Expression of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5pin nasopharyngeal carcinoma and up-regulated expression after invasion and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Objective MiRNAs are closely related to tumors,and we hypothesized there is specific miR expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).We intended to investigate the expression of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5p in NPC and to investigate the effects of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5p on apoptosis and invasion following up-regulated expression in HNE1 NPC cells.Methods MiR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p expression levels in 30 individual cases of NPC and nasopharyngitis were detected with gene chip and qRT-PCR techniques.miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were transfected into the NPC cell line HNE1 via liposomes.Their expression levels were detected with qRT-PCR,apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry,and invasion ability was assessed via Transwell migration assay.Results MiR-150-5p expression levels in NPC and nasopharyngitis were 0.165±0.092 and 1.062±0.280 respectively,and miR-34c-5p expression levels in NPC and nasopharyngitis were 0.417±0.220 and 1.385±0.739,respectively,which indicated miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were weakly expressed in NPC.Apoptosis rates in HNE1 cells transfected by miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were increased,by 12.7%and 7.6%,respectively,which were significantly higher compared to blank control(3.9%).The Transwell assay demonstrated that invasive HNE1 cell counts were 32.00±2.00 and 28.33±2.08,respectively,compared to 60.66±8.50 in the blank control(P<0.001).Conclusion MiR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p are lowly expressed in NPC,and their down-regulation may be associated with NPC.

A Pharmacognostical Study on Ardisia gigantifolia and Its Adulterants

[Objectives]The research aimed to study the characteristics of Ardisia gigantifolia and its adulterants Embelia scandens and Mappianthus iodoides for identification. [Methods] Through the trait identification method,powder microscopic identification method,TLC,inclusions detection and content determination,A. gigantifolia and its adulterants were contrasted. [Results]The morphological and histological characteristics of A. gigantifolia,E. scandens and M. iodoides were different from each other. Containing water,total ash,acid insoluble ash and other inclusions also had difference; the total triterpenoid saponins were respectively 122. 90 mg/g of A. gigantifolia,147. 052 mg/g of E. scandens,and 63. 06 mg/g of M. iodoides. [Conclusions] These methods are accurate and reliable,which could be used for the identification of A. gigantifolia and its adulterants.

In vitro Effects of Nerve Growth Factor on Cardiac Fibroblasts Proliferation, Cell Cycle, Migration, and Myofibroblast Transformation

Background： Recent research indicates that nerve growth factor （NGF） promotes cardiac repair following myocardial infarction by promoting angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of NGF on cardiac fibroblasts （CFs） proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and myofibroblast transformation in vitro. Methods： CFs were obtained from ventricles of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats and incubated with various concentrations of NGF （0, 0.01,0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml; 0 ng/ml was designated as the control group）. Cell proliferation and cell cycle of the CFs were measured by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry （FCM）, respectively. A cell scratch wound model and transwell were carried out to observe effects of NGF on migration of CFs after 24 h of culture. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blotting were used to measure a-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） at mRNA and protein levels after CFs were incubated with various concentrations of NGF. Results： Expression of α-SMA measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting significantly increased in the 1 and 10 ng/ml NGF groups （P 〈 0.05）. Absorbance values of CFs showed that NGF did not influence the proliferation of CFs （The A490values were 0.178 ± 0.038, 0.182 ± 0.011,0.189 ± 0.005, 0. 178 ± 0.01 0, 0.185± 0.025, and 0.177 ± 0.033, respectively, in the 0, 0.01,0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml NGF groups [P = 0.800, 0.428, 0.981, 0.596, and 0.913, respectively, compared with control group]）, and FCM analysis showed that the percentage of CFs in G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases was not changed （P 〉 0.05）. The cell scratch wound model and transwell showed that CFs migration was not significantly different （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： NGF induces myofibroblast transformation but does not influence proliferation, cell cycle, or migration of CFs in vitro