermis. Conclusively, our research suggested a novel molecular mechanism about the human SCC tumorigenesis and the pharmacological mechanism about how 1,25(OH)2 D3 take its anti-carcinoma role on human SCC, as well as a striking paradoxes that how UV irradiation plays the tumorigenesis effect but synchronously take a protective role in the early stage of SCC carcinogenesis.

Neuronostatin attenuates myocardial contractile function through inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase in murine heart.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neuronostatin, derived from the somatostatin preprohormone, was recently identified to be produced by several tissues exerting a role in cardiovascular regulation and metabolism. Nonetheless, the precise mechanism behind neuronostatin-elicited myocardial responses remains elusive. METHODS: This study was designed to elucidate the impact of neuronostatin on cardiac contractile function and the underlying mechanism of action involved. Adult male C57 BL/6 mice were subjected to a bolus injection of neuronostatin (50 µg/kg, i.p.). Echocardiographic, cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca2+ handling properties were monitored to evaluate the effect of neuronostatin on cardiac function. Western blot analysis was used to examine potential signaling mechanisms involved. RESULTS: Neuronostatin administration suppressed myocardial and cardiomyocyte contractile function and disturbed intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. We observed enlarged LVESD (with unchanged LVEDD), reduced fractional shortening, depressed peak shortening, maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening, resting and electrically-stimulated rise in intracellular Ca2+, and prolonged relengthening duration in hearts from neuronostatin-treated mice. These effects were accompanied by downregulation of phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+- ATPase (SERCA) and phospholamban (PLB) and activation of AMPK. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the cardiac depressant properties of neuronostatin possibly associated with loss of SERCA phosphorylation and AMPK activation. These findings revealed a potent inhibitory capacity for neuronostatin on cardiac function, the physiological relevance of which deserves further study.

Tumour necrosis factor-α inhibition with lenalidomide alleviates tissue oxidative injury and apoptosis in ob/ob obese mice.

Lenalidomide (Revlimid; Selleck Chemicals, Houston, TX, USA), an analogue of thalidomide, possesses potent cytokine modulatory capacity through inhibition of cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a cytokine pivotal for the onset and development of complications in obesity and diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of lenalidomide on oxidative stress, protein and DNA damage in multiple organs in an ob/ob murine model of obesity. To this end, C57BL/6 lean and ob/ob obese mice were administered lenalidomide (50 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 5 days. Oxidative stress, protein and DNA damage were assessed using the conversion of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG), carbonyl formation and Comet assay, respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated using caspase 3 activity, and levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Bip, caspase 8, caspase 9 and TNF-α were assessed using western blot analysis. Lenalidomide treatment did not affect glucose clearance in lean or ob/ob mice. Obese mice exhibited a reduced GSH/GSSG ratio in the liver, gastrocnemius skeletal muscle and small intestine, as well as enhanced protein carbonyl formation, DNA damage and caspase 3 activity in the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and intestine; these effects were alleviated by lenalidomide, with the exception of obesity-associated DNA damage in the liver and kidney. Western blot analysis revealed elevated TNF-α, Bax, Bcl-2, Bip, caspase 8 and caspase 9 in ob/ob mice with various degrees of reversal by lenalidomide treatment. Together, these data indicate that lenalidomide protects against obesity-induced tissue injury and protein damage, possibly in association with antagonism of cytokine production and cytokine-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Chrysin inhibits metastatic potential of human triple-negative breast cancer cells by modulating matrix metalloproteinase-10, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Chrysin, a naturally occurring flavone, has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in various cancers. However, the effect and mechanisms of chrysin on cancer metastasis are still enigmatic. In this study, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines were used to evaluate the antimetastatic activity of chrysin. The results showed that chrysin (5, 10 and 20 µM) significantly suppressed TNBC cell migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Human matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) antibody array demonstrated that MMP-10 was downregulated by chrysin, which was further verified by Western blotting and ELISA. Moreover, it was shown that chrysin induced increased E-cadherin expression and decreased expression of vimentin, snail and slug in TNBC cells, suggesting that chrysin had a reversal effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition. More importantly, it was demonstrated that inhibiting the Akt signal pathway might play a central role in chrysin-induced antimetastatic activity by regulating MMP-10 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, our study indicates that chrysin exerts antimetastatic activities in TNBC cells, which suggests that chrysin might be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Mangiferin exerts antitumor activity in breast cancer cells by regulating matrix metalloproteinases, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Although mangiferin which is a naturally occurring glucosylxanthone has exhibited promising anticancer activities, the detailed molecular mechanism of mangiferin on cancers still remains enigmatic. In this study, the anticancer activity of mangiferin was evaluated in breast cancer cell line-based in vitro and in vivo models. We showed that mangiferin treatment resulted in decreased cell viability and suppression of metastatic potential in breast cancer cells. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that mangiferin induced decreased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 and -9, and reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, it was demonstrated that mangiferin significantly inhibited the activation of ß-catenin pathway. Subsequent experiments showed that inhibiting ß-catenin pathway might play a central role in mangiferin-induced anticancer activity through modulation of MMP-7 and -9, and EMT. Consistent with these findings in vitro, the antitumor potential was also verified in mangiferin-treated MDA-MB-231 xenograft mice where significantly decreased tumor volume, weight and proliferation, and increased apoptosis were obtained, with lower expression of MMP-7 and -9, vimentin and active ß-catenin, and higher expression of E-cadherin. Taken together, our study suggests that mangiferin might be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against breast cancer.

Inverse androgenic alopecia.

A man in his 50s presented to our clinic with obvious progressive hair thinning in the occipital area below the creeping alopecia crown vertex accompanied by the typical Hamilton-Norwood pattern of male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) hair loss. Based on his clinical features, trichoscopy findings and histological features, as well as his good response to conventional anti-MAGA therapeutic drugs, such as finasteride and minoxidil, a novel isotype of MAGA, named inverse-MAGA, was first identified, and this isotype should be widely evaluated in future studies.

Cloves Regulate Na+-K+-ATPase to Exert Antioxidant Effect and Inhibit UVB Light-Induced Skin Damage in Mice.

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry) on the mouse skin using a UVB-induced skin injury mouse model. The serum, liver, and skin indexes of mice were determined by kits, H&E tissue staining, and qPCR assay. The compound composition of cloves was determined by HPLC. The results showed that cloves increased the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in the skin and then maintained the sodium and potassium pump in the damaged skin muscle membrane. Cloves alleviated the oxidative stress injury induced by UVB irradiation by normalizing the related oxidative stress indexes (T-SOD, CAT, AGEs, and H2O2) in serum and skin. Inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 and increased activation of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 occurred after treatment with cloves, which ultimately reduced the inflammatory damage to the body. Further results showed that cloves upregulate SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GSH, IL-10, IκB-α, AMPK, SIRT1, LKB1, PGC-1α, APPL1, and FoxO1 and downregulate NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-6, and mTOR mRNA expression in the skin tissues of UVB-damaged mice. The results of composition analysis showed that the five most abundant compounds in cloves are rutin, isoquercitrin, ferulic acid, dihydroquercetin, and quercitrin. Cloves regulate the skin sarcomembrane Na+-K+-ATPase through these five compounds, and because they regulate the oxidation, inflammation, and ATP energy consumption of the body, they subsequently protect the skin from UVB damage.

A pilot study of minimal invasion combined PDL/Nd:YAG laser in treating facial epidermoid cyst.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and complication of minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser and traditional surgical excision in the treatment of facial epidermoid cyst. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with facial epidermoid cyst aged from 16 to 65 years and cyst diameter ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 cm were treated and followed up. Patients were divided into the minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser treatment group and traditional surgical excision group. All patients were followed up for 12 months including scar size, recurrence rate, incidence of complications, and patient global satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean operative time in the minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser treatment was 15.23 ± 7.02 minutes, which is significantly shorter than that of surgical excision (27.26 ± 10.12 minutes, P < .05). After 12 months, the average scar size in minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser group was 0.54 ± 0.35 cm, while that of traditional surgical excision group was 1.77 ± 0.81 cm (P < .05). No statistical difference was found between two groups in the wounds split, hematoma, early and late recurrence rates (P > .05), while the patients' global satisfaction in the pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser group is much higher than that of the traditional surgical excision group. CONCLUSION: The treatment of minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser is effective and safe for medium-size facial epidermoid cysts. For facial epidermoid cyst ranging for 0.3 cm to 3.0 cm, considering the cosmetic factors, minimal invasion and combined pulsed dye laser/Nd:YAG laser should be particularly recommended.

[Inhibitiory action of asiaiticoside on collagen-induced arthritis in mice].

The study is to investigate the effect of asiaticoside on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The model of CIA mice was prepared and the change of secondary paw swelling and the arthritis scores were observed. In vitro proliferation of spleen cells was examined using MTT assay. The cell-free protein extracts from the arthritic joints and nonarthritic joints were used for the analysis of protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). And the level of PGE2 in joints was assayed using PGE2 express EIA kit. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the serum were measured by ELISA. Histopathological examination was performed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain method. Asiaticoside (10, 20 and 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 22 d, ig) significantly reduced paw swelling, and decreased the arthritis scores. There was a significant reduction in proliferation of spleen cells of CIA mice treated with asiaticoside as compared with that of untreated CIA mice. COX-2, PGE2, TNF-alpha and IL-6 production in CIA mice were inhibited by asiaticoside. Meanwhile, the pathological examination showed that articular cartilage degeneration with synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cells infiltration in CIA mice was suppressed by asiaticoside. Its active mechanism may be related to inhibiting proliferation of lymphocyte and reduction of expression of COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines.

Metformin attenuated endotoxin-induced acute myocarditis via activating AMPK.

Metformin is a widely used anti-diabetic drug and increasing evidence suggests that metformin have profound cardioprotective effects under both diabetic and non-diabetic situations. The protective benefits of metformin have been proved in diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications and in experimental animals with myocardial infarction and cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study, we found that treatment with metformin inhibited the cardiac expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in endotoxin-challenged mice. Treatment with metformin also alleviated the histological abnormalities in the heart, suppressed the upregulation of myeloperoxidase (MPO), decreased the elevation of creatinine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Treatment with metformin promoted the phosphorylation of the catalytic α subunit of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPKα), co-administration of AMPK inhibitor suppressed the stimulatory effects of metformin on AMPKα phosphorylation. Meanwhile, the suppressive effects of metformin on MPO, TNF-α, CK-MB and BNP were reversed by the AMPK inhibitor. On the contrary, administration of AMPK activator mimicked the effects of metformin on AMPKα phosphorylation, MPO upregulation, CK-MB release and BNP elevation. These evidence suggested that metformin might provide beneficial effects in endotoxin-induced acute myocarditis via activating AMPK-dependent anti-inflammatory mechanism.

[Progress of the study on endotoxin tolerance mechanisms].

Endotoxin tolerance has been attracted for more than 50 years, but so far its molecular mechanisms remain to be resolved. TLR4, the major receptor for LPS, was found to be involved in LPS signaling transduction and to have a close relationship with endotoxin tolerance. Quantitative, structural and functional changes of receptors, adaptor proteins and transcription factors in TLR4 signaling pathways might have effects on the decrease in proinflammatory cytokines, increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines and activation of special signaling pathways (such as PI3K pathways) as well as some negative regulation factors (SHIP1,SOCS, FLN29, et al) during the development of endotoxin tolerance. Furthermore, TLR2, Gi protein, PKC and several selective splicing isoforms are involved in endotoxin tolerance. So endotoxin tolerance is a complicated pathophysiological process caused by diverse reasons and involved in many biological substances. It is also an important protective mechanism of human body infected with G- bacteria. Exploring the mechanism of endotoxin tolerance, seeking endogenous protective mechanism of human body would provide new theory and new ways to overcome series of fatal infective diseases including sepsis.

Treatment of axillary bromhidrosis through a mini-incision with subdermal vascular preservation: a retrospective study in 396 patients.

BACKGROUND: Axillary bromhidrosis is a condition presenting as malodor caused by an interaction between the discharge of apocrine glands and bacteria. Topical agents, liposuction, and elective surgery are currently the main therapeutic modalities. However, the efficiency of these treatments and incidences of side effects are various and frequent, and depend on patient characteristics, surgical technique, and other unknown factors. METHODS: We report a retrospective study of outcomes in 396 patients treated by mini-incision with subdermal vascular preservation. RESULTS: At 2 years postoperatively, 87.1% of patients had achieved very satisfactory results. Short-term side effects included hematomas, epidermal erosions, infections, necrosis, incision dehiscence, and skin ripples. Long-term side effects comprised comedones, epidermoid cysts, relapsing cyst infections, skin gauffers, scars, keloids, and persistent malodor. Some patients reported unsatisfactory cosmetic results, including skin gauffers, scars, or epidermoid cyst formations. CONCLUSIONS: Two discrete aspects of the procedure that must be considered are the extent of apocrine gland clearance, which must be thorough in order to achieve the resolution of malodor, and the maintenance of an intact subdermal vascular plexus to support the regrowth of skin flaps after surgery and to avoid the occurrence of severe side effects.

Portulaca oleracea L. aids calcipotriol in reversing keratinocyte differentiation and skin barrier dysfunction in psoriasis through inhibition of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

Psoriasis affects 2-4% of the population worldwide and its treatment is currently far from satisfactory. Calcipotriol and Portulaca oleracea have been reported to exhibit the capacity to inhibit inflammation in psoriatic patients and improve their clinical condition. However, the efficacy of a combination regimen of these two components remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the therapeutic efficacy of P. oleracea extract combined with calcipotriol on plaque psoriasis and its potential mechanism. Eleven patients with plaque psoriasis were treated with humectant containing the active ingredients of P. oleracea extract, with or without 0.005% calcipotriol ointment in a right-left bilateral lesion self-control study. Differences were evaluated by investigation of the clinical efficacy, adverse effects, skin barrier function, histological structure, expression and proliferation of keratinocytes, differentiation markers (cytokeratin 10, filaggrin and loricrin), inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8], as well as the status of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. The combination of P. oleracea and calcipotriol was revealed to decrease adverse effects, reduce transepidermal water loss, potently reverse keratinocyte differentiation dysfunction, and inhibit the expression of TNF-α and IL-8 and the phosphorylation of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. This treatment is therefore anticipated to be suitable for use as a novel adjuvant therapy for psoriatic patients.

Paraquat-induced reactive oxygen species inhibit neutrophil apoptosis via a p38 MAPK/NF-κB-IL-6/TNF-α positive-feedback circuit.

Paraquat (PQ), a widely used herbicide and potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer, can injure multiple tissues and organs, especially the lung. However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. According to previous reports, neutrophil aggregation and excessive ROS production might play pivotal pathogenetic roles. In the present study, we found that PQ could prolong neutrophil lifespan and induce ROS generation in a concentration-independent manner. Activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK), and myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1) but not Akt signaling pathways were involved in this process, as well as increasing levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1ß. Furthermore, the proinflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNF-α could in turn promote ROS generation, creating a vicious cycle. The existence of such a feedback loop is supported by our finding that neutrophil apoptosis is attenuated by PQ in a concentration-independent manner and could partially explain the clinical dilemma why oxygen therapy will exacerbate PQ induced tissue injury.

Antinociceptive effect of tetrandrine on LPS-induced hyperalgesia via the inhibition of IKKß phosphorylation and the COX-2/PGE2 pathway in mice.

Tetrandrine (TET) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid that is isolated from the Stephania Tetrandra. It is known to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. We have shown that TET can effectively suppress the production of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenases (COXs), in macrophages. However, whether TET has an antinociceptive effect on LPS-induced hyperalgesia is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the potential antinociceptive effects of TET and the mechanisms by which it elicits its effects on LPS-induced hyperalgesia. LPS effectively evoked hyperalgesia and induced the production of PGE2 in the sera, brain tissues, and cultured astroglia. TET pretreatment attenuated all of these effects. LPS also activated inhibitor of κB (IκB) kinase ß (IKKß) and its downstream components in the IκB/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, including COX-2; the increase in expression levels of these components was significantly abolished by TET. Furthermore, in primary astroglia, knockdown of IKKß, but not IKKα, reversed the effects of TET on the LPS-induced increase in IκB phosphorylation, P65 phosphorylation, and COX-2. Our results suggest that TET can effectively exert antinociceptive effects on LPS-induced hyperalgesia in mice by inhibiting IKKß phosphorylation, which leads to the reduction in the production of important pain mediators, such as PGE2 and COX-2, via the IKKß/IκB/NF-κB pathway.

Naringin inhibits growth potential of human triple-negative breast cancer cells by targeting ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Triple-negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer (TNBC) is a severe clinical problem because of its relatively poorer prognosis, aggressive behavior and lack of targeted therapies. Naringin, a major flavonoid extracted from citrus fruits, has been reported to exert promising anticancer activities. However, the detailed antitumor mechanism of naringin still remains enigmatic. In this study, TNBC cell lines-based in vitro and in vivo models were used to explore the anticancer effect and mechanism of naringin. Our data demonstrated that naringin inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis and G1 cycle arrest, accompanied by increased p21 and decreased survivin. Meanwhile, ß-catenin signaling pathway was found to be suppressed by naringin. In contrast, over-expressing ß-catenin by adenoviral vector system in TNBC cells reversed the antitumor activity of naringin, and regulated p21 and survivin. Correspondingly, the antitumor potential of naringin was also observed in naringin-treated MDA-MB-231 xenograft mice, while immunohistochemical analysis of tumors from naringin-treated mice showed higher expression of p21 and lower expression of survivin and active ß-catenin. Taken together, these results indicate that naringin could inhibit growth potential of TNBC cells by modulating ß-catenin pathway, which suggests naringin might be used as a potential supplement for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome presenting with general neurodermatitis: factitious purpura or psychophysiological entity?

Autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome (AES) is a disorder characterized by recurrent, spontaneous, painful bruising in patients with underlying psychosis and neurosis. Its pathogenesis is uncertain. Purpuric lesions reproduced by injections of washed autologous erythrocytes suggest an autoimmune etiology. The authors described a 50-year-old woman who presented with recurrent episodes of painful bruising for 8 months, along with a 2-year history of general chronic neurodermatitis. A diagnosis of AES was made on the basis of the clinical symptoms and laboratory examinations results: the positive autoerythrocyte sensitization test and psychophysiologic derangement. However, the noticeable symptoms, simultaneously identical distribution of the ecchymosis and neurodermatitis lesions, as well as concomitant symptom of itching over the ecchymosis, created doubts regarding the real etiopathogenesis of the ecchymosis and whether the ecchymosis in the present patient were just factitious purpura. The authors discuss the rarity of this case, which to the authors' knowledge, had not been previously reported in the literature.

Protective effects of Asiaticoside on acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine in mice.

Asiaticoside (AS), a triterpenoid product isolated from Centella asiatica, has been described to exhibit anti-in fl ammatory activities in several inflammatory models. However, the effects of AS on liver injury are poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether AS is efficacious against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) /D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced acute liver injury in mice and its potential mechanisms. AS (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/d) was pretreated orally once daily for 3 days before LPS/D-GalN injected in mice. The mortality, hepatic tissue histology, plasma levels of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatic tissue TNF-alpha and caspase-3 activity were measured. Besides, western blotting analysis of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (phospho-p38 MAPK), phospho-c-jun N-terminal kinase (phospho-JNK) and phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase (phospho-ERK) were determined. As a result, AS showed significant protection as evidenced by the decrease of elevated aminotransferases, hepatocytes apoptosis and caspase-3, alleviation of mortality and improvement of liver pathological injury in a dose-dependent manner. Further, we found that AS dose-dependently reduced the elevation of phospho-p38 MAPK, phospho-JNK, phospho-ERK protein and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in liver tissues and plasma TNF-alpha. These results suggest that AS has remarkable hepatoprotective effects on LPS/D-GalN-induced liver injury and the possible mechanism is related to inhibition of TNF-alpha and MAPKs.

Tetrandrine attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced fulminant hepatic failure in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) remains an extremely poor prognosis and high mortality; better treatments are urgently needed. Tetrandrine (TET), a traditional anti-inflammatory drug, has been reported to exhibit hepatoprotective activities in several liver injury models. We now investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of TET on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced FHF in mice. TET (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally 1h before LPS/D-GalN injection in mice. The mortality and liver injury was evaluated subsequently. The results showed that administering TET to mice reduced mortality and improved liver injury induced by LPS/D-GalN in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, TET dose-dependently inhibited LPS/D-GalN-induced NF-kappaB activation, serum and hepatic tissues tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production, caspase-3 activation and hepatocellular apoptosis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (ECAM-1) expression. Our experimental data indicated that TET might alleviate the FHF induced by LPS/D-GalN through inhibiting NF-kappaB activation to reduce TNF-alpha production.

Madecassoside attenuates inflammatory response on collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice.

Madecassoside (MA), a triterpenoid product isolated from Centella asiatica, has been described to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was undertaken to determine whether madecassoside (MA) is efficacious against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice and its possible mechanisms. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen and treated with MA (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg d, i.g.) from days 21 to 42 after immunization. Arthritis was evaluated by hind paw swelling, polyarthritis index, and histological examination. In vitro proliferation of spleen cells was examined using 3-[4,5-dimethylthylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Plasma levels of cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the expression of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in synovial tissues were also determined. The results showed that comparing with untreated CIA mice, treated with MA dose-dependently suppressed the clinical arthritis score and joints tissues pathological damage, reduced the proliferation of spleen cells, plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, synovial tissues PGE(2) production and COX-2 protein expression, however, the expression of COX-1 in synovial tissues did not change and the plasma levels of IL-10 were increased. These results suggest that MA can effectively alleviate inflammatory response on CIA, and anti-inflammatory effects of MA can be attributed, at least partially, to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, including COX-2 expression, PGE(2) production, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels and the up-regulation anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10.