High quality repair of osteochondral defects in rats using the extracellular matrix of antler stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Cartilage defects are some of the most common causes of arthritis. Cartilage lesions caused by inflammation, trauma or degenerative disease normally result in osteochondral defects. Previous studies have shown that decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from autologous, allogenic, or xenogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can effectively restore osteochondral integrity. AIM: To determine whether the decellularized ECM of antler reserve mesenchymal cells (RMCs), a xenogeneic material from antler stem cells, is superior to the currently available treatments for osteochondral defects. METHODS: We isolated the RMCs from a 60-d-old sika deer antler and cultured them in vitro to 70% confluence; 50 mg/mL L-ascorbic acid was then added to the medium to stimulate ECM deposition. Decellularized sheets of adipocyte-derived MSCs (aMSCs) and antlerogenic periosteal cells (another type of antler stem cells) were used as the controls. Three weeks after ascorbic acid stimulation, the ECM sheets were harvested and applied to the osteochondral defects in rat knee joints. RESULTS: The defects were successfully repaired by applying the ECM-sheets. The highest quality of repair was achieved in the RMC-ECM group both in vitro (including cell attachment and proliferation), and in vivo (including the simultaneous regeneration of well-vascularized subchondral bone and avascular articular hyaline cartilage integrated with surrounding native tissues). Notably, the antler-stem-cell-derived ECM (xenogeneic) performed better than the aMSC-ECM (allogenic), while the ECM of the active antler stem cells was superior to that of the quiescent antler stem cells. CONCLUSION: Decellularized xenogeneic ECM derived from the antler stem cell, particularly the active form (RMC-ECM), can achieve high quality repair/reconstruction of osteochondral defects, suggesting that selection of decellularized ECM for such repair should be focused more on bioactivity rather than kinship.

Role of OAS gene family in COVID-19 induced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, the current global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can damage the heart and lead to heart failure (HF) and even cardiac death. The 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) gene family encode interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral proteins which is associated with the antiviral immune responses of COVID-19. While the potential association of OAS gene family with cardiac injury and failure in COVID-19 has not been determined. METHODS: The expression levels and biological functions of OAS gene family in SARS-CoV-2 infected cardiomyocytes dataset (GSE150392) and HF dataset (GSE120852) were determined by comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation. The associated microRNAs (miRNAs) were explored from Targetscan and GSE104150. The potential OAS gene family-regulatory chemicals or ingredients were predicted using Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and SymMap database. RESULTS: The OAS genes were highly expressed in both SARS-CoV-2 infected cardiomyocytes and failing hearts. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two datasets were enriched in both cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 related pathways. The miRNAs-target analysis indicated that 10 miRNAs could increase the expression of OAS genes. A variety of chemicals or ingredients were predicted regulating the expression of OAS gene family especially estradiol. CONCLUSION: OAS gene family is an important mediator of HF in COVID-19 and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac injury and HF in COVID-19.

Medical Therapy of Hearing Impairment and Tinnitus with Chinese Medicine: An Overview.

The current review gives a comprehensive overview of the recent development in Chinese medicine (CM) for treating several kinds of acquired nerve deafness and tinnitus, as well as links the traditional principle to well-established pharmacological mechanisms for future research. To date, about 24 herbal species and 40 related ingredients used in CM to treat hearing loss and tinnitus are reported for the treatment of endocochlear potential, endolymph growth, lowering toxic and provocative substance aggregation, inhibiting sensory cell death, and retaining sensory transfer. However, there are a few herbal species that can be used for medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, clinical studies have been hampered by a limited population sample, a deficiency of a suitable control research group, or contradictory results. Enhanced cochlear blood flow, antiinflammatory antioxidant, neuroprotective effects, and anti-apoptotic, as well as multi-target approach on different auditory sections of the inner ear, are all possible benefits of CM medications. There are numerous unknown natural products for aural ailment and tinnitus identified in CM that are expected to be examined in the future utilizing various aural ailment models and processes.

Biological Characterization and Clinical Value of OAS Gene Family in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: OAS gene family plays an important role in antiviral process, but its role in pancreatic cancer has not yet been studied. Methods: We analyzed the expression, prognostic value and biological function of the OAS gene family in human pancreatic cancer through comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and cellular level validation. Results: OAS family was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and this high expression significantly affected the clinical stage and prognosis of the tumor. OAS gene family was closely related to the immune infiltration of pancreatic cancer, especially neutrophils and dendritic cells, and many immune-related factors and pathways are enriched in the tumor, such as type I interferon signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Conclusion: Taken together, high expression of OAS family is closely related to poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. OAS gene family may serve as the biomarker and even therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer.

[Study on antidepressant effect of total alkaloids of Fibraurea recisa].

This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of total alkaloids of Fibraurea recisa in HT22 cells damaged by corticosterone (CORT) in vitro and in a mouse model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) as well as the underlying mechanisms.In cellular experiments,the viability of CORT-damaged HT22 cells was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8),and the cell apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining.In animal experiments,C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into the control group,model group,low (100 mg·kg~(-1)),medium (200 mg·kg~(-1)) and high (400 mg·kg~(-1))-dose of total alkaloids of F.recisa groups,and positive control group.After 21 days of CUMS exposure,their depressive behaviors were observed in behavioral and Morris water maze tests.The serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT),dopamine (DA),and norepinephrine (NE) were assessed by ELISA.The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2,Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in HT22 cells and mouse hippocampus were detected by Western blot.The results suggested that total alkaloids of F.recisa alleviated the damage of HT22 cells induced by CORT in a dose-dependent manner.The Hoechst 33258 staining uncovered that total alkaloids of F.recisa better reduced the blue spots and inhibited cell apoptosis.The results of animal experiments showed that total alkaloids of F.recisa significantly improved the depression-like behaviors of mice and increased the serum levels of 5-HT,DA and NE as compared with those in the model group.The Western blot assays revealed a significant up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression,but an obvious reduction in Bax and cleaved caspase-3protein expression in the total alkaloids of F.recisa group.In conclusion,total alkaloids of F.recisa inhibited depression possibly by regulating the apoptosis-related protein expression or elevating the monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

[Research progress on mechanism of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol on central nervous system].

Gastrodin(GAS) and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol(HBA) are extracts of dried tubers of Gastrodia elata, which is the material basis for its efficacy and belongs to phenolic compounds. Modern pharmacology studies have shown that they have significant effects on central nervous system diseases, such as insomnia, convulsions, depression, ischemic stroke, anxiety, and cognitive impairment, and these diseases are closely related to neurotransmitters and cytokines. This paper described various mechanisms of GAS and HBA monomer components on the central nervous system. They alleviate hippocampal neuronal toxicity mainly by regulating a variety of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, glutamic acid(GLU), γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA), serotonin(5-HT), dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), 5-indoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), high vanillic acid(HVA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC), pro-inflammatory cell growth factors, such as IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α and relevant receptor functions, and exert neuropharmacological effects by effectively increasing mRNA expressions of brain neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF and GDNF, and further inhibiting the apoptosis of damaged neurons. This paper summarized various mechanisms on the central nervous system, which provides a scientific basis for the further research of the neuropharmacological mechanism of GAS and HBA and the development of new drugs and functional food.

4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol derivatives and their sedative-hypnotic activities.

4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), one of the characteristic active components of Gastrodia elata, exhibits obvious effects on the human central nervous system. In order to acquire compounds with superior bioactivity, 10 derivatives of HBA were synthesized from HBA and carboxylic acids. The sedative effects of the 10 HBA derivatives were evaluated using a spontaneous locomotor activity test (SLT) in mice, and their hypnotic effects were determined to be synergistic with pentobarbital-induced sleep. The results showed that 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 3-furancarboxylic acid diester (2FHBA, 10 mg kg-1) exhibited the strongest sedative-hypnotic activity among HBA and its derivatives, and 2FHBA could reverse the insomnia caused by p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), flumazenil (FLU) and thiosemicarbazide (TSC). Meanwhile, 2FHBA and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) showed a synergistic effect. The results suggested that 2FHBA might be a potential agent against insomnia, which might be mediated by the serotonergic and GABAergic systems.

[Pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of palmatine and jatrorrhizine in Huangteng in rats].

In this study, the total alkaloids of Huangteng were given to the rats by the methods of intragastric administration and tail vein. After the concentration changes of palmatine and jatrorrhizine in the plasma of rats were determined by RP-HPLC, pharmacokinetic parameters and oral bioavailability were calculated by 3P97 software. After the rats were pre-treated with total alkaloid 60 mg•kg⁻¹ by the methods of intragastric administration and tail vein, the main pharmacokinetic parameters were determined as follows： in the intragastric administration group, the Cmax of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (0.91±0.06), (0.70±0.08) mg•L⁻¹; tmax of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (35.24±0.83), (47.76±1.24) min; t1/2 of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (187.03±1.53), (105.64±16.99) min, AUC of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (280.30±18.69), (144.36±1.06) mg•min•L⁻¹; in the intravenous injection group, the t1/2 of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (172.18±12.38), (147.26±1.82) min; AUC of palmatine and jatrorrhizine were (2 553.14±214.91), (328.83±10.81) mg•min•L⁻¹. The oral bioavailability of palmatine was 10.98% and jatrorrhizine was 43.90%.

Involvement of serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems in the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb1, a major active ingredient of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Ginsenoside Rb1, a 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol, is a major active ingredient of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, which as the King of Chinese herbs, has been wildly used for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Previous studies have shown that 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol possesses a novel antidepressant-like effect in the treatment of depression, whereas ginsenoside Rb1 in depression has been rarely reported. AIM OF THE REVIEW: The present study was to investigate the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb1 and its relevant mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The whole experiment was divided into two parts: one part we examined the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb1 with open-field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swim test (FST), 5-HTP induced head-twitch and reserpine response in mice, another part we used chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) model to further explore the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb1 with caffeine, fluoxetine and p-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) in rats. Furthermore, the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters of NE, 5-HT, DA and their metabolites 5-HIAA, DOPAC, HVA were all measured by ELISA kits after the CUMS protocol. RESULTS: Our data indicated that 7 days treatment with ginsenoside Rb1 (4, 8, 10mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased immobility time in the FST and TST in mice, and played important roles in mice which were induced by 5-HTP (200mg/kg, i.p.) and reserpine (4mg/kg, i.p.). On the basis of CUMS model, 21 days treatment with ginsenoside Rb1 not only had effective interactions with caffeine (5mg/kg, i.p.), fluoxetine (1mg/kg, i.p.) and PCPA (100mg/kg, i.p.), but also significantly up-regulated the 5-HT, 5-HIAA, NE and DA levels in CUMS rats' brain, whereas HVA and DOPAC had no significant difference. Moreover, there was no alteration in spontaneous locomotion in any experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 exhibits significant antidepressant-like effect in behavioral tests, chronic animal model and drug interactions, its mechanisms mainly mediated by central neurotransmitters of serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems.

[Study on early screening of high saponin ginseng lines].

The study aims at screening the specific bands by PCR, quickly and accurately evaluating the quality of ginseng seeding, accelerating the process of ginseng breeding. Based on the correlation of genetic differences and saponin content between individuals, a pair of specific primer GC1 was screened by PCR. According to the experiment by L16 (45) orthogonal test, a PCR system most suitable for GC1 was established, which came out total 25 µL reaction system containing DNA 2.60 mg•L⁻¹, Mg²âº 1.44 mmol•L⁻¹, dNTP 0.19 mmol•L⁻¹, primer 0.32 µmol•L⁻¹ and Taq enzyme concentration 0.076 U•µL⁻¹. By comparing the saponin content and the GC1 PCR electrophoretogram of samples, the ginseng, with 1 200 bp specific band by PCR of GC1, the contents of 9 monosodium saponins and their additions were higher than others, which provided a reliable method for accelerating the process of ginseng breeding. The sequence was sequenced and 99% homologous to glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

[The proarrhythmic effects of autoantibody against beta1 adrenergic receptor].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution characteristics of autoantibody against beta1 adrenergic receptor (beta1 AR) in the sera of arrhythmia patients and whether the autoantibody could induce arrhythmia. METHODS: Healthy subjects and patients with arrhythmia or coronary artery disease were chosen. The autoantibody against beta1 AR in the sera was screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG in the positive autoantibody sera from arrhythmia patients were purified and administrated to normal rats; then the ECGs were dynamic monitored. RESULTS: The positive rate of autoantibody against beta1 AR in arrhythmia patients was 52.8%, which was significantly higher than that in coronary heart disease group (24%, P < 0.01) and healthy people group (5%, P < 0.01), respectively. Moreover, the autoantibody against beta1 AR could lead to the occurring of arrhythmia in normal rats, most of which were ventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: In the sera of arrhythmia patients, the autoantibody against beta1 AR has a high titer and it could lead to the arrhythmia of rats in vivo.