[Impact of Pax-8 gene interference on mitochondrial function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis].

Objective: To observe the effects of paired box gene 8 (Pax-8) silencing by RNA interference on mitochondrial function and cardiomyocytes apoptosis.

Methods: The cultured H9C2 (2-1) myocytes were divided into 3 groups: short interference RNA targeting Pax-8 (Pax-8 siRNA) group, non-specific siRNA group as the negative control (NC siRNA), and blank control group (BC siRNA). Fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to detect the activity of caspase-3.

[Ryanodine downregulates the expression of p-eNOS (Thr495) and improves the functions of rapamycin treated endothelial outgrowth cells].

Objective: To observe the effects of ryanodine on rapamycin treated endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs).

Methods: The mononuclear cells were harvested from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, then induced into EOCs and expanded in vitro. The endothelial characteristics of EOCs were identified by immunostaining and fluorescent staining.

[MicroRNA-144 over-expression induced myocytes apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the effects of microRNA-144 (miR-144) expression on H9C2 (2-1) myocytes.

Methods: MiR-144 was up-regulated in primary cultured H9C2 (2-1) myocytes through transfection. Cells transfected with Lipofectamine(TM) 2000 and its mixture with miRNA synthesized randomly as blank control and negative control respectively.

[Experimental analysis of microRNAs related to cardiac development differential expression].

Objective: To investigate the differential expression profiles of microRNAs in the knockout Pax-8 mice by miRNA microarray analysis and study the function of microRNA during cardiac development.

Methods: The knockout Pax-8 mice model was established and the total RNA derived from Pax-8 KO-/- and Pax-8 KO+/- mice heart. MicroRNA microarray containing 567 mammalian microRNA probes was used to investigate the microRNAs differential expression between Pax-8 KO-/- and Pax-8 KO+/- mice.

[Effects of endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial outgrowth cells in repair of injured carotid vessel: a comparative study with rabbits].

Objective: To compare the effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs) on the repair of injured vessels.

Methods: Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from rabbit peripheral blood by density-gradient centrifugation. EPCs and EOCs were obtained from the culture of MNCs and labeled with the cell dye CM-DiI for cells tracking.

[Isolation, culture and identification of two types of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood in rabbits].

Aim: To investigate how to isolate, culture and identify two types of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood in rabbits.

Methods: Mononuclear cells(MNCs) were isolated from rabbit peripheral blood. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs) were obtained from MNCs through different ways of isolation and culture.

[Effects of compound Salvia injection on number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Compound Salvia injection (CSI) on the number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Method: Mononuclear fraction of human umbilical cord blood was obtained by density gradient centrifugation and plated on fibronectin coated culture dishes. Cells were divided in to five groups: group control, group VEGF, group CSI 50, group CSI 10 and group CSI 2 (supplemented with none cytokine, VEGF 10 ng x mL(-1), CSI 50, 10, 2 microg x mL(-1), respectively).

[Preliminary study of ALK3 downstream genes related to ventricular septum defect].

To investigate the function of ALK3 gene, the gene regulation and the signaling pathway related to ventricular septum defect during heart development. The model mice with ALK3 gene knock-out via alpha-MHC-Cre/lox P system were bred. The mRNA expression level of control group was compared with that of experiment group and ALK3 downstream genes were screened using PCR-select cDNA subtraction microarray.

[A study on myocardial Pax-8 gene].

Objective: Conventional deletion of ALK3, also termed as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor IA, in mice might result in early embryonic lethality. To investigate the function of ALK3 in cardiac development, the cardiac-specific deletion of ALK3 in mice was made by Dr. Schneider, using Cre recombinase driven by the alpha-MHC promoter that Dr.