[Effects of Genistein on Whole Genome Expression Profiles of Mice Testes Tissue Cultured in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Genistein (Gen) on the whole expression profiles of testes in mice by using the gene chip technology,and analyze the mechanism how Gen exerts testis on gene level. METHODS: The testicular tissues of suckling mice were cultured in vitro,and separated into control group and Gen group with the dose of 5 µmol/L. After 72 h of culture,we extracted the total RNA and purified it,then detected the gene expression by using Agilent gene array. RESULTS: Compared with the control,there were 84 genes expressed differently in Gen group,including 47 upregulated genes and 37 downregulated genes. We classified these genes as 14 categories in Gen group by GO ( P<0.05),including cell proliferation,cell death,the immune system and reproductive development. CONCLUSION: The whole gene chip test found that Gen can mainly affect the functions of testes by regulating the expression of gene related to cell development,proliferation and cell cycle function, which can influence the spermatogenesis and change the testis cell proliferation and apoptosis.

[Prophylactic administration of all-trans retinoic acid alleviates inflammation in rats with collagen-induced arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of prophylactic administration of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in relieving inflammation in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: Female Wistar rats (6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into normal control group, solvent control group, and prophylactic ATRA treatment (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/kg) groups. All the rats except for those in normal control group were subjected to subcutaneous injection of type II collagen and incomplete Freund adjuvant in the tails to induce CIA, followed by injection on the following day with saline, corn oil or different doses of ATRA 3 times a week. The arthritis index (AI) scores, histological scores, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-10, and expressions of proteases related with cartilage damage were evaluated. RESULTS: On the 15th day after the primary immunization, the AI scores increased significantly in all but the normal control groups; the scores increased progressively in all the 3 ATRA groups but remained lower than that in the solvent control group, which was stable over time. The rats in the 3 ATRA groups showed obvious pathologies in the knee and ankle joints, but the semi-quantitative scores of pathology damage showed no significance among them. Compared with those in solvent control group, the serum IL-17A and TNF-α levels decreased, serum IL-10 level increased, and the expressions of ADAMT-4 and MMP-3 proteins decreased significantly in the knees in the 3 ATRA groups. CONCLUSION: ATRA can reduce the production of TNF-α and IL-17A and increase the production of IL-10 to alleviate the inflammation in rats with CIA. ATRA may delay the progression of RA by correcting the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg.

[The Effects of All-trans Retinoic Acid on the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Cartilage Damage Related Protease in Rats with Collagen Induced Arthritis].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on arthritis and the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and cartilage damage related proteases of the collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA) rats in vivo. METHODS: The CIA model of rheumatoid arthritis was induced with C2 and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The rats were randomly divided into control group, CIA model group and two ATRA dose groups (ATRA 0.50 mg/kg group and ATRA 1.00 mg/kg group). ATRA were given three times per week for six weeks in ATRA groups. Morphological changes, arthritis index (AI) scores, the semi-quantitative scores of pathology damage, the protein expressions of cartilage damage related proteases and the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 were observed. RESULTS: The AI scores of ATRA groups were similar to CIA model group ( P<0.05). Apparent morphological disorders in knee and ankle joints were observed in the CIA model group and ATRA 1.00 mg/kg group. The structure of knee joint was improved slightly in ATRA 0.50 mg/kg group. The serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17A were decreased in both ATRA groups; ATRA also can increase the serum level of IL-4. Compared to CIA model group, the protein expressions of ADAMTS-4, MMP3, MMP1 were decreased in both ATRA groups ( P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ATRA, which was able to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion, could correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg. ATRA also can reduce the expressions of cartilage damage related proteases, which proved that ATRA may have a beneficial effect on rheumatoid arthritis.