BMP-Id pathway targeted by cholesterol myristate suppresses the apoptosis of PC12 cells.

Identifying small molecules that suppress apoptosis is promising for the therapy of brain diseases. We recently showed that autocrine bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling involves the effects of cholesterol myristate present in traditional Chinese medicine on mesenchymal stem cells. The present study evaluated the effects of cholesterol myristate on the apoptosis and BMP signaling of PC12 cells. PC12 cells transfected by the inhibitor of differentiation (Id1) promoter reporter construct target gene of BMP4 signaling; cholesterol myristate increases the activity of Id1 promoter. However, structurally related steroids such as cholesterol, ß-sitosterol and cholesten-3-one, lack of the myristate, did not affect the activity of Id1 promoter, suggesting that myristate is essential for the effect of cholesterol myristate. These effects depend on BMP signaling. Apoptosis analysis indicated that cholesterol myristate inhibited the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced in serum-free condition. Cholesterol myristate significantly increases the expression of BMP4, BMPRIA, p-Smad1/5/8, Id1 and its antiapoptotic target gene Bcl-xL in PC12 cells treated in serum-free condition. Moreover, BMP antagonist reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of cholesterol myristate. Thus, this study is to provide evidence that BMP-Id pathway targeted by cholesterol myristate suppresses the apoptosis of PC12 cells. Our findings are therefore of considerable therapeutic significance and provide the potential of newly exploiting cholesterol myristate and clinically in brain disease therapies.

(+)-Cholesten-3-one induces differentiation of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons through BMP signaling.

To identify small molecules that induce dopaminergic neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs) is promising for therapy of Parkinson's disease. Here we report the results of analyzing structurally related steroids in traditional Chinese medicine to identify agents that enhance dopaminergic differentiation of NSCs. Using P19 cells transfected by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter reporter construct, (+)-Cholesten-3-one with carbonyl, but not cholesterol and cholesterol myristate can effectively promote the activity of TH promoter. This effect depends on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Phenotypic cellular analysis indicated that (+)-Cholesten-3-one induces differentiation of NSCs to dopaminergic neurons with increased expression of specific dopaminergic markers including TH, dopamine transporter, dopa decarboxylase and higher level of dopamine secretion. (+)-Cholesten-3-one significantly increases the expression of BMPR IB, but not BMPR IA or BMPR II; p-Smad1/5/8 positive nuclei and expression of p-Smad1/5/8 were detected in NSCs treated with (+)-Cholesten-3-one, indicating that (+)-Cholesten-3-one may activate the BMP signaling. Moreover, overexpression of BMP4 or inhibition of BMP affects the effect of (+)-Cholesten-3-one on the dopaminergic phenotype. These findings may contribute to efficient production of dopaminergic neurons from NSCs culture for many applications and raise interesting questions about the role of (+)-Cholesten-3-one in neurogenesis.

Hexadecanoic acid from Buzhong Yiqi decoction induced proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Buzhong Yiqi decoction (BYD) is a well-known ancient tonic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The purpose of this study is to identify active components of BYD involved in promoting proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and to investigate its mechanism. BYD was extracted with petroleum ether, ethanol, and water. Evidence provided by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, bromodeoxyuridine, proliferation cell nuclear antigen immunoreactivity, cell cycle analysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that hexadecanoic acid (HA) in BYD extracted with petroleum ether is the active compound responsible for increasing proliferation of MSCs. Western blot analysis show that HA significantly increase retinoic acid receptor (RAR) levels of MSCs, but not estrogen receptor, thyroid hormone receptor, vitamin D receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that HA significantly increased RAR mRNA levels. Furthermore, the mechanism of HA action depends on RAR pathway and up-regulates expression of mRNA for insulin-like growth factor-I, the target gene of RAR. Our findings have now allowed for a refinement in our understanding of TCM with respect to pharmacological regulation of stem cells and may be useful to stem cell biology and therapy.

Autocrine BMP4 signaling involves effect of cholesterol myristate on proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells.

We recently identified that cholesterol myristate in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the active compound that increases proliferation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs). The present study is further to determine what signal pathway involves in effect of cholesterol myristate. Reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot and ELISA analysis show that cholesterol myristate increases the release of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) from MSCs and the expression in the intracellular levels of BMP4 in a time- and dose dependent manner. However, structurally related steroids such as cholesterol and cholesten presented in TCM, both lack of the myristate, did not affect the secretion and expression of BMP4 on MSCs. These finds suggest that myristate is essential for the effects of cholesterol myristate. Furthermore, cholesterol myristate significantly increase BMPRIB levels of MSCs and the number of BMPRIB positive cells in a time- and dose dependent manner, but not BMPR IA or BMPR II. Our results indicate that action of cholesterol myristate may activate the BMP4-BMPRIB autocrine. Moreover, a blocking antibody against BMP4 or the BMP4 antagonist, noggin, partially reduced the effects of cholesterol myristate on MSCs proliferation. Thus, this study is to provide evidence that autocrine BMP4 signaling involves effect of cholesterol myristate on MSCs proliferation.

[Effects of Niupo Zhibao Pellet on high-mobility group box-1 protein expression in lung tissues of endotoxin shock rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Niupo Zhibao Pellet, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression in lung tissues of rats with endotoxin shock. METHODS: Thirty SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and Niupo Zhibao Pellet group. Rats in Niupo Zhibao Pellet group were consecutively administered 7 days with 3 mL (1 g/L) Niupo Zhibao Pellet saline suspension every day by intragastric administration. Endotoxin shock was induced in rats of the LPS and Niupo Zhibao Pellet groups by intravenous injection of LPS (1.5 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (100 mg/kg). Expression of HMGB1 in lung tissues was measured by immunohistochemical method with diaminobenzidine (DAB) coloration, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeling, and by Western blotting. RESULTS: Expression of HMGB1 in lung tissues in the LPS group was increased and that in Niupo Zhibao Pellet group was higher than that in the LPS group and the control group. HMGB1 was presented in the cytoplasm of positive cells in the LPS group, but in the nucleus of positive cells in the Niupo Zhibao Pellet group. However, HMGB1 was little expressed in the lung tissues of normal rats. CONCLUSION: Niupo Zhibao Pellet can increase HMGB1 expression and locate HMGB1 in the nucleus but not the cytoplasm, which may be one of its mechanisms in reducing endotoxin shock.

[Effect of extract components from Plastrum testudinis and their combination component on proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cell in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of extract components from Plastrum Testudinis and their combination component on the proliferaiton of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) to screen out the effective components. METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were dissociated from bone marrow of rat and were marked by Brdu, and the expression of CD44, CD54 and double label of Brdu and CD44 extract components (A to approximately J) with different concentration (2 microl, 5 microl,10 microl,20 microl)added to cultured MSC. The cell viability was tested by MTT. RESULTS: Cell viability in component A, B, H, I with 20 microl, C, F with 10 microl and J with 5 microl concentration group increased compared with that in control group (P < 0.05) and cell viability in compponent E with 2 microl to approximately 20 microl concentration groups decreased compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). Cell viability in component D and G with 2 microl to approximately 20 microl concentration groups was similar to that in control group. Cell viability in combination component with J component increased, but cell viability in combination component with E component decrased. CONCLUSION: All compoents A, B,C,F, H, I and J can improve proliferation of MSC. Anong them, component J and its combination are the best. Component E and its combination can inhibit proliferation. But component D and G have no effect on proliferation of MSC.

[Effect of Niupo Zhibao Pellet on expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in brain of endotoxin-induced shock rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Niupo Zhibao Pellet (NPZBP) on the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brain of endotoxin-induced shock rats. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, endotoxin-induced shock model group and NPZBP-treated group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) and tsD-galactosamine (D-GalN) (100 mg/kg i.p.) were administered to the rats in endotoxin-induced shock model group, as well as to the rats in NPZBP-treated group after seven-day treatment, to induce the shock. The expression of nNOS in the brain of the rats in each of the 3 groups was measured by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: In the 3 groups, nNOS immuno-positive cells distributed widely in layer II, III, IV of the cerebral cortex, the molecular layer of hippocampus, the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus, the reticular formation of brain stem, and the molecular, granular and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellar cortex. The number of immuno-positive cells in the NPZBP-treated group was slightly higher than that of the normal control group, and significantly lower than that of the model group (P<0.05) in many regions of the brain, including cerebral cortex, hippocampus, brain stem and cerebellar cortex. CONCLUSION: NPZBP can inhibit the over-expression of nNOS in wide area of the brain in endotoxin-induced shock rats.

[Osteogenesis characteristics of cultured rat mesenchymal stem cells under bone induction condition].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the osteogenesis characteristics of cultured rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under bone induction condition. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from adult rat by using density gradient separation method. The osteogenic inducers were compounds of Dexone, beta-glycerophosphate sodium and vitamin C. RESULTS: The MSC attachment formed soon after the seeding and grew into colonies with the appearance of fibroblastic cells. The osteogenic inducer with low dose of Dexone could promote the osteogenic differentiation of MSC. In the group of osteogenic inducer with low dose of Dexone, the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was remarkably increased after one week's induction, and the number of positive cells was (15.1 +/- 2.6), significantly higher than that of the control group (12.0 +/- 3.5) (P < 0.01). The calcified deposits began to appear in the group of osteogenic inducer with low dose of Dexone after one week's induction and was increased remarkably after three weeks, and the number of calcified deposits was (9.0 +/- 1.7), significantly higher than that of the control group (2.0 +/- 1.8) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MSC can differentiate into osteogenesis by osteogenic induction and may be used to provide seed cells for bone tissue engineering.

[Effect of niupo zhibao pellet on transforming growth factor-beta1 and its receptor's expression in endotoxic shock rats with lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of Niupo Zhibao pellet (NZP) on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its receptor's expression. METHODS: Endotoxic shock model was established by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1.5 mg/kg and intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine 100 mg/kg, and intervened by NZP, TGF-beta1 and its receptor's expression in lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: NZP could enhance the TGF-beta1 and its receptor's expression in endotoxic shock lung tissue, and reduce the injury of lung. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of NZP in reducing endotoxic shock lung injury is possibly related with its effect in enhancing the TGF-beta1 and its receptor's expression in lung tissue.

[Influence of electro-acupuncture of Neiguan on plasmic concentrations of NO and TNFalpha in endotoxin shock rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture of Neiguan (PC 6) on mean systemic arterial blood pressure and plasmic concentrations of NO and TNFalpha in endotoxin shock rats. METHODS: The model of endotoxin shock was induced by lipopolysaccharide (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) and D-galactosamine (100 mg/kg i.p.). Aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg i.p.) and electro-acupuncture of bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) were administered. A catheter was inserted into the right subclavian artery to record the change of blood pressure and the blood was abstracted out and centrifuged to determine the NO and TNFalpha concentrations. RESULTS: Electro-acupuncture of Neiguan (PC 6) retrieved the blood pressure and reduced the plasmic NO and TNFalpha concentrations. CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture of Neiguan (PC 6) expresses an anti-endotoxin shock effect by repressing the plasmic NO and TNFalpha concentrations smoothly and retrieving the blood pressure stably.