Post-stroke depression is associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, we evaluated whether BDNF overexpression affects depression-like behavior in a rat model of po...Post-stroke depression is associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, we evaluated whether BDNF overexpression affects depression-like behavior in a rat model of post-stroke depression. The middle cerebral artery was occluded to produce a model of focal cerebral ischemia. These rats were then subjected to isolation-housing combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress to generate a model of post-stroke depression. A BDNF gene lentiviral vector was injected into the hippocampus. At 7 days after injection, western blot assay and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that BDNF expression in the hippo- campus was increased in depressive rats injected with BDNF lentivirus compared with depressive rats injected with control vector. Furthermore, sucrose solution consumption was higher, and horizontal and vertical movement scores were increased in the open field test in these rats as well. These findings suggest that BDNF overexpression in the hippocampus of post-stroke depressive rats alleviates depression-like behaviors.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) mRNA and microvessel density (MVD) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relationship with clinical signi...AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) mRNA and microvessel density (MVD) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relationship with clinical significance. METHODS: Specimens obtained from 43 patients undergoing surgical resection for ESCC were used in this study. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. Tumor MVD was determined immunohistochemically with anti-CD31 antibody and estimated by image analysis. Ten sections of adjacent normal mucosa were also examined. RESULTS: VEGF-C mRNA expression was detected in cytoplasm of carcinoma cells. Of the 43 ESCC patients studied, 18 cases (41.9%) were positive for VEGF-C mRNA. No VEGF-C mRNA expression was observed in normal esophageal mucosa. VEGF-C mRNA expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P 〈 0.05). Furthermore, histological grade (differentiation) tended to correlate with VEGF-C mRNA expression, but was not statistically significant (P 〉 0.05). In tumor lesions, the MVD was significantly greater than that in normal esophageal mucosa. MVD correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P 〈 0.05), but not with histological grade (differentiation) (P 〉 0.05). Lesions with VEGF-C mRNA expression had a significantly higher MVD than that of those without VEGF-C mRNA expression (P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF-C plays a role in lymphatic metastasis via lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in ESCC. VEGF-C is one of the important predictors of the biological behavior in ESCC.展开更多
Designing and/or searching for novel antioxidants against oxygen glucose effective strategy for the treatment of human isdlemic stroke. Selenium is deprivation (OGD)-induced oxidative damage represents an an essenti...Designing and/or searching for novel antioxidants against oxygen glucose effective strategy for the treatment of human isdlemic stroke. Selenium is deprivation (OGD)-induced oxidative damage represents an an essential trace dement, which is beneficial in the chemo- prevention and chemotherapy of cerebral ischemic stroke. The underlying mechanisms for its therapeutic effects, however, are not well documented. Selenocysteine (SeC) is a selenium-containing amino acid with neuroprotective potential. Studies have shown that SeC can reduce irradiation-induced DNA apoptosis by reducing DNA damage. In this study, the in vitro protective potential and mechanism of action of SeC against OGD-induced apoptosis and neurotoxicity were evaluated in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurons. We cultured HT22 cells in a glucose-free medium containing 2 mM Na2S402, which formed an OGD environment, for 90 minutes. Findings from MTT, flow cytometry and TUNEL staining showed obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT22 cells in the OGD condition. The activation of Caspa se-7 and Caspase-9 further revealed that OGD-induced apoptosis of HT22 cells was mainly achieved by triggering a mitochondrial-medi- ated pathway. Moreover, the OGD condition also induced serious DNA damage through the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and superoxide anions. However, SeC pre-treatment for 6 hours effectively inhibited OGD-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT22 cells by inhibiting reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative damage. Our findings provide evidence that SeC has the potential to suppress OGD-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons.展开更多
Objective: To study the effects of butylphthalide on bronchial asthma in guinea pigs, and investigate the involvement of endothelin. Methods: In guinea pigs, bronchial asthma was induced by injection of ovalbumin(OVA)...Objective: To study the effects of butylphthalide on bronchial asthma in guinea pigs, and investigate the involvement of endothelin. Methods: In guinea pigs, bronchial asthma was induced by injection of ovalbumin(OVA) and provoked by inhalation of OVA, and the effects of butylphthalide on asthma were evaluated through the changes it induced by OVA, pulmonary function, endothelin-1(ET-1) contents and activity of endothelin converting enzyme-1(ECE-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), serum and lung tissue, and the gene expression of ET-1 in lung tissue. Results: Butylphthalide significantly improved pulmonary function, lowered asthmatic behavior score, inhibited the activity of ECE-1, and reduced ET-1 gene expression level in lung tissue. Conclusion: Butylphthalide has an anti-asthma effect and the mechanisms involve inhibition of ECE-1 activity and lowering of ET-1geng expression.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from the Experimental Animal Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province in China,No.2012C37083
文摘Post-stroke depression is associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, we evaluated whether BDNF overexpression affects depression-like behavior in a rat model of post-stroke depression. The middle cerebral artery was occluded to produce a model of focal cerebral ischemia. These rats were then subjected to isolation-housing combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress to generate a model of post-stroke depression. A BDNF gene lentiviral vector was injected into the hippocampus. At 7 days after injection, western blot assay and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that BDNF expression in the hippo- campus was increased in depressive rats injected with BDNF lentivirus compared with depressive rats injected with control vector. Furthermore, sucrose solution consumption was higher, and horizontal and vertical movement scores were increased in the open field test in these rats as well. These findings suggest that BDNF overexpression in the hippocampus of post-stroke depressive rats alleviates depression-like behaviors.
文摘AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) mRNA and microvessel density (MVD) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relationship with clinical significance. METHODS: Specimens obtained from 43 patients undergoing surgical resection for ESCC were used in this study. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. Tumor MVD was determined immunohistochemically with anti-CD31 antibody and estimated by image analysis. Ten sections of adjacent normal mucosa were also examined. RESULTS: VEGF-C mRNA expression was detected in cytoplasm of carcinoma cells. Of the 43 ESCC patients studied, 18 cases (41.9%) were positive for VEGF-C mRNA. No VEGF-C mRNA expression was observed in normal esophageal mucosa. VEGF-C mRNA expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P 〈 0.05). Furthermore, histological grade (differentiation) tended to correlate with VEGF-C mRNA expression, but was not statistically significant (P 〉 0.05). In tumor lesions, the MVD was significantly greater than that in normal esophageal mucosa. MVD correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P 〈 0.05), but not with histological grade (differentiation) (P 〉 0.05). Lesions with VEGF-C mRNA expression had a significantly higher MVD than that of those without VEGF-C mRNA expression (P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF-C plays a role in lymphatic metastasis via lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in ESCC. VEGF-C is one of the important predictors of the biological behavior in ESCC.
基金supported by the Sci-Tech Development Project of Taian in Shandong,No.2016NS1058&2015NS2081the Sci-Tech Development Project of Linyi in Shandong,No.201515006
文摘Designing and/or searching for novel antioxidants against oxygen glucose effective strategy for the treatment of human isdlemic stroke. Selenium is deprivation (OGD)-induced oxidative damage represents an an essential trace dement, which is beneficial in the chemo- prevention and chemotherapy of cerebral ischemic stroke. The underlying mechanisms for its therapeutic effects, however, are not well documented. Selenocysteine (SeC) is a selenium-containing amino acid with neuroprotective potential. Studies have shown that SeC can reduce irradiation-induced DNA apoptosis by reducing DNA damage. In this study, the in vitro protective potential and mechanism of action of SeC against OGD-induced apoptosis and neurotoxicity were evaluated in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurons. We cultured HT22 cells in a glucose-free medium containing 2 mM Na2S402, which formed an OGD environment, for 90 minutes. Findings from MTT, flow cytometry and TUNEL staining showed obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT22 cells in the OGD condition. The activation of Caspa se-7 and Caspase-9 further revealed that OGD-induced apoptosis of HT22 cells was mainly achieved by triggering a mitochondrial-medi- ated pathway. Moreover, the OGD condition also induced serious DNA damage through the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and superoxide anions. However, SeC pre-treatment for 6 hours effectively inhibited OGD-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT22 cells by inhibiting reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative damage. Our findings provide evidence that SeC has the potential to suppress OGD-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Fund (81460668)the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (1310RJZA086, 1606RJZA011)the open fund project of Key Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gansu Province (ZDSYS-KJ-2015-002)
文摘Objective: To study the effects of butylphthalide on bronchial asthma in guinea pigs, and investigate the involvement of endothelin. Methods: In guinea pigs, bronchial asthma was induced by injection of ovalbumin(OVA) and provoked by inhalation of OVA, and the effects of butylphthalide on asthma were evaluated through the changes it induced by OVA, pulmonary function, endothelin-1(ET-1) contents and activity of endothelin converting enzyme-1(ECE-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), serum and lung tissue, and the gene expression of ET-1 in lung tissue. Results: Butylphthalide significantly improved pulmonary function, lowered asthmatic behavior score, inhibited the activity of ECE-1, and reduced ET-1 gene expression level in lung tissue. Conclusion: Butylphthalide has an anti-asthma effect and the mechanisms involve inhibition of ECE-1 activity and lowering of ET-1geng expression.