Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Guchang Zhixie Wan for Treating Ulcerative Colitis by Comprehensive Network Pharmacological Approaches and Molecular Docking Validation as Well as Cell Experiments.

Guchang Zhixie Wan (GZW) is a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). This research explored the potential pharmacological mechanism of GZW in UC. The active ingredients, potential targets, and UC-related genes of GZW were retrieved from public databases. The pharmacological mechanisms including key components, potential targets and signal pathways were determined through bioinformatics analysis. The results of this study were verified through virtual molecular docking and cell experiments. Network analysis revealed that 26 active GZW compounds and 148 potential GZW target proteins were associated with UC. Quercetin, kaempferol and ß-sitosterol were identified as the core active ingredients of GZW. IFNG, IL-1A, IL-1B, JUN, RELA, and STAT1 were indicated as key targets of GZW. These key targets have a strong affinity for quercetin, kaempferol, and ß-sitosterol. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that GZW target proteins are highly enriched in inflammatory, immune, and oxidative stress-related pathways. This study confirmed the therapeutic effect and revealed potential molecular mechanism of GZW on UC. And the protective effects of GZW on inflammatory bowel disease pathway were also revealed through STAT3/NF-κB/IL-6 pathway. The findings of this study enhanced our understanding of GZW in the treatment of UC and provided a feasible method for discovering potential drugs from traditional Chinese medicine formulations.

Co-Culture of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Chondrocytes With Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 3 Promotes Chondrogenic Differentiation.

Tissue engineering cartilage is a promising strategy to reconstruct the craniofacial cartilaginous defects. It demands plenty of chondrocytes to generate human-sized craniofacial frameworks. Partly replacement of chondrocytes by adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be an alternative strategy.The study aimed at evaluating the chondrogenic outcome of ADSCs and chondrocytes in direct co-culture with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß3). Porcine ADSCs and chondrocytes were obtained from abdominal wall and external ears. Four groups: ADSCs or chondrocytes monocultured in medium added with TGF-ß3; ADSCs and ACs co-cultured with or without TGF-ß3. Cell growth rate was performed to evaluate the cell proliferation. Morphological, histologic and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed to characterize the chondrogenic outcome of pellets. ADSCs had favorable multi-lineage differentiation potential. Further, when ADSCs were co-cultured with chondrocytes in medium added with TGF-ß3, the cell proliferation was promoted and the chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs was enhanced. We demonstrate that pellet co-culture of ADSCs and chondrocyte with TGF-ß3 could construct high quantity cartilages. It suggests that this strategy might be useful in future cartilage repair.

[Construction and primary identification of a naive Fab fragment phage library].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a naive human Fab fragment phage display library, provide a platform for human antibody preparation and a new therapy for the malignant tumors. METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from 200 ml blood, which was obtained from a healthy blood donor. The heavy chain Fd fragments and light chain cDNA synthesized from the total RNA of lymphocytes were amplified by PCR and the amplification products were ligated into the phagemid vector pComb3, then the ligated sample was transformed into competent E. coli XL1-Blue. The transformed cells were infected with VCSM13 helper phage to yield recombinant phage antibody of Fabs. The phagemids abstracted from amplified E. coli were cut with endonucleases such as Sac I, Xba I, Spe I and Xho I and amplified by PCR to monitor the insertion of the light chain or heavy chain Fd genes. Human albumin and interleukin-2 were utilized as antigens to conduct respectively three rounds of panning to the original Fab antibody library. RESULTS: By combination of light chain and heavy chain genes, an antibody library containing 1.2 x 10(6) clones was obtained, and both the cutting of enzymes and PCR showed that there were the light chain or heavy chain Fd genes of the phagemids. After the original antibody library having been panned respectively by two kinds of antigen proteins, it gained enrichment in different degree. CONCLUSION: Utilizing the technology of phage surface display, special antibody can be gained from the human naive Fab phage display library, which can be used as a new therapy for tumors.