Efficacy of luteolin on the human gastric cancer cell line MKN45 and underlying mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumour efficacy of luteolin on gastric cancer (GC) and study the mechanism underpinning the action. METHODS: Effects of luteolin on cell growth inhibition, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in MKN45 cells were investigated using the cell counting kit-8 assay. Changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential after luteolin treatment were assessed using 5,5',6,6'-tetra-chloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanineiodi-de (JC-1) staining. To investigate whether apoptotic effect by luteolin is related to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (PI3K/Akt) pathway, cells were additionally treated with LY294002, a PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor. Moreover, the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins, namely B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Akt, p-Akt, caspase-3, and cytochrome C, were detected after luteolin treatment. RESULTS: The study revealed that in MKN45 cells, luteolin could inhibit the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner; block the cell cycle in the S-phase; induce apoptosis; reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential; increase the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and cytochrome C; and decrease the expression of Bcl-2 and p-Akt. Luteolin might be involved in the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, indicating that this pathway could be a therapeutic target for GC treatment. CONCLUSION: Luteolin could inhibit the proliferation of GC cells and block the cell cycle in the S-phase. The mechanism of inducing apoptosis in these cells was related to the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Effects of Qinma Formula on Inflammatory Cell Related Factors in Rats with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of Qinma Formula on endogenous anti-inflammatory system in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods Rat models of COPD were made by modified smoked lipopolysaccharide method. 70 healthy SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Western medicine control group (aminophylline group), TCM medicine control group (Liujunzi Decoction group) and Qinma Formula high-, medium-, and low-dose groups, with 10 rats in each group. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed under light microscope; the alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and venous blood were collected and the related indexes were tested; the levels of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with normal group, BALF white blood cells, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocyte, hemoglobin and platelet count in rats of model group increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BALF white blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in rats of Qinma medium- and high-dose groups and Liujunzi Decoction group decreased significantly (P<0.05); white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelet count in rats of Qinma medium-, high-dose groups and aminophylline group decreased significantly (P<0.05); levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in serum decreased significantly (P<0.05); level of IL-10 in serum increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion Qinma Formula can effectively inhibit the inflammatory response through the regulation of inflammatory response-related cytokines.

Enhanced cocaine self-administration in adult rats with adolescent isolation experience.

It is widely accepted that early environmental influences may affect the behavior of adult animals and their responses to psychotropic drugs. Rearing animals in isolation is a relevant paradigm for studying early life stress and for understanding the development of certain neurological and psychiatric diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of adolescent isolation on intravenous cocaine self-administration in adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised from postnatal day 22 to 55 either alone (isolated) or in groups of four per cage (grouped). Then, rats were trained for cocaine self-administration. Our results showed that both isolated and grouped rats acquired stable cocaine self-administration during 5 days of self-administration training. Numbers of both lever presses and cocaine infusions in isolated rats were significantly more than those in grouped rats. Especially, numbers of incorrect lever presses in isolated rats were significantly more than those in grouped rats. In addition, the intervals of inter-reinforcement for cocaine in isolated rats were significantly shorter as compared with grouped rats. These results indicate that rats with adolescent isolation experience have enhanced cocaine self-administration behavior.