Therapeutic Actions of the Chinese Herbal Formulae with Cold and Heat Properties and Their Effects on Ultrastructures of Synoviocytes in Rats of the Collagen-Induced Arthritis

The therapeutic actions of Qing Luo Yin (QLY清络饮) with heat property and Wen Luo Yin (WLY温络饮) with cold property on pain, swelling of the ankle, arthritis index and ultrastructures of synoviocytes were compared in rats of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), with tripterygium glycosidorum (TG) used as control. The results indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce pain, swelling of the ankle and the arthritis index of CIA, and QLY had better effects in reducing the swelling of the ankle and controlling the secondary pathological lesions as compared with WLY. Investigation on the ultrastructures of synoviocytes indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce the number of Golgi apparatus, rough surface endoplasmic reticulum, dense bodies, matrix filaments and vacuoles so as to suppress the excessive secretion of synoviocytes in rats of CIA.

Casticin Attenuates Stemness in Cervical Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Regulating Activity and Expression of DNMT1

Objective:To explore whether casticin(CAS)suppresses stemness in cancer stem-like cells(CSLCs)obtained from human cervical cancer(CCSLCs)and the underlying mechanism.Methods:Spheres from He La and Ca Ski cells were used as CCSLCs.DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)activity and m RNA levels,self-renewal capability(Nanog and Sox2),and cancer stem cell markers(CD133 and CD44)were detected by a colorimetric DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit,quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,sphere and colony formation assays,and immunoblot,respectively.Knockdown and overexpression of DNMT1 by transfection with sh RNA and c DNA,respectively,were performed to explore the mechanism for action of CAS(0,10,30,and 100 nmol/L).Results:DNMT1 activity was increased in CCSLCs compared with He La and Ca Ski cells(P<0.05).In addition,He La-derived CCSLCs transfected with DNMT1 sh RNA showed reduced sphere and colony formation abilities,and lower CD133,CD44,Nanog and Sox2 protein expressions(P<0.05).Conversely,overexpression of DNMT1 in He La cells exhibited the oppositive effects.Furthermore,CAS significantly reduced DNMT1 activity and transcription levels as well as stemness in He La-derived CCSLCs(P<0.05).Interestingly,DNMT1 knockdown enhanced the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness.As expected,DNMT1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness in He La cells.Conclusion:CAS effectively inhibits stemness in CCSLCs through suppression of DNMT1 activation,suggesting that CAS acts as a promising preventive and therapeutic candidate in cervical cancer.