[Effect of Bushen Qianggu decoction on the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts and expression of PCNA and Bcl-2].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Bushen Qianggu decoction proliferation and PCNA and Bcl-2 expression. METHODS: Serum containing BQD was made and synovial fibroblasts were separated and cultured and passaged in vitro. Four groups were divided as 20% blank control group, serum containing 20% Tripterygium wilfordii multi-glycosides drug (TWMD), 20% of serum containing high and low of BQD, respectively. Serum containing drugs of different concentration were added into the synovial fibroblasts of the third generation, and then the synovial fibroblasts were cultured continued. The effects of different drugs on synovial fibroblasts and PCNA and Bcl-2 expression were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the control serum, BQD-containing serum promoted the apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts (P < 0.000 1); especially, high dose could inhibit proliferation. The expression of PCNA and Bcl-2 was significantly lower in BQD-containing serum (P < 0.000 1 vs control group). CONCLUSION: BQD can promote the apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts by improving of expression of PCNA and Bcl-2, which may be one of the mechanisms of BQD in preventing and treating osteoporosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

[Effects of Drynaria total flavonoids on apoptosis of osteoblasts mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of Drynaria total flavonoids on proliferation and apoptosis of osteoblasts in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- mediated medium, so as to explore the mechanism of Drynaria total flavonoids in preventing and treating osteoporosis of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats with average weight of (200±20) g were randomly divided into two groups: blank control group and Qianggu capsule (Drynaria total flavonoids) group. Rats in Qianggu capsule group were fed with 75 mg Qianggu capsule daily for continuous 3 d. One hour after the last feed, blood samples were collected. The in vitro experiment of four groups was designed: blank control serum group, Drynaria total flavonoids-containing serum group, blank control serum plus TNF-α group and Drynaria total flavonoids-containing serum plus TNF-α group. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method was used to detect the proliferation of osteoblasts. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of osteoblasts and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNAs in osteoblasts. RESULTS: Compared with the control serum, Drynaria total flavonoids-containing serum promoted the proliferation and decreased the apoptosis of osteoblasts in TNF-α-mediated inflammatory environment (P<0.05), and increased the ratio of Bcl-2 mRNA to Bax mRNA. CONCLUSION: In TNF-α-mediated inflammatory environment, Drynaria total flavonoids can promote the proliferation and decrease the apoptosis of osteoblasts by improving the ratio of Bcl-2 mRNA to Bax mRNA, which may be one of the mechanisms of Drynaria total flavonoids in preventing and treating osteoporosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

[Effects of Astragalus on expression of renal angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and the effects of Astragalus. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes group and Astragalus-treated group. The expression of receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue was assessed by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression was significantly elevated in the diabetes group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression in the Astragalus-treated group was decreased as compared with the diabetes group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tie-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the early stage diabetic renal injury. The reno-protection effect of Astragalus may be mediated by down-regulating the expression of Tie-2 in the kidney tissue of diabetic rats.