Anti-inflammatory effect of cannabinoid agonist WIN55, 212 on mouse experimental colitis is related to inhibition of p38MAPK.

Aim: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and the possible mechanisms of an agonist of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, WIN55-212-2 (WIN55), in mice with experimental colitis, so as to supply experimental evidence for its clinical use in future.

Methods: We established the colitis model in C57BL/6 mice by replacing the animals' water supply with 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 consecutive days. A colitis scoring system was used to evaluate the severity of colon local lesion.

Suramin inhibits cell proliferation in ovarian and cervical cancer by downregulating heparanase expression.

Background: Aberrant expression of heparanase (Hpa) is associated with apoor prognosis in ovarian and cervical cancer patients. Inhibitors of Hpa can prevent the growth and metastasis of malignant tumor cells, and suramin may be such a compound that has strong anti-proliferative effects on several kinds of cancer cells. We have therefore tested whether the growth inhibiting effect of suramin on ovarian and cervical cancer cells is due to downregulation of Hpa expression.

p38 MAPK inhibition alleviates experimental acute pancreatitis in mice.

Background: The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway is involved in inflammatory process. However, the mechanism is not clear. The present study was to investigate the role of p38 MAPK in acute pancreatitis in mice.

The dual effect of cannabinoid receptor-1 deficiency on the murine postoperative ileus.

Introduction: Intestinal inflammatory responses play a critical role in the pathogenesis of postoperative ileus (POI). As cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) is involved in inhibiting gastrointestinal (GI) motility and anti-inflammation, we aimed to explore its contribution to POI.

Methods: Experimental POI was induced in adult female CB1-deficient (CB1-/-) mice and wild-type littermates (C57BL/6N) by standardized small bowel manipulation.

Cannabinoid HU210 protects isolated rat stomach against impairment caused by serum of rats with experimental acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP), especially severe acute pancreatitis often causes extra-pancreatic complications, such as acute gastrointestinal mucosal lesion (AGML) which is accompanied by a considerably high mortality, yet the pathogenesis of AP-induced AGML is still not fully understood. In this report, we investigated the alterations of serum components and gastric endocrine and exocrine functions in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis, and studied the possible contributions of these alterations in the pathogenesis of AGML. In addition, we explored the intervention effects of cannabinoid receptor agonist HU210 and antagonist AM251 on isolated and serum-perfused rat stomach.

[Effect of angelicanaphtha on proliferation, apoptosis, collagen synthesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of angelicanaphtha on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and collagen synthesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: HUVEC was cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and treated with angelicanaphtha 1 mg/ L, 4 mg/L, and 16 mg/L at 1, 3, 5, and 7 day respectively. The proliferation was measured with MTT method.