Xiaojindan Extract Modulated Macrophage Polarization by Targeting PI3K/Akt Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Xiaojindan extract （XJD） on macrophage polarization. MethodLipopolysaccharide （LPS） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） were used to induce M1 and M2 polarization of RAW264.7 cells. The influence of 10-80 mg·L-1 XJD on cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. Nitric oxide （NO） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） release was explored by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， respectively. The mRNA expression of M1 and M2 macrophage markers was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the CD206+ expression was determined by flow cytometry. The activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） pathway was analyzed by western blot. Result10-80 mg·L-1 XJD showed no marked cytotoxicity in LPS （0.5 mg·L-1）- or IL-4 （20 μg·L-1）-induced RAW264.7 cells. Compared with the control group， LPS significantly promoted the expression of M1 macrophage markers （P<0.01）， including increased NO and IL-6 release （P<0.01） and upregulated mRNA expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） （P<0.01）. Compared with LPS-induced group， 20-80 mg·L-1 XJD decreased the release of NO and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.01）， and similarly 10-80 mg·L-1 XJD suppressed the mRNA expression of IL-1β， iNOS， COX-2 and TNF-α （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， IL-4 obviously increased the expression of M2 macrophage markers （P<0.01）， including increased CD206+ cell population and upregulated mRNA expression of arginine-1 （Arg-1）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， interleukin-13 （IL-13） and transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）. Compared with IL-4-induced group， 10-80 mg·L-1 XJD dose-dependently decreased CD206+ cell population （P<0.01） and inhibited the mRNA expression of Arg-1， IL-10， IL-13 and TGF-β1 （P<0.01）. Western blot showed that XJD significantly downregulated the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway as compared to LPS- and IL-4-induced groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXJD significantly inhibited the macrophage polarization in the LPS- and IL-4-induced RAW264.7 cells by targeting PI3K/Akt pathway.

Study on regulation of CYP450 enzyme system to reduce liver toxicity through compatibility of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta with Chebulae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma / 中国中药杂志

Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta is one of the most commonly used medicinal materials in Mongolian medicine. Due to the strong toxicity of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta, Mongolian medicine often uses Chebulae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to reduce the toxicity, so as to ensure the curative effect of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta while ensuring its clinical curative effect, but the mechanism is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Chebulae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta on the mRNA transcription and protein translation of cytochrome P450(CYP450) in the liver of normal rats. Male SD rats were randomly divided into negative control(NC) group, phenobarbital(PB) group(0.08 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), Chebulae Fructus group(0.254 2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group(0.254 2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta group(0.254 2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1))and compatibility group(0.254 2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),taking Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta as the standard). After continuous administration for 8 days, the activities of total bile acid(TBA), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), amino-transferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in serum were detected, the pathological changes of liver tissue were observed, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP1 A2, CYP2 C11 and CYP3 A1 were observed. Compared with the NC group, the serum ALP, ALT and AST activities in the Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta group were significantly increased, and the ALP, ALT and AST activities were decreased after compatibility. At the same time, compatibility could reduce the liver injury caused by Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta. The results showed that Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta could inhibit the expression of CYP1 A2, CYP2 C11 and CYP3 A1, and could up-regulate the expression of CYP1 A2, CYP2 C11 and CYP3 A1 when combined with Chebulae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. The level of translation was consistent with that of transcription. The compatibility of Chebulae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma with Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Cocta could up-regulate the expression of CYP450 enzyme, reduce the accumulation time of aconitine in vivo, and play a role in reducing toxicity, and this effect may start from gene transcription.

Effect of Tetrandrine on Col-I and FN in TGF-β1-induced MRC-5 Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of tetrandrine on transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）stimulated MRC-5 cells. Method:Different concentrations of TGF-β1 (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μg·L-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells. Proliferation toxicity of TGF-β1 to MRC-5 was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Detection of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Vimentin's expression levels in MRC-5 by Western blot. Detection of changes of collagen I(Col-I) and fibronectin (FN)'s expression levels in MRC-5 supernatants by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit. And the appropriate concentration of TGF-β1 activated MRC-5 cells was screened. The appropriate concentration of TGF-β1 and different concentrations of Tet (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μmol·L-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells, and CCK-8 method was used to screen safe concentration again. Western blot was used to detect changes in α-SMA and Vimentin expression levels in MRC-5 cells, and ELISA method to detect changes in Col-I and FN in MRC-5 cell supernatant. Result:Compared with the blank group, 20，40 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 24 hours (P<0.05), and 10，20，40 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 48 h (P<0.05).When Tet is added for 24 h, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was 14.07 μmol·L-1, and when cultured for 48 h, the IC50 value was 7.51 μmol·L-1. Compared with the blank group, the relative contents of α-SMA, FN and Col-I in the 5 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 group were obviously increased (P<0.05), and the relative contents of Vimentin were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the relative contents of FN and Col-I, α-SMA and Vimentin in 10 μg·L-1 group were significantly increased (P<0.01). 10 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 was co-cultured with Tet at different concentrations. Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the relative levels of α-SMA, Vimentin and FN in the 5 μmol·L-1 of Tet group were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the relative levels of Col-I were obviously reduced (P<0.05). In the Tet 10 μmol·L-1 group, the relative contents of the α-SMA, Vimentin, FN and Col-I were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion:TGF-β1 can increase the levels of Col-I, FN and other extracellular matrices in MRC-5 cells, and Tet can effectively inhibit the occurrence of this change. It is suggested that Tet may inhibit secreting extracellular matrix of fibroblasts in the formation of pulmonary fibrosis.

Effect of Effective Components of Salvia Miltiorrhiza on TGF-β1 Induced Interstitial Transformation of Pulmonary Epithelial Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To screen out the effective components of Salvia miltiorrhiza by establishing an in vitro model of pulmonary epithelial mesenchymal transformation. Method::Different concentrations of salvianolic acid A (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 μmol·L-1), salvianolic acid B (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 μmol·L-1), tanshinol (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 μmol·L-1), tanshinoneⅡA (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 μmol·L-1) and the blank group were applied to A549 cell, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay (MTS) were used to detect the proliferation effect of menthol on A549 cells.After screening the safe concentration of the active ingredients of salvia miltiorrhiza by MTS, cells were divided into blank group, model group, salvianolic acid A group, salvianolic acid B group, tanshinol group and tanshinoneⅡA.Then, the inhibitory effect of the active ingredients of salvia miltiorrhiza on the proliferation of A549 cells induced by TGF-β1 was detected by MTS. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to detect salvia miltiorrhiza effective component of fiber protein(FN), collagen type I (COL-Ⅰ) expression. Based on the above results, the active components of salvia miltiorrhiza, which have best inhibition were screened out, and their effects on the expression of E-calcium-viscosity (E-Cad) protein were detected by Western blot. Result::Compared with blank group, salvianolic acid A 40 μmol·L-1, salvianolic acid B 160 μmol·L-1, tanshinol 160 μmol·L-1 had toxic effects on A549 cells (P<0.05). In the non-toxic concentration range, compared with the model group, salvianolic acid A 10, 20 μmol·L-1, salvianolic acid B 80 μmol·L-1 showed inhibition effect after 24 h culture (P<0.05). After 72 h culture, salvianolic acid A 5, 10, 20 μmol·L-1, salvianolic acid B 40, 80 μmol·L-1inhibition effect was very significant (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that with the blank group, model group cells the expression of FN and COL-Ⅰ increased significantly (P < 0.01). Compare with model group, salvianolic acid A 20 μmol·L-1, salvianolic acid B 80 μmol·L-1 inhibited FN and COL-Ⅰ(P<0.05). Western blot results showed that salicylic acid A and salicylic acid B had protective effects on E-Cad (P<0.01). Conclusion::Salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B have inhibitory effects on epithelial mesenchymal transformation by TGF-β1, which may be the main effective components of salvianolic acid in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Tanreqing Inhalation Solution / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To clarify the antitussive, expectorant, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of Tanreqing inhalation solution, and provide basis and data support for further research and development of this preparation. Method: The methods of cough induced by ammonia and tracheal phenol red excretion were used to observe the antitussive and expectorant effects of Tanreqing inhalation solution in mice. The fever model of rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) to observe the antipyretic effect of the Tanreqing inhalation solution, the acute pneumonia model of rats was established by atomizing LPS inhalation, and the anti-inflammatory effect of Tanreqing inhalation solution was observed. Result: Tanreqing inhalation solution could reduce the number of coughs in mice induced by ammonia water, increase the amount of phenol red excretion in mouse trachea, decrease the levels of body temperature and its related regulatory factors of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) of rats induced by LPS, decrease the white blood cell(WBC) count and the neutrophil ratio(NEUT) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of rats with LPS-induced acute pneumonia, and reduce the levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in lung tissue. Conclusion: Tanreqing inhalation solution has obvious antitussive, expectorant, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects, which is worthy of further development and promotion.

Effect of Different Administration Methods with Bleomycin on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:Compare the effects of 3 administration methods (tracheal perfusion, tail vein injection and aerosol inhalation) with bleomycin (BLM) in inducing pulmonary fibrosis in rats, in order to find out the optimal administration methods. Method:Eighty sprague-dawley (SD) male rats with SPF were randomly divided into aerosol inhalation blank group, single tracheal perfusion group(10 mg·kg-1), multiple tracheal perfusion group(5 mg·kg-1), single intravenous injection group(150 mg·kg-1), multiple intravenous injection group(50 mg·kg-1), single aerosol inhalation group (30 min)and multiple aerosol inhalation group(30 min). The mortality and body weight of rats in each group were observed at 7 d, 14 d and 28 d after the administration. And 28 days later after the administration, the lung coefficients of rats in each group were observed, paraffin sections were prepared, hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and Masson staining were performed, and the contents of hydroxyproline (HYP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in lung tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), so as to evaluate the alveoli inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis of rats in each group. Result:Compared with the aerosol inhalation blank group, the rats in the trachea perfusion group had the highest mortality among the drug treatment groups. The pulmonary coefficients of rats in the multiple intravenous injection group and the multiple inhalation group were significantly higher than those in the blank group(PPPConclusion:Bleomycin was inhaled repeatedly to establish pulmonary fibrosis model. The pathological injury and physiological indexes of the model rats were relatively stable, which conforms with the evolution process of pulmonary fibrosis.

Mechanism of Dichroa Alkali Salt Inducing Vomiting Based on Pica in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To study the possible mechanism of dichroa alkali salt (DAS) in inducing vomiting. Method: Mice pica model was used to observe the antagonistic effect of the three different kinds of antiemetic drugs[dopamine receptor antagonist metoclopramide, 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist ondansetron and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant] on body mass, food intake, kaolin consumption, diarrhea and death induced by DAS to preliminarily clarify the possible pathogenic pathway of DAS. Then, the expression of 5-HT and substance P(SP) in ileum and medulla of mice induced by DAS alone at different time points was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to confirm whether DAS could affect the changes of these two neurotransmitters. Result: After treatment with ondansetron and aprepitant, DAS-induced reduction in food intake of mice was significantly improved on the 4th day after continuous administration and on the 1st day after drug administration (Prd day after administration, DAS-induced body mass loss of mice was significantly improved (PConclusion: The mice pica model can be used to effectively characterize DAS-induced vomiting. DAS-induced pica in mice may be associated with the increase of 5-HT and SP in ileum and medulla. Ondansetron and aprepitant can effectively antagonize DAS-induced pica in mice.

Investigation of Physicochemical Properties and Determination Methods of Liposomal Entrapment Efficiency of Dichroa Alkali Hydrochloride / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To study on the physical and chemical properties of dichroa alkali hydrochloride and to establish a method for the determination of entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes. Method: HPLC was used to determine the content of dichroa alkali hydrochloride with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-triethylamine-glacial acetic acid(9:91:0.35:0.75) and detection wavelength at 265 nm.The oil-water partition coefficient of this compound in different pH range was measured by shake flask method.The stability of the dichroa alkali hydrochloride in phosphate buffer solution with different pH after sterilization at 125℃ for 30 min was investigated.Ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes.The microcolumn was prepared by dextran gel and cation exchange resin,respectively.Then the free drug and liposome were separated by centrifugation,the drug content was measured,and the encapsulation efficiency was calculated.The t-test was performed using SPSS 20.0 software,the differences between these two methods were compared. Result: In the pH 6-9,the oil-water partition coefficient of dichroa alkali hydrochloride increased with increasing of pH,which was between 0.016 and 1.44;the recovery rate of dichroa alkali hydrochloride after sterilization was 37.16%-57.91%.Between the dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation,there was no significant difference in the entrapment efficiency of the liposomes. Conclusion: Dichroa alkali hydrochloride is suitable for preparation of liposomes.However,its stability is not ideal,so the experimental temperature should be strictly controlled in the preparation process.Dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation can be used to determine the entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes,and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation is suggested after comparison.

Protective Effect of Renshen Sinitang and Its Active Ingredients on Myocardial Cell Injury Induced by Pentobarbital Sodium / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore the protective effect and mechanisms of Renshen Sinitang and its active ingredients on cardiomyocyte injury induced by pentobarbital sodium. Method: H9C2 cells were sub-cultured with ginsenoside Rb2 0.01, 0.1, 1 μmol ·L-1, Re 0.01, 0.1, 1 μmol·L-1, isoliquiritigenin 20, 40, 80 μmol·L-1, glycyrrhetinic acid 10, 20, 40 μmol·L-1, Renshen Sinitang, 10, 100, 400 mg·L-1, for 4 h. After treatment with 0.1% of sodium pentobarbital for 30 min, cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxide malondialdehyde (MDA), Na+-K+-adenosine triphosphate(ATP) ase, Ca2+-ATPase activity, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to detect the expressions of peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-1α (PGC-1α), B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein(Bax) and cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3(Caspase-3) mRNA. Result: Renshen Sinitang and its active ingredients have a protective effect on heart failure cell model. Compared with the normal group, the cell survival rate of the model group decreased significantly, while the LDH and MDA contents increased significantly, and the Na+-K+-ATPase activity increased. Ca2+-ATPase activity was significantly decreased, PGC-1α mRNA expression was down-regulated, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions indicates the modeling(P+-K+-ATPase activity, increased Ca2+-ATPase activity, up-regulated PGC-1α mRNA expression, and inhibited Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expression (PPConclusion: Renshen Sinitang and its active ingredients have a significant protective effect on heart failure cell model, and its mechanisms of action are related to anti-oxidation, improvement of mitochondrial energy metabolism and inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Biological changes after axonal stretch and their mechanisms / 中国医学科学院学报

Research on peripheral nervous injuries, especially the stretched injuries, is important to improve the clinical effectiveness and alleviate the patients's pain. In recent years, the biological changes and mechanics of stretched axons have been hot topics. This article reviews the recent advances in the morphological changes of axons as well as changes in cellular membrane, cytoskeleton, cellular metabolism, and action potential after axonal stretch.