Yin Yang 1 expression predicts a favourable survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Aims: Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional transcription factor that plays an important role in tumour development and progression, while its clinical significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical implications of YY1 in DLBCL. Methods: YY1 expression in 198 cases of DLBCL was determined using immunohistochemistry. The correlation between YY1 expression and clinicopathological parameters as well as the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients was analyzed. Results: YY1 protein expression was observed in 121 out of 198 (61.1 %) DLBCL cases. YY1 expression was significantly more frequent in cases of the GCB subgroup than in the non-GCB subgroup (P = 0.005). YY1 was positively correlated with the expression of MUM1, BCL6, pAKT and MYC/BCL2 but was negatively associated with the expression of CXCR4. No significant relationships were identified between YY1 and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, stage, localization, and B symptoms. Univariate analysis showed that the OS (P = 0.003) and PFS (P = 0.005) of patients in the YY1-negative group were significantly worse than those in the YY1-positive group. Multivariate analysis indicated that negative YY1 was a risk factor for inferior OS (P < 0.001) and PFS (P = 0.017) independent of the international prognostic index (IPI) score, treatment and Ann Arbor stage. Furthermore, YY1 is more powerful for stratifying DLBCL patients into different risk groups when combined with MYC/BCL2 double-expression (DE) status. Conclusions: YY1 was frequently expressed in DLBCL, especially in those of GCB phenotype and with MYC/BCL2-DE. As an independent prognostic factor, YY1 expression could predict a favourable outcome in DLBCL. In addition, a complex regulatory mechanism might be involved in the interactions between YY1 and MYC, pAKT as well as CXCR4 in DLBCL, which warrants further investigation.

Depression can be prevented by astaxanthin through inhibition of hippocampal inflammation in diabetic mice.

The critical factor considered in a depression induced by diabetes is the inflammation eliciting hippocampal, amygdala and thalamic neuronal injury. Therefore, inhibiting inflammatory reactions in the brain and reducing neuronal injury can alleviate depression in rodents suffering from diabetes mellitus. The oral administration of astaxanthin has been employed in emotional disorders and diabetic complications due to its anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic functions. However, it has not been reported whether astaxanthin can improve diabetes-related depression-like behavior, and its potential mechanisms have not been elucidated. The objective of the present study is to elucidate the effect of astaxanthin on depression in diabetic mice and to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, experimental diabetic mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 150mg/kg, dissolved in citrate buffer) after fasting for 12h. The diabetic model was assessed 72h after STZ injection, and mice with a fasting blood glucose level more than or equal to 16.7mmol/L were used in this study, and oral astaxanthin (25mg/kg) was provided uninterrupted for ten weeks. Depression-like behavior was evaluated by the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the western blotting was used to test the protein levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). The results showed that astaxanthin had an anti-depressant effect on diabetic mice. Furthermore, we observed that astaxanthin significantly reduced the number of GFAP-positive cells in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, and also the expression of cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus was decreased as well. Moreover, astaxanthin could down-regulate the expression of IL-6, IL-1ß and COX-2 in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that the mechanism of astaxanthin in preventing depression in diabetic mice involves the inhibition of inflammation/inflammation inhibition, thereby protecting neurons in hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus against hyperglycemic damage.

The protective effect of capsaicin receptor-mediated genistein postconditioning on gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: No published study has addressed the effect of genistein postconditioning on gastric ischemia-reperfusion (GI-R) injury in rats. AIM: To examine whether capsaicin receptor-mediated genistein postconditioning protects against gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury via the PI3K/Akt signal pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chloraldurat-anesthetized rats underwent occlusion of the celiac artery for 30 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Based on this animal model of gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury, genistein at doses of 100, 500 or 1,000 µg/kg was administered via peripheral vein 5 min before reperfusion. The dose of 500 µg/kg was optimal for postconditioning, at which the severity of I-R-induced gastric injury significantly decreased. Immunohistochemistry also showed that gastric mucosal cell apoptosis decreased. Capsazepine (CPZ), a specific antagonist for the capsaicin receptor, was administered (1,000 µg/kg, i.v.) just before ischemia. Capsaicin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) once a day for 4 days reversed the protective effects of genistein. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting showed increased calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in genistein group but not in capsazepine or capsaicin group. CGRP inhibitor CGRP8-37 also prevented the effects of genistein in decreasing gastric mucosal injury index. In addition, PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (1.5 mg/kg) reversed the protective effect of genistein. Compared with genistein group, Western blots also demonstrated decreased Akt phosphorylation in LY294002 group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that capsaicin receptors mediated the protective effects of genistein postconditioning. CGRP secreted by activated capsaicin-sensitive neurons played an important role in the protective effects of genistein. PI3K/Akt pathway was also involved in the protective effects of genistein.

[Allelopathy of Andrographis paniculata vegetative].

OBJECTIVE: Andrographis paniculata at vegetative stage were analyzed for the allelopathic effect on cabbage (Brassica chinensis), Radis (Raphanus sativus), and Desmodium styracifolium, and provided the theory reference for their application of compounding planting pattern in practice. METHODS: Water extracts of Andrographis paniculata root, stem and leaf were used to dispose Brassica chinensis, Raphanus sativus and Desmodium styracifolium seeds, young seedlings. RESULTS: There were allelopathic effect of water extracts of Andrographis paniculata on seed germination of Brassica chinensis, Raphanus sativus and Desmodium styracifolium, but there were difference on allelopathic effect. The suppression effects of roots on seed germination rates of Brassica chinensis showed more significantly, the stems and leaves of Andrographis paniculata on the allelopathic effects on Brassica chinensis seed germination rate index was also significantly higher than the other two receptors plants. Under the treating condition of root, stem and leaf aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata, the root growth of receptors seeding mostly showed inhibition effect. Under low concentrations treated. The effects on the seedlings height of Raphanus sativus and Desmodium styracifolium showed the results in which low concentration promoted and high concentration inhibited, and with increasing concentration increased the promotion or inhibition effects. But in the measured concentration range, the effects on the seedlings height of Brassica chinensis were showed promote effect. CONCLUSION: Within the testing concentration range, water extracts of Andrographis paniculata on allelopathic effects of cabbage (Brassica chinensis), Radis (Raphanus sativus) and Desmodium styracifolium showed allelopathic effect, and roughly showed inhibiti effect. However, showed different effect in which high concentration inhibitied and low concentration promoted to different receptor.