The Blockade of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 Activation by Marine Natural Product Crassolide Triggers ICD in Tumor Cells and Stimulates Anti-Tumor Immunity.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) refers to a type of cell death that stimulates immune responses. It is characterized by the surface exposure of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which can facilitate the uptake of antigens by dendritic cells (DCs) and stimulate DC activation, resulting in T cell immunity. The activation of immune responses through ICD has been proposed as a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy.

A gender-specific COMT haplotype contributes to risk modulation rather than disease severity of major depressive disorder in a Chinese population.

Background: COMT rs4680 Val158 allele is associated with high MB-COMT protein expression and elevated activity compared to the Met158 allele in post-mortem brains. A meta-analysis study suggested the link between COMT SNPs and MDD risk; in addition, MB membrane-bound (MB-COMT) specific genetic variation was reported that influences predisposition to depression amongst females.

Methods: Four tagSNPs, including rs4680, were genotyped.

Differential gene expression in hemodialysis patients with "cold" zheng.

The aim of the present study was to search for the differential gene expression and measure the serum level of a number of biochemical parameters in the cold zheng (CZ) and non-cold zheng (NCZ) in patients receiving hemodialysis. Hemodialysis (HD) patients were randomly selected from the CZ and NCZ groups. The between-group differences in gene expression were assessed using complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray.

Effects of Scutellariae Radix on gene expression in HEK 293 cells using cDNA microarray.

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of Scutellaria Radix (SR). The complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray method was used to survey the effects of SR on the changes of gene expression profile in HEK293 cells. Based on differential expression, 66 genes were selected for further analysis from 9,600 candidate genes in the microarray; 23 genes were validated by RT-PCR.

Anxiolytic effect of berberine on exploratory activity of the mouse in two experimental anxiety models: interaction with drugs acting at 5-HT receptors.

The aim of this study was to assess the anxiolytic effect of berberine (abbrev. BER) using two experimental anxiety models in the mouse. In the black and white test of anxiety, berberine (100, 500 mg/kg) produced an increase in the first time entry, time spent in the white section, and total changes between two compartments.

Osthole improves aspects of spatial performance in ovariectomized rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorating effects of Cnidiuim monnieri L. Cusson (CM) and osthole, a constituent of CM, on the spatial performance deficit in scopolamine (SCOP)-treated or ovariectomized (OVA) rats. CM improved the deficit of spatial performance, and reversed the lower plasma estradiol levels caused by SCOP in female rats.