miR-122-3p targets UBE2I to regulate the immunosuppression of liver cancer and the intervention of Liujunzi formula.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Liujunzi formula has been used to treat liver cancer in China for many years, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. We previously found that decreased expression of miR-122-3p was associated with liver cancer. In this study, we aimed to explore the target of miR-122-3p and the effect of the Liujunzi formula on miR-122-3p and its downstream events in liver cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bioinformatics pinpointed potential targets of miR-122-3p. The actual target was confirmed by miRNA mimic/inhibitor transfections and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. RNA-seq looked at downstream genes impacted by this target. Flow cytometry checked for changes in T cell apoptosis levels after exposing them to liver cancer cells. Gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Cell experiments found the Liujunzi extract (LJZ) upregulated miR-122-3p and in a dose-dependent manner. Bioinformatics analysis found UBE2I was a potential target of miR-122-3p, which was validated through experiments using miRNA mimics/inhibitors and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. RNA-seq data implicated the NF-κB pathway as being downstream of the miR-122-3p/UBE2I axis, further confirmed by forcing overexpression of UBE2I. Bioinformatic evidence suggested a link between UBE2I and T cell infiltration in liver cancer. Given that the NF-κB pathway drives PD-L1 expression, which can inhibit T cell infiltration, we investigated whether PD-L1 is a downstream effector of miR-122-3p/UBE2I. This was corroborated through mining public databases, UBE2I overexpression studies, and tumor-T cell co-culture assays. In addition, we also confirmed that LJZ downregulates UBE2I and NF-κB/PD-L1 pathways through miR-122-3p. LJZ also suppressed SUMOylation in liver cancer cells and protected PD-1+ T cells from apoptosis induced by co-culture with tumor cells. Strikingly, a miR-122-3p inhibitor abrogated LJZ's effects on UBE2I and PD-L1, and UBE2I overexpression rescued the LJZ-mediated effects on NF-κB and PD-L1. CONCLUSIONS: miR-122-3p targets UBE2I, thereby suppressing the NF-κB signaling cascade and downregulating PD-L1 expression, which potentiates anti-tumor immune responses. LJZ bolsters anti-tumor immunity by modulating the miR-122-3p/UBE2I/NF-κB/PD-L1 axis in liver cancer cells.

Clinical effect of manipulation therapy for the treatment of degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore clinical effects of manipulation therapy in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory.@*METHODS@#Fifty-seven patients with degenerative lumbar spine instability were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to December 2019, and treated with massage manipulation therapy. Among them, 29 patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on the myofascial chain theory (myofascial chain group), including 14 males and 15 females, aged from 40 to 69 years old with an average of (51.76±5.07) years old, the courses of disease was (3.4±1.6) years. Twenty-eight patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on TCM meridian theory (TCM meridian group), including 12 males and 16 females, aged from 42 to 70 years old with an average of(52.48±4.31) years old, the courses of disease was (3.3±1.7) years. Before treatment, after treatment, 1 and 3 months after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain degree of lumbar, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess improvement of lumbar function, and changes of lumbar muscle tension were used to evaluate clinical effect.@*RESULTS@#VAS score, JOA score, modified ODI score and lumbar muscle tension after treatment were significantly improved than those of before treatment between two groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Manipulation therapyon in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory could effectively relieve low back pain symptom and improve lumbar function. It is worthy of promoting.

Analysis on dosage form theory and current application situation of traditional Chinese medicine pill / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) pill, the most representative and successive dosage form, is called as one of the four classical TCM dosage forms. "Pills could keep the lasting and lenitive therapeutic efficacy for a long period" is the most classical dosage form theory, showing a guidance significance in making recipe, preparations and clinic application. In this article, we would elucidate the inheritance and development significance of TCM pills in three key points, including dosage form theory, pharmaceutical preparation technology and clinic usage based on the pharmaceutics connotation of this theory. From this, it can provide the basis for researches on pills mechanism, material basis and mode of action in clinical application.

Effects of Jisuikang on Nogo-NgR gene expression in spinal cord rats with injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Jisuikang (Chinese characters) on Nogo-NgR gene expression, and to explore the protective effects and mechanism of Jisuikang (Chinese characters) on spinal cord injury in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred eighty female rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups(30 rats per group). Sham group: T10 lamina was resected only and spinal cord was untreated. Model group: spine cord injury (SCI) was created with a modified impinger of Allen's by impacting on the T10 spinal cord. Prednisolone group: Prednisolone (0.06 g/kg) was given by intragastric administration at a time interval of 24 hours after operation. The Jisuikang (Chinese characters) high, moderate and low dose groups: Jisuikang (Chinese characters) was supplied with different dose (50 g/kg, 25 g/kg, 12.5 g/kg) by intragastric administration in rats after operation,for the first time at 30 min after surgery. Animals were killed 3, 7, 14 days after surgery. The expression levels of Nogo-A and NgR were observed by Western Blot and Real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Nogo-A and NgR was at the basic level at all time points in sham group. Compared with model group, the protein expression levels of Nogo-A and NgR in sham, prednisolone, Jisuikang (Chinese characters) moderate dose groups were statistically significant at all time points (P < 0.05). No difference was found in Jisuikang (Chinese characters) high and low dose groups (P > 0.05). Three days after surgery, the mRNA levels of Nogo-A and NgR in treatment group were significantly lower than that in model group (P < 0.01); 7 days after surgery,Nogo-A and NgR mRNA expression were dramatically upregulated and peaked; 14 days after operation, the expression was decreased, but still significantly higher than that in other treatment groups (P < 0.01). Prednisolone and Jisuikang (Chinese characters) moderate dose groups showed the most significant effects among all groups,but there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decoction Jisuikang (Chinese characters) can promote the nerve cell regeneration by regulating Nogo-A and NgR gene expression, activating Nogo- NgR signaling pathways after acute spinal cord injury.</p>

Antioxidant phenolic profile from ethyl acetate fraction of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi with protection against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in SH-SY5Y cells.

In this study, we demonstrated the antioxidant and protective properties of crude extract and fractions from Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in SH-SY5Y cells. The contents of their phytochemical profiles were determined by spectrophotometric methods and high performance liquid chromatography using a photodiode array detector. FLL crude extract possessed appreciable scavenging capacity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and H2O2. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction was the most active fraction in scavenging free radicals and H2O2. Following exposure of cells to H2O2, there was a marked decrease in cell survival and intracellular antioxidant enzymes, and then intracellular oxidative stress, the level of lipid peroxidation, and caspase-3 activity were increased. Simultaneous treatment with the EtOAc fraction blocked these H2O2-induced cellular events. Hydroxytyrosol and salidroside are major components of the EtOAc fraction. These results show that the phenolic-enriched EtOAc fraction of FLL contains tyrosol-related derivatives and exerts the protective effects against H2O2 toxicity via its free radical scavenging activity and ability to elevate the levels of antioxidant enzymes.