Emodin and baicalein inhibit sodium taurocholate-induced vacuole formation in pancreatic acinar cells

AIM To investigate the effects of combined use of emodin and baicalein(CEB) at the cellular and organism levelsin severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) and explore the underlying mechanism.METHODS SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in 48 male SD rats. Pancreatic histopathology score, serum amylase activity, and levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha(TNf-α), interleukin 6(IL-6), and IL-10 were determined to assess the effects of CEB at 12 h after the surgery. The rat pancreatic acinar cells were isolated from healthy male SD rats using collagenase. The cell viability, cell ultrastructure, intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, and inositol(1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptor(IP3 R) expression were investigated to assess the mechanism of CEB.RESULTS Pancreatic histopathology score(2.07 ± 1.20 vs 6.84 ± 1.13, P < 0.05) and serum amylase activity(2866.2 ± 617.7 vs 5241.3 ± 1410.0, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in the CEB(three doses) treatment group compared with the SAP group(2.07 ± 1.20 vs 6.84 ± 1.13, P < 0.05). CEB dose-dependently reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6(466.82 ± 48.55 vs 603.50 ± 75.53, P < 0.05) and TNF-α(108.04 ± 16.10 vs 215.56 ± 74.67, P < 0.05) and increased the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10(200.96 ± 50.76 vs 54.18 ± 6.07, P < 0.05) compared with those in the SAP group. CEB increased cell viability, inhibited cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, and significantly ameliorated intracellular vacuoles and IP3 m RNA expression compared with those in the SAP group(P < 0.05). There was a trend towards decreased IP3 R protein in the CEB treatment group; however, it did not reach statistical significance(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION These results at the cellular and organism levels reflect a preliminary mechanism of CEB in SAP and indicate that CEB is a suitable approach for SAP treatment.

Research on the mechanism of Chaihu Huangqin medicine based on integrated pharmacology to improve the clinical symptoms of COVID-19

Objective:Novel coronavirus(COVID-19)was used to improve the clinical symptoms of the new type coronavirus(LV),based on integrated pharmacology.Methods:TCMIP v2.0 was used to predict the key target and action pathway of Bupleurum baicalensis Georgi in improving the clinical symptoms of covid-19.The multi-dimensional network diagram of"drug pair active component key target action pathway"was drawn to explore its action mechanism from the molecular level.Results:Bupleurum and Scutellaria baicalensis could regulate IL signaling pathway and clec7a(a member of C-type lectin domain 7 family)/Inflammatory pathway,immune stress and other related signaling pathways can inhibit activated cytokines,alleviate excessive immune response,eliminate inflammation,and resist virus.In addition,the core targets of Bupleurum baicalensis baicalensis Georgi:nuclear factor kB(NFKB2,NFKB1),interleukin(IL-6,IL-1B),toll like receptor 4(TLR4),tumor necrosis factor(TNF)and so on are mostly induced by inflammation It is related to body damage.Bupleurum and scutellaria have the clinical effects of anti-inflammatory,antiviral,strengthening immunity,inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis and so on.Conclusion:Radix Bupleuri Scutellariae can be used to treat covid-19 by multi-channel,multi-target and multi ring.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for Bupleurum Scutellaria to improve the use of COVID-19.

Micro-trichome as a class I homeodomain-leucine zipper gene regulates multicellular trichome development in Cucumis sativus

Plant trichomes serve as a highly suitable model for investigating cell differentiation at the single-cell level. The regulatory genes involved in unicellular trichome develop- ment in Arabidopsis thaliana have been intensively studied, but genes regulating multicellular trichome development in plants remain unclear. Here, we characterized Cucumis sativus （cucumber） trichomes as representative multicellular and unbranched structures, and identified Micro-trichome （Mict）, using map-based cloning in an F2 segregating population of 7,936 individuals generated from a spontaneous mict mutant. In mitt plants, trichomes in both leaves and fruits, are small, poorly developed, and denser than in the wild type. Sequence analysis revealed that a 2,649-bp genomic deletion, spanning the first and second exons, occurred in a plant-specific class I homeodomain-leucine zipper gene. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that Mict is strongly expressed in the trichome cells. Transcriptome profiling identified potential targets of Mict including putative homologs of genes known in other systems to regulate trichome development, meristem determinacy, and hormone responsiveness. Phylo- genic analysis charted the relationships among putative homologs in angiosperms. Our paper represents initial steps toward understanding the development of multicellular trichomes.