Jie Geng Tang reverses cisplatin resistance through the Nrf2 pathway in lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Jie Geng Tang (JGT) is an ancient traditional Chinese herbal decoction that exhibits various pharmacological activities, however, is poorly understood in the sensitivity of lung cancer to chemotherapy. Here, we explored the effect of JGT on sensitizing cisplatin (DDP)-resistant A549 cells (A549/DDP). METHODS: Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit-8 assay. Flow cytometry was applied to detected cell apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were performed to determine protein and mRNA levels. KEY FINDINGS: The results demonstrated that DDP co-treatment with JGT significantly increased the cytotoxicity of A549/DDP cells and exhibited efficacy in suppressing the migration and proliferation. The rate of apoptosis was increased by co-treatment with DDP and JGT, along with a higher rate of Bax/Bcl-2, and increased loss of MMP. Furthermore, the combination promoted ROS accumulation and increased γ-H2AX levels. Moreover, Nrf2 levels were suppressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner, Nrf2 stability was reduced following treatment with JGT. Notably, the combination induced inhibition of the Nrf2/ARE pathway at the mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results indicate that co-treatment with JGT and DDP can be considered a combinational approach to treating DDP resistance.

[Effects of regulation measure on soil and microbial biomass of moderately degraded alpine meadow in Qilian Mountain, China]. / 调控措施对祁连山中度退化高寒草甸土壤的影响.

We examined the effects of different regulation measures (spring rest grazing, spring rest grazing-cutting turf, spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization, spring rest grazing-cutting turf-sowing, spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing) on vegetation, soil physical and chemical properties, and soil microbial biomass in mode-rately degraded alpine meadow in Qilian Mountain. The results showed that all the regulation measures significantly increased plant coverage and aboveground and underground biomass of degraded alpine meadows. Plant species richness increased significantly under the two measures of spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization and spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing. The dominant species of spring rest grazing-cutting turf-sowing and spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing was Poa pratensis cv. Qinghai. Soil pH and bulk density in moderately degraded alpine meadow (control) were significantly higher than those of all regulation measures. Soil water content, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total potassium, carbon-nitrogen ratio and nitrogen-phosphorus ratio of spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing measures were the highest, which were 21.3%, 22.30 g·kg-1, 2.77 g·kg-1, 19.93 g·kg-1, 8.3 and 3.5, respectively. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen and phosphorus (104.98 and 40.74 mg·kg-1) of degraded meadows under spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing measures were significantly higher than those of other measures, while soil microbial biomass carbon (240.72 mg·kg-1) of degraded meadows under spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization measures was significantly higher than that of other measures. The results of radar map showed that the regulation measures affected the characteristics of degra-ded meadow vegetation (aboveground and underground biomass), soil physical and chemical properties (water content, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium) and soil microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus). Spring rest grazing-cutting turf-fertilization-sowing measures had the best performance in restoraing degraded meadows in the study area.

Saikosaponin D Rescues Deficits in Sexual Behavior and Ameliorates Neurological Dysfunction in Mice Exposed to Chronic Mild Stress.

Often associated with sexual dysfunction (SD), chronic stress is the main contributing risk factor for the pathogenesis of depression. Radix bupleuri had been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine formulation for the regulation of emotion and sexual activity. As the main active component of Radix bupleuri, saikosaponin D (SSD) has a demonstrated antidepressant effect in preclinical studies. Herein, we sought to investigate the effect of SSD to restore sexual functions in chronically stressed mice and elucidate the potential brain mechanisms that might underly these effects. SSD was gavage administered for three weeks during the induction of chronic mild stress (CMS), and its effects on emotional and sexual behaviors in CMS mice were observed. The medial posterodorsal amygdala (MePD) was speculated to be involved in the manifestation of sexual dysfunctions in CMS mice. Our results revealed that SSD not only alleviated CMS-induced depressive-like behaviors but also rescued CMS-induced low sexual motivation and poor sexual performance. CMS destroyed astrocytes and activated microglia in the MePD. SSD treatment reversed the changes in glial pathology and inhibited neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress in the MePD of CMS mice. The neuronal morphological and functional deficits in the MePD were also alleviated by SSD administration. Our results provide insights into the central mechanisms involving the brain associated with sexual dysfunction. These findings deepen our understanding of SSD in light of the psychopharmacology of stress and sexual disorders, providing a theoretical basis for its potential clinical application.