Berberine Suppresses Colonic Inflammation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Murine Colitis Through Inhibition of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Activity.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) causes chronic inflammation and damage to the colonic mucosal layer. Recent studies have reported significant changes in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in UC patients and oral administration of PC has considerable therapeutic effects against UC, suggesting the metabolism of phosphatidylcholine may be involved in the UC development. Our previous work has demonstrated that berberine effectively suppresses inflammation and protects colonic mucosa injury in DSS-induced colitic mice. However, whether the therapeutic effects of berberine are attributed to its action on the PC metabolism remains unknown. In the present study, we have shown that berberine significantly reduces the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels in the sera of DSS-induced experimental colitis mice and LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The cytosolic phospholipase A2a (PLA2G4A), an enzyme for hydrolyzing PC to LPC, was found to be up-regulated in the colon tissue of experimental colitis mice and inflamed macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. We then demonstrated berberine inhibits the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2a (PLA2G4A) in the colon tissue of experimental colitis mice and inflamed macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Subsequently, we revealed berberine suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors including TNF-alpha and IL-6 through regulating PLA2G4A dysfunction in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Mechanistically, we found that berberine directly binds to PLA2G4A and inhibits MAPK/JNK signaling pathway to inhibit PLA2G4A activity in inflammatory status. Therefore, we concluded that berberine inhibits colonic PLA2G4A activity to ameliorate colonic inflammation in experimental colitic mice, suggesting modulation of the PC metabolism via PLA2G4A might be beneficial for establishing new therapies strategy for UC.

Distribution patterns of the contents of five biologically activate ingredients in the root of Scutellaria baicalensis.

As an important herbaceous plant, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Chinese skullcap) is geographically widespread and commonly used throughout the world. In the Chinese medicine market, S. baicalensis has been divided into two primary types, "Ku Qin" (WXR) and "Tiao Qin" (TST). Moreover, TST is also divided into different grades according to the diameter of roots. To explore the distribution patterns of the contents of five biologically activate ingredients (FBAI), we used six-year-old cultivated S. baicalensis and analyzed its growth characteristics as well as the quality difference among different types and diameters in roots. Throughout the entire root, we discovered that contents of the FBAI all initially increased and subsequently decreased from the top to the bottom of the roots. The baicalin content of WXR was less than that of TST. On the contrary, the contents of baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A in WXR were up to about two times higher than that in TST. We also found that the 0 to 40 cm part of the S. baicalensis root possessed about 87% of the root biomass and about 92% of the contents of the active ingredients.

[Study on difference of functional components content of different Rheum tanguticum variation type].

Rheum tanguticum from the same area was divided into 8 types of variation according to the plant morphology, content differences of free anthraquinones, combined anthraquinones, double anthrone were studied. The results showed that the functional components of different variation types were significantly different. The average content of free anthraquinone combined anthraquinone was 2.10-6.71 and 15.43-22.04 mg•g⁻¹, respectively. The average content of sennoside A plus sennoside B was 32.88-42.36 mg•g⁻¹. There were significant differences among the difference of 10 kinds of active components, except for sennoside B and physcion glycoside. Interred with the content and proportion of functional components, type B and type E might be potential special medicinal germplasm for diarrhea attack product, type G and type H might be a potential special medicinal germplasm for clearing heat and detoxifing, type C and type F might be potential special medicinal germplasm for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis, type A and type D might be potential special medicinal germplasm with anastaltic funtion. The conclusion laid the foundation for the directional cultivation of fine varieties of special purpose of rhubarb.

[Therapeutic effect of sirolimus against chronic allograft nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in management of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 31 CAN patients followed up since March 2002, who experienced a change from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based regimen to a SRL-based regimen. Serum creatinine (Cr) in these patients was compared before and after the regimen change, and the adverse events associated with SRL were analyzed. RESULTS: Till March 2007 when the study closed, 15 patients reached the primary endpoint for resuming dialysis, 8 had improved and 8 had stable renal function. In patients with high Cr(0)(> or =3 mg/L, n=12), 9 resumed dialysis and 2 had improved renal function, but one of the patients with renal improvement eventually died due to infection; in the patients with low Cr(0)(<3 mg/L, n=19), 5 resumed dialysis, 8 had stable renal function and 6 had improved renal function, showing significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.003). Altogether 14 patients reached the secondary endpoint for ceasing SRL for severe infection (5 patients, of whom 4 resumed dialysis and 1 died of infection) or adverse events associated with SRL (9 patients, of whom 4 resumed dialysis, 2 had stable and 3 had improved renal function). Hyperlipidemia (51.6%), leukocytopenia (41.9%), mouth ulcer (29.0%) and liver function lesion (16.1%) were the commonest adverse events in these patients, and totalling 13 severe adverse events were recorded, including 2 fatal cerebral hemorrhage, 3 fatal infection episodes, and 8 pulmonary and urinary infections that require hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Conversion from a CNI-based to SRL-based regimen can be effective for some CAN cases, especially for those with Cr(0) below 3 mg/L. Attention must be given to adverse events like hyperlipidemia and leukocytopenia, as well as the related cerebral vascular accidents and infections.

[Characteristics of neoplasm occurrence of renal allograft recipients and their prognosis].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Renal allograft recipients are more likely to develop neoplasm than general population because of long-term immunosuppressive treatment and concurrent infections. This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of neoplasm occurrence of renal allograft recipients, and the effect of radical surgery (RS) on their prognosis. METHODS: Records of 2 160 renal allograft recipients treated in our center from Oct. 1987 to Apr. 2003 were retrospectively studied. The time to neoplasm development, pathologic type of tumor, patients' survival time were analyzed to explore the clinical features of neoplasm developing after kidney transplantation. Recipients developed neoplasms were divided into RS group and non-RS group according to their treatment pattern. The effect of RS on patients' survival was estimated. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients developed neoplasms after transplantation. Among them,11(33.3%) developed neoplasms in digestive system. The median survival time of RS group (10 patients) was 41.5 months, that of non-RS group (23 patients) was 6.0 months. The 20-month survival rate of RS group was 70.0%, while that of non-RS group was 13.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Renal allograft recipients are more likely to develop neoplasm than general population. Moreover, their main malignancies are liver cancer, skin cancer, lymphoma and thyroid carcinoma, which differ from those observed in general population. Early diagnosis and treatment, especially feasible RS, will improve short-term outcome, while long-term therapeutic effect needs to be further observed.