Multi-omics data integration reveals the complexity and diversity of host factors associated with influenza virus infection.

Influenza viruses pose a significant and ongoing threat to human health. Many host factors have been identified to be associated with influenza virus infection. However, there is currently a lack of an integrated resource for these host factors. This study integrated human genes and proteins associated with influenza virus infections for 14 subtypes of influenza A viruses, as well as influenza B and C viruses, and built a database named H2Flu to store and organize these genes or proteins. The database includes 28,639 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 1,850 differentially expressed proteins, and 442 proteins with differential posttranslational modifications after influenza virus infection, as well as 3,040 human proteins that interact with influenza virus proteins and 57 human susceptibility genes. Further analysis showed that the dynamic response of human cells to virus infection, cell type and strain specificity contribute significantly to the diversity of DEGs. Additionally, large heterogeneity was also observed in protein-protein interactions between humans and different types or subtypes of influenza viruses. Overall, the study deepens our understanding of the diversity and complexity of interactions between influenza viruses and humans, and provides a valuable resource for further studies on such interactions.

Dihydromyricetin alleviates hippocampal ferroptosis in type 2 diabetic cognitive impairment rats via inhibiting the JNK-inflammatory factor pathway.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is frequently associated with diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI), and recent studies have shown a strong association between DCI and hippocampal ferroptosis. In this study, we administered dihydromyricetin (DHM) or JNK inhibitor SP600125, to T2DM rats and monitored changes in blood glucose levels, conducted behavioral tests, and detected changes in JNK, inflammatory factors and ferroptosis-related indicators. Our findings demonstrated that T2DM rats displayed signs of cognitive impairment (CI), with ferrozine assays indicating elevated iron content in the hippocampus. Concurrently, there was an increase in p-JNK activity and inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α in the hippocampal region of these rats. Furthermore, we observed elevated levels of Fe2+, MDA, ROS, LPO, and ACSL4, along with a decrease in GPX4 and GSH, suggesting the occurrence of hippocampal ferroptosis. SP600125 application reversed these changes in the T2DM rats, although it exhibited no significant effects in the control group. Treatment with high and low doses of DHM led to a reduction in p-JNK expression, inflammatory factor-related proteins, and iron accumulation in the hippocampal region, effectively alleviating hippocampal ferroptosis in T2DM rats. No notable effects of DHM were observed in the control group. To conclude, our study suggests that DHM can potentially alleviate hippocampal ferroptosis of T2DM cognitive impairment rats, primarily by suppressing the JNK-inflammatory factor pathway in the hippocampus.

Antibody response to the third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in people living with HIV (PLWH): A longitudinal cohort.

The immunogenicity induced by the third dose of inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) is unclear, and relevant literature is extremely scarce. It is important to add evidence on the humoral immune response induced by the third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in PLWH. We collected peripheral venous blood for spike receptor binding domain-protein specific immunoglobulin G (S-RBD-IgG) antibody tests at 28 days after the second dose (T1 ), 180 days after the second dose (T2 ) and 35 days after the third dose (T3 ) of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in PLWH. The differences in S-RBD-IgG antibody levels and specific seroprevalence among T1 , T2 , and T3 time periods were analyzed, and the effects of age, vaccine brand, and CD4+ T cell count on the levels and specific seroprevalence of S-RBD-IgG antibody induced by the third dose in PLWH were examined. The third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines induced strong S-RBD-IgG antibody responses in PLWH. The levels and specific seroprevalence of S-RBD-IgG antibody were significantly higher than those at 28 and 180 days after the second dose and were not affected by vaccine brand or CD4+ T cell count. Younger PLWH produced higher levels of S-RBD-IgG antibody. The third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine showed good immunogenicity in PLWH. It is necessary to popularize the third dose in the PLWH population, especially PLWH who do not respond to two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, the durability of the protection provided by the third dose in PLWH must be continuously monitored.

Microcystins Exposure Associated with Blood Lipid Profiles and Dyslipidemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hunan Province, China.

Increasing evidence from experimental research suggests that exposure to microcystins (MCs) may induce lipid metabolism disorder. However, population-based epidemiological studies of the association between MCs exposure and the risk of dyslipidemia are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study involving 720 participants in Hunan Province, China, and evaluated the effects of MCs on blood lipids. After adjusting the lipid related metals, we used binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression models to examine the associations among serum MCs concentration, the risk of dyslipidemia and blood lipids (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)). Moreover, the additive model was used to explore the interaction effects on dyslipidemia between MCs and metals. Compared to the lowest quartile of MCs exposure, the risk of dyslipidemia [odds ratios (OR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46, 3.53] and hyperTG (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.79, 5.05) in the highest quartile was significantly increased, and showed dose-response relationships. MCs were positively associated with TG level (percent change, 9.43%; 95% CI: 3.53%, 15.67%) and negatively associated with HDL-C level (percent change, -3.53%; 95% CI: -5.70%, -2.10%). In addition, an additive antagonistic effect of MCs and Zn on dyslipidemia was also reported [relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) = -1.81 (95% CI: -3.56, -0.05)], and the attributable proportion of the reduced risk of dyslipidemia due to the antagonism of these two exposures was 83% (95% CI: -1.66, -0.005). Our study first indicated that MCs exposure is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia in a dose-response manner.

[Dihydromyricetin improves Parkinson's disease-like lesions in T2DM rats by activating AMPK/ULK1 pathway].

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on Parkinson's disease (PD)-like lesions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. The T2DM model was established by feeding Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ). The rats were intragastrically administered with DHM (125 or 250 mg/kg per day) for 24 weeks. The motor ability of the rats was measured by balance beam experiment, the changes of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and the expression of autophagy initiation related protein ULK1 in the midbrains of the rats were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expression levels of α-synuclein (α-syn), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as AMPK activation level, in the midbrains of the rats were detected by Western blot. The results showed that, compared with normal control, the rats with long-term T2DM exhibited motor dysfunction, increased α-syn aggregation, down-regulated TH protein expression, decreased number of DA neurons, declined activation level of AMPK, and significantly down-regulated ULK1 expression in the midbrain. DHM (250 mg/kg per day) treatment for 24 weeks significantly improved the above PD-like lesions, increased AMPK activity, and up-regulated ULK1 protein expression in T2DM rats. These results suggest that DHM may improve PD-like lesions in T2DM rats by activating AMPK/ULK1 pathway.

Microcystin-LR Combined with Cadmium Exposures and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case-Control Study in Central China.

Increasing evidence indicates that exposure to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) can cause kidney damage. However, the association between MC-LR exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk in humans has not been studied. Therefore, we conducted a population-based case-control study involving 135 CKD cases and 135 matched controls in central China and analyzed the effects of MC-LR alone as well as combined with the known risk factor cadmium (Cd). Compared to the lowest quartile of MC-LR exposure, the highest quartile had a 6.56-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.46, 17.51) significantly increased risk for CKD, displaying a dose-response relationship (ptrend < 0.001). Our animal study also showed that MC-LR exposure induced kidney injury via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Comparing the highest Cd quartile to the lowest, the adjusted odds ratio for CKD was 3.88 (95% CI: 1.47, 10.28), exhibiting a dose-response relationship (ptrend < 0.006). Furthermore, a positive additive interaction was observed between MC-LR and Cd (relative excess risk due to interaction = 1.81, 95% CI: 0.42, 3.20; attributable proportion of interaction = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.05). Our study firstly revealed that MC-LR exposure is an independent risk factor for CKD and has a synergistic relationship with Cd. MC-LR and Cd exposures are associated with CKD risk in a dose-response manner.

Failure to seroconvert after three doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in a patient co-infected with HBV and HIV: A case report.

In the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall benefits of getting any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use outweigh the potential risks, even in people with weakened immune systems, including people living with HIV (PLWH). At present, there are no reports of HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infected patients receiving a booster dose of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Here, we describe a patient with HIV/HBV co-infection who did not seroconvert to three doses of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.

IgG Antibody Responses and Immune Persistence of Two Doses of BBIBP-CorV Vaccine or CoronaVac Vaccine in People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Shenzhen, China.

The purpose of this study was to preliminarily evaluate the immunogenicity and immune persistence of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in PLWH in the real world. We collected blood samples from 132 PLWH aged 18−59 years who were vaccinated with two doses of BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) or CoronaVac vaccine (SinoVac) at 28 ± 7 days and 180 ± 20 days the after second dose, to detect the level of Spike receptor binding domain-protein specific IgG (S-RBD-IgG) by using chemiluminescence. We found that the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower S-RBD-IgG antibody seropositivity rates and levels in PLWH than in healthy controls (HCs). The BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower humoral immune responses in PLWH, having lower CD4+T cell counts (<350 cells/µL) compared to PLWH, and having higher CD4+T cell counts (≥350 cells/µL) after a second dose of vaccination. The BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower S-RBD-IgG antibody levels in PLWH, having CD4+T cell counts ≥350 cells/µL compared to HCs. No negative effects were observed in terms of the CD4+T cell counts and HIV RNA viral load (VL) of PLWH after vaccination. Ninety-nine PLWH and eighty-three HCs completed a second blood collection for testing; we found a statistically significant decrease in the humoral immune response both in PLWH and HCs from 28 days to 180 days after a second dose of BBIBP-CorV vaccine or CoronaVac vaccine. The S-RBD-IgG antibody induced by the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine declined faster in the PLWH population than in the healthy population, and two doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine may not be enough to provide PLWH with persistent immunity against SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary for PLWH to be prioritized for a third dose over the healthy population, but the immunogenicity of the third dose of the homologous or heterologous vaccine requires further study.

Depression and its correlation with social support and health-promoting lifestyles among Chinese university students: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of depression in college students and determine how social support and healthy lifestyle factors are associated with depression in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. SETTING: A comprehensive university in Changsha, Hunan, South China. The study was conducted from May to June 2019. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 541 students at the comprehensive university. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) were used to evaluate depression, social support and lifestyles, respectively, and analyse the mutual relationships among them. RESULTS: Among the 541 participants, 161 (29.8%) experienced depressive symptoms, and there were significant gender-related and academic discipline-related differences in self-rated depression. The average social support score was 38.06 (38.06±7.52). The average HPLP-II score was 71.09 (71.09±11.47). A monofactor analysis showed that depression was correlated with social support and a healthy lifestyle. As demonstrated by logistic regression analysis, being a woman (OR=2.613, 95% CI: 1.541 to 4.43), inadequate social support (OR=0.912, 95% CI: 0.877 to 0.948), poor nutrition (OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.775 to 0.977) and lack of self-actualisation (OR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.572 to 0.724) were significantly correlated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the high prevalence of depression among Chinese university students, educational institutions must take measures such as providing compulsory mental health education courses and improving the psychological counselling services available to students.

Trends of HIV/Syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate and factors associated with HSV-2 infection in men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the trends of HIV/syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate and explore the related factors with HSV-2 infection to provide the basis for adjusting STD intervention strategies and formulating prevention and control measures among MSM in Shenzhen. METHODS: Time-location sampling was conducted among MSM in Shenzhen in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Data on demographics, sexual behaviors and the laboratory test results of HIV, syphilis, HSV-2 were collected. The χ2 trend test was used to analyze the trends of HIV/syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate. The binary logistic regression model was used to explore the factors associated with HSV-2 infection. RESULTS: The seropositive rate of HIV fell significantly from 15.9% in 2012 to 8.7% in 2018 (Ptrend = 0.003), syphilis seropositive rate was significantly decreased from 20.4% in 2012 to 14.8% in 2018 (Ptrend = 0.025), HSV-2 seropositive rate had no significant change (16.7% in 2012 to 14.0% in 2018; Ptrend = 0.617). In principal component logistic regression analysis showed that FAC1_1 (X1 = Ever had sex with female, X2 = Gender of first sexual partner, X3 = Marital status, X4 = Age group), FAC2_1 (X5 = Education, X6 = Monthly income (RMB), X7 = Frequency of condom use in anal sex with men in the past 6 months), and FAC4_1 (X9 = History of STDs) were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: The seropositive rates of HIV and syphilis have dropped significantly but are still high. HSV-2 seropositive rate had no significant change and maintained a high level. It is necessary to continue strengthening HIV and syphilis interventions among MSM in Shenzhen. HSV-2 detection and intervention are urgently required for MSM, which might be another effective biological strategy further to control the HIV epidemic among MSM in Shenzhen.

[Effects of dihydromyricetin on high fat diet induced obesity in mice and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on obesity induced by high-fat diet in mice, and to explore whether its mechanism of action is related to the promotion of WAT browning. METHODS: Sixty c57bl/6j mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10): ①normal control group (ND group): normal feed feeding; ②Normal control + low dose DHM group (ND+L-DHM group): normal feed feeding was treated with low dose DHM (125 mg/(kg·d)); ③Normal control + high dose DHM group (ND+H-DHM group): normal feed feeding was treated with high dose DHM (250 mg/(kg·d)); ④High-fat diet group (HFD): high-fat diet; ⑤high-fat diet + low-dose DHM group (HFD+L-DHM group): high-fat diet feeding with low-dose DHM; ⑥High-fat diet + high-dose DHM group (HFD+H-DHM group): High-fat diet was treated with high-dose DHM. After 16 weeks, the mice were fasted overnight, blood samples were collected for fasting blood glucose and blood lipids, then the animals were sacrificed, body length was measured, and Lee's index was calculated. After weighing the adipose tissue in the scapula, groin and epididymis, formaldehyde fixation and HE staining were used to observe the fat cells size, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). The body weight was measured every 4 weeks during the experiment. RESULTS: Compared with the ND group, the body weight of the mice in the HFD group was increased significantly, suggesting that the obese mouse model replicated successfully. In addition, the body fat weight, fat cell diameter, Lee's index and blood glucose of the HFD group were increased significantly, and the expression of UCP1 in the adipocytes was increased. Body weight, fat cell diameter, Lee's index and blood glucose of HFD mice treated with L-DHM and H-DHM were reversed significantly, while the expression of UCP1 in adipocytes was more significantly increased; however, L-DHM and H-DHM had no significant effects on the above indicators in normal mice. CONCLUSION: Dihydromyricetin inhibited high fat diet induced mouse obesity; the mechanism might be associated with promoting WAT browning.

Dihydromyricetin improves type 2 diabetes-induced cognitive impairment via suppressing oxidative stress and enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated neuroprotection in mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to cognitive impairment (CI), but there have been no effective pharmacotherapies or drugs for cognitive dysfunction in T2DM. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a natural flavonoid compound extracted from the leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata and has various pharmacological effects including anti-oxidant and anti-diabetes. Thus, we investigated the effects of DHM on CI in T2DM mouse model and its possible mechanism. To induce T2DM, mice were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks, followed by a low dose streptozotocin (STZ) administration. After the successful induction of T2DM mouse model, mice were treated respectively with equal volume of saline (T2DM group), 125 mg/kg/d DHM (L-DHM group), or 250 mg/kg/d DHM (H-DHM group). After 16 weeks of DHM administration, the body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (IPGT), and cognitive function were determined. Then, alterations in the expressions of oxidative stress markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus were investigated. Our findings demonstrated that DHM could significantly ameliorate CI and reverse aberrant glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM mice, likely through the suppression of oxidative stress and enhancement of BDNF-mediated neuroprotection. In conclusion, our results suggest that DHM is a promising candidate for the treatment of T2DM-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Potential regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA in diabetes and its complications.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides without protein-coding potential. Although these molecules were initially considered as "junk products" of transcription without biological relevance, recent advances in research have shown that lncRNA plays an important role, not only in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, but also in the pathological processes of cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on the potential regulatory roles of lncRNA in diabetes and the complications associated with diabetes.

[Ameliorative effects and the mechanism of lyceum barbarum polysaccharide on insulin resistance of HepG2 cell].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of lyceum barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on insulin resistance of HepG2 cells and investigate its possible mechanism. METHODS: IR-HepG2 cell model was induced with high glucose and high insulin in combination for 24 hours,with 104/vaccination in the 96-well plates, hole density after adherent cells (30 µg/ml、100 µg/ml、300 µg/ml) LBP cultivate 48 h, 200 µl/hole, each all had four holes. The effects of LBP at different concentrations on HepG2 cell activity and insulin resistance were tested. Intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected. The expressions of related proteins in insulin signal transduction pathways such as insulin receptor substrate-2(IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3-K), protein kinase B(Akt) and glucose transport-2(GLUT2) were determined. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the content of MDA was increased significantly and the activity of SOD and the expression levels of IRS-2,PI-3K,Akt and GLUT2 were decreased significantly in the IR model group. Compared with IR model group, medium and high concentrations of LBP decreased the content of MDA and increased the activity of SOD and the expression levels of IRS-2, PI-3K, Akt and GLUT2 in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. MTT showed that at the same time, the OD value gradually decreased with the increase of LBP's concentration; under the same concentration of LBP, the OD value also gradually decreased with the extension of time, which indicated that LBP inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells with time and concentration-dependent manner. Glucose consumption experiment indicated that medium and high concentration of LBP could increase the glucose consumption of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells significantly, but low concentration of LBP had no significant impacted on glucose consumption of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Medium and high concentration of LBP can improve insulin resistance of HepG2 cell, its mechanisns may be associated with decreasing the level of oxidative stress and increasing the protein expressions of insulin signaling pathway.

[The effects of arecoline on the lipid metabolism of 3T3-L1 adipocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of arecoline on lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were induced into adipocytes with the classic "cocktail" method, subsequently, adipocytes were treated with arecoline at the concentrations of 0, 25, 50 and 100 µmol/L for 72 hours. After 72 hours, cell vability was measured with MTT method, lipid droplet accumulation in the cytoplasm was observed with oil red O staining, the protein expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS: There were a large number of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm in the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MTT results showed that 0~100 µmol/L arecoline had no significant effect on cell vability; oil red O staining found arecoline reduced lipid amount in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; Western blot results showed that compared with 0 µmol/L arecoline group (the control group), arecoline significantly reduced the protein level of FAS and increased the protein levels of ATGL and HSL, and 50 µmol/L arecoline group was the most significant. CONCLUSIONS: Arecoline significantly increased lipolysis of 3T3-L1 adipocyte, which might be associated with decreased the FAS expression of key enzyme of lipid synthesis and increased the ATGL and HSL expression of key enzyme of adipolysis.

[The effects of dihydromyricetin on cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of dihydromyricetin(DHM) on cognitive dysfunction and expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) protein in hippocampus of type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM). METHODS: Forty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, normal control group (n=8):normal diet feeding; T2DM model group (n=32):high-glucose and high-fat combined with 100 mg/kg streptozocin(STZ) treatment (five mice died during modeling and three failed). Twenty-four diabetic mice were modeled successfully and divided into three groups (T2DM group, T2DM+L-DHM group and T2DM+H-DHM group). Three groups mice were fed with high-glucose and high-fat diet, and treated with equal volume of normal saline, 125 mg/(kg·d) DHM or 250 mg/(kg·d) DHM for 16 weeks respectively. The control mice were fed with normal diet and treated with equal volume of saline (once a day, gavage) for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, the body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and related behavioral experiment were performed. Finally, the expression of BDNF protein in hippocampus of mice was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was established successfully with high-glucose and high-fat combined with 100 mg/kg STZ. After 16 weeks, the body weight of T2DM group was significantly decreased, the fasting blood glucose was significantly increased and the glucose tolerance was significantly abnormal compared with the normal control group. Compared with T2DM group, the body weight of T2DM+DHM groups mice was increased, while the levels of fasting blood glucose were decreased. And H-DHM could significantly improve the abnormal glucose tolerance of T2DM mice. Behavior test results showed that the ability of learning and memory of T2DM mice was significant decreased compared with control group, but these phenomena were improved in T2DM+DHM groups mice, and T2DM+H-DHM group was more obvious. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of BDNF protein in hippocampus of T2DM group was significantly lower than that of control group, while T2DM+DHM group was significant increased compared with T2DM mice. CONCLUSIONS: Dihydromyricetin can improve the cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. The mechanism may be through hypoglycemic effect and activation of BDNF protein expression in hippocampus.

[Effect of arecoline on proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of arecoline on proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and to ex-plore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were treated with arecoline at the concentrations of 0,10,30,50, 100,300,500µmol/L, the cell proliferation were detected by MTT assay, cell apoptosis were analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cy-tometry, the protein expression of Bax,Bcl-2 and P53 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Low concentration(0,10,30, 50 µmol/L) arecoline had no effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7. However, high concentration(100,300,500µmol/L) arecoline inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, arecoline also significantly increased P53 and Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: High concentration arecoline inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, the mechanism was probably corrected with increasing P53 and Bax protein expression and decreasing Bcl-2 pro-tein expression.