[Spatial distribution and the influencing factors of organic carbon of biological crusts on regional scale in Mu Us sandy land, China]. / æ¯›ä¹Œç´ æ²™åœ°åŒºåŸŸå°ºåº¦ç”Ÿç‰©ç»“çš®æœ‰æœºç¢³.

As an important soil cover in deserts, biological crusts play a central role in ecosystem function such as nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, and carbon sequestration. Many biological crust organisms could fix CO2 through photosynthesis to improve soil organic carbon content. There is a knowledge gap in the origin of soil organic carbon (SOC) from biological crusts on a regional level, which restricts the prediction of soil carbon pool. Based on 45 plots in the Mu Us sandy land (42200 km2), we measured the SOC content and soil organic carbon density (SOCD) of two types of typical biological crusts (moss crusts, algal crusts) and their underlying soils, and analyzed together with the climate data, soil and vegetation factors to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and controlling factors of organic carbon of biological crusts at the regional scale. The results showed that: 1) biological crusts significantly increased SOC and SOCD compared with bare ground. Moss crusts and the underlying SOC (4.93 g·kg-1) and SOCD (0.41 kg·m-2) were higher than those of algal crusts (1.89 g·kg-1, 0.18 kg·m-2). 2) On the regional scale, the SOC and SOCD of biological crusts had clear spatial distribution characteristics, demonstrating a banded distribution and block mosaic from northeast to central and west to southeast. 3) The SOC and SOCD of biological crusts and their underlying soils were mainly affected by climate, soil and vegetation conditions, while the main controlling factors depended on the types of biological crusts. The SOC and SOCD of moss crust were controlled by annual maximum temperature and potential evapotranspiration, whereas those of algal crusts were controlled by water vapor pressure.

[Effects of biological crusts on soil organic carbon in sandlands under a precipitation gradient]. / 不同降水条件下生物结皮覆盖对沙地土壤有机碳的影响.

Biological crusts (Biocrusts) are important surface active coverings in arid and semi-arid regions, which affect the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), SOC labile fractions and stability of SOC through photosynthetic carbon fixation. At present, studies on the variation characteristics of SOC, SOC labile fractions and the stability of SOC in biocrusts are rather limited. In this study, two types of typical biocrusts (moss crusts and algae crusts) were selected along a precipitation gradient from northwest to southeast in the Mu Us Sandland (straight line distance 188 km) by measuring soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water soluble carbon (DOC), particulate carbon (POC), easily oxidizable carbon (ROC). We aimed to explore the effects of biocrusts on the stability of SOC and carbon decomposition across the precipitation gradient. Results showed that:1) Two types of biocrusts significantly increased the contents of SOC, MBC, DOC, POC, ROC and stability of SOC. Moss crusts increased SOC contents by 1.6 to 2.6 times as that of algae crusts. 2) The lowest SOC contents of the two types of biocrusts were 6.43 g·kg-1 and 14.50 g·kg-1 respectively, which showed an increasing trend with increasing precipitation along the gradient. 3) With the increases of precipitation, the decomposition time of moss litters gradually decreased. The decomposition coefficient of moss litters during the study period (From July to Feb-ruary of the next year) ranged from 0.010 to 0.014, which was significantly lower than that of vascular plants. The carbon release of moss litters from northwest to southeast was 8.09, 10.89, 12.88 g·kg-1, respectively. 4) Results of canonical correspondence analysis showed that water vapor partial pressure, actual evapotranspiration, annual average temperature, subsurface short-wave radiation, potential evapotranspiration and vapor pressure difference were the key climate factors affecting the content of SOC and its active components. Silt content was the main soil factor affecting the content of SOC and its active components.

miR-30a Serves as a Tumor Suppressor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Downregulating ADAMTS14.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common malignancy in the world, but the effect of therapies on advanced HCC has not improved for decades. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-30a in the tumorigenesis of HCC. METHODS: The expression of miR-30a and ADAMTS14 in HCC tissues were determined. Luciferase reporter gene detection confirmed the correlation between miR-30a and ADAMTS14. Cell viability and apoptosis rate were examined using an MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion ability were detected by a transwell assay. The protein expression of ADAMTS14, ß-catenin, GSK-3ß, and p-GSK-3ß were determined using western blotting. RESULTS: miR-30a was negatively correlated with the expression of ADAMTS14 in HCC tissues. Further research confirmed that ADAMTS14 is the direct target of miR-30a. In addition, the expression of ADAMTS14, cell viability and apoptosis were suppressed by miR-30a overexpression, while knockdown of miR-30a led to the opposite result. miR-30a also inhibits the phosphorylation of GSK-3ß and ß-catenin, without changing the total GSK-3ß level. CONCLUSIONS: miR-30a acts as a tumor suppressor in the progression of HCC and can be used as a biomarker for early prediction and diagnosis.

[Data-driven study of complex socio-economic-natural ecosystems: Scales, processes and decision linkages]. / 数据驱动的社会-经济-è‡ªç„¶å¤åˆç”Ÿæ€ç³»ç»Ÿç ”ç©¶:å°ºåº¦ã€è¿‡ç¨‹åŠå ¶å†³ç­–å ³è”.

The social-economic-natural system is a complex system for human survival and development, and the data-driven system research provides a new value-added orientation to enhance the cognition of the ecosystem. Under the new data context, the social-economic-natural complex system shows new features. The research object is gradually changing from a single element to a multi-factor coupling direction, which makes the data system more diversified, data sources more extensive, data expression more visualized. The research scale shows the characteristics of gradually expanding, and the research object would be more detailed. In the process of data identification, expression and visualization, it is therefore necessary to strengthen the coupling of time, space, structure, quantity and order, as well as to focus on the integration with decision making and local services. The future research of complex ecosystems in the new era should be carried out in terms of key scientific issues and supporting technologies, the role of scale and multi-factor coupling, as well as scientific and technological support for local and global governance. Under the continuous innovation of data, strengthening the cognition of multi-source data, long-term monitoring and time series still needs to be studied in depth. Carrying out data-driven analysis of complex ecosystems not only provides technical support for ecosystem services and sustainable development and enhances the long-term data sharing mechanism, but also provides more value support for realizing decision making and information dissemination.

[Socio-economic metabolism research: Connotation, discovery, and prospect]. / ç¤¾ä¼šç»æµŽä»£è°¢ç ”ç©¶:å† æ¶µã€å‘çŽ°å’Œå±•æœ›.

Socio-economic metabolism refers to the human-driven migration and transformation of material and energy within and at the boundary of the socio-economic system. The research of socio-economic metabolism has become the core in industrial ecology. We introduced the connotation and basic steps of socio-economic metabolism research with typical cases, and summarized the main findings of socio-economic metabolism research. The research provide a method and model to track the sources, sinks, and flow path of materials in the socio-economic system, reveal how materials and their socio-economic metabolic processes supported modern production and lifestyle. Related studies have clarified the mechanism by which human activities driving the ecological and environmental problems related to material metabolism. It provides the model and database for evaluating the resource efficiency, the trend of resource supply and demand, and the potential of urban mining. We put forward the future directions of socio-economic metabolism research: to increase research objects and enhance the research precision of each object; to expand and deepen the temporal and spatial boundaries of the research system; to introduce and integrate new data sources and research methods; to connect the material flows of socio-economic metabolism with its related ecological and environmental impacts; and to establish a data platform that could be shared, expanded and accumulated.

Effects of Wenyangbushen formula on the expression of VEGF, OPG, RANK and RANKL in rabbits with steroid-induced femoral head avascular necrosis.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Wenyangbushen formula on the mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)­κß ligand (RANK), and RANK ligand (RANKL) in a rabbit model of steroid­induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH). The present study also aimed to examine the potential mechanism underlying the effect of this formula on the treatment of SANFH. A total of 136 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: Normal group, model group, and three groups treated with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Wenyangbushen decoction, at a low, moderate and high dose, respectively. The normal group and positive control group were intragastrically administered with saline. The TCM groups were treated with Wenyangbushen decoction at the indicated dosage. Following treatment for 8 weeks, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF, OPG, RANK and RANKL in the femoral head tissues were determined using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses, respectively. The data revealed that Wenyangbushen decoction effectively promoted the growth of bone cells, osteoblasts and chondrocytes, and prevented cell apoptosis in the SANFH. The mRNA and protein expression levels of OPG and VEGF were increased, while the levels of RANK and RANKL were reduced in the necrotic tissue of the model group, compared with those in the normal rabbits. Wenyangbushen treatment prevented these changes, manifested by an upregulation in the expression levels of VEGF and OPG, and downregulation in the expression levels of RANK and RANKL in a dose­dependent manner. It was concluded that treatment with Wenyangbushen formula alleviated necrosis of the femoral head induced by steroids. It was observed to promote bone cell, osteoblast and chondrocyte growth, as well as prevent cell apoptosis. In addition, it upregulated the expression levels of OPG and VEGF, and inhibited the expression levels of RANK and RANKL. These results suggest the potential use of Wenyangbushen formula as a possible approach for the effective treatment of SANFH.

Expected number of quantum channels in quantum networks.

Quantum communication between nodes in quantum networks plays an important role in quantum information processing. Here, we proposed the use of the expected number of quantum channels as a measure of the efficiency of quantum communication for quantum networks. This measure quantified the amount of quantum information that can be teleported between nodes in a quantum network, which differs from classical case in that the quantum channels will be consumed if teleportation is performed. We further demonstrated that the expected number of quantum channels represents local correlations depicted by effective circles. Significantly, capacity of quantum communication of quantum networks quantified by ENQC is independent of distance for the communicating nodes, if the effective circles of communication nodes are not overlapped. The expected number of quantum channels can be enhanced through transformations of the lattice configurations of quantum networks via entanglement swapping. Our results can shed lights on the study of quantum communication in quantum networks.

[Optimize extraction technology of Fufang Bajitian Shenggu Particles by central composite design and response surface method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize extraction process of Fufang Bajitian Shenggu Particles by central composite design and response surface method. METHODS: The preparation of Fufang Bajitian Shenggu Particles was designed according to the test. With the overall desirability (OD) of Icariin content and the dry extract yield in medicinal materials extract concentrate as examining indexes, immersion time, material liquid ratio, extraction time and stress concentration temperature were investigated. Based on the single factor tests, material liquid ratio, extraction time and stress concentration temperature which impacted response values significantly were investigated by three factors and five levels of central composite design. RESULTS: Optimum extraction technology of Fufang Bajitian Shenggu Particles were as follows: material liquid ratio was 1:11.33, extraction time was 39 min, and stress concentration temperature was 66 °C. Bias of the lcariin content and the dry extract yield between observed and predicted values were 1.60% and 1.55% ,respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using central composite design and response surface method to optimize extraction of Fufang Bajitian Shenggu particles has a good prediction.

Effects of salt stress on antioxidant defense system in the root of Kandelia candel.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the active oxygen scavenging mechanism of Kandelia candel, in order to provide a theoretical basis for further analysis on the physiological mechanism of salt tolerance in mangrove plants. Different concentrations of NaCl solution (0, 150, 300 and 450 mmol/L) were used for salt stress treatments on Kandelia candel, physiological indicators in the root of Kandelia candel were measured in different processing time. RESULTS: With the increase of salt concentrations and processing time, the contents of total proteins in the root of Kandelia candel were reduced; the CAT activity, SOD activity, ASA content and MDA content all had decreased with the increase of salt concentrations and shown a trend from ascent to descent with the increase of processing time, the peak of ASA and MDA contents were observed at 6 h, that of SOD activity was observed at 9 h and that of CAT activity was at 12 h; POD activity had shown an overall upward trend with the increase of salt concentrations and processing time, which reached the maximum at 24 h; the variations of these physiological indicators were more significant in high concentrations of NaCl solution (450 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: A certain salt concentration (<300 mmol/L) was required for the growth of Kandelia candel seedlings. At the early stage of high-salt stress, Kandelia candel can rapidly activate antioxidant defense system to resist the salt induced oxidative stress, thus reducing the damages of oxidative stress to plasma membrane, which might be an effective means for Kandelia candel to resist high salt stress.

Experimental research into using bone-strengthening pill to treat ischemic necrosis of femoral head.

OBJECTIVE: To study the use of a bone-strengthening pill to treat ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: A model of castration in rats with osteoporosis and a model of ischemic necrosis in the bilateral femoral heads of young rats were used to detect bone density, bone formation measurements, lipid deposition in the femoral head, the distribution of capillaries in the femoral head and other relevant biochemical indices. RESULTS: In model rats, bone-strengthening pills were able to increase the bone density, the unit volume of bony trabeculae, the width of bony trabeculae, and the unit volume of the bony cortex. They could also enhance the mineral apposition rate in the femoral head and the seam width of osteoid deposition. Furthermore, there was a reduction in lipid deposition in the femoral head, and enriched distribution of arteries in the femoral head. Bone-related biochemical detections showed an increase in alkaline phosphatase staining and a decrease in tartaric acidic phosphatase staining. CONCLUSION: The results show that bone-strengthening pills can obviously promote bony growth, cause an increase in bone density, restore blood circulation, inhibit the occurrence and development of bony necrosis, and accelerate the repair of necrotic bones, with no toxic side-effects.

Effects of huogu I formula (I) on correlated factors of bone regeneration in chickens with steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head.

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Huogu I formula (I) in treating osteonecrosis of femoral head. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy female Leghorn chickens were randomly divided into control group, model group and Huogu I group, and each group consisted of 16 chickens. At the meantime of model establishment, chickens of the Huogu I group were administrated with decoction, while the model and control group with distilled water by gavage. At the 8th and 16th week after medication, blood samples were obtained for blood lipid detection while both sides of femoral head were harvested for the rest of examinations. Specifically, expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFß(1)), Smad4 and Smad7 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while expression of osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (OPG/RANKL) mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the model group rose significantly. Positive cell counting of BMP2, TGFß(1), Smad4 and OPG in femoral head of the model group dropped prominently. Positive cell counting of Smad7 and RANKL increased dramatically. In contrast with the model group, levels of TC, TG and LDL-C in Huogu I group reduced significantly. Positive cell counting of BMP2, TGFß(1), Smad4 and OPG in femoral head of the Huogu I group increased prominently. Indices of Smad7 and RANKL both decreased significantly. Especially at the 8th week, these variations were more significant. CONCLUSION: Huogu I formula is effective in promoting repair of necrotic femoral head by regulating the expressions of BMP2, TGFß(1), Smads and OPG/RANKL of osteoclast in femoral head.

[Effects of different concentrations of gubishu containing serum on the proliferation of rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro culture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of Gubishu containing serum on the proliferation of rabbit articular chondrocytes cultured in vitro. METHODS: Articular chondrocytes were obtained from the cartilage of 1-month rabbit and cultured in vitro. They were randomly divided into 8 groups,blank and Gubishu groups in different concentrations (5%, 10%,15%, 20%), MTT assay method was adopted to observe the influence of Gubishu containing serum with different concentrations to the proliferation of chondrocytes after incubated 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 days. RESULTS: The proliferation of chondrocytes was dependent on the concentration in Gubishu groups. At same time point,there was significant value between every groups, 20% concentration was greatest (P<0.05); There was significant differences between 5%, 10% and 20% concentration of the blank groups at same time point (P<0.05), and was not between 15% and 20% concentration at the 1, 3, 5 and 7 days (P>0.05), 20% concentration of the blank group was greatest. 20% concentrations of Gubishu containing serum was significantly greater than 20% concentrations of blank group at the 1, 3, 5 and 7 days (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: 20% concentrations of Gubishu containing serum can significantly increase the proliferation of chondrocytes, and bring the logarithmic growth period forward to the 3 day.

[Experimental research progress of warming yang and reinforcing kidney of Chinese medicine to promote the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells].

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), a kind of stem cells residing in bone marrow, have self-renewal, high proliferative capacity and the potential of multilineage differentiation. It has a good prospect in application of the cell replacement therapy, the gene therapy and the tissue engineering and so on. As the content of BMSCs is extremely low in bone marrow, BM-SCs must be amplified in vitro and induced to differentiation to meet the clinical needs. Researches of the recent years suggest there is a very promising way that Chinese medicine could induce BMSCs proliferation, differentiation. Based on the Chinese medicine theory, "the kidney generating marrow and dominating bone" and "kidney storing essence, essence and marrow", the TCM scholars have done some researches to explore the function of warming yang and reinforcing kidney of Chinese medicine to promote bone marrow stromal cells and found that these drugs can promote the BMSCs to proliferate and to differentiate into osteogenic, cartilage and nerve cells. This article elaborates and presents the researches on this aspect.

Progress on integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of the joints caused by wide variety of factors. factors. This paper provides a review of the clinical and experimental research on integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Western medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. (1) Clinical research: integrated Chinese and Western medicine therapies were used including physiotherapy, medications, acupuncture, functional training, intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate therapy, and arthroscopic debridement with Chinese medicine articular iontophoresis therapy. articular iontophoresis therapy. (2) Experimental research: modern methods were used in studying the mechanism of Chinese medicine in slowing down cartilage degeneration, promoting articular cartilage repair, inhibiting synovial inflammation, and blocking cartilage destruction. inflammation, and blocking cartilage destruction. In addition, this article also reviews the advantages, prospects, and problems of the therapies. and problems of the therapies.

[Protection of apoptosis of osteoblast cultured in vitro by Morinda Root Polysaccharide].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protection on apoptosis and the mechanism of promoting the cytoactive of osteoblast by Morinda Root Polysaccharide through the observations of the cultured osteoblast in vitro. METHODS: Prepared blood serum with Morinda Root Polysaccharide and Morinda Root aqueous extract and cultured Osteoblast in vitro with it. The second generation osteoblasts in vitro were separated from the cranium of 24-hours newborn SD rat, which were divided into control group (adding only rat serum during cultivation), induction apoptosis group (adding trans-retinoic acid in control group), Morinda Root aqueous extract group (adding serum prepared by Morinda Root aqueous extract in induction apoptosis group) and Morinda Root Polysaccharide group (adding serum prepared by Morinda Root Polysaccharide in induction apoptosis group). Adopting fluorescence microscope, apoptosis detected by flow cytometry and gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax detected by RT-PCR, to evaluate the effect of Morinda Root Polysaccharide on the course of osteoblast apoptosis. RESULTS: The apoptotic rate of Morinda Root aqueous extract group and Morinda Root Polysaccharide group were significantly lower than that of induction apoptosis group (P < 0.01). The apoptosis ratio of Morinda Root Polysaccharide group was lower than that of Morinda Root aqueous extract group (P < 0.05). Expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA of apoptosis cell: control group > Morinda Root Polysaccharide group > Morinda Root aqueous extract group > induction apoptosis group (P < 0.01). Expression level of Bax mRNA: induction apoptosis group > Morinda Root aqueous extract group > control group > Morinda Root Polysaccharide group (P < 0.01). Bcl-2/Bax: control group > Morinda Root Polysaccharide group > Morinda Root aqueous extract group > induction apoptosis group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Morinda Root can inhibit the apoptosis of osteoblast induced by trans-retinoic acid in some extent. The above role of Morinda Root Polysaccharide is significant better than that of Morinda Root aqueous extract. It is indicated that Morinda Root Polysaccharide is one of the essential component of inhibiting osteoblast apotosis.

[Experimental study on the effects of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Chinese herbs qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on osteoblast culture in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimum phase and dose of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast (OB). METHODS (OB) was isolated from the skull of 10 newly born SD rats aged 1 to 2 days by means of Trypsin-collagenase digestion. After the OB was identified, different kinds of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with inactive Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) of different phase (rats were fed with medicine three days or five days after last fed with medicine one hour or three hours) and concentration (5%, 10%, 20%) were added to the OB and incubated. After 7 days and 18 days of culture,the effects of the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast were detected. RESULTS: The secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast in the different doses of pharmaco-serum groups were almost the same as that of normal control group, but were superior to that in the model control group. And the group with concentration of 20% pharmaco-serum was the best in the secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast. As to the phases of pharmaco-serum, the best one on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast was the serums from diabetic rat-model fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days or five days, after one hour of last fed with medicine. CONCLUSION: The pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) can promote the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast. Allow for time and the cost of experiment,we presume that pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days, after one hour of last fed, with concentration of 20% and not-inactivation is the optimum on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast.

Expression level of beta-catenin is associated with prognosis of esophageal carcinoma.

AIM: To examine the association of beta-catenin with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: Beta-catenin mRNA expression level in 40 ESCC patients (28 males and 12 females, age range 38-82 years, median 60 years) was analyzed by real-time PCR. Beta-catenin mRNA expression levels in tumor cells were categorized as weaker (level 1) or equal to or stronger (level 2) than those in endothelial cells. We examined the correlation between the beta-catenin expression and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of ESCC patients. RESULTS: Level 2 beta-catenin expression was found in 29 patients. ESCC with level 2 expression had a higher rate of lymphnode metastasis (0.0776 +/- 0.0369 vs 0.3413 +/- 0.1803, P < 0.001) and deeper tumor invasion (0.0751 +/- 0.0356 vs 0.3667 +/- 0.1928, P < 0.001), and a poorer survival rate (P = 0.0024) than ESCC with level 1 expression. CONCLUSION: Beta-catenin expression in ESCC is of great importance.

[Effect of compound duzhong jiangu granule on knee joint osteoarthritis: a report of 400 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of compound Duzhong Jiangu granule (CDJG) on knee joint osteoarthritis (KJO) of Gan-Shen deficiency with stasis in tendon and muscle syndrome. METHODS: The randomized controlled method was adopted in this study, comparative study was conducted in 400 patients in the treated group treated with CDJG and 200 patients in the control group treated with Zhuanggu Guanjie pill (ZGP). RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treated group was 92% and the curative-markedly effective rate was 47%, which were higher than those in the control group respectively. Moreover, CDJG showed superiority in improving symptoms and with shorter initiating time of action as compared with ZGP. However CDJG had the effect more favourable for patients of mild condition. CONCLUSION: CDJG is a kind of effective and safe medicine for treatment of KJO.

[Effect of Bugu Mixture on all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis of bone marrow stromal cells].

OBJECTIVE: We used the SD rat's bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) cultured in vitro to observe the effects of Bugu Mixture on the apoptosis and to explore the molecular biologic mechanism of the treatment of osteoporosis with Bugu Mixture. METHODS: BMSCs were separated from the bones of the extremities of SD rats in vitro. The morphologic changes, the apoptosis cell cycles, the mitochondrion membrane potential changes, and the Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression were observed, and the effects of Bugu Mixture on the course of cell apoptosis were evaluated. RESULTS: The earlier use of Bugu Mixture could decrease the cells blocked in G0/G1 phase, and promote their synthesis of DNA in S phase. The expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induced group, and the expression of Bax was lower in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the ATRA induced group. The mitochondrion membrane potential descended significantly in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the ATRA induced group. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of the treatment of osteoporosis with Bugu Mixture is that the earlier use of Bugu Mixture can decrease the amount of apoptostic cells induced by ATRA, thus promoting the cell mitosis and restraining the apoptosis. It can also act as a protector to Bcl-2 located on the mitochondrion membrane. By preventing the transferring of the Bax protein from cell-plasma to mitochondrion membrane, it takes the advantage of Bcl-2 in forming Bcl-2/Bax homodimer so as to prevent the opening of the permeability transition pore to avoid the changing of mitochondrion membrane potential and the destruction of biosynthesis caused by the mitochondrion release of apoptosis inducing factors and to reach the objective of restraining apoptosis.