Effects of Sclerostin Antibody on the Healing of Femoral Fractures in Ovariectomised Rats.

The inhibition of sclerostin by the systemic administration of a monoclonal antibody (Scl-Ab) significantly increased bone mass and strength in fractured bones in animal models and non-fractured bones in ovariectomised (OVX) rats. In this study, the effects of Scl-Ab on healing were examined in a closed fracture model in OVX rats. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an ovariectomy or a sham operation at 4 months of age, and a closed fracture of the right femur was performed 3 months later. Subcutaneous injections with Scl-Ab (25 mg/kg) or saline were then administered on day 1 after the fracture and twice a week for 8 weeks (n = 20 per group), at which time the fractured femurs were harvested for micro-computed tomography analysis, four-point bending mechanical testing and histomorphometric analysis to examine bone mass, bone strength and dynamic bone formation at the fracture site. The angiogenesis at the fracture site was also examined. Bone marrow stem cells were also isolated from the fractured bone to perform a colony-forming unit (CFU) assay and an alkaline phosphatase-positive (ALP(+)) CFU assay. OVX rats treated with Scl-Ab for 8 weeks had significantly increased bone mineral density and relative bone volume compared with OVX rats treated with saline. Similarly, maximum loading, energy to maximum load and stiffness in Scl-Ab-treated OVX rats were significantly higher than those in saline controls. The mineral apposition rate (MAR), mineralising surface (MS/BS) and bone formation rate (BFR/BS) were also significantly increased in Scl-Ab-treated group compared with the saline-treated group in OVX rats. Furthermore, the Scl-Ab-treated group had more CFUs and ALP(+) CFUs than the saline-treated group in OVX rats. No significant difference in angiogenesis at the fracture site was found between the groups. Our study demonstrated that Scl-Ab helped to increase bone mass, bone strength and bone formation at the fracture site in a closed femoral fracture model in OVX rats. Bone marrow stem cells in OVX rats injected with Scl-Ab also had increased CFUs and ALP(+) CFUs.

Relaxation effects of ligustilide and senkyunolide A, two main constituents of Ligusticum chuanxiong, in rat isolated aorta.

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae) is a widely prescribed traditional Chinese medicinal herb for cardiovascular diseases in China. However, the cardiovascular actions of ligustilide and senkyunolide A, two of the most abundant Ligusticum chuanxiong constituents, have yet to be examined. The objective of the present study was to investigate the vasorelaxation effects of ligustilide and senkyunolide A and their underlying mechanisms in rat isolated aorta. Both constituents had similar relaxation potencies against contractions to 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxyprostaglandin F(2alpha), phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and KCl. Their vasorelaxation effects were not affected by endothelium removal, the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, or the non-selective K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium. This is the first report to demonstrate the vasorelaxation activities of ligustilide and senkyunolide A in contractions to various contractile agents in rat isolated aorta. The underlying mechanisms await further investigations.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote growth and angiogenesis of breast and prostate tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to migrate to tumor tissues. This behavior of MSCs has been exploited as a tumor-targeting strategy for cell-based cancer therapy. However, the effects of MSCs on tumor growth are controversial. This study was designed to determine the effect of MSCs on the growth of breast and prostate tumors. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) were isolated and characterized. Effects of BM-MSCs on tumor cell proliferation were analyzed in a co-culture system with mouse breast cancer cell 4T1 or human prostate cancer cell DU145. Tumor cells were injected into nude mice subcutaneously either alone or coupled with BM-MSCs. The expression of cell proliferation and angiogenesis-related proteins in tumor tissues were immunofluorescence analyzed. The angiogenic effect of BM-MSCs was detected using a tube formation assay. The effects of the crosstalk between tumor cells and BM-MSCs on expression of angiogenesis related markers were examined by immunofluorescence and real-time PCR. RESULTS: Both co-culturing with mice BM-MSCs (mBM-MSCs) and treatment with mBM-MSC-conditioned medium enhanced the growth of 4T1 cells. Co-injection of 4T1 cells and mBM-MSCs into nude mice led to increased tumor size compared with injection of 4T1 cells alone. Similar experiments using DU145 cells and human BM-MSCs (hBM-MSCs) instead of 4T1 cells and mBM-MSCs obtained consistent results. Compared with tumors induced by injection of tumor cells alone, the blood vessel area was greater in tumors from co-injection of tumor cells with BM-MSCs, which correlated with decreased central tumor necrosis and increased tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, both conditioned medium from hBM-MSCs alone and co-cultures of hBM-MSCs with DU145 cells were able to promote tube formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. When hBM-MSCs are exposed to the DU145 cell environment, the expression of markers associated with neovascularization (macrophage inflammatory protein-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta and IL-6) was increased. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that BM-MSCs promote tumor growth and suggest that the crosstalk between tumor cells and BM-MSCs increased the expression of pro-angiogenic factors, which may have induced tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis thereby increasing solid tumor growth.

Alkaloids from roots of Stemona sessilifolia and their antitussive activities.

Protostemonamide ( 1), a new protostemonine-type alkaloid, and 12 known compounds were isolated from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia. Their structures were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR spectral and other spectroscopic studies. The main alkaloidal constituents, protostemonine ( 2), stemospironine ( 4), and maistemonine ( 7), showed significant antitussive activity in a citric acid-induced guinea pig cough model following peripheral administration; stemonamine ( 11) had antitussive activity following i. c. v. administration.

Stemoninines from the roots of Stemona tuberosa.

Five new stemoninine-type alkaloids, bisdehydrostemoninine (1), isobisdehydrostemoninine (2), bisdehydroneostemoninine (3), and bisdehydrostemoninines A (4) and B (5), were isolated from the crude-alkaloid extract of the roots of Stemona tuberosa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR and other spectroscopic studies. The relative configuration of 4 was determined by X-ray diffraction. Alkaloid 1 displayed significant antitussive activity in the citric acid-induced guinea pig cough model.