Construction of shRNA Targeted to the Rat Angiotensin Ⅱ Type 1 Receptors and Its RNAi in Cytoplasma

The expression vector of shRNA targeted to the rat angiotensin Ⅱ receptor gene was constructed and the efficacy of siRNAs to modulate the expression of target gene in the in vitro cultured mammalian cells was investigated for antihypertensive therapy in spontaneous hypertensive rat （SHR） at post-transcriptional level. The sense and antisense RNA oligonucleotides strands targeting angiotensin Ⅱ receptor mRNA were synthesized individually according to the sequence of the rat angiotensin Ⅱ receptor. For preparation of duplexes, sense- and antisense-stranded oligonucleotides were mixed and annealed, and the annealed duplexes were cloned into the pGenesil-1 vector. The rat glioma cells were transfected with constructed pGenesil-1-shRNA plasmid and scrambled plasmid. The cultured cells were collected at different phases. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed. The AT1 mRNA and protein levels behaved ultimately same. Compared to control after 48 h, AT1 mRNA levels were decreased to 35.5%±3.0 %, and the levels reached their lowest point after 72 h （20.7% ±4 % of control）. At 24 and 48 h, AT1 protein was reduced to 46.9%±4.2% and 36.98%±3.7% respectively compared to control and a maximum reduction was observed after 72 h of incubation （28.1%± 4% compared to controls）. Plasmid-based shRNA expression systems targeted against the rat angiotensin Ⅱ receptor gene were generated successfully. The shRNAs with a 22-nt stem and a short loop were cleaved into small interfering dsRNA （siRNA） by the Dicer. The in vitro transcribed siRNA enables the effective silencing of gene expression to the target mRNA and leads to effective inhibition of translation of proteins and will be lay the foundation of application of gene silencing technology to hypertensive rats.

Association of Polymorphisms in Angiotensin-converting Enzyme and Type 1 Angiotensin Ⅱ Receptor Genes with Coronary Heart Disease and the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis

To explore the relation of angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE） and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R） gene polymorphism with coronary heart disease （CHD） and the severity of coronary artery stenosis, 130 CHD patients who underwent coronary angiography were examined for the number of affected coronary vessels （≥75% stenosis） and coronary Jeopardy score. The insertion/deletion of ACE gene polymorphism and AT1R gene polymorphism （an A→C transversion at nucleotide position 1166） were detected by using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP） in CHD patients and 90 healthy serving as controls. The resuits showed that DD genotype and of ACE were more frequent in CHD patients than that in control group （38.5% vs 14.4%, P〈0.001）. The frequency of the ATIR A/C genotypes did not differ between the patients and the controls （10% vs 13.1%, P〉0.05）. The relative risk associated with the ACE-DD was increased by AT1R-AC genotype. Neither the number of affected coronary vessels nor the coronary score differed among the ACE I/D genotypes （P〉0.05）. But the number of affected coronary vessels and the coronary score were significantly greater in the patients with the AT1R-AC genotype than in those with the AA genotype （P〈0.05）. In conclusion, DD genotype may be risk factor for CHD and MI in Chinese people, and is not responsible for the development of the coronary artery stenosis. The AT1R-C allele may increase the relative risk associated with the ACE-DD genotype, and may be involved in the development of the stenosis of coronary artery.

Expression of Angiotensin Ⅱ Receptors in Aldosterone-producing Adenoma of the Adrenal Gland and Their Clinical Significance

The expression of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) and angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor (AT2R) in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) of the adrenal gland was detected, and their relationship with clinical indexes of APA was analyzed. The mRNA expression of AT1R and AT2R in 50 cases of APA and tissues adjacent to tumors and 12 cases of normal adrenal tissues was detected by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of AT1R and AT2R proteins in paraffin-embedded slices of tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of AT1R in adenoma, tissues adjacent to tumor, and normal tissues of the adrenal gland showed no significant differences. The expression of AT2R in APA tissue was lower than that in normal adrenal gland tissues (P<0.05). Correlation analysis of the mRNA expression level of AT2R and clinical data from patients demonstrated that AT2R expression was negatively related to plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) (r=-0.467, P<0.05), but positively related with plasma renin activity (PRA) (r=0.604, P<0.05). It is concluded that down-regulation of the AT2R expression is possibly related with the tumorigenesis of APA.

Effect of nuclear factor-κB and angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1 on the pathogenesis of rat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM: To investigate the roles of nuclear factor(NF)-κB and angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1(AT1R) in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS: Forty-two healthy adult male SpragueDawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:the control group(normal diet), the model group,and the intervention group(10 wk of a high-fat diet feeding, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of PDTC); 6 rats in each group were sacrificed at 6, 10,and 14 wk. After sacrifice, liver tissue was taken,paraffin sections of liver tissue specimens were prepared, hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining was performed, and pathological changes in liver tissue(i.e., liver fibrosis) were observed by light microscopy.NF-κB expression in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of AT1 R in the liver tissue was detected by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The data are expressed as mean ± SD. A two-sample t test was used to compare the control group and the model group at different time points, paired t tests were used to compare the differences between the intervention group and the model group, and analysis of variance was used to compare the model group with the control group. Homogeneity of variance was analyzed with single factor analysis of variance. H variance analysis was used to compare the variance. P < 0.05 wasconsidered statistically significant.RESULTS: The NAFLD model was successful after 6wk and 10 wk. Liver fibrosis was found in four rats in the model group, but in only one rat in the intervention group at 14 wk. Liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were gradually increased throughout the model. In the intervention group, the body mass,rat liver index, serum lipid, and transaminase levels were not increased compared to the model group.In the model group, the degree of liver steatosis was increased at 6, 10, and 14 wk, and was significantly higher than in the control group(P < 0.01). In the model group, different degrees of liver cell necrosis were visible and small leaves, punctated inflammation,focal necrosis, and obvious ballooning degeneration were observed. Partial necrosis and confluent necrosis were observed. In the model group, liver inflammatory activity scores at 6, 10, and 14 wk were higher than in the control group(P < 0.01). Active inflammation in liver tissue in the intervention group was lower than in the model group(P < 0.05). HE staining showed liver fibrosis only at 14 wk in 4/6 rats in the model group and in 1/6 rats in the intervention group. NF-κB positive cells were stained yellow or ensemble yellow,and NF-κB was localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus. The model group showed NF-κB activation at6, 10, and 14 wk in liver cells; at the same time points,there were statistically significant differences in the control group(P < 0.01). Over time, NF-κB expression increased; this was statistically lower(P < 0.05) at14 weeks in the intervention group compared to the model group, but significantly increased(P < 0.05)compared with the control group; RT-PCR showed that AT1 R mRNA expression increased gradually in the model group; at 14 wk, the expression was significantly different compared with expression at 10 weeks as well as at 6 weeks(P < 0.05). In the model group, AT1 R mRNA expression was significantly higher than at the same time point in the control group(P <0.01).CONCLUSION: With increasing severity of NAFLD,NF-κB activity is enhanced, and the inhibition of NF-κB activity may reduce AT1 R mRNA expression in NAFLD.

Effects of autoantibodies against AT1-receptor and angiotensin Ⅱ on refractory hypertension

Objective The study will explore effects of the autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and angiotensin Ⅱ on the refractory hypertension. Methods Seventy-seven patients (46 men and 31 women) with essential hypertension were divided into groups of refractory hypertension (RH) and hypertension (HT) according to the 1999 WHO-ISH Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension. Forty normotensives (22 men) were recruited as controls. The mean age was 54. 3±13 years old in RH group, 53. 5±9 years old in HT group and 51. 2±11. 9 years old in normotensives (NT) group. The mean blood pressure was 154. 2±9. 4/98. 4± 8. 2 mmHg in RH group and 130. 1±7. 6/80. 5±6. 7 mmHg in HT group after combination drug therapy of hypertension for 4 weeks. Blood pressure in NT group was 120. 8±11. 7/76. 4 ± 7. 2 mmHg. The epitope of the 2nd extracellular loops of AT1 receptor was synthesized and used as antigens to screen the autoantibodies by ELISA. Plasma angiotensin (Ang) II were examined by a radioimmunoassay. Results The autoantibodies against AT1 receptor were positive in 18 (46. 15 %) patients with RH, in 4 (10. 5 % ) hypertension and in 3 (7. 5 % ) normotensives, P < 0. 01. Ang Ⅱwas 57. 01±52. 63 pmol/L in patients with RH. Both the autoantibodies positive and the Ang Ⅱ increasing were 4 (10. 3 % ) cases, both normal were 7 (17. 9 % ) cases, the autoantibodies positive or Ang II increasing was all of 14 (35. 9 % ) cases (x2 = 0. 09, P>0. 05) . There was no relationship between the autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and the angiotensin Ⅱ in refractory hypertension. Conclusion The autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and Ang Ⅱ might be two independent factors in developing of refractory hypertension. The findings suggest that AT1 receptor an-tagnist used in the treatment of refractory hypertension might have an important value.

DNA methylation of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor gene in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related liver fibrosis

AIM To clarify whether Agtr1 a methylation is involved in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)-related liver fibrosis in adult rats.METHODS A choline-deficient amino acid(CDAA) diet model was employed for methylation analysis of NASH-related liver fibrosis.Agtr1 a methylation levels were measured in the livers of CDAA- and control choline-sufficient amino acid(CSAA)-fed rats for 8 and 12 wk using quantitative methylation-specific PCR.Hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) were isolated by collagenase digestion of the liver,followed by centrifugation of the crude cell suspension through a density gradient.Agtr1 a methylation and its gene expression were also analyzed during the activation of HSCs.RESULTS The mean levels of Agtr1 a methylation in the livers of CDAA-fed rats(11.5% and 18.6% at 8 and 12 wk,respectively) tended to be higher(P = 0.06 and 0.09,respectively) than those in the livers of CSAA-fed rats(2.1% and 5.3% at 8 and 12 wk,respectively).Agtr1 a was not methylated at all in quiescent HSCs,but was clearly methylated in activated HSCs(13.8%,P < 0.01).Interestingly,although Agtr1 a was hypermethylated,the Agtr1 a m RNA level increased up to 2.2-fold(P < 0.05) in activated HSCs compared with that in quiescent HSCs,suggesting that Agtr1 a methylation did not silence its expression but instead had the potential to upregulate its expression.These findings indicate that Agtr1 a methylation and its upregulation of gene expression are associated with the development of NASH-related liver fibrosis.CONCLUSION This is the first study to show that DNA methylation is potential y involved in the regulation of a renin-angiotensin system-related gene expression during liver fibrosis.

Association of Polymorphisms in Angiotensin Ⅱ Receptor Genes with Aldosterone-producing Adenoma

This study examined the association of polymorphisms in angiotensinⅡreceptor genes（AT1R and AT2R） with the risk for aldosterone-producing adenoma（APA） in a Chinese Han population.Four polymorphisms including rs5182（573T/C） in exon 4,rs5186（1166A/C） in 3＇-untranslated region（3＇-UTR） in AT1R gene and rs5194（2274G/A） in 3＇-UTR,rs1403543（1675G/A） in intron 1 in AT2R gene were detected in 148 APA patients and 192 normal subjects（serving as control） by using a MGB-Taqman probe.The distribution of genotypes of each locus was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium（HWE） in the APA and control groups（P0.05）.The allele A frequency at rs5194 was significantly higher in the APA group（0.49） than in the control group（0.35）（χ2=12.08,P=0.001）.Subjects with homozygotic genotype AA and heterozygotic genotype GA were at an increased risk for APA as compared to those with GG genotype（OR=2.66,95% CI=1.45-4.87;OR=1.67,95% CI=1.02-2.74）.Furthermore,rs5194 single-nucleotide polymorphism（SNP） at AT2R gene was significantly associated with APA in additive（OR=1.64,95% CI=1.21-2.20,P=0.001）,dominant（OR=1.94,95% CI=1.23-3.06,P=0.003）,and recessive model（OR=2.01,95% CI=1.17-3.45,P=0.01）.It was concluded that rs5194 polymorphism at AT2R gene was associated with the risk for APA,which may constitute a genetic marker of APA.

Effects of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist, Losartan on the apoptosis, proliferation and migration of the human pancreatic stellate cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of AT1 (Type 1 angiotensin Ⅱ receptor) antagonist (Losartan) on the apoptosis,proliferation and migration of the human pancreaticstellate cells (hPSCs).METHODS: hPSCs were isolated from pancreatic sample of patients with pancreatic carcinoma using radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique to detect the concentration of AngⅡ in culture media and cell homogenate. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) methods were utilized to test AT1 expression in hPSCs. Effects of Losartan on hPSCs proliferation, apoptosis and migration were investigated using BrdU incorporation, TUNEL, flow cytometry (FCM),and phase-contrast microscope separately when cells treated with Losartan. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were applied to quantify the expression of type Ⅰ collagen in hPSCs.RESULTS: There exists AT1 expression in hPSCs, while no AngⅡ was detected in culture media and cell homogenate. Losartan induces cell apoptosis in a doseand time-dependent manner (apparently at 10-5 mol/L),no pro-proliferative effect was observed in the same condition.Corresponding dosage of Losartan can also alleviate the motion capability and type Ⅰ collagen content of hPSCs compared with AngⅡ treatment and non-treatment control groups.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that paracrine not autocrine functions of AngⅡ may have effects on hPSCs,which was mediated by AT1 expressed on cells, while Losartan may exert anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting hPSCs motion and partly by inducing apoptosis.

Effect of Microinfusion of Angiotensin Ⅱ into the RVLM in Rats on the Baroreceptor Reflex Sensitivity

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of microinfusion anglotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ ),Ang Ⅱ type l(AT1)receptor antagonist lesartan into the rostral ventrolateral medulla(RVLM)on the baroreceptor reflex sensitivity(BRS)in urethane-anesthetized rats. Methods: Reflex changes in heart rate(HR)were elicited by bolus intravenous injection of phenylephrine before and during RVLM microinfusion of saline(0.5μl/h), Ang Ⅱ(1.Snmol/h), losartan (250 nmol/h), and Ang Ⅱ (1.5 nmol/h) pretreated with microinjection of losartan (50 nmol/0.51 μl)into the RVLM. The average ratio between changes in HR in beats per minute(beats, min^-1 )and changes in mean arteriaI pressutre [ MAP,mmHg(1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) ] was used as an index of BRS. Results : Ang Ⅱ resulted in a significant decrease in the BRS for reflex bradycardia compared with control( - 2.1 ~ 0.1 vs - 3.9 + 0.4 beats.min^-1·mmHg^-1 ).Microinfusion of losartan had no significant effect on BRS for reflex bradycardia.The effect of Ang ][ was almost completely abolished by pretreatment with microinjection of losartan. Conc/us/on: These results showed that the exogenous Ang II in the RVLM produces inhibitory modulation of BRS, which is mediated by AT2 receptor.However,AT1 receptor in the RVLM is not involved in the tonic control of BRS.

Effect of Atorvastatin on Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Beta/delta in Angiotensin Ⅱ-induced Hypertrophic Myocardial Cells In Vitro

Objective To explore the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac hypertrophy and to determine the potential mechanism involved. Methods An in vitro cardiomyocyte hypertrophy from neonatal rats was induced with angiotensinⅡ(Ang Ⅱ) stimulation. Before AngⅡ stimulation, the cultured rat cardiac myocytes were pretreated with atorvastatin at different concentrations(0.1, 1, and 10 μmol/L). The following parameters were evaluated: the myocyte surface area, 3H-leucine incorporation into myocytes, m RNA expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, matrix metalloproteinase 9, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and interleukin-1β, m RNA and protein expressions of the δ/β peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) subtypes. Results It was shown that atorvastatin could ameliorate Ang Ⅱ-induced neonatal cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the area of cardiomyocytes, 3H-leucine incorporation, and the expression of atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide markedly. Meanwhile, atorvastatin also inhibited the augmented m RNA level of several cytokines in hypertrophic myocytes. Furthermore, the down-regulated expression of PPAR-δ/β at both the m RNA and protein levels in hypertrophic myocytes could be significantly reversed by atorvastatin treatment. Conclusions Atorvastatin could improve AngⅡ-induced cardiac hypertrophy and inhibit the expression of cytokines. Such effect might be partly achieved through activation of the PPAR-δ/β pathway.

A Quantitative Study on Vascular Angiotensin Ⅱ Receptors in Rats with Portal Hypertension

Angiotension-Ⅱ(A-Ⅱ) receptor maximal binding capacity (Bmax) and dissociation constants (Kd) of different blood vessels in rats with prehepatic portal hypertension were studied by radioligand binding analysis. The results showed that the A-Ⅱreceptor Bmax. in the thoracic aorta, superior mesenteric artery and portal vein of portal hypertensive animals (113. 7±19. 4 fmol/mg protein, 206.9 ±39. 3 fmol/mg protein and 31. 5±9. 2 fmol/mg protein respectively ) was all significantly lower than that of controls (146. 8±24. 5 fmol/mg protein, 297. 2±44. 7 fmol/mg protein and 53. 4±12.1 fmol/mg protein respectively, P＜0. 01).The A-Ⅱ receptor Kd in the superior mesenteric artery was markedly increased in portal hypertensive animals (1. 03±0.11 nmol/L) compared with that in controls (0. 88±0. 08 nmol/L, P＜0. 05). In the thoracic aorta and portal vein, the A-Ⅱ receptor Kd in portal hypertensive animals was slightly higher than that in controls, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups. The results suggested that the vascular hyporesponsiveness to A-Ⅱ in portal hypertension was caused partially by a reduction in number and a decrease in affinity of vascular A- Ⅱ receptors, and these changes might possibly lead to the formation of hyperdynamic circulation.

妊娠高血压患者血管紧张素Ⅱ及AT1R、AT2R的表达及意义

目的:探讨妊娠高血压(HDCP)患者血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)及AngⅡ受体-1(AT1R)和AngⅡ受体-2(AT2R)的表达及意义。方法:选取2021年1月—2022月年9月孝感市中心医院收治的90例HDCP患者作为观察组,并将观察组根据病情程度分为HDCP组、轻度子痫前期组和重度子痫前期组3个亚组,将同期产检的90例健康孕妇作为对照组。检测并比较观察组与对照组、观察组不同亚组AngⅡ水平、AT1R和AT2R阳性表达情况。结果:观察组产前母血、产后脐血AngⅡ水平低于对照组,产后母血AngⅡ水平、AT1R、AT2R总阳性率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。不同病情程度HDCP患者产前母血、产后脐血AngⅡ水平比较,HDCP组>轻度子痫前期组>重度子痫前期组;不同病情程度HDCP患者产后母血AngⅡ水平比较,HDCP组<轻度子痫前期组<重度子痫前期组;不同病情程度HDCP患者AT1R、AT2R阳性情况比较,HDCP组<轻度子痫前期组<重度子痫前期组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:HDCP患者母血、脐血AngⅡ存在异常表达,其AT1R、AT2R阳性率随病情加重而升高,检测上述指标有助于为HDCP发病机制、早期诊断与治疗提供参考。

子痫前期患者血清CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ水平及其诊断价值

目的:探究子痫前期(PE)患者血清C1q/肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白6(CTRP6)、可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)-Ⅱ水平及其诊断价值。方法:选取2021年6月-2022年6月在本院确诊为PE的患者148例临床资料为PE组,根据病情程度分为轻度PE组(85例)和重度PE组(63例),常规产前检查健康孕妇75例为对照组。酶联免疫吸附测定法测定各组血清CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ水平;Pearson法分析PE患者血清CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ的相关性;受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ对PE发生发展的诊断价值。结果:重度PE组、轻度PE组、对照组尿蛋白定量、ALT、Fib、Cr、收缩压、舒张压水平依次降低,PT值依次增加,血清CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ水平依次降低(均P<0.05)。相关性分析,PE患者血清CTRP6与sTNFR-Ⅱ的表达呈正相关(r=0.354,P<0.001)。ROC曲线分析,CTRP6与sTNFR-Ⅱ联合诊断PE发生的曲线下面积(AUC)(0.975)高于CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ单独诊断,其敏感度、特异性分别为79.7%和92.3%;诊断重度PE的AUC为0.925,敏感度、特异性分别为39.7%和98.8%,高于CTRP6和sTNFR-Ⅱ单独诊断(均P<0.001)。结论:PE患者血清CTRP6、sTNFR-Ⅱ水平异常升高,二者与疾病严重程度有关,且联合诊断可提高PE的诊断效能。

Expression of insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ and its receptor in liver cells of chronic liver diseases

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The expression of the products of IGF-Ⅱ,IGF-Ⅱ receptors and CSF-Ⅰ receptors in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma and juxtacancerous liver tissue

The expression of the products of IGF-Ⅱ,IGF-Ⅱ receptors(IGF-Ⅱ-R)and CSF-Ⅰ re-ceptors(CSF-Ⅰ-R)was observed in 17 cases of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC)and the juxtacancerous liver tissue with immunohistochemistry(ABC),Western blot and North-ern blot technique,It was found that the expression of IGF-Ⅱ,IGF-Ⅱ-R and CSF-Ⅰ-R was signif-icantly higher in PHC than in normal liver tissue and the expression of IGF-Ⅱ and IGF-Ⅱ-R wasremarkably higher in the juxtacancerous liver tissue from PHC patients than in PHC proper.Itwas noteworthy that the expression of IGF-Ⅱ in both the cancer proper and the juxtacancerousliver tissue was characterized by its fetal type.Besides,the expression of CSF-Ⅰ-R was signifi-cantly higher in PHC than in the juxtacancerous liver tissue.It is believed that the abnormal ex-pression of IGF-Ⅱ,IGF-Ⅱ-R and CSF-I-R in PHC and the juxtacaneerous liver tissue might berelated to the autocrine mechanism of human PHC.

Isolation and Characterization of Proteins Interacting with Activin Type Ⅱ Receptors

Regulation of the number of aetivin receptors that are present in the cell membrane plays a key role in the modulation of cellular responses to activin. In order to find the regulators, a novel protein ARIPzip, interacting with activin type II receptors, was searched and identified by using yeast two-hybrid screening. ARIPzip is a splicing variant of ARIP2. This has been discussed previously. ARIPzip can specifically interact with ActR Ⅱ A, and is widely distributed in mouse tissues. Overexpression of ARIPzip can cause the activin-induced transcriptional activities to increase in a dose-dependent manner while the overexpression of ARIV2 can decrease these activities. These data suggest that the C-terminal rezions of ARIP2 and ARIPzip are involved in the regulation of activin signaling.

ANGⅡ-AT_1 Receptor Pathway Is Involved in the Anti-fibrotic Effect of β-elemene

To investigate the effects of β-elemene on the ANG Ⅱ-ATI receptor pathway in rats with liver fibrosis, a model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by hypodermical injection of carbon tetrachloride （CC14） into Wistar male rats. D-elemene was intraperitonealy administered into the rats for 8 weeks （0.1 mL/100 g body weight per day）. Masson staining was used to observe the liver fibrosis of rats and liver functions were measured by enzymatic kinetic analysis. The content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues was detected by specimen alkaline hydrolysis. The level of plasma ANG Ⅱ in blood plasma was detected by radioimmunoassay. The expression of AT1R in rat liver were measured using reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively. The results showed that β-elemene could reduce the collagen disposition in liver and inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis. In addition, the levels of plasma ANG Ⅱ and the expression of hepatic AT1R in rats with liver fibrosis were also suppressed by β-elemene. It is concluded that the ANG Ⅱ-AT1 receptor pathway plays an important role in the development of hepatic fibrosis and D-elemene could down-regulate the levels of plasma ANG Ⅱ and the expression of hepatic ATIR in rats with liver fibrosis.

The remedial effect of soluble interleukin-1 receptor type Ⅱ on endometriosis in the nude mouse model

Objective： Recent studies have shown that the local expression of soluble interleukin （IL） -1 receptor type Ⅱ （slL-1 R Ⅱ ） in endometrial tissue of women with endometriosis is decreased, and the depression of IL-1 R Ⅱ was more significant in infertile women than that in fertile women with endometriosis. In this research, we investigated the remedial effect of slL-1-R Ⅱ administration on endometriosis in the nude mouse model. Methods： Nineteen nude model mice with endometriosis were randomly divided into three groups： group A was treated by intraperitoneal administration with only slL-1 R Ⅱ for two weeks, group B was similarly treated with only IL- 1, and group C （control） was administered saline. After 2 weeks, the size of the ectopic endometrial lesions was calculated, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and B-cell lymphoma leukemia-2 （Bcl- 2） were detected by immunohistochemistry. The IL-8 and VEGF levels in the peritoneal fluid （PF） and serum were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Results： The mean size of ectopic endometrial lesion did not differ between the three groups （P 〉 0.05）. Compared with the control, the expression of VEGF and Bcl-2 was significantly lower in group A, and higher in group B. In the three groups, the levels of IL-8 in the PF and serum were highest in group A, and lowest in group B. Conclusion： slL-1 R Ⅱ may suppresse hyperplasia of ectopic endometriosis, perhaps by reducing the expression of certain cytokines, such as VEGF, IL-8, and Bcl-2, which could provide a new clinical strategy for the treatment of endometriosis.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ and its receptor in hepatocellular carcinogenesis

INTRODUCTIONInsulin-like growth factor Ⅱ(IGF-Ⅱ) is a mitogenic peptide of 74 kD and is mostly synthesized in fetal liver tissue .IGF-Ⅱ is believed to play an important role in fetal growth and development and is involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation[1-5]. Recently ,several researchers have reported increased expression of the IGF-Ⅱgene in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues [6-10].

Transforming growth factor β receptor Ⅱ expression inexperimental cryptorchidism and apoptosisin spermatogenic cells in rats

Objective: To study the transforming growth factor β receptor Ⅱ (TGFβ-R Ⅱ) expression in experimental cryptorchidism and apoptosis in spermatogenic cells in rats. Methods: The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected by means of the terminal deoxynucleotldyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end lableling method (TUNEL) and the TGFβ-R Ⅱ expression was observed with the immunohistochemistry SABC methods. Results: There was a significant increase in the TGFβ-R Ⅱ expression in unilateral undescended testes (UUTs) compared with that in contralateral descended testes (CDTs, P<0.01). However, there was a significant and time-dependent increase in the mean apoptotic index in UUTs than in CDTs. Conclusion: TGFβ-R Ⅱ may play an important role in spermatogenic cell apoptosis.