Flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata inhibit activation of tumor-associated macrophages by blocking the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of Scutellaria barbata flavonoids and polysaccharides on Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells co-cultured with U937 macrophages.METHODS: The presence of CD163 and CD206 was determined by flow cytometry. Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide assays were used to assess the proliferation effect of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs) on Ishikawa cells. The secretion of interleukin(IL)-10 in the co-culture conditioned media was examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88) and nuclear factor(NF)-κB p65 were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The expression levels of IL-12, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were evaluated with real-time PCR.RESULTS: Compared with the U937 control group,the expression levels of CD163 and CD206 in the TAM group were higher(P < 0.05). TAMs co-cultured with Ishikawa cells for 24 or 48 h showed higher proliferation rates(P < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-12 decreased than compared with those in the U937 untreated group(P <0.05) and those of the Scutellaria barbata flavonoids group(P < 0.05). The expression levels of CD206, CD163, IL-10, IL-1β and TNF-α, NF-κB p65 and TLR4/MyD88 in the TAMs control group were greater than those in the U937 untreated group(P < 0.05) and those of the Scutellaria barbata flavonoids group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Scutellaria barbata flavonoids may inhibit TAM activation by blocking the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

超前应用椎管内麻醉分娩镇痛对初产妇产程及妊娠结局的影响

探讨超前应用椎管内麻醉分娩镇痛对初产妇产程及妊娠结局的影响。研究发现超前应用椎管内麻醉分娩镇痛可有效缩短初产妇第一产程时间以及进入活跃期的时间,显著降低其疼痛感,并降低了缩宫素的使用率,切进一步改善和优化初产妇的分娩体验,临床应用价值较高。