Evaluation of the Effect of Inactivated Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus Vaccine with Nano Silicon on the Phenotype and Function of Porcine Dendritic Cells.

A transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is a porcine enteropathogenic coronavirus, causing acute swine enteric disease especially in suckling piglets. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are safe vaccine adjuvant, which could enhance immune responses. Our previous research confirmed that nano silicon had immune-enhancing effects with inactivated TGEV vaccine. In this study, we further clarified the immune-enhancing mechanism of the inactivated TGEV vaccine with MSNs on porcine dendritic cells (DCs). Our results indicated that the inactivated TGEV vaccine with MSNs strongly enhanced the activation of the DCs. Expressions of TLR3, TLR5, TLR7, TLR9, and TLR10, cytokines IFN-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α, cytokine receptor CCR-7 of immature DCs were characterized and showed themselves to be significantly higher in the inactivated TGEV vaccine with the MSN group. In summary, the inactivated TGEV vaccine with MSNs has effects on the phenotype and function of porcine DCs, which helps to better understand the immune-enhancing mechanism.

Oxymatrine suppresses proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells through upregulating microRNA­29b and downregulating matrix metalloproteinase­2 expression.

Oxymatrine, an alkaloid extracted from medicinal plants of the genus Sophora, has a wide range of pharmacological effects. Previous studies have revealed that oxymatrine can inhibit proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells through reducing matrix metalloproteinase­2 (MMP­2) mRNA expression. However, the expression of MMP­2 in ovarian cancer is significantly higher than that in normal ovaries. Furthermore, the expression of microRNA­29b (miR­29b) in ovarian carcinoma is significantly lower than that in normal ovaries. Therefore, MMP­2 and miR­29b are tumor suppressor factors involved in ovarian cancer. To evaluate the anti-cancer effects of oxymatrine the OVCAR­3 ovary cancer cell line was treated with oxymatrine at the concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml. Assessment of the proliferation and apoptosis of OVCAR­3 cells showed that oxymatrine had an inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, oxymatrine decreased the protein levels of MMP­2 and increased the expression levels of miR­29b in OVCAR­3 cells. Through transfection of miR­29b precursor into OVCAR­3 cells, it was demonstrated that miR­29b regulated MMP­2 expression in OVCAR­3 cells. In addition, anti­miR­29b antibodies were used to verify that the apoptotic effect of oxymatrine was due to upregulating miR­29b and downregulating MMP­2 expression. These results showed that oxymatrine suppresses the proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells through upregulating miR­29b and downregulating MMP­2 expression.

Icariin regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells through microRNA-21 by targeting PTEN, RECK and Bcl-2.

Icariin is the main active ingredient found in the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Epimedium, and exhibits various pharmacological effects such as enhanced immune function, anticancer activity, improved cardiovascular function and endocrine adjustment. However, the effect of icariin on ovarian cancer and the related mechanism have never been investigated. In the present study, we aimed to verify whether icariin inhibits the proliferation and increases the apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells, and its molecular mechanism in order to establish an association and identify potential therapeutic targets. In the present study, ovarian cancer A2780 cells were treated with various concentrations of icariin, and the cell viability was evaluated by 3,3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry and caspase-3 colorimetric assay were performed to observe apoptotic changes in the A2780 cells. qPCR analysis was used to analyze miR-21 expression in the A2780 cells. Western blot analysis was used to assess PTEN, RECK and Bcl-2 protein expression. Transfection of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and anti-miR-21 was used to investigate expression of its target genes associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Icariin concomitantly suppressed cell proliferation, accelerated apoptosis and increased caspase-3 activity in the A2780 cells. In the ovarian cancer A2780 cells, icariin substantially decreased the miR-21 expression level, increased PTEN and RECK protein expression levels and decreased the Bcl-2 protein expression level. Notably, miR-21 regulated the potential anticancer effects of icariin on cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting PTEN, RECK and Bcl-2 in the ovarian cancer A2780 cells. Our results demonstrated that icariin is an excellent candidate antitumor agent which exhibits an anticancer curative effect on ovarian cancer cells. miR-21 and its target genes may play a vital role in the molecular mechanism of the anticancer effects of icariin.