Effects and mechanisms of curcumin and basil polysaccharide on the invasion of SKOV3 cells and dendritic cells.

In the present study, a polysaccharide extract was obtained from Ocimum basilicum (basil polysaccharide, BPS) and the effects of curcumin and BPS on the invasion activity of the SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells and human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were investigated. SKOV3 cells and immature or mature DCs were treated with 50 µM curcumin or 100 µg/ml BPS. A transwell invasion assay demonstrated that curcumin and BPS differentially regulate the invasion of SKOV3 cells and DCs. Curcumin significantly decreased the invasion of SKOV3 cells and immature and mature DCs, while BPS only decreased SKOV3 cell invasion. Osteopontin (OPN) mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced in curcumin and BPS-treated SKOV3 cells and curcumin-treated DCs. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed that curcumin significantly inhibited the surface expression of CD44 in SKOV3 cells and DCs, while BPS had a minimal effect on CD44 expression. Matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and protein expression were also reduced in all curcumin-treated cells and BPS-treated SKOV3 cells. The results indicated that curcumin and BPS regulated invasion of SKOV3 cells and DCs by distinctly downregulating OPN, CD44 and MMP-9 expression. Therefore, Curcumin and BPS may be suitable candidates for DC-based vaccines for ovarian cancer immunotherapy.

Phosphate starvation of maize inhibits lateral root formation and alters gene expression in the lateral root primordium zone.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for all living organisms. Maize (Zea mays) is an important human food, animal feed and energy crop throughout the world, and enormous quantities of phosphate fertilizer are required for maize cultivation. Thus, it is important to improve the efficiency of the use of phosphate fertilizer for maize. RESULTS: In this study, we analyzed the maize root response to phosphate starvation and performed a transcriptomic analysis of the 1.0-1.5 cm lateral root primordium zone. In the growth of plants, the root-to-shoot ratio (R/L) was reduced in both low-phosphate (LP) and sufficient-phosphate (SP) solutions, but the ratio (R/L) exhibited by the plants in the LP solution was higher than that of the SP plants. The growth of primary roots was slightly promoted after 6 days of phosphate starvation, whereas the numbers of lateral roots and lateral root primordia were significantly reduced, and these differences were increased when associated with the stress caused by phosphate starvation. Among the results of a transcriptomic analysis of the maize lateral root primordium zone, there were two highlights: 1) auxin signaling participated in the response and the modification of root morphology under low-phosphate conditions, which may occur via local concentration changes due to the biosynthesis and transport of auxin, and LOB domain proteins may be an intermediary between auxin signaling and root morphology; and 2) the observed retardation of lateral root development was the result of co-regulation of DNA replication, transcription, protein synthesis and degradation and cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that maize roots show a different growth pattern than Arabidopsis under low-phosphate conditions, as the latter species has been observed to halt primary root growth when the root tip comes into contact with low-phosphate media. Moreover, our findings enrich our understanding of plant responses to phosphate deficits and of root morphogenesis in maize.

Inhibitory effect of piperlonguminine/ dihydropiperlonguminine on the production of amyloid beta and APP in SK-N-SH cells.

The study was undertaken to explore whether piperlonguminine/dihydropiperlonguminine could inhibit the production of amyloidbeta (Abeta) in human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH) and to examine the underlying mechanism of this effect. Piperlonguminine/dihydropiperlonguminine components (1:0.8) were extracted from Futokadsura stem, and then used to treat SK-N-SH cells at three different concentrations: 3.13 microg/ml, 6.25 microg/ml and 12.50 microg/ml. Subsequently, the production of Abeta42 and Abeta40 were measured by Western blot analysis and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). On the other hand, the expressions of amyloid precursor protein (APP), Notch1 (Notch intracellular domain) and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleavage enzyme (BACE-1) were also examined by Western blot assay. The activities of beta-secretase and gamma-secretase were detected at the same time. Furthermore, Abeta42 level was detected by immunocytochemistry staining. We demonstrated that the treatment of piperlonguminine/dihydropiperlonguminine could significantly decrease the levels of APP, Abeta42 and Abeta40 peptide in SK-N-SH cells, despite the fact that the activities of beta-secretase and gamma-secretase were not affected significantly. These data suggest that piperlonguminine/dihydropiperlonguminine components could significantly inhibit the level of APP, Abeta42 and Abeta40 peptide without affecting the activity of beta-secretase and gamma-secretase in SK-N-SH cells.

[Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats].

AIM: To explore the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). METHODS: 21 female Lewis rats were randomly divided into DHEA 0.5 mg treatment groups, 2 mg treatment groups and control group ( n=7). Treatment groups were subcutaneously injected every day with DHEA and the control group with the same level of DHEA dissolvent from day 5 post immunization (p.i) with bovine peripheral myelin (BPM) in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). The effects were assessed in terms of of the number of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha positive cells in sciatic nerve sections, T-cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10) synthesis by draining lymph node and spleen cells at the height of clinical EAN. RESULTS: Rats treated with DHEA at different doses displayed significant decreases in numbers of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha expressing cells in the PNS (P<0.05), BPM-stimulated T cell proliferation (P<0.05), IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha secretion in draining lymph node and spleen (P<0.05) compared to control group. No significant difference of supernatant IL-10 was found among the different groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration with exogenous DHEA inhabits cellular immune response by suppressing the proliferation of autoreactive T-cell and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Lewis rats with EAN.

[Effect of some active Chinese herbal fraction on brain tissue proteomic profile of ischemic mouse].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of some active Chinese herbal fraction on protein expression of brain tissue in ischemic mouse with proteomic technique. METHODS: Ischemia-reperfusion mice were treated with baicalin, geniposide, cholic acid and concha margaritifera respectively for 3 hrs, and then their brain tissue were taken to extract the total protein. Protein expression in ischemic mouse brain was analyzed with surface-enhanced laser desorption/inionation-time of flight-mass spectra (SELDI-TOF-MS) protein-chip. RESULTS: The four components tested had effect on 3 target proteins at 5373Da, 5707Da and 15103Da, showing the nature of multi-target and with different action on protein expression. CONCLUSION: Protein-chip is an effective approach for exploring the pharmacological mechanism of Chinese herbal fraction.