Complement component 5a(C5a)is a 74 amino acid glycoprotein and an important proinflammatory mediator that is cleaved enzymatically from its precursor,C5,on activation of the complement cascade.C5a is quickly metaboli...Complement component 5a(C5a)is a 74 amino acid glycoprotein and an important proinflammatory mediator that is cleaved enzymatically from its precursor,C5,on activation of the complement cascade.C5a is quickly metabolised by carboxypeptidases,forming the less-potent C5a desArg.C5a and C5a desArg interact with their receptors(C5aR and C5L2),which results in a number of effects which are essential to the immune response.C5a has a broad range of biological effects throughout the human body because the widespread expression of C5a receptors throughout the human organs enables C5a and C5a desArg to elicit a broad range of biological effects.Recently,accumulating evidence in humans and experimental animal models shows that the C5a-C5aR axis is involved in the development of atherosclerosis lesions.The absence or blockade of C5aRs greatly reduces the formation of atherosclerotic lesions or wire-injury-induced neointima formation in atherosclerosis-prone mice.Serum C5a level was related to the major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with advanced atherosclerosis and those with drug-eluting stent implantation.Thus,the C5a-C5aR axis may be a significant pathogenic driver of arteriosclerotic vascular disease,making C5a-C5aR inhibition an attractive therapeutic strategy.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the estrogenic efficacy of Renshen(Radix Ginseng)(GS) on reproductive target tissues in immature mice.METHODS: One hundred and ten female immature Kunming(KM) mice, 21-day-old, were randomly ass...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the estrogenic efficacy of Renshen(Radix Ginseng)(GS) on reproductive target tissues in immature mice.METHODS: One hundred and ten female immature Kunming(KM) mice, 21-day-old, were randomly assigned to eleven groups, 10 for each; one served as control group treated with 0.154 mg/kg estradiol valerate(EV,n = 10), the rest were treated respectively with GS intragastrically at a daily dose of 0.5,1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 18.0, 24.0 and 30.0 g/kg(n =10 in per group) for 7 days. The estrous cycle, uterine weight, hormone levels in circulation and histomorphology changes of uterus and vagina were scrupulously examined. The estrogen receptor(ER)α and ERβ expressions in the uterus and vagina were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with GS at the dose of 12.0,18.0 and 24.0 g/kg resulted significant estrogenic activity in the mice, as indicated by advanced and prolonged estrous stage and increased uterine weight(all P < 0.05). GS treatment substantially promoted development of reproductive tissue by thickening the uterine endometrium and increasing vaginal epithelial layers. In addition, treatment with GS induced significant up-regulation of ERαand ERβ expressions in reproductive tissues, and ERα up-regulation was stronger than that of ERβ.GS could raise levels of circulating estrogen, simultaneously decrease levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone(all P < 0.001)compared with the control group.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that GS had estrogenic effect on reproductive tissues in immature mice by stimulating biosynthesis of estrogen in circulation and up-regulating ERs.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81000125,81000127)Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(20100131120057)Promotive Research Fund for Young and Middle-aged Scientisits of Shandong Province(BS2012YY017)
文摘Complement component 5a(C5a)is a 74 amino acid glycoprotein and an important proinflammatory mediator that is cleaved enzymatically from its precursor,C5,on activation of the complement cascade.C5a is quickly metabolised by carboxypeptidases,forming the less-potent C5a desArg.C5a and C5a desArg interact with their receptors(C5aR and C5L2),which results in a number of effects which are essential to the immune response.C5a has a broad range of biological effects throughout the human body because the widespread expression of C5a receptors throughout the human organs enables C5a and C5a desArg to elicit a broad range of biological effects.Recently,accumulating evidence in humans and experimental animal models shows that the C5a-C5aR axis is involved in the development of atherosclerosis lesions.The absence or blockade of C5aRs greatly reduces the formation of atherosclerotic lesions or wire-injury-induced neointima formation in atherosclerosis-prone mice.Serum C5a level was related to the major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with advanced atherosclerosis and those with drug-eluting stent implantation.Thus,the C5a-C5aR axis may be a significant pathogenic driver of arteriosclerotic vascular disease,making C5a-C5aR inhibition an attractive therapeutic strategy.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(Basic Research of the Eighteen Against Compatibility Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.2011CB505300,Research of the Eighteen Against Compatibility Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Prejudiced Treatment,No.2011CB505305)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the estrogenic efficacy of Renshen(Radix Ginseng)(GS) on reproductive target tissues in immature mice.METHODS: One hundred and ten female immature Kunming(KM) mice, 21-day-old, were randomly assigned to eleven groups, 10 for each; one served as control group treated with 0.154 mg/kg estradiol valerate(EV,n = 10), the rest were treated respectively with GS intragastrically at a daily dose of 0.5,1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 18.0, 24.0 and 30.0 g/kg(n =10 in per group) for 7 days. The estrous cycle, uterine weight, hormone levels in circulation and histomorphology changes of uterus and vagina were scrupulously examined. The estrogen receptor(ER)α and ERβ expressions in the uterus and vagina were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with GS at the dose of 12.0,18.0 and 24.0 g/kg resulted significant estrogenic activity in the mice, as indicated by advanced and prolonged estrous stage and increased uterine weight(all P < 0.05). GS treatment substantially promoted development of reproductive tissue by thickening the uterine endometrium and increasing vaginal epithelial layers. In addition, treatment with GS induced significant up-regulation of ERαand ERβ expressions in reproductive tissues, and ERα up-regulation was stronger than that of ERβ.GS could raise levels of circulating estrogen, simultaneously decrease levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone(all P < 0.001)compared with the control group.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that GS had estrogenic effect on reproductive tissues in immature mice by stimulating biosynthesis of estrogen in circulation and up-regulating ERs.
