Transcriptome analysis of developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo following exposure to Gaudichaudione H reveals teratogenicity and cardiovascular defects caused by abnormal iron metabolism.

Gaudichaudione H (GH), a caged polyprenylated xanthone from Garcinia plants, showed anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. However, the in vivo toxicity of this compound has never been reported. The present study was aimed to address the toxic effects of Gaudichaudione H using zebrafish embryos and larvae as an in vivo test model.

Physalin B reduces Aβ secretion through down-regulation of BACE1 expression by activating FoxO1 and inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation.

Physalin B (PB), one of the major active steroidal constituents of Solanaceae Physalis plants, has a wide variety of biological activities. We found that PB significantly down-regulated β-amyloid (Aβ) secretion in N2a/APPsw cells. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

targeting by miR-152-3p in Paclitaxel-resistant Breast Cancer.

Paclitaxel plays a pivotal role in the chemotherapy of breast cancer, but resistance to this drug is an important obstacle in the treatment. It is reported that microRNA-152-3p (miR-152-3p) is involved in tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer, but whether it is involved in paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer remains unknown. We examined the expression of miR-152-3p in breast cancer tissues and cells by qRT-PCR.

Zebrafish Lacking Circadian Gene Exhibit Visual Function Deficiency.

The retina has an intrinsic circadian clock, but the importance of this clock for vision is unknown. Zebrafish offer many advantages for studying vertebrate vision and circadian rhythm. Here, we explored the role of zebrafish , a light-regulated gene, in visual behavior and the underlying mechanisms.

[Effects of Arsenic Trioxide on K562 Cell Proliferation and Its Mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (AsO) on K562 cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle protein D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1.

Methods: MTT was used to detect the effect of AsO on K562 cell proliferation, so as to screen out the appropriate drug concentration. Furthermore, the K562 cell apoptosis was observed by microscopy.

[Mechanism of MBL inhibiting the LPS-induced DC maturation].

The study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation. The monocytes were prepared from the peripheral blood of healthy adult volunteers. The immature dendritic cells (imDC) were induced by 5-day-culture in medium supplemented with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4.

[Advances in the zebrafish circadian clock mechanisms].

Zebrafish has recently become an emerging vertebrate model for circadian studies. Here we summarized recent advances in the field of zebrafish circadian research. The characteristics and advantages of zebrafish as a circadian model, as well as its time-keeping mechanisms, were highlighted.

[The expression and significance of Notch1 in the human kidney tubular cell transdifferentiation induced by TGF-β(1);].

Aim: To explore the dynamic expression and significance of Notch1 in the human kidney tubular epithelial cell transdifferentiation (KTECT)induced by TGF-β(1);.

Methods: Normal human kidney epithelial cell line (HK-2) was cultured and then divided into blank group, and TGF-β(1);(10 ng/mL) induced group. At the 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, the morphologic changes of HK-2 cells were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope.

[Effect of Astragalus injection on the signal conduction of neonatal postasphyxial-serum induced human renal tubular cell injury].

Objective: To investigate, from cytoprotein and molecular levels, the action mechanism of astragalus injection (ASI) on the signal conduction of human renal tubular cells (HK-2) injury induced by neonatal postasphyxial-serum (NPS), whether it is through activating the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway.

Methods: Taking HK-2 as the target cell and the 20% NPS as the attacking factor, the experiment was conducted by dividing the target cells into two groups before attacking, the blank control group and the ASI pretreated group. The nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB was detected by confocal microscopy with indirect immunofluorescence stain, and the amount of NF-kappaB inhibitor subunit (I-kappaBalpha) was detected by Western blot before attacking.

[Interventional effects of emodin on transforming growth factor-beta1/integrin-linked kinase signal way in interleukin-1beta-induced transdifferentiation of rat tubular epithelial-myofibroblasts].

Objective: To study the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1/integrin-linked kinase (TGF-beta1/ILK) signal way in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced rat tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT), and to investigate whether emodin inhibits IL-1beta-induced TEMT through the TGF-beta1/ILK signal way-dependent mechanism.

Methods: Normal rat kidney epithelial cell line (NRK52E) was used in this study. NRK52E cells were divided into blank control group, emodin control group, IL-1beta-induced group, emodin-inhibited group, SB431542 (TGF-beta 1 type I receptor blocker)-inhibited group, emodin plus SB431542-inhibited group, emodin-pretreated group and emodin-reversed group.

[Role of serum from asphyxiated neonates in the inducement of human renal tubular cell adhesion to neutrophils].

Objective: To study the role of serum from asphyxiated neonates in the inducement of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) adhesion to neutrophils and possible mechanisms.

Methods: HK-2 cells were cultured randomly with 20% serum from neonates (1, 3, and 7 days after asphyxia), pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or placebo. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an indicator of adhesion ability of HK-2 cells to neutrophils in suspensions, was detected by the biochemistry assay.

[Interventional effect of emodin on the expression of intergern linked kinase in tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation].

Aim: To observe the change of ILK expression in interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta)-induced tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation, and to investigate whether emodin inhibit IL-1beta-induced tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation through an intergern linked kinase-dependent mechanism.

Methods: Normal rat kidney epithelial cell line (NRK52E) was cultured and then divided into blank group, emodin control group, IL-1beta-induced group and emodin-inhibited group. When the cells were cultured for 48 h, their morphological changes were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope.

[Gene cloning, optimized expression and immunogenicity evaluation of tetanus toxin fragment C].

Objective: To obtain highly purified tetanus toxin fragment C (TTC) with good immunogenicity.

Methods: The gene fragment encoding TTC was amplified from Clostridium tetani plasmid DNA by PCR, inserted into the vector pET43.1a (+) and expressed in E.

[Role and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in alleviating injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in HK-2 cells].

Objective: Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge (SMB) is a traditional Chinese herb, which is considered to promote blood flow and remove blood stasis. This study examined whether SMB can alleviate injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in human kidney proximal tubular cells-2 (HK-2 cells).

Methods: There were 3 experimental groups: control, H/R injury and SMB-treated H/R injury.

[Construction, expression and immunogenicity study of a chimeric MS/hIL-12 eukaryotic expression plasmid].

Objective: To construct and express a chimeric Mtb8.4 with signal peptide (MS)/hIL12 eukaryotic expression plasmid, and to study the immunogenicity of the MS/hIL-12 chimeric genetic vaccines.

Methods: The MS/hIL-12 chimeric gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pCI-neo.

Chronic hepatitis B serum promotes apoptotic damage in human renal tubular cells.

Aim: To investigate the effect of the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro and to study the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and transforming growth factor-beta (1) (TGF-beta (1)) in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN).

Methods: The levels of serum TGF-beta(1) were measured by specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HBV DNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 44 patients with CHB ,and 20 healthy persons as the control. The normal human kidney proximal tubular cell (HK-2) was cultured together with the sera of healthy persons, CHB patients with HBV-DNA negative (20 cases) and HBV-DNA positive (24 cases) for up to 72 h.

[Replication of a model of injury to human renal proximal tubular cells induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation].

Objective: To replicate a new model of injury to human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2) induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation.

Methods: Human renal proximal tubular cell line HK-2 cell was used as the target cell. Tubular cells were divided into six groups: 4 hours of hypoxia, 12 hours of hypoxia, 24 hours of hypoxia, and 24 hours of hypoxia followed by reoxygenation 4, 12 or 24 hours later groups.