[Effect of Qibai Pingfei capsule medicated serum on protein expressions of KATP channel in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via nitric oxide].

To investigate the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel) protein expressions during different periods under hypoxia condition and explore the effect of Qibai Pingfei capsule medicated serum (hereinafter referred to as QBPF) on the correlation between the protein expressions of KATP channel and nitric oxide in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells(PASMCs). Qibai Pingfei capsules were given to SD rats via continuous gavage for 10 days to obtain QBPF. Primary rats PASMCs were cultured by the direct adherent culture method. Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression levels of KATP channel (Kir6.1 and SUR2B) in PASMCs. Then the noncompetitive inhibitor of NO synthase--Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) and KATP channel inhibitor--glyburide(GLYB) were applied respectively to evaluate the effect of QBPF on the protein expressions of KATP channel. The protein expressions of Kir6.1 and SUR2B were increased after 6-hour hypoxia treament, peaked at the 24-hour hypoxia treament, and decreased in both 48-hour and 72-hour hypoxia groups. Especially, QBPF could further up-regulate the Kir6.1 and SUR2B protein expressions under 24-hour hypoxia condition; however, such up-regulation effect could be blocked by KATP channel inhibitor GLYB and NO specific inhibitor L-NAME, indicating that QBPF played the role of opening KATP channel. The regulatory mechanism was probably associated with up-regulating KATP channel protein expression via NO relative pathway, involving pulmonary vasodilation, and thus relieving the occurence and development of COPD.

MOLECULAR CLONING, SEQUENCING, EXPRESSION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF GIANT PANDA (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) INTERFERON-GAMMA.

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered species and indigenous to China. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is the only member of type □ IFN and is vital for the regulation of host adapted immunity and inflammatory response. Little is known aboutthe FN-γ gene and its roles in giant panda.In this study, IFN-γ gene of Qinling giant panda was amplified from total blood RNA by RT-CPR, cloned, sequenced and analysed. The open reading frame (ORF) of Qinling giant panda IFN-γ encodes 152 amino acidsand is highly similar to Sichuan giant panda with an identity of 99.3% in cDNA sequence. The IFN-γ cDNA sequence was ligated to the pET32a vector and transformed into E. coli BL21 competent cells. Expression of recombinant IFN-γ protein of Qinling giant panda in E. coli was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Biological activity assay indicated that the recombinant IFN-γ protein at the concentration of 4-10 µg/ml activated the giant panda peripheral blood lymphocytes,while at 12 µg/mlinhibited. the activation of the lymphocytes.These findings provide insights into the evolution of giant panda IFN-γ and information regarding amino acid residues essential for their biological activity.

[Protective immune response of guinea pigs against challenge with foot and mouth disease virus by immunization with foliar extracts from transgenic tomato plants expressing the FMDV structural protein VP1].

The plant constitutive expression vector pBin438/VP1 for VP1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus strain O/ China/99 was constructed. Mediated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 harboring pBin438/VP1, VP1 gene was transferred into cotyledons of tomato. After selected by Kanamysin, sixty resistant lines were obtained. The integration and transcription of the VP1 gene in transformed plants was detected by PCR and RT-PCR. After being detected by sandwich-ELISA assays, about 40% transformed plants confirmed to express the recombinant protein. The leave extracts of two positive lines were respectively emulsified in Freund's adjuvant and guinea pigs were intramuscular inoculation at days 0, 15 and 30d. According to the sera antibody levels and the protection of the vaccinated guinea pigs against challenge with 100ID50 FMDV, probed into the immunogenicity of the target protein expressed in transgenic plants. Experimental results showed that the plant expression vector was successfully constructed. PCR and RT-PCR analyses confirmed VP1 gene was transformed into tomato plants and got expression at the transcription levels. The expressed VP1 protein of FMDV, which was identified by ELISA and Western blot, can be specifically recognized by polyclonal antibodies against FMDV. Indirect-ELISA antibody titers reached 1:64 twenty-one days after the third inoculation. In the challenge test, the protection against FMDV challenge in two groups was 80% and 40% respectively. The immunization test in guinea pigs indicated that the expression product of transgenic tomato plants had immunogenicity and could effectively induce the specific antibodies against FMDV.

Discrimination of Fritillary according to geographical origin with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation IR spectroscopy.

Fritillaria is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for eliminating phlegm and relieving a cough with a long history in China and some other Asian countries. The objective of this study is to develop a nondestructive and accurate method to discriminate Fritillaria of different geographical origins, which is a troublesome work by existing analytical methods. We conducted a systematic study on five kinds of Fritillaria by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, second derivative infrared spectroscopy, and two-dimensional (2D) correlation infrared spectroscopy under thermal perturbation. Because Fritillaria consist of a large amount of starch, the conventional IR spectra of different Fritillaria only have very limited spectral feature differences. Based on these differences, we can separate different Fritillaria to a limited extent, but this method was deemed not very practical. The second derivative IR spectra of Fritillaria could enhance spectrum resolution, amplify the differences between the IR spectra of different Fritillaria, and provide some dissimilarity in their starch content, when compared with the spectrum of pure starch. Finally, we applied thermal perturbation to Fritillaria and analyzed the resulting spectra by the 2D correlation method to distinguish different Fritillaria easily and clearly. The distinction of very similar Fritillaria was possible because the spectral resolution was greatly enhanced by the 2D correlation spectroscopy. In addition, with the dynamic information of molecular structure provided by 2D correlation IR spectra, we studied the differences in the stability of active components of Fritillaria. The differences embodied mainly on the intensity ratio of the auto-peak at 985 cm(-1) and other auto-peaks. The 2D correlation IR spectroscopy (2D IR) of Fritillaria can be a new and powerful method to discriminate Fritillaria.

[Study on the detecting methods of the imported materia medica--olibanum].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the chemical components of the essential oil of Gum olibanum somalilnds and Gum olibanum Ethiopia, and to set up determination methods of their main components. METHOD: Two kinds of essential oil are identified by GC-MS, and assayed by Gas chromatography, using SE-54 as the packing material (column 2.1 m x 3.2 mm), with column temperature starting from 80 degrees C, holding for 1 min, and then rising at the rate of 15 degrees C per minute to 170 degrees C. RESULT: 40 kinds of chemical compounds in the essential oil of Gum olibanum somalilnds and 22 kinds of those of Gum olibanum Ethiopia were identified by GC-MS, the main component in the essential oil of Gum olibanum somalilnds being alpha-pinene, and the main one of Gum olibanum Ethiopia being Octyl acetate 17 batches of samples were determined with the linear range of alpha-pinene being 0-10.80 micrograms, the correlation coefficient being 0.9995, the recovery being 98.16%, RSD being 1.83%; the linear range of Octyl acetate being 0-10.32 micrograms, the correlation coefficient being 0.9996, the recovery being 99.56%, and RSD being 1.36%. CONCLUSION: This study can be used for the setting up of the specification of Olibanum.