[Effect of Ju-Pi-Tang on Cisplatin-induced Emetic Model in Minks].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antiemetic effect of Ju-Pi-Tang from Jin Kui Yao Lue on cisplatin-induced emetic model in minks, and to observe the immunoexpression of peripheral and central c-fos and substance P. METHODS: The minks were randomly divided into blank control group, Ju-Pi-Tang blank control group, model group, ondansetron group, aprepitant group, Ju-Pi-Tang (in high-, mid-, and low-dose) groups. Every group was administered with the antiemetic agent or distilled water on 24 h before cisplatin injection. The antiemetic effect of drugs was investigated in the emetic model of minks induced by cisplatin in 72 h observation. Immunohistochemistry was used to compare the differences of c-fos and substance P expression in the area postrema of brain and distal ileum tissues. RESULTS: During observation period,compared with model group,the frequency cisplatin induced retching and vomiting was significantly reduced by Ju-Pi-Tang in high- and mid-dose groups, during the 0-24 h acute period, the number of retching of Ju-Pi-Tang in high-dose group was decreased more than aprepitant group, during the 24-72 h delayed period, the number of both retching and vomiting was decreased more than ondansetron group, after 72 h of cisplatin administration, compared with model group, the grey levels of c-fos and substance P expression in distal ileum and brain tissues of Ju-Pi-Tang groups were higher significantly. CONCLUSION: Ju-Pi-Tang has a good effect against cisplatin-induced emesis in minks.

Key roles of Rho GTPases, YAP, and Mutant P53 in anti-neoplastic effects of statins.

Emerging epidemiological and preclinical studies have focused on statins and mevalonate pathway to identify potential therapeutic target and clarify the underlying mechanism of the anti-neoplastic effects. Reductions of mevalonate or isoprenoids, caused by statins, would further decrease the isoprenylation of Rho GTPases which is the crucial step for Rho GTPases to anchor on inner cellular membrane. Following anchoring, activated Rho GTPases can mediate a series of cellular activities such as cytoskeleton reprogramming, front-rear polarity, and cell-ECM adhesion. These changes not only facilitate tumor cell detachment and migration but also bring great mechanical changes to directly activate YAP, the major nuclear mechanotransducer, to translocate into nucleus. Recently, statins have been identified as potent inhibitors of YAP. Once entering nucleus, YAP would combine TEADs to promote the transcription of about 100 genes, which are involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, stemness, invasion, and metastasis. Besides, statins are able to promote the degradation of misfolded mutant p53 (mutp53), which is an oncogene in a variety of human malignancies. Reduction in mevalonate-5-phosphate (MVP), also induced by statins, would impair the stability of DNAJA1-mutp53 complex; then, elevated C terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) mediates the nuclear export and degradation of misfolded mutp53 through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It is worth noted that YAP, mutp53, and mevalonate pathway form two positive feedback loops. It is reasonable to believe that Rho GTPases, YAP, and mutp53 are determinants for statins as anti-cancer agents: tumor cells harboring mutp53 and nuclear-located YAP would be more sensitive to statins.

Gingerol inhibits cisplatin-induced vomiting by down regulating 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and substance P expression in minks.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antiemetic effect of gingerol and its multi-targets effective mechanism on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and substance P (SP). The antiemetic effect of gingerol was investigated on a vomiting model of mink induced by cisplatin (7.5 mg . kg(-1), i.p.) in 6 h observation. The levels of 5-HT, DA and distribution of substance P in the area postrema and ileum were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and immunohistochemistry respectively. The frequency of cisplatin induced retching and vomiting was significantly reduced by pretreatment with gingerol in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Cisplatin produced a significant increase in 5-HT and DA levels in the area postrema and ileum of minks (P<0.05), and this increase was significantly inhibited by gingerol in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Substance P-immunoreactive was mainly situated in the mucosa and submucosa of ileum as well as in the neurons of area postrema, and gingerol markedly suppressed the increase immunoreactivity of substance P induced by cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Gingerol has good activity against cisplatin-induced emesis in minks possibly by inhibiting central or peripheral increase of 5-HT, DA and substance P.

Value of mink vomit model in study of anti-emetic drugs.

AIM: To establish a new, reliable vomit model of minks. METHODS: Adult male minks were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=6): cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group, copper sulfate (40 mg/kg) intragastric injection (i.g.) group, apomorphine (1.6 mg/kg) subcutaneous injection (s.c.) group, and 18 Gy whole-body X-irradiation group, ondansetron injection group (2 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min later followed by cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) i.p., normal saline (NS) i.p. injection control group, metoclopramide injection group (4 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min later followed by apomorphine (1.6 mg/kg) s.c., NS i.g. control group. The frequency of retching and vomiting was calculated. After behavioral experiment, distribution of 5-HT in the ileum was detected by immunohistologic method. RESULTS: Cisplatin, apomorphine, copper sulfate and X-irradiation administered to minks evoked a profound emetic response in the animals. However, retching and vomiting were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with ondansetron and metoclopramide in cisplatin and copper sulfate groups (P=0.018). Immunohistologic result showed that 5-HT released from enterochromaffin cells (EC cells) was involved in vomiting mechanism. CONCLUSION: Mink vomit model has a great value in studying the vomiting mechanism and screening new antiemetic drugs.

Effect of gingerol on substance P and NK1 receptor expression in a vomiting model of mink.

BACKGROUND: Gingerol is the generic term for pungent constituents in ginger, which has been reported to be effective for inhibiting vomiting. We attempted to investigate the antiemetic effect of gingerol and its effective mechanism on substance P and NK(1) receptors in minks. METHODS: The antiemetic effect of gingerol was investigated during a 6-hour observation on a vomiting model in minks induced by cisplatin, (7.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). The distribution of substance P and NK(1) receptors in the area postrema and ileum were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of NK(1) receptor in the area postrema and ileum were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: The frequency of cisplatin induced retching and vomiting was significantly reduced by pretreatment with gingerol in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Substance P-immunoreactive was mainly situated in the mucosa and submucosa of the ileum as well as in the neurons of the area postrema. The immunoreactive production of NK(1) receptor was mainly situated in the muscular and submucosa of ileum and the neurons of area postrema, gingerol markedly suppressed the increased immunoreactivity of substance P and NK(1)1 receptor induced by cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), and exhibited effective inhibition on the increased expression levels of NK(1) receptor in both the ileum and area postrema dose-dependently (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gingerol has good activity against cisplatin-induced emesis in minks possibly by inhibiting central or peripheral increase of substance P and NK(1) receptors.

Protective effect of polypeptide from Chlamys farreri on hairless mice damaged by ultraviolet A.

AIM: To study the protective effect of the polypeptide isolated from Chlamys farreri (PCF) on hairless mice skin damaged by ultraviolet A. METHODS: Enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by biochemical methods; the expressions of Bcl-2 protein and NOS protein were examined by immunohistochemical technique. The ultra-structure of the skin was observed through electronic microscope. RESULTS: PCF could enhance the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC). Also PCF could reduce the amount of MDA, increase the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and inhibit the expression of NOS protein. The ultra-structure of epidermis and fibroblasts remained normal in 20 % PCF groups; there were vacuoles in smooth endoplasm reticulum in epidermis of mice and the number of rough endoplasm reticulum in fibroblasts was decreased in model group. CONCLUSION: PCF had the protective effects on hairless mice skin damaged by ultraviolet A via its anti-oxidative mechanisms.