Regulatory Effects of Zuogui Pill on Apoptosis of Follicles in Rats Injured by 60Co-γRays Based on PI3K/Akt/m TOR Signaling Pathway

[Objectives]To explore the protective effects of Zuogui Pill on ^(60)Co-γ-ray-induced premature aging of rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway.[Methods]Sixty sexually mature female SD rats were irradiated with ^(60)Co-γ-ray(6.0 Gy,LD 40)for 24 h at one time.These rats were randomly divided into model group,Progynova group[0.18(g·kg)/d],Progynova[0.09(g·kg)/d]+Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill medium dose[9.45(g·kg)/d)]group and Zuogui Pill low dose[4.725(g·kg)/d]group.The administration(once a day)lasted 21 d.The rat serum[follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH)and estradiol(E_(2))]were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The morphological changes of ovary were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The apoptosis rate of granulosa cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL).The protein expression of phosphorylated(p)-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot.[Results]Compared with the normal group,the model group showed significant increase in the serum FSH(P<0.01),significant decrease in serum E_(2)(P<0.05),and decrease in the number of early follicles and luteum in the ovary(P<0.01).Besides,the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells increased significantly(P<0.01);the expression of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue decreased significantly,while the expression of Bax increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of early follicles in the ovary increased and the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells decreased after intervention in each administration group.In addition,the protein expressions of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 increased,while the expression of Bax decreased,especially in Progynova+Zuogui Pill high dose group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).[Conclusions]Zuogui Pill may protect the radiation-injured ovary through activating the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR protein in ovarian tissue,increasing the amount of Bcl-2 protein and inhibiting the expression of Bax protein.

Human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles protect against ischemic stroke by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles exhibit analogous functions to their parental cells,and can thus be used as substitutes for stem cells in stem cell therapy,thereby mitigating the risks of stem cell therapy and advancing the frontiers of stem cell-derived treatments.This lays a foundation for the development of potentially potent new treatment modalities for ischemic stroke.However,the precise mechanisms underlying the efficacy and safety of human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles remain unclear,presenting challenges for clinical translation.To promote the translation of therapy based on human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles from the bench to the bedside,we conducted a comprehensive preclinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in the treatment of ischemic stroke.We found that administration of human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to an ischemic stroke rat model reduced the volume of cerebral infarction and promoted functional recovery by alleviating neuronal apoptosis.The human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reduced neuronal apoptosis by enhancing phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase,mammalian target of rapamycin,and protein kinase B,and these effects were reversed by treatment with a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor.These findings suggest that human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles play a neuroprotective role in ischemic stroke through activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway.Finally,we showed that human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles have a good in vivo safety profile.Therefore,human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles are a promising potential agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

PI 3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路介导艾灸改善大鼠卵巢早衰的研究

目的:探讨艾灸对雷公藤多苷片诱导的卵巢早衰大鼠卵巢的保护作用及机制。方法:雌性SD大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、艾灸组,每组15只。除空白组外,模型组和艾灸组均采用雷公藤多苷片(40mg/kg)灌胃,每日1次,连续6周;灌胃第4周给予艾灸组悬灸"关元"及双侧"三阴交"10min,每日1次,治疗3周。HE染色观察卵巢组织形态结构;ELISA法检测血清中雌二醇(E2)、促黄体生成素(LH)、促卵泡生成素(FSH)等激素水平,白介素-6(IL-6)、IL-1β等炎性因子含量;Western blot法测定卵巢组织中磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI 3K)、蛋白激酶B(Akt)、哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)含量及磷酸化水平。结果:与空白组相比,模型组卵巢内卵泡减少,卵泡的粒细胞层次明显减少,黄体减少,闭锁卵泡明显增多,血清中E2显著降低(P<0.01),LH、FSH、IL-6、IL-1β含量均显著增加(P<0.01),卵巢组织中p-PI 3K、p-Akt和p-mTOR蛋白表达显著增加(P<0.01);与模型组相比,艾灸组卵巢组织病理损伤改善,艾灸能够显著降低血清中LH(P<0.05)、FSH(P<0.01)、IL-6(P<0.01)、IL-1β(P<0.01)含量,增加E2含量(P<0.05),降低卵巢组织磷酸化PI 3K、Akt、mTOR的表达水平(P<0.01)。结论:艾灸能够改善雷公藤多苷片诱导的大鼠卵巢早衰,其机制可能与抑制PI 3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路磷酸化相关。